In the middle of the night, to be precise, at exactly two in the morning, I was awakened by Hans, who slept at the back of my shanty, into which he had crept through a hole in the faggots, exclaiming in a frightened voice, "Open your eyes and look, Baas.

There are two _spooks_ waiting to see you outside, Baas." Very cautiously I lifted myself a little and stared out into the moonlight.

There, seated about five paces from the open end of the hut were the "spooks" sure enough, two white-robed figures squatting silent and immovable on the ground.

At first I was frightened.

Then I bethought me of thieves and felt for my Colt pistol under the rug that served me as a pillow.