Part 37 (1/2)
Sanders had no special regard for missionaries; indeed, he had views on the brotherhood which did hie of his steamer impatiently, for it was very necessary that he should reach Tukalala before certain things happened
He ca down behind the trees on the western bank, and the white beach before the mission station showed clearly
He ers to thealmost broadside to the swift stream and headed for the bank, and the black water of the river huate
Into the beach he stea the stern wheel noisily
Where the missionary's house had stood was a chaos of blackened debris, and out of it rose lazy little wisps of sreatly soiled, lying face doards, and he found soround with a broad-bladed elephant spear which had been broken off flush with his shoulders
Sanders turned hi, it seeh at the last questioning God's wisdoaudy bandana handkerchief from his pocket, and laid it on the dead eant, ”dig reat chief ast his people, and had communion with Gods”
”He was a Christ ely, as a devout follower of the Prophet, ”and in the Sura of Mary it is written:
”'The sects have fallen to variance about Jesus, but woe, because of the assereat day to those who believe not!'”
Abiboo bore the title of Haj because he had been to Mecca and knew the Koran better thanHe took a cigar fro his eyes around
No building stood Where the arden had been, was desolation He saw scraps of cloth in the fading light These were other victiht of thethe Lord's Prayer over hi as much of the Burial Service as he could reuard In theSanders turned the nose of the Zaire down strea a tributary-and where the two rivers ht the paramount chief of all the people to hie with a lantern placed on the deck and one liht to the assembly
”Chief,” said Sanders, ”there is a dead white man in your territory, and I will have the hearts of the men who killed him, or by The Death I will have your head”
He said this evenly, without passion, yet he swore by Ehich means death and is a eting with his hands, shi+vered
”Lord,” he said, in a cracked voice, ”this is a business of which I know nothing; this thing has happened in my territory, but so far from my hand that I can neither punish nor reward”
Sanders was silent save for an unsympathetic sniff
”Also, master,” said the chief, ”if the truth be told, this palaver is not of the Akasava alone, for all along the big river hty than any other”
”I know little of ju-jus,” said Sanders shortly, ”only I know that a white man has died and his spirit walks abroad and will not rest until I have slain men Whether it be you or another I do not care-the palaver is finished”
The chief rose aardly, brought up his hand in salute, and went shuffling down the sloping plank to land
As for Sanders, he sat thinking, sht Once he called his servant to replace the candle in the lantern and bring hi little village hushed to sleep, until there was no sound but the whispering of bat wings as they came and went fro va he looked at his watch, picked up the lantern, and walked aft
He picked a way over sleeping men until he came to that part of the deck where a Houssa squatted with loaded carbine watching the two prisoners
He stirred theht