there they caught that tall fat yellow girl who always smiles and is called Janee, she who waits upon the Lady Sad- Eyes, and brought her out to her. I think they told her, Baas, that she must look after her mistress and that if she tried to run away she would be killed, for afterwards I saw Janee bring her food and other things.
And then, Hans?
Then, Baas, most of the great men rested a while, though some of them went through the store gathering such things as they liked, blankets, knives and iron cooking-pots, but they set fire to nothing, nor did they try to catch the cattle. Also they took dry wood from the pile and lit big fires, eight or nine of them, and when the sun set they began to feast.
What did they feast on, Hans, if they took no cattle?
I asked with a shiver, for I was afraid of I knew not what.
Baas,
answered Hans, turning his head away and looking at the ground, they feasted on the children whom they had killed, also on some of the young women. These tall soldiers are men-eaters, Baas.
At this horrible intelligence I turned faint and felt as though I was going to fall, but recovering myself, signed to him to go on with his story.
They feasted quite quietly, Baas,
he continued, making no noise. Then some of them slept while others watched, and that went on all night. As soon as it was dark, but before the moon rose, I slid down the tree and crept round to the back of the house without being seen or heard, as I can, Baas. I got into the house by the back door and crawled to the window of the sitting-room. It was open and peeping through I saw Sad-Eyes still tied to the seat on the stoep not more than a pace away, while the girl Janee crouched on the floor at her feet—I think she was asleep or fainting.
I made a little noise, like a night-adder hissing, and kept on making it, till at last Sad-Eyes turned her head. Then I spoke in a very low whisper, for fear lest I should wake the two guards who were dozing on either side of her wrapped in their blankets, saying,
It is I, Hans, come to help you.
You cannot,
she answered, also speaking very low. Get to your master and tell him and my father to follow. These men are called Amahagger and live far away across the river. They are going to take me to their home, as I understand, to
