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have defensive possibilities。 Reaching its foot at length we were
obliged to make a detour by certain winding paths to avoid ground that
was too rough for the camels； so that in the end we did not come to
our own house in the Town of the Child till about midday。
Glad enough were we to reach it； since all three of us were tired out
with our terrible night journey and the anxious emotions that we had
undergone。 Indeed； after we had eaten we lay down and I rejoiced to
see that； notwithstanding the state of mental excitement into which
the discovery of his wife had plunged him； Ragnall was the first of us
to fall asleep。
About five o'clock we were awakened by a messenger from Har？t； who
requested our attendance on important business at a kind of meeting…
house which stood at a little distance on an open place where the
White Kendah bartered produce。 Here we found Har？t and about twenty of
the headmen seated in the shade of a thatched roof； while behind them；
at a respectful distance； stood quite a hundred of the White Kendah。
Most of these； however； were women and children； for as I have said
the greater part of the male population was absent from the town
because of the commencement of the harvest。
We were conducted to chairs； or rather stools of honour； and when we
two had seated ourselves； Hans taking his stand behind us； Har？t rose
and informed us that an embassy had arrived from the Black Kendah
which was about to be admitted。
Presently they came； five of them； great； truculent…looking fellows of
a surprising blackness； unarmed； for they had not been allowed to
bring their weapons in to the town； but adorned with the usual silver
chains across their breasts to show their rank； and other savage
finery。 In the man who was their leader I recognized one of those
messengers who had accosted us when first we entered their territory
on our way from the south； before that fight in which I was taken
prisoner。 Stepping forward and addressing himself to Har？t； he said：
〃A while ago； O Prophet of the Child； I； the messenger of the god
Jana； speaking through the mouth of Simba the King； gave to you and
your brother Mar？t a certain warning to which you did not listen。 Now
Jana has Mar？t； and again I come to warn you； Har？t。〃
〃If I remember right；〃 interrupted Har？t blandly； 〃I think that on
that occasion two of you delivered the message and that the Child
marked one of you upon the brow。 If Jana has my brother； say； where is
yours？〃
〃We warned you；〃 went on the messenger； 〃and you cursed us in the name
of the Child。〃
〃Yes；〃 interrupted Har？t again； 〃we cursed you with three curses。 The
first was the curse of Heaven by storm or drought； which has fallen
upon you。 The second was the curse of famine； which is falling upon
you； and the third was the curse of war； which is yet to fall on you。〃
〃It is of war that we come to speak；〃 replied the messenger；
diplomatically avoiding the other two topics which perhaps he found it
awkward to discuss。
〃That is foolish of you；〃 replied the bland Har？t； 〃seeing that the
other day you matched yourselves against us with but small success。
Many of you were killed but only a very few of us； and the white lord
whom you took captive escaped out of your hands and from the tusks of
Jana who； I think； now lacks an eye。 If he is a god； how comes it that
he lacks an eye and could not kill an unarmed white man？〃
〃Let Jana answer for himself； as he will do ere long； O Har？t。
Meanwhile； these are the words of Jana spoken through the mouth of
Simba the King： The Child has destroyed my harvest and therefore I
demand this of the people of the Childthat they give me three…
fourths of their harvest； reaping the same and delivering it on the
south bank of the River Tava。 That they give me the two white lords to
be sacrificed to me。 That they give the white lady who is Guardian of
the Child to be a wife of Simba the King； and with her a hundred
virgins of your people。 That the image of the Child be brought to the
god Jana in the presence of his priests and Simba the King。 These are
the demands of Jana spoken through the mouth of Simba the King。〃
Watching； I saw a thrill of horror shake the forms of Har？t and of all
those with him as the full meaning of these； to them； most impious
requests sank into their minds。 But he only asked very quietly：
〃And if we refuse the demands； what then？〃
〃Then；〃 shouted the messenger insolently； 〃then Jana declares war upon
you； the last war of all； war till every one of your men be dead and
the Child you worship is burnt to grey ashes with fire。 War till your
women are taken as slaves and the corn which you refuse is stored in
our grain pits and your land is a waste and your name forgotten。
Already the hosts of Jana are gathered and the trumpet of Jana calls
them to the fight。 To…morrow or the next day they advance upon you；
and ere the moon is full not one of you will be left to look upon
her。〃
Har？t rose； and walking from under the shed； turned his back upon the
envoys and stared at the distant line of great mountains which stood
out far away against the sky。 Out of curiosity I followed him and
observed that these mountains were no longer visible。 Where they had
been was nothing but a line of black and heavy cloud。 After looking
for a while he returned and addressing the envoys； said quite
casually：
〃If you will be advised by me； friends； you will ride hard for the
river。 There is such rain upon the mountains as I have never seen
before； and you will be fortunate if you cross it before the flood
comes down； the greatest flood that has happened in our day。〃
This intelligence seemed to disturb the messengers； for they too
stepped out of the shed and stared at the mountains； muttering to each
other something that I could not understand。 Then they returned and
with a fine appearance of indifference demanded an immediate answer to
their challenge。
〃Can you not guess it？〃 answered Har？t。 Then changing his tone he drew
himself to his full height and thundered out at them： 〃Get you back to
your evil spirit of a god that hides in the shape of a beast of the
forest and to his slave who calls himself a king； and say to them：
'Thus speaks the Child to his rebellious servants； the Black Kendah
dogs： Swim my river when you can； which will not be yet； and come up
against me when you will； for whenever you come I shall be ready for
you。 You are already dead； O Jana。 You are already dead； O Simba the
slave。 You are scattered and lost； O dogs of the Black Kendah； and the
home of such of you as remain shall be far away in a barren land；
where you must dig deep for water and live upon the wild game because
there little corn will grow。' Now begone； and swiftly； lest you stop
here for ever。〃
So they turned and went； leaving me full of admiration for the
histrionic powers of Har？t。
I must add； however； that being wit