"Lord, Bosambo the King has sent me to speak about women," she said simply. "Doocidly awkward," said Bones to himself, and blushed. "O, D'riti," he stammered, "it is true I wish to speak of women, for I make a book that all white lords will read." "Therefore have I come," she said. "Now listen, O my lord, whilst I tell you of women, and of all they think, of their love for men and of the strange way they show it. Also of children----" "Look here," said Bones, loudly. "I don't want any--any--private information, my child----" Then realizing from her frown that she did not understand him, he returned to Bomongo. "Lord, I will say what is to be said," she remarked, meekly, "for you have a gentle face and I see that your heart is very pure." Then she began, and Bones listened with open mouth ... later he was to feel his hair rise and was to utter gurgling protests, for she spoke with primitive simplicity about things that are never spoken about at all. He tried to check her, but she was not to be checked. "Goodness, gracious heavens!" gasped Bones. She told him of what women think of men, and of what men _think_ women think of them, and there was a remarkable discrepancy if she spoke the truth. He asked her if she was married. "Lord," she said at last, eyeing him thoughtfully, "it is written that I shall marry one who is greater than chiefs." "I'll bet you will, too," thought Bones, sweating. At parting she took his hand and pressed it to her cheek. "Lord," she said, softly, "to-morrow when the sun is nearly down, I will come again and tell you more...." Bones left before daybreak, having all the material he wanted for his book and more. He took his time descending the river, calling at sundry places. At Ikan he tied up the _Zaire_ for the night, and whilst his men were carrying the wood aboard, he settled himself to put down the gist of his discoveries. In the midst of his labours came Abiboo. "Lord," said he, "there has just come by a fast canoe the woman who spoke with you last night." "Jumping Moses!" said Bones, turning pale, "say to this woman that I am gone----" But the woman came round the corner of the deck-house, shyly, yet with a certain confidence. "Lord," she said, "behold I am here, your poor slave; there are wonderful things about women which I have not told you----" "O, D'riti!" said Bones in despair, "I know all things, and it is not lawful that you should follow me so far from your home lest evil be said of you." He sent her to the hut of the chief's wife--M'lini-fo-bini of Ikan--with instructions that she was to be returned to her home on the following morning. Then he went back to his work, but found it strangely distasteful. He left nothing to chance the next day. With the dawn he slipped down the river at full speed, never so much as halting till day began to fail, and he was a short day's journey from headquarters.