he coast to all
administrators, commissioners, even to the deputy inspectors, as "Bob."

Bosambo came to the presence with an inward quaking. In a sense he had
absconded from his trust, and he did not doubt that Sanders had made all
men acquainted with the suddenness and the suspicious character of his
disappearance.

And the first words of His Excellency the Administrator confirmed all
Bosambo's worst fears.

"O! chief," said Sir Robert with a little twinkle in his eye, "are you
so fearful of your people that you run away from them?"

"Mighty master," answered Bosambo, humbly, "I do not know fear, for as
your honour may have heard, I am a very brave man, fearing nothing save
my lord Sanders' displeasure."

A ghost of a smile played about the corners of Sir Robert's mouth.

"That you have earned, my friend," said he. "Now you shall tell me why
you came away secretly, also why you desired this palaver with me. And
do not lie, Bosambo," he said, "for I am he who hung three chiefs on
Gallows Hill above Grand Bassam because they spoke falsely."

This was one of the fictions which was current on the coast, and was
implicitly believed in by the native population. The truth will be
recounted at another time, but it is sufficient to say that Bosambo was
one of those who did not doubt the authenticity of the legend.

"Now I will speak to you, O my lord," he said earnestly, "and I speak by
all oaths, both the oaths of my own people----"

"Spare me the oaths of the Kroo folk," protested Sir Robert, and raised
a warning hand.

"Then by Markie and Lukie will I swear," said Bosambo, fervently; "those
fine fellows of whom Your Excellency knows. I have sat long in the
country of the Ochori, and I have ruled wisely according to my
abilities. And over me at all times was Sandi, who was a father to his
people and so beautiful of mind and countenance that when he came to us
even the dead folk would rise up to speak to him. This is a miracle,"
said Bosambo profoundly but cautiously, "which I have heard but which I
have not seen. Now this I ask you who see all things, and here is the
puzzle which I will set to your honour. If Sandi is so great and so
wise, and is so loved by the greater King, how comes it that he stays
for ever in one place, having no beautiful stars about his neck nor
wonderful ribbons around his stomach such as the great Frenchiman--and
the great Allamandi men, and even the Portuguesi men wear who are
honoured