ain because a sick maiden sees visions?"

"Bosambo, I am a fool," agreed N'gori, meekly, and again his rescuer
returned home.

"Now," said N'gori, "we will summon a secret palaver, sending messengers
for all men to assemble at the rise of the first moon. For the N'gombi
have sent me new spears, and when next the dog Bosambo comes, weary with
rowing, we will fall upon him and there will be no more Bosambo left;
for Sandi is gone and there is no law in the land."

III

Curiously enough, at that precise moment, the question of law was a very
pressing one with two young Houssa officers who sat on either side of
Sanders' big table, wet towels about their heads, mastering the
intricacies of the military code; for Tibbetts was entering for an
examination and Hamilton, who had only passed his own by a fluke, had
rashly offered to coach him.

"I hope you understand this, Bones," said Hamilton, staring up at his
subordinate and running his finger along the closely printed pages of
the book before him.

"'Any person subject to military law,'" read Hamilton impressively,
"'who strikes or ill-uses his superior officer shall, if an officer,
suffer death or such less punishment as in this Act mentioned.' Which
means," said Hamilton, wisely, "that if you and I are in action and you
call me a liar, and I give you a whack on the jaw----"

"You get shot," said Bones, admiringly, "an' a rippin' good idea, too!"

"If, on the other hand," Hamilton went on, "I called you a liar--which I
should be justified in doing--and you give me a whack on the jaw, I'd
make you sorry you were ever born."

"That's military law, is it?" asked Bones, curiously.

"It is," said Hamilton.

"Then let's chuck it," said Bones, and shut up his book with a bang. "I
don't want any book to teach me what to do with a feller that calls me a
liar. I'll go you one game of picquet, for nuts."

"You're on," said Hamilton.

* * * * *

"My nuts I think, sir."

Bones carefully counted the heap which his superior had pushed over,
"And--hullo! what the dooce do you want?"

Hamilton followed the direction of the other's eyes. A man stood in the
doorway, naked but for the wisp of skirt at his waist. Hamilton got up
quickly, for he recognized the chief of Sandi's spies.

"O Kelili," said Hamilton in his easy Bomongo tongue, "why do you come
and from whence?"

"From the island over against the Ochori, Lord," croaked the man,
dr