A Frontier Mystery Part 38

"Yes. There are only a couple of huts there, and I don't think there's any way out, that side. Oh--What is that?"

The words came out in a sort of shriek. As ill luck would have it she had turned and caught sight of the remains of the other two victims.

She covered her face with her hands.

"Oh take me out of this horrible place. Now I begin to see," and she shivered all over.

"Be brave now, darling," I whispered. "We will go at once. I didn't want you to see that, but--it's only a way they have of burying their dead," I added under a swift inspiration that a lie of that sort was highly expedient, and even then I don't think she more than half believed me.

Jan Boom the while, together with Kendrew, had been acting in a thoroughly practical manner, by way of rendering the situation more secure. They had tied the three prisoners together by the leg, in addition to their other bonds, and this was as well, for the pair who had been stunned were showing signs of returning consciousness. Then we held a council of war. It was arranged that Jan Boom was to return with Aida and myself to my place, thence he was to take one of the horses and ride straight on to Major Sewin's and return with the police. The while Kendrew and Falkner would remain, and mount guard over the prisoners.

"Mind you sing out loud enough when you come back, Jan," said Falkner meaningly. "Because we are going to blow the head off the very first n.i.g.g.e.r that happens to poke his nose in upon us through either of those holes, and that without warning too."

The Xosa grinned broadly.

"No fear, I'll sing out, sir," he said in English. "But you look after Ukozi. Witch doctor d.a.m.n smart n.i.g.g.a. Plaps he get away."

"If he does he's welcome to," rejoined Falkner, poking the muzzle of his pistol against the shaven head of the princ.i.p.al prisoner, who having now recovered consciousness was staring stupidly about him. "Eh, my buck?

But we won't cheat the hangman in your case, no fear."

I was unspeakably glad on Aida's account, to find ourselves through the horrid tunnel-like way by which we had entered, and out in the wholesome night air again. She seemed none the worse for her adventures, and was wonderfully plucky. She never could feel anything but safe with me, she declared.

The way was much easier now in the clear moonlight than when we had come, under the light of the stars, and as we walked she told me as well as she was able, what had befallen her on the afternoon of her solitary walk. When I chided her for undertaking a solitary walk she answered that she could not imagine harm overtaking her with so powerful a protector as Arlo.

"I don't know why," she went on, "but I felt a half unconscious inclination to go over that way we came together that evening before you went. Suddenly I discovered that Arlo was no longer with me. I called him but he didn't come. This was strange, so I turned back, still calling him. Then I saw him lying as if he was dead, and bending over him were two natives. They started up at the sound of my voice, and I recognised Ivondwe and the witch doctor."

"Ivondwe? Ah!" I interrupted, for a new light had now struck me.

"Yes. Go on."

"They called to me to come--and I advanced, dreadfully concerned about poor Arlo, and then I don't know how it was, whether some instinct warned me, or whether it was a look I saw pa.s.s between them, but--I acted like an idiot. I turned and ran. You see, I lost my head completely."

For answer I pressed the hand that rested on my arm closer to my side.

"Well, and what then?" I said.

"As soon as I began to run they came after me. As I say--I had lost my head completely, and hardly knew where I was going. Then, suddenly, I found myself on the brink of the waterhole; in fact I had nearly fallen into it. I turned, and the two were right upon me. 'Why had I run away?' they asked. 'There was surely nothing to be afraid of. Surely I knew them both well enough. My dog was lying there dead and they had been trying to see what they could do for him.'

"I was unaccountably frightened, and dreadfully out of breath after the run. I felt half faint. Then just as I began to think I had behaved like a fool something was thrown over my head from behind, something that seemed saturated with some particularly overpowering and nauseous drug. Then I became unconscious, and only recovered when I found myself at the place we have just come from--or rather in a small kraal in a hollow just above it."

"And you have been there all the time. Aida, you are sure they have not injured you?"

"Oh yes. On the contrary they were quite deferential, the witch doctor especially. He told me my presence was necessary for a certain time on account of an important rain-making ceremony he was engaged in. After that I should be taken home again. Well I thought it advisable to make a virtue of necessity, and conciliate them. I even began to enter into the adventure of the thing, and supposed I was going to witness some quaint and rare native superst.i.tion. Another thing. The drug that at first overpowered me had left a strange effect--I believe it is a little upon me still. It was a sort of half drowsy apathetic feeling, as if it was too much trouble to think about anything. The women there took care of me, great care; they were Ukozi's wives they said. Well, this evening he came to me and said the moon was right, and with my help, he had accomplished all he wanted, and it would soon rain abundantly. The time had come to take me home and he would guide me there. Do you know, he can talk English quite well?"

