“I know it, Nkose, and you—you also know what I said to you when I wanted to remain and work for you,” he answered significantly.
I did remember it. His words came back to me, though I had long since dismissed them from my mind. The plot was thickening.
The Xosa took a long and careful look round, and if my patience was strained to bursting point I knew enough of these people to know that you never get anything out of them by hurrying them. Then he bent his head towards me and whispered:
“If you follow my directions exactly you will recover the Inkosikazi. If not you will never see her again.”
“Never see her again?” I echoed with some idea of gaining time in order to collect myself.
“Has Nyamaki ever been seen again?” said Jan Boom.
“Do you know where she is?”
“I know where she will be to-morrow night.”
To-morrow night! And I had been expecting instant action.
“Look here,” I said, seizing him by the shoulder with a grip that must have hurt. “Has she been injured in any way? Tell me. Has she?”