Oh! the Motombo was wise when he commanded----" and with an effort he stopped.
"Well, friend, what is the matter ?" I asked.

"You see there was no need for you to run.

If you had stepped behind me you would have been as safe as you are now--after running." "It is so, lord Macumazana, but the thing is strange to me.

Forgive me if I do not understand." "Oh! I forgive you, my lord Kalubi--that is--to be.

It is clear that you have a good deal to learn in Pongo-land." "Yes, my lord Macumazana, and so perhaps have you," he replied dryly, having by this time recovered his nerve and sarcastic powers.
Then after telling Mavovo, who appeared mysteriously at the sound of the shot--I think he was stalking us in case of accidents--to fetch men to cut up the rhinoceros, Komba and I proceeded on our walk.
A little further on, just by the edge of the reeds, I caught sight of a narrow, oblong trench dug in a patch of stony soil, and of a rusted mustard tin half-hidden by some scanty vegetation.
"What is that ?" I asked, in seeming astonishment, though I knew well what it must be.
"Oh!" replied Komba, who evidently was not yet quite himself, "that is where the white lord Dogeetah, Bausi's blood-brother, set his little canvas house when he was here over twelve moons ago." "Really!" I exclaimed, "he never told me he was here." (This was a lie, but somehow I was not afraid of lying to Komba.) "How do you know that he was here ?" "One of our people who was fishing in the reeds saw him." "Oh! that explains it, Komba.