The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-06
! CHAPTER vi.


CHAPTER VI
THE COMING or THE OISISY MEN.
The attack on Smooth RIVER factory
did not take place without due warning.
1t seemed that n large caravan Of native
merchants from the hinterland had come
through the Okky country with fine
cargo OF produce since tho king had
stopped tho roads. Whether they had
cut new roads through the bush for
themselves, or fought their way past the
obstructing ju-ju. they did not explain;
they arrived ut the factory with Kernels.
a few tusks of discolored ivory, few
quilts of water-worn gold, and fine
parcel of high grade rubber, which We're
duly valued; they took cloth, six flint
lock guns. a case or two Of gin, and the
balance in pink koln-nuts by way of pay
| ment; and with these on tho skulls OF
their carriers, they marched away along
the beach and out OF this history.
Then presently there came down en-
voys from the King OF okky, demanding,
with n fine Inconsistency, that ONelll
and Cravens factory should pay his
Majesty the transit blackmail which he
had ,been unable to collect himself. Car
ter was sent for, post-haste, from Malta
Nulla, and was ut first minded to tell
those ENJOYS to 20 to kingdom which
repute says is even hotter than West
Africa. But thoughts of Laura living
there by herself, and dread of the hor-
rors of native war made him offer q
compromise. open the roads" said he.
land We'll pay up these fellows dues.
though your king knows perfectly well
he hasn't an atom OF claim on this fac
tory. It's the custom for traders to pay
for going through n country II they can't
avoid paying; they never pay once they
are through and never never. never,
throughout all the wicked history OF
Africa, has there ben case of an Eng
lsh factory being fool enough to pay
toll which Its casual customers have
slipped through without paying. But, as
I say, I am ready to meet you in the
matter. Open the roads and III dash
you this amount you ask for"
Kwaka. the head envoy, a big, fine,
bold-eyed Hausa, requested that the
money might be handed them there and
then.
Not one sixpence.' said Carter, till
the roads are opened
The Hausa was n professional soldier.
and here he could sec was, going to be
chance of working at his trade He
gleefully delivered the King of Okly's
utimatum. II the tribute was not paid,
the King would withdraw his permission
for O'Neill and Crayen's factories to exist
on the Coast.
Tell your old king" said the Eng
lshman. contemptuously that he may
have authority over his own filthy mud
villages inland. but his law does not carry
along the Coast as he knows full well.
The Coast is the white mans"
Things We're going exactly as kwaka
could have wished The man with the
red head was warming UP nicely. IF
you fight when we come down to the fac
tory" said Kwaka, II will see to 1t that
you are crucified separately should
like to take the woman who lives here
into my own harem. but the king has
bespoken her already
You" said Carter savagely, "a Mos
lem, ought to know shame for living in
the employ OF pagans like Okky men.
| If you come back here my first shot shall
| be for YOU, and after YOU are dead I Will
| have that done to your face with the
white mans Doctors tools as shall for
ever spoil its beauty. So that when the
| Prophet takes you up into Paradise. even
| the least of the hourls will shrink from
| you and hide her eyes from all sight OF
| you in the folds of her green robe Just
| you stick that in your memory, Mr..
| Kwaka. and don't come boasting round
|
can make white iron burn
| He pulled a length of magnesium wire
from his pocket and lit 1t with match.
| The big Hausa stared owlshy at the
fierce white flame.
"That is the glare of Gehenna," said
| Carter. "into which, If you come -
| Smooth River again. you will presently
! descend, after being cast out from Para
! disc because of the reason mentioned
| You, have now my permission to depart
! And I wonder" he added to himself, ''if
! my Mohammedan theology IS fairly cor
rect. Kwaka's swallowed 1t right enough
but If he hands it along to muah, he
| NAV find flaw, anu we shall have the
whole brood OF them down about oui
ears in half no time
However, the portent was sufficiently
| startling for the moment. kwaka argued
that man who could make iron burr
could doubtless Gas he claimedD spoil the
good looks of true believer by some
other of his Internal arts, and, there
| fore was n person whom 1t would be
healthy to let alone. So he and his escor
took themselves off into the forest az
unobtrusively as might be-
But with Laura Carter took another
! tone. Look here, my dear" he said
you simply must run across to the Ca
/ naries till things have simmered dowr
again here. I don't want to alarm you
but it's quite on the cards that inferno
old Mormon of king may take it int
his woolly head to be dangerous, You've
had one taste Of his quality already"
1.-TWO" said the girl, and shuddered
"and he's sent my father presents ant
messages since. But / can't go ava,
from Smooth River, at any rate TIL m.
father comes back. He left me In charge
you SEQ
(Which think very improper Of him
. I don't believe in girls being mixed III
in business matters. ut any rate in Yves
Africa, and am sure *. O'Neill woul
be frightfully down on it-what are yo
laughing at? Laura, tell me one tim