plexity waiting for his
decision at Ikan. A headman was suspected of murdering his chief wife,
and the only evidence against him was that of the under wives to whom
she displayed much hauteur and arrogance.

The people of the Ochori might be shocked at the exorbitant demands
which their lord put upon them, but they were too wise to deny him his
wishes. There had been a time in the history of the Ochori when demands
were far heavier, and made with great insolence by a people who bore the
reputation of being immensely fearful. It had come to be a by-word of
the people when they discussed their lord with greater freedom than he
could have wished, the tyranny of Bosambo was better than the tyranny of
Akasava.

Amongst the Ochori chiefs, greater and lesser, only one was conspicuous
by his failure to carry proper offerings to his lord. When all the gifts
were laid on sheets of native cloth in the great space before Bosambo's
hut, Notiki's sheet was missing and with good reason as he sent his son
to explain.

"Lord," said this youth, lank and wild, "my father has collected for you
many beautiful things, such as gum and rubber and the teeth of
elephants. Now he would have brought these and laid them at your lovely
feet, but the roads through the forest are very evil, and there have
been floods in the northern country and he cannot pass the streams. Also
the paths through the forest are thick and tangled and my father fears
for his carriers."

Bosambo looked at him, thoughtfully.

"Go back to your father, N'gobi," he said gently, "and tell him that
though there come no presents from him to me, I, his master and chief,
knowing he loves me, understand all things well."

N'gobi brightened visibly. He had been ready to bolt, understanding
something of Bosambo's dexterity with a stick and fearing that the chief
would loose upon him the vengeance his father had called down upon his
own hoary head.

"Of the evil roads I know," said Bosambo; "now this you shall say to
your father: Bosambo the chief goes away from this city and upon a long
journey; for two moons he will be away doing the business of his cousin
and friend Sandi. And when my lord Bim-bi has bitten once at the third
moon I will come back and I will visit your father. But because the
roads are bad," he went on, "and the floods come even in this dry
season," he said significantly, "and the forest is so entangled that he
cannot bring his presents, sending only the son