I replied that this wonderful medicine of his had not saved one of our companions who had now made a grave in the same mud.
"No, Baas," he said, "but those Zulus have nothing to do with the Medicine which was given to you, and to me who accompanied you when we saw the Opener-of-Roads.

Therefore perhaps they will all die, except Umslopogaas, whom you were told to take with you.

If so, what does it matter, since there are plenty of Zulus, although there be but one Macumazahn or one Hans?
Also the Baas may remember that he began by offending a snake and therefore it is quite natural that this snake's brother should have bitten the Zulu." "If you are right, he should have bitten me, Hans." "Yes, Baas, and so no doubt he would have done had you not been protected by the Great Medicine, and me too had not my grandfather been a snake-charmer, to say nothing of the smell of the Medicine being on me as well.

The snakes know those that they should bite, Baas." "So do the mosquitoes," I answered, grabbing a handful of them.

"The Great Medicine has no effect upon them." "Oh! yes, Baas, it has, since though it pleases them to bite, the bites do us no harm, or at least not much, and all are made happy.