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and that no harm must be done to us if the White Kendah would continue
to live。 So it seems； Baas； that we have something to sell which the
White Kendah must buy； namely our help against the Black Kendah； for
if we will not fight for them； they believe that they cannot conquer
their enemies and kill the devil Jana。 Well now； supposing that the
Baas says that our price is the white woman dressed like a bird； to be
delivered over to us when we have defeated the Black Kendah and killed
Janaafter which they will have no more use for her。 And supposing
that the Baas says that if they refuse to pay that price we will burn
all our powder and cartridges so that the rifles are no use？ Is there
not a path to walk on here？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 I answered。 〃Something of the sort was working in my mind
but I had no time to think it out。〃
Turning； I explained the idea to Ragnall； adding：
〃I pray you not to be rash。 If you are； not only may we be killed；
which does not so much matter； but it is very probable that even if
they spare us they will put an end to your wife rather than suffer one
whom they look upon as holy and who is necessary to their faith in its
last struggle to be separated from her charge of the Child。〃
This was a fortunate argument of mine and one which went home。
〃To lose her now would be more than I could bear；〃 he muttered。
〃Then will you promise to let me try to manage this affair and not to
interfere with me and show violence？〃
He hesitated a moment and answered：
〃Yes； I promise； for you two are cleverer than I am andI cannot
trust my judgment。〃
〃Good；〃 I said； assuming an air of confidence which I did not feel。
〃Now we will go down to call upon Har？t and his friends。 I want to
have a closer look at that temple。〃
So behind our screen of bushes we wriggled back a little distance till
we knew that the slope of the ground would hide us when we stood up。
Then as quickly as we could we made our way eastwards for something
over a quarter of a mile and after this turned to the north。 As I
expected； beyond the ring of the crater we found ourselves on the
rising； tree…clad bosom of the mountain and； threading our path
through the cedars； came presently to that track or roadway which led
to the eastern gate of the amphitheatre。 This road we followed unseen
until presently the gateway appeared before us。 We walked through it
without attracting any attention； perhaps because all the people were
either talking together； or praying； or perhaps because like
themselves we were wrapped in white robes。 At the mouth of the tunnel
we stopped and I called out in a loud voice：
〃The white lords and their servant have come to visit Har？t； as he
invited them to do。 Bring us； we pray you； into the presence of
Har？t。〃
Everyone wheeled round and stared at us standing there in the shadow
of the gateway tunnel； for the sun behind us was still low。 My word；
how they did stare！ A voice cried：
〃Kill them！ Kill these strangers who desecrate our temple。〃
〃What！〃 I answered。 〃Would you kill those to whom your high…priest has
given safe…conduct； those moreover by whose help alone； as your Oracle
has just declared； you can hope to slay Jana and destroy his hosts？〃
〃How do they know that？〃 shouted another voice。 〃They are magicians！〃
〃Yes；〃 I remarked； 〃all magic does not dwell in the hearts of the
White Kendah。 If you doubt it； go to look at the Watcher in the Cave
whom your Oracle told you is dead。 You will find that it did not lie。〃
As I spoke a man rushed through the gates； his white rob streaming on
the wind； shouting as he emerged from the tunnel：
〃O Priests and Priestesses of the Child； the ancient serpent is dead。
I whose office it is to feed the serpent on the day of the new moon
have found him dead in his house。〃
〃You hear；〃 I interpolated calmly。 〃The Father of Snakes is dead。 If
you want to know how； I will tell you。 We looked on it and it died。〃
They might have answered that poor Savage also looked on it with the
result that /he/ died； but luckily it did not occur to them to do so。
On the contrary； they just stood still and stared at us like a flock
of startled sheep。
Presently the sheep parted and the shepherd in the shape of Har？t
appeared looking； I reflected； the very picture of Abraham softened by
a touch of the melancholia of Job； that is； as I have always imagined
those patriarchs。 He bowed to us with his usual Oriental courtesy； and
we bowed back to him。 Hans' bow； I may explain； was of the most
peculiar nature； more like a /skulpat/； as the Boers call a land…
tortoise； drawing its wrinkled head into its shell and putting it out
again than anything else。 Then Har？t remarked in his peculiar English；
which I suppose the White Kendah took for some tongue known only to
magicians：
〃So you get here； eh？ Why you get here； how the devil you get here；
eh？〃
〃We got here because you asked us to do so if we could；〃 I answered；
〃and we thought it rude not to accept your invitation。 For the rest；
we came through a cave where you kept a tame snake； an ugly…looking
reptile but very harmless to those who know how to deal with snakes
and are not afraid of them as poor Bena was。 If you can spare the skin
I should like to have it to make myself a robe。〃
Har？t looked at me with evident respect； muttering：
〃Oh； Macumazana； you what you English call cool； quite cool！ Is that
all？〃
〃No；〃 I answered。 〃Although you did not happen to notice us； we have
been present at your church service； and heard and seen everything。
For instance； we saw the wife of the lord here whom you stole away in
Egypt； her that； being a liar； Har？t； you swore you never stole。 Also
we heard her words after you had made her drunk with your tobacco
smoke。〃
Now for once in his life Har？t was； in sporting parlance； knocked out。
He looked at us； then turning quite pale； lifted his eyes to heaven
and rocked upon his feet as though he were about to fall。
〃How you do it？ How you do it； eh？〃 he queried in a weak voice。
〃Never you mind how we did it； my friend；〃 I answered loftily。 〃What
we want to know is when you are going to hand over that lady to her
husband。〃
〃Not possible；〃 he answered； recovering some of his tone。 〃First we
kill you； first we kill her； she Nurse of the Child。 While Child
there； she stop there till she die。〃
〃See here；〃 broke in Ragnall。 〃Either you give me my wife or someone
else will die。 You will die； Har？t。 I am a stronger man than you are
and unless you promise to give me my wife I will kill you now with
this stick and my hands。 Do not move or call out if you want to live。〃
〃Lord；〃 answered the old man with some dignity； 〃I know you can kill
me； and if you kill me； I think I say thank you who no wish to live in
so much trouble。 But what good that； since in one minute then you die
too； all of you； and lady she stop here till Black