When he left it I cannot say, since it will be remembered that his seat was behind us in the shadow, and none of us saw him go.
"What do you make of all that ?" I asked the others when the door was shut.
Brother John merely shook his head and said nothing, for in those days he seemed to be living in a kind of dreamland.
Stephen answered.

"Bosh! Tommy rot! All my eye and my elbow! Those man-eating Johnnies have some game up their wide sleeves, and whatever it may be, it isn't peace with the Mazitu." "I agree," I said.

"If the real object were peace they would have haggled more, stood out for better terms, or hostages, or something.
Also they would have got the consent of this Motombo beforehand.

Clearly he is the master of the situation, not the Kalubi, who is only his tool; if business were meant he should have spoken first, always supposing that he exists and isn't a myth.

However, if we live we shall learn, and if we don't, it doesn't matter, though personally I think we should be wise to leave Motombo alone and to clear out to Mazitu-land by the first canoe to-morrow morning." "I intend to visit this Motombo," broke in Brother John with decision.
"Ditto, ditto," exclaimed Stephen, "but it's no use arguing that all over again." "No," I replied with irritation.