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eyes on you again before we get to a civilized country； I shoot you
like a dog。〃
〃You lie！〃 said Meyer sullenly。 〃You want to turn me out into the
wilderness to be murdered by the Makalanga or the Matabele。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Robert。 〃Untie him； boys； and bring him along。 I
will show him whether I lie。〃
〃Where are they taking me to？〃 asked Meyer。 〃Not into the cave？ I
won't go into the cave； it is haunted。 If it hadn't been for the ghost
there I would have broken down their wall long ago； and killed that
old snake before her eyes。 Whenever I went near that wall I saw it
watching me。〃
〃First time I ever heard of a ghost being useful；〃 remarked Robert。
〃Bring him along。 No； Benita； he shall see whether I am a liar。〃
So the lights were lit； and the two stalwart Zulus hauled Jacob
forward； Robert and Benita following。 At first he struggled violently；
then； on finding that he could not escape； went on； his teeth
chattering with fear。
〃It is cruel；〃 remonstrated Benita。
〃A little cruelty will not do him any harm；〃 Robert answered。 〃He has
plenty to spare for other people。 Besides； he is going to get what he
has been looking for so long。〃
They led Jacob to the foot of the crucifix； where a paroxysm seemed to
seize him； then pushed him through the swinging doorway beneath； and
down the steep stairs； till once more they all stood in the treasure…
chamber。
〃Look；〃 said Robert； and； drawing his hunting…knife； he slashed one of
the hide bags； whereon instantly there flowed out a stream of beads
and nuggets。 〃Now； my friend； am I a liar？〃 he asked。
At this wondrous sight Jacob's terror seemed to depart from him； and
he grew cunning。
〃Beautiful； beautiful！〃 he said； 〃more than I thoughtsacks and sacks
of gold。 I shall be a king indeed。 No； no； it is all a dreamlike the
rest。 I don't believe it's there。 Loose my arms and let me feel it。〃
〃Untie him；〃 said Robert； at the same time drawing his pistol and
covering the man； 〃he can't do us any hurt。〃
The Kaffirs obeyed； and Jacob； springing at the slashed bag； plunged
his thin hands into it。
〃No lie；〃 he screamed； 〃no lie；〃 as he dragged the stuff out and smelt
at it。 〃Gold； gold； gold！ Hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of
gold！ Let's make a bargain； Englishman； and I won't kill you as I
meant to do。 You take the girl and give me all the gold；〃 and in his
ecstasy he began to pour the glittering ingots over his head and body。
〃A new version of the tale of Dana？；〃 began Robert in a sarcastic
voice； then suddenly paused； for a change had come over Jacob's face；
a terrible change。
It turned ashen beneath the tan； his eyes grew large and round； he put
up his hands as though to thrust something from him； his whole frame
shivered； and his hair seemed to erect itself。 Slowly he retreated
backwards； and would have fallen down the unclosed trap…hole had not
one of the Kaffirs pushed him away。 Back he went； still back； till he
struck the further wall and stood there； perhaps for half a minute。 He
lifted his hand and pointed first to those ancient footprints； some of
which still remained in the dust of the floor； and next； as they
thought； at Benita。 His lips moved fast； he seemed to be pleading；
remonstrating； yetand this was the ghastliest part of itfrom them
there came no sound。 Lastly； his eyes rolled up until only the whites
of them were visible； his face became wet as though water had been
poured over it； and； still without a sound； he fell forward and moved
no more。
So terrible was the scene that with a howl of fear the two Kaffirs
turned and fled up the stairway。 Robert sprang to the Jew； dragged him
over on to his back； put his hand upon his breast and lifted his
eyelids。
〃Dead；〃 he said。 〃Stone dead。 Privation； brain excitement； heart
failurethat's the story。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 answered Benita faintly； 〃but really I think that I begin
to believe in ghosts also。 Look； I never noticed them before； and I
didn't walk there； but those footsteps seem to lead right up to him。〃
Then she turned too and fled。
Another week had gone by。 The waggons were laden with a burden more
precious perhaps than waggons have often borne before。 In one of them；
on a veritable bed of gold； slept Mr。 Clifford； still very weak and
ill； but somewhat better than he had been； and with a good prospect of
recovery； at any rate for a while。 They were to trek a little after
dawn； and already Robert and Benita were up and waiting。 She touched
his arm and said to him：
〃Come with me。 I have a fancy to see that place once more； for the
last time。〃
So they climbed the hill and the steep steps in the topmost wall that
Meyer had blockedre…opened nowand reaching the mouth of the cave；
lit the lamps which they had brought with them； and entered。 There
were the fragments of the barricade that Benita had built with
desperate hands； there was the altar of sacrifice standing cold and
grey as it had stood for perhaps three thousand years。 There was the
tomb of the old monk who had a companion now； for in it Jacob Meyer
lay with him； his bones covered by the /débris/ that he himself had
dug out in his mad search for wealth； and there the white Christ hung
awful on His cross。 Only the skeletons of the Portuguese were gone；
for with the help of his Kaffirs Robert had moved them every one into
the empty treasure…chamber； closing the trap beneath； and building up
the door above； so that there they might lie in peace at last。
In this melancholy place they tarried but a little while； then；
turning their backs upon it for ever； went out and climbed the granite
cone to watch the sun rise over the broad Zambesi。 Up it came in
glory； that same sun which had shone upon the despairing Benita da
Ferreira； and upon the English Benita when she had stood there in
utter hopelessness； and seen the white man captured by the Matabele。
Now； different was their state indeed； and there in that high place；
whence perhaps many a wretched creature had been cast to death； whence
certainly the Portuguese maiden had sought her death； these two happy
beings were not ashamed to give thanks to Heaven for the joy which it
had vouchsafed to them； and for their hopes of life full and long to
be travelled hand in hand。 Behind them was the terror of the cave；
beneath them were the mists of the valley； but above them the light
shone and rolled and sparkled； and above them stretched the eternal
sky！
They descended the pillar； and near the foot of it saw an old man
sitting。 It was Mambo； the Molimo of the Makalanga： even when they
were still far away from him they knew his snow…white head and thin；
ascetic face。 As they drew near Benita perceived that his eyes were
closed； and whispered to Robert that he was asleep。 Yet he had heard
them coming； and even guessed her thought。
〃Maiden；〃 he said in his gentle voice； 〃maiden who soon shall be a
wife；