Part 59 (1/2)
From below there caive the creatures a thought, lifted Venning in his arh the hole, found the other exit hidden by the e beyond In a turn of the passage they saw Cohted candle, the one visible object in the darkness, set in a strained expression, in which were blended joy, anxiety, and wonder
They gripped hands in silence, then--
”We've found the boat,” said Venning
”What is that noise down below?” asked dick
”Have you got any food?” This from Mr Hume
”A sackful”
”Then let us eat first of all”
They sat down there and then and ate, and when they had eaten they were silent, because the creatures beloere silent too, and Mr
Huerous He went back to stand behind the ot his two boys back, he said to hirimly that he would stand no nonsense Back in that dark passage dick sat with his friend's head on his shoulder, and one li much at theHe had cause to wonder how Venning had borne the horrors of the underground as well as he had, for towards the houls of darkness vied with each other in producing the hter
They played ventriloquial tricks in the passages and caverns,intervals of silence; and all the tiathered fro threats against the white men
Then, at the very break of dawn, after a couple of hours of silence, the plot they had foronyama!”
Mr Hume stepped out on to the platform ”Who calls?”
”It is I, the Inkosikase”
She was standing at the very parapet where he hiht borne by dick on the spot where he now stood She stood up boldly on the canon side of the great cavity, about fifty yards away
”Your life was forfeit, Ngonyama, but I spared you--I spared you”
”I hear”
”You are but a hed, and the unseen creatures took up the laugh, flinging it back till the hollow places rang with the wild noise
”Hear, and take heed Take heed lest they fall on you Wow! Ye have seenof the waters”
”It was Hassan who stilled the waters Say on”
”Yoh!” The woman paused, taken aback ”See, mycanoe Maybe I can tell you where it is hid by the wizards”