A fair question, though the facts were not exactly stated, for the N'gombi were lazy, and had sown late; also the game was in their forest for the searching, but, as the saying is, "The N'gombi hunts from his bed and seeks only cooked meats."
One night the N'gombi stole across the river and fell upon Kiko city, establishing themselves masters of the country.
There was a great palaver, which was attended by the chief and headman of the Kiko.
"Henceforward," said the N'gombi king—Tigilini was his name—"you are as slaves to my people, and if you are gentle and good and work in the fields you shall have one-half of all you produce, for I am a just man, and very merciful. But if you rebel, I will take you for my sport."
Lest any misunderstanding should exist, he took the first malcontent, who was a petty chief of a border village, and performed his programme.
This man had refused tribute, and was led, with roped hands, before the king, all headmen having been summoned to witness the happening.
The rebel was bound with his hands behind him, and was ordered to kneel. A young sapling was bent over, and one end of a native rope was fixed to its topmost branches, and the other about his neck. The tree was slowly released till the head of the offender was held taut.
"Now!" said the king, and his executioner struck off the head, which was flung fifty yards by the released sapling.
It fell at the feet of Mr. Commissioner Sanders, who, with twenty-five Houssas and a machine gun, had just landed from the Zaire.
Sanders was annoyed; he had travelled three days and four nights with little sleep, and he had a touch of fever, which made him irritable.