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Ten minutes later the Mazitu bearers had also saluted us and gone；
leaving us seated in that deserted camp surrounded by our baggage； and
so far as I was concerned； feeling most lonely。 Another ten minutes
went by which we occupied in packing our personal belongings。 Then
Hans； who was now washing out the coffee kettle at a little distance；
looked up and said：
〃Here come the spook…men； Baas； the whole regiment of them。〃 We ran
and looked。 It was true。 Marshalled in orderly squadrons； the camels
with their riders were sweeping towards us； and a fine sight the
beasts made with their swaying necks and long； lurching gait。 About
fifty yards away they halted just where the stream from our spring
entered the desert； and there proceeded to water the camels； twenty of
them at a time。 Two men； however； in whom I recognized Har？t and
Mar？t； walked forward and presently were standing before us； bowing
obsequiously。
〃Good morning； Lord；〃 said Har？t to Ragnall in his broken English。 〃So
you come with Macumazana to call at our poor house； as we call at your
fine one in England。 You think we got the beautiful lady you marry；
she we give old necklace。 That is not so。 No white lady ever in
Kendahland。 We hear story from Macumazana and believe that lady
drowned in Nile； for you 'member she walk much in her sleep。 We very
sorry for you； but gods know their business。 They leave when they will
leave； and take when they will take。 You find her again some day more
beautiful still and with her soul come back。〃
Here I looked at him sharply。 I had told him nothing about Lady
Ragnall having lost her wits。 How then did he know of the matter？
Still I thought it best to hold my peace。 I think that Har？t saw he
had made some mistake； for leaving the subject of Lady Ragnall； he
went on：
〃You very welcome； O Lord； but it right tell you this most dangerous
journey； since elephant Jana not like strangers； and；〃 he continued
slowly； 〃think no elephant like your blood； and all elephants
brothers。 What one hate rest hate everywhere in world。 See it in your
face that you already suffer great hurt from elephant； you or someone
near you。 Also some of Kendah very fierce people and love fighting；
and p'raps there war in the land while you there； and in war people
get killed。〃
〃Very good； my friend；〃 said Ragnall； 〃I am prepared to take my chance
of these things。 Either we all go to your country together； as
Macumazana has explained to you； or none of us go。〃
〃We understand。 That is our bargain and we no break word；〃 replied
Har？t。
Then he turned his benevolent gaze upon Savage； and said： 〃So you come
too； Mr。 Bena。 That your name here； eh？ Well； you learn lot things in
Kendahland； about snakes and all rest。〃
Here the jovial…looking Mar？t whispered something into the ear of his
companion； smiling all over his face and showing his white teeth as he
did so。 〃Oh！〃 went on Har？t； 〃my brother tells me you meet one snake
already； down in country called Natal； but sit on him so hard； that he
grow quite flat and no bite。〃
〃Who told him that？〃 gasped Savage。
〃Oh！ forget。 Think Macumazana。 No？ Then p'raps you tell him in sleep；
for people talk much in sleep； you know； and some other people got
good ears and hear long way。 Or p'raps little joke Har？t。 You 'member；
he first…rate conjurer。 P'raps he send that snake。 No trouble if know
how。 Well； we show you much better snake Kendahland。 But you no sit on
/him/； Mr。 Bena。〃
To me； I know not why； there was something horrible in all this
jocosity； something that gave me the creeps as always does the sight
of a cat playing with a mouse。 I felt even then that it foreshadowed
terrible things。 How /could/ these men know the details of occurrences
at which they were not present and of which no one had told them？ Did
that strange 〃tobacco〃 of theirs really give them some clairvoyant
power； I wondered； or had they other secret methods of obtaining news？
I glanced at poor Savage and perceived that he too felt as I did； for
he had turned quite pale beneath his tan。 Even Hans was affected； for
he whispered to me in Dutch： 〃These are not men； these are devils；
Baas； and this journey of ours is one into hell。〃
Only Ragnall sat stern； silent； and apparently quite unmoved。 Indeed
there was something almost sphinx…like about the set and expression of
his handsome face。 Moreover； I felt sure that Har？t and Mar？t
recognized the man's strength and determination and that he was one
with whom they must reckon seriously。 Beneath all their smiles and
courtesies I could read this knowledge in their eyes； also that it was
causing them grave anxiety。 It was as though they knew that here was
one against whom their power had no avail； whose fate was the master
of their fate。 In a sense Har？t admitted this to me； for suddenly he
looked up and said in a changed voice and in Bantu：
〃You are a good reader of hearts； O Macumazana； almost as good as I
am。 But remember that there is One Who writes upon the book of the
heart； Who is the Lord of us who do but read； and that what He writes；
that will befall； strive as we may； for in His hands is the future。〃
〃Quite so；〃 I replied coolly； 〃and that is why I am going with you to
Kendahland and fear you not at all。〃
〃So it is and so let it be；〃 he answered。 〃And now； Lords； are you
ready to start？ For long is the road and who knows what awaits us ere
we see its end？〃
〃Yes；〃 I replied； 〃long is the road of life and who knows what awaits
us ere we see its endand after？〃
Three hours later I halted the splendid white riding…camel upon which
I was mounted； and looked back from the crest of a wave of the desert。
There far behind us on the horizon； by the help of my glasses； I could
make out the site of the camp we had left and even the tall ant…hill
whence I had gazed in the moonlight at our mysterious escort which
seemed to have sprung from the desert as though by magic。
This was the manner of our march： A mile or so ahead of us went a
picket of eight or ten men mounted on the swiftest beasts； doubtless
to give warning of any danger。 Next； three or four hundred yards away；
followed a body of about fifty Kendah； travelling in a double line；
and behind these the baggage men； mounted like everyone else； and
leading behind them strings of camels laden with water； provisions；
tents of skin and all our goods； including the fifty rifles and the
ammunition that Ragnall had brought from England。 Then came we three
white men and Hans； each of us riding as swift and fine a camel as
Africa can breed。 On our right at a distance of about half a mile； and
also on our left； travelled other bodies of the Kendah of the same
numerical strength as that ahead； while the rear was brought up by the
remainder of the company who drove a number of spare camels。
Thus we journeyed in the centre of a square whence any escape would
have been impossible； fo