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the house and call and it arrived from somewhere； all ready saddled
and bridled； in charge of a lad who appeared to be dumb。 At any rate
when I spoke to him he would not answer。
Mounted on this pony I took one or two rides along the southern slopes
of the mountain on the old pretext of shooting for the pot。 Hans
accompanied me on these occasions； but was； I noted； very silent and
thoughtful； as though he were hunting something up and down his
tortuous intelligence。 Once we got quite near to the mouth of the cave
or tunnel where poor Savage had met his horrid end。 As we stood
studying it a white…robed man whose head was shaved； which made me
think he must be a priest； came up and asked me mockingly why we did
not go through the tunnel and see what lay beyond； adding； almost in
the words of Har？t himself； that none would attempt to interfere with
us as the road was open to any who could travel it。 By way of answer I
only smiled and put him a few questions about a very beautiful breed
of goats with long silky hair； some of which he seemed to be engaged
in herding。 He replied that these goats were sacred； being the food of
〃one who dwelt in the Mountain who only ate when the moon changed。〃
When I inquired who this person was he said with his unpleasant smile
that I had better go through the tunnel and see for myself； an
invitation which I did not accept。
That evening Har？t appeared unexpectedly； looking very grave and
troubled。 He was in a great hurry and only stayed long enough to
congratulate me upon the excellent effects of his ointment； since 〃no
man could fight Jana on one leg。〃
I asked him when the fight with Jana was to come off。 He replied：
〃Lord； I go up to the Mountain to attend the Feast of the First…
fruits； which is held at sunrise on the day of the new moon。 After the
offering the Oracle will speak and we shall learn when there will be
war with Jana； and perchance other things。〃
〃May we not attend this feast； Har？t； who are weary of doing nothing
here？〃
〃Certainly；〃 he answered with his grave bow。 〃That is； if you come
unarmed； for to appear before the Child with arms is death。 You know
the road； it runs through yonder cave and the forest beyond the cave。
Take it when you will； Lord。〃
〃Then if we can pass the cave we shall be welcome at the feast？〃
〃You will be very welcome。 None shall hurt you there； going or
returning。 I swear it by the Child。 Oh！ Macumazana；〃 he added； smiling
a little； 〃why do you talk folly； who know well that one lives in
yonder cave whom none may look upon and love； as Bena learned not long
ago？ You are thinking that perhaps you might kill this Dweller in the
cave with your weapons。 Put away that dream； seeing that henceforth
those who watch you have orders to see that none of you leave this
house carrying so much as a knife。 Indeed； unless you promise me that
this shall be so you will not be suffered to set foot outside its
garden until I return again。 Now do you promise？〃
I thought a while and； drawing the two others aside out of hearing；
asked them their opinion。
Ragnall was at first unwilling to give any such promise； but Hans
said：
〃Baas； it is better to go free and unhurt without guns and knives than
to become a prisoner once； as you were among the Black Kendah。 Often
there is but a short step between the prison and the grave。〃
Both Ragnall and I acknowledged the force of this argument and in the
end we gave the promise； speaking one by one。
〃It is enough；〃 said Har？t； 〃moreover； know； Lord； that among us White
Kendah he who breaks an oath is put across the River Tava unarmed to
make report thereof to Jana； Father of Lies。 Now farewell。 If we do
not meet at the Feast of the First…fruits on the day of the new moon；
whither once more I invite you； we can talk together here after I have
heard the voice of the Oracle。〃
Then he mounted a camel which awaited him outside the gate and
departed with an escort of twelve men； also riding camels。
〃There is some other road up that mountain； Quatermain；〃 said Ragnall。
〃A camel could sooner pass through the eye of a needle than through
that dreadful cave； even if it were empty。〃
〃Probably；〃 I answered； 〃but as we don't know where it is and I dare
say it lies miles from here； we need not trouble our heads on the
matter。 The cave is /our/ only road； which means that there is /no/
road。〃
That evening at supper we discovered that Hans was missing； also that
he had got possession of my keys and broken into a box containing
liquor； for there it stood open in the cooking…hut with the keys in
the lock。
〃He has gone on the drink；〃 I said to Ragnall； 〃and upon my soul I
don't wonder at it； for sixpence I would follow his example。〃
Then we went to bed。 Next morning we breakfasted rather late； since
when one has nothing to do there is no object in getting up early。 As
I was preparing to go to the cook…house to boil some eggs； to our
astonishment Hans appeared with a kettle of coffee。
〃Hans；〃 I said； 〃you are a thief。〃
〃Yes； Baas；〃 answered Hans。
〃You have been at the gin box and taking that poison。〃
〃Yes； Baas； I have been taking poison。 Also I took a walk and all is
right now。 The Baas must not be angry； for it is very dull doing
nothing here。 Will the Baases eat porridge as well as eggs？〃
As it was no use scolding him I said that we would。 Moreover； there
was something about his manner which made me suspicious； for really he
did not look like a person who has just been very drunk。
After we had finished breakfast he came and squatted down before me。
Having lit his pipe he asked suddenly：
〃Would the Baases like to walk through that cave to…night？ If so；
there will be no trouble。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 I asked； suspecting that he was still drunk。
〃I mean； Baas； that the Dweller…in…the…cave is fast asleep。〃
〃How do you know that； Hans？〃
〃Because I am the nurse who put him to sleep； Baas； though he kicked
and cried a great deal。 He is asleep； he will wake no more。 Baas； I
have killed the Father of Serpents。〃
〃Hans；〃 I said； 〃now I am sure that you are still drunk； although you
do not show it outside。〃
〃Hans；〃 added Ragnall； to whom I had translated as much of this as he
did not understand； 〃it is too early in the day to tell good stories。
How could you possibly have killed that serpent without a gunfor you
took none with youor with it either for that matter？〃
〃Will the Baases come and take a walk through the cave？〃 asked Hans
with a snigger。
〃Not till I am quite sure that you are sober；〃 I replied； then；
remembering certain other events in this worthy's career； added；
〃Hans； if you do not tell us the story at once I will beat you。〃
〃There isn't much story； Baas；〃 replied Hans between long sucks at his
pipe； which had nearly gone out； 〃because the thing was so easy。 The
Baas is very clever and so i