w of none, for they are a strange and
hateful people. Whatever king you set above them they will despise. Also
they worship no gods or ghosts, nor have they ju-ju or fetish. And, if a
man does not believe, how may you believe him? Lord, this I say to
you--set me above the Kulumbini, and I will change their hearts."

But Sanders shook his head.

"That may not be, Bosambo," he said.

The palaver was a long and weary one. There were twelve good claimants
for the vacant stool of office, and behind the twelve there were kinsmen
and spears.

From sunset to nigh on sunrise they debated the matter, and Sanders sat
patiently through it all, awake and alert. Whether this might be said of
Bones is questionable. Bones swears that he did not sleep, and spent
the night, chin in hand, turning over the problem in his mind.

It is certain he was awake when Sanders gave his summing up.

"People of this land," said Sanders, "four fires have been burnt since
we met, and I have listened to all your words. Now, you know how good it
is that there should be one you call chief. Yet, if I take you,
M'loomo"--he turned to one sullen claimant--"there will be war. And if I
take B'songi, there will be killing. And I have come to this mind--that
I will appoint a king over you who shall not dwell with you nor overlook
you."

Two hundred pairs of eyes watched the Commissioner's face. He saw the
gleam of satisfaction which came at this concession to the traditional
characteristic of the tribe, and went on, almost completely sure of his
ground.

"He shall dwell far away, and you, the twelve kinsmen of Gulabala, shall
reign in his place--one at every noon shall sit in the chief's chair and
keep the land for your king, who shall dwell with me."

One of the prospective regents rose.

"Lord, that is good talk, for so did Sakalaba, the great king of our
race, live apart from us at S'furi-S'foosi, and were we not prosperous
in those days? Now tell us what man you will set over us."

For one moment Sanders was nonplussed. He was rapidly reviewing the
qualifications of all the little chiefs, the headmen, and the fisher
leaders who sat under him, and none fulfilled his requirements.

In that moment of silence an agitated voice whispered in his ear, and
Bones's lean hand clutched his sleeve.

"Sir an' Excellency," breathed Bones, all of a twitter, "don't think I'm
takin' advantage of my position, but it's the chance I've been lookin'
for, sir. You'