“He that hath not been cleansed may not look upon the Son-of-the-Snake.”
“He that hath not been anointed need have no fear of the evil eye.”
“Hath not one who was not cleansed entered and cast evil upon the tribe?” demanded Bakahenzie.
“If the fence is not strong the leopard will enter.”
“If the leopard be not strong and swift indeed may he not be killed in the hut?” inquired Bakahenzie.
“If a leopard and a wild-cat break in, then wilt thou not kill the leopard first?”
“Even so,” retorted Bakahenzie; “then is water stronger than beer, even as the beer does reveal?”
Birnier nearly smiled in recognition of the hit.
“Nay, does not beer make the fool to talk foolishness? Dost thou then cast away the banana? Does not one [pg 165] talk foolishness also who is sick and yet discardeth good medicine, because he feareth to poison his belly?”
“Even so,” said Bakahenzie obstinately, “does the sick man exorcise the good medicine lest an enemy hath made magic thereupon?”