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Robert crossed his arms and said： 〃Say on。〃
〃White man； I promised you life if you would show us how to pierce or
climb those walls。 But you have made fools of usyou have set us to
cut through rock with spears and axes。 Yes； to hoe at rock as though
it were soilyou who with the wisdom of your people could have taught
us some better way。 Therefore we must go back to our king disgraced；
having failed in his service； and therefore you who have mocked us
shall die。 Come down now； that we may kill you quietly； and learn
whether or no you are a brave man。〃
Then it was； while her lover's hand was moving towards the pistol
hidden beneath his coat； that Benita； with a quick movement； emerged
from the waggon in which she crouched； and stood up at his side upon
the driving box。
〃/Ow！/〃 said the Captain。 〃It is the White Maiden。 Now how came she
here？ Surely this is great magic。 Can a woman fly like a bird？〃 and
they stared at her amazed。
〃What does it matter how I came； chief Maduna？〃 she answered in Zulu。
〃Yet I will tell you why I came。 It was to save you from dipping your
spear in the innocent blood； and bringing on your head the curse of
the innocent blood。 Answer me now。 Who gave you and your brother
yonder your lives within that wall when the Makalanga would have torn
you limb from limb； as hyenas tear a buck？ Was it I or another？〃
〃Inkosi…kaasChieftainess；〃 replied the great Captain； raising his
broad spear in salute。 〃It was you and no other。〃
〃And what did you promise me then； Prince Maduna？〃
〃Maiden of high birth； I promised you your life and your goods； should
you ever fall into my power。〃
〃Does a leader of the Amandabele； one of the royal blood； lie like a
Mashona or a Makalanga slave？ Does he do worsetell half the truth
only； like a cheat who buys and keeps back half the price？〃 she asked
contemptuously。 〃Maduna； you promised me not one life； but two； two
lives and the goods that belong to both。 Ask of your brother there；
who was witness of the words。〃
〃Great Heavens！〃 muttered Robert Seymour to himself； as he looked at
Benita standing with outstretched hand and flashing eyes。 〃Who would
have thought that a starved woman could play such a part with death on
the hazard？〃
〃It is as this daughter of white chiefs says；〃 answered the man to
whom she had appealed。 〃When she freed us from the fangs of those
dogs； you promised her two lives； my brother； one for yours and one
for mine。〃
〃Hear him；〃 went on Benita。 〃He promised me two lives； and how did
this prince of the royal blood keep his promise？ When I and the old
man； my father； rode hence in peace； he loosed his spears upon us； he
hunted us。 Yet it was the hunters who fell into the trap； not the
hunted。〃
〃Maiden；〃 replied Maduna； in a shamed voice； 〃that was your fault； not
mine。 If you had appealed to me I would have let you go。 But you
killed my sentry； and then the chase began； and ere I knew who you
were my runners were out of call。〃
〃Little time had I to ask your mercy； but so be it；〃 said Benita。 〃I
accept your word； and I forgive you that offence。 Now fulfil your
oath。 Begone and leave us in peace。〃
Still Maduna hesitated。
〃I must make report to the king；〃 he said。 〃What is this white man to
you that I should spare him？ I give you your life and your father's
life； not that of this white man who has tricked us。 If he were your
father； or your brother； it would be otherwise。 But he is a stranger；
and belongs to me； not to you。〃
〃Maduna；〃 she asked； 〃do women such as I am share the waggon of a
stranger？ This man is more to me than father or brother。 He is my
husband； and I claim his life。〃
〃/Ow！/〃 said the spokesman of the audience； 〃we understand now。 She is
his wife； and has a right to him。 If she were not his wife she would
not be in his waggon。 It is plain that she speaks the truth； though
how she came here we do not know； unless； as we think； she is a
witch；〃 and he smiled at his own cleverness。
〃Inkosi…kaas；〃 said Maduna； 〃you have persuaded me。 I give you the
life of that white fox； your husband； and I hope that he will not
trick you as he has tricked us； and set you to hoe rock instead of
soil；〃 and he looked at Robert wrathfully。 〃I give him to you and all
his belongings。 Now； is there anything else that you would ask？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Benita coolly； 〃you have many oxen there which you took
from the other Makalanga。 Mine are eaten and I need cattle to draw my
waggon。 I ask a present of twenty of them； and；〃 she added by an
afterthought； 〃two cows with young calves； for my father is sick
yonder； and must have milk。〃
〃Oh！ give them to her。 Give them to her；〃 said Maduna； with a tragic
gesture that in any other circumstances would have made Benita laugh。
〃Give them to her and see that they are good ones； before she asks our
shields and spears alsofor after all she saved my life。〃
So men departed to fetch those cows and oxen； which presently were
driven in。
While this talk was in progress the great impi of the Matabele was
massing for the march； on the flat ground a little to the right of
them。 Now they began to come past in companies； preceded by the lads
who carried the mats and cooking…pots and drove the captured sheep and
cattle。 By this time the story of Benita； the witch…woman whom they
could not kill； and who had mysteriously flown from the top of the
peak into their prisoner's waggon； had spread among them。 They knew
also that it was she who had saved their general from the Makalanga；
and those who had heard her admired the wit and courage with which she
had pleaded and won her cause。 Therefore； as they marched past in
their companies； singing a song of abuse and defiance of the Makalanga
who peered at them from the top of the wall； they lifted their great
spears in salutation to Benita standing upon the waggon…box。
Indeed； they were a wondrous and imposing spectacle； such a one as few
white women have ever seen。
At length all were gone except Maduna and a body…guard of two hundred
men。 He walked to the front of the waggon and addressed Robert
Seymour。
〃Listen； you fox who set us to hoe granite；〃 he said indignantly。 〃You
have outwitted us this time； but if ever I meet you again； then you
die。 Now I have given you your life； but；〃 he added； almost
pleadingly； 〃if you are really brave as white men are said to be； will
you not come down and fight me man to man for honour's sake？〃
〃I think not；〃 answered Robert； when he understood this challenge；
〃for what chance should I have against so brave a warrior？ Also this
ladymy wifeneeds my help on her journey home。〃
Maduna turned from him contemptuously to Benita。
〃I go；〃 he said； 〃and fear not； you will meet no Matabele on that
journey。 Have you more words for me； O Beautiful One； with a tongue of
oil and a wit that cuts like steel？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Benita。 〃You have dea