many traces of the awe and belief in the power and
knowledge of Bakahenzie, and so his words threatening the triumph of
Eyes-in-the-hands assured and strengthened his purpose; for he thought
that if he could accomplish his plan then would Eyes-in-the-hands surely
triumph as Bakahenzie predicted. Thus it was that he said:

"O master of Wisdom, give unto me a mighty charm against the evil eye of
traitors and will I and those that follow me seek the Bride and bring her
so that which is bidden may be, that the children of the Banana may
triumph."

MYalu rose. The two started on the return to the village. On the road
Bakahenzie sought to flatter MYalu by pretending to take him into his
confidence, adjuring him to secrecy and informing him that he would cause
it to be known that MYalu, the son of MBusa, would bring back the Bride of
the Banana. MYalu assented gravely. Just before reaching the village his
keen eyes noticed a slight trail from the regular path. Broken, twisted
and crushed leaves and strained branches indicated the recent passage of
two or three people through the undergrowth.

With difficulty, for the Wongolo are not forest people, he followed the
spoor in a semi-circle towards the village and a footprint in the slime
revealed the track of Zalu Zako or Marufa coming from the fires. MYalu
grunted, but he said nothing to Bakahenzie or anybody else. That the
vision had been caused by Moonspirit's magic he had now no doubt, and his
estimation of Moonspirit's power increased to the point of terror; yet the
smouldering jealousy and desire for Bakuma drove him dreadfully on.

Before the sun was two spans high MYalu left the village with some two
hundred of his followers anointed against magic and spirits. The track
from Moonspirit's camp was like an elephant's path. Through the steamy
heat they followed all day until they came out upon a river near to a
village upon the border of the forest. The headman of the village was away
with his chief; but women, children and slaves remained. Zalu Zako, in the
company of a white man called Moonspirit, Marufa, the wizard, and a girl
had arrived, had taken three canoes and had left up-stream within a hand's
breadth of a shadow. MYalu took all the canoes available and started in
pursuit, leaving the rest of his men to follow as soon as they had
procured other canoes from the nearest village.

The river was small but deep and flowed swiftly between the vast curtains
of the ove