Here I should explain that “Igeza” was the name which the natives had given to Lord Ragnall because of his appearance.  The word means a handsome person in the Zulu tongue.  Savage they called “Bena,” I don’t know why.  “Bena” in Zulu means to push out the breast and it may be that the name was a round-about allusion to the proud appearance of the dignified Savage, or possibly it had some other recondite signification.  At any rate Lord Ragnall, Hans and myself knew the splendid Savage thenceforward by the homely appellation of Beans.  His master said it suited him very well because he was so green.

“The advice seems wise, Hans.  Go now.  No, no more gin,” I answered.

As a matter of fact careful consideration convinced us it was so wise that we acted on it down to the last detail.

So it came about that one fine afternoon about a fortnight later, for hurry as we would our preparations took a little time, we trekked for Zululand over the sandy roads that ran from the outskirts of Durban.  Our baggage and stores were stowed in two half-tented wagons, very good wagons since everything we had with us was the best that money could buy, the after-part of which served us as sleeping-places at night.  Hans sat on the voor-kisse or driving-seat of one of the wagons; Lord Ragnall, Savage and I were mounted upon “salted” horses, that is, horses which had recovered from and were therefore supposed to be proof against the dreadful sickness, valuable and docile animals which were trained to shooting.

At our start a little contretemps occurred.  To my amazement I saw Savage, who insisted upon continuing to wear his funereal upper servant’s cut-away coat, engaged with grim determination in mounting his steed from the wrong side.  He got into the saddle somehow, but there was worse to follow.  The horse, astonished at such treatment, bolted a little way, Savage sawing at its mouth.  Lord Ragnall and I cantered after it past the wagons, fearing disaster.  All of a sudden it swerved violently and Savage flew into the air, landing heavily in a sitting posture.

“Poor Beans!” ejaculated Lord Ragnall as we sped forward.  “I expect there is an end of his journeyings.”

To our surprise, however, we saw him leap from the ground with the most marvellous agility and begin to dance about slapping at his posterior parts and shouting,

“Take it off!  Kill it!”

A few seconds later we discovered the reason.  The horse had shied at a sleeping puff adder which was curled up in the sand of that little frequented road, and on this puff adder Savage had descended with so much force, for he weighed thirteen stone, that the creature was squashed quite flat and never stirred again.  This, however, he did not notice in his agitation, being convinced indeed that it was hanging to him behind like a bulldog.

“Snakes! my lord,” he exclaimed, when at last after careful search we demonstrated to him that the adder had died before it could come into action.