ty--the infliction of
unnecessary suffering--that makes the British such successful
colonisers, and wins them such universal respect among foreigners,
whether civilised or savage."

"Yes," agreed the professor, "your ineradicable disposition to temper
justice with mercy has doubtless much to do with it, although," he added
slyly, "there is a feeling abroad that there have been occasions when
you have permitted this national tendency to run riot and carry you to
quite ridiculous extremes. For example--"

"Oh, pray spare us, Professor," laughed Sir Reginald; "there is no need
to quote specific instances; we all know the kind of thing you mean.
But then, you know, legislators as a body will do many things that no
sane man would ever dream of, and that make the ordinary level-headed
individual gasp with amazement at the folly of the `collective wisdom'
of our countrymen. Such folly, however, always has been, and I suppose
it will continue to the end of time, so it is not of much use to worry
about it. Meanwhile, we are straying from the point, which is: How are
we to deal with M'Bongwele? Shall we be justified in assuming the
responsibility of undertaking to punish him?"

"Probably not," answered Mildmay. "If we hang this savage, and the fact
should become known at home, I venture to prophesy that letters will be
written to the newspapers denouncing us as murderers, and proclaiming
that it is such people as we who, by our high-handed and ferocious
methods, get the white man into bad odour with the gentle savage. Yet
this fellow richly deserves punishment, if any man ever deserved it, and
if we do not inflict it he will certainly escape scot-free, and live on
to perpetrate further barbarities. I say, therefore, let us move up to
his place, bring him and his witch-doctors to trial, and, if they are
proved guilty, hang the lot of them!"

"Hear, hear, sailor-man, you speak like a book. It is evident that
there is no sentimental nonsense about you," exclaimed Lethbridge.
"Sentimentalism does not pay when dealing with the noble savage; he does
not understand it, and indulgence in it simply means encouragement to
continue his playful practices of roasting people alive, and so on.
Sharp, salutary chastisement he does understand, and a little of it
judiciously and fearlessly meted out often teaches a wholesome lesson
that saves many lives. I therefore say, with you, let us go up to his
village and bring the fellow to tr