ce of Mo, has spoken."

"Kouaga bore the staff of the Great White Queen unto thee. He is the
trusted of the Naya, if not of her son," the negro answered, turning
away. But in that brief instant I noticed an expression on his face of
relentless cruelty. An expression such as one might expect to see upon
the face of a murderer.

Truth to tell, I had never liked Kouaga; now I instinctively hated him.
But ere he had strode a dozen paces he turned back smiling, saying:

"I mean no defiance to the Son of my Queen. He is in my charge, and I
will take him safely back unto Mo, the city with walls unbreakable, the
capital of the kingdom unconquerable."

"I shall act as I have decided," Omar answered with true princely
hauteur. "The rulers of Mo never depart from their word."

"Very well," the other answered laughing, at the same time lighting his
pipe with cool indifference. Then, glancing round to see that all was
ready, he shouted an order to the head-man and the string of carriers
moved away, jabbering and shouting, down the path into the dark gloomy
forest depths.

In ill-humour we followed. I must confess that towards Kouaga I
entertained an ill-defined feeling of distrust. Once or twice during that
day's march in the dull dispiriting gloom, almost every ray of daylight
being shut out by the thick canopy of creepers spreading from tree to
tree, I had caught Omar surreptitiously consulting his pocket compass,
and saw upon his face a look of anxiety. Yet, on the other hand, Kouaga
had become particularly jocular, and the carriers were now singing
snatches of songs, joking, and laughing good-humouredly at each other's
misfortunes, whereas on our journey from the coast to the river they had
generally preserved a sullen silence.

No. Try how I would I could not rid myself of the thought that there was
something very mysterious in Kouaga's actions.

CHAPTER VI.

THE ROYAL JUJUS.

ON the fifth day after we had left our canoes the Grand Vizier of Mo had
gone far forward along the line of carriers to speak with the head-man,
and Omar was walking immediately before me at the rear of the
procession.

As I pulled him by the sleeve he halted, and when the last carrier had
got out of hearing I confided to my friend my misgivings.

"Have you not noticed of late a change in Kouaga's manner towards us?" I
asked him. "At first he was deferential and submissive to your every
wish, but it occurs to me that of late his man