“If they have no corn while, as I noted, you have plenty which the storm spared, will not they, who are many in number but near to starving, attack you and take your corn, Harut?”

“Certainly they will do so, Lord, and then will fall the third curse, the curse of war.  All this was foreseen long ago, Macumazana, and you are here to help us in that war.  Among your goods you have many guns and much powder and lead.  You shall teach our people how to use those guns, that with them we may destroy the Black Kendah.”

“I think not,” I replied quietly.  “I came here to kill a certain elephant, and to receive payment for my service in ivory, not to fight the Black Kendah, of whom I have already seen enough.  Moreover, the guns are not my property but that of the Lord Ragnall, who perhaps will ask his own price for the use of them.”

“And the Lord Ragnall, who came here against our will, is, as it chances, our property and we may ask your own price for his life.  Now, farewell for a while, since you, who are still sick and weak, have talked enough.  Only before I go, as your friend and that of those with you, I will add one word.  If you would continue to look upon the sun, let none of you try to set foot in the forest upon the Holy Mount.  Wander where you will upon its southern slopes, but strive not to pass the wall of rock which rings the forest round.”

Then he rose, bowed gravely and departed, leaving me full of reflections.

Shortly afterwards Savage and Hans returned, bringing me some meat which the former had cooked in an admirable fashion.  I ate of it heartily, and just as they were carrying off the remains of the meal Ragnall himself arrived.  Our greeting was very warm, as might be expected in the case of two comrades who never thought to speak to each other again on this side of the grave.  As I had supposed, he was certain that Hans and I had been cut off and killed by the Black Kendah, as, after we were missed, some of the camelmen asserted that they had actually seen us fall.  So he went on, or rather was carried on by the rush of the camels, grieving, since, it being impossible to attempt to recover our bodies or even to return, that was the only thing to do, and in due course reached the Town of the Child without further accident.  Here they rested and mourned for us, till some days later Harut suddenly announced that we still lived, though how he knew this they could not ascertain.  Then they sallied out and found us, as has been told, in great danger from the ignorant villagers who, until we appeared, had not even heard of our existence.