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Langley's cheek； and said in a whisper：
〃I know where Umhlonhlo is。〃
Langley started； and said in an awed voice：
〃Where is he？〃
〃Wait a bit；〃 said Ghamba； 〃perhaps I will tell you； and perhaps I won't。
I like you； you have given me tobacco； and you are not too proud to come
and talk to a poor old man。 Now； you say you would like to make five
hundred pounds and buy a farm？〃
〃Rather！〃
〃And that you would let me go and live on the farm with you and end
my days in peace？〃
〃I would； gladly。〃
〃Well then； if I take you to where Umhlonhlo is； and you will kill him
and get the money； will you give me twenty…five pounds； and let me keep
a few goats； and grow a few mealies on your land？〃
〃I should think I would。 But how could one man take or kill
Umhlonhlo？ They say he is well armed and that he has a lot of followers
with him。〃
〃Umhlonhlo；〃 said Ghamba； glancing anxiously round as if he feared
the very ant…heaps were listening； 〃is hiding in a cave in the mountain； not
three days' walk from here。 He has not got a single man with him； because
he fears being given up。 He is really in hiding from his own followers now。
My sister is one of his wives； and that is how I know all about it。 I passed
the cave where he lives four nights ago； and saw him sitting by the fire。 He
has only a few women with him。〃
〃And how do you think I should take him？〃
〃Take him？ you should kill him。 I will guide you to the cave by night；
and then you can shoot him as he sits by the fire。〃
Langley； although no coward； was not particularly brave。 He did not
much relish the idea of alone tackling the redoubtable Umhlonhlo； a
savage of muscle； who was reported to be always armed to the teeth。
Moreover； he had no gun； and was but an indifferent shot with a revolver。
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So he thought over the matter for a few moments and then said：
〃Look here； Ghamba； I do not care to tackle this job alone； but if I can
take another man with me； I am on。〃
〃Then you will only get half of the five hundred pounds； and will not
be able to buy the farm。 You need not be afraid； you can shoot him without
his seeing you。〃
〃No；〃 said Langley； after a pause； 〃I will not go alone； but if you will
let me take another man with me it can be managed。 It will make no
difference to you； you will get your twenty…five pounds。〃
〃And how about my going to live on the farm with you？〃
〃Well； I could not buy the farm for two hundred and fifty pounds。
Come； we will give you fifty pounds instead of twenty…five。〃
Ghamba thought for a while and then said：
〃Very well； I consent。 But there need be only one other man； and you
will write down on a piece of paper that you will give me fifty pounds。
When can we start？〃
〃I must speak to the other man； and then we will apply for leave。 We
had better start soon； or else Umhlonhlo may have gone to some other
place of hiding。〃
〃Yes； we must lose no time。〃
〃All right！ Meet me here to…morrow and I will bring my friend。 We
will then settle all about it。〃
〃You must not mention this matter to any one else； and you must make
your friend promise to keep the secret。〃
〃Oh； that's all right！〃 said Langley。 〃Meet me here to…morrow； just
after dinner。〃
Langley went back to camp； Ghamba looking after his retreating figure
with a smile that revealed his teeth in a very striking manner。 Langley was
intensely excited； and exacted （quite unnecessarily） the most solemn
promises from Whitson not to divulge the great secret which he confided
to him。 Whitson agreed at once to join in the enterprise； which was one
after his own heart。
Next day the three met at the big ant…heap； and Whitson was very
much impressed by Ghamba's teeth。 He told Langley afterward that they
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reminded him of a picture of the devil which he had seen in a copy of
〃Pilgrim's Progress。〃 The old man's story appeared； however； consistent
enough； in spite of his peculiar dentition。
So； after a short conversation； Langley and Whitson returned to camp；
having made an appointment to meet Ghamba again on the following
morning at sunrise； so as to finally arrange as to time of starting； etc。 They
went at once to the officer in charge of the detachment and applied for ten
days' leave of absence for the purpose of proceeding to Pietermaritzburg；
which was at once granted。
Next morning they met Ghamba again； and agreed to start on their
expedition that evening。 He explained that they must do all their traveling
by night； and lie by during the day； because it would never do for him；
Ghamba； to run the risk of being recognised by persons whom they might
meet。 For the sake of his Hlubi relations who were living among the
Pondomise at Qumbu； it was absolutely necessary that he should not
appear in the transaction at all。 Were it ever to be even suspected that he
had betrayed the chief； not alone would he be certainly killed； but all his
relations would be shunned by the other natives。 He was an old man； so
for him； personally； nothing mattered very much； but a man is bound to
consider the interests of his family。 Travelling only by night； and lying still
and hidden during the day； were therefore absolutely necessary
stipulations； and Langley and Whitson agreed to them as intelligible and
reasonable。 All being settled； the latter started for the camp； Ghamba
baring his teeth excessively as they walked away。
At dusk on the evening of the same day； Langley and Whitson met
Ghamba once more at the large ant…heap； and the three at once proceeded
on their course。 The only arms taken were revolvers of the government
regulation pattern （breech…loading central fire）。 They carried provisions
calculated to last eight days； but took no blankets on account of having to
travel at night。 When Ghamba volunteered to relieve them of a
considerable share of their respective loads； Langley and Whitson were
filled with grateful surprise。
The plan was as follows： Whitson was to shoot Umhlonhlo； and then
remain in the