The Washington times., 1920-01-25

at the back WAS given 10 UWelopo-
gaas and his Zulas. ana third TO
the two wopnaed men,
Biilsli showed hs tbeoe arrange
ments by the light Of lamps ana
spoiosizsd that they wsre not bets
tsr, because. - he explained, tAe
place was , ruth and there And
been no time 10 build us b house.
lie added that We might sleep with,
out fear as We were guarded add
none would dare 70 harm the guests
Of She e-whO.oommands, on whom he
was sure We, OF. at any rate. add
the Black Biaughterer had pro-
duced an excellent impression.
Then he bowed himself out, saying
that he would return "a the n0uA
ing. and left as to our own devices.
Robertson and sat down on
stools that had been set for Ms,
and ate, but he seemed so overcome
by his experiences, Or BY his SOM
bre thoughts. that could not draw
him INTO conversation. All he re-
marked was that We had fallen into
queer company that that those who
supped with Satan needed Q long
spoon. Having delivered himself
OF this sentiment he threw himself
upon the bed, Srayed aloud for
while as had become his fashion.
to be protected from Tarlocks and
witches" amongst other things, and
went to sleep.
Before I turned In ! visited I'm
slopogaas's room 70 see thst all wa.l
we'll with him and his people. and
found him standing IN the doorway
staring at the star.spansled SKY.
Correcting. Macumaxahn," he
said. you who are white and wise
and I who am black and warrior
have seen many strange things be.
meath the sun, but never. such
one as we have looked upon To-
night. Who and what Is that chief
tainess. MacumaxahnY ~.
~ do not KNOW" said. "but It
Is worth while to have lived to look
upon her, even though she be
\ veiled."
"Nor do I, Macumaxahn. Nay. I
do know, for my heart tells me that
she Is the greatest of all witches
and that you will do well to guard
your spirit lest she should steal It
away. II she were not . witch.
should have seemed to behold the
shape Of NADIA the Lily, who was
the wife Of my youth, beneath those
white robes OF hers, and though the
tongue in which she, spoke was
strange to me, to hear the murmur
OF Nada's voice between her lips, OF
NADIA who has gone further from me
than those starsf"
1T is good that you wear the
Great Medicine Of Zikah upon your
breast, Macumasahn, for perhaps It
will shield you from harm at those
hands that are shaped Of ivory"
-"Zikali Is another Of the tribe" l
answered. laughing, although less
beautiful to see. Also / am not
afraid OF any of them. and from this
one. II she be more than some white
woman whom It pleases to veil her.
self, shall hope to gather wisdom"
"Aye. Macumasahn, such wisdom
as spirits and the dead have to
give" .E
"Mayhap, Umslopogaas, but we
came here to seek spirits and the
dead, did we not?"
AYE" answered Umslopogaas,
these and war, and ! think that We
shall find enough OF all three Only
hope that war will come the first,
lest the spirits and the dead should
bewitch me and take away my skill
and courage"
ThM we parted, and, too tired
even to wonder any more. ! threw
myself down on my bed and slept. 4
was awakened when the sun I
was already high BY the sound of
Robertson, who was on his knees. !
praying aloud az usual, . habit Of
his which I confess got on my
nerves.
Prayer, in my opinion, II . pri.
vate matter between man and his
Creator, that Is, except In Church;
further, l did not in the least wish
to hear all about Robertson's sins.
which seemed to have been many
and peculiar. II is bad enough to
have to bear the burden Of ones
own transgressions without learn.
ing. Of those Of other people. that Is,
unless one, is . priest and must do
so professionally.
So I Jumped up to escape and
make arrangements for q wash,
only to butt into old Billali who was
standing in the doorway conten1.
plating Robertson with much inter.
est and stroking his white beard. He
greeted me with his courteous bow
and said.
Tell your companion, o Watcher.
that 1t Is not necessary for him to
90 upon his kness to She-who-com.
must be obeyed," he
added with emphasis, when he is E
not In her presence, and that even
then he would do we'll to keep sill
ent since 80 much talking in
strange tongue might annoy her."
burst out laughing and answered,
"He does not 90 upon his knees
md pray to She-who-commands,
~..A - xhn n~not nca Sv, &ho ~J,,O \