ort; to destroy his military judgment. Therefore to cause him at this
juncture to be violently disturbed by a personal emotion might tend to
confuse his mind. Enmity--fear--might equally serve as the lure required. In
spite of committing a breach of native etiquette Birnier could not resist
smiling. He reached for the "Anatomy" and as he scribbled two words he
said to Bakahenzie solemnly:

"O son of Maliko, say unto this man of many tongues as well as many eyes,
'that the jackal follows the lion that he may feed upon his leavings; that
the voice of the hyena is loudest when he eateth offal.' And shall the
slave take unto him that which is mighty magic, such magic that when
Eyes-in-the-hands doth but touch it shall he trumpet like unto a wounded
cow elephant. Bid him to mark that my words be white!"

And when Bakahenzie had gone Birnier turned to the portrait on the wall
and remarked as he indulged in the luxury of a grin: "Say, honey, but if
that doesn't make him mad, I'll--I'll eat my own manuscripts!"

CHAPTER 26

In a corner of one of the half-completed huts in a half-completed street
of the new village of the Place of Kings squatted Yabolo and other chiefs.
As Sakamata was up in the fort serving Eyes-in-the-hands they could talk
freely, yet in low tones and with wary eyes for the interstices of the
unfinished wall. More than one chief had been thrashed but none as high in
rank as MYalu; moreover, those that had been severely punished had been
taken in fair fight or had attempted to escape, whereas MYalu had done
nothing that they considered to merit punishment. The growing detestation
and hatred smouldering within all of them against the new ruler had burst
into flame at the first hint of the news vibrating upon the moist air.
Later had come another drum message bidding them await new words of Tarum,
and forty-eight hours afterwards the messenger sent by zu Pfeiffer to
summon Moonspirit, who squatted in the group, whispered word for word
Birnier's message on the phonograph, adding further instructions from
Bakahenzie that the signal should be another message upon the drums: "The
Fire is lighted."

Warm banana wrapped in leaves, which a slave had brought in, was placed
before the chiefs while the messenger related the gossip of the village in
the forest. Later, while lolling through the mid-day heat waiting for the
time of audience, he produced from his loin cloth the magi