"What says the father?" he said hesitatingly, and Sanders nodded.
"That is a wise question," he approved, and called the father, a voluble and an eager old man.
"Now, king," he said hurriedly, "I sold this woman, my daughter; how might I know her mind? Surely I fulfil my contract when the woman goes to the man. How shall a father control when a husband fails?"
Sanders looked at the king again, and the boy drew a long breath.
"It would seem, M'bleni, that the woman, your daughter, lived many years in your hut, and if you do not know her mind you are either a great fool or she is a cunning one. Therefore, I judge that you sold this woman knowing her faults. Yet the husband might accept some risk also. You shall take back your daughter and return 500 rods and a bag of salt, and if it should be that your daughter marries again, you shall pay one-half of her dowry to this man."
Very, very slowly he gave judgment, hesitatingly, anxiously, glancing now and again to the white man for his approval.
"That was good," said Sanders, and called forward another pleader.
"Lord king," said the new plaintiff, "a man has put an evil curse on me and my family, so that they sicken."
Here was a little poser for the little judge, and he puzzled the matter out in silence, Sanders offering no help.
"How does he curse you?" at last asked the king.