ds of corn, as many fruit trees as you name, shall be given you. We
will be your servants, and you may choose what wives you will. They
will be sent to your house without payment. Only, in return, do not
suffer our cattle to die of murrain, or our crops wither up for lack of
rain. What injury have we done you, that you refuse us your aid in our
necessity?"

"It is in vain that I tell you I cannot do what you ask of me," returned
De Walden. "Again and again I have assured you, that I am as unable to
prevent the visitations of disease and drought as you yourselves are.
The God, of whom I have spoken to you, and about whom you will not hear,
He, and He only, can accomplish the things you ask. If you wish to
obtain the blessings of which you speak, bow down before Him, and ask
Him for them."

"If I so bow down, will the prophet of the white men assure me, that I
shall receive what I entreat for?"

"No," replied the missionary, "I can give you no such assurance. God
hears prayer always, and is well pleased with those who offer it with a
true heart; but He does not always grant what men ask for. It may not
be good for them to receive it."

"What good, then, to pray, if there be no favourable answer?" rejoined
the chief, a cloud gathering on his brow. "You ask me to commit folly.
You trifle with me. You have brought down rain for others, and driven
away the disease that slew the cattle for others. Look, you shall live
here in the village, and we will kill you, if you attempt to escape. If
the rain does not come in its season, you shall bring it. If the cattle
die of pestilence you shall cause it to depart, or you shall yourself
suffer pain and hunger and death. As for these others, are they
prophets and wizards too?"

"They are simply English travellers, on their way to Cape Town," said De
Walden, "and their friends are persons of importance there. You have
heard of the English?"

"The English," said Chuma. "Ah, the English. Yes, I have heard of
them. They came over the great salt water, years ago, and fought with
the Dutch--did they not?"

"They did. They fought with the Dutch and conquered them. You know
well that the Dutch are dangerous enemies to meet in battle. None of
the races whose skins are dark--the Bechuanas, the Basutos, the Zulus,
the Namaquas--none of them can stand before the Dutch--"

"They have the fire-tubes," interposed the chief angrily,--"the
fire-tubes which strike men dead