Sanders of the River

grey hair. Heroes should also be of gentle address, full of soft phrases, for such tender women who come over thei

ly outweighs all the satisfaction or personal gratification you may derive from your achievement. There is a grave in Toledo, a slab of brass, over a great kin

LV

I

der and Nothing is the ultima

ed break a few, so it was in obedience to the laws of c

ee-and helped, in the very old days, and in ano

ith which he made them-but the kings he made were little ones-that is the custom of the British-Af

h is peculiar for the fact that it is British, French, German,

King. He was the most powerful of monarchs, and, for the matter of that, the most cruel. His

ad, and he administered justice. He had three hundred wives and forty thousand fighting men, and his acquaintance with white men began a

li, the great

as of a god; he was the symbol of majesty and of might-the Isisi people, themselves a nation of some impor

t up as envoy to the Limbilu, carrying pr

ed in the city of the king. After two days' waiting he was info

s any judge of character, who showed unmistakable signs of an

aid the king. "Toys for my women,

rs quietly, "from a people who do not gaug

gave a li

; "in your travels have you e

ers, frank to a fault.

crowd about his sacred p

ing calmly; "for there neve

ater," croaked an aged councillor

the eyes of the old man who sat on

owned again

; "he was a great king and an

ething like a hush fell upon the court, for the

is there a white king in the world whose wor

uch a king, but answered that in all

e king, "have you ever s

was to save himself a great deal of trouble, lied and acclaimed King Limbili as the great

ith the perfection of all his possessions, the great king confined his injustices, his cruelt

ttle provinces. These are those lands which lie away from the big rivers. Countries curled up in odd corners, bisected sharply on the map by this or

nes, past villages where other white men than Sanders were never seen. After a month's travel the Commissioner came to Icheli

moment," said the chief solem

Daihili?" as

his inspection a self-conscious girl,

not unpleasant even from the European standpoint, graceful in carriage, her every m

ell me that you

said; "I am the greatest

us Commissioner; "but I do not doubt

o mad, losing their senses. To-night when the moon is

briefly, "I shall be in b

d in no wise different to women elsewhere in the world. This Sanders did not

the rhythmical clapping of hands, and fell asleep wondering w

er, and at parting Sanders had a

fteen, and it would be better

ant come to see her." He looked round and lowered his voice. "It is said," he whispered, "that the Great One himself has spoken of her. Perhaps he will send for

ad of money presents he sends an army. I will have no war, or wome

my desire," said the

case of murder by fetish. He was delivering judgment, and Abiboo, the Sergeant of Police, was selecting and testing his stoutest cane for the whipping which was to follow, when the chief of the

and fear he had nursed, "justice against the Old One, the steal

nding the dancing girl. True to his pre-arranged scheme, the chief began the inevitable bargaining over terms.

s calmly; "no woman is wort

o begin by naming a price too low. The bargaining went on through the night a

e Daihili, demure enough, yet with covert glances of encouragement to

r, "the greatest of kings

girl, "I wish for

warriors in attendance at the

Sanders, "you

you say," moan

pay. I think," he added, with a flash of that mordant humour which occasionally illuminated his judgm

anders sent a messenger to the great k

ied, when the glaze of death must have been on his eyes, and his poor wrecked body settling to the rest of oblivion,

t hurried notes were exchanged between ambassadors and

e favourite wife of the old king, and that her whims swayed the destinies of the nation. Also he reported

spy did no

girl to send an army against the Icheli, thinkin

ed by the soldiers of the great king, a

arry the message, for the Icheli are isolated folk. One day, however, an Isisi hunting party, searching for

lity for the misdoings of the king of the Yitingi, and my Government would regard with sympat

ause war is an expensive matter, and Sander

en, and sent a messenger-a Yitingi messenger-to the king. With the audacity which was

Zaire was steaming to the borders Sanders unexpectedly came upon traces

," he said to Sergeant Abiboo, "for having sworn by a variety of gods and devil

"besides which, he is in the neighbou

n, and sent his m

ace where the river touches the Yitingi border-and waited,

s condescension to the influence of the little dancing girl, for she, woman-like,

the winding procession with mingled feelings. The king halted a hundred yards from the river, and his big sca

the dead tree by the water side, whereon hung

to himself, "is where

tuation, as it appealed to him, that he per

ng's messenger; and Sanders nodded. He walked leisurely toward the massed troops, and presently

ly, and as he raised his hand in salute he sa

old king; "what rich presents do you br

who is greater than you, whose soldiers outnumber the sands of the river, a

ld man. "You lie, white man, and I wil

s message, maste

s: 'Because the Great King of Yitingi has eaten up the Icheli folk: because he has crossed the borderland and brought suffering to my people, my heart is sore. Yet, if the

ghed, a wicked,

chuckled; "

irl steppe

t me to shame, for when I would

palaver with women, for that is not the custom or the law. Still les

nt over him, and Sanders, his hands still in his jacket pock

the man who talked with the king. He saw him disappear in the crowd of so

the girl was saying, "my lord the

he saw the line on either side whe

k! Cr

ing missed him, and broke t

earth, trussed like a fowl, and exceedingly uncomfortable. At the first shot Abiboo, obeying his instructions, wou

upon him, he lay in the midst of an armed guard, waiting fo

hey gave him water, which was most acceptable. From the gossip of his guards he gathe

were busily engaged in heaping flat stones upon the earth before the pavilion. They were of singular unif

e man," said the soldier, "they co

was whilst he was watching this that he hea

as dragged to his feet, his bonds were slipped, and he was led

he fire with wooden pincers and laid to

ds pulled off the Commissioner's boots,

"that some day you shall dance in hell in more pleasa

e dancing," said the ki

ded the pavement, those on the side of the tent crouching so

st warm, and on this he stood still till a spear-thrust sent him to the next. It was smoking h

they dragged the fainting man off the stones, his

out of the darkness about the group le

ha-ha-

of fifty yards, and with him five hundred Oc

h a wild yell which was three-parts fear, the Oc

, sitting on the deck of the steamer nursing his burnt feet and swearing gently, heard the scramble of the Ochor

ld not fight. That was true, but in those far-off days there was no chief Bosambo. Now, because of my teac

ers was a mantle of gold thread woven wit

the law by raiding, I am grateful that the desire for the properties of others

ng; also I brought with me one of the stones upon which my lord wo

a little grimace. "On which my lord w

aid; and Bosambo hims

handling had chipped a corner; and Sanders lo

o properly constituted British Governme

and death. The plain was strewn with the bodies of men, and the big city was a smoking ruin. To the left, three regiments of Houssas were en

l who crouched at his side said nothing. Only he

e said, "yet not

e other, "and it is not proper

t kings will say, 'We may commit these abominatio

lord?" said the g

e had just remembered her. "You are the dancing girl? Now we

hrink as one

lonel of the Houssas and Sa

we suddenly decided upon this expedition. It has be

rinned my

'Deplorable!' says England. He makes me dance on the original good-intention stones of Hades. 'Treat it as a joke,' says England; but when I point out that the

unjust in his point of view. After all, wars cost mon