Evening star., 1936-03-22
Magazine Section

It's nine day trip so II we TAKE tldt
we'll be in Jo'burg by the 10th"
In consequence, five days later
Patricia found herself boarding an
Air Liner with her father and the
boisterous MIR. Wisdom.
On the ninth day after leaving
London they landed at Germiston,
outside johannesburg and, driving
into town, put up at the Carlton
Hotel. Their plans had already been
completed before leaving England.
They knew that old Van Niekerk, one
of the legatees. was dead, but they
felt that it should be easy to trace his
relatives, as they had the address at
which he had lived in Pretoria. Ac-
cordingly. on the morning following
their arrival Wisdom hired car and
drove them over to Pretoria to the
Van Niekerk residence.
From a native boy who opened the
front door, they learned that the house
was now occupied by Cornelius Van
Niekerk, the old mans son. On asking.
to see him they were shown into a
large, airy room giving onto broad
yeranda. Masses of bright colored
flowers were set about in big. black,
curiously designed pots of native ware.
After a few moments tall. fair
vm,np man. dressed in a smart grey
lounge suit, came in to greet them.
Henry stated their business and
asked if Cornelius had ever known his
brother. John Long. But young Van
Niekerk shook his head.
mo. never met him" he said in
low-pitched, cultured voice. But OF
course I've heard about him."
Then should ac much obliged if
you would tell us anything of his life
out here that you may know" said
Henry.
Van Niekerk sprang up from his
armchair and whipped a cablegram off
the mantelpiece. I'm sorry" he
lduRUcu. Cdl1 tCii you q ehhiSb oAAo
if you read that you will see why"
Henry took it from him and as he
scanned it his brows drew down into
an angry frown. 1t read:
ivan Niekerk, Jacarandas, Church
Street, Pretoria. SA. Was at Cape
University with your Cousin Paul. He
will give you particulars of me. Regret
by your fathers death you will not
: benefit under will OF late John Thomas
Long. Inquiries may be made from
you concerning source of Longs
wealth. In your own interests give no
information until my arrival. Sailing
January 29th. Proceeding Pretoria
Immediately. Sandy McDiamid."
Disgusted over their fruitless visit
to Van Niekerk, Henry Long and
Wisdom decided that they would next
endeavour to trace the Indian barman
at Durham, and so the following morn
ing they set off to motor to the coast.
Arrived at Durham, they drove at
once to the Royal and inquired for
Joe Jack Mahout He proved to be a
simple creature, delighted with the
chance to talk about his late patron.
But of leopard-skin kaross. knob
kerrie, or witch-doctor' necklace he
knew nothing. One important fact,
however, came to light in the conver-
sation. Joe Jack was certain that a
Zulu Induna named N'hluzili had
been John Longs headboy on the last
expedition. Moreover, N'hluzili was
still living in his kraal near place
called Sezela about fifty miles down
the coast.
The next morning the party set out
for Sezela, and little before midday
they pulled up at a small village in
wooded area called Umboni Park,
where they secured directions to
'N'hluzili's kraal.
Wisdom halted the car at a bend in
the road below a steep slope. Some
three hundred yards up the rise was
group of beehive-shaped native huts.