By the time they gained their resting-place, the remote hollow in which we have seen them, Lamont found himself most piteously ill; indeed it seemed to matter but little to him whether the constant clamourings for his death should be acceded to or not. He had almost ceased to care whether he lived or died. Seeing him sink lower and lower Zwabeka shook his head and muttered. Over and above the advantage it would be when the rising had failed, to be able to say to the Government, "Look now--here is one of your commanders, who led against us. I have taken care of him, when the people would have slain him. Have I not? Ask him." Over and above this, we say, he had expected substantial reward at the hands of the man himself. And now the man would not get well, seeming to prefer to die. The native doctors--not necessarily despicable in cases known to them-- had been able to do nothing. Zwabeka was puzzled. Just then, however, his luck seemed to turn. Some of his people who had been out, partly on a scout, partly maraud, brought him some news. In the result he went straight to the bedside--or rather blanket side--of his prisoner. "Hearken, Lamonti," he began, when the guard had got outside with alacrity and a respectful salute. "You are not yet tired of life?" "Almost," was the wan reply. "But why?" "I can get you one of your own doctors. Will you send him word to come?" Lamont stared, half raising himself. "But--it is war time, or--has peace been made?" "Not so. But he shall come and go in safety." The other thought for a moment. Then he said--"I dare not do it, Zwabeka. You are chief of many, but not of the whole nation. If the man should come to harm at the hands of others, would not I have lured him to his death? Who is he?" "_Au_! He cannot come to harm--Qubani says so," said the chief impatiently. "It is the doctor who came with you, and slept at my kraal." Lamont started. Father Mathias! But then he was not a doctor, not in the sense the chief had meant. Well, no matter. It would be good to see once more a friendly face, to press a friendly hand. "Where is he?" he asked eagerly. "Will you send for him?" returned the chief. "_Au_! he will be in no danger. He is a good doctor and has cured several of Madula's people. He is there now." That settled Lamont. If the priest was right among the hostile natives already, why then he would be just as safe here as there, if not safer. It seemed too from Zwabeka's words that he possessed some knowledge of medicine. The chief now saw he had gained his point. Calling up two of the men who were on guard, he ordered them to listen carefully to Lamont's words and remember them, and to aid them in this Lamont managed to find an old scrap of tattered envelope, and scratch two or three words on it. "You are a true friend, Zwabeka," he said, when they were alone together again. "_Au_! we have been friends, but men forget friendship when there is war. But--not you."