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