"Quite that. As you say, it is an abominable waste, and if ever the time comes when we shall sorely need every one of those cartridges for our own defence--" "Oh, now you're croaking again, old chap," interrupted Inglefield; while his spouse remarked-- "Faugh! I'd as soon be a slaughter-house butcher at once. Sooner." "Somebody must do it, you know, Mrs Inglefield," replied John Ames, placidly. "If the job were turned over to natives they'd waste five times the number of cartridges, and the poor beasts would suffer all the more." "Suppose we change this very unpleasant subject," she remarked, looking pointedly at him, quite ignoring the fact that it had been started by her husband, and she it was who had done the most towards keeping it going. "Policeman he want to see Inkose." The interruption proceeded from one of the two small boys who acted as waiters, and who had just entered. "Tell him to wait until I've done dinner, Piccanin," replied Inglefield, placidly. "It may be something important," hazarded John Ames. "Oh, it'll keep till after dinner," was the airy rejoinder. "Er--which policeman is it, Piccanin?" "Big policeman, 'Nkose; him name Nanzicele. Him come up from barracks now." The men's quarters--which, by the way, were not barracks but native huts--lay about three hundred yards below those occupied by their officer. "Then tell `him' to go back to them again, and wait until I've done dinner," replied Inglefield, briskly; for he was of an obstinate turn, besides instinctively resenting anything like interference on the part of his brother official. The small boy retired, and for a moment voices were heard outside. Then there entered--Nanzicele. "Great Caesar!" cried Inglefield, reddening. "What the devil do you mean, sir, by disobeying orders? Go back to the barracks at once! Here, _Puma! Hambasuka_! Footsack!" But ignoring the pointing finger of his irate superior, Nanzicele took one step to the side--leaving the door clear--and, standing at attention, ejaculated in loud and sonorous tones-- "_Baba--'Nkose_!"