Part 21 (1/2)

”Son of sin!” he said sternly, ”is it thus you speak of God-men, and of white men at that?”

”This man wears the clothes of a God-man,” said Abiboo serenely; ”but he is a black man, therefore of no consequence”

Sanders pulled a pair of mosquito boots over his pyjamas and swore to himself

”White missionaries, yes,” he said wrathfully, ”but black missionaries I will not endure”

The Reverend Kenneth was sitting in Sanders' basket-chair, one leg flung negligently over one side of the chair to display a silk sock His finger-tips were touching, and he was gazing with good-natured tolerance at the little green garden which was the Coht

He was black, very black; but hisself-possessed

He nodded sly to Sanders and extended a lazy hand

”Ah, Mr Coreat deal about you”

”Get out of that chair,” said Sanders, who had no s, ”and stand up when I come out to you! What do you want?”

The Reverend Kenneth rose quickly, and accepted the situation with a rapidity which will be incomprehensible to any who do not kno thue

”I am on a brief visit,” he said, a note of deference in his tone ”I a services, and I desire permission to speak to your people”

This was not the speech he had prepared He had co of a lion in Bayswater society, and where, too, his theological attainard and no small amount of fame in even a wider circle

”You may speak to my people,” said Sanders; ”but you may not address the Kano folk nor the Houssas, because they are petrified in the faith of the Prophet”

Regaining his self-possession, the ht into dark places--” he began

”Cut it out,” said Sanders briefly; ”the palaver is finished” He turned on his heel and re-entered the bungalow

Then a thought struck hi missionary turned back

”Where did you pick up the 'Kenneth McDolan'?” he asked

The negro sain

”It is the patronyood Christian white h I were his own son,” he recited

Sanders showed his teeth

”I have heard of such cases,” he said unpleasantly

The next day theup country He ca had happened Perhaps he expected to find the Commissioner a little ashamed of himself; but if this was so he was disappointed, for Sanders was blatantly unrepentant

”You've got a letter from the Administration,” he said, ”so I can't stop you”