"Does the Baas think me a fool?
If I must die, I must die; if I am to live, I shall live.

Why then should I pay a shilling to learn what time will declare?
Moreover, yonder Mavovo takes the shillings and frightens everybody, but tells nobody anything.

_I_ call it cheating.

But, Baas, do you and the Baas Wazela have no fear.

You did not pay shillings, and therefore Mavovo, though without doubt he is a great _Inyanga_, cannot really prophesy concerning you, since his Snake will not work without a fee." The argument seems remarkably absurd.