242 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



at all were the matter. Manjora, having done 

 justice to an excellent repast, and made a clean 

 job of his side of the dish, is doubtless inwardly 

 thinking that Hamice's wife is a most dainty cook. 

 He has not the slightest suspicion of the 

 treacherous game that Hamice has played on him, 

 for the poison which he has swallowed is absolutely 

 tasteless. Some of the food still remains on the 

 dish and Hamice, to put an artistic touch to the 

 whole drama, passes it over to his own children, 

 bidding them eat and be strong, which they do 

 with alacrity, and the whole fiendish deed is 

 accomplished. 



About an hour or so afterwards, Manjora, who 

 has left his friend and gone on his way, feels an 

 irresistible desire to sleep, so adjourns to the 

 shelter of his hut. There, he begins to suffer from 

 an unquenchable thirst, and is subsequently seized 

 with acute internal pains, which leave the poor 

 fellow writhing in agony. A little while after he 

 is no more. 



Should any suspicion attach to Hamice, he can 

 easily prove his innocence ; for did not he and his 

 own children partake of the very same food as 

 Manjora ? Besides, why should he do Manjora to 

 death? He bore the man no ill-will ; on the con- 

 trary, he was one of his best friends. 



Some months afterwards, Mputa, the hidden and 



