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Updated: June 8, 2025
On either side of them came the Arab and Swahili element, in silence, however, but a silence which was no less ominous than their sullen and scowling looks, and the almost significant gestures wherewith they handled their rifles. "What do they want, Lutali?" said Hazon, turning to the Arab who, with Holmes, had just joined the pair.
But the reader together with Johannesburg at large knows him under another name, and that is "Pirate" Hazon. "Is it prudent, think you, Lutali?" he is saying. "Consider. These Wajalu are a trifle too near the land of the Ba-gcatya. Indeed, we ourselves are too near it now, and a day's journey or more in the same direction is it not to run our heads into the jaws of the lion?"
Now that wrist was but a grisly bone. There, too, were parchment strips, also inscribed with Koran passages, and worn in a pouch as amulets. The identity of these remains was established beyond a doubt. But the discovery inspired within him a renewed chill of despair. If Lutali had been unable to find means of escape, how should he?
You, Murad, shorten me the shadow of yonder dog. We shall see." The man named, a savage-looking ruffian, stepped forward, grinning with delight. Just as he was swinging up his scimitar, Holmes burst forth: "Hold on, Lutali! Give the poor devil another show."
"Well, Holmes, according to Lutali, they are bent on risking it," he begins, throwing himself upon a rug and proceeding to fill a pipe. "Are they? I'm not altogether glad, yet if it tends towards hurrying us out of this butchery line of business I'm not altogether sorry. I think I hate it more and more every day."
In their forefront is Lutali Lutali, whirling a great scimitar, hewing down more than one of the too venturesome Ba-gcatya, and that in spite of the broad bull-hide shield deftly wielded Lutali, uttering a semi-religious war-cry, his erect form and keen, haughty face the very personification of absolute and dauntless valour.
Lutali, who had uttered no word, and whose impassive countenance had not moved a feature, stalked gravely on. "Why could we not have prevented this?" burst forth Holmes, whom a sort of morbid fascination seemed to root to the spot. "Because it would have been the very acme of insanity to attempt such a thing.
Deep and savage were the resentful growls that greeted his words. "Au! he presumes! He shares in the insult offered to the majesty of the king," were some of the ominous mutterings that went forth. The king merely glanced in the direction of the speaker, and said nothing. But Lutali, becoming aware for the first time of the presence of his former confederate, turned towards the latter.
But the effect of the discovery of this was even more disconcerting than that of the first. For, around, lay rotting rags of clothing, and a gold ornament or two. These remains he recognized at a glance. They were those of Lutali. Yes, here was a broad bracelet of gold, curiously worked with the text of the Koran, which he had seen last on the Arab's sinewy wrist.
But the slavers were all fair marksmen some indeed, among them Lutali, being not far short of dead shots. These were disposed around the circle of rocks so as to form a ring of fire; and the rocks themselves were heightened wherever necessary with some of the loads, or with such piles of loose stones as could be collected in time.
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