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'Keep your hands by your side；' I said； 'or the dog； who has a devil； will devour you。 One of you speak for the rest and tell me your purpose。'
For a moment I had a wild notion that they might be friends； some of Arcoll's scouts； and out to help me。 But the first words shattered the fancy。
'We are sent by Inkulu；' the biggest of them said。 'He bade us bring you to him。'
'And what if I refuse to go？'
'Then； Baas； we must take you to him。 We are under the vow of the Snake。'
'Vow of fiddlestick！' I cried。 'Who do you think is the bigger chief； the Inkulu or Ratitswan？ I tell you Ratitswan is now driving Inkulu before him as a wind drives rotten leaves。 It will be well for you； men of Machudi； to make peace with Ratitswan and take me to him on the Berg。 If you bring me to him； I and he will reward you； but if you do Inkulu's bidding you will soon be hunted like buck out of your hills。'
They grinned at one another； but I could see that my words had no effect。 Laputa had done his business too well。
The spokesman shrugged his shoulders in the way the Kaffirs have。 'We wish you no ill； Baas； but we have been bidden to take you to Inkulu。 We cannot disobey the command of the Snake。'
My weakness was coming on me again； and I could talk no more。 I sat down plump on the ground； almost falling into the pool。 'Take me to Inkulu；' I stammered with a dry throat； 'I do not fear him；' and I rolled half…fainting on my back。
These clansmen of Machudi were decent fellows。 One of them had some Kaffir beer in a calabash； which he gave me to drink。 The stuff was thin and sickly； but the fermentation in it did me good。 I had the sense to remember my need of sleep。 'The day is young；' I said； 'and I have come far。 I ask to be allowed to sleep for an hour。'
The men made no difficulty； and with my head between Colin's paws I slipped into dreamless slumber。
When they wakened me the sun was beginning to climb the sky； I judged it to be about eight o'clock。 They had made a little fire and roasted mealies。 Some of the food they gave me； and I ate it thankfully。 I was feeling better； and I think a pipe would have almost completed my cure。
But when I stood up I found that I was worse than I had thought。 The truth is； I was leg…weary； which you often see in horses； but rarely in men。 What the proper explanation is I do not know； but the muscles simply refuse to answer the direction of the will。 I found my legs sprawling like a child's who is learning to walk。
'If you want me to go to the Inkulu； you must carry me；' I said； as I dropped once more on the ground。
The men nodded； and set to work to make a kind of litter out of their knobkerries and some old ropes they carried。 As they worked and chattered I looked idly at the left bank of the ravine … that is； the left as you ascend it。 Some of Machudi's men had come down there； and； though the place looked sheer and perilous； I saw how they had managed it。 I followed out bit by bit the track upwards； not with any thought of escape； but merely to keep my mind under control。 The right road was from the foot of the pool up a long shelf to a clump of juniper。 Then there was an easy chimney； then a piece of good hand…and…foot climbing； and last； another ledge which led by an easy gradient to the top。 I figured all this out as I have heard a condemned man will count the windows of the houses on his way to the scaffold。
Presently the litter was ready； and the men made signs to me to get into it。 They carried me down the ravine and up the Machudi burn to the green walls at its head。 I admired their bodily fitness； for they bore me up those steep slopes with never a halt； zigzagging in the proper style of mountain transport。 In less than an hour we had topped the ridge； and the plateau was before me。
It looked very homelike and gracious； rolling in gentle undulations to the western horizon； with clumps of wood in its hollows。 Far away I saw smoke rising from what should be the village of the Iron Kranz。 It was the country of my own people； and my captors behoved to go cautiously。 They were old hands at veld…craft； and it was wonderful the way in which they kept out of sight even on the bare ridges。 Arcoll could have taught them nothing in the art of scouting。 At an incredible pace they hurried me along； now in a meadow by a stream side； now through a patch of forest； and now skirting a green shoulder of hill。
Once they clapped down suddenly； and crawled into the lee of some thick bracken。 Then very quietly they tied my hands and feet； and； not urgently； wound a dirty length of cotton over my mouth。 Colin was meantime held tight and muzzled with a kind of bag strapped over his head。 To get this over his snapping jaws took the whole strength of the party。 I guessed that we were nearing the highroad which runs from the plateau down the Great Letaba valley to the mining township of Wesselsburg； away out on the plain。 The police patrols must be on this road； and there was risk in crossing。 Sure enough I seemed to catch a jingle of bridles as if from some company of men riding in haste。
We lay still for a little till the scouts came back and reported the coast clear。 Then we made a dart for the road； crossed it； and got into cover on the other side； where the ground sloped down to the Letaba glen。 I noticed in crossing that the dust of the highway was thick with the marks of shod horses。 I was very near and yet very far from my own people。
Once in the rocky gorge of the Letaba we advanced with less care。 We scrambled up a steep side gorge and came on to the small plateau from which the Cloud Mountains rise。 After that I was so tired that I drowsed away； heedless of the bumping of the litter。 We went up and up； and when I next opened my eyes we had gone through a pass into a hollow of the hills。 There was a flat space a mile or two square； and all round it stern black ramparts of rock。 This must be Inanda's Kraal； a strong place if ever one existed； for a few men could defend all the approaches。 Considering that I had warned Arcoll of this rendezvous； I marvelled that no attempt had been made to hold the entrance。 The place was impregnable unless guns were brought up to the heights。 I remember thinking of a story I had heard … how in the war Beyers took his guns into the Wolkberg； and thereby saved them from our troops。 Could Arcoll be meditating the same exploit？
Suddenly I heard the sound of loud voices； and my litter was dropped roughly on the ground。 I woke to clear consciousness in the midst of pandemonium。
CHAPTER XVI INANDA'S KRAAL
The vow was at an end。 In place of the silent army of yesterday a mob of maddened savages surged around me。 They were chanting a wild song； and brandishing spears and rifles to its accompaniment。 From their bloodshot eyes stared the lust of blood； the fury of conquest； and all the aboriginal passions on which Laputa had laid his spell。 In my mind ran a fragment from Laputa's prayer in the cave about the 'Terrible Ones。' Machudi's men … stout fellows； they held their ground as long as they could … were swept out of the way； and the wave of black savagery seemed to close