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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Witch-Doctors by Charles Beadle
+
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no
+restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under
+the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or
+online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license
+
+
+
+Title: Witch-Doctors
+
+Author: Charles Beadle
+
+Release Date: July 18, 2007 [Ebook #22099]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: US-ASCII
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITCH-DOCTORS***
+
+
+
+
+
+                              Witch-Doctors
+
+                           _by_ Charles Beadle
+                    _Author of "A Whiteman's Burden"_
+
+Boston and New York
+Houghton Mifflin Company
+1922
+
+
+
+
+
+     _Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner, Frome and London_
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHARACTERS
+
+
+
+
+  LUCILLE CHARLTRAIN (Mrs. Gerald Birnier)                     A Photograph
+  USAKUMA (The Incarnation of the
+      Unmentionable One)                                            An Idol
+  GERALD BIRNIER                                                A Professor
+  ZU PFEIFFER (Hermann von Schnitzler und)                German Kommandant
+  ZALU ZAKO (son of Kawa Kendi)                               Heir Apparent
+  BAKUMA (daughter of Bakala)                        in love with Zalu Zako
+  MYALU (son of MBusa)                          a chief in love with Bakuma
+  BAKAHENZIE (son of Maliko)                             Chief Witch-Doctor
+  MARUFA (son of MTungo)                               another Witch-Doctor
+  KAWA KENDI (son of MFunya MPopo)                   King-God and Rainmaker
+  MFUNYA MPOPO (son of MKoffo)                    Predecessor of Kawa Kendi
+  KINGATA MATA (son of Kabolo)                   Keeper of the Sacred Fires
+  SAKAMATA                                     deposed Witch-Doctor and spy
+  YABOLO                                               another Witch-Doctor
+  MUNGONGO                                                Birnier's servant
+  SCHULTZ                                                   German sergeant
+  LUDWIG                                                    German sergeant
+  SCHNEIDER                                                 German sergeant
+
+
+
+
+
+                                 CONTENTS
+
+
+Chapter 1
+Chapter 2
+Chapter 3
+Chapter 4
+Chapter 5
+Chapter 6
+Chapter 7
+Chapter 8
+Chapter 9
+Chapter 10
+Chapter 11
+Chapter 12
+Chapter 13
+Chapter 14
+Chapter 15
+Chapter 16
+Chapter 17
+Chapter 18
+Chapter 19
+Chapter 20
+Chapter 21
+Chapter 22
+Chapter 23
+Chapter 24
+Chapter 25
+Chapter 26
+Chapter 27
+Chapter 28
+Chapter 29
+Chapter 30
+Chapter 31
+Extra Pages
+Errata
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                              WITCH-DOCTORS
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 1
+
+
+In a bayou in the south-eastern corner of the Victoria Nyanza was the
+station of Ingonya, a brown scab on the face of the green earth. The round
+mud huts of the askaris were like two columns of khaki troops marching
+rigidly on each side of the parade ground. To the north, upon a slight
+rise of ground, were the white men's quarters; the non-commissioned
+officers had four bungalows to the south of the orderly room and Court
+House; and beyond a green plot flanked by a store house and an ordnance
+building, was a bigger bungalow, florid in the amplitude and colour of the
+red pillared verandah, the residence of the Kommandant, Herr
+Ober-Lieutenant Hermann von Schnitzler und zu Pfeiffer.
+
+On the northern side, overlooking the swamp and the distant lake, was a
+flagpole, before which paced an ebon sentry in a uniform of white
+knickers, tunic and lancer cap, red faced. The glow of sunrise stained the
+green of the moon with crimson. A trumpet blared. From the rear of the
+Residence marched with stiff-legged precision a squad of askaris and the
+stocky figure of a non-commissioned officer in a white helmet.
+Simultaneously appeared on the verandah of the large bungalow the tall
+form of a white man in pink silk pyjamas. The sergeant barked. The squad
+presented arms. A coloured ball slid up the flagpole. The first rays of
+the sun splintered the bloodied waters beyond into silver spikes and
+caressed a fluttering black, white and red flag.
+
+Then the squad ported arms, relieved the sentry, and retired, their black
+legs gleaming blue points as they rose and fell. The pink figure
+disappeared. Sergeant Schultz strutted back to his bungalow, in the
+verandah of which squatted a native girl clad in gay trade cloths. He
+emerged lighting a cigar, and sjambok in hand, returned to the orderly
+room. Another trumpet blared. From beyond the askaris' camp came a line of
+natives, young and old, their scrawny necks linked together by a light
+iron chain which clanked musically. Filing on to the parade ground they
+were divided into gangs by Sergeant Schneider to labour under guard at the
+interminable work of the camp.
+
+The air above the swamp began to sizzle in the heat. The same slender
+figure clad in immaculate white reappeared upon the south verandah of the
+florid bungalow. Herr Ober-Lieutenant stood staring about the small square
+with a peevish glint in the fair eyes. A big negro in spotless white
+hurried around the house bearing a brass tray set with a cup, a liqueur
+glass and a decanter. Herr Lieutenant sprawled his legs on either arm of a
+Bombay chair. As he delicately mixed cognac with his coffee, his jewelled
+fingers sparkled in a shaft of sunlight which set afire the sapphires
+mounted in an ivory bracelet.
+
+At a yard from the table stood the servant as rigid as the flagpole. With
+a lazy insolence which marked his movements, the lieutenant sipped the
+cafe-cognac and smoked a cheroot, as if he were seated on the terrace of
+the Cafe de la Paix. The brutality of the round skull, emphasized by the
+cropped blonde hair, seemed at variance with the boyish rotundity of the
+face and the small, but dominant, nose. Two separate moustaches bristled
+so fiercely that they suggested sentries on guard over the feminine
+softness of the lips. When he had finished zu Pfeiffer arose languidly,
+lighted a fresh cigar, adjusted his helmet with care, took a gold-mounted
+sjambok from his servant, and strode across the square. The lines of his
+torso were so perfect that they suggested artificial aid.
+
+The orderly room was square and whitewashed; grass matting was upon the
+floor, and high screened doors opened on to the north verandah. Zu
+Pfeiffer sprawled in a swing chair before the office desk placed at an
+oblique angle to the wall, encumbered with books and papers. After tapping
+reflectively on a book cover with a polished nail zu Pfeiffer's hand
+sharply struck the bell. Instantly a corporal appeared at the farther door
+and stood as if petrified, black hand to black temple. Zu Pfeiffer snapped
+instructions in Kiswahili without removing his cigar. The man grunted,
+shot his hand away at right angles with as much energy as if he were
+trying to knock down an elephant, and vanished.
+
+"Sergeant!"
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+At the other door like another Jack-in-the-box appeared Sergeant Schultz
+in exactly the same attitude. At a nod the sergeant melted into the
+semblance of human movement: he drew aside a chair, selected a certain
+document from a pile of them, and handed it to the lieutenant. Zu Pfeiffer
+pushed a box of cigars across the table, lolled back with one foot on the
+table, and began to peruse lazily. The sergeant retired respectfully with
+the cigar to the outer office. A fly buzzed hopefully at the mosquito
+wire. The tap of a typewriter sounded like some other insect. On the hot
+air came the faint barks of a drill-sergeant on the parade ground. From
+behind the building rose fitfully the murmur of voices from a herd of
+natives squatted in the sun awaiting the opening of the Court House.
+Leaves rustled largely under the Lieutenant's fingers.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+At length he pitched the report on to the table, carefully placed the butt
+of his cigar in an ash-tray, lighted another, and disposed of the match
+with equal care.
+
+"Sergeant."
+
+"Ja, Excellence!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer indicated a chair by a thrust of the chin. The sergeant sat.
+Tapping the report with the highly polished and very long finger-nail of
+the left hand, the lieutenant demanded:
+
+"Who is the man who gave you this report?"
+
+"Ali Ben Hassan, an Arab trader, Excellence."
+
+"Trustworthy?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence. He has done much work for us."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"On the Tanganika district, sub-division B II, Excellence. He brought
+papers of first-class recommendation from the Kommandant."
+
+"Ben Hassan speaks of one Sakamata, nicht wahr?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+"Of what tribe is he?"
+
+"Wongolo."
+
+"A witch-doctor?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+"He is here? Let him come in."
+
+The sergeant rose, saluted and departed. Gutturals sounded lazily. The
+sergeant reappeared and behind him shuffled a native. Clad only in a dirty
+loin-cloth, his brown skin was wrinkled in scaly folds upon his chest and
+belly; his face was like an ancient tortoise; the small lack-lustre eyes
+were bloodshot and furtive; the limbs were almost fleshless. He squatted
+upon the ground and with lowered lids appeared to be absorbed in the
+contemplation of a white man's table leg. Zu Pfeiffer regarded the man as
+one would a stray dog and nodded to the sergeant, who sat down.
+
+"Does he speak Kiswahili?"
+
+"Nein, Excellence. Only his monkey speech."
+
+"Why do you suppose that he is trustworthy?"
+
+"Because, Excellence, his interests are with ours. There is no
+competition. The Schweinhuende Englaender have no interest there--yet. They
+are too busy with the Uganda railroad."
+
+"Ja, ja. Again what is the tribal system there, King-God or----" The
+lieutenant permitted a slight smile--"or Dis-established Church?"
+
+"King-God, Excellence," replied Sergeant Schultz gravely.
+
+"This fellow then is an apostate priest, nicht wahr?"
+
+The sergeant noticed the movement of one of the sentry moustaches. A
+twitch of the lips recognized his superior's pleasantry.
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer stuck the cigar into the corner of his mouth and regarded idly
+the dumb figure on the floor against the wall.
+
+"We must have the Wongolo country, c'est entendu. Now what's your opinion
+of the method, sergeant?"
+
+"With due deference, Excellence," responded Sergeant Schultz, "I propose
+that we advance and bring them to subjection in the usual manner."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer fingered a ring and stared out into the yellow glare.
+
+"Nein," he said at length, meditatively, removed the cigar from his lips
+and delicately knocked off the ash. "Circumstances alter cases. That
+method is too expensive. Son Altesse cannot afford the blood of the
+Fatherland in return for such ignoble carcasses. We--the price paid in the
+Herrero campaign was insupportable."
+
+"Pardon, Excellence, but Treitschke said----"
+
+"I know, sergeant. But Treitschke did not live in Central Africa."
+
+"True, Excellence."
+
+"Die Schweinhuende Englaender have had more experience than we have. Even a
+fool learns wisdom by experience--sometimes."
+
+"True, Excellence."
+
+Again fell a silence save for the buzz of the persistent fly.
+
+"Also psychological research is more valuable than artillery--sometimes--in
+spite of Napoleon and Treitschke." Zu Pfeiffer glanced at the sergeant
+who, beneath the mask of his features, appeared shocked. "Blasphemy, nicht
+wahr, sergeant?"
+
+"If your Excellence thinks----"
+
+"But remember if Napoleon invented the science of artillery, we invented
+psychology."
+
+"True, Excellence."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer smiled complacently and stroked his moustaches.
+
+"Now for this animal here. Who and what was he?"
+
+"One of the principal witch-doctors, Excellence, wealthy and powerful. He
+attempted to overthrow the Chief Witch-doctor, one Bakahenzie, and was
+discredited."
+
+"How discredited?"
+
+"He attempted some form of magic, Excellence, which failed. Details are
+not given."
+
+"Who gave the dossier?"
+
+"Ali ben Hassan, Excellence."
+
+"From whom did he get his information?"
+
+"Name given as one Yabolo, another witch-doctor and relative."
+
+"This Saka--Saka"--zu Pfeiffer glanced at the document--"Sakamata. Is he in
+communication with this Yabolo?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer smoked reflectively.
+
+"When did the last agent come in?"
+
+"But yesterday, Excellence."
+
+"And no report of any other white men in the country? No British
+missionaries or traders?"
+
+"Nein, Excellence."
+
+"Where is Saunders?"
+
+"On Lake Kivu."
+
+"No report?"
+
+"Not since the last three months ago, Excellence."
+
+"Umph!--Now, pay attention." Schultz leaned forward dutifully. Zu Pfeiffer
+unrolled a map on the wall beside him. "Here's Ingonya. The Wongolo
+country is twenty days' march from here, but across the lake it's twenty
+hours with the launch, and five days from there." The delicate finger-nail
+indicated a spot on the opposite side of the lake. "From here--what's the
+place? Ach--Timballa. To hell with the British boundary! We must not give
+them time to get the news. Always rush the seat of government. Surprise
+them and they're done."
+
+"But, Excellence, Treitschke says regarding retreat----"
+
+"There will be no retreat. At MFunya MPopo's is the idol, the fetish. We
+destroy it and they're done!" He brought down his fist with a crash on the
+table. "Faith unites a people; in unity is strength. Break the faith and
+you've broken the people."
+
+"But, Excellence!" exclaimed the Lutheran sergeant, aghast.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer's blue eyes hardened.
+
+"Understand, you fool, these are savages. _You_ have an abstract
+deity--which you cannot break in the concrete--obviously: they have a
+concrete god which we can and shall smash."
+
+"Excellence, you are right," said the sergeant humbly.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer flicked cigar ash from his sleeve and lolled back.
+
+"Those are your orders. Commandeer the necessary canoes and notify Ludwig
+to have the men in readiness for the full moon. Work out the details and
+give them to me to-morrow."
+
+"Ja, Excellence." Schultz stood to attention. "But, Excellence, this
+creature----"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer glanced casually at Sakamata.
+
+"Oh, that? Take it away!"
+
+Schultz saluted smartly and wheeled about.
+
+"Njoo!" he commanded sharply.
+
+Sakamata rose up quietly and disappeared through the door without glancing
+to the right or the left.
+
+"The Court awaits your Excellence," reminded the sergeant.
+
+As zu Pfeiffer nodded languidly, a booted foot clopped on the verandah.
+
+"Wa da?" queried Sergeant Schultz, startled at the intrusion of a
+stranger.
+
+"Oh, only I," responded a soft voice in English.
+
+Through the screen door a tall figure in a Tirai hat was silhouetted in
+sepia against the yellow glare. A brown hand pushed open the door.
+
+"Mon nom est Birnier, Gerald Birnier--er--Does any one speak English?"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer, in the act of rising, sank back into the chair, placing his
+left leg in a favourite position and selecting a cigar simultaneously.
+
+"Yes," said he, almost without accent. "What do you want?"
+
+"I wish to see the--the Herr Kommandant."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer struck a match without looking up.
+
+"I am he."
+
+One hand upon the open door, Birnier stroked his shaven chin perplexedly
+with the other. He glanced from the sergeant, standing rigidly by the
+table, to the lieutenant engaged in stoking his cigar to a nicety.
+
+"Well, it's usual to invite a white man to sit down, isn't it?" suggested
+Birnier, with a note of irritation.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer looked across the table.
+
+"Nein. This is the Orderly Room; not a general office."
+
+"Oh, I see. I beg your pardon!" There was a note of laughter in the voice.
+"Will you kindly instruct me where I am to apply?"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer continued to regard the stranger from head to foot, smoking
+slowly.
+
+"Please to come in," he said at length, gesturing with his cigar, "and sit
+down."
+
+"Thanks so much!"
+
+The trace of irony seemed to escape zu Pfeiffer. He gave a guttural order
+to the sergeant, who saluted and disappeared. The stranger placed his
+Tirai hat on the table, revealing rumpled brown hair flecked with grey, a
+high white forehead, and long features; the slight stoop of the shoulders
+and general carriage rather suggested a professional type than a hunter or
+trader. He regarded the slim figure staring insolently at him with a
+hardening look of disapproval.
+
+"What is it you wish?"
+
+"Well, principally I require an elephant licence and the usual permit to
+trade."
+
+"Where are you going?"
+
+"To the Kivu country."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer regarded his cigar tip interestedly.
+
+"You are going to the Wongolo country," he stated.
+
+Birnier's mouth tightened.
+
+"Quite possibly."
+
+"You have been to the Wongolo country already?"
+
+"Yes, I have been there, but what has that to do with it?"
+
+"We know all about you," stated zu Pfeiffer coldly, twiddling his cigar
+between slender fingers. He glanced at a gold repeater. "Pardon, but I
+must request you to return later. The Court is already awaiting me."
+Birnier frowned slightly. "If you will be so good as to return at, let us
+say, five o'clock, I will be pleased to listen to your application."
+
+Birnier rose, taking his hat.
+
+"Certainly," he said curtly. "Good morning!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer watched him depart; then he struck the bell sharply. Sergeant
+Schultz appeared, a line of nervous expectancy upon his sallow face.
+
+"Why have you not reported that man's arrival?" demanded zu Pfeiffer
+harshly.
+
+"Excellence," returned Schultz, saluting, "he has but arrived within the
+hour in a launch, loaned to him by the Englaender."
+
+"Ach! An English spy!"
+
+"I do not know, Excellence."
+
+"We ought to know. Why have you not a report of the man's movements? He
+admits that he has been in the Wongolo country."
+
+"Excellence, it is already done." Schultz hurriedly searched a card index
+cabinet and handed a document to the lieutenant. "There is Saunders'
+report, Excellence; more than six months old."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer glanced at the page indicated and began to read while the
+sergeant stood stiffly at attention.
+
+"You may go, sergeant," announced zu Pfeiffer without looking up. Schultz
+saluted and departed. Zu Pfeiffer finished the report leisurely, put down
+the paper, and stared meditatively.
+
+No, he decided, as he rose, all the English are spies.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 2
+
+
+Like a topaz set in a jade ring was the city of the Snake, the place of
+Kings, a village of some eight hundred huts huddled upon a slight rise
+above a sea of banana fronds, some two hundred miles to the west of
+Ingonya.
+
+On the summit was a large conical hut like an enormous candle snuffer, the
+dwelling place of Usakuma, the spirit of the Snake, whose name was
+forbidden to all save the Priest-God and Rain Maker, King MFunya MPopo,
+who was so holy that after succeeding to the sacred office he was doomed
+to live within the compound, even as were the Kings of Eutopia, Sheba and
+China, a celibate for the remainder of his life: for, as the incarnation
+of the Idol, Usakuma, and therefore the controller of the Heavens and the
+Earth, his body must be kept from all danger of witchcraft lest the rains
+cease and the blue skies fall.
+
+From the compound, looking towards the north-west where the snow-capped
+Gamballagalla rose violet against the horizon, another brown cone peeped
+above the green fronds, the late residence, and now the tomb of King
+MKoffo, predecessor of MFunya MPopo. For where a King-God dies there is he
+buried, he and his wives after him; the site becomes holy ground, a place
+of pilgrimage and sanctuary.
+
+In each of the small huts to the rear of the temple of MFunya MPopo, but
+outside the sacred enclosure, lived his wives who, although forbidden to
+their husband, were permitted a royal promiscuity. Just within the
+precincts was a small replica of the temple where dwelt a young chief,
+also bound to celibacy, whose duties were to keep the royal fire burning
+as long as the king should reign. No one was allowed to converse with the
+king, save on matters of state, except this man; through him was spoken
+the royal will--what there was left of it--to the council which sat in a
+long rectangular building opposite to the temple entrance and open to the
+village, a body of witch-doctors and chiefs.
+
+Solely the kingly office existed as a beneficent agent, a matter of
+self-preservation on the part of the tribe. The King-God's functions were
+divine; to make magic for the victory of his warriors and principally to
+make rain, on which, of course, the alimentary needs of his subjects
+depended--an incarnation of a god who was in reality the scapegoat of the
+god's omissions.
+
+The office was hereditary. Perhaps no one else would willingly accept such
+an onerous post. The making of magic was performed before the god with the
+assistance of the chief witch-doctor, an exceedingly lucrative post won
+upon merit, occupied by one Bakahenzie, a tall muscular man in the prime
+of life, whose bearing was that of the native autocrat, fierce and
+remorseless. The King's personal wishes could be safely granted as long as
+he did not endanger the existence of the people by a desire to break any
+of the meshes of the tabus designed to ensure the safety of his sacred
+body, and therefore that of the tribe, on the assumption that if the
+incarnation were injured the god would be injured, and so would his
+creations be affected: any infringement of these laws entailed the penalty
+of death, a code which revealed the native logic in the confusion of cause
+and effect, the concrete and the abstract.
+
+In the door of a hut on the outskirts of the village squatted a wizened
+man with a tuft of grey beard upon his chin. He was clad in a loin-cloth
+fairly clean, and about his neck was suspended by a twisted fibre an
+amulet wrapped in banana leaves containing the gall and toenail of an
+enemy slain by a virgin warrior, a specific against black magic whose
+powerful properties were proven by the undisputed influence and wealth of
+the owner.
+
+A tall lithe savage, bearing upon his arms and ankles the ivory bracelets
+of the royal house and the elephant hair chaplet of the warrior, advanced
+leisurely towards him from the banana plantation. Marufa continued to gaze
+in rumination at the opposite hut. But as they had not met since the
+rising of the sun, he did not fail to make the orthodox greeting at the
+exact moment that the chief's shadow passed in front of him, which Zalu
+Zako returned punctiliously, thereby averting an evil omen. As soon as the
+young man had passed beyond the next hut appeared in the grove a girl,
+modelled like a bronze wood nymph. She wore the tiny girdle of the
+unmarried and walked furtively, carrying in her hand a parcel wrapped in
+banana leaves. In the shadow of a compound fence she halted, one slender
+brown arm set back in apprehension as her eyes followed the lithe figure
+of Zalu Zako.
+
+Motionless sat Marufa staring in mystic contemplation. Bakuma glanced
+swiftly about her. Apparently satisfied that no one was observing her save
+a lean dog and two gollywog children, she continued on as if to pass the
+old man, her eyes still ranging like a fawn's. But when she was beside
+Marufa she subsided on her haunches beside him, clutching the bundle as
+she whispered:
+
+"Greetings, O wise one!"
+
+"Greeting, daughter," returned Marufa without lessening the fixity of his
+gaze.
+
+"I would talk with thee."
+
+"Aye."
+
+Again she glanced around furtively.
+
+"I would talk in thine ear, O my father."
+
+"The knots of my hair are tied."
+
+"I thank thee. There's a fluttering bird in my breast."
+
+"And a snake around thy heart, O my daughter."
+
+"Aie-e!"
+
+"The grandson of the snake hath tied thy girdle."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+The girl clasped her breast in surprised terror.
+
+"How dost thou know?"
+
+"All things are known to the son of MTungo," declared Marufa solemnly,
+still regarding the opposite wall. "Thou desirest a love charm.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} What hast
+thou?"
+
+Tremulously Bakuma put down the green package on the ground, darting
+terrified glances to right and left. Slowly the skinny hand of the wizard
+gently tore open the leaves; very impressively the eyes slanted down to
+appraise the stock of blue and white beads.
+
+"The spirit of Tarum hath a big belly," he announced tonelessly.
+
+"O wise one, intercede for me," pleaded Bakuma, "for more have I none, I,
+Bakuma, daughter of Bakala, a girl of the hut thatch."
+
+"The true love charm, infallible and powerful, is difficult to obtain, O
+Bakuma. The young huntress aims at big game."
+
+"Ehh! But I have no more, great one!"
+
+"The hair of a rutting leopardess, the liver of a forest rat, the tongue
+of a Baroto bird--these must I have to mix with thy blood to be drunk by
+thy man when the moon is full."
+
+"Ehh! Ehh!"
+
+"Such is the magic that no young man can resist."
+
+"Ehh-h!"
+
+"But these things are difficult to obtain."
+
+"Aie! Aie!" wailed Bakuma, clasping her hands in despair.
+
+"Difficult to obtain."
+
+"Aie-e!"
+
+"On the night of the half-moon will I take upon me the leopard form."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+"I will talk with the spirits."
+
+"Ehh! Ehh!"
+
+"But they must be propitiated with the blood of a fat goat."
+
+"Aie! Aie! But I have no fat goat."
+
+"If there be no fat goat then will the spirits be wroth with me."
+
+"Aie-e-e!"
+
+Bakuma sat staring in dismal perplexity.
+
+"No fat goat have I, a girl of the hut thatch! Aie! Aie!"
+
+Marufa fumbled within the loin-cloth and thrust a tiny package along the
+ground.
+
+"See and know the power of my magic." Bakuma greedily snatched up the
+amulet. "Begone!" he whispered, jerking the parcel of beads behind him.
+"MYalu approaches."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+Bakuma rose and fled with the grace of a startled antelope as appeared a
+tall, strongly built man, having a low-browed face, across which was a
+deep scar. Behind MYalu came two young slaves bearing a small elephant
+tusk. Opposite to Marufa the slaves stopped. Their master, careful that
+his shadow fell well away from the figure of the magician--for the shadow
+is one of the souls, so woe unto him who shall leave his soul in the hands
+of an enemy!--squatted gravely.
+
+"Greeting, son of MTungo!"
+
+"Greeting, son of MBusa!" returned Marufa.
+
+Gravely they spat into each other's palm, the sign of amity as they who
+exchange bonds of good behaviour inasmuch, as is well known, magic can be
+worked upon that which has been a part of the body as upon the body
+itself. Then solemnly they rubbed the spittle upon their respective
+chests.
+
+"The spirit of the snake nourisheth not the life of the banana."
+
+"Nay, for nigh unto two moons hath there been no blood of the snake,"
+returned the old man perfunctorily, as he lifted his eyes from a swift
+appraisement of the tusk to his favourite mud wall.
+
+"Nay, the crops sprout not. Maybe the Dweller in the Place of the Snake
+hath been visited by one from the forest."
+
+"Aye, but old blood runs not as swiftly as young blood."
+
+"Nay," replied MYalu, in answer to the reference to himself, "but the
+girdle is not yet tied by another."
+
+"When the first twig of the nest is laid," remarked Marufa, indolently
+eyeing the tusk, "it is difficult to entice the hen to another tree."
+
+"Here is a goodly twig with which to tempt spirits of the forest," and
+significantly, "Maybe there are others."
+
+"A mighty potion shall be prepared for thee, O son of MBusa," declared
+Marufa, moving slightly to conceal the package of beads. "A mighty potion,
+infallible; made from the hair of a rutting leopardess, the liver of the
+forest rat and the tongue of the Baroto bird; these must she take that she
+shall speak thee softly, together with a portion of that which remains
+from the ceremony of the lobolo. Infallible is it; never known to fail."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+Marufa stared interestedly at a wandering hen. MYalu watched him covertly.
+Like bronzes sat the two young slaves. From the distance came a faint
+chanting and the beat of a drum.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+"The tusk is here, Marufa," remarked MYalu casually.
+
+"My eyes see it," observed Marufa, without altering his observation of the
+hen.
+
+"Where then is the potion?"
+
+Marufa glanced at the tusk, appraised it again, and fumbling within his
+loin-cloth, thrust another tiny package along the ground. MYalu greedily
+picked up the amulet and stared in awe, turning it over and about.
+
+"The tusk," murmured Marufa.
+
+MYalu gestured to his slaves. They rose and placed the tusk beside the old
+man, shuffled backwards and squatted again. After lifting one end to test
+the weight, Marufa examined the grain. Then sliding it behind him as if he
+wished to sit upon it, remarked:
+
+"The potion must be eaten at the full moon."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+MYalu glanced up from an absorbed examination of the amulet.
+
+"And within the quarter shall the fruit be ripe for the plucking." The
+whites of MYalu's eyes gleamed. "Unless," continued the old man
+uninterestedly, "there be stronger magic made against thee."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+The two hands holding the amulet came down.
+
+"If," explained Marufa, "another hath tied the grasses of her father's
+roof, will there be required a stronger spirit to overcome such magic."
+
+"But thou hast told me," expostulated MYalu, regarding the tusk
+regretfully, "that this is a mighty magic, powerful and infallible, never
+known to fail."
+
+"Thus is it," asserted the old man imperturbably, "for all save a stronger
+magic."
+
+MYalu's eyes wandered from the tusk to Marufa and back. He scowled.
+
+"Why didst thou not tell me?" he demanded sourly, dropping the amulet on
+the ground.
+
+"It is for thee to tell the wizard all that thou knowest. How else may he
+reckon with thine enemies?"
+
+"Enemy!" exclaimed MYalu. He stared questioningly at Marufa. "Enemy! Dost
+thou know whom I seek?"
+
+"Do not all the hens remark the strutting of the cock?" inquired Marufa
+unconcernedly, tapping his snuff box.
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+MYalu observed the taking of snuff as if he had never seen the operation
+before.
+
+"Ehh!" he remarked again succinctly.
+
+Marufa replaced the cork of twisted leaves, let fall the snuff box made of
+rhinoceros horn suspended from his neck by a copper wire, and contemplated
+a skinny goat scratching itself violently. MYalu stirred as if to rise,
+but subsided, cogitated and said slowly:
+
+"In the house of MYalu are four more tusks."
+
+"Four more tusks," repeated Marufa dreamily.
+
+"Bigger than this one," said MYalu suggestively.
+
+"Bigger than this one."
+
+"Knowest thou by whom the girdle is tied?"
+
+"By the grandson of the Snake."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+MYalu squatted motionless. The old man appeared to doze. Women bearing
+gourds of water upon their heads passed in single file, their loins
+swaying rhythmically. The shadows dwindled. From close at hand began the
+rapid beat of a drum. A stir began through the village as each man herded
+his women and slaves to his own hut.
+
+"O Marufa," said MYalu, speaking with a slight snarl, "hast thou such a
+powerful medicine that can surely trap the soul of Zalu Zako when
+perchance it wanders (in sleep)?"
+
+"All things are possible to the son of MTungo," mumbled the old man.
+
+Two chiefs appeared walking through the grove at a middle distance. MYalu
+glanced round apprehensively.
+
+"Two tusks will I give thee," he whispered, "if thou wilt do this thing."
+
+"Three tusks. No less, for the matter is dangerous."
+
+"Two, two."
+
+"Nay."
+
+The old man stirred to rise.
+
+"Three be it," gasped MYalu. "But I must see the magic done."
+
+They rose together.
+
+"Bring me of his toe-nails one paring, of his hair one, and his spittle
+and a footprint. Then shalt thou come with me to the sacred grove where
+the magic shall be done."
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+"But the three tusks must be given to Yanoka, my first wife."
+
+MYalu hesitated.
+
+"Aye, thus shall it be done," he assented reluctantly.
+
+"It is agreed?" inquired Marufa.
+
+"May my cord be lost!" swore MYalu, and gesturing to the slaves, hurried
+away.
+
+A slight grin flecked the old man's eyes as he turned into the hut.
+
+"Already hath he drunken of her blood," he mumbled. "Ya, Inkombana! take
+the tusk!"
+
+When Marufa emerged, a head-dress of the tail feathers of the green
+parrot, professional uniform and potent specific against evil spirits,
+fluffed gently as he slowly stalked towards the council house. From the
+other side of a hut walked MYalu as if he had come from a different
+direction. In the open gate of the royal enclosure sat a muscular young
+man upon his haunches, tending the royal fire, which fed hungrily upon
+small faggots. Beyond him across the yellow glare upon the cleared ground
+beneath a thatched awning, stood an idol of wood, whose lopsided mouth
+snarled beneath a bridgeless nose; narrow slits for eyes squinted; baby
+arms stuck down beside triangular breasts above a melon belly having a
+protuberant navel like a small cucumber--the incarnation of the Snake-god,
+Usakuma.
+
+Without the palisade of the sacred ground was a taller one, barring the
+doings of the council of witch-doctors and chiefs from the lay public, who
+were confined to their own huts under the penalty of a hideous death, or
+an enormous fine, as the witch-doctors should decide.
+
+To the rear of the idol, cross-legged against the wall of the entrance to
+the conical hut, were the musicians beating a monotonous rhythm upon big
+and small drums and twanging a primitive lyre of five strings. Just as
+Marufa and MYalu took their respective places without among the wizards
+and the chiefs, a young goat skipped into the open and stared
+inquisitively at the Keeper of the Fires. As the man waved the animal back
+from the sacred ground, the goat lowered its head and threatened to
+charge, suddenly recollected its mate lying in the shade a few feet away,
+and began to bleat absent-mindedly.
+
+Gravely and silently sat the assembly: continuously throbbed the drums.
+The sun beat diagonally. As a lizard darted like a flash of a prism from
+the grass palisade, the band ceased. A man emerged from behind the idol.
+Although the grey woolly tufts upon his chin, the sacred snake skin around
+his waist above the cat skin loin-cloth, the jingle of the ivory bangles
+on arms and ankles, and his stature, imparted an air of barbaric royalty,
+King MFunya MPopo advanced with the manner of a pariah dog ordered to his
+master's side.
+
+As the King approached, the Keeper of the Fires hastily threw on a handful
+of faggots and bowed his head. In the centre of the opening of the
+enclosure the King squatted down with his back to the fire which streamed
+blue smoke. Not a limb or a muscle moved among the group of wizards and
+chiefs in the council house. Attracted by the movement, the goat stopped
+bleating and stared at the King; then, putting down its head, charged him.
+
+With a horrified click, the Keeper of the Fires sprang. But he was not
+swift enough to prevent the impact of the animal's horns with the royal
+arm thrust out in self-defence. Three young chiefs came running; one
+caught up the goat and carried it away bleating bellicosely; the others
+knelt, and while one carefully collected a gout of blood upon the King's
+forearm in a piece of banana leaf, his companion wiped the wound. When
+they were satisfied that the bleeding had ceased, the pieces were
+meticulously wrapped in another leaf and borne away by the Keeper of the
+Fires to be deposited in the temple: for as every man knows, the royal
+blood must not be spilt upon the ground lest the site be accursed for ever
+and like the tooth of the dragon of Colchis, arise from the spot ghostly
+warriors to annihilate the tribe.
+
+Neither upon the face of any of the elders nor upon the features of MFunya
+MPopo, the King, had a muscle moved. Yet the incident was regarded as an
+evil omen.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Then suddenly did Bakahenzie, the chief witch-doctor, plumed
+with a tall scarlet feather in addition to the green ones and a necklace
+of finger bones upon his bronze chest, who sat in the centre with Kawa
+Kendi, the King's son upon his right, and Zalu Zako, the grandson, upon
+his left, begin to chant in a high wailing voice to the rapid rhythm of
+the drums:
+
+  "Is there not a shadow come over the land?
+  The frown of the One-not-to-be-mentioned?
+  I, Bakahenzie, have seen it! have seen it!"
+
+And from the group within the council house, immobile, came the bass
+chorus of assent:
+
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+  "Is there not a dry curse come over the land?
+  Is it not the hot breath of the soul of the Snake?
+  I, Bakahenzie, have seen it! have seen it!"
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+  "Where is the false spirit that hath sinned in the act?
+  He that hath sinned in the shade of the name?
+  I, Bakahenzie, have seen him! have seen him!"
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+  "Does not the keen sting of him scorch up the land?
+  Hath not the young bread of our bellies been slain?
+  I, Bakahenzie, have seen it! have seen it!"
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+The throb of the drums grew faster. Bakahenzie leaped from the crowd.
+Immediately in front of the King he began to dance and to scream:
+
+  "Is the Burden too great for the Guard of the Name?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Hath the Bearer, too, fumbled the weight of the World?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Is His spirit bewitched by the soul of a girl?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Hath His magical power been slain by the sin?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Hath a prophet made words in the act of a goat?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Does a saviour in hairs thirst the blood of a King?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Shall we hearken, O Chiefs, to the wish of the One?
+                 Aie! Aie!
+  Or be shrivelled and die in the drought of His wrath?
+                 Aie! Aie!"
+
+Kawa Kendi, a man in early middle age, powerful and lithe-limbed, sat as
+motionless as the King, his father, staring, as did all, with the fixed
+stare of the anagogic.
+
+Abruptly the drums ceased. Again came a hot silence as Bakahenzie paused
+in front of MFunya MPopo. Then with a piercing yell, the witch-doctor spun
+on his toes. The drums broke into an hysterical rhythm. Bakahenzie leaped
+high in the air; whirled around and around screaming hoarsely; leaped and
+spun continually.
+
+The chiefs and doctors began to grunt; continued in crescendo until the
+whole body throbbed and grunted to the rhythm of the drums. Yet immobile
+sat MFunya MPopo.
+
+Suddenly Bakahenzie changed the erratic course of his wild dance. He
+whirled and screamed in front of the King and fell headlong, as if in a
+fit, with eyes injected and foam upon the black tufts of beard. Bakahenzie
+clutched his belly and began to howl like a hyena at the moon. The drums
+stopped. Howl and writhe did Bakahenzie as if a thousand fiends were
+tearing out his entrails.
+
+He lay rigid. The air seemed to quiver. The lines of every man's limbs,
+except the King's, were drawn in tension. Then from the prostrate body of
+the witch-doctor, whose legs and arms were twisted as in agony, whose
+dribbling mouth was closed like a vise, came a ventriloquous falsetto:
+
+  "Aie-e! Aie-e! I am the spirit of Kintu!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! I am he who first was!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! I am the banana from whom I was made!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! The Keeper of the Name hath betrayed me!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! The Bride of me is defiled!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! Let him arise who is pure!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! Let him arise who is bidden!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! Let the fires be put out!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! Let a new fire arise from the ashes!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! I have spoken, I, the Father of men!
+  Aie-e! Aie-e! I, Tarum, the soul of your ancestors!"
+
+From the assembly came the belly grunt of acceptance. In silence rose Kawa
+Kendi, the heir-apparent. His face was as expressionless as his father's.
+He stepped around the body of Bakahenzie and across the open space
+followed by a young man, Kingata Mata. Ten feet away from the enclosure,
+Kingata Mata sank upon his haunches. Before MFunya MPopo squatted his son.
+They spat each in the other's hand and swallowed the spittle. Then the
+head of Kawa Kendi bent to the lips of MFunya MPopo to receive the sacred
+Name.
+
+In unison with Kawa Kendi rose Kingata Mata, who to him handed a cord of
+twisted bark. Bending behind the King, who remained motionless with the
+closed eyes of one already dead, Kingata Mata swiftly adjusted the cord
+and handed it back to the son, Kawa Kendi.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+When the muscular young Keeper of the Fires had poured solemnly a gourd of
+water upon the royal fire of MFunya MPopo, he knelt submissively and was
+strangled beside his master.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+From the assembly went up a great shout:
+
+"The fire is put out!"
+
+And from the village, listening in awe to the mighty doings, came like an
+echo:
+
+"The fire is put out! Aie! Aie-e!"
+
+Then shouted the elders and wizards:
+
+"Let there be a new fire!"
+
+Again came the wailing repetition from the village:
+
+"Let there be a new fire!"
+
+As in the Place of Fires was kindled a new fire by Kingata Mata with two
+sacred sticks, one of which is male and the other female, the assembled
+chiefs and magicians groaned in allegiance to the new King-God of the
+unmentionable spirit of the Snake, Usakuma, the Idol.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 3
+
+
+At five-thirty zu Pfeiffer was stretched in the long Bombay chair in the
+coolest portion of the screened verandah. On the table beside him was a
+tall glass, a decanter of cognac and a box of cigars; and suspended from
+the roof swung a canvas bag of water with a syphon attachment. A gape fly,
+which somehow had gotten through the screen, hit the lieutenant's
+forehead, fell on to the book and whirred up against the wire.
+
+"Ach, Gott verdammt!" exclaimed zu Pfeiffer irritably and shouted: "Ho,
+Bakunja--la." Instantly appeared the tall negro in white. "You son of a
+god! Look at that!"
+
+Bakunjala looked, leaped, and caught the fly in his hand.
+
+"Ow!" he exclaimed as the hornet stung him.
+
+"Ach, you woman of shame, catch it instantly!"
+
+Without hesitation Bakunjala made another grab, and clutching the fly
+tightly, made to open the screen door.
+
+"Halt!" commanded the lieutenant.
+
+Bakunjala obeyed.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer regarded the man standing with the wasp sting buried in his
+palm with a slight smile of amusement.
+
+"It hurts?" he inquired amiably.
+
+"Indio, Bwana!" asserted Bakunjala.
+
+"Good! Now stop there."
+
+Motionless remained the negro. Zu Pfeiffer leisurely selected a fresh
+cigar, lighted it, stoked it, and inhaling smoke stroked his left
+moustache.
+
+"It still hurts?"
+
+"Indio, Bwana!" said Bakunjala with a high note in his voice.
+
+"Splendid!" assured the lieutenant: and after a full minute added: "Now
+you may go. And remember if you are frightened of a fly's pain again I
+will give you twenty lashes."
+
+"Indio, Bwana," answered Bakunjala humbly and departed swiftly with the
+hornet in his clenched fist. Zu Pfeiffer smiled, again stared reflectively
+at the violet shadows creeping lazily across the square, sipped some
+brandy and picking up his book, began to read.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer frowned and looked round. Outside the screen stood Sergeant
+Schultz at the salute. Zu Pfeiffer nodded.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"Excellence," said the sergeant at attention, "the Englishman is here."
+
+"Ach, tell him to go----" The lieutenant drew out his gold chronometer. "It
+is my bath time. I cannot see him."
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+"Wait." Zu Pfeiffer withdrew his legs and rose. "Ach, tell the fool to
+come over here and wait till I have had my bath."
+
+"Excellence!" agreed the sergeant and saluting, marched away. Zu Pfeiffer
+entered the bungalow. Across the square came Birnier with the sergeant who
+ushered him into the screened portion of the verandah.
+
+"His Excellence gom bresently," said the sergeant and left him.
+
+Birnier put his Tirai hat on the table, and seeing no other, sat in the
+Bombay chair; looked about him; idly examined the brand on the box of
+cigars and smiled. "Makes himself mighty comfortable," he remarked to
+himself. "Pity he appears such a boor." He glanced at the book on the
+armchair. _Allgemeine Geschichte der Philosophie_ von Prof. Dr. Paul
+Deussen. "And a philosopher, eh!" Having little German he turned away and
+lighted his pipe. After a while he began to fidget, wondering how long he
+was to be kept waiting. "Damn the fellow!" he muttered and picked up one
+of the books on the table, _Les Ba-Rongas_, par A. Junod, opened it at
+random and began to read.
+
+The shadows of one bungalow reached the verandah on the opposite side of
+the square. And still he read on, the dead pipe in his hand. Just as the
+twilight was snuffed out like a candle, a sharp step heralded the arrival
+of the lieutenant. Birnier rose, the book in his hand.
+
+"Good evening, sir!"
+
+"Good evening," responded zu Pfeiffer, who was in an undress uniform of
+white. "What is it that you require?"
+
+"Well," said Birnier, "first of all I must apologise for using your chair
+and reading your book. Most interesting, by the way."
+
+"That is nothing," said zu Pfeiffer as Bakunjala came in with a lamp and a
+chair. "Please to be seated."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Birnier took the small chair and the lieutenant the Bombay.
+
+"I--er I--am sorry that I disturbed you this morning," began Birnier
+diffidently. "But I did not know----"
+
+"That is nothing. It was the fault of the sentry. He should not have
+allowed you to pass."
+
+"Regarding my application for the licence, Herr Lieutenant?"
+
+"I regret," said zu Pfeiffer coldly, using a cigar cutter, "that I am
+unable to grant you the licence you ask."
+
+"You cannot grant me a trading or shooting licence?"
+
+"I regret, no."
+
+Birnier stared.
+
+"May I inquire why I am refused?"
+
+"You may. We do not wish undesirables in the country."
+
+"Undesirables!" Birnier's lips tightened. "I am afraid that I do not
+understand you." The lieutenant was engaged in carefully stoking his
+cigar. "Will you kindly afford me a reason for--for such an insulting
+remark?"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer blew smoke luxuriously. Birnier stared for a moment, stuck his
+pipe in his mouth and bit the stem; removed it and snapped:
+
+"You can have no adequate reason for such action.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} If you intend to
+continue this ridiculous farce I shall be compelled to make a complaint
+through Washington."
+
+"Washington?" Zu Pfeiffer removed one leg from the chair-rest and the
+cigar from his mouth. "You are an American?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"So? We understood that you were an English agent. You have papers?"
+
+"Certainly. If you wish----"
+
+"We do not demand. No. My agent was wrong. He shall be punished." Then in
+an amiable voice: "I, too, have been a long time in America. Please to
+have a cigar, Mr. Birnier."
+
+Birnier hesitated, puzzled.
+
+"Thank you," he said diffidently, selected one, bit off the end and spat
+it into the corner. Zu Pfeiffer shuddered delicately; but as Birnier
+lighted his cigar he studied his face in the glow of the match; noted the
+breadth of the jaw, the width between the eyes and the slightly hard line
+at the corner of the mouth.
+
+"And forgive me!" Zu Pfeiffer shouted to Bakunjala. "I presume that you
+have been in Africa a long time," he continued.
+
+"Some ten years."
+
+"You do find the Wongolo country interesting?"
+
+"Oh, yes."
+
+"You were there long?"
+
+"No, I had been two years in the Congo and passed through on my way to
+Uganda to refit."
+
+"Ach. You permit me? You are mining?"
+
+"No." Birnier smiled thinly. "I have a professorial job in the American
+Museum of Natural History, Anthropological department."
+
+"Professor! Ach!" Zu Pfeiffer looked at him interestedly.
+
+"Yes. That is why I was so absorbed in _Les Ba-Rongas_ which I found here.
+You are interested in anthropology?"
+
+"Ach, yes, I love to study the animals. I have a library--a small one,
+here. You must see it."
+
+"Thank you."
+
+"You were studying the animals' ways and how d'you call it?--das
+Volkskuendliches--in Wongolo?"
+
+"Yes. I do nothing else."
+
+"So?" Bakunjala arrived with fresh glasses and vermouth. "Which do you
+prefer, French or Italian, Herr Professor?"
+
+"French, please."
+
+"You will dine with me, please?"
+
+"That is very kind of you, Lieutenant." Birnier gazed quizzically, rather
+amused at the complete change of manner. Quite charming when he likes, he
+reflected.
+
+"From what part do you come, Herr Professor?" inquired zu Pfeiffer as he
+set down his glass.
+
+"Oh, I'm a Southerner. Louisiana. My name is French, you know."
+
+"Ach so? Che les aimes, les Francais. Les femmes sont adorables!"
+
+"Oui, je les trouve comme ca!" agreed Birnier, smiling. "Ma femme est
+francaise."
+
+"So? {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I, too, Professor, I am in love with a Francaise. She is wonderful!
+superbe! Ach, ent zueckend!" The lieutenant gazed into the warm darkness.
+"Always I see her--in the darkness, the--chaleur--parmis les animaux." In the
+glow of the lamp, the blue eyes were soft, the feminine lips curved in a
+tender smile as he murmured:
+
+     "Die Jahre kommen und gehen,
+     Geschlechter steigen ins Grab,
+     Doch nimmer vergeht die Liebe,
+     Die ich im Herzen hab!
+     Nur einmal noch moecht ich dich sehen,
+     Und sinken vor dir aufs Knie
+     Und sterbend zu dir sprechen:
+     'Madam, ich liebe Sie!' "
+
+"Thank you," said Birnier quietly. "I, too, would say that."
+
+"Ach, sprechen Sie Deutsch?" demanded zu Pfeiffer quickly.
+
+"No, unfortunately I don't speak it, but I understand a little; and
+particularly Heine."
+
+"Ach, Gott!"
+
+The note was of satisfaction. A gong sounded. Zu Pfeiffer turned sharply:
+"Come, Herr Professor, let us go to dinner. You would wish to wash?"
+
+The bungalow, unusually lofty, was divided into three compartments. The
+ceiling, made of stout white calico, to shelter from snakes and the
+continual dust from the wood borers, was suspended from the rafters like
+the roof of a marquee tent. The centre room was furnished with cane lounge
+chairs like a smoking-room and decorated with skins, native musical
+instruments, spears and shields; drums served as small tables with
+elephant's toe-nails for ash trays.
+
+In the bedroom was a brass bedstead and mosquito net. Behind was a
+bathroom having a corrugated cistern upon the cross beams which gave force
+for a shower. The towels and appointments were specklessly clean. When
+Birnier appeared he found zu Pfeiffer sprawled in the lounge. On a red
+lacquer tray upon a great war drum, covered with the striped skin of a
+zebra, was a crystal liqueur set and a large silver box of Egyptian
+cigarettes.
+
+"Ach, Professor," said he, "it is good to speak to a white man again" (by
+which he meant an equal). "Please be seated, I beg you. A little liqueur
+is good for the aperitif and a cigarette; for there is no time for another
+cigar."
+
+As Birnier sat he remarked the blonde head of the lieutenant in his
+meticulous uniform touched with gold and caught a glimpse of the jewelled
+bracelet of ivory and the Chinese finger-nail.
+
+Another summons of the gong brought zu Pfeiffer to his feet. As he led his
+guest out through the side verandah along a screened porch to the mess
+room, built away from the main building to keep away the plague of flies,
+a native girl whose close-wrapped white robes revealed a lithe figure,
+flitted through a doorway. The table was set in immaculate linen, aglitter
+with glass and decorated with a profusion of wild orchids. Behind the
+chairs stood two negroes in spotless white, immobile. On each plate were
+hors d'oeuvres of anchovy and cheese upon a patterned piece of toast.
+Salted almonds, sweets, and olives were in green china; wine glasses of
+three kinds. Broiled fish followed the soup.
+
+"So, Professor," remarked the lieutenant, "you will go back some day to
+Wongolo?"
+
+"Yes, I--unless I discover some tribe who have a more interesting system
+of--er--theology."
+
+"They are a powerful tribe, nicht wahr?"
+
+"Oh yes, very. Their system ensures unity which provides for concerted
+action. Here I believe it is different."
+
+"Yes, yes; they are poor here. Each village was at war with the
+other--before we came. Their superstitions are not--how would you say it?"
+
+"Systematised?"
+
+"Yes. They have neither any supreme chief nor god. There you see," he
+added, smiling, "that autocracy is the only form of government.
+Democracy--pah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I apologise, Professor!"
+
+"Please don't," replied Birnier, "although of course I cannot agree with
+you."
+
+"But the Wongolo, they have a god and king?"
+
+"Yes, the King-Priest system. One of the most interesting I have ever
+encountered or read of."
+
+"You did see the King-God, MFunya MPopo?"
+
+"Oh no. He is forbidden to be seen by a foreigner--a similar law to that of
+the Medes; only by the witch-doctors--and by the people once a year at a
+harvest festival. That is why I intend to go back. It is impossible to
+procure reliable statistics of their customs, practices and real beliefs
+without--without winning their confidence. That is my mission."
+
+"I do not longer wonder, Herr Professor, that you were most justly
+annoyed. Ach, yes. But please do not worry about your ridiculous licence.
+It is not necessary in my jurisdiction, I assure you. You may come and go
+as you please, shoot what you wish. I will always be so glad to help so
+distinguished a professor."
+
+"I thank you very much."
+
+"It is nothing. And perhaps when you are there, you will be so kind as to
+write to me? To tell me things that are not known--so that I may, too,
+continue to study the animals--again what is it? das Volkskuendliches?"
