the yellow god-第16章

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may　be　tapping。〃

〃I　thought　it　might　be　so；〃　answered　Barbara；　〃so　I　just　rang　you　up
to　wish　you　good…morning　and　to　say　that　I　am　coming　over　in　the　motor
to　lunch　with　my　maid　Snell　as　chaperone。　All　right；　don't
remonstrate；　I　/am　coming/　over　to　lunchI　can't　hear　younever　mind
what　people　will　say。　I　am　coming　over　to　lunch　at　one　o'clock；　mind
you　are　in。　Good…bye；　I　don't　want　much　to　eat；　but　have　something　for
Snell　and　the　chauffeur。　Good…bye。〃

Then　the　wire　went　dead；　nor　could　all　Alan's　〃Hello's〃　and　〃Are　you
there's？〃　extract　another　syllable。

Having　ordered　the　best　luncheon　that　his　old　housekeeper　could
provide　Alan　went　off　for　his　walk　in　much　better　spirits；　which　were
further　improved　by　his　success　in　persuading　the　tenant　to　do　without
the　new　buildings　for　another　year。　In　a　year；　he　reflected；　anything
might　happen。　Then　he　returned　by　the　wood　where　a　number　of　new…
felled　oaks　lay　ready　for　barking。　This　was　not　a　cheerful　sight；　it
seemed　so　cruel　to　kill　the　great　trees　just　as　they　were　pushing
their　buds　for　another　summer　of　life。　But　he　consoled　himself　by
recalling　that　they　had　been　too　crowded　and　that　the　timber　was
really　needed　on　the　estate。　As　he　reached　the　house　again　carrying　a
bunch　of　white　violets　which　he　had　plucked　in　a　sheltered　place　for
Barbara；　he　perceived　a　motor　travelling　at　much　more　than　the　legal
speed　up　the　walnut　avenue　which　was　the　pride　of　the　place。　In　it　sat
that　young　lady　herself；　and　her　maid；　Snell；　a　middle…aged　woman　with
whom；　as　it　chanced；　he　was　on　very　good　terms；　as　once；　at　some
trouble　to　himself；　he　had　been　able　to　do　her　a　kindness。

The　motor　pulled　up　at　the　front　door　and　out　of　it　sprang　Barbara；
laughing　pleasantly　and　looking　fresh　and　charming　as　the　spring
itself。

〃There　will　be　a　row　over　this；　dear；〃　said　Alan；　shaking　his　head
doubtfully　when　at　last　they　were　alone　together　in　the　hall。

〃Of　course；　there'll　be　a　row；〃　she　answered。　〃I　mean　that　there
should　be　a　row。　I　mean　to　have　a　row　every　day　if　necessary；　until
they　leave　me　alone　to　follow　my　own　road；　and　if　they　won't；　as　I
said；　to　go　to　the　Court　of　Chancery　for　protection。　Oh！　by　the　way；　I
have　brought　you　a　copy　of　/The　Judge/。　There's　a　most　awful　article
in　it　about　that　Sahara　flotation；　and　among　other　things　it　announces
that　you　have　left　the　firm　and　congratulates　you　upon　having　done
so。〃

〃They'll　think　I　have　put　it　in；〃　groaned　Alan　as　he　glanced　at　the
head　lines；　which　were　almost　libellous　in　their　vigour；　and　the
summaries　of　the　financial　careers　of　Sir　Robert　Aylward　and　Mr。
Champers…Haswell。　〃It　will　make　them　hate　me　more　than　ever；　and　I
say；　Barbara；　we　can't　live　in　an　atmosphere　of　perpetual　warfare　for
the　next　two　years。〃

〃I　can；　if　need　be；〃　answered　that　determined　young　woman。　〃But　I
admit　that　it　would　be　trying　for　you；　if　you　stay　here。〃

〃That's　just　the　point；　Barbara。　I　must　not　stay　here；　I　must　go　away；
the　further　the　better；　until　you　are　your　own　mistress。〃

〃Where　to；　Alan？〃

〃To　West　Africa；　I　think。〃

〃To　West　Africa？〃　repeated　Barbara；　her　voice　trembling　a　little。
〃After　that　treasure；　Alan？〃

〃Yes；　Barbara。　But　first　come　and　have　your　lunch；　then　we　will　talk。
I　have　got　lots　to　tell　and　show　you。〃

So　they　lunched；　speaking　of　indifferent　things；　for　the　servant　was
there　waiting　on　them。　Just　as　they　were　finishing　their　meal　Jeekie
entered　the　room　carrying　a　box　and　a　large　envelope　addressed　to　his
master；　which　he　said　had　been　sent　by　special　messenger　from　the
office　in　London。

〃What's　in　the　box？〃　asked　Alan；　looking　somewhat　nervously　at　the
envelope；　which　was　addressed　in　a　writing　that　he　knew。

