Sato-Koto, standing at the king's elbow, was a practical man. "What seek ye, chief?" he asked, cutting short the compliments. So the chief told him of a land peopled by cowards, rich with the treasures of the earth, goats, and women. "Why do you not take them yourself?" demanded the regent. "Because I am a slave," said the chief; "the slave of Sandi, who would beat me. But you, lord, are of the great; being king's headman, Sandi would not beat you because of your greatness." There followed a palaver, which lasted two days. "I shall have to do something with Peter," wrote Sanders despairingly to the Administrator; "the little beggar has gone on the war-path against those unfortunate Ochori. I should be glad if you would send me a hundred men, a Maxim, and a bundle of rattan canes; I'm afraid I must attend to Peter's education myself." * * * * * "Lord, did I not speak the truth?" said the Akasava chief in triumph. "Sandi has done nothing! Behold, we have wasted the city of the Ochori, and taken their treasure, and the white man is dumb because of your greatness! Let us wait till the moon comes again, and I will show you another city." "You are a great man," bleated the king, "and some day you shall build your hut in the shadow of my palace." "On that day," said the chief, with splendid resignation, "I shall die of joy." When the moon had waxed and waned and come again, a pencilled silver hoop of light in the eastern sky, the Isisi warriors gathered with spear and broad-bladed sword, with _ingola_ on their bodies, and clay in their hair. They danced a great dance by the light of a huge fire, and all the women stood round, clapping their hands rhythmically. In the midst of this there arrived a messenger in a canoe, who prostrated himself before the king, saying: "Master, one day's march from here is Sandi; he has with him five score of soldiers and the brass gun which says: 'Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!'" A silence reigned in court circles, which was broken by the voice of the Akasava chief. "I think I will go home," he said. "I have a feeling of sickness; also, it is the season when my goats have their young." "Do not be afraid," said Sato-Koto brutally. "The king's shadow is over you, and he is so mighty that the earth shakes at his tread, and the waters of the big river part at his footfall; also, the white men fear him." "Nevertheless," said the chief, with some agitation, "I must go, for my youngest son is sickening with fever, and calls all the time for me." "Stay!" said the regent, and there was no mistaking his tone. Sanders did not come the next day, nor the next. He was moving leisurely, traversing a country where many misunderstandings existed that wanted clearing up. When he arrived, having sent a messenger ahead to carry the news of his arrival, he found the city peaceably engaged. The women were crushing corn, the men smoking, the little children playing and sprawling about the streets.