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"I should think I would. But how could one man take or kill Umhlonhlo? They say he is well armed and that he has a lot of followers with him." "Umhlonhlo," said Ghamba, glancing anxiously round as if he feared the very ant-heap were listening, "is hiding in a cave in the mountains, not three days' walk from here. He has not got a single man with him, because he fears being given up.
Ghamba drew near until his teeth were within a few inches of Langley's cheek, and said in a whisper; "I know where Umhlonhlo is." Langley started, and said in an awed voice; "Where is he? "Wait a bit," said Ghamba, "perhaps I will tell you, and perhaps I won't. I like you, you have given me tobacco, and you are not too proud to come and talk to a poor old man.
"I should think I would. But how could one man take or kill Umhlonhlo? They say he is well armed and that he has a lot of followers with him." "Umhlonhlo," said Ghamba, glancing anxiously round as if he feared the very ant-heaps were listening, "is hiding in a cave in the mountain, not three days' walk from here. He has not got a single man with him, because he fears being given up.
Ghamba drew near until his teeth were within a few inches of Langley's cheek, and said in a whisper: "I know where Umhlonhlo is." Langley started, and said in an awed voice: "Where is he?" "Wait a bit," said Ghamba; "perhaps I will tell you, and perhaps I won't. I like you; you have given me tobacco, and you are not too proud to come and talk to a poor old man.
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.
Now, you say you would like to make five hundred pounds and buy a farm?" "Rather." "And that you would let me go and live on the farm with you and end my days in peace?" "I would, gladly." "Well then, if I lake you to where Umhlonhlo is, and you kill him and get the money, will you give me twenty-five pounds, and let me keep a few goats, and grow a few mealies on your land?"
I will guide you to the cave by night, and then you can shoot him as he sits by the fire." Langley, although no coward, was not particularly brave. He did not much relish the idea of alone tackling the redoubtable Umhlonhlo, a savage of muscle, who was reported to be always armed to the teeth. Moreover, he had no gun, and was but an indifferent shot with a revolver.
They seem to have had no scruples as to the deed they meant to do; certainly Umhlonhlo deserved no more mercy than a beast of prey. Nor does it seem to have struck them that possibly they might shoot the wrong man.
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 whilst Langley returned to the Camp to report what had been done, and cause persons who could identify the body to be sent for.
"You say Umhlonhlo has brought you plenty of food; did you ever get any one besides ourselves and the other two policemen to come up here by telling them that story?" "Yes, two others one a man who was searching for gold on the Free State side of the mountains, and the other a trader whom I met at Maseru. But these each came alone." "I see the buckle of a woman's belt in there.
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