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His lips were drawn back in a ghastly, mirthless grin, and the tusks were revealed from point to insertion, Langley questioned Ghamba, but he would not speak. After several attempts to force him to answer had been vainly made, Whitson said "Now tell him that if he speaks and tells the whole truth, he will only be shot, but if he does not speak, he will be burnt alive."
Langley went back to camp, Ghamba looking after his retreating figure with a smile that revealed his teeth in a very striking manner. Whitson agreed at once to join in the enterprise, which was one after his own heart. Next day the three met at the big ant-heap, and Whitson was very much impressed by Ghamba's teeth.
When Ghamba volunteered to relieve them of a considerable share of their respective loads, Langley and Whitson were filled with grateful surprise. The plan was as follows: Whitson was to shoot Umhlonhlo, and then remain in the cave while Langley returned to the camp to report what had been done, and cause persons who could identify the body to be sent for.
Langley went back to camp, Ghamba looking after his retreating figure with a smile that revealed his teeth in a very striking manner. Whitson agreed at once to join in the enterprise, which was one after his own heart. Next day the three met at the big ant-heap, and Whitson was very much impressed by Ghamba's teeth.
Although the surrounding country was desolate to a degree, and neither a human being nor an animal was to be seen, Ghamba would not hear of their lighting a fire nor leaving the spot where they rested. The weather was clear, and neither too warm nor too cold. They slept at intervals during the day, and at evening felt quite recovered from their fatigue.
All being settled, the latter started for the camp, Ghamba baring his teeth excessively as they walked away. At dusk on the evening of the same day, Langley and Whitson met Ghamba once more at the large ant-heap, and the three at once proceeded on their course. They carried provisions calculated to last eight days, but took no blankets on account of having to travel at night.
Langley replied to the effect that it was quite true such a reward had been offered; that nothing as yet had been ascertained as to Umhlonhlo's whereabouts, but that the Government believed him to be in Pondoland; that he was sure to be captured eventually; that he, Langley, only wished he knew where Umhlonhlo was, so as to have the chance of making five hundred pounds with which to buy a certain nice little farm he knew of; and that should he ever succeed in obtaining the reward and consequently taking his discharge and purchasing the farm, he would be jolly glad if old Ghamba would come and live with him.
The last words were hardly out of the speaker's mouth before Whitson had seized him by the throat with a vice-like grasp. "Seize his hands and hold them," he hissed to Langley. Ghamba struggled desperately, but could not release himself. Whitson compressed his throat until he became unconscious, and then gagged him with a pocket-handkerchief.
Ghamba told him all about the Basutos, among whom he had lived; about the old days in Natal, before even the Dutch occupation, when Tshaka's impis wiped whole tribes out of existence; of the recent wars in Zululand and the Cape Colony, and as to the probability of future disturbances.
All being settled, the latter started for the Camp, Ghamba baring his teeth excessively as they walked away. At dusk on the evening of the same day, Langley and Whitson met Ghamba once more at the large ant-heap, and the three at once proceeded on their course. They carried provisions calculated to last eight days, but took no blankets on account of having to travel at night.
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