We had done dinner, and this proposal seemed to find favour, for a move was made accordingly. We went out we four, for Mrs Sewin was afraid to stir and the Major remained in with her. Nearer and nearer the roar of the rain cloud approached, though as yet not a drop had fallen over us. Again the blue lightning leaped forth, simultaneously with another appalling crash, cutting short a wrangle which had got up between Falkner and Edith Sewin, and ending it in a little squeal on the part of the latter. But already I had seized my opportunity, under cover of the racket. "That question I was asking you to-day when we were interrupted," I whispered to my companion. "It was not answered." Then came the flash. In the blue gleam, bright as noon-day, I could see the beautiful, clear cut face turned upwards, as though watching the effect, with calm serenity. Through the thunder roar that followed I could still catch the words. "The answer is--Yes. Will that satisfy you?" And a hand found mine in a momentary pressure. Thus amid black darkness and lightning and storm our troth was plighted. An ill omen? I thought not. On the contrary, it seemed appropriate to my case; for in it much of a hard but healthy life had been passed amid rude exposure to the elements, and that I should have secured the happiness--the great happiness--of my life amid the battling forces of the said elements seemed not unfitting. The vast rain cloud went whooping along the river-bed, gleaming in starry sparkle as the lightning beams stabbed it, but not a drop fell upon us. The storm had passed us by. CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. THE WITCH DOCTOR AGAIN. From the moment that Aida Sewin and I had become engaged life was, to me, almost too good to live. As I have said, I was no longer young, and now it seemed to me that my life up till now had been wasted, and yet not, for I could not but feel intensely thankful that I had kept it for her. I might have been "caught young," and have made the utter mess of life in consequence that I had seen in the case of many of my contemporaries, but I had not, and so was free to drink to the full of this new found cup of happiness. And full it was, and running over. Of course I didn't intend to remain on at Isipanga. The trading and knockabout days were over now. I would buy a good farm and settle down, and this resolve met with Aida's entire approval. She had no more taste for a town life than I had myself. The only thing she hoped was that I should find such a place not too far from her people. "The fact is I don't know how they'll ever get on without you," she said one day when we were talking things over. "They are getting old, you see, and Falkner isn't of much use, between ourselves. I doubt if he ever will be."