n those long,
gay braids of his. Thou shalt try thy hand on him to-morrow."
Advancing closer to him, he struck the boy in the chest with the butt of
his spear. "Dost thou hear, boy!" But he did not retreat quickly
enough, for the lithe form of Kalulu shot out and flung itself against
him, and the boy's teeth were buried in Ferodia's neck, and he had
surely strangled him had not Tifum, lifting his spear, struck him a
mighty blow full on the spinal column, which almost paralysed Kalulu.

"Thou fiend, and leopard's whelp, thou shalt die by torture to-morrow at
break of day; meantime thou shalt see Soltali burning for daring to make
thee King of the Watuta, and while he is burning thou shalt be stretched
until thy limbs crack;" and thus saying, the angry chief strode away,
rubbing his neck and fuming with passion, and gave orders that a fire
should be built near a large tree, and that old Soltali should be
brought forth.

In a few minutes a great fire was sparkling and roaring at the foot of
the central tree in the camp, and old Soltali was brought forth before
Ferodia.

"False mganga, seest thou you tree and that fire?" asked Ferodia.

"I see it, Ferodia," answered the old man.

"There shalt thou burn, and thy accursed ashes shall remain there to
blacken and curse that tree, under which perished a false magician. Ho,
Tifum! quick. Bring Kalulu here first, stretch him on this ground, with
his face turned towards the magician, and let us see if Soltali's black
art will save Kalulu from the pain he suffers, or himself from the
fire."

Kalulu was at once brought forth, and though he bit, and struggled, and
kicked, he was pressed to the ground by overwhelming numbers, and four
men tied cords to his limbs and began to draw them, until it seemed as
if the young body would be torn asunder; after which the cords were
fastened round pegs driven deep into the ground.

Then the brutish Ferodia used the staff of his spear on his body, and,
taunting him, bade him look up and see the false mganga, who had made
him King, burning in the fire.

The gang to which Selim, Abdullah, Simba, and Moto were chained was
brought up and huddled together close to Kalulu. Soltali was dragged to
the fire, and was tied to the tree; and the fire was pushed close to his
feet, and new wood piled on it, and the smoke began to rise, and
presently changed into flame.

Then Soltali, finding the flames begin to scorch and burn him, raised
his ri