Then he wheeled round, and, addressing the patient Issicore in his vile Arabic, said, “Long Baas with a hooked nose, tell me, do you know the way back to this country of yours, and if so, how much of it can be travelled in a wagon?” “I do,” answered Issicore, “and all of it can be travelled in a wagon until the first range of hills is reached. Also along it there is plenty of game and water, except in the desert of which you have been told. The journey should take about three moons, though, myself alone, I accomplished it in two.” “Good, and if my Baas, Macumazahn, comes to your country, how will he be received?” “Well by most of the people, but not well by the priests of Heu-Heu, if they think he comes to harm the god, and certainly not well by the Hairy Folk who live in the forest, who are called the Children of the god. With these he must be prepared to war, though the prophecy says that he will conquer all of them.” “Is there plenty to eat in your country, and is there tobacco, and something better than water to drink, Long Baas?” “There is plenty of all these things. There is wealth of every kind, O Counsellor of the White Lord, and all of them shall be his and yours, though,” he added with meaning, “those who have to deal with the priests of the god and the Hairy Folk would do well to drink water, lest they should be found asleep.” “Have you guns there?” Hans asked, pointing to my rifle. “No, our weapons are swords and spears, and the Hairy Folk shoot with arrows from bows.” Hans ceased from his questions and began to yawn as though he were tired, as he did so, staring up at the sky where some vultures were wheeling. “Baas,” he said, “how many vultures do you see up there? Is it seven or eight? I have not counted them but I think there are seven.” “No, Hans, there are eight; one, the highest, was hid behind a cloud.” “You are quite sure that there are eight, Baas?” “Quite,” I answered angrily. “Why do you ask such silly questions when you can count for yourself?” Hans yawned again and said, “Then we will go with this fine, hook-nosed Baas to the country of Heu-Heu. That is settled.” “What the deuce do you mean, Hans? What on earth has the number of vultures got to do with the matter?” “Everything, Baas. You see, the burden of this choice was too heavy for my shoulders, so I lifted my eyes and put up a prayer to your Reverend Father to help me, and in doing so saw the vultures. Then your Reverend Father in the heaven above seemed to say to me, ‘If there are an even number of vultures, Hans, then go; if an odd number, then stop where you are. But, Hans, do not count the vultures. Make my son, the Baas Allan, count them, for then he will not be able to grumble at you if things turn out badly whether you go or whether you stay behind, and say that you counted wrong or cheated.’ And now, Baas, I have had enough of this, and should like to return to our outspan and examine those new oxen.”