I should add that their
spears had been left outside, and that they saluted the king by
folding their arms upon their breasts and bowing in a dignified
fashion.
"Who are you?" asked Bausi, "and what do you want?"
"I am Komba," answered their spokesman, quite a young man with
flashing eyes, "the Accepted-of-the-Gods, who, in a day to come that
perhaps is near, will be the Kalubi of the Pongo people, and these are
my servants. I have come here bearing gifts of friendship which are
without, by the desire of the holy Motombo, the High Priest of the
gods----"
"I thought that the Kalubi was the priest of your gods," interrupted
Bausi.
"Not so. The Kalubi is the King of the Pongo as you are the King of
the Mazitu. The Motombo, who is seldom seen, is King of the spirits
and the Mouth of the gods."
Bausi nodded in the African fashion, that is by raising the chin, not
depressing it, and Komba went on:
"I have placed myself in your power, trusting to your honour. You can
kill me if you wish, though that will avail nothing, since there are
others waiting to become Kalubi in my place.
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