"I am a sick man," he said, "and I must rest, sending Tibbetti to watch the river, because the crops are good and there is fish for all men, and because the people are prosperous, for, Bosambo, in such times there is much boastfulness, and the tribes are ripe for foolish deeds deserving to appear wonderful in the eyes of woman." "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. "He is young," said Hamilton, "and not yet grown to himself--now you, Bosambo, shall check men who are insolent to his face, and be to him as a strong right hand." "On my head and my life," said Bosambo, "yet, lord M'ilitani, I think that his day will find him, for it is written in the Sura of the Djin that all men are born three times, and the day will come when Bonzi will be born again." He was in his canoe before Hamilton realized what he had said. "Tell me, Bosambo," said he, leaning over the side of the _Zaire_, "what name did you call my lord Tibbetti?" "Bonzi," said Bosambo, innocently, "for such I have heard you call him." "Oh, dog of a thief!" stormed Hamilton. "If you speak without respect of Tibbetti, I will break your head." Bosambo looked up with a glint in his big, black eyes. "Lord," he said, softly, "it is said on the river 'speak only the words which high ones speak, and you can say no wrong,' and if you, who are wiser than any, call my lord 'Bonzi'--what goat am I that I should not call him 'Bonzi' also?" Hamilton saw the canoe drift round, saw the flashing paddles dip regularly, and the chant of the Ochori boat song came fainter and fainter as Bosambo's state canoe began its long journey northward. Hamilton reached headquarters with a temperature of 105, and declined Bones' well-meant offers to look after him. "What you want, dear old officer," said Bones, fussing around, "is careful nursin'. Trust old Bones and he'll pull you back to health, sir. Keep up your pecker, sir, an' I'll bring you back so to speak from the valley of the shadow--go to bed an' I'll have a mustard plaster on your chest in half a jiffy." "If you come anywhere near me with a mustard plaster," said Hamilton, pardonably annoyed, "I'll brain you!" "Don't you think!" asked Bones anxiously, "that you ought to put your feet in mustard and water, sir--awfully good tonic for a feller, sir. Bucks you up an' all that sort of thing, sir; uncle of mine who used to take too much to drink----" "The only chance for me," said Hamilton, "is for you to clear out and leave me alone. Bones--quit fooling: I'm a sick man, and you've any amount of responsibility. Go up to the Isisi and watch things--it's pretty hard to say this to you, but I'm in your hands." Bones said nothing. He looked down at the fever-stricken man and thrust his hands in his pockets.