Absorbedly Doctor McCloud proceeded. Kingozi sat quietly, turning his head to either side, raising or lowering his chin as he was requested to do so. At last McCloud straightened his back.
"It is glaucoma right enough," said he; "fairly advanced. The pilocarpin has been a palliative. An operation is called for--iridectomy."
He paused, wiping his mirror. Nobody dared ask the question that Kingozi himself at last propounded.
"Can you do it--have you the necessary instruments?'"
"Fine spade scalpel, small tweezers, scissors--_and_ a lot of experience. I've got all the former."
"I've done the operation before," said McCloud dryly.
"If successful the job will be permanent."
"Fair--fair," rejoined McCloud with a touch of impatience. "How can I tell? But I'll just inform you of this, my lad, without the operation you're stone blind for the rest of your days, and it must be done now or not at all. So there's your Hobson's choice; and we'll get at it comfortably in the morning."
He turned away and stopped with a frank stare of astonishment. The other men followed his gaze, and also stared.
The Leopard Woman stood just within the circle of illumination. So intent was she on the examination and on Kingozi that she seemed utterly unconscious of the men standing over opposite. Her soft silk robe fell about her body in classic folds; the single jewel on its chain fillet blazed on her forehead; her hair fell in its braid to her hips, and her wide, gray-green eyes were fixed on the seated man. A more startlingly exotic figure for the wilds of Central Africa could not be imagined. The expressions on the faces of the newcomers were varied enough, to be sure, but all had a common groundwork of fair imbecility.
[Illustration: "So intent was the Leopard Woman on the examination that she seemed utterly unconscious of the men standing over opposite."]
She seemed to be unaware of even their presence. When McCloud had pronounced his opinion, she glided forward and laid her hand on Kingozi's shoulder.
"I am glad--but I am afraid," she said softly. Kingozi covered her hand with one of his own. His eyes twinkled with quiet amusement as he looked about him at the stricken faces of his friends. She whirled on the gaping McCloud. "But you must have a care!" she cried at him vehemently. "You must save his eyes. I wish it!"