"You were mad," said Sanders calmly; "no woman is worth a thousand bags of salt."
"Well, that might be," admitted the outraged father; "yet it would be folly to begin by naming a price too low. The bargaining went on through the night and all the next day, and in the end the envoy of the great king grew impatient.
"Let the woman be sent for," he said, and obedient to the summons came Daihili, demure enough, yet with covert glances of encouragement to the unemotional ambassador, and with subtle exhibitions of her charms.
"Woman," said the messenger, "the greatest of kings desires you, will you come?"
"Lord," said the girl, "I wish for nothing better."
With that, the hundred armed warriors in attendance at the palaver closed round the girl.
"And so," said Sanders, "you got nothing?"
"Lord, it is as you say," moaned the old chief.
"It is evident," said Sanders, "that an injustice has been done; for no man may take a woman unless he pay. I think," he added, with a flash of that mordant humour which occasionally illuminated his judgments, "that the man pays twice, once to the father, and all his life to his wife—but that is as may be."
Six weeks later, after consultation, Sanders sent a messenger to the great king, demanding the price of the woman.