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Seymour had left his waggon； they were camped in low land which； as
they could see by the remains of walls that appeared everywhere； had
once been extensively enclosed and cultivated。 To their right was a
rising mountainous ground； beyond which； said the Makalanga； ran the
Zambesi； and in front of them； not more than ten miles away； a great
isolated hill； none other than that place that they had journeyed so
far to reach； Bambatse； round which flowed the great river。 Indeed；
thither one of the three Makalanga； he who was named Hoba； had gone on
to announce their approach。
They had outspanned amongst ruins； most of them circular in shape； and
Benita； studying them in the bright moonlight； guessed that once these
had been houses。 That place now so solitary； hundreds or thousands of
years ago was undoubtedly the home of a great population。 Thousands；
rather than hundreds； she thought； since close at hand in the middle
of one of these round houses； grew a mighty baobab tree； that could
not have seen less than ten or fifteen centuries since the seed whence
it sprang pierced the cement floor which was still visible about its
giant bole。
Tamas； the Molimo's son； saw her studying these evidences of
antiquity； and； approaching； saluted her。
〃Lady；〃 he said in his own language； which by now she spoke very well；
〃lady〃and he waved his hand with a fine gesture〃behold the city of
my people。〃
〃How do you know that it was their city？〃 she asked。
〃I do not know； lady。 Stones cannot speak； the spirits are silent； and
we have forgotten。 Still； I think so； and our fathers have told us
that but six or eight generations ago many folk lived here； though it
was not they who built these walls。 Even fifty years ago there were
many； but now the Matabele have killed them； and we are few； to…morrow
you will see how few。 Come here and look；〃 and he led her through the
entrance of a square cattle kraal which stood close by。 Within were
tufts of rank grass； and a few bushes； and among these scores of
skulls and other bones。
〃The Matabele killed these in the time of Moselikatse；〃 he said。 〃Now
do you wonder that we who remain fear the Matabele； and desire guns to
defend ourselves from them； even if we must sell our secrets； in order
to buy those guns； who have no money to pay for them？〃
〃No；〃 she answered； looking at the tall； dignified man； into whose
soul the irons of fear and slavery had burnt so deep。 〃No； I do not
wonder。〃
Next morning at daybreak they trekked on； always through these
evidences of dead； forgotten people。 They had not more than ten miles
to cover to reach their long journey's end； but the road； if so it
could be called； ran up…hill； and the oxen； whereof only fourteen were
now left to drag the heavy…laden waggon； were thin and footsore； so
that their progress was very slow。 Indeed； it was past midday when at
length they began to enter what by apology might be called the town of
Bambatse。
〃When we go away from this； it will have to be by water； I think；
unless we can buy trek…cattle；〃 said Meyer； looking at the labouring
oxen with a doubtful eye。
〃Why？〃 asked Mr。 Clifford anxiously。
〃Because several of those beasts have been bitten by tetsefly； like my
horse； and the poison is beginning to work。 I thought so last night；
but now I am sure。 Look at their eyes。 It was down in that bit of bush
veld eight days ago。 I said that we ought not to camp there。〃
At this moment they came to the crest of the ridge； and on its further
side saw the wonderful ruins of Bambatse close at hand。 In front of
them stood a hill jutting out； as it were into the broad waters of the
Zambesi river； which； to a great extent； protected it upon three
sides。 The fourth； that opposite to them； except at one place where a
kind of natural causeway led into the town； was also defended by
Nature； since here for more than fifty feet in height the granite rock
of the base of the hill rose sheer and unclimbable。 On the mount
itself； that in all may have covered eight or ten acres of ground； and
surrounded by a deep donga or ditch； were three rings of
fortifications； set one above the other； mighty walls which； it was
evident； had been built by no modern hand。 Looking at them Benita
could well understand how it came about that the poor fugitive
Portuguese had chosen this as their last place of refuge； and were
overcome at length； not by the thousands of savages who followed and
surrounded them； but by hunger。 Indeed； the place seemed impregnable
to any force that was not armed with siege guns。
On the hither side of this natural fosse； which； doubtless； in ancient
times had been filled with water led from the Zambesi； stood the
village of the Bambatse Makalanga； a collection of seventy or eighty
wretched huts； round； like those of their forefathers； but built of
mud and thatch。 About them lay the gardens； or square fields； that
were well cultivated； and at this season rich with ripening corn。
Benita； however； could see no cattle； and concluded； therefore； that
these must be kept on the hill for safety； and within its walls。
Down the rough road they lumbered； and through the village； where the
few women and children stared at them in a frightened way。 Then they
came to the causeway； which； on its further side； was blocked with
thorns and rough stones taken from the ruins。 While they waited for
these to be removed by some men who now appeared； Benita looked at the
massive； circular wall still thirty or forty feet in height； by
perhaps twenty through its base； built of granite blocks without
mortar； and ornamented with quaint patterns of other coloured stones。
In its thickness she could see grooves； where evidently had once been
portcullises； but these had disappeared long ago。
〃It is a wonderful place；〃 she said to her father。 〃I am glad that I
came。 Have you been all over it？〃
〃No； only between the first and second walls； and once between the
second and third。 The old temple； or whatever it is； is on the top；
and into that they would never admit us。 It is there that the treasure
lies。〃
〃That the treasure is supposed to lie；〃 she answered with a smile。
〃But； Father； what guarantee have you that they will do so now？
Perhaps they will take the guns and show us the dooror rather the
gate。〃
〃Your daughter is right； there is none； and before a box is taken off
the waggon we must get one；〃 said Meyer。 〃Oh！ I know it is risky； and
it would have been better to make sure first； but it is too late to
talk of that now。 Look； the stones are cleared。 Trek ontrek！〃
The long waggon…whip cracked； the poor； tired…out oxen strained at the
yokes； and on they went through the entrance of that fateful fortress
that was but just wide enough to admit them。 Inside lay a great open
space； which； as they could see from the numerous ruins； had once been
filled with buildings that now were half hidden by grass； tree