of
M'Bongwele and the chief witch-doctor were ordered to be cut down and
interred in the open country outside the village, after which the new
king was crowned by no less a personage than Sir Reginald himself, while
the professor invested him with the regal mantle of lion-skin, and
Lethbridge dropped the ruby necklace over his head, the ceremony being
performed on the deck of the _Flying Fish_, in the presence of the
entire populace of the village.

The ceremony of coronation having thus been duly performed, the new king
was at once called upon to exercise his regal functions for the first
time by fulfilling one of the promises that he had made, this being the
abolition of the power of the witch-doctors. These functionaries were
accordingly summoned before him and bidden to pack up their traps and
quit the country forthwith under an armed escort, an assurance being
given them that if they were ill-advised enough to return after they had
been conducted across the border, they would be slain at sight.

"And now, Lobelalatutu," said von Schalckenberg, when this matter had
been arranged and the people dismissed, "there are two things that we
require you to do for us. The first is, to tell us, if you can, where
M'Bongwele obtained those stones,"--pointing to the necklace of
rubies--"and the other is, to guide us to the spot where the ship of the
white people was last seen."

"I can do both with equal ease, and at the same time, O Spirit,"
answered the new king, "for these red stones were found by our people on
the beach and in the soil of the cliffs at the spot where they came upon
the wrecked white men and women. A few were found, in the first place,
on the beach, and, being of a pleasing colour and shooting forth a ruddy
light, were offered to M'Bongwele, who so greatly admired them that he
sent the finders back to look for more, with orders to bring him enough
to make a necklace."

"And you know the exact spot?" demanded the professor.

"I know the exact spot; for my brother was one of the finders, and he
told me," answered Lobelalatutu.

"Good!" ejaculated the professor. "Your brother shall go with us, and
point out the place."

"Nay," answered the king; "he cannot do that, for he is dead.
M'Bongwele slew him with his own hand."

"Indeed!" exclaimed the professor. "Why?"

"Because he was my brother," answered the king, simply.

Von Schalckenberg turned to Sir Reginald. "His most gracious Majesty,
here,