Then, in the vision of my dream, Mopo, thou didst draw near, and, lifting thy hand, didst give the royal salute of Bayete to these brothers of mine, and with thy foot didst spurn the carcase of me, thy king.

Then the hooded Dream pointed upwards and was gone, and I awoke, and lo! fire burned in the roof of my hut.

Thus I dreamed, Mopo, and now, my servant, say thou, wherefore should I not slay thee, thou who wouldst serve other kings than I, thou who wouldst give my royal salute to the princes, my brothers ?" and he glared upon me fiercely.
"As thou wilt, O King!" I answered gently.

"Doubtless thy dream was evil, and yet more evil was the omen of the fire that fell upon thy hut.
And yet--" and I ceased.
"And yet--Mopo, thou faithless servant ?" "And yet, O King, it seems to me in my folly that it were well to strike the head of the snake and not its tail, for without the tail the head may live, but not the tail without the head." "Thou wouldst say, Mopo, that if these princes die never canst thou or any other man give them the royal names.

Do I hear aright, Mopo ?" "Who am I that I should lift up my voice asking for the blood of princes ?" I answered.