+
+"Folk-lore, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes. Please to have some more wine, Herr Professor. Please, I insist. It
+is the real Mumm. That is a promise? I thank you. And if---- Were there any
+others--whites--when you were there?"
+
+"Only one."
+
+"Where was he, I wonder?"
+
+"On the southern boundary."
+
+"Near lake Kivu?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Saunders," muttered zu Pfeiffer.
+
+"I beg your pardon?"
+
+"It was nothing, but I do not like to have--aliens in my province. They
+are--missionaries and traders--spies."
+
+"Indeed."
+
+"Yes, it is always so. Herr Professor, I ask you a favour. Will you be so
+kind as to write to me if some other white comes into the Wongolo
+country?"
+
+"I shall be delighted," said Birnier.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} "Do you intend to come there some
+day, Herr Lieutenant?"
+
+"Ach, no, it is not--not our territory; although I should very much like to
+see it and to shoot. There is much elephant there?"
+
+"Oh yes, quantities."
+
+"Please to try some of this curried egg, Herr Professor. It is excellent,
+I assure you. I thank you.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} And rubber, is there much rubber there?"
+
+"Yes, I believe so."
+
+"Now I wonder if you noticed whether it was tree or vine?"
+
+"I really couldn't say." Birnier smiled thinly. "I am not interested in
+such things."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer glanced at him keenly and changed the subject. When they had
+finished the best boned chicken that Birnier had ever tasted in Africa, zu
+Pfeiffer rose.
+
+"Let us go to my study, Herr Professor, if you so permit, for some coffee
+and a little good port--and I will have the pleasure to show you my little
+library."
+
+"I should be delighted," assented Birnier willingly.
+
+Around the white walls of the cool room which was zu Pfeiffer's study, ran
+low bookshelves made of native wood, containing some hundreds of volumes
+which had been carried five hundred miles on the heads of porters. Grass
+mats and leopard skins were upon the floor. In the centre, upon a heavy
+table, was a green shaded lamp set in a silver-mounted elephant's foot.
+Upon the bookcases were various odd curios, and a coffee service in
+copper; and from opposite sides, marbles of Bismarck and Voltaire stared
+into each other's eyes. On the south wall was a large oil of Kaiser
+Wilhelm II; and in the centre of the other wall a photograph of a woman
+set in an ivory frame made from a section of a tusk.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer strove to be more agreeable than ever. They talked mythology
+and folklore. With the port, zu Pfeiffer rose, an erect martial figure
+above the glow of the lamp.
+
+"Herr Professor!" he remarked. "I beg you."
+
+Slightly bewildered, Birnier rose, too, glass in hand. Wheeling with
+military precision zu Pfeiffer raised his glass to the great portrait on
+the wall.
+
+"Ihre Hochheit!"
+
+Politely Birnier followed suit, his democratic ideas slightly astonished
+at the veneration of the kingly office; almost, he reflected, as curious
+as the native superstition of the King-God. Then zu Pfeiffer turned to the
+left and lifting his glass to the portrait in the ivory frame, drank
+silently.
+
+"I was wondering, Professor," remarked he, as he resumed his seat without
+explanation, "from what college--you call it?--you come?"
+
+"Harvard," said Birnier, rather amused and noticing that as a true
+connoisseur, zu Pfeiffer refrained from smoking while drinking his port.
+
+"I have met many of the Harvard men--at Washington."
+
+"Ah, you know Washington?"
+
+"Yes, I was there nearly two years."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer drained his port, selected a cigar, lighted it and gazed
+abstractedly towards the ivory frame. The lips softened and he smiled
+gently.
+
+"Do you know many people there?"
+
+"Oh, a few."
+
+"Ach {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} I wonder.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} You must know that I met her there, my divine Lucille!"
+
+"Lucille! How strange! That is my wife's name too."
+
+"Really?" Zu Pfeiffer still peered dreamily at the corner. He gathered up
+his legs and rose like an eager boy. "Permit me, Herr Professor, she is
+so--so----" He bent over the portrait and struck a match. Politely Birnier
+stooped to look. He saw a portrait of a French woman in an evening gown, a
+woman of charm with the vivacious eyes and tempting mouth of the coquette.
+
+"My God!"
+
+Birnier bent closer and stared intently. Across the corner of the
+photograph were written in ink in familiar characters the words: 'a toi,
+Lucille.'
+
+"Lucille!" he gasped. "Lu--Good God!" He stood up abruptly. "I--What in
+God's name--who is this woman?"
+
+The match fell to the floor. He was vaguely conscious of the tall white
+figure stiffening as a dog does.
+
+"That lady is my fiancee."
+
+"Fiancee! She--Good God, you're mad! She is my wife!"
+
+"Wife!{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Gott verdampf, der Teufel solls holen! Das ist der Schweinhuend!"
+
+The gutturals exploded from zu Pfeiffer. The sleeve of his white jacket
+quivered, the arm came up to the gold braided chest and jerked out a
+silver whistle. He hesitated, glaring at the astonished figure of Birnier.
+Suddenly zu Pfeiffer sat down by the table. His blue eyes were as hard as
+malachite.
+
+"Sit down!" he commanded harshly.
+
+Birnier did not appear to notice him. He struck a match and bent over the
+photograph again.
+
+"Good God!" he muttered. "I--I--don't understand--O God!"
+
+"Sit down!" shouted zu Pfeiffer. Birnier merely blinked at him.
+
+"Would you mind explaining?" demanded Birnier.
+
+"Explain!{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Is your wife Mademoiselle Lucille Charltrain?"
+
+"Why, of course. That is her professional name. But how on earth has this
+mistake happened? I--I--that is her writing--but it can't be. I mean it's
+impossible.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}" Birnier put his hand to his head. "I--God, it can't be! I or
+you must be mad! Which is----"
+
+A prolonged whistle startled him. He saw the whistle at zu Pfeiffer's
+lips, but the act conveyed no meaning. He turned away, struck another
+match and peered again at the photograph.
+
+"Lucille! Lucille!" he whispered. "What on earth----"
+
+A powerful clutch closed upon his arm. He was whirled backwards into a
+chair. For a moment he was too dazed to grasp what had happened. He saw zu
+Pfeiffer's face. The sentries over his moustaches quivered like a row of
+fixed bayonets. The eyes seemed needle points. Then the fact of the
+assault penetrated beyond the unprecedented incident of finding his wife's
+photograph in another man's room. The ugly line about the mouth hardened.
+He rose slowly.
+
+"Am I to understand that you have laid your hands upon your guest?" he
+began, stuttering over the choice of words. "I am--I am----"
+
+The scuffle of many feet interrupted him. Into the room rushed Sergeant
+Schultz and several soldiers. Zu Pfeiffer stood up and pointed.
+
+"Sergeant, arrest that man!" he barked.
+
+"Ja, Excellence!"
+
+The sergeant saluted and barked at the askaris. Birnier gazed stupidly at
+the uniforms around him as if unable to comprehend. He looked at zu
+Pfeiffer who stood erect, his face lost in shadow above the lamp, and back
+at the soldiers.
+
+"Is this a joke, Lieutenant--or are you mad?" he demanded angrily.
+
+"Sergeant, put that man in the guard-room," zu Pfeiffer commanded.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer sat down with his back to Birnier and facing the photograph.
+Birnier's face twitched; he raised his arm. The sergeant barked and the
+line of bayonets lowered menacingly.
+
+"You gom with me, Herr American," ordered the sergeant.
+
+Birnier controlled himself.
+
+"One moment, sergeant, please! Herr Lieutenant, on what charge do you
+arrest me?" The perfect lines of the white-clad back did not quiver. "Very
+good! I give you warning, Herr Lieutenant, that you have committed an
+assault upon an American citizen."
+
+"Gom! Gom!" insisted the sergeant impatiently.
+
+Birnier raised his head and walked as indicated by the sergeant. As the
+footsteps plodded across the square zu Pfeiffer turned to the table,
+examining his left hand.
+
+"Ach!" he growled gutturally, "the dirty pig has broken my nail!"
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 4
+
+
+Over the city of the Snake the sun sank red dry, leaving the Place of
+Kings hot in the electric air of magic and world happenings. The people
+were still confined to their huts, trembling in the knowledge that for
+three days love must be eschewed, no water drawn nor any food cooked with
+fire; nor might any man, woman or child leave the precincts of the
+compound.
+
+All the night Bakuma crouched in her hut listening in awe to the swish of
+the ghosts through the air, to the moans, groans and howls of the wizards
+doing battle with them. Tightly did she hold the amulet as she strove to
+conceal curiosity regarding the welfare of Zalu Zako; for did her mother
+suspect the presence of this evil spirit would she cause Bakuma to take a
+decoction of the castor-oil plant in order that the demon might be
+expelled; and the more to aid her conquer this unlawful impulse to peep
+without did she most persistently recite to herself the fate of the
+daughter of MTasa, the foolish Tangulbala whose body had been discovered
+impaled upon a tree by the angry spirits of the dead, because she had
+rashly ventured forth the third day after the death of the grandfather of
+Zalu Zako. Bakuma dared not mention the name of one who had died, for, as
+everybody knows, such an impious person runs the risk of summoning the
+ghosts to their presence.
+
+The "putting out of the fire" had changed Bakuma's prospects, had made
+Zalu Zako heir-apparent, implying half a hundred responsibilities, the
+chief of which was that now he was compelled to choose his official first
+wife, she who would be the mother of the "divine" Son of the Snake: an
+alteration that excited Bakuma to frantic clutching at the amulet. Would
+the charm work or would it not? How to insure that it would be
+efficacious? Marufa's greedy demands worried her. She feared even if she
+obtained the goat that he might require something else as well. Anybody
+knows how greedy doctors are and how wealthy. He would be sure to increase
+the fee, knowing the value of the prize. Bakuma only possessed one really
+valuable article, and that was a charm against sterility; but this was the
+last thing that she wished to part with as the only possible occurrence
+that could ever divorce her from the position of chief wife, once she had
+won Zalu Zako, would be failure to provide the male heir. She was
+impatient, too, at the delay caused by the three days' tabu. Time was
+important. Soon she would be under the ban of the unclean which entailed
+the curtailment of her liberty again, and she dreaded that possibly the
+charm might grow stale. The greatest need for speed was MYalu's suit. As
+her father was dead she belonged to his brother. Already MYalu had offered
+four tusks of ivory and three oxen for her. Her uncle was lazy, mean, and
+greedy. Fortunately he thought that by waiting he could get double that
+amount. Yet MYalu might decide to pay the price demanded. Once Zalu Zako
+had selected her as his bride, her uncle dared not accept any other man's
+offer, no matter how wealthy he might be; besides, the old man would not
+wish to refuse a relationship with the heir to the king-godhood.
+
+Again her cousin was sick. The diagnosis of Yabolo, the wizard, was that
+her soul had wandered in sleep down to the river and had been swallowed by
+a fish. Yabolo had caught the fish and lured the soul into a tree, but now
+he demanded such a big price to restore the errant soul to the girl that
+her father, Bakuma's uncle, would not pay it, so she would surely die;
+then they would all have to be exorcised, which inferred a further loss of
+relative freedom for another four days. Indeed with all these actual and
+possible delays it seemed to Bakuma that some one had made much magic
+against her. Unless she knew who he or she was, how could she employ the
+same means to annul the terrible effects? And more, how could she obtain
+the wherewithal to pay the fees of the best doctors? Life was very
+complicated to the daughter of Bakala.
+
+Up on the hill of MFunya MPopo had the magicians been busy all the
+afternoon after the "putting out of the fire." Zalu Zako and the chiefs
+also were barred from the sacred enclosure; for being mere laymen they
+could not hope to withstand the evil spirits of the dead. Even Bakahenzie
+and the inner circle of the cult were compelled to employ the most potent
+methods of protection to preserve them from being bewitched or slain
+outright.
+
+After Bakahenzie, Marufa, Yabolo and two other master magicians had
+released the souls of the dead King by making incisions in the body with a
+sacred spear to the thrumming of the drums, the mighty groaning of the
+other wizards, and the persistent wailing of the dead man's wives, the
+corpse was borne by twelve doomed slaves to the temple and there interred
+with the gouts of blood shed by the prophetic goat, the nail parings and
+hair clippings of his lifetime, and his personal effects.
+
+Upon the hill of MFunya MPopo, soon to be a temple and sanctuary, sat Kawa
+Kendi beside the New Fire tended by Kingata Mata, facing Zalu Zako, MYalu
+and the lay chiefs, while upon his own hill slaves were tearing down his
+old hut, erecting a temporary palisade around the quarters of his wives
+who were forever forbidden to him, and beginning the building of the new
+temple.
+
+As the violet shadows were creeping from one hut to another did Bakahenzie
+and his satellites return from the ghoulish offices of the dead. Zalu
+Zako, the chiefs and magicians arose to the wild beating of the drums and
+the wailing chant of the hereditary troubadour with the five stringed
+lyre. With Kingata Mata carrying a brand of the newly lighted sacred fire,
+was Kawa Kendi led in procession through the deserted village to his
+sacred home.
+
+Under the hard stars set in a dry sapphire, the fire cast yellow flickers
+upon the carven features of Kawa Kendi. In the still heat the distant
+wailing of the women from the opposite hill drifted into the continuous
+throb of the drums, the plaintive wail of the singer, and the hysterical
+groaning of the magicians, yelling ferociously ever and again to
+intimidate the baulked spirits around the magic circle.
+
+Then was a white goat, previously selected from the flock of Kawa Kendi,
+slain by Zalu Zako, disembowelled by Bakahenzie, and the entrails rubbed
+upon the brow, the chest and the right arm of the slayer of man, a
+ceremony of purification designed to protect the royal executioner by
+appeasing the justly angry spirits of the dead; to Marufa were given other
+parts of the slain beast to smear likewise upon Zalu Zako, the son; and
+Yabolo ran screaming with portions to the quarters of the women of Kawa
+Kendi: for must every blood relative be so enchanted lest the vengeful
+ghost seek substitute victims.
+
+As a pallid moon rose, as if fearfully, above the deep ultramarine of the
+banana fronds, was a magic potion brewed from certain herbs in enchanted
+water, with which the King, Zalu Zako, his son, and the King's wives were
+laved. Amid a tempest of screams and drums rose Kawa Kendi purified, to be
+driven by Bakahenzie and the wizards back to the hill of his father,
+leaving the assembled lay chiefs squatting humbly and in dread of the
+spirits abroad in the night. While the procession leaped and twirled,
+screamed and groaned to the frantic thrum of the drums through the blue
+darkness, the magicians ran and pranced through and around the village,
+seeking any blasphemer who dared to look upon sacred things; banging on
+hut doors and shaking thatches, the more to terrify the shrinking
+inhabitants.
+
+Without the gate of the old enclosure all remained, except Bakahenzie and
+the four wizards who encircled Kawa Kendi and Kingata Mata and hustled
+them across the clearing. With his back to the dim form of the idol stood
+Kawa Kendi as behind it grouped the master magicians. From the base
+Bakahenzie took two large gourds and gave them into the keeping of Kingata
+Mata.
+
+Came an abrupt cessation of the drums and cries. The wailing of the women
+behind the temple died. The tense air pulsed with electricity. A cock
+crowed feebly in the village. Then at a rippling splash of the drums and
+the sudden screaming of the wizards, they began to push the idol. The base
+had already been loosened in the earth by the slaves. The idol began to
+totter. Louder screeched the magicians; faster fled the drums. Slowly the
+idol leaned and subsided on to the shoulders of Kawa Kendi. Grasping the
+mass firmly upon his bent back, he bore the burden out of the enclosure
+and down the hill.
+
+Behind his unsteady steps pranced and yelled the doctors with more
+prodigious a noise than ever before as they scourged the King's legs and
+arms with cords of fibre. Through the listening village panted the King.
+As he gasped slowly up the hill the thrashing was redoubled. But into the
+new enclosure the King staggered, let slide the heavy mass into a hole
+prepared for the sacred feet and, gleaming blue points of sweat in the
+faint moon, let out a hoarse yell, proving to the assembly of magicians
+and chiefs that he was powerful enough to bear the burden of the world and
+moreover that none could wrest his office from him.
+
+No time was given for the incarnation of a god to recoup from his labours.
+The motive principle of the accusation and for the death of the king was
+the drought. That only concerned the soul of the tribe in the person of
+Bakahenzie. For him and his brothers of the inner cult, while certain
+pretensions of power over the supernatural were for the "good of the
+people," the truths of magic and divine functions were inviolable. The
+person of Kawa Kendi, heretofore merely one in whom was a potentiality,
+became after the purification and "coronation" the very incarnation of the
+god. Kawa Kendi had crossed from the comparative safe haven of the
+potential into divine activity.
+
+Also there were, as ever, political reasons for the hastening of the
+offices of the god. Should the new King-God fail, as his father had done,
+to accomplish the duties of the rainmaker, then, as no precedent had ever
+been known for the failure of two kings in succession, an enemy might
+accuse Bakahenzie of having committed some sacrilege which had displeased
+the Unmentionable One. Politics and religion are often inseparable.
+Therefore, as soon as Zalu Zako had witnessed the ascent of his father
+into the dangerous zone of the gods, was he bidden as the victim apparent,
+to produce the sacred rain-making paraphernalia. From the Keeper of the
+Fire, Kingata Mata, Zalu Zako received one of the large gourds, which he
+deposited at the feet of his father squatting before the sacred fire, and
+retired to his allotted place among the other lay chiefs. Only Bakahenzie
+and the four of the inner cult were permitted within the enclosure.
+
+Fumbling within the pot Kawa Kendi produced a bundle of twigs tied with
+banana fibre, which he unbound and cast into the fire. The herbs
+smouldered and sent up a pungent smoke forming a heavy cloud like some
+strange blue tree sheltering the form of the idol against the green sky.
+Save for the faint wailing of the distant women there was silence, in
+which an owl screeched harshly, a good omen. Little flames flickered. The
+smoke grew denser, obliterating the figure of the King. The drums began to
+mutter, Bakahenzie cried out in a loud voice:
+
+"O great God, the Unmentionable One! let thy powers be made manifest!"
+
+The Keeper of the Fires came forward upon his hands and thrust the other
+sacred gourd in front of the King, a deep one containing water, and a wand
+made from a sacred tree which had upon the end a crook. To the groaning of
+the magicians, the King took from the one gourd two stones of quartz and
+granite, the male and the female, and spat upon each one, thus placing
+part of his royal body upon them; then did he put them on the ground, and
+pouring water, chanted:
+
+  "Go forth, male spirit, with my ghost in thy hands!
+  Go forth, female soul, with my ghost in thy breast!
+  Make love together in the shade of great Tarum,
+  Of him whom fear of me hath frozen the breath!"
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+grunted the priests and magicians.
+
+  "Go forth, male spirit, with my ghost in thy hand!
+  Go forth, female soul, with my ghost in thy breast!
+  Love one another that the crops of our land
+  May marry as well and be as fruitful as thee!"
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+  "Go forth, male spirit, with my ghost in thy hand!
+  Go forth, female soul, with my ghost in thy breast!
+  Rise high up to heaven and mount on the black back
+  Of the bird of the wet wind: poke your hands in his eyes!"
+                 "Ough! Ough!"
+
+Save for the distant wailing, there was the silence of those waiting for a
+miracle. In the sky, at the back of the idol, was the paling of dawn.
+Suddenly, as if exasperated by the non-obedience of the elements, Kawa
+Kendi sprang to his feet, with the magic wand in his right hand, turned
+and stared apparently into the face of the idol. For a full two minutes he
+stood as if carven, while the doctors and the chiefs moaned dismally.
+Around him like a pall still hovered the smoke of the magic fire. From the
+village a cock's challenge was answered from point to point. Then shooting
+out his right hand, Kawa Kendi made gestures as if hooking something
+invisible and began to scream furiously:
+
+  "Thus do I, the One-not-to-be-mentioned,
+  Drag forth from the belly of heaven
+  The disobedient One, the lazy One!
+  The insolent One who sinneth in sleep!
+  The black-snouted One whose udders are choked!
+  The womanly One whose nipples are dry!
+  The sluttish One who refuseth her milk!
+  The gorbellied One whose voice is a wind!
+  Come forth, lest I give thee sorrow and pain!
+  And make thee to weep the bitterest tears!
+  Come forth, lest I tear out thy black bosom!
+  Tear out thy guts for a feast unto Tarum!
+  Come forth, lest I throw off the yoke of the burden
+  Of the Earth and the Sky upon thy sweating black belly!"
+
+In a slight puff of wind, the smoke, lace-edged with the dawn light,
+swayed, seeming to twine about the figure of the King as he stood with the
+wand outheld, as if firmly hooked in the guts of the recalcitrant
+elements.
+
+Against the rose of the dawn appeared a dark line which increased as the
+magicians and chiefs moaned and groaned in sympathy with the furious
+efforts of the rainmaker, who threatened and pulled with the magic crook,
+so that everybody could see that he was indeed dragging the reluctant
+clouds from over the end of the earth. As the dark mass swelled the more
+he wrestled and screamed abuse at the dilatory spirit of the rain.
+
+And behold, within half an hour, great black spirits sailed across the
+scarlet sunrise and wept exceeding bitterly; while from the village went
+up a great shout of praise to the triumphant King still prancing and
+cursing to such good effect up on the hill.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 5
+
+
+The same vast balloons of sepia rolled over the lake, vomited a host of
+liquid ramrods and, after short intervals of brilliant glare, were
+succeeded by others. The gutters of the station were turned into burbling
+brooks and the grass plot into a morass.
+
+Behind the screen on the south verandah sat zu Pfeiffer in his pink silk
+pyjamas, a scowl upon his brow. He sipped his cafe cognac distastefully
+and inhaled a cigarette so fiercely that the heat burned his tongue. He
+had not slept. Yet the broken nail on the left little finger had been cut
+and polished. Half the night he had sat before the photograph in the ivory
+frame, pondering upon, and rehearsing, the past; muttering aloud to
+Lucille, sometimes words of love and sometimes savage curses; wondering
+what she was doing and where she was; gritting his teeth at visions which
+aroused insane jealousy; calculating what the consequences of his action
+would be were he to obey the impulse that had leaped into his mind in the
+first flush of passion. If he were to release the prisoner the fellow
+would probably expect an explanation and an apology which was, of course,
+out of the question. No, he must carry out the thing thoroughly without
+leaving any chance for the man to make trouble at the coast, or through
+the Embassy at Washington; at all costs not through Washington. For him,
+Birnier merely existed as a person whose feelings mattered nothing.
+
+With the greening of the moon zu Pfeiffer had retired. As he had lain
+sleeplessly watching the pallor of the dawn he had savagely corroborated
+the decision. Now the roar of the deluge appeared to him in the form of an
+abettor to his plan. He watched the grey wall of rain with satisfaction,
+stroking the left sentry moustache as if to tame the fierce bristles of an
+outraged dignity. When he had emerged from the bath, the pink of his face
+appeared to have spread to the whites of his eyes, a fact which Bakunjala
+had noted with sullen dread.
+
+Between the storms the sun glared yellow upon the smoking earth. Across
+the square squelched zu Pfeiffer to the orderly room. He grunted at
+Sergeant Schultz's greeting and sprawled in the chair. When Schultz
+proffered him some official documents he waved them aside irritably.
+
+"Bring the prisoner to the Court, sergeant. I will try him immediately."
+
+"Excellence!" said the sergeant, saluting. "What charge am I to enter
+against him, Excellence?"
+
+"Arms and liquor running," responded zu Pfeiffer quickly. "I hold papers
+which prove the case completely; moreover you will see that Ali ben Hassan
+and others are prepared to testify. But--the charge will be margined as
+political: not criminal. Understand, sergeant?"
+
+"Perfectly, Excellence. Ali ben Hassan and the others have to testify
+before your Excellence now?"
+
+"There will be no need."
+
+"Very good, Excellence."
+
+"And, sergeant, what is the personnel of the launch and the prisoner's
+party?"
+
+"The launch returned immediately to Jinja, Excellence, as soon as the
+prisoner had landed."
+
+"Ach, good."
+
+"The prisoner has a considerable battery, equipment and provisions; a
+headman and personal servants. He intended to obtain porters here,
+Excellence."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer meditated, tapping the desk with a gold pencil.
+
+"What is the headman?"
+
+"Bambeeba, Excellence."
+
+"Good. And the servants?"
+
+"One is a Wongolo youth, the others are mixed Walegga and Kavirondo."
+
+"Arrest them all and see that none gets away."
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+Schultz saluted and departed. Zu Pfeiffer frowned at the glare which was
+suddenly extinguished by falling water. He lighted a cigar and waited.
+Presently the sergeant returned in a waterproof cape, dripping, and
+announced that the prisoner was ready. Zu Pfeiffer gathered up his long
+legs and marched stiffly into the Court House adjoining.
+
+Upon a slight dais was a large desk and a cane armchair beneath the
+Imperial Eagles and a portrait of the Kaiser Wilhelm II. Pale, stubble
+bearded, and tense eyed with anger, sat Birnier upon a form against the
+wall; beside him stood Sergeant Schneider, for it is not usual etiquette
+to put a white prisoner in charge of a black guard. The grizzled sergeant
+stood stuffy to attention, which zu Pfeiffer acknowledged. Although he did
+not meet Birnier's gaze, he scowled as if he had expected him to salute
+the majesty of the judge as well.
+
+But as zu Pfeiffer mounted the step to the chair of justice he looked up
+at the portrait of the Kaiser, stopped, and hesitated; then he wheeled
+abruptly, and barked:
+
+"Sergeant, bring the prisoner to the orderly room!"
+
+In the orderly room Birnier was placed between Sergeant Schultz at his
+table and Sergeant Schneider by the door. Birnier watched zu Pfeiffer
+intently, but zu Pfeiffer regarded him icily as if he were a piece of
+furniture. Without a word Birnier reached out and lifted a chair. Sergeant
+Schneider started forward, evidently fearing that the prisoner was about
+to attack his officer. Birnier said acidly: "I merely wish to sit down."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer scowled again, but he made no objection. He took up some
+papers at random and began to peruse them. Said Birnier sharply:
+
+"When you have finished with this farce I shall be obliged if you will
+kindly explain your insane actions!"
+
+The tap-tap of a typewriter sounded from another room. A fly buzzed. Zu
+Pfeiffer's eyelids did not blink. The sergeants stared woodenly to the
+front. Birnier looked from one to the other, bit his lips, and then
+exclaimed in exasperation: "What in hell do you mean by this damned
+nonsense?"
+
+The tap-tap continued; the fly buzzed irritatedly. Birnier clenched his
+fist. But he sat still. Another storm so darkened the room that zu
+Pfeiffer could scarcely have seen the print, but apparently he read on.
+The deluge roared, passed, and the glare came as suddenly. Zu Pfeiffer
+lifted his head and said in German:
+
+"Sergeant, record the opening of the Court."
+
+"Excellence!" assented Sergeant Schultz and poised his pen ready to write.
+
+"The prisoner, a Swiss subject----"
+
+"I am American, as I have told you," said Birnier in leashed anger.
+
+"A pseudo trader and hunter, named Carl Bornstadt," continued zu Pfeiffer
+imperturbably, "is charged under sub-section 79 of section 8 with
+supplying guns and liquor to the native subjects of his Imperial Majesty."
+
+"Good God!" began Birnier. But as he realised zu Pfeiffer's purpose and
+his own position, he closed his lips tightly.
+
+Methodically the sergeant finished the entries and waited. Zu Pfeiffer
+stroked his favourite moustache and considered. He glanced at Birnier, but
+without a vestige of expression and continued:
+
+"Make a special note, sergeant, that we have reason to suspect that the
+prisoner is in the political service of"--a slight smile flicked the
+lieutenant's face--"in the service of the Portuguese, and so under
+sub-section 109 of section 8, I am referring the case to Dar-es-salaam for
+investigation; witnesses, documentary and personal, to accompany the
+prisoner. Owing to unusual pressure of service we are unable to afford the
+prisoner, although apparently of European descent, a white guard;
+therefore, Sergeant Ludwig will detail a corporal and six men for the
+duty."
+
+He paused. The sergeant's pen scratched on. Zu Pfeiffer lighted a cigar
+and added impersonally:
+
+"The prisoner and escort will leave to-morrow morning. Sergeant Schneider,
+remove the prisoner!"
+
+Birnier's face was a little paler, the eyes were slightly more bloodshot;
+but he did not attempt to speak. Zu Pfeiffer rose. The sergeants stood to
+attention and saluted. As he left the room towards the Court House, he
+smiled with slight satisfaction as the gruff voice of Sergeant Schneider
+barked: "Prisoner, shun! Right turn! Quick marrch!"
+
+But zu Pfeiffer did not remain long in the Court House. After fidgeting
+about with papers on the table and reprimanding Sergeant Schultz because
+he had not arranged the next native case to his satisfaction, he rose
+abruptly and marched swiftly across the square in the brilliant glare
+without his helmet and into his study. There he straddled a chair and
+leaned on the back sucking a dead cigar absent-mindedly. As he stared at
+the portrait in the ivory frame, the blue eyes grew soft and the delicate
+lips quivered like a child about to weep. He sighed heavily and then
+rapping out an oath, rose violently, overturning the chair, poured out a
+half-glass of neat cognac, and drank it at a gulp. As he neared the Court
+House the sentry, turning at the end of his short beat, was so startled at
+the proximity of the Kommandant, or incompletely disciplined, that he
+became flurried. Zu Pfeiffer clicked his heels together and haughtily
+watched the fumbled efforts to salute. The bolt caught in the man's tunic.
+Gold flashed in the sun as the sjambok descended. Zu Pfeiffer walked on
+unconcernedly, leaving a grey weal on the terrified native's face. To
+Sergeant Schultz, rigid in the doorway, he snapped an order to have fifty
+lashes given to the "clumsy dog."
+
+Sentences were harsher than usual that morning. All the native world about
+him knew that a demon had taken possession of the Eater-of-men; he was
+usually inhabited by an evil spirit, but this time the demon of Bakra who,
+as everybody knows, tears the vitals with hot claws, making the victim to
+have fits, to foam at the mouth, to be quite mad, had entered the white
+man. Bakunjala, coming to the Court House with vermouth and biscuits at
+eleven o'clock, distinctly saw the devil glaring through zu Pfeiffer's
+eyes, and was so scared that he let fall the tray, which was the reason
+that he also was doomed to have twenty-five lashes that evening. Even the
+stolid Sergeant Schultz remarked that the Herr Lieutenant had gotten a
+touch of the sun; but the grizzled Schneider, who came from Luthuania,
+opined that the Herr Kommandant had left his table knife edge uppermost.
+
+When zu Pfeiffer went across to tiffin the hot sun had dried up the
+gutters and the plot of grass. He did not return to the Court House, much
+to the gratitude of many innocent and guilty. After drinking more wine
+than usual he lay down for the siesta and fell asleep. But at five he
+awoke with a mouth like a burnt cooking pot and the temper of the said
+devil. He yelled for Bakunjala, who came, so trembling with fright that he
+stuttered. Zu Pfeiffer threw a glass which missed him and broke a mirror.
+
+"Another seven years' ill luck!" shouted zu Pfeiffer, sitting on the bed
+in his shirt. He glared at Bakunjala standing in the door, too
+terror-stricken to flee, convinced that he would be blamed for breaking
+the glass. "You--you superstitious nigger!" yelled zu Pfeiffer, and added
+more calmly in Kiswahili: "Fetch me a brandy-soda! Upesi, you son of a
+baboon!"
+
+"Bwana!" exclaimed Bakunjala and fled gladly.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer sat and scowled at the scattered pieces of mirror until
+Bakunjala arrived with the drink. An hour later he emerged in his
+immaculate undress uniform and sat on the north verandah, drank vermouth
+and smoked cigars, staring out across the flat swamp where the pewter of
+the lake was flecked with silver and blood of the sinking sun. From beyond
+the fort came the yaps of the drill-sergeant busy in the cool of the
+afternoon. At the bark of the relieving guard, zu Pfeiffer rose and walked
+around the house to watch, with tetchy eyes, the saluting of the flag.
+
+As he stalked off to dinner in the messroom eyes glimmered in the darkness
+about him. Bakunjala, after receiving punishment, was indisposed, in fact
+incapable of attending to his duties in the spritely manner required.
+Another servant, who had taken his place, was nervous of the probable
+consequences, and had a keen eye for the appearance of the devil so
+realistically described by Bakunjala. But the demon apparently slept, for
+zu Pfeiffer took the dishes placed before him with an unaccustomed
+meekness, pushed them away absent-mindedly, and rising, retired to his
+study. Even when the deputy brought the wrong bottle he reprimanded him
+mildly without taking his eyes off the photograph in the ivory frame.
+
+Yet, with the port, he did not omit to rise, and heels together, raise his
+glass to the "Ihre Hochheit." Then sprawling in the chair he began to
+drink and to smoke steadily.
+
+As the notes of the last post stuttered out in the clammy stillness he
+summoned the "boy" and bade him fetch Sergeant Schultz. At the sound of
+the sergeant's steps on the verandah zu Pfeiffer stiffened up and patted
+his lips as if desiring to erase the lines that were graven thereon; and
+with one foot pushed the chair from the direct angle to the photograph.
+
+"Take a cigar," said zu Pfeiffer, when the man had entered. The words were
+rather an order than an invitation. Sergeant Schultz obeyed. Zu Pfeiffer
+smoked reflectively, still regarding the photograph out of the corner of
+his eyes as if unable to resist the fascination.
+
+"How long have you been in this benighted country, sergeant?"
+
+"Nine years, Excellence."
+
+"You wish to retire on the pension at the year's term?"
+
+"I have not seen my wife and children for three years, Excellence."
+
+"You shall have special leave as soon as the Wongolo affair is over."
+
+"I thank you, Excellence."
+
+"And I will recommend you for the special colonial service medal and
+pension."
+
+"I thank you, Excellence."
+
+"Take a drink, sergeant."
+
+"I thank you, Excellence."
+
+The sergeant obeyed with some semblance of initiative and he remarked that
+the lieutenant drank half a tumbler of neat brandy at a gulp. As if to
+drag himself away from the contemplation of the photograph zu Pfeiffer
+stood up and sat on the arm of the chair with his face in shadow above the
+lamp-shade. Gazing keenly at the sergeant, he said sharply:
+
+"You are quite aware of the regulations regarding official secrets,
+sergeant?"
+
+"Ach, yes, Excellence!"
+
+As the sergeant paused to answer with the glass in his hand there was just
+a suspicion of astonishment in the tone.
+
+"Good. Don't forget it!" A note of menace was in zu Pfeiffer's voice. He
+added more mildly, "Political reasons may cause stringent measures
+sometimes."
+
+"Yes, Excellence."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer smoked, coldly regarding the sergeant.
+
+"Who is Sergeant Schneider detailing for the prisoner's escort to-morrow?"
+
+"Corporal Inyira, Excellence."
+
+"A long service man?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+"Good. Go and fetch him here."
+
+Not a shadow of surprise showed on Sergeant Schultz's face as he departed.
+Zu Pfeiffer smoked hard and drank another brandy thirstily with a slight
+unsteadiness as he lifted the glass to his mouth. The sergeant returned
+and stood at attention just within the door.
+
+"The man is here, Excellence." Zu Pfeiffer nodded.
+
+"Forward, quick marrch," commanded the sergeant in a muffled bark.
+"Halttt!"
+
+"Very good, sergeant, you may wait."
+
+Schultz saluted and retired without. The tall powerfully built native in
+uniform stood as if he had a bayonet beneath his chin. There was a slight
+nervousness about the blues of the eyes as he squinted in the attempt to
+look straight ahead and to watch the Kommandant at the same time. One
+nostril was slit, in the lobes of the ears were three can keys, and the
+temples were tattooed with tribal scars.
+
+"Corporal Inyira!" said zu Pfeiffer sharply. The black body twitched at
+the voice. "You are to leave to-morrow for Dar-es-salaam and you will take
+as a prisoner a white man who has been taking your tribe as slaves and
+selling them to the Abyssinians. The Bwana Mkubwa protects you from these
+evil white men and Arabs. You know that?" sharply.
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+"Very good. You know what would happen to you if you were sold as a slave?
+You have had many brothers who have been sold to the Abyssinians?"
+
+"Bwana! Many, Bwana!"
+
+"Very good. Now listen! This white man is very bad. He leaves with you
+to-morrow morning for Dar-es-salaam, but--he is never to arrive there. I
+give him to you. You may do what you like with him, but never let me see
+him again. You have my protection. Understand?"
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+The rubber lips pouted in the emphatic utterance.
+
+"These are your secret orders. But you are not to tell them to any man,
+woman, or child here; you may tell your men when you are gone. If you
+disobey I will cut out your tongue and give you three hundred lashes.
+Understand?"
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+"This man is the enemy of the Bwana Mkubwa. His enemies are your enemies.
+His goods are yours. Begone!"
+
+The black hand came up jerkily to the black forehead, shot away out and
+down; the polished calves moved like the eccentrics of an engine, and
+Corporal Inyira melted into the shadows.
+
+"Sergeant Schultz!"
+
+To smart heel taps on the verandah entered the sergeant.
+
+"You will see that Corporal Inyira and the escort leave before daybreak;
+moreover, that he talks with no one before he leaves."
+
+"Excellence."
+
+"Take a drink, sergeant."
+
+With legs as stiff as his sjambok, Sergeant Schultz obeyed the order;
+lifted the glass and drank.
+
+"You may go! Good night, sergeant."
+
+"Excellence, good night!"
+
+As zu Pfeiffer shifted from the chair-arm to the seat his movements were
+slightly erratic. He sat forward, staring at the photograph, as he drank
+more brandy. Outside, the paean of the frogs pulsed steadily. From a
+distance came the throb of a native drum. A cricket shrilled
+intermittently.
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+The ghostly figure of Bakunjala whispered from the doorway. Zu Pfeiffer
+started nervously.
+
+"Zingala," began Bakunjala timorously.
+
+"Gott verdamf--Emshi!" snapped zu Pfeiffer, his ring flashing in an
+irritable gesture.
+
+Bakunjala melted. Came a mutter of voices and a subdued giggle.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer sat and drank and stared. Above the insectile anthem of the
+night, rose a gurgling voice in a drinking song.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Later the crash of a
+breaking glass was accompanied by an oath. The glimmer of three pairs of
+eyes through the window screen vanished and reappeared.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Once more rose
+the voice singing:
+
+     "Scheiden tut weh,
+     Scheiden, ja scheiden, scheiden tut weh!"
+
+Just as the cricket began anew, after having politely ceased to hear the
+lieutenant's song, trickled out upon the clammy air the sound of weeping.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 6
+
+
+In the violet shadow of his square hut inside the compound, squatted Zalu
+Zako. The lips and nose were nearer to the Aryan delicacy than the negroid
+bluntness; for the Wongolo, like the Wahima, are a mixed Bantu-Somali
+race. In colour his skin had the red of bronze rather than the blue of the
+negro, and the planes of his moulded chest were as light as the worn ivory
+bracelets upon his polished limbs. Broad in the shoulders he had almost
+the slender hips of a young girl and his carriage was as balanced as a
+dancer's.
+
+From a group of small round huts behind his square hut, where dwelt his
+two wives, concubines and slaves, came the clutter of voices. A distant
+drum throbbed gently on the hot air. Away in the cool green of the banana
+plantation rose the crooning chant of the unmarried girls and slaves
+bringing water from the river.
+
+Apparently Zalu Zako was absorbed in the movements of a diminutive chicken
+scratching in the soil. The omen of the goat was occupying his mind: that
+and the death of his grandfather, MFunya MPopo. There was no sense of
+grief, for he was not a woman. Now, at the beginning of his warrior's
+career, he had not any desire for divine honours and celibacy. No man had.
+Yet Zalu Zako no more dreamed of questioning the necessity than of
+spitting in the face of an enemy. Always had the first born male of his
+family been doomed to the kingly office. There was never a second born
+male, for it was not meet that a god should have paternal brothers. The
+wives of his youth and his concubines could have as many children as they
+could bear; but according to the law, did he select the chief wife from
+whom should spring the one regal son only when he had become heir
+apparent; for then was he not already half divine, being so near the
+sacred enclosure up on the hill?
+
+The choice of that chief wife was free as there were no royal families in
+the sense of divine descent save the direct male line of the King-God. But
+the mind of Zalu Zako dwelt more upon his personal career. The life of a
+warrior was frequently short and that of a god even briefer. MFunya MPopo
+had reigned but twenty moons; MKoffo, so said the elders, had reigned for
+full two hundred moons; but then he had been a mighty magician.
+
+With a harsh squawk a brilliant scarlet and blue bird with an enormous
+yellow bill perched on the palisade of the compound. Immediately the young
+man forgot his musing and rose, calling for his spear. A stocky man, coal
+black, with a fuzzy tuft of a beard, came out of the hut. From the slave
+Zalu Zako took a broad-bladed spear with a short haft. Watching to see
+that the bird was still sitting on the fence as he passed out of the
+compound, he set off rapidly through the village and into the banana
+plantations in search of a wart hog which had been rooting up one of his
+fields of sweet potatoes. Just as he came within sight of them a black
+field rat sprang out of the grass in his path, glanced round at him, and
+disappeared. The young man's steps slackened, for he knew that the black
+rat had spoiled the luck which the banana eater had portended. Scarcely
+troubling to glance around the field, he diverged across at an angle
+making for a break in the jungle where he knew was the trail of the boar.
+But he grunted contemptuously as he examined the last spoor, which was at
+least half a day old. Of course the hog would not be there.
+
+He bethought himself of another field where sometimes came buck. But there
+was no game. The black rat again! Yet if one waited long enough a good
+omen might appear. As he squatted beneath a banana plant to take snuff
+came a squawk and the banana eater--for it appeared to be the same
+one--alighted on a frond near to him. Zalu Zako waited. Leisurely and
+cautiously he arose. The bird peered at him. Zalu Zako passed and left the
+banana eater still sitting there. He felt the weight of his spear
+tentatively, for a double omen of luck must mean big game: possibly an
+eland or a leopard.
+
+He circled right round the outskirts of the plantation. But he saw no
+signs. As he began to make the big circle again the shadows were
+lengthening appreciably. Passing by the ford of the small river, which was
+swollen from the rains, he heard a group of young girls chattering on the
+river bank as they filled their gourds. He paused to test which way the
+wind was blowing in order to avoid going down wind where the sound of
+their voices would scare away any game.
+
+But as he turned to move on he caught a glimpse of a figure mounting the
+incline. The motion was as lithe as a young giraffe; the legs were as
+straight as spears and as supple as a kiboko; the moulded hips swayed
+rhythmically like a banana frond in the breeze; the fluted arch of her
+back swelled proudly upwards to the resilient shoulders; and an arm as
+slender as a lizard's tail steadied the gourd upon a small black head set
+upon a neck like a sapling. The dappled shadows of a tree played hide and
+seek upon the tiny hills that were her firm young breasts, upon the
+smoothness of her torso of light bronze. As he gazed her face came into
+view in speaking to a comrade just beneath. An errant shaft of sunlight
+glinted the pearl of teeth, glowed the tiny nose and blued the whites of
+eyes which were as soft as any antelope.
+
+Zalu Zako clicked the syllable that means astonishment.
+
+"Wait there, O Bayakala," she called, "for I have to do the making of
+mighty magic with the spirits of the wood."
+
+"Eh, eh!" responded one of those left by the water edge, "a girl of the
+hut thatch hath nought to do with spirits of the wood for their bellies
+are as big as a pregnant woman!"
+
+The young girl laughed and her notes seemed to Zalu Zako like the dripping
+of water upon a river rock.
+
+"Thou knowest less than the Baroto bird who as everybody knows is the
+spirit of one!"
+
+"'Tis more than thou wilt ever be!" retorted the rival beneath.
+
+"Ehh! Ehh!" exclaimed the girl at the sneer, "thy girdle is rotted long
+since with juice!"
+
+"And thine," shouted the insulted one, who was old for a spinster, "wilt
+rot with the dryness!"
+
+"Tscch! It is dry for the lord whom I will conquer with magic such as thou
+hast never dreamed on, O Bayakala!"
+
+"And who is he for whom thou makest magic, O daughter of the hut thatch?"
+demanded Zalu Zako, stepping from the shelter of the tree.
+
+"Ehh!" ejaculated Bakuma. "I--we do but tickle the fronds (jest), O Chief!"
+
+The only sign of her nervousness was the slight swaying of the gourd of
+water upon her head as she turned up her eyes to the young chief who
+regarded her slowly. She edged away. He moved a pace in front of her. She
+clutched at the amulet around her neck as she turned her eyes and said:
+
+"The cooking fires are low, O Chief, and need be tended."
+
+"Thy breasts are like unto small anthills," he said, "and thy belly is as
+smooth as yonder river rock."
+
+"Thy tongue is sweeter than the honey of the kinglan tree."
+
+"Thy voice is softer than the muted lyre and thy nose is formed of two
+petals of an orchid."
+
+"Thy praise is more refreshing than the morning dew to a thirsty flower."
+
+"And by thy figure am I made more drunken than by the wine of the Soka
+palm."
+
+For a full minute they stood, a study in light bronze against the dappled
+green foliage. The shrill chatter of the other girls approaching startled
+Bakuma into action. She swayed to one side.
+
+"The spirits of the cooking pot cry aloud for me, O Chief."
+
+"Who is thy father, little one?" he demanded.
+
+"I am Bakuma, the daughter of Bakala, O Chief."
+
+"There has been a veil before my eyes that I have not seen thee before."
+
+"The mountains see not the tiny brooks amid the mighty forests," murmured
+Bakuma and sped up the path.
+
+Zalu Zako stood motionless watching her form melt into the green, and as
+he turned towards the river he met Bayakala and the other women who shrank
+aside from the path to allow the Son of the Snake to pass in silence. Yet
+at the ford he paused. He had forgotten the omen of the banana eater and
+the purpose for which he had come.
+
+As Bakuma sped along in a gliding lope the amulet swayed rhythmically to
+the whispered praises of the power of Marufa, mixed with ardent prayers to
+the spirits to provide the fat goat with which to propitiate the spirit of
+the woods; for had not the love charm already manifested its wondrous
+power? As she hastened through the banana plantation she could not resist
+diverging a little in the direction of the magician's hut. As she passed,
+she saw him seated on the threshold of the compound gathering inspiration
+from his favourite wall. But Marufa observed her demeanour, and being
+something of a student of men, he deducted that the charm had already
+begun to work.
+
+Marufa, as all successful men, had a strain of luck. Before the shadows
+had crept a hand's breadth came MYalu, indignant and exasperated. The
+three tusks had been paid and the footprint obtained; but he had
+discovered that it was no easy matter to procure the other ingredients
+which he suspected the wizard had known well and intended as a means to
+extract more ivory. After the ceremonious greetings he protested that the
+task given was almost impossible to execute. Marufa remained imperturbably
+interested in his wall.
+
+"But as thou knowest," insisted MYalu, "the hair and the toe-nail and the
+spittle of the Son of the Snake are more than difficult to obtain. Does a
+man so carelessly render himself unto his enemies, and he the Son of the
+Snake? None save one of his household could purloin a single hair. Even
+this morning was his hair shaved and the remnants, as thou knowest well,
+deposited in the temple with him who was his father."
+
+"The hair, the toe-nail, and the spittle," mumbled the old man, "must I
+have for such mighty magic."
+
+"Ehh!" snorted MYalu, "with a man of the clay, but with one who is half
+divine, the Son of the Snake! Ehh!"
+
+"The bow is useless without the arrows," mumbled the old man.
+
+"Tsch. 'Tis a mighty hunter that hath not the arrows for his bow," sneered
+MYalu.
+
+"Verily," retorted Marufa disinterestedly, "and still more a mighty man
+who cannot do his own hunting!"
+
+"No warrior hath been purified more frequently than I," boasted MYalu,
+referring to the ceremony incumbent upon those who have taken life to
+appease the ghosts of the slain.
+
+"The spirits obey not the crowing of a cockerel," reminded Marufa.
+
+"Tsch!" For a while both sat silent, MYalu gloomily watching a hen.
+
+"Aie! Aie!" he lamented at last, "what is there that I may do, for indeed
+she hath caught my soul in a trap. Aie! Aie!"
+
+"If the hunter cannot make arrows, he may buy them," remarked Marufa, who
+had been patiently waiting for this state of mind.
+
+"Eh! The bowstring hath been costly but the arrows! Aie! Aie! What
+would'st thou?"
+
+"The rich man payeth in his kind. Four tusks of fine grain."
+
+"Eh! Eh!"
+
+"Maybe there are others whose hands are not withered."
+
+"Others than the Son of the Snake?" demanded MYalu quickly.
+
+"Who knows? There are more fools than chickens," muttered the old man.
+
+MYalu stared disconsolately at the distant bananas. Perhaps, he reflected,
+it would be cheaper to pay the price the girl's uncle demanded, yet----
+MYalu had bought other wives whose unimpassioned charms had quickly
+staled. His soul, as he put it, had indeed been tempted into a trap by
+Bakuma; for he wished only that she should desire him as he desired her.
+Yet was he angry. Love seemed to be a costly business. Marufa tapped out
+snuff and sniffed delicately with the air of a connoisseur devoting
+himself to the pleasure of the moment. Replacing the cork of twisted
+leaves he stirred as if to rise.
+
+"Canst thou procure then the nail and the hairs that are asked by the
+spirits?" inquired MYalu sulkily.
+
+"All things are possible to the son of MTungo," asserted Marufa. "Four
+tusks, and these things are found; but of fine grain, for the others were
+old and coarse."
+
+"Ehh! How wilt thou procure these things?" demanded MYalu sceptically.
+
+"The ways of the wise are not the ways of fools."
+
+"The tusks are thine," said MYalu reluctantly, "if thou wilt tell me how
+thou wilt procure them."
+
+"Thy words are like unto the vomit of a dog," muttered the old man.
+
+"But how? My heart is not bound in clay."
+
+"Tch!" clicked Marufa contemptuously. "Every fool must needs see the spoor
+of the god which he cannot read. I have spoken." MYalu regarded the old
+wizard incredulously. "Tch! Send the four tusks as we have agreed and so
+shall it be. Begone!"
+
+Slowly MYalu rose, made his greeting, and departed more impressed than
+ever that the old man was a mighty magician.
+
+During the hour when the soul is small and dwells timidly around the feet
+Marufa dozed in the cool of his hut; but later when it spread boldly out
+was he squatted once more in his favourite seat at the entrance to the
+compound, taking snuff and contemplating. The shadows grew from violet to
+blue; the small hens pecked for worms with avidity and the goats scratched
+with vigour in the cool. Patiently Marufa sat. At length that for which he
+had waited with a sound though primitive knowledge of psychology, came to
+pass. Bakuma appeared, apprehensive, but with yet an abandon which sang
+her happiness. Beside Marufa she sat so as to avoid the shadow of one foot
+protruding beyond that of the fence.
