Ndova kept moving up and down his pole, now and then running about on the ground, making great efforts to get to his kind the ndovas.
Suddenly all the monkeys joined in a chorus, which excited Ndova very much. Then they all came down the tree together, and soon I saw their heads peeping over the palisades and looking silently at Ndova, the big fellow being in the centre of them, his big human-like eyes glancing all round. Then they all uttered a peculiar sound, which probably meant "Come on, come on," for Ndova tried anew to go to them. But they did not dare to come inside towards him. All at once I emerged from my hiding-place, and at the sight of me they fled, uttering piercing cries of fright.
On the return of Rogala I told him what had happened.
He replied: "Oguizi, monkeys are a kind of human beings."
CHAPTER XIV
UNEASINESS OF ROGALA—HE FEARS THE NEW MOON MAY SEE AND BEWITCH HIM—HE BUILDS A SMALL HOUSE AND HIDES IN IT—HE HAS AN ATTACK OF FEVER, WHICH HE ASCRIBES TO WITCHCRAFT
Not long after this Shinshooko and Alapai went away, saying that they would return in three or four days and that Rogala would take care of me.
Rogala seemed to be in an uneasy frame of mind. Something seemed to be disturbing him. I said nothing on the subject, for I felt sure that he would tell me at the proper time.