uest from a native, for his offer
to be set down in writing. "You might take a note of this, Hamilton," he
said aside, "though why the deuce he wants a note of this made I cannot
for the life of me imagine. Go on, messenger," he said more mildly; "for
as you see my lord Hamilton makes a book."

"Thus says my lord Mimbimi," resumed the man, "that because of his love
for Sandi he would give you the fat white lord whom he has taken, asking
for no rods or salt in repayment, but doing this because of his love for
Sandi and also because he is a just and a noble man; therefore do I
deliver the fat one into your hands."

Sanders gasped.

"Do you speak the truth?" he asked incredulously.

The man nodded his head.

"Where is the fat lord?" asked Sanders. This was no time for ceremony or
for polite euphemistic descriptions even of Cabinet Ministers.

"Master, he is in the forest, less than the length of the village from
here, I have tied him to a tree."

Sanders raced across the plank and through the Houssa lines, dragging
the messenger by the arm, and Hamilton, with a hastily summoned guard,
followed. They found Joseph Blowter tied scientifically to a gum-tree, a
wedge of wood in his mouth to prevent him speaking, and he was a
terribly unhappy man. Hastily the bonds were loosed, and the gag
removed, and the groaning Cabinet Minister led, half carried to the
_Zaire_.

He recovered sufficiently to take dinner that night, was full of his
adventures, inclined perhaps to exaggerate his peril, pardonably
exasperated against the man who had led him through so many dangers,
real and imaginary. But, above all things, he was grateful to Sanders.

He acknowledged that he had got into his trouble through no fault of the
Commissioner.

"I cannot tell you how sorry I am all this has occurred," said Sanders.

It was after dinner, and Mr. Blowter in a spotless white suit--shaved,
looking a little more healthy from his enforced exercise, and certainly
considerably thinner, was in the mood to take an amused view of his
experience.

"One thing I have learnt, Mr. Sanders," he said, "and that is the
extraordinary respect in which you are held in this country. I never
spoke of you to this infernal rascal but that he bowed low, and all his
followers with him; why, they almost worship you!"

If Mr. Blowter had been surprised by this experience no less surprised
was Sanders to learn of it.

"This is news to me," he said dryly.

"That