"Lord, how comes rain or wind?" he said. "It was a sudden thought amongst the people. There were certain rites and certain dances, and we chopped a man; then we all painted our faces with camwood, and the maidens said 'Kill!'"
Sanders could be very patient.
"I am as your father and your mother," he said. "I carry you in my arms; when the waters came up and destroyed your gardens I came with manioc and salt and saved you; when the sickness came I brought white men who scraped your arms and put magic in your blood; I have made peace, and your wives are safe from M'Gombi and Isisi folk, yet you are for killing me."
The other nodded.
"That is true talk, master—but such is the way of ju-jus. They are very High Things, and do not remember."
Sanders was worried; this matter was out of his reach. "What said the ju-ju?"
"Lord, it said very clearly, speaking through the mouth of an old man, M'fabaka of Begeli——"
"M'fabaka of Begeli?" repeated Sanders softly, and noted the name for a speedy hanging.
"This old man saw a vision, and in this vision, which he saw with great pain and foaming at the mouth and hot eyeballs, he saw white men slain by black men and their houses burnt."
"When was this?"