However, he paused at last, and then Ghamba, looking very intently at
him, said:
"Look here, can you keep a secret?"
Here was a mystery.
"Rather!" said Langley.
"Will you swear by the name of God that you will not reveal what I have
to tell you?"
Langley swore.
Ghamba drew near until his teeth were within a few inches of 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.
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