I believed that what stood above me was Nombe cunningly tricked out with some native pigments which at that distance and in that light made her look like a white woman.

For oddly enough at that time the truth did not occur to me, perhaps because I was too surprised.

Well, if it were Nombe, she deserved to be shot for playing such a trick, and what is more her death, by revealing the fraud of Zikali, would perhaps avert a great war.

But then why did he make the suggestion that I should be commanded to fire at this figure?
Slowly I drew out my pistol and brought it to the full cock, for it was loaded.
"I will obey, King," I said, "to save myself from being murdered.
But on your head be all that may follow from this deed." Then it was for the first time that a new idea struck me so clearly that I believe it was conveyed direct from Zikali's brain to my own.

_I might shoot, but there was no need for me to hit._ After that everything grew plain.
"King," I said, "if yonder be a mortal, she is about to die.