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Ferreira said that it had passed the secret on to you； but in your
waking state you do not know that secret。 In fact； she did not pass it
on because she had no existence。 But in your sub…conscious state you
will know。 Therefore I must mesmerize you again。 Not at once； but in a
few days' time； when you have quite recovered。 Let us say next
Wednesday； three days hence。〃
〃You shall never mesmerize me again； Mr。 Meyer。〃
〃No； not while I live；〃 broke in her father； who had been listening to
this discussion in silence。
Jacob bowed his head meekly。
〃You think so now； but I think otherwise。 What I did last night I did
against your will； and that I can do again； only much more easily。 But
I had rather do it with your will； who work not for my own sake only；
but for the sake of all of us。 And now let us talk no more of the
matter； lest we should grow angry。〃 Then he rose and went away。
The next three days were passed by Benita in a state of constant
dread。 She knew in herself that Jacob Meyer had acquired a certain
command over her； that an invincible intimacy had sprung up between
them。 She was acquainted with his thoughts； thus； before he asked for
it； she would find herself passing him some article at table or
elsewhere； or answering a question that he was only about to ask。
Moreover； he could bring her to him from a little distance。 Thus； on
two or three occasions when she was wandering about their prison
enclosure； as she was wont to do for the sake of exercise； she found
her feet draw to some spotnow one place and now anotherand when
she reached it there before her was Jacob Meyer。
〃Forgive me for bringing you here；〃 he would say； smiling after his
crooked fashion； and lifting his hat politely； 〃but I wish to ask you
if you have not changed your mind as to being mesmerized？〃
Then for a while he would hold her with his eyes； so that her feet
seemed rooted to the ground； till at length it was as though he cut a
rope by some action of his will and set her free； and； choked with
wrath and blind with tears； Benita would turn and run from him as from
a wild beast。
But if her days were evil； oh！ what were her nights？ She lived in
constant terror lest he should again drug her food or drink； and；
while she slept； throw his magic spell upon her。 To protect herself
from the first danger she would swallow nothing that had been near
him。 Now also she slept in the hut with her father； who lay near its
door； a loaded rifle at his side； for he had told Jacob outright that
if he caught him at his practices he would shoot him； a threat at
which the younger man laughed aloud； for he had no fear of Mr。
Clifford。
Throughout the long hours of darkness they kept watch alternately； one
of them lying down to rest while the other peered and listened。 Nor
did Benita always listen in vain； for twice at least she heard
stealthy footsteps creeping about the hut； and felt that soft and
dreadful influence flowing in upon her。 Then she would wake her
father； whispering； 〃He is there； I can feel that he is there。〃 But by
the time that the old man had painfully dragged himself to his feet
for now he was becoming very feeble and acute rheumatism or some such
illness had got hold of himand crept from the hut； there was no one
to be seen。 Only through the darkness he would hear the sound of a
retreating step； and of low； mocking laughter。
Thus those miserable days went by； and the third morning came； that
dreaded Wednesday。 Before it was dawn Benita and her father； neither
of whom had closed their eyes that night； talked over their strait
long and earnestly； and they knew that its crisis was approaching。
〃I think that I had better try to kill him； Benita；〃 he said。 〃I am
growing dreadfully weak； and if I put it off I may find no strength；
and you will be at his mercy。 I can easily shoot him when his back is
turned； and though I hate the thought of such a deed； surely I shall
be forgiven。 Or if not； I cannot help it。 I must think of my duty to
you； not of myself。〃
〃No； no；〃 she answered。 〃I will not have it。 It would be murder；
although he has threatened you。 After all； father； I believe that the
man is half mad； and not responsible。 We must take our chance and
trust to God to save us。 If He does not；〃 she added； 〃at the worst I
can always save myself；〃 and she touched the pistol which now she wore
day and night。
〃So be it；〃 said Mr。 Clifford； with a groan。 〃Let us pray for
deliverance from this hell and keep our hands clean of blood。〃
XX
JACOB MEYER SEES A SPIRIT
For a while they were silent； then Benita said：
〃Father； is it not possible that we might escape； after all？ Perhaps
that stair on the rampart is not so completely blocked that we could
not climb over it。〃
Mr。 Clifford； thinking of his stiff limbs and aching back； shook his
head and answered：
〃I don't know； Meyer has never let me near enough to see。〃
〃Well； why do you not go to look？ You know he sleeps till late now；
because he is up all night。 Take the glasses and examine the top of
the wall from inside that old house near by。 He will not see or hear
you； but if I came near； he would know and wake up。〃
〃If you like； love； I can try； but what are you going to do while I am
away？〃
〃I shall climb the pillar。〃
〃You don't mean〃 and he stopped。
〃No； no； nothing of that sort。 I shall not follow the example of
Benita da Ferreira unless I am driven to it； I want to look； that is
all。 One can see far from that place； if there is anything to see。
Perhaps the Matabele are gone now； we have heard nothing of them
lately。〃
So they dressed themselves； and as soon as the light was sufficiently
strong； came out of the hut and parted； Mr。 Clifford； rifle in hand；
limping off towards the wall； and Benita going towards the great cone。
She climbed it easily enough； and stood in the little cup…like
depression on its dizzy peak； waiting for the sun to rise and disperse
the mists which hung over the river and its banks。
Now whatever may have been the exact ceremonial use to which the
ancients put this pinnacle； without doubt it had something to do with
sun…worship。 This； indeed； was proved by the fact that； at any rate at
this season of the year； the first rays of the risen orb struck full
upon its point。 Thus it came about that； as she stood there waiting；
Benita of a sudden found herself suffused in light so vivid and
intense that； clothed as she was in a dress which had once been white；
it must have caused her to shine like a silver image。 For several
minutes； indeed； this golden spear of fire blinded her so that she
could see nothing； but stood quite still； afraid to move； and waiting
until； as the sun grew higher； its level rays passed over her。 This
they did presently； and plunging into the valley； began to drive away
the fog。 Now she looked down； along the line of the river。
The Ma