The negroes laughed, leapt, embraced one another when they heard that they were free. Without delay they poured out through the gate and flocked away towards the east. Not even the chief’s son stayed to thank their rescuer. But the incident had a strange sequel two days afterwards. About midday one of the scouts came running back to report that a large body of spearmen, led by a great chief, was marching through the forest in the direction of the nullah. They were not on a warlike expedition, for behind the chief three men led each a goat, which could only be intended as peace-offerings. "Go and see who they are, Mwesa," said Tom. "They are not to come across the clearing until I know what they want." Presently Mwesa returned, smiling with even more enjoyment than usual. "Him M’setu, sah," he said: "come for talk with sah." "Very well. Bring him along; he can come in with six of his men: the rest remain outside." Mwesa ran back into the forest, and soon reappeared at the side of a powerful negro of middle age. A throng of negroes about a hundred strong followed him to the edge of the clearing. There at his order they squatted in a long line, and the chief himself, accompanied by his son and five other men--three of whom led milk-white goats bleating dolefully--marched at Mwesa’s heels towards the gate, where Tom stood waiting. "Him M’setu, sah," said Mwesa, by way of introduction. Tom at once stepped forward and grasped the chief by the hand, an act which brought a smile of pleasure to the face of his six companions and a shout from the men watching intently two hundred yards away. M’setu began to speak. After one sentence he paused, looking to Mwesa to interpret. "Him say sah him fader and mudder," said Mwesa. Tom acknowledged the compliment with a smile. The chief began again, inquiring after Tom’s health, the health of his father, mother, wife, children, cattle, and so on, until Tom felt rather overwhelmed by his politeness. By and by he came to business. "Him say berry glad sah him good send back men all same. Him say bring goats for sah him pot, berry nice goats. Him say come alonga sah: what for? sah kill all dem Wadaki, so M’setu him came alonga sah kill Wadaki all same." "You mean that I am to kill all the Germans, and he will come and help?" "Dat just what M’setu say," said Mwesa, delighted that his master had understood him so well. "Well, you must tell him that that’s not my job. I couldn’t rid the country of Germans if I tried, but the British will come across the border by and by and eat them all up. Tell him that."