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"Written in my city of Ochori and given to my brother, Mahomet Ali, who shall carry it to M'ilitani at the mouth of the river." "Poor old Bones!" said Hamilton, as he slowly counted the money. "Poor old Bones!" he repeated. He took an account book from his desk and opened it at a page marked "Bosambo." His entry was significant. To a long list of credits which ran: Received L30. Received L25.
"O Bosambo," said he, "there is no money for this palaver, but a green crocodile I must have because the evil people of the Lower Isisi say I have put a spell on their land because I slew the Green One, M'zooba, also this crocodile must I have before the moon is due. My Lord M'ilitani has sent me many powerful messages to this effect." This was another matter, and Bosambo looked dubious.
He unwound the cloth about his thin middle, and with many fumblings produced a paper which Bosambo read. "From M'ilitani, by Ogibo's village in the Akasava. "To Bosambo may God preserve him! "I give this to the chief of Well diggers that you shall know they are favoured by me, being simple people and very timid.
"So men call me, Bosambo," said he carelessly "though my lord M'ilitani does not know this therefore in the day when M'ilitani comes, speak of me as M'wani-m'wani that he may know of whom men speak when they say 'the sleepless one." Everybody knows that Cala cala great chiefs had stored against the hour of their need certain stocks of ivory.
And they talked and walked, and Lombobo huntsmen, returning through the wood, gave them a wide berth, for Lamalana was possessed of an eye which was notoriously evil. "Let us go back to the city," said Lamalana, "for now I see that you are very brave and not a blind old man." "There will be a great palaver and who knows but M'ilitani will come with his soldiers?"
"All this I know, M'ilitani," said Bosambo, "and because you are sick, my heart and my stomach are sore. For though I do not love you as I love Sandi, who is more clever than you, yet I love you well enough to grieve. And Tibbetti also " He paused.
"It is not of you I speak, nor of your people, but of the Akasava and the N'gombi and the evil little men who live in the forest now is it true that they speak mockingly of my lord Tibbetti?" Bosambo hesitated. "Lord," said he, "what dogs are they, that they should speak of the mighty? Yet I will not lie to you, M'ilitani: they mock Tibbetti, because he is young and his heart is pure."
"Master," said the agitated Bosambo, "say no word of this to M'ilitani; if you do, be sure that my enemies will discover it and I shall be killed." Bones hesitated and Bosambo pushed his advantage. "Rather, lord," said he, "give me all the silver you have and let me go alone, carrying a message to the mighty chief of the N'bosini.
"Lord, that will be so," said the messenger, "unless all chiefs in the land stand in brotherhood together. And because we know Sandi loves you, and M'ilitani also, and that Tibbetti himself is as tender to you as a brother, M'bisibi sent this word saying, 'Go to Bosambo, and say M'bisibi, the wise man, bids him come to a great and fearful palaver touching the matter of several devils.
Now, I tell you, M'ilitani, that I am not to blame, because my lord with the moon-eye wrote down these things.
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