d? Well, he know all about snake now."

"You villain!" exclaimed Ragnall, "you murderer! I have a mind to kill
you where you are."

"Why you choke me, Lord, because snake choke your man? Poor snake, he
only want dinner. If you go where lion live, lion kill you. If you go
where snake live, snake kill you. I tell you not to. You take no notice.
Now I tell you all--go if you wish, no one stop you. Perhaps you kill
snake, who knows? Only you no take gun there, please. That not allowed.
When you tired of this town, go see snake. Only, 'member that not right
way to House of Child. There another way which you never find."

"Look here," said Ragnall, "what is the use of all this foolery? You
know very well why we are in your devilish country. It is because I
believe you have stolen my wife to make her the priestess of your evil
religion whatever it may be, and I want her back."

"All this great mistake," replied Harut blandly. "We no steal beautiful
lady you marry because we find she not right priestess. Also Macumazana
here not to look for lady but to kill elephant Jana and get pay in ivory
like good business man. You, Lord, come with him as friend though we no
ask you, that all. Then you try find temple of our god and snake which
watch door kill your servant. Why we not kill _you_, eh?"

"Because you are afraid to," answered Ragnall boldly. "Kill me if you
can and take the consequences. I am ready."

Harut studied him not without admiration.

"You very brave man," he said, "and we no wish kill you and p'raps after
all everything come right in end. Only Child know about that. Also you
help us fight Black Kendah by and by. So, Lord, you quite safe unless
you big fool and go call on snake in cave. He very hungry snake and soon
want more dinner. You hear, Light-in-Darkness, Lord-of-the-Fire," he
added suddenly turning on Hans who was squatted near by twiddling his
hat with a face that for absolute impassiveness resembled a deal board.
"You hear, he very hungry snake, and you make nice tea for him."

Hans rolled his little yellow eyes without even turning his head until
they rested on the stately countenance of Harut, and answered in Bantu:

"I hear, Liar-with-the-White-Beard, but what have I to do with this
matter? Jana is my enemy who would have killed Macumazana, my master,
not your dirty snake. What is the good of this snake of yours? If it
were any good, why does it not kill Jana whom you hate? And if it is no
good,