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〃Then it seems that we are indeed in a pit； as that black brute of a
king puts it； Mar？t； and if he does what he says and rushes us at
sundown； everyone of us will be killed。 Also I am thirsty already and
there is nothing to drink。 But will this king keep his word？ There are
other ways of dying besides by steel。〃
〃I think that he will keep his word； but as that messenger said； he
will not add to his word。 Choose now； for see； they are beginning to
hedge us round。〃
〃What do you say； men？〃 I asked of the three who had remained with us。
〃We say； Lord； that we are in the hands of the Child； though we wish
now that we had died with our brothers；〃 answered their spokesman
fatalistically。
So after Mar？t and I had consulted together for a little as to the
form of his reply； he beckoned to the messenger and said：
〃We accept the offer of Simba； although it would be easy for this lord
to kill him now where he stands； namely； to yield ourselves as
prisoners on his oath that no harm shall come to us。 For know that if
harm does come； the vengeance will be terrible。 Now in proof of his
good faith； let Simba draw near and drink the cup of peace with us；
for we thirst。〃
〃Not so；〃 said the messenger； 〃for then that white lord might kill him
with his tube。 Give me the tube and Simba shall come。〃
〃Take it；〃 I said magnanimously； handing him the rifle； which he
received in a very gingerly fashion。 After all； I reflected； there is
nothing much more useless than a rifle without ammunition。
Off he went holding the weapon at arm's length； and presently Simba
himself； accompanied by some of his men； one of whom carried a skin of
water and another a large cup hollowed from an elephant's tusk； rode
up to us。 This Simba was a fine and rather terrifying person with a
large moustache and a chin shaved except for a little tuft of hair
which he wore at its point like an Italian。 His eyes were big and
dark； frank…looking； yet now and again with sinister expression in the
corners of them。 He was not nearly so black as most of his followers；
probably in bygone generations his blood had been crossed with that of
the White Kendah。 He wore his hair long without any head…dress； held
in place by a band of gold which I suppose represented a crown。 On his
forehead was a large white scar； probably received in some battle。
Such was his appearance。
He looked at me with great curiosity； and I have often wondered since
what kind of an impression I produced upon him。 My hat had fallen off；
or I had knocked it off when I fired my last cartridge into his
people； and forgotten to replace it； and my intractable hair； which
was longer than usual； had not been recently brushed。 My worn Norfolk
jacket was dyed with blood from a wounded or dying man who had tumbled
against me in the scrimmage when the cavalry charged us； and my right
leg and boot were stained in a similar fashion from having rubbed
against my camel where a spear had entered it。 Altogether I must have
appeared a most disreputable object。
Some indication of his opinion was given； however； in a remark； which
of course I pretended not to understand； that I overheard him make to
one of his officers：
〃Truly；〃 he said； 〃we must not always look to the strong for strength。
And yet this little white porcupine is strength itself； for see how
much damage he has wrought us。 Also consider his eyes that appear to
pierce everything。 Jana himself might fear those eyes。 Well； time that
grinds the rocks will tell us all。〃
All of this I caught perfectly； my ears being very sharp； although he
thought that he spoke out of my hearing； for after spending a month in
their company I understood the Kendah dialect of Bantu very well。
Having delivered himself thus he rode nearer and said：
〃You； Prophet Mar？t； my enemy； have heard the terms of me； Simba the
King； and have accepted them。 Therefore discuss them no more。 What I
have promised I will keep。 What I have given I give； neither greater
nor less by the weight of a hair。〃
〃So be it； O King；〃 answered Mar？t with his usual smile； which nothing
ever seemed to disturb。 〃Only remember that if those terms are broken
either in the letter or in the spirit； especially the spirit〃 （that is
the best rendering I can give of his word）； 〃the manifold curses of
the Child will fall upon you and yours。 Yes； though you kill us all by
treachery； still those curses will fall。〃
〃May Jana take the Child and all who worship it；〃 exclaimed the king
with evident irritation。
〃In the end； O King； Jana will take the Child and its followersor
the Child will take Jana and his followers。 Which of these things must
happen is known to the Child alone； and perchance to its prophets。
Meanwhile； for every one of those of the Child I think that three of
the followers of Jana； or more； lie dead upon this field。 Also the
caravan is now out of your reach with two of the white lords and many
of such tubes which deal death； like that which we have surrendered to
you。 Therefore because we are helpless； do not think that the Child is
helpless。 Jana must have been asleep； O King； or you would have set
your trap better。〃
I thought that this coolly insolent speech would have produced some
outburst； but in fact it seemed to have an opposite effect。 Making no
reply to it； Simba said almost humbly：
〃I come to drink the cup of peace with you and the white lord； O
Prophet。 Afterwards we can talk。 Give me water； slave。〃
Then a man filled the great ivory cup with water from the skin he
carried。 Simba took it and having sprinkled a little upon the ground；
I suppose as an offering； drank from the cup； doubtless to show that
it was not poisoned。 Watching carefully； I made sure that he swallowed
what he drank by studying the motions of his throat。 Then he handed
the cup with a bow to Mar？t； who with a still deeper bow passed it to
me。 Being absolutely parched I absorbed about a pint of it； and
feeling a new man； passed the horn to Mar？t； who swallowed the rest。
Then it was filled again for our three White Kendah； the King first
tasting the water as before； after which Mar？t and I had a second
pull。
When at length our thirst was satisfied； horses were brought to us；
serviceable and docile little beasts with sheepskins for saddles and
loops of hide for stirrups。 On these we mounted and for the next three
hours rode across the plain； surrounded by a strong escort and with an
armed Black Kendah running on each side of our horses and holding in
his hand a thong attached to the ring of the bridle； no doubt to
prevent any attempt to escape。
Our road ran past but not through some villages whence we saw many
women and children staring at us； and through beautiful crops of
mealies and other sorts of grain that in this country were now just
ripening。 The luxuriant appearance of these crops suggested that the
rains must have been plentiful and the se