all the plain. Alone, we may not venture
on a war with all the Watuta. Let us, then, send messengers to the
people of Kinyala, whose chief Katalambula killed, and who are yet
resentful. To the chiefs of Marungu, and to those of Itawa by the lake.
Let us send good words to Mohilizi and to the band of Wazavila, who
live but a few days' off, and with all these together, and with the aid
of these discontented chiefs of the Meroeni tribe, we may hope to make a
successful war. The is this: Let Ferodia take with him all the warriors
of his own tribe, and with them proceed to Kalulu, and if he asks why we
have come, say, `We are come to offer thee our congratulations. Art
thou not our King? Wherefore we have come to serve thee.' Then
Ferodia, with one hundred of his best warriors, shall go in unto the
village and make friends with all, and be assiduous to please Kalulu,
while the rest shall remain outside until the tenth night, when the
hillmen from Amboella, the men from the soft pasture lands, the leas,
and the meadows of the lake-land Itawa, when those of the fierce tribe
of the Wazavila, the strong men of Urungu, and the tall men of Mohilizi,
shall have been gathered together--then on the tenth night, while the
warriors of Ferodia shall seize on Kalulu and some upon Soltali and
other elders, some shall come to the gates, and stand there until it is
time for those outside to act; then, when all is ready, let all rush in
and slaughter and kill. In the morning, when the Watuta shall hear that
Ferodia has conquered, they will be afraid, and will come to him in a
body, as one man, and be faithful to him, as they were to Katalambula.
But Kalulu must die--there can be no peace while he lives; and if it
pleases Ferodia, let it be my task to wring off that young cock's head.
O chief, these are the words of Tifum the Wicked."

"Good, good!" all shouted enthusiastically; and even Ferodia was as loud
as any in his approbation. The excellent advice of Tifum was acted
upon; and the messengers were at once despatched in all directions, to
rouse the subdued tribes and to enlist all the discontented to rally to
Ferodia's standard, and to bid them all march by way of the great
forest, and by night through the corn-fields as near as possible to
Katalambula's village, and to be outside the village near the morning
after the tenth night.

Ferodia, selecting his warriors, out of which he again selected a chosen
hundred--men of mettle