dropping the amulet on
the ground.

"It is for thee to tell the wizard all that thou knowest. How else may he
reckon with thine enemies?"

"Enemy!" exclaimed MYalu. He stared questioningly at Marufa. "Enemy! Dost
thou know whom I seek?"

"Do not all the hens remark the strutting of the cock?" inquired Marufa
unconcernedly, tapping his snuff box.

"Ehh!"

MYalu observed the taking of snuff as if he had never seen the operation
before.

"Ehh!" he remarked again succinctly.

Marufa replaced the cork of twisted leaves, let fall the snuff box made of
rhinoceros horn suspended from his neck by a copper wire, and contemplated
a skinny goat scratching itself violently. MYalu stirred as if to rise,
but subsided, cogitated and said slowly:

"In the house of MYalu are four more tusks."

"Four more tusks," repeated Marufa dreamily.

"Bigger than this one," said MYalu suggestively.

"Bigger than this one."

"Knowest thou by whom the girdle is tied?"

"By the grandson of the Snake."

"Ehh!"

MYalu squatted motionless. The old man appeared to doze. Women bearing
gourds of water upon their heads passed in single file, their loins
swaying rhythmically. The shadows dwindled. From close at hand began the
rapid beat of a drum. A stir began through the village as each man herded
his women and slaves to his own hut.

"O Marufa," said MYalu, speaking with a slight snarl, "hast thou such a
powerful medicine that can surely trap the soul of Zalu Zako when
perchance it wanders (in sleep)?"

"All things are possible to the son of MTungo," mumbled the old man.

Two chiefs appeared walking through the grove at a middle distance. MYalu
glanced round apprehensively.

"Two tusks will I give thee," he whispered, "if thou wilt do this thing."

"Three tusks. No less, for the matter is dangerous."

"Two, two."

"Nay."

The old man stirred to rise.

"Three be it," gasped MYalu. "But I must see the magic done."

They rose together.

"Bring me of his toe-nails one paring, of his hair one, and his spittle
and a footprint. Then shalt thou come with me to the sacred grove where
the magic shall be done."

"Ehh!"

"But the three tusks must be given to Yanoka, my first wife."

MYalu hesitated.

"Aye, thus shall it be done," he assented reluctantly.

"It is agreed?" inquired Marufa.

"May my cord be lost!" swore MYalu, and gesturing to the slaves, hurried
away.

A slight grin flecked the old man's eyes as he turned int