“What did they feast on, Hans, if they took no cattle?” I asked with a shiver, for I was afraid of I knew not what.

“Baas,” answered Hans, turning his head away and looking at the ground, “they feasted on the children whom they had killed, also on some of the young women.  These tall soldiers are men-eaters, Baas.”

At this horrible intelligence I turned faint and felt as though I was going to fall, but recovering myself, signed to him to go on with his story.

“They feasted quite nicely, Baas,” he continued, “making no noise.  Then some of them slept while others watched, and that went on all night.  As soon as it was dark, but before the moon rose, I slid down the tree and crept round to the back of the house without being seen or heard, as I can, Baas.  I got into the house by the back door and crawled to the window of the sitting-room.  It was open and peeping through I saw Sad-Eyes still tied to the seat on the stoep not more than a pace away, while the girl Janee crouched on the floor at her feet—­I think she was asleep or fainting.

“I made a little noise, like a night-adder hissing, and kept on making it, till at last Sad-Eyes turned her head.  Then I spoke in a very low whisper, for fear lest I should wake the two guards who were dozing on either side of her wrapped in their blankets, saying, ’It is I, Hans, come to help you.’  ‘You cannot,’ she answered, also speaking very low.  ’Get to your master and tell him and my father to follow.  These men are called Amahagger and live far away across the river.  They are going to take me to their home, as I understand, to rule them, because they want a white woman to be a queen over them who have always been ruled by a certain white queen, against whom they have rebelled.  I do not think they mean to do me any harm, unless perhaps they want to marry me to their chief, but of this I am not sure from their talk which I understand badly.  Now go, before they catch you.’

“‘I think you might get away,’ I whispered back.  ’I will cut your bonds.  When you are free, slip through the window and I will guide you.’

“‘Very well, try it,’ she said.

“So I drew my knife and stretched out my arm.  But then, Baas, I showed myself a fool—­if the Great Medicine had still been there I might have known better.  I forgot the starlight which shone upon the blade of the knife.  That girl Janee came out of her sleep or swoon, lifted her head and saw the knife.  She screamed once, then at a word from her mistress was silent.  But it was enough, for it woke up the guards who glared about them and threatened Janee with their great spears, also they went to sleep no more, but began to talk together, though what they said I could not hear, for I was hiding on the floor of the room.  After this, knowing that I could do no good and might do harm and get myself killed, I crept out of the house as I had crept in, and crawled back to my tree.”