"And the Sultana will accompany you?"
"Undoubtedly. Our sister cannot leave us as long as she is not married."
"And do you imagine that I shall let her escape in this way?" exclaimed the King.
"Why not?"
"Because she will never return."
"It is in your power to compel her to return."
"How so, if she is no longer in my dominions?"
"She will always be in your dominions if you accompany her with your powerful army."
"What! you wish—" exclaimed Munza, with flashing eyes.
"I do not wish anything," said de Morin. "I merely point out to you a means of not leaving us, of joining our father with us, and of demanding from him the hand of his daughter. If you do not feel yourself either brave enough, or powerful enough to advance southwards, let us continue our journey; white men do not know what fear is—they are both brave and strong. You have now heard all I have to say in the name of our sister and ourselves. Decide—we are going back to our encampment, there to await a visit or a message from you. Only, remember that your wives belong to our sister. You have no longer any right to dispose of them; you have given them to her, and a great King like you cannot go back from his word."