ue him from those
who have already got him."

After expressing his approval of the scheme, Moto conveyed it by
translation to Kalulu, who replied immediately that he would set about
it at once; and while saying it, he left the hut.

In half an hour he returned, and informed Simba and Moto that the men
were outside the gate waiting for them, though it was unusual to start
on a hunting expedition without the ceremony of the magic doctors.
"However," he added, "I have explained that it shall be done at the
village nearest the forest, where we shall arrive to-morrow at noon if
we travel well. So come on, Moto; I want to do something too, or
Ferodia will be on everybody's tongue, and Kalulu's name will never be
heard; besides, I want to see this young master of thine, and see if he
is as good as you say he is."

While he had been talking, Simba and Moto had snatched up their guns and
declared themselves ready, and Kalulu, after giving orders to have
Abdullah sleep in his hut, and to be well fed and looked after,
accompanied by Simba and Moto, hastily left the hut.

Kalulu was very proud as he showed his friends his warriors, and was
sure that with such people the lost Arab boy would be found. Then,
putting himself at their head, with his friends next to him, he rapidly
led the way along which Ferodia had arrived from Urori.

As it was noon when they started, they could continue their march until
late at night, which they did; and a couple of hours before dawn next
morning found them _en route_ again.

At noon, as Kalulu had said, they saw the forest darkening the western
horizon ahead; but between them and the forest was a village, whose
corn-fields were then reached, situated about a mile south of the road,
from which Simba supposed it would be best to spread out, and keep a
sharp eye for anything that promised to furnish a clue of him for whom
they were about to search.

They soon came to the village, and when the inhabitants recognised
Katalambula's adopted son, they manifested great delight, and
immediately set about furnishing him and his men with the best they had,
consisting of bananas, and porridge, beans, and rice, and pombe.

The chief of the village was very assiduous to please Kalulu, and sat
down close to him, imparting local news; and, as he began to impart it,
he remembered an incident which had occurred that morning, which was,
that one of his men, searching for wild honey, a couple of hours off in