Lamont expressed his concern for the chief's health, not believing a word of the above statement, and the messenger withdrew. Half an hour or so later they were reclining snugly in their blankets, beginning on the broiled birds and roast mealies by the light of an old waggon lantern the boy had rummaged out. "The only thing wanting is salt," pronounced Lamont. "However, just a grain of this makes a sort of substitute. Try it." He cut open one of his cartridges, which were made with black powder, and poured some of the latter out on to a piece of paper. "But it does. Why, what a perfect travelling companion you are, Mr Lamont. You provide us with the salt--with the poultry--with everything." Lamont laughed. "Oh, as to the last," aiming a whack at a native dog, which was skulking in at the open door with an eye to plunder, "I always carry a shot-gun when travelling across country. It is an easily portable larder. The whole land swarms with birds, and you need only get off and shoot if you want skoff. Once, when I first came up here, I was travelling, and my horse went lame when I was about three hours from anywhere. I was in a great state of starve. Then it suddenly occurred to me that the bush was full of clucking pheasants--why the deuce didn't I shoot one, light a fire and broil him? Well, I did, then and there. Ever since then I've always travelled with a shot-gun." "I, for one, am very glad of it, to-day especially," laughed the priest. "These birds are delicious." They did ample justice to the bowl of _tywala_ too, then lit their pipes, and lay chatting, at ease, the hollow roaring of the receding storm--or was it another approaching?--enhancing the sense of comfort within, under the influence of which conversation soon became disjointed. Father Mathias started as his half-smoked pipe dropped from his mouth, while his companion was already nodding. Both laughed. "I think we had better say good-night," said the latter. "For my part, I feel as if I could sleep till the crack of doom." The kraal was wrapped in silence, save for an indistinct hum here and there, where some of its occupants still carried on a lingering conversation. At last even it died away, and as hour followed hour the midnight silence was unbroken and profound.