"That my dukkeri (fate)," he said slowly, "you go, Sikaso he go too.
I see it in the smoke."

"Saw it in the smoke?" repeated the amazed boys.

"In smoke of Ju-ju fire I see it written. I see five go, three come
back, in smoke too. I have spoken."

He stalked off as I suddenly as he had the night before and left the
boys to gaze in a bewildered way after his huge figure as it swung
down the road.

"That fellow's the best disappearer I ever saw," said Billy Barnes
at length.

"I wish he'd stop that stuff about 'five go three come back,"' said
Lathrop, "it gets on your nerves."

"What could he have meant by seeing it in the smoke?" asked Harry
bewilderedly.

"Just this," broke in a quiet voice behind them. It was Professor
Wiseman, who had glided up to them as silently as a cat. "It is a
common trick among the witch doctors--of whom our friend yonder
seems to be one--to divine events by means of the smoke from a fire
built to the accompaniment of special incantations."

"Well, that's cheerful," commented Billy, "but tell us, Professor,
how often do they hit it right?"