vants that you brought with you? You do not know where they go to, but I know. Do you think that they disappear without a reason? I will tell you where they go. It is your man who eats them; it is he who wastes them!" She could not believe it, and argued, "Why should he destroy them?" Horse replied, "If you doubt it, wait for the day when your last remaining servant is gone."
Two days after that, at night, another maid-servant disappeared. Another day passed. On another day, Ogula-Njĕgâ went off to hunt beasts, with the intention that, if he failed to get any, at night he would eat his wife.
When he had gone, Ilâmbe, in her loneliness, went to fondle Horse. He said to her, "Did I not tell you? The last maid is gone. You yourself will be the next one. I will give you counsel. When you have opportunity this night, prepare yourself ready to run away. Get yourself a large gourd, and fill it with ground-nuts; another with gourd-seeds; and another with water." He told her to bring these things to him, and he would know the best time to start.
While they were talking, Leopard's mother was out in the street, and heard the two voices. She said to herself, "Ilâmbe, wife of my son, does she talk with Kabala as if it was a person?" But, she said nothing to Ilâmbe, nor asked her about it.
Night came on; and Ogula-Njĕgâ returned. He said nothing; but his face looked hard and bad. Ilâmbe was troubled and somewhat frightened at his ugly looks. So, at night, on retiring, she began to ask him, "But why? Has anything displeased you?" He answered, "No; I am not troubled about anything. Why do you ask questions?" "Because I see it in your face that your countenance is not pleasant." "No; there's no matter. Everything is right. Only, about my business, I think I must start very early." Ogula-Njĕgâ had begun to think, "Now she is suspecting me. I think I will not eat her this night, but will put it off until next night."
That night, Ilâmbe did not sleep. In the morning, Leopard said that he would go to his business, but would come back soon. When he was gone away to his hunting work, Ilâmbe felt lonesome, and went to Horse. He, thinking this a good time to run away, they started at once, without
