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Never before have men like us taken a white man thus easily." "That is true." "Then since this magic bone can subdue for us a great lord of a m'zungu, surely it will also subdue for us a safari of black men like ourselves, a safari that the m'zungu has held in his hand." "That is true." "And that safari must have much potio" "That also is true."
There remain now nine days to wait until we must bring this m'zungu to Bwana Kingozi at the manyatta of M'tela." "It is indeed great magic," agreed Mali-ya-bwana. "How many days is the manyatta?" "I do not know. These shenzis should know; but they talk only monkey talk. Here, let us try." He drew one of the prisoners one side. "M'tela," he enunciated slowly.
It was very simple and direct and practical, when one thinks of it; covered the situation fully; involved few compromises; and gained each man his point. Simba demanded potio and obedience because he held the mighty m'zungu prisoner. The gun bearer wanted indubitable proof not only that Simba held the white man, but that he held him alive.
"Then we remain in camp five days," they concluded, after working out the subtraction. "But," intervened one of the porters, "we have no more potio." "I have the bwana's gun," Simba pointed out, "and also the gun of this m'zungu. There is here plenty of game." "To eat meat always is not well," grumbled the porter.
"Yes, bwana, and then?" "This is the most difficult. You must get hold of Bwana Nyele, and you must tie him fast also, and keep him from his safari. He is a m'zungu , yes but he is a Duyche, and my enemy, and these things are right, because I command it." "Yes, bwana." "Then you must keep Bwana Nyele and these two shenzis close in camp, hidden where their safari cannot find them.
He began to flatter Mali-ya-bwana; to fraternize just enough; to assume complete resignation to his plight in short, to use just those tactics a clever man would use to lull the alertness of any bright child. Naturally he succeeded. At sundown of the second day he began to complain of the irksomeness of his bonds. "This is foolishness, so to treat a m'zungu," said he. "Nothing is gained.
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