"Good," said Chichester, and there was a sound as though he pushed back his chair. "I will take these with me for the 'Colonel' to see."
"When do you leave?"
"Ten o'clock to-morrow morning will do."
"Do you want to see the girl before you go?"
"No. There are strict orders that no one is to see her until the 'Colonel' comes. Is she all right?"
"I looked in on her when I came in for dinner. She was asleep, I think. What about food?"
"A little starvation will do no harm. The 'Colonel' will be here some time to-morrow. She will answer questions better if she is hungry. No one had better go near her till then. Is she securely tied up?"
The Dutchman laughed.
"What do you think?"
They both laughed. So did I, under my breath. Then, as the sounds seemed to betoken that they were about to come out of the room, I beat a hasty retreat. I was just in time. As I reached the head of the stairs, I heard the door of the room open, and at the same time the Kafir stirred and moved. My retreat by the way of the hall door was not to be thought of. I retired prudently to the attic, gathered my bonds round me and lay down again on the floor, in case they should take it into their heads to come and look at me.
They did not do so, however. After about an hour, I crept down the stairs, but the Kafir by the door was awake and humming softly to himself. I was anxious to get out of the house, but I did not quite see how to manage it.
In the end I was forced to retreat to the attic again. The Kafir was clearly on guard for the night. I remained there patiently all through the sounds of early morning preparation. The men breakfasted in the hall, I could
