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
al