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not a wonderful thing that our minds should be so in tune； and is
there not an object in all this？ Did I believe as you do； I should say
that it was Heaven working in usno： do not answer that the working
comes from lower down。 I take no credit for reading that upon your
lips； the retort is too easy and obvious。 I am content to say；
however； that the work is that of instinct and nature； or； if you
will； of fate； pointing out a road by which together we might travel
to great ends。〃
〃I travel my road alone； Mr。 Meyer。〃
〃I know； I know； and that is the pity of it。 The trouble between man
and woman is that not in one case out of a million； even if they be
lovers； do they understand each other。 Their eyes may seek one
another； their hands and lips may meet； and yet they remain distinct；
apart； and often antagonistic。 There is no communication of the soul。
But when it chances to be hewn from the same rock as it wereoh！ then
what happiness may be theirs； and what opportunities！〃
〃Possibly； Mr。 Meyer； but； to be frank； the question does not interest
me。〃
〃Not yet； but I am sure that one day it will。 Meanwhile； I owe you an
apology。 I lost my temper before you last night。 Well； do not judge me
hardly； for I was utterly worn out； and that old idiot vexed me with
his talk about ghosts； in which I do not believe。〃
〃Then why did it make you so angry？ Surely you could have afforded to
treat it with contempt； instead of doingas you did。〃
〃Upon my word！ I don't know； but I suppose most of us are afraid lest
we should be forced to accept that which we refuse。 This ancient place
gets upon the nerves； Miss Clifford； yours as well as mine。 I can
afford to be open about it； because I know that you know。 Think of its
associations： all the crime that has been committed here for ages and
ages； all the suffering that has been endured here。 Doubtless human
sacrifices were offered in this cave or outside of it； that great
burnt ring in the rock there may have been where they built the fires。
And then those Portuguese starving to death； slowly starving to death
while thousands of savages watched them die。 Have you ever thought
what it means？ But of course you have； for like myself you are cursed
with imagination。 God in heaven！ is it wonderful that it gets upon the
nerves？ especially when one cannot find what one is looking for； that
vast treasure〃and his face became ecstatic〃that shall yet be yours
and mine； and make us great and happy。〃
〃But which at present only makes me a scullery…maid and most unhappy；〃
replied Benita cheerfully； for she heard her father's footstep。 〃Don't
talk any more of the treasure； Mr。 Meyer； or we shall quarrel。 We have
enough of that during business hours； when we are hunting for it； you
know。 Give me the dish； will you？ This meat is cooked at last。〃
Still Benita could not be rid of that treasure； since after breakfast
the endless； unprofitable search began again。 Once more the cave was
sounded； and other hollow places were discovered upon which the two
men got to work。 With infinite labour three of them were broken into
in as many days； and like the first； found to be graves； only this
time of ancients who； perhaps； had died before Christ was born。 There
they lay upon their sides； their bones burnt by the hot cement that
had been poured over them； their gold…headed and gold…ferruled rods of
office in their hands； their gold…covered pillows of wood； such as the
Egyptians used； beneath their skulls； gold bracelets upon their arms
and ankles； cakes of gold beneath them which had fallen from the
rotted pouches that once hung about their waists； vases of fine glazed
pottery that had been filled with offerings； or in some cases with
gold dust to pay the expenses of their journey in the other world；
standing round them； and so forth。
In their way these discoveries were rich enoughfrom one tomb alone
they took over a hundred and thirty ounces of goldto say nothing of
their surpassing arch？ological interest。 Still they were not what they
sought： all that gathered wealth of Monomotapa which the fleeing
Portuguese had brought with them and buried in this； their last
stronghold。
Benita ceased to take the slightest interest in the matter； she would
not even be at the pains to go to look at the third skeleton； although
it was that of a man who had been almost a giant； and； to judge from
the amount of bullion which he took to the tomb with him； a person of
great importance in his day。 She felt as though she wished never to
see another human bone or ancient bead or bangle； the sight of a
street in Bayswater in a London fogyes； or a toy…shop window in
Westbourne Grovewould have pleased her a hundred times better than
these unique remains that； had they known of them in those days； would
have sent half the learned societies of Europe crazy with delight。 She
wished to escape from Bambatse； its wondrous fortifications； its
mysterious cone； its cave； its dead； andfrom Jacob Meyer。
Benita stood upon the top of her prison wall and looked with longing
at the wide； open lands below。 She even dared to climb the stairs
which ran up the mighty cone of granite； and seated herself in the
cup…like depression on its crest； whence Jacob Meyer had called to her
to come and share his throne。 It was a dizzy place； for the pillar
leaning outwards； its point stood almost clear of the water…scarped
rock； so that beneath her was a sheer drop of about four hundred feet
to the Zambesi bed。 At first the great height made her feel faint。 Her
eyes swam； and unpleasant tremors crept along her spine； so that she
was glad to sink to the floor； whence she knew she could not fall。 By
degrees； however； she recovered her nerve； and was able to study the
glorious view of stream and marshes and hills beyond。
For she had come here with a purpose； to see whether it would not be
possible to escape down the river in a canoe； or in native boats such
as the Makalanga owned and used for fishing； or to cross from bank to
bank。 Apparently it was impossible； for although the river beneath and
above them was still enough； about a mile below began a cataract that
stretched as far as she could see； and was bordered on either side by
rocky hills covered with forest； over which； even if they could obtain
porters； a canoe could not be carried。 This； indeed； she had already
heard from the Molimo； but knowing his timid nature； she wished to
judge of the matter for herself。 It came to this then： if they were to
go； it must be on the horses。
Descending the cone Benita went to find her father； to whom as yet she
had said nothing of her plans。 The opportunity was good； for she knew
that he would be alone。 As it chanced； on that afternoon Meyer had
gone down the hill in order to try to persuade the Makalanga to give
them ten or twenty men to help them in their excavations。 In this； it
will be remembered； he had already failed so far as the Mol