the mention of Makhana's name. Turning to Omar he added:
"Makhana will, if he obtains a chance, kill you. Be warned in time
against him. It has been ascertained that he supplied the men of Moloto
with forty cases of rifles, and that he has given his pledge that you
shall never return to Africa. Therefore obey the injunction of my royal
mistress, the great Naya, and leave with me secretly."

"Without seeing Makhana?" asked Omar.

"Yes," the black-faced man replied. "He must not know, or the plans of
the Naya may be thwarted. Our enemies have arranged to strike their blow
three moons from now, but ere that we shall be back in Mo, and they will
find that they go only to their graves. Kouaga has made fetish for the
son of his royal mistress, and has come to him bearing the stick."

"What does the letter say?" I asked Omar, noticing him reading it again.

"It is brief enough, and reads as follows," he said:

"'_Know, O my son Omar, that I send my stick unto thee by our
trusty Kouaga. Return unto Mo on the wings of haste, for our
throne is threatened and thy presence can avert our overthrow.
Tarry not in the country of the white men, but let thy face
illuminate the darkness of my life ere I go to the tomb of my
ancestors._

"NAYA.'"

I glanced at the scrap of parchment, and saw appended a truly regal seal.

"And shall you go?" I asked with sorrow.

"Yes--if you will accompany me."

"Accompany you!" I cried. "How can I? I have no money to go to Africa,
besides----"

"Besides what?" he answered smiling. "Kouaga has money sufficient to pay
both our passages. Remember, I am Prince of Mo, and this man is my
slave. If I command him to take you with me he will obey. Will you go?"

The prospect of adventure in an unknown land was indeed enticing. In a
few brief words he recalled my dismal forebodings of the life in an
underground office in London, and contrasted it with a free existence in
a fertile and abundant land, where I should be the guest and perhaps an
official of its ruler. He urged me most strongly to go as his companion,
and in conclusion said:

"Your presence in Mo will be unique, for you will be the first stranger
who has ever set foot within its capital."

"But your mother may object to me, as she did to the entrance of the
white man of whom you just now spoke."

"Ah! he came to make trade palaver. You are my friend and confidant," he
said.

"Then you suggest that