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Mavovo and Hans stood behind us, the latter supporting himself with his large bamboo stick. Komba obeyed. Especially did he narrate how, in obedience to a message which he had received from the Motombo, he had invited the white lords to Pongo-land, and even accepted them as envoys from the Mazitu when none would respond to King Bausi's invitation to fill that office.
Hans, who had suddenly found something that interested him extremely out at sea, perhaps because he did not wish to witness my grief, turned round slowly and answered: "Mavovo named me Light-in-Darkness, and by that name the Kafirs know me now, Baas, though some of them call me Lord-of-the-Fire." "Then Mavovo named you well, for indeed, Hans, you shine like a light in the darkness of my heart.
Indeed, the question is one that I often have had cause to ask where Kafir "witch-doctors" or prophets are concerned, notably in the instance of a certain Mavovo, of whom I hope to tell one day, whose predictions saved my life and those of my companions.
Then came the bearers, then half of the hunters, then the four donkeys in charge of Hans and Sammy, then Hassan and the rest of the hunters, except Mavovo, who brought up the rear with Stephen. Needless to say, all our rifles were loaded, and generally we were prepared for any emergency.
Brother John stared at the horizon, his lips moving as though he were engaged in prayer, and even Stephen was temporarily depressed. Jerry had fallen asleep, as a native generally does when it is warm and he has nothing to do. Mavovo looked very thoughtful. I wondered whether he had been consulting his Snake again, but did not ask him.
"Really, John, under any other circumstances " Then after a moment's reflection I called to Hans and Mavovo, who came and squatted down upon the verandah. "Now," I said, after I had put the case to them, "what have you arranged?" Being devoid of any feasible suggestions, I wished to pass on that intolerable responsibility. "My father makes a mock of us," said Mavovo solemnly.
Still, for reasons which I have suggested, I confess that I hoped that long ago she had returned into the hands of the Power which made her, for what would be the state of a young white lady who for two decades had been at the mercy of these black brutes? And yet, and yet, after my experience of Mavovo and his Snake, I did not feel inclined to dogmatise about anything.
Stephen and I were given the places of honour in the middle, the Union Jack being fixed, by his own request, to the top of Stephen's stake. Mavovo was on my right, and the other Zulus were ranged on either side of us. I noted that Hans was already very sleepy and that shortly after he was fixed up, his head dropped forward on his breast.
"Amen," she said at last, and the girl by her side, speaking with a strange little accent, echoed the "Amen." I looked round at Brother John. He had heard something and was utterly overcome. Fortunately enough he could not move or even speak. "Hold him," I whispered to Stephen and Mavovo, "while I go in and talk to these ladies."
Then in the politest way possible she took me by the hand, and followed by Stephen, we entered the house, leaving Mavovo and Hans to watch outside. It consisted of but two rooms, one for living and one for sleeping. In the former we found Brother John and his wife seated on a kind of couch gazing at each other in a rapt way.
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