There came a sound of shuffling, and the voice of Klaas, sounding hollow, called out:
“Are you there?”
“What have you seen?”
“Ah, it was so still I thought you had been swallowed up. The Zulus are in three parties; one has marched up the valley, another is by the river, and the rest stay near here, where they were encamped before.”
“Are they keeping watch over the ruins?”
“Neh, sieur, I think they fear the stones and the things in them at night.”
“Then let us get out of this,” said Webster.
“Wait awhile,” said Hume, for an animated discussion had sprung up between the natives, and he was listening intently. The strange chief was evidently emphasising some point with great earnestness, and the smack of his fingers into the open palm marked off each point.
“Does he think the Zulus are determined to find us?” asked Hume.
“Oh, ay,” said Sirayo; “yoh, I have no more snuff. They will attack to-morrow, and if they do not succeed the others will come to their help. But they do not seek us!”