Bones had read of such things in books; he knew his Solomon"s Mines Solomon"s Mines and was well acquainted with his and was well acquainted with his Allan Quatermain Allan Quatermain. Who knows but that through the forest was a secret path held, perchance, by armoured warriors, which led to the mountains at the edge of the Old King"s territory, in the folds of the inaccessible hills, there might be a city of stone, peopled and governed by stern white-bearded men, and streets filled with beautiful maidens garbed in the style of ancient Greece!
"It is all dam" nonsense of course," said Bones to himself, though feebly; "but, after all there may be something in this. There"s no smoke without fire."
The idea took hold of him and gripped him most powerfully. He took Sanders" priceless maps and carefully triangulated them, consulting every other written authority on the ship. He stopped at villages and held palavers on this question of N"bosini and acquired a whole ma.s.s of conflicting information.
If you smile at Bones, you smile at the glorious spirit of enterprise which has created Empire. Out of such dreams as ran criss-cross through the mind of Lieutenant Tibbetts there have arisen nationalities undreamt of and Empires Caesar never knew.
Now one thing is certain, that Bones, in pursuing his inquiries about N"bosini, was really doing a most useful piece of work.
The palavers he called had a deeper significance to the men who attended them than purely geographical inquiries. Thus, the folk of the Isisi planning a little raid upon certain Akasava fishermen, who had established themselves unlawfully upon the Isisi river-line, put away their spears and folded their hands when N"bosini was mentioned, because Bones was unconsciously probing their excuse before they advanced it.
Idigi, himself, who, in his caution, had prepared Hamilton for some slight difference of opinion between his own tribe and the N"gombi of the interior, read into the earnest inquiries of Lieutenant Tibbetts, something more than a patient spirit of research.
All that Hamilton had set his subordinate to accomplish Bones was doing, though none was more in ignorance of the fact than himself, and, since all men owed a grudge to the Ochori, palavers, which had as their object an investigation into the origin of the N"bosini legend, invariably ended in the suggestion rather than the statement that the only authority upon this mysterious land, and the still more mysterious tribe who inhabited it, was Bosambo of the Ochori. Thus, subtly, was Bosambo saddled with all responsibility in the matter.
Hamilton"s parting injunction to Bones had been: "Be immensely civil to Bosambo, because he is rather sore with you and he is a very useful man."
Regarding him, as he did, as the final authority upon the N"bosini, Bones made elaborate preparations to carry out his chief"s commands. He came round the river bend to the Ochori city, with flags fluttering at his white mast, with his soldiers drawn up on deck, with his buglers tootling, and his siren sounding, and Bosambo, ever ready to jump to the conclusion that he was being honoured for his own sake, found that this time, at least, he had made no mistake and rose to the occasion.
In an emerald-green robe with twelve sock suspenders strapped about his legs and dangling tags aglitter he had bought these on his visit to the Coast with an umbrella of state and six men carrying a canopy over his august person, he came down to the beach to greet the representatives of the Government.
"Lord," said Bosambo humbly, "it gives me great pride that your lordship should bring his beautiful presence to my country. All this month I have sat in my hut, wondering why you came not to the Ochori, and I have not eaten food for many days because of my sorrow and my fear that you would not come to us."
Bones walked under the canopy to the chief"s hut. A superior palaver occupied the afternoon on the question of taxation. Here Bones was on safe ground. Having no power to remit taxes, but having most explicit instructions from his chief, which admitted of no compromise, it was an easy matter for Bones to shake his head and say in English: "Nothin" doing"; a phrase which, afterwards, pa.s.sed into the vocabulary of the Ochori as the equivalent of denial of privilege.
It was on the second day that Bones broached the question of the N"bosini. Bosambo had it on the tip of his tongue to deny all knowledge of this tribe, was even preparing to call down destruction upon the heads of the barbarians who gave credence to the story. Then he asked curiously: "Lord, why do you speak of the land or desire knowledge upon it?"
"Because," said Bones, firmly, "it is in mind, Bosambo, that somewhere in this country, dwell such a people, and since all men agree that you are wise, I have come to you to seek it."
"O ko," said Bosambo, under his breath.
He fixed his eyes upon Bones, licked his lips a little, twiddled his fingers a great deal, and began: "Lord, it is written in a certain Suru Suru that wisdom comest from the East, and that knowledge from the West, that courage comes from the North, and sin from the South." that wisdom comest from the East, and that knowledge from the West, that courage comes from the North, and sin from the South."
"Steady the Buffs, Bosambo!" murmured Bones, reprovingly, "I come from the South."
He spoke in English, and Bosambo, resisting the temptation to retort in an alien tongue, and realising perhaps that he would need all the strength of his more extensive vocabulary to convince his hearer, continued in Bomongo: "Now I tell you," he went on solemnly, "if Sandi had come, Sandi, who loves me better than his brother, and who knew my father and lived with him for many years, and if Sandi spoke to me, saying "Tell me, O Bosambo, where is N"bosini?" I answer "Lord, there are things which are written and which I know cannot be told, not even to you whom I love so dearly."" He paused.
