Hume still kept his eyes fixed on the reeds, but noting no further movement, he rose gently to his feet, and slipping over the bundle of reeds, sank to the ground, and with his rifle held before him, with one hand crawled slowly to the edge without hint to anyone. On returning, however, he felt on either side, and found reeds carefully laid after being cut.
He had made noise enough, and on his return to the enclosure he found all the party astir.
“There is no doubt of it,” he said; “we have been followed.”
“Yes,” said Sirayo; “there are people afoot.”
“How do you know, chief, since you slept when this man stole in on us? and how he came, and when he went, is to me a mystery. He cut the reeds as he advanced, and lowered each one to the ground. Before he came I heard the sigh of a lion.”
“Mawoh!” exclaimed the Gaika.
“Well, Klaas, what is it?”
“It is the wizard; the same who came to the kraal after the lion sprang over. They go in couples.”
“It may be the same,” muttered Hume; “what do you say, Sirayo?”
“I know not,” said the Zulu gloomily, “for the ways of those men are dark; but there are people afoot; I can hear them now.”