"O, tell me, Bosambo," demanded Bones, leaning forward and speaking rapidly, "what manner of people are they who live in the city of N'bosini?"
"They are men and women," said Bosambo after a pause.
"White or black?" asked Bones, eagerly.
Bosambo thought a little.
"White," he said soberly, and was immensely pleased at the impression he created.
"I thought so," said Bones, excitedly, and jumped up, his eyes wider than ever, his hands trembling as he pulled his note-book from his breast pocket.
"I will make a book[3] of this, Bosambo," he said, almost incoherently. "You shall speak slowly, telling me all things, for I must write in English."
He produced his pencil, squatted again, open book upon his knee, and looked up at Bosambo to commence.
"Lord, I cannot do this," said Bosambo, his face heavy with gloom, "for have I not told your lordship that I have sworn such oath? Moreover," he said carelessly, "we who know the secret, have each hidden a large bag of silver in the ground, all in one place, and we have sworn that he who tells the secret shall lose his share. Now, by the Prophet, 'Eye-of-the-Moon' (this was one of the names which Bones had earned, for which his monocle was responsible), I cannot do this thing."
"How large was this bag, Bosambo?" asked Bones, nibbling the end of his pencil.