"That is too many," interposed Kingozi. "Six is a great plenty for such people. It is their nature to run away."
"Thirty," she repeated to the Nubian, without a glance in the white man's direction.
The huge negro produced the rhinoceros-hide whip, and went to his task. To lay thirty lashes on sixteen backs and to do justice to the occasion is a great task. The Nubian's face streamed sweat when he had finished. The bearers, who had taken the punishment in silence, arose, saluted, and begun to skylark among themselves, which was their way of working off emotion.
"Askaris!" summoned the woman.
They came trotting.
"Lay down your guns! Lie down!"
A mild wonder appeared in Kingozi's gray eyes.
"Do you kiboko your askaris?" he asked.
She jerked her head in his direction.
"Do you presume to question my actions?"