oted down the names very carefully, so that
there should be no mistake, for some of the native names are quite
embarrassingly similar in sound.

"Now," resumed Dick, when he had done this, "to return to 'Nkuni. What
is the poison that you have been administering to him?"

"It is a decoction of the leaves of the plant that hangs immediately
over your head," answered Sekosini.

Dick reached up and touched a thick branch depending from the roof of
the hut. "This?" he asked.

Sekosini assented, and Dick took down the branch and examined it. It
seemed quite an ordinary shrub to all appearance. He handed it over to
Mafuta for safekeeping.

"Next question," said Dick. "Is there an antidote to this particular
poison?"

"Oh yes!" answered the witch doctor cheerfully; "I never use a poison
that has no antidote, because it is sometimes desirable to alter one's
plans at the last moment."

"Quite so," assented Dick; "and I am going to alter your plans with
regard to 'Nkuni straight away. Where is your antidote, and how is it
prepared?"

"It is contained in those roots," answered Sekosini, pointing to a
bundle of bulb-like objects also suspended from the roof. "The method
of preparation is simple. A root is taken, cleaned from the adhering
soil, and boiled in water until it is soft enough to crush between the
fingers. Then the liquid is allowed to cool and strained through cloth.
This liquid is of a dark colour, almost black. To administer it, add
enough water to stain it very pale yellow, and let the patient drink as
he will; the more he drinks the quicker will be his cure."

"Excellent! I shall easily remember that," murmured Dick. Then,
addressing the witch doctor, he said:

"That is all I want to know at present. Now, remain here until I summon
you to the presence of the king. Mafuta, take these roots, and we will
be going."

Two hours later he had prepared a sufficient quantity of the antidote to
fill an eight-ounce medicine bottle; and as the stuff was exceedingly
strong, he believed that this ought to be nearly, or quite, sufficient
to effect a complete cure. Armed with this, he made his way to 'Nkuni's
hut, and was gratified to find that the emetic had been productive of
very satisfactory results, the pain being greatly eased, while the
temperature of the body had become almost normal. He now administered a
good stiff dose of the antidote, and left the bottle containing it in
charge of the patie