plan. If I call Help! you, Victor, come to me,
whilst you, Bernhard, take care of Katrine; but if I don't call, then go
down to the stream when I come out whistling from the cattle-kraal.
Where is your sister, Kate?"

"She is close here, Hans, and will come when she hears one whistled
note; she is hid I don't know where."

"Bring her to you, then, and now for the attempt," said Hans.

To men used, as were these hunters, to make rapid plans, and execute
them as quickly, no further explanations were needed; and the two who
remained with Katrine waited patiently to see the result of Hans'
scheme, trusting to his skill and knowledge to bring about a favourable
result. The method which Hans intended to attempt was a bold one. He
knew that, dark as it was, he could not be recognised unless he were
examined closely. He also knew that the young Kaffir or Matabili men
were ordered about in a very summary way by their elders, and no
discussion was ever allowed when an order was given. He had
ascertained, by the conversation of the boys outside of the hut, the
name of the chief of the kraal; and thus provided he walked boldly
towards the kraal, with no effort at concealment. As he approached he
called in the Matabili language, "Where are you?"

"Here," answered the two men.

"The chief wants to show the horses," said Hans, in his best Kaffir;
"bring them out, I am to take them."

A murmur of surprise escaped the two men as they heard this order; but
fearing to dispute or question, they entered the kraal, and, unfastening
the horses, led them out of the narrow gateway. Hans covered himself
almost completely with his blanket, and as the men came out he said,
"Follow me, lead the horses this way."

As among the followers of Moselekatse there were many renegades from the
Zulus, and some from various tribes in all directions, the difference in
Hans' pronunciation of several words was not noticed, or at least not
paid particular attention to. And as he spoke in a tone of authority
his orders were not questioned, though he was personally unknown to the
two men in charge of the horses, who believed him to be some chief sent
direct from Moselekatse.

When Hans had led the men some few yards from the bushes where his
companions were concealed, he stopped and said, "Now leave the horses
here; I can take them alone. Go back and watch the cattle; the chief
wants you to see that all is safe in the kraal."

With that same tac