The Doctor Snake and the Little Boys.
Once a big chief took sick. His indunas called many doctors, but all failed. At last they went and asked the “mantis.” The mantis told them to go to a certain cave near a large rock, where they would find a doctor. So the big indunas sent some small indunas. When they got there they sang this song, “Come out, come out, Mutombo! And all the people may see you.” Now this Mutombo was a big snake. Then Mutombo put his head out of the cave, and, when they saw his snake’s head, they fled in terror. Returning home, the big indunas mocked them and went the next day themselves. But when they saw Mutombo they also ran away. Then the little boys said they would try. When the snake saw the little boys, he came out and went with them, riding on their shoulders. When they drew near the village, the people saw the snake, and all fled in fear, until the boys told them it was the doctor. Then Mutombo cured the chief, and all the little boys who fetched Mutombo were given villages and cattle, and the big indunas who had run away were made their servants.