rance that he
had not spoken in vain; but my emotion was too great. I felt that in
the effort to speak I should inevitably burst into tears, and so,
perhaps, unman him, and disgrace him and myself in the eyes of these
inhuman savages. So, perforce, I held my peace, and watched with a
wildly-beating heart to see how a brave man should die.

In the meantime the fetish-man had concluded his chant, and, in the
midst of a breathless silence on the part of his audience, stood looking
intently round the circle at the group of prisoners secured to the
trees. He glanced keenly at each of us in turn, and at length pointed
his wand straight at Smellie. It was this action which caused the
second lieutenant to announce to me his belief that it was he who was to
be the first victim of the impending sacrificial ceremony. Keeping his
wand pointed directly at my companion, the uncouth figure slowly and
with a quite undescribable undulatory dancing motion, advanced toward
our tree, the crowd hastily making way for him, and four members of the
inner circle rising to their feet and following him at a touch from his
finger.

Overcoming by a strong effort the horrible fascination which this
loathsome wretch exercised over me, I turned to look at my companion.

He seemed to be utterly unconscious of his surroundings. His eyes were
raised to heaven, his lips moved from time to time, and it was manifest
that he was holding the most solemn and momentous communion which it is
possible for man to hold even with his Maker. Pale, haggard, and worn
with mental and physical suffering, his crisp brown curly hair stiff and
matted with blood, his face streaked with ensanguined stains, and his
scorched clothing hanging about him in blood-stained rags, I
nevertheless thought it would be difficult to picture a more perfect
embodiment of a good, noble, and brave man.

Slowly and sinuously, like a serpent stealing upon his prey, the fetish-
man or witch-doctor advanced until he stood within a yard of his
intended victim, with the fatal wand still pointing straight at
Smellie's breast. He stood thus for a full minute or more, seemingly
striving to wring from the bound and helpless prisoner some sign of
panic or at least of discomposure. In vain. His last most solemn act
of duty done, Smellie at length turned his eyes upon those of his enemy,
regarding him with a gaze so calmly steadfast, so palpably devoid of
fear, that the savage, mortified at h