CHAPTER XV
ROBERTSON IS LOST
SO I went and was conducted by Billali, the old chamberlain, for such seemed to be his office, who had been waiting patiently without all this while, back to our rest-house. On my way I picked up Hans, whom I found sitting outside the arch, and found that as usual that worthy had been keeping his eyes and ears open.
Baas,
he said, did the White Witch tell you that there is a big
impi
encamped over yonder outside the houses, in what looks like a great dry ditch, and on the edge of the plain beyond?
No, Hans, but she said that this evening she would show us those in whose company we must fight.
Well, Baas, they are there, some thousands of them, for I crept through the broken walls like a snake and saw them. And, Baas, I do not think they are men, I think that they are evil spirits who walk at night only.
Why, Hans?
Because when the sun is high, Baas, as it is now, they are all sleeping. Yes, there they lie abed, fast asleep, as other people do at night, with only a few sentries out on guard, and these are yawning and rubbing their eyes.
I have heard that there are folk like that in the middle of Africa where the sun is very hot, Hans,
I answered, which perhaps is why She-who-commands is going to take us to see them at night. Also these people, it seems, are worshippers of the moon.
No, Baas, they are worshippers of the devil and that White Witch is his wife.
You had better keep your thoughts to yourself, Hans, for whatever she is I think she that can read thoughts from far away, as you guessed last night. Therefore I would not have any if I were you.
