Tell us next what is your plan?
How are we to come into the place where this great ape lives?
And if we come there, how are we to kill the beast, seeing that your successor, Komba, was careful to prevent us from bringing our firearms to your land ?" "Aye, lord Macumazana, may the teeth of the god meet in his brain for that trick; yes, may he die as I know how to make him die.

That prophecy of which he told you is no prophecy from of old.

It arose in the land within the last moon only, though whether it came from Komba or from the Motombo I know not.

None save myself, or at least very few here, had heard of the iron tubes that throw out death, so how should there be a prophecy concerning them ?" "I am sure I don't know, Kalubi, but answer the rest of the question." "As to your coming into the forest--for the White God lives in a forest on the slopes of the mountain, lords--that will be easy since the Motombo and the people will believe that I am trapping you there to be a sacrifice, such as they desire for sundry reasons," and he looked at the plump Stephen in a very suggestive way.

"As to how you are to kill the god without your tubes of iron, that I do not know.