The Baas is very clever and so is the Lord Baas, why then can they never see the stones that lie under their noses?
It is because their eyes are always fixed upon the mountains between this world and the next.

But the poor Hottentot, who looks at the ground to be sure that he does not stumble, ah! he sees the stones.

Now, Baas, did you not hear that man in a night shirt with his head shaved say that those goats were food for One who dwelt in the mountain ?" "I did.

What of it, Hans ?" "Who would be the One who dwelt in the mountain except the Father of Snakes in the cave, Baas?
Ah, now for the first time you see the stone that lay at your feet all the while.

And, Baas, did not the bald man add that this One in the mountain was only fed at new and full moon, and is not to-morrow the day of new moon, and therefore would he not be very hungry on the day before new moon, that is, last night ?" "No doubt, Hans; but how can you kill a snake by feeding it ?" "Oh! Baas, you may eat things that make you ill, and so can a snake.