〃Don't　know　for　certain；　Major；〃　answered　Jeekie；　〃but　think　Little
Bonsa；　think　I　smell　her　through　wood。〃

〃Well；　look　and　see；〃　replied　Alan；　while　he　broke　the　seal　of　the
envelope　and　drew　out　its　contents。　They　proved　to　be　sundry　documents
sent　by　the　firm's　lawyers；　among　which　were　a　notice　of　the　formal
dissolution　of　partnership　to　be　approved　by　him　before　it　appeared　in
the　/Gazette/；　a　second　notice　calling　in　a　mortgage　for　fifteen
thousand　and　odd　pounds　on　Yarleys；　which　as　a　matter　of　business　had
been　taken　over　by　the　firm　while　he　was　a　partner；　a　cash　account
showing　a　small　balance　against　him；　and　finally　a　receipt　for　him　to
sign　acknowledging　the　return　of　the　gold　image　that　was　his　property。

〃You　see；〃　said　Alan　with　a　sigh；　pushing　over　the　papers　to　Barbara；
who　read　them　carefully　one　by　one。

〃I　see；〃　she　answered　presently。　〃It　is　war　to　the　knife。　Alan；　I　hate
the　idea　of　it；　but　perhaps　you　had　better　go　away。　While　you　are　here
they　will　harass　the　life　out　of　you。〃

Meanwhile　with　the　aid　of　a　big　jack…knife　and　the　dining…room　poker；
Jeekie　had　prized　off　the　lid　of　the　box。　Chancing　to　look　round
Barbara　saw　him　on　his　knees　muttering　something　in　a　strange　tongue；
and　bowing　his　white　head　until　it　touched　an　object　that　lay　within
the　box。

〃What　are　you　doing；　Jeekie？〃　she　asked。

〃Make　bow　to　Little　Bonsa；　Miss　Barbara；　tell　her　how　glad　I　am　see
her　come　back　from　town。　She　like　feel　welcome。　Now　you　come　bow　too；
Little　Bonsa　take　that　as　compliment。〃

〃I　won't　bow；　but　I　will　look；　Jeekie；　for　although　I　have　heard　so
much　about　it　I　have　never　really　examined　this　Yellow　God。〃

〃Very　good；　you　come　look；　miss；〃　and　Jeekie　propped　up　the　case　upon
the　end　of　the　dining…room　table。　As　from　its　height　and　position　she
could　not　see　its　contents　very　well　whilst　standing　above　it；　Barbara
knelt　down　to　get　a　better　view　of　it。

〃My　goodness！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃what　a　terrible　face；　beautiful　too　in
its　way。〃

Hardly　had　the　words　left　her　lips　when　for　some　reason　unexplained
that　probably　had　to　do　with　the　shifting　of　the　centre　of　gravity；
Little　Bonsa　appeared　to　glide　or　fall　out　of　her　box　with　a　startling
suddenness；　and　project　herself　straight　at　Barbara；　who；　with　a　faint
scream；　fearing　lest　the　precious　thing　should　be　injured；　caught　it
in　her　arms　and　for　a　moment　hugged　it　to　her　breast。

〃Saved！〃　she　exclaimed；　recovering　herself　and　placing　it　on　the
table；　whereon　Jeekie；　to　their　astonishment；　began　to　execute　a　kind
of　war　dance。

〃Oh！　yes；〃　he　said；　〃saved；　very　much　saved。　All　saved；　most
magnificent　omen。　Lady　kneel　to　Little　Bonsa　and　Little　Bonsa　nip　out
of　box；　make　bow　and　jump　in　lady's　arms。　That　splendid；　first…class
luck；　for　miss　and　everybody。　When　Little　Bonsa　do　that　need　fear
nothing　no　more。　All　come　right　as　rain。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Barbara；　laughing。　Then　from　a　cautious　distance　she
continued　her　examination　of　the　fetish。

〃See；〃　said　Jeekie；　pointing　to　the　misshapen　little　gold　legs　which
were　yet　so　designed　that　it　could　be　stood　up　upon　them；　〃when　anyone
wear　Little　Bonsa；　tie　her　on　head　behind　by　these　legs；　look；　here
same　old　leather　string。　Now　I　put　her　on；　for　she　like　to　be　worn
again；〃　and　with　a　quick　movement　he　clapped　the　mask　on　to　his　face；
manipulated　the　greasy　black　leather　thongs　and　made　them　fast。　Thus
adorned　the　great　negro　looked　no　less　than　terrific。

〃I　see　you；　miss；〃　he　said；　turning　the　fixed　eyes　of　opal…like　stone；
bloodshot　with　little　rubites；　upon　Barbara；　〃I　see　you；　though　you　no
see　me；　for　these　eyes　made　very　cunning。　But　listen；　you　hear　me；〃
and　suddenly　from　the　mask；　produced　by　some　contrivance　set　within
it；　there　proceeded　an　awful；　howling　sound　that　made　her　shiver。

