The Essential Edgar Wallace Collection. Edgar Wallace

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      "And I," said the exasperated Houssa, "promise you a great harvest of whips that, so far from coming in your sleep, will keep you awake."

      "Master, we did not know that you would come so soon," said the humble headman; "also there was a rumour that your lordship had been drowned in the storm and your _puc-a-puc_ sunk, and my young men were happy because there would be no more wood to cut."

      The _Zaire_, fuel replenished, slipped down the river, Hamilton leaning over the rail promising unpleasant happenings as the boat drifted out from the faithless village. He had cut things very fine, and could do no more than hope that he would reach headquarters an hour or so before the Administrator arrived by the mail-boat. If Bones could be trusted there would be no cause for worry. Bones should have the men's quarters whitewashed, the parade ground swept and garnished, and stores in excellent order for inspection, and all the books on hand for the Accountant-General to glance over.

      But Bones!

      Hamilton writhed internally at the thought of Francis Augustus and his inefficiency.

      He had sent his second the most elaborate instructions, but if he knew his man, the languid Bones would do no more than pass those instructions on to a subordinate.

      It was ten o'clock on the morning of the inspection that the _Zaire_ came paddling furiously to the tiny concrete quay, and Hamilton gave a sigh of relief. For there, awaiting him, stood Lieutenant Tibbetts in the glory of his raiment--helmet sparkling white, steel hilt of sword a-glitter, khaki uniform, spotless and well-fitting.

      "Everything is all right, sir," said Bones, saluting, and Hamilton thought he detected a gruffer and more robust note in the tone.

      "Mail-boat's just in, sir," Bones went on with unusual fierceness. "You're in time to meet His Excellency. Stores all laid out, books in trim, parade ground and quarters whitewashed as per your jolly old orders, sir."

      He saluted again, his eyes bulging, his face a veritable mask of ferocity, and, turning on his heel, he led the way to the beach.

      "Here, hold hard!" said Hamilton; "what the dickens is the matter with you?"

      "Seen the error of my ways, sir," growled Bones, again saluting punctiliously. "I've been an ass, sir--too lenient--given you a lot of trouble--shan't occur again."

      There was not time to ask any further questions.

      The two men had to run to reach the landing place in time, for the surf boats were at that moment rolling to the yellow beach.

      Sir Robert Sanleigh, in spotless white, was carried ashore, and his staff followed.

      "Ah, Hamilton," said the great Bob, "everything all right?"

      "Yes, your Excellency," said Hamilton, "there have been one or two serious killing palavers on which I will report."

      Sir Robert nodded.

      "You were bound to have a little trouble as soon as Sanders went," he said.

      He was a methodical man and had little time for the work at hand, for the mail-boat was waiting to carry him to another station. Books, quarters, and stores were in apple-pie order, and inwardly Hamilton raised his voice in praise of the young man, who strode silently and fiercely by his side, his face still distorted with a new-found fierceness.

      "The Houssas are all right, I suppose?" asked Sir Robert. "Discipline good--no crime?"

      "The discipline is excellent, sir," replied Hamilton, heartily, "and we haven't had any serious crime for years."

      Sir Robert Sanleigh fixed his _pince-nez_ upon his nose and looked round the parade ground. A dozen Houssas in two ranks stood at attention in the centre.

      "Where are the rest of your men?" asked the Administrator.

      "In gaol, sir." It was Bones who answered the question.

      Hamilton gasped.

      "In gaol--I'm sorry--but I knew nothing for this. I've just arrived from the interior, your Excellency."

      They walked across to the little party.

      "Where is Sergeant Abiboo?" asked Hamilton suddenly.

      "In gaol, sir," said Bones, promptly, "sentenced to death--scratchin' his leg on parade after bein' warned repeatedly by me to give up the disgusting habit."

      "Where is Corporal Ahmet, Bones?" asked the frantic Hamilton.

      "In gaol, sir," said Bones. "I gave him twenty years for talkin' in the ranks an' cheekin' me when I told him to shut up. There's a whole lot of them, sir," he went on casually. "I sentenced two chaps to death for fightin' in the lines, an' gave another feller ten years for----"

      "I think that will do," said Sir Robert, tactfully. "A most excellent inspection, Captain Hamilton--now, I think, I'll get back to my ship."

      He took Hamilton aside on the beach.

      "What did you call that young man?" he asked.

      "Bones, your Excellency," said Hamilton miserably.

      "I should call him Blood and Bones," smiled His Excellency, as he shook hands.

      * * * * *

      "What's the good of bullyin' me, dear old chap?" asked Bones indignantly. "If I let a chap off, I'm kicked, an' if I punish him I'm kicked--it's enough to make a feller give up bein' judicial----"

      "Bones, you're a goop," said Hamilton, in despair.

      "A goop, sir?--if you'd be kind enough to explain----?"

      "There's an ass," said Hamilton, ticking off one finger; "and there's a silly ass," he ticked off the second; "and there's a silly ass who is such a silly ass that he doesn't know what a silly ass he is: we call him a goop."

      "Thank you, sir," said Bones, without resentment, "and which is the goop, you or----?"

      Hamilton dropped his hand on his revolver butt, and for a moment there was murder in his eyes.

      CHAPTER III

      THE LOST N'BOSINI

      "M'ilitani, there is a bad palaver in the N'bosini country," said the gossip-chief of the Lesser Isisi, and wagged his head impressively.

      Hamilton of the Houssas rose up from his camp chair and stretched himself to his full six feet. His laughing eyes--terribly blue they looked in the mahogany setting of his lean face--quizzed the chief, and his clean-shaven lips twitched ever so slightly.

      Chief Idigi looked at him curiously. Idigi was squat and fat, but wise. None the less he gossiped, for, as they say on the river, "Even the wise _oochiri_ is a chatterer."

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