"I don't say they have anything in that line," said Eustace. "My remark about treating them fairly was only in answer to what Tom suggested. Still, I think it a mistake to have located the Fingoes and Gcalekas next door to each other, with a mere artificial boundary between. It was safe to produce a shindy sooner or later." Thus the ball of conversation rolled on. Carhayes, excited over the prospect of hostilities, took a glass or two of grog more than was good for him, and waxed extremely argumentative as they adjourned to the _stoep_ for an _al fresco_ smoke. So he and his guest began, continued, and ended the campaign according to a great diversity of plans, each highly satisfactory to its originators and proportionately disastrous to the dark-skinned enemy. In this conversation Eanswyth did not join. The sweet and soothing influences of the day just passed filled her mind--and all this noisy talk jarred upon her. To her also the prospect of the coming campaign was a welcome one. After the events of the last twenty-four hours to go on living as heretofore would be a terrible strain. Her newly awakened love for the one man was so overwhelming as to engender in her a proportionate feeling of aversion towards the other. It was a fearful position. The temporary separation involved by the campaign would be more than welcome. But separation from the one meant separation from the other. That was not welcome. And that other--what if he were to fall? He was so fearless--so foolhardy and confident. What if he undertook some insane mission and was treacherously murdered?--O Heaven--what would life be without him now? And a rush of tears brimmed to her eyes at the mere thought. Eustace, who had remained behind for a moment, to light his pipe, looked up and caught her glance. "I suppose I had better arrange to drive you over to Komgha to-morrow?" he said, aloud and in an ordinary voice. Outside the other two were talking and arguing at a great rate. "Yes, I would not forego that for anything," she whispered. "But--leave me now, or I shall break down. Quick! I wish it." One glance, straight into her eyes, and he obeyed. But that glance had said enough--had said more than many words could have done. "By the way, Tom," said Eustace, joining the pair of wranglers outside. "What about Nteya? You were going to have him run in, you know." "So! Well, you see, it's this way: I got on that deal with Reid, first thing, and that drove the other out of my head. I had a job to find Reid, in the first place, but when you hear of a man willing to give a lumping big price for what you want to sell, that man's worth some hunting for, I can tell you. So I let Nteya slide--until we reach the Gaika location. Then I'll take it out of him, and a good many more of them too." ------------------------------------------------------------------------