〃Take　that　thing　off；　Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　〃we　don't　want　any　banshees
here。〃

〃Banshees？　Not　know　him；　he　poor　English　fetish　p'raps；〃　said　Jeekie；
as　he　removed　the　mask。　〃This　real　African　god；　howl　banshee　and　all
that　sort　into　middle　of　next　week。　This　Little　Bonsa　and　no　mistake；
ten　thousand　years　old　and　more；　eat　up　lives；　so　many　that　no　one　can
count　them；　and　go　on　eating　for　ever；　yes　unto　the　third　and　fourth
generation；　as　Ten　Commandments　lay　it　down　for　benefit　of　Christian
man；　like　me。　Look　at　her　again；　Miss　Barbara。〃

Miss　Barbara　took　the　hateful；　ancient　thing　in　her　hands　and　studied
it。　No　one　could　doubt　its　antiquity；　for　the　gold　plate　of　which　it
was　made　was　literally　worn　away　wherever　it　had　touched　the　foreheads
of　the　high　priests　or　priestesses　who　donned　it　upon　festive
occasions　or　days　of　sacrifice；　showing　that　hundreds　and　hundreds　of
them　must　have　used　it　thus　in　succession。　So　was　the　vocal　apparatus
within　the　mouth；　and　so　were　the　little　toad…like　feet　upon　which　it
was　stood　up。　Also　the　substance　of　the　gold　itself　as　here　and　there
pitted　as　though　with　acid　or　salts；　though　what　those　salts　were　she
did　not　inquire。　And　yet；　so　consummate　was　the　art　with　which　it　had
originally　been　fashioned；　that　the　battered　beautiful　face　of　Little
Bonsa　still　peered　at　them　with　the　same　devilish　smile　that　it　had
worn　when　it　left　the　hands　of　its　maker；　perhaps　before　Mohammed
preached　his　holy　war；　or　even　earlier。

〃What　is　all　that　writing　on　the　back　of　it？〃　asked　Barbara；　pointing
to　the　long　lines　of　rune…like　characters　which　were　inscribed　within
it。

〃Not　know；　miss；　think　they　dead　tongue　cut　in　the　beginning　when
black　men　could　write。　But　Asiki　priests　swear　they　remember　every　one
of　them；　and　that　why　no　one　can　copy　Little　Bonsa；　for　they　look
inside　and　see　if　marks　all　right。　They　say　they　names　of　those　who
died　for　Little　Bonsa；　and　when　they　all　done；　Little　Bonsa　begin
again；　for　Little　Bonsa　never　die。　But　p'raps　priests　lie。〃

〃I　daresay；〃　said　Barbara；　〃but　take　Little　Bonsa　away；　for　however
lucky　she　may　be；　she　makes　me　feel　sick。〃

〃Where　I　put　her；　Major？〃　asked　Jeekie　of　Alan。　〃In　box　in　library
where　she　used　to　live；　or　in　plate…safe　with　spoons？　Or　under　your
bed　where　she　always　keep　eye　on　you？〃

〃Oh！　put　her　with　the　spoons；〃　said　Alan　angrily；　and　Jeekie　departed
with　his　treasure。

〃I　think；　dear；〃　remarked　Barbara　as　the　door　closed　behind　him；　〃that
if　I　come　to　lunch　here　any　more；　I　shall　bring　my　own　christening
present　with　me；　for　I　can't　eat　off　silver　that　has　been　shut　up　with
that　thing。　Now　let　us　get　to　businessshow　me　the　diary　and　the
map。〃

　〃Dearest　Alan；〃　wrote　Barbara　from　The　Court　two　days　later；　〃I
　　have　been　thinking　everything　over；　and　since　you　are　so　set　upon
　　it；　I　suppose　that　you　had　better　go。　To　me　the　whole　adventure
　　seems　perfectly　mad；　but　at　the　same　time　I　believe　in　our　luck；
　　or　rather　in　the　Providence　which　watches　over　us；　and　I　don't
　　believe　that　you；　or　I　either；　will　come　to　any　harm。　If　you　stop
　　here；　you　will　only　eat　your　heart　out　and　communication　between
　　us　must　become　increasingly　difficult。　My　uncle　is　furious　with
　　you；　and　since　he　discovered　that　we　were　talking　over　the
　　telephone；　to　his　own　great　inconvenience　he　has　had　the　wires　cut
　　outside　the　house。　That　horrid　letter　of　his　to　you　saying　that
　　you　had　'compromised'　me　in　pursuance　of　a　'mercenary　scheme'　is
　　all　part　and　parcel　of　the　same　thing。　How　are　you　to　stop　here
　　and　submit　to　such　insults？　I　went　to　see　my　friend　the　lawyer；
　　and　he　tells　me　that　of　course　we　can　marry　if　we　like；　but　in
　　that