"
When he heard these modest requests the poor Kalubi became like one
upon the verge of madness.
"Do you understand," he gasped, "do you understand that you are asking
for the gods of my country?"
"Quite," replied Brother John with calmness; "for the gods of your
country--nothing more nor less."
The Kalubi made as though he would fly from the hut, but I caught him
by the arm and said:
"See, friend, things are thus. You ask us, at great danger to
ourselves, to kill one of the gods of your country, the highest of
them, in order to save your life. Well, in payment we ask you to make
a present of the remaining gods of your country, and to see us and
them safe across the lake. Do you accept or refuse?"
"I refuse," answered the Kalubi sullenly. "To accept would mean the
last curse upon my spirit; that is too horrible to tell."
"And to refuse means the first curse upon your body; namely, that in a
few hours it must be broken and chewed by a great monkey which you
call a god. Yes, broken and chewed, and afterwards, I think, cooked
and eaten as a sacrifice.
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