"Now, young men," said Van der Wyck. "Having got you out of this mess, perhaps you will tell me how and why you got into it?"
It was close on mid-day. Van der Wyck had "out-spanned" on the edge of the forest. His native "boys" were either jabbering or sleeping, while the horses and oxen browsed before resuming their trek.
Colin related the series of events that led up to their capture by the Makoh'lenga, laying particular stress upon the fact that neither he nor his chum attempted to probe the secrets of the mysterious tribe.
"H'm," ejaculated the Afrikander. "That puts a different construction on things. Allemachte, when I heard you were in those fellows' clutches I thought you had neglected my advice and had started to discover things. Almost every kraal within a couple of hundred miles knew of your capture, but the natives have such a wholesome respect for Umkomasi that they dare not give information. I heard the news quite by accident from one of Sibenga's crowd, so I came on straightaway. Luckily I brought every ounce of blasting powder I possessed with me; but it rather spoiled my chances of making a bit out of Umkomasi."
"Have you been long in East Africa?" asked Colin.
"Some weeks," was the reply. "When I left you in Cape Town I meant to go to Mafeking. You see, I had a farm left me by an uncle who died while I was fighting Huns round about this very spot. But somehow I decided to let the farm go a bit, and have a look round the old familiar places before I settled to work. I had an idea of doing a bit of bartering with Umkomasi, who, I think I told you, was in my debt. And I meant to look you up at Kilembonga, so you see I hadn't forgotten you."
For some minutes Colin sat and thought. He wanted to ask Van der Wyck a question, but, somehow, he rather dreaded doing so.
"Better do it," he soliloquised, "and get it off my chest. It'll clear the air."
He still hesitated. Evidently the Afrikander read his thoughts.
"What is bothering you now?" he asked.