il-god
has him. If I am paid I will make strong medicine and then we shall
know where is Ibeto's son, and shall get him back again. It was my
medicine which got him back the last time, for which I got no pay."

"I have my own witch-doctor to make medicine," replied Mbonga with
dignity.

Bukawai sneered and rose to his feet. "Very well," he said, "let him
make his medicine and see if he can bring Ibeto's son back." He took a
few steps away from them, and then he turned angrily back. "His
medicine will not bring the child back--that I know, and I also know
that when you find him it will be too late for any medicine to bring
him back, for he will be dead. This have I just found out, the ghost
of my father's sister but now came to me and told me."

Now Mbonga and Rabba Kega might not take much stock in their own magic,
and they might even be skeptical as to the magic of another; but there
was always a chance of SOMETHING being in it, especially if it were not
their own. Was it not well known that old Bukawai had speech with the
demons themselves and that two even lived with him in the forms of
hyenas! Still they must not accede too hastily. There was the price to
be considered, and Mbonga had no intention of parting lightly with ten
goats to obtain the return of a single little boy who might die of
smallpox long before he reached a warrior's estate.

"Wait," said Mbonga. "Let us see some of your magic, that we may know
if it be good magic. Then we can talk about payment. Rabba Kega will
make some magic, too. We will see who makes the best magic. Sit down,
Bukawai."

"The payment will be ten goats--fat goats--a new sleeping mat and two
pieces of copper wire the length of a tall man's arm from the shoulder
to the ends of his fingers, and it will be made in advance, the goats
being driven to my cave. Then will I make the medicine, and on the
second day the boy will be returned to his mother. It cannot be done
more quickly than that because it takes time to make such strong
medicine."

"Make us some medicine now," said Mbonga. "Let us see what sort of
medicine you make."

"Bring me fire," replied Bukawai, "and I will make you a little magic."

Momaya was dispatched for the fire, and while she was away Mbonga
dickered with Bukawai about the price. Ten goats, he said, was a high
price for an able-bodied warrior. He also called Bukawai's attention
to the fact that he, Mbonga, was very poor, that his peop