Part 25 (1/2)

With this story thecaravan, and Elebi was ie,” he said, ”noand the son of a dog-let us see this Bosambo Did you tell hier frankly, ”he was such a great one, and was so haughty because of Sandi, who married his brother's wife's sister; and so proud that I did not dare tell hie of the Ochori city where at one tin, and here Elebi found the chief waiting and was flattered There was a long and earnest conference in the little palaver house of the city, and here Elebi told as much of his story as was necessary, and Bosambo believed as much as he could

”And what do you need of th

”Lord chief,” said Elebi, ”I go a long journey, being fortified with the blessed spirit of which you know nothing, that being an especial mystery of the white men”

”There is no mystery which I did not know,” said Bosambo loftily, ”and if you speak of spirits, I will speak of certain saints, also of a Virgin who is held in high respect by white an Elebi, a little at sea

”Not only of Paul but Peter, John, Luke, Matthew, Antonio, and Thomas,” recited Bosambo rapidly He had not been a scholar at the CatholicElebi was nonplussed

”We will let these ic matters rest,” said Elebi wisely; ”it is evident to o to seek some wonderful treasures All that I told you before was a lie Let us speak as brothers I go to the wood of devils, where no ive me food and ten men for carriers”

”Food you can have but no ed my word to Sandi, who is, as you know, the husband of my brother's wife's sister, that no man of mine should leave this country”

With this Elebi had to be content, for a new spirit had come to the Ochori since he had seen them last, and there was a defiance in the ti Besides, they see the party set forth and Bosambo, who took no risks, saw them started on their journey He observed that part of the equip baskets filled to the briic,” said Elebithat you should know its power”

Bosareat insolence

Clear of Ochori by one day's uard of the Big Forest A cloud of guic of Elebi's basket of cloth strips became revealed

Every few hundred yards the party stopped, and Elebi tied one of the strips to a branch of a tree

”In this way,” he communicated to his lieutenant, ”we may be independent of Gods, and fearless of devils, for if we cannot find the ivory we can at least find our way back again”

(There had been such an experi the country between Bonguidga and the Big River, but there were no devils in that country)

In two days' raves There had been a village there, for Isisi palrass they ca roof Also there were millions of weaver birds in the nut-palraves, covered with broken cooking pots, Elebi found, and was satisfied

In the forest, a league beyond the dead village, they caht have lifted hio in their strength?” he muuide them back to their wo new roads and closing the old Oh, Ko Ko!”

He snivelledstrips of red flannel froic, we coo”

Then the old , and threw at them a thousand deaths, and Elebi's followers huddled back in frowning fear

”You have lived too long,” said Elebi gently, and passed his spear through the old man's neck