He hath spoken!"

As he finished zu Pfeiffer made the signal of dismissal with his jewelled
hand, but MYalu with the throb of that distant drum in his ears, cried out
in protest, saying:

"The words of the Son-of-the-Earthquake are like unto spears made of
grass!"

The interpreter boggled at the translation of the sentence. Zu Pfeiffer
saw a ripple of insubordination. He rapped out an order to have the man
taken away and given fifty lashes. Instantly the guards surrounded MYalu,
who submitted in sudden misgiving, and led him away to receive the
punishment.

Zu Pfeiffer gave orders that the girl Bakuma should be found and called
the next case, Kalomato the elderly chief who had had all his property
sequestered until he should deliver his eldest son as hostage. He was a
slight withered old man with a white tuft of beard and at the hands of the
askaris, after considerable endurance, had screamed his submission. Now he
hobbled into zu Pfeiffer's presence with the aid of a stick. Pompously the
interpreter recited the list of the titles of the august one, and then
dwelt upon the wondrous benefits to be obtained at the magic jewelled
hands, and demanded that the old chief "eat the dust" and obey the royal
mandate.

But the sharp eyes gazed steadily from their wrinkled sockets with a
curious gleam in them as he mumbled that "his soul had wandered" (he had
dreamed) "and had met the spirit of Tarum, who had forbidden him to obey
the white god."

"The shenzie" (savage--used contemptuously) "longs for more fire for his
paws, O Bwana," translated the interpreter into Kiswahili.

"What does he say?" demanded zu Pfeiffer.

"He says, Bwana, that he hath dreamed that his god hath told him that he
must not obey you. Indio, Bwana."

"Tell him that I slew his god, as every man knows."

"The Son-of-the-Earthquake bids thee to know that he hath eaten up thy god
as he eateth up thy warriors when his wrath is aroused. Eat dust that thy
beard grow yet longer; stretch thy tongue and thou shalt be eaten entirely
and all that is thine!"

"The Fire is lighted," mumbled the old man.

"What does he say?" demanded zu Pfeiffer sharply.

"He attempts to make magic against thee, Bwana," replied the interpreter
who knew not the meaning of the phrase.

"Take away the animal," commanded zu Pfeiffer.

The old man was accordingly led out to the further attentions of the
soldiery. But during that afternoon zu Pfeiffer became conscious of a