Adventure, February 1917 — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

164 AS IT happened my specuictiads. RAD if I really indulged in any at that ? time, were suddenly extinguished by the bursting of the storm. It was of the usual character, short but very violent. Adventure ~~ Of a sudden the sky became alive with lightnings and the atmosphere with the roar of winds. One flash struck a tree quite near the kraal, and I saw that tree seem to melt in its fiery embrace, while about where it had been, rose a column of dust from the ground beneath. The horses were so frightened that luckily they stood quite quiet, as I have often known animals to do in such circumstances. Then came the rain, a torrential rain as I, who was out in it holding the horses, became painfully aware. It thinned a little after a while as the storm rolled away. Suddenly in a silence between the tre- mendous echoes of the passing thunder I thought that I heard ‘voices somewhere on the brow of the slope, and as the horses were now quite calm, I crept through the trees to that part of the enclosure which I judged to be nearest to them. Voices they were sure enough, and of the Basutos who were pursuing us. What was more, they were coming down the slope. The ‘top of the old wall reached almost to my chin. Taking off my hat I thrust my head forward between two loose stones, that I might hear the better. The men were talking together in Sisutu. One, whom I took to be their captain, said to the others: “That white-headed old jackal, Macuma- -zahn, has given us the slip again. He doubled on his tracks and drove the horses down the hillside to the lower path in the valley. I could feel where the wheels went over the edge.” ~ “Tt is so, father,’ answered another voice, “but we shall catch him and the others at the bottom if we get there before the moon rises, since they cannot have moved far in this rain and darkness. Let me go first and guide you who know every tree and stone upon this slope where I used to herd cattle when I wasa child.” “Do so,” said the captain. “I can see nothing now the lightning has gone, and were it not that I have sworn to dip my spear in the blood of Macumazahn who has fooled us again, I would give up the hunt.” “T think it would be better to give it up in any case,” said a third voice, “‘since it is known throughout the land that no luck has ever come to those who tried to trap the Watcher-by-Night. Oh, he is a leopard who springs and kills and is gone again. How many are the throats in which his fangs have met. Leave him alone, I say, lest our fate should be that of the white doctor in the Yellow-wood swamp, he who set us on this hunt. We have his wagon and his cattle; let us be satisfied.”’ “YT will leave him alone when he sleeps for the last time, and not before,’”’ answered the captain, “‘he who shot my brother in the drift the other day. What would Sekukuni say if we let him escape to bring the Swazis on us? Moreover, we want that white maiden for a hostage in case the English © should attack us again. Come, ion who know the road, and lead us.’ There was some disturbance as this: man passed to the front. Then I heard the line move forward. Presently they were going by the wall within a foot or two of me. Indeed by ill-luck just as we were opposite to each other the captain stumbled and fell against the wall. ‘“‘There is an old cattle kraal here,” he said.. “What if those white rats have hidden in it?” I trembled as I heard the words. If a horse should neigh or make any noise that could be heard above the hiss of the rain! I did not dare to move for fear lest I should betray myself. There I stood so close to the Kaffirs that I could smell them and hear the rain pattering on their bodies. Only yery stealthily I drew my hunting knife with my right hand. At that moment the lightning, which I thought had quite gone by, flashed again for the last time, revealing the fat face of the Basuto captain within a foot of my own, for he was turned towards the wall on which one of his hands rested. Moreover, the blue and ghastly light revealed mine to him thrust forward between the two stones, my eyes glaring at him. “The head: of a dead man is set upon the wall!’’ he cried ip terror. “It is the ghost of——”’ He got no further, for as the last words | passed his lips I drove the knife at him with all my strength deep into his throat. He fell back into the arms of his followers, and next instant I heard the sound of many feet rushing in terror down the hill. What became of him I do not know, but if he still MUELNOOLKS (c@ a (F@