Kafir Stories Part 14

The only magic stronger than that of Icanti is the magic of the Lightning Bird, so I will drop a feather plucked by U-Sessellodes from the tail of Impandulu upon the snakes as they come out of the eggs, and that will cause them to turn into dust."

Vooda took five large Pharaoh's serpent-eggs out of his pocket and placed them on a flat stone about a yard from the fire. He then asked Shasha to approach, warning him to be very careful, as the serpents might be dangerous. After the experience with the pota.s.sium, such a warning to Shasha was quite a work of supererogation. He came forward with hesitating steps, and stood behind Vooda, watching.

Vooda had a small quant.i.ty of lycopodium powder in his left hand. With his right he seized a blazing firebrand, and with this he touched each of the eggs in turn. At once five horrible looking snakes began uncoiling, blue flame surrounding the spot at which each emerged from its egg. Vooda then shouted loudly, calling on the name of Impandulu, and making mystic pa.s.ses over the coiling horror with his fire-brand.

Stretching forth his left hand, he liberated a small cloud of lycopodium powder, which ignited with a brilliant flash. At this, all the spectators leaped to their feet, wildly yelling, and, with the exception of Sololo, who stood still--although the picture of terror-- disappeared into the surrounding darkness. For some seconds after the sound of the last footfall had died away, the rattle of Shasha's charms, as he fled, could be heard.

Vooda approached Sololo:

"My Chief, what word am I to carry to Indabeni?"

"Tell Indabeni that the wrong-doer will be given up to the Magistrate to choke with a rope. Yet you need not tell him, because the man will be in the Magistrate's hand before your voice can reach Indabeni's ear."

And so he was.

Thus was a war averted, and yet neither Vooda nor Teddy Morton ever received any reward for their distinguished services.

THE END

SELECTED LIST OF BOOKS

PUBLISHED BY

MR. T. FISHER UNWIN.

The Autonym Library.

1. THE UPPER BERTH. By F. MARION CRAWFORO. Second Edition.

2. MAD SIR UCHTRED OF THE HILLS. By S. R. CROCKETT: Third Edition

3. BY REEF AND PALM. By LOUIS BECKE. Preface by the EARL Of PEMBROKE, and Ed.

4. THE PLAYACTRESS, By S. R. CROCKETT. Third Edition

5. A BACHELOR MAID. By MRS. BURTON HARRISON.

6. MISERRIMA. By G. W. T. OMOND