“The great chief Metilulu,” he said, “has ordered the elephant hunt to take place to-morrow, and I came to tell you.”

“To-morrow!” I exclaimed; “I thought Metilulu intended to be present himself.”

“He will be so.”

“But the illness of his wife.”

“Why should a woman keep the great chief from his pleasure?” responded Tugela, in a tone of contempt at the idea; “but Anzutu is better.”

“Better! I am delighted.”

“No sooner had the wizard suffered,” said Tugela innocently, “than Anzutu grew better. Had the charm not been found, she would have died.”

He spoke this so seriously that I dared not express my doubt upon the point; yet I could not refrain from saying—

“But supposing, Tugela, the witch-doctor had selected another as the wizard.”

“He would not, because the one he discovered was the right man.”