+
+"O great and mighty magician," she began eagerly, after the formal
+greetings. "Indeed all that thou hast said hath come to pass. Thy charm is
+infallible."
+
+"Ugh!" grunted Marufa unconcernedly.
+
+"All that my heart desireth hath already begun to be. I thank thee."
+
+"Ugh!"
+
+"O mighty son of MTungo, what must I now do?"
+
+"Thou knowest," mumbled Marufa, fumbling for the snuff case.
+
+"Aie! Aie! but I have no fat goat!" cried Bakuma, who had hoped fatuously
+that the wizard would have forgotten. "I, a girl of the hut thatch, how
+should I have a goat?" Marufa tapped snuff as if no romance were in the
+making. Bakuma's bright eyes, sharpened by the proximity of the promise of
+her love, watched the old man keenly. "Listen, O great and mighty son of
+MTungo, to whom all things are known, who canst accomplish all that thou
+desireth, Bayakala, my cousin, hath a goat, but it is old and skinny.
+Perhaps----"
+
+"In the nostrils of the spirits," asserted Marufa instantly, "all odours
+are the same except that of the fat goat whom they love."
+
+"Aie! then am I undone, for no fat goat have I!" wailed Bakuma. "Know I
+not one who hath a goat who would smile on me, a girl of the hut thatch."
+
+"Ugh!"
+
+Bakuma regarded him imploringly, but Marufa's gaze was fixed upon the wall
+as if his mind were turned to matters of more importance.
+
+"O mighty wizard, what must I do?" implored Bakuma desperately.
+
+"Ugh!"
+
+After a prolonged contemplation, said Marufa: "If thou canst get no goat,
+then is there another path by which thou mayest accomplish thy end."
+
+"Eh!"
+
+"But it is very difficult."
+
+"By my cord, will I do all that thou canst bid me to do!" swore Bakuma in
+anxious haste.
+
+"Ugh! This path is more certain of success for the will of the spirits are
+oftentimes chary of their favours."
+
+"O mighty one!" breathed Bakuma, as he paused tantalisingly.
+
+"But the matter is exceedingly difficult--and dangerous."
+
+"If the flower hath no sun hath it ever lived?"
+
+"As even thou shouldst know," mumbled Marufa, more casually than ever, "he
+who possesses a part of the soul may do magic thereon."
+
+"Aye! Aye!"
+
+"Bring me then of the nail parings one, of his hairs one, and of his
+spittle. Then may I do magic thereon which he cannot resist."
+
+"O mighty magician!" gasped Bakuma, appalled at the difficulty and the
+danger of the task.
+
+"That path is sure. There is no other."
+
+"Eh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} But if they of thy craft should know then am I doomed!"
+
+"There is no other."
+
+Torn between her love and the dread of the penalty incurred by the
+sacrilege of the theft of the parts of one who might any day be King-God,
+Bakuma stared distraught.
+
+"Were not my words white? Hath not the love charm thou hast already had
+done even as I did say?"
+
+"O mighty one!"
+
+"But that is only as the goat to the leopard. The trap must be dug--or the
+scent of the bait will be blown."
+
+"Ehh!" gasped Bakuma, in desperation, "by my twin soul which dwells
+beneath the banana plant, will I do it!"
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 7
+
+
+Gerald Birnier had flattered himself that he was a philosopher with a
+sense of humour, fairly well developed by ten years' wandering about
+Central Africa, but deep emotions submerge such cherished qualities.
+
+The presence of the photograph was explicable by several surmises: zu
+Pfeiffer might have met Lucille at Washington, Paris, or Berlin: she might
+have given him the photograph or he might have bought it, or even stolen
+it. But--the signature "a toi, Lucille"! There lay the sting which maddened
+Birnier and strangled reason, the fact at which his mind yawed futilely.
+
+So great had been the shock that the arrest had seemed but a secondary
+matter in accord with the insanity of zu Pfeiffer's statement that he was
+engaged to Lucille. The affair had been so sudden that for some time he
+could progress no farther in an attempt to think than a gasp, pawing
+mentally at an intangible substance which eluded him like a child's small
+hand trying to grasp a toy balloon. Sense of reality appeared to have been
+dissolved. He had followed the sergeant across the square meekly without
+realising what was happening, and when he had been placed in a whitewashed
+room at the back of the native guard house which served as a jail, he sat
+down upon a chair, too bewildered to comprehend where he was. That "a toi,
+Lucille" rang like the clanging in a belfry, drowning the sound of other
+thoughts.
+
+By the light of a hurricane lamp he regarded the soldiers bringing in an
+old camp bed with indifference. When they had gone he began to pace up and
+down the small room frantically trying to gain control. To the first
+prompting of a logical reason for the whole affair he did not dare to
+listen. The disrupting cause was the complete inability to explain the
+familiar signature. To his Anglo-Saxonised mind, bred in the strict code
+of the south, tutoyer was only permissible to dogs, inferiors, most
+intimate relations and lovers. He was far too unbalanced to see the humour
+as he solemnly announced that certainly zu Pfeiffer was not a dog, nor in
+the social code an inferior; he was not a relation; therefore.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} His mind
+baulked and raced into incoherence.
+
+A point of view which added false premises, as well as his attitude to
+those two little words, was the consciousness that many would consider
+that he had not treated his wife as a husband should do. This possibility
+had never occurred to him before, so that it came with disproportionate
+emphasis.
+
+As a young man he had been too absorbed in his profession to be a lady's
+man; and of love he had reckoned little until he had met the Lucille
+Charltrain with whom half the world was in love. And she doubtless, like
+many a spoiled beauty, was a little piqued that the professor did not join
+the throng of her courtiers. In Birnier's mind there had ever been
+associated with love the fear that the woman would demand too much, that
+no woman could understand that a man's profession must of necessity come
+before all things. Lucille was the first woman whom he had met who really
+seemed to understand this point of view, as she, too, was devoted to her
+art. This had grown to be the biggest bond and attraction between them.
+Most men wished to make of love a nuisance, as Lucille once put it. So the
+good-looking professor had won the beauty. They were married on the mutual
+understanding that each should pursue their respective professions.
+Shortly afterwards Birnier was offered a special mission to go to Africa
+for the purpose of studying the customs and superstitions of the natives.
+Lucille had consented, forbidden, relented, and laughed.
+
+So Lucille sang from musical height to height and her husband sped from
+depth to depth in the seas of human fatuity. Whenever he took a furlough
+he went, of course, straight to her, wheresoever she was, in Berlin, New
+York, or Paris. To Birnier the situation was ideal. He had never dreamed
+of any other woman. Indeed the tracts of his mind were so filled with
+statistics of anthropology and Lucille that there was little or no room
+for any one else. The delight and satisfaction in Birnier's mind were so
+sincere that he never had dreamed of questioning whether Lucille's point
+of view had remained the same. But now?
+
+That "a toi" stung and baited him into the unprecedented realisation that
+after all women had been known to change their opinions. Perhaps pride had
+prevented her from ever openly demanding other ways. Lucille was young and
+beautiful, courted and flattered on every hand. Perhaps he had been wrong
+to leave her for years at a stretch. Of her loyalty he had had no doubt,
+but for the first time in his marital life the professor's profound
+knowledge of human nature was shot like a spot-light on to his own
+affairs. Yet his erudition did not in the least relieve him from the laws
+of emotional reaction.
+
+Perhaps in an emotional moment.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} That knowledge of the frailties of genus
+homo was too deep for comfort in such actuation.
+
+"A toi, Lucille! A toi, Lucille!" rang and echoed as he paced that room,
+striving for control.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} And--and--why else should zu Pfeiffer have gone
+crazy?--why had he exclaimed: "Das ist der Schweinhuend"? The husband, of
+course, whom he wanted out of the way, and he had immediately seized the
+opportunity to secure that end, seemingly indifferent to
+consequences--symptomatic of the state of "being in love."
+
+Around and about, about and around a field of weeds which had sprung from
+that seed "a toi," had paced the professor all night. When the green was
+creeping through the high barred window, Sergeant Schneider had brought to
+him some coffee and biscuits. Birnier had drunk the coffee thirstily, and
+as the sergeant had no English nor French, had tried in broken German to
+extract some information. But the sergeant had merely grunted and retired.
+At seven he had returned again and escorted Birnier to the Court House. He
+returned from the mock trial a little more in touch with reality, and more
+impressed with the malignity of zu Pfeiffer. Yet the gratuitous insults,
+the laboured farce of the registering of an alleged Swiss trader, Birnier
+saw through, and was relieved, for it argued that zu Pfeiffer's intention
+was to make Lucille a widow. No other reason could account for the
+homicidal intentions displayed.
+
+At the glow of dawn next day he was aroused by the big corporal who
+ordered him out. The tone of the man's voice naturally stimulated a
+violent reaction. But Birnier realised that his sole chance lay in
+controlling himself to accept stoically whatever treatment was offered;
+for he saw instantly that any protest or indignation would be interpreted
+as insubordination and possibly be made an excuse to shoot him down.
+
+Outside in the grey light he saw under the guard of six native soldiers,
+the five others of his party. Mungongo, his personal "boy," cried out at
+the sight of him, asking what was the meaning of these strange happenings.
+Before Birnier could reply, the big corporal struck the man savagely with
+a kiboko, bidding him to be silent. In spite of his resolution, the
+reaction made Birnier turn angrily upon the soldier, who deliberately
+repeated the order, and struck the white man across the face. As Birnier
+raised his fist the man lowered his bayonet and grinned, adding,
+apparently for the benefit of his men, that now the white would learn what
+it was to be a slave.
+
+Furiously Birnier looked around for Sergeant Schneider: but no white man
+was in sight.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} He turned to Mungongo and said quickly: "Take no heed. Do
+as they bid thee for the moment."
+
+"Be silent!" shouted the corporal, but as he raised his kiboko, Birnier
+looked him quietly straight in the eyes. The black hand was lowered; the
+man turned away, ordering the party in general to march.
+
+Dishevelled and without any camp equipment, Birnier began to march as the
+blood of the sky paled to orange. At the bottom of the great parade ground
+he turned in time to see the relieving guard falling in behind the Court
+House. For one moment he hesitated whether to put all to the test by
+refusing to go; but a significant gesture with the ever ready rifle of the
+corporal signified that he would not be given a chance. Humiliated, he
+obeyed. But just beyond the last hut, waiting by the path, was a group of
+women loaded with the soldiers' gear; and beside them were some carriers
+bearing his green tent and apparently all his equipment. The sight cheered
+him a little. He attempted to find immediate consolation in the idea that
+the savagery of the corporal might possibly abate when they were away from
+the neighbourhood of the inciting agent, whom he was sure was zu Pfeiffer.
+
+Leading the caravan was a soldier; next to him came Birnier and behind him
+was another soldier, after whom walked Mungongo and the four other
+prisoners, with a soldier between each; and then the corporal, strutting
+portentously important within easy shooting distance of the white man. The
+carriers and women brought up the rear.
+
+The path led for some miles through the dreary swamp following the course
+of the small bayou, crossing and recrossing small streams swollen with the
+rains, through which the white man was forced to wade to his hips. For the
+first mile Birnier was so angry and humiliated that he dared not catch the
+troubled eyes of Mungongo. But by force of will he attained a reasonable
+plane of philosophic resignation, temporary at least, and smiled at the
+boy, who grinned back like a tickled child. At any rate, soliloquised
+Birnier, he had at least one man upon whom he could rely.
+
+At the head of the bayou they reached higher ground and the path zigzagged
+through dense jungle thick with fan palms. The longer Birnier pondered
+upon the situation the nearer he came towards the conclusion that he had
+better make his escape as soon as possible, or he would never have the
+chance. Rather by the uneasy glances of Mungongo, who dared not speak, did
+he guess that they had left the regular trail to the coast. What their
+destination was he could not imagine. Probably, he thought grimly, to make
+an end of the whole party and return to the camp. Yet why trouble to
+travel so far? And another good reason to hasten an escape was that,
+although for the moment he was in good health, a few days of exposure
+would subject him to fever and consequent weakness.
+
+Now and again the theme "a toi" would return like the refrain of a song to
+which he found himself keeping step; but the words sometimes became
+meaningless; for in the merciful way that nature has, the impulse of
+self-preservation so occupied his mind that he had scarcely leisure to
+worry over marital troubles.
+
+At the end of about two hours, when the heat of the sun was beginning to
+be felt severely, the corporal called a halt in the shade of a great
+baobab. Birnier sat down with his back against the bole. Alongside him
+squatted the corporal deliberately and called to the women for a gourd of
+juwala. There is a certain acid odour which native beer has that is
+particularly irritating to a dry palate. The corporal drank deep, sighed
+with satisfaction and set the gourd beside him almost touching the feet of
+the white. Involuntarily Birnier swallowed. The corporal saw and grinned.
+Birnier understood and turned his back to the man. Immediately the
+corporal arose and lowering his bayonet until it pricked the sleeve of
+Birnier's coat, ordered him to get up. In the knowledge that he would be
+instantly shot by the others if he attempted to resist, he had perforce to
+obey.
+
+Outside the shade of the great tree, in the full glare of the sun, was the
+white man compelled to sit while the black corporal, with the rifle ready
+across his knee, drank deep and handed the gourd to his fellows. Again
+Birnier turned his back to him. But he began to realise faintly what
+treatment he would receive before the end came and an intimate knowledge
+of native ingenuity made him feel physically sick.
+
+Half an hour later they were on the march again. The path became rugged
+and difficult, passing through thorny ground, following burbling
+watercourses of rough stones. To make the going more trying Birnier wore
+light moccasins intended for camp use instead of his high field boots.
+Once when a long thorn penetrated the flank of his shoe he stopped to
+extract it. The corporal shouted at him; the soldier behind called him
+unmentionable names in the dialect and pushed him with his foot. The
+insult and the heat of the sun maddened him. He leaped to his feet. The
+corporal raised his gun promptly and jeered. For a moment Birnier stood
+trembling with passion; then he closed his eyes as if to shut out sight
+and sound and limped forward, fighting with himself.
+
+With natives had Birnier always been able to negotiate, to live, and to
+quarrel when necessary, on terms of amity; but this black "swine," as he
+termed him in his wrath, prinked out in a masquerade of a white man's
+clothes.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} He jammed his heel down savagely upon the thorn to divert the
+southern passion. After all it was not the man's fault but zu Pfeiffer's.
+Put a white man in a uniform and he becomes a beast; put a nigger in a
+uniform and he becomes a devil, Birnier forced himself to reflect.
+
+The sun grew incandescent. The heat and the flies quickened his thirst. He
+plodded on, stumbling over the stones, sagging heavily in sandy patches.
+They had left the comparative shelter of the jungle and were crossing a
+flat plain approaching, he judged, to a river bed. The carriers, he noted,
+had lagged behind. Soon they must halt. Even the fiend of a corporal would
+not fatigue himself too much for the sake of tormenting a white man.
+
+Then a new idea was added to the plagues. He had tasted nothing save the
+coffee, canned beef, and native bread which had been given him for dinner
+on the previous evening. The corporal had manifested his conception of
+humour by refusing him beer and water on the march; was he going to
+torment him by starvation as well as by thirst? And if torture were
+reserved for him by that grinning black brute, then he knew what would be
+the end that awaited him.
+
+Within an hour they came to a river about forty yards broad, a swollen
+rushing torrent. There was no village as he had expected. The corporal
+halted. Birnier slid down the bank and thrust his muzzle into the flood.
+There was torture in the restraint not to drink too much. He clambered up
+the slope to find the corporal grinning at him. He turned his back and lay
+down. There was no shade; only short scrub and grass. Small sand flies
+buzzed and stung. He heard the gurgle of the corporal's military
+water-bottle. But this time the sting was extracted; his belly was moist.
+
+Birnier stretched out, shielding from the glare the little that he could
+with his hands. Faint echoes of "a toi" strolled across his field of
+consciousness. He observed the apparently stoical indifference of Mungongo
+squatted a few feet from him, a soldier sprawling between them; but he
+cursed because investigations had taught him that that "stoical" should
+usually be read as "bovinity," as he had termed it; and he smiled dismally
+at the ancient story that so well illustrated the point, of the peasant
+who expressed his occupation through the long winter hours as "sometimes
+we sits and thinks but mostly we just sits."
+
+Mungongo "just sits," he repeated, and envied him. Yet in that heat and
+hunger, waiting for his savage captor to wreak some new fancy upon him, so
+saturated with philosophic interest in life was Birnier, that he wandered
+off into a meditation upon the mechanical fatuity of human conduct;
+illustrating his reflections by his own actions when stirred by emotion.
+"The loaded gun may be as wise as Solomon was reputed to be," he remarked
+beneath his hands, "but all the same when some one pulls the trigger the
+damn thing goes off," and sat up to confront the muzzle of the corporal's
+rifle, who was ordering him to get up. Birnier rose. But to the savage's
+amazement, he smiled.
+
+The corporal backed away.
+
+"Ah, my friend," remarked Birnier blandly in English. "You've lost, for I
+have found that which was lost!"
+
+The corporal scowled and bade him to follow. Birnier obeyed but he felt
+that he was obliging the man. The carriers had arrived and the green tent
+was pitched, invitingly cool against the grey flood of the river. He
+followed the corporal gladly, but at ten feet from his tent, beside a
+thorn bush four feet tall which spread in a fan shape, he was bidden to
+sit. For the moment, newly arrived from his philosophic dreams, he did not
+comprehend.
+
+"But that is my tent!" he said in Kiswahili.
+
+"Sit down!" commanded the corporal, grinning. "The white seller of slaves
+sits in the place of the slave, but his owner dwells in the place of the
+blessed."
+
+"O God!" remarked Birnier as he bumped his head against black reality.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 8
+
+
+Bakuma sat in the shade of the reed fence preparing the evening meal of
+boiled bananas. From her slender neck swung the precious amulet at which,
+as if to reassure herself of its safety, she clutched occasionally. Her
+half-sister, who had not yet passed through the initiation at maturity,
+sprawled upon her belly in the dwindling rays of the sun, scratching her
+woolly head. Beyond her were two slaves tending a fire beneath two large
+calabashes, preparatory to the brewing of banana beer, which had of course
+to be done by the chief widow, Bakuma's half-sister's mother.
+
+The mind of Bakuma was occupied by percepts of the charms of Zalu Zako;
+particularly as memorised on that afternoon by the river when the effect
+of the love charm had begun to work. These memories, as sweet as they
+would have been to any maid, were shot with gay colours by the words of
+the wizard; for he had assured her that with the toe-nail and hair to work
+magic upon, Zalu Zako would be bewitched by her charms for all time. And
+she had obtained them! She could have gotten the goat, not a skinny goat
+as described under the inhibiting influence of a wild hope that the wizard
+would relent. Her cousin, smarting under the reproaches of her husband,
+had such a goat, fat as goats in Wongolo go, and she was eager to exchange
+it or anything for an infallible charm against sterility. Bakuma feared to
+part with the charm, yet the matter was pressing; immediately she was the
+wife of Zalu Zako she would be in a position to purchase all the charms in
+the village.
+
+But difficult to obtain as they were, for as everybody knows no man leaves
+portions of himself around that may fall into the hands of an enemy to
+work magic upon, least of all a rich man, "half divine," she had obtained
+some nail parings and one hair. With that charm against sterility, the
+only thing of value Bakuma possessed, had she bribed a concubine of Zalu
+Zako's household to steal the ingredients required from the hut thatch
+where they had been hidden after the official shaving and paring following
+the ceremony of his father, pending their removal to the sacred precincts
+of the temple.
+
+Above her passion for Zalu Zako was her natural feminine appreciation of a
+good match. The Son of the Snake was far better from a woman's point of
+view than union with a successful wizard. In the event of the death of the
+King-God, Kawa Kendi, the wives of his son and successor, although denied
+to him, were accorded special privileges; and upon his demise these royal
+wives retained their home upon the hill which had become his tomb.
+Moreover, as Bakuma knew well, now that Zalu Zako was heir-apparent, he
+must choose the principal wife who would for her life remain paramount in
+the household, avoiding the dread of every ageing woman that her husband
+would take unto him another wife younger and more supple.
+
+The one mosquito in paradise was the fear that as soon as her uncle, her
+father's brother to whom she belonged by inheritance, learned the august
+personage who desired her, he would raise the price to a prohibitive
+figure; for he was mean as well as stupid and lazy, wherefore he had few
+goods, and although Zalu Zako was a rich man she knew that any man save a
+fool loves to drive a good bargain if only to prove his astuteness.
+Therefore was another imperative necessity to procure every means of magic
+and charm to fan the flame of her lover's desires.
+
+Yet always flashed a bright-hued lizard in the sun of her joy when she
+imagined herself installed as the chief wife in the household of Zalu
+Zako, an unassailable position as long as she had one male child; the
+practical mistress of his first two wives as well as the retinue of
+slaves.
+
+Bazila, the younger wife, Bakuma knew well; the favourite and haughty,
+covered with the most expensive amulets against every ill and black magic,
+she was overfond of sneering at young girls of the hut thatch whose charms
+had not yet netted a victim.
+
+"Ehh!" gasped Bakuma and flashed her teeth as she rolled the warm leaves
+around the sticky mess, "then will the scent of my body be more bitter
+than the flower of the fish-faced cactus!"
+
+And so through the night did Bakuma nibble at anticipatory joys as she lay
+upon her reed mat on the slightly raised dais of the floor which was her
+bed, watching the smoke of the fire in the middle of the hut lose itself
+in the shadows of the roof, and listening in the hope of hearing some
+voice of the spirits whom Marufa was to invoke on her behalf. Save for the
+occasional bleating of a goat and once the harsh scream of the Baroto
+bird, which made her heart contract, for it is a bad omen, the night was
+still. However, at the hour of the monkey Bakuma arose to replenish the
+fire. As the western star was melting in the warm green she left the
+compound. On the outskirts of the village the tall figure of MYalu
+appeared from the shadows of the plantation.
+
+"Greeting, daughter of Bakala," said he, his eyes greedily devouring her.
+
+"Greeting, O Chief!" returned Bakuma, as she politely stepped to one side
+to avoid standing on the vague shadow of the chief.
+
+"The fawn seeks the pastures early," remarked MYalu.
+
+"Before the breath of the sun the grass is sweeter," retorted Bakuma,
+edging away.
+
+"Aye," remarked MYalu, with a hungry glint in his eyes, "thou art eager to
+slake thy thirst? But in the valley will no buck walk this day!"
+
+"Ehh!" gasped Bakuma, recollecting instantly the omen of the Baroto bird
+heard that night. "What meanest thou?"
+
+"Maybe the soul of him hath wandered and been caught in a trap or maybe----"
+He paused to watch her closely--"maybe an enemy hath made magic upon the
+parts of him."
+
+"Ehh!" Bakuma started nervously.
+
+MYalu smiled and touched her upon the shoulder.
+
+"Thy flesh is cooler than the dew."
+
+"Nay, nay, O Chief, thou hast not tied my girdle," she protested, as she
+backed away from him, her eyes wide like a terrified deer's.
+
+"Nay, but will I untie it soon," he retorted.
+
+But as he stepped towards her she turned and fled. As MYalu watched her
+running as swiftly as a pookoo into the plantation he grinned and called
+out: "Even now is the cooling draught steaming in the breath of the
+Unmentionable One! But the goblet shall hold a sweeter draught for me!"
+
+"Aie! Aie-e!" wailed Bakuma, her heart beating furiously, "what devil hath
+bewitched me! O, that father of many goats hath betrayed me! Aie! Aie-e!
+O, the cry of the Baroto bird! Aie! Aie-e!"
+
+And when Bakuma, distraught with terror by the menace that she had only
+procured the nail paring and hair to give her lover into the hands of the
+false magician who, of course, had been bought by MYalu, arrived at the
+"pastures" by the river, as MYalu had foretold, no buck walked there.
+
+The sun spilled blue shadows on the village from the sacred hill where
+another scene was being enacted, and it was not as imagined by the amorous
+MYalu.
+
+In the council house, which was within the outer fence and before the
+sacred enclosure, was in progress a meeting of the doctors. In the door of
+the enclosure squatted Kawa Kendi, with Kingata Mata in attendance tending
+the royal fires. Before him, in front of their fellows, were seated
+Bakahenzie and Marufa in full dress of green feathers and the scarlet
+plume. The left side of the idol, which was so set that the shadow never
+fell upon the entrance to the compound, was gilded by the sun; the mouth
+grinned in one corner, one eye was closed in shadow, seemingly like a
+prodigious wink.
+
+To the thrumming of the sacred band Bakahenzie was rocking himself to and
+fro mumbling incantations. Kawa Kendi squatted immobile, but the others
+swayed and grunted softly in rhythm. Then on a sudden did Bakahenzie lift
+up his head and cry in a great voice. The drums ceased and the body of
+witch-doctors remained motionless, expectant. Bakahenzie dropped his head
+and began to chant:
+
+  "Behold! I have heard the voice of the trees
+  Crying softly by night!
+  Lo! the soul of the plant is in labour!
+  As a woman with child!
+  Behold! is she not to break forth?
+  For she crieth for aid.
+  Unless she be heard the infant will slip!
+  The fruit will not be!
+  The plants will not break!
+  The milk will be sour!
+  The beer will be green!
+  Women will not bear!
+  Our spears will be blunt!
+  Our magic will wane!
+  And He will be wroth!"
+
+"Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ah! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
+grunted the chorus of the doctors. Then chanted Marufa:
+
+  "Lo! I have slept and been that which I must!
+  Preying swiftly by night!
+  Behold! I have bloodied my fangs in the throat
+  Of a mighty bull eland!
+  Blood succoured the earth and upsprang a plant!
+  Which panted for blood!
+  The sap of the plant is the soul of the tree!
+  Take heed to the thirst
+  Of Him who first was!
+  Who lusts for a maid!
+  Full breasted, soft thighed!
+  Supple, bow arched!
+  Clean blooded and strong!
+  Whose name is forbid!
+  Whose name is a sin!"
+
+"Who hath stolen the name?" screamed Bakahenzie, leaping to his feet. "Who
+is she that hath stolen the name?"
+
+"Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
+
+As the drums throbbed swifter Bakahenzie began to shuffle in a stooping
+posture as if he were snuffing a trail. To the continuous grunting he
+continued this dance for fully a quarter of an hour. Then stopping
+abruptly in front of the king he screamed:
+
+  "Let her be bidden
+  To come to the feast!
+  Let her be oiled!
+  Let her be shaved!
+  Let her come dancing!
+  Let her be joyful!
+  Let her be decked!
+  Let her be glad!
+  Lips of the groom
+  Thirst for her mouth!
+  Let her be drunken
+  To bear his sweet weight!
+  That the crops will be full!
+  That the cattle grow fat
+  Wives will throw men!
+  Spears will slice foes!"
+
+He sank suddenly upon his haunches. The drums ceased. A slave appeared
+bearing a pure white kid. Kingata Mata took the animal and held it before
+Kawa Kendi, who muttered a long incantation over it and cut the throat
+with a spear head. Then to Marufa was the bleeding carcass carried and
+while still alive he slit open the belly, smeared the liquid over his
+chest and right arm, and tore out the guts. The corpse was removed.
+Marufa, working only with the enchanted arm, turned the entrails over and
+about, peering closely.
+
+There was silence. The shadows grew in depth. From the village came an
+occasional bleat and the voice of a distant girl chanting.
+
+After a prolonged and studious search, Marufa caught up and wrapt round
+his neck an intestine. As he rose, the group of witch-doctors broke out
+into a mighty groaning. Marufa speeded across the small clearing and
+kneeled before Kawa Kendi. Through the bloody necklet he whispered two
+syllables: "kuma."
+
+The groaning ceased as suddenly as it had commenced. Kawa Kendi cried out
+in a loud voice:
+
+"The bride is found!"
+
+Instantly the drums began a furious beat. A mighty shout rose from all
+assembled and they fell to the chest and belly grunting: "Eh! Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Eh!
+Ahh! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}" as Bakahenzie and Marufa began to dance the dance of thanksgiving.
+
+Ba_kuma_ had been doomed to be the victim for the Feast of the Harvest
+Festival, to be sacrificed in the orgy as the Bride of the Spirit of the
+Banana, because Marufa had discovered by divination that two syllables of
+her name were those of the secret name which only the King-God knew, of
+the Unmentionable One, the Usa_kuma_.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 9
+
+
+Before the green tent strutted a sentry as pompously as if he were on duty
+before the Kommandant's bungalow. Inside, sprawling in a camp chair, was
+the corporal, in blue striped pyjamas, smoking a cigarette. Upon the floor
+crouched one of his women with a safety razor stuck in her woolly thatch,
+opening a can of beef. On the camp table were a bottle of brandy which had
+had its neck knocked off, a shaving mirror and an open tin of cigarettes.
+Squatting on the bed was another woman in field boots, cleaning up a can
+of salmon with one finger. The rest of the tent was a litter of broken
+cases, bottles, cans and papers.
+
+Ten yards away under the thorn shrub, lay Birnier, and near to him were
+Mungongo and the others. Mungongo's regard shuttled between this scene in
+the tent and the white man with a mingled expression of terror and
+amazement: terror at the temerity of the corporal in treating a white in
+such a manner and incredulous bewilderment that the white did not
+immediately strike them all dead. But the others, more sophisticated to
+the white man's ways, were solely occupied in envying the corporal's
+debauch.
+
+The mauve shadows turned to blue as they lengthened. The clouds of small
+flies thinned and their ranks began to be refilled by the mosquitoes.
+Birnier lay with his back to the tent with a fly switch of grass, but he
+watched the doings of the corporal covertly. The corporal and his women
+had been drinking a good deal of the brandy and now he was supplying
+generous quantities to his men. Once he had come out to jeer. Birnier had
+taken no notice, nor even of the kick implanted by one of his own field
+boots on the foot of the woman. Already there was a bloodshot glint in the
+corporal's yellow eyes and a pronounced uncertainty in his movements.
+Whether the man had had any particular instructions regarding the manner
+of his death Birnier did not know until he became loquacious and took to
+shouting insults at his white prisoner. The great white chief had given
+the white man to him as a slave, he yelled, and now he was going to take
+him home with him. This idea seemed to tickle him vastly and also his
+women, who giggled and applauded as the corporal began to describe what
+obscene acts they would make their white dog perform every day, what they
+would give him to eat, how he should be made to dance.
+
+They grew noisier and the women began to sing lewd songs. The soldiers too
+revealed signs of their frequent potations. Soon the whole crowd would go
+mad, Birnier knew, and sooner or later collapse, which would give him a
+chance to escape, unless they chained him, or, what was far more probable,
+they decided to bait him to death during an orgy. What they would probably
+do to him was unthinkable. Somehow he must find a way out by
+self-destruction. Even should he escape, he would be unarmed and without
+food, and there was every possibility that they would trail and overtake
+him in the morning. He was lame and footsore; also he was weak from want
+of food. Once, when despoiling his chop boxes, the corporal had
+contemptuously thrown him a half eaten tin of sardines and a cigarette. He
+let the cigarette lie. Nourishment he must have; and so after an inward
+struggle he had eaten it, having to claw out the fish like a monkey, while
+the big black and his women sprawled and laughed.
+
+The soldiers, except the one on sentry who still paced a trifle
+erratically, were grouped on their haunches around the fire in front of
+the tent on the threshold of which the corporal presided with as much
+pomposity as if he were the great Mogul, all drinking and smoking and
+eating. Now and again the women would screech insults over their heads at
+the white; and once the corporal threw an empty bottle at him, evoking a
+gale of applause. The women began the belly dance, crooning while the men
+accompanied with the rhythmic grunt, which ever leads to hysterical
+exaltation.
+
+The sun was dipping. They might come for him at any moment. He watched the
+sentry and contemplated making a rush, taking a venture on the man's bad
+aim and unsteady hand. They would not follow him far in the dark for dread
+of the spirits that walk by night. The only alternative to suicide was the
+river, in flood and full of crocodiles, a slender chance. He determined to
+try it. He considered making the attempt then. But the darker the better;
+they would more easily miss. At any risk he must never let them get their
+hands upon him. He drew himself together, flexing his limbs for a leap and
+a rush, anxiously observing the chanting crowd around the fire in the
+sunset glow.
+
+The leashes of discipline were fraying. The sentry still plodded up and
+down, but with a rolling eye for his companions. The working of his mind
+was revealed when he walked round tying knots in the long grass which, as
+every Munyamwezi knows, is a sure method to prevent a prisoner's escape;
+then he halted in front of Birnier, grinned, and pointed to the fire;
+evidently he knew or had heard that an orgy was coming. The man stood and
+watched him. Fearful that the fellow was about to drag him over or suggest
+that the victim be seized, if only in order to release him from his
+irksome duty, Birnier snatched up the cigarette lying in the grass and
+asked for a light to distract the man's attention. The sentry shook his
+head and pointed to the fire. Hastily Birnier searched his pockets for a
+match; recollected that he had used the last, and took out a small tin box
+of wax vestas wrapped in oiled silk which he kept as a reserve in a
+special pouch of his belt. In the very act of striking the match Birnier
+ejaculated: "God!"
+
+"Nini?" demanded the sentry.
+
+"I burned myself," returned Birnier.
+
+"Nothing to what you will soon!" retorted the nigger, grinning, made an
+obscene suggestion and swaggered across to the fire.
+
+Birnier cursed his own stupidity as he thought swiftly. If Mungongo and
+the others ran at the same time the numbers would confuse the soldiers the
+more. He spoke across to Mungongo in the Wongolo dialect, hoping that the
+Munyamwezi would not understand.
+
+"Let thy heart be like unto the bullet of my big gun, and obey me! When I
+throw up in the air this cigarette, thou shalt run and plunge into the
+river, but not into the depth; lie hidden in the reeds of the bank until
+thou shalt hear a frog croak thrice and then once. Come out and go to the
+frog, and be not afraid, for thou shalt see me in the spirit form. Dost
+understand?"
+
+"Truly, my master!"
+
+"Tell the washenzie that they also obey or shall my spirit eat them up as
+it shall these children of dung!"
+
+"Truly, master!"
+
+Birnier glanced at the horizon. The shadows had melted into the violet
+twilight, which in equatorial Africa is almost as short as the snuffing of
+a candle. The stars were popping out. Dusky forms were circling round the
+yellow of the fire which threw pale flickers on the figure of Corporal
+Inyira, revealing the beginning of the hysterical gleam in the yellows of
+his eyes as, reverting to habit, he squatted on his haunches in the chair.
+They might make a rush for the victims at any moment. The sentry,
+excitement overcoming discipline, was, rifle still in hand, dancing round
+the outskirts of the throng.
+
+Birnier threw the cigarette towards Mungongo. As he dived round the thorn
+bush he heard the rustle of movement and the "boy's" gasped exclamation to
+the others. The bank of the river was not fifteen yards away. On the brink
+Birnier crouched and listened. He heard a splash a little to the right,
+which was Mungongo or one of the others literally obeying his
+instructions.
+
+The mosquitoes buzzed and stung in clouds. A cricket shrilled persistently
+above the chorus of the frogs and the throb of the hand-drum and the
+chanting. The sentry had not yet discovered the flight; he was probably
+drunker than Birnier had guessed. By raising himself on his hands he could
+see the gleam of the fire and the inverted V of the tent through the
+scrub. He hesitated whether to begin operations immediately or wait until
+after they had discovered the flight and were further intoxicated. Yet the
+excitement of the loss of the prisoner might sober them a little, Birnier
+reflected. No, it did not matter even if they were completely sober. The
+spirits of the night would be perhaps more real to them then than when
+they were drugged by alcohol. Yet he would wait. They might come as far as
+the river with lanterns and should he be compelled to take to the water he
+would have to take the risk of crocodiles seizing him. Almost had he begun
+to curse the askaris for being so slow, when a rifle cracked and a bullet
+hummed over his head.
+
+He scrambled hastily down the bank, thinking for a moment that he had been
+spotted. But it must have been a random shot. The chanting ceased. A
+hoarse shout from the sentry was echoed by uproar from the others.
+
+Birnier crawled up the bank cautiously and peered. He could not see well,
+for one eye was nearly closed by mosquito bites, but he could make out
+vague forms passing and repassing across the glow of the fire. Lights
+glimmered. Amid shouts and yells, figures began to advance towards the
+river. Whether the water was deep or shallow he could not know; only could
+he make out in the sheen of the stars a dark patch of reed or bushes for
+some yards. He slid down the slope as noiselessly as possible, although
+the pursuers were making noise enough to scare all the spirits in Africa.
+He sank to his chest, standing on stones. He waded out a little, buried
+his head and shoulders behind a half-submerged bush, and remained still.
+
+For some time he could only hear the shouts and yells. He kept the water
+up to his chin and continuously splashed his face in the endeavour to
+slacken the efforts of the mosquitoes. The cries approached. He saw men
+outlined against the stars and then some gleams of lanterns. Something
+stirred ponderously near to him. It might be a crocodile, but he dared not
+move. The figures seemed to stay on the top of the bank for hours. He
+remained rigid, expecting a swirl of water and teeth.
+
+Suddenly a spurt of flame shot out above him and was followed by a
+fusillade of shots in the direction of up river. Had they spotted Mungongo
+or were they merely letting drive at a bush or the spirits in general? The
+latter was most probable. The water swirled near to him. All his will
+power was required not to leap frantically for the bank. Yet a crocodile
+would be far more merciful than those black devils. Again a swirl and
+something passed close to him at high speed. Probably an otter scared by
+the firing; at any rate it was not a crocodile. The lights and figures on
+the bank disappeared.
+
+Shots rang out again, and were followed by a wild outburst of yelling.
+Birnier began to wade for the bank, continually splashing water at the
+mosquitoes which were so thick that they reminded him of the bayou
+Lafourche in far-off Louisiana. Crouching, he waited on the edge of the
+bank to listen. The corporal might have had enough sense to post men in
+the grass. Yet he might be too fuddled to think of that, and no native
+would willingly stay there in the dark, unless under white discipline.
+Voices still muttered, but they sounded as if from the camp. Had they
+given him up for the night, relying on the chance that if he had not been
+taken by a crocodile they could trail him in the morning? Probably.
+
+Birnier squatted in the water, ready to plunge back, until he was sure
+they were in camp. Then as cautiously he crawled up the bank. Through the
+scrub with his uninjured eye he could make out the figures around the
+yellow of the fire which had gone down considerably. Now what would they
+do? He could hear the mumble of the corporal's voice. Would they be
+sufficiently sobered to be ready for the chase in the morning? Birnier did
+not think so with that case of brandy there; the corporal would not, at
+all events. There was a scream of pain and the chatter of women's voices.
+
+Was the corporal punishing the sentry for having let the prisoners escape,
+or were they beginning to fight among themselves? The latter was
+improbable, as non-commissioned officers are usually chosen from petty
+chiefs and the men under them, as far as possible, from their own village.
+Had they captured Mungongo or one of the others? Birnier listened again.
+Another scream was stoppered to a groan.
+
+"Devils!" muttered Birnier. Lying flat to watch the grass and shrub tops
+against the stars, he gave the frog croaks arranged, at intervals of ten
+seconds. About five minutes later he saw some grass tops quiver
+unnaturally. He croaked again. Came a whisper:
+
+"Is it thee, Infunyana?" (a name given in reference to Birnier's gold
+fillings).
+
+"Aye." A dark form glided towards him. "Where are the other men?"
+
+"I know not. I told them as thou hadst told me to do. When thou didst give
+the sign, I fled and plunged into the river."
+
+"Thou wast not frightened of the crocodiles?"
+
+"Nay; for I have a mighty charm against all river beasts, enchanted by
+Bakahenzie, the greatest of magicians."
+
+"Ehh!" commented Birnier, contorting his swollen lips in the dark, "would
+that I had such an one! Thinkest thou that the men did as they were
+bidden?"
+
+"Who knows what is in the heart of a goat?" returned Mungongo
+contemptuously, for they were of another tribe.
+
+"Ah, listen!"
+
+The mutter of the hand-drum grew swifter as a high tenor chanted to the
+accompaniment of the abdominal grunting and the laryngeal shrilling:
+
+ "We have come from afar from the Place of the waters!
+ From the place where dwells the mighty Eater-of-Men!
+ Hard was the road as the hills of Kilimanjaro!
+ Hot was the sun as the wrath of Inyira the bold!
+                The son of Banyala!
+                Ough! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ough!
+                E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!
+
+ But strong are we still as the trunk of an elephant!
+ For have we not walked in the shade of a great chief!
+ Blacker and fiercer than the male rhinoceros!
+ Swifter and more terrible than the mother of whelps?
+                The son of Banyala!
+                Ough! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ough!
+                E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!
+
+ What hath he given us to tickle our spears?
+ A dainty white dog whose meat is so tender!
+ Fattened and groomed by the Eater-of-Men!
+ A gift from the great Chief to his ally and friend.
+                The son of Banyala!
+                Ough! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ough!
+                E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!
+
+ We will tickle his white flesh with the tongue of our spears!
+ Our women shall pluck out his hair and his manhood!
+ He shall dance to our liking in the midst of the fire!
+ His girl screams for mercy shall lave hungry ears of ----!
+                The son of Banyala!
+                Ough! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ough!
+                E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!
+
+ Great was the gift of the great Eater-of-Men!
+ A white slave so sleek to dance the dance of the ants!
+ Eh! We'll slit up his nostrils and pull out his hairs!
+ A white slave and four black ones to wait on one great chief!
+                The son of Banyala!
+                Ough! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ough!
+                E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h!
+
+"Those children of folly have not obeyed," whispered Birnier. "The time is
+come.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Wait here for me, O Mungongo. I go to take my spirit form. When I
+return be not afraid!"
+
+"Truly," answered Mungongo, as Birnier crawled away and down the bank. By
+the water's edge he swiftly stripped himself to his moccasins and taking
+out the wax vestas, damped each precious one and carefully rubbed lines
+over his face and body, endeavouring to get the most distinctive
+phosphorescent effect around the eyes. Leaving his clothes he crawled back
+to Mungongo.
+
+"Ehh!" exclaimed Mungongo in a muffled scream when he saw the glowing
+apparition. Birnier heard the rustle of grass. As the boy stood up to run
+he leaped and pulled him down savagely.
+
+"Be quiet, thou fool!" he whispered. "It is I. Be silent!"
+
+"Eh! Eh!" gasped Mungongo, who was trembling violently.
+
+"If thou dost not be quiet will I tie up thy heart," threatened Birnier.
+
+Mungongo continued to quiver, but he remained passive.
+
+"Eh! Eh!" he gasped, "truly thou art a more mighty magician than
+Bakahenzie."
+
+"Be quiet!"
+
+The drums and the song were still going and the chant had become more
+obscene.
+
+"Follow me!" whispered Birnier, when Mungongo was more reassured.
+
+They made a detour. As they drew near they could hear muffled screams and
+groans beneath the howl of the chorus and song. The mighty son of Banyala
+and his merry men were so engrossed in the orgy that Birnier could have
+walked right up to the fire before anyone would have seen him. But he
+would not take any unnecessary risk. Leaving Mungongo outside he crawled
+under the back flap of the tent. Crouched there he paused. The tent was
+empty; for all were engaged in the dance. His two shot-guns and two light
+rifles were stacked in the corner and the big express which the corporal
+had appropriated, leaned against the tent door behind the chair. He
+glanced hurriedly around for ammunition, but he could not see any open,
+and he had left his belt of cartridges with his clothes. Outside the men
+and women were circling in contrary directions, each with a spear, a knife
+or a firebrand in hand, around the fire beside which, trussed like bundles
+of faggots, were the four servants, their feet singeing on the outside hot
+ashes.
+
+For a second Birnier hesitated. He could not know whether any of the guns
+was loaded. The fire was of glowing embers which did not throw much light
+into the tent. Swiftly Birnier rose and glided into his own chair in the
+deep shadow of the tent flap. Then summoning all his nerve he uttered a
+yell and began to shout the first song which he could recollect:
+
+  "Hurrah! Hurrahhhhhhh! It is the Jubileeeee!
+  Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that set you free!"
+
+The native minstrel stopped in the middle of his chant; the whole
+shuffling, grunting crowd was petrified in as many different poses.
+Birnier leaped to his feet waving his arms wildly, yelling:
+
+  "Thus we sang the chor-uss from Atlanta to the Sea-aa!
+  As we {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
+
+But before he had gotten to "Georgia," only the prostrate forms around the
+fire had not fled.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 10
+
+
+On the morning of Birnier's departure there was much movement in Ingonya
+station. Every sign of preparation for the expedition had been carefully
+concealed while a stranger was in the vicinity. Trumpets blared
+importantly. On the great parade ground companies were formed, long lines
+of rigid, ebon figures, down which strolled zu Pfeiffer inspecting
+personally kits and rifles. Afterwards they were drawn up before the
+flag-pole. In an address zu Pfeiffer informed them that they served under
+a greater Bwana than he, the greatest Bwana in the countries of the white
+or the black, who was the son of Ngai (an uncertain term meaning "son of
+God" or the "son of nobody"); that the flag they bore, the brother of the
+big one upon the pole, was so powerful in magic that none could withstand
+it, the Totem of the Bwana Mkubwa Kuba. No wives were allowed for black or
+white, and he himself set them the example; for they were embarking on a
+war expedition to take a country which they knew was full of ivory, cattle
+and women.
+
+The row upon row of eyes in black faces bulged, as from the mass came the
+long grunt of assent and allegiance. The three white sergeants barked at
+their various companies, which wheeled into column formation and marched
+past zu Pfeiffer beneath the flag in review order, their alignment and
+precision a credit to their drill masters. Down below the fort on the
+mouth of the bayou Sergeant Ludwig superintended the overhauling of the
+steam-launch, and a native sergeant and a file of men overseered lines of
+carriers bearing white men's provisions, the bulk of which was zu
+Pfeiffer's personal supplies. Around the launch was a flotilla of native
+canoes in charge of a small crowd of nude Kavirondo paddlers, jabbering at
+the prospect of a war expedition.
+
+Most of the day zu Pfeiffer spent in the orderly room going over documents
+and giving detailed instructions to the grizzled Sergeant Schneider, who
+was to take over the station with fifty of the least competent men,
+pending the arrival of an officer, which again would depend upon the
+success of the expedition. In zu Pfeiffer's manner was evident the
+controlled excitement of a boy on the eve of a house match, and indeed for
+him it was the game for which he was bred and lived, "das Kriegspiel."
+Perpetually his long fingers caressed the sentry moustaches; an unusual
+glitter was in his blue eyes.
+
+The personality of Birnier had been apparently wiped from his mind as a
+spoor in the sand by rain; indeed in addition to the competing excitement
+of the expedition, the previous night's alcoholic and sentimental debauch
+had served to exhaust the emotions stimulated by jealousy. To him had
+appeared an obstruction in his emotional life in the shape of the husband
+of the woman whom he adored; therefore, according to his nature and
+training, he had endeavoured to remove that obstacle as swiftly and as
+efficiently as possible. Superlative confidence in himself, reflected in
+his pride of family and nationality, the apotheosis of which was the
+Kaiser, enabled him to devote all his energies to the business in hand,
+never doubting that his interpretation of native psychology would ensure
+the extinction of his adversary.
+
+Beyond the mere joy of the game of war was present the fundamental impulse
+to win the approval of the All Highest by gaining another place in the sun
+as well as the half-suppressed conviction that such a distinction would
+naturally further his suit in love. In the orbit of these two poles
+revolved the life actions of zu Pfeiffer.
+
+That evening zu Pfeiffer dined as leisurely and as sumptuously as usual;
+drank his port and smoked his cigar while his servants packed the last of
+his kitchen battery. Then at the first green of the moon he gave the order
+to march.
+
+The three companies of askaris fell in, marched down to the bayou and
+embarked without fuss or confusion, each group under a non-commissioned
+officer to the appointed canoe.
+
+The launch laboured busily out of the bayou past misty reed-girt islands
+into the indolent waters of the great lake, dragging after her the fleet
+of forty odd canoes. A cigar under the awning of the tiny poop suggested a
+great firefly in the blue shadows, where lounged zu Pfeiffer with his
+favourite brandy and seltzer at his elbow.
+
+Resembling an enormous water-fowl leading a strange black brood, the
+launch towed the flotilla through the night. A war chant pulsed like a
+fevered heart as the moon upon her back lazily chased the stars into the
+dawn upon her way to her home in the Mountains of the Moon, to be in turn
+extinguished by a furious sun. And all that day, while incandescent heat
+tried to boil illimitable waters, the strange fowl waddled on with her
+noxious brood. Huddled in the cramped canoes the soldiers slept and
+snuffed and sang, to which zu Pfeiffer contentedly listened beneath the
+awning. Three times grey walls of falling water enveloped them, sending
+frantic black hands to bailing. Once more the moon made the skies to
+laugh. When the sun had played his part of a flaming Nemesis, a fringe
+grew upon the horizon like the stubble upon a white man's chin.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer had calculated to arrive at the village of Timballa just
+within the river at sundown. The headman came down to the strand to meet
+them. Immediately he was seized, and the soldiers, as joyous and as
+mischievous as children released from school, surrounded the village.
+
+Sitting in full uniform upon the poop of the launch, together with the two
+sergeants, zu Pfeiffer held a shauri and demanded sufficient paddlers to
+man his forty canoes. The headman, to whom all white men were alike,
+thought they were British and hastened to proffer his services, promising
+that the Bwana should have the men within two days. Zu Pfeiffer curtly
+ordered him to procure them before the sun was overhead on the next day;
+and to insure that he was obeyed, detained him as hostage and forbade any
+man to pass his line of pickets around the village. The old man protested
+that they had not sufficient men in the village, but zu Pfeiffer's spies
+had afforded him practically correct information. He gave the headman the
+right to send a number of messengers, each accompanied by a soldier, to
+the neighbouring villages and promised him fifty lashes and to rase his
+village, if the paddlers were not forthcoming.
+
+Solely because he wished to give his men time to recover from their
+stiffness did he not insist upon starting that night upon the river trip.
+As a good commander he considered his men from every point of view of
+efficiency. They loved him. He was a warrior chief as they understood such
+to be; carefully he fostered their warrior pride; never were they ordered
+to work at menial offices, to fetch or to carry; only to drill and to
+fight; his punishments were ferocious, but he gave them liberty in pillage
+and rape. Eh! but the Eater-of-Men was a mighty chief! and of his name
+they boasted to every man.
+
+With foresight he had demanded twice as many men as he needed, knowing
+that the panic-stricken chief would round up the halt, the blind, and the
+sick. By an hour after the stipulated time they were assembled in the
+village, a motley crew. Those of the most powerful physique he selected to
+man the soldiers' canoes, and the next in competency he allotted to the
+baggage canoes.
+
+They started immediately. They made about two and a half miles an hour,
+for although the river was swollen it was sluggish and slow streamed,
+tortuous. Each canoe load of soldiers was made responsible for the
+paddlers and the speed was set by zu Pfeiffer in a large canoe with
+Sakamata as guide. Never had those paddlers driven canoes so speedily and
+persistently. At sundown they halted in a convenient bend where there was
+no village near; pickets were set on the bank and no other man allowed to
+land, no lights and no talking. They were ordered to rest.
+
+At the first glint of the moon they started again. The canoes were hauled
+by the aid of the soldiers over the slight rapids which divided the river
+into pools in the dry season. Throughout the night the misty forest and
+swamp slipped by to the perpetual rhythm of the paddles. About the hour of
+the monkey a hippopotamus charged the flotilla and upset two boats. Zu
+Pfeiffer forbade any shooting, nor would he permit the expedition a
+moment's delay to pick up the occupants. Just as they heard the distant
+crowing of cocks from the village for which they were bound, four paddlers
+collapsed. The soldiers, acting on their own initiative, threw them
+overboard to swim if they could, and took the paddles themselves.
+Afterwards they were thrashed for disobedience to orders in having given a
+possible chance for one of the men to escape to warn the Wongolo. At an
+hour after sunrise they arrived at the village. The majority of the
+paddlers were so exhausted that they dropped in the canoes and had to be
+thrown ashore, where they lay inert, their backs, bloody with the urgent
+bayonet pricks, caking in the sun.
+
+Beyond this point the river was not navigable, but the village was upon
+the Wongolo border and within two days or fifteen hours' continuous march
+of MFunya MPopo's (as zu Pfeiffer knew it). Zu Pfeiffer adopted the same
+tactics to procure porters. But to the chief, in case he should require
+his services again, he gave an extravagant present and left bales of cloth
+for the carriers upon their return. Zu Pfeiffer and Sergeant Ludwig
+travelled in machilas (hammocks) each with a crew of six; the soldiers
+carried nothing save their rifles, double cartridge belts, a day's
+rations; the pick of the carriers bore ammunition and the two Nordenfeldts
+and two pom-poms slung upon poles, and the chop boxes; the men's blankets
+and the heavy stuff were to follow more slowly under Sergeant Schultz and
+fifty men. The country between this village and MFunya MPopo's was mostly
+forest and very sparsely inhabited, which afforded some shade and
+concealment, and lessened the risk of a warning being given.
+
+The expedition started at noon. The carriers were kept on the native
+shuffling lope by the aid of attentions from the askaris. Two unfortunate
+small villages which lay on the line of march were surrounded and the
+inhabitants massacred. Twenty porters collapsed; they were bayoneted to
+prevent any chance of a successful ruse in escaping to give the alarm, and
+their loads given to relay men brought for that purpose. The column halted
+at sundown. The men ate their rations, but the carriers were too exhausted
+to eat; they drank water and lay prostrate. According to Sakamata they
+were within two hands' breadth of the moon of Kawa Kendi's.
+
+In full uniform of white, girded with sword and revolver, zu Pfeiffer ate,
+drank, and smoked cigars until the forest roof was patterned against the
+cold pallor of the moon. Then, after giving final instructions to Sergeant
+Ludwig and the various native non-commissioned officers, he ordered the
+jabbering men to march, with the carriers staggering on at the point of
+the bayonet.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 11
+
+
+The doom pronounced by the Council of Witch-Doctors was to Bakuma and all
+concerned as a Bull of Excommunication in mediaeval Europe. MYalu was the
+one who exhibited the most emotion. Had he not paid seven tusks of good
+ivory to have the object of his passion placed under the most terrible
+tabu? Against Marufa, who had seemingly betrayed him, was his anger
+directed. But the rage of MYalu was tempered with fear. A man had not
+merely to kill an enemy: he had also to appease his justly wrathful ghost;
+and who knew what the disembodied spirit of the most powerful magician in
+the land, save Bakahenzie, could do! Moreover, no other wizard would give
+him absolution in the form of the magic of purification. A chief though he
+be; he dared not slay a magician. He sought Marufa and found him as usual
+squatting on his threshold contemplating infinity in a mud wall. He
+saluted Marufa politely, choking back words of bitter recrimination, for
+if he even offended him, the wizard might cast a spell upon him instantly.
+Marufa returned the greeting as courteously as ever. When at length MYalu
+reproachfully reminded him of the seven tusks which he had paid apparently
+to secure his love's terrible fate, Marufa replied uninterestedly:
+
+"I have done that for which thou hast paid."
+
+"What man buyeth a bride for another?" retorted MYalu.
+
+"When I did make magic upon 'the things' did I place in the power of the
+spirits the owner. Behold, hath not the owner of 'the things' been
+accursed?"
+
+"Ehh!" gasped MYalu. "But how may that be? Didst thou not thyself take the
+paring and the hair?"
+
+"I bade the One who is tabu to bring them that he might be bewitched to
+her girdle. She thought to deceive me by bringing that which was of
+herself."
+
+"E--eh!" muttered MYalu, impressed at the awful effect of deceiving a
+wizard. Marufa continued to stare. MYalu meditated ruefully.
+
+"But the tusks," murmured MYalu at length dismally.
+
+"It is not I who have two tongues," responded Marufa indifferently.
+
+And with that MYalu had to rest content. Marufa indeed had no interest at
+all in the passions of Zalu Zako, MYalu and Bakuma. Merely the time had
+come for the witch-doctors to choose the victim for the Harvest Festival:
+Bakuma was young and good looking, a dainty morsel that should please the
+taste of the officiating doctors, and her owner and uncle was a man of no
+importance: so accordingly he had made known the sin of her name through
+the divination.
+
+In the solitude of his own hut upon the hill Zalu Zako sat and pondered
+sulkily. His young and fierce temper was stimulated and the seed of
+rebellion against the domination of the priesthood was quickened by the
+fate of his new love; although the masonic secrets of the craft were
+denied to him, he, as son of the royal house, was suspicious of the powers
+of the Unmentionable One and the priesthood, as many an one had been
+before him; yet in spite of that the verdict was absolute, for he was too
+crushed by terror of the consequences to permit of any hope of annulling
+it.
+
+The fiat not only doomed Bakuma to a terrible death at the third blooming
+of the moon, but from that very instant the tabu came into force; for
+being thus accursed by the possession of two sounds of the sacred name,
+she was deemed unholy. Her half-sisters and their mother, with whom Bakuma
+shared the hut, fled to another and were exorcised by the wizard, which,
+as everybody knows, is an expensive ceremony; gourds and pots, spoons and
+utensils of all sorts, were left to the sole use of the unclean one and
+would be burned upon her demise. A magic line was drawn around the hut out
+of which the soul of the girl as she slept could not escape to bewitch
+anybody. Neither her name nor anything that had been hers would be ever
+mentioned again; any word of a household article or any thing or beast
+which had one syllable of the name "Bakuma" was changed, lest the user be
+accursed and bewitched.
+
+For the whole day, in this isolation, sat the girl Bakuma, Marufa's
+useless love charm clutched in her hand, as bewildered as if the earth had
+suddenly turned inside out under this fact so stupendous and stupefying.
+She did not weep. She squatted in the door, her eyes staring with the
+glazed inquiring expression of a dying gazelle, a bronze question to Fate.
+At the feeding time her mother threw her bananas into the circle. Bakuma
+looked at them as they flopped near to her as if she did not realize what
+they were. She made no stir to cook or prepare them. The cool twilight
+came and passed like a blue breath. Above the insectile chorus of the
+night beneath the crystal stars came the faint thrumming of a drum from
+MKoffo's hill. The sound of music and dancing reminded Bakuma of her
+ambitious dreams. She could neither weep nor wail; she merely emitted a
+faint gasping sound. But her mind began to work jerkily, yet more
+fluently. Visions of the form of Zalu Zako were weaved and spun in the
+darkness: the lithe walk of him, the haughty carriage of the head. Slowly
+greened the sky until the banana fronds were etched in sepia against the
+swollen moon. The dismal croak of the Baroto bird shattered the black
+cocoon of Bakuma's mind.
+
+"Aie-eee! the foul bird of my despair!" she wailed, and at last wept. Then
+she rose and flitted like some green ghost into the plantation and across
+to the place of water where her lover had first spoken her sweet, recking
+naught in her mist of despair of spirits of the night nor of the breaking
+of the magic circle. The moon spattered the squatted form with blue
+spangles and turned the falling tears to quivering opals. Bakuma broke
+into wild lament.
+
+  "The black Goat hath cried three times in my hut!
+  My soul hath wandered and been caught in a trap!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  A wizard hath stolen a hair from my head!
+  The beak of Baroto pecketh my gall!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  A rival hath lain in wait for my love!
+  She hath slain my bird in the nest of his breast!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  A porcupine dwells in the place of my heart!
+  The bird of my soul is fluttering faint!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  An ember of fire hath entered my mouth!
+  The milk of my breasts is curdled to-night!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  The strings of my bosom are tied with fine knots!
+  My belly is void! My nipples are dead!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  A monkey hath bitten the back of my tongue!
+  Hath stolen my breath to make magic by night!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  The blood in my veins hath turned to sour porridge!
+  My throat is choked up by the sudd of the Lake!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  A grey forest rat hath swallowed my heart!
+  My thighs have been scratched by a poisonous thorn!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeee!"
+
+As the last quiver of the wail blended with the anthem of the forest came
+from a figure squatted above the ford of the river, his spear a blue flame
+in the moonlight, an answer:
+
+  "My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her flesh will be tasted by a hungrier mouth!
+  Her flesh which is sweeter than honey and wine!
+  Her flesh which is softer than a newly born kid!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!
+
+  My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her breasts will be pillowed by a much broader chest!
+  Her breasts which do swell like a tender young gourd!
+  Her breasts which are as firm as the meat of the plum!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!"
+
+And answered Bakuma's wail:
+
+                 "Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
+
+  "My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her chines will be gripped by a far fiercer hand!
+  Her chines which are smoother than elephants' tusks!
+  Her chines which are as plump as the breast of a fowl!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her eyes will be touched by longer fingers than mine!
+  Her eyes which are like unto moons veiled by rain!
+  Her eyes which are like the starlit river at dawn!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her scent will be drunk by nostrils broader than mine!
+  Her scent which is pungent and sweet like the smoke!
+  Her scent which slakes thirst more than driest of beer!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her breath will be sipped by a thirstier throat!
+  Her breath which is hotter than the flame of a fire!
+  Her breath which makes more drunken than enemies' blood!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
+
+  My love hath been taken by a greater than I!
+  Her voice will be heard by ears mightier than mine!
+  Her voice which is like unto burbling beer!
+  Her voice which is gentler than the rustle of fronds!
+                 Ough! My spear is bent!
+                 Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
+
+A slight breeze stirred gently the trees. The crickets shrilled their
+perpetual chorus. A crocodile flopped in the river. Dogs yapped from a
+village down the river. Again Bakuma lifted up her voice:
+
+  "Mightier than elephants was the tread of my man!
+  Keener than a leopard was the flash of his eye!
+  Stronger than an oak tree was the strength of his arm!
+  Swifter than lightning was the stroke of his spear!
+                 Enemies died!
+
+  Taller than the wine palm was the height of my man!
+  Broader than the temple was the span of his chest!
+  More graceful than antelope was the carriage of him!
+  More slender than saplings was the build of his legs!
+                 Women lamented!
+
+  Sweeter than warm honey was the scent of my man!
+  Whiter than a spear flash was the gleam of his teeth!
+  Fiercer than scorpions was the grip of his hand!
+  Smooth and like stone was----"
+
+A gale of yells and shots destroyed the song of Bakuma like a foot
+crushing a flower.
+
+Zalu Zako leaped to his feet and stood for a moment listening intently.
+Across the river some strange beast spat spears of red flames. A little
+farther down another beast coughed violently like a hippopotamus. The sky
+seemed falling. Such volumes of sound he had never heard before.
+
+As he raced with the speed of a koodoo through the plantation he saw the
+glow of fire ahead and heard the moan of some terrible monster near him.
+He leaped five feet in the air as the world appeared to crack in half
+beside him. He felt a sting like a brand of fire in his shoulder, but he
+ran on towards the village from whence fled dim figures on all sides amid
+shouts and screams and wailing.
+
+Several huts were already blazing. The leviathan coughed and moaned again
+and once more the earth seemed to crash to pieces near him. Appalled and
+bewildered, choking with rage, he reached the outer enclosure where his
+fellow warriors were shouting and yelling that the white gods were
+attacking. Bakahenzie, gun in hand, was bidding them charge they knew not
+what. Then out of the clutter of the village broke line upon line of
+yelling figures clothed in uniform. Screaming the battle-cry, the warriors
+charged, led by Zalu Zako, Bakahenzie, and Kawa Kendi, who in the
+excitement had dashed from the enclosure. Howls and yells were drowned in
+the spiteful crackle and cough. Warriors were mown like weeds under a
+sickle. Scarce a hundred scrambled inside the enclosure at the rallying
+call from Bakahenzie.
+
+Again came a short rush of those uniformed figures; again scarlet spears
+pierced the green moonlight like a hailstorm; small red flames rippled in
+a line resembling a forest fire as the soldiers charged through and over
+the palisade. Hand to hand was the fighting, spear and sword against
+bayonet and rifle around the idol, the askaris outyelling the warriors.
+The temple was on fire. In the light of the flames they saw a tall figure
+in white with a glow of fire in his mouth and magic eyes upon his hands,
+eyes which flashed rays of scarlet and blue as he cut and hacked at the
+base of the idol.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+"Tarum hath come!" screamed some one, and as the cry was taken up, the
+Unmentionable One tottered and crashed to the ground.
+
+They fled, Zalu Zako, Bakahenzie and those that were left.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 12
+
+
+The village of Yagonyana, the son of Zahilazaan, was situated some five
+days' march to the north-west of Kawa Kendi's, in open cattle country near
+the fringe of the forest. Here were gathered nearly every witch-doctor and
+warrior of the tribe. Most of the women, children, and slaves had been
+sent still farther to the west, driving the cattle before them.
+
+Bakahenzie, Zalu Zako, Marufa, and all those warriors who had escaped from
+the massacre by zu Pfeiffer were distinguished from their brethren by
+circles of yellow earth around each left eye, and each right breast and
+arm was smeared with red, which is part of the ceremony of magic
+purification for those who have slain, lest, as is well known, the ghost
+of the dead wreak their wrath upon their slayers.
+
+The affairs of the tribe were in a parlous state. The netting of the tabu
+had been tangled by the death of the King-God, Kawa Kendi, and the
+unprecedented act of the overthrow of the idol. Kawa Kendi's body, which
+had not been recovered so that the doctors could release his unhappy soul,
+might be used to make more magic against the tribe.
+
+For three weeks there had been much discussion among the doctors, the
+chiefs, and the people. Opinions were at variance; no two men could agree.
+Lesser wizards, who before had been content with the perquisites of the
+smaller offices, were now made drunken by the insecurity of Bakahenzie's
+position. Each of the doctors, seeing a chance to prove his superior merit
+and win Bakahenzie's post as chief doctor, had busily made magic to
+destroy the usurper, and each and every one provided a different reason
+for the failure thereof. Every day came news of the doings of the white
+god with eyes upon his hands, of shootings and floggings, of the burning
+of the village including the idol, the temple, and the sacred tombs of
+MFunya MPopo, of MKoffo, of MZrakombinyana, and other kings before them.
+
+The council of the craft could not even decide whether Zalu Zako was to be
+King-God or not. Bakahenzie, whose interest lay in supporting the dynasty
+of the present royal family, maintained that he should be anointed
+forthwith. But with the downfall of the idol and his own impotence to make
+successful magic, Bakahenzie's prestige had been badly shaken; no longer
+dared he issue dicta autocratically. As ever, political ambition tore
+patriotism to shreds.
+
+Marufa, former close ally of Bakahenzie, but lacking his active principle,
+continued to mutter incantations most impressively by himself, waiting
+cautiously to see which side of the river the arrow fell. Bakahenzie
+became seriously alarmed at the growth of Yabolo's faction and the
+indifference of Marufa. He knew well that submission would entail the loss
+of his post as well as his worldly goods; and he was aware that all men
+knew that his most potent and strenuous magic had failed as utterly as
+that of the youngest novice in the craft. His only chance to retrieve a
+portion of his lost reputation was to invent a more plausible excuse for
+failure than any other doctor had done. He did.
+
+Although he did not know that Bakuma had broken the magic circle of her
+own volition, he had the shrewd imagination to suggest that she had either
+fled with the other women during the attack or that, even if she had
+stayed, the askaris would have taken her from the hut. Therefore did he
+demand an assembly of the craft and chiefs. One of the reasons, if not the
+reason, of Bakahenzie's success, as of other witch-doctors before, such as
+Savonarola, had been a faculty, inspired by, or derived from, hysterical
+epilepsy, of working himself up at will into a state of convulsion without
+actual loss of consciousness and the spectacular exhibition of foam, which
+no other sorcerer had been able to simulate so successfully. Therefore
+Bakahenzie invoked the great Tarum (apotheosis of ancestors' spirits) who,
+through the convulsed body, did proclaim that the disaster had been caused
+by the breaking of the magic circle by one whose name was accursed; and
+that only could the magic of Bakahenzie be made potent, and the consequent
+overthrow of the Eyes-in-the-hands be assured, by the sacrifice of the
+victim to her destiny as the Bride of the Banana.
+
+Marufa, appreciating the shrewdness of this move, immediately abandoned
+his incantations to reassume his allegiance to the cause of Bakahenzie.
+The prophecy was hailed by nearly every one as a most timely excuse for
+the failure of magic in general. The miraculous recall of the
+Unmentionable One now seemed so easy of accomplishment through the person
+of Bakuma that many of those who had sided with Yabolo deserted him,
+foreseeing the renewed ascendancy of Bakahenzie and fearing his wrath.
+
+Yabolo, however, made an attempt to recover the lost adherents by
+protesting that the Moon of the Harvest Festival had not yet come, and
+that therefore victory could not be obtained until two more moons had
+waned. But MYalu saw that by submitting to the new god he might be able to
+have removed the tabu upon Bakuma--all things were possible to one who had
+overthrown the Unmentionable One--and thus obtain her by the price of
+submission; also he might possibly recover his wealth of ivory abandoned
+after the massacre. Therefore did he with his people go over to the Yabolo
+faction.
+
+Uproar and confusion ensued. Bakahenzie recovered from his trance with
+unprecedented rapidity and even did not require to be told what the spirit
+of Tarum had said through his lips. The tribe was split into fiercer
+factions than ever. They argued and screamed and cursed. Bakahenzie had
+lost the hold over them; for as the god, of which he was the sponsor, was
+dead, his credit had gone too. He dared no longer to remove a troublesome
+brother or chief by magic. His only hope was to restore the god: so to
+that end he declared that Zalu Zako must be anointed King-God. Uproar
+arose once more. But Bakahenzie's purpose had been served; he had diverted
+their attention from the subject of submission.
+
+From time to time came terrified runners with horrific stories of the
+burning of villages, of massacre and rapine. Bakahenzie, determined not to
+yield, secretly dispatched a slave to Eyes-in-the-hands with an arrow
+which is a sign of war; Yabolo, whose mind ran in the same tracts, sent a
+banana which is a sign of peace. In the meantime factions grew and
+multiplied. One chief counselled his followers to take their cattle and
+women and seek to conquer another tribe to the south-west; another wished
+to go west. But each and every follower began to bargain with his chief
+for disproportionate rewards for service. Two chiefs and five hundred men
+started to the south-west, but they returned because they had met in their
+path the skeleton of a slain elephant, which is, as everybody knows, a
+sure sign of disaster.
+
+Bakahenzie sent runners far and wide to discover Bakuma. As she could not
+be found he concluded that she had been killed or taken as a slave and
+urged the warriors to fight. Zalu Zako immediately desired the anointing
+to be delayed in order that he should not be debarred from fighting.
+Bakahenzie, none too sure of his authority, was compelled to acquiesce.
+Marufa, observing that the arrow was still in the air, took to his
+non-committal incantations again. Bakahenzie strove to keep the warriors
+and chiefs occupied by dissension until the result of his challenge to
+battle should mature. Yabolo, equally perturbed for his influence, did
+exactly the same with the banana in view.
+
+Yabolo and MYalu contemplated going in to make submission, but the former
+wished to negotiate through Sakamata for the best terms, although he tried
+to persuade MYalu to go; but MYalu was suspicious and would not do so
+without Yabolo. But at the hour of the monkey one morning came a terrified
+goatherd crying news that cut the tangled threads of their intrigues as a
+sword cuts a goat's throat. The white god, Eyes-in-the-hands, was within
+an arrow's flight of the village of Yagonyana.
+
+Consternation ensued. The village and the temporary camp of grass huts
+buzzed and hummed. Zalu Zako dashed out, sword and spear in hand, and in
+the glow of the awakened fires harangued the warriors, urged that they
+should make a swift detour through the forest and attack the white man as
+he entered the village. Bakahenzie supported this plan of campaign. MYalu,
+stung by the recollection of the loss of many tusks to the invader,
+incontinently abandoned Yabolo and pressed for a frontal attack. Yabolo
+contended that they send an envoy to make terms, but not very insistently.
+In spite of the assurance of Sakamata, he was suspicious of the new god's
+gentle ways. Marufa, the wise, collected those of his household who had
+remained with him, and quietly made his way to the forest.
+
+But Zalu Zako's martial spirit was overcome by the clamour of those who
+would flee before worse befell, crying that the white god,
+Eyes-in-the-hands, would eat them all up with the terrible monsters who
+coughed flames and death; others screeched that the uniformed devils were
+spirits of the night and therefore invincible; for always they came in the
+dark. So they hesitated, shouted and argued. Then came a scout screaming
+that the enemy was upon them, corroborated by a vicious cough.
+
+A pom-pom shell landed in the midst of the crowded village. Zalu Zako,
+Bakahenzie and their small following were nearly swept away in the rush of
+five thousand odd warriors in flight. From the forest they watched with
+awestruck eyes the burning of the village.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 13
+
+
+On the morning on which zu Pfeiffer burned the village of Yagonyana,
+Birnier was encamped upon the southern boundary of Wongolo. By his "coup
+de superstition" had he recovered all his equipment except several bottles
+of brandy, some canned goods and two and a half pairs of pyjamas; also the
+field boots. The noble Inyira, son of Banyala, and his merry men never
+attempted to recapture their prisoners; no one save the Eater-of-Men in
+person could have persuaded them to return to that camp even had they had
+their rifles.
+
+After Birnier had dressed his own foot and the charred feet of his men,
+had had a good drink and a better meal, he had sought to address the
+balance of his mind through a medium designed for the cure of melancholy,
+but efficacious for many other ills, _The Anatomy of Melancholy_. He
+opened the one big volume which had been his companion throughout his
+travels at a page marked at haphazard by an ivory paper knife with the
+American flag upon the flat hilt, an early gift from Lucille, and began to
+read the remarks of Robert Burton of quaintly glorious memory upon the
+source of his late adventure.
+
+"Those which are jealous, most part, if they be not otherwise relieved,
+proceed from suspicion to hatred, from hatred to frenzy, madness, injury,
+murder and despair {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Amestris, Xerxes's wife, because she found her
+husband's cloak in Masista's house, cut off Masista's wife's paps and gave
+them to the dogs, flayed her besides and cut off her ears, lips, tongue,
+and slit the nose of Artaynta, her daughter."
+
+
+
+"Cheerful lady! She ought to have been zu Pfeiffer's wife," commented
+Birnier and went to sleep.
+
+Birnier arose feeling rational enough to reconsider his position. The
+recollection of the signature on the photograph now failed to stimulate
+the emotional reaction as once it had done. The experience through which
+he had passed had had a beneficial effect in breaking or disconnecting the
+train of suggestive images. At first in the recess of his mind had lurked
+the desire to abandon everything, to rush straight to Lucille to demand an
+explanation. Now the rising sun of reason cast quite different shadows
+upon the incident. The high light was the fact that should he do so he
+would be sacrificing his mission for what might prove to be ridiculous. As
+his mind contemplated the subject the echo of "a toi, Lucille" tended to
+carry a high note, but this he vented by writing a long letter to Lucille
+recounting the facts and frankly admitting that he had been sufficiently
+insane with jealousy to "go up in the air." Once or twice he ceased to
+write and gazed anxiously into the glare as his imagination suggested the
+long period of waiting for an answer, wondering whether the echo of that
+cursed "a toi" might not become unbearably shrill. He became a little more
+sentimental towards the end of the letter, remarking that perhaps he had
+been wrong in deserting her for so long and emphasising the rather
+ridiculous point that he was aware that he was not a young man. However,
+he let it remain, and at the first opportunity sent off the letter by
+runner to the nearest station in Uganda, together with an order for
+certain goods to be sent to a village on the Wongolo border.
+
+Although still inclined to be emotional over the photograph, Birnier did
+not waste any energy over vindictive thoughts upon zu Pfeiffer, whom he
+philosophically regarded as irresponsible for his actions, inasmuch as he
+had been made that way just as any savage. He had gotten out of the toils
+set for him, so why should he spend time and trouble in seeking revenge
+which would merely consist in reporting the incident through a British
+station to Washington, who would open up interminable polite
+correspondence with the German Embassy, who would again write prodigious
+letters to the Colonial Minister in Berlin, who would{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ludicrous! No; he
+would not permit zu Pfeiffer to interfere with his plans. He would
+continue straight to Wongolo instead of investigating the Kivu country,
+where zu Pfeiffer might perhaps have another opportunity to cause more
+trouble. Accordingly he negotiated with the nearest village for carriers
+and set out, striking due west, thus approaching the Wongolo territory
+towards the southern boundary.
+
+The people to the south of the Wongolo country was an inferior race, whom
+the Wongolo periodically raided to replenish their slaves. These Wamongo
+were split up into several petty chiefdoms, usually at war with one
+another. They had no defined theology. For they had not progressed beyond
+the stage of magic as far as any concept of religion, that is of praying
+for intercession to any power greater than themselves; whereas the mental
+state of the Wongolo was half-way between magic and religion, mixing and
+confusing the two as exemplified in the Rain-making ceremony of employing
+magic and alternately invoking the god and threatening him with dire
+penalties if he did not behave. There seemed to be no royal family or clan
+of the Wamongo; chiefs changed constantly as one more powerful for the
+moment arose; the wizards did not appear to have any political power,
+acting as general physicians and confining their efforts apparently to
+simple magic for the growing of corn, the curing of the evil eye and
+wounds. They were terrified of the Wongolo, much to Mungongo's pride, who
+never let slip an opportunity of swaggering and bruiting abroad the fame
+of his master as the greatest of magicians the world had ever seen. Never
+was he tired of relating to a grunting audience the terrible sight and
+effect of his master's transposition into a spirit. The yarn lost nothing
+in the telling.
+
+Progress was slow. Every afternoon, as regular as the sun set, clouds of
+sepia sailed up from the west to clothe the world in a grey deluge of
+falling water. Fortunately they were travelling up a watershed so that
+there were no large rivers to cross. As they approached the Wongolo border
+rumours began of a white god with eyes upon his hands and live fire in his
+mouth who, so said the delighted Wamongo, had entirely eaten up the hated
+Wongolo. They seemed prepared to accept Birnier, when suggesting that he
+should make magic for them to conquer the Wongolo, as another terrible
+white god, and were accordingly polite. But Mungongo, vastly indignant,
+denied the story; according to him, no power on earth could have subdued
+his race, except perhaps the mighty Moonspirit (the name he had bestowed
+upon Birnier).
+
+But when Birnier arrived at the first village of the Wongolo the absence
+of warriors corroborated the wild tales they had heard. The inhabitants of
+old men, boys and women surrounded the camp to gaze in awestruck curiosity
+at the white whom they believed to be the brother of the
+Eyes-in-the-hands. This calumny Mungongo strenuously gainsaid, and anew
+recounted the marvellous feats of magic of Moonspirit who could, he
+assured his compatriots, eat up Eyes-in-the-hands as easily as a crocodile
+would swallow a goat. Yet in spite of their terror they insisted that
+Birnier must go through the ceremony of purification incumbent upon all
+strangers in order to exorcise the evil influence of their eyes and souls;
+also the customary present must be sent to the king and his august
+permission to enter awaited, although no man knew where he was since the
+capital had been burned. Mungongo waxed furious. He informed them that
+Moonspirit was a friend of the Son-of-the-Snake, and moreover had before
+been in the country; that if they vexed Moonspirit he would enchant the
+whole village so that no man could move hand or foot. No matter, said
+they, that was the rule and must be done. They were impressed but
+obstinate.
+
+From the description of this destroying god, who was the colour of a
+stripped banana and tall as a palm tree, had fire in his mouth and eyes
+upon his hands--it was some time before he could recognise the "eyes"--and
+whose companions were devils strangely clothed, dragging horrific monsters
+who spat earthquakes, Birnier had no difficulty in recognising zu
+Pfeiffer, and recollected the significant pumping at dinner regarding the
+Wongolo country. However he had renounced any idea of revenge, but the
+discovery of friend zu Pfeiffer as the terrifying god amused him:
+quickened a desire to overset the gentleman's plans. He smiled with a
+slight hardening of the line about his mouth as he began to consider what
+might be done.
+
+As far as he could estimate by recalling the size of the native barracks
+at Fort Ingonya, he reckoned that zu Pfeiffer could not possibly have more
+than three hundred men, unless he had been reinforced from the east.
+Roughly he calculated that the Wongolo ought to be able to put about ten
+thousand warriors in the field. That number under any sort of leadership,
+even though they were only armed with spears and swords, should wipe out
+the three hundred, in spite of the discipline and two or three
+machine-guns, by sheer weight of numbers. But, from what he had already
+heard, zu Pfeiffer had evidently caught them unprepared, wiped out a mass
+and secured a supernatural effect by destroying the idol. He remembered
+his talk on das Volkliches and his comment that zu Pfeiffer was unusually
+well informed upon the psychology of the native mind.
+
+During two days disputing in the native manner news came in of fresh
+massacres, adding to the general terror. He sent for the headman and with
+him held a long shauri. The result was that the old fellow conceived the
+wonderful idea, already suggested by his lesser brethren, of enlisting the
+services of this white man, reputed to be a most marvellous magician, in
+their protection.
+
+Then having had his wits sharpened by his own originality and a sheath
+knife, the headman promptly discovered that the ceremony of exorcism could
+not be performed because the local wizard had departed with every ounce of
+magic for the front. Still there were obstinate and fearful persons who
+wished that Birnier should send a message to the king and wait until he
+had the permission. Another two days were lost until this objection was
+overcome by certain presents of "bafta," destined for the king, being
+handed over to the village.
+
+On the week's march across Wongolo, Mungongo triumphantly held spellbound
+audiences at every village through which they passed. As they neared the
+site of the City of the Snake, where they heard zu Pfeiffer was encamped,
+they encountered deserted villages. When they came upon the smouldering
+embers of one Birnier consented to turn aside from the regular trail in
+order to pass to the west of Kawa Kendi's where, so the natives said, were
+Zalu Zako and Bakahenzie.
+
+Beyond a belt of forest was open rolling country. They came to a village
+of five huts where dwelt some herdsmen, although most of the cattle had
+been driven westwards. Mungongo, seeking at Birnier's suggestion for some
+one who had actually been present at the village when zu Pfeiffer
+attacked, discovered a young girl who had escaped. He brought the daughter
+of Bakala into the presence of Moonspirit still pathetically clutching the
+amulet which Marufa had sold her. But from Bakuma, who had fled to the
+forest at the first assault and afterwards to this herdsmen's village
+where the fact of the tabu would not yet have penetrated, Birnier could
+interpret little of value. Of the whereabouts of Zalu Zako she knew no
+more than the peasants. She remembered Infunyana, as he had been called on
+his previous visit to the City of the Snake, and to her it seemed that a
+god had descended from the blue sky personally to aid her. So utterly
+incomprehensible and terrifying had the attack appeared that unconsciously
+the inevitability of her doom was shaken; if such things could happen, she
+felt rather than thought, then who could say what else was possible? She
+asked permission to travel with Moonspirit. Birnier, who knew from her
+dress, or lack of it, that she was unmarried, smiled as he wondered
+whether she was seeking her lover.
+
+Throughout their journey they had not met a single warrior; but as they
+neared the place of the king they began to meet groups of them. At the
+sight of the first headdress Bakuma bolted into the grass, nor did she
+reappear until after they had gone. Later she came to Birnier and asked
+permission to hide within his tent when the warriors appeared, and to his
+question began to explain the fate to which she had been doomed. Naturally
+this account of the Marriage of the Bride of the Banana at the Harvest
+Festival was of value as well as of interest to Birnier, from whom it had
+been concealed when in the country before. He cross-questioned her and
+made notes; but Bakuma could give him practically no details of what
+actually happened, a secret well guarded by the craft.
+
+They looked downcast, these warriors, and were doubtful what to do on
+meeting another white. Many had never before seen a white man and were
+inclined to bestow upon Moonspirit all the attributes which they had given
+to Eyes-in-the-hands. Eh! said they, Eyes-in-the-hands is a more powerful
+god than the Unmentionable One, for has he not eaten him up?
+Eyes-in-the-hands has imprisoned the thunder and the lightning in a bag
+which he looses at will. Who could withstand him? Had they better not
+submit before his wrath had eaten them all up? E-eh! man cannot fight with
+a god, as any fool knows.
+
+They were returning to their homes to make pilgrimage to the new god, to
+propitiate him with oxen and with ivory lest worse befall. However they
+knew where Zalu Zako was hidden, also the wizards whose magic was as a
+drop of water in a fire. Mungongo did not fail to relate the marvels of
+Moonspirit which he had seen with his own eyes, he and those with him. The
+warriors listened without being in the least impressed. That, said they,
+was merely woman's magic to what Eyes-in-the-hands could do! Aie-e! had
+not they fallen dead in masses at the cough of one of his monster spirits!
+Aie-e! had not the look of him burned up the Unmentionable One as a straw
+in a fire! Therefore was he not greater than the god? Aie-e! was he not
+burning their villages at will! Aie-e, brothers, they must hasten to
+appease the wrath of so terrible a god!
+
+Birnier saw that it was useless to attempt to argue with them. Zu
+Pfeiffer, with his shrewd stroke at the kernel of their faith in the
+symbol of the idol, had established a kind of godhead; and by his
+ferocious massacres had thoroughly cowed them. However Birnier secured one
+man to guide him to where Zalu Zako, the witch-doctors and those who
+remained with him, were in hiding.
+
+On the fringe of the dense forest they camped. The warrior guide went to
+acquaint Zalu Zako of their approach, else otherwise the sight of a white
+might provoke an attempt at massacre or flight. On the third day the man
+returned bearing greetings from Zalu Zako personally who remembered well
+Infunyana, the only white man whom he had ever met.
+
+For two days, on a faint trail, in a steamy heat pulsing with chromatic
+birds and lizards, they journeyed through the forest, the skirts of the
+vast Ituri whose deepest recess is the home of the pygmy. One early
+forenoon they were halted by the warrior in apparently trackless jungle
+and bidden to camp. Mungongo was indignant, but protest was useless as the
+man refused to conduct them any farther, saying that Zalu Zako would come
+to them. So the carriers cut a circle and built a zareba and the messenger
+was swallowed by the green wall bearing presents of two rifles.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 14
+
+
+About a mile from Birnier's camp, through forest so dense that even the
+progress of a native clambering from trunk to trunk and over undergrowth
+ten feet deep was slow and tortuous, was the temporary village of Zalu
+Zako; some six or seven hundred huts of branches and creepers straggling
+over a wide area of ground which had been roughly cleared from undergrowth
+by a few slaves and women.
+
+The hut of Zalu Zako, as those of most of the bigger chiefs and wizards,
+was furnished with reeds upon the floor to avoid squatting actually in the
+green slime, and boasted a palisade run from tree to tree enclosing the
+huts of his two wives, women and slaves. Every morning the leader of a
+long line of slaves bringing supplies from the villages in the open,
+chanting softly the song of the march, entered the village through a mass
+of creepers which hung like a curtain of humid green. Many hundreds of
+warriors with their chiefs had deserted their king after the flight from
+Yagonyana's village.
+
+In the mind of Zalu Zako was doubt and perplexity as in those of his
+people. All the accepted "laws" and "facts" of his world had been set at
+naught; it was as if buck lived in the rivers and fish ran roaring through
+the forests. Fear, curiosity, and resentment filled him. Sometimes it
+appeared that Eyes-in-the-hands had indeed proved to be a more powerful
+god than the Unmentionable One, of whom he was, or should have been, high
+priest and king; that he had eaten him up as they said; so perhaps the
+better course was to submit to this being invincible. Yet this very
+anarchy of his beliefs had released once more the passion for Bakuma whom
+he had renounced, the desire for whom had been inhibited by the sense of
+the inevitability of the mandate of the witch-doctors. Hereditary custom,
+which made him feel that it was incumbent upon him--a primitive sense of
+duty--to be king-god warred with this longing for Bakuma. The fact that he
+was not yet bound to celibacy quickened the seed of rebellion against the
+domination of the wizards. If he could escape the godhood then Bakuma was
+alive again. For to his mind a ban upon the personal ego was far stronger
+than any ban upon a second person.
+
+Chewing the cud of this sweet grass of hope squatted Zalu Zako one morning
+in the dignified solitude of his compound on the threshold of his hut.
+Opposite him sat the brother conspirator of Bakahenzie, Marufa, a brown
+shadow in comparison to the gleaming of the royal insignia of the ivory
+bangles. They sat silent, motionless, save for the occasional sparse
+movement of snuff taking. In the steamy heat a continual mutter and rustle
+persisted, punctuated by the harsh scream of a green parrot or the squawks
+of a troop of monkeys. In the faintly spattered sunlight percolating
+through the bowered roof vivid lizards rivalled in colour the rare finger
+of an orchid clinging to the great tree beside the hut. Through the humid
+air came the faint chant of carriers at the end of a journey; swelled
+louder and ceased. At the mutter of greeting near by Marufa grunted.
+
+"The beaten dog returns to nose in the garbage," he mumbled.
+
+"Maybe he hath news of the doings," commented Zalu Zako after a pause.
+
+"The young dog starts a buck in every tree stump," returned Marufa.
+
+The mumble of voices in the hut of Yabolo near to Zalu Zako's continued.
+Neither Zalu Zako nor Marufa knew other than that, after his downfall,
+Sakamata had retired to his native village on the southern boundary where
+the people, being laymen, had believed the excuse for his absence given by
+Sakamata that he had retired to the forest for one moon in the guise of
+his totem, the wart hog, which animal became accordingly tabu to their
+killing for that period. At length came a young slave from Yabolo who,
+after saluting, delivered a message from Yabolo requesting that Zalu Zako
+receive him and his relative, Sakamata, who had weighty news for him.
+
+Presently entered the recusant bearing signs of prosperity in the flowered
+print about his loins, the ancient cartridge pouch slung around his waist
+and a huge revolver of the pin-fire model dangling from a neck which
+appeared more tortoise-like than ever. Before Zalu Zako he squatted and
+after they had exchanged the usual hostages to hostility, Sakamata
+inquired most politely after the health of the Son-of-the-Snake, of his
+cattle and of his fortune, and last of all of his women. Sakamata, aware
+of the loss of prestige suffered by his old enemy, Bakahenzie, presented
+Zalu Zako with a duplicate of the pin-fire revolver. Followed an equally
+extensive greeting to Marufa. Only when these ceremonies had been
+punctiliously performed did they begin to discuss the news.
+
+At first Sakamata proceeded to repeat the popular saying regarding the
+doings of Eyes-in-the-hands. Various chiefs had visited the fort of the
+white man bringing presents in their hands, terrified of what might
+happen, yet, according to Sakamata, their fears had been dispelled
+immediately; for the wise new god had received them as brothers and had
+made offerings to them as was the custom for strangers to do. It was true,
+he admitted in cross-examination, that whole villages had been put to the
+sword and burned; but, he demanded, was not that the way of a mighty
+warrior to those who resisted him?
+
+Moreover, continued Sakamata, to fight him was death. His magic was such
+that no man could prevail against him. Had any doctor yet succeeded in
+making successful magic against the Invincible One? His magic was terrible
+to behold. Spirits which were imprisoned in houses of trees (boxes) spoke
+and sang according to their tribe.
+
+"Clk!" commented Zalu Zako incredulously.
+
+"These words are as the wind in the trees at night speaking to girls,"
+commented Marufa slowly. "What man hath beheld those things with his own
+eyes?"
+
+Deliberately Sakamata tapped snuff, inhaled it with relish, meticulously,
+that not one grain was lost upon his white caterpillar moustache, and said
+indifferently:
+
+"Even he who sits before you."
+
+"Eh!"
+
+Another point was scored. But both Zalu Zako and Marufa regarded him as
+one who, having had dealings with the devil and yet had emerged safely,
+was to be suspected of some ghastly pact. After a calculated pause
+Sakamata continued nonchalantly:
+
+"There is no magic like unto Eyes-in-the-hands, the Mighty One. A great
+fort hath he made upon the hill of thy grandfather (MFunya MPopo), O Zalu
+Zako, girded with a great palisade, around which walk ever the red devils
+in uniform, each one of whom hath a gun with seven voices. And peering
+through that palisade, like a terrible black leopard from his lair, are
+the monster coughing devils. Eh! who are they who can withstand them?"
+
+"Eh!" echoed his audience with lively memories of the "coughing devils."
+
+"And he hath a mighty hut made from the white man's cloth of colour like
+to the forest full of things to make magic. Seated upon his chair like
+unto a man plucking bananas, the eyes upon his hands and in his head gleam
+so fiercely that water is made within a man. He who dares to look sees not
+only Eyes-in-the-hands, but his two souls, even as thou seest thine own
+two souls staring at thee with the frightened eyes that are thine!"
+
+"Ehh!"
+
+This time a genuine belly grunt was elicited, and even Marufa moved
+uneasily.
+
+"Thou hast been bewitched," he added to mask his astonishment. "For a man
+may see his own soul in any pool, but never two souls!"
+
+"Even is it as I have told thee, O son of MTungo," asserted Sakamata.
+
+Sakamata discovered the use of snuff again to be necessary. He watched
+covertly the repressed excitement in the eyes of Zalu Zako.
+
+"And what said the great magician unto thee?" Marufa demanded to cover his
+discomfort.
+
+"He spoke white words as a warrior should," said Sakamata. "He gave words
+which told me that he was but a small wizard. He made my eyes to see the
+soul of a greater god than he, who was there and yet was not there; for at
+the touch of his magic hand with many eyes, behold! there were two more
+souls of the god which returned even as I looked."
+
+"Ehh! A greater god than he?" demanded Zalu Zako, with a flicker of the
+white of his eyes.
+
+"Even as I have said, a greater god who is king of all the white man's
+countries in the sea, who eats up those whom he pleases. Yet, even though
+he may bewitch with one of his eyes, did he speak softly to Yagombi, the
+son of Bagazaan, and Zalayan, the son of Kilmanyana, who were with me,
+bidding us to tell our brethren that if they would not acknowledge the
+true king that then he would eat us up, even as he ate up the
+Unmentionable One. But to those who would submit and make due tribute,
+would he protect in peace from the white men who, fleeing from the wrath
+of the great god, would soon come to eat up our country like the locusts."
+
+"Eh! ehh! white men as the locusts!"
+
+"Thus he spoke and bade us to go forth and tell our brethren."
+
+This was a wholly new notion and proportionally serious if true. But
+Marufa, recovering from the first shock, wrapped himself in his
+professional cloak of omniscient indifference as he recollected that
+Sakamata was an unfrocked priest of the craft. The group took snuff
+sternly until Sakamata, having accomplished his mission, deemed it wise to
+retire to allow the suggestive ideas to germinate. So gravely he arose and
+departed from the hut of Zalu Zako and went under the patronage of Yabolo
+to another compound where, to a group of the most disaffected chiefs,
+including MYalu, he repeated nearly word for word the same harangue.
+
+In the minds of Zalu Zako and Marufa the report of Sakamata had been
+exceedingly disquieting. Marufa began to wonder whether he had not better
+make terms with the new god before worse came to the worst in the form of
+white men like locusts, a menace fraught with dire possibilities which
+were based upon the rumours which every native had heard of the ways of
+white men in bulk: to the Wongolo merely vague stories from the north of
+the conquest of the Sudan by the British. Marufa's ambitions in the craft
+were almost submerged in the dread that, wizard though he was, he would
+have small chance of distinction and power among a race of wizards. To
+Zalu Zako, although the prospect of unlimited white men swooping upon them
+was terrifying, his semi-conscious mind was rather occupied with Bakuma
+than with affairs of state which seemed merely to exist to torment lovers.
+However he, too, was sufficiently impressed to consider seriously the
+advisability of submitting before it was too late; the motivating
+principle of the scheme was an idea which suggested that, in some
+indefinable way, such action might lead to the avoidance of the ban of
+godhood and thus to the reinstatement of Bakuma in the realm of
+possibilities.
+
+To Bakahenzie the report was more alarming than to the others, inasmuch as
+it appeared to portend the irretrievable loss of his power. He saw the
+effect upon their minds, the inclination to yield to the new conqueror,
+which, of course, would mean the last of his followers being swept away in
+the crowd like dry leaves in the wind. But more than the others he
+suspected the motives of Sakamata, the man whom he had unfrocked. Arguing
+in terms of his own mental processes he saw correctly enough that Sakamata
+was surely playing for himself, and guessed equally truly that Sakamata
+would get, or imagined that he would get, many rewards, political as well
+as in kind, for his services as jackal to the white man. But he listened
+and said no word for, or against, him. He was astute enough never to make
+a move until he had, or thought that he had, all the moves of the game
+worked out. Marufa was just as wily; he related the news given by Sakamata
+in a voice which gave no hint by tone or word what any of his opinions
+might be. Then, as they sat like graven images, supremely indifferent to
+the doings of Sakamata or aught else, entered the warrior bearing
+greetings from Birnier to Zalu Zako.
+
+Immediately Zalu Zako, to whose less skilled mind in intrigue this
+succession of world-shaking events was bewildering, feared that already
+the plague of white men like locusts had commenced. But when he learned
+that the white man was alone and was Infunyana, the only white man whom he
+had ever met, he perceived vaguely some remote prospect of achieving his
+desires. Almost eagerly, for a native, he commanded the messenger to
+summon the white man to his presence.
+
+To Bakahenzie the unexpected arrival of another white was an unforeseen
+potentiality of force which might be utilized to his own benefit; so
+thought Marufa, which was in effect exactly the same reaction as Zalu
+Zako's. Therefore Bakahenzie immediately protested upon the ground that no
+stranger could be allowed to approach the Son-of-the-Snake, or even the
+village, who had not been purified according to custom. When Zalu Zako
+demurred he retorted:
+
+"Hath not one white man who was permitted to enter our country without the
+demon being exorcised wreaked disaster upon us? Wouldst thou then destroy
+us utterly?"
+
+Zalu Zako was silent. Much as he would have desired to browbeat
+Bakahenzie, much as his confidence in the powers of the chief witch-doctor
+had waned in his estimation, yet there remained sufficient to overawe him
+when the matter was put to a crucial test. Bakahenzie would, so he stated,
+go himself to see the new white man, thus unselfishly taking upon his
+person the whole risk of the lasting magic of a stranger unpurified. But
+Marufa had no intention of allowing Bakahenzie to obtain a monopoly of
+this possible new ally. Unlike Zalu Zako he was not burdened with awe and
+had confidence in his own magic to overcome any evil that Bakahenzie might
+seek to work against him. So when he announced that he would accompany
+Bakahenzie, that distressed wizard was too conscious of his dwindling
+prestige to object.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 15
+
+
+Just after sun-up next morning as Birnier was seated at the door of his
+tent reading his _Melancholy_ and drinking his coffee, a startled "clk"
+caused him to glance round. He saw Bakuma rise suddenly from the fire and
+disappear. The next moment materialized out of the miasma of the morning
+the figures of Bakahenzie and Marufa, followed by a file of warriors.
+
+Portentously Bakahenzie stalked to the fire and squatted down without even
+a murmur to Mungongo busy with the breakfast. Bakahenzie remembered
+Infunyana very well, but nevertheless designedly Birnier ignored him in
+return. So they sat, the two wizards taking snuff with grave concern
+almost at the feet of the white who continued to smoke and to read.
+
+The sign boded ill, for the insistence upon the punctilious etiquette
+inferred that Bakahenzie was disposed to be suspicious, if not directly
+hostile. And indeed the warriors' description of the magic of Moonspirit,
+vide Mungongo, had made Bakahenzie uneasy.
+
+After a full half-hour Bakahenzie, as if beaten in this solemn game,
+turned gravely and saluted the white. Birnier looked down from his chair
+with the affectation of just having noticed that some one was there. After
+a pause he returned the greeting, a little point which Bakahenzie
+thoroughly appreciated. Birnier had learned that according to Mungongo and
+the warrior, Zalu Zako had not yet been anointed king-god; therefore that
+Bakahenzie evidently intended to keep the young man in the background.
+
+After preliminaries, Birnier inquired after Zalu Zako and informed
+Bakahenzie that he had journeyed expressly to see him. Bakahenzie ignored
+the question and began to talk about Eyes-in-the-hands, demanding to know
+whether Birnier was his brother.
+
+"Nay," said Birnier, "Eyes-in-the-hands is not of the same tribe as
+Moonspirit," for he sedulously followed up the title which Mungongo had
+given him. "Eyes-in-the-hands comes from a country twelve moons distant
+from my country."
+
+Marufa squatting beside him grunted; Bakahenzie took snuff nonchalantly as
+if he did not believe a word.
+
+"Eyes-in-the-hands is a mighty magician in his own country," said
+Bakahenzie in the form of an assertion.
+
+"The magic of Eyes-in-the-hands to the magic of Moonspirit," stated
+Birnier, "is as water to the beer of the banana."
+
+"Eyes-in-the-hands," remarked Bakahenzie indifferently, "hath magic to
+make the souls of man to be seen by all."
+
+"Those are but the souls of the belly and body, but Moonspirit can enchant
+so that the spirit of the head of man be seen at night," boasted Birnier,
+wondering what trick of zu Pfeiffer's had produced the effect.
+
+"Eyes-in-the-hands," insisted Bakahenzie, "hath a spirit in a piece of a
+tree which cries or laughs, sings or talks to his magic."
+
+"Moonspirit," retorted Birnier (thinking "Gramophone, but I can go one
+better, my friend"), "hath also a spirit in a piece of tree who will speak
+words of wisdom unto thee in thine own tongue, who will repeat that which
+is said unto him in thy tongue or in my tongue, who will speak words of
+wisdom even unto thee."
+
+Bakahenzie seemed outmatched in the boasting tournament. He tapped snuff
+woodenly. Marufa scratched his skinny ribs thoughtfully. Then Bakahenzie
+remarked:
+
+"He that hath not been cleansed may not look upon the Son-of-the-Snake."
+
+"He that hath not been anointed need have no fear of the evil eye."
+
+"Hath not one who was not cleansed entered and cast evil upon the tribe?"
+demanded Bakahenzie.
+
+"If the fence is not strong the leopard will enter."
+
+"If the leopard be not strong and swift indeed may he not be killed in the
+hut?" inquired Bakahenzie.
+
+"If a leopard and a wild-cat break in, then wilt thou not kill the leopard
+first?"
+
+"Even so," retorted Bakahenzie; "then is water stronger than beer, even as
+the beer does reveal?"
+
+Birnier nearly smiled in recognition of the hit.
+
+"Nay, does not beer make the fool to talk foolishness? Dost thou then cast
+away the banana? Does not one talk foolishness also who is sick and yet
+discardeth good medicine, because he feareth to poison his belly?"
+
+"Even so," said Bakahenzie obstinately, "does the sick man exorcise the
+good medicine lest an enemy hath made magic thereupon?"
+
+"Then," said Birnier, whose only objection to the ceremony was the delay
+and the messiness, "let the good medicine be purified."
+
+Bakahenzie grunted and covertly took stock of the tent and equipment
+visible. Upon the pile of cases stacked just inside the tent his eyes
+rested some time, but he would not make any inquiry. Marufa, too, was
+occupied in the same manner. Bakahenzie was recalling the previous meeting
+with Birnier in the village of MFunya MPopo--of that day when Birnier had
+not made any attempt to impress the native mind with "magic" other than
+the ordinary "miracles" in the routine of a white man's life.
+
+"When the Son-of-the-Snake," inquired Birnier, who had learned as much of
+the hagiocracy as Mungongo knew, "hath taken up the Burden, wilt thou then
+drive Eyes-in-the-hands from the country?"
+
+Bakahenzie slowly withdrew his eyes from the fascinating case as far as
+Birnier's booted foot.
+
+"Hast thou, white man, the magic twig that makes fire?" he demanded.
+
+"Even so."
+
+Birnier took a box of matches from his pocket and struck one. Bakahenzie
+and Marufa watched him solemnly. Then a lean bronze hand was outstretched.
+Birnier gave him the box. Slowly and gravely Bakahenzie, the chief
+witch-doctor, extracted a match, turned it over and over, smelt it, tasted
+it, regarded it, and struck it on the top of the box. It was a safety
+match, so nothing happened. Birnier, without a vestige of a smile,
+instructed him to strike it only upon the black piece at the side. That
+impressed Bakahenzie and Marufa. The former tried again as directed and
+succeeded. Holding the match too near the head he burned the quick of the
+nail, but not a muscle quivered. He would not even admit that the white
+man's devil stick had bitten him. But he was still more impressed.
+
+At a sign from Birnier, Mungongo brought from the tent a nickel-plated
+revolver and cartridges, which he placed at the feet of Bakahenzie without
+comment. Apparently Bakahenzie did not notice the action or the gift. He
+held out the matches to return to the white man. Birnier requested him to
+keep them. He wrapped up the box in his loin-cloth and fell to further
+contemplation of the cases. He was cogitating. The value of this white had
+suddenly increased. Evidently he could make small magic. Perhaps he could
+make as much big magic as Eyes-in-the-hands. Who knew? But then if that
+was so he could make greater magic than he, Bakahenzie, could. Bakahenzie
+saw that if Moonspirit were such a great magician he would be difficult or
+impossible to control. Naturally Bakahenzie could only understand his own
+motives in others. His problem now was to discover some means by which he
+could control Moonspirit, make of him a familiar to work to his own ends.
+Why was he so insistent upon seeing Zalu Zako? Bakahenzie became more and
+more suspicious. He saw another reason why the white man must be kept away
+from Zalu Zako. To refuse to purify him would give a valid excuse that he
+may not look upon the Son-of-the-Snake. But he did not wish to displease
+him; also Marufa could perform the purification.
+
+Again Birnier repeated the question regarding the overthrow of
+Eyes-in-the-hands. Bakahenzie took snuff, regarded the revolver lying at
+his feet idly, and deigned to reply.
+
+"When that which must be hath come to pass, then shall the children of the
+Snake eat up their enemies as a lizard eats flies."
+
+"And what is that which must come to pass?"
+
+Bakahenzie sat silent awhile, slightly shocked at the directness of the
+question; then as if to humour the white man, he replied:
+
+"When the Bridegroom hath taken the Bride."
+
+The ceremony of purification could not take place until the following day,
+because such things may not be hurried; and moreover, various potent
+charms had to be sent for to the native village. Meanwhile Bakahenzie
+squatted by the fire, contemplating the nickel-plated revolver and affairs
+of policy, and opposite him sat the meditative Marufa.
+
+From the hour of the monkey, Bakahenzie, unconscious of the small face and
+anxious eyes watching the camp from the tangle of green, was busy
+muttering spells over a calabash containing a magic concoction composed of
+the entrails of a white goat, certain herbs and the eyes of a black
+wild-cat. When the roof of the forest was a patterned ceiling against an
+incandescent glow, Birnier stripped to the waist, and submitted himself to
+the hands of the wizard who, after scattering the feathers of a scarlet
+parrot into the calabash, smeared the left breast, the forehead and the
+right arm of the white man, to the accompaniment of an incantation. These
+insignia and specifics he must not remove for three suns; nor could he be
+permitted to look upon the semi-divine Zalu Zako until whatever evil
+influence his foreign body might possess should have been exorcised by
+this powerful medicine.
+
+To sit around half nude in such heat was no arduous undertaking, but to
+sleep without rubbing off the concoction was another matter; also the
+odour thereof was not pleasing to the nostrils of a white man. But Birnier
+accomplished the feat by smoking excessively and by marking with a pencil
+the various nostrums recommended by the amiable Burton, many of which were
+hardly less disagreeable than Doctor Bakahenzie's prescription.
+
+That worthy's slaves had erected a hut for him nigh to the tent in the
+door of which he squatted, usually with Marufa beside him, throughout the
+day, with ever a contemplative eye upon his victim, an eye which Birnier
+was sure was eagerly seeking some excuse to plead that he had
+inadvertently rendered the magic impotent, and must accordingly have the
+ceremony repeated.
+
+Amused by the ridiculous sight he presented, plastered over with this
+filth, Birnier made Mungongo, whom he had taught to operate a camera, take
+a photograph of him, which would entertain Lucille, as well as be of
+scientific interest. Bakahenzie and Marufa watched this performance from
+the fire with amazement, for they imagined that the camera was some kind
+of gun. When they heard the click, they grunted as if expecting the white
+man to fall dead. Birnier of course knew the universal native belief in
+the picture being the soul, or one of the souls. He summoned Bakahenzie
+and Marufa and showed them a photograph which, after some difficulty, they
+recognised as Mungongo.
+
+"Eh," grunted a warrior, "indeed is Mungongo the slave of the white man,
+for hath he not imprisoned his soul?"
+
+Mungongo laughed, yet he believed in the superstition as implicitly as any
+of his compatriots, for said he:
+
+"It is a wise man who hath that which is his always within his hand, even
+as Moonspirit hath the soul of his favourite wife with him always, so that
+she may not be unfaithful unto him."
+
+"Eh, he is wiser than the Banana Eater!" grunted the warrior in
+admiration.
+
+Birnier's training to control his features was strained in the effort not
+to express surprise. He could not imagine from what Mungongo had derived
+this astonishing statement, until he recollected that the boy had seen a
+photograph of Lucille among his papers.
+
+After this successful demonstration of his sophistication, Mungongo was
+anxious that Moonspirit give an exhibition of his magic to dumbfound the
+chief witch-doctor, desiring most ardently to work the gramophone, to
+operate which he had also learned. But on reflection, Birnier decided that
+it was not his policy to make his thunder too cheap.
+
+Each evening as the last subtle violet quivered in the trees had Bakuma
+glided from the shelter of the undergrowth under the flap of Birnier's
+tent, where she had lain until the first tint of dawn on the foliage of
+the forest. Birnier had wished her to leave for some village until
+Bakahenzie had left the camp, but Bakuma had frantically pleaded to
+remain, knowing that the craft was seeking her throughout the country
+since Bakahenzie's latest interview with mighty Tarum.
+
+But upon the third day as Birnier was seated reading philosophically at
+his tent door, the inevitable happened. A loud outcry arose and from the
+tangle of creepers started the lithe figure of Bakuma, who darted past him
+into the tent. For a moment there was silence. But Birnier guessed what
+the matter was. Bakahenzie emerged from the wall of green and cried out in
+a loud voice. Instantly the warriors around leaped to their feet, and
+broke out into great clamour.
+
+Mungongo, busy with the cooking pots, rushed to Birnier's side,
+gesticulating wildly. Inside the tent crouched Bakuma. Towards Birnier
+advanced Bakahenzie and the warriors, whose dilated eyes and spears in
+their hands betokened that Bakahenzie had stirred their deepest feelings
+of terror and murder. Birnier smoked placidly, neither stirring nor
+permitting a sign of their presence to cross his features.
+
+Mungongo, startled out of his confidence in Moonspirit, excitedly bade
+Bakuma go forth as Bakahenzie, stopping in front of the white man, broke
+into a harangue, bidding him to give up Bakuma whose sacrilege in breaking
+the magic circle, as he had said, had brought the terrible
+Eyes-in-the-hands upon them; that the welfare of the tribe depended upon
+her sacrifice to the angered Unmentionable One even as she had been
+doomed; and threatening that they would take the insolent white man, whose
+magic was as water, and sacrifice him as well, as was desired by the
+spirit of Tarum.
+
+The longer he spoke the more excited he grew. Motivated by the sudden
+conviction that the sacrifice of Bakuma, whose action he had foretold so
+successfully, and the slaughter of the white would really restore to him
+his repute and remove at the same time the problem of controlling a
+superior magician who threatened to become his rival, Bakahenzie began to
+work himself up into the necessary state of prophetic hysteria. Cowering
+against the camp-bed Bakuma whimpered with terror; Mungongo incoherently
+begged Moonspirit to give up the girl.
+
+Not a muscle moved upon Birnier's face; nor even did his eyes turn in the
+direction of the menacing crowd who with uplifted spears joggled each
+other around Bakahenzie. Birnier knew that it was a supreme test of nerve;
+knew that any attempt to snatch a rifle or a movement of any sort, would
+precipitate action on their side. He had no intention of surrendering the
+girl to a hideous fate, and also he saw beyond the incident that if
+Bakahenzie were to triumph over him now, not only would his prestige with
+the natives be gone for ever, but that his fate would be surely sealed.
+Slowly, exaggeratedly, as if he were alone, he killed a mosquito upon his
+bare right breast and lighted his pipe anew.
+
+Bakahenzie advanced a step followed by the warriors. His voice had reached
+the falsetto timbre. Mungongo lost his head entirely and seizing Bakuma,
+began to drag her out of the tent. Birnier turned his head leisurely
+towards him. Said he very loudly:
+
+"It is not seemly to rape a woman in my presence, O Mungongo. Let her be,
+for I will buy thee one."
+
+Mungongo ceased to pull at Bakuma's arms and stared as if paralysed.
+Birnier saw the eyes switch in a terrified glance at the warriors behind
+him and heard Bakahenzie's yell to kill.
+
+For one moment he thought that indeed the end had come. Before he could
+reach the rifle a dozen spears would be in his back. He sat motionless,
+the _Anatomy of Melancholy_ still in his hand, and watched the gauge of
+Mungongo's eyes. Bakahenzie's voice rose to a screech. Suddenly Birnier
+wheeled round in his chair, snatched up the pencil and staring hard at
+them, began to sketch faces on the open page of the book.
+
+At the sight the warriors ceased their shuffling dance, were arrested with
+the spears in their hands in as many poses. Bakahenzie's scream was
+stoppered as if by a hand upon his mouth. In the silence their heavy
+breathing rivalled the twitter and hum of the forest. Birnier sketched
+furiously, glaring portentously from the group to the paper. Bakahenzie
+took a step forward, a nervous step, and yelled, "Kill!" but his voice
+released those of the warriors. In one loud shout they cried:
+
+"He bewitches us! He bewitches us!"
+
+As Birnier bent his head to make another magic mark upon the magic book he
+heard the rush of feet.
+
+"They have fled!" squealed Mungongo, still clutching Bakuma.
+
+Birnier sighed and dropped his pencil as he glanced up. Bakahenzie and the
+warriors had disappeared, but by the fire squatted Marufa unconcernedly
+scratching his skinny ribs.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 16
+
+
+Changed was the City of the Snake, the place of kings. Upon the site where
+had been the hive of huts wrapped in the green arms of the banana
+plantation, laboured under the incandescent sun gangs of prisoners under
+armed guards upon the building of larger huts laid out in streets, broad
+and geometrical, lined with correct ditches for drainage. Around the
+outskirts here and there remained charred posts.
+
+Upon the hill of MKoffo was a palisade enclosing the barracks of two
+companies of the askaris and two guns. No brown cones peeped like
+candle-snuffers above the sea of green fronds upon the hills of the tombs
+of kings, but from the sacred hill of Kawa Kendi commanding the approach
+to the valley rose, black against the sky, the triangle of the roof frame
+of a large bungalow; around the crown of the hill was a stout palisade
+through which grinned in the sun the muzzles of a Nordenfeldt and a
+pom-pom; and outside upon a levee strutted rigidly four sentries night and
+day, a perpetual reminder to the passer-by below of efficient vigilance.
+
+Within was a methodical formation of round huts dominated by a square one;
+at the far end, and in solitary grandeur beneath the Imperial flag upon a
+roughly-hewn flag-pole, was a green marquee tent, the temporary quarters
+of the Kommandant.
+
+Under the tent verandah at the rear where were his private quarters sat zu
+Pfeiffer with a towel tucked around his neck upon which was scattered
+inch-lengths of hair. Sergeant Schultz sheared deftly with clippers like a
+reaper in a field of corn. When he had completed the final trimming behind
+the ears, he stood aside with the air of an artist viewing his work.
+
+"Is that pleasing to your Excellence?"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer ran a hand around his skull.
+
+"Ya, that is better and cooler, sergeant."
+
+With a professional air Schultz whisked around the Kommandant's neck with
+a light brush, untucked the towel and brushed him down. As zu Pfeiffer
+rose Bakunjala appeared with a broom of small branches and a pan and
+proceeded to sweep the earthen floor. Schultz neatly folded up the towel,
+placed it on the chair, and stood at attention.
+
+"Is that all, Excellence?"
+
+"Ya, sergeant. Take a cigar."
+
+"Thank you, Excellence!"
+
+The sergeant selected one, saluted and departed. Zu Pfeiffer lounged in a
+basket chair. The usual water bag and syphon were suspended at his elbow
+above sparklet and brandy bottles, and a box of cigars. Around him on the
+floor was a litter of papers, envelopes and documents. On his wrist
+sparkled the jewelled bracelet and between fingers, one of which bore the
+large diamond which had earned him his native name, was an official
+document bearing the Imperial Eagles.
+
+As he read he smiled and patted his left moustache approvingly. Officially
+the authorities would not comply with his request made before leaving
+Ingonya for two more companies of askaris with white non-commissioned
+officers and two more guns; but unofficially he was informed that they
+would be supplied later and that the authorities were pleased. He picked
+up a private letter and re-read it. Then he smiled again, a sneering twist
+remaining at the corner of the mouth. Always he was informed by
+sympathetic friends and an agency of the whereabouts and doings of
+Lucille. On the 1st of August she had been due at Wiesbaden.
+
+He threw the letter on the table with an irritable gesture and scowled as
+he drank. The arrival of the mail always brought vivid regrets for the
+glories and comforts he was missing by being condemned to war with "dirty
+swines of niggers." That was part of the penalty he had had to pay for
+being a gentleman in a land of dollar grubbers, yet a matter to be written
+up against the account of Lucille, the entzueckend Lucille. He must have
+been verrueckt, he reflected savagely. The delicate lips softened in
+ludicrous contrast to the brutal outline of a cropped skull. The blare of
+a trumpet disturbed his reveries, reveries which were apt to rankle until
+among his satellites went the word that the Eater-of-men was possessed by
+the demon once more.
+
+After he had elegantly finished a small cup of cafe cognac and a
+cigarette, Sergeant Schultz strutted up, saluted, and at a nod from zu
+Pfeiffer handed a document to the Kommandant, a roster of the chiefs who
+had submitted with the approximate number of their followers. Officially
+there were five chiefs with some six thousand men who had nominally
+accepted the new ruler, each one of whom had to leave as hostage for his
+fidelity a son, who lived under guard in the village beneath the guns.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer needed the extra companies and white men to establish stations
+at various points with the object of gradually extending the sphere of
+military occupation. Zu Pfeiffer left nothing, as far as he could foresee,
+to chance; his maxim was to conserve his force to the utmost, to attain
+his objective at the least possible cost in men and material. The policy
+of terrorisation was based on the reasoning that eventually
+schrecklichkeit saved both the conqueror and the conquered bloodshed and
+trouble; for if the enemy were not so impressed with the fact that all
+resistance was utterly useless, he would resort to the sporadic risings
+which would entail more slaughter on both sides. Zu Pfeiffer, acting on
+the teachings of the German masters, sought to make war psychologically as
+well as militarily, economically as well as geographically. Hence his
+dramatic step in the overthrow of the idol in person, and the care with
+which he planned to impress each chief and native with his omnipotence and
+magic. This system of the application of political science as well as of
+military science, of course, was sound, save for a temperamental error:
+the lack of sufficient imagination to realize the unknown quantity of
+chance, the inevitable mistake of military scientists who are loath to
+admit the artist to their counsels, exemplified by men of genius, such as
+Napoleon and Leonardo da Vinci, who were both mathematicians and artists.
+
+In zu Pfeiffer's case, as in others of his type, the motivating principle
+was not bourgeois greed of material gain for himself; gain he could afford
+to despise in his wealth; such would have been contrary to the code of a
+gentleman. While he had not hesitated for a moment to destroy his rival,
+Birnier, he would not touch with one finger any of his goods; for that
+reason had he given permission to the corporal to take Birnier's
+equipment, so that he would not even be contaminated by the possession of
+them, a temperamental error again which had led to Birnier's escape.
+
+The driving power in his caste and tribe was love of power to an excess
+masked with portentous solemnity under the cloak of benefiting this people
+and the peoples of the world; forcing them to have broad streets and
+sanitary arrangements, compelling them to laugh, to sing, and to be happy
+whether they would or no: an urge which is the curse of the world, the
+impulse to interfere in other folk's affairs, to teach them, to make them
+to know the true God, the right way of living, the right way of doing
+everything from the rising of the first sun of consciousness to that happy
+crack of doom when our planet tries to enforce its orbit upon some other
+planet.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer pinched a cigar tip, lighted it meticulously and considered
+the roster.
+
+"Sergeant, this man--what's the animal's name? Kalomato--has his son
+surrendered himself?"
+
+"No, Excellence. The man says that he has fled the country."
+
+"Where does he come from?"
+
+"The neighbourhood, Excellence."
+
+"That means that his son is with the rebels?"
+
+"Probably not, Excellence. He is very young, they say."
+
+"That does not matter. Sequester all the chief's property. If he won't
+give it up let the askaris deal with him. If that doesn't work, have him
+shot."
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+For such obstinate cases zu Pfeiffer had fallen upon the custom of serving
+two purposes by handing over the victim to the mercies of his askaris
+which whetted their sadistic appetites and usually secured the desired
+revelation of the whereabouts of the hidden ivory or other goods under the
+torture of the burning feet, and divers other ingenious methods. Of late
+this practice had proved so satisfactory that the mere threat was usually
+sufficient.
+
+"This man," continued zu Pfeiffer tapping the roster with his long nail,
+"his son is here?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence."
+
+"Has he paid the tithe due?"
+
+"No, Excellence. He refuses."
+
+"Have the son shot."
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+"Any report this morning?"
+
+"Ja, Excellence. A Wamungo spy brings news that a white man entered the
+country from the south."
+
+"Description?"
+
+"They say he is a trader, Excellence, coming from the Kivu direction, but
+the savage cannot give any satisfactory description. It is the first white
+he has seen, he says."
+
+"He won't be the last!" snapped zu Pfeiffer with a twitch of the left
+sentry moustache. "Saunders, possibly. If so he should be here shortly to
+report. Well?"
+
+"The King and the few men left with him are in hiding, Excellence, in
+dense forest. They are demoralized and quarrel among themselves. Many are
+coming to surrender, for they say that you, Excellence, have eaten their
+god."
+
+"Ach!" said zu Pfeiffer with satisfaction. "What did I tell you,
+sergeant?"
+
+"Your Excellence was correct in every respect."
+
+"Um! Pity I can't spare a company. That would settle them before they have
+a chance to reorganize. Ach, but they haven't the sense, the animals, to
+do that.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Parade, sergeant."
+
+Schultz saluted.
+
+"Ready, Excellence."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer rose, took up his gold-mounted sjambok, and the two walked
+around the big marquee to the front where between the orderly lines of
+huts those askaris not on duty were drawn up for inspection. The sergeant
+barked. Bayonets flashed as they presented arms. Another bark and they
+ported arms. Zu Pfeiffer walked down the line inspecting buttons, bolts,
+and rifles as meticulously as he had lighted his cigar. The fifteenth
+barrel he thrust away petulantly and flicked the askari's face with his
+sjambok. The muscles of the man's face twitched as the blow came and the
+eyes bulged, but he did not flinch.
+
+"Twenty-five, sergeant!"
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer passed on. When the inspection was finished he stood rigidly
+smoking, coldly watching Schultz dismiss the men. Then he stalked down the
+hill with Schultz slightly in the rear, followed by a big black Munyamwezi
+sergeant-major, towards the opposite hill, of MKoffo. But at the bottom of
+where there were some half-constructed huts he paused.
+
+"The women, sergeant?"
+
+"The large hut, Excellence. Two hundred as ordered."
+
+"No women of chiefs?"
+
+"No, Excellence. Those attending on the hostages are housed apart."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer strode towards the hut indicated which stood near to the edge
+of a rased banana plantation. Two sentries without the fence presented
+arms stiffly and remained immobile. Within the compound were some sixty or
+more young girls, mostly having the black complexion of the slave type.
+The chattering and giggling ceased as the tall form of the dreaded
+Eyes-in-the-hands stood in the gate. A slight smile flirted his lips.
+
+From the deep violet of the hut interior darted a young girl into the
+sunlight. At the sight of the white men she poised on her toes, one foot
+forward and hands extended as if about to whirl into a dance, staring with
+the curiosity of a fawn.
+
+Tall for a native maid, the light bronze of her immature breasts revealed
+that she was of the Wongolo ruling caste. Around her slender neck was a
+circlet of bright blue beads. As zu Pfeiffer stiffened and stared she
+wheeled and fled into the hut.
+
+"Gott im Himmel!" he muttered. "The body of Lucille in Carmen!"
+
+"Who is that woman?" he demanded of Schultz.
+
+"I don't know, Excellence," replied the sergeant and spoke to the black
+sergeant-major. "She is the daughter of the chief Bamana, Excellence,
+visiting these other women. I will have her removed."
+
+"I will not have the sense of caste abused," said zu Pfeiffer, gazing into
+the hut. "That is not policy. Have her sent to the fort, sergeant, and
+placed under guard."
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer swung on his heels and strode out and up the hill of MKoffo.
+The inspection was more hurried than usual that day. Then he returned to
+the hill of Kawa Kendi to hold court in the big marquee tent. After a
+lunch and a long siesta in the heat of the noonday he strolled around the
+village superintending the rasing of huts and the staking out of the new
+village which was to rise upon the ashes of the old one, a concrete
+example of the wisdom and power of the new lord, Eyes-in-the-hands.
+
+Under squads of askaris gangs of prisoners, criminal and political, bound
+by a light chain about each neck, laboured at clearing away charred stumps
+and debris, while other natives portered in saplings and loads of grass,
+each village which had submitted sending its allotted quota.
+
+Trumpets blared. The keepers of the coughing monsters made magical dances
+with their fire sticks up on the hill of Kawa Kendi. The black, white and
+red totem of the conqueror fluttered to earth like a wounded bird. Night
+closed like a black lid placed upon the steaming cauldron of the sun.
+
+After dinner zu Pfeiffer sat in his private tent at the rear of the
+marquee drinking brandy. Upon a camp table covered by a violet cloth was
+the portrait in the ivory frame at which he gazed as he smoked. The blue
+eyes and the feminine lips softened as sentimentally as any sex-starved
+Puritan virgin; perhaps not in spite of, but because of, a mediaeval code
+as senseless as the native system of tabu, for natural emotions suppressed
+find an outlet in some form.
+
+From outside came the twitter and hum of the forest, the rhythm of frogs,
+the dim bleating of a goat and the distant wailing of the women's death
+lament. Zu Pfeiffer drank and smoked and stared at the portrait in the
+ivory frame. Once he slapped irritably at a mosquito which had escaped the
+double net over the tent door. A wave of emotion seemed to well within
+him. He looked as if he were about to blubber as leaning over the table he
+peered intently at the pictured face and whispered:
+
+     "Nur einmal noch moecht ich dich sehen,
+     Und sinken vor dir aufs Knie
+     Und sterbend zu dir sprechen:
+     'Madam, ich liebe Sie!' {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+"Lucille! {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Ach, Lucille!"
+
+He drew himself back with a jerk, drank his brandy at a gulp and called
+angrily:
+
+"Bakunjala!"
+
+The flutter of sand preceded a gasped:
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer gave him an irritable command. Four minutes elapsed during
+which he gazed steadily at the portrait. He turned at the slither of feet.
+Bright blue beads glittered in the lamplight as the daughter of Bamana
+sank upon her heels.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 17
+
+
+In his favourite seat by the door of his hut sat Zalu Zako waiting as
+patiently as only a native can to see the white man, symbol of a
+subconscious hope. The fact that Bakuma had not been found by the
+emissaries of the bloodthirsty Bakahenzie evoked a sensation of pleasure
+which was expressed merely in a feeling of well-being. Of her in person he
+thought consciously little; his attitude was much as a white lover who
+might discover his loved one to be a sister, and hence, by consanguinity,
+barred from him for ever, a terrible fact of fate; but, lacking the
+sentimental inhibition, Zalu Zako did not disguise the death wish because
+she was denied him. Desires are simpler in the savage, yet the driving
+motives are the same as in the "cultured" ex-animal overlaid with
+generations of inhibitions--tabus--which form complex strata making the
+truth more and more difficult to recognise. From that very obfuscation of
+motives arises civilisation.
+
+Then from the blue depths of the humid green came a great outcry, answered
+by the ululation of the women in warning.
+
+"Eyes-in-the-hands!" grunted Zalu Zako, voicing the perpetual fear of the
+camp, as he leaped for his gun which Moonspirit had sent him.
+
+Above the medley of sounds arose an articulate shout:
+
+"He has bewitched our souls! He has bewitched our souls!"
+
+Zalu Zako paused and listened; replaced the gun and squatted, resuming his
+pose of dignity before the first man made entrance. For a few moments the
+shrilling of the women and the wild jabber continued. Then entered a slave
+followed by a warrior who, excitedly falling upon his knees, gasped out:
+
+"He hath bewitched our souls! He hath bewitched our souls! Our spears were
+blunted by his magic! Our swords were turned by the wall of his soul! He
+is a mighty magician!"
+
+"Of whom speakest thou, fool?"
+
+As Zalu Zako put the question the tall figure of Bakahenzie stalked slowly
+into the courtyard. The warrior rose and fled at a command from Zalu Zako.
+Bakahenzie greeted him gravely and very elaborately took snuff in order to
+show how casual the matter was. When he had meticulously restored the cork
+of twisted leaves, he announced slowly:
+
+"As I have prophesied the breaking of the sacred circle has delivered us
+into the hands of the false magician, Eyes-in-the-hands. The daughter of
+Bakala is even now at the camp of the white man, whom they call
+Moonspirit."
+
+"Ehh!" commented Zalu Zako.
+
+"The brother of Eyes-in-the-hands hath taken her in concubinage,"
+continued Bakahenzie.
+
+Zalu Zako made no response. Grimly approached Marufa and squatted beside
+them.
+
+"Even as I have prophesied," commented Marufa, who never failed to seize
+an opportunity of suggestion.
+
+"I bade him render up the Bride of the Banana; but she hath bitten his
+soul in his sleep. He held her in his arms. He breathed upon her so that
+she would not obey. The magic of this brother of Eyes-in-the-hands hath
+indeed rotted the livers of our people, for they fled like young jackals."
+
+"Eh!"
+
+Zalu Zako stared cautiously at the compound fence; Marufa regarded
+Bakahenzie's left knee with interest. For fully five minutes no word was
+said. Then Bakahenzie portentously:
+
+"Tarum demands the brother of Eyes-in-the-hands, this Moonspirit, for if
+one be taken then will the other, Eyes-in-the-hands, wither away and the
+Unmentionable One will be revealed."
+
+"Thou hast spoken!" assented Marufa.
+
+But Zalu Zako continued to stare blankly at the fence. His mind was aflame
+for Bakuma. Bakahenzie had no suspicion of his passion, yet the fear of
+his enmity acted like a douche of water in spite of the fact that the
+implicit faith in the doctors had been weakened. But disbelief was not
+positive enough to stimulate action. However, from the news of Bakuma's
+proximity, he had gotten strength to doubt the efficacy of Bakuma's
+sacrifice to restore the kingdom, a strength which prompted him to say:
+
+"Who is he that has said that Moonspirit be the twin of Eyes-in-the-hands?
+Enemies there are even among whites. If he be an enemy of
+Eyes-in-the-hands and he be a great magician, as they say, then through
+his magic may not Eyes-in-the-hands be slain?"
+
+"He hath but young words," asserted Bakahenzie stonily.
+
+"But Mungongo, the son of Marula, saith that----"
+
+"Dost thou ask an infant to teach thee to hunt?" retorted Bakahenzie.
+
+"Doth a warrior ask his women to mend his wounds?" added Marufa, putting
+in a gentle reminder that Zalu Zako was merely a chief and not of the
+craft.
+
+"He hath been exorcised, let him be brought and put to the test before
+me," persisted Zalu Zako.
+
+"That may not be," objected Bakahenzie, "for thou art not yet anointed."
+
+"But that which is necessary has not yet been done," objected Zalu Zako
+obstinately. "If he have no magic and his heart be not white, then let him
+be doomed for the Feast of the Moon." And gaining courage, added the royal
+phrase: "I have spoken."
+
+The three sat motionless. The silence twittered and hummed. The shadows
+swelled. Bakahenzie rose slowly and stalked away through the compound.
+Zalu Zako watched his departure without remark or expression. After an
+interval, Marufa also went.
+
+Another person upon whom the news of the discovery had had a similar
+reaction was MYalu. Her proximity released the primitive desire to go
+forth and seize her. But such action was arrested by fear of the
+consequences from his fellows to whom the tabu was still real, and of the
+white man, Moonspirit. MYalu could never overcome the fiat of the
+witch-doctors while he remained with them. Yonder--his decision to go with
+Yabolo and Sakamata was clinched, but--he would take Bakuma with him.
+
+Straight to the hut of Bakahenzie, who seemed to be expecting him, stalked
+Marufa. Marufa squatted solemnly near to him. These catastrophic events
+had caused a general unrest which had weakened the discipline of
+superstition.
+
+There are two types of magicians: those who are partially conscious
+hypocrites, and those who are gulled by their own fakes; for he who makes
+magic must be ever ready with an explanation of failure and very ingenious
+in the making. The fool, believing in his own medicine, is as much
+astounded at failure as the victim is angry. Bakahenzie and Marufa
+belonged to the first class; yet being of their particular mental
+development they were possessed of beliefs just as deeply as the most
+credulous layman. That the wizard, personally, of his own individual power
+could slay an enemy by incantation they did not believe; but that the
+spirit of the Banana or of other inanimate objects could do so, they
+believed most profoundly. Their creed was a form of pure animism; the
+storms, the winds, the lightning, trees, rocks, rivers had separate and
+conscious souls; other inanimate objects not included in an arbitrary
+list, had unconscious souls, each and every one capable of doing mischief
+or of good; hence the essence of religion in the act of imploring the good
+offices of the most powerful spirits, or in moments of exasperation of
+threatening them with dire punishments. Their hypocrisy lay not in
+disbelief but in pretending to the people that their intercession with the
+gods was infallible; they knew only too well that the said gods would
+seldom incline an ear to the magician.
+
+Of course nearly every doctor had a slightly different dogma, usually
+based upon an incorrect deduction from a false premise. One doctor would
+place all his confidence in the spirit of the Banana--the most popular
+spirit; and another in the spirit of the river, because out of a dozen
+times that he had implored aid, five "miracles" at least had been
+vouchsafed, therefore, argued he, the spirit of the river is the true and
+most powerful god. The arguments of others were equally unsound as they
+were dominated by some hidden desire, much as reputable scientists, while
+rejecting phenomena accepted by the populace, cling fatuously to a belief
+in spooks in order to satisfy a subconscious desire for immortality, fear
+of death.
+
+Hence the confusion in the heart of Bakahenzie. To him it appeared that
+the spirits had deserted him entirely; to him it seemed that perhaps these
+white men had indeed the true "magic," the art of controlling the spirits
+to their will. This terror had urged him to the destruction of the white
+man, Moonspirit. Now Zalu Zako had mutinied, and being unaware of the
+powerful impulse from which Zalu Zako had gotten this sudden strength,
+Bakahenzie attributed it to the magic influence of Moonspirit. At any
+cost, he argued, must Zalu Zako and the white man be kept apart.
+
+But other pressing points were how to accomplish the slaughter of the
+white man, and what he should do now after the attempt to kill him had
+failed. Either Moonspirit would flee, which would be most happy proof to
+Bakahenzie that he was an impostor and no magician, or he would seek
+revenge immediately. No other action was conceivable to Bakahenzie.
+Therefore in such a case the obvious act was to strike the quicker. He
+contemplated his colleague without looking at him. What was his attitude?
+Bakahenzie, on general principles, was suspicious. If Marufa thought that
+by supporting the white man he might be able to attain Bakahenzie's
+overthrow and gain the position of chief witch-doctor, he would do it,
+even as he, Bakahenzie, would have done in his place. Therefore upon these
+matters did he talk very guardedly with Marufa, who was unusually
+reticent. However, after communing with himself in sphinx-like gravity,
+Marufa assented to the proposal that Zalu Zako be isolated in the godhood
+immediately.
+
+So the slow rhythmic beat, which was the summons to the craft to assemble,
+throbbed in the clammy air. Before the humid shadows had lengthened a
+hand's breadth, were some twenty wizards, greater and lesser, fully
+dressed in the green feathers of the order, collected within the compound
+of Bakahenzie. Silently and woodenly they squatted in a half circle before
+the chief witch-doctor, each and every one excited by the marvellous
+stories circulated by the warriors returned from the camp of Moonspirit,
+stories which amply corroborated the tales of Mungongo. Those who
+supported Bakahenzie's party believed implicitly, because they wished so
+to do, the "reason" for the impotence of their united magic to be the
+breaking of the magic circle by Bakuma. But others who cherished personal
+ambitions for the head witch-doctorship were suspicious of each other and
+of Bakahenzie, each one according to his grade and consequent knowledge in
+the craft.
+
+When the drum had ceased and they sat in impressive silence, Bakahenzie,
+squatting motionless on the threshold of his hut, began to mutter
+incantations and to rock from side to side. Now every one of the inner
+cult knew well enough that this performance was merely a ceremony
+prescribed by tradition and expediency; yet for that very reason and
+particularly for the benefit of the lesser wizards, they solemnly accepted
+it, grunting in chorus as heartily as the others to the chant of
+Bakahenzie. As suddenly as dramatically, Bakahenzie stopped with eyes
+staring upon another world and fell upon his back, to scream and to writhe
+realistically as practice assured him. Then when the mouth was flecked
+with foam, the spirit of Tarum spake through the rigid body which lay as
+in catalepsy with eyes inverted:
+
+  "Aie! Aie! I am the spirit of Kintu!
+  Aie! Aie! I am he who first was!
+  Aie! Aie! I am the banana from whom I was made!
+  Aie! Aie! The time of the nuptial draweth nigh!
+  Aie! Aie! But where is the bride of my bed?
+  Aie! Aie! Let her be found and prepared!
+  Aie! Aie! For my lips are athirst for her blood!
+  Aie! Aie! Let the son of the Snake be anointed!
+  Aie! Aie! Let him be ready to assist at my feast!
+  Aie! Aie! I have spoken, I, the father of Men!
+  Aie! Aie! I, Tarum, the soul of your ancestors!"
+
+From the assembly came the low belly grunt of acceptance, for they were,
+by suggestion, infected with the induced hysteria almost as much as the
+superb actor himself; they believed; even the members of the inner cult
+were convinced for the moment that indeed the mighty spirit of their
+ancestors was speaking.
+
+Slowly, with many prodigious grunts and twists, did Bakahenzie's soul
+return to his body. He sat up and after a long pause said impressively:
+
+"What hath He said unto you?"
+
+And Marufa, as solemnly, related all that He had said.
+
+"Eh!" said Bakahenzie tonelessly, "it is even as I have prophesied. These
+indeed are the words of wisdom. Is it not so, O my brethren?" Again came
+the low grunt of assent. "Let us obey, that these foul spirits may pass
+and the Unmentionable One return unto his children!"
+
+Then, according to custom, all save those of the inner cult arose and went
+forth silently. In the heart of Yabolo, as he squatted as expressionless
+as the others, was satisfaction, for he saw, or thought he saw, that
+Eyes-in-the-hands would be pleased with the destruction of a man who might
+possibly become his rival; and on that principle imagined himself
+introduced by his relative, Sakamata, to Eyes-in-the-hands as the slayer,
+or initiator of the slaying, of his rival, Moonspirit. That Zalu Zako
+should be anointed King-God suited him as well as the other wizards and
+for the same reason. Therefore Yabolo for once raised no objection to the
+behests of Bakahenzie.
+
+Already from the encampment rose the excited voices of the warriors who
+had been informed of the decision of the assembly of wizards. But the
+shadows were long. The forest was even more thickly peopled with spirits
+than their own park-like country. One of the inner cult of five suggested
+that the attack be made at dawn; but Bakahenzie, still baited by
+uncertainty regarding the reality of the magic of Moonspirit and the
+possible influence of Zalu Zako now that he had apparently developed a
+will of his own before they could shut him up in the godhead, was for
+immediate action, and insisted that they call together the warriors and
+make special magic to protect them from the forest demons. Yabolo, as
+anxious as Bakahenzie, became his ally in urging that this be done. But
+Marufa was not at all of this way of thinking. While the fate of Zalu Zako
+was quite immaterial, his attitude to Moonspirit was much the same as the
+young man's, but prompted by a different motive; a power possible to
+utilize for his benefit. But he said no word, listening indifferently
+apparently to the throbbing of the drums summoning the warriors. When the
+inner circle broke up he stalked solemnly to his own hut, but when he was
+within he took from a gourd a special amulet, slipped through a hole in
+the palisade behind the hut, and disappeared into the forest.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 18
+
+
+Meanwhile the object of Bakahenzie's political perplexities was also
+holding a council of war. Mungongo and Bakuma were divided in opinion. The
+former had recovered his complete confidence in Moonspirit. After the
+repulse of the greatest magician and his warriors he became filled with a
+martial ardour and strongly advocated advancing upon the village
+immediately. Birnier smiled and considered. As a matter of fact the plan
+was not so utterly insane as it appeared. Did he follow up swiftly upon
+the heels of the terror-stricken warriors the probability was that the
+whole camp would be infected by the spirit of panic and bolt. However, he
+could not see any object to be attained by stampeding the village.
+Mungongo, ever eager for a miracle, urged that Moonspirit should take upon
+him the spirit form and descend upon them at night. To his disgust
+Moonspirit refused, so Mungongo retired to the fire and consoled himself
+by another vivid description of the powers of his master--growing every
+day!--to Bakuma, who sat and listened dully with ever an anxious eye and
+ear upon the forest trail.
+
+Bakuma was obsessed by terror inspired by the fact that Bakahenzie had
+discovered her presence; the inherent awe of the witch-doctor which had
+been temporarily allayed by the presence of the white, was revived, as
+well as the inevitability of her doom. Only the strict injunctions of
+Moonspirit prevented her fleeing through the jungle to take refuge in some
+distant goatherd village. She was convinced the wizard would soon find out
+where she had gone; for she was persuaded that Bakahenzie had discovered
+her former hiding place by magic divination, maintaining as proof that
+although she had been as usual completely hidden in the undergrowth,
+Bakahenzie had walked directly to her.
+
+Birnier foresaw that the situation might become serious. Bakahenzie's
+attitude was one of suspicion based, he guessed correctly, on professional
+jealousy. The finding of Bakuma had probably been more of an excuse to
+assail the possible rival and thus to satisfy this subconscious death
+wish. Now, reckoned Birnier, Bakahenzie would probably be more exasperated
+than ever at the triumph of the said rival's magic. He would therefore,
+knowing the strength of the driving force of religious conviction,
+endeavour to play upon the emotions of the tribe by advocation of the
+efficacy of appeasing their fallen god by the sacrifice of the girl, and
+so work them up to an exalted state of fanaticism to attack in force; an
+additional stimulant to such action on their part would be the unconscious
+satisfaction in slaying the "brother" of the one who had invaded their
+country, Eyes-in-the-hands.
+
+Another point was that the more a person is scared the less easy it is for
+him to forgive, hence the greater resistance to the overtures of amity.
+Beyond the partially formed idea to overset zu Pfeiffer's petty
+sovereignty was the strictly professional one of studying from the most
+intimate view-point possible a system of primitive theology of a most
+complex and illuminating kind. The main object to be attained therefore
+was resolved by the best method calculated to win the friendship and
+confidence of all concerned, particularly of Bakahenzie. To Birnier, who
+was not as yet conversant with the system, Bakahenzie seemed of less
+importance than Zalu Zako, the King-God, or potential King-God. Yet
+apparently he could not hope to approach Zalu Zako without overcoming the
+opposition offered by Bakahenzie. To give up little Bakuma to the
+sacrificial orgy was unthinkable; such an act would have appeared to him
+tantamount to sacrificing the girl to attain his own ends.
+
+For precaution he placed two of his men as pickets in the jungle to give
+warning of any surprise, although he did not consider that they would be
+likely to renew the attack that day; then, as usual when in difficulties,
+he retired to his tent for a smoke. As he browsed upon his estimable
+friend Burton, his eyes caught a paragraph upon cures for love melancholy
+recommended by the amiable doctor.
+
+
+
+"Lemnius, imstit. cap 58. admires rue and commends it to have excellent
+virtues, to expel vain imaginations, devils and to {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Other things are much
+magnified by writers, as an old cock, a ram's head, a wolf's heart borne
+or eaten, which Mercurialis approves: Prosper Altinus, the water of the
+Nile; Gomesius, all sea water, and at seasonable times to be sick {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} the
+bone in a stag's heart, a monocerot's horn {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
+
+
+
+He glanced up to see Bakuma squatting disconsolately by the fire listening
+to the hundredth repetition of his wonder working according to Mungongo.
+The outline of her rounded back and hunched shoulders, the bronze hands
+clasped beneath the chin and the misty brown eyes apprehensively regarding
+the trail was a sculpture of melancholy. He smiled as he reflected that
+the devils and witches of Chrysostom and Paracelsus were as real to them
+as the forest spirits and the magic of Bakahenzie to this girl. After all
+some of these concoctions sounded as if they should most certainly appeal
+to Bakahenzie and his brethren of the craft. He wandered off into a
+reverie, wondering why it was that superstition is so hard to eradicate
+from the human mind. In Birnier was a strain of humorous melancholy which
+appreciated the comedy of human marionettes made to dance to the legion of
+devils and bugaboos invented by themselves, and as a stimulant to the
+dominant scientific absorption was the knowledge that upon him and his
+fellows depended their only hope of release--which was the greater reason
+that Bakahenzie should slay him, he added whimsically, did he but know it!
+
+Moved by the ever-present curiosity to know what was going on inside other
+people's minds, he called Bakuma and Mungongo to him, observing the
+sprightly action of the boy moved by his faith in him for his good in
+contrast to the dull movements of the girl in her lack of confidence to
+make for her good. And when they were come to him and were seated on the
+ground at his feet he said to Bakuma:
+
+"Wherefore hast thou the black bird within thy breast, O Bakuma?"
+
+She gazed up at him with the pathetic pleading of a gazelle.
+
+"Do not birds seek the broken twigs for the building of nests, O
+Moonspirit?"
+
+"Truly, but why are the branches of thy tree rotted and broken?"
+
+"When the axe of the peasant pecks at the roots of the tree dost thou
+think then that the sap runs the more swiftly, knowing?"
+
+"A devil hast told thee this thing, O Bakuma. When the sun was but a man's
+height did not a jackal break out of the forest seeking to devour, and yet
+the chicken was neither hurt nor taken. Are these not white words?"
+
+"Truly, O Moonspirit," acknowledged Bakuma reluctantly.
+
+"Was not then the magic of Moonspirit more potent than that of thy
+wizards?"
+
+"Thy words are white," she admitted.
+
+"Wherefore then hast thou ashes in thy mouth?"
+
+Bakuma dismally contemplated Birnier's booted leg.
+
+"Eh!" grunted the sophisticated Mungongo, "to those who live on the
+mountain the crocodile is not!"
+
+"Open thy breasts unto me, O Bakuma," said Birnier.
+
+"Clk!" she gasped, making a little gesture of hopelessness. "When the sun
+shines are not the flowers open? But when the night hath come where are
+the flowers? The deer feed on sweet pastures, but when the shadow of the
+lion falleth upon the grass hath not a great cloud come over the world?"
+
+"But thy lion hath fled, O Bakuma!"
+
+She gazed at the white man with curious wonderment at the stupidity of one
+failing to comprehend the simplest problem. She sighed and then as if with
+much patience for another's shortcomings:
+
+"Thou hast strong magic, O white man," said she, "magic that makes the
+magic of Bakahenzie to fall as water. Yet was the daughter of Bakala not
+found by divination? Was the daughter of Bakala not revealed to be the
+bride of the Banana by divination? There shall be made magic that the
+voice of the one shall be obeyed. Eh! Aiee! Aie!"
+
+The brown eyes welled opals which splashed upon a bronze breast. As
+Birnier watched her, pity stimulated a desire to relieve this symbol of
+self-torture, and he thought of a favourite passage in the "Anatomy":
+
+
+
+"Ay, but we are more miserable than others, what shall we do? Beside
+private miseries, we live in perpetual fear and danger; for epithalamiums,
+for pleasant music, that fearful noise of ordnance, drums, and warlike
+trumpets still sounding in our ears; instead of nuptial torches, we have
+the firing of towns and cities; for triumph, lamentations; for joy,
+tears."
+
+
+
+"Well, Bakuma," said he in English, smiling covertly, "we'll see if we
+can't get you the nuptial torches!"
+
+Bakuma gazed at him perplexedly with big eyes.
+
+"Already Moonspirit begins the incantation of mighty magic," explained
+Mungongo solemnly.
+
+"Eh!" murmured Bakuma expectantly.
+
+Birnier smoked and pondered. The walls of the forest were growing closer
+in the beginning of twilight. The soul of fear, reflected Birnier, dwells
+in the unknown. Reveal the god in the machine and the mystery dies. To
+Bakuma he said:
+
+"Listen, O Bakuma, I would speak heavy words to thee. When thou puttest
+the seed of the gourd into the ground then within half a moon there
+appears the plant of the gourd; is it not so?"
+
+"Truly," answered Bakuma disinterestedly.
+
+"Is that then magic?"
+
+"Eh!" commented Bakuma, as in astonishment. "Nay, how could that be? Does
+not the soul of the plant grow even as a child grows?"
+
+"Good. Turn thine eyes to me." Bakuma watched the operation of striking
+and lighting a match with indifference. "Then is this fire which I make
+done by magic?"
+
+"Truly."
+
+"And thou, Mungongo, what thinkest thou?"
+
+"Moonspirit tickles the souls of my feet!"
+
+"H'm." Birnier repressed a smile. "Thou knowest that my words are white?"
+
+"Truly."
+
+"Then I tell thee that this is not done by magic."
+
+"Ehh! Ehh!" chorused the twain.
+
+"This thing on the end of this thing which you call a magic fire twig is
+made of--of--is made of several kinds of--of earth found in the--earth, and
+when--and when----" He sought frantically for native words which were not,
+"the two are brought together--as one strikes a spear----" Birnier hesitated,
+finding himself as perplexed as a psychologist endeavouring to explain the
+abstract working of consciousness in concrete words. "When one strikes a
+spear upon a rock there is an eye of fire, is it not so?"
+
+Mungongo's eyes dimly reflected a growing horror. Bakuma stared.
+
+"The magic of Bakahenzie," murmured Mungongo.
+
+"Already is his soul bewitched," muttered Bakuma.
+
+"Is it not so?" persisted Birnier.
+
+"Aye," admitted Mungongo, moving uneasily and speaking as if humouring a
+dangerous lunatic. "It is the eye of the angry spirit of the rock."
+
+Birnier saw his danger and made another effort.
+
+"Even so. Also thou knowest that thou canst make fire by the rubbing
+together of two sticks. Is that then magic also?"
+
+"Truly," continued Mungongo in the same tone. "Can the spirits of the
+souls of the twigs be summoned without the incantations by the Keeper of
+Fires?"
+
+"O my God!" groaned Birnier, sotto voce, and he abandoned the effort to
+explain combustion. "Thus is it then with these that ye call the magic
+fire twigs."
+
+"Even as we have said," asserted Mungongo triumphantly.
+
+Birnier lapsed into silent defeat. Bakuma began to edge away. As Mungongo
+rose came a stifled scream from Bakuma who sprang to her feet and dashed
+towards the tent; then as if recollecting that her saviour had been
+bewitched by Bakahenzie, fled into the gloom beyond. Mungongo had seized a
+spear stuck in the earth near to him. As appeared the wizened figure of
+Marufa, who saluted as he squatted in the native manner, Birnier
+recollected that he had been with Bakahenzie and wondered what he wanted.
+Mungongo replaced his spear and came to the tent.
+
+"Greeting, O son of MTungo!"
+
+Marufa mumbled the orthodox return.
+
+"Thou hast need of Moonspirit?" demanded Mungongo, some of his officious
+confidence in Birnier returning.
+
+"Doth the leopard go to the goat pen to seek nuts?" grumbled the old man.
+He tapped out snuff slowly and grunted.
+
+Presently said Marufa:
+
+"Moonspirit is the brother of Eyes-in-the-hands?"
+
+"Nay," answered Birnier, wondering at the persistency of this idea.
