"I want to borrow four good horses," he said, after explaining who and what he was and that his kraal was at Kilembonga.
Sibenga gave an order to one of his subjects. The man, after grovelling in the dust at his lord's feet, backed away. In a few minutes he returned accompanied by three other men and four sorry-looking horses, for unlike the Zulus and Matabeli the Sibengas to a certain extent reared horses.
"What awful-looking screws," remarked Tiny.
"Yes," agreed Colonel Narfield. "Awful-looking, but they're 'salted'—that is, proof against the deadly tsetse fly. Now comes the tough business—bartering."
It was a long and tedious programme. Sibenga led off by expressing himself willing to part with the four animals in exchange for the two rifles, although he knew perfectly well that no native unless serving as a soldier under British officers is allowed to possess a breech-loader.
Next he demanded whisky, a commodity which Colonel Narfield did not have and which was also taboo as far as the natives were concerned, a heavy penalty being imposed upon anyone caught supplying the blacks with intoxicating drinks of any description.
Thwarted on these two points Sibenga became sulky, and hinted that he meant to end the palaver.
"I will give you four good blankets for the loan of the horses," said Colonel Narfield firmly. "You can send men with us to bring the animals back, and I will give them two good axes and a looking-glass as a present to you."
"No; ten blankets, four axes, a looking-glass, and a box that talks" (a gramophone or a musical box), declared Sibenga.
"Did you dare to bargain thus with the white men with yellow hair and blue eyes?" asked Colonel Norfield.