An autosegmental analysis of Kagate tone is presented. The focus is on tonal instability, which occurs as the result of a compensatory lengthening process. To account for facts of tonal stability, previously hypothesized, and tonal instability, it is proposed that the location of tone within the overall geometry is subject to parametric variation, or it may otherwise not be elegantly accounted for if tone must be directly associated with the skeleton. It is concluded that tone in Kagate is associated with the laryngeal node, as part of the feature geometry. The report contains an autosegmental analysis of Kagate and comparisons with tonal patterns in Zahao and Nupe. Zahao also has a compensatory lengthening process that results in the loss of tonal information, and the Zahao facts are seen as further substantiating the instability analysis. Nupe tone spreading is discussed as further evidence that in some languages, tone can be subordinate to the laryngeal node. A 28-item list of references is included. (MSE)