Part 31 (1/2)

Sanders carried aith hi-irons at his ankles, and in course of time the prisoner arrived at a little labour colony on the coast, where he worked for five years in co servitude for divers offences

They called Sanders in the Upper River districts by a long and sonorous name, which may be euphemistically translated as ”The man who has a faithless wife,” the little joke of Bosahtily subtle because Sanders edded to his people

North and south, east and west, he prowled He travelled by night and by day So away up river, and be watched out of sight by the evil-doing little fishi+ng-villages

”Go you,” said Sarala, as a little heado you three hours' journey in your canoe and watch the river for Sandi's return And at first sign of his steamer-which you may see if you climb the hill at the river's bend-come back and warn me, for I desire to follow certain customs of my father in which Sandi has no pleasure”

He spoke to two of his young ht of a fire, to the acco, the son of the head noisily, as if with knowledge of the doom ahead, and laid it at his father's feet

”People,” said the little chief, ”it is a wise saying of all, and has been a wise saying since tian, that the firstborn has a special virtue; so that if we sacrifice hiood luck will follow us in all our doings”

He said a word to the son, who took a broad-bladed spear and began turning the earth until he had dug a little grave Into this, alive, the child was laid, his little feet kicking feebly against the loose mould

”Oh, Gods and devils,” invoked the old man, ”we shed no blood, that this child may come to you unblemished”

The son stirred a heap of loose earth with his foot, so that it fell over the baby's legs; then into the light of the fire stepped Sanders, and the chief's son fell back

Sanders was sar, and he s a word, and a rave, stooped, and lifted the baby up aardly, for he was ave it a little shake to clear it of earth, and handed it to a woman

”Take the child to its mother,” he said, ”and tell her to send it to , otherwise she had best find a new husband”

Then he turned to the old chief and his son

”Old man,” he said, ”how many years have you to live?”

”Master,” said the old man, ”that is for you to say”

Sanders scratched his chin reflectively, and the old o to Bosa hiarden, and carry his water until you die,” said Sanders

”I am so old that that will be soon,” said the old er it would be sooner,” said Sanders ”As for your son, ait until the round er man to the camp Sanders had formed down river-the boat that had passed had been intended to deceive a chief under suspicion-and in the , when the news came that the child was dead-whether from shock, or injury, or exposure, Sanders did not trouble to inquire-the son of the chief was hanged

I tell these stories of Sanders of the River, that youof the work he had to do If he was quick to punish, he acted in accordance with the spirit of the people he governed, for they had no memory; and yesterday, with its faults, its errors and its teachings, was a very long tio, and a otten

It is possible to h he was near to doing so once

Sanders was explaining his point of view in regard to natives to Professor Sir George Carsley, when that e been sent out by the British Governe was a e, with a face of exceptional pallor and a beard that was snohite