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stories。 Have you seen this elephant？〃
〃No； Macumazana；〃 he answered with a shiver。 〃If I had seen it should
I have been alive to…day？ Yet I fear I am fated to see it ere long；
not alone；〃 and again he shivered； looking at me in a very suggestive
manner。
At this moment our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of two
Black Kendahs who brought us our breakfast of porridge and a boiled
fowl； and stood there while we ate it。 For my part I was not sorry； as
I had learned all I wanted to know of the theological opinions and
practice of the land； and had come to the conclusion that the terrible
devil…god of the Black Kendah was merely a rogue elephant of unusual
size and ferocity； which under other circumstances it would have given
me the greatest pleasure to try to shoot。
When we had finished eating； that is soon； for neither of our
appetites was good that morning； we walked out of the house into the
surrounding compound and visited the camelmen in their hut。 Here we
found them squatted on the ground looking very depressed indeed。 When
I asked them what was the matter they replied； 〃Nothing；〃 except that
they were men about to die and life was pleasant。 Also they had wives
and children whom they would never see again。
Having tried to cheer them up to the best of my ability； which I fear
I did without conviction； for in my heart I agreed with their view of
the case； we returned to the guest…house and mounted the stair which
led to the flat roof。 Hence we saw that some curious ceremony was in
progress in the centre of the market…place。 At that distance we could
not make out the details； for I forgot to say that my glasses had been
stolen with the pistol and knife； probably because they were supposed
to be lethal weapons or instruments of magic。
A rough altar had been erected； on which a fire burned。 Behind it the
king； Simba； was seated on a stool with various councillors about him。
In front of the altar was a stout wooden table； on which lay what
looked like the body of a goat or a sheep。 A fantastically dressed
man； assisted by other men； appeared to be engaged in inspecting the
inside of this animal with； we gathered； unsatisfactory results； for
presently he raised his arms and uttered a loud wail。 Then the
creature's viscera were removed from it and thrown upon the fire；
while the rest of the carcass was carried off。
I asked Mar？t what he thought they were doing。 He replied dejectedly：
〃Consulting their Oracle； perhaps as to whether we should live or die；
Macumazana。〃
Just then the priest in the strange； feathered attire approached the
king； carrying some small object in his hand。 I wondered what it could
be； till the sound of a report reached my ears and I saw the man begin
to jump round upon one leg； holding the other with both his hands at
the knee and howling loudly。
〃Ah！〃 I said； 〃that pistol was full cocked； and the bullet got him in
the foot。〃
Simba shouted out something； whereon a man picked up the pistol and
threw it into the fire； round which the others gathered to watch it
burn。
〃You wait；〃 I said to Mar？t； and as I spoke the words the inevitable
happened。
Off went the other barrel of the pistol； which hopped out of the fire
with the recoil like a living thing。 But as it happened one of the
assistant priests was standing in front of the mouth of that barrel；
and he also hopped once； but never again； for the heavy bullet struck
him somewhere in the body and killed him。 Now there was consternation。
Everyone ran away； leaving the dead man lying on the ground。 Simba led
the rout and the head…priest brought up the rear； skipping along upon
one leg。
Having observed these events； which filled me with an unholy joy； we
descended into the house again as there was nothing more to see； also
because it occurred to me that our presence on the roof； watching
their discomfiture； might irritate these savages。 About ten minutes
later the gate of the fence round the guest…house was thrown open； and
through it came four men carrying on a stretcher the body of the
priest whom the bullet had killed； which they laid down in front of
our door。 Then followed the king with an armed guard； and after him
the befeathered diviner with his foot bound up； who supported himself
upon the shoulders of two of his colleagues。 This man； I now
perceived； wore a hideous mask； from which projected two tusks in
imitation of those of an elephant。 Also there were others； as many as
the space would hold。
The king called to us to come out of the house； which； having no
choice； we did。 One glance at him showed me that the man was frantic
with fear； or rage； or both。
〃Look upon your work； magicians！〃 he said in a terrible voice；
pointing first to the dead priest； then to the diviner's wounded foot。
〃It is no work of ours； King Simba；〃 answered Mar？t。 〃It is your own
work。 You stole the magic weapon of the white lord and made it angry；
so that it has revenged itself upon you。〃
〃It is true；〃 said Simba； 〃that the tube has killed one of those who
took it away from you and wounded the other〃 （here was luck indeed）。
〃But it was you who ordered it to do so； magicians。 Now； hark！
Yesterday I promised you safety； that no spear should pierce your
hearts and no knife come near your throats； and drank the cup of peace
with you。 But you have broken the pact； working us more harm； and
therefore it no longer holds； since there are many other ways in which
men can die。 Listen again！ This is my decree。 By your magic you have
taken away the life of one of my servants and hurt another of my
servants； destroying the middle toe of his left foot。 If within three
days you do not give back the life to him who seems to be dead； and
give back the toe to him who seems to be hurt； as you well can do；
then you shall join those whom you have slain in the land of death；
how I will not tell you。〃
Now when I heard this amazing sentence I gasped within myself； but
thinking it better to keep up my r？le of understanding nothing of
their talk； I preserved an immovable countenance and left Mar？t to
answer。 This； to his credit be it recorded； he did with his customary
pleasant smile。
〃O King；〃 he said； 〃who can bring the dead back to life？ Not even the
Child itself； at any rate in this world； for there is no way。〃
〃Then； Prophet of the Child； you had better find a way； or； I repeat；
I send you to join them；〃 he shouted； rolling his eyes。
〃What did my brother； the great Prophet； promise to you but yesterday；
O King； if you harmed us？〃 asked Mar？t。 〃Was it not that the three
great curses should fall upon your people？ Learn now that if so much
as one of us is murdered by you； these things shall swiftly come to
pass。 I； Mar？t； who am also a Prophet of the Child； have said it。〃
Now Simba seemed to go quite mad； so mad that I thought all was over。
He waved his spear and danced about in front of