So he fancied. But was any man ever yet attracted _at once_ by a plain woman, simply _because_ she displayed courage, tenderness, or was visibly unhappy? Trace the cause to what source you please, our reflective, reasonable Frankfort could not banish Eleanor from his thoughts; and he found himself replying vaguely to some of her father's remarks, till the latter, as he put his horse into a canter, observed-- "This creature, you see, is perfectly trained; he is seldom ridden by any one but my daughter Eleanor, who is an excellent horsewoman." "Ah! he is Miss Daveney's favourite, is he?" said Frankfort, struck for the first time with the graceful action of the animal. "My daughter _Eleanor's_," said Mr Daveney--"Mrs Lyle's." "Mrs Lyle! I was not aware"--and a sudden glow suffused the manly face unused to blushing--"that--that the young lady was married." "She is a widow," answered Mr Daveney; and then he abruptly changed the subject, as, settling his reins, he directed Frankfort's attention to a wild pass on the left, in which he had once had an adventure with Kafirs. Married! a widow! so young! Frankfort was astonished--yet what was it to him?--His host evidently thought so too; for, having set him right as to his daughter's position, he began talking on other matters. Mr Daveney pointed out many a covert, whence, he said, probably some dark spirits were looking down on them, but unwilling to show themselves on the open plains. They soon sighted the vley; but it was necessary to be cautious in approaching it, in consequence of the dense bush with which it was partially bordered. The keen-eyed old Hottentot gave it as his opinion, that no body of Kafirs was concealed within, as the birds were swaying in the branches of the taller trees, and the ground showed no sign of fresh _spoor_ (track, footmarks). From the spot at which the party halted, only a portion of the vley was visible, and Mr Daveney was beginning to consider at which point they were to commence their reconnoitring operations, when Ormsby's bloodhound dashed into the copse, and came back whining and importunate. Both gentlemen dismounted, gave their horses to the Fingoes, and, despite the caution of the Hottentot, followed the beast into the bush, their arms ready. Klaas, seeing this, entered it with them; the dog leaped in, and the three creeping after him on hands and knees, Mr Daveney put aside a bough, and within a yard discovered Piet lying on his face--dead. They turned him over; he had been stabbed in the chest by an assegai, and had doubtless crawled into the thicket to die, for a bloody track crimsoned the green leaves beyond him. But where were May and Fitje and the child? Klaas scrambled through the copse as fast as he could, and the others, shocked at the sight, drew back instinctively.