When Sanders had gone home, and it seemed that law had ceased to be, N'gori (as I have shown) became of a sudden a bold and fearless man, furbished up his ancient grievances and might have brought trouble to the land, but for a watchful Bosambo. This is certain, however, that N'gori himself was a good-enough man at heart, and if there was evil in his actions be sure that behind him prompting, whispering, subtly threatening him, was his malignant son, a sinister figure with one eye half closed, and a figure that went limping through the city with a twisted smile. An envoy came to the Ochori country bearing green branches of the Isisi palm, which signifies peace, and at the head of the mission--for mission it was--came M'fosa. "Lord Bosambo," said the man who limped, "N'gori the chief, my father, has sent me, for he desires your friendship and help; also your loving countenance at his great feast." "Oh, oh!" said Bosambo, drily, "what king's feast is this?" "Lord," rejoined the other, "it is no king's feast, but a great dance of rejoicing, for our crops are very plentiful, and our goats have multiplied more than a man can count; therefore my father said: Go you to Bosambo of the Ochori, he who was once my enemy and now indeed my friend. And say to him 'Come into my city, that I may honour you.'" Bosambo thought. "How can your lord and father feast so many as I would bring?" he asked thoughtfully, as he sat, chin on palm, pondering the invitation, "for I have a thousand spearmen, all young men and fond of food." M'fosa's face fell. "Yet, Lord Bosambo," said he, "if you come without your spearmen, but with your counsellors only----" Bosambo looked at the limper, through half-closed eyes. "I carry spears to a Dance of Rejoicing," he said significantly, "else I would not Dance or Rejoice." M'fosa showed his teeth, and his eyes were filled with hateful fires. He left the Ochori with bad grace, and was lucky to leave it at all, for certain men of the country, whom he had put to torture (having captured them fishing in unauthorized waters), would have rushed him but for Bosambo's presence. His other invitation was more successful. Hamilton of the Houssas was at the Isisi city when the deputation called upon him. "Here's a chance for you, Bones," he said. Lieutenant Tibbetts had spent a vain day, fishing in the river with a rod and line, and was sprawling under a deck-chair under the awning of the bridge. "Would you like to be the guest of honour at N'gori's little thanksgiving service?" Bones sat up. "Shall I have to make a speech?" he asked cautiously. "You may have to respond for the ladies," said Hamilton. "No, my dear chap, all you will have to do will be to sit round and look clever." Bones thought awhile. "I'll bet you're putting me on to a rotten job," he accused, "but I'll go." "I wish you would," said Hamilton, seriously. "I can't get the hang of M'fosa's mind, ever since you treated him with such leniency."