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Updated: May 14, 2025
The exception referred to consisted in the fact that whereas, according to Menzies, the Makolo nation, upon whose territory they had now entered, were exceedingly jealous of all intrusion Menzies himself having escaped a frightful death at their hands by the very skin of his teeth they had thus far met with no molestation whatever; which, however, might possibly be accounted for by the fact that thus far they had seen no natives.
I have detected signs of discontent not only among the chiefs, but among the people themselves; there have been murmurs that the long peace which we have enjoyed is converting the Makolo into a nation of women who will soon lose the capacity for fighting; our neighbours are growing insolent and aggressive; and worst sign of all those chiefs who most boldly support me in my determination to continue to rule in accordance with the tenets laid down by the four Spirits, are rapidly dying off, one after the other, by some mysterious disease."
But who are we that we should presume to judge the king's actions, or to say to him: `Ye shall do this, or `Ye shall not do that'? To do so is a crime; and the king who tamely suffers it is too weak to govern so powerful a nation as the Makolo.
The Makolo do not approve of strangers entering their country, it would appear; but their objection no longer applies to white men, to whom the Spirits of the Winds have commanded that all kindness be shown, should such ever visit the Makolo country.
Think ye that it was mere chance that brought the Healer and his friend the Mighty Hunter into the land of the Makolo at the moment when, but for them, Sekosini's plot must have been crowned with success? I tell you, nay; it is because it has been ordained that I, whom the Four Spirits of the Winds set upon the throne, should continue to rule over you!
Ye speak not the tongue of the Makolo, yet ye were able to communicate with my people as soon as ye entered my borders. By what means did ye so?" "Oh, quite easily!" answered Dick who, being the better linguist of the two, naturally assumed the part of spokesman.
"The Makolo need not two kings; and Seketulo knew not how to govern them." "Therefore you slew him?" persisted the professor. "Therefore I slew him," assented M'Bongwele. "Also you slew twelve white men and two white women who were found in distress by your people, although you knew that such acts were displeasing to us, and that we had forbidden them," asserted the professor.
Disaffection, secretly fomented and carefully nurtured, had grown so strong that it now threatened to disintegrate the whole nation, and unless it were firmly dealt with would probably split up the Makolo into a number of petty tribes, at enmity with each other, and an easy prey to those other nations who surrounded them.
"I see your point, old chap, and out goes the `glim'." And so saying he took down the lamp, opened, and extinguished it. "It is well," approved the king, with a sigh of relief. "Now can I talk without fear of discovery." Know you also the story of Seketulo, whom the Four Spirits made king in M'Bongwele's stead when they first came among the Makolo?" "Yes, we know," answered Dick.
"It is very well, O Insimbi," answered Grosvenor. "It is well for the Makolo and for your king that he keeps fresh in his memory the commands laid upon him by the four Spirits of the Winds, and we are satisfied. When can we be supplied with the fresh team of oxen?"
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