+"Eyes-in-the-hands is of another tribe ten moons distant from Moonspirit."
+
+Marufa grunted. Another long pause. Then:
+
+"The magic of Moonspirit hath blunted the spears of Bakahenzie?"
+
+"Even so," said Birnier modestly.
+
+"The son of Maliko maketh much magic that the bride of the Banana be taken
+from the white stranger."
+
+"The monkey makes many faces and much noise, but does he eat up the
+leopard?"
+
+"The bite of the spear is more deadly than the bleat of a goat," retorted
+Marufa.
+
+"Doth the wise man eat the heart of a goat to gain courage?"
+
+"The louder the lion roars the less teeth has he!"
+
+"But only the fool opens his mouth to see how many he has!"
+
+"The wise father examines the grain of the tusks before he sells his
+daughter."
+
+"But the wise man sees the daughter before he offers the tusks!"
+
+"Ugm!"
+
+Marufa took more snuff and contemplated the interior of the tent where a
+native was lighting a lamp. Birnier reflected. Evidently Marufa had come
+with an object and had inferred that he had something to bargain about.
+What was it? Also he wanted to be sure that he was setting his trap at the
+right pool. Birnier decided that he was probably acting on his own
+initiative and willing to conspire against Bakahenzie. An impulse to
+experiment upon him as he had upon Mungongo and Bakuma was repressed, for
+from the previous effort he had cemented the conclusion that it was
+impossible to explain rational phenomena to irrational minds; that as ever
+the adventurous champion of reason would be either regarded as insane or
+inspired; that which is not comprehended is divine or ridiculous. However,
+through Marufa might come a suggestion for the tactics of campaign to gain
+the good-will of Bakahenzie or Zalu Zako and the attainment of his
+scientific object--as well as to give Bakuma the torches he had promised
+her. Whether I will or no, he reflected smiling in the dark, must I be
+either a magician or a fool. Fools get nowhere; witch-doctors do here as
+elsewhere. He saw that in order to influence these peoples or any others,
+he had perforce to work in terms of their own understanding, as the early
+Christian missionaries practised in their conversion of the Teutons, the
+Scandinavians and the Britons. A nucleus of a plan had been given by
+Mungongo's impetuous suggestion. He decided to develop it. But through
+Marufa, who first of all must be impressed with the fact that Moonspirit
+was the greatest magician the world had ever seen. So therefore he called
+to the native within: "O Bakombi, put out the light." And to Marufa: "O
+wise man, thunder has not always lightning. Behold! I am part of that
+which is and is not!"
+
+"Clk!"
+
+A click of astonishment was squeezed from Marufa by the chance mystic
+phrase which was interpreted by him as referring to the Unmentionable One.
+
+Then taking out his metal box of vestas Birnier moistened one. As he
+rubbed around his eyes Marufa, who was expecting a miracle, observed the
+growing phosphorescence in stoical calm, while Mungongo, delighted at the
+long deferred proof of his boasts, grunted admiringly.
+
+But when a glowing skeleton hand, which Birnier had prepared behind his
+back, hovered over the old wizard's head, he grunted and made a slight
+convulsive movement.
+
+"Have no fear, O my friend," came Birnier's voice, "the spirit loves my
+friends and destroys my enemies."
+
+That belly grunt had registered the degree of impression that Birnier
+sought. So he lighted the lamp, bade the excited Mungongo to bring out the
+phonograph, a machine adjusted with the recording cylinders as well as the
+reproduction, and after a successful demonstration of magic, discussed
+with Marufa a certain scheme to which the old wizard, quick to see the
+possibilities, afforded many invaluable suggestions.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 19
+
+
+When Zalu Zako was notified of the verdict of the Council and the words of
+Tarum the sense of the inevitable returned, extinguishing the spark of
+rebellion that had been kindled by his passion for Bakuma. To Bakahenzie,
+or to the wizards separately, or collectively, he had had the strength to
+voice his own desires, but to the veritable voice of Tarum was no
+resistance dared. He was bidden to preside by right and precedent at the
+anointing of the warriors. He did not make any feint at refusal, for his
+will was crushed, as it had been weeks before by the doom of godhood and
+celibacy.
+
+Beyond the fact that Bakuma would soon be forbidden to him for ever, he
+did not think; desire was strangled. Even the recollection that Bakahenzie
+had stated that Moonspirit had taken her gave him no reaction. To him as
+to his brethren, while in physical love is bound up the control of the
+universe, because it is vaguely apprehended as a creative force, it is of
+no importance to the individual lover unless he be guilty of breaking the
+sexual tabu: if the girl is not a consenting party to the illicit union
+then she is free; if she is, then it is death to both of them, for as
+every one knows, such criminal action endangers the balance of the burden
+of the world upon the shoulders of the King-God. Thus it was that the
+words of Bakahenzie had produced no reaction against Moonspirit in the
+mind of Zalu Zako; indeed, if the words were true and he could yet obtain
+Bakuma, she might have a son by the white which would obviously bring the
+marvellous power of white magic to his successor, the next King-God; and
+possibly, had mused Zalu Zako, dimly straining at such a radical thought
+against the influence of the priesthood, make the king more powerful a
+magician than the witch-doctors themselves.
+
+But he obeyed the mandate and took his place as bidden. Bakahenzie had
+caused preparation to be begun immediately for the ceremony of making
+enchantment against the spirits of the night. In the circle of cleared
+ground, where sat the temporary Council of Elders, big fires were lighted
+as the dark wall of the forest drew in upon them. Bakahenzie squatted
+before a big calabash, specially reserved and enchanted for the making of
+magic, in which a mess of certain herbs whose spirits were violent haters
+of the demons of all trees, rocks and streams, were to be released from
+the vegetable bondage by stewing that they might be distributed among the
+warriors for the night assault. These warriors, some fifty chosen from the
+followers of Bakahenzie and Marufa, sat on their hams within the circle of
+fires, uneasily casting glances behind them at the deepening sepia, from
+whence arose the nocturnal chant of the spirits of the forest. In order to
+insure no interference from malign animals, Bakahenzie caused to be
+brought a pure white goat whose throat was cut and bled into the cauldron;
+for as any one knows, that soul which is white must necessarily fight well
+against anything that be black. Yet in spite of this potent magic the
+warriors grew unquiet; they felt, rather than thought, that if the magic
+of their witch-doctors had failed against one white why should it succeed
+against another like unto him? And their faith thus weakened, doubts
+regarding the efficacy of the same magic against spirits of the forest
+bred as mosquitoes after rain.
+
+Bakahenzie remarked the uneasiness, but the stronger grew his need to
+restore the waning confidence in his powers by removing the white; the
+blood desire had now been transferred from Bakuma to Moonspirit as the
+most effective demonstration possible to him.
+
+The fires smouldered and flickered yellow tongues upon the greens of the
+warriors' bodies and the blues of the wizards' head-dresses. Faint blue
+vapour swirled around the scarlet feather above Bakahenzie's graven face
+as he muttered incantations and stirred the cauldron. Then as the drums
+throbbed and the warriors grunted rhythmically to Bakahenzie's song of
+enchantment came a squawk as of a parrot. The chant ceased. Branches
+rustled. Every head quirked automatically towards the sound. Came a low
+belly grunt of terror as if an invisible hand had punched them in their
+solar plexus.
+
+Just in the shadow line where the glow of the fires faintly tinted and
+greened the curves of his bronze body against the sepia of his feathers,
+appeared the figure of Marufa, his spear lifted on high as he cried out in
+a loud voice:
+
+"Greetings, O people of the Banana, I bring you tidings of him who is and
+is not, of him who was lost and yet is come. 'Behold, I show you a sign!'"
+
+Against the gloom his left arm and hand glowed with a strange light. An
+unanimous "Ehh!" rose from the assembled warriors and wizards alike.
+
+"Raise your ears!" continued Marufa, "that the Voice may speak unto you!"
+
+In the silence came a subdued click and commenced a high-pitched voice in
+the dialect:
+
+  "Aie! Aie! I am the spirit of Kintu!
+  Aie! Aie! I am he who first was!
+  Aie! Aie! I am the Banana from whom I was made!"
+
+Whites of eyes glimmered like butterflies in starlight. Nothing was
+visible. The voice appeared to rise from every direction. The new miracle
+petrified the limbs of all.
+
+  "Aie! Aie! My soul is defiled and my children enslaved!
+  Aie! Aie! My face hath been scratched by an alien claw!
+  Aie! Aie! I send you the revenge which is white!
+  Aie! Aie! I send you the One who is bidden!
+  Aie! Aie! Let that One arise who is I!
+  Aie! Aie! The mighty One who will blot out the curse!
+  Aie! Aie! I have spoken, I, the Father of Men!
+  Aie! Aie! I, Tarum; the soul of your Ancestors!"
+
+A faint whirr as of wings was drowned in the automatic grunt of acceptance
+squeezed from all the warriors and the wizards by the sacred chant, except
+those of the inner circle. In dread sat the warriors of the terrible magic
+of their doctors which they had once doubted. But the minds of Bakahenzie,
+Yabolo, and the other two master craftsmen were stunned. The phenomenon of
+the glowing hand had they never seen before, but they recollected the
+stones of Mungongo. Even was Sakamata, sophisticated to the wonders of
+Eyes-in-the-hands, impressed and bewildered. Dormant awe for the
+Unmentionable One was awakened in every one of them. Zalu Zako felt that
+his doom was upon him; that the Unmentionable One was about to call him to
+his duty, which invoked fear for the sacrilege he had committed in
+entertaining such radical thoughts in the immediate past. But in
+Bakahenzie was a streak of suspicion; how was it that Marufa was thus
+chosen as the divine messenger? Yet perhaps the veritable god was, or gods
+were, speaking! Doubt held him silent.
+
+"O my brethren, would ye that we seek the voice of the Unmentionable One?"
+cried Marufa.
+
+"Ough! Ough!" grunted the wizards.
+
+Marufa stalked slowly to the nearest fire, muttering a spell. From his
+loin cloth he took the three digital bones of an enemy and proceeded to
+discover the whereabouts by geomancy. And behold! the fingers pointed in
+one direction which all could see. Oblivious to the tight indifference of
+Bakahenzie the old man rose and began to gyrate, mumbling incantations,
+towards a thicket of grass on the fringe of the undergrowth, holding aloft
+the magic bones in the glowing hand. Anxiously the assembly watched the
+skinny figure, half bent, glide out from the glow of the fires into the
+blue shadows. A small log collapsed, throwing a red gleam upon the form
+poised upright before the clump of grass as Marufa cried out:
+
+"Let him who-may-not-be-mentioned speak that his children may hear!"
+
+Immediately commenced a high voice chanting:
+
+"Take up, O Marufa, the wise, the pod of my soul!"
+
+Then in the sight of every man Marufa bent upon his knees, muttering, and
+arose unharmed. Save for the slow turn of each head the better to follow
+the progress of the magician no limb nor muscle moved as in silence Marufa
+bore the like of which had never before been seen; a thing like unto a
+stone, having an ear almost as large and as erect as an angry elephant,
+the colour of a lion yet hairless. "The pod of the soul" Marufa placed
+within the circle of the fires so that all should see. More incantations
+did Marufa make, sitting fearlessly; he caressed it as a young man
+caresses a maid and came forth again the voice of Tarum:
+
+  "Rejoice, O my children, for he that is bidden shall come!
+  Rejoice, O ye warriors, for he that shall lead you shall come!
+  Rejoice, O ye wizards, for he that is greater than ye shall come!
+  Rejoice, O ye women, for he that fertilizes shall come!
+  He shall eat up your enemies as a lion eateth buck.
+  He shall make your dead to be seen and your phantoms to talk!
+  He shall give to your women to have sons of your breed!
+  He shall give you that which was slain on the hill!
+  He that walks in a flame in the night!
+  He that is whiter than the flesh of the baobab!
+  He shall come forth bearing that which ye seek!
+  He shall come forth bearing that which is yours!
+  Hear me, my people, and give voice to my word!"
+
+"Ough! Ough!" came the chorus of assent.
+
+Not a limb nor a hand moved among the concourse of warriors and wizards
+until a new voice, deep, as one who commands, cried out:
+
+"Let the son of Kawa Kendi, the son of MFunya MPopo, the son of MKoffo,
+move not; neither he nor Marufa, the son of MTungo! Unto ye others we say
+unto you, depart that we speak in peace with this our son and priest!"
+
+And simultaneously appeared in the gloom of the undergrowth three pairs of
+eyes as luminous as the glowworm, vaster than any human; and beside the
+souls of the dead King-Gods were terrible hands. Warriors and wizards, all
+save Bakahenzie and Zalu Zako, literally leaped for the forest and village
+in one convulsive bound and grunt. Zalu Zako had remained upon the ground,
+green with terror. Bakahenzie stood upright, his scarlet feather
+fluorescent in the fire-glow. The anthem of the forest was only broken by
+the rustle of branches and the breathing of Zalu Zako and Bakahenzie. A
+harsh voice cried:
+
+"Begone, Bakahenzie, son of a dog! Lest we take thy soul to be with us!"
+
+The eyes appeared to float nearer; hands pointed menacingly. Bakahenzie
+boggled; hesitated; then the dignity of his pose melted into the graceful
+bounds of a fleeing leopard. Even for the professional ghost manipulator,
+such a phenomenon of the spirits, with whom he was supposed to be on
+familiar terms, was demoralizing. But half-way through a thicket of
+undergrowth, where he could no longer see the horrific eyes, his courage
+began to return.
+
+To his ears came a new voice chanting:
+
+  "Sweeter than warm honey is the scent of my man!
+  Fiercer than scorpions is the grip of his hand!
+  Whiter than a spear flash is the gleam of his teeth!
+  Smoother than river stone is the feel of his chest!
+                 Bakuma rejoices!"
+
+Peering through the interstices Bakahenzie could see the gleam of the fire
+upon the bangles of the Son-of-the-Snake and the blue flash upon his spear
+as he melted into the forest wall.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 20
+
+
+The actual sight of spirits from ghostland, of which hitherto they had
+only heard, had been too much for the nerves of the tribe already
+overstrung by the overthrow of the idol and the magic and slaughter of zu
+Pfeiffer; the warriors had fled like scared poultry to the jungle, up
+trees, in the undergrowth and in their huts, where they cowered among
+their women and slaves, reading awful omens and portents in every sound of
+the forest.
+
+The phenomenon had been just as startling and awe-inspiring to Bakahenzie
+as it had been to his most ignorant dupe. His belief in ghostland was
+implicit, but now he had seen what, professionally, he was supposed to see
+and converse with on familiar terms. As Zalu Zako disappeared he continued
+to listen intently. Above the slight rustle of the bushes as the
+Son-of-the-Snake moved through the undergrowth rose a feminine laugh.
+Bakahenzie's liver was squeezed by that sardonic chuckle; for, as is well
+known, female demons are much more malignant than the male. For the space
+of a chant he remained crouching there, curiosity and the dread of
+revealing his terror to his fellows tugging at his feet and fear of the
+demons clutching him around the waist. Save the anthem of the forest no
+further sound of the ghosts was audible.
+
+Cautiously rose Bakahenzie, wriggled out of his nest and with as much
+dignity as maybe, strode back to the fire. From the village came a slight
+whimpering. With satisfaction Bakahenzie noted that no one else was in
+sight. For another space he sat with unquiet eyes and ears upon the
+forest. Then gathering courage as nothing happened, he pondered upon what
+attitude he should assume.
+
+Yabolo stalked from round a hut and squatting calmly beside Bakahenzie,
+nonchalantly proceeded to tap out snuff and offered some to Bakahenzie,
+who grunted acceptance and sniffed with even greater indifference.
+Motionless they continued to sit and silently. Bakahenzie wondered whether
+Yabolo knew that he, too, had fled, and Yabolo, who did know, waited for
+the first move on Bakahenzie's part to retort.
+
+Yabolo, indeed, who had been as panic-stricken as Bakahenzie, was more
+suspicious in view of the accounts he had heard of the magic of
+Eyes-in-the-hands. Who knew but this vision might not be another
+manifestation of Eyes-in-the-hands? And more slowly a similar idea began
+to occur to Bakahenzie, save that he had in mind the incident of
+Moonspirit's magic in the face of his bravest warriors. The calmer he
+became the more was he inclined to accept this explanation of the
+apparitions; such was infinitely more comforting to him than the
+conception that they had been in truth spirits from ghostland. As the
+doubt grew the wisdom of propitiating this powerful Moonspirit became
+apparent; yet was present the dread of loosing what remained of his
+autocratic power. The problem now was to enlist the white and discover
+some means of controlling him and his magic.
+
+But to both men the vital question was, what had become of Zalu Zako?
+There were two alternatives: if the visions had been genuine ghosts, then
+undoubtedly Zalu Zako was dead; but if they had been produced through the
+magic of a white man, then, Bakahenzie argued, Zalu Zako and Marufa must
+be in league with Moonspirit, and Yabolo opined that Zalu Zako had been
+captured by Eyes-in-the-hands. To the latter the effect was to strengthen
+the determination to go over to Eyes-in-the-hands. If the first
+possibility was correct the greater need had he of strong magic if real
+ghosts were taking to walking abroad visibly, and the other case merely
+proved beyond question the invincible magic of Eyes-in-the-hands. But to
+Bakahenzie the reaction was slightly different, for his elemental reason
+took him a little farther than Yabolo by pointing out that in all his wide
+experience never had spirits taken demons' shape, so that the suspicion
+that they had been due to Moonspirit became more plausible, and was
+supported by the recollection of Marufa's unexplained absence and sudden
+reappearance on familiar terms with the spirits.
+
+The longer he pondered on the strange actions of Marufa the more he was
+persuaded that that wily colleague was acting upon sound information, and
+the tangle of his affairs made him so desperate that he decided to gamble
+upon that assumption: for magician Bakahenzie began to realize that Marufa
+had somehow scored a point and that now was approaching the crux which
+would determine whether he won back or lost for ever that which was the
+essence of life to him.
+
+Meanwhile the two puzzled plotters sat motionless and silent as if
+mutually agreeing that no question regarding each other's late movements
+had better be asked.
+
+Accordingly to the depth of his superstition returned each witch-doctor.
+When they were come, without one word of explanation, Bakahenzie lifted
+his voice in a high falsetto, bidding the lay warriors to return to hear
+the voice of the elders. Reassured by this command which carried far on
+the still air, they began to emerge from hut and undergrowth. The first to
+arrive was MYalu, angry to find the whole assembly of wizards apparently
+sitting as if they had never moved, engaged in mystic incantations. MYalu
+had not fled far and from his cranny had seen the flight of Bakahenzie and
+the departure of Zalu Zako, but he dared not betray the doctors. He
+squatted sullenly and waited while the remainder of the warriors, of whom
+many had also seen the general stampede, filed to their places.
+
+When all were assembled Bakahenzie looked up from his spell and bade them
+to listen to what message the faculty--for obvious policy's sake he
+included the whole of the ghosts--had received from ghostland by the three
+spirits, emphasising the vision of the magicians as proof positive of the
+terrible power of the craft. By reason of the sin committed by one who had
+broken the magic circle, as they all knew, said Bakahenzie, had this wrath
+of the Unmentionable One come upon them, permitting the incarnation of a
+demon, Eyes-in-the-hands, to work his will upon them and to make them
+slaves, as were their dogs the Wamungo; and so in the depth of their
+tribulation he, Bakahenzie, whose magic had been rendered impotent by the
+betrayal of the Bride of the Banana, had invoked the spirits of the three,
+as they all had witnessed.
+
+"Ough! Ough!" grunted the warriors in assent, although many of them were
+sorely puzzled to know why the doctors themselves had fled. Yabolo began
+to grow restless in his mind. To allow Bakahenzie to steal all the thunder
+and condemn the possible source of political power to the level of an evil
+demon was contrary to his policy, but he gave no physical sign save to
+become engrossed in his snuff box.
+
+Then Bakahenzie continued with a long harangue maintaining the necessity
+of the consummation of the Marriage of the Banana and announced that Zalu
+Zako had been taken by the spirit of his forefathers in order to prepare
+magic for the eating up of the terrible Eyes-in-the-hands; that as the
+voice of Tarum had said, Zalu Zako would return with "That which was slain
+on the hill--that which ye seek, that which is yours." Although Bakahenzie
+was not sure to what these words had referred, yet he was sagacious enough
+to know that if Marufa had engineered that scene, then there must be some
+plan at the back of it, and in any case knew, as any white medicine man,
+that words in mystic phrasing are always soul-satisfying to the credulous
+who interpret them in terms of their subconscious desires. Then with
+political prudence he avoided any reference to uncomfortable topics, by
+dismissing the assembly before any pertinent questions could be asked.
+
+But when Bakahenzie had retired to his hut, presumably for the night, as
+Marufa had done before him, he girded himself with an amulet containing
+the gall of an enemy killed in battle and a short stabbing spear and
+sallied forth through a hole in the fence to brave the spirits of the
+forests in his need.
+
+In the village generally sleep was not entertained with enthusiasm by any
+save those women and slaves who knew not of the great happenings. In the
+hut of Yabolo were MYalu and Sakamata. From the old men MYalu received
+much consolation and advice, but no information as to why the wizards had
+bolted as fast as the laymen from ghosts invoked by their own magic.
+Sakamata confirmed authoritatively Yabolo's suspicion that the phenomena
+had been produced through the magic of Eyes-in-the-hands, urging that they
+lose no time in going to him to make submission. Yabolo had already
+decided on that course, but MYalu refused to give a definite decision as
+to when he would go. He sat sullenly, saying no word, and eventually
+departed to his own hut where he dismissed his wives and continued to
+brood.
+
+The fear and rage aroused by the anointing of the warriors for the capture
+of Bakuma had been dissipated by the general panic produced by the ghosts.
+Afterwards MYalu had unconsciously hoped, because he so desired it, that
+the pursuit of the Bride would be abandoned; hence Bakahenzie's renewal of
+the chase had angered and frightened him anew. As all the rest of them, he
+wondered and pondered upon the fate of Zalu Zako and Marufa. Marufa, as he
+well knew, had a black heart and two tongues; therefore was he suspicious
+of any manifestation with which the son of MTungo could be connected. Zalu
+Zako was wealthy; perhaps he had bribed Marufa to make magic in order to
+enable him to escape the doom of the king-godship and to flee to another
+country with Bakuma under the protection of Moonspirit. A lover's jealousy
+is as powerful a driving force as ambition. In this case it drove even
+MYalu to defy the spirits of the night, for at the hour of the monkey he
+too stole away into the gloom.
+
+So it was that as the patterned roof of the forest was etched in the timid
+green of dawn peeped MYalu through the gate of the zareba of Moonspirit to
+discover the gaunt form of Bakahenzie squatted by the embers of a fire
+within a deserted compound. Bakahenzie's quick eyes, on the alert for
+ghosts or any moving thing, saw him; so coldly MYalu advanced and sat
+beside him, grunting the formal greeting.
+
+MYalu noted the age of the spoor about the compound, the tent peg holes
+newly pulled. Now was he sure that Marufa and Zalu Zako were in league
+with Moonspirit. Wrath smouldered in his broad chest. At length spoke
+Bakahenzie casually:
+
+"The Bride of the Banana hath been taken away." Bakahenzie paused as if
+weighing his words, and added: "But the feet of spirits are heavy on the
+land." MYalu grunted. Bakahenzie had an idea and to MYalu was born another
+about the same instant. Said Bakahenzie, who wished to know the
+whereabouts of Marufa, Moonspirit and company: "If the Marriage of the
+Bride be not consummated then will the power of Eyes-in-the-hands
+prevail." And after a long pause: "Who will seek the Bride?"
+
+MYalu remained silent, revolving his own notion in his mind. There
+remained with him still many traces of the awe and belief in the power and
+knowledge of Bakahenzie, and so his words threatening the triumph of
+Eyes-in-the-hands assured and strengthened his purpose; for he thought
+that if he could accomplish his plan then would Eyes-in-the-hands surely
+triumph as Bakahenzie predicted. Thus it was that he said:
+
+"O master of Wisdom, give unto me a mighty charm against the evil eye of
+traitors and will I and those that follow me seek the Bride and bring her
+so that which is bidden may be, that the children of the Banana may
+triumph."
+
+MYalu rose. The two started on the return to the village. On the road
+Bakahenzie sought to flatter MYalu by pretending to take him into his
+confidence, adjuring him to secrecy and informing him that he would cause
+it to be known that MYalu, the son of MBusa, would bring back the Bride of
+the Banana. MYalu assented gravely. Just before reaching the village his
+keen eyes noticed a slight trail from the regular path. Broken, twisted
+and crushed leaves and strained branches indicated the recent passage of
+two or three people through the undergrowth.
+
+With difficulty, for the Wongolo are not forest people, he followed the
+spoor in a semi-circle towards the village and a footprint in the slime
+revealed the track of Zalu Zako or Marufa coming from the fires. MYalu
+grunted, but he said nothing to Bakahenzie or anybody else. That the
+vision had been caused by Moonspirit's magic he had now no doubt, and his
+estimation of Moonspirit's power increased to the point of terror; yet the
+smouldering jealousy and desire for Bakuma drove him dreadfully on.
+
+Before the sun was two spans high MYalu left the village with some two
+hundred of his followers anointed against magic and spirits. The track
+from Moonspirit's camp was like an elephant's path. Through the steamy
+heat they followed all day until they came out upon a river near to a
+village upon the border of the forest. The headman of the village was away
+with his chief; but women, children and slaves remained. Zalu Zako, in the
+company of a white man called Moonspirit, Marufa, the wizard, and a girl
+had arrived, had taken three canoes and had left up-stream within a hand's
+breadth of a shadow. MYalu took all the canoes available and started in
+pursuit, leaving the rest of his men to follow as soon as they had
+procured other canoes from the nearest village.
+
+The river was small but deep and flowed swiftly between the vast curtains
+of the overhanging trees. When the dungeon of the forest was glooming to
+night they saw the gleam of a fire. Swiftly and silently they landed,
+surrounded the camp and uttering the war yell, rushed.
+
+But Moonspirit, Zalu Zako or Marufa they found not--only Bakuma with some
+dozen Wamungo carriers. Even the dismal squawk of a Baroto bird could not
+damp the relief and joy of MYalu. Next morning he despatched a secret
+messenger to Yabolo, making a rendezvous at a certain village and with a
+weeping Bakuma in his train set out to seek the rest of his fortune at the
+camp of Eyes-in-the-hands.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 21
+
+
+In the village of Bakahenzie was discontent.
+
+The desertion of Sakamata, Yabolo, and three chiefs, had corroborated his
+suspicions of the unfrocked priest. That Sakamata had been preaching open
+sedition he had known, yet Bakahenzie was in the situation of many a
+president or prime minister; he had feared to put his own position in
+jeopardy by having the offender removed expeditiously. This treachery,
+which synchronised with the time when MYalu should have either returned or
+sent a messenger, implied another grave error. All the information he
+could gather was that MYalu had returned through the village by the river
+with the girl Bakuma, some prisoners and some of the white man's
+equipment, on his way to the north-east; but no one apparently had seen
+Zalu Zako, Marufa nor the white man.
+
+Bakahenzie was at a loss to discover a plausible theory to account for
+MYalu having kidnapped Bakuma, who could not be of any political
+importance to him in going over to Eyes-in-the-hands, but would rather
+prejudice him seriously with the rest of the tribe for the sin of
+sacrilege in taking the Bride of the Banana. Shrewd judge of his
+compatriots though he was, the possibility of a love motive never occurred
+to Bakahenzie. A dominating passion in an individual for any particular
+female was rare in the native world; attractive wives or concubines were
+chosen and bought as one buys a goat or an ox. Bakuma, in her capacity as
+a sacrificial victim, was to him merely a good-looking girl, well selected
+by Marufa for the orgy of the Harvest Festival.
+
+Bakahenzie was distraught. He feared that he had not the authority to
+prevent further desertions; he did not know how far Sakamata's propaganda
+had permeated; he could not guess what Zalu Zako, Marufa and the white man
+were going to do. As many a wise statesman before and after him he adopted
+a policy of "wait and see." To provide an exciting distraction to keep his
+constituents amused and from thinking too much, he borrowed another
+political tactic of abusing some one vigorously. He called a meeting of
+the faculty and the warriors. There he solemnly denounced MYalu as a
+traitor and accused him of the crime of having abducted the Bride of the
+Banana, and consequently as the cause of the continuance of the
+misfortunes of the tribe.
+
+The move was successful, inasmuch that it afforded discussion and absorbed
+wrath for two whole days. Various chiefs proposed as many plans. But none
+was taken. Everybody was discontented and quarrelsome, as fearful of
+Eyes-in-the-hands as he was of his tribal god; many were impressed by the
+propaganda of Sakamata and Yabolo and the impunity with which Yabolo and
+Sakamata and company had quietly gone over to the enemy. Meanwhile
+Bakahenzie squatted in oracular silence, murmuring incantations that were
+prayers to the Unmentionable One interlarded with promises of the things
+he would accomplish for the said Deity, with solemnity and sincerity, for
+he felt that the result of Marufa's intrigue with the magician Moonspirit
+would mature very shortly. What that would be he had no notion; only he
+strained every nerve to be alert when the crisis came to snatch from
+Marufa the advantage that wily old man had gained.
+
+On the third day two more chiefs followed in the wake of Yabolo.
+Bakahenzie made no comment, but he realised that before long, unless the
+unknown happened, he would be unable to retain any of his followers;
+realised that his one chance lay in procrastination. In his despair he
+began to contemplate an alliance with Marufa, even if he had to take a
+subordinate role--which would at any rate give him his only ally, time, to
+help checkmate his colleague.
+
+On the next day yet another chief and his men departed. Bakahenzie knew
+that they were like a herd of goats and that to stop the stampede he must
+adopt desperate measures. To quell the restlessness which murmured
+ominously throughout the camp he called another meeting as soon as the
+news had come of the last desertion. While the drum tapped out the summons
+Bakahenzie sat muttering his most impressive spells alone, endeavouring to
+discover a plausible excuse for some sort of excitement to distract the
+public mind.
+
+Slowly and sulkily the remainder of the brethren of the craft and those
+lay chiefs that were left, assembled within the circle of fires. Squatted
+in the prescribed order they eyed the figure of Bakahenzie in his red and
+green feathers mumbling incantations with doubt and disfavour. Indeed
+Bakahenzie seemed to them the symbol of the fallen god and a past regime;
+impotent and as mistaken as they were. In each and every one of them were
+suspicions and fears growing like weeds in tropic rain that he had made an
+error in not propitiating the new god in time, an impulse which required
+but a few hours' growth to propel them out to the north-east after
+Sakamata and the others.
+
+As they watched in silence Bakahenzie was aware of the state of their
+minds towards him and grew the more perplexed in his search for an
+entertainment sufficiently stimulating to postpone the effects of their
+discontent. Sapiently he decided that any more messages from Tarum would
+be unwise in the present atmosphere. An idea of a revelation by divination
+to appoint a substitute for Bakuma as the Bride of the Banana and thus
+thrust forward a reason for a feast, as there was now no Yabolo to object,
+was abandoned because such an orgy was exclusive to the craft and would
+serve to exasperate the lay chiefs.
+
+His resource suggested a method. Suddenly he uttered a piercing yell and
+fell sideways as in the manner of one about to receive a communication
+from Tarum; but instead of the habitual seizure and cries and groans he
+lay rigid and silent. The divergence from the usual distracted the doubts
+of the audience.
+
+The fires flickered and danced to the insectile anthem as for twenty
+minutes or more he lay there as one dead. But at the first flutter of
+inattention among the doctors he sat up with closed eyes and called out in
+a loud voice:
+
+"That which is and must be, shall be!"
+
+Intuitively he had followed the precept of witch-doctors the world over of
+saying nothing at all in such a way that as many interpretations may be
+deduced as there are listeners. Each and every doctor and chief
+accordingly saw in these mystic words, as Marufa had done in the chance
+phrase of Moonspirit, that which he was most urged to do. Bakahenzie had
+accomplished his temporary object. Once more he cried out:
+
+"Let the children of the Banana be as the wild-cat at the fishpool that
+that which I have prophesied may come to pass!"
+
+The charging of the air with the familiar suggestion of magical doings
+gripped the audience and forced from them the conventional grunt of
+assent. Bakahenzie began again to mutter incantations. He had, he knew,
+averted the immediate danger for at least another sun, or perhaps two. Now
+was there only to wait and see. But Bakahenzie, as all great men, had the
+distinct vein of luck that follows the bold. Even as they squatted there,
+thoroughly worked up for the reception of a miracle, came a rustle among
+the leaves. Every head turned as one to see once more the mystic gleam of
+eyes in the gloom as the voice of Marufa cried:
+
+"Let there be a new fire!"
+
+From the cavern of the undergrowth emerged a white man bearing upon his
+shoulders a burden which, as he staggered into the gleam of the fires, was
+seen to be in form and in shape that of the burned idol. Then did
+Bakahenzie leap to his feet and in one stroke recover his lead and fetter
+his most dangerous enemy by proclaiming in a loud voice:
+
+"Behold! The bearer of the Burden of the World even as Bakahenzie hath
+prophesied!"
+
+And as Birnier set down the idol, from warrior and wizard, with the chief
+witch-doctor's declaration, "That which is and must be, shall be," echoing
+in their ears, came the deep grunt of acceptance of the new King-God of
+the lost Usakuma, the Incarnation of the Unmentionable One.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 22
+
+
+In the humid heat of the forenoon the small hills of Fort Eitel, as zu
+Pfeiffer had renamed the Place of Kings, in the centre of the rased banana
+plantations, resembled scabby pimples upon a shaven patch of a green head
+seething with a verminous activity.
+
+Across the ford of the river came a puckered-faced Bakuma in the train of
+carriers and slaves of MYalu, who with Yabolo was coming to make obeisance
+to Eyes-in-the-hands, under the protection of Sakamata. To Bakuma there
+was no joy in the prospect of the sight of her old home; the bitter taste
+of the oleander was in her mouth as she trudged despondently with downcast
+head.
+
+But the breast of MYalu was filled with the song of the cricket. The
+terrors that had haunted him throughout the journey, of being overtaken by
+the magic of Bakahenzie or his emissaries, for the sacrilege of stealing
+the Bride of the Banana, began to evaporate at the approach to his village
+where now dwelt a new god more powerful than any, from whom he was about
+to gain protection, honours, and incidentally the ivory, which his anxious
+eyes pictured still within his hut. But when they broke from the outer
+banana plantation a mighty grunt was punched from the chests of Yabolo and
+MYalu at the vision of the half-completed street of large huts in the
+midst of desolation.
+
+"Eh!" quoth Sakamata, "is not the way of the mighty one more wonderful
+than he who is gone? Behold, he maketh a city like unto that of his
+people, a city of gods!"
+
+But MYalu had no admiration to spare, for to him the alleged beauty
+thereof was fogged by the fact that his own huts were but blackened ruins.
+The next moment MYalu, in spite of his native dignity, started as one of
+those uniformed keepers of the coughing monsters barked at them magic
+words.
+
+Sakamata replied. Yabolo and MYalu stiffened as they observed the cringe
+of the shoulders as he fumbled hastily within his loin-cloth and presented
+a piece of hard substance, the colour of blue clay with magic marks upon
+it. The demon grunted at them to proceed as if talking to a slave.
+Followed in file the rest of the caravan. As Bakuma passed the uniformed
+demon standing with the sword and gun with seven voices upon his shoulder,
+leered, and grunting in a strange tongue, stepped forward and spun her
+round by the shoulders. Bakuma cried out in terror and the carriers gasped
+fearfully. MYalu and Yabolo wheeled. MYalu's facial scar twitched with
+rage as he raised his spear. But Sakamata clung to his arm as the soldier,
+grinning, raised his rifle in their direction. Bakuma ran on. The man
+laughed and turned his back to them, calling out something that the
+Wongolo could not understand.
+
+"Eh!" commented Sakamata indignantly, "the dog hath eaten poison grass! We
+will tell his words to Eyes-in-the-hands and he will be beaten until he
+stales."
+
+MYalu, slightly mollified by this promise of revenge, strode on in
+silence, bewildered and resentful, wondering at these strange things in
+the camp of the new god. In a large open space resembling a public square,
+was a big unfinished hut: the guest house, Sakamata informed them, for
+those who sought an audience with the Invincible One. As they squatted on
+the floor waiting patiently until the sun was two hand's-breadth above the
+hill for the appointed time, food and beer were brought to them by a
+Wamungo slave. Zu Pfeiffer was careful to foster the class distinction.
+Sakamata duly held forth upon the generosity of Eyes-in-the-hands, the
+wonder of his works and presence; but his words were received in
+unsympathetic silence, for the incident on the road had wounded the
+dignity of both chief and witch-doctor; raised dim fears and forebodings.
+
+At length a strange sound rang out on the still hot air. The signal,
+Sakamata explained, that Eyes-in-the-hands would receive his guests.
+Leaving Bakuma squatted in the lethargy which appeared to be habitual to
+her now, the three slowly mounted the sacred hill, marvelling greatly at
+the black triangle of the roof of the new temple, gazing with veiled
+suspicion at the gleaming brass fittings of the coughing monster in the
+great gate, and eyeing uneasily the double lines of uniformed devils,
+their bayonets flaming in the sun, who were drawn up outside the green
+palace of Eyes-in-the-hands.
+
+On each side of the tent door stood the two tallest men in the companies,
+coal-black forms which towered above the slighter build of the Wongolo, as
+rigid and as silent as trees. Through this terrifying guard walked
+Sakamata leading his two compatriots, already startled and impressed.
+Immediately within Sakamata fell upon his knees. Before them at the end of
+the tent sat zu Pfeiffer in the full dress of his regiment, plumed helmet,
+blazoned uniform and sword; and beside him, erect, the two sergeants
+Schultz and Ludwig in full parade uniform. Above them was a blaze of red,
+white and black and in the midst another splash of colour. But before this
+vision had penetrated their brains, had risen the voice of Sakamata
+bidding them to kneel likewise. Bewildered and awed they obeyed. Then came
+a voice saying:
+
+"Rise, approach, O chiefs!"
+
+Accordingly they arose and following Sakamata, advanced and squatted,
+their eyes dominated and held by those myriad gleams of magic "eyes" on
+hands and wrists. Then the interpreter, standing at attention, spoke this
+harangue tonelessly:
+
+"Greeting and welcome, children of the Banana! Eyes-in-the-hands who is
+known to the people where the sun rises as the Eater-of-Men, hath come
+from afar, the messenger of a greater than he, the Lord of the World, the
+Earthquake, the World Trembler, who eats up what he pleases, whose eyes
+see all things, whose sword slays all things, whose breath is the rain,
+whose voice is the thunder, whose teeth are the lightning, whose frown is
+the earthquake, whose smile is the sun, whose ear is the moon, whose eyes
+are the stars, whose body is the world! Look upon one soul of him which he
+hath sent that ye may worship and know him!"
+
+Zu Pfeiffer raised the jewelled hand above his shoulder as the man ceased.
+From out the medley of colours to the unaccustomed native eyes grew slowly
+the form and face of a white man as strangely clothed as
+Eyes-in-the-hands, covered with amulets and charms upon his breast. For
+four minutes by his wrist-watch, zu Pfeiffer sat silent and as frozen as
+his sergeants; then secretly he pulled a string.
+
+"Ehh!" grunted Yabolo and MYalu involuntarily, for before them appeared
+even, as Sakamata had related, the two souls of every person present.
+Stunned at such a manifestation of magic, they slowly turned from one to
+the other. As silently as they had appeared did the visions vanish.
+
+"O son of MYana, tell the tale of the possession of these thy friends and
+allies," commanded zu Pfeiffer.
+
+Sakamata obeyed. But as he recited the approximate number of MYalu's
+followers, the number of his oxen and goats, the number of fine tusks and
+small, the number of wives, concubines, and children, and slaves, the eyes
+of MYalu grew unquiet. Had he known that he would be required to render an
+account he would have computed at half the actual amount, whereas, in
+order to impress Sakamata with his importance, he had exaggerated to
+almost double what he had ever possessed. Then as Sakamata proceeded to
+perform the same service for Yabolo, relating, by arrangement with his
+relative, about one-third of his possession, MYalu observed in a corner a
+man making magic upon a table, a native clerk keeping tally; for zu
+Pfeiffer kept an exact record of every chief's alleged possessions, as
+given by Sakamata and corroborated--by silent consent--by the said chief, so
+that when afterwards any discrepancy with the said list was discovered,
+the chief was proven a liar and subject to the punishment of further
+confiscation as such, and served as well to enhance the reputation for
+omniscience of Eyes-in-the-hands.
+
+At the end of the recitals of property, MYalu was told, not asked, to bow
+his head to the ground in token of allegiance. He obeyed in bewilderment
+which changed to rage when he was informed that the third of his property
+must be rendered to the august being before one sun's delay; that he was
+to be ready at a summons to produce a given number of warriors; and that
+his small and only son was immediately to be placed in the "village of
+sons of chiefs" as guaranty of obedience and good behaviour.
+
+In a mist of fright, anger and awe, he sat motionless. Sakamata proceeded
+to relate the doings of Zalu Zako and those who had remained faithful to
+him. Zu Pfeiffer had fairly precise information from spies of the
+movements of the Wongolo since the return of Sergeant Ludwig, who had
+burned the village of Yagonyana, but shortage of men and the serious
+disadvantage of traversing and fighting in the forest had prevented him
+from sending another punitive expedition. Also had he heard of a white man
+who had passed through the country. Sakamata, native-like, eager to
+placate, asserted that he had actually seen the white man who was called
+Moonspirit, and from the same motive, ever wishing to flatter, announced
+positively that he had no magic at all, was dark and small and a trader,
+the only kind of white man other than the military at Ingonya of whom
+Sakamata had ever seen.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer stroked his left moustache and reflected. He had at first
+thought that the man might possibly be Saunders, a trader who was in his
+pay, but now decided that he was probably some new trader or hunter from
+the Tanganyika district. He instructed Sakamata that he was to send a
+messenger to this white man and command him to come to him immediately.
+Then waving the imperious jewelled hand, he dismissed them. But noticing
+the sullen countenance of MYalu, he drew Sergeant Schultz's attention,
+ordering him to mark the man and if the tax was not forthcoming quickly,
+to have him given fifty lashes. Silently Schultz saluted.
+
+So it was that MYalu, sulky, smouldering with anger against Sakamata, for
+he felt that he had been betrayed into a trap, followed Yabolo out into
+the sun. Not only had he not gotten back his ivory left in the village,
+but he was ordered to pay much more than he actually possessed.
+
+But when he had descended the hill to the guest house he came to the
+weeping and wailing of his people, who informed him that Bakuma had been
+taken away by three of the demon keepers of the coughing monsters.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 23
+
+
+Upon the site of Birnier's old camp in the forest was a high palisade
+built from tree to tree. Inside of the gate beside a small conical hut
+burned the sacred fires tended by Mungongo; before a green canvas tent
+stood the new idol, which differed from the original in having a better
+perspective and proportion of features and body, yet lacked the master
+touch of expression given by the subconscious fingers of the native
+artist.
+
+Against the wall were stacked uniform cases to make a table, upon which
+were a hand-mirror and toilet articles; above a photograph of Lucille was
+pinned upon the canvas. Upon the camp bed, screened by a mosquito net, lay
+the new King-God, Moonspirit, the magic book in his hands.
+
+
+
+"Kings, princes, monarchs, and magistrates seem to be most happy, but look
+into their estate; you shall find them to be most cumbered with cares, in
+perpetual fear, agony, suspicion, jealousy: that as he (Valer. i. 7, c. 3)
+saith of a crown, if they but knew the discontents that accompany it, they
+would not stoop to pick it up. Quem mihi regem dabis (saith Chrysostom)
+non curis plenum?"
+
+
+
+The Incarnation of the Unmentionable One smiled, put down the book and
+glanced across at the photograph.
+
+"And yet they still talk of the advantages of a monarchy!" he commented.
+
+The original plan concocted with Marufa and Zalu Zako in the forest when
+making the new idol was that Birnier should become chief witch-doctor and
+Zalu Zako be anointed King-God, with Marufa as the power behind the
+throne. Although Zalu Zako desired to escape the yoke, his protest was
+enfeebled by the sense of fatality, and had been utterly squashed by the
+promise of Marufa, at Birnier's suggestion, that the sex tabu would be
+lifted from the godhead. But the negligence of Marufa in allowing the
+white man to carry the idol, arranged with the idea of investing
+Moonspirit with greater prestige according to the prophecies already
+announced by Tarum, had permitted Bakahenzie to make his _coup
+d'etat_--thrust the godhood upon the white and recover his own position.
+
+Birnier in truth had little option of refusal as well as little time for
+reflection upon a situation the possibility of which had not occurred to
+him; for Marufa was completely out-manoeuvred by his rival, and the
+certainty of escape from his doom offered by Bakahenzie revived the image
+of Bakuma in Zalu Zako and bought his partisanship instantly.
+
+With Napoleonic swiftness to grasp the advantages gained Bakahenzie drove
+the lay chiefs from the sacred presence, which he surrounded by a
+bodyguard of the awed brethren; expelled the household from Zalu Zako's
+compound and hustled the incarnation, bearing the new god, into holy
+isolation.
+
+Bewildered by the rapidity of the moves Marufa and Zalu Zako were
+separated from Moonspirit. In the general confusion, not knowing exactly
+what was happening, Birnier complied with what he believed to be the
+regulations regarding gods. But when he perceived that he was about to be
+left alone he clutched Mungongo and refused to part with him. Bakahenzie,
+compelled to avoid any delay before consolidating his position, instantly
+shut up Mungongo in the same web by declaring him the Keeper of the Sacred
+Fires and so disposed of any agent outside the tabu or craft. As soon as
+this was accomplished and a dance to celebrate the lighting of the new
+fires commanded, the wily chief witch-doctor approached Marufa who,
+realizing that he was hopelessly outwitted, was only too eager to make the
+best terms possible.
+
+Birnier had known that the King-God was never allowed to be seen by the
+populace except at the Harvest Festival, yet he accepted his isolation
+philosophically, lured by the expectation of the secrets he was about to
+learn, although his curiosity led sometimes to the vision of a god peeping
+through a fence.
+
+While the drums summoning the council of chiefs and wizards were muttering
+through the moist air, to Birnier, squatting on the floor of Zalu Zako's
+hut with Mungongo beside him, came Bakahenzie to instruct him in his role.
+To whet his curiosity still more he learned that from the moment of
+appearance in the gate of the sacred enclosure for the ceremony of the
+lighting of the royal fires, every movement of body and speech was
+regulated as rigidly as the etiquette of the Court of Spain. At a signal
+from the chief witch-doctor was the King-God to leave the hut and appear
+from behind the idol; with arms in a certain position was he to approach
+and squat at an exact spot. To Mungongo was given charge of the two fire
+sticks, newly consecrated.
+
+As the chief witch-doctor retired the chanting began. Interested to know
+what was about to happen Birnier obeyed in the spirit of a game. So in the
+warm darkness they squatted, these two, listening to the chanting, cries
+and groans to the accompaniment of the drums and lyres and the perpetual
+twitter of the forest. At last came a violent howl from Bakahenzie which
+Mungongo declared was their cue.
+
+Around the circle of the fence to avoid the eyes of the audience ran
+Mungongo to the temporary Place of Fires. Feeling as if he were once more
+playing in an amateur dramatic club, Birnier stalked with portentous
+dignity from the hut, past the idol, and took his seat upon the enchanted
+place. Without the palisade and within another squatted in correct order
+the lines of wizards and chiefs, Zalu Zako retaining, rather by prestige
+of his former holiness and indecision as to what his status really was,
+his position at their head.
+
+Upon his haunches before a large calabash upon a fire Bakahenzie finished
+the mumbling of incantations over the sacred ingredients, and leaping to
+his feet began a wild dance to the throb of the drums and the
+diaphragmatic chorus of the assembled cult.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Swifter and swifter spun the
+chief witch-doctor. The glow of the fire tinted his whirling bronze body
+with flecks of green and red as he gyrated in and out of the shadows.
+Suddenly he threw a handful of herbs upon the fire which was immediately
+enveloped in a cloud of smoke, into which with a screech Bakahenzie
+disappeared.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} The drums and grunting ceased. Then in the swirling column
+of blue appeared his figure holding something in his hands. To the wild
+outburst of drums and groans he sprang towards the King-God elect and
+anointed his breast and shoulders with a pungent compound, and leaped away
+into another dance, while Mungongo plied the two fire sticks. When the
+spark was blown upon the dry tinder and the first flame flickered
+Bakahenzie dropped flat before the gate as from the wizards went up the
+great shout:
+
+"The fire is lighted!"
+
+And from the mass of warriors and folk confined to their huts behind the
+outer palisade the phrase was echoed in a mighty wail, startling monkeys
+and parrots into as wild an acclamation of the new King-God.
+
+Bakahenzie, rising to his haunches, began a chant in honour of the new
+King, a chant based upon the song composed by Marufa and repeated on the
+phonograph, but developing even stranger merits and attributes. Until the
+first glimmer of dawn through the forest roof squatted Birnier, as
+motionless as etiquette demanded, listening to the strange psalm of praise
+with avid interest and observation.
+
+Suddenly, amid a furious clamour of the drums, Bakahenzie, Marufa, and one
+other of the inner cult of the five who had not deserted, led the body of
+the doctors in a rush into the sacred enclosure, seized upon the startled
+King and hustled him to the base of the idol where, yielding to the
+whispered instructions of Marufa, he took the idol once more upon his
+shoulders and guided by Bakahenzie, walked out of the gate and through the
+village to the yelling and screaming of the wizards, some of whom,
+according to precedent, ran about screeching and rattling hut doors,
+pulling thatches and howling ferociously in search of any sacrilegious
+peeper.
+
+As he tramped on with his load Marufa yelled in his ear that he must carry
+the Burden of the World no matter what happened to him, for if he let the
+idol fall then would he be killed upon the spot to save the sky from
+falling too. Wondering what this meant and where he was going, the cut of
+thongs upon his legs surprised him into a halt. Immediately a terrific cry
+went up:
+
+"The Bearer of the World stumbles! Aie! Aieeeeeeeee!"
+
+Despite the furious flogging the intellectual interest in this strange
+conception distracted his mind from the pain of the blows; also his bare
+back was protected by the idol and his leggings and trousers deadened the
+lashes. A moment more he hesitated. But he was unarmed and had voluntarily
+taken on the adventure, so he would see it through. As he broke into a
+shuffling run, for the idol fortunately was lighter than the previous one
+and he was a more powerful man than Kawa Kendi, another howl of joy and
+relief echoed throughout the village.
