difference. There
was no fear of the old chief encroaching upon his official dignity by
this momentary lapse into speaking of him in the same breath as his dead
sons.

They talked a little on commonplaces--yet not altogether, for both were
fencing up to more serious import. Elvesdon, with his knowledge of
native ways, did not hurry his visitor. He knew, instinctively, that
the latter had come to see him on some subject of more or less
importance: how much so he had yet to learn. He noticed, too, that
Zavula had brought in with him a bundle--an ordinary looking bundle of
no size, done up in a dingy rag. His quick, deductive instinct had
taken this in, where most white men would have overlooked it
completely--especially if hide-bound by officialism. A chief of
Zavula's standing did not carry his own loads, however small.
Elvesdon's curiosity was aroused, and grew, with regard to that bundle.

It, now, Zavula proceeded to untie. From the wrapper he produced an
ordinary drinking bowl of black, porous clay. It was not a clean bowl
either for the inside showed thick smears of dried up _tywala_. This he
placed carefully upon the ground before him. Elvesdon watched this
development with growing curiosity.

"_Nkose_," said the old man, looking up. "Where is Udokotela?"

This, which was a mere corruption of the English word `doctor,' referred
to the District Surgeon.

"You will have far to go to find him, Zavula. Are you then sick?"

"_Whau_! My heart is sick, for there are some who think I have lived
too long. It may be that they are right. And--they are of my children
too."

There was infinite pathos in the tone, as the speaker dropped his glance
sorrowfully down to the object before him. Elvesdon's interest kindled
vividly. He began to see through the situation now.

"There is death in this," went on the old chief touching the bowl. "I
would like Udokotela to examine it."

"Leave it with me, Zavula, and I will take care that he does. It will
be safe here."

He unlocked a cupboard and stowed away the vessel carefully. "Now--who
is it that thinks their chief has lived too long, Zavula?"

"_Au_! That will become known. But the time is not yet. What I have
shown _Nkose_ is between him and Udokotela."

Elvesdon promised to respect his confidence and the old man got up to
leave. Would he not eat and drink? No. The sun would have dropped
before he reached his kraal, and he liked not being abro