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Updated: June 17, 2025
He had found out about Arcoll's preparations, and had sent him a warning, hoping, no doubt, that, if Laputa's force was scattered on the Letaba, he would have a chance of getting off with the necklace in the confusion. If he succeeded, he would go over the Lebombo to Mozambique, and whatever happened afterwards in the rising would be no concern of Mr Henriques.
It was a fine speech, and yet I saw that it did not convince them. They listened moodily, if attentively, and at the end there was a blank silence. Arcoll turned to me. 'For God's sake, Davie, he said, 'talk to them about Laputa. It's our only chance. I had never tried speaking before, and though I talked their tongue I had not Arcoll's gift of it.
He had men with him every bit as skilful as Arcoll's trackers. Unless Arcoll had a big force and the best horses there was no hope. Often in looking back at this hour I have marvelled at the strangeness of my behaviour. Here was I just set free from the certainty of a hideous death, and yet I had lost all joy in my security.
The two were seen at midday going down the road which leads from Blaauwildebeestefontein to the Lebombo. Then they struck Arcoll's new front, which stretched from the Letaba to the Labongo. This drove them north again, and forced them to swim the latter stream.
The drums beat for the advance, and once more I was hoisted on my horse, while Arcoll's Kaffir tied my bridle to his own. A Kaffir cannot wink, but he has a way of slanting his eyes which does as well, and as we moved on he would turn his head to me with this strange grimace. Henriques wanted me to help him to get the rubies that I presumed was the offer he had meant to make.
He then concluded that I had been murdered early in the march, and his Kaffir, who might have given him news of me, was carried up the stream in the tide of the disorderly army. Therefore, he and his men rode back with all haste to the Berg by way of Main Drift, and reached Bruderstroom before Laputa had crossed the highway. My information about Inanda's Kraal decided Arcoll's next move.
Laputa and Henriques fairly baffled them, so that the pursuit turned to the west in the belief that the fugitives had made for Majinje's kraal. In reality they had recrossed the Labongo and were making for Umvelos'. All this I heard afterwards, but in the meantime I lay in Arcoll's tent in deep unconsciousness.
For a month I have never been more than five hours behind him on the trail; and if he has laid his train, I have laid mine also. Arcoll's whimsical, humorous face had hardened into grimness, and in his eyes there was the light of a fierce purpose. The sight of him comforted me, in spite of his tale. 'But what can he hope to do? I asked.
One of you speak for the rest and tell me your purpose. For a moment I had a wild notion that they might be friends, some of Arcoll's scouts, and out to help me. But the first words shattered the fancy. 'We are sent by Inkulu, the biggest of them said. 'He bade us bring you to him. 'And what if I refuse to go? 'Then, Baas, we must take you to him. We are under the vow of the Snake.
Henriques heard me out; but his smile changed to a scowl, and a flush rose on his sallow cheek. 'Stew in your own juice, he said, and spat in my face. Then he shouted in Kaffir that I had insulted him, and demanded that I should be bound tighter and gagged. It was Arcoll's messenger who answered his summons. That admirable fellow rushed at me with a great appearance of savagery.
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