he 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 tha