When Mrs. Weldon, on the 17th of the month, did not see Cousin Benedict reappear at the accustomed hour, she was seized with the greatest uneasiness. She could not imagine what had become of her big baby. That he had succeeded in escaping from the factory, the enclosure of which was absolutely impassable, was not admissible. Besides, Mrs. Weldon knew her cousin. Had one proposed to this original to flee, abandoning his tin box and his collection of African insects, he would have refused without the shadow of . Now, the box was there in the hut, intact, containing all that the savant had been able to collect since his arrival on the continent. To suppose that he was voluntarily separated from his entomological treasures, was inadmissible.  
Nevertheless, Cousin Benedict was no longer in Jose-Antonio Alvez's establishment.
 
During all that day Mrs. Weldon looked for him . Little
and the slave Halima joined her. It was useless.
Mrs. Weldon was then forced to adopt this sad hypothesis: the prisoner had been carried away by the trader's orders, for that she could not . But then, what had Alvez done with him? Had he him in one of the barracks of the large square? Why this carrying away, coming after the agreement made between Mrs. Weldon and Negoro, an agreement which included Cousin Benedict in the number of the prisoners whom the trader would conduct to Mossamedes, to be placed in James W. Weldon's hands for a ?
 
If Mrs. Weldon had been a witness of Alvez's anger, when the latter learned of the prisoner's , she would have understood that this disappearance was indeed made against his will. But then, if Cousin Benedict had escaped voluntarily, why had he not let her into the secret of his escape?
 
However, the search of Alvez and his servants, which was made with the greatest care, led to the discovery of that mole-hill, which put the factory in direct communication with the neighboring forest. The trader no longer doubted that the "fly-hunter" had fled by that narrow opening. One may then judge of his fury, when he said to himself that this flight would doubtless be put to account, and would diminish the prize that the affair would bring him.
 
"That imbecile is not worth much," thought he, "nevertheless, I shall be compelled to pay dear for him. Ah! if I take him again!"
 
But notwithstanding the searchings that were made inside, and though the woods were beaten over a large , it was impossible to find any trace of the .
 
Mrs. Weldon must resign herself to the loss of her cousin, and Alvez mourn over his prisoner. As it could not be admitted that the latter had established communications with the outside, it appeared evident that chance alone had made him discover the existence of the mole-hill, and that he had taken flight without thinking any more of those he left behind than if they had never existed.
 
Mrs. Weldon was forced to allow that it must be so, but she did not dream of blaming the poor man, so unconscious of his actions.
 
"The unfortunate! what will become of him?" she asked herself.
 
It is needless to say that the mole-hill had been closed up the same day, and with the greatest care, and that the watch was doubled inside as well as outside the factory.
 
The life of the prisoners then continued for Mrs. Weldon and her child.
 
Meanwhile, a climatic fact, very rare at that period of the year, was produced in the province. rains began about the 19th of June, though the masika period, that finishes in April, was passed. In fact, the sky was covered, and continual showers the territory of Kazounde.
 
What was only a vexation for Mrs. Weldon, because she must her walks inside the factory, became a public misfortune for the natives. The low lands, covered with harvests already ripe, were submerged. The inhabitants of the province, to whom the crop suddenly failed, soon found themselves in . All the of the season were compromised, and Queen Moini, any more than her ministers, did not know how to face the .
 
They then had recourse to the magicians, but not to those whose profession is to heal the sick by their incantations and sorceries, or who predict success to the natives. There was a public misfortune on hand, and the best "mganngas," who have the privilege of provoking or stopping the rains, were prayed to, to away the .
 
Their was in vain. It was in vain that they intoned their monotonous chant, rang their little bells and hand-bells, employed their most precious , and more particularly, a horn full of mud and bark, the point of which was terminated by three little horns. The spirits were exorcised by throwing little balls of dung, or in spitting in the faces of the most august personages of the court; but they did not succeed in chasing away the bad spirits that presided over the formation of the clouds.
 
Now, things were going from bad to worse, when Queen Moini thought of a magician, then in the north of Angola. He was a magician of the first order, whose power was the more marvelous because they had never tested it in this country where he had never come. But there was no question of its success among the Masikas.
 
It was on the 25th of June, in the morning, that the new magician suddenly announced his arrival at Kazounde with great ringing of bells.
 
This sorcerer came straight to the "tchitoka," and immediately the crowd of natives rushed toward him. The sky was a little less rainy, the wind indicated a tendency to change, and those signs of calm, coinciding with the arrival of the magician, predisposed the minds of the natives in his favor.
 
Besides, he was a superb man—a black of the finest water. He was at least six feet high, and must be strong. This prestige already influenced the crowd.
 
Generally, the sorcerers were in bands of three, four, or five when they went through the villages, and a certain number of , or companions, made their cortege. This magician was alone. His whole breast was zebraed with white marks, done with pipe clay. The lower part of his body disappeared under an ample skirt of grass stuff, the "train" of which would not have disgraced a modern elegant. A collar of birds' was round his neck; on his head was a sort of leathern helmet, with with pearls; around his loins a belt, to which hung several hundred bells, noisier than the harness of a Spanish : thus this magnificent of the corporation of native wizards was dressed.
 
All the material of his art was comprised in a kind of basket, of which a calebash formed the bottom, and which was filled with shells, amulets, little wooden , and other fetiches, plus a notable quantity of dung balls, important accessories to the incantations and practises of the center of Africa.
 
One was soon discovered by the crowd. This magician was dumb. But this infirmity could only increase the consideration with which they were disposed to surround him. He only made a guttural sound, low and languid, which had no signification. The more reason for being well skilled in the mysteries of .
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