won the game, "I
will produce the eggs of Icanti, the terrible serpent, and make them
hatch out live snakes. Were I to do this without having other greater
magic ready wherewith to overcome them, the snakes would kill us all.
The only magic stronger than that of Icanti is the magic of the
Lightning Bird, so I will drop a feather plucked by U-Sessellodes from
the tail of Impandulu upon the snakes as they come out of the eggs, and
that will cause them to turn into dust."
Vooda took five large Pharaoh's serpent-eggs out of his pocket and
placed them on a flat stone about a yard from the fire. He then asked
Shasha to approach, warning him to be very careful, as the serpents
might be dangerous. After the experience with the potassium, such a
warning to Shasha was quite a work of supererogation. He came forward
with hesitating steps, and stood behind Vooda, watching.
Vooda had a small quantity of lycopodium powder in his left hand. With
his right he seized a blazing firebrand, and with this he touched each
of the eggs in turn. At once five horrible looking snakes began
uncoiling, blue flame surrounding the spot at which each emerged from
its egg. Vooda then shouted loudly, calling on the name of Impandulu,
and making mystic passes over the coiling horror with his fire-brand.
Stretching forth his left hand, he liberated a small cloud of
lycopodium powder, which ignited with a brilliant flash. At this, all
the spectators leaped to their feet, wildly yelling, and, with the
exception of Sololo, who stood still--although the picture of terror--
disappeared into the surrounding darkness. For some seconds after the
sound of the last footfall had died away, the rattle of Shasha's
charms, as he fled, could be heard.
Vooda approached Sololo:
"My Chief, what word am I to carry to Indabeni?"
"Tell Indabeni that the wrong-doer will be given up to the Magistrate
to choke with a rope. Yet you need not tell him, because the man will
be in the Magistrate's hand before your voice can reach Indabeni's
ear."
And so he was.
Thus was a war averted, and yet neither Vooda nor Teddy Morton ever
received any reward for their distinguished services.
THE END
The Gresham Press Unwin Brothers Chilworth and London
SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS
PUBLISHED BY
MR. T. FISHER UNWIN.
The Autonym Library.
Paper, 1s/6d; cloth, 2s/-.
1. THE UPPER BERTH. By F. MARION CRAWFORO. Second Edition.
2. MAD SIR UCHTRED OF THE HILLS. By S.
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