Part 21 (2/2)
”There is work for me,” said the missionary, ”work of succour and relief In India some four hundred thousand--”
”This is not India,” said Sanders shortly; and with no other word the native preacher went his way
Those who know the Akasava people best know them for their laziness-save in matter of vendetta, or in the settle of each other's goats, in all which ility truly inexplicable ”He is an Akasava man-he points with his foot,” is a proverb of the Upper River, and the origin of the saying goes back to a er happened upon ain the forest
”Friend,” said the stranger, ”I am lost Showa leg froh this legend lacks soarded as the ac stories from Bama to the Lado country
It was six months after the Reverend Kenneth McDolan had left for his station that there came to Sanders at his headquarters a woeful deputation, arriving in two canoes in thehim when he came fro-a seloo him with the utmost misery
”Lord, we are of the Akasava people,” said the spokes journey”
”So I am aware,” said Sanders, with acrid dryness, ”unless the Akasava country has shi+fted its position in the night What do you seek?”
”Master, we are starving,” said the speaker, ”for our crops have failed, and there is no fish in the river; therefore we have come to you, who are our father”
Now this was a most unusual request; for the Central African native does not easily starve, and, moreover, there had come no news of crop failure from the Upper River
”All this sounds like a lie,” said Sanders thoughtfully, ”for how may a crop fail in the Akasava country, yet be more than sufficient in Isisi? Moreover, fish do not leave their playground without cause, and if they do they may be followed”
The spokesman shi+fted uneasily
”Master, we have had much sickness,” he said, ”and whilst we cared for one another the planting season had passed; and, as for the fish, our youngjourneys” Sanders stared
”Therefore we have co”
The man spoke with so of all Sanders was nonplussed, frankly confounded For all the eccentric course his daily life took, there was a certain regularity even in its irregularity But here was a new and unfas mean trouble, and he was about to probe this ive you,” he said, ”save this advice-that you return swiftly to where you came from and carry my word to your chief Later I will come and make inquiries”
The e, and sooty-grey of head, spoke up
”It is said, h his toothless jaws, ”that in other lands when rain and comfort”
”Eh?”
Sanders' eyes narrowed
”Wait,” he said, and walked quickly through the open door of his bungalow
When he came out he carried a pliant whip of rhinoceros-hide, and the deputation, losing its serenity, fled precipitately
Sanders watched the two canoes paddling frantically up strean of aht the Zaire left for the Akasava country, carrying a letter to the Reverend Kenneth McDolan, which was brief, but unmistakable in its tenor
”Dear Sir,”-it ran-”You will accos In the event of your refusing to coeant to arrest you Yours faithfully,
”H Sanders, Co you out of this country,” said Sanders, ”is because you have put funny ideas into the heads of my people”