other adornments were as ours. He, too, seemed in
some way to be assisting the other, for his movements were much the
same, and a few words would now and again drop from him as though in
reply to the one who was sacrificing. _Hau_! it was wonderful! In
rigid wonder we stared, not knowing what was to come next.

But a dead silence had fallen upon these two now, and the murmuring had
ceased. Then the tinkling of the bell rang out once more, and the
_isanusi_ in the red cloak, having bent low, straightened himself up,
raising both hands high overhead, and in his hands there flashed forth a
Something--a Something upon which a ray of the newly-risen sun now
glinted with dazzling whiteness. And the man behind--the black man--
bent prone as one dead--even as a man might lie who awaits the sentence
of the Great Great One himself.

_Whau, Nkose_! I know not how it was, but something seemed to cloud the
brain of Mgwali and myself, binding us to the spot, staring at this
strange and marvellous mystery, so unlike aught we had ever beheld
before. We watched, confused by what followed, but of it we have but
small recollection, save of one thing. The white _isanusi_ turned full
towards us, more than once, still murmuring, and, while we shrank in
dread lest he should be putting upon us the spell of his _muti_, we took
note of his face and that keenly. It was the face of a white man, very
dark and burned as though by many suns; but it was a strong face, that
of a man to whom, we could see at a glance, fear was unknown. The eyes
were black and piercing as those of an eagle, and a long, thick beard
fell low upon the breast, its dark masses plentifully streaked with
grey.

We stood watching this marvellous performance, we two fearless and armed
warriors, and yet there was that in it which laid upon us a kind of awe.
At length it came to an end. Then we saw the white man extinguish the
fire upon his stone of sacrifice and wrap up carefully in coverings such
things as had been upon it. But our astonishment was greatest when we
watched him take off his outer cloak of red and then the long white
garment which was girded around him. We saw him then in a large loose
robe of black, and this he did not take off. [Note 1.] The other
dresses, however, he carefully rolled up in coverings, and while he was
doing this the man who was with him--the _kehla_--lighted a fire, and
set upon it a joint of game to roast, evidently the quarter