The situation seemed a deadlock. Since Sibenga refused to lend the animals and Colonel Narfield could not use force—even if he attempted to do so there were fifty or sixty powerful natives armed with spears and kerries to be reckoned with—it looked as if the four weary men would have to undergo the humiliation of walking away without having achieved their object of obtaining transport. Suddenly Colin thought of Van der Wyck's gift. Now occurred an opportunity of proving the truth of the Afrikander's words that the swastika was a talisman which would work wonders with the natives—on the presumption that the Makoh'lengas and Sibenga's people were of kindred race and influenced to a great extent by the same manners and customs.
"Any use, do you think, sir?" he asked when he had briefly stated his inspiration.
"Might be, anyway," replied Colonel Narfield. "Make a show of it. There's nothing like display to impress the natives."
Colin, Desmond, and McFrazer rose to the occasion. While Sinclair slowly and deliberately drew out the talisman and proffered it to Narfield on bended knee, Tiny and the old soldier stood erect with their right hands raised in salute.
Then with an equally dramatic reverence Colonel Narfield held Colin's swastika in front of the dumfounded Sibenga.
"Behold, Sibenga!" he thundered. "The Sign demands submission. Refuse and the dread penalty awaits you."
For a brief instant there was a tense silence. Then, almost simultaneously, Sibenga, his head men, his warriors, and the rest of the company threw themselves on their knees and bowed their heads in the dust.
"We see the Sign!" almost shrieked the chief. "Speak Thy will, O Great, Great One, and we obey."