As I gained the latter I descried a horseman approaching from the other
direction, and he was riding too--riding as if he didn't want to use his
horse again for at least a week. By Jove! it was Kendrew, I made out as
he came nearer, but--what the devil was Kendrew in such a cast-iron,
splitting hurry about?

My boy Tom came out as I dismounted. I hardly noticed that he hadn't
got on the usual broad grin of welcome.

"Where is Jan Boom?" I asked.

"He is out after the cattle, _Nkose_," answered Tom, rather glumly I
thought. But I paid no attention to this, because Tom had taken it into
his head to be rather jealous of Jan Boom of late, as a newcomer and an
alien who seemed to be rather more in his master's confidence than he
had any right to be--from Tom's point of view.

"Well, wait a bit," I said. "Here comes another _Nkose_, Nyamaki's
nephew. You can take his horse at the same time."

Kendrew came racing up as if he were riding for his life.

"You back, Glanton?" he cried, as he flung himself off his panting,
dripping steed. "Well, that's a devilish good job. I say. What does
this mean?"

"What does what mean?"

"Man! Haven't you heard? They sent for me post-haste this morning.
Knew you were away."

"Quit jaw, Kendrew, and tell me what the devil's the row," I said
roughly, for some horrible fear had suddenly beset me.

"Miss Sewin. She's disappeared," he jerked forth.

"What?"

I have an idea that I articulated the word, though speech stuck in my
throat I felt myself go white and cold, and strong healthy man that I
was, the surroundings danced before my eyes as though I were about to
swoon. I remember too, that Kendrew ground his teeth with pain under
the grip that I had fastened upon his shoulder.

"What do you say? Disappeared?" I gasped forth again. "How? When?"

I heard him as through a mist as he told me how the afternoon before she
had gone for a walk alone with her dog. It was towards sundown. She
had not returned, and a search had been instituted, with the result that
her dog had been found dead not very far from the waterhole, but of her
no trace remained. "My God, Glanton," he ended up. "Buck up, man.
Pull yourself together or you'll go clean off your chump. Buck up,
d'you hear!"

I daresay I had a look that way, for I noticed Tom staring at me as if
he contemplated taking to his heels.

"I'm on my way down there now," said Kendrew.

I nodded. I couldn't speak jus