These two were fortunately exempt from the crowding and discomfort of the laagers, through the fact that the house owned by the absent Bateman was situated within about a stone's throw of one of the latter. Should occasion really arise, they would, of course, be obliged to take refuge therein; but in the mean time they could afford to ignore unsubstantiated scares, for there were not wanting those who made it-- literally in some instances--a labour of love to keep extra and special watch over this particular household. Moseley and Tarrant, for instance, who were among the defenders of the township; Carbutt, the tall, good-looking man who had figured prominently in the fight at Jekyll's Store; and several others. Leave it to them, had been their assurance. If real necessity arose, they would see to it that the two ladies should be within the laager in ample time. Meanwhile they need take no notice of the ordinary regulation scare, but just sit still in peace and quietness. They were thus sitting a few days after Nidia's return, when the latter startled her friend by an apparently insane proposal. "Let's go for a bike ride, Susie; a real good long one." "Great Heavens! Is the child mad? Why, we'd run into those hateful black wretches before we'd gone a couple of miles. They're all round us thick as bees. Why, we could see them no further than Government House only this morning." "That's just the way I wanted to go. It would be such fun to see how near we could get, and then skim away downhill again. They'd look so sold." "Haven't you had enough of that sort of thing yet, Nidia? If I had been through one-tenth of what you have, I'd never want to go adventuring any more." "Perhaps I've contracted a taste that way now," was the reply, with a weariful laugh. "But anything rather than sit still as we are doing. I want a little excitement--a stirring up." The other stared in wild amazement. Was the child really going off her head? she thought again. But a knock on the open door announced the advent of visitors, and lo! two men bronzed and coatless, according to the fashion in Rhodesia, swept off their broad-brimmed hats and entered. They were, in fact, Tarrant and Carbutt, and at sight of them Nidia brightened up somewhat. "Well, and what's the latest in the way of scares?" she began, after the exchange of greetings. "None at present, Miss Commerell," replied Carbutt. "Things are slack. We shall have to go and have another slap at the niggers up yonder, to keep the rust off. They are getting altogether too cheeky, squatting around Government House its very self." "That'll make a little excitement," said Nidia. "We can watch your deeds of derring-do from here through the glasses." "Heavens, no!" said Mrs Bateman, with fervour. "I don't want to see or hear anything more of those dreadful wretches, except that they've all been shot."