--no. Fact is, dear old fellow,
I've a temperament. You aren't going to make me go about in that
beastly forest diggin' rifle pits an' pitchin' tents an' all that sort
of dam' nonsense; it's too grisly to think about."

"None the less," said Hamilton, "you will do it whilst I go north to sit
on the heads of all who endeavour to profit by your misguided leniency.
I shall be back in time for the Administration Inspection--don't for the
love of heaven forget that His Excellency----"

"Bless his jolly old heart!" murmured Bones.

"That His Excellency is paying his annual visit on the twenty-first."

A ray of hope shot through the gloom of Lieut. Tibbetts' mind.

"Under the circumstances, dear old friend, don't you think it would be
best to chuck that silly idea of field training? What about sticking up
a board and gettin' the chaps to paint, 'Welcome to the United
Territories,' or 'God bless our Home,' or something."

Hamilton withered him with a glance.

His last words, shouted from the bridge of the _Zaire_ as her stern
wheel went threshing ahead, were, "Remember, Bones! No shirking!"

_"Honi soit qui mal y pense_!" roared Bones.

II

Hamilton had evidence enough of the effect which the leniency of his
subordinate had produced. News travels fast, and the Akasava are great
talkers. Hamilton, coming to the Isisi city on his way up the river,
found a crowd on the beach to watch his mooring, their arms folded
hugging their sides--sure gesture of indifferent idleness--but neither
the paramount chief, nor his son, nor any of his counsellors awaited the
steamer to pay their respects.

Hamilton sent for them and still they did not come, sending a message
that they were sick. So Hamilton went striding through the street of the
city, his long sword flapping at his side, four Houssas padding swiftly
in his rear at their curious jog-trot. B'sano, the young chief of the
Isisi, came out lazily from his hut and stood with outstretched feet and
arms akimbo watching the nearing Houssa, and he had no fear, for it was
said that now Sandi was away from the country no man had the authority
to punish.

And the counsellors behind B'sano had their bunched spears and their
wicker-work shields, contrary to all custom--as Sanders had framed the
custom.

"O chief," said Hamilton, with that ready smile of his, "I waited for
you and you did not come."

"Soldier," said B'sano, insolently, "I am the king of these people and
answerabl