"What does the old rascal say?" asked Tom, to whom the Caffre tongue was quite unintelligible. "Something unpleasant, I'll wager a dollar; he looks so precious satisfied with himself. Ugh, you hoary-headed, hardhearted old sinner!" he added, as the man left the hut. "He says that Colonel Somerset's troops have been totally defeated, and that the Caffre warriors are driving our countrymen into the sea," Frank replied with a slight smile. "Oh, hang it all! You must tell that to the marines!" exclaimed Tom; though at the same time a feeling of uneasiness came over him lest there should be a spice of truth in their jailer's report. "I don't believe a word of it! It cannot possibly be true, you know." "And you and I are destined for transportation beyond the Bashee River, where we shall become the bondmen of the great chief Umbodhla--my friend's father," continued Frank. "A bright look-out, truly!" "Very," ejaculated Tom. "But the beggars haven't got us there yet, and if we get the chance of giving them the slip, why--" "We'll do so," interrupted Frank. "But, my dear fellow, if we wish to succeed in making our escape we must keep quiet and submit to any affront they may put upon us. Our chief endeavour must be to throw them off their guard, and thus lead them to imagine that we are both thoroughly cowed. Now, do you remember this, Tom! for our success depends upon it. Don't you show your teeth, old chap--unless you have a good chance of using them." "I understand," growled Tom. "A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse!" They had no time to say more to each other, for at that moment their jailer came back, and was followed into the hut by three brawny savages, who, seizing Frank roughly, proceeded to fasten his arms behind him, after which they placed a long "reim" with a running noose round his neck; they then served Tom in a similar fashion. "Hamb'uye ngapandhle (Get outside)," said the Caffre who appeared to be the leader, striking Tom Flinders a pretty smart blow across the shoulders with the staff of his assegai. "You uncivilised brute!" shouted Tom, the hot blood mounting to his face. "If my hands were only free--" "But they're not, old boy," interrupted Frank; "so take it quietly, like a sensible fellow. It may be our turn by and by." And without a murmur he followed the guards out of the hut. The instant the white prisoners appeared outside the hut the entire population of the kraal--from the grey-headed "indoda" [indoda, man; inkwenkwee, boy; inkosikazi, chief's wife; intombi, girl] to the woolly-pated, chubby "inkwenkwee;" from the lean and repulsive-looking "inkosikazi" to the plump little "intombi"--set up an awful and prolonged howling and caterwauling, such as would have done credit to an election mob engaged in the pleasing pastime of hooting an unpopular candidate. With this charming chorus ringing in their ears Tom and his friend were conducted by their sable guards through the midst of the kraal.