The Keepers of the King's Peace

shows, and this slither of light and two watchful stars form a triangle pointing to the earth, the spirits rise from their graves and walk, "singing deadly songs," towar

es, grow whole and new again. The pots are red and hot as they come from the fire, and the pitiful cloths take on the shee

g beach with outspread arms balancing their uncertain steps. On such nights when M'sa beckons the dead world to the source of all rivers, the middle islands are

iver be acceptable?" asks th

of wicker, lined with the leaf of a certain plant which is impervious, and e

vulets suddenly dried-so suddenly, indeed, that even the crocodiles, who have an instinct for coming drought, were left high and dry, in some cases miles from the nearest w

dry spell by its very whiteness, the Chief Koosoogolaba-Muchini, or, as he was called, Muchin

e has made M'shimba M'shamba afraid so that he has gone away and walks no more in the forest with his terrible lightning. Al

frame like a dried goatskin, who ma

ay to bring M'shimba M'shamba which was most wonderful. In

old ways since Sandi came to the land, for he is a cruel man and hanged my own mother's brother for that f

(which was the generic name by which the Government of the Congo Free State was known) was traceable the malign perversity of game, the blight of crops, the depredations of weav

lacence; "and whilst even the old men slept, I, Koosoogolaba-Muchini, the son of the terrible and crafty G'sombo, the brother of Eleni-N'gombi, I went abroad with my wise men and my

tisfying to this little chief of the Inner N'gom

hold!"

e of native cloth. This covering he removed w

for its angles were clamped with neat brass

ched their lord as with easy

lass tube, corked and heavily sealed, whilst about the neck of e

sensation he had prepared

, when the moon was calling all spirits. They were gathered by the river with little nets and little gourds and they caught the waters. Also they caught little flies and other foolish t

. Across the starry dome of the sky th

s, a hushed whisper of things as though the

staring upward, he saw the western stars disa

e roared, and the crash of thun

e. The storm (which he cursed, having no scruples about river and water, and being wholly sceptical as to ghosts) broke with all its fury over his camp and passed. Two nights later,

distant lokali-the drum that sends messages fr

ess in his voice, "I have not heard that call for

reater comfort, "yet it is a call which may mean war, for it calls s

e N'gombi," Bosambo quoted a r

ed again,

f spears, and bring them to the borderland n

fe," said

cal spirits, gathered his spears to some purpose, for two days later Bosambo me

ou go, Muchini?

grievance dating back to the big war, when Bosambo had

ave found a great magic which will make us greater than Sandi, and it has been prophesied that I shall be a

e other, waved his hand towards the forest p

en. For I say that you do not go by this way, neither you nor your warriors, since I am the servant of Sandi and

lared at

said huskily, and looked over h

f an athlete who is putting the shot. Muchini threw up his wicker shield and pul

ver so much as striking a blow for the yellow box whic

ch have been recorded. He was wholly preoccupied by the novelty which the presence of Patricia Hamilton

times an em

t-Sanders had sent Fubini to the Village of Irons for six months for preaching unauthorized magic-t

ught to headquarters an aroma of English spring, a clean fragrance that refreshed the he

to the shadiest and breeziest end of the verandah, observed that Bones carried a wooden box, a draw

"Forward, Mr. Bones-what can

yes and peered int

ander," he said pleasantly, "dreamin'

tude and lifted h

e was gay

te tay

umpty hum

gay-dear old o

stepped out to the

hooting noise," she appealed

"it was only Bones singing. Do it

t, his hand to h

rd, my lad

Bones," said the girl, and

ked Hamilton, gazing with pardonable

and applied science, sir," said Bones briskly. "Field fortifications, judgin

p-company-accounts done?" aske

o do 'em this mornin' an was four dollars out-it's the regimental cash account that's wrong.

the key of the regimental cas

aised h

se jolly old moments of temptation. I tackle the accounts to-night, sir. You mu

lton. "So long as you're going to

, appearing on the scene, "

rifying and wa

cloth and the paper to cover it, an

jerked his head in

onscious betrayer of Lieutena

ar old Hamilton's s

im scornfully a

," called Hamilton after them; "they e

way back one of the remarkable powers he possessed, namely, his ability to drag the truth from reluctant and culpable natives. And every time he desired to emphasize the point he would stop, lower all his impedime

he barrack square, put down his cargo and proceede

down the river as the one man that you can't deceive. Go up and ask the Bomongo, drop in on the Isisi, speak to the Aka

be very imperti

m!). Ask Ham. Ask--" he wa

here, or are you comi

his belongings, ne

ole bally thing red, white an' blue-'unhonoured an' unsung, until

sing," she said reproachfully; "an

shedding his equipment in preparation for another discourse, when she

dropped, and came prancing (no other word

that nobody can find things that old Bones-you'll remember,

e sent home in your washing. Talki

n, and Bones, peering into the message unt

lear the line.

Expedition carriers raided on edge of your territory by Inner N'gombi people, all stores looted including case of 20 culture tu

t pain and intense vacancy. It was intended to convey to the observer the fact that Bones was

the dear old Congo Government and apol

d Sanders patiently, "is to take th

y is the 8th, to-morrow is the 9th-the box shall be in your han

are upon the girl, the import of w

ve poor old Bones if he suddenly dro

quarters, with all the dignity which an empty lunc

Ochori city, being entrusted with the task of holdin

nd, of course, you must keep your eyes open; if you hear th

ess, "that I have fulfilled missions quite as delicate as th

ou've never caught up wi

d saluted. It was a salut

ake inquiries and to put the unoffending villagers to considerable trouble-for he insisted

f his coming and summ

rue to me will swear to the lord Tibbetti that we know nothing of a killing palaver, and that we have not been beyond the trees to the

the chief-and Bosambo was ca

ake me a well man again. For, lord, I have not left my bed since the c

s sympathetically, "you've

t this critical moment, employ English and idiomatic English, "that since the last moon was young I have lain in

lf-closed lids, saw the dismal droop of the other's mouth, and came to the conclusion that whatever migh

sad news, for I desire that you shall tell me certain th

in his litter and went so far a

Ask, O Bonesi, for you are my father and my mother; and though I saw and heard nothing, yet in my sickne

rcely. "You're a jolly cheeky feller, Bo

am a foreigner in this land; in the tongue of my own people,

nt on speaking in the dialect. "You shall help me i

on to the litter, and roll

Bo-Tibbetti," he said fain

, "of a certain box of

explained the peculiar p

ing his eyes, and was to all

y tribe shall know that you are a great healer. To all the far and quiet places of th

mured Bones modes

for had he not attended a great mission school in Monrovia? "Master, you dam' fine feller, you look 'um

ored Wiggle to the village (feeling the patient's pulse with a profound an

ur men go to the shore to warn me of my lord Tibbetti's coming, for I have w

ool, I think," s

, busy with a native chisel and

an you say. For this is the truth, Secundi, that a child cannot be a fool, though an old man may be

e at the door and

under a skin rug and Bosambo aga

a blushing Bones listened with unconcealed ple

e launch's side, "that knowing you are wise man who gathers wisdom, I have sent to th

he bank, and his servant b

y carved and painted. There were crude heads and hideous forms which never were on l

try by certain forest people. It is a Maker of S

ork, was delighted. His delight soothe

roup-if we except Patricia Hamilton-and endeavoured, as so many successful

thout creating any notable sensation, save that Sanders's grey eyes

ely done for-fortunately I did not lose my nerve. You

"something between a Welsh rev

ed the girl, not the least

hed for my medicine chest-it wasn't there! Not so much as a mustard pla

" begged Hamilton, "h

s with relish, "I dashed back to where Bosambo was lyin'.

impatiently, "what happen

ead out h

praisin'-if I may be allowed to boast-the na

sked away and revealed the hideous handiwork of an artist who had carved and painted as true to nature as a man

s of native work I have ever seen: a gift! From Bosambo to the jolly old docto

is dramat

rom his pocket and scraped the paint

ation of his further adventure to his one sympathizer-was a bras

Médicins, Et

gazed, fascinated and

d like to be a medicine man."

ted Sanders quietly. "Did you

r," sai

see any of

nterestin' thing about the box. It contains magic-which,

pened the case and scrutinized the contents, noting the comforting fac

anything about the missing cu

ed his shoulders, and looked

h fine resolution. "I've got a feelin' that if I were allowed to go into

on. "Good Lord, what do