"People of this land," said Sanders, "four fires have been burnt since we met, and I have listened to all your words. Now, you know how good it is that there should be one you call chief. Yet, if I take you, M'loomo"--he turned to one sullen claimant--"there will be war. And if I take B'songi, there will be killing. And I have come to this mind--that I will appoint a king over you who shall not dwell with you nor overlook you." Two hundred pairs of eyes watched the Commissioner's face. He saw the gleam of satisfaction which came at this concession to the traditional characteristic of the tribe, and went on, almost completely sure of his ground. "He shall dwell far away, and you, the twelve kinsmen of Gulabala, shall reign in his place--one at every noon shall sit in the chief's chair and keep the land for your king, who shall dwell with me." One of the prospective regents rose. "Lord, that is good talk, for so did Sakalaba, the great king of our race, live apart from us at S'furi-S'foosi, and were we not prosperous in those days? Now tell us what man you will set over us." For one moment Sanders was nonplussed. He was rapidly reviewing the qualifications of all the little chiefs, the headmen, and the fisher leaders who sat under him, and none fulfilled his requirements. In that moment of silence an agitated voice whispered in his ear, and Bones's lean hand clutched his sleeve. "Sir an' Excellency," breathed Bones, all of a twitter, "don't think I'm takin' advantage of my position, but it's the chance I've been lookin' for, sir. You'd do me an awful favour--you see, sir, I've got his career to consider----" "What on earth----" began Sanders. "Henry Hamilton Bones, sir," said Bones tremulously. "You'd set him up for life, sir. I must think of the child, hang it all! I know I'm a jolly old rotter to put my spoke in----" Sanders gently released the frenzied grip of his lieutenant, and faced the wondering palaver. "Know all people that this day I give to you as king one whom you shall call M'songuri, which means in your tongue 'The Young and the Wise,' and who is called in my tongue N'risu M'ilitani Tibbetti, and this one is a child and well beloved by my lord Tibbetti, being to him as a son, and by M'ilitani and by me, Sandi." He raised his hand in challenge. "Wa! Whose men are you?" he cried. "M'songuri!" The answer came in a deep-throated growl, and the assembly leapt to its feet. "Wa! Who rules this land?" "M'songuri!" They locked arms and stamped first with the right foot and then with the left, in token of their acceptance. "Take your king," said Sanders, "and build him a beautiful hut, and his spirit shall dwell with you. This palaver is finished." Bones was speechless all the way down river. At irregular intervals he would grip Sanders's hand, but he was too full for speech. Hamilton and his sister met the law-givers on the quay. "You're back sooner than I expected you, sir," said Hamilton. "Did Bones behave?"