Oom Sam pointed westward through the bush.

The King was thoughtful "Rum come all right?" he asked.

"Say so there," he declared. "All quite plain."

The King grinned. It was not regal, but he certainly did it. If white men come too near they must be shot - carefully and from ambush. He leaned back with the air of desiring the conference to cease. Oom Sam turned to Captain Francis.

"King him quite satisfied," he declared. "Him all explained before - he agree."

The King suddenly woke up again. He clutched Sam by the arm, and whispered in his ear. This time it was Sam who grinned.

"King, him say him signed paper twice," he explained. "Him want four barrels of rum now."

"He shall swim in it, Sam," he said; "he shall float down to hell upon it."