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pipe； which had nearly gone out； 〃because the thing was so easy。 The
Baas is very clever and so is the Lord Baas； why then can they never
see the stones that lie under their noses？ It is because their eyes
are always fixed upon the mountains between this world and the next。
But the poor Hottentot； who looks at the ground to be sure that he
does not stumble； ah！ he sees the stones。 Now； Baas； did you not hear
that man in a night shirt with his head shaved say that those goats
were food for One who dwelt in the mountain？〃
〃I did。 What of it； Hans？〃
〃Who would be the One who dwelt in the mountain except the Father of
Snakes in the cave； Baas？ Ah； now for the first time you see the stone
that lay at your feet all the while。 And； Baas； did not the bald man
add that this One in the mountain was only fed at new and full moon；
and is not to…morrow the day of new moon； and therefore would he not
be very hungry on the day before new moon； that is； last night？〃
〃No doubt； Hans； but how can you kill a snake by feeding it？〃
〃Oh！ Baas； you may eat things that make you ill； and so can a snake。
Now you will guess the rest； so I had better go to wash the dishes。〃
〃Whether I guess or do not guess；〃 I replied sagely； the latter being
the right hypothesis； 〃the dishes can wait； Hans； since the Lord there
has not guessed； so continue。〃
〃Very well； Baas。 In one of those boxes are some pounds of stuff
which； when mixed with water； is used for preserving skins and
skulls。〃
〃You mean the arsenic crystals；〃 I said with a flash of inspiration。
〃I don't know what you call them； Baas。 At first I thought they were
hard sugar and stole some once； when the real sugar was left behind；
to put into the coffeewithout telling the Baas； because it was my
fault that the sugar was left behind。〃
〃Great Heavens！〃 I ejaculated； 〃then why aren't we all dead？〃
〃Because at the last moment； Baas； I thought I would make sure； so I
put some of the hard sugar into hot milk and； when it had melted； I
gave it to that yellow dog which once bit me in the leg； the one that
came from Beza…Town； Baas； that I told you had run away。 He was a very
greedy dog； Baas； and drank up the milk at once。 Then he gave a howl；
twisted about； foamed at the mouth and died and I buried him at once。
After that I threw some more of the large sugar mixed with mealies to
the fowls that we brought with us for cooking。 Two cocks and a hen
swallowed them by mistake for the corn。 Presently they fell on their
backs； kicked a little and died。 Some of the Mazitu； who were great
thieves； stole those dead fowls； Baas。 After this； Baas； I thought it
best not to use that sugar in the coffee； and later on Bena told me
that it was deadly poison。 Well； Baas； it came into my mind that if I
could make that great snake swallow enough of this poison； he； too；
might die。
〃So I stole your keys； as I often do； Baas； when I want anything；
because you leave them lying about everywhere； and to deceive you
first opened one of the boxes that are full of square…face and brandy
and left it open； for I wished you to think that I had just gone to
get drunk like anybody else。 Then I opened another box and got out two
one…pound tins of the sugar which kills dogs and fowls。 Half a pound
of it I melted in boiling water with some real sugar to make the stuff
sweet； and put it into a bottle。 The rest I tied with string in twelve
little packets in the soft paper which is in one of the boxes； and put
them in my pocket。 Then I went up the hill； Baas； to the place where I
saw those goats are kraaled at night behind a reed fence。 As I had
hoped； no one was watching them because there are no tigers so near
this town； and man does not steal the goats that are sacred。 I went
into the kraal and found a fat young ewe which had a kid。 I dragged it
out and； taking it behind some stones； I made its leg fast with a bit
of cord and poured this stuff out of the bottle all over its skin；
rubbing it in well。 Then I tied the twelve packets of hard poison…
sugar everywhere about its body； making them very fast deep in the
long hair so that they could not tumble or rub off。
〃After this I untied the goat； led it near to the mouth of the cave
and held it there for a time while it kept on bleating for its kid。
Next I took it almost up to the cave； wondering how I should drive it
in； for I did not wish to enter there myself； Baas。 As it happened I
need not have troubled about that。 When the goat was within five yards
of the cave； it stopped bleating； stood still and shivered。 Then it
began to go forward with little jumps； as though it did not want to
go； yet must do so。 Also； Baas； I felt as though /I/ wished to go with
it。 So I lay down and put my heels against a rock； leaving go of the
goat。
〃For now； Baas； I did not care where that goat went so long as I could
keep out of the hole where dwelt the Father of Serpents that had eaten
Bena。 But it was all right； Baas； the goat knew what it had to do and
did it； jumping straight into the cave。 As it entered it turned its
head and looked at me。 I could see its eyes in the starlight； and；
Baas； they were dreadful。 I think it knew what was coming and did not
like it at all。 And yet it had to walk on because it could not help
it。 Just like a man going to the devil； Baas！
〃Holding on to the stone I peered after it； for I had heard something
stirring in the cave making a soft noise like a white lady's dress
upon the floor。 There in the blackness I saw two little sparks of
fire； which were the eyes of the serpent； Baas。 Then I heard a sound
of hissing like four big kettles boiling all at once； and a little
bleat from the goat。 After this there was a noise as of men wrestling；
followed by another noise as of bones breaking； and lastly； yet
another sucking noise as of a pump that won't draw up the water。 Then
everything grew nice and quiet and I went some way off； sat down a
little to one side of the cave； and waited to see if anything
happened。
〃It must have been nearly an hour later that something did begin to
happen； Baas。 It was as though sacks filled with chaff were being
beaten against stone walls there in the cave。 Ah！ thought I to myself；
your stomach is beginning to ache； Eater…up…of…Bena； and； as that goat
had little horns on its headto which I tied two of the bags of the
poison； Baasand； like all snakes； no doubt you have spikes in your
throat pointing downwards； you won't be able to get it up again。 Then
I expect this was after the poison…sugar had begun to melt nicely in
the serpent's stomach； Baasthere was a noise as though a whole
company of girls were dancing a war…dance in the cave to a music of
hisses。
〃And thenoh！ then； Baas； of a sudden that Father of Serpents came
out。 I tell you； Baas； that when I saw him in the bright starlight my
hair stood up upon my head； for never has there been such another
snake in the whole world。 Those