hem then the victories of the Samburus
would soon end. Stas rode along the file on the elephant, just like a
commander who is reviewing his army, after which he ordered Kali to
repeat his promise that he would liberate Fumba, and issued an order
that they should start for Luela.

Kali rode with a few warriors in advance to announce to the women of
both tribes that they would have the inexpressible and unheard-of
pleasure of seeing the "Good Mzimu," who would arrive on an elephant.
The matter was so extraordinary that even those women who, being
members of the Wahima tribe, recognized Kali as the lost heir to the
throne, thought that he was jesting with them and were surprised that
he wanted to jest at a time that was so heavy for the whole tribe and
Fumba. When, however, after the lapse of a few hours they saw a
gigantic elephant approaching the ramparts and on it a white palanquin,
they fell into a frenzy of joy and received the "Good Mzimu," with such
shouts and such yells that Stas at first mistook their voices for an
outburst of hatred, and the more so as the unheard-of ugliness of the
negresses made them look like witches.

But these were manifestations of extraordinary honor. When Nell's tent
was set in a corner of the market-place under the shade of two thick
trees, the Wahima and Samburu women decorated it with garlands and
wreaths of flowers, after which they brought supplies of food that
would have sufficed a month, not only for the divinity herself but for
her retinue. The enraptured women even prostrated themselves before
Mea, who, attired in rosy percale and a few strings of blue beads, as a
humble servant of the Mzimu, appeared to them as a being far superior
to the common negresses.

Nasibu, out of regard for his childish age, was admitted behind the
rampart and at once took advantage of the gifts brought for Nell so
conscientiously that after an hour his little abdomen resembled an
African war drum.

XX

Stas, after a brief rest under the ramparts of Luela, started with Kali
before sunset at the head of three hundred warriors for Fumba's boma,
for he wanted to attack the Samburus during the night, relying upon the
fact that in the darkness the fiery snakes would create a greater
sensation. The march from Luela to Mount Boko, on which Fumba was
defending himself, counting the rests, required nine hours, so that
they appeared before the fortress at about three o'clock in the
morning. Stas halted