Then the headmen took counsel, and again put the chief's wife off.
"The chief's wife bowed her head, but, seeing that she was weak, and that her mind was fixed on the thing she asked for, Muata took the matter into his own hand.

He bade the women prepare a big hut for his mother--he put a stick to their shoulders; and when a man sought to slay him there in the presence of them all, Muata smote the man under the arm with his spear.

So they built the great hut, and women waited on the chief's wife, his mother, carried water for her, cut the wood, and built the fire.
"So Muata was chief, and year by year he led the men of the place against the yellow robbers, till the name of Muata was feared.
"The would Muata take to himself wives, and would drink beer, and grow fat; but his mother counseled with him, saying he was a boy-- saying he was only at the beginning of the path.

And Muata listened, for she was wiser than all, and he set his heart on the plan she put before him to win back the land of his people.
"Thus Muata the chief was still a warrior and a hunter.

He followed the spoor into the fastnesses of the woods, and trained the young of the jackal to drive the buck towards him.
"Ohe! it was ended.