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the tent flaps and peered into the waggon。 Still she could see nothing
because of the mist； yet she heard something； a man breathing in his
sleep。 Somehow she thought that it was a white man； a Kaffir did not
breathe like that。 She did not know what to do； so remained kneeling
there。 It seemed as though the man who was asleep began to feel her
presence； for he muttered to himselfsurely the words were English！
Then quite suddenly he struck a match and lit a candle which stood in
a beer bottle by his side。 She could not see his face while he lit the
match； for his arm hid it； and the candle burned up slowly。 Then the
first thing she saw was the barrel of a revolver pointing straight at
her。
〃Now； my black friend；〃 said a pleasant voice； 〃down you go or I
shoot。 One； two！ Oh； my God！〃
The candle burned up； its light fell upon the white； elfish face of
Benita； whose long dark hair streamed about her； it shone in her great
eyes。 Still she could see nothing； for it dazzled her。
〃Oh； my God！〃 said the voice again。 〃Benita！ Benita！ Have you come to
tell me that I must join you？ Well； I am ready； my sweet； my sweet！
Now I shall hear your answer。〃
〃Yes；〃 she whispered； and crawling forward down the cartel Benita fell
upon his breast。
For she knew him at lastdead or living she cared notshe knew him；
and out of hell crept to him； her heaven and her home！
XXIII
BENITA GIVES HER ANSWER
〃Your answer； Benita；〃 Robert said dreamily； for to him this thing
seemed a dream。
〃Have I not given it； months ago？ Oh； I remember； it was only in my
heart； not on my lips； when that blow fell on me！ Then afterwards I
heard what you had done and I nearly died。 I wished that I might die
to be with you； but I could not。 I was too strong； now I understand
the reason。 Well； it seems that we are both living； and whatever
happens； here is my answer； if it is worth anything to you。 Once and
for all； I love you。 I am not ashamed to say it； because very soon we
may be separated for the last time。 But I cannot talk now； I have come
here to save my father。〃
〃Where is he； Benita？〃
〃Dying in a cave up at the top of that fortress。 I got down by a
secret way。 Are the Matabele still here？〃
〃Very much so；〃 he answered。 〃But something has happened。 My guard
woke me an hour ago to say that a messenger had arrived from their
king； Lobengula； and now they are talking over the message。 That is
how you came to get through； otherwise the sentries would have
assegaied you； the brutes；〃 and he drew her to him and kissed her
passionately for the first time； then； as though ashamed of himself；
let her go。
〃Have you anything to eat？〃 she asked。 〃IIam starving。 I didn't
feel it before； but now〃
〃Starving； you starving； while Ilook； here is some cold meat which I
could not get down last night； and put by for the Kaffirs。 Great
Heavens！ that I should feed you with Kaffirs' leavings！ But it is good
eat it。〃
Benita took the stuff in her fingers and swallowed it greedily； she
who for days had lived on nothing but a little biscuit and biltong。 It
tasted delicious to hernever had she eaten anything so good。 And all
the while he watched her with glowing eyes。
〃How can you look at me？〃 she said at length。 〃I must be horrible； I
have been living in the dark and crawling through mud。 I trod upon a
crocodile！〃 and she shuddered。
〃Whatever you are I never want to see you different；〃 he answered
slowly。 〃To me you are most beautiful。〃
Even then； wreck as she was； the poor girl flushed； and there was a
mist in her eyes as she looked up and said：
〃Thank you。 I don't care now what happens to me； and what has happened
doesn't matter at all。 But can we get away？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered； 〃but I doubt it。 Go and sit on the
waggon…box for a few minutes while I dress； and we will see。〃
Benita went。 The mist was thinning now； and through it she saw a sight
at which her heart sank； for between her and the mount Bambatse
Matabele were pouring towards their camp on the river's edge。 They
were cut off。 A couple of minutes later Robert joined her； and as he
came she looked at him anxiously in the growing light。 He seemed older
than when they had parted on the /Zanzibar/； changed； too； for now his
face was serious； and he had grown a beard； also； he appeared to limp。
〃I am afraid there is an end；〃 she said； pointing to the Matabele
below。
〃Yes； it looks like it。 But like you； I say； what does it matter now？〃
and he took her hand in his； adding： 〃let us be happy while we can if
only for a few minutes。 They will be here presently。〃
〃What are you？〃 she asked。 〃A prisoner？〃
〃That's it。 I was following you when they captured me； for I have been
here before and knew the way。 They were going to kill me on general
principles； only it occurred to one of them who was more intelligent
than the rest that I； being a white man； might be able to show them
how to storm the place。 Now I was sure that you were there； for I saw
you standing on that point； though they thought you were the Spirit of
Bambatse。 So I wasn't anxious to help them； for thenyou know what
happens when the Matabele are the stormers！ Butas you still livedI
wasn't anxious to die either。 So I set them to work to dig a hole with
their assegais and sharp axes； through granite。 They have completed
exactly twenty feet of it； and I reckon that there are one hundred and
forty to go。 Last night they got tired of that tunnel and talked of
killing me again； unless I could show them a better plan。 Now all the
fat is in the fire； and I don't know what is to happen。 Hullo！ here
they come。 Hide in the waggon； quick！〃
Benita obeyed； and from under cover of the tent where the Matabele
could not see her； watched and listened。 The party that approached
consisted of a chief and about twenty men； who marched behind him as a
guard。 Benita knew that chief。 He was the captain Maduna； he of the
royal blood whose life she had saved。 By his side was a Natal Zulu；
Robert Seymour's driver； who could speak English and acted as
interpreter。
〃White man；〃 said Maduna； 〃a message has reached us from our king。
Lobengula makes a great war and has need of us。 He summons us back
from this petty fray； this fight against cowards who hide behind
walls； whom otherwise we would have killed； everyone； yes； if we sat
here till we grew old。 So for this time we leave them alone。〃
Robert answered politely that he was glad to hear it； and wished them
a good journey。
〃Wish yourself a good journey； white man；〃 was the stern reply。
〃Why？ Do you desire that I should accompany you to Lobengula？〃
〃No； you go before us to the kraal of the Black One who is even
greater than the child of Moselikatse； to that king who is called
Death。〃
Robert crossed his arms and said： 〃Say on。〃
〃White man； I promised you life if you would show us how to pierc