said.

"Ah, that--that is a fetish."

"A fetish! A fetish for what?"

"It is a war-fetish, Ngalyema. The slightest sound of that would
fill this empty camp with hundreds of angry warriors; they would
drop from above, they would spring up from the ground, from the
forest about, from everywhere."

"Sho! Tell that story to the old women, and not to a chief like
Ngalyema. My boy tells me it is a kind of a bell. Strike it and let
me hear it."

"Oh, Ngalyema, my brother, the consequences would be too dreadful!
Do not think of such a thing!"

"Strike it, I say."

"Well, to oblige my dear brother Ngalyema, I will."

And I struck hard and fast, and the clangourous roll rang out like
thunder in the stillness. Only for a few seconds, however, for a
tempest of human voices was heard bursting into frightful discords,
and from above, right upon the heads of the astonished warriors,
leaped yelling men; and from the tents, the huts, the forest round
about, they came by sixes, dozens, and scores, yelling like madmen,
and seemingly animated with uncontrollable rage. The painted
warriors became panic-stricken; they flung their guns and
powder-kegs away, forgot their chief, and all thoughts of loyalty,
and fled on the instant, fear lifting their heels high in the air;
or, tugging at their eye-balls, and kneading the senses confusedly,
they saw, heard, and suspected nothing, save that the limbo of
fetishes had suddenly broken loose!

But Ngalyema and his son did not fly. They caught the tails of my
coat, and we began to dance from side to side, a loving triplet,
myself being foremost to ward off the blow savagely aimed at my
"brothers," and cheerfully crying out, "Hold fast to me, my
brothers. I will defend you to the last drop of my blood. Come one,
come all."

Presently the order was given, "Fall in!" and quickly the leaping
forms became rigid, and the men stood in two long lines in beautiful
order, with eyes front, as though "at attention!" Then Ngalyema
relaxed his hold of my coat-tails, and crept from behind, breathing
more freely; and, lifting his hand to his mouth, exclaimed, in
genuine surprise, "Eh, Mamma! where did all these people come from?"

"Ah, Ngalyema, did I not tell you that thing was a powerful fetish?
Let me strike it again, and show you what else i