camp, and go straight to Vooda's
hut.

At eight o'clock that evening Vooda visited Teddy's dwelling, and a
long and serious conversation ensued. This was varied by a series of
experiments of a nature so striking that even Vooda was startled. At
about ten o'clock a stranger passing noticed strange flashes lighting
up the back of the hut behind the reed fence. Shortly before eleven
Vooda returned to camp, carrying a small satchel which contained a
packet of lycopodium powder, a piece of potassium about as large as a
walnut, and a number of whitish lumps about an inch in diameter, such
as are known amongst practitioners of parlour magic variously as
"serpents' eggs" or "Pharaoh's serpents."

At daylight next morning Vooda left the police camp, but it was late in
the afternoon when he reached the kraal of Sololo. He found a. number
of strangers there, including Shasha, the "inyanga," or war doctor. The
men, all of whom were armed, were sitting on the ground in a half-circle.
Before them stood a number of large earthen pots of beer.
Vooda, being an old friend of the Chief, was invited to sit down and
drink, so, after removing the saddle from his horse, he joined the
party. He soon saw, however, that his presence had imported an element
of restraint. He was careful as yet not to allude to the business upon
which he had come. Later on others began to arrive, some carrying guns,
some spears, and some assegais. It was plain that an important
discussion was on hand, and that Vooda's presence was unwelcome. The
beer was not in sufficient quantities to cause intoxication, but
nevertheless all were somewhat mellow when the sun went down.

Shortly afterwards Sololo asked the visitor point blank "Where he was
thinking of." This was an unusual thing to do under the circumstances,
such a question to a visitor being held amongst natives to be
discourteous and suggestive of inhospitality.

Vooda replied to the effect that he had an important matter to discuss
with the Chief, and asked Sololo to grant him a private interview.

Now Sololo, having had experience of Vooda's persuasive tongue and
knack of casuistry, did not wish to argue the point--knowing, as he did
full well, the object of Vooda's visit--and at once made up his mind
that he would not see the glib-tongued constable alone.

"Son of my father," he said, "what you have to say, let it be said
before these my councilors and friends."

Vooda saw there was no chance of a pr