, like She-who-commands, though he had never seen
the man himself and never wanted to do so. His followers being cannibals
and having literally eaten up all those that they could reach, were now
desirous of conquering the people of Lulala that they might eat them
also at their leisure. Each other they did not eat, because dog does not
eat dog, and therefore they were beginning to grow hungry, although they
had plenty of grain and cattle of which they used the milk and hides.

As for the coming battle, he knew nothing about it or what would happen,
save that She-who-commands said that it would go well for the Lulalaites
under my direction. She was so sure that it would go well, that she did
not think it worth while to accompany the army, for she hated noise and
bloodshed.

It occurred to me that perhaps she was afraid that she too would be
taken captive and eaten, but I kept my reflection to myself.

Just then we arrived at our camp-house, where Billali bade me farewell,
saying that he wished to rest as he must be back at dawn with litters,
when he hoped to find us ready to start. Then he departed. Umslopogaas
and Hans also went away to sleep, leaving me alone who, having taken my
repose in the afternoon, did not feel drowsy at the moment. So lovely
was the night indeed that I made up my mind to take a little walk during
the midnight hours, after the manner of the Amahagger themselves, for
having now been recognised as Generalissimo of their forces, I had
little fear of being attacked, especially as I carried a pistol in my
pocket. So off I set strolling slowly down what seemed to have been
a main street of the ancient city, which in its general appearance
resembled excavated Pompeii, only on an infinitely larger scale.

As I went I meditated on the strange circumstances in which I found
myself. Really they tempted me to believe that I was suffering from
delusions and perhaps all the while in fact lay stretched upon a bed
in the delirium of fever. That marvellous woman, for instance--even
rejecting her tale of miraculously extended life, which I did--what was
I to make of her? I did not know, except that wondrous as she was,
it remained clear that she claimed a great deal more power than she
possessed. This was evident from her tone in the interview with the
captains, and from the fact that she had shuffled off the command of her
tribe on to my shoulders. If she were so mighty, why did she not command
it herself and b