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he beat time to the volleying notes of the dreadful Matabele war…
chant； which floated up from the plain below。 〃It sounds quite
religious； doesn't it？ only the wordsno； I will not translate them。
In our circumstances they are too personal。
〃Now I have something to say to you。 It was unkind of you to run away
and leave me like that； not honourable either。 Indeed；〃 he added with
a sudden outbreak of the panther ferocity； 〃had you alone been
concerned； Clifford； I tell you frankly that when we met again； I
should have shot you。 Traitors deserve to be shot； don't they？〃
〃Please stop talking to my father like that；〃 broke in Benita in a
stern voice； for her anger had overcome her fear。 〃Also it is I whom
you should blame。〃
〃It is a pleasure to obey you；〃 he answered bowing； 〃I will never
mention the subject any more。 Nor do I blame youwho could？not
Jacob Meyer。 I quite understand that you found it very dull up here；
and ladies must be allowed their fancies。 Also you have come back； so
why talk of the matter？ But listen： on one point I have made up my
mind； for your own sake you shall not go away any more until we leave
this together。 When I had finished carrying up the food I made sure of
that。 If you go to look to…morrow morning you will find that no one
can come up that walland； what is more； no one can go down it。
Moreover； that I may be quite certain； in future I shall sleep near
the stair myself。〃
Benita and her father stared at each other。
〃The Molimo has a right to come；〃 she said； 〃it is his sanctuary。〃
〃Then he must celebrate his worship down below for a little while。 The
old fool pretends to know everything； but he never guessed what I was
going to do。 Besides； we don't want him breaking in upon our privacy；
do we？ He might see the gold when we find it； and rob us of it afterwards。〃
XVII
THE FIRST EXPERIMENT
Again Benita and her father stared at each other blankly； almost with
despair。 They were trapped； cut off from all help； in the power of a
man who was going mad。 Mr。 Clifford said nothing。 He was old and
growing feeble； for years； although he did not know it； Meyer had
dominated him； and never more so than in this hour of stress and
bewilderment。 Moreover； the man had threatened to murder him； and he
was afraid； not so much for himself as for his daughter。 If he were to
die now； what would happen to her； left alone with Jacob Meyer？ The
knowledge of his own folly； understood too late； filled him with
shame。 How could he have been so wicked as to bring a girl upon such a
quest in the company of an unprincipled Jew； of whose past he knew
nothing except that it was murky and dubious？ He had committed a great
crime； led on by a love of lucre； and the weight of it pressed upon
his tongue and closed his lips； he knew not what to say。
For a little while Benita was silent also； hope died within her。 But
she was a bold…spirited woman； and by degrees her courage re…asserted
itself。 Indignation filled her breast and shone through her dark eyes。
Suddenly she turned upon Jacob； who sat before them smoking his pipe
and enjoying their discomfiture。
〃How dare you？〃 she asked in a low； concentrated voice。 〃How dare you；
you coward？〃
He shrank a little beneath her scorn and anger； then seemed to recover
and brace himself； as one does who feels that a great struggle is at
hand； upon the issue of which everything depends。
〃Do not be angry with me；〃 he answered。 〃I cannot bear it。 It hurts
ah！ you don't know how it hurts。 Well； I will tell you； and before
your father； for that is more honourable。 I darefor your sake。〃
〃For my sake？ How can it benefit me to be cooped up in this horrible
place with you？ I would rather trust myself with the Makalanga； or
even；〃 she added with bitter scorn； 〃even with those bloody…minded
Matabele。〃
〃You ran away from them very fast a little while ago； Miss Clifford。
But you do not understand me。 When I said for your sake； I meant for
my own。 See； now。 You tried to leave me the other day and did not
succeed。 Another time you might succeed； and thenwhat would happen
to me？〃
〃I do not know； Mr。 Meyer；〃 and her eyes added〃I do not care。〃
〃Ah！ but I know。 Last time it drove me nearly mad； next time I should
go quite mad。〃
〃Because you believe that through me you will find this treasure of
which you dream day and night； Mr。 Meyer〃
〃Yes；〃 he interrupted quickly。 〃Because I believe that in you I shall
find the treasure of which I dream day and night； and because that
treasure has become necessary to my life。〃
Benita turned quickly towards her father； who was puzzling over the
words； but before either of them could speak Jacob passed his hand
across his brow in a bewildered way and said：
〃What was I talking of？ The treasure； yes； the uncountable treasure of
pure gold； that lies hid so deep； that is so hard to discover and to
possess； the useless； buried treasure that would bring such joy and
glory to us both； if only it could be come at and reckoned out； piece
by piece； coin by coin； through the long； long years of life。〃
Again he paused； then went on。
〃Well； Miss Clifford； you are quite right； that is why I have dared to
make you a prisoner； because； as the old Molimo said； the treasure is
yours and I wish to share it。 Now； about this treasure； it seems that
it can't be found； can it； although I have worked so hard？〃 and he
looked at his delicate； scarred hands。
〃Quite so； Mr。 Meyer； it can't be found； so you had better let us go
down to the Makalanga。〃
〃But there is a way； Miss Clifford； there is a way。 You know where it
lies； and you can show me。〃
〃If I knew I would show you soon enough； Mr。 Meyer； for then you could
take the stuff and our partnership would be at an end。〃
〃Not until it is divided ounce by ounce and coin by coin。 But first
first you must show me； as you say you will； and as you can。〃
〃How； Mr。 Meyer？ I am not a magician。〃
〃Ah！ but you are。 I will tell you how； having your promise。 Listen
now； both of you。 I have studied。 I know a great many secret things；
and I read in your face that you have the giftlet me look in your
eyes a while； Miss Clifford； and you will go to sleep quite gently；
and then in your sleep； which shall not harm you at all； you will see
where that gold lies hidden； and you will tell us。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Benita； bewildered。
〃I know what he means；〃 broke in Mr。 Clifford。 〃You mean that you want
to mesmerize her as you did the Zulu chief。〃
Benita opened her lips to speak； but Meyer said quickly：
〃No； no； hear me first before you refuse。 You have the gift； the
precious gift of clairvoyance； that is so rare。〃
〃How do you know that； Mr。 Meyer？ I have never been mesmerized in my
life。〃
〃It does not matter how。 I do know it； I have been sure of it from the
moment when first we met； that night by the kl