No, no, and do not try to take it off your neck, or rather try if you will." I did try, but something seemed to prevent me from accomplishing my purpose of giving the carving back to Zikali as I wished to do.

First my pipe got in the way of my hand, then the elephant hairs caught in the collar of my coat; then a pang of rheumatism to which I was accustomed from an old lion-bite, developed of a sudden in my arm, and lastly I grew tired of bothering about the thing.
Zikali, who had been watching my movements, burst out into one of his terrible laughs that seemed to fill the whole kloof and to re-echo from its rocky walls.

It died away and he went on, without further reference to the talisman or image.
"You asked whom you were to take with you, Macumazahn.

Well, as to this I must make inquiry of those who know.

Man, my medicines!" From the shadows in the hut behind darted out a tall figure carrying a great spear in one hand and in the other a catskin bag which with a salute he laid down at the feet of his master.