Part 6 (1/2)

Yet there was one face which expressed more than the others, expressed in fact unbounded approval, as it was turned full on me with that straight frank gaze, and I exulted inwardly, but then came a thought that dashed everything and was as a judgment upon my quite unwarrantable conceit. This was it. What if they are engaged, and that full, frank look of approval is one of grat.i.tude that I should have saved--if not the life of the other--at any rate the certainty of him being badly injured? It is singular that no such idea had ever occurred to me before, but it did now, and seemed to lend significance to certain signs of resentment and ill-will which I had noticed on Falkner's part on occasions where his cousin was concerned. And the thought was a thoroughly disquieting one, I admit.

”Listen! Here they come,” I said, holding up a hand. ”The entertainment is about to begin.”

The distant and deep-toned hum of conversation had reached us from where our dusky entertainers were enjoying their feast, and an occasional outburst of laughter. Now, instead, came the regular rhythm of a savage song, drawing nearer and nearer.

”I think we can't do better than let them perform just in front here,” I went on. ”The ground's open, and the moon almost as bright as day.”

This was agreed to enthusiastically, and soon the singing grew louder and louder, and the whole body in their picturesque gear, came marching up, beating time upon their s.h.i.+elds with sticks and a.s.segai hafts. They halted in half moon formation and one man stepping out from the rest, gave the sign for silence. Then having saluted us with much _sibongo_, he led off, in a sort of chant, loud and clear at first, then rising higher and higher. The others took it up at a given point in response, and although the song did not run to many notes, it was soon thundered aloud in a harmonious wave of sound.When it had attained its highest pitch, at a sign from the _choragus_ it ceased--ceased with such suddenness as to impart an impression that was positively uneasy.

”Dashed effective, by Jove!” p.r.o.nounced the Major, breaking the spell.

”Why, it is beautiful--positively beautiful,” declared Miss Sewin. ”The harmony and the rhythmic waves of sound are perfect. Tell me, Mr Glanton, what was it all about?”

”Oh, it was merely a song of welcome, improvised over yonder while they were scoffing my cows.”

”Really? Do you mean to say it was all impromptu?”

”Of course. That's the way these people do things.”

”Won't they go over it again?”

”Oh, there's plenty more to come. Rather too soon for an encore yet.”

While I spoke they were forming up again. This time they broke up into a hunting song. When it seemed to have gained its height, it suddenly ceased, and all darted away across the veldt till nearly out of sight in the moonlight.

”What the deuce are they up to now?” said Falkner, filling his pipe.

”You'll see. Listen. Now they are returning with the game.”

Again the voices broke forth, now returning as I had said, and swelling higher and higher, in a long recitative uttered by some dozen, and replied to in rolling chorus by the whole body.

”They are recounting their exploits now--what game they have got, and how they got it,” I explained, as the singing ceased.

”By Jove, are they?” cried Falkner. ”Look here, Glanton, I've got an idea. How would it be to scare up a hunt to-morrow, and get a lot of these chaps to help? I'd like to see how they go to work in their own way. That would be worth seeing.”

”Well, it might be managed. What d'you think, Major?”

”A capital idea. But--hang it, we haven't got our guns.”

”Oh, as to that,” I said, ”you could use mine. There's a shot gun and a rifle, and a rifle and smooth-bore combined. That'll arm all hands.”

”Well done, Glanton. You're a jewel of a chap!” cried Falkner, boisterously. ”The very thing. But, I say. How about arranging it with them now. No time like the present, eh?”

The idea appealed to me exceedingly, not for its own sake, I fear, but because it would afford an opportunity of detaining my guests--or shall we say one of them--yet longer, perhaps even another night, for it would be hard if I could not manage to prolong the hunt until too late for them to return. Really Falkner Sewin was not without his uses in the world.

”I think it would be simply delightful!” interjected that ”one of them.”

”We will be able to see some of it too, won't we, Mr Glanton?”

”Why of course, Miss Sewin. I'll send the boys up to some convenient spot with lunch and we'll make a regular picnic of it.”