Bones was impressed. He stared, wide-eyed, at the chief, tilted his helmet back a little from his damp brow, folded his hands on his knees and opened his mouth a little.
"But it is you, O my lord," said Bosambo, extravagantly, "who asks this question. You, who have suddenly come amongst us and who are brighter to us than the moon and dearer to us than the land which grows corn; therefore must I speak to you that which is in my heart. If I lie, strike me down at your feet, for I am ready to die."
He paused again, throwing out his arms invitingly, but Bones said nothing.
"Now this I tell you," Bosambo shook his finger impressively, "that the N"bosini lives."
"Where?" asked Bones, quickly.
Already he saw himself lecturing before a crowded audience at the Royal Geographical Society, his name in the papers, perhaps a Tibbett River or a Francis Augustus Mountain added to the sum of geographical knowledge.
"It is in a certain place," said Bosambo, solemnly, "which only I know, and I have sworn a solemn oath by many sacred things which I dare not break, by letting of blood and by rubbing in of salt, that I will not divulge the secret."
"O, tell me, Bosambo," demanded Bones, leaning forward and speaking rapidly, "what manner of people are they who live in the city of N"bosini?"
"They are men and women," said Bosambo after a pause.
"White or black?" asked Bones, eagerly.
Bosambo thought a little.
"White," he said soberly, and was immensely pleased at the impression he created.
"I thought so," said Bones, excitedly, and jumped up, his eyes wider than ever, his hands trembling as he pulled his note-book from his breast pocket.
"I will make a book[3] of this, Bosambo," he said, almost incoherently. "You shall speak slowly, telling me all things, for I must write in English." of this, Bosambo," he said, almost incoherently. "You shall speak slowly, telling me all things, for I must write in English."
He produced his pencil, squatted again, open book upon his knee, and looked up at Bosambo to commence.
"Lord, I cannot do this," said Bosambo, his face heavy with gloom, "for have I not told your lordship that I have sworn such oath? Moreover," he said carelessly, "we who know the secret, have each hidden a large bag of silver in the ground, all in one place, and we have sworn that he who tells the secret shall lose his share. Now, by the Prophet, "Eye-of-the-Moon" (this was one of the names which Bones had earned, for which his monocle was responsible), I cannot do this thing."
"How large was this bag, Bosambo?" asked Bones, nibbling at the end of his pencil.
"Lord, it was so large," said Bosambo.
He moved his hands outward slowly, keeping his eyes fixed upon Lieutenant Tibbetts till he read in them a hint of pain and dismay. Then he stopped.
"So large," he said, choosing the dimensions his hands had indicated before Bones showed signs of alarm. "Lord, in the bag was silver worth a hundred English pounds."
Bones, continuing his meal of cedar-wood, thought the matter out.
It was worth it.
"Is it a large city?" he asked suddenly.
"Larger than the whole of the Ochori," answered Bosambo impressively.
"And tell me this, Bosambo, what manner of houses are these which stand in the city of the N"bosini?"
"Larger than kings" huts," said Bosambo.
"Of stone?"
"Lord, of rock, so that they are like mountains," replied Bosambo.
Bones shut his book and got up.
"This day I go back to M"ilitani, carrying word of the N"bosini," said he, and Bosambo"s jaw dropped, though Bones did not notice the fact.
"Presently I will return, bringing with me silver of the value of a hundred English pounds, and you shall lead us to this strange city."
"Lord, it is a far way," faltered Bosambo, "across many swamps and over high mountains; also there is much sickness and death, wild beasts in the forests and snakes in the trees and terrible storms of rain."
"Nevertheless, I will go," said Bones, in high spirits, "I, and you also."
"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. Presently I will return, bringing with me strange news, such as no white lord, not even Sandi, has received or heard, and cunning weapons which only N"bosini use and strange magics. Also will I bring you stories of their river, but I will go alone, though I die, for what am I that I should deny myself from the service of your lordship?"
It happened that Bones had some twenty pounds on the Zaire Zaire, and Bosambo condescended to come aboard to accept, with outstretched hands, this earnest of his master"s faith.
"Lord," said he, solemnly, as he took a farewell of his benefactor, "though I lose a great bag of silver because I have betrayed certain men, yet I know that, upon a day to come, you will pay me all that I desire. Go in peace."
It was a hilarious, joyous, industrious Bones who went down the river to headquarters, occupying his time in writing diligently upon large sheets of foolscap in his no less large unformed handwriting, setting forth all that Bosambo had told him, and all the conclusions he might infer from the confidence of the Ochori king.
He was bursting with his news. At first, he had to satisfy his chief that he had carried out his orders.
