"Takehim？youshouldkillhim。Iwillguideyoutothecavebynight，andthenyoucanshoothimashesitsbythefire。"
　　Langley，althoughnocoward，wasnotparticularlybrave。HedidnotmuchrelishtheideaofalonetacklingtheredoubtableUmhlonhlo，asavageofmuscle，whowasreportedtobealwaysarmedtotheteeth。
　　Moreover，hehadnogun，andwasbutanindifferentshotwitharevolver。Sohethoughtoverthematterforafewmomentsandthensaid：
　　"Lookhere，Ghamba；Idonotcaretotacklethisjobalone，butifI
　　cantakeanothermanwithme，Iamon。"
　　"Thenyouwillonlygethalfofthefivehundredpounds，andwillnotbeabletobuythefarm。Youneednotbeafraid；youcanshoothimwithouthisseeingyou。"
　　"No，"saidLangley，afterapause；"Iwillnotgoalone，butifyouwillletmetakeanothermanwithmeitcanbemanaged。Itwillmakenodifferencetoyou；youwillgetyourtwenty-fivepounds。"
　　"Andhowaboutmygoingtoliveonthefarmwithyou？"
　　"Well，Icouldnotbuythefarmfortwohundredandfiftypounds。
　　Come，wewillgiveyoufiftypoundsinsteadoftwenty-five。"
　　Ghambathoughtforawhileandthensaid：
　　"Verywell，Iconsent。Butthereneedbeonlyoneotherman，andyouwillwritedownonapieceofpaperthatyouwillgivemefiftypounds。Whencanwestart？"
　　"Imustspeaktotheotherman，andthenwewillapplyforleave。Wehadbetterstartsoon，orelseUmhlonhlomayhavegonetosomeotherplaceofhiding。"
　　"Yes，wemustlosenotime。"
　　"Allright！Meetmehereto-morrowandIwillbringmyfriend。Wewillthensettleallaboutit。"
　　"Youmustnotmentionthismattertoanyoneelse，andyoumustmakeyourfriendpromisetokeepthesecret。"
　　"Oh，that’sallright！"saidLangley。"Meetmehereto-morrow，justafterdinner。"
　　Langleywentbacktocamp，Ghambalookingafterhisretreatingfigurewithasmilethatrevealedhisteethinaverystrikingmanner。
　　Langleywasintenselyexcited，andexacted（quiteunnecessarily）themostsolemnpromisesfromWhitsonnottodivulgethegreatsecretwhichheconfidedtohim。Whitsonagreedatoncetojoinintheenterprise，whichwasoneafterhisownheart。
　　Nextdaythethreemetatthebigant-heap，andWhitsonwasverymuchimpressedbyGhamba’steeth。HetoldLangleyafterwardthattheyremindedhimofapictureofthedevilwhichhehadseeninacopyof"Pilgrim’sProgress。"Theoldman’sstoryappeared，however，consistentenough，inspiteofhispeculiardentition。
　　So，afterashortconversation，LangleyandWhitsonreturnedtocamp，havingmadeanappointmenttomeetGhambaagainonthefollowingmorningatsunrise，soastofinallyarrangeastotimeofstarting，etc。Theywentatoncetotheofficerinchargeofthedetachmentandappliedfortendays’leaveofabsenceforthepurposeofproceedingtoPietermaritzburg，whichwasatoncegranted。
　　NextmorningtheymetGhambaagain，andagreedtostartontheirexpeditionthatevening。Heexplainedthattheymustdoalltheirtravelingbynight，andliebyduringtheday；becauseitwouldneverdoforhim，Ghamba，toruntheriskofbeingrecognisedbypersonswhomtheymightmeet。ForthesakeofhisHlubirelationswhowerelivingamongthePondomiseatQumbu，itwasabsolutelynecessarythatheshouldnotappearinthetransactionatall。Wereitevertobeevensuspectedthathehadbetrayedthechief，notalonewouldhebecertainlykilled，butallhisrelationswouldbeshunnedbytheothernatives。Hewasanoldman，soforhim，personally，nothingmatteredverymuch，butamanisboundtoconsidertheinterestsofhisfamily。
　　Travellingonlybynight，andlyingstillandhiddenduringtheday，werethereforeabsolutelynecessarystipulations，andLangleyandWhitsonagreedtothemasintelligibleandreasonable。Allbeingsettled，thelatterstartedforthecamp，Ghambabaringhisteethexcessivelyastheywalkedaway。
　　Atduskontheeveningofthesameday，LangleyandWhitsonmetGhambaoncemoreatthelargeant-heap，andthethreeatonceproceededontheircourse。Theonlyarmstakenwererevolversofthegovernmentregulationpattern（breech-loadingcentralfire）。Theycarriedprovisionscalculatedtolasteightdays，buttooknoblanketsonaccountofhavingtotravelatnight。WhenGhambavolunteeredtorelievethemofaconsiderableshareoftheirrespectiveloads，LangleyandWhitsonwerefilledwithgratefulsurprise。
