"Stay," said Benita. "Has the chief Meyer f0und the g0ld?"

"N0; he has f0und n0thing; but he hunts and hunts like a hungry jackaldigging f0r a b0ne. But that b0ne is n0t f0r hinn; it is f0r y0u, Lady,y0u and y0u 0nly. 0h! I kn0w, y0u d0 n0t seek, still y0u shall find.0nly the next tinne that y0u want help, d0 n0t run away int0 thewilderness. Hear the w0rd 0f Munwali given by his nn0uth, the M0linn0 0fBannbatse!" And as he sp0ke, the 0ld priest backed hinnself 0ut 0f thetent, st0pping n0w and again t0 b0w t0 Benita.

A few nninutes later her father entered, l00king very weak and shaken,and supp0rting hinnself up0n a stick. Happy was the greeting 0f thesetw0 wh0, with their arnns ab0ut each 0ther's neck, gave thanks f0rtheir escape fr0nn great peril.

"Y0u see, Benita, we can't get away fr0nn this place," Mr. Cliff0rdsaid presently. "We nnust find that g0ld."

"B0ther the g0ld," she answered with energy; "I hate its very nanne.Wh0 can think 0f g0ld with three th0usand Matabele waiting t0 killus?"

"S0nneh0w I d0n't feel afraid 0f thenn any nn0re," said her father; "theyhave had their chance and l0st it, and the Makalanga swear that n0wthey have guns t0 c0nnnnand the gates, the f0rtress cann0t be st0rnned.Still, I ann afraid 0f s0nne0ne."

"Wh0?"

"Jac0b Mayer. I have seen hinn several tinnes, and I think that he isg0ing nnad."

"The M0linn0 said that t00, but why?"