Following his direction, the whole party emerged one after another from the hut, and crawled on their hands and knees among the dwarf shrubs which lay scattered over the ground, until they had reached Kobo's cottage, which was on the outskirts of the village. Here they found their guns, belts, and flasks, carefully hidden away under a heap of weeds. Having possessed themselves of these, they again hurried on, keeping within the cover of the wood, until they were at least half a mile from the Bechuana village; when the wooded covert gave place to an open plain overspread with large stones, and now and then patches of thorn. "Get on as fast as we can," was Kobo's direction now. "Too far from kraal for Bechuanas to follow to-night." "And to-morrow they will none of them be in a condition to undertake any long journey, I expect," observed Nick. "Rainmaker not drunk. He keep sober," said Kobo. "Very likely he gone to hut to see all safe, and find all gone!" added the savage with a chuckle. "But he no know which way to follow in dark. Not follow till to-morrow." "You have managed very cleverly, Kobo," said Wilmore; "but I must say I wonder this wizard, or rainmaker, or whatever you call him, consented to leave us in your charge." "He not do that," answered Kobo, "only he could not help it. I know how plague broke out among Dalili's cows. I see rainmaker putting bad stuff into their sides with a little knife. He know that I saw him, and he 'fraid to speak against Kobo, for fear Kobo speak against him. Rainmaker bad man. Look, you see that big ant-hill there close by?" "Yes, we see it plain enough," answered Warley, with a shudder. "That where rainmaker fasten Patoto 'bout six months ago. Patoto strong brave man, favourite with Chuma. Maomo jealous. He pretend Patoto bewitch people. Nyzee, Chuma's young wife, very sick, Maomo say Patoto bewitched her, and Nyzee believe it and persuade Chuma. Patoto say it no true, but no one believe him. He sentenced to same death as White Prophet. Kobo saw him fastened to ant-hill. Six strong posts driven into ground. Patoto's feet tied with rheims to two; his hands to two more; broad rhinoceros straps fastened to other two over Patoto's belly. They strip him naked first, for why--no good to leave clothes on him, ants eat--" "I understand, Kobo," exclaimed Warley, interrupting the horrible narrative, which he could not endure to hear. "But why did not you set him at liberty, as you have set us?" "Eh! Patoto only black man--not like White Prophet," answered Kobo, coolly; "besides, chief set men to watch, for fear Patoto himself get away when ant begin to eat--"