eat angry eyes of fire,
looking down at the camp. Thus the mortal ashes of the old doctor, whom
they had so cruelly murdered, were left alone by the superstitious
people, and Kalulu, helplessly stretched near by, was the only living
being within fifty yards of the dread embers which covered the remains
of Soltali.

Tifum the Wicked, too much engrossed with the pain of his wound, had
seen nothing of this movement, for he had retired to his hut, with his
head close to the door to breathe the cool air of the night. In his hut
were the spoils from Katalambula's village, which his own particular
slaves had carried for him. Among these were two bales of cloth, ten
fine ivory tusks, a keg of powder, a bag of bullets, three or four guns,
and, singular as it might seem, was Selim's gun, the Joe Manton which
Sheikh Amer had purchased for his son, through his Bombay agent. This
accident may be attributed to Tifum's cupidity, who had appropriated
this gun as his own, on seeing that it was of a superior class to all
others, as well as the belt, which contained a large supply of
ammunition. Ferodia would very probably have appropriated such a fine
weapon for himself had he not been so occupied with the extent of his
success and fortune.

The night grew deeper and more sombre. Melancholy sounds were heard at
intervals through the forest, and the superstitious warriors ascribed
these to the restlessness of the spirit of Soltali, consequently they
huddled into their huts, forgot the cravings of their stomachs, and
sought in the cosy warm huts a temporary oblivion from their fears and
superstitious troubles, and, as the night got still more aged, even
moaning Tifum became tranquil and slept.

When the camp had become as still as though no five hundred warriors
with strong lungs and a healthy capacity for noise within them slept in
that darkness, Niani's light, active, boyish form, who hitherto has been
unnecessarily neglected, began to move from the neighbourhood of a fire
where, along with other slaves, he had curled himself to rest, but not
to sleep, in the direction of the slave-gang to which his master, Selim,
Abdullah, gigantic Simba, and Moto belonged. The pale-coloured forms of
the two Arab boys were clearly discernible, and choosing the tallest, he
crept up to him, and gently placing his hand over the mouth of Selim,
whom he rightly judged it to be, he bent his head low down to his ear.

"I am Niani, your slave; be sti