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down。 Mr。 Clifford； as it came； held out his rifle in his right hand
and fired at a hazard。 The bullet passed through the bull； but could
not stop its charge。 Its horns； held low； struck the forelegs of the
horse； and next instant horse； man； and wilderbeeste rolled on the
veld together。
Benita； who was fifty yards behind； uttered a little cry of fear； but
before ever she reached him； her father had risen laughing； for he was
quite unhurt。 The horse； too； was getting up； but the bull could rise
no more。 It struggled to its forefeet； uttered a kind of sobbing
groan； stared round wildly； and rolled over； dead。
〃I never knew a wilderbeeste charge like that before；〃 said Mr。
Clifford。 〃Confound it！ I believe my horse is lamed。〃
Lamed it was； indeed； where the bull had struck the foreleg； though；
as it chanced； not badly。 Having tied a handkerchief to the horn of
the buck in order to scare away the vultures； and thrown some tufts of
dry grass upon its body； which he proposed； if possible； to fetch or
send for； Mr。 Clifford mounted his lame horse and headed for the
waggon。 But they had galloped farther than they thought； and it was
midday before they came to what they took to be the road。 As there was
no spoor upon it； they followed this track backwards； expecting to
find the waggon outspanned； but although they rode for mile upon mile；
no waggon could they see。 Then； realizing their mistake； they retraced
their steps； and leaving this path at the spot where they had found
it； struck off again to the right。
Meanwhile； the sky was darkening； and at about three o'clock in the
afternoon a thunderstorm broke over them accompanied by torrents of
icy rain； the first fall of the spring； and a bitter wind which
chilled them through。 More； after the heavy rain came drizzle and a
thick mist that deepened as evening approached。
Now their plight was very wretched。 Lost； starved； soaked to the skin；
with tired horses one of which was lame； they wandered about on the
lonely veld。 Only one stroke of fortune came to them。 As the sun set；
for a few moments its rays pierced the mist； telling them in what
direction they should go。 Turning their horses； they headed for it；
and so rode on until the darkness fell。 Then they halted a while； but
feeling that if they stood still in that horrible cold they would
certainly perish before morning； once more pushed on again。 By now Mr。
Clifford's horse was almost too lame to ride； so he led it； walking at
his daughter's side； and reproaching himself bitterly for his
foolishness in having brought her into this trouble。
〃It doesn't matter； Father；〃 she answered wearily； for she was very
tired。 〃Nothing matters； one may as well die upon the veld as in the
sea or anywhere else。〃
On they plodded； they knew not whither。 Benita fell asleep upon her
saddle； and was awakened once by a hyena howling quite close to them；
and once by her horse falling to its knees。
〃What is the time？〃 she said at last。
Her father struck a match and looked at his watch。 It was ten o'clock；
they had been fifteen hours away from the waggon and without food。 At
intervals Mr。 Clifford； who had remounted； fired his rifle。 Now there
was but one cartridge left； and having caught sight of his daughter's
exhausted face by the light of the match； he fired this also； though
in that desperate wilderness there was little hope of its bringing
succour。
〃Shall we stop or go on？〃 he asked。
〃I do not care；〃 she answered。 〃Only if I stop I think it will be for
ever。 Let us go on。〃
Now the rain had ceased； but the mist was as dense as before。 Also
they seemed to have got among bush； for wet leaves brushed their
faces。 Utterly exhausted they stumbled forward； till suddenly Benita
felt her horse stop as though a hand had seized its bridle； and heard
a man's voice； speaking with a foreign accent； say：
〃Mein Gott！ Where are you going？〃
〃I wish I knew；〃 she answered； like one in a dream。
At this instant the moon rose above the mists； and Benita saw Jacob
Meyer for the first time。
In that light his appearance was not unpleasing。 A man of about forty
years of age； not over tall； slight and active in build； with a
pointed black beard； regular； Semitic features； a complexion of an
ivory pallor which even the African sun did not seem to tan； and dark；
lustrous eyes that appeared； now to sleep； and now to catch the fire
of the thoughts within。 Yet； weary though she was； there was something
in the man's personality which repelled and alarmed Benita； something
wild and cruel。 She felt that he was filled with unsatisfied ambitions
and desires； and that to attain to them he would shrink at nothing。 In
a moment he was speaking again in tones that compelled her attention。
〃It was a good thought that brought me here to look for you。 No； not a
thoughtwhat do you call it？an instinct。 I think your mind must
have spoken to my mind； and called me to save you。 See now； Clifford；
my friend； where you have led your daughter。 See； see！〃 And he pointed
downwards。
They leaned forward and stared。 There； immediately beneath them； was a
mighty gulf whereof the moonlight did not reveal the bottom。
〃You are no good veld traveller； Clifford； my friend； one more step of
those silly beasts； and down below there would have been two red heaps
with bits of bones sticking out of themyes； there on the rocks five
hundred feet beneath。 Ah！ you would have slept soundly to…night； both
of you。〃
〃Where is the place？〃 asked Mr。 Clifford in a dazed fashion。
〃Leopard's Kloof？〃
〃Yes； Leopard's Kloof； no other。 You have travelled along the top of
the hill； not at the bottom。 Certainly that was a good thought which
came to me from the lady your daughter； for she is one of the thought
senders； I am sure。 Ah！ it came to me suddenly； it hit me like a stick
whilst I was searching for you； having found that you had lost the
waggon。 It said to me； 'Ride to the top of Leopard's Kloof。 Ride
hard。' I rode hard through the rocks and the darkness； through the
mist and the rain； and not one minute had I been here when you came
and I caught the lady's bridle。〃
〃I am sure we are very grateful to you；〃 murmured Benita。
〃Then I am paid back ten thousand times。 No； it is I who am grateful
I who have saved your life through the thought you sent me。〃
〃Thought or no thought； all's well that ends well；〃 broke in Mr。
Clifford impatiently。 〃And thank Heaven we are not more than three
miles away from home。 Will you lead the way； Jacob？ You always could
see in the dark？〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 and he took hold of Benita's bridle with his firm； white
hand。 〃Oh！ my horse will follow； or put your arm through his reinso。
Now come on； Miss Clifford； and be afraid no more。 With Jacob Meyer
you are safe。〃
So they began their descent of the hill。 Meyer did not speak again；
all his attention seemed to be concentrated upon finding a