they placed him upon the rimpi bed. Then she ordered them to inspan
the waggon, and this was done quickly, for the oxen lay tied to the
trek-tow. When all was ready she spoke to the two men, telling them what
had happened so far as she knew it, and adding these words:

"Trek back to the stead as swiftly as you may, one of you sitting in the
waggon to watch the Baas Kenzie and to comfort him should he wake out of
his swoon. Say to the father and mother of Swallow that I have taken the
horses to follow Swart Piet and to rescue her by cunning if so I can,
for as will be plain to them, this is a business that must not wait;
also that I have taken with me Zinti, since he alone knows the path to
Bull-Head's secret hiding-place in the mountains. Of that road Zinti
will tell you all he can and you will tell it to the Baas Botmar, who
must gather together such men as he is able, and start to-morrow to
follow it and rescue us, remembering what sort of peril it is in which
his daughter stands. If by any means I can free the Swallow, we will
come to meet him; if not, who knows? Then he must act according to his
judgment and to what he learns. But let him be sure of this, and let her
husband be sure also, that while I have life in me I will not cease from
my efforts to save her, and that if she dies--for I know her spirit and
no worse harm than death will overtake her--then if may be, I will die
with her or to avenge her, and I have many ways of vengeance. Lastly,
let them not believe that we are dead until they have certain knowledge
of it, for it may chance that we cannot return to the stead, but must
lie hid in the mountains or among the Kaffirs. Now hear what Zinti has
to say as to the path of Bull-Head's den and begone, forgetting no one
of my words, for if you linger or forget, when I come again I, Sihamba,
will blind your eyes and shrivel your livers with a spell."

"We hear you," they answered, "and remember every word of your message.