d, that in a
given case they would create more noise than harm, but thought that in
meeting savages noise plays no less a part than bullets, and he was
pleased with his guards. They took with them a great supply of manioc,
cakes baked of big, fat white ants and ground into flour, as well as a
great quantity of smoked meats. Between ten and twenty women went with
the caravan. They carried various good things for Nell and water-bags
made of antelope skin. Stas, from the King's back, kept order, issued
commands--perhaps not so much because they were necessary, but because
he was intoxicated by the role of a commander--and with pride viewed
his little army.

"If I wanted to," he said to himself, "I could remain the king of all
the people of Doko, like Beniowsky in Madagascar."

And a thought flitted through his head whether it would not be well to
return here sometime, conquer a great tract of country, civilize the
negroes, found in that locality a new Poland, or even start at the head
of a drilled black host for the old. As he felt, however, that there
was something ludicrous in the idea and as he doubted whether his
father would permit him to play the role of the Macedonian Alexander in
Africa, he did not confide his plans to Nell, who certainly would be
the only person in the world ready to applaud them.

And besides, before subjugating that region of Africa, it was necessary
above all things to get out of it, so he occupied himself with nearer
matters. The caravan stretched out in a long string. Stas, sitting on
the King's neck, decided to ride at the end in order to have everything
and everybody in sight.

Now when the people passed by him, one after another, he observed, not
without surprise, that the two fetishmen, M'Kunje and M'Pua--the same
who had received a drubbing at Kali's hands--belonged to the caravan
and that they set out with packs on their heads together with the
others on the road.

So he stopped them and asked:

"Who ordered you to go?"

"The king," they answered, bowing humbly.

But under the mask of humility their eyes glittered savagely and their
faces reflected such malice that Stas at once wanted to drive them
away, and if he did not do it, it was only because he did not want to
undermine Kali's authority.

Nevertheless, he summoned him at once.

"Did you order the fetish-men to go with us?" he asked.

"Kali ordered it, for Kali is wise."

"Then I shall ask you why your wisdom did n