"He is young," said Hamilton, "and not yet grown to himself—now you, Bosambo, shall check men who are insolent to his face, and be to him as a strong right hand."
"On my head and my life," said Bosambo, "yet, lord M'ilitani, I think that his day will find him, for it is written in the Sura of the Djin that all men are born three times, and the day will come when Bonzi will be born again."
He was in his canoe before Hamilton realized what he had said.
"Tell me, Bosambo," said he, leaning over the side of the Zaire, "what name did you call my lord Tibbetti?"
"Bonzi," said Bosambo, innocently, "for such I have heard you call him."
"Oh, dog of a thief!" stormed Hamilton. "If you speak without respect of Tibbetti, I will break your head."
Bosambo looked up with a glint in his big, black eyes.
"Lord," he said, softly, "it is said on the river 'speak only the words which high ones speak, and you can say no wrong,' and if you, who are wiser than any, call my lord 'Bonzi'—what goat am I that I should not call him 'Bonzi' also?"
Hamilton saw the canoe drift round, saw the flashing paddles dip regularly, and the chant of the Ochori boat song came fainter and fainter as Bosambo's state canoe began its long journey northward.
Hamilton reached headquarters with a temperature of 105, and declined Bones' well-meant offers to look after him.