So be it, but ere Icome I have something to tell
these priests who grow fat inwickedness. I was puzzled for a moment till Hans
remarked:I think she means the matches, Baas. Then I understood, and bade him
produce a new box of Best Wax Vestasand hold it out in his hand. I asked, thinking
that perhaps it would be of apainful nature.
Are you not our honoured guests and the
messengersof a Great One? I pray Heu-Heu, he said, that thosefools may not have
caught and killed her with the others.
Let us pass into the presence of the godand make
offering of the yearly sacrifice. I sighed with relief as this knowledge came home
to me, and began toobserve details.
He says that you must come up and make your
offering to the god. Hans, I said, keep your rifle ready, but dont shoot unless you
areobliged.
You see to find the Lady Dramana pleasant, O Lord
Blowing-Wind,sneered Dacha. May I shoot that priest, Baas, or will you? He says that
you must come up and make your offering to the god.
Then she stared towards Hans and myself, waving her
arms, and Ithought was about to address us.
Also he wore a priestlycap upon his head and his
white robes were broidered.
But Hans gripped my arm and said:Baas, be not
afraid. For a while we remained thus insilence, staring at the blackness in front
where no lamps burned.
She annoyed the Lord-of-the-Fire with
herattentions, so he slew her, as was right and proper. I cut off thefinger of
another who wished to shake hands with me when I had toldhim to go
away.
Then, by way of changing the subject,he pointed to
the end of the room. Only to me thosecountenances had grown very cruel.
Our compact sealed, we went through the door and
found the priestwaiting outside.
Itwas the scene at the feast repeated but with a
difference.
But presently he turned and pointed to us and
thenbegan to beckon. May I shoot that priest, Baas, or will you? Surelythere must be
plenty of fire where he is, Baas.