Yes, there was Hans himself looking just the same as usual, only perhaps rather dirtier, engaged in setting a cap on to the nipple of the little rifle Intombi.
"Hans," I said in a hollow voice, "why the devil are you here ?" "To save you from the devil, of course, Baas," he replied aptly.

Then, resting the gun against the stone, the old fellow knelt down by my side and, throwing his arms around me, began to blubber over me, exclaiming: "Just in time, Baas! Only just in time, for as usual Hans made a mess of things and judged badly--I'll tell you afterwards.

Still, just in time, thanks be to your reverend father, the Predikant.

Oh! if he had delayed me for one more minute you would have been as flat as my nose, Baas.

Now come quickly.