Part 7 (2/2)

”Could you find the spot fro these mountains, ten days' journey or more, till we struck the southernmost mouth of the Zambesi below Luabo

Then I should follow the river down a day's journey Afterwards two or h the swa place, Baas, and there arecannon, a 'by-and-by'!”

Again Leonard thought a moment, then he turned to Soa and asked, ”Do you understand Dutch? No? Well I have found out so of this Nest froht days' journey from your master's settlement, so your mistress has been there some three or four days if she ever reached it Now, from what I know of the habits of slave-traders on this coast, the dhoill not begin to take in their cargoes for another month, because of the monsoon Therefore, if I am correct, there is plenty of ti that I will have anything to do with this business; I must think it over first”

”Yes, you will, White Man,” she answered, ”when you know the reward; but of that I will tell you to-morrow, after I have cured you of your fever

And now I pray, Black One, show me a place where I may sleep, for I am very weary”

CHAPTER VII

LEONARD SWEARS ON THE BLOOD OF ACA

On the morrow Leonard woke early from a troubled sleep, for his fever would scarcely let him rest But, early as it was, the wo out of the cave the first thing that he saas her tall shape bending over a little fire, whereon a gourd was boiling, the contents of which she stirred fro to you, White Man,” she said; ”here is that which shall cure you of your sickness as I proourd from the fire

Leonard took it and sniffed at the liquor, which smelt abominably

”It is more likely to poison me, mother,” he said

”No, no,” she answered with a smile; ”drink half of it now and half at midday, and the fever shall trouble you no h Leonard obeyed, though with a doubting heart

”Well, asp, ”if nastiness is any proof of virtue your ravely; ”e of death by it”

And here itto Soa's an to htfall he felt a differentas he had ever been in his life But into the ingredients of the draught he never found the courage to inquire, and perhaps it was as well

Shortly after he had taken his dose Leonard observed Otter walking up the hill, bearing a huge luht us luck,” said the dwarf as he loosed hia koodoo, fat, ah! fat, and there are many of them about”

Then they prepared breakfast, and ate it, and when the an Leonard, ”last night you asked reat venture, and prolishold, and I am a poor man who seeks wealth

You demand of me that I should risk my life; now tell me of its price”

The woman Soa looked at him awhile, and answered:

”White Man, have you ever heard of the People of the Mist?”

”No,” he said, ”that is, except in London Iof such a people What of thehter of their head-priest, and I fled froo, because I was doomed to be offered up as a sacrifice to the God Jal, he who is shaped like the Black One yonder,” and she pointed to Otter

”This is rather interesting,” said Leonard; ”go on”