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precipices； quite unable to guess when my journey would end in space；
but enduring all the agonies of death at every step。
About midnight again we heard that scuffle and stifled cry in the hut
behind us。
〃He's gone；〃 I whispered to Mar？t； wiping the cold sweat from my brow。
〃Yes；〃 answered Mar？t； 〃and very soon we shall follow him；
Macumazana。〃
I wished that his face were visible so that I could see if he still
smiled when he uttered those words。
An hour or so later the usual fire appeared in the marketplace； round
which the usual figures flitted dimly。 The sight of them fascinated
me； although I did not want to look； fearing what I might see。
Luckily； however； we were too far off to discern anything at night。
While these unholy ceremonies were in progress the climax came； that
is so far as the weather was concerned。 Of a sudden a great gale
sprang up； a gale of icy wind such as in Southern Africa sometimes
precedes a thunderstorm。 It blew for half an hour or more； then
lulled。 Now lightning flashed across the heavens； and by the glare of
it we perceived that all the population of Simba Town seemed to be
gathered in the market…place。 At least there were some thousands of
them； talking； gesticulating； pointing at the sky。
A few minutes later there came a great crash of thunder； of which it
was impossible to locate the sound； for it rolled from everywhere。
Then suddenly something hard struck the roof by my side and rebounded；
to be followed next moment by a blow upon my shoulder which nearly
knocked me flat； although I was well protected by the skin rugs。
〃Down the stair！〃 I called。 〃They are stoning us；〃 and suited the
action to the word。
Ten seconds later we were both in the room； crouched in its farther
corner； for the stones or whatever they were seemed to be following
us。 I struck a match； of which fortunately I had some； together with
my pipe and a good pocketful of tobaccomy only solace in those
daysand； as it burned up； saw first that blood was running down
Mar？t's face； and secondly； that these stones were great lumps of ice；
some of them weighing several ounces； which hopped about the floor
like live things。
〃Hailstorm！〃 remarked Mar？t with his accustomed smile。
〃Hell storm！〃 I replied； 〃for whoever saw hail like that before？〃
Then the match burnt out and conversation came to an end for the
reason that we could no longer hear each other speak。 The hail came
down with a perpetual； rattling roar； that in its sum was one of the
most terrible sounds to which I ever listened。 And yet above it I
thought that I could catch another； still more terrible； the wail of
hundreds of people in agony。 After the first few minutes I began to be
afraid that the roof would be battered in； or that the walls would
crumble beneath this perpetual fire of the musketry of heaven。 But the
cement was good and the place well built。
So it came about that the house stood the tempest； which had it been
roofed with tiles or galvanized iron I am sure it would never have
done； since the lumps of ice must have shattered one and pierced the
other like paper。 Indeed I have seen this happen in a bad hailstorm in
Natal which killed my best horse。 But even that hail was as snowflakes
compared to this。
I suppose that this natural phenomenon continued for about twenty
minutes； not more； during ten of which it was at its worst。 Then by
degrees it ceased； the sky cleared and the moon shone out beautifully。
We climbed to the roof again and looked。 It was several inches deep in
jagged ice； while the market…place and all the country round appeared
in the bright moonlight to be buried beneath a veil of snow。
Very rapidly； as the normal temperature of that warm land reasserted
itself； this snow or rather hail melted； causing a flood of water
which； where there was any fall； began to rush away with a gurgling
sound。 Also we heard other sounds； such as that from the galloping
hoofs of many of the horses which had broken loose from their wrecked
stables at the north end of the market…place； where in great number
they had been killed by the falling roofs or had kicked each other to
death； and a wild universal wail that rose from every quarter of the
big town； in which quantities of the worst…built houses had collapsed。
Further； lying here and there about the market…place we could see
scores of dark shapes that we knew to be those of men； women and
children； whom those sharp missiles hurled from heaven had caught
before they could escape and slain or wounded almost to death。 For it
will be remembered that perhaps not fewer than two thousand people
were gathered on this market…place； attending the horrid midnight
sacrifice and discussing the unnatural weather when the storm burst
upon them suddenly as an avalanche。
〃The Child is small； yet its strength is great。 Behold the first
curse！〃 said Mar？t solemnly。
I stared at him； but as he chose to believe that a very unusual
hailstorm was a visitation from heaven I did not think it worth while
arguing the point。 Only I wondered if he really did believe this。 Then
I remembered that such an event was said to have afflicted the old
Egyptians in the hour of their pride because they would not 〃let the
people go。〃 Well； these blackguardedly Black Kendah were certainly
worse than the Egyptians can ever have been； also they would not let
/us/ go。 It was not wonderful therefore that Mar？t should be the
victim of phantasies on the matter。
Not until the following morning did we come to understand the full
extent of the calamity which had overtaken the Black Kendah。 I think I
have said that their crops this year were magnificent and just
ripening to harvest。 From our roof on previous days we could see a
great area of them stretching to the edge of the forest。 When the sun
rose that morning this area had vanished； and the ground was covered
with a carpet of green pulp。 Also the forest itself appeared suddenly
to have experienced the full effects of a northern winter。 Not a leaf
was left upon the trees； which stood their pointing their naked boughs
to heaven。
No one who had not seen it could imagine the devastating fury of that
storm。 For example； the head of the diviner who was buried in the
court…yard awaiting resurrection through our magic was； it may be
recalled； covered with a stout earthenware pot。 Now that pot had
shattered into sherds and the head beneath was nothing but bits of
broken bone which it would have been impossible for the very best
magic to reconstruct to the likeness of a human being。
Calamity indeed stalked naked through the land。
CHAPTER XIII
JANA
No breakfast was brought to us that morning； probably for the reason
that there was none to bring。 This did not matter； however； seeing
that plenty of food accumulated from supper and other meals stood in a
corner of the house practically untouched。 So we a