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not done； it is only begun； and now you shall hear its second chapter。
Clifford； may I call in the messengers？〃 And without waiting for an
answer he rose and left the room。
Neither Mr。 Clifford nor his daughter said anything after he had gone。
Benita appeared to occupy herself in fixing the broad gold coin to a
little swivel on her bracelet； but while she did so once more that
sixth sense of hers awoke within her。 As she had been afraid at the
dinner on the doomed steamer； so again she was afraid。 Again death and
great fear cast their advancing shadows on to her soul。 That piece of
gold seemed to speak to her； yet； alas！ she could not understand its
story。 Only she knew that her father and Jacob Meyer andyes； yes；
yesRobert Seymour； had all a part in that tragedy。 Oh！ how could
that be when he was dead？ How could this gold link him to her？ She
knew notshe cared not。 All she knew was that she would follow this
treasure to the edge of the world； and if need be； over it； if only it
brought her back to him again。
VII
THE MESSENGERS
The door opened； and through it came Jacob Meyer； followed by three
natives。 Benita did not see or hear them； her soul was far away。 There
at the head of the room； clad all in white； for she wore no mourning
save in her heart； illuminated by the rays of the lamp that hung above
her； she stood still and upright； for she had risen； on the face and
in her wide； dark eyes a look that was very strange to see。 Jacob
Meyer perceived it and stopped； the three natives perceived it also
and stopped。 There they stood； all four of them； at the end of the
long sitting…room； staring at the white Benita and at her haunted
eyes。
One of the natives pointed with his thin finger to her face； and
whispered to the others。 Meyer； who understood their tongue； caught
the whisper。 It was：
〃Behold the Spirit of the Rock！〃
〃What spirit； and what rock？〃 he asked in a low voice。
〃She who haunts Bambatse； she whom our eyes have seen；〃 answered the
man； still staring at Benita。
Benita heard the whispering； and knew it was about herself； though not
one word of it did she catch。 With a sigh she shook herself free from
her visions and sat down in a chair close by。 Then one by one the
messengers drew near to her； and each； as he came； made a profound
obeisance； touching the floor with his finger…tips； and staring at her
face。 But her father they only saluted with an uplifted hand。 She
looked at them with interest； and indeed they were interesting in
their way； tall； spare men； light coloured； with refined； mobile
faces。 Here was no negro…blood； but rather that of some ancient people
such as Egyptians or Ph？nicians： men whose forefathers had been wise
and civilized thousands of years ago； and perchance had stood in the
courts of Pharaoh or of Solomon。
Their salutations finished； the three men squatted in a line upon the
floor； drawing their fur karosses； or robes； about them； and waited in
silence。 Jacob Meyer thought a while； then said：
〃Clifford； will you translate to your daughter； so that she may be
sure she is told exactly what passes？〃
Next he turned and addressed the natives。
〃Your names are Tamas； Tamala； and Hoba； and you； Tamas； are the son
of the Molimo of Bambatse； who is called Mambo； and you； Tamala and
Hoba； are his initiated councillors。 Is it so？〃
They bowed their heads。
〃Good。 You； Tamas； tell the story and give again your message that
this lady； the lady Benita； may hear it； for she has a part in the
matter。〃
〃We understand that she has a part；〃 answered Tamas。 〃We read in her
face that she has the greatest part。 Doubtless it is of her that the
Spirit told my father。 These； spoken by my mouth； are the words of the
Molimo； my father； which we have travelled so far to deliver。
〃'When you two white men visited Bambatse four years ago； you asked of
me； Mambo； to be admitted to the holy place； that you might look for
the treasure there which the Portuguese hid in the time of my ancestor
in the sixth generation。 I refused to allow you to look； or even to
enter the holy place； because I am by birth the guardian of that
treasure； although I know not where it lies。 But now I am in a great
strait。 I have news that Lobengula the usurper； who is king of the
Matabele； has taken offence against me for certain reasons； among them
that I did not send him a sufficient tribute。 It is reported to me
that he purposes next summer to despatch an impi to wipe me and my
people out； and to make my kraal black as the burnt veld。 I have
little strength to resist him who is mighty； and my people are not
warlike。 From generation to generation they have been traders；
cultivators of the land； workers in metal； and men of peace； who
desire not to kill or be killed。 Also they are few。 Therefore I have
no power to stand against Lobengula。
〃'I remember the guns that you and your companion brought with you；
which can kill things from far away。 If I had a supply of those guns
from behind my walls I might defy the impi of Lobengula； whose
warriors use the assegai。 If you will bring me a hundred good guns and
plenty of powder and bullets for them； it is revealed to me that it
will be lawful for me to admit you to the secret； holy place； where
you may look for the buried gold for as long as you wish； and if you
can find it； take it all away without hindrance from me or my people。
But I will be honest with you。 That gold will never be found save by
the one appointed。 The white lady said so in the time of my
forefather； he heard it with his ears； and I have heard it from his
descendants with my ears； and so it shall be。 Still； if you bring the
guns you can come and see if either of you is that one appointed。 But
I do not think that any man is so appointed； for the secret is hid in
woman。 But of this you can learn for yourselves。 I do but speak as I
am bidden。
〃'This is my message spoken by my mouth； Tamas； son of my body； and my
councillors who go with him will bear witness that he speaks the
truth。 I； Mambo； the Molimo of Bambatse； send you greeting； and will
give you good welcome and fulfil my promise； if you come with the far…
shooting guns； ten times ten of them； and the powder； and the bullets
wherewith I may drive off the Matabele； but not otherwise。 My son；
Tamas； and my councillors will drive your waggon into my country but
you must bring no strange servants。 The Spirit of the white woman who
killed herself before the eyes of my forefather has been seen of late
standing upon the point of rock； also she has visited me at night in
my secret place where her companions died。 I do not know all that this
portends； but I think that amongst other things she wished to tell me
that the Matabele are about to attack us。 I await the decree of the
Heavens。 I send you two karosses as a gift； and a little ancient gold；
since ivory is too heavy for my messengers to ca