"Mind you sing out loud enough when you come back, Jan," said Falkner meaningly. "Because we are going to blow the head off the very first nigger that happens to poke his nose in upon us through either of those holes, and that without warning too." The Xosa grinned broadly. "No fear, I'll sing out, sir," he said in English. "But you look after Ukozi. Witch doctor damn smart nigga. Plaps he get away." "If he does he's welcome to," rejoined Falkner, poking the muzzle of his pistol against the shaven head of the principal prisoner, who having now recovered consciousness was staring stupidly about him. "Eh, my buck? But we won't cheat the hangman in your case, no fear." I was unspeakably glad on Aida's account, to find ourselves through the horrid tunnel-like way by which we had entered, and out in the wholesome night air again. She seemed none the worse for her adventures, and was wonderfully plucky. She never could feel anything but safe with me, she declared. The way was much easier now in the clear moonlight than when we had come, under the light of the stars, and as we walked she told me as well as she was able, what had befallen her on the afternoon of her solitary walk. When I chided her for undertaking a solitary walk she answered that she could not imagine harm overtaking her with so powerful a protector as Arlo. "I don't know why," she went on, "but I felt a half unconscious inclination to go over that way we came together that evening before you went. Suddenly I discovered that Arlo was no longer with me. I called him but he didn't come. This was strange, so I turned back, still calling him. Then I saw him lying as if he was dead, and bending over him were two natives. They started up at the sound of my voice, and I recognised Ivondwe and the witch doctor." "Ivondwe? Ah!" I interrupted, for a new light had now struck me. "Yes. Go on." "They called to me to come--and I advanced, dreadfully concerned about poor Arlo, and then I don't know how it was, whether some instinct warned me, or whether it was a look I saw pass between them, but--I acted like an idiot. I turned and ran. You see, I lost my head completely." For answer I pressed the hand that rested on my arm closer to my side. "Well, and what then?" I said. "As soon as I began to run they came after me. As I say--I had lost my head completely, and hardly knew where I was going. Then, suddenly, I found myself on the brink of the waterhole; in fact I had nearly fallen into it. I turned, and the two were right upon me. `Why had I run away?' they asked. `There was surely nothing to be afraid of. Surely I knew them both well enough. My dog was lying there dead and they had been trying to see what they could do for him.'