"Excellence!" said the sergeant, saluting. "What charge am I to enter
against him, Excellence?"

"Arms and liquor running," responded zu Pfeiffer quickly. "I hold papers
which prove the case completely; moreover you will see that Ali ben Hassan
and others are prepared to testify. But--the charge will be margined as
political: not criminal. Understand, sergeant?"

"Perfectly, Excellence. Ali ben Hassan and the others have to testify
before your Excellence now?"

"There will be no need."

"Very good, Excellence."

"And, sergeant, what is the personnel of the launch and the prisoner's
party?"

"The launch returned immediately to Jinja, Excellence, as soon as the
prisoner had landed."

"Ach, good."

"The prisoner has a considerable battery, equipment and provisions; a
headman and personal servants. He intended to obtain porters here,
Excellence."

Zu Pfeiffer meditated, tapping the desk with a gold pencil.

"What is the headman?"

"Bambeeba, Excellence."

"Good. And the servants?"

"One is a Wongolo youth, the others are mixed Walegga and Kavirondo."

"Arrest them all and see that none gets away."

"Excellence!"

Schultz saluted and departed. Zu Pfeiffer frowned at the glare which was
suddenly extinguished by falling water. He lighted a cigar and waited.
Presently the sergeant returned in a waterproof cape, dripping, and
announced that the prisoner was ready. Zu Pfeiffer gathered up his long
legs and marched stiffly into the Court House adjoining.

Upon a slight dais was a large desk and a cane armchair beneath the
Imperial Eagles and a portrait of the Kaiser Wilhelm II. Pale, stubble
bearded, and tense eyed with anger, sat Birnier upon a form against the
wall; beside him stood Sergeant Schneider, for it is not usual etiquette
to put a white prisoner in charge of a black guard. The grizzled sergeant
stood stuffy to attention, which zu Pfeiffer acknowledged. Although he did
not meet Birnier's gaze, he scowled as if he had expected him to salute
the majesty of the judge as well.

But as zu Pfeiffer mounted the step to the chair of justice he looked up
at the portrait of the Kaiser, stopped, and hesitated; then he wheeled
abruptly, and barked:

"Sergeant, bring the prisoner to the orderly room!"

In the orderly room Birnier was placed between Sergeant Schultz at his
table and Sergeant Schneider by the door. Birnier watched zu Pfeiffer
intently, but zu Pfeiffer regarded him icily as if he were a piece