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Updated: May 16, 2025
Another prisoner who was inconsolable was poor Reni-Mamba. From the time that she was told of her son's fate she seemed to sink into a state of quiet imbecility, from which no efforts of her friends could rouse her. She did not murmur or complain. She simply sat silent and callous to everything around her.
Active as a kitten, though middle-aged, Reni-Mamba was skipping from rock to rock in a very rugged part of their route, when, her foot slipping, she fell and sprained her ankle badly. Mamba was close to her. "Mother!" he exclaimed, hurrying forward and raising her carefully, "why jump about like the squirrel? Are you hurt?" "My son, help me to rise."
After a time his mother became so proud of her young crocodile that she dropped her own name entirely congenially, as it were, obliterated herself and ever after was known as Reni-Mamba, "mother of the crocodile." Need we say that his mother's gushing powers were expended upon him with the force of a Norwegian mill-race? It is gratifying to be able to add that the crocodile was keenly responsive!
"There was no need for that," returned Ravonino, "the Lord was our protector." "Where is Reni-Mamba? Have you heard, mother, about your son?" Reni and Ramatoa, who had pressed forward, looked surprised, for their friend did not speak like a man who had bad news to tell. "Laihova has told me, truly," replied Reni, still whimpering, "that my dear boy is worse than dead."
Poor Reni-Mamba was also there, her mild face showing unmistakable traces of the suffering caused by the loss of her only son. "Welcome, my friends," said Rakota, hastening forward to receive the prisoners. "You are now safe and free!" "Safe? free?" repeated the Secretary, in surprise. "Yes.
It was a sad occasion when they met in the house of their old guide Ravonino, to spend the last evening with him and Rafaravavy, and Laihova, and Ra-Ruth, Reni-Mamba and her husband, Voalavo, Soa, Totosy, the Secretary, and other friends, but it was also a time of pleasant communing about days that seemed so long past, although so recent.
This was a little elderly female who seemed utterly destitute of the very common human attribute of self-assertion, and in whose amiable, almost comical, countenance, one expression seemed to overbear and obliterate all others, namely that of gushing good-will to man and beast! Those who did not know Reni-Mamba thought her an amiable imbecile.
Some there were whose smitten hearts could not recover from the crushing blows they had sustained when the news of loved ones having perished in exile had been brought to them though even these felt an impulse of pleasure from Christian sympathy with the joy of their more fortunate friends. Among these last was poor Reni-Mamba.
The father's agonised soul was quieted, but as quietness partly returned to him, a new expression appeared on his countenance. "Listen," he said, still holding the guide's wrist in his powerful grasp. "I go to my poor wife. She is safe in the cave with Reni-Mamba "
Like Saul, head and shoulders above his fellows, gaunt, worn, and ragged, he had been standing near the door, not listening, apparently, to the preacher, but intent on scanning the faces of the congregation. Discovering at length what he looked for, he forced his way to the side of Reni-mamba, sank at her feet, and with a profound sigh almost a groan laid his head upon her lap!
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