Know you not, Prince, that the gods must have the gifts of the best, gifts of blood and virtue, or they will curse us and torment us ?" "I do not know it, Metem, for such gods are no gods, but devils, children of Beelzebub, who has no power over the righteous.

Truly I would have none of your two gods, Phoenician; upon earth the god of gold, and in heaven the devil of slaughter." "Speak no ill of him, Prince," answered Metem solemnly, "for here you are not in the courts of Jehovah, but in his land, and he may chance to prove his power on you.

For the rest, I had sooner follow after gold than the folly of a drunken spirit which you name Love, seeing that it works its votary less mischief.

Say now, it was a woman and her love that drove you hither to this wild land, was it not, Prince?
Well, be careful lest a woman and her love should keep you here." "The sun sets," said Aziel coldly; "let us go forward." With a bow and a murmured salute, for his quick courtier instinct told him that he had spoken too freely, Metem took the bridle of the prince's mule, holding the stirrup while he mounted.

Then he turned to seek his own, but the animal had wandered, and a full half hour went by before it could be captured.
By now the sun had set, and as there is little or no twilight in Southern Africa it became difficult for the two travellers to find their way down the rough hill path.