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and bought this farm from a Boer who was tired of itcheap enough；
too； for I only gave him ￡100 for the 6；000 acres。 The kitchens behind
were his old house； for I built a new one。
〃A year had gone by before I saw any more of Tom Jackson； and then he
turned up more dead than alive。 He had been injured by an elephant；
and lay for some months among the Makalanga to the north of
Matabeleland； where he got fever badly at a place called Bambatse； on
the Zambesi。 These Makalanga are a strange folk。 I believe their name
means the People of the Sun； at any rate； they are the last of some
ancient race。 Well； while he was there he cured the old Molimo； or
hereditary high…priest of this tribe； of a bad fever by giving him
quinine； and naturally they grew friendly。 The Molimo lived among
ruins of which there are many over all that part of South Africa。 No
one knows who built them now； probably it was people who lived
thousands of years ago。 However； this Molimo told Tom Jackson a more
recent legend connected with the place。
〃He said that six generations before； when his great…great…great
grandfather was chief （Mambo； he called it）； the natives of all that
part of South Africa rose against the white menPortuguese； I suppose
who still worked the gold there。 They massacred them and their
slaves by thousands； driving them up from the southward； where
Lobengula rules now； to the Zambesi by which the Portuguese hoped to
escape to the coast。 At length a remnant of them； not more than about
two hundred men and women； arrived at the stronghold called Bambatse；
where the Molimo now lives in a great ruin built by the ancients upon
an impregnable mountain which overhangs the river。 With them they
brought an enormous quantity of gold； all the stored…up treasure of
the land which they were trying to carry off。 But although they
reached the river they could not escape by it； since the natives； who
pursued them in thousands； watched day and night in canoes； and the
poor fugitives had no boats。 Therefore it came about that they were
shut up in this fortress which it was impossible to storm； and there
slowly perished of starvation。
〃When it was known that they were all dead； the natives who had
followed them from the south； and who wanted blood and revenge； not
gold； which was of no use to them； went away； but the old priest's
forefather who knew the secret entrance to the place； and who had been
friendly to the Portuguese； forced his way in and there； amidst the
dead； found one woman living； but mad with griefa young and
beautiful girl； the daughter of the Portuguese lord or captain。 He
gave her food； but in the night； when some strength had returned to
her； she left him； and at daybreak he found her standing on the peak
that overhangs the river； dressed all in white。
〃He called some of his councillors； and they tried to persuade her to
come down from the rock； but she answered； 'No； her betrothed and all
her family and friends were dead； and it was her will to follow them。'
Then they asked where was the gold； for having watched day and night
they knew it had not been thrown into the river。 She answered that it
was where it was； and that； seek as he might； no black man would ever
find it。 She added that she gave it into his keeping； and that of his
descendants； to safeguard until she came again。 Also she said that if
they were faithless to that trust； then it had been revealed to her
from heaven above that those same savages who had killed her father
and her people； would kill his people also。 When she had spoken thus
she stood a while praying on the peak； then suddenly hurled herself
into the river； and was seen no more。
〃From that day to this the ruin has been held to be haunted； and save
the Molimo himself； who retires there to meditate and receive
revelations from the spirits； no one is allowed to set a foot in its
upper part； indeed； the natives would rather die than do so。
Consequently the gold still remains where it was hidden。 This place
itself Tom Jackson did not see； since； notwithstanding his friendship
for him； the Molimo refused to allow him to enter there。
〃Well； Tom never recovered； he died here； and is buried in the little
graveyard behind the house which the Boers made for some of their
people。 It was shortly before his death that Mr。 Meyer became my
partner； for I forgot to say that I had told him the story； and we
determined to have a try for that great wealth。 You know the rest。 We
trekked to Bambatse； pretending to be traders； and found the old
Molimo who knew of me as having been Tom Jackson's friend。 We asked
him if the story he had told to Jackson were true； and he answered
that； surely as the sun shone in the heavens； it was trueevery word
of itfor it； and much more than he had spoken of； had been handed
down from father to son； and that they even knew the name of the white
lady who had killed herself。 It was Ferreirayour mother's name；
Benita； though a common one enough in South Africa。
〃We asked him to allow us to enter the topmost stronghold； which
stands upon the hill； but he refused； saying that the curse still lay
upon him and his； and that no man should enter until the lady Ferreira
came again。 For the rest the place was free to us； we might dig as we
would。 So we did dig； and found some gold buried with the ancients；
beads and bangles and wireabout ￡100 worth。 Alsothat was on the
day when the young Seymours came upon us； and accounts for Meyer's
excitement； for he thought that we were on the track of the treasure
we found a single gold coin； no doubt one that had been dropped by the
Portuguese。 Here it is。〃 And he threw a thin piece of gold on the
table before her。 〃I have shown it to a man learned in those matters；
and he says that it is a ducat struck by one of the doges of Venice。
〃Well； we never found any more。 The end of it was that the Makalanga
caught us trying to get in to the secret stronghold by stealth； and
gave us the choice of clearing out or being killed。 So we cleared out；
for treasure is not of much use to dead men。〃
Mr。 Clifford ceased speaking； and filled his pipe； while Meyer helped
himself to squareface in an absent manner。 As for Benita； she stared
at the quaint old coin； which had a hole in it； wondering with what
scenes of terror and of bloodshed it had been connected。
〃Keep it；〃 said her father。 〃It will go on that bracelet of yours。〃
〃Thank you； dear；〃 she answered。 〃Though I don't know why I should
take all the Portuguese treasure since we shall never see any more of
it。〃
〃Why not； Miss Clifford？〃 asked Meyer quickly。
〃The story tells you whybecause the natives won't even let you look
for it； also； looking and finding are different things。〃
〃Natives change their minds sometimes； Miss Clifford。 That story is
not done； it is only begun； and now you shall hear its second chapter。
Clifford； may I call in the messengers？〃 And without waiti