agape, and perched upon its bare back a little woman who swayed from
side to side as though with weariness, holding in her hand a shattered
wand.

"Allemachter!" cried Jan. "It is Sihamba, and the witch rides my roan
_schimmel_!"

By this time Sihamba herself was upon us. "Back," she screamed as she
came, "death waits you in the pass;" whereon, compelled to it as it were
by the weight of the words and the face of she who spoke them, we turned
our horses' heads and galloped after the _schimmel_ for the half of a
mile or more till we were safe in the open veldt.

Then of a sudden the horse stopped, whether of its own accord or because
its rider pulled upon the reins I know not. At the least it stood there
trembling like a reed and Sihamba lay upon its back clinging to the
mane, and as she lay I saw blood running down her legs, for her skin was
chafed to the flesh beneath. Ralph sprang to her and lifted her to the
ground and Suzanne made her take a draught of peach brandy from Jan's
flask, which brought the life to her face again.

"Now," she said, "if you have it to spare, give the _schimmel_ yonder
a drink of that stuff, for he has saved all your lives and I think he
needs it."

"That is a wise word," said Jan, and he bade Ralph and the Kaffirs pour
the rest of the spirit down the horse's throat, which they did, thereby,
as I believe, saving its life, for until it had swallowed it the beast
looked as though its heart were about to burst.