wagon with the news, while the other
remains to watch, and if need be follow him. Thus shall we know where
to find the leopard, and I will come and slay him with my fire weapon.
But if the beast remains in his den all night, then will I go up in the
morning and slay him there. Is the plan good?"

"It is good," answered 'Ngaga, "and I will go even now to the village
and send out two trustworthy men to watch, and do thy bidding," and the
man flung up his hand in farewell salute before turning to leave me.
But I stopped him. "Stay, 'Ngaga," said I; "I have not yet finished
speaking with thee. I will slay this beast that despoils the village
and carries off its young children; but, in return, the village must do
something for me. I am engaged upon a certain quest; and if Mafuta is
as great a nyanga as thou believest him to be, it may be that he can
help me. Therefore, if I kill the leopard, Mafuta must to-morrow
exercise his magic to find out for me what I want to know."

'Ngaga seemed suddenly disconcerted. He stood silent for a full minute
or more, apparently plunged in disquieting thought. Then he spoke,
deprecatingly.

"'Nkos'," he said, "how shall I answer thee? Mafuta is a strange and
wilful man, impatient of authority, and distrustful of strangers;
moreover, he loves not white men: therefore it may well be that he will
refuse what thou dost ask of him. Yet he seemed not displeased to-day
when the knowledge of thy coming was revealed to him, and it may be that
he will consent. I know not how he will act. It may be that if I ask
him now he will refuse, whereas if I ask him to-morrow, when thou hast
slain the leopard, he will consent. What wilt thou have me do, my
father?"

"Leave it until the morrow," answered I. "Then, if he refuses thee, I
will see him. Perhaps he will not refuse me."

"Good!" agreed 'Ngaga. "Thy decision is a wise one, for Mafuta is of
those who like not to bind themselves by promises. I go now to find and
send out the watchers. Sala guhli (farewell), 'Nkos'!" and, saluting,
the savage swung round upon his heel and strode away. Thereupon I
climbed into the wagon, and, having carefully examined my weapons and
satisfied myself that they were all loaded and the powder well up in the
nipples, retired to rest.

It was about an hour after midnight when Jan awoke me.

"Baas," he murmured, shaking me gently by the shoulder, "there is an
'mfaan (boy) who bids me tell thee that the