The escort clapped their hands in salute or approval, after which four
of them, at a sign, took up the body and started with it at a trot for
Rica Town, where probably that night it appeared upon the grid.
Brother John saw, and his big white beard bristled with indignation
like the hair on the back of an angry cat, while Stephen spluttered
something beginning with "You brute," and lifted his fist as though to
knock the Kalubi down. This, had I not caught hold of him, I have no
doubt he would have done.
"O Kalubi!" gasped Brother John, "do you not know that blood calls for
blood? In the hour of your own death remember this death."
"Would you bewitch me, white man?" said the Kalubi, glaring at him
angrily. "If so----" and once more he lifted the spear, but as John
never stirred, held it poised irresolutely. Komba thrust himself
between them, crying:
"Back, Dogeetah, who dare to meddle with our customs! Is not the
Kalubi Lord of life and death?"
Brother John was about to answer, but I called to him in English:
"For Heaven's sake be silent, unless you want to follow the boy.
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