“Here come the spook-men, Baas, the whole regiment of them.”  We ran and looked.  It was true.  Marshalled in orderly squadrons, the camels with their riders were sweeping towards us, and a fine sight the beasts made with their swaying necks and long, lurching gait.  About fifty yards away they halted just where the stream from our spring entered the desert, and there proceeded to water the camels, twenty of them at a time.  Two men, however, in whom I recognized Harut and Marut, walked forward and presently were standing before us, bowing obsequiously.

“Good morning, Lord,” said Harut to Ragnall in his broken English.  “So you come with Macumazana to call at our poor house, as we call at your fine one in England.  You think we got the beautiful lady you marry, she we give old necklace.  That is not so.  No white lady ever in Kendahland.  We hear story from Macumazana and believe that lady drowned in Nile, for you ’member she walk much in her sleep.  We very sorry for you, but gods know their business.  They leave when they will leave, and take when they will take.  You find her again some day more beautiful still and with her soul come back.”

Here I looked at him sharply.  I had told him nothing about Lady Ragnall having lost her wits.  How then did he know of the matter?  Still I thought it best to hold my peace.  I think that Harut saw he had made some mistake, for leaving the subject of Lady Ragnall, he went on: 

“You very welcome, O Lord, but it right tell you this most dangerous journey, since elephant Jana not like strangers, and,” he continued slowly, “think no elephant like your blood, and all elephants brothers.  What one hate rest hate everywhere in world.  See it in your face that you already suffer great hurt from elephant, you or someone near you.  Also some of Kendah very fierce people and love fighting, and p’raps there war in the land while you there, and in war people get killed.”

“Very good, my friend,” said Ragnall, “I am prepared to take my chance of these things.  Either we all go to your country together, as Macumazana has explained to you, or none of us go.”

“We understand.  That is our bargain and we no break word,” replied Harut.

Then he turned his benevolent gaze upon Savage, and said:  “So you come too, Mr. Bena.  That your name here, eh?  Well, you learn lot things in Kendahland, about snakes and all rest.”

Here the jovial-looking Marut whispered something into the ear of his companion, smiling all over his face and showing his white teeth as he did so.  “Oh!” went on Harut, “my brother tells me you meet one snake already, down in country called Natal, but sit on him so hard, that he grow quite flat and no bite.”

“Who told him that?” gasped Savage.

“Oh! forget.  Think Macumazana.  No?  Then p’raps you tell him in sleep, for people talk much in sleep, you know, and some other people got good ears and hear long way.  Or p’raps little joke Harut.  You ’member, he first-rate conjurer.  P’raps he send that snake.  No trouble if know how.  Well, we show you much better snake Kendahland.  But you no sit on him, Mr. Bena.”