Look here, Mavovo," and he opened his hand in which was a horn snuff-box such as Zulus sometimes carry in their ears.
"To whom does this belong ?" "It is mine," said Mavovo, "and you have stolen it." "Yes," jeered Hans, "it is yours.

Also I stole it from your ear as I passed you in the dark.

Don't you remember that you thought a gnat had tickled you and hit up at your face ?" "It is true," growled Mavovo, "and you, snake of a Hottentot, are great in your own low way.

Yet next time anything tickles me, I shall strike, not with my hand, but with a spear." Then I turned them both out, remarking to Stephen that this was a good example of the eternal fight between courage and cunning.

After this, as I was sure that Hassan and his friends were too busy to interfere with us that night, we went to bed and slept the sleep of the just.
When I got up the next morning I found that Stephen Somers had already risen and gone out, nor did he appear until I was half through my breakfast.
"Where on earth have you been ?" I asked, noting that his clothes were torn and covered with wet moss.
"Up the tallest of those palm trees, Quatermain.