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〃In a queer place。 As I told you； I have visited South Africa before；
under different circumstances。 Four years ago I was out here big…game
shooting。 Going in from the East coast my brother and Ihe is dead
now； poor fellowgot up somewhere in the Matabele country； on the
banks of the Zambesi。 As we didn't find much game there we were going
to strike south； when some natives told us of a wonderful ruin that
stood on a hill overhanging the river a few miles farther on。 So；
leaving the waggon on the hither side of the steep nek； over which it
would have been difficult to drag it； my brother and I took our rifles
and a bag of food and started。 The place was farther off than we
thought； although from the top of the nek we could see it clearly
enough； and before we reached it dark had fallen。
〃Now we had observed a waggon and a tent outside the wall which we
thought must belong to white men； and headed for them。 There was a
light in the tent； and the flap was open； the night being very hot。
Inside two men were seated； one old； with a grey beard； and the other；
a good…looking fellowunder forty； I should saywith a Jewish face；
dark； piercing eyes； and a black； pointed beard。 They were engaged in
examining a heap of gold beads and bangles； which lay on the table
between them。 As I was about to speak； the black…bearded man heard or
caught sight of us； and seizing a rifle that leaned against the table；
swung round and covered me。
〃'For God's sake don't shoot； Jacob；' said the old man； 'they are
English。'
〃'Best dead； any way；' answered the other； in a soft voice； with a
slight foreign accent； 'we don't want spies or thieves here。'
〃'We are neither； but I can shoot as well as you； friend；' I remarked；
for by this time my rifle was on him。
〃Then he thought better of it； and dropped his gun； and we explained
that we were merely on an arch？ological expedition。 The end of it was
that we became capital friends； though neither of us could cotton much
to Mr。 JacobI forget his other name。 He struck me as too handy with
his rifle； and was； I gathered； an individual with a mysterious and
rather lurid past。 To cut a long story short； when he found out that
we had no intention of poaching； your father； for it was he； told us
frankly that they were treasure…hunting； having got hold of some story
about a vast store of gold which had been hidden away there by
Portuguese two or three centuries before。 Their trouble was； however；
that the Makalanga； who lived in the fortress； which was called
Bambatse； would not allow them to dig； because they said the place was
haunted； and if they did so it would bring bad luck to their tribe。〃
〃And did they ever get in？〃 asked Benita。
〃I am sure I don't know； for we went next day； though before we left
we called on the Makalanga； who admitted us all readily enough so long
as we brought no spades with us。 By the way； the gold we saw your
father and his friend examining was found in some ancient graves
outside the walls； but had nothing to do with the big and mythical
treasure。〃
〃What was the place like？ I love old ruins；〃 broke in Benita again。
〃Oh！ wonderful。 A gigantic； circular wall built by heaven knows who；
then half…way up the hill another wall； and near the top a third wall
which； I understood； surrounded a sort of holy of holies； and above
everything； on the brink of the precipice； a great cone of granite。〃
〃Artificial or natural？〃
〃I don't know。 They would not let us up there； but we were introduced
to their chief and high priest； Church and State in one； and a
wonderful old man he was； very wise and very gentle。 I remember he
told me he believed we should meet again； which seemed an odd thing
for him to say。 I asked him about the treasure and why he would not
let the other white men look for it。 He answered that it would never
be found by any man； white or black； that only a woman would find it
at the appointed time； when it pleased the Spirit of Bambatse； under
whose guardianship it was。〃
〃Who was the Spirit of Bambatse； Mr。 Seymour？〃
〃I can't tell you； couldn't make out anything definite about her；
except that she was said to be white； and to appear sometimes at
sunrise； or in the moonlight； standing upon the tall point of rock of
which I told you。 I remember that I got up before the dawn to look for
herlike an idiot； for of course I saw nothingand that's all I know
about the matter。〃
〃Did you have any talk with my father； Mr。 Seymouralone； I mean？〃
〃Yes； a little。 The next day he walked back to our waggon with us；
being glad； I fancy； of a change from the perpetual society of his
partner Jacob。 That wasn't wonderful in a man who had been brought up
at Eton and Oxford； as I found out he had； like myself； and whatever
his failings may have beenalthough we saw no sign of them； for he
would not touch a drop of spiritswas a gentleman； which Jacob
wasn't。 Still； heJacobhad read a lot； especially on out…of…the…way
subjects； and could talk every language under the suna clever and
agreeable scoundrel in short。〃
〃Did my father say anything about himself？〃
〃Yes； he told me that he had been an unsuccessful man all his life；
and had much to reproach himself with； for we got quite confidential
at last。 He added that he had a family in Englandwhat family he
didn't saywhom he was anxious to make wealthy by way of reparation
for past misdeeds； and that was why he was treasure…hunting。 However；
from what you tell me； I fear he never found anything。〃
〃No； Mr。 Seymour； he never found it and never will； but all the same I
am glad to hear that he was thinking of us。 Also I should like to
explore that place； Bambatse。〃
〃So should I； Miss Clifford； in your company； and your father's； but
not in that of Jacob。 If ever you should go there with him； I say：
'Beware of Jacob。'〃
〃Oh！ I am not afraid of Jacob；〃 she answered with a laugh； 〃although I
believe that my father still has something to do with himat least in
one of his letters he mentioned his partner； who was a German。〃
〃A German！ I think that he must have meant a German Jew。〃
After this there was silence between them for a time； then he said
suddenly； 〃You have told me your story； would you like to hear mine？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered。
〃Well； it won't take you long to listen to it； for； Miss Clifford；
like Canning's needy knife…grinder； I have really none to tell。 You
see before you one of the most useless persons in the world； an
undistinguished member of what is called in England the 'leisured
class；' who can do absolutely nothing that is worth doing； except
shoot straight。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Benita。
〃You do not seem impressed with that accomplishment；〃 he went on； 〃yet
it is an honest fact that for the last fifteen yearsI was thirty…two
this monthpractically my whole time has been given up to it； with a
little fishing thrown in in the spring。 As I want to make