"Master," said Bosambo, throwing out his arms in despair, "did I know that beneath the middle tree of five was buried ten tusks of ivory? Lord, am I mad that I should give this dog such blessed treasure? I thought——"
"I also thought it was an old man's story," said Sanders gently.
"Lord, may I look?"
Sanders nodded, and Bosambo walked to the end of the verandah and looked across the sea.
There was a smudge of smoke on the horizon. It was the smoke of the departing mail-boat which carried Siskolo and his wonderful ivory back to Monrovia.
Bosambo raised a solemn fist and cursed the disappearing vessel.
"O brother!" he wailed. "O devil! O snake! Nigger! Nigger! Dam' nigger!"
Bosambo wept.
CHAPTER VIII
THE CHAIR OF THE N'GOMBI