was still standing with a large crowd of Bechuanas
round him; the whole population of the village having by this time
gathered together. It was a strange and striking scene. The chief,
attired for the chase, carrying his weapons, occupied the central
place--a large and martial figure. He was surrounded by a crowd of
warriors armed and arrayed like himself, many of the party bearing in
their dress and persons marks of the recent encounter with the
elephants, which gave them a ghastly and bizarre appearance. The women
and children filled up the background, looking with awful anticipation
on what would probably ensue.

The missionary stepped calmly forward into the centre of the ring,
meeting the stern glance of the Kaffir chief with a firm look, under
which Chuma's eye at length was compelled to falter. This, perhaps,
rendered his first words more bitter than they might otherwise have
been.

"Disease hath smitten the cattle of the Bechuanas," he said; "whence
comes this, and who has caused it?"

"It comes, like all visitations, from the hand of God; and the reason
why He sends them is sometimes to teach mankind His power, and sometimes
to punish their sins."

"What is the reason why He has sent this?"

"It is impossible for any man to say. He only knows Himself His own
purposes."

"But you have yourself told me you have power with God. You have said
that He always hears His servants?"

"I have, and I repeat it."

"Then ask Him to take away this disease, and if He complies, then we
will be His servants. Will you do this?"

"I will pray to God that He will be pleased to remove it. Whether He
will do so or not, rests with Him."

Chuma hesitated. His belief in De Walden was shaken by what had
happened, but not wholly overthrown. Maomo saw his embarrassment, and
hastened to interfere.

"Chief," he said, "it is not by prayers, which are but words, that the
White Falsehood--man has prevailed on the Evil Spirits to send this
curse upon our people. Nor will it be by prayers that he can prevail on
them to take it off again. There are sacrifices that he offers to his
gods. I know that he was seen to pour water on Gaike's forehead, and
utter some charm while he did so. I know that there are sacrifices
which he renders, when he will suffer no one but his white companions to
be present. Ask him, and he cannot deny this?"

"How is this?" said Chuma, turning again to De Walden; "you hear what
the rainmake