ail, for his spirits will not always come when he calls them."

Thomas hesitated, then, being bold by nature, determined that he would
see the thing through. After all, Menzi was an impostor and nothing
else, and could work no more magic than he could himself. Here was a
providential opportunity to expose him. So followed by the others he
advanced into the crowd, which made way for him.

In an open space in its centre, sat Menzi wearing all his witch-doctor's
trappings, bladders in his hair, snakeskins tied about him, and
the rest, but even in this grotesque attire still managing to look
dignified. With him were several acolytes or attendants, one of them an
old woman, also peculiarly arrayed and carrying hide bags that contained
their master's medicines. He rose as they came, saluted Thomas and
smiled at Dorcas and Tabitha, very sweetly at the latter.

"O Teacher," he said, "my ears hear that you say that I am a liar and a
cheat who have no wonders at my command; to whom the Spirits never speak
and who deceives the people. Now, Teacher, I have come here that it may
be seen whether you are right or I am right. If your magic is greater
than mine, then I can do nothing and I will eat the dust before you.
But if mine prevails, then perhaps all these will say that you are the
cheat, not I. Also it is true that I am not a great magician as was my
master, Zikali, the Opener-of-Roads, and cannot show you things worthy
to be seen. Nor will I smell out evil-doers, witches and wizards, since
then the people might kill them, and I think that there are some here
who deserve to die in the ancient fashion. No, I will not do this, since
it is not right that those with you," here he glanced at Dorcas and
Tabitha, "should look upon the sight of blood, even in this land where
the White-man's law has no power. Still there are little things that
may serve to amuse you for an hour and hurt no one. Have any of you lost
anything, for instance?"

"Yes, I have," said Tabitha with a laugh.

"Is it so, Little Flower? Then be silent and do not say what you have
lost. Have you told any what you have lost?"

"No," answered Tabitha, "because I was afraid I should be scolded."

"There, _Imba_, there, Little Flower, even that is too much, because you
see the old cheat might guess something from your words. Yes, he might
guess that it is something of value that you have lost, such as a
bracelet of gold, or the thing that ticks, on which you white