"But look here," cried Truscott, "I'm going down to see Mork.u.m the first thing in the morning. Can't we make some arrangement for to-night? The fact is, I've got an important engagement now."

The sheriff's officer smiled pityingly.

"Extremely sorry, Capting, but the thing can't be done. We'll jest go quietly to my little crib now, and in the morning you can send and let your friends know. Here's the writ; better look at it for yourself, Capting, and see that all's fair, square, and above-board. Fifteen hundred and twenty-five--six. Cab, Tom."

"d.a.m.n the writ!" cried Truscott, savagely.

And then, as they entered the rickety, jolting vehicle, he relapsed into silence. Fifteen hundred and twenty-five pounds! It might be fifteen million for all the chance there was of his being able to pay a third of it; for even he had at last come to the end of his tether. And no one would be likely to help him either; and this scheme, upon which he had been building such hopes, must fall through, for every day was of importance now. And all its glowing chances looked fairer than ever now that he was compelled to abandon it; and his bright castles in the air seemed crumbling away in the very dust. So, with rage and despair in his heart, Ralph Truscott alighted at the door of the low sponging-house--his prison; whither he was consigned at the suit of Silas B. Mork.u.m and Co, and whence he should not depart until he had satisfied the debt to the very last farthing; a requirement which at present he saw remarkably small prospect of fulfilling.

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER THREE.

THE FRIEND IN NEED.

George Payne and his newly-found friend--a veritable friend in need upon this occasion even as on a former one--kept on their way, winding along the picturesque heights overlooking the Kei, and exchanging many a reminiscence of their past acquaintance.

"To think of your turning up like this," said the former. "Why, I thought you were still away up in the interior and never meant to come near these parts again."

"Well, I don't know. Fact is, after a few years of wandering, one has pretty well done this not too interesting continent, at least the southern part of it; and now I'm thinking of going somewhere else."

"And you've come straight down country, now?"

"Yes; ridden all the way. It would be inconvenient in some ways were it not that one is indifferent to the exigencies of civilisation after such a spell of savagery as I've been having. One can't carry much baggage, for instance."

"Is that all you've got?" said Payne, glancing at the valise strapped across the other's saddle.

"Yes; I had the rest sent to Komgha. It's a good way from your place, but we might pick it up if it was wanted."

"Better leave it there at present."

"Why?"

"Well, it's an even chance that we may all have to trek into laager there or somewhere, any day; and it's safe there, at any rate."

"Are things as fishy as that?"

"They are," replied Payne. "A lot of the Dutchmen down towards the coast are already in laager; but they're a white-livered lot, when all's said and done, so that doesn't mean much. Still, from one or two things I heard to-day, I should say that we shall have some tall rifle practice before long. I'm no alarmist; on the contrary, I've more than once been advised to send the wife and kids away to the town, but I don't think there's any occasion for that just yet."

"No, perhaps not. And it's as well to keep straight as long as you can.

Directly one begins to trek, another does--then another--and soon there's a regular panic."

"Rather. Now there was a scare on in the year of the big flood, and a lot of fellows round here began laagering, and one heard such a lot of war shop talked, that one almost wished there was some reason for it.

Well, I remained through it all. I had only just come up here then, and didn't see the fun of leaving my place to run to wrack and ruin just as I had got it a little square and shipshape, so I stuck to it, and other fellows did the same; and we had the laugh of those who ran away in a funk."

"That was a bad scare, though."

"It was," said Payne. "The n.i.g.g.e.rs were quite as cheeky then as they are now, and you've just had a specimen of what that is. By the way, don't mention that little scrimmage to the wife; she's very susceptible to scare, as it is, and once she heard of that, life would be a burden to her whenever I was away from home. Lately, she's done nothing but predict that I should come to grief."

"All right. I'll keep dark."

"Here we are at last," said Payne, as they entered a narrow gorge between two high hills, and emerging upon a sort of basin-like hollow, beheld a substantial-looking farmhouse. In front, a sweep of smooth sward sloping down to the dam, in whose still surface a cl.u.s.ter of willows lay mirrored, as they drooped their boughs to the water's edge; around this a few strips of enclosed and cultivated land, and a fruit-garden bordered by high quince hedges. On either side of the hollow, just far enough apart for the place not to be "shut in," rose green lofty heights, with here and there a clump of dark bush in their rifts and chasms; and two little streams of clear water met in the valley and dashed along past the homestead, sparkling as they joined their forces in a leaping, rushing rivulet--an invaluable boon in that land of drought. But it was not until one reached the house, which was situated on a slight eminence in the hollow, that the full charm of the situation became appreciable. Then, standing on the _stoep_, which ran round two sides of the building, on the one hand the Kei hills bounded the limit of vision; while on the other, focussed, as through a gla.s.s, between the double range of green heights narrowing as they stretched further and further away, a panorama of rolling bush country, with here and there a purple ridge rising in the sunny air, found its limit on the distant horizon. The house itself was a good specimen of the old-fashioned frontier abode, with its thatched roof and canvas ceilings. It had been added to by the present owner, and was fairly roomy and comfortable. A pa.s.sage intersected it, on either side of which, a door opened into a sitting-room and dining-room respectively, while another door from the latter communicated with the continuation of the _stoep_, which ran round that side of the building. Such was Payne's home--Fountain's Gap--so called from the two streams which met and flowed through the beautiful hollow, at either end of which one looked out upon the country beyond as through a gap.

