Part 39 (1/2)

”A great king,” he said shakily, ”as big as a bull about the reat, white feathers and the skin of a leopard”

”You are mad,” said Sanders, and ended the palaver

Six days later Sanders went back to headquarters, leaving behind him a chastened people

Ill-news travels faster than stea to , was an object of interest to es, the people of which crowded down to their beaches and stood with folded arnify their perturbation, and shouted in monotonous chorus after the boat

”Oh, Sandi-father! How many evil ones have you slain to-day? Oh, killer of devils-oh, hanger of trees!-we are full of virtues and do not fear”

”Ei-fo, Kalaba? Ei ko Sandi! Eiva fo elegi,” etc

Sanders ith the stream swiftly, for he wished to establish communication with his chief Somewhere in the country there was a revolt-that he knew

There was truth in all the old man had said before he died-for die he did of sheer panic and age

Who was this king in revolt? Not the king of the Isisi, or of the M'Gombi, nor of the people in the forelands beyond the Ochori

The Zaire went swinging in to the Government beach, and there was a captain of Houssas to ?” said Sanders as he stepped ashore

The Houssa captain nodded

”What's the palaver?” he asked

”War of a kind,” said Sanders; ”soe”

And he told the story briefly

The Houssa officer whistled

”By Lord High Keeper of the Privy Purse!” he swore mildly, ”that's funny!”

”You've a poisonous sense of humour!” Sanders snapped

”Hold hard,” said the Houssa, and caught his aruela is in rebellion? The description fits him”

Sanders stopped

”Of course,” he said, and breathed a sigh of relief

”But,” said the perplexed Houssa officer, ”Matabeleland is three thousand ars know?”