Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 26, 2025
Then he turned into his hammock and slept soundly until Mafuta aroused him at sunrise with the early cup of chocolate which was the invariable prelude to the business of the day.
Tom was not sorry to get a respite, and threw himself flat down, in order to make the most of it, but Mafuta was more anxious than usual about his companion that morning. He returned in ten minutes or so, having sat for that period behind a neighbouring tree to brood over his circumstances. "Yous come on now, eh?" he said gently, regarding Tom with an anxious expression of countenance.
"Stop!" interrupted I. "Before you speak further, tell me how Mafuta came to know that I was on the way? I believed that my entry into Basutoland was unknown, and was wondering whether it would be better for me to see Moshesh in his kraal, or whether it would suffice for me to send a messenger with gifts. Perhaps you can tell me?"
Well, be it so, said Wilkins, somewhat disappointed, "but I'm determined to kick him up anyhow." Saying this he advanced towards the brute, but again the powerful hand of Mafuta seized him. "What you do? want git kill altogidder? You is a fool! Him got nuff strong in hims tail to crack off de legs of 'oo like stem-pipes. Yis, kom back?"
Yes, they will come back again; and you will perhaps have to kill two or three more before they will go away and leave us alone." "Do you think, then, that I got the fellow I fired at?" demanded Dick. "Yes, baas," answered Mafuta with confidence. "I heard the bullet strike. You will find the beast, dead, out there, when the day breaks.
"Then who is to say that I shall not be still included in the batch?" "Nay," answered Ama; "you saved my life, and for that my father will spare you. It is not he whom you have to fear, but Mafuta. Mafuta hates you, I know, and would willingly `smell you out' if he dared; but the people will not let him; for where would they get any one else to play beautiful music to them if you were to die?
Presently, however, that feeling passed away, and I was able to gaze upon it without discomfort. "Now," said Mafuta, "look steadfastly at that, never removing your eyes from it for a moment, and see what happens."
Finally, when the oxen were inspanned and the wagon was on the very point of moving off, Mafuta, who had hitherto been missing, presented himself in full marching order, armed with shield, assagais, and knobkerrie, with plumed head-dress, and cows' tails bound about his legs below the knees, and curtly informed Dick that it was his fixed intention to join the party!
Thus I found myself in the presence of the two most powerful men in the district, namely, King Banda and Mafuta, the chief witch-doctor.
"Ho there, Mafuta!" called Dick, as he stood taking in the scene and admiring the generally romantic effect of it all the glowing fires, the wavering columns of smoke, the uneasy animals, the flitting figures, the great bulk of the wagon with its white canvas tent aglow with the firelight, and the mellow stars raining down their soft radiance; "what is all the disturbance about?"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking