Page:Under the Sun.djvu/390

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366
Idle Hours under the Punkah.

And Ma’anda, who was impatient, answered quickly:

“No one followed me”

“But a man did follow thee,” replied the old man, “and there he stands!” pointing with his finger to the Katekiro, whose curiosity had drawn him forth from his hiding. Seeing himself discovered, he stepped forward to the side of the king.

Then Ma’anda’s wrath overwhelmed him, and for the first time in his life he raised his hand to strike. And his spear pierced the Katekiro to the heart, who fell with a cry at his feet. At the horror of his deed and his own blood-splashed robe, Ma’anda sprang back, and for an instant covered his face with his hands in an agony of sorrow.

And when he opened his eyes again the forest was all dark, and the old man and his chiefs had vanished!

Nor from that day to this has any one in Uganda seen the Blameless Priest.


University Press: John Wilson and Son, Cambridge.