I lit my pipe, and for quite a time contemplated this obstinate young man while considering the matter from every point of view.  Finally, I came to the conclusion that he was right and I was wrong.  It was true that by bribing Babemba, or otherwise, there was still an excellent prospect of effecting a masterly retreat and of avoiding many perils.  On the other hand, we had not come to this wild place in order to retreat.  Further, at whose expense had we come here?  At that of Stephen Somers who wished to proceed.  Lastly, to say nothing of the chance of meeting Brother John, to whom I felt no obligation since he had given us the slip at Durban, I did not like the idea of being beaten.  We had started out to visit some mysterious savages who worshipped a monkey and a flower, and we might as well go on till circumstances were too much for us.  After all, dangers are everywhere; those who turn back because of dangers will never succeed in any life that we can imagine.

“Mavovo,” I said presently, pointing to Stephen with my pipe, “the inkoosi Wazela does not wish to try to escape.  He wishes to go on to the country of the Pongo people if we can get there.  And, Mavovo, remember that he has paid for everything; we are his hired servants.  Also that he says that if we run back he will walk forward alone with these Mazitus.  Still, if any of you hunters desire to slip off, he will not look your way, nor shall I. What say you?”

“I say, Macumazana, that, though young, Wazela is a chief with a great heart, and that where you and he go, I shall go also, as I think will the rest of us.  I do not like these Mazitu, for if their fathers were Zulus their mothers were low people.  They are bastards, and of the Pongo I hear nothing but what is evil.  Still, no good ox ever turns in the yoke because of a mud-hole.  Let us go on, for if we sink in the swamp what does it matter?  Moreover, my Snake tells me that we shall not sink, at least not all of us.”

So it was arranged that no effort should be made to return.  Sammy, it is true, wished to do so, but when it came to the point and he was offered one of the remaining donkeys and as much food and ammunition as he could carry, he changed his mind.

“I think it better, Mr. Quatermain,” he said, “to meet my end in the company of high-born, lofty souls than to pursue a lonely career towards the inevitable in unknown circumstances.”

“Very well put, Sammy,” I answered; “so while waiting for the inevitable, please go and cook the dinner.”

Having laid aside our doubts, we proceeded on the journey comfortably enough, being well provided with bearers to take the place of those who had run away.  Babemba, accompanied by a single orderly, travelled with us, and from him we collected much information.  It seemed that the Mazitu were a large people who could muster from five to seven thousand spears.  Their tradition was that they came from the south and