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them ten or twenty men to help them in their excavations。 In this； it
will be remembered； he had already failed so far as the Molimo was
concerned； but he was not a man easily turned from his purpose； and he
thought that if he could see Tamas and some of the other captains he
might be able by bribery； threats； or otherwise； to induce them to
forget their superstitious fears； and help in the search。 As a matter
of fact； he was utterly unsuccessful； since one and all they declared
that for them to enter that sacred place would mean their deaths； and
that the vengeance of Heaven would fall upon their tribe and destroy
it root and branch。
Mr。 Clifford； on whom all this heavy labour had begun to tell； was
taking advantage of the absence of his taskmaster； Jacob； to sleep
awhile in the hut which they had now built for themselves beneath the
shadow of the baobab…tree。 As she reached it he came out yawning； and
asked her where she had been。 Benita told him。
〃A giddy place；〃 he said。 〃I have never ventured to try it myself。
What did you go up there for； dear？〃
〃To look at the river while Mr。 Meyer was away； father； for if he had
seen me do so he would have guessed my reason； indeed； I dare say that
he will guess it now。〃
〃What reason； Benita？〃
〃To see whether it would not be possible to escape down it in a boat。
But there is no chance。 It is all rapids below； with hills and rocks
and trees on either bank。〃
〃What need have you to escape at present？〃 he asked eyeing her
curiously。
〃Every need；〃 she answered with passion。 〃I hate this place； it is a
prison； and I loathe the very name of treasure。 Also；〃 and she paused。
〃Also what； dear？〃
〃Also；〃 and her voice sank to a whisper； as though she feared that he
should overhear her even at the bottom of the hill； 〃also； I am afraid
of Mr。 Meyer。〃
This confession did not seem to surprise her father； who merely nodded
his head and said：
〃Go on。〃
〃Father； I think that he is going mad； and it is not pleasant for us
to be cooped up here alone with a madman； especially when he has begun
to speak to me as he does now。〃
〃You don't mean that he has been impertinent to you；〃 said the old
man； flushing up； 〃for if so〃
〃No； not impertinentas yet；〃 and she told him what had passed
between Meyer and herself； adding； 〃You see； father； I detest this
man； indeed； I want to have nothing to do with any man； for me all
that is over and done with；〃 and she gave a dry little sob which
appeared to come from her very heart。 〃And yet； he seems to be getting
some kind of power over me。 He follows me about with his eyes； prying
into my mind； and I feel that he is beginning to be able to read it。 I
can bear no more。 Father； father； for God's sake； take me away from
this hateful hill and its gold and its dead； and let us get out into
the veld again together。〃
〃I should be glad enough； dearest；〃 he answered。 〃I have had plenty of
this wildgoose chase； which I was so mad as to be led into by the love
of wealth。 Indeed； I am beginning to believe that if it goes on much
longer I shall leave my bones here。〃
〃And if such a dreadful thing as that were to happen； what would
become of me； alone with Jacob Meyer？〃 she asked quietly。 〃I might
even be driven to the same fate as that poor girl two hundred years
ago；〃 and she pointed to the cone of rock behind her。
〃For Heaven's sake； don't talk like that！〃 he broke in。
〃Why not？ One must face things； and it would be better than Jacob
Meyer； for who would protect me here？〃
Mr。 Clifford walked up and down for a few minutes； while his daughter
watched him anxiously。
〃I can see no plan；〃 he said； stopping opposite her。 〃We cannot take
the waggon even if there are enough oxen left to draw it； for it is
his as much as mine； and I am sure that he will never leave this
treasure unless he is driven away。〃
〃And I am sure I hope that he will not。 But； father； the horses are
our own； it was his that died； you remember。 We can ride away on
them。〃
He stared at her and answered：
〃Yes； we could ride away to our deaths。 Suppose they got sick or lame；
suppose we meet the Matabele； or could find no game to shoot； suppose
one of us fell illoh！ and a hundred things。 What then？〃
〃Why； then it is just as well to perish in the wilderness as here；
where our risks are almost as great。 We must take our chance； and
trust to God。 Perhaps He will be merciful and help us。 Listen now；
father。 To…morrow is Sunday； when you and I do no work that we can
help。 Mr。 Meyer is a Jew； and he won't waste Sunday。 Well now； I will
say that I want to go down to the outer wall to fetch some clothes
which I left in the waggon； and to take others for the native women to
wash； and of course you will come with me。 Perhaps he will be
deceived； and stay behind； especially as he has been there to…day。
Then we can get the horses and guns and ammunition； and anything else
that we can carry in the way of food； and persuade the old Molimo to
open the gate for us。 You know； the little side gate that cannot be
seen from up here； and before Mr。 Meyer misses us and comes to look；
we shall be twenty miles away； andhorses can't be overtaken by a man
on foot。〃
〃He will say that we have deserted him； and that will be true。〃
〃You can leave a letter with the Molimo explaining that it was my
fault； that I was getting ill and thought that I should die； and that
you knew it would not be fair to ask him to come； and so to lose the
treasure； to every halfpenny of which he is welcome when it is found。
Oh！ father； don't hesitate any longer； say that you will take me away
from Mr。 Meyer。〃
〃So be it then；〃 answered Mr。 Clifford； and as he spoke； hearing a
sound； they looked up and saw Jacob approaching them。
Luckily he was so occupied with his own thoughts that he never noted
the guilty air upon their faces； and they had time to compose
themselves a little。 But even thus his suspicions were aroused。
〃What are you talking of so earnestly？〃 he asked。
〃We were wondering how you were getting on with the Makalanga；〃
answered Benita； fibbing boldly； 〃and whether you would persuade them
to face the ghosts。 Did you？〃
〃Not I；〃 he answered with a scowl。 〃Those ghosts are our worst enemies
in this place； the cowards swore that they would rather die。 I should
have liked to take some of them at their word and make ghosts of them；
but I remembered the situation and didn't。 Don't be afraid； Miss
Clifford； I never even lost my temper； outwardly at any rate。 Well；
there it is； if they won't help us； we must work the harder。 I've got
a new plan； and we'll begin on it to…morrow。〃
〃Not to…morrow； Mr。 Meyer；〃 replied Benita with a smile。 〃It is
Sunday； and we rest on Sunday； you know。〃
〃Oh！ I forgot。 The Makalanga with their ghosts and you with your
Sundayreally I do not know which is the worse。 Well； then； I must