“None, Swallow.  For you the choice lies between witnessing this deed and—­Swart Piet or—­Death.  Nay, you need not witness it even, if you will do as I tell you.  Presently, when I give the word, loosen the bar of the door-board, then crouch by the hole and utter a low cry of fear, calling to the man on guard for help.  He will enter and see me, whereon you can creep through the door-hole and wait without, leaving me to deal with him.  If I succeed I will be with you at once; if I fail, run to the stream and hoot like an owl, when Zinti, who is hidden there, will join you.  Then you must get out of the krantz as best you can.  Only one man watches the entrance, and if needful Zinti can shoot him.  The schimmel and other horses are hidden in the wood, and he will lead you to them.  Mount and ride for home, or anywhere away from this accursed place, and at times when you talk of the matter of your escape with your husband, think kindly of Sihamba Ngenyanga.  Nay, do not answer, for there is little time to lose.  Quick, now, to the door-hole, and do as I bade you.”

So, like one in a dream, Suzanne loosened the bar, and, crouching by the entrance to the hut, uttered a low wail of terror, saying, “Help me, soldier, help me swiftly,” in the Kaffir tongue.  The man without heard, and, pushing down the board, crept in at once, saying, “Who harms you, lady?” as he rose to his feet.  Then suddenly, in this hut, where there was but one woman, a white woman, whom he himself had carried into it, he beheld another woman—­Sihamba; and his hair stood up upon his head and his eyes grew round with terror.  Yes, it was Sihamba herself, for the light of the candles shone full upon her, or, rather, her ghost, and she was hanging to the roof, the tips of her toes just touching the ground, as once he had seen her hang before.

For some seconds the man stared in his terror, and while he stared Suzanne slipped from the hut.  Then muttering, “It is the spirit of the witch, Sihamba, who prophesied my death—­her spirit that haunts me,” he dropped to his knees, and, trembling like a leaf, turned to creep from the hut.  Next second he was dead, dead without a sound, for Sihamba was a doctoress, and knew well where to thrust with the spear.

Of all this Suzanne heard nothing and saw nothing, till presently Sihamba stood by her side holding the skin cape in one hand and the spear in the other.

“Now one danger is done with,” she said quietly, as she put on the cape, “but many still remain.  Follow me, Swallow,” and, going to the edge of the stream, she hooted like an owl, whereupon Zinti came out of the reeds, looking very cold and frightened.

“Be swift,” whispered Sihamba, and they started along the krantz at a run.  Before they were half way across it, the storm-clouds, which had been thinning gradually, broke up altogether, and the moon shone out with a bright light, showing them as plainly as though it were day; but as it chanced they met nobody and were seen of none.