Suddenly, too, the room became filled with
fire so hot that it scorched me, and so bright that it made my eyes
water, although they can look at the sun without winking. And, Baas,
the fire was full of spooks which walked around; yes, I saw some of them
standing on your head and stomach, Baas, also on that of Umslopogaas,
whilst others went and talked to the white Doctoress as quietly as
though they had met her in the market-place and wanted to sell her
eggs or butter. Then, Baas, suddenly I saw your reverend father, the
Predikant, who looked as though he were red-hot, as doubtless he is in
the Place of Fires. I thought he came up to me, Baas, and said, 'Get out
of this, Hans. This is no place for a good Hottentot like you, Hans, for
here only the very best Christians can bear the heat for long.'

"That finished me, Baas. I just answered that I handed you, the Baas
Allan his son, over to his care, hoping that he would see that you did
not burn in that oven, whatever happened to Umslopogaas. Then I shut my
eyes and mouth and held my nose, and wriggled beneath those curtains as
a snake does, Baas, and ran down the hall and across the kraal-yard
and through the archway out into the night, where I have been sitting
cooling myself ever since, waiting for you to be carried away, Baas.
And now you have come alive and with not even your hair burnt off, which
shows how wonderful must be the Great Medicine of Zikali, Baas, since
nothing else could have saved you in that fire, no, not even your
reverend father, the Predikant."

"Hans," I said when he had finished, "you are a very wonderful fellow,
for you can get drunk on nothing at all. Please remember, Hans, that
you have been drunk to-night, yes, very drunk indeed, and never dare to
repeat anything that you thought you saw while you were drunk."

"Yes, Baas, I understand that I was drunk and already have forgotten
everything. But, Baas, there is still a bottle full of brandy and if I
could have just one more tot I should forget _so_ much better!"

By now we had reached our camp and here I found Umslopogaas sitting in
the doorway and staring at the sky.

"Good-evening to you, Umslopogaas," I said in my most unconcerned
manner, and waited.

"Good-evening, Watcher-by-Night, who I thought was lost in the night,
since in the end the night is stronger than any of its watchers."

At this cryptic remark I looked bewildered but said nothing. At length
Umslopogaas, whose nature, fo