e were surprised to see him
approaching the Castle. I went out to meet him. He took my hands, and
looked into my face with an imploring glance, which showed that he was
much distressed, and then accompanied me into the Castle. The moment he
saw David he ran up to him, and then pointed in the direction of his own
home. Then he ran to Leo and Natty, and stroked their heads, as if he
was weeping over them. Timbo, who had been in the cook-house, now came
out, and having exchanged a few words, Timbo said, "Igubo got home,
found children bery ill; want doctor come cure them."

This was plain enough. "Tell him I will go gladly," said David; "but
either you or Chickango must accompany me to interpret."

"I will bear you company also," I said. "I feel sure we can trust to
him, but his people may not be so well disposed, and if we all three go
armed we may make them respect us."

Directly breakfast was over we set out, greatly to Igubo's satisfaction.
He hurried along, leading us through elephant tracks, till we reached a
path formed by the natives which led to the village. Igubo conducted us
immediately to his house, round which a number of people were collected,
and inside was a man with his face painted and his hair dressed out with
strange ornaments, performing all sorts of antics.

"Dat de fetish man," said Timbo. "He do no good. He t'ink he enchant
de sick children. He one 'postor."

"Little doubt about that," I observed; "but we must take care not to
offend him. But you tell them that white man's doctor has come, and
that if he will go and carry on his incantations outside we will go
inside and try ours, and there can be no doubt that the two working
together will produce more effect than one alone."

"You no t'ink dat, Massa Andrew," said Timbo, looking up in my face.
"No, I only tell dem he go out, we go in. White man know how to cure
children better dan de black."

We found two fine boys about twelve and fourteen years old, both in a
raging fever. David, I should have said, had come provided with a few
medicines, which he thought most likely to be of use, and he now sent
all the people out of the house except the mother of the boys and our
friend. "Tell him," he said to Timbo, "that he must get me some pure
water." This was easily procured from a stream which came rushing down
the side of the mountain at no great distance. David gave each of the
boys a cooling draught, and made their parents unde