"No--by Jove I didn't. He's kept it remarkably dark hitherto. Yet he wasn't talking English when you appeared."

"No he wasn't. I've got to understand them rather well by this time.

Well, then you all burst out upon us and here I am."

"Thank G.o.d for that!" I said fervently. "There's another, too, of whom the same holds good, Jan Boom here."

The Xosa, who was walking a little ahead of us, paused at the sound of his name and waited for us.

"_Nkose_," he said, speaking in the vernacular. "Did you promise to tell me before three moons were dead, whether you were sorry you had kept me in your service or not?"

"That I did, Jan Boom, and you know the answer. Nor will you find me forgetful--_impela_!"

"_Nkose_!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed and walked on.

"I have yet to get the whole mystery out of him," I said in a low tone, "but for that I must wait his own time."

There was another "time" for which I meant to wait. Not yet would I reveal to Aida the horrible fate to which the repulsive superst.i.tion of the witch doctor had consigned her. That she would learn in due course.

At present I wanted her to recover completely from the effects of her experience.

It was close upon dawn when we reached my place, and as I attended to the refreshment and comfort of my love, after her trying and perilous experience, it was as a foretaste of the future. Her people would be here as soon as they could possibly arrive, meanwhile she was under my care. And she needed sleep.

Tom, now cut loose from his night's bonds, but none the worse, came up looking very sulky and foolish, and muttering vengeance against the Xosa, who for his part cared not a straw for such. A judicious present however soon altered that mood, and I believe he would have been quite willing to undergo the same treatment over again on the same terms, and bustled about making himself generally useful with renewed zest.

Ah, how fair arose that morning's dawn. All that I held precious--my whole world as it were--lay peacefully sleeping within that hut, and while I kept guard outside, half fearing lest again that priceless gem should be stolen from its casket, an overwhelming rush of intense thankfulness surged deep through my heart. What had I done--what could I ever do--to deserve such a gift, now valued, if possible, a hundredfold by reason of the awful agony and blank of a temporary loss?

Far down in the river-bed lay waves of fleecy mist, and the rising sun gilded the heights with his early splendour. Birds piped and flashed among the dewy bush sprays, and the low of cattle and bark of a dog from a distant kraal floated upward. All was fair and bright and peaceful-- and within--my love still slept on, serene, quiet, secure.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE DEW.

Aida looked none the worse for her adventures as she came forth into the clear freshness of the morning. The lethargic effect of the drug seemed to have left her entirely, and she was quite her old self, bright, sunny, fascinating as ever. But scarcely had we begun to talk than we saw three persons approaching on horseback.

"They haven't lost much time coming for you," I said, as I made out the rest of the family. "And I wanted you all to myself a little longer."

"You mustn't say that, dear," she answered, with a return pressure from the hand I was holding. "They are perhaps just a little bit fond of me too."

"Hallo, Glanton," sung out the Major, breathless with excitement, as he rode up. "What the d.i.c.kens is this c.o.c.k and bull yarn your fellow has been spinning us. I can't make head or tail of it and I didn't stop to try. Anyhow, there's my little girl again all safe and sound. She is safe and sound? Eh?"

"Absolutely, father," answered Aida, for herself. And then there was a good deal of bugging and kissing all round, and some crying; by the way, it seems that the women, dear creatures, can't be brought to consider any ceremony complete unless they turn on the hose; for they turn it on when they're happy, just as readily as when they're not. For instance-- there we were, all jolly together again--what the deuce was there to cry about? Yet cry they did.

I had breakfast set out in the open on the shady side of the store, with the broad view of the Zulu country lying beneath in the distance, and they declared it reminded them of that memorable time when the _contre temps_ as to Tyingoza's head-ring had befallen. And then when Aida had given her adventures once more in detail, through sheer reaction we were all intensely happy after the dreadful suspense and gloom of the last three days. At length it was I who proposed we should make a move down, for it would be as well to be on hand when the others returned with the police and the prisoners.

"By Jove, Glanton, but you were right when you advised me to have nothing to do with that rascally witch doctor," said the Major, as we rode along. "One consolation. I suppose he's bound to be hung. Eh?"

"That depends on how we work the case," I said. "And it'll take a great deal of working."

Hardly had we returned than the others arrived, bringing the three prisoners, and two more in the shape of the women of whom Aida had told us. These however were kept entirely separate from Ukozi and his companions. No conversation between them was allowed.

Ukozi was sullen and impa.s.sive, but the younger prisoners glared around with a savage scowl which deepened as it rested on Falkner. He for response only grinned.

"All right my bucks," he said. "There's a rope and a long drop sticking out for you. By George, but this has been a ripping bit of fun for one night."

"That's all right," I said rather shortly. "But you might remember that the reason for it hasn't been fun by any means."