The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-06
Continued from KistOry-FictiOn Section.

once bosStcd 10 a West African Official
that no could put 5000 spearmcn into
the field. but there Is no doubt that this
was an overestimate. Moreover many OF
the Okky troops carried fintlock guns
and matchets In place or the spear. and
others again were bowmen. and stI 9th
ers welded the DahOmey axe. But his
Majesty was a parvenu king who had
fought his way 10 the throne. aud he
saw TO II that there was no ineniciency
In his war Office He made the conditions
OF service sufficiently pleasant to tempt
In tho fighting Moslemin from the Hausa
country. and these ane soldiers OF fortune
gave the needful sufening TO his own
pagan lovies.
Then, also. the King OF O6ky made fun
use OF the great cult or Ju-iu. The ave
rage West African king IS completely
under the thumb OF the ju-Iu men. and
81 no is not actually their nominee and
Puppet. no knows that n he runs at an
counter 20 their wishes and policy. he
Will die some frantic death devised by
the cleverest pOisoners on earth. But
King i<allce the First was not only King
OF Okky. but he was also Head Ju-ju
man OF that mysterious state. or as IL
is sometimes written. Head Wltch-Doc
tor. He could. when he chose. hale
subject from his dwelling and pin him TO
the Okky City crucihxion tree Tor no
further reason than his kingly will lie
rag. or a bunch OF hens feathers to be
tied above a subjects Intel. and that
subject and all his household would not
dare 10 pass the charm. nor would any
one else dare TO have communion with
them; so that in the end they would die
of hunger and thirst and become "a pesti-
lence 20 the community among whom
they had lived. and no one thought or
raising the breath or objection. The
King had put ju-ju on one or hts own
subjects. and that was al
Moreover Ce King. having set eyes on
Laura Slade. wished 20 install her To
wing OF the great mud palace OF Okky
as his wife. 50 far. throughout life.
when Ia had created a wish. fuifimcnt
followed as matter OF course. DE the
means what they might. I'm his demands
for Laura. kallee was az times amazed
at his own moderation. lie had APP
preached Slade (who 20 him was tho girl
proprietor just as ono native gentleman
might approach another. and isquirod h'r
price. Siade who could not Eive
decisive answer even 10 such "a prepos-
ferrous matter as this. imported after
has usual custom. The King naturally
saw in this "A pctcme 10 enhance tile XII.
price and displayed royal mulihceuoe.
He would pay Slade a Thousand punen-
cons of palm OH ana "a Thousand bags
~ rubber. and two thousand bags ~
kernels. and when Slade waived tlIs
lance tor UatrimoHy. kalee spoke ~
thc splendor in which hIs CHIEF queen
would 1--WE. Slaves 800 all nhuudar.e.
cloth AS dnc rs silk. ornaments ~ gold.
and AN American aIarw clo0N should ,e
hcrs- her foo1 should be coos-~oueoo %
tre finest. her drink should poe HcidsleoS
OF vintage year exclusively. All tie
affairs OF state should De exhibited for
her approval. and even Dis Two brass
cannon should Dee housed iu DEER apart
ments. The King showed llwselt 20
h.. tile royal lover in lavish perfection.
and slade conl not bring himself 60 cHt
short The oNe- ana tell h.m that t.e
whole thing was Impossible. lie teu-
ported. and congratulated himself ear b
time the matter came up on having r9t
rid ~ the Kirg without Rupture ~ their
friendly relations.
However. the royal patience. winch had
never been strung olt 90 such "a lcngtr
before. reached IT'S breaking strain that
day az Nalia-N ulla under Circumstance
already recorded. and what the King
could not obtain by this new diplomacy
he very naturally made nap his mind 70
get hold ~ hy methods which We're more
native 90 his experience
Being usreover strateeist with good
deal u sound elementary skin. Do old
not give the enemy time 20 bring in
reinforcemcufs after the first news "
danger kwaka's embassy was a recon-
ruii~TinE expedition as much as any
thing. and the detail t.at the brazcn
kwala should be scared out Of hls ses n
senses hy the man whose red head tie
King had already ordered for o. palace
ornament. was "a small thing which stood
beyond his calculation. a force % 900
picked men lsy iu bivouac bare fvs
miles inland FROM the factory tie il-.u
signs on the bush roads protected these
from aN espionage. and when night FELL
n iu-iu man who was the King special
envoy performed a ceremony which be-
said. and which they understood. granted
the soldiers n special dispeusatl0n against
those ghosts which an West African nae
tives know haunt tine darkness So they
advanced 20 the attack through the gloom
~ the steaming forest shades. thos. ~
them who were pagans with high spirit
and fine hopes OF loot. and those % them
who were Mosiemin hlled with vague
fear which they cleaned from Kwaka' g
hints.
Vow Garter did not fan into tho usual
Englshman's trick OF dcspisinz his enc
my. Indeed le had that figure of o.eo
fighting men firmly lodged in his head.
and short ~ the opportuue arrival Of
British gunboat. expected sooner or later
u furious fight. But he reckoned that
Kwaha would have 10 90 back 20 Okky
tltr with his report. and after wards See
turn from thence with am attacking force:
and De counted also on the African
fear OF ghosts. and looked with confidence
TO 10 disturbance during the hours ~
darkness.
So although DC worked the sweating
factory hands a. high pressure in pill
ing up puucheons and cases. and bales
of cloth. and sacks OF salt into SUBJ
stantial breastwork. be went to bed him
self that night and felt as he tucked
in the edge Of Che mosquito bar. that few
white men on the Coast had ever carmel
better spell OF sleeN
tt was at a. NJ when the Okky ycu
and the -Iash ~ a volley Of pot-leg woke
him. and he leaped up and through the
gauze in one jump. He ran out onto tho
veranda and met there Laura Slade. She
was dressed and had I'm her hand the
cheap Skipton revolver which he had Civ
on her. and towards the purchase Of which
his father had once contributed hard-to-