Boy's Cinema (1935-39)

BOY'S CINEMA X " You cold-blooded swine I " Smith grated. " I'm clearing out of here, and nobody is going to stop me I " nick of time, and with a swift move- ment lie warded it off witli his shield. Then he lunged forward, and all the strength of his mighty arm was behind (he -haft that sped to the heart of the Old King's minion. It pierced the man's body, and he fell with a groat cry. Next second the jungle echoed to a medley of wild yells as the Ochoris leaped from cover to cover and rushed upon the slavers. Led by Bosambo, they swarmed towards the foe in numbers that over- awed the Old King's men, and, having witnessed the fate of their commander, these were in no mood to offer a resistance. They were speedily taken prisoner, and after his men had disarmed them and herded them together, Bosambo took stock of the wretches whom they had intended to sell as slaves. Like the ladies' man that he was, it was the feminino element among these which most closely engaged his attention. The unfortunates who had been seized by King Mafolaba's raiding-party in- ciiuled ten girls, all of whom were attractive according to negro standard-, but there was one in particular who took Bosambo's eye—a slender girl with a touch ol white blood in her, strangely alluring in her dark, native nay, with an expression that was winsome and yet bold. Singling her out, Bosambo looked down on her with admiration and interest. ."What's your name, girl?" he asked Iter. "Lilongo," she answered coolly. " Lilongo," he murmured, as if the name were sweet to his ears. "It is like the sound of a stream running over little stones—Lilongo " lie paused, and then: " Where do you come from, girl ?" "You wouldn't know iny home," she told him. "I am from the coast." May Jlth, 19S5. He smiled reminiscentlv. "I know all about the coast," he re- joined. "Lilongo, we shall talk some more—you and I." He summoned one or two of his men, and ordered them to take charge of the rescued slaves. Then the entire band set out for the Ochori village, where the Old King's captive warriors were kept, under guard until the arrival of Sanders and young Tibbets a couple of days later. The Commissioner and his assistant, reached Bosambo's kraal by an ante- diluvian paddlesteamerj Sanders' means of transport up and down the river—the relic of a generation of Civil Servants. It was known as the "Zaire," and it had accommodation for a. company of soldiers, whom the white Lord of the River had taken the precaution of bringing along with him. Sanders first congratulated Bosambo on the manner in which he had handled a tricky situation, and then he informed him that he had dispatched a messenger to King Mafolaba requesting his pres- ence at a palaver outside the Ochori village. "He should be here before the day is out," ho said. "That is, if ho obeys my command." "He will be here. Lord Saudi," Bosambo declared. "He is afraid of you." The big negro's prophecy was no idle one, for that same afternoon a great concord of warriors was sighted, and as they approached the Ochori village it was seen that they wore the ostrich plumes of the Old King's fighting men. Mafolaba himself was in advance of them, reposing in a litter Dome by four of his servants. Above his gross body and ugly face was a gaudy canopy, which protected him from the heat of tho sun. Sanders, Tibbets, and Bosambo awaited him, the two whito men seated Evety Tuesday on chairs, the Ochori chieftain kneeling with a spear grasped in one hand. Close by, tho company of Hausas from the Residency stood at ease, smart as Guardsmen, the butts of their rifles re-r- ing on the ground. Bc6ambo's warriors were in the background. Mafolaba and his followers came on, and when they were thirty or forty yards from tho village they halted. The Old King then alighted from tho palanquin in which he had been carried, and one of his servants hastened to placa a chair for him, a ceremonial chair decorated with fiendish symbols. King Mafolaba stepped forward, and, with a distance of several paces separat- ing them, he and Sanders exchanged salutations, after which the negro poten- tate sat down. He was a striking figure, fat and evil, with a countenance at once truculent and cunning. His thick, woolly coiffure was hung with beads, and, though he was nude to the waist, his nether person was swathed in a long garment of bright colours. Sanders leaned forward to speak to him, resting his weight on a cane that he was holding. "King Mafolaba," ho said, "when I summoned you to palaver I did not ask you to bring all your warriors." Ah ugly glint was playing in the negro monarch's wicked eyes. "Sandi," he answered, "I brought them so that a dog of a little chief might tremble at the power he has pro- voked." He looked venomously at Bosambo ae he spoke those words, but the Ochori chieftain gave him eye for eye. Then Sanders raised his voice again. "King Mafolaba," he said, "you know full well that slavery is forbidden throughout tho territory." "That is the white man's law," the other retorted. "Before whito men set foot on this land, my ancestors were great kings here for three hundred years. To-day, I, Mafolaba, am the greatest king in this country." "My King is the greatest king on earth! Sanders rapped out. "His law is the law of this country, and, when petty chiefs and kings bring shame on him, we, his servants, must stamp them out. Take heed of that, Mafolaba, and let there be no more sia'e raids by your warriors." The old king's face was working, but he succeeded in mastering bis wrath. He was afraid of this Sandi. afraid of those Hausas standing so impressively nearby, soldiers in the pay of the great white Emperor. "Sandi," he said, "I am your friend. I will do as you ask. But one thing I tell you now—I shall not forget that ;» dog of a little chief once chopped the captain of my guard." Again he directed a malevolent glance at Bosambo, but Sanders' voice quickly summoned his attention once more. "The chief of the Ochori was pi on my instructions," the Commissioner snapped. "Ho intercepted your captain in my name, but your jackal chose to disregard my commands." Mafolaba showed no signs of being pacified. " In my village there are nine drums," he said for the benefit of Bosambo. "Each of them is covered with the skin of a little chief who has offended me. I think I know whose skin will cover the tenth I" "King Mafolaba," Sanders ground out, "1 wain you I If you harm one servant of the Government, be it only a carrier-pigeon, I will grind you into the dust, and you shall be King no more!"