+
+So along the old forest trail he travelled as fast as he could, assisted
+slightly by wizards' hands as he crawled over clumps of undergrowth. The
+intensity of the whipping had decreased as soon as they were out of the
+village but throughout an occasional vicious whack testified to the
+presence of some devout doctor. Thus it was that the white King-God came
+to his throne and sat in state upon his bed to smile at the reflections of
+a melancholic philosopher.
+
+So far so good, reflected Birnier, although the enforced isolation and
+strict curtailment of his actions had already begun to be irksome; yet to
+attain so difficult a goal sacrifice must be borne, he argued
+philosophically.
+
+The royal larder, he noticed with thankfulness, was kept well stocked.
+Every day appeared a slave who left just within the entrance chickens,
+bananas, milk and fresh water, and sometimes a young goat. All such
+provisions which he had happened to take into the forest with him and so
+had escaped MYalu's marauding hands had been placed in his tent with other
+cases, as containing no man knew what mighty magic.
+
+For three days he had been left utterly alone. Sounds of drums and
+chanting from the distant village had reached them on the still air, but
+what they were doing he could not discover. No layman was allowed to come
+near the sacred enclosure. While he strolled, taking a smoke and
+constitutional around and around his "pen," as he put it, several of the
+lesser wizards appeared and stood at a distance from the gate to stare at
+him. When addressed they made no reply. On the second occasion he began to
+be irritated, but he kept his temper and went to cover in his tent,
+muttering: "Why the devil don't they bring me some buns?"
+
+On the fourth day patience began to fray. He had no notion of knowing how
+long this quarantine was going to last. He was on the point of going to
+find out, but Mungongo pleaded so earnestly that they would instantly be
+killed if they did, that he desisted. So Birnier retired to the tent to
+seek consolation from a record of Lucille's voice.
+
+Birnier attempted to cross-examine Mungongo to find out what was the
+object of this isolation, but beyond the fact that strangers were never
+permitted to behold the King-God, even lay natives, without special magic,
+which was only made once a year at the Harvest Festival, lest evil be made
+upon his person and so endanger the world, Mungongo did not know; merely,
+that so it was. What power over the head witch-doctor the King really had,
+Mungongo had no notion. The King-God was the most powerful magician known,
+asserted Mungongo. Did he not make rain and bear the world upon his
+shoulders? When Birnier unwisely denied this feat, Mungongo looked pained
+and began a remark, but balked before the name Moonspirit to ask the name
+of Birnier's father.
+
+At the mental image conjured up of a handsome white-haired planter and
+ex-owner of many slaves Birnier smiled, but he knew the tabu regarding the
+ban upon the names of the dead and that he, presumably, having ascended
+into the divine plane, was therefore classed with the departed. He
+recollected that the old man, who belonged to a cadet branch of a royalist
+family, had been called "le Marquis," of which he was excessively proud.
+Birnier translated into the dialect the nearest possible rendition of the
+title: The Lord-of-many-Lands.
+
+"The son of the Lord-of-many-Lands," continued Mungongo satisfied, "doth
+but tickle the feet of his slave."
+
+On the fifth afternoon, while the god was engrossed in a cure for love
+madness which, he reflected, might be of service to zu Pfeiffer, came a
+voice without crying:
+
+"The son of Maliko would speak with the Lord, the Bearer of the World!"
+
+Birnier glanced across at the photograph of Lucille.
+
+"Some job I've gotten!" he remarked as he rose. In the gate sat
+Bakahenzie. Birnier was conscious of an idiotic impulse to rush forward to
+greet him as an old and long lost friend. But remembering the dignity of
+his godhood he remained in the tent doorway, bidding the chief
+witch-doctor to advance.
+
+Birnier retired backwards and sat beneath the net, for the mosquitoes were
+as thick as they are on the bayou Barataria. Mungongo, possibly to prove
+his erudition, sat upon one of the cases containing much magic, at which
+Bakahenzie from the floor in the doorway looked askance. Birnier was
+keenly anxious to know what was happening regarding the fortunes of the
+tribe, hoping that with the restoration of the Unmentionable One that they
+would return to their allegiance. According to etiquette he remained
+silent, waiting for Bakahenzie to open the conversation, until, realizing
+that he was a god and that the chief witch-doctor was doing the same
+thing, reflected swiftly and desiring to make an impression, repeated
+Bakahenzie's mystic phrase which he had overheard whilst hiding in the
+jungle previous to the denouement:
+
+"That which is and must be, shall be!" Bakahenzie grunted his
+acknowledgment of the profundity of the statement. "He who would trap the
+leopard must needs dig the pit!" Another uncompromising silence urged
+Birnier to force the pace a little: "O son of Maliko, what say the omens
+and the signs of the evil one, Eyes-in-the-hands?"
+
+"When shall the Unmentionable One return unto the Place of Kings?"
+demanded Bakahenzie.
+
+"The Holy One returneth not unto the place appointed until that which
+defileth is removed," retorted Birnier.
+
+Bakahenzie took snuff and appeared to consider. Then he glanced around the
+tent as if in search of something.
+
+"When will the voice of Tarum speak through the pod of the soul?"
+
+Mungongo looked expectant and stood up. But Birnier ignored him.
+
+"The fruit doth not fall until it be ripe. He would know what hath been
+done by his slaves for the baiting of the pit for the unclean one."
+
+"Would the magician that cometh from the sea make pretence that an
+elephant is a mouse?" inquired Bakahenzie.
+
+For a moment Birnier was perplexed; then he realized that the chief
+witch-doctor inferred that he, as King-God, mocked his priest by
+pretending that he did not know all things.
+
+"Doth the chief witch-doctor make magic for the curing of the scratch of a
+girl of the hut thatch?" he retorted. "Lest thy heart wither like unto a
+fallen leaf, know then that the soul of Tarum hath made words for the
+return of the Unmentionable One to the Place of Kings, but that his
+children may not be as the dogs of the village who are driven, he wills
+that you prepare the pit for the trapping of the defiled one."
+Bakahenzie's eyes stolidly regarded the tent wall. "O son of Maliko, hast
+thou sent forth the sound of the drum throughout the land that the
+children may know of the Coming?"
+
+"When will the voice of Tarum speak through the pod of the soul?" demanded
+Bakahenzie insistently.
+
+Birnier sat motionless in the native manner. Irritated by this childish
+tenacity to apparently a fixed idea, he yielded to an impulse which was
+almost a weakness.
+
+"O son of Maliko," said he, "thou art a mighty magician!" Bakahenzie
+grunted modest assent. "Even as I am." Another grunt. "Give unto me thine
+ears and thine eyes that I may reveal unto thee that which is known to the
+mightiest of magicians." Commanding the delighted Mungongo to bring out
+the phonograph, he continued: "Thou hast heard of the mighty doings of the
+unclean devourer of men, Eyes-in-the-hands. I have magic the like of which
+man hath never seen. Is it not so?"
+
+"Ough!"
+
+"Yet will the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands make thee to see that which
+is, is not!"
+
+"That which is, is not," repeated Bakahenzie, whose professional mind was
+pleased with the phrase.
+
+In the desire to explain rationally the mystery of a phonograph and
+despairing of any attempt to describe the laws of vibration, Birnier
+sought for a likely simile. Encouraged by the almost imperceptible fact
+that he had awakened Bakahenzie's visible interest, he plunged on: "Within
+this piece of tree is there nought but many pieces of iron such as thy
+spears are made of. Thou knowest that there are places by the river and in
+the rocks where a man may speak and that his words will be returned to
+him. Is it not so?"
+
+"They are white words, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands!" returned
+Bakahenzie. "For the spirits of the river and the rocks mock the voices of
+those who have not eaten of the Sacred Banana" (the uninitiated).
+
+"But they mock thy voice as well," protested Birnier.
+
+"Are there not goats in ghostland who bleat at the wizard and the
+peasant?"
+
+"By the Lord!" murmured Birnier, although the mask of his face did not
+change. "Ghostland is full of goats if one were to credit some of the most
+modern witch-doctors! Still demonstration {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+"Thou seest, fellow magician," he continued, "the pod of the soul of
+mighty Tarum, his ear like unto an elephant, his colour like unto a lion!"
+Birnier got out of the mosquito net and knelt beside the phonograph in
+front of Bakahenzie. Taking off the trumpet and cylinder carrier he opened
+up the inside, revealing the clockwork motor, wound it up, stopped it and
+released it. "Thine eyes see that my words are white. These things are but
+as pieces of metal of thy spears. Is it not so?"
+
+"Ough!"
+
+Birnier closed the machine, adjusted the trumpet and put on the cylinder
+of Marufa's record.
+
+  "Aie! Aiee! I am the spirit of Kintu!
+  Aie! Aiee! I am he who first was!"
+
+chanted the machine.
+
+Birnier, noticing that the desired astonishment was registered by an
+almost impalpable start, stopped the machine and changed the record.
+
+  "Rejoice, O my children, for he that is bidden shall come!
+  Rejoice, O ye warriors, for he that shall lead you shall come!
+  Rejoice, O ye wizards, for he that is greater than ye shall come!
+  Rejoice, O ye women, for he that fertilizes shall come!"
+
+Birnier allowed the machine to run through the chant until the end:
+
+  "He shall come forth bearing that which ye seek!
+  Hear ye, my people, and give voice to my word!"
+
+The machine whirred and stopped. Birnier turned to Bakahenzie.
+
+"Thou hast seen, O my brother magician, that my words are white?"
+
+"Ough!" assented Bakahenzie.
+
+"Thou hast seen, O my brother magician, that at the will of my finger upon
+that which is made but of spear-heads that the voice of Tarum hath spoken,
+the voice which is but the mocking voice of Marufa amid the trees of the
+forest?"
+
+"Ough!"
+
+"Dost thou not know that he who knows the ways of rocks, who can make
+pieces of spear into that which will say and do that which he wills, is a
+greater magician than he who must needs go unto the rocks to be mocked?"
+
+"Thou art the greatest of magicians, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands,"
+responded Bakahenzie in a burst of eloquence. "For thou hast entrapped the
+spirits of rocks and spears to do thy bidding."
+
+"O God!" sighed the professor, "what is the use of language?"
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 24
+
+
+A favourite panacea for the results of a stupid action is the sentiment of
+martyrdom. When MYalu persisted in bitter reproaches to Yabolo and
+Sakamata the first retorted that the punishment was the result of having
+committed the sacrilege of kidnapping the sacred Bride of the Banana. Then
+MYalu considered that not only had he been trapped by one of his own
+people whom he had deserted, but to add insult to injury he felt he was
+not understood. Neither Yabolo nor Sakamata, as Bakahenzie, could
+comprehend a chief and a warrior making such a fuss over a girl. That the
+confiscation of MYalu's property was an insult they both agreed, but
+biassed by both fear of Eyes-in-the-hands and their own interests, they
+were disposed to pretend that after all such a small matter as the
+abduction of a girl could be overlooked when committed by the follower of
+such a powerful god and magician, as expedience is so often the father of
+a dispensation. Yet nevertheless in Yabolo, if not in Sakamata, whose
+hatred of the tribal craft was deep in ratio to the degeneracy of his
+native code, the outrage upon Bakuma as the Bride of the Banana, while an
+act of dangerous sacrilege when performed by a Wongolo, violated the half
+suppressed traditions and kindled a spark of bitter resentment ready to
+flare up against Eyes-in-the-hands or Sakamata; but being a diplomatist,
+he concealed that anger, even from himself to a certain degree.
+
+Upon MYalu's arrival in the guest-house to find that Bakuma had been
+taken, his passion had nearly led to his instant destruction, for he had
+desired to run amok among the grinning askaris. Afterwards, when the
+efforts of his friends and the hungry points of bayonets had cooled his
+ardour, he had wanted to rush straight to Eyes-in-the-hands who, according
+to Sakamata employed as master of ceremony at the daily audiences, would
+instantly restore Bakuma to him and visit a terrible punishment upon the
+evil-doer. But the august presence could not be approached so casually:
+petition must be made in orthodox form and the royal pleasure awaited
+meekly.
+
+According to the words of the Son-of-the-Earthquake, as zu Pfeiffer was
+officially designated by his men, who placed the actual name under the
+tabu in token of the acceptance of the magic purple, came a guard to take
+away MYalu's first-born as hostage to the village of the sons of chiefs.
+Seething with red rage MYalu mutely followed Yabolo to the place appointed
+for their housing. Then on the following afternoon at the time of audience
+MYalu waited in the broiling heat for three hand's-spans of the sun
+without being summoned to the green temple. And thus it was for three
+days.
+
+But upon the fourth, when MYalu squatted in the general hut in company
+with Yabolo, Sakamata, and other renegade chiefs, smouldering with bitter
+resentment, came the pulse of a distant drum, the furious tattoo and long
+pause, tattoo and long pause, which accompanies the mighty shout at the
+coronation of a new King-God, "The Fire is lighted!" news that had
+throbbed from that point within the forest from village to village to the
+slopes of the Gamballagalla and to the Wamungo country. The perceptible
+effect upon that circle of bronze figures was a scarcely audible grunt,
+yet nevertheless the message was like unto a live ember dropped in the dry
+grass of the cattle country.
+
+That morning one of the renegade chiefs had brought in two others to make
+their allegiance and received as reward for his fidelity a remittance of
+one-third of the tax levy upon his property, a policy adopted by zu
+Pfeiffer calculated to encourage the recruiting of his followers by
+establishing a reputation for lavish generosity to those who obeyed him,
+in contrast to his merciless severity to the recalcitrant ones.
+
+An hour later MYalu was summoned from the sweating throng squatted before
+the line of demon keepers through the giant ebon guards to audience with
+the Son-of-the-Earthquake. At the entrance as bidden he knelt, for he knew
+that he would be compelled did he refuse. A white flame was in his heart,
+but yet the magnificence of the son of the World Trembler and his
+satellites, the terrible ghosts of the distant white god, with amulets and
+charms upon his breast, had awed and subdued MYalu. Then came the voice of
+Sakamata relating that the chief MYalu, son of MBusa, made complaint to
+the Son-of-the-Earthquake that his slaves, the keepers of the coughing
+demons, had taken a girl named Bakuma, daughter of Bakala, and that he
+craved restitution of his property. While this was being translated by the
+corporal interpreter, MYalu watched the magic flame in the mouth of
+Eyes-in-the-hands, marvelling greatly at the smoke which emerged. Then
+said the interpreter:
+
+"The son of the Lord-of-the-World, the Earthquake, the World Trembler who
+eats up whom he pleases, whose eyes see all things, whose sword slays all
+things, whose breath is the rain, whose voice is the thunder, whose teeth
+are the lightning, whose frown is the earthquake, whose smile is the sun,
+whose ear is the moon, whose eyes are the stars, whose body is the world,
+saith that when the son of MBusa (MYalu) bringeth three chiefs of the same
+rank to sit at the Feet then shall the daughter of Bakala return unto him,
+but in the meantime shall her girdle remain untied. He hath spoken!"
+
+As he finished zu Pfeiffer made the signal of dismissal with his jewelled
+hand, but MYalu with the throb of that distant drum in his ears, cried out
+in protest, saying:
+
+"The words of the Son-of-the-Earthquake are like unto spears made of
+grass!"
+
+The interpreter boggled at the translation of the sentence. Zu Pfeiffer
+saw a ripple of insubordination. He rapped out an order to have the man
+taken away and given fifty lashes. Instantly the guards surrounded MYalu,
+who submitted in sudden misgiving, and led him away to receive the
+punishment.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer gave orders that the girl Bakuma should be found and called
+the next case, Kalomato the elderly chief who had had all his property
+sequestered until he should deliver his eldest son as hostage. He was a
+slight withered old man with a white tuft of beard and at the hands of the
+askaris, after considerable endurance, had screamed his submission. Now he
+hobbled into zu Pfeiffer's presence with the aid of a stick. Pompously the
+interpreter recited the list of the titles of the august one, and then
+dwelt upon the wondrous benefits to be obtained at the magic jewelled
+hands, and demanded that the old chief "eat the dust" and obey the royal
+mandate.
+
+But the sharp eyes gazed steadily from their wrinkled sockets with a
+curious gleam in them as he mumbled that "his soul had wandered" (he had
+dreamed) "and had met the spirit of Tarum, who had forbidden him to obey
+the white god."
+
+"The shenzie" (savage--used contemptuously) "longs for more fire for his
+paws, O Bwana," translated the interpreter into Kiswahili.
+
+"What does he say?" demanded zu Pfeiffer.
+
+"He says, Bwana, that he hath dreamed that his god hath told him that he
+must not obey you. Indio, Bwana."
+
+"Tell him that I slew his god, as every man knows."
+
+"The Son-of-the-Earthquake bids thee to know that he hath eaten up thy god
+as he eateth up thy warriors when his wrath is aroused. Eat dust that thy
+beard grow yet longer; stretch thy tongue and thou shalt be eaten entirely
+and all that is thine!"
+
+"The Fire is lighted," mumbled the old man.
+
+"What does he say?" demanded zu Pfeiffer sharply.
+
+"He attempts to make magic against thee, Bwana," replied the interpreter
+who knew not the meaning of the phrase.
+
+"Take away the animal," commanded zu Pfeiffer.
+
+The old man was accordingly led out to the further attentions of the
+soldiery. But during that afternoon zu Pfeiffer became conscious of a
+subtle air of defiance, a restlessness and exchanging of glances, so that
+the demon which Bakunjala had once seen so vividly came back to roost
+somewhere beneath the immaculate uniform.
+
+Neither he nor his sergeants nor their men could speak the Wongolo tongue
+fluently, so that for interpreter he was compelled to employ one of the
+corporals. To employ any newly subjected race or tribe as soldiers or in
+any responsible capacity is unwise, for ties of blood are liable to lead
+to treachery; to trust to the idiosyncrasies and personal values of any
+native interpreter is equally impolitic. Zu Pfeiffer and his party were as
+unaware of the meaning of the phrases exchanged as they were of the
+message in the throbbing of that distant drum. Between the conqueror and
+the subjected tribe was a wall denser than any steel; the same wall of
+tabu of the craft that Birnier was finding so difficult to penetrate.
+
+Every attempt to persuade any of the witch-doctors to disclose the secrets
+of their craft through the interpreter was doomed to failure; even had zu
+Pfeiffer been able to speak the dialect as well as Birnier he would never
+have accomplished it. Yet he tried the impossible. The answer was
+invariably a mask of ox-like stupidity or the retort that he, being a
+mighty magician, must needs know that he did but "tickle their feet"! At
+length, irritated by this persistence, he had Sakamata put to the torture
+and had for his pains a story in which the idol as the first man was the
+father of the tribe whom the people believed to have been eaten up
+literally, so that the conqueror had become the father of the people,
+having the idol inside him, and the chance that the tale had a faint
+resemblance to an account by a Frenchman of the superstitions of a West
+African tribe, convinced him. Implicitly he believed the ingenious yarn
+invented by a wily witch-doctor to save his hide and the perquisites of
+his job by placating the white man, the trap into which most white
+chroniclers have fallen. This conviction, which flattered his sagacity and
+lulled any suspicions, strengthened his arm in the delivering of
+punishment and reward.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 25
+
+
+In the camp of Bakahenzie was the low mutter of the drums by day and
+night. The village had straggled farther through the forest in each
+direction save that of the sacred enclosure. Already were some five
+hundred warriors there and more were pouring in every day. Busy were
+Bakahenzie and wizards, great and small, in the preparing of amulets of
+the hearts of lions, livers of leopards and galls of birds, and the
+brewing of potent decoctions to be smeared with parrot feathers upon the
+warriors old and young against the evil eye and the spirits of the night.
+And dispensed by Bakahenzie and Marufa, from whom had come the original
+idea, was a special and rather expensive charm against the coughing
+monsters, which was made by, and invested with, the magic of the King-God
+himself, a can key. That morning had there been a special meeting of the
+craft and the chiefs before the sacred enclosure, where they had looked
+upon the sacred form of the King-God and heard the magic elephant's ear
+give them instructions and a prophecy. Around and about a hundred fires,
+flickering mystically in the moist cavern of the forest, shuffled and
+chanted the warriors invoking the aid of Tarum, the spirit of their
+ancestors.
+
+On the threshold of his hut squatted a sullen Zalu Zako. He had discovered
+that he had escaped from the river bearing him to the pool of celibacy to
+find that the bird had been captured by another. Although he had known
+that before attaining his desire he would have had to extricate Bakuma
+from the net of the tabu, yet, lover-like and human, that task
+unconsidered had seemed as easy as stalking a buck in a wood. But the joy
+of his own release had been dissipated as a cloud of dust by a shower by
+the news of MYalu's abduction of the girl and his desertion. Zalu Zako was
+so obsessed by chagrin at this wholly unexpected appearance of a rival
+that he was inclined to regret that he had ever thought of the move by
+which he could escape his late doom and rescue Bakuma at the same time.
+The illusion of nearness to the desired object had served naturally to
+whet his appetite; the balked love motive dominated him almost to the
+exclusion of political affairs. What his official status was now that all
+precedent had been broken Bakahenzie did not know and had not decided, and
+Zalu Zako cared less.
+
+Though his faith in most of the tribal theology was unshaken, he did not
+believe in the sanctity, or the necessity, of the marriage of the Bride of
+the Banana, because he had a defensive complex of desire for her that
+inhibited that belief. Towards MYalu, Zalu Zako's natural reaction was
+revenge. The matter was how to accomplish that end. To reveal to
+Bakahenzie that he was the lover of Bakuma would be tantamount to
+admitting sacrilege in having a passion for the Bride of the Banana.
+
+As Zalu Zako was unable to get at the person of his rival the most logical
+method to his mind was by witchcraft. To obtain some relics of the body of
+MYalu proved easy, as his wives and slaves being forced to flee, had been
+unable to burn the deserted hut, thus leaving in the customary place in
+the thatch some of the hair and nail clippings. Also to find an excuse for
+the cursing of MYalu was still easier. So at a meeting of the chiefs he
+rivalled Bakahenzie in denunciation of the absconding chief, insisted that
+a mighty magic be made against him and produced the necessary corporeal
+parts upon which to work. So it was that Bakahenzie and Marufa, a quiet
+watchful Marufa, brewed the magic brew and condemned MYalu by the proxy of
+his nail clippings to die, a process that took root in a very firm
+conviction in the mind of Zalu Zako and the others that die MYalu would.
+
+After this satisfaction of the first fierce instinct Zalu Zako was more at
+liberty to consider other matters, which resulted in an effort to quicken
+the collective will to recover the tribe's country and possessions,
+symbolised in Zalu Zako's mind by the delicate figure of Bakuma.
+
+The ceremony of the lighting of the new fires he had attended
+perfunctorily. To have regret or pity for the white man, Moonspirit who
+had taken over his doom, never occurred to Zalu Zako, for to him as to
+Bakahenzie Moonspirit was a mighty magician who, if competent to effect
+the magic he had already displayed, was capable of looking after himself;
+moreover, as he had recalled the Unmentionable One, he stood as the
+incarnation of the tribe, the god, therefore beyond human consideration.
+
+Bakahenzie's chief regard was, of course, to unify the tribe once more and
+to rouse those who had submitted to Eyes-in-the-hands to rebellion, which
+was but a projection of his desire, as that of all patriots, to
+consolidate his own position and to regain his lost prestige. He had had
+no need to command that the news be sent abroad. At the ceremony of the
+Lighting of the Fires the drum notes had been picked up by the nearest
+village and sent ricocheting across the length and breadth of the country,
+rippling through the Court of the Son-of-the-Earthquake.
+
+Bakahenzie's confidence had increased tenfold since, by his clever coup,
+he had locked up the white magician in the godhead. He believed that
+Moonspirit was the mightiest magician the world had ever seen, a demi-god;
+for had he, Bakahenzie, not seen these wondrous miracles with his own
+eyes? Had not he, Bakahenzie, captured and tamed this marvellous power to
+his own ends?
+
+So absolute was this confidence in the powers of the white that Bakahenzie
+was perfectly sincere, as Mungongo and Bakuma had been, in asserting that
+the "son of the Lord-of-many-Lands" was pleased to pretend that "an
+elephant was a mouse," that he "tickled their feet." The only doubt raised
+in his mind at that interview was whether he could persuade this powerful
+being to destroy the usurper "out of hand," as it were, or even whether
+Moonspirit could do so; for it was quite reasonable to him to suppose that
+even a god, in fighting another god, might have to do battle for the
+victory.
+
+Not in spite of, but because of, this firm faith Bakahenzie took more
+precautions than ever before to surround the captured god with the
+toughest fibres of the tabu to keep him in isolation. Obviously such a
+valuable prize demanded special precautions. He promulgated an ordinance,
+in the amplitude of his regained power, that no lay man nor any wizard
+save the inner cult, whom he dared not forbid, were to approach within
+sight of the sacred enclosure. In the jungle of his mind lurked the fear
+that the new god might be seen to leave the sacred ground and thus render
+the penalty of death imperative according to the laws of the tabu upon a
+god who jeopardised the tribal welfare as MFunya MPopo had done by his
+failure to bring rain. The belief that he could control a force which he
+admitted was infinitely greater than he, and of punishing it if it did not
+behave, was not at all inconsistent to the native mind, nor more illogical
+than many theological ideas of whites.
+
+At the last interview Bakahenzie had tried to persuade Birnier to permit
+him to speak into the mighty ear of the magic box; in effect an attempt to
+gain complete control. But Birnier, when he at length had realised that
+Bakahenzie's mental development was little greater than Mungongo's, and
+keenly aware of the isolation to which he was to be subjected, as well as
+the purpose in the witch-doctor's mind, had resolutely refused. Bakahenzie
+had accepted the intimation that the god would not work miracles through
+any other mouth than that of his incarnation, and after a long cogitative
+silence had departed without further comment.
+
+But of course he came back again next day, as Birnier had known that he
+would. Birnier hinted at the expected initiation into the "mysteries" of
+the craft, particularly of the Festival of the Banana and the other
+ceremonies connected with his role as King-God. But Bakahenzie's gaze,
+fixed upon an object on the toilet table, did not quiver. Birnier repeated
+the inquiry more bluntly. Said Bakahenzie:
+
+"The fingers of the son of Maliko are hungry to touch the magic knife of
+the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands."
+
+"Damn it," muttered Birnier. "That's my favourite!" But he handed the
+razor to Bakahenzie, saying: "Is not the porridge pot free to all
+brothers?" Gravely Bakahenzie slipped the safety razor into his loin
+cloth, mumbled the orthodox adieu and departed.
+
+Although devoted to Birnier as much as ever, Mungongo was bound just as
+much by the articles of the tabu as any other native; in fact, since his
+appointment to the high office of Keeper of the Fires, he was if possible
+more terrified by the bogies of their theology than before. Put one foot
+out of the sacred ground he would not, for he was convinced that
+immediately he did so, the ghosts of the dead kings would instantly
+strangle him. Birnier attempted to persuade him to get into communication
+with Marufa, but that wily gentleman, grieving over the failure of the
+coup he had aided Birnier to make, and for the moment completely under the
+domination of Bakahenzie, who, he knew, had him watched every moment of
+the day and night, would never approach the Place of the Unmentionable
+One. Nor dared Zalu Zako break the tabu placed by Bakahenzie. To
+Bakahenzie and not to Birnier he owed his escape from the dreaded godhood.
+One who had released him might quite reasonably have him back again if
+annoyed. The few wizards who came to gaze at the imprisoned god like
+children at the Zoo, as Birnier had commented, were deaf to any remark,
+instruction, or plea of the Holy One. So it was that Birnier began to
+realise that the functions of a god were so very purely divine that he
+would never be allowed to interfere in human affairs at all except by
+grace of the high priest, and possibly he was not the first god who had
+found that out.
+
+This jungle of secrecy and the denial of any active part in the organising
+of the tribe began to irritate Birnier. Yet he perceived clearly enough
+from his knowledge of the native mind that a premature effort to force
+either confidence or action would end in disaster. Patience and
+perseverance alone would bring success; and the moulding of the material
+through forces which already controlled it. He must play the witch-doctor
+to the full. Working upon this hypothesis he determined to control
+Bakahenzie through "messages" from the spirit of Tarum. The trouble was to
+find out whether Bakahenzie would obey him or not and to what extent.
+
+So in the early hours of one morning Bakahenzie's watchers in the forest
+shuddered as they heard more of the mysterious voices of the Unmentionable
+One making wondrous magic within the temple as Mungongo chanted, at
+Birnier's prompting, the god's instructions to his high priest and people.
+The form of the chant was not correct as Mungongo's memory was very
+unreliable, but as Birnier remarked to the portrait of Lucille, "I don't
+suppose Maestro Bakahenzie is such a stylist as he would have the public
+suppose." Afterwards, to Mungongo's delight, who was never tired of any
+manifestation of Moonspirit's magic, he put out the light and lay upon his
+bed within the temple listening to the voice of Lucille pouring out the
+passion of "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix," in _Samson et Delilah_, to the
+sleepy ears of the monkeys above the figure of the idol limned against the
+moon-patterned roof of the forest.
+
+But scarcely had the moist ultramarine shadows turned to mauve than the
+voice of Bakahenzie hailed the god most punctiliously from without.
+However Birnier happened to be sleepy, and the chance of the early hour
+presented such an opportunity to gain prestige that he sent the Keeper of
+the Fires to inform the High Priest that the god was not yet up and that
+he must needs wait. And wait did Bakahenzie, like unto a graven image at
+the gate until the sun was four hand's-spans above the trees. When Birnier
+had breakfasted upon broiled kid, eggs, banana and weak tea, Bakahenzie
+was summoned to the august presence.
+
+Wondering what new idea Bakahenzie had gotten into his head Birnier
+solemnly talked the usual preliminaries, intending to announce in the best
+manner that Tarum had a message for the son of Maliko; but to his
+astonishment Bakahenzie forestalled him by demanding to know when the god
+would speak again.
+
+When Mungongo had gravely placed the machine at his feet Birnier set the
+record. The chant bade the son of Maliko to summon the wizards and the
+warriors of the tribe to the abode of the Unmentionable One; to send to
+those who had fallen into the power of Eyes-in-the-hands instructions that
+they were not to reveal by word or deed that the Unmentionable One had
+been pleased to return, but to wait like a wild cat at a fish pool until a
+signal was given through the drums, when they were to smite swiftly at
+every keeper of the demons and to flee immediately to their brethren in
+the forest; that they were on no account to kill or wound
+Eyes-in-the-hands nor any white man that was his, lest their powerful
+ghosts exact a terrible penalty and refuse to be propitiated; that when
+these things had been done would the spirit of Tarum issue further
+instructions.
+
+In composing this message Bernier had sought to gain the advantage of a
+surprise attack and to secure the massacre of as many of the askaris as
+possible; to save zu Pfeiffer and his white sergeants from the fate which
+would await them should they fall into the hands of the Wongolo; to
+minimise the loss of men which would occur were the tribe to attempt to
+face the guns; afterwards to lure zu Pfeiffer away from his fortifications
+and the open country, in order to compel him to fight in the forest where
+he could not ascertain what force was against him; and in the meantime to
+slip round and establish the idol in the Place of Kings, which act would
+consolidate the moral of the tribe as well as cut the line of zu
+Pfeiffer's communications with Ingonya.
+
+As Bakahenzie listened gravely and attentively, Birnier keenly watched his
+face. Although the mask did not quiver, a half suppressed grunt at the end
+persuaded him that Bakahenzie was duly impressed, but he made no comment.
+After regarding Mungongo solemnly putting away the machine Bakahenzie
+remarked casually:
+
+"In the village is a messenger from Eyes-in-the-hands who sends thee
+greetings."
+
+This was the first news that Birnier had received since his ascent to the
+godhood. He had expected that sooner or later zu Pfeiffer would hear of
+the presence of a white man, but he was rather startled at the inference
+that zu Pfeiffer knew who he was. He made no visible sign as he waited.
+Bakahenzie took snuff interestedly and continued:
+
+"Eyes-in-the-hands bids thee to go unto the Place of Kings to eat the dust
+before him."
+
+Bakahenzie regarded him with keen eyes. Birnier considered swiftly. From
+the latter part of the message he gathered that zu Pfeiffer was not aware
+of his identity. His opinion of zu Pfeiffer's character suggested certain
+psychological possibilities. His policy was to lure him away from his
+fort; to destroy his military judgment. Therefore to cause him at this
+juncture to be violently disturbed by a personal emotion might tend to
+confuse his mind. Enmity--fear--might equally serve as the lure required. In
+spite of committing a breach of native etiquette Birnier could not resist
+smiling. He reached for the "Anatomy" and as he scribbled two words he
+said to Bakahenzie solemnly:
+
+"O son of Maliko, say unto this man of many tongues as well as many eyes,
+'that the jackal follows the lion that he may feed upon his leavings; that
+the voice of the hyena is loudest when he eateth offal.' And shall the
+slave take unto him that which is mighty magic, such magic that when
+Eyes-in-the-hands doth but touch it shall he trumpet like unto a wounded
+cow elephant. Bid him to mark that my words be white!"
+
+And when Bakahenzie had gone Birnier turned to the portrait on the wall
+and remarked as he indulged in the luxury of a grin: "Say, honey, but if
+that doesn't make him mad, I'll--I'll eat my own manuscripts!"
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 26
+
+
+In a corner of one of the half-completed huts in a half-completed street
+of the new village of the Place of Kings squatted Yabolo and other chiefs.
+As Sakamata was up in the fort serving Eyes-in-the-hands they could talk
+freely, yet in low tones and with wary eyes for the interstices of the
+unfinished wall. More than one chief had been thrashed but none as high in
+rank as MYalu; moreover, those that had been severely punished had been
+taken in fair fight or had attempted to escape, whereas MYalu had done
+nothing that they considered to merit punishment. The growing detestation
+and hatred smouldering within all of them against the new ruler had burst
+into flame at the first hint of the news vibrating upon the moist air.
+Later had come another drum message bidding them await new words of Tarum,
+and forty-eight hours afterwards the messenger sent by zu Pfeiffer to
+summon Moonspirit, who squatted in the group, whispered word for word
+Birnier's message on the phonograph, adding further instructions from
+Bakahenzie that the signal should be another message upon the drums: "The
+Fire is lighted."
+
+Warm banana wrapped in leaves, which a slave had brought in, was placed
+before the chiefs while the messenger related the gossip of the village in
+the forest. Later, while lolling through the mid-day heat waiting for the
+time of audience, he produced from his loin cloth the magic charm which
+the son of the Lord-of-many-Lands, the King-God, had sent to
+Eyes-in-the-hands and repeated the prophecy that he should trumpet like
+unto a wounded cow elephant, eliciting many grunts of admiration and awe.
+Then he inquired for Sakamata and MYalu, and upon hearing the account,
+reported that they were both traitors and had been condemned to die by the
+magic of Bakahenzie and Marufa.
+
+Each and every chief felt that he had been betrayed by Sakamata. Even
+Yabolo, his relative, particularly because his visionary schemes had come
+to nought, was against Sakamata. Sakamata had heard the message of the
+drums, "The Fire is lighted." But of the details of the return of the
+Unmentionable One and of the new King-God he knew nothing, although every
+other Wongolo man, woman, and child, knew it. The terror of the tabu, of
+the power of the Unmentionable One, was more overwhelming than his fear of
+Eyes-in-the-hands, wizard and ex-member of the inner cult though he be.
+The Unmentionable One had returned, a miracle! In a thousand signs of
+birds and beasts, twigs and shadows, Sakamata saw omens of evil. He knew
+that he was an outcast, that his fellows were plotting; that they knew
+something that he did not; yet he dared not tell Eyes-in-the-hands lest he
+be killed on the instant, not by Eyes-in-the-hands but by the mystic power
+of the Unmentionable One.
+
+Farther down the line, in a small hut, lay MYalu motionless. His mind was
+a whirling red spot of rage and pain, obliterating the image of Bakuma,
+his ivory, and everything. From the base of the spine to his neck he was
+criss-crossed with bloody weals administered with a kiboko (whip of
+hippopotamus hide) by one of the black giants who formed the door guard at
+the tent of Eyes-in-the-hands. More stimulating to his anger even than the
+excessive pain was the indignity, that he, MYalu, son of MBusa, a chief,
+had been flogged like a slave before all men! Could he have gotten free he
+would have leaped upon zu Pfeiffer, god or no, and torn him to pieces with
+hands and teeth. But he could scarcely move. Never had such an act been
+conceived by MYalu. The native dignity and reserve was shattered. He lay
+upon his belly and glared with the eyes of a maddened and tortured animal.
+
+The yellow glare in the open doorway was darkened, but MYalu did not stir.
+The figure of Yabolo, a short throwing sword in hand, moved towards him
+and squatted down, muttering greetings. MYalu made no response. Yabolo
+repeated the message from the spirit of Tarum.
+
+"Let thy spear be made sharp, O son of MBusa, that we may make the jackal
+who would command the lion to eat offal!" MYalu grunted. "The son of
+Bayakala saith that it will be soon, so that thou mayest yet eat of thy
+defiler ere thou art gone to ghostland." MYalu turned his head. "The son
+of MTungo and the son of Maliko," explained the old man, "have made magic
+upon the parts which thou didst foolishly leave within thy hut."
+
+Again MYalu merely grunted and turned away his head. But that dread news
+had quenched the white flame of anger. The spirits were wroth; even had
+they caused him to eat the dust before all men. Conviction in the efficacy
+of the magic for which he would have bought Marufa to make against Zalu
+Zako was as absolute as his faith in the death magic made against him by
+the two powerful witch-doctors, and intensified by the miraculous return
+of the Unmentionable One against whom he had committed sacrilege. He
+recollected the cry of the Baroto bird on the night on which he had
+kidnapped the Bride of the Banana. The spirit of Tarum was wroth. The
+mighty new King-God of the Unmentionable One was about to eat up all the
+enemies of the land. MYalu was convinced that he was doomed; certain that
+Yabolo knew that he was doomed; that every man knew that he was doomed.
+
+For ten minutes the figures, squatting and lying, remained as motionless
+as bronzes. Then MYalu rose to his knees and said calmly: "Give me thy
+sword, O son of Zingala."
+
+Silently Yabolo handed him the sword which MYalu placed beneath him and
+laid down again. So quietly he died.
+
+From the sacred hill blared the harsh cry of the yellow bird, as the
+natives called the trumpet, announcing that the august presence was in
+audience. But instead of the usual crowd of immobile figures squatted
+almost under the shadow of the pom-pom within the gate of the fort, sat
+only the messenger. Sakamata, knowing that something portended and yet not
+exactly what, was so scared that his skinny limbs quivered as if with an
+ague. Although he desired to warn Eyes-in-the-hands in order to save
+himself, he dared not attempt to do so lest the august one visit his anger
+upon his person; vague ideas of redeeming his treachery by delivering
+Eyes-in-the-hands over to his countrymen were stoppered by terror of the
+wrath of the Unmentionable One.
+
+So it was that the pomp of the Son-of-the-Earthquake and the glory of the
+soul of the World-Trembler with many charms upon his breast was reserved
+for the humble messenger who entered escorted by Sakamata. After bowing in
+the prescribed manner the messenger squatted at zu Pfeiffer's feet and
+addressed himself to the corporal interpreter.
+
+"The son of the Lord-of-many-lands, that is the King-God of the
+One-not-to-be-mentioned, sends greeting to the son of the World-Trembler,
+called Eyes-in-the-hands, and this message: 'Say unto the man of many
+tongues as well as many eyes that the jackal follows the lion that he may
+feed on the leavings; the voice of the hyena is loudest when he eateth
+offal!'"
+
+"What does the animal say?" demanded zu Pfeiffer, impatient of the native
+preamble.
+
+"He says, Bwana," said the interpreter, "that the white man is sick and
+cannot move, but that he will come as soon as he is well."
+
+From the folds of his loin cloth the messenger was dutifully extracting
+something wrapped up in a banana leaf, which he handed to the interpreter
+as he finished the message:
+
+"And by his slave he sendeth that which is mighty magic; such magic that
+he who toucheth it shall trumpet like unto a wounded cow elephant."
+
+"He says, Bwana," continued the interpreter glibly, "that he sends to the
+mighty Eater-of-Men a small present," and with the words the corporal
+guilelessly proffered the small package. Zu Pfeiffer took it and tore off
+the covering.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+Then was the magic of the new King-god of the Unmentionable One made
+manifest to all men, and particularly a group of chiefs hiding in a small
+thicket beneath the hill, for indeed did the Son-of-the-Earthquake trumpet
+like unto a wounded cow elephant at the sight of an ivory disc on which
+was written:
+
+"Amantes--Amentes!"
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 27
+
+
+All day at Fort Eitel had been stir and bustle, the blare of trumpets and
+the barking of sergeants, white and black. Long lines of women and slaves
+streamed in from the surrounding countryside bearing loads of corn and
+bananas. In the half-made parade ground at the foot of the hill of Kawa
+Kendi, half a company of Wongolo whom zu Pfeiffer had conscripted from the
+chiefs, stumbled and ran in awkward squads. In the hut of the Wongolo
+chiefs squatted Yabolo among the rest, silently observing the preparations
+for the punitive expedition which Sakamata had informed them was being
+prepared in response to the insolent challenge of the white man who had
+allied himself with the "rebels." But over them, as well as every Wongolo
+in and about the place, was a sullen air not of defiance but of expectant
+listening.
+
+In the mess hut a nervous Bakunjala prepared the table for dinner, the
+whites of his eyes rolling at every sound of zu Pfeiffer's voice from the
+marquee adjoining. Never in his experience, nor in that of other servants
+or soldiers, had the demon so utterly possessed the dread Eater-of-Men as
+since the receipt of some terrible magic sent to him by the white man.
+Opinion was divided as to whether this white man was the one who had been
+arrested and sent to the coast with Corporal Inyira or whether he was a
+brother; some said that the magic leaf which the messenger had brought was
+the soul of the white man, others maintained that it was the incarnation
+of Bakra, which explained why the Eater-of-Men was so entirely possessed.
+Had he not screamed? they demanded, which clearly proved, as everybody
+knew, the dreadful agony as the ghost entered into the body.
+
+Even the white sergeants were frightened of their chief. They had been
+seen talking together secretly, doubtless discussing what medicine they
+could give him to exorcise the demon. Had he not been commanded by this
+demon to leave the safety of the fort where they had the guns on the
+hills, and to go into the forest where, as anybody knew, their eyes would
+be taken from them so that they could not see to kill the dogs of Wongolo?
+They were all conscious, native-like, that something was brewing among the
+Wongolo, but what it was exactly they did not know. Two men had had fifty
+lashes that morning because they had not saluted the totem--flag--correctly;
+and a Wongolo chief had been shot because he had not brought in the amount
+of ivory commanded. None dared to warn the Eater-of-Men. Some one had said
+that the "leaf" was the soul of the idol come to lead the Eater-of-Men to
+destruction. This idea took deep root among the Wunyamwezi soldiers, for
+although they had delighted in the slaughter and rapine under the
+leadership of the Eater-of-Men, yet always had there been an uneasy
+feeling of sacrilege in destroying an idol.
+
+In the half of the marquee reserved for the Kommandant's private quarters
+sat zu Pfeiffer in his camp chair with the inevitable stinger at his
+elbow. Erect by the door stood Sergeant Schultz taking details for the
+disposition of stores and troops during the absence of the punitive
+expedition. Never had he in four years' service seen the lieutenant as he
+was now. Although Schultz could speak Kiswahili fluently he knew no word
+of Munyamwezi, else he might have been disposed to agree with Bakunjala
+and his friends. As it was he thought that the Herr Lieutenant had gotten
+a touch of the sun or was drinking too heavily or perhaps a bit of both;
+for to his mind the act of dividing up their scanty forces and leaving
+their fortified positions to enter the forest, with no chance of keeping
+open the line of communication, appeared to be military suicide.
+
+He deemed it his duty to bring this point of view to his Kommandant's
+notice, but he was uncomfortably aware of zu Pfeiffer's headstrong
+character.
+
+"What time does the moon set, sergeant?" demanded zu Pfeiffer.
+
+"About three, Excellence."
+
+"Good. Then at five precisely the column will move. Warn Sergeant
+Schneider."
+
+"Ya, Excellence."
+
+"You will transfer the remainder of your men and the Nordenfeldt as soon
+as we have gone."
+
+"Ya, Excellence."
+
+"That is all, sergeant."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer dropped his head wearily on to his hand. Schultz remained
+rigidly by the door. Zu Pfeiffer glanced up peevishly.
+
+"I said that was all, sergeant," he exclaimed tetchily.
+
+"Ya, Excellence."
+
+"Herr Gott, what are you standing there for like a stuffed pig?"
+
+Schultz saluted.
+
+"Excellence, it is my duty to remind your Excellence that according to
+regulation 47 of {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
+
+"To hell with you and your regulations, damn you.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Will you leave me
+alone!" The last was almost a plea.
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+Schultz saluted briskly and went. Again zu Pfeiffer's head dropped on to
+the cupped hand and he gazed at the portrait in the ivory frame.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Against
+the blue twilight of the door appeared a tall figure in white.
+
+"What in the name of----" began zu Pfeiffer.
+
+"Chakula tayari, Bwana," announced Bakunjala timidly.
+
+"I don't want any chakula," said zu Pfeiffer. "Wait. Bring some here."
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+Bakunjala fled, to reappear almost instantly with a covered plate, which
+he placed on the table as bidden and vanished. Zu Pfeiffer regarded
+distastefully his favourite dish of curried eggs. Then he bawled
+irritably:
+
+"Lights, animal!"
+
+"Bwana!" gasped Bakunjala appearing in the doorway with the lamp.
+
+But zu Pfeiffer pushed the plate away to stare at the photograph of
+Lucille. The stare turned to a glare, and then as if mutinying against his
+god, as Kawa Kendi had done when summoning rain, he suddenly snatched at
+the frame and flung it upon the floor with an oath, grabbed up a fountain
+pen and began to write.
+
+Indeed zu Pfeiffer was half insane with anger which he was disposed to
+vent upon Lucille by proxy as the source of yet another trouble and
+possibly official disgrace. He had not had a notion that Birnier could
+have survived the gentle hands of the corporal until without warning came
+that ivory disc with "Amantes--Amentes!" scribbled upon it, which not only
+inferred that Birnier had escaped, but that he was near to him and
+intended to champion these native dogs against the Imperial Government in
+the person of himself.
+
+The message had been made the more insulting by the note of exclamation at
+the end implying derisive laughter. It had, as Birnier had calculated that
+it would, struck zu Pfeiffer upon the most tender spot in his mental
+anatomy, evoking a homicidal mania which dominated his consciousness. To
+be cheated, to be swindled, to be sworn at, cursed, even to be beaten was
+sufferable to a degree, but to be laughed at--zu Pfeiffer's haughty soul
+exploded like a bomb at an impact. For a time he had been absolutely
+incoherent with rage. His one impulse had been to rush out and tear
+Birnier limb from limb. Well might the listening natives believe in the
+mighty magic of the new King-God, that it should make the
+Son-of-the-Earthquake to trumpet like a wounded cow elephant!
+
+Then out of the dissolving acrid smoke of wounded pride begin to loom
+arbitrary points. First, that Birnier would have complained, as he once
+had threatened to do, to Washington, which would infuriate the authorities
+in Berlin; and secondly, that he would have written to Lucille revealing
+the attempt he had made upon the life of her husband as well as the things
+he had said. How Birnier had escaped was immaterial, but the particular
+fate that awaited Corporal Inyira was decided but futilely; for the bold
+son of Banyala and his merry men were footing it to the south of lake
+Tanganika, scared by day lest the long arm of the Eater-of-Men should
+overtake them and haunted by the terror of seeing another illuminated
+ghost by night.
+
+As the jewelled hand glittered in the lamp-light came the mutter of a
+distant drum on the moist darkness; zu Pfeiffer, abnormally irritable,
+raised his head, scowled, and muttering that he would have to issue an
+order to have the drums stopped, bent again to the uncongenial task of
+finishing the report due for headquarters before he left. The drum ceased;
+began again and was answered by another drum seemingly nearer at hand.
+
+Five or ten minutes elapsed. As zu Pfeiffer took up a fresh sheet of paper
+a shot rang out followed instantly by yells. Zu Pfeiffer with an oath
+sprang to his feet, snatched at the revolver hanging above his camp bed
+and rushed out as a fusillade of shots mingled with wilder cries. The
+gruff coughs of the corporal in charge of the guard competed with the
+sharp barks of Sergeant Schultz. Zu Pfeiffer, bawling for a sergeant, ran
+to the great gate where the pom-pom was stationed. On the opposite hill
+red flashes of rifle fire darted downwards. Came another outburst of
+yelling. Forms of askaris scurrying to their places round the fence
+brushed by him on every side.
+
+"Sergeant Schultz!" shouted zu Pfeiffer.
+
+A figure in white appeared beside him in the darkness.
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+"Put the gun on them! Quick!"
+
+At the bark of the sergeant the gun crew, already at their post, deftly
+manipulated the machine which coughed angry red bursts of flame into the
+darkness. The cries and howls ceased as suddenly as they had begun.
+
+"Cease fire!" commanded zu Pfeiffer.
+
+In the resulting stillness muttered shouts and cries from somewhere in the
+village below were punctuated by odd shots from the other hill.
+
+"Sergeant Ludwig!" yelled zu Pfeiffer.
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+"Report!" snapped zu Pfeiffer.
+
+"An unknown body of natives attacked and killed the sentry on the eastern
+gate, Excellence," came Sergeant Ludwig's voice from the gloom. "They
+entered and were repulsed according to instructions. That is all,
+Excellence."
+
+"Losses?"
+
+"None other, Excellence."
+
+"What about the lower guards?"
+
+"I do not know, Excellence."
+
+"Take a platoon and investigate. We will cover you with the gun."
+
+"Excellence."
+
+The mutter of his orders was drowned in the excited jabber of the askaris.
+
+"Didimalla!" came the dreaded voice of the Eater-of-Men. Instantly there
+was silence. "Report!" commanded zu Pfeiffer to Sergeant Schultz.
+
+"A body of natives attacked upon the western gate, Excellence. They were
+repulsed."
+
+"Losses?"
+
+"Two men killed and three wounded."
+
+"Ugm! Where's the interpreter?"
+
+"Bwana!"
+
+Cloth creaked as the man saluted in the dark.
+
+"Where is Sakamata?" demanded zu Pfeiffer in Kiswahili.
+
+"Here, Excellence," replied Sergeant Schultz. "He was running away. I had
+him arrested."
+
+"Good. Bring the animal to my quarters."
+
+"Excellence."
+
+The sergeant and the interpreter, with a trembling Sakamata between them,
+followed zu Pfeiffer to the tent. As he entered he picked up the portrait
+in the ivory frame and replaced it carefully on the table and sat down.
+
+"Ask the shenzie why he has not informed us of this attack?"
+
+The interpreter put the question to the terrified old man who mumbled that
+he had not known anything about it.
+
+"Ugm!" grunted zu Pfeiffer. "Send for a file of men, sergeant, and---- No!"
