They explained nothing to Sanders at the moment.
CHAPTER IX
THE KI-CHU
The messenger from Sakola, the chief of the little folk who live in the bush, stood up. He was an ugly little man, four feet in height and burly, and he wore little save a small kilt of grass.
Sanders eyed him thoughtfully, for the Commissioner knew the bush people very well.
"You will tell your master that I, who govern this land for the King, have sent him lord's pleasure in such shape as rice and salt and cloth, and that he has sworn by death to keep the peace of the forest. Now I will give him no further present——"
"Lord," interrupted the little bushman outrageously, "he asks of your lordship only this cloth to make him a fine robe, also ten thousand beads for his wives, and he will be your man for ever."
Sanders showed his teeth in a smile in which could be discovered no amusement.
"He shall be my man," he said significantly
The little bushman shuffled his uneasy feet.