"He is out after the cattle, _Nkose_," answered Tom, rather glumly I thought. But I paid no attention to this, because Tom had taken it into his head to be rather jealous of Jan Boom of late, as a newcomer and an alien who seemed to be rather more in his master's confidence than he had any right to be--from Tom's point of view. "Well, wait a bit," I said. "Here comes another _Nkose_, Nyamaki's nephew. You can take his horse at the same time." Kendrew came racing up as if he were riding for his life. "You back, Glanton?" he cried, as he flung himself off his panting, dripping steed. "Well, that's a devilish good job. I say. What does this mean?" "What does what mean?" "Man! Haven't you heard? They sent for me post-haste this morning. Knew you were away." "Quit jaw, Kendrew, and tell me what the devil's the row," I said roughly, for some horrible fear had suddenly beset me. "Miss Sewin. She's disappeared," he jerked forth. "What?" I have an idea that I articulated the word, though speech stuck in my throat I felt myself go white and cold, and strong healthy man that I was, the surroundings danced before my eyes as though I were about to swoon. I remember too, that Kendrew ground his teeth with pain under the grip that I had fastened upon his shoulder. "What do you say? Disappeared?" I gasped forth again. "How? When?" I heard him as through a mist as he told me how the afternoon before she had gone for a walk alone with her dog. It was towards sundown. She had not returned, and a search had been instituted, with the result that her dog had been found dead not very far from the waterhole, but of her no trace remained. "My God, Glanton," he ended up. "Buck up, man. Pull yourself together or you'll go clean off your chump. Buck up, d'you hear!" I daresay I had a look that way, for I noticed Tom staring at me as if he contemplated taking to his heels. "I'm on my way down there now," said Kendrew. I nodded. I couldn't speak just then somehow. I went into the house, slung on a heavy revolver, and crammed a handful of cartridges into my pocket. Then I remounted, Kendrew doing likewise, and so we took our way down that rocky bush path at a pace that was neither wise nor safe. "Is that all they have to go upon?" I said presently, as soon as I had recovered my voice. "That's all--I gather from the old man's note. I say, Glanton, what can be behind it all? It seems on all fours with my old uncle taking himself off. I'm beginning to think now there's some infernal foul play going on among the niggers round us."