"That is good talk," said the chief; "yet, since Sandi is our master and has spies everywhere, do not shed blood, for the smell of blood is carried farther than a man can see. And Sandi is very devilish on this question of killing. Moreover, this Lonely One is a stranger, and if we catch him we may sell him to the Arabi, who will give us cloth and gin for him." Having heard all this, they sacrificed a young goat and marched. They came upon the house of Imgani, but the Lonely One was not there, for he was trapping beasts in the forest; so they burnt his house, uprooted his poor garden, and, being joined by many other Isisi people, who had followed at a respectful distance, lest Imgani's estimate of his own prowess were justified by results, they held high revel, until of a sudden the sun came up over the middle island, and all the little stars in the sky went out. Imgani saw all this, leaning on his spears in the shadow of the forest, but was content to be a spectator. For, he reasoned, if he went out against them they would attempt to kill him or beat him with rods, and that his high spirit could not endure. He saw the flames lick away the house he had built with such labour. "They are foolish people," he mused, "for they burn their own, and perhaps the spirits of the dead will be displeased and give them boils." When all that was left of his habitation was a white heap of ash, a dark-red glow, and a hazy wisp of smoke, Imgani turned his face to the forest. All day long he walked, halting only to eat the fish he carried, and at night time he came upon another Isisi village, which was called O'Fasi. He came through the village street with his shoulders squared, his head erect, swinging his spears famously. He looked neither to the left nor to the right; and the villagers, crowding to the doors of their huts, put their clenched knuckles to their mouths, and said: "O ho!" which means that they were impressed. So he stalked through the entire length of the village, and was making for the forest-path beyond, when a messenger came pattering after him. "Lord," said the messenger, "the _capita_ of this village, who is responsible to the Government for all people who pass, and especially for thieves who may have escaped from the Village of Irons, desires your presence, being sure that you are no thief, but a great one, and wishing to do honour to you." Thus he recited, and being a peaceable man, who had been chosen for the part because he was related by marriage to the principal wife of the chief, he kept a cautious eye on the broad-headed spear, and determined the line of his flight.