　　Theplanwasasfollows：WhitsonwastoshootUmhlonhlo，andthenremaininthecavewhileLangleyreturnedtothecamptoreportwhathadbeendone，andcausepersonswhocouldidentifythebodytobesentfor。Theyseemtohavehadnoscruplesastothedeedtheymeanttodo；certainlyUmhlonhlodeservednomoremercythanabeastofprey。Nordoesitseemtohavestruckthemthatpossiblytheymightshootthewrongman。ButtherewasanairofconvictionaboutthemannerinwhichGhambashowedhisteethwhenaskedwhetherhewaspositiveastotheidentityofthemaninthecave，thatwouldhavedissipatedthedoubtsofmostmen。Besidesthis，hedrewoutthewrittenundertakingwhichtheyhaddeliveredtohim，andsaid，withaprofoundlybusinesslikelook：
　　"DoInotwantthemoney？ShouldItakeallthistroubleifIdidnotknowwhatIweredoing？"
　　Theywalkedallnight，onlyrestingonceortwiceforafewminutes。
　　ItwasfoundthatGhamba，inspiteofhisage，wasanextremelygoodwalker；andwhentheyhaltedatdaylight，Langleywassodoneupthathecouldnothaveheldoutforanotherhalf-hour。Whitson，thewiry，hadnotyetfelttheleastfatigue。
　　ThismarchhadtakenthemtotheveryfootoftheDrakensbergrange，andtheyrestedinavalleybetweentwoofitsmainspurs。Heretheyremainedallday，comfortablylocatedinashelterednookwheretherewasplentyofdrygrass。Theirresting-placewasencircledbyimmenserocks。Althoughthesurroundingcountrywasdesolatetoadegree，andneitherahumanbeingnorananimalwastobeseen，Ghambawouldnothearoftheirlightingafirenorleavingthespotwheretheyrested。
　　Theweatherwasclear，andneithertoowarmnortoocold。Theysleptatintervalsduringtheday，andateveningfeltquiterecoveredfromtheirfatigue。
　　Atnightfalltheyagainstarted，theircourseleadingsteeplyupthegorgeinwhichtheyhadrested。Althoughthepathwaybecamemoreandmoreindistinct，Ghambaappearednevertobeataloss。Langleyseveraltimesshuddered，whentheypassedbytheveryedgeofsomeimmenseprecipice，orclamberedalongsomesteepmountain-side，whereafalsestepwouldhavemeantdestruction。Hebegantoshowsignsoffatiguesoonaftermidnight，soatGhamba’ssuggestionaconsiderableportionofhisloadwastransferredtotheshouldersofWhitson，whoseemedtobeastirelessasGhambahimself。
　　Atdaybreaktheyhaltedinthedepthsofanothertremendousgorgewithprecipitoussides。ThesceneryinthisparticularareaoftheDrakensbergrange，theneighbourhoodoftheMontauxSources，isindescribablygrandandimpressive，andisquiteunlikeanythingelseinSouthAfrica。Enormousandfantasticallyshapedmountainsareherehuddledtogetherindiscriminately，andbetweenthemwindanddoubledeepgloomygorges，alongthebottomsofwhichmightybouldersarethicklystrewn。Ondizzyledgeandsteepslopedensethicketsofwildbamboogrow，andafewstuntedtreesfillsomeofthelessdeepclefts，whereverthesunshinecanpenetrate。Splendidasisthescenery，itsgloom，itsstillness，itsnakedcragsandpeaks，itsdarkdepthsthatseemtocleavetotheveryvitalsoftheearth，becomesooppressivethat，afterafewdaysspentamongthem，thetravellerisfilledwithrepulsionandalmosthorror。Fewlivingthingshavetheirhomethere。Youmightmeetanoccasional"klipspringer"（anantelope，inhabitsandappearancesomewhatlikethechamois），awanderingtroopofbaboons，andnowandthenaherdofelandinthemoregrassyareas。
　　TherearesaidtobeafewBushmenstillhauntingthecaves，buttheyareseldomorneverseen。
　　Intheafternoonthesunshoneintothegorgeinwhichthetravellerswereresting，andforafewhourstheheatwasveryoppressive。
　　Whitsonexaminedhisrevolver，removingthecartridgesandreplacingthembyothers。Hethenlaydowntosleep，askingLangleytoremainawakeandkeepalookout。Hehadavaguefeelingofuneasinesswhichhecouldnotovercome。Langleypromisedtokeepawake，buthewastootiredtodoso。Hesatwithhisbackagainstarock，and，aftersomefutileeffortstokeephiseyesopen，fellfastasleep。By-and-byGhambawokehimgently，and，pointingtoWhitson，whoserevolverlayintheleathercaseclosetohishand，whispered：
