Prester John

ust be convinced that I was harmless. Laputa was probably of that opinion, but Henriques would recognize me, and I had no wish to have that yellow miscreant investigating my char

sphere of bad whisky, and for the rest I

the outhouse save in the roof, and they were sure to shut and bolt the door. I might conceal myself among the barrels inside; but apart from the fact that they were likely to sea

been floored roughly with green bricks. Lighting match after match, I crawled to the other end and tried to lift the door. It would not stir, so I guessed that the barrels were on the top of it. Back to the outhouse I went, and found that sure enough a heavy packing-case was standing on a corner. I fixed it slightly

like a cockatoo's crest. Then I cunningly disposed the methylated spirits in the places most likely to smell. I burned a little on the floor, I spilt some on the counter and on my hands, and I let it dribble over my coat. In five m

o the world would be lit with that ghostly radiance. I sat on the counter while the minutes passed, and I confess I found the time of waiting very trying for my courage. I had got over my wor

ng of the frogs by the Labongo. Presently it seemed to me that another sound came from behind the store - the sound of horses' feet and the rat

uare of the door, which was filled with the blue glimmer of the late twilight. The square darkened, and

old man, but I've f'nish'd th' whisky. The bo-o-ottle sh

ch I did not catch. Henri

make certain of

eemed to prevail. The door was shut and the ke

y raised door. By a blessed chance some old bricks had been left behind, and of these I made a footstool, which enabled me to get my back level with the door and look out. My laager of barrels

see what - out of his pocket,

draw first blood. They needed it to screw up t

sked a q

hese surly back-veld fools? If we had not done it, the best of their horses would now be over the Berg to give warning. Besides, I tell you,

approved, for Henriq

sh of it. God, man, do you think you are going to work a revolution on skim milk?

ve him the chance of life, and he laughed

d to get at the Portugoose - that double-dyed traitor to his race. As I thought of my kindly old friends, lying butchered with their kinsfolk out in the bush, hot tears of rage came to my eyes. Perfect love casteth out fear, the Bible

ere to keep in the plains till they had crossed the Klein Labongo and the Letaba. I thought I caught the name of the ford of the latter; it sounded like Dupree's Drift. After that the talk became plainer, for Laputa was explaining in his clear voice. The force would leave the bush, ascend the Be

athering at Ntabakaikonjwa.8 It will take

Hill which is not

ve name for the Rooirand, for after all Laputa was not

e great indunas will enter the Place of the Snake. The door will be guarded, and only t

?' Henriques asked with a laugh. 'What

he flippant tone of the Portugoose an

Isetembiso sami.9 As the leader of my people, I will assume the collar

, 'Very sac

in a necklace of rubies,' said Henrique

ere, abstractedly. I heard the voice of

to its Keeper, and swear never to clasp it on

. 'What about the purif

s before and lis

ed of them at Inanda's Kraal. Till then no blood must be she

ou propose to travel a hundred miles, binding yourself not to strike a

. 'Our march will be as secret and as swi

osition,' the Portugoose pers

nd foot, and carry them with us. Their fate will

eeth. 'Well, before we start this vow business,

harmless fools. Before we start for Ntabakaikonjwa I must have from you the figu

ith standing on the bricks, and I inadvertently moved them. The bricks came down with a rattle, and unfortunately i

store, while I heard the sound of Laputa and Henriques ferreting among the barrels. I managed to throttle Colin and prevent him b

hat occurred to me. I pulled Colin over the trap, rolled on the

n was thrown on the wall. It flew up and down

nriques say. 'The swine was lis

said. 'He is here. He is s

my snores. I felt that a lantern was flashed on me, and that the two men were peering down at the heap on the half-opened trap. I think that

was only the rats among the barrels.' I thanked my Maker that they had not notic

to have caught

'I've told you I'll have no more murder.

nd got to my feet with an aching side where the confounded lid of the trap had been pressing. There

specially I mentioned Dupree's Drift on the Letaba. I added that I was going to the Rooirand to find the secret of the cave, and in one final sentence impl

was flooded with moonlight, and the window stood open, as I had left it in the afternoon. As softly as I could I s

l but changed my plans. I thought of slipping back to the outhouse and trying to shoot the two men as they came forth. But I reflected that, before I could get them both, one or other would probabl

s to dull my tread. There, tied up to a merula tree, were two of the finest beasts I had seen in Africa. I selected the better, an Africander stallion of the blaauw-schim

ou,' I said. 'Home, old man, as if

f buck, famous

id again, pointing west in the direc

e on me and the blue roan. Then he turned, and with his head down set of

saddle, riding hell-for-leathe