"Three moons ago, during a raid upon one of the villages of the Wambutti
pigmies, three days' march into the forest from Ipoto, one of the dwarfs
of the woods who fell into our hands told me he knew the whereabouts of
the rock, and that it was far away, many, many days' journey in the
forest, and quite inaccessible."
"In which direction?"
"I know not," the headman answered. "The dwarf had been wounded by a
gunshot, and pleaded for the release of his wife. I kept him while I
settled a dispute which had arisen about some ivory we had discovered in
the settlement, intending to question him further, but when I returned
to where I had left him he was dead."
"And his wife? Did she know anything?"
"No; she had heard of the rock as the dwelling-place of some pagan
spirit that they feared, but knew not where it was situated."
"Then, whither dost thou advise me to search for information? Among the
pigmies of the Wambutti?"
"Yea. It is evident they are aware of its existence, though apparently
they regard it as a sacred spot, and guard the secret of its existence
jealously. The manner in which the dwarf appealed to me, declaring that
he would disclose the secret if I released his wife, showed that he
believed he was imparting to me information of the highest importance.
What is hidden there I cannot tell; but it is strange that both the
white man and thyself should desire to rest thine eyes upon it."
"I have taken an oath to a woman to endeavour to discover it," I
answered, simply. "I will accompany thee in thy return towards the
country of the pigmies and continue my search among them."
"If thou goest among them, may the One Merciful grant thee mercy,"
Ngalyema said.
"He alone can guide the footsteps and reveal that which is hidden," I
added. "Onward to Ipoto will I journey with thee, and strive to learn
the secret of the forest-dwarfs. Of a verity will I follow the clue
thou hast given unto me. Allah maketh abundant provision for such of
his servants as he pleaseth. He knoweth whatever is in heaven and
earth."