　　"Didhenottellyoutokeepawake？"
　　Langleywasgratefulforthisevidenceofconsideration，buthecouldnotquitemakeouthowGhambahadbeenabletounderstandwhatWhitsonhadsaid。However，whenthelatterawoke，Langleysaidnothingtohimabouthavingdisobeyedinstructions。
　　Ghambasaidthatabouttwohours’walkwouldnowbringthemtoUmhlonhlo’scave，sotheystartedoffbrisklyatdusk。Theircoursenowledforsomedistancealongamountainledgecoveredwithwildbamboo，throughwhichthepathwaywound。Thentheycrossedasteepsaddlebetweentwoenormouspeaks，afterwhichtheyplungedintoanotherdeepandwindinggorge。Thistheyfolloweduntiltheyreachedapartwhereitwassonarrowthatthesidesseemedalmosttotouchovertheirheads。Beyondthecliffsfellapart，andthenapparentlycurvedtowardeachotheragain，thusforminganimmenseamphitheatre。
　　AttheentrancetothisGhambastopped，andsaidinawhisperthattheywerenowclosetothecave。
　　Theynowheldaconsultation，intermsofwhichitwasdecidedthatGhambashouldgoforwardandreconnoitre。SoWhitsonandLangleysatdownclosetogetherandwaited，conversinginlowtones。
　　Whitsonfeltveryuneasy，butLangleytriedtoarguehimoutofhisfears。ThemoreWhitsonsawofGhamba，themorehedislikedanddistrustedhimandhisteeth。Theinstinctwhichdetectsdangerintheabsenceofanyapparentevidenceofitsexistenceisafacultydevelopedinsomemenbyanadventurouslife。ThisfacultyWhitsonpossessedinahighdegree。
　　"DidyoukeepawakeallthetimeIsleptthisafternoon？"heasked。
　　LangleyfearedWhitsonandfeltinclinedtolie，butsomethingimpelledhim，almostagainsthiswill，tospeakthetruthnow。
　　"No，"hereplied；"Isleptforafewminutes。"
　　Whitsondrewhisrevolverandopenedthebreech。
　　"ByGod！"hesaid，"thecartridgesaregone！"
　　Langleytookhisweaponoutoftheleathercaseandopenedit。Hefoundthecartridgeswerethererightenough。
　　"Haveyouanysparecartridges？"askedWhitson。
　　Whitsonhadalreadyloadedhisrevolverwiththefivecartridgeswhichhehadremovedintheafternoon，butheagaintooktheseoutandreplacedtheminhiswaistcoatpocket，andthenhereloadedwithsomewhichLangleypassedovertohimwithatremblinghand。
　　"Lookhere，"hesaid，inahoarsewhisper，"weareinatrapofsomekind。Whenthatoldscoundrelcomesback，donotlethimknowthatwehavefoundoutanything。Wewillwalkonwithhimforashortdistance，atallevents，andthenbeguidedbycircumstances。Standbywhenyouseemecollarhim，andslipasackoverhishead。"
　　"Canwenotgobacknow？"saidLangley。
　　"Certainlynot；wewouldneverfindourwayatnight。Iguesswemustseethiscircusout。Ifyouhavetoshoot，aimlow。"
　　InafewminutesGhambareturned。
　　"Comeon，"hesaid。"Heissittingatthefireinfrontofthecave。I
　　havejustseenhim。"
　　"Whereisthecave？"askedWhitson。"Isitfarfromhere？"
　　"Wewillreachitverysoon；youcanseethelightofthefirefromafewpacesahead。"
　　Theywalkedonforaboutfiftyyards，andthere，sureenough，overarockyslopetotheirleft，andatthefootofacragaboutthreehundredyardsaway，couldbeseenthebrightandfitfulglowfromafirewhichwashiddenfromtheirviewbyalowridgeofpiled-uprocks。
　　WhitsonstoodstillandquestionedGhamba：
　　"Nowtellme，"heasked，throughLangleyasinterpreter，"howwearetoapproach。"
　　"Thepathwayleadsupontheleftside，"repliedGhamba。"Wewillwalkcloseuptothecrag，wherethereisanarrowpassagebetweenitandthatbigblackrockwhichyouseeagainstthelight。Youtwocanlead，andIwillbeclosebehind。Ihavejustseenhim。Heissittingatthefire，eating，andonlythewomenarewithhim。"
　　Thelastwordswerehardlyoutofthespeaker’smouthbeforeWhitsonhadseizedhimbythethroatwithavice-likegrasp。
　　"Seizehishandsandholdthem，"hehissedtoLangley。
　　Ghambastruggleddesperately，butcouldnotreleasehimself。Whitsoncompressedhisthroatuntilhebecameunconscious，andthengaggedhimwithapocket-handkerchief。Ghamba’shandswerethentiedtightlybehindhisbackwithanotherpocket-handkerchief，andhisfeetwerefirmlysecuredwithabelt。Anemptysack（fromwhichtheyhadremovedtheirprovisions）wasthendrawnoverhisheadandshoulders，andsecuredroundthewaist。
