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'Give me back the Ndhlondhlo；' he cried； like a petted child。 'Give me back the collar of John。'
This was the moment I had been waiting for。
'Now see here； Mr Laputa；' I said。 'I am going to talk business。 Before you started this rising； you were a civilized man with a good education。 Well； just remember that education for a minute； and look at the matter in a sensible light。 I'm not like the Portugoose。 I don't want to steal your rubies。 I swear to God that what I have told you is true。 Henriques killed the priest； and would have bagged the jewels if I had not laid him out。 I ran away because I was going to be killed to…day； and I took the collar to keep it out of Henriques' hands。 I tell you I would never have shot the old man myself。 Very well； what happened？ Your men overtook me； and I had no choice but to surrender。 Before they reached me； I hid the collar in a place I know of。 Now； I am going to make you a fair and square business proposition。 You may be able to get on without the Snake； but I can see you want it back。 I am in a tight place and want nothing so much as my life。 I offer to trade with you。 Give me my life； and I will take you to the place and put the jewels in your hand。 Otherwise you may kill me； but you will never see the collar of John again。'
I still think that was a pretty bold speech for a man to make in a predicament like mine。 But it had its effect。 Laputa ceased to be the barbarian king； and talked like a civilized man。
'That is； as you call it； a business proposition。 But supposing I refuse it？ Supposing I take measures here … in this kraal … to make you speak； and then send for the jewels。'
'There are several objections；' I said； quite cheerfully； for I felt that I was gaining ground。 'One is that I could not explain to any mortal soul how to find the collar。 I know where it is； but I could not impart the knowledge。 Another is that the country between here and Machudi's is not very healthy for your people。 Arcoll's men are all over it； and you cannot have a collection of search parties rummaging about in the glen for long。 Last and most important； if you send any one for the jewels； you confess their loss。 No； Mr Laputa； if you want them back； you must go yourself and take me with you。'
He stood silent for a little； with his brows knit in thought。 Then he opened the door and went out。 I guessed that he had gone to discover from his scouts the state of the country between Inanda's Kraal and Machudi's glen。 Hope had come back to me； and I sat among the mealie…stalks trying to plan the future。 If he made a bargain I believed he would keep it。 Once set free at the head of Machudi's； I should be within an hour or two of Arcoll's posts。 So far； I had done nothing for the cause。 My message had been made useless by Henriques' treachery； and I had stolen the Snake only to restore it。 But if I got off with my life； there would be work for me to do in the Armageddon which I saw approaching。 Should I escape； I wondered。 What would hinder Laputa from setting his men to follow me； and seize me before I could get into safety？ My only chance was that Arcoll might have been busy this day； and the countryside too full of his men to let Laputa's Kaffirs through。 But if this was so； Laputa and I should be stopped； and then Laputa would certainly kill me。 I wished … and yet I did not wish … that Arcoll should hold all approaches。 As I reflected； my first exhilaration died away。 The scales were still heavily weighted against me。
Laputa returned； closing the door behind him。
'I will bargain with you on my own terms。 You shall have your life； and in return you will take me to the place where you hid the collar； and put it into my hands。 I will ride there； and you will run beside me； tied to my saddle。 If we are in danger from the white men； I will shoot you dead。 Do you accept？'
'Yes；' I said； scrambling to my feet； and ruefully testing my shaky legs。 'But if you want me to get to Machudi's you must go slowly； for I am nearly foundered。'
Then he brought out a Bible； and made me swear on it that I would do as I promised。
'Swear to me in turn；' I said； 'that you will give me my life if I restore the jewels。'
He swore； kissing the book like a witness in a police…court。 I had forgotten that the man called himself a Christian。
'One thing more I ask；' I said。 'I want my dog decently buried。' 'That has been already done；' was the reply。 'He was a brave animal； and my people honour bravery。'
CHAPTER XVII A DEAL AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
