Q: CHAPTER XX

HEDA'S TALE

That evening when I was lying on my bed outside the cave, I heard the tale of Anscombe and Heda. Up to a certain point he told it, then she went on with the story.

"On the morning after our arrival at this place, Allan," said Anscombe, "I woke up to find you gone from the hut. As you did not come back I concluded that you were with Zikali, and walked about looking for you. Then food was brought to us and Heda and I breakfasted together, after which we went to where we heard the horses neighing and found that yours was gone. Returning, much frightened, we met Nombe, who gave me your note which explained everything, and we inquired of her why this had been done and what was to become of us. She smiled and answered that we had better ask the first question of the king and the second of her master Zikali, and in the meanwhile be at peace since we were quite safe.

"I tried to see Zikali but could not. Then I went to inspan the horses with the idea of following you, only to find that they were gone. Indeed I have not seen them from that day to this. Next we thought of starting on foot, for we were quite desperate. But Nombe intervened and told us that if we ventured out of the Black Kloof we should be killed. In short we were prisoners.

"This went on for some days, during which we were well treated but could not succeed in seeing Zikali. At length one morning he sent for us and we were taken to the enclosure in front of his hut, Kaatje coming with us as interpreter. For a while he sat still, looking very grim and terrible. Then he said--

1. Zikali
2. unknown
3. No.
4. Yes
5. Nombe intervened
6. A note.
7. Allan
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Kaatje
11. Anscombe and Heda
12. Yes
13. Yes
14. Yes.
15. They would be killed.
16. Prisoners
17. Yes
18. Some days.
19. Zikali's
20. No.

Numbered questions:
1. Who did Anscombe assume Allan was with?
2. Was he in his hut with her?
3. Did Anscombe find him in his hut?
4. Did she look for him?
5. until what?
6. what did Nombe give them?
7. from who?
8. Did explain where he was?
9. Were they able to see Zikali?
10. who interpeted?
11. for who?
12. Was Allans horse missing?
13. Did Ansconbe know this?
14. were they safe?
15. What would happen if they left Black Kloof?
16. They felt they were?
17. were they treated well?
18. how long did this last?
19. Who's hut were they taken to?
20. Did he come out?

Q: CHAPTER XVI: IN NERO'S PALACE

Upon leaving Phaon, Beric was conducted to the room where he had left Scopus. The latter at once joined him, and without asking any questions left the palace with him.

"I would ask nothing until you were outside," Scopus said. "They were wondering there at the long audience you have had with Nero. Judging by the gravity of your face, things have not gone well with you."

"They have gone well in one sense," Beric said, "though I would vastly rather that they had gone otherwise. I feel very much more fear now than when I stood awaiting the attack of the lion."

And he then related to Scopus the conversation he had had with Nero. The lanista inclined himself humbly to the ground.

"You are a great man now, Beric, though, as you say, the place is not without its dangers. I guessed when Caesar sent for you that he purposed to use your strength and courage in his service. Your face is one that invites trust, and Nero was wise enough to see that if he were to trust you he must trust you altogether. He has acted wisely. He deemed that, having no friends and connections in Rome, he could rely upon you as he could rely upon no one who is a native here. You will be a great man, for a time at any rate."

"I would rather have remained at your ludus, Scopus. I shall feel like a little dog I saw the other day in a cage of one of the lions. The beast seemed fond of it, but the little creature knew well that at any moment the lion might stretch out its paw and crush it."

1. unknown
2. no
3. a palace
4. yes
5. no
6. afraid
7. yes
8. when he stood awaiting the attack of the lion
9. Nero
10. Caesar
11. to use his strength and courage

Numbered questions:
1. What had Baron left?
2. Was this a regular house?
3. What was it?
4. Did Scopus want to ask him something inside?
5. Did Scopus think things had been going great?
6. How did Beric feel now?
7. Did he compare his feelings to anything else?
8. What?
9. Who did Beric say he had been talking with?
10. Who had sent for Beric?
11. What did Caesar want?

Q: CHAPTER XII

The sun had begun to cast long shadows the afternoon of Helen's hunt for Jonathan, when the borderman, accompanied by Wetzel, led a string of horses along the base of the very mountain she had ascended.

"Last night's job was a good one, I ain't gainsayin'; but the redskin I wanted got away," Wetzel said gloomily.

"He's safe now as a squirrel in a hole. I saw him dartin' among the trees with his white eagle feathers stickin' up like a buck's flag," replied Jonathan. "He can run. If I'd only had my rifle loaded! But I'm not sure he was that arrow-shootin' Shawnee."

"It was him. I saw his bow. We ought'er taken more time an' picked him out," Wetzel replied, shaking his head gravely. "Though mebbe that'd been useless. I think he was hidin'. He's precious shy of his red skin. I've been after him these ten year, an' never ketched him nappin' yet. We'd have done much toward snuffin' out Legget an' his gang if we'd winged the Shawnee."

"He left a plain trail."

"One of his tricks. He's slicker on a trail than any other Injun on the border, unless mebbe it's old Wingenund, the Huron. This Shawnee'd lead us many a mile for nuthin', if we'd stick to his trail. I'm long ago used to him. He's doubled like an old fox, run harder'n a skeered fawn, an', if needs be, he'll lay low as cunnin' buck. I calkilate once over the mountain, he's made a bee-line east. We'll go on with the hosses, an' then strike across country to find his trail."

1. Jonathan
2. a redskin
3. no
4. ten years
5. Shawnee
6. bow and arrow
7. a rifle
8. no
9. rifle wasn't loaded
10. yes
11. yes
12. yes
13. Wingenund
14. the Huron
15. a fox, a fawn, and a buck
16. many a mile
17. east
18. a mountain
19. late afternoon
20. Jonathon
21. Helen
22. yes

Numbered questions:
1. Who was Helen looking for?
2. Who was Wetzel hunting?
3. Did he catch them?
4. How long had Wetzel been hunting him?
5. What tribe did they think he was?
6. What weapon did the Native have?
7. What weapon did Jonathon have?
8. Was he prepared to shoot?
9. How so?
10. Did the Native leave a trail?
11. Did Wetzel think it was a trick?
12. Has Wetzel encountered a trickier Native?
13. Who?
14. What was his animal nickname?
15. What animals did Wetzel compare him to?
16. How long had Wetzel chased him?
17. Which direction did Wetzel think he went?
18. Over which landform?
19. What time of day was it when the men were discussing?
20. What was the borderman's name?
21. And who was looking for him?
22. Were they near the same mountain?