eet.

"Ah, yes, I had forgotten!" replied Anuti. "Naturally Your Majesty does
not understand. How should you, since no one has explained? In a few
words, then, the matter stands thus. The possession of that ring
carries with it the sovereignty of Bandokolo, and since you now possess
it, you are, in virtue thereof, the monarch of the country; and right
glad will all be that such is the case. But, if I may be permitted to
ask, how passed the ring into your possession? For the tradition runs
that it may only pass as a free gift from the reigning monarch to his--
or her--chosen successor when the former is at the point of death; to
attempt to steal it, or to take it by force, brings upon the would-be
robber the doom of a mysterious, terrible death, otherwise Bimbane the
Cruel would not have been permitted to reign so long. Yet I find it
difficult to imagine that--that--"

"She surrendered it to me of her own free will?" I interrupted. "You
are right, Anuti, she did not. We quarrelled; she threatened to set you
and me, among others, to fight the man-monkeys, and declared that by
virtue of this ring she would destroy--has indeed destroyed--the
remainder of my team of oxen. This made me angry; and in my anger I
flung myself upon her, snatched the ring from her thumb, and placed it
upon my own finger. And--and--there it is, as you see," I finished
lamely.

"Yes. And you still live!" said Anuti thoughtfully. "It is wonderful;
and it is proof conclusive that you are destined to be our king."

"Nonsense, man," I retorted; "it is proof of nothing of the kind. I
have no desire to be your king. All that I want is to find the daughter
of my friend, rescue her from captivity, and return to my own country,
taking with me, by your goodwill, as many of the shining stones as will
enable me to retrieve my ruined fortunes. Therefore, permit me--" and
before Anuti knew what I was about I withdrew the fateful ring from my
own finger and slipped it on his.

"There!" I continued, "now you are the king, which is as it should be.
The Bandokolo will rejoice to have you as their sovereign, while, as for
me, if you require any help or advice that I can give, it shall be
freely yours; and when once you are firmly established upon the throne I
will bid you farewell and go my way. But what about Bimbane; what will
you do with her?"

"There will be neither trouble nor difficulty in disposing of her, for
she has not a friend in a