He waved the messenger out of his thoughts. Into his hut, through this to his inner hut, he went.
His wife sat on the carpeted floor of Bosambo's harem, her brown baby on her knees.
"Heart of gold," said Bosambo, "I go to a war palaver, obeying Sandi. All gods be with you and my fine son.
"And with you, Bosambo, husband and lord," she said calmly; "for if this is Sandi's palaver it is good."
He left her, and sent for his fighting headman, the one-eyed Tembidini, strong in loyalty.
"I shall take one war canoe to the lower river," said Bosambo. "See to this: fifty fighting men follow me, and you shall raise the country and bring me an army to the place where the Isisi River turns twice like a dying snake."
"Lord, this is war," said his headman.
"That we shall see," said Bosambo.
"Lord, is it against the Isisi?"
"Against the king. As to the people, we shall know in good time."