The Golden Rock Part 47

"It is the wizard; the same who came to the kraal after the lion sprang over. They go in couples."

"It may be the same," muttered Hume; "what do you say, Sirayo?"

"I know not," said the Zulu gloomily, "for the ways of those men are dark; but there are people afoot; I can hear them now."

There was a long spell of silence after this, as they listened, with a feeling at their hearts that if there were people moving it was in search of them.

"Eweh! it is true!" broke in Klaas; "they are men on the war-trail, and they sing of battles."

"I hear nothing," said Laura, trembling.

"Nor I," growled Webster.

"Neither do I," said Hume; "but these men do. If they sing, however, they must be halting round their fires, and if they are after us there is nothing to fear now; but we must shift our quarters before we are trapped. What do you say, Sirayo?"

"Yebo, we must fly to the mountain and hide. No man can live long in these reeds, and a woman would be quickly struck down by the sickness."

"Yes, we must reach the mountains."

"What!" said Webster; "at first we fly to the reeds, to escape the people on the hills--people we cannot see; and now you ask us to fly to the mountains to escape people we cannot hear. It seems to me we are dodging shadows."

"You are right," said Hume wearily; "for what but a shadow could have stolen in like this man did just now while I watched and listened? For all we know he may have returned."

"Don't!" gasped Laura; "when I look round I see eyes staring at me, and in every noise I hear a footstep. It is horrible, this place, and the air seems heavy."

"Let us get out, then," said Webster; "but it is a mystery to me why we should have entered a place which is now considered to be a trap."

"It is no use discussing the matter; let us quickly get our traps together;" and suiting the action to the word, Hume rolled up his blanket. Luckily the bundles containing the kits were still intact.

Soon they were all ready, and then they followed Hume deeper into the reeds, until one of the numerous game tracks was crossed, upon which they followed it to the edge, coming out about two hundred yards below the spot where they entered. Then, treading softly to leave no spoor, they advanced for a considerable distance, when the pace was quickened up the rising and rock-strewn ground. And now they were out in the open they heard, unmistakably, the murmur of many voices, and caught, afar off, on the edge of the reeds, the reflection of fires. Their fears at once saw enemies seated about those fires, and gave them energy to pursue their way. Gradually the ground grew rougher, the incline more steep; but Sirayo unerringly kept to a ridge that wound tortuously up among valleys whose growing depth could only be felt. Up and up they went doggedly, with bodies bent forward to the incline, and the two friends took Laura each by an arm, and always spurring them on came the faint echo of that deep-throated war-chant.

"I can go no further," said Laura presently, with her hand to her side.

"Rest awhile," said Hume gently; and she sank to the ground, while the men stood near drawing deep breaths.

"The sun is soon up," said Sirayo, "and the watchers on the mountain will see us."

Webster thrust his gun into Hume's hands, and, picking her up, went staggering on a few ineffectual yards.

"Thank you," she said, as she sank to the ground, and at the words Hume recalled the stinging rebuff he had received when he had lifted her in his arms on the _Swift_. Time and the alarms of many dangers had since then tamed her spirit to indifference as to the degree of respect due to her, and she would not have revolted had the Gaika carried her; but Hume read in her thanks a deeper meaning.

"The horizon on the east is brightening, and in an hour there will be light. Let us find shelter, and rest the day," he said.

"Go on," she said; "but as for me, I will stay here."

"And I, too," said Webster.

"Stay, Klaas," said Hume quietly; then went off with Sirayo up the ridge.

"He has left you to me," murmured Webster.

"I am content," she said; "his energy tires me."

"I care not, if we are together."

"The baas has gone to find a hiding-place; he will return," said Klaas.

"Of course," said Webster bitterly; "it is of our safety he is thinking, and the mischief is that I am completely helpless in my ignorance."

"I am too tired to talk," she muttered; and he sat looking out over the dark expanse to a light in the eastern sky.

In a few minutes Hume and Sirayo were back again.

"There is a place above here where we can halt against the shelter of a precipice, which will screen us from any people above. It is but a short distance."

"It is so restful here," she said.

"Persuade her," he said, turning to Webster.

"I have not the will, even if I had the privilege," he replied; "she is tired."

"Come," said Hume harshly; "this is no time to be nice. We can take no risks, and must reach the shelter."

She rose up, and disdaining any offer of help, walked on; and so, in silence, they continued until the precipice was reached. Here among some huge boulders they spread their blankets, and in a minute Laura and the two blacks were in deep slumber.

"Sleep, Frank," said Webster; "you will wear yourself out."

"So much the better for you," he said.

"Look here, Frank, you are the leader, and I follow you with my eyes shut; but heavens above, man, my helplessness breeds in me a feeling of desperation, which finds vent now and again in bad humour. You must bear with me."

"Ay, and what of myself? I have brought you all here, and am answerable for your safety. That is anxiety enough without the additional weight of your ill humour and her dislike."

"It will be all right when the morning breaks; now sleep, my lad."

Frank stretched himself out and Webster remained on guard till the dawn broke in a red glory, and the heavy mists began to roll up from the river. Then Sirayo and Klaas arose and went away to a fountain, which gurgled from the rock, to wash the sleep from their eyes, and to polish their white teeth with bits of stick. Then one of them made a fire with dry sticks, trusting to the curling wraiths of mist to hide the slight smoke, and the other filled the kettle. They built up a screen of rocks to hide the blaze, then sat down to warm their hands and feet. Then Hume woke, and when the coffee was ready Laura stirred under her blanket and lifted her head to look around.

"For heaven's sake, Laura," said Webster, "do go and wash that hideous mask from your face! It is a nightmare."

"Thank you," she said stiffly, but, nevertheless, was prompt to take the hint, Webster leading her to the fountain, while Hume looked after them with a sigh. His face had a worn and anxious look, and his cheeks seemed to have suddenly hollowed.

"Laura," said Webster gravely; "we did not behave well to Frank last night, and he feels it deeply. Be kind to him."

She looked at him with a flash in her eyes. "You presume too much," she said coldly; but, nevertheless, on returning to the fire, she took her place next to Hume, and treated him with a winning deference that soon smoothed the lines from his face.

Then they sat and watched the mist fade and the country below appear suddenly fresh and brilliant in the soft light, and presently, as they looked, they saw a band of warriors move quickly along the edge of the reeds. In the clear light they were plainly seen even to the colour of their shields, and it was noticed that at intervals small bodies broke away to enter the reeds, while the rest followed the lead of a solitary warrior who went ahead.

"They are hunting," said Hume.