"
"I swear," he replied solemnly, "in the names of my God and my
Kaiser that no harm shall befall you at my hands, Lady Greystoke."
"Very well," she said, "we will make this pact to assist each other
to return to civilization, but let it be understood that there
is and never can be any semblance even of respect for you upon my
part. I am drowning and you are the straw. Carry that always in
your mind, German."
If Obergatz had held any doubt as to the sincerity of her word it
would have been wholly dissipated by the scathing contempt of her
tone. And so Obergatz, without further parley, got pistols and an
extra rifle for Jane, as well as bandoleers of cartridges. In his
usual arrogant and disagreeable manner he called his servants,
telling them that he and the white kali were going out into the brush
to hunt. The beaters would go north as far as the little hill and
then circle back to the east and in toward the village. The gun
carriers he directed to take the extra pieces and precede himself
and Jane slowly toward the east, waiting for them at the ford about
half a mile distant. The blacks responded with greater alacrity
than usual and it was noticeable to both Jane and Obergatz that
they left the village whispering and laughing.
"The swine think it is a great joke," growled Obergatz, "that the
afternoon before I die I go out and hunt meat for them.
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