o do so until we die. Ere long, the day of the Jehad will dawn; then the
forces of Al-Islam will unite to sweep from the face of the earth those
white parasites who seek the overthrow of the Faithful. Allah is
merciful, and his servant is patient," added the old scoundrel piously.

There arose, as if with one voice from those assembled, the words:
"Samory hath spoken! Allah send him blessings abundant!" and as they did
so each fingered his amulets, little scraps of parchment whereon verses
from the Koran were written in sprawly Arabic. At that moment, too, I
noticed, for the first time, that right opposite us was the grinning,
evil face of the black giant, Kouaga, the man who had so foully betrayed
us.

We exchanged glances, and he laughed at us in triumph.

"Dost thou intend to keep me as hostage?" Omar asked his mother's enemy
boldly.

"Until thou hast performed the service for which I caused thee to journey
hither with our good Kouaga."

"The traitor's head shall fall," Omar blurted out with pardonable
passion. Then he asked, "Thou desirest a service of me. Well, what is
it?"

There was a silence so deep that a feather if dropped upon the cool floor
of polished marble would have made audible sound, and Samory slowly
seated himself.

"Give ear unto my words," he said a few moments later, in a clear voice,
as he stroked his beard with his fat hand. "I know that within thine
impenetrable kingdom many undreamed-of mysteries and wealth untold lie
concealed. This is common report. Thine ancestors in their
treasure-house, the whereabouts of which is known only to the Naya and to
thyself, have deposited heaps of jewels and great quantities of gold, the
spoils of war through many generations. I desire to ascertain, and I will
ascertain from thine own lips, the exact spot where we may seek that
treasure."

A look of abject bewilderment crossed Omar's features, and he turned to
me, saying in English:

"All is now plain, Scars. Because only the Naya herself is aware of the
spot where the treasure of the Sanoms is deposited, my mother, on the eve
of my departure for England, divulged to me the secret, fearing lest she
should die before my return. Kouaga was the only person who knew that my
mother had thus spoken to me, and he has informed Samory and joined him
for the purpose of obtaining the treasure."

"Is not Kouaga aware of the spot where the treasure is hidden?" I asked
hurriedly.

"No. He came to England at S