“Well, if you prefer it, come within my own room,” he said. But the other curtly refused. He did not know what trap might have been laid for him there. Once out of sight of his people and where was he? Certainly between four walls anything might happen, outside, well—he knew where he was.
“If I talk I talk here,” he declared. “Otherwise I go home.”
Downes was speechless with rage—we have said that the day was abnormally hot and oppressive, and that these two men, whenever they met, invariably got upon each other’s nerves. But he haply remembered the burden of his remarks to Vidler. The whole township was practically defenceless. No arms were visible certainly, but more than an uncomfortable suspicion was upon his mind that they were there all the same. It was a case for making the best of it. The while Vidler had made the slightest perceptible sign to the court induna that he should withdraw as though of his own accord, and with him the two native constables.
“Go easy, sir,” he whispered warningly to his superior, in an undertone. The latter pulled himself together.
“Talk we now of Pandulu,” he said.
“Pandulu?” echoed Sapazani.
“Yes. What of him?”
“Who is Pandulu?”
And Undhlawafa and the remainder of the group looked at each other, and repeated, “Who is Pandulu?”
“He is a man from Natal,” answered the magistrate. “He has been seen near your kraal, Sapazani, he and Babatyana, who is wanted by the Government. Where are these men?”