All the following night I lay awake filled with heavy fears which deepened as the hours went on.  Just before dawn we heard a knocking on our door and Ragnall’s voice whispering to us to open.  Hans did so while I lit a candle, of which we had a good supply.  As it burned up Ragnall entered, and from his face I saw at once that something terrible had happened.  He went to the jar where we kept our water and drank three pannikin-fuls, one after the other.  Then without waiting to be asked, he said: 

“Savage is dead,” and paused a while as though some awful recollection overcame him.  “Listen,” he went on presently.  “We worked up the hill-side without firing, although we saw plenty of partridges and one buck, till just as twilight was closing in, we came to the cliff face.  Here we perceived a track that ran to the mouth of a narrow cave or tunnel in the lava rock of the precipice, which looked quite unclimbable.  While we were wondering what to do, eight or ten white-robed men appeared out of the shadows and seized us before we could make any resistance.  After talking together for a little they took away our guns and pistols, with which some of them disappeared.  Then their leader, with many bows, indicated that we were at liberty to proceed by pointing first to the mouth of the cave, and next to the top of the precipice, saying something about ‘ingane,’ which I believe means a little child, does it not?”

I nodded, and he went on: 

“After this they all departed down the hill, smiling in a fashion that disturbed me.  We stood for a while irresolute, until it became quite dark.  I asked Savage what he thought we had better do, expecting that he would say ‘Return to the town.’  To my surprise, he answered: 

“’Go on, of course, my lord.  Don’t let those brutes say that we white men daren’t walk a step without our guns.  Indeed, in any case I mean to go on, even if your lordship won’t.’

“Whilst he spoke he took a bull’s-eye lantern from his foodbag, which had not been interfered with by the Kendah, and lit it.  I stared at him amazed, for the man seemed to be animated by some tremendous purpose.  Or rather it was as though a force from without had got hold of his will and were pushing him on to an unknown end.  Indeed his next words showed that this was so, for he exclaimed: 

“’There is something drawing me into that cave, my lord.  It may be death; I think it is death, but whatever it be, go I must.  Perhaps you would do well to stop outside till I have seen.’

“I stepped forward to catch hold of the man, who I thought had gone mad, as perhaps was the case.  Before I could lay my hands on him he had run rapidly to the mouth of the cave.  Of course I followed, but when I reached its entrance the star of light thrown forward by the bull’s-eye lantern showed me that he was already about eight yards down the tunnel.  Then I heard a terrible hissing noise and Savage exclaiming:  ’Oh! my God!’ twice over.  As he spoke the lantern fell from his hand, but did not go out, because, as you know, it is made to burn in any position.  I leapt forward and picked it from the ground, and while I was doing so became aware that Savage was running still farther into the depths of the cave.  I lifted the lantern above my head and looked.