When the Oracle dies we are helpless since the Child has no 'mouth' and our enemies prevail against us.

This happened a long while ago, and the last Oracle having declared before her death that her successor was to be found in England, my uncle and I travelled thither disguised as conjurers and made search for many years.
We thought that we had found the new Oracle in the lady who married the Lord Igeza, because of that mark of the new moon upon her neck.

After our return to Africa, however, for as I have spoken of this matter I may as well tell you all," here he stared me full in the eyes and spoke in a clear metallic voice which somehow no longer convinced me, "we found that we had made a mistake, for the real Oracle, a mere girl, was discovered among our own people, and has now been for two years installed in her office.

Without doubt the last Guardian of the Child was wandering in her mind when she told us that story before her death as to a woman in England, a country of which she had heard through Arabs.

That is all." "Thank you," I replied, feeling that it would be useless to show any suspicion of his story.