　　"Comeonnow，quickly，"whisperedWhitson，andheandLangleystartedoffinthedirectionofthefire，afterfirsttakingofftheirboots。
　　TheydidnotapproachbythecoursewhichGhambahadindicated，butmadetheirwayquietlyuptheslope，straightagainstthefaceofthecrag。Theyreachedtheheapofrocks，andcreptinamongthembymeansofanothernarrowpassage，closetotheinnerendofwhichthefirewas；andthisiswhattheysawthroughthetwigsofascrubbybushwhicheffectuallyconcealedthem：
　　Alargecaveopenedintothesideofthemountain，andjustbeforethemouthwasanopenspaceabouttwentyyardsindiameter，surroundedonallsides，exceptthatofthemountainitself，byawalloflooselypiledrocks，throughwhichpassagesledoutindifferentdirections。
　　Justinfrontofthecaveburnedabrightfire，aroundwhichcrouchedfourmosthideousandfilthy-lookingoldhags，andagainstwhichwereproppedseverallargeearthenwarepotsofnativemake，fullofwater。
　　Standingbehindrocks，oneateachsideoftheinnerentrancetothepassage，whichwasevidentlythatcommunicatingwiththepathwayindicatedbyGhambaastheonetheyweretoapproachby，weretwopowerful-lookingmen，starknaked，andasblackasebony，theirskinsshininginthelightofthefire。Eachmanheldacoiledthonginhishands，afterthemannerofasailorabouttoheavealine。Whiletheywerelooking，awoman，somewhatyoungerinappearancethananyofthosewhosatbythefire，cameoutofthecavecarryingastrongclubaboutthreefeetlong。Shecroucheddownclosetothemanstandingontheleft-sideofthepassage，who，aswellashiscompanion，stoodasstillasamarblestatue，andinanexpectantattitude。
　　WhitsonandLangley，withtheirrevolversdrawn，suddenlysteppedoutoftheirconcealment，andwalkedtowardthefire。Thisevidentlydisconcertedthemenwiththethongs，whoapparentlydidnotexpecttheirintendedpreytoapproachbyanycourseexceptthepassagenearwhichtheywerestanding；butafteraslightpauseofhesitancythethongswerewhirlingintheair，anddescending，lasso-fashion，upontheshouldersoftheintruders。ThenoosecaughtLangleyoverhisarms，whichwereinstantlydrawncloseagainsthisbodyasthethongtightened，sohewasthusrenderedcompletelypowerless；butWhitsonsprang，quickaslightning，tooneside，andescaped。Threeshotsfromhisrevolverrangoutinasmanyseconds，andthetwomenandthewoman——whowasintheactofliftingherclubtobrainLangley——layrollingontheground，eachwithabulletthroughthehead。
　　Thefouroldhagsatthefirebegantomowandscream，andgotupandhobbledintothecave。WhitsondrewhisknifeandcutthethongwithwhichLangleywasvainlystruggling，andthenthetwomen，paleasdeath，lookedsilentlyateachotherwithstaringeyes。
　　Whitsonreplacedhisrevolver，andthenmadeasortoftorchoutofdryreeds，apileofwhichlaycloseathand。Hethen，leavingLangleytoguardthecave，carefullyexaminedallthepassagesandspacesbetweentherocks，buthecouldfindnotraceofanyone。Thetwomenthereuponenteredthecave，Whitsonholdingthetorchhighoverhishead。Theyfoundthatitranstraightinforaboutfifteenpaces，andthencurvedsharplytotheleft。
　　Itwasaboutfourpacesinwidth，andabouteightfeethigh，theroofbeingroughlyarched。Thewallsandroofwerecoveredwiththickblackgreasysoot；andanindescribablyhorriblestench，whichincreasedthefarthertheyadvanced，madethemalmostvomit。Theyfoundthatwherethecavecurvedtotheleftitendedinacircularchamberabouteightpacesindiameter，andatonesideofthiscrouchedthefouroldhags，huddledtogether，andmowingandchatteringhorribly。
　　Acrossacleftabouttwofeetwide，intheright-handwallofthecave，astickwasfixedtransversely，andhangingtothisweresomelumpsofhalf-driedandsmokedflesh。Whitsonwentupcloseandexaminedthesecarefully。Hedrewbackwithashudder，andhisfacechangedfrompaletoashengray。
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