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The close of the fourteenth day found them camped near water in a donga. The dim blue of mountains had raised itself above the horizon ahead. This rejoiced the men. They were running low of potio, and they knew that from the sultani's subjects in these mountains a further supply could be had. As a consequence, an unwonted kalele was smiting the air.
A varied murmur came happily from outside, what the Africans call a kalele a compound of chatter, the noise of occupation, of movement, the inarticulate voice of human existence. He glanced across the hut. The Leopard Woman was gone. "Boy!" he shouted. At the sound of his voice the kalele ceased. Almost immediately Cazi Moto stooped to enter the doorway.
We turned in. As I reached over to extinguish the lantern I issued my last command for the day. "Watcha kalele, Saa-sita," I told the askari; at once he lifted up his voice to repeat my words. "Watcha kalele!" Immediately from the Responsible all over camp the word came back-from gunbearers, from M'ganga, from tent boys-"kalele! kalele! kalele!"
But a dead, astonished silence fell upon them all. They stared at him gaping. "What is it?" repeated Kingozi impatiently. "But bwana!" cried Cazi Moto. "You see!" "That is a magic," replied Kingozi curtly. "Now what is all this kalele about?" "Bwana, these people say that messengers have come in telling of many white men and askaris marching in this direction." "From where?
He stood it as long as he could, then shouted "Kalele!" at them in so fierce a tone that the human silence was dead and immediate. But this made prominent other lesser noises. Kingozi's headache was worse. He tossed and turned, but at last fell into a half-waking stupor. He was brought to full consciousness by the entrance of Cazi Moto. He opened his eyes.
And since when has it been permitted that such a kalele be raised in my camp?" pronounced Kingozi coldly. "For attending to such things you are my man; and Simba is my man; and Mali-ya-bwana is my man; and Jack is my man. Because you have done these things I fine you six rupees each one." "Yes, bwana," said Cazi Moto submissively. "These other men what manner of 'lie' do they tell?
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