words are true, what have you to gain by this
journey, Ragnall?"

"An interesting experience while it lasts; that is all. Like Hans
there, if what they say _is_ true, my future is a matter of complete
indifference to me. But I do not believe a word of what they say.
Something tells me that they know a great deal which they do not choose
to repeat--about my wife I mean. That is why they are so anxious that I
should not accompany you."

"You must judge for yourself," I answered doubtfully, "and I hope to
Heaven that you are judging right. Now, Savage, what have you decided?
Remember before you reply that these uncanny fellows declare that if we
four go, two of us will never return. It seems impossible that they can
read the future, still, without doubt, they _are_ most uncanny."

"Sir," said Savage, "I will take my chance. Before I left England his
lordship made a provision for my old mother and my widowed sister and
her children, and I have none other dependent upon me. Moreover, I won't
return alone with those Mazitu to become a barbarian, for how could I
find my way back to the coast without anyone to guide me? So I'll go on
and leave the rest to God."

"Which is just what we have all got to do," I remarked. "Well, as that
is settled, let us send for Babemba and tell him."

This we did accordingly. The old fellow received the news with more
resignation than I had anticipated. Fixing his one eye upon me, he said:

"Macumazana, these words are what I expected from you. Had any other man
spoken them I should have declared that he was quite mad. But I remember
that I said this when you determined to visit the Pongo, and that you
came back from their country safe and sound, having done wonderful
things there, and that it was the Pongo who suffered, not you. So I
believe it will be again, so far as you are concerned, Macumazana, for
I think that some devil goes with you who looks after his own. For the
others I do not know. They must settle the matter with their own devils,
or with those of the Kendah people. Now farewell, Macumazana, for it
comes to me that we shall meet no more. Well, that happens to all at
last, and it is good to have known you who are so great in your own way.
Often I shall think of you as you will think of me, and hope that in a
country beyond that of the Kendah I may hear from your lips all that
has befallen you on this and other journeys. Now I go to withdraw my
men before these white-robed Ara