He made his way to Chiromo's hut. The door was closed. Mokorongo knocked.
"Who is it?"
"A stranger travelling from Sijoba to Katora."
"It is late, what do you want?"
"Yes, it is late. I ask for shelter for the night. I am in luck, for I have found meat and I ask shelter of a friend."
There was a stir in the hut and the word meat was repeated several times.
Mokorongo stood ready with the open handcuffs. Would the man never come out? Meanwhile the occupants of adjacent huts were also astir and doors were being opened. There would be many witnesses to the arrest of Chiromo.
At length the door of the hut slid aside, a hand grasped either door post and a woolly head appeared. Quick as lightning Mokorongo seized Chiromo's right wrist and snapped the lock of the handcuff. Grasping the black head, he pulled the startled Chiromo out of the doorway, and before the witch doctor had recovered from his surprise, also secured his left hand.
Mokorongo stepped back and surveyed his captive.
Chiromo said nothing, but the look in his eye made Mokorongo's hand fly to the paperweight. The village was astir, and men came running, but, seeing the uniform of authority, stood still.