Indeed at the moment, although I could not see her, I would have sworn that she was present at my side, and what is more, that she was mocking me who had set her down as so impotent a trickstress, which doubtless was part of the dream.
At any rate I returned to my normal state, and there about me were the miles of desolate streets and the thousands of broken walls, and the black blots of roofless houses and the wide, untenanted plain bounded by the battlemented line of encircling mountain crests, and above all, the great moon shining softly in a tender sky.
I looked and thrilled, though oppressed by the drear and desolate beauty of the scene around me, descended the wall and the ruined slope and made my way homewards, afraid even of my own shadow. For I seemed to be the only living thing among the dead habitations of immemorial Kôr.
Reaching our camp I found Hans awake and watching for me.
I was just coming to look for you, Baas,
he said. Indeed I should have done so before, only I knew that you had gone to pay a visit to that tall white
Missis
who ties up her head in a blanket, and thought that neither of you would like to be disturbed.
Then you thought wrong,
I answered, and what is more, if you had made that visit I think it might have been one from which you would never have come back.
Oh yes, Baas,
sniggered Hans. The tall white lady would not have minded. It is you who are so particular, after the fashion of men whom Heaven made very shy.
Without deigning reply to the gibes of Hans I went to lie down, wondering what kind of a bed poor Robertson occupied that night, and soon fell asleep, as fortunately for myself I have the power to do, whatever my circumstances at the moment. Men who can sleep are those who do the work of the world and succeed, though personally I have had more of the work than of the success.
I was awakened at the first grey dawn by Hans, who informed me that Billali was waiting outside with litters, also that Goroko had already made his incantations and doctored Umslopogaas and his two men for war after the Zulu fashion when battle was expected. He added that these Zulus had