My eyes were bandaged tight； and a thong was run round my right wrist and tied to Laputa's saddle…bow。 I felt the glare of the afternoon sun on my head； and my shins were continually barked by stones and trees； but these were my only tidings of the outer world。 By the sound of his paces Laputa was riding the Schimmel； and if any one thinks it easy to go blindfold by a horse's side I hope he will soon have the experience。 In the darkness I could not tell the speed of the beast。 When I ran I overshot it and was tugged back； when I walked my wrist was dislocated with the tugs forward。
For an hour or more I suffered this breakneck treatment。 We were descending。 Often I could hear the noise of falling streams； and once we splashed through a mountain ford。 Laputa was taking no risks； for he clearly had in mind the possibility of some accident which would set me free； and he had no desire to have me guiding Arcoll to his camp。
But as I stumbled and sprawled down these rocky tracks I was not thinking of Laputa's plans。 My whole soul was filled with regret for Colin； and rage against his murderer。 After my first mad rush I had not thought about my dog。 He was dead； but so would I be in an hour or two； and there was no cause to lament him。 But at the first revival of hope my grief had returned。 As they bandaged my eyes I was wishing that they would let me see his grave。 As I followed beside Laputa I told myself that if ever I got free； when the war was over I would go to Inanda's Kraal； find the grave； and put a tombstone over it in memory of the dog that saved my life。 I would also write that the man who shot him was killed on such and such a day at such and such a place by Colin's master。 I wondered why Laputa had not the wits to see the Portugoose's treachery and to let me fight him。 I did not care what were the weapons … knives or guns； or naked fists … I would certainly kill him； and afterwards the Kaffirs could do as they pleased with me。 Hot tears of rage and weakness wet the bandage on my eyes； and the sobs which came from me were not only those of weariness。
At last we halted。 Laputa got down and took off the bandage； and I found myself in one of the hill…meadows which lie among the foothills of the Wolkberg。 The glare blinded me； and for a little I could only see the marigolds growing at my feet。 Then I had a glimpse of the deep gorge of the Great Letaba below me； and far to the east the flats running out to the hazy blue line of the Lebombo hills。 Laputa let me sit on the ground for a minute or two to get my breath and rest my feet。 'That was a rough road；' he said。 'You can take it easier now； for I have no wish to carry you。' He patted the Schimmel； and the beautiful creature turned his mild eyes on the pair of us。 I wondered if he recognized his rider of two nights ago。
I had seen Laputa as the Christian minister； as the priest and king in the cave； as the leader of an army at Dupree's Drift； and at the kraal we had left as the savage with all self… control flung to the winds。 I was to see this amazing man in a further part。 For he now became a friendly and rational companion。 He kept his horse at an easy walk； and talked to me as if we were two friends out for a trip together。 Perhaps he had talked thus to Arcoll； the half…caste who drove his Cape…cart。
The wooded bluff above Machudi's glen showed far in front。 He told me the story of the Machudi war； which I knew already； but he told it as a saga。 There had been a stratagem by which one of the Boer leaders … a Grobelaar； I think … got some of his men into the enemy's camp by hiding them in a captured forage wagon。
'Like the Trojan horse；' I said involuntarily。
'Yes；' said my companion； 'the same old device；' and to my amazement he quoted some lines of Virgil。
'Do you understand Latin？' he asked。
I told him that I had some slight knowledge of the tongue； acquired at the university of Edinburgh。 Laputa nodded。 He mentioned the name of a professor there； and commented on his scholarship。
'O man！' I cried； 'what in God's name are you doing in this business？ You that are educated and have seen the world； what makes you try to put the clock back？ You want to wipe out the civilization of a thousand years； and turn us all into savages。 It's the more shame to you when you know better。'
'You misunderstand me；' he said quietly。 'It is because I have sucked civilization dry that I know the bitterness of the fruit。 I want a simpler and better world； and I want that world for my own people。 I am a Christian； and will you tell me that your civilization pays much attention to Christ？ You call yourself a