the yellow god-第17章

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　　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　case　my　father's　will；　which　he　has　consulted　at　Somerset
　　House；　is　absolutely　definite；　and　if　I　do　so　in　opposition　to　my
　　uncle's　wishes；　I　must　lose　everything　except　￡200　a　year。　Now　I
　　am　no　money…grubber；　but　I　will　not　give　my　uncle　the　satisfaction
　　of　robbing　me　of　my　fortune；　which　may　be　useful　to　both　of　us　by
　　and　by。　The　lawyer　says　also　that　he　does　not　think　that　the　Court
　　of　Chancery　would　interfere；　having　no　power　to　do　so　as　far　as
　　the　will　is　concerned；　and　not　being　able　to　make　a　ward　of　a
　　person　like　myself　who　is　over　age　and　has　the　protection　of　the
　　common　law　of　the　country。　So　it　seems　to　me　that　the　only　thing
　　to　do　is　to　be　patient；　and　wait　until　time　unties　the　knot。

　〃Meanwhile；　if　you　can　make　some　money　in　Africa；　so　much　the
　　better。　So　go；　Alan；　go　as　soon　as　you　like；　for　I　do　not　wish　to
　　prolong　this　agony；　or　to　see　you　exposed　daily　to　all　you　have　to
　　bear。　Whenever　you　return　you　will　find　me　waiting　for　you；　and　if
　　you　do　not　return；　still　I　shall　wait；　as　you　in　like
　　circumstances　will　wait　for　me。　But　I　think　you　will　return。〃

Then　followed　much　that　need　not　be　written；　and　at　the　end　a
postscript　which　ran：

　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　that　you　have　succeeded　in　shifting　the　mortgage
　　on　Yarleys；　although　the　interest　is　so　high。　Write　to　me　whenever
　　you　get　a　chance；　to　the　care　of　the　lawyer；　for　then　the　letters
　　will　reach　me；　but　never　to　this　house；　or　they　may　be　stopped。　I
　　will　do　the　same　to　you　to　the　address　you　give。　Good…bye；　dearest
　　Alan；　my　true　and　only　lover。　I　wonder　where　and　when　we　shall
　　meet　again。　God　be　with　us　both　and　enable　us　to　bear　our　trial。

　〃P。P。S。　I　hear　that　the　Sahara　flotation　was　/really/　a　success；
　　notwithstanding　the　/Judge/　attacks。　Sir　Robert　and　my　uncle　have
　　made　millions。　I　wonder　how　long　they　will　keep　them。〃

A　week　after　he　received　this　letter　Alan　was　on　the　seas　heading　for
the　shores　of　Western　Africa。



CHAPTER　VIII

THE　DWARF　FOLK

It　was　dawn　at　last。　All　night　it　had　rained　as　it　can　rain　in　West
Africa；　falling　on　the　wide　river　with　a　hissing　splash；　sullen　and
continuous。　Now；　towards　morning；　the　rain　had　ceased　and　everywhere
rose　a　soft　and　pearly　mist　that　clung　to　the　face　of　the　waters　and
seemed　to　entangle　itself　like　strands　of　wool　among　the　branches　of
the　bordering　trees。　On　the　bank　of　the　river　at　a　spot　that　had　been
cleared　of　bush；　stood　a　tent；　and　out　of　this　tent　emerged　a　white
man　wearing　a　sun　helmet　and　grey　flannel　shirt　and　trousers。　It　was
Alan　Vernon；　who　in　these　surroundings　looked　larger　and　more
commanding　than　he　had　done　at　the　London　office；　or　even　in　his　own
house　of　Yarleys。　Perhaps　the　moustache　and　short　brown　beard　which　he
had　grown；　or　his　skin；　already　altered　and　tanned　by　the　tropics；　had
changed　his　appearance　for　the　better。　At　any　rate　it　was　changed。　So
were　his　manner　and　bearing；　whereof　all　the　diffidence　had　gone。　Now
they　were　those　of　a　man　accustomed　to　command　who　found　himself　in
his　right　place。

〃Jeekie；〃　he　called；　〃wake　up　those　fellows　and　come　and　light　the
oil…stove。　I　want　my　coffee。〃

Thereon　a　deep　voice　was　heard　speaking　in　some　native　tongue　and
saying：

〃Cease　your　snoring；　you　black　dogs；　and　arouse　yourselves；　for　your
lord　calls　you；〃　an　invocation　that　was　followed　by　the　sound　of
kicks；　thumps；　and　muttered　curses。

A　minute　or　two　later　Jeekie　himself　appeared；　and　he　also　was　much
changed　in　appearance；　for　now　instead　of　his　smart；　European　clothes；
he　wore　a　white　robe　and　sandals　that　gave　him　an　air　at　once
dignified　and　patriarchal。

