"Well you ought to know something about native superstitions, Mr Glanton," he said. "Yet this seems a strange one, and utterly without motive to boot." "I know enough about native superstitions to know that I know nothing," I answered. "I know this, that those exist which are not so much as suspected by white men, and produce actions which, as you say, seem utterly without motive." "If we could only lay claw on this witch doctor," he said, thoughtfully. "Yes indeed. But he'll take uncommonly good care that we can't." "Meanwhile I propose to arrest this boy on suspicion, for I find that he couldn't have been very far from where Miss Sewin was last seen, at the time." "Ivondwe?" "That's his name. It may only be a coincidence mind--but you remember old Hensley's disappearance?" "Rather." "Well this Ivondwe was temporarily doing some cattle herding for Hensley at the time, filling another man's place. It certainly is a coincidence that another mysterious disappearance should take place, and he right at hand again." "It certainly is," I agreed. "But Ivondwe has been here for months, and I've known him for years. There isn't a native I've a higher opinion of." "For all that I'm going to arrest him. It can do no harm and may do a great deal of good. But first I'll ask him a few questions." Inspector Manvers was colonial born and could speak the native language fluently. I warned him of Ivondwe's acquaintance with English in case he should say anything in an aside to me. To every question, Ivondwe answered without hesitation. He had been looking after the cattle, yonder, over the rise, at the time, much too far off to have heard or seen anything. Had he been near, the dog would have kept him off. The dog was always unfriendly towards him. "Where is Ukozi?" asked the inspector. The question was met by a deprecatory laugh. "Where is the bird that flew over our heads a few hours ago?" asked Ivondwe. "I would remind the chief of the _Amapolise_ that the one question is as easy to answer as the other. A great _isanusi_ such as Ukozi does not send men before him crying aloud his movements." "That we shall see," said the inspector. "Meanwhile Ivondwe, you are arrested and must go with us." "Have I not searched the depths of yonder pool?" was Ivondwe's unconcerned remark. "Ask these." "Well, you are a prisoner, and if you make any attempt to escape you will be shot without challenge." Then turning to me. "Now I think we had better continue our search down to the river bank. I need hardly tell you, Mr Glanton, how I sympathise with you, but we must not lose hope yet. People do strange and unaccountable things at times-- generally the last people in the world who would be likely to do them. We shall find Miss Sewin yet." "Have you found Hensley yet?" I said bitterly. He looked grave. The cases were too startlingly akin.