In Search of the Okapi Part 24

"And what does her excellent son so far from the village?"

"There were tales of bad men," said the stranger, plucking up spirit, "and these tales drew me away, for the price offered for their capture was great, and my fetish told me where they were hid."

"And the little son was greedy? He kept this word of his fetish from the honourable ears of his mother, so that he would have the price to himself, eh?"

"Truly a great chief," murmured the boatman, with reverence. "It was as you say."

"And it fell out that, when you came to the place where the boatmen were hid, they were on their guard, so that you fled?"

"O great chief, it was even so. I fled in a canoe."

"And seeing this our canoe of s.h.i.+ning metal, you found courage to leave the reeds wherein you hid to come to us for help?"

"Oh, wonderful!" said the canoe-man, turning up his eyes. "When these eyes saw your s.h.i.+ning canoe, they were gladdened, for I said, 'Here come helpers.'"

"And you will take us to where these men are hidden, so that we may share the price that is on their heads?"

The man grinned. "You can have all the prize--all," he said, "and after we will go to my venerable mother, and eat fish and goats'

meat."

Muata smiled gently. "All the price?"

"Did I say all?" said the man, with a swift look at the chief. "I did wrong to my people--a portion to them and a portion to me."

"That is fair," said Muata.

"Oh, good words. See, I beat my mouth for the ill word I spoke;" and he struck his mouth. "But see, O chief, we move on, and the bad men will see us going, and make a plan to escape."

"Let it be so. If they see us they will see we are pa.s.sing on, and be comforted. And who will pay the price that is set on their heads?"

"They have the price with them," said the man, with a cunning look, "in ivory, in palm-oil, and in many things they have robbed from the villages."

"And what avails them, all those things--which are heavy things--if they have no canoes to carry them in to the traders?"

"Did I say they had no canoes? A great fleet they have waiting in hiding, till all the band come together from the hiding, waiting on the other sh.o.r.e. It was because I saw the fleet of canoes on the river, crossing to the far side, that I hoped to surprise the few who were left."

"And when may those canoes return?"

"The men collect their goods for the going; the time must be short before they leave."

"And where do the others lie hid?"

"By the great palm-tree, over there."

"Where there were men sitting watching? It was because they had no canoes that they did not follow you? Shall I tell you what was in my thought? This, that you and they were friends, and that you were the bait to draw us into the trap."

The man grinned nervously, and glanced at the water. "Would a little man trust himself in the power of such great chiefs, if his heart was crooked. I came for help, but if it pleases you to continue to the village, and to leave these bad men, it will please me also."

"And if we attack these men," asked Muata, after a pause, "what plan have you made for us?"

The boatman was relieved. His eyes brightened again. "See, we would land beyond that point ahead, and in the dark steal upon the robbers."

"We are too few," said Muata, after turning the matter over. "Now, if you could bring some of your friends to help, it might be done."

"I am alone, and you are great warriors. Your name has gone abroad."

"How? You know us, then?"

"All white men are the same in battle," said the other, quickly.

"Think over my words--that some men are wanted. There must be men to guard our canoe, others to watch for the return of the robbers from across the river. You must get men, otherwise we do nothing."

The canoe-man pondered, then he clapped his hand over his mouth.

"Yoh! The fear of death confused me, and drove from my thought that my brother is near with warriors protecting the gardens."

"Good, then. Go to your brother. Bring him and his warriors to the point you spoke of, light a fire there to guide us, and in the dark we will join you."

Muata hauled on the rope, boarded the Okapi, and set the canoe adrift.

"Do as I have said--gather the men quickly, light a fire, guide us to the hiding-place, and in the morning we will share the riches.

Hurry!"

"And is that the word of the white chief also?" asked the man, suspiciously.

"Did not the white chief leave this palaver to me? Go! for there is no time to waste."

The paddle flashed as the man sped for the sh.o.r.e near the point he had referred to, which was several miles above the spot where he had been taken in tow.

"Well?" said Mr. Hume, glancing at the chief, "He goes to collect men to meet us this night."

"So."

"Wow! There are bad men--robbers--to be attacked, and much ivory to be taken."

"We want no ivory, nor quarrels either."

"But I gave my word we would help him. It is a good thing to fall upon robbers."

"If there is to be a s.h.i.+ndy, I'm in for it," said Compton.

"Who are the robbers?"

Muata laughed, and snapped his fingers. "You saw the man in the canoe?"

Mr. Hume nodded, and looked after the paddler with knit brows.

"And you?"--to Compton.