“Let there be a new fire!”
Again came the wailing repetition from the village:
“Let there be a new fire!”
As in the Place of Fires was kindled a new fire by Kingata Mata with two sacred sticks, one of which is [pg 35] male and the other female, the assembled chiefs and magicians groaned in allegiance to the new King-God of the unmentionable spirit of the Snake, Usakuma, the Idol.
Chapter 3
At five-thirty zu Pfeiffer was stretched in the long Bombay chair in the coolest portion of the screened verandah. On the table beside him was a tall glass, a decanter of cognac and a box of cigars; and suspended from the roof swung a canvas bag of water with a syphon attachment. A gape fly, which somehow had gotten through the screen, hit the lieutenant’s forehead, fell on to the book and whirred up against the wire.
“Ach, Gott verdammt!” exclaimed zu Pfeiffer irritably and shouted: “Ho, Bakunja—la.” Instantly appeared the tall negro in white. “You son of a god! Look at that!”
Bakunjala looked, leaped, and caught the fly in his hand.