om dumb terror and suffering, and then there came to her
the memory of a little babe that suckled at her breast, and of a slim
boy who romped, laughing, about her, and they were both Tibo--her Tibo!

Her shoulders straightened. She shook her savage head, and she turned
about and walked boldly back to the mouth of the cave of Bukawai, the
unclean--of Bukawai, the witch-doctor.

Again, from the interior of the cave came the hideous laughter that was
not laughter. This time Momaya recognized it for what it was, the
strange cry of a hyena. No more did she shudder, but she held her
spear ready and called aloud to Bukawai to come out.

Instead of Bukawai came the repulsive head of a hyena. Momaya poked at
it with her spear, and the ugly, sullen brute drew back with an angry
growl. Again Momaya called Bukawai by name, and this time there came
an answer in mumbling tones that were scarce more human than those of
the beast.

"Who comes to Bukawai?" queried the voice.

"It is Momaya," replied the woman; "Momaya from the village of Mbonga,
the chief.

"What do you want?"

"I want good medicine, better medicine than Mbonga's witch-doctor can
make," replied Momaya. "The great, white, jungle god has stolen my
Tibo, and I want medicine to bring him back, or to find where he is
hidden that I may go and get him."

"Who is Tibo?" asked Bukawai.

Momaya told him.

"Bukawai's medicine is very strong," said the voice. "Five goats and a
new sleeping mat are scarce enough in exchange for Bukawai's medicine."

"Two goats are enough," said Momaya, for the spirit of barter is strong
in the breasts of the blacks.

The pleasure of haggling over the price was a sufficiently potent lure
to draw Bukawai to the mouth of the cave. Momaya was sorry when she
saw him that he had not remained within. There are some things too
horrible, too hideous, too repulsive for description--Bukawai's face
was of these. When Momaya saw him she understood why it was that he
was almost inarticulate.

Beside him were two hyenas, which rumor had said were his only and
constant companions. They made an excellent trio--the most repulsive
of beasts with the most repulsive of humans.

"Five goats and a new sleeping mat," mumbled Bukawai.

"Two fat goats and a sleeping mat." Momaya raised her bid; but Bukawai
was obdurate. He stuck for the five goats and the sleeping mat for a
matter of half an hour, while the hyenas sniffed and growled and
laugh