Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

Every Tuesday Bosambo looked at him humbly. He was beginning to realise that "Lord Saudi " could probe the very minds of his "black children." Nevertheless, the big negro had not lied concerning the high and important message. "Lord," he said, "I have told you tiiar f bring news, and it is thi6: Certain warriors of the Old King have passed through the country of the Ochori on way towards the coast." Sanders. Hamilton, and Tibbets looked at one another quickly. Then the Com- missioner glanced at Bosambo again. *" The warriors of King Mafolaba?" he breathed. Bosambo nodded gravely, and Sanders pursed his lips. Of all the native poten- tates of the river, Mafolaba had proved the most difficult to handle. He had more men at his command than am other tribal monarch—fighting men notorious for their savagery and cruelty ; and although he had learned from stern experience to fear Commissioner San- ders, yet he was still prone to make trouble whenever an opportunity occurred. "Vou say that some of Mafolaba':. men passed through the country of the Ochori tribe." Sanders muttered. "Did you try to stop them?'' Bosambo drew himself up to his full height. "Lord," he said, "Mafolaba is a great and powerful king, but there is one man on the river who does not fear him, and I am that man. Nevertheless, I did not stop his dogs, because that would have meant war, and I know that this you do not desire. Therefore I sent spies after them, to follow their movements." "That is well." the Commissioner re- joined. "Now listen, Bosambo. Every nation on the river has Government pigeons, and here at the Residency we have the pigeons of every nation. By these birds messages are sent But what are you grinning at. man?" "Lord," Bosambo replied, "the Ochori pigeons that you have here are so old and fat that they can hardly fly. I have brought four more, which I have given to a sergeant out in the compound." Sanders had already made up his mind regarding Bosambo. The black might be an escaped convict from the Republic of Liberia, but the Commissioner had sensed the sterling qualities of the man. and he had no intention of returning him to captivity on an extradition warrant. Whatever the fellow had done in the past, Sanders was resolved to give him a chance. "Tibbets," he said, turning to his junior assistant, "have you got a chain and medal of chieftainship?" "I have them here. Lord Sandi," Bosambo broke in, smiling now as if completely at his ease. He had brought one hand from behind hi- back, and grasped in it was a metal chain with a pendant that bore the inscription G. R.. symbol of the British Crow n. "The one worn by old Sulabu, your predecessor, eh?" the Commissioner murmured, and. taking it, he placed it around the big fellow's neck. "Bosambo," he continued, "I am go- ing to give you a six months' trial as chief of the Ochori people. See that yon do not fail me." The black dropped on one knee, pay- ing homage to him in the native fashion. "Lord Sandi," he said gratefully, "I am your servant." A moment afterwards he had retreated from the room and was gone. BOY'S CINEMA Do you want to marry the chief as well ? " Sanders demanded of her. Palaver TWO or three days later, a telegraph messago from Government House informed Commissioner Sanders that the warriors dispatched by King Mafolaba had raided the French terri- tory of Dahomey, 6cized two or three hundred natives, and were marching back to their own country via the land of the Ochoris. Five minutes after the receipt of that message an Ochori carrier-pigeon was released from the cote at the Residency, and later tho same day it reached the village of the people over whom Bosambo had made himself chief. The bird was brought to him in his hut. and he removed a tiny roll of paper that was attached to it. The contents of the missive read as follows: "From Lord Sandi at the Residency to Bosambo. chief of the Ochori. "King Mafolaba's warriors will return through your country from slave raid. Stop them and hold their captives until my arrival." Ere long the beat of tribal drums was resounding through Bosambo's village, summoning his fighting men to arms, and with his followers in full force behind him the cx*convict took his shield and his spear and led the way from the kraal. Away in the Bush, far to the west, the slave-raiders from Dahomey were on tlie march with a column of abject pris- oners, men. women and children. Their course lay across the northern corner of the Ochori country, and towards sunset they were still plodding onward in the direction of Mafolaba's realm, when the leader of the expedition perceived a soli- tary figure on the jungle track ahead of him. It was the figure of Bosambo, standing there like some magnificent statue— strong, resolute and implacable. Mafolaba'6 jackal called a halt, and advanced alone to meet Bosambo. "Whose dog are you?" he asked, pausing when he was a few yards from the Ochori chieftain. Bosambo did not answer tho question. "You go no farther," he said, lifting his spear threateningly. "That is Lord Sandi's command." "You know who I am, dog?" tho other retorted in proud and disdainful toner.. "I am the Captain of King Mafolaba's Guard." "Lord Saudi says to stop you and hold all men and women whom you have prized.'' Bosambo announced grimh. "Turn round and march to my village, if you know what is good fot you '." The spear of the Ochori chief was levelled at the other's breast, but that was not all. There had been movements ill the long gross and the undergrowth, and now King Mafolaba's minion saw the glinting assegais of many warriors. For the first time he realised that Bosambo was not alone, but possessed a force that outnumbered the slave- raiders by tliree to one. Mafolaba's jackal ground his teeth. The party which he himself headed was but one-twentieth of his King's man- power. Away in the city of that power- ful monarch, beyond the mountain-, which shielded his domain, there were regiments which could have wiped out the Ochoris to the last man—many hun- dreds of fierce warriors flaunting the headdress of ostrich feathers worn by all the Old King's troops. If only two or three hundred of those warriors were here ! But the Captain of Mafolaba's Guard was in a tight corner, and he had no option except to obey. With a 6C0wl he turned and moved back to the spot where he had halted his men and their prisoners. He had gone only a few steps when he chanced to look back and see that Bosambo was glancing round trium- phantly at his Ochori followers. On the instant Mafolaba's captain thought he Saw his chance to strike a blow that, would demoralise the enemy, and. wheel- ing unexpectedly, he hurled his spear straight at the Ochori chieftain's breast. Out of the corner of his eye Bosambo caught the glint of the weapon in tho May 11th, 1935.