But his answer was firm and quiet. `Lo, I have brought you
rain.'

"Still, good followed, for when the worst had passed the worst, and the
water was run off, the land was green again, and all things grew and
thrived and fattened. But--then followed consternation on other
grounds. The chief's son, Bacaza, had disappeared.

"He had disappeared, suddenly and in mystery. No trace was left. He
might have gone into empty air. At first Luluzela was angry, then
alarmed. He sent for Kukuleyo.

"But the rain doctor's face was like rock. What had he to do with the
disappearance of people? he said. He was a rainmaker. He was not
trained in unfolding mysteries. The chief of the Amazolo had better
send for an _isanusi_ if he wanted this one unfolded.

"And then, _Amakosi_, a discovery was made. Bacaza, the son of the
chief was found--what was left of him that is. He was spread out
beneath the falling water above a lonely pool, and was so arranged that
the constant flow of water falling upon the back of his head and neck,
slowly wore him to death. But it took days of awful agony such as no
words could tell."

"How do you know that, Jan Boom?" I said, moved to an uneasiness of
horror by the vivid way in which the Xosa was telling his story, for his
eyes rolled and he passed his hand quickly over his face to wipe off the
beads of perspiration. Clearly the recollection was a real and a
terrible one to him.

"I know it, because I have been through it," he answered. "For a whole
night, and part of a day I have been through it. _Hau_! it is not a
thing to look back to, _Amakosi_. But let me tell my tale. When
Luluzela heard what had been done he sent for Kukuleyo, intending to put
him and his rainmakers to a slow and lingering death by fire. But
Kukuleyo was no fool. He appeared armed, and with a great force at his
back, so that that plan could not be carried out. For some time they
looked at each other like two bulls across a kraal fence, then Kukuleyo
said:--

"`Did not the chief of the Amazolo bid us offer any sacrifice we
pleased, in order to obtain the desired rain?'

"`Eh-he, any sacrifice we pleased,' echoed his followers, clamorously.

"`Why then, have I not taken the chief at his word?' went on Kukuleyo,
defiantly. `Nothing less than his son would satisfy the _izituta_, and
his son have we offered. And--has it not rained? Ah! Ah! "Any
sacrifice we pleased," was the word,' he went on mockingly.