she were to die, all Bandokolo would rejoice; for
Bimbane is a cruel tyrant, grinding down the people, and making the
lives of many an intolerable burden to them. There have been those who
have sought to take the stone from her, but by the power of her magic
she has discovered their purpose and has destroyed them. But it may be
that her magic will have no power over you, O white man; therefore, if
you can, take from her that stone, and so deliver Bandokolo from her
merciless tyranny. You will do it? Promise me."

"I promise you, Siluce, that, if I can, I will take the stone from her,"
I answered, more to soothe the unhappy little creature's consuming
anxiety, I must confess, than with any serious intention at that moment
of fulfilling my promise. I meant well, and I was glad to see that my
promise had produced a beneficial effect, for her agitation gradually
subsided, and a little later, after partaking of more broth, she sank
into a slumber that, uneasy at first, gradually became quiet and
profound.

But the improvement was only of brief duration, for in little more than
an hour she was again awake and raving in high delirium, fighting with
us more fiercely than ever, under the impression, apparently, that we
were the hunters who had been sent out to destroy her. Fortunately, I
possessed a very fair knowledge of the Bantu dialect that she seemed to
understand, and, using this, I did my utmost to soothe her and calm her
fears. But all my efforts were worse than unavailing, for they only
seemed to increase her terror; moreover, she appeared now to have become
raving mad: therefore, in despair, and because I saw that in her
struggles with us she was rapidly wearing out what little strength
remained to her, I suddenly released my hold upon her, and bade Piet and
'Mfuni do the same; whereupon she sprang from the cartel and dashed off
down the valley with the speed of a hunted deer. There was nothing for
it, of course, but to follow, and this I did on horseback, with Piet and
the dogs accompanying me. We proceeded at an easy canter, taking care
to maintain a good distance, so that she might not be conscious of being
followed, but just keeping her in sight; and in this fashion the poor,
demented creature ran quite two miles before she fell exhausted.

When we came up to where she lay, we found her doubled up in the long
grass, apparently senseless, but moaning pitifully; and again, as on the
previous day, I sent P