+Zu Pfeiffer rose. "I'll get the truth out of him. Stand aside, corporal!"
+
+The corporal obeyed with alacrity as jerking his revolver downwards zu
+Pfeiffer pulled the trigger. The shot took off two of Sakamata's smaller
+toes. The corporal grinned in appreciation. Zu Pfeiffer experienced a
+shadow of the pleasure he would have had in mutilating Birnier.
+
+"Pull him up!" commanded zu Pfeiffer. "Now ask him again!"
+
+For a moment or two Sakamata, scarcely conscious of any pain in his
+fright, could not comprehend what was said; at length he mumbled and
+muttered. The interpreter lowered his head to listen.
+
+"Well?"
+
+"He says, Bwana, that he does not know anything; that they will not tell
+him, but that he has heard that the god has come back."
+
+"The god! What god?"
+
+"The god which these shenzie (savages) had here before the Bwana came."
+
+"The idol!" Zu Pfeiffer ripped out an oath. Then glaring questioningly at
+the shrunken figure on the floor considered.
+
+"Tell him he lies. How does he know that the idol has come back if they
+will not tell him anything?"
+
+Again the interpreter jabbered at Sakamata who mumbled back.
+
+"He says, Bwana, that his words are white. That they have not told him,
+but that he has heard the message of the drums. 'The Fire is lighted!'"
+
+"What is that?"
+
+"I don't know, Bwana."
+
+"Ask him, you swine pig!"
+
+"He says that whenever there is a new king that they call out those words,
+meaning that he is come."
+
+"Ugm!" Zu Pfeiffer took out a cigar and lighted it as he considered. I
+believe the animal is right, he reflected. That swinehund American has
+done this! He turned sharply to Sergeant Schultz: "Post double guards;
+bring me Ludwig's report and take this thing away and have it shot."
+
+"Excellence!"
+
+The party went out. Zu Pfeiffer sat smoking fiercely. A single shot rang
+out. Presently came Sergeant Ludwig in person.
+
+"I have to report, Excellence, that the investigation infers that the
+attack was only made with the purpose of freeing the sons of chiefs, for
+the picket has been slain but all the others are unhurt save three
+wounded."
+
+Zu Pfeiffer swore mightily, but he dismissed the sergeant with an
+admonition to have his troops ready for inspection at four-thirty. He
+drank a brandy neat and sat on, staring at the darkness. Then suddenly he
+exclaimed and wheeled to the abandoned report.
+
+"This is an undeniable overt act," he muttered, seeing what he considered
+an opportunity to neutralise the suppositious complaint which Birnier had
+sent to Washington; and taking up his pen began a formal accusation
+against Birnier, as an American subject, for having violated the
+international laws of the Geneva Convention by aiding and abetting rebels
+of his Imperial Majesty.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 28
+
+
+Sergeant Schultz's gloomy foreboding of the inevitable result attending
+the refusal to follow the teachings of his national preceptors was
+justified.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer, crazed with wounded pride or magic, according to the white or
+black point of view, had held rigidly to his schedule; precisely at
+four-thirty he had inspected the expedition and marched at the first
+streak of dawn. Schultz removed to the other hill, leaving twenty-five men
+and a gun under a black sergeant. Afterwards he visited the village. The
+bodies of five of the picket were lying in the sun mutilated. Not a native
+of any sort was to be seen or heard. He sent out scouts. A village a
+couple of miles away was deserted too. He wished to burn the huts and
+plantation to clear the ground around the fort but he dared not do so
+without orders. Muttering to himself he returned and posted double
+sentries.
+
+Throughout the day and the moonlight not a sound of a drum or the voice of
+a native disturbed the moist heat. He slept for a while and then took to
+pacing upon the levee outside the fort. He was aware of a restlessness
+among the men. About midnight a nervous sentry fired at a moving shadow in
+the village. Erratic shots followed; flickered and ceased at the
+sergeant's angry order. The trees seemed to whisper mockingly. The
+sergeant decided that it must have been a prowling jackal or hyena; but
+the incident made him irritable.
+
+In ordinary circumstances he would have posted picket sentries as provided
+by the regulations, but he could not spare any of his fifty men, for in
+the case of an attack they would never regain the fort. The moon sank as
+if reluctantly, seeming to hesitate upon the fringe of banana fronds at
+something that she alone could see. But the night creaked slowly on.
+Schultz knew that the favourite hour for an attack was just at the first
+glimmer of dawn when the spirits are making for their homes and the light
+is deceptive.
+
+He was standing in front of the Nordenfeldt when a sentry's keener ears
+caught a peculiar whispering rustle. As Schultz turned his head to listen,
+the whisper grew in volume to the sound of a hail-storm--the patter of bare
+feet on sand. Faint light on spears rippled round the base of the hills.
+Schultz sprang inside the barrier barking at his men to open fire. He
+deflected the muzzle of his gun and began pumping nickel into the
+advancing mass of yelling figures.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+
+The rush carried the fort; for the defenders were out-numbered by fifty to
+one. Schultz fell under a dozen spear thrusts. The askaris were massacred
+to a man before the sun rose inquiringly beyond the sacred hill of Kawa
+Kendi.
+
+When all the bloody acts of war were done and the triumphant yelling
+quietened, there came from across the river a pulsing trickle of sound in
+the sizzling heat, which was answered by a thundering crash of spear
+against shield and the "Ough! Ough!" of three thousand warriors gathered
+upon the hill to do homage to the Unmentionable One.
+
+Across the river, at the ford where Bakuma had sung her swan song, came
+the procession led by the craft in full panoply. In the van stalked
+Bakahenzie, grave and solemn as befitted the high priest. Around him
+capered with untiring energy a group of lesser wizards whose duties were
+as those of professional dancers, having dried bladders and magic beads
+fastened to their ankles and wrists. Then behind Marufa a litter was borne
+by sacred slaves doomed to perish after performing their holy office, in
+which, swathed entirely from the public gaze, was Usakuma, the Incarnation
+of the Unmentionable One. In another litter, as securely screened, was the
+son of the Lord-of-many-Lands, endeavouring to endure a perpetual bath of
+sweat in the sacred cause, peeking professorial eyes through the
+interstices, scribbling in a notebook. Behind again marched Mungongo
+bearing a smouldering brand of the Sacred Fire; then Yabolo, reinstated in
+office for a reason that any politician will understand. After him came
+more litters bearing the magic "things" of the Incarnation of an
+Incarnation, the King-God.
+
+As they splashed across the river, like troops of bronze gazelle, women
+and girls dashed eager to gather of fertility from the water enchanted by
+the passage of the Bearer of the World.
+
+So they came through the banana plantation and up the wide street which
+the Son-of-the-Earthquake had planned. The chant quavered like a dragonfly
+in the sun and the chorus of the warriors replied with the rhythm and the
+profundity of gargantuan frogs. Then as Bakahenzie stepped upon the
+incline of the hill, burst from the women the cricket song which is made
+tremolo by the rapid beating of the fingers upon the lips, as from the
+drums went out the message over the land that the Unmentionable One had
+indeed returned to the Place of Kings, the City of the Snake.
+
+Ten minutes later a half-stewed god, as exhausted as any emperor after a
+state parade, was permitted to emerge from the litter and to recuperate
+within the cool of the unfinished house that was to have been the bungalow
+of the Kommandant. No one else save the Keeper of the Fires, Bakahenzie
+and Marufa, were within the stockade which ringed the fort. Outside rose
+the mutter and rumble of the warriors and the cries of the women. The
+huddled lines of huts which had been barracks were already in process of
+demolition at the hands of the slaves, and the square within the fort was
+cleared of the slain askaris by the simple process of heaving the bodies
+over the palisade. The idol remained within the litter until the
+consecrating of the defiled ground should be performed by Bakahenzie and
+the craft.
+
+No Wongolo nor any wizard, not even Bakahenzie, would touch the enchanted
+coughing monsters; but as the holy slaves were already doomed they were
+set to pull and to push the Nordenfeldt from the embrasure beside the
+entrance across the levee until it toppled over and rolled half-way down
+the hill, where it was allowed to stay, surrounded from morning to night
+by a crowd of women and children and idle warriors.
+
+The thirst which afflicted Birnier rendered him oblivious of his godhood
+and of the sacred office of Mungongo who was dutifully busy upon his knees
+blowing up the sacred fires from the ember which he had carried; so that
+at a summons to bring water he was both embarrassed and awed, for the
+presence of the High Priest intensified his natural terror of breaking any
+of the meshes of the tabu. At the second imperative demand Bakahenzie
+soothed the angry god by commanding a slave to run to fetch water from
+without. But even then Birnier had the parched felicity of waiting while
+the High Priest solemnly exorcised the gourd of water which, as all food,
+could not be permitted to pass the lips of the King-God without the
+prescribed incantations.
+
+However, within quite a reasonable time the sacred prisoner was
+accommodated with the possession of his goods, magic and culinary. The
+bungalow of the Kommandant, Birnier gathered, was to be converted into the
+temple after the ceremony of purification, and the idol was to stand in
+front in the place occupied by its predecessor at the coronation of the
+late Kawa Kendi.
+
+All that day were Bakahenzie and Marufa and the wizards working hard at
+the various ceremonies of purification of those who had slain, the
+consecration of the Holy Hill, and the exorcising of the evil spirits
+attached thereto by the residence of the Son-of-the-Earthquake. Meanwhile
+Birnier and Mungongo were left to themselves within the enclosure to
+listen to the chanting and thrumming of the drums. Birnier had much to do
+in compiling his notes and reflections; Mungongo nothing save to prepare
+their meals and attend the Sacred Fires.
+
+Exactly what had happened Birnier did not know and could not extract from
+Bakahenzie, who adopted his usual effective method of ignoring every
+direct question. Before they had left the place in the forest he had
+informed Birnier that the commands of the spirit of Tarum through the
+magic ear had been performed, but with what restrictions, modifications,
+or embroideries, Birnier had no means of ascertaining. His definite
+knowledge was that Zalu Zako, together with other chiefs and a vast crowd
+of warriors, were to remain in the forest where zu Pfeiffer was to be led
+into ambush by the power of the magic which he had sent, the American
+flag, an idea which certainly tickled Birnier's sense of humour
+considerably, particularly as it appealed to him, if successful, as an
+ideal case of poetic justice.
+
+That zu Pfeiffer's fort had fallen was obvious, although what the
+disposition of his forces had been and of how the assault had been
+carried, Birnier had no idea. But of one thing he was reasonably sure, and
+that was that his analysis of zu Pfeiffer's reactions and the
+psychological effect upon the natives of having the idol reinstated in the
+Place of Kings, had been entirely correct. After all, as he admitted with
+a smile, zu Pfeiffer's system of native psychology had been based on the
+same fundamental principles as his own except that he had not reckoned
+with the unknown quantity, the equal intelligence working against him and
+able to discount his moves, plus heavier artillery in the form of an
+emotional broadside, the possibility of which rather naturally had never
+occurred to him.
+
+An item which worried Birnier was that he had no means, and could hope for
+none apparently, of discovering whether and to what extent his orders
+through the phonograph had been carried out regarding the treatment of the
+white men. Their fate at the hands of the Wongolo, particularly after the
+merciless massacres inflicted by zu Pfeiffer, would scarcely bear
+imagining. From the fact of the instant and apparently easy success of the
+assault on the forts, he did not doubt that zu Pfeiffer, who had been
+foolish enough to be lured into dividing his forces, was doomed to defeat.
+In this instance he would not have any of the advantages of his triumphal
+entry into the country; would not be able to accomplish a surprise attack,
+and the weakening of the native moral by massacre and the downfall of the
+idol; in fact he had these very forces against him: for the success of
+their first venture, their overwhelming numbers in the forest, the
+exaltation of fanaticism excited by the restoration of their tribal god,
+practically tacked a label of suicide upon his military actions.
+
+During that day Bakahenzie, evidently too busy with the duties of his
+office, did not come near to him. But that evening, in order to ensure as
+far as possible obedience to his orders through the mouth of the oracle,
+Birnier caused Mungongo to chant further instructions into the phonograph
+commanding that the Son-of-the-Earthquake was to be brought alive to
+receive judgment from the Unmentionable One through the Incarnation, the
+son of the Lord-of-many-Lands. Whether this would work or not Birnier of
+course could not know. Already had he discovered that nobody could control
+the complicated machinery of the native tabu any more than any one
+statesman could manage always any vast political machine; indeed he, as
+many others, might more than conceivably be ground up by the gargantuan
+engine with whose starting lever he had played. All he could do had been
+done; nothing remained but to adopt Marufa's favourite maxim: "wait and
+see."
+
+In the evening Mungongo, who had at length been persuaded to project his
+eyes beyond the sacred ground even if he would not his feet, reported that
+much chanting and drumming indicated that the warriors, or a great number
+of them, had departed, evidently to reinforce the troops of Zalu Zako or
+with the object of taking zu Pfeiffer in the rear: a fact which made
+Birnier a little uneasy lest the news of the fall of the station might
+bring zu Pfeiffer to his senses and cause him to return, in which case the
+position might prove to be somewhat uncomfortable.
+
+However, the night passed to the soft thrumming of the drums. At dawn
+appeared Bakahenzie as solemnly as usual. He began by demanding that the
+"pod of the soul" of Tarum should be prepared to listen to him. Birnier
+observed a slight increase in the domineering manner and realized more
+keenly that unless he checked that tendency the worthy High Priest would
+become altogether unmanageable.
+
+Birnier commanded Mungongo to bring forth the instrument and reproduced
+for Bakahenzie's benefit the oration of the previous night. Bakahenzie
+listened solemnly, grunted acquiescence, and again made his request.
+Birnier refused abruptly. Again Bakahenzie grunted acceptance which caused
+Birnier to speculate upon what move the wily doctor had in mind. However,
+after the usual starting of false trails, he announced that the
+consecration of the idol would take place that day and began to instruct
+the new god in his divine duties. That there was something unusual in the
+form, either exaggerated or curtailed, Birnier gathered from Bakahenzie's
+method of expounding the rites; and the solution came in the announcement,
+just before leaving, that as soon as the Son-of-the-Earthquake had been
+"eaten up," that he, Bakahenzie, would summon the craft and the people to
+the Harvest Festival.
+
+The form of the statement again drew Birnier's attention to the fact that
+Bakahenzie was assuming the reins of power far too fast for his
+satisfaction; that unless he contrived to put on the curb he would never
+attain the goal of a beneficent agent nor be able to satisfy his
+professional curiosity.
+
+However, when he had gone, Birnier began anew to question Mungongo
+regarding the reputed ceremonies of the festival, but beyond the fact that
+it was an occasion allied to the Christian-Pagan festival of a kind of
+thanksgiving for the harvest and sacrifice to the god which involved the
+ceremony of the marriage of the Bride of the Banana, Mungongo knew
+nothing.
+
+In the afternoon Birnier was required to preside at the consecrating of
+the ground and the setting up of the idol. But all he had to do was to
+squat silently in front of the new temple and before Bakahenzie and the
+group of the cult, while the concourse of the other wizards and the few
+chiefs that were not away grunted a belly chorus upon the levee without.
+The ceremony was disappointing as ceremonies go, for beyond the stewing in
+the great calabash of a magic concoction with which to anoint the hole for
+the feet of the idol, the doorposts of the temple and the House of Fires,
+to the accompaniment of the usual chanting and drumming, it was ended by a
+dance, with Bakahenzie as the premier danseur.
+
+After his evening meal of boiled chicken, goat flesh and milk, Birnier
+squatted in the doorway of his new quarters smoking. He had no lights as
+his store of carbide was finished. Before leaving for the forest to carve
+the Incarnation of the new Unmentionable One, he had had the forethought
+to despatch a messenger to a certain village on the great lake to
+intercept his carriers with goods and the mail for which he had sent after
+escaping from the noble son of Banyala; he had already informed Bakahenzie
+of the coming of a fresh stock of magic and impressed upon him that great
+precaution must be taken to ensure that it came directly to him, lest
+contact with strangers should offend the spirits. Bakahenzie had assented
+in his usual non-committal manner, a manner that was beginning to get upon
+Birnier's nerves.
+
+As he smoked, staring up at the great moon over the sinister head of the
+idol framed in the green light, he observed that the day after the next
+would be the full moon, the Harvest Moon, the time of the yearly festival.
+Then, by a coincidence which sometimes seems to have a telepathic basis as
+explanation, he heard a curious soft sound from apparently behind the hut.
+Mungongo, squatting near his Sacred Fires in the immobile manner of the
+native, heard the sound too. Again a sibilant whisper, almost like the
+hiss of a snake, brought a "Clk" of astonishment to Mungongo's lips. He
+rose swiftly and disappeared behind the hut. Another muffled exclamation
+of astonishment aroused Birnier's curiosity. He followed, to find Mungongo
+leaning over the palisade as if speaking to some one.
+
+"Ehh!" murmured a familiar voice. "'Tis Moonspirit!"
+
+With a grunt of horror Mungongo turned upon Birnier and began to push him
+away, gasping: "She is accursed! If the evil of her eyes rest upon thee
+thou art sick unto death!"
+
+"The devil take you!" muttered Birnier, angry at the touch of force; then
+recollecting that the tabu forbade alien eyes to gaze on his sacred body
+upon which the world depended, he realized that Mungongo was trying to
+save him. He held him off by the arms, saying: "Be quiet, thou fool! Hath
+not my magic shown thee that I am above all magic?"
+
+Mungongo appeared to consider that there was some truth in the statement
+and at any rate it gave him something to think about. He stood passively
+but as if momentarily expecting Birnier, magic or no, to melt before his
+eyes. Bending over the fence Birnier saw the slender form of Bakuma
+crouched against the earth.
+
+"What dost thou here, O little one?" he whispered, for of course he knew
+nothing of her fate after the abduction by MYalu.
+
+So horror-struck at her own temerity in approaching the person of the
+King-God was she that she dared not raise her eyes as she stuttered:
+
+"A demon hath driven the bird of my soul into the net of thy wrath."
+
+"Still the black wings in thy breast, O Bakuma," said Birnier, trying to
+soothe the child. "Come thou within and show thy father thy bosom."
+
+"Ehh! Ehh!" gasped Bakuma, quivering in greater panic than ever.
+
+Aware of the danger Birnier stooped, took her by the arms and lifted her
+over the palisade, remarking the violent trembling of the frail little
+body whose limbs seemed like candles.
+
+"Come thou," said Birnier, moving towards the hut.
+
+But she cowered where he had dumped her, covering her eyes with her hands
+so that she gazed not upon the sacred body. Mungongo stood like a tree,
+the whites of terrified eyes glimmering in the moonlight. Birnier picked
+up the girl and carried her into the hut, followed by a quaking Keeper of
+the Sacred Fires.
+
+"Go, thou fool," commanded Birnier, "and watch that none approaches!"
+Mungongo gasped. But he obeyed. "Now, little one," continued Birnier,
+"bare thy bosom that I may know how to make the magic of healing."
+
+Squatting on the threshold, her emaciated arms still covering her eyes,
+Bakuma strove to obey. At length she faltered out the story of her double
+abduction. The capture by the askaris had made but little difference to
+her, for, as she phrased it, the beak of her soul was like unto the mouth
+of the crocodile. Her captor had thrust her into a hut in the village
+together with some other female captives, but as the man had had to
+continue his military duties, night had fallen before he returned, by
+which time she had bribed some of the women, whose captivity was not as
+loathsome to them as the pride of their race should have made it, with a
+powerful charm which Birnier had given her, a nickel-plated razor-strop.
+She had escaped. But more fearful of her doom as the Bride of the Banana
+than she was of MYalu or the askaris, she had hidden in the forest, living
+upon wild fruit and roots. Then had she heard the drums announcing the
+return of the Unmentionable One, and aware that Moonspirit had gone into
+the forest to seek Him, had guessed that he was triumphant. Away in the
+jungle she had heard the sound of the rejoicing at the homecoming of the
+King-God; had hesitated, and at last she had come to Moonspirit, in spite
+of his divinity, in the fluttering hope of aid, driven by a demon to break
+another tabu, the same demon which urges so many to break magic
+circles--the subconscious love motive.
+
+Poor kid! commented Birnier to himself as he regarded the pitiful cowering
+form. We haven't gotten the nuptial torches for you yet, but we will, by
+God!{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} Give me thine ear, O little one.{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} But as he talked to her, soothing
+the terror by promises of mightier magic, came Mungongo crying in a
+terrified whisper that Bakahenzie was claiming audience. At the back of
+the next room of the bungalow, built upon a plan of the one in Ingonya,
+was a bathroom, and into that was Bakuma hurried and bidden to lie as
+quiet as a crocodile.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 29
+
+
+Bakahenzie had come to announce that the certain magic "things," which a
+messenger had brought from the white man's country, had arrived. Although
+he could not expect an answer to his letter to Lucille in Europe, there
+might be others; and such an event as the receipt of a mail once in six
+months is apt to be exciting. Birnier forgot his role for the moment,
+leaped to his feet preparatory to rushing out to meet the runner, but a
+grunt from Bakahenzie and an alarmed cry from Mungongo were just in time
+to prevent him from jeopardizing the stability of the world and all that
+he had won by violating the tabu by stepping beyond the sacred ground.
+Other gods and emperors have indeed wrecked empires through a lesser
+aberration. Even realization of the penalty was scarcely enough to hobble
+his impatient legs, for the very suggestion of what the mail represented
+melted the fetters of this native world as wax in the sun.
+
+Indeed more effort of will was required to return to his god-like throne
+upon the camp-bed, and to amble through the etiquette which discussion of
+such an important matter demanded, than to carry the idol on his back
+through the forest and bear the sound thrashing to boot. Then as a further
+test, Bakahenzie slowly developed a dictum that the magic things could not
+be permitted to enter the sacred enclosure until they had been disinfected
+from the multitude of evil eyes through which they must have passed. At
+that the god came near to swearing or weeping, he did not know which.
+
+But as he fumed inwardly he recollected that at any moment Zalu Zako and
+his troops might return; or if the battle had gone the other way, then zu
+Pfeiffer; in the former case the excitement would still further delay the
+goods and mail, and the latter event might entail the complete loss. As
+well as the growing irritation caused by Bakahenzie's interminable list of
+tabus was the necessity of proclaiming, or rather gaining, his authority
+before he could be of any assistance either to Bakuma, the white men or
+himself. Indeed he had been waiting the arrival of these goods to secure
+the subjection of Bakahenzie to his will. He determined that the trial
+should be now. Merely to demand would, he felt, arouse the obstinacy of
+the chief witch-doctor, who would never, unless compelled by force or
+cunning, give up the reins of power which to him was the _raison d'etre_
+of his life. Birnier must attack through the line of least resistance.
+With the carriers bearing the mail was a case of "imprisoned stars"
+(rockets) and a special cinema outfit, so that Birnier felt that he could
+afford to explode the last manifestation of magic which remained to him.
+After a judicious interval, he said to Bakahenzie:
+
+"O son of Maliko, is not my tongue the tongue of the Unmentionable One?"
+
+"He who knoweth all things knoweth that which is white," retorted
+Bakahenzie.
+
+"Verily. Therefore do thou cause to be brought that which is come, that
+which the fingers of the Unmentionable One are hungry to touch. Thou
+knowest his power of magic. Therefore are the evil eyes of the multitude
+but dry leaves in the wind of his breath."
+
+"Indeed thy words are white, O son of the Lord-of-many-Lands."
+
+"Depart then that the hunger of His fingers may be appeased."
+
+"The drums speak not yet of the eating up of Eyes-in-the-hands. Hath not
+the ear of the spirit of Tarum spoken upon these matters?" inquired
+Bakahenzie in his favourite dialectical manner.
+
+"The spirit of Tarum hath naught to say to thee," replied Birnier, "but
+the fingers of Tarum will to make thee to itch even as his fingers."
+
+Birnier called to Mungongo who brought and placed at his feet a fairly
+powerful electric battery. Bakahenzie eyed the box; curiosity was keenly
+awakened. He stared interestedly when Birnier raised the lid. Taking the
+handles he said:
+
+"These, O son of Maliko, are the hands of Tarum made manifest. He wishes
+that thou shouldst feel the itch of his desire!" and with the words he
+clapped one handle to the belly and the other at the base of the spine of
+the chief witch-doctor. Bakahenzie convulsed as he was compelled to do.
+Swiftly Birnier applied the shock to the shoulders, holding the handles
+there as he remarked to a violently trembling Bakahenzie: "Behold! the
+itch of the fingers of Tarum!"
+
+But as he lowered his hands towards the spine again, Bakahenzie moved
+rapidly and with no dignity.
+
+Solemnly Birnier replaced the handles and closed the lid, and said
+quietly:
+
+"Thou hast felt, O brother magician, that the fingers of Tarum do itch
+indeed?"
+
+"Truly!" responded Bakahenzie with a celerity as unusual as the quaver in
+his voice. "Indeed thy words are white, O mightiest of magicians. What are
+indeed the evil eyes of savages against the power of thy magic, O son of
+the Lord-of-many-Lands!"
+
+And contrary to all precedent Bakahenzie rose and left. Within a quarter
+of an hour his voice announced that slaves with the magic "things" were
+without the palisade, and called upon Mungongo to go to the gate to fetch
+them as strangers were forbidden even to look upon the King-God. Birnier,
+by the light of a torch, opened the mail, sent a wad of letters and a
+sheaf of telegraph slips on to the floor, and snatched a long green
+envelope scrawled in French characters:
+
+Monsieur le Curateur du Jardin des Plantes.
+
+For a moment he stared at it perplexedly, for there was no stamp or
+cancellation.
+
+"What in the name----" he muttered as he slit it open.
+
+                                                     Entebbe,
+                                                           Aout 13, 19--
+
+Mon petit loup, what have you been doing? Ou est tu? Comment et pourquoi?
+Oh, I am cross with you, with Monsieur le Professeur! Why do you write me
+so ridiculous a letter? I laugh, but always I laugh, so what good is that
+to you? I will not reply to your letter, mon vieux--jamais. But I will tell
+you so that you may know why I am here. Yes, parmi les animaux!
+
+Birnier winced at the phrase which seemed to come back at him like a
+boomerang from the lips of zu Pfeiffer.
+
+I am to go for vacation to Wiesbaden with some very terrible peoples. Oh,
+on me degoute! I have an engagement for the winter in Berlin as before. I
+have engagement for Paris--eh! but--pouf! Figure me on the charming
+_Mauretania_ and I am sitting on the deck where you once made yourself so
+ridiculous. Rappelle toi? I am sick--No, mon vieux, pas du mal de mer! I
+should not be for everybody to look at. Oh, no! I am sick, I tell you. Je
+reve de mon petit coco parmi les sales animaux! Je me dis: Zut! il est
+fou! il est tape! Mais en moi meme je l'adore! Tout de suite I tell a
+creature who brings me my books, my fan, un espece de tapette, je m'en
+vais la, moi! He ask me where? I tell him I go to look for mon amant in
+Afrique Centrale! Mais oui! He thinks I am mad! I tell him so and I laugh!
+How I laugh. But he is right, yes, je suis folle--de toi!
+
+Alors I come to Marseilles and I catch a boat to Mombassa. Ouf! Je vais
+mourir a cause de mon petit loup! La mer rouge! Quel cauchemar! Enfin I
+still arrive what of Lucille is left and I ask for you, for Monsieur le
+Professeur Americain, but no one knows you. On the boat I have attached to
+myself trois mousquetaires Anglais. Tous les trois sont droles! They bring
+me on the ever so funny little train to here. Entebbe. Les Anglais sont
+tres polis, tu sais! Monsieur le Gouverneur stop drinking whisky politely
+to tell me that Monsieur has been and has gone! Quelle horreur! You have
+gone but three days! Pense tu! I ask myself what have I done that the bon
+Dieu should be so unkind. Then quel malheur! I remember to myself that I
+commence to come to you on _Friday!_ You laugh! Yes, I laugh too but--Quien
+sabe? I commence to come to you on a Friday and you are gone three little
+days!
+
+Then my good friends, les trois mousquetaires, send for me a what they
+call a runner--the red peas--C'est drole! but the little pea black he did
+not find you. He brings a message that you had gone to some place with a
+terrible name.
+
+Then come the two most ridiculous letters. I will _not_ reply to any such
+ridiculous letters--jamais!
+
+Birnier scowled. Two letters? he muttered. What letters?
+
+You must come now. Immediately. I want you. I will wait here for you. You
+must leave your ridiculous animals as I have left mes affaires for you.
+Come to me. I wait for you.
+
+Lower down on the same page, but written with a thick pen, the letter
+continued:
+
+Again I have read your absurd letter. Tu es fou! You make such a noise
+because this foolish young man is jealous of mon mari and make you to go
+round the detestable country, which you like so much, instead of straight
+through to the ridiculous place you say you want to go.
+
+Birnier smiled grimly.
+
+Peuh! Ecoute, mon cher, it is true I have met the young man in Washington.
+Mon Dieu, are there not plenty of young men in Washington, Paris, Berlin?
+He fell in love with me. Mon Dieu, they are as thick as the blackberries!
+Perhaps I tease him pour faire la blague! Pourquoi pas? I give him a
+photograph and I sign it, just as I sign plenty for amusing friends. But
+then he become too ridiculous. He has no sense of humour comme tous les
+Allemands. He wishes to fight all my friends, tes compatriotes si sombres
+et graves! Figure toi! Then he make a challenge and naturellement it is
+not the custom in thy country. Mon pauvre petit Dorsay refuse and this
+person become crazy wild, as you say, and he strike him with his cane in
+the street. Quelle horreur! Quel scandale! He run away of course. The
+Embassy help him. Qui sait? That is the last I hear until I receive this
+ridiculous letter, together with thy ridiculous letter. I send him to you.
+How drole that you two should meet all among les animaux. It is so funny
+that he did not kill you, this monstre allemand! Tu es en cross encore
+avec moi? Zut! mon vieux it is not my fault that everybody goes mad after
+me except mon petit mari! Leave the ridiculous garcon where he is. But why
+do I talk so much about a cochon? Because you are ridiculous! Tant pis
+pour toi! Now sois gentil and come to me _immediately_--unless you love
+your sales animaux plus que moi! If you do not come I will never never,
+jamais de ma vie, give you one single baiser again! No! Mille baisers!
+Mais comme je te deteste!
+
+                                                               LUCILLE.
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 30
+
+
+Forty-eight hours later, the furious drumming, chanting and screaming
+heralded the return of the victorious troops of Zalu Zako. Birnier from
+his gaol on the hill watched the bronze flood pour like a stream of lava
+out of the plantation and flood the village, spears flashing silver points
+in the slanting rays of the sun. But what had happened to zu Pfeiffer and
+the white sergeants? No sign of them could he see. Waves of sound lapped
+continuously around the temple.
+
+The long mauve shadow of the hill ate up the village. Fires began to
+flicker amid the huts and away in the recesses of the plantation. The
+lowing of cattle added to the general clamour. As the western sky was
+still ablaze with incandescent colour stole the cold green of the
+advancing moon in the east.
+
+"Mungongo, what are thy brethren about to do?"
+
+"It is the Festival of the Harvest, as I have told thee, O son of the
+Lord-of-many-Lands."
+
+"But they have not the Bride?"
+
+"Nay." Mungongo glanced apprehensively towards the temple where in what
+was to have been a bathroom, was Bakuma hidden.
+"He-who-may-not-be-mentioned demands but blood. The Bride is the food of
+the wizards. But to each warrior is every woman his bride this night."
+
+"Why didst thou not tell me this thing before?" demanded Birnier, who knew
+that such was one of the customs of primitive tribes in all parts of the
+world and in all ages.
+
+"Thou didst not ask me," retorted Mungongo, to whom the affair was such a
+matter of course that it was not worth mentioning.
+
+"Do they make sacrifice?"
+
+"The Bride is married to the Banana, but of the manner of her nuptial know
+I not. Am I a wizard?"
+
+The divine king grimly watched his subjects. In the growing light flitted
+gnomes around the huts in and out the sepia caverns of the plantation. As
+a banana front was etched in sepia against the great moon, the ocean of
+clamour was cleft by the high treble of the tribal troubadour. At the
+bottom of the wide street appeared dancing figures. As they approached,
+Birnier could distinguish Bakahenzie, Marufa and Yabolo in the van,
+dressed in full panoply, whirling and leaping with untiring energy. Behind
+them shuffled and pranced a vast mass of warriors, behind whom again
+several hundred women shrilled and wriggled in the mighty chorus. The
+rhythm of the drums increased to the maddening action impulse of the two
+short--long beat:
+
+Pm-pm--Pommmmm! Pm-pm--Pommmmm! Pm-pm--Pommmmm!
+
+The treble solo of the chant darted above that throb and grunt like a mad
+bird skimming the turbulent tops of a dark forest.
+
+Pm-pm--Pommmmm! Pm-pm--Pommmmm! Pm-pm--Pommmmm!
+
+The rhythm seemed like a febrile pulse within Birnier's brain, dominating
+him with hypnotic suggestion to action. An urge to scream and to yell, to
+dance and to leap, plucked at his limbs. Resurgent desires from he knew
+not what subconscious catacombs, wriggled and struggled furiously within
+him. The great moon scattered blue stars upon the spears as if upon the
+green scales of some leviathan squirming in delirious torment.
+
+Control the twitching of his muscles to that rhythm Birnier could not. He
+had to fight to resist the waves of hysteria permeating the air. He
+glanced at Mungongo. The whites of his eyes were rolling. Birnier cursed
+the insistency of the drums and the orgiastical grunts. Forcibly he kept
+up a running fire of psychological explanations: "Annihilation of
+inhibitions {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} dissociation of personality {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~} triumph of the subconscious
+animal," as a wizard muttering incantations against evil spirits. He felt
+dizzy. "God, I'm drunk with rhythm!" he exclaimed.
+
+The priests were entering the large gate of the outer enclosure. In the
+village and on the opposite hill the people resembled a swarm of black
+locusts. The drums ceased. Bakahenzie and Marufa and Yabolo ran straight
+towards him screeching. This was the cue.
+
+Birnier walked back slowly. In awful silence they began to push the idol.
+The wood creaked protestingly. Slowly the mass slid on to Birnier's back.
+He gripped it and began to walk to the entrance. As he passed Mungongo the
+Sacred Fires shot up yellow tongues. A sound like a moan rose dripping
+with screams and grew into a continuous thunder of noise. The drums
+rippled a furious tattoo. The three wizards dashed before him, leaping
+high in the air. Birnier shuffled a dozen yards to the left and turned. He
+stopped.
+
+Upon the ground, just within the outer gate in view of the multitude
+beyond, green ivory in the moonlight, was the naked figure of a white man.
+Above him pranced Bakahenzie in whose hand gleamed a knife.
+
+The training of his life enabled Birnier to throw upon the screen of his
+mind the essential points more rapidly than conscious thought. Bakahenzie,
+as well as the others, was in an abnormal state of excitement. There was
+no time to employ "magic" rockets or anything else. He swung the idol upon
+one shoulder and ran forward. He saw the blue eyes move and the bracelet
+wink in the moonlight as he stepped over the bound form. He bent,
+balancing the image upon his shoulders, and seized zu Pfeiffer by the arm.
+
+The throb of the drums and the roar of the people who knew not but that
+this act was in accordance with the rules, continued. The priests remained
+motionless: expectant. Bakahenzie stood rigid as if paralysed by the
+unexpected: the knife was a blue snake in his hand.
+
+Half blinded with sweat, with his muscles cracking, Birnier staggered on
+with the heavy burden, dragging the nude body after him. Hours seemed to
+pass, each second of which might bring a spear in his back before he
+reached the place before the temple. He slid the idol into the hole and
+turned.
+
+From the tumult of sound the screech of Bakahenzie shot up like a snipe
+from a rice field. The other wizards sprang with him. The moonlight kissed
+a spearhead beside the stone figure of Mungongo by the Sacred Fires.
+Birnier leaped, plucked the spear, caught zu Pfeiffer in his arms and
+raised him shoulder high that all might see.
+
+At the entrance of the enclosure Bakahenzie and the other two were
+arrested by astonishment. Lowering the body to the base of the idol which
+leaned sideways in a drunken leer, Birnier lifted the spear and brought it
+down accurately between zu Pfeiffer's left arm and breast, and dropping
+swiftly upon his knees to cover his actions, slashed his own left forearm.
+Then he jumped to his feet and held the blooded spear aloft as he cried
+aloud:
+
+"The god hath taken his own!"
+
+Bakahenzie was the first to see that the white breast of the victim was
+indeed deluged in blood; perhaps the veneration engendered by "the fingers
+of Tarum" moved beneath the blood lust.
+
+"The god hath taken his own!" he repeated in a piercing scream. Marufa
+echoed the shout. As they turned the cry was ricocheted beyond the
+farthest hill.
+
+"The god hath taken his own!"
+
+
+
+
+
+                                CHAPTER 31
+
+
+The reflection of a shaft of moonlight through the half-completed thatch
+upon zu Pfeiffer's "magic" mirror, which the natives had not dared to
+remove, set afire the sapphires upon his bracelet as he sat rigidly in a
+camp chair in a suit of pyjamas. Upon the bed lay Birnier, nursing his
+bandaged left arm. Now and again the thrumming, chanting and the shrilling
+of the saturnalia without rose into discordant yells like a gust of wind
+whipping tree-tops into fury.
+
+Zu Pfeiffer appeared taciturn and suspicious. Perhaps the slackening of
+his will, tautened to meet death as his caste demanded that he should, and
+the confrontation of the object of his violent hate, had completely
+unnerved him. When Birnier had dragged him within and cut his bonds, he
+had grunted curt, official thanks for the rescue. As sullenly he had
+hesitated at the offer of the pyjamas, but as if deciding that he could
+not retain any dignity in his own bloodied skin, had accepted them, as
+well as a sorely needed drink of water.
+
+The reaction after the crisis, and possibly the influence of the general
+hysteria in the air, had distorted Birnier's vision of things. He was very
+conscious of a neurotic desire to laugh unrestrainedly. Thus it was that
+for nearly half an hour the two men remained in the gloom in silence.
+Birnier had a psychological comprehension of the highly nervous tension of
+his guest. For he had long ago realized that the only solution of zu
+Pfeiffer's crazy statement that he was engaged to the wife of a man to
+whom he was speaking, indicated a form of insanity.
+
+A psychological law is that natural emotions must have an outlet; if they
+are repressed they are apt to cause a state of mental disease which in an
+aggravated form may lead the patient to the asylum, but in the incipient
+stage are as common as jackals in Africa. Zu Pfeiffer was suffering from
+such a case of mild psychosis. Brought up under an iron code which did not
+permit his instincts to react, the repressed emotions bubbled out in the
+form of a deification of his Kaiser and the adoration of Lucille, both
+states being absolutely apart from all reason, indeed approached to a
+state of dissociation of consciousness. The desired unattainable is
+projected into the dream plane, the realm of myth. Such a case is the
+historical one of the man who, keenly intelligent upon every subject
+mentioned, startles the visitor by the demand for a piece of toast,
+gravely explaining that he is a poached egg and that he wishes to sit
+down; or as Pascal, who ever had beside him the great black dog. To
+attempt to rationalise with such an one was merely to excite the insane
+part of him. So it was that Birnier determined to ignore the subject
+entirely, perfectly aware that the sullenness of the man sitting in the
+camp chair opposite to him was caused by an exaggerated terror that he
+would insist upon speaking of the one subject which should be tabu.
+
+The associative suggestion of Lucille diverted his mind until he became
+immersed in thoughts of her. A queer vision of a well-fed tiger playing
+with a kid entered his mind. More conscious than ever of her attraction by
+reason of the intensified sense of her wrought by her letter, he glanced
+surreptitiously at the rigid form in the chair and a wave of pity mixed
+with a half conscious pride that she belonged to him, rose within him.
+Then Birnier started as he was brought back to a realization of the
+passing of time by a harsh voice that told of creaking nerves:
+
+"Herr Professor, what is your pleasure to do with me, if you please?"
+
+"I beg your pardon!" Birnier sat up. "Er--naturally I shall endeavour to
+get you away as early as possible. It would be as well if you took
+advantage of the present--er--saturnalia to escape. I cannot do much. I can
+provide you with a gun and food. As you are not injured you should be able
+to get a reasonable distance from here by morning; for the rest I am
+afraid you must fend for yourself. I wish that I could do more, but I'm
+afraid that my power is not yet sufficient to ensure any help from the
+natives."
+
+An inarticulate sound emerged from zu Pfeiffer's mouth. Birnier's eyes
+caught the sheen of the photograph upon the wall. Escape! Lucille! Almost
+involuntarily he stretched out a hand and took Lucille's letter from the
+table. Again came zu Pfeiffer's voice:
+
+"I thank you, Herr Professor, but I cannot accept--for myself." Birnier
+stared at him. "I wish you to understand that for myself that is
+impossible." The tall figure seemed to straighten in the chair. "But as I
+have the honour to serve his Imperial Majesty I am bound to preserve to
+the best of my ability my body in order to answer for my culpable
+negligence which has resulted in the loss of my two companies. Most
+distinctly, Herr Professor, I wish you to know that I accept your offer in
+order to place myself before the Court Martial that awaits me."
+
+Birnier almost gasped. That this anomaly of a man, who was capable of
+cold-blooded murder at the prompting of an hallucination, and who now
+appeared equally capable of the utter annihilation of self at the service
+of his Imperial Master, meant what he said, Birnier did not doubt. Yet it
+was not anomalous. Logical in fact; the capability of supreme sacrifice
+for either of his idols.
+
+"I understand you, Lieutenant," said he courteously. "I----" The two letters
+in his hand crackled. Before he could master the mean desire he had handed
+the second letter to zu Pfeiffer with the words:
+
+"Forgive me, I have here a letter which it is my duty to return to you."
+
+The sapphires winked as zu Pfeiffer held up the letter in the shaft of
+moonlight. There was a suppressed grunt as of pain. Zu Pfeiffer rose
+stiffly and walked to the door. His tall figure was silhouetted in profile
+against the green sky and as Birnier watched he saw a gleam as of crystal
+upon an eyelash. Birnier, ashamed of his sole vengeance, turned away.
+
+But as if revenge were recoiling upon him came in the wake of that
+satisfied primitive instinct a surge of longing for Lucille. Lucille!
+Lucille! God! how he desired to see those eyes again! Feel those lips and
+hear the gurgle of her laughter! Sense the perfume of her hair as she
+murmured: "_Mon petit loup!_" Birnier sat holding the letter. He fought
+with an impulse to abandon everything to go to her--if he could get out!
+How stale and monotonous the adventure and the scientific interest
+suddenly seemed! After all, what had he accomplished? What could he
+accomplish? Even yet he had learned but little of the secrets of the
+witch-doctor's craft. Perhaps there was little or nothing to learn? And zu
+Pfeiffer? He stared across at the portrait of Lucille. And as he gazed a
+wave of pity rose within him for this boy made mad by the witchery of
+those eyes and the music of that voice. A sentence in Lucille's letter
+appeared to stand out from the context: "_Mon Dieu, they are as thick as
+the blackberries!_"
+
+And yet--and yet---- Why the devil had she taken it into her head to come out
+to Uganda above all places? he asked himself. She was so damnably near to
+him. He smiled satirically as he recollected her phrase about those fools
+who made of love a nuisance, and yet now what was she doing? After all the
+suspicion in his mind that love is everything to a woman seemed proven
+true.
+
+But how adorable she was! He fingered the letter as if it were part of
+her. Well, she was young; success and adulation from one capital to
+another had interested and amused her for a few years, but when Milady had
+suddenly discovered that the Career bored her she had thrown up everything
+and logically--to her mind--expected her mate to do likewise! With what
+insouciance had she treated the affair of zu Pfeiffer and the youngster
+whom he had struck. When Birnier had met her she had had a story of a
+young fool count in Paris who had shot himself, merely because she would
+not listen to his suit; and she had protested with one of those wonderful
+shrugs and a moue, saying that she could not marry all the men in the
+world! That apparently bloodthirsty indifference had of course tended to
+make more men "crazy wild," as she put it, about her. And that reputation
+had added to her numerous attractions even to Birnier.
+
+He could escape if he wished--with zu Pfeiffer. He could take Mungongo with
+him. Yet would Mungongo dare the tabu at his bidding? Birnier doubted it.
+Would Mungongo even consent to let him, Birnier, who was now in his eyes
+the King-God, go and so imperil the foundations of the native world?
+Birnier was certain that he would not. They were all dominated by this
+confounded idol of wood, he reflected. Bakahenzie, or even Mungongo, would
+cheerfully sacrifice him if either imagined that the damned Unmentionable
+One desired it, at the suppositious bidding of something which was
+nothing.
+
+Through the sweet scent of her in the air like a compelling aura about
+him, came suddenly zu Pfeiffer's voice speaking in the accents of agony;
+yet all he said was:
+
+"Herr Professor Birnier--I am compelled--to--to apologise for {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}"
+
+The voice failed and the haughty blond head turned away, unable to
+complete to the uttermost the greatest sacrifice he had ever attempted.
+
+"Please don't," said Birnier comprehendingly. "I understand."
+
+And Birnier did comprehend; realised the small hell in zu Pfeiffer as a
+higher developed tabu did a childish tabu unto death. Zu Pfeiffer, white
+man, had been just as guilty of an attempt to commit murder at the
+suppositious inversion of a thumb of an idol as Bakahenzie; not an idol of
+wood but the projection of his subconscious desires. Zu Pfeiffer would
+sacrifice a million at the bidding of his Kaiser, whose divinity was the
+same myth, the projection of himself. Yet what had been Birnier's object
+in undertaking all these pains and penalties but to study mankind in the
+making, the black microcosm of a white macrocosm; to aid them to a better
+understanding of themselves and each other? Was not Bakahenzie an
+embryonic zu Pfeiffer? How could one aid a zu Pfeiffer if one did not know
+a Bakahenzie?
+
+From the saturnalia in progress outside came another swirl of sound
+seeming to lap mockingly against the motionless figure of zu Pfeiffer
+silhouetted against a green sky; and above him towered the idol leaning
+sideways.
+
+As if in drunken laughter of the follies of black and white humanity!
+mused Birnier. Yet what am I doing? At the crook of a dainty finger am I,
+too, to bow to an idol? Am I to pity zu Pfeiffer and these children?{~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}
+Savages! Good God, what am I?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+                               EXTRA PAGES
+
+
+
+
+                                                             Witch-Doctors
+
+
+
+
+        _L'homme est bien insense! il_
+        _ne scauroit forger un ciron, et_
+        _forge des dieux a douzaine!_
+
+                        MONTAIGNE
+
+
+
+
+
+                                  ERRATA
+
+
+      CHARACTERS
+      Changed: Ludwig    *do. do.*
+      To: Ludwig    *German sergeant*
+
+      CHARACTERS
+      Changed: Schneider    *do. do.*
+      To: Schneider    *German sergeant*
+
+      Chapter 1
+      Changed: "This Saka--Saka"--*Zu* Pfeiffer glanced at
+      To: "This Saka--Saka"--*zu* Pfeiffer glanced at
+
+      Chapter 1
+      Changed: retreat. At *MFunga* MPopo's is the
+      To: retreat. At *MFunya* MPopo's is the
+
+      Chapter 1
+      Changed: As *Zu* Pfeiffer nodded languidly
+      To: As *zu* Pfeiffer nodded languidly
+
+      Chapter 1
+      Changed: seemed to escape *Zu* Pfeiffer. He gave
+      To: seemed to escape *zu* Pfeiffer. He gave
+
+      Chapter 1
+      Changed: man's arrival?" demanded *Zu* Pfeiffer harshly.
+      To: man's arrival?" demanded *zu* Pfeiffer harshly.
+
+      Chapter 1
+      Changed: Zu *Peiffer* finished the report leisurely
+      To: Zu *Pfeiffer* finished the report leisurely
+
+      Chapter 3
+      Changed: I thank you*,* And if---- Were
+      To: I thank you*.* And if---- Were
+
+      Chapter 6
+      Changed: as balanced as a dancer's* *
+      To: as balanced as a dancer's*.*
+
+      Chapter 6
+      Changed: to matters of more importance.*"*
+      To: to matters of more importance.* *
+
+      Chapter 9
+      Changed: shall lave hungry ears of* *
+      To: shall lave hungry ears of *----!*
+
+      Chapter 9
+      Changed: *E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h*!
+      To: *E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-h*!
+
+      Chapter 9
+      Changed: As we {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}* *
+      To: As we {~HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS~}*"*
+
+      Chapter 9
+      Changed: The personality of *Bernier* had been apparently
+      To: The personality of *Birnier* had been apparently
+
+      Chapter 9
+      Changed: and the two *Nordenfelts* and two pom-poms
+      To: and the two *Nordenfeldts* and two pom-poms
+
+      Chapter 11
+      Changed: "*Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*!"
+      To: "*Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*!"
+
+      Chapter 11
+      Changed: *Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*!
+      To: *Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*!
+
+      Chapter 13
+      Changed: in of fresh *masssacres* adding to the
+      To: in of fresh *massacres* adding to the
+
+      Chapter 14
+      Changed: Yabolo near to *Zaku* Zako's continued. Neither
+      To: Yabolo near to *Zalu* Zako's continued. Neither
+
+      Chapter 14
+      Changed: enemy, Bakahenzie, presented *Zaku* Zako with a
+      To: enemy, Bakahenzie, presented *Zalu* Zako with a
+
+      Chapter 14
+      Changed: which walk ever *the the* red devils in
+      To: which walk ever *the* red devils in
+
+      Chapter 14
+      Changed: the minds of *Zako Zalu* and Marufa the
+      To: the minds of *Zalu Zako* and Marufa the
+
+      Chapter 15
+      Changed: village of MFunya *MPope* --of that day
+      To: village of MFunya *MPopo* --of that day
+
+      Chapter 15
+      Changed: not his policy *tomake* his thunder too
+      To: not his policy *to make* his thunder too
+
+      Chapter 17
+      Changed: position of chief *witch doctor*, he would do
+      To: position of chief *witch-doctor*, he would do
+
+      Chapter 18
+      Changed: earth, and when*----* and when----" He
+      To: earth, and when*--* and when----" He
+
+      Chapter 19
+      Changed: in their solar *plexes*.
+      To: in their solar *plexus*.
+
+      Chapter 22
+      Changed: the village of *Yangonyama*, but shortage of
+      To: the village of *Yagonyana*, but shortage of
+
+      Chapter 24
+      Changed: the white god.* *
+      To: the white god.*"*
+
+      Chapter 29
+      Changed: Peuh! *Ecoute*, mon cher, it
+      To: Peuh! *Ecoute*, mon cher, it
+
+      Chapter 30
+      Changed: Pm-pm--*Pommmm*!
+      To: Pm-pm--*Pommmmm*!
+
+
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WITCH-DOCTORS***
+
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