ed himself to his subordinates, hence this one's
dictum upon him to Thornhill on a former occasion.

"You may rely upon me, sir," answered Prior, intensely gratified. "I'll
do my very best--all along the line."

"And that will be a very good kind of best, Prior, judging from my short
experience of you. Hullo! Come in."

This in response to another knock at the door. It was opened and there
entered a native constable.

"_Nkose_! The chief has arrived. The chief, Zavula. He would have a
word with _Nkose_."

"Admit him," said Elvesdon, cramming a fresh fill into his pipe.

There was a sound of light footsteps, made by bare feet, outside, and
old Zavula appeared in the doorway. His right hand was uplifted, and he
poured forth words of _sibongo_ in the liquid Zulu. Elvesdon arose and
shook the old man by the hand. He was always especially courteous to
men of rank among the natives--a fact which they fully appreciated.

"Greeting, my father. I am glad to see you," he said. "Sit. Here is
snuff. It is a good accompaniment for a talk."

Zavula subsided on to the floor--a native of course would be supremely
uncomfortable on a chair. Prior, with ready tact, had withdrawn. There
were those who said that Elvesdon was too free and easy with natives,
that he allowed them too much equality. Well, he had never found his
official dignity suffer by the line he took, but that line he knew where
to draw, and occasionally did--with effect. But Zavula was one of
Nature's gentlemen.

The old chief, having spent two or three minutes filling up his nostrils
with snuff, began--

"It is good to see _Nkose_ again. I have seen him but once when he
first arrived here, and could see that the Government had sent us a
man--one who could understand us--and my heart felt good. Now I see him
again."

"Those who rule over the people are always welcome, my father," returned
Elvesdon. "What is the news?"

"News? _Au_! I know not, Ntwezi. Is this a time for news? Or a time
for quiet? I am old, very old, and my sons are in the land of the Great
Unknown. You, who are young, of the age they would be were they still
here, to you comes news from all the world."

The old man's eyes shone with a kindly twinkle. He had used Elvesdon's
native nickname--not in itself an uncomplimentary one--instead of the
respectful `_Nkose_' such as he should have used when addressing his
magistrate, yet the latter thoroughly appreciated the