“Who did you first meet after you had left the river?” she asked.
“I struck a small kraal, and, incidentally, the people were none too civil. But it was a long way from the spot where it happened.”
Not even to her could he break his word of honour pledged to the strange, sinister-looking fellow-countryman who had shown him hospitality, to respect to the uttermost the latter’s secrecy.
Verna thought for a moment. Then she said—
“Alaric, do you remember the time that we killed the indhlondhlo, down in the forest, Mandevu’s sudden appearance?”
“Yes,” eagerly. “What then?”
“Do you remember his reference to your power of snake-charming, not once but twice?”
“Good God! I should think so. I thought it strange at the time.”
“Well, could he—or anybody—have witnessed the whole affair?”
“N-no,” he answered thoughtfully. “I don’t see how any natives could have been concealed within sight or even earshot. The horses would have winded them and have got restive, whereas they were perfectly quiet.”