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〃Very；〃 I answered； 〃and of a strange formation。 But how do those who
dwell on it climb that precipice？〃
〃It cannot be climbed；〃 he answered； 〃but there is a road which I am
about to travel who go to worship the Child。 Yet I have told you；
Macumazana； that any strangers who seek to walk that road find death。
If they do not believe me； let them try；〃 he added meaningly。
Then； after many inquiries about my health； he informed me that news
had reached him to the effect that the Black Kendah were mad at the
loss of their crops which the hail had destroyed and because of the
near prospect of starvation。
〃Then soon they will be wishing to reap yours with spears；〃 I said。
〃That is so。 Therefore； my Lord Macumazana； get well quickly that you
may be able to scare away these crows with guns； for in fourteen days
the harvest should begin upon our uplands。 Farewell and have no fears；
for during my absence my people will feed and watch you and on the
third night I shall return again。〃
After Har？t's departure a deep depression fell upon all of us。 Even
Hans was depressed； while Savage became like a man under sentence of
execution at a near but uncertain date。 I tried to cheer him up and
asked him what was the matter。
〃I don't know； Mr。 Quatermain；〃 he answered； 〃but the fact is this is
a 'ateful and un'oly 'ole〃 （in his agitation he quite lost grip of his
h's； which was always weak）； 〃and I am sure that it is the last I
shall ever see； except one。〃
〃Well； Savage；〃 I said jokingly； 〃at any rate there don't seem to be
any snakes here。〃
〃No； Mr。 Quatermain。 That is； I haven't met any； but they crawl about
me all night； and whenever I see that prophet man he talks of them to
me。 Yes； he talks of them and nothing else with a sort of cold look in
his eyes that makes my back creep。 I wish it was over； I do； who shall
never see old England again；〃 and he went away； I think to hide his
very painful and evident emotion。
That evening Hans returned from an expedition on which I had sent him
with instructions to try to get round the mountain and report what was
on its other side。 It had been a complete failure； as after he had
gone a few miles men appeared who ordered him back。 They were so
threatening in their demeanour that had it not been for the little
rifle； Intombi； which he carried under pretence of shooting buck； a
weapon that they regarded with great awe； they would； he thought； have
killed him。 He added that he had been quite unsuccessful in his
efforts to collect any news of value from man； woman or child； all of
whom； although very polite； appeared to have orders to tell him
nothing； concluding with the remark that he considered the White
Kendah bigger devils than the Black Kendah； inasmuch as they were more
clever。
Shortly after this abortive attempt we debated our position with
earnestness and came to a certain conclusion； of which I will speak in
its place。
If I remember right it was on this same night of our debate； after
Har？t's return from the mountain； that the first incident of interest
happened。 There were two rooms in our house divided by a partition
which ran almost up to the roof。 In the left…hand room slept Ragnall
and Savage； and in that to the right Hans and I。 Just at the breaking
of dawn I was awakened by hearing some agitated conversation between
Savage and his master。 A minute later they both entered my sleeping
place； and I saw in the faint light that Ragnall looked very disturbed
and Savage very frightened。
〃What's the matter？〃 I asked。
〃We have seen my wife；〃 answered Ragnall。
I stared at him and he went on：
〃Savage woke me by saying that there was someone in the room。 I sat up
and looked and； as I live； Quatermain； standing gazing at me in such a
position that the light of dawn from the window…place fell upon her；
was my wife。〃
〃How was she dressed？〃 I asked at once。
〃In a kind of white robe cut rather low； with her hair loose hanging
to her waist； but carefully combed and held outspread by what appeared
to be a bent piece of ivory about a foot and a half long； to which it
was fastened by a thread of gold。〃
〃Is that all？〃
〃No。 Upon her breast was that necklace of red stones with the little
image hanging from its centre which those rascals gave her and she
always wore。〃
〃Anything more？〃
〃Yes。 In her arms she carried what looked like a veiled child。 It was
so still that I think it must have been dead。〃
〃Well。 What happened？〃
〃I was so overcome I could not speak； and she stood gazing at me with
wide…opened eyes； looking more beautiful than I can tell you。 She
never stirred； and her lips never movedthat I will swear。 And yet
both of us heard her say； very low but quite clearly： 'The mountain；
George！ Don't desert me。 Seek me on the mountain； my dear； my
husband。'〃
〃Well； what next？〃
〃I sprang up and she was gone。 That's all。〃
〃Now tell me what /you/ saw and heard； Savage。〃
〃What his lordship saw and heard； Mr。 Quatermain； neither more nor
less。 Except that I was awake； having had one of my bad dreams about
snakes； and saw her come through the door。〃
〃Through the door！ Was it open then？〃
〃No； sir； it was shut and bolted。 She just came through it as if it
wasn't there。 Then I called to his lordship after she had been looking
at him for half a minute or so； for I couldn't speak at first。 There's
one more thing； or rather two。 On her head was a little cap that
looked as though it had been made from the skin of a bird； with a gold
snake rising up in front； which snake was the first thing I caught
sight of； as of course it would be； sir。 Also the dress she wore was
so thin that through it I could see her shape and the sandals on her
feet； which were fastened at the instep with studs of gold。〃
〃I saw no feather cap or snake；〃 said Ragnall。
〃Then that's the oddest part of the whole business；〃 I remarked。 〃Go
back to your room； both of you； and if you see anything more； call me。
I want to think things over。〃
They went； in a bewildered sort of fashion； and I called Hans and
spoke with him in a whisper； repeating to him the little that he had
not understood of our talk； for as I have said； although he never
spoke it； Hans knew a great deal of English。
〃Now； Hans；〃 I said to him； 〃what is the use of you？ You are no better
than a fraud。 You pretend to be the best watchdog in Africa； and yet a
woman comes into this house under your nose and in the grey of the
morning； and you do not see her。 Where is your reputation； Hans？〃
The old fellow grew almost speechless with indignation； then he
spluttered his answer：
〃It was not a woman； Baas； but a spook。 Who am I that I should be
expected to catch spooks as though they were thieves or rats？ As it
happens I was wide awake half an hour before the dawn and lay with my
eyes fixed upon that door； which I bolt