"So this is your crib," remarked our new acquaintance, glancing critically around, as if to take in all the capabilities of the situation. "It strikes me as an uncommonly good one. Why, that stream alone ought to be a fortune to you."

"Yes; it's a good all-round place," a.s.sented Payne, perceptibly gratified. "You see, I've got a good deal of land under cultivation here round the dam. I'm going to break up any amount more, and go in strong for agriculture, as soon as this confounded scare, or war, whichever it's to be (and I don't care which), is over. It's of no use making a lot of improvements, only to be ravaged by these black devils-- is it?"

"Not in the least."

They were now skirting the stream, which here flowed past the dam, communicating with it by a runnel cut with spades.

"Let's dismount here," said Payne, "unless you're tired, and would rather go in. You're not? Well then, look. Here's where I was thinking I might run up a mill one of these days; with this water power one might do anything. Higher up it's even better. Wait, we'll get rid of our horses and stroll along a bit," and a stentorian call brought a young Kafir running down from the out-buildings, as also three or four rough, fierce-looking dogs in open-mouthed clamour. The latter were soon pacified, and leaped around their master in boisterous glee, wagging their tails and whining joyously as he patted them, or bestowed a playful punch upon some s.h.a.ggy hide, while a precautionary sniff having satisfied them as to the stranger's respectability, they forthwith took him into their confidence in a less mirthful and more dignified manner.

"Here, Booi," went on Payne. "Take the horses up to the stable, and off-saddle them. Is the missis in?"

"Don't know, Baas," answered the Kafir, grinning.

"Don't you? When did one of you fellows ever know anything? Now hook it," and as the boy led away their steeds, the two strolled on, Payne pointing out the capabilities of his water advantages, and enlarging on his schemes of improvement; for this farm of his was his hobby, and in his heart of hearts he hoped some day to make it a model in the way of progress, as showing what might be done even there by a fellow with a little "go" in him.

They crossed the stream by a plank bridge, and now stood looking down it, scarcely, a hundred yards from the house, Payne still expatiating.

"Yes, with a place like this," he said, "one ought to be able to do anything. It's splendid pasturage, well situated, any amount of water, in fact, everything. And now comes this confounded war to upset the whole coach--Hullo!"

The exclamation is one of surprise and alarm as he turns round. His companion is standing rigid and motionless. Every particle of blood has fled from his face, leaving the sun-browned cheeks sallow and livid.

His eyes are fixed and dilated, and one hand nervously grips the rail of the bridge against which he is leaning.

"Man alive--what's up?" cried Payne, anxiously. "You look as if you had seen a ghost."

"Nothing--nothing at all," replied the other, with a faint smile. "I'm all right again now; don't make a fuss, it's nothing. I think it's a remnant of that infernal up-country fever which I can't thoroughly shake off. It left me as weak as a rat, and even yet I feel the effects now and then, as you see," and again he made a ghastly attempt at a laugh.

"By Jove!" cried Payne, in alarm. "Did you get hit in that shindy just now?"

"No; don't be afraid--I'm all right. It was only a slight seizure," and his hand, as he removed it from the rail, still trembled a little, but the colour returned to his cheek.

What should have so violently moved this man, who looked as if nothing could disturb his placid equanimity for an instant? It could not be that he was in a weak state of health or of nerve, for had he not just engaged, single-handed, in an encounter with three daring ruffians, and come off victorious? And his weather-tanned features betokened health and strength as clearly as if he had not known a day's illness for years. The heat was not overpowering; he had not been riding fast, or in any way exerting himself, nor was he subject to attacks of faintness.

No, there was nothing. Unless it was that through the quiet air of that sunlit valley came the sound of a woman's voice--a rich, full, sweet voice, distant but clear--singing a pathetic ballad.

"Are you sure?" went on Payne, looking at him concernedly. "Well, let's go up to the house and have some brandy and water, you'll want it, after that, and the sooner the better."

"Payne," said the other, with a sort of sternness, laying his hand on his arm. "I don't want anything just now. If you make a fraction of fuss about me or my idiotic attack, I'll ascend that horse of mine and say good-bye this very evening."

"Eccentric as ever!" replied Payne, with a laugh. "My dear fellow, you shall do nothing of the sort, and I'll promise not to bother you in any way. Come along, let's go in."

They walked towards the house, and as they approached it the song ended.

Had that man been afflicted with heart disease he would a.s.suredly have dropped down dead on the threshold, for a mist was before his eyes and his heart was beating as if it would burst.

"This way," said Payne, ushering his guest into the empty sitting-room.

"I'll tell the wife you're here," and, closing the door, he left him alone.