"A thousand dollars," said Big Ben with the comfortable air of one to whom a thousand dollars was a piece of bad luck.
Bosambo put out his hand and steadied himself against the straw-plaited wall of his hut.
"You make 'um hundred dollar ten time?" he asked, huskily, "you make 'um book?"
"I make 'um book," said Ben, and in a moment of inspiration drew a note-book from his pocket and carefully wrote down the substance of his offer.
He handed the note to the chief, and Bosambo stared at it uncomprehendingly.
"And," said Big Ben, confidentially leaning across and tapping the knee of the standing chief with the golden head of his cane, "if you——"
Bosambo raised his hand, and his big face was solemn.
"Master," he said, relapsing into the vernacular in his excitement, "though this ki-chu lives in a village of devils, and ghosts walk about his hut, I will bring him."
The next morning Bosambo disappeared, taking with him three hunters of skill, and to those who met him and said, "Ho! Bosambo; where do you walk?" he answered no word, but men who saw his face were shocked, for Bosambo had been a Christian and knew the value of money.
Eight days he was absent, and Big Ben Hold found life very pleasant, for he was treated with all the ceremony which is usually the privilege of kings.