ow, Naku, dost thou propose to act? In thy cause my arm is ready
to strike. Thou hast but to speak."

"In this way. I will now leave thee, for I have some business for
Sebwana. When he has gone I will then send for thee, and thou, when
thou comest to me, must say, `Naku, I have come. What can Kimyera do
for Queen Naku?' And I will rise and say, `Kimyera, come and seat
thyself in thy father's brother's chair.' And thou wilt step forward,
bow three times before me, then six times before the king's chair, and,
with thy best spear in hand and shield on arm, thou wilt, proceed to the
king's chair, and turning to the people who will be present, say in a
loud voice thus: `Lo, people of Ganda, I am Kimyera, son of Kalimera, by
Wanyana of Unyoro. I hereby declare that with her own free will I this
day do take Naku, my father's brother's daughter, to wife, and seat
myself in the king's chair. Let all obey, on pain of death, the king's
word.'"

"It is well, Naku; be it according to thy wish," replied Kimyera.

Naku departed and proceeded in search of Sebwana; and, when she found
him, she affected great distress and indignation.

"How is this, Sebwana? I gave orders that our guests should be tenderly
cared for and supplied with every needful thing. But I find, on
inquiring this morning, that all through yesterday they were left alone
to wonder at our sudden disregard for their wants. Haste, my friend,
and make amends for thy neglect. Go to my fields and plantations,
collect all that is choicest for our guests, lest, when they leave us,
they will proclaim our unkindness."

Sebwana was amazed at this charge of neglect, and in anger hastened to
find out the pages. But the pages, through Naku's good care, absented
themselves, and could not be found; so that old Sebwana was obliged to
depend upon a few unarmed slaves to drive the cattle and carry the
choicest treasures of the queen's fields and plantations for the use of
the strangers.

Sebwana having at last left the town, Naku returned to Kimyera, whom she
found with a sad and disconsolate aspect.

"Why, what ails thee, Kimyera?" she asked. "The chair is now vacant.
Arm thyself and follow me to the audience court."

"Ah, Naku! I but now remembered that as yet I know not whether my
mother and good nurse are alive or dead. They may be waiting for me
anxiously somewhere near the Myanja, or their bones may be bleaching on
one of the great plains we traversed in c