Part 40 (2/2)
Something in his tone caught Kingozi's ear.
”Yes, Simba?” was all he replied.
”All has been done as you ordered, _bwana_. This is the fourteenth day, and I am here to tell you.”
Kingozi caught his breath sharply.
”_Bwana_ Nyele was captured?”
”Mali-ya-bwana holds him prisoner at a certain water.”
”There was no trouble?”
”None, _bwana_. All happened as you told. This magic is a very great magic,” said Simba piously.
Kingozi paused.
”The safari,” he suggested at last. ”I am told of a safari; indeed, I can hear it. What of that? No orders were given as to a safari.”
”That is true, _bwana_,” explained Simba earnestly, ”but this is a very great safari. It has tents and _potio_, and _chakula_[17], and blankets and beads and wire and many other things to a quant.i.ty impossible to say. And it came to my mind that _shenzis_ like these things, as do all men, and that in this _shenzi_ country my _bwana_ might make use of them; so I brought them with me for your use, _bwana_.”
[Footnote 17: _Chakula_--white man's food.]
”You had no trouble bringing this great safari?” asked Kingozi.
”I used again the magic bone,” replied Simba.
”Simba, you jewel!” cried Kingozi in English, ”you've saved the day! I should think _shenzis_ did like these things! And oh, haven't I needed them! You old tar-baby, you!”
And Simba replied as usual to this incomprehensible gibberish with his own full stock of English:
”Yes, suh!”
”You have done well, very well,” Kingozi s.h.i.+fted to Swahili. ”I am pleased with you. For this work you shall have much _backshees.h.i.+_--a month's wages extra, and twenty goats for your farm, and any other thing that you want most. What is it?”
Simba appeared to hesitate and boggle.
”Speak up! I am Very pleased.”
”This is a very great thing I would ask,” said Simba in a low voice.
”It is a great thing you have done.”
”_Bwana_,” cried Simba earnestly. ”It is this: I would have the magic bone for my own. For it is a very great magic,” he added wistfully.
Kingozi choked back an impulse to shout aloud.
”It is yours,” he said gravely.
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