Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 7, 2025
And, behold, for the space of three rains and three dry seasons, and the half of a fourth, things went very well with the nation, and its people were happy; for Seketulo ruled wisely and well, according to the precepts of the four Spirits.
And he felt heartily glad pluming himself at the same time upon his prudence that he had not taken advantage of their seemingly helpless condition, when brought to the village, to attempt the putting of a period to their existence. Meanwhile, Seketulo, though greatly chagrined at the turn of affairs, by no means abandoned hope.
And we asked for nothing in return save permission to examine and explore the ruins on yonder plain; offering to pay promptly and liberally for whatever assistance we might need. Is not this the truth?" "It is, O most mighty wizard," answered Seketulo humbly; some of the braver warriors also venturing to murmur: "It is! It is!" "And how have we been treated?" asked the professor.
"I am Lobelalatutu, a chief of the great Makolo nation which the four Spirits of the Winds condescended to visit many moons ago; and I was present when M'Bongwele, the king, was banished, and Seketulo was made king in his stead.
And, behold, more than three-fourths of the chiefs stood forth and placed themselves beside M'Bongwele, declaring that the Makolo were a warlike nation, whose spears had grown rusty through remaining so long unwashed in blood, while they were growing ever poorer for lack of their neighbours' cattle, under Seketulo's peaceful rule; and that M'Bongwele was far better as a king than had been Seketulo.
They advanced until almost level with the spot occupied by Seketulo, when, at a sign from the professor, they halted; the guards disposing themselves round M'Bongwele in such a manner that, whilst to escape was an utter impossibility, he could still see and hear the individual who, perched far aloft in the gangway of the ship, was about to address him.
And when the sentence of dethronement, separation from his family, and instant banishment for life from his country, was pronounced upon him, he offered no plea for pardon or mitigation of his punishment; he urged nothing in extenuation or justification of his conduct, but simply bowed his head in token of his submission to the inevitable, and begged a respite of a few minutes in which to bid farewell to his family before setting out upon his journey to the frontier, whither he was to be escorted by a small well-armed party, in whom Seketulo knew he could place implicit trust.
"How is it that, having banished you for your former evil deeds, we find you here again upon our return?" "I was unhappy away from my people, and therefore I returned," answered the king, sullenly. "And, having returned, your first act was to slay Seketulo. Is it not so?" demanded the professor. "Why should I not slay him?" retorted M'Bongwele.
Then he turned to those who were within the palace, and bade them bring forth Seketulo; and when this was done, lo, it was but Seketulo's body that they brought forth, his heart having been split in twain by M'Bongwele's broad-bladed war spear.
"Of one thing, at all events, I believe we may be certain, and that is, that our friend Seketulo has no intention of paying us a duty-call. Had he meant to do so, he would have been here before now." "Perhaps he has not yet been made aware of our presence here," suggested Sziszkinski. "Make no mistake about that," retorted Lethbridge.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking