"O Lord, save Thy people," cried Mr. Smith.
"And bless Thine inheritance," replied the men.
They decided that Enoch should be hidden in the parsonage for a day or two.
Enoch himself was greatly disappointed when he heard this, for he had hoped that a
holy war was imminent,- and there were a few other Christians who thought like him.
But wisdom prevailed in the camp of the faithful and many lives were thus saved.
The band of egwugwu moved like a furious whirlwind to Enoch's compound and
with machete and fire reduced it to a desolate heap. And from there they made for the
church, intoxicated with destruction.
Mr. Smith was in his church when he heard the masked spirits coming. He
walked quietly to the door which commanded the approach to the church compound,
and stood there. But when the first three or four egwugwu appeared on the church
compound he nearly bolted. He overcame this impulse and instead of running away he
went down the two steps that led up to the church and walked towards the approaching
spirits.
They surged forward, and a long stretch of the bamboo fence with which the
church compound was surrounded gave way before them. Discordant bells clanged,
machetes clashed and the air was full of dust and weird sounds. Mr. Smith heard a
sound of footsteps behind him. He turned round and saw Okeke, his interpreter.
Okeke had not been on the best of terms with his master since he had strongly
condemned Enoch's behaviour at the meeting of the leaders ol the church during the
night. Okeke had gone as far as to say that Enoch should not be hidden in the parsonage,
because he would only draw the wrath of the clan on the pastor. Mr. Smith had rebuked
him in very strong language, and had not sought his advice that morning. But now, as he
came up and stood by him confronting the angry spirits, Mr. Smith looked at him and
smiled. It was a wan smile, but there was deep gratitude there.
For a brief moment the onrush of the egwugwu was checked by the unexpected
composure of the two men. But it was only a momentary check, like the tense silence