Small wonder that Captain Hamilton held an informal court-martial of one, the closing stages of which I have described, and sentenced his wholly inefficient subordinate to seven days' field exercise in the forest with half a company of Houssas. "Oh, dash it, you don't mean that?" asked Bones in dismay when the finding of the court was conveyed to him at lunch. "I do," said Hamilton firmly. "I'd be failing in my job of work if I didn't make you realize what a perfect ass you are." "Perfect--yes," protested Bones, "ass--no. Fact is, dear old fellow, I've a temperament. You aren't going to make me go about in that beastly forest diggin' rifle pits an' pitchin' tents an' all that sort of dam' nonsense; it's too grisly to think about." "None the less," said Hamilton, "you will do it whilst I go north to sit on the heads of all who endeavour to profit by your misguided leniency. I shall be back in time for the Administration Inspection--don't for the love of heaven forget that His Excellency----" "Bless his jolly old heart!" murmured Bones. "That His Excellency is paying his annual visit on the twenty-first." A ray of hope shot through the gloom of Lieut. Tibbetts' mind. "Under the circumstances, dear old friend, don't you think it would be best to chuck that silly idea of field training? What about sticking up a board and gettin' the chaps to paint, 'Welcome to the United Territories,' or 'God bless our Home,' or something." Hamilton withered him with a glance. His last words, shouted from the bridge of the _Zaire_ as her stern wheel went threshing ahead, were, "Remember, Bones! No shirking!" _"Honi soit qui mal y pense_!" roared Bones. II Hamilton had evidence enough of the effect which the leniency of his subordinate had produced. News travels fast, and the Akasava are great talkers. Hamilton, coming to the Isisi city on his way up the river, found a crowd on the beach to watch his mooring, their arms folded hugging their sides--sure gesture of indifferent idleness--but neither the paramount chief, nor his son, nor any of his counsellors awaited the steamer to pay their respects. Hamilton sent for them and still they did not come, sending a message that they were sick. So Hamilton went striding through the street of the city, his long sword flapping at his side, four Houssas padding swiftly in his rear at their curious jog-trot. B'sano, the young chief of the Isisi, came out lazily from his hut and stood with outstretched feet and arms akimbo watching the nearing Houssa, and he had no fear, for it was said that now Sandi was away from the country no man had the authority to punish. And the counsellors behind B'sano had their bunched spears and their wicker-work shields, contrary to all custom--as Sanders had framed the custom. "O chief," said Hamilton, with that ready smile of his, "I waited for you and you did not come."