hed in spite of every effort of
the Administration to stamp them out.

It was a society into which the hazardous youth of the Isisi were
initiated joyfully, for there is little difference in the temperament of
youth, whether it wears a cloth about its loins or lavender spats upon
its feet.

Thus it came about that one-half of the adult male population of the
Lesser Isisi, had sworn by the letting of blood and the rubbing of salt:

(1) To hop upon one foot for a spear's length every night and
morning.

(2) To love all ghosts and speak gently of devils.

(3) To be dumb and blind and to throw spears swiftly for the love
of the White Ghosts.

One night Bemebibi went into the forest with six highmen of his order.
They came to a secret place at a pool, and squatted in a circle, each
man laying his hands on the soles of his feet in the prescribed fashion.

"Snakes live in holes," said Bemebibi conventionally. "Ghosts dwell by
water and all devils sit in the bodies of little birds."

This they repeated after him, moving their heads from side to side
slowly.

"This is a good night," said the chief, when the ritual was ended, "for
now I see the end of our great thoughts. Sandi is gone and M'ilitini is
by the place where the three rivers meet, and he has come in fear. Also
by magic I have learnt that he is terrified because he knows me to be an
awful man. Now, I think, it is time for all ghosts to strike swiftly."

He spoke with emotion, swaying his body from side to side after the
manner of orators. His voice grew thick and husky as the immensity of
his design grew upon him.

"There is no law in the land," he sang. "Sandi has gone, and only a
little, thin man punishes in fear. M'ilitini has blood like water--let
us sacrifice."

One of his highmen disappeared into the dark forest and came back soon,
dragging a half-witted youth, named Ko'so, grinning and mumbling and
content till the curved N'gombi knife, that his captor wielded, came
"snack" to his neck and then he spoke no more.

Too late Hamilton came through the forest with his twenty Houssas.
Bemebibi saw the end and was content to make a fight for it, as were his
partners in crime.

"Use your bayonets," said Hamilton briefly, and flicked out his long,
white sword. Bemebibi lunged at him with his stabbing spear, and
Hamilton caught the poisoned spearhead on the steel guard, touched it
aside, and drove forward straight and swi