The King took snuff. "When I say to a man you lib for die, he die. When I say 'I let you lib,' then he lib. When I say to a man, 'I make you dash,' he get dem dash, even though I have to send my war-boys to take it from somebody other to give it him. O Carter, I lib for be real King." "You mean you've given me a fortune in return for the small thing I did for you?" "My life," said the King dryly, "he seem small thing to you. But to me"--he patted his rotundity--"to me dem life be plenty big." Three days Carter abode in the village, and kept to the inside of his hut to avoid the sights of the place, which to a European eye are unpleasant when an African King is visiting his displeasure upon unruly subjects. He was ministered unto by White-Man's-Trouble, who paid him much unaccustomed deference, and forebore to steal the smallest thing. And at nights he sat with the King, who had an educated palate in champagne, and drank vintage wine at the rate of one case in four days. "When I lib back for Okky City," the King said once, "you fit for come and see me there now?" "Certainly, King, if you'll name a date when you haven't got a custom on." King Kallee looked thoughtfully at his guest. "Dem English no fit for like dem custom-palaver?" "They don't, one little bit." "For why?" "Gets on their nerves." "Dem English King, he send his war-boys if I make dem custom-palaver more?" "It's the common topic of conversation down the Coast as to when England will send an expedition to cut you up." "Because I stop dem roads an' spoil trade to factories?" "Pooh, King! You know precious little about the British Government. You may spoil all the trade in Africa if you like, you may even cut up half a dozen factory agents or so, and the British Government won't care a little hang. But if you will go on in your simple way crucifying slaves, and carving up your own subjects, why, then, it's only a question of time before they'll pull you off your perch and send you into an inexpensive exile in St. Helena." "Dem Swizzle-Stick Smith he say same thing." "It's so obvious." "But he want me to let him hand dem Okky country over to England, so I say I pull his skin off if I catch him again. What you want for yo'self?" "Do you mean what do I stand to make out of the deal? Well, not much beyond the satisfaction of keeping your crucifixion tree in a more sanitary state. With the mining right you have given me, I shall be a rich man." "But if dem English took Okky country?" "Why, they'd tax the mine, and they'd clap on regulations, till they made a very fine hole in the profits." "Say dem again." Carter explained more fully, and then for awhile the King of Okky sat and took snuff in silence. Then, "O Carter," he asked, "dem King of England he got so many war-boys as me?" Carter nodded. "And dey no have trade guns? All Winchesters?"