Nahoon was walking across a little open space about ten spaces ahead of him where Hadden could see him very well, whilst he himself was under the shadow of a large tree with low horizontal branches running out from the trunk.

“Nahoon,” he said.

The Zulu turned round, and took a step towards him.

“No, do not move, I pray.  Stand where you are, or I shall be obliged to shoot you.  Listen now:  do not be afraid for I shall not fire without warning.  I am your prisoner, and you are charged to take me back to the king to be his servant.  But I believe that a war is going to break out between your people and mine; and this being so, you will understand that I do not wish to go to Cetywayo’s kraal, because I should either come to a violent death there, or my own brothers will believe that I am a traitor and treat me accordingly.  The Zulu border is not much more than an hour’s journey away—­let us say an hour and a half’s:  I mean to be across it before the moon is up.  Now, Nahoon, will you lose me in the forest and give me this hour and a half’s start—­or will you stop here with that ghost people of whom you talk?  Do you understand?  No, please do not move.”

“I understand you,” answered the Zulu, in a perfectly composed voice, “and I think that was a good name which we gave you this morning, though, Black Heart, there is some justice in your words and more wisdom.  Your opportunity is good, and one which a man named as you are should not let fall.”

“I am glad to find that you take this view of the matter, Nahoon.  And now will you be so kind as to lose me, and to promise not to look for me till the moon is up?”

“What do you mean, Black Heart?”

“What I say.  Come, I have no time to spare.”

“You are a strange man,” said the Zulu reflectively.  “You heard the king’s order to me:  would you have me disobey the order of the king?”

“Certainly, I would.  You have no reason to love Cetywayo, and it does not matter to you whether or no I return to his kraal to mend guns there.  If you think that he will be angry because I am missing, you had better cross the border also; we can go together.”

“And leave my father and all my brethren to his vengeance?  Black Heart, you do not understand.  How can you, being so named?  I am a soldier, and the king’s word is the king’s word.  I hoped to have died fighting, but I am the bird in your noose.  Come, shoot, or you will not reach the border before moonrise,” and he opened his arms and smiled.

“If it must be, so let it be.  Farewell, Nahoon, at least you are a brave man, but every one of us must cherish his own life,” answered Hadden calmly.

Then with much deliberation he raised his rifle and covered the Zulu’s breast.

Already—­whilst his victim stood there still smiling, although a twitching of his lips betrayed the natural terrors that no bravery can banish—­already his finger was contracting on the trigger, when of a sudden, as instantly as though he had been struck by lightning, Hadden went down backwards, and behold! there stood upon him a great spotted beast that waved its long tail to and fro and glared down into his eyes.