Page:Under the Sun.djvu/387

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The Legend of the Blameless Priest.
363

throw of his person. He was kind to all, to animals and to men alike, and they called him in Uganda the Good Father. He had given up the search for Kintu, for he knew it was hopeless; but once a year he called all the chiefs together, and warned them that until they gave up fighting among themselves and warring with other tribes, they could never hope to see the Blameless Priest again.

Now one day Ma’anda dreamed strangely, and, rising before dawn, went to his mother and said: “I dreamt in the night that a peasant came to me from the forest and told me something that filled me with joy, but what it was I cannot remember.”

She asked, “When did the peasant come?”

He answered, “Just as the hyena was crying for the third time.”

She said, “But that is not yet.”

And lo! as she spoke, from the mtama crop the hyena cried for the third time, — for the day was breaking, — and Ma’anda’s mother said, “Get ready quickly, and take your spear, for I can hear the peasant coming, and he has strange news to tell you, my son.” Ma’anda could hear nothing; yet he went away to get ready to receive the messenger. But at the door he met the Katekiro, the chief officer of his household, who said, “There is a madman without, who says he has news for the king. He is only a peasant, but will not go away, for he says that the king must hear his news.”

“Let him come in,” said the king. And the peasant entered.

“What is it?” asked Ma’anda.

“I may not tell any one but the king and the king’s mother: which are they?”