Now this horse was the finest in the whole district, for his sire was the famous stallion which the Government imported from England, where it won all the races, and his dam the swiftest and most enduring mare in the breeding herds at the Paarl.

What Jan gave for him as a yearling I never learned, because he was afraid to tell me; but I know that we were short of money for two years after he bought him.

Yet in the end that _schimmel_ proved the cheapest thing for which ever a man paid gold.
Well, the Kaffir hesitated, for, as might be guessed, Jan was very proud of this horse, and none rode it save himself, but Sihamba sprang up and spoke to him so fiercely that at last he obeyed her, since, although she was small in stature, all feared the magic of Sihamba, and would do her bidding.

Nor had he far to go, for the _schimmel_ did not run wild upon the veldt, but was fed and kept in a stable, where a slave groomed him every morning.

Thus it came about that before Zinti had finished his tale, the horse was standing before Sihamba bridled but not saddled, arching his neck and striking the ground with his hoof, for he was proud and full of corn and eager to be away.
"Oh! fool," said Sihamba to Zinti, "why did not you begin with this part of your story?
Now, to save five from death and one from dishonour, there is but a short hour left and twenty long miles to cover in it.