The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
CHAPTER XVI.
TIE KINGS Bo1rNrY

further brilliant idea came to Carter
next mex, morning that, after all. he ana
White Mans Trouble had been raising
a .ha about the rivers navigation
that were quite unnecessary. There was
village OF natives close at their door
VINO We're river-farers. What was more
likely than that there were many men
there Who could pilot n canoe through II
chain OF creeks TIL at last they heard
the great Atlantic surf roaring on a
river bar?
-Mans-Trouble shook his head
when he heard the suggestion. Dem
temptuously.
, Upon experiment 1t proved that he was
right. The villagers had acquired the
habit of fishing on the reaches which
down: they had adopted the customs Of
their forefathers; no one OF them had
ever padded beyond these limits. They
were an Injurious people.
and unwleldy they were dug out from
cottonwood trees with fire. and dubbed
into vague shape with native AIDES. and
through sheer !dleness and incapac.ty
the builders had rarely selected straight
timber. Even expert polers and paddlers
could not propel those miserable craft in
straight course. One thing only were
these fishers good at, and that was bal
Ing. But In this they had abundant prac
tice for all the canoes were sun cracked.
and leaked like baskets.
II wish" said Carter. "for great raft
that will carry twelve tons Of the shiny
stones which fall from the mountain"
They did not know what raft was,
neither did they appreciate the size of a
ton, but Carter demonstrated to them.
| and White Man's-Trouble kept them
| from forgetting. The krooboy had found
chiquot. and. from having felt chlquots
a time. was well qualified to WELD such
a baton OF authority. Carter picked out
! suitable cottonwoods. and the Krooboy
apportioned out the cutters, and stayed
beside them till their work was done.
They hand-spiked the logs down to the
water. again having to be instructed in
this most elementary piece Of mechanics.
laid cross-pieces at right angles. and
Then. when they had built up the inter-
stlces between the logs with large pieces
OF tinstone. they carried down the small
or ore in baskets till the logs We're sunk
to three-quarters draught.
Next they built house on the raft
and covered 1t with thatcu, and in part
OF the house they piled a great store of
dried fish as provision for the voyage.
And all the while the ju-ju organ behind
them doomed out at intervals its dismal
boo-paa-bumm. bumm- paa-boo.
Now, although Carter had been trader
long enough to get very African notions
| an Englishman's natural bias against
| forced labor. White-Man' s-Trouble. who
did not see the desirability OF working If
others would do 1t for him, openly sug-
gested pressing what hands were required
for navigation. But Carter said no. He
had no money to pay them with on ar
| rival and the lower castles of Africans
do not understand the delights OF having
outstanding accounts with the white man
for labor performed. The krooboy and
he must struggle down the creeks and
find the channel themselves.
White Mans Trouble shifted and
scratched himself. and said they would
see. And presently, when the time came
for departure. the usual African surprise
descended upon them surely enough:
Seven naked savages from tho fishers
village squatted on the raft and refused
to bulge. Their arguments were simple.
Carter was great ju-ju man. They
knew he was great. because since he
came the boo-paa-bumm noises had been
incessant Moreover. these were benefi-
cent noises, since whilst they filled the
air no. one had died in the village from
| therefore adopted him as their master.
"Oh: but look here" said Carter. Il
can't do this 1t means should be a
slave holder, neither more nor less. Be-