ts work, that the entrails were
hanging out, and the animal fast bleeding to death.

Placing his revolver to the pony's head, the report rang out; a few
convulsive movements, and the carcase of the horse lay still.

"Where is Masheesh?" enquired Hughes, as he returned the smoking weapon
to his belt. "If it had not been for his nonsense, that pistol-shot
would have been saved."

Wyzinski had seated himself on the grass, for the whole thing had passed
so quickly, that it was difficult to realise the danger.

Slowly stalking out of the bushes, Masheesh, as though nothing had
happened, gravely walked to the foot of the tree, took up the ant-eater
which, alarmed at the noise, had rolled itself up like a hedgehog, and
brought it to where the missionary was seated.

"What on earth does he want with that hedgehog?" asked Hughes. The
Matabele, speaking quickly, and in an excited voice, looked up at the
missionary as he did so, pointing to the little animal.

"He says it is a great prize," returned the other, "and consoles him for
the loss of his spear. It appears that these ant-eaters are scarce, and
the possession of one guarantees its owner against loss or sickness
among his cattle."

"The loss of his cattle! He nearly lost our lives for us, confound
him," replied Hughes, with some show of humour. "He don't seem to think
of that."

"A native never does, it is not in their nature, and life is held very
cheap. Look at yonder group moving over the plain in a line with that
stunted acacia. The king Mozelkatse must be among them."

"Can you walk, do you think, Wyzinski?"

"Oh, yes. I'm a good deal shaken, but that will wear away. Let us join
the king."

The rifles were loaded, and the whole party moved off once more, leaving
the carcase of the grey pony lying in a pool of blood where it had
fallen, to become a prey to the jackals and hyenas, those scavengers of
the African plains.

Mozelkatse, in a state of nudity nearly as complete as that of his
subjects, was in high good humour, and welcomed them warmly. The hunt,
he told them, promised well, and a vast number of deer of all kinds were
hemmed in between the horns of the living crescent. He motioned them to
take their places by the side of the trap, or barricade, into which the
herds were to be forced. Masheesh temporarily left them to place his
prize, the ant-eater, in safety; and as the line of beaters was still
far distant, there was ample time to ex