To prevent these irregular proceedings, Sergeant Herridge used to patrol the road with a party of men; and one evening he brought back an old woman, two middle-aged ones, and a young girl, whom he had found in a kloof adjoining the before-mentioned road. The girl was called “Noziah.” We soon found out that she was no less important a personage than the sister of the Kaffir chief Sandilli, who, with “Macomo,” was the greatest opponent to British power at the Cape. The old lady was the principal attendant, the two others the “lady-helps,” of the party. The former was a most communicative personage. After relating the splendour of the young damsel’s origin, and the responsibilities under which she herself laboured, as being the duenna to whose care Sandilli had confided so incomparable a treasure, she asked to be allowed to go on her way, and report progress to her mighty chief. The ancient dame was quite a character, and I felt interested on her behalf; and explained, through Johnny Fingo, that she was at perfect liberty to go where she liked--adding that, during her absence, I would look after the welfare of her charge, and that Sandilli might expect to see his sister return as she had been confided to my care. The old lady, after expressing, by profound salutations, her gratitude to me, was on the point of departing, when Sergeant Herridge remarked that she wore a wonderful necklace of lions’ and leopards’ teeth strung together, and that he would like to have it. On this being explained to the old woman, she stoutly refused to part with it, saying it was a charmed token, an heirloom in her family, and had belonged formerly to a great witch-doctor, of whom she was the lineal descendant. There, for the moment, ended the matter, and shortly afterwards she started on her journey alone. Sergeant Herridge was observed to follow her; and just after she had disappeared behind the brow of the hill that rose over Blakeway’s Farm towards the Water-kloof, a shot was heard, and the sergeant came back with his leather jacket spattered with blood. The next day the old woman’s body was found; and as the men believed that she had been murdered by Herridge, he was in consequence shunned; for however brutally cruel many of them were, killing without mercy all that came in their way when engaged in fight, young as well as old, even braining little children--yet this was done against the supposed deadly enemies of their race, and not in cold blood for the sake of plunder.