〃Good…morning；　Major；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　〃I　hope　you　sleep　well；
Major；　in　this　low…lying　and　accursed　situation；　which　is　more　than　we
do　in　boat　that　half　full　of　water；　to　say　nothing　of　smell　of　black
man　and　prevalent　mosquito。　But　the　rain　it　over　and　gone；　and
presently　the　sun　shine　out；　so　might　be　much　worse；　no　cause　at　all
complain。〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　Alan；　with　a　shiver。　〃I　believe　that　I　am
fever　proof；　but　otherwise　I　should　have　caught　it　last　night；　and
just　give　me　the　quinine；　I　will　take　five　grains　for　luck。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　for　luck；〃　answered　Jeekie　as　he　opened　the　medicine　chest
and　found　the　quinine；　at　the　same　time　glancing　anxiously　out　of　the
corner　of　his　eye　at　his　master's　face；　for　he　knew　that　the　spot
where　they　had　slept　was　deadly　to　white　men　at　this　season　of　the
year。　〃You　not　catch　fever；　Little　Bonsa；〃　here　he　dropped　his　voice
and　looked　down　at　the　box　which　had　served　Alan　for　a　pillow；　〃see　to
that。　But　quinine　give　you　appetite　for　breakfast。　Very　good　chop　this
morning。　Which　you　like　best？　Cold　ven'son；　or　fish；　or　one　of　them
ducks　you　shoot　yesterday？〃

〃Oh！　some　of　the　cold　meat；　I　think。　Give　the　ducks　to　the　boatmen；　I
don't　fancy　them　in　this　hot　place。　By　the　way；　Jeekie；　we　leave　the
Qua　River　here；　don't　we？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　Major；　just　here。　I　'member　spot　well；　for　your　uncle　he
pray　on　it　one　whole　hour；　I　pretend　pray　too；　but　in　heart　give
thanks　to　Little　Bonsa；　for　heathen　in　those　days；　quite　different
now。　This　morning　we　begin　walk　through　forest　where　it　rather　dark
and　cool　and　comfortable；　that　is　if　we　no　see　dwarf　people　from　whom
good　Lord　deliver　us；〃　and　he　bowed　towards　the　box　containing　Little
Bonsa。

〃Will　those　four　porters　come　with　us　through　the　forest；　Jeekie；　as
they　promised？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　they　come。　Last　night　they　say　they　not　come；　too　much
afraid　of　dwarf。　But　I　settle　their　hash。　I　tell　them　I　save　up　bits
of　their　hair　and　toe　nails　when　they　no　thinking；　and　I　mix　it　with
medicine；　and　if　they　not　come；　they　die　every　one　before　they　get
home。　They　think　me　great　doctor　and　they　believe。　Perhaps　they　die　if
they　go　on。　If　so；　I　tell　them　that　because　they　want　show　white
feather；　and　they　think　me　greater　doctor　still。　Oh！　they　come；　they
come；　no　fear；　or　else　Jeekie　know　reason　why。　Now；　here　coffee；
Major。　Drink　him　hot　before　you　go　take　tub；　but　keep　in　shallow
water；　because　crocodile　he　very　early　riser。〃

Alan　laughed；　and　departed　to　〃take　tub。〃　Notwithstanding　the
mosquitoes　that　buzzed　round　him　in　clouds；　the　water　was　cool　and
pleasant　by　comparison　with　the　hot；　sticky　air；　and　the　feel　of　it
seemed　to　rid　him　of　the　languor　resulting　from　his　disturbed　night。

A　month　had　passed　since　he　had　left　Old　Calabar；　and　owing　to　the
incessant　rains　the　journeying　had　been　hard。　Indeed　the　white　men
there　thought　that　he　was　mad　to　attempt　to　go　up　the　river　at　this
season。　Of　course　he　had　said　nothing　to　them　of　the　objects　of　his
expedition；　hinting　only　that　he　wished　to　explore　and　shoot；　and
perhaps　prospect　for　mines。　But　knowing　as　they　did；　that　he　was　an
Engineer　officer　with　a　good　record　and　much　African　experience；　they
soon　made　up　their　minds　that　he　had　been　sent　by　Government　upon　some
secret　mission　that　for　reasons　of　his　own　he　preferred　to　keep　to
himself。　This　conclusion；　which　Jeekie　zealously　fostered　behind　his
back；　in　fact　did　Alan　a　good　turn；　since　owing　to　it　he　obtained
boatmen　and　servants　at　a　season　when；　had　he　been　supposed　to　be　but
a　private　person；　these　would　scarcely　have　been　forthcoming　at　any
price。　Hitherto　his　journey　had　been　one　long　record　of　mud；
mosquitoes；　and　misery；　but　otherwise　devoid　of　incident；　except　the
eating　of　one　of　his　boatmen　by　a　crocodile　which　was　a　particularly
〃early　riser；