ble line and advanced, waving broad-bladed
assegais. Then at a signal they halted by the wagon and uttered a
deep-throated salute.

In front of their lines was a little withered old fellow who carried
neither shield nor spear, but only a black rod to which was bound the
tail of a _wildebeeste_. Except for his _moocha_ he was almost naked,
and into his grey hair was woven a polished ring of black gum, from
which hung several little bladders. Upon his scraggy neck was a necklace
of baboon's teeth and amulets, whilst above the _moocha_ was twisted a
snake that might have been either alive or stuffed.

His face, though aged and shrunken, was fine-featured and full of
breeding, while his hands and feet were very small; his eyes were
brooding, the eyes of a mystic, but when his interest was excited their
glance was as sharp as a bradawl. Just now it was fixed on Thomas, who
felt as if it were piercing him through and through. The owner of the
eyes, as Thomas guessed at once, was Menzi, a witch-doctor very famous
in those parts.

"Why are these men armed with spears? It is against the law for Kaffirs
to carry spears," he said to the Chief.

"This is Portuguese Territory; there is no law in Portuguese Territory,"
answered Kosa with a vacant stare.

"Then we might be all murdered here and no notice taken," exclaimed
Thomas.

"Yes, Teacher. Many people have been murdered here: my father was
murdered, and I dare say I shall be."

"Who by?"

Kosa made no answer, but his vacant eyes rested for a little while on
Menzi.

"Good God! what a country," said Thomas to himself, looking at Dorcas
who was frightened. Then he turned to meet Menzi, who was advancing
towards them.

Casting a glance of contempt at Kosa, of whom he took no further notice,
Menzi saluted the new-comers by lifting his hand above his head. Then
with the utmost politeness he drew a snuff-box fashioned from the tip of
a buffalo-horn out of a slit in the lobe of his left ear, extracted the
wooden stopper and offered Thomas some snuff.

"Thank you, but I do not take that nastiness," said Thomas.

Menzi sighed as though in disappointment, and having helped himself to
a little, re-stoppered the horn and thrust it back into the lobe of his
ear. Next he said, speaking in a gentle and refined voice:

"Greeting, Teacher, who, the messengers tell us, are called Tombool in
your own language and in ours _Inkunzi_. A good name, for in truth you
look like a bull. I