, in which he proved to be right.

The end of it was that Menzi was summoned, and arrived with a triumphant
smile, saying that he was certain he could put everything in order, and
that soon they would have plenty of rain, that is, if they all attended
his invocations and made him presents suitable to so great an occasion.

The result was that they did attend them, man, woman and child, seated
in a circle in that same old kraal where the witch-doctor had so
marvellously shown pictures upon the smoke. Each of them also brought
his gift in his hand, or, if it were a living thing, drove it before
him.

Thomas went down and addressed them in the midst of a sullen silence,
calling them wicked and repeating his belief that they would bring a
judgment on their own heads, they who were worshipping Baal and making
offerings to his priest.

After he had talked himself hoarse, Menzi said mildly that if the
Teacher Tombool had finished he would get to business. Why should the
Teacher be angry because he, Menzi, offered to do what the Teacher could
not--save the land from starving? And as for the gifts to himself, did
not White Teachers also receive pay and offerings at certain feasts?

Then, making a gesture of despair, Thomas returned to his house, and
with Dorcas and Tabitha watched the savage ceremony from the edge of
the cliff that overhung the river, or rather what had been the river.
He could not see much of it because they were too far away, but he
perceived those apostate Christians prostrating themselves at Menzi's
order, probably, he reflected, to make prayers to the devil. In fact
they were not doing this, but only repeating Menzi's magical chants with
appropriate gestures, as for countless ages their forefathers had done
upon similar occasions.

Next an unfortunate black goat was dragged forward by the horns, a very
thin black goat, and its throat was cut over a little fire, a sacrifice
that suggested necromancy of the most Satanic sort.

After this Thomas and his family went back into the house and shut the
windows, that they might not hear the unholy shoutings of the misguided
mob. When they went out again Menzi had departed, and so had the others.
The place was empty.

The following day was Sunday, and Thomas locked the church on the
inner side, and read the service with Dorcas and Tabitha for sole
congregation. It was a melancholy business, for some sense of evil
seemed to hang over all three of them, also o