Forging the Blades Part 2

The mystery deepened. The new arrival was conscious of a very uncanny, not to say awe-inspiring effect in the piercing, unfriendly glance from the other's eyes. The day had been a pretty eventful one and no mistake.

"Look here," he answered, in a burst of frankness. "This world's a devilish rum place, and I've lived long enough in it, and seen enough devilish rum sides of it, to have learnt enough to respect other people's secrets. So you may rely upon me when I give you the full undertaking you ask for."

The other nodded, then uttered a loud hail, in response whereto a native boy appeared, and having received a laconic direction soon reappeared, together with a large bowl of native beer.

"This is the best I can offer you. I don't know if you've ever tried it, but it's rather good, always provided it's fresh."

"Yes, I have once. Thanks awfully. Well, here's luck."

The effect on the wayfarer of this homely interchange of good-fellowship was that it seemed to put him and his strange and rather sinister host on a better footing. He took a big drink of the refreshing brew and set down the bowl. Then he lighted his pipe.

He was almost growing confidential under the influence of rest and refreshment. But it occurred to him that this strange being was unusually reticent. For instance, he had not even asked him his name or where he was from, or indeed anything. So taking his cue he confined himself to generalities, and, except that the other was rather laconic, some conversation became possible.

Finally supper appeared, in the shape of grilled beef on a woven gra.s.s mat, together with some roasted mealies, and a renewed supply of _tywala_. The new arrival did full justice to this, then suggested going to see after his horse.

"Oh, your horse is being well taken care of," answered his host.

"However, come and see for yourself."

As they stood up outside the stranger noticed that his host was a tall man, who, notwithstanding his apparent age, walked without a droop. At a word from him the three big dogs, which had sprung up from somewhere with a growl, slunk back again into silence. The horse was tied to a pole inside the fence, and had evidently been eating his fill of mealies.

"You'd better turn in in my hut. You'll find it a trifle more comfortable, perhaps, than turning in with one of the Zulus, and there's no spare hut."

"Why, thanks awfully. Of course I shall," was the hearty response.

The stranger woke early, and all the events of the previous day came back upon him. He was rid of an incubus, for which now, in the clear broad light of a cloudless and sparkling day he felt unfeignedly thankful, but his eccentric host--where was he? The mat on which he had slept was unoccupied. Oh, well! The other had got up earlier, that was all. He would follow suit.

Outside he found his host, in converse with a Zulu, not one of the three men who had met him on his arrival.

"Good-morning. I wonder how my horse is to-day," he said.

"He's about all right. I've had him led up and down, and he doesn't seem to show any limp. I'll send a man to guide you over the most difficult part of the way after breakfast. You needn't mistrust him, it's sufficient that you have been my guest."

It was all that the wayfarer could do to refrain from asking for his host's ident.i.ty, but something kept him from doing so; possibly he bore in mind that his said host had refrained from questioning him as to his.

They talked on commonplaces. But after breakfast, when his horse was saddled up and the guide stood waiting, his entertainer said--

"You didn't lose this yesterday, did you?" exhibiting a double-barrelled shotgun.

He was conscious of a slight paling, but hoped it had not been observed.

Yet at the same time he was perfectly certain it had.

"No," he answered.

"Ah, well. Then I'd better take charge of it until the owner turns up.

And, remember, you have given me your word." And the straight, piercing, compelling glance seemed to scorch.

"Why, of course I have, and you may rely upon my keeping it. Many thanks for your opportune hospitality. Good-bye."

The hand which he had put forth was taken coldly, almost limply.

"Good-bye," was the listless answer; the speaker turning away immediately, almost abruptly.

CHAPTER THREE.

THE GIRL.

The girl sang softly to herself as she worked. The said work was of the homeliest nature, being, in fact, the making of bread.

She looked up suddenly. A ray of the sun, coming round the angle of the house, had struck warm warning upon her uncovered head. Picking up the table on which were the implements of her occupation, she shifted it well into the shade. This involved no sort of an effort. Then, standing erect, she gazed forth upon the rolling waves of veldt which fell away in front.

She was a splendid specimen of womanhood: tall and square-shouldered, and built on generous lines, and if she had just missed being beautiful she was endowed with what was better--a rare power of attractiveness.

She had clear hazel eyes, heavily lashed, and when these spoke, together with the smile which displayed the strong white teeth, the face would light up in a way that was dangerously irresistible.

Out on the sunlit expanse in front nothing moved, unless an odd thread of smoke mounting lazily from two or three kraals could be counted. At the back broken ground ran immediately up, in the shape of a dark kloof, bushy and rock hung, cleaving the heart of a mountain range, whose crags and krantzes soared skyward above. Below stood Ben Halse's trading establishment, consisting of three or four native huts, a waggon shed, and two quite unpicturesque buildings of corrugated iron. One of these was used as a dwelling-house and store, the other as a stable, and in the shade of the former the girl was working. And she was Ben Halse's only daughter.

A lonely position this, for a girl, away in one of the wildest parts of Zululand. But Verna Halse never felt lonely. She was always busy, for she was her father's right hand, and no single detail of any branch of his somewhat ramificatory business was unknown to her. Moreover, she had interests, the nature of some of which we shall see into anon. And she was healthy in mind and body, and utterly unspoiled. As for the potentiality of danger attaching to the situation Verna would have broken into one of her frank, winning laughs if anybody had suggested such a thing. She knew abundantly how to take care of herself.

Now she called to a native servant, and bidding him go to the store and fetch another pannikin of flour, her thoughts reverted to her absent father.

"He'll enjoy this, all hot," she said to herself. "I'll make some of it into _roster-koekjes_ on the gridiron, Ah, there he is!"

But with the clink of stones a little way off arose the sound of native voices, deep-toned, sonorous. It was only some wandering Zulus, after all. Yet it was time he was back.

Three Zulus came into sight, filing along the narrow path which led past the store. Two saluted and pa.s.sed on, while he who walked foremost came leisurely up, and, halting, gave the girl greeting in a pleasant voice.

He was a magnificent sample of his race. Well over six feet, and built in proportion, he stood erect as a palm-tree, with a perfectly natural, because unconscious, dignity of mien and movement. Even from a European standpoint the man was extremely handsome, the high, intellectual forehead, and the l.u.s.trous clear eyes, with their frank, straight glance, giving to the well-formed face an air of composure and reliability. His skin was of a rich red copper colour, which rendered his short, pointed beard and the ring which crowned his shaven head the more jetty in contrast. For attire, besides the _mutya_, or kilt of catskins and hide, an ample kaross of dressed leopard skin was flung round him in graceful folds. It might have been noticeable that, unlike nearly all of his countrymen up to date, he wore no trace of European clothing or ornament.

"Where is U' Ben?" began the Zulu. This was Ben Halse's name among them, being, of course, an adaptation of his Christian name.

She told him, and then went on to talk--and she spoke the Zulu language fluently. This man, whose name was Sapazani, was the chief of one of the powerful septs which went to make up the Zulu nation, and which occupied the adjoining mountain fastnesses. He was on very friendly terms with Ben Halse, a fact which might yet stand the latter in good stead, for the secret heart of the nation was seething with unrest, although long since under British rule. Further, it ensured him the monopoly of a roaring trade.

"What is the news?" asked the chief at last.

"News?" echoed Verna, flashing at him a bright glance of merriment.

"Now what, I would ask, could have happened here that a great chief such as Sapazani would care to hear about?"

"That I know not, unless that it came from the lips of _Izibu_," he answered, with a merry twinkle in his eyes.

It is not as a rule respectful for a native to address the superior white by his or her nickname. But "Izibu"--meaning water-lily--Verna considered rather pretty and poetic, and did not discourage its use.

Moreover, she had been accustomed to natives all her life, and understood them thoroughly. She appreciated, too, the position of her father and herself among this once kingly race, where they dwelt in perfect security as to person and property, so much so that they never troubled to put a lock on anything, not even on the trading store. Now she laughed gaily at the compliment which had accompanied the use of the name, and went on chatting, easily, merrily, even banteringly--that to any one unaware of the stern and rigid line of demarcation in such matters, between white and coloured, which has ever saturated public opinion throughout South Africa, it might have seemed that she was carrying on a sort of mild flirtation with this splendid savage. The latter had produced his snuff-box, and was absorbing a portion of its contents in grave silence.

"But I am forgetting!" exclaimed Verna. "The day is hot, and a visitor must not go away without food and drink."

"Why, as to the last it will be good," answered the chief, with a sparkle in his fine eyes. "For the first, I am not hungry."

Herein again in this detail the man differed from his up-to-date countryman, who will seldom, if ever, refuse anything offered.