Well, Baas, you know the Predikant, your father, told us that we don't go out like a fire, but burn again for always elsewhere----" ("I hope not," I thought to myself.) "And that quite easily without anything to pay for the wood.

So I hope that we shall always burn together, Baas.

And meanwhile, I have brought you a little something," and he produced what looked like a peculiarly obnoxious horseball.

"You swallow this now and you will never feel anything; it is a very good medicine that my grandfather's grandfather got from the Spirit of his tribe.

You will just go to sleep as nicely as though you were very drunk, and wake up in the beautiful fire which burns without any wood and never goes out for ever and ever, Amen." "No, Hans," I said, "I prefer to die with my eyes open." "And so would I, Baas, if I thought there was any good in keeping them open, but I don't, for I can't believe any more in the Snake of that black fool, Mavovo.