He was hardly worthy of the name, so disease-stricken, so miserable and half-starved was he.
At first Durnovo and he did not seem to be able to get to an understanding at all; but presently they hit upon a dialect in which they possessed a small common knowledge.
His news was not reassuring.

In dealing with numbers he rarely condescended to the use of less than four figures, and his conception of a distance was very vague.
"Ask him," said Oscard, "whether he knows that there is an Englishman with a large force on the top of a mountain far to the east." Durnovo translated, and the man answered with a smile.

In reply to some further question the negro launched into a detailed narrative, to which Durnovo listened eagerly.
"He says," said the latter to Oscard, "that the Plateau is in possession of the Masais.

It was taken two months ago.

The blacks were sold as slaves; the two Englishmen were tortured to death and their bodies burnt." Oscard never moved a muscle.
"Ask him if he is quite sure about it." "Quite," replied Durnovo, after questioning.