Fortunately, Hamilton needed little convincing; his own spies had told him of the quietening down of certain truculent sections of his unruly community and he was prepared to give his subordinate all the credit that was due to him.
It was after dinner and the inevitable rice pudding had been removed and the pipes were puffing bluely in the big room of the Residency, when Bones unburdened himself.
"Sir," he began, "you think I am an a.s.s."
"I was not thinking so at this particular moment," said Hamilton; "but, as a general concensus of my opinion concerning you, I have no fault to find with it."
"You think poor old Bones is a goop," said Lieutenant Tibbetts with a pitying smile, "and yet the name of poor old Bones is going down to posterity, sir."
"That is posterity"s look-out," said Hamilton, offensively; but Bones ignored the rudeness.
"You also imagine that there is no such land as the N"bosini, I think?"
Bones put the question with a certain insolent a.s.surance which was very irritating.
"I not only think, but I know," replied Hamilton.
Bones laughed, a sardonic, knowing laugh. "We shall see," he said, mysteriously; "I hope, in the course of a few weeks, to place a doc.u.ment in your possession that will not only surprise, but which, I believe, knowing that beneath a somewhat uncouth manner lies a kindly heart, will also please you."
"Are you chucking up the army?" asked Hamilton with interest.
"I have no more to say, sir," said Bones.
He got up, took his helmet from a peg on the wall, saluted and walked stiffly from the Residency and was swallowed up in the darkness of the parade ground.
A quarter of an hour later, there came a tap upon his door and Mahomet Ali, his sergeant, entered.
"Ah, Mah"met," said Hamilton, looking up with a smile, "all things were quiet on the river my lord Tibbetts tells me."
"Lord, everything was proper," said the sergeant, "and all people came to palaver humbly."
"What seek you now?" asked Hamilton.
"Lord," said Mahomet, "Bosambo of the Ochori is, as you know, of my faith, and by certain oaths we are as blood brothers. This happened after a battle in the year of Drought when Bosambo saved my life."
"All this I know," said Hamilton.
"Now, lord," said Mahomet Ali, "I bring you this."
He took from the inside of his uniform jacket a little canvas bag, opened it slowly and emptied its golden contents upon the table. There was a small shining heap of sovereigns and a twisted note; this latter he placed in Hamilton"s hand and the Houssa captain unfolded it. It was a letter in Arabic in Bosambo"s characteristic and angular handwriting.
From Bosambo, the servant of the Prophet, of the upper river in the city of the Ochori, to M"ilitani, his master. Peace on your house.In the name of G.o.d I send you this news. My lord with the moon-eye, making inquiries about the N"bosini, came to the Ochori and I told him much that he wrote down in a book. Now, I tell you, M"ilitani, that I am not to blame, because my lord with the moon-eye wrote down these things. Also he gave me twenty English pounds because I told him certain stories and this I send to you, that you shall put it in with my other treasures, making a mark in your book that this twenty pounds is the money of Bosambo of the Ochori, and that you will send me a book, saying that this money has come to you and is safely in your hands. Peace and felicity upon your house.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 30 (Sale of Rubber.)Received 25 (Sale of Gum.)Received 130 (Sale of Ivory.)
he added:
Received 20 (Author"s Fees.)
THE FETISH STICK.
N"gori the Chief had a son who limped and lived. This was a marvellous thing in a land where cripples are severely discouraged and malformity is a sure pa.s.sport for heaven.
The truth is that M"fosa was born in a fishing village at a period of time when all the energies of the Akasava were devoted to checking and defeating the predatory raidings of the N"gombi, under that warlike chief G"osimalino, who also kept other nations on the defensive, and held the river basin, from the White River, by the old king"s territory, to as far south as the islands of the Lesser Isisi.
When M"fosa was three months old, Sanders had come with a force of soldiers, had hanged G"osimalino to a high tree, had burnt his villages and destroyed his crops and driven the remnants of his one-time invincible army to the little known recesses of the Itusi Forest.
Those were the days of the Cakitas or government chiefs, and it was under the beneficent sway of one of these that M"fosa grew to manhood, though many attempts were made to lure him to unfrequented waterways and blind crocodile creeks where a lame man might be lost, and no one be any the wiser.
Chief of the eugenists was Kobolo, the boy"s uncle, and N"gori"s own brother. This dissatisfied man, with several of M"fosa"s cousins, once partially succeeded in kidnapping the lame boy, and they were on their way to certain middle islands in the broads of the river to accomplish their scheme which was to put out the eyes of M"fosa and leave him to die when Sanders had happened along.
He it was who set all the men of M"fosa"s village to cut down a high pine tree at an infernal distance from the village, and had men working for a week, tr.i.m.m.i.n.g and planing that pine; and another week they spent carrying the long stem through the forest (Sanders had devilishly chosen his tree in the most inaccessible part of the woods), and yet another week digging large holes and erecting it.