t to dress so. Doubtless as a boy you had
seen one of my brethren, or perchance a picture of one, and your spirit
saw him again in a dream. If I am right, and your home is on that great
river which we white men call the Zambesi, then it is not unlikely that
such a thing happened. Perhaps you have forgotten. Now in me you see him
whom you seek.'

"The old fellow's keen eyes flashed angrily. 'The white stranger mocks
me,' he said.

"I protested. 'No, father, I do not mean to mock you. Why should I do
so? But come now, can you describe the face of the man you saw?'

"'I can, and easily. His beard was white and not as thine. Moreover, he
was bald-headed, and beneath his right eye was there a little scar such
as he had perhaps received in the hunt from some beast or the other. His
face was long and thin, and his nose bigger. Am I a child that I should
not know one man from another? Thou art not he.'

"It was foolish of me, but I was surprised out of all caution. 'How
could you see so much in the dark of your hut?' I exclaimed.

"Mwezi rose to his feet and made a pathetic effort to hold his head
erect. With true native dignity, he ignored me and turned to the chief.
'With the leave of the chief, I go,' he said. 'I am old and would rest
in my place. Fare thee well, father of thy people. The Heavens guard
thee. Be in peace.'

"I realised that I had blundered, but at the moment there was nothing to
do. We watched the procession move away again almost in silence, and I
noticed curiously that the crowd were even more interested in Mwezi than
in myself, a white stranger. When he was out of sight, I apologised to
the chief, who, however, would not hear that I had done any wrong. He
himself showed me back to the house set apart for us and invited me to
feast with him in the evening. He gave me leave to speak to his people,
and I remember that I was so dog-tired that I lay down at once and slept
for the rest of the day.

"In the morning, however, I remembered Mwezi, and told the chief that
I would like to go and call on him. I determined to do what I could
for the old fellow's peace of mind, and, with a guide and one of my own
boys, we set out.

"The way led through the native huts and without them. It was downhill
going, as the village, in African fashion, was built on the side of a
rise which culminated in the chief's hut, while Mwezi lived, very close
to the source of the river I have mentioned. We emerged through trees
i