"
"I do not want to see his tricks," said Thomas angrily. "Tell him to go
away."
"Oh, Teacher!" replied Kosa, "that would not be wise, for then everyone
would believe that Menzi's magic is so great that you are afraid even to
look upon it. It is better to let him try. Perhaps if you pray hard he
will fail, for his spirits will not always come when he calls them."
Thomas hesitated, then, being bold by nature, determined that he would
see the thing through. After all, Menzi was an impostor and nothing
else, and could work no more magic than he could himself. Here was a
providential opportunity to expose him. So followed by the others he
advanced into the crowd, which made way for him.
In an open space in its centre, sat Menzi wearing all his witch-doctor's
trappings, bladders in his hair, snakeskins tied about him, and
the rest, but even in this grotesque attire still managing to look
dignified. With him were several acolytes or attendants, one of them an
old woman, also peculiarly arrayed and carrying hide bags that contained
their master's medicines. He rose as they came, saluted Thomas and
smiled at Dorcas and Tabitha, very sweetly at the latter.
"O Teacher," he said, "my ears hear that you say that I am a liar and a
cheat who have no wonders at my command; to whom the Spirits never speak
and who deceives the people.
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