It so happened that the first case claiming investigation was at Isisi City. It was a woman who had died, and this time Sanders suspected the husband, a notorious evil-doer.
"Okali," he said, coming to the point, "why did you poison your wife?"
"Lord," said the man, "she died of the sickness. In the evening she was well, but at the dark hour before sun came she turned in her sleep saying 'Ah! oh!' and straightway she died."
Sanders drew a long breath.
"Get a rope," he said to one of his men, and when the rope arrived Abiboo scrambled up to the lower branch of a copal-gum and scientifically lashed a block and tackle.
"Okali," said Sanders, "I am going to hang you for the murder of your wife, for I am a busy man and have no time to make inquiries; and if you are not guilty of her murder, yet there are many other abominable deeds you have been guilty of, therefore I am justified in hanging you."
The man was grey with terror when they slipped the noose over his neck and strapped his hands behind him.
"Lord, she was a bad wife to me and had many lovers," he stammered. "I did not mean to kill her, but the Devil Man said that such medicine would make her forget her lovers——"
"Devil Man! What Devil Man?" asked Sanders quickly.
"Lord, there is a devil greatly respected in these parts, who wanders in the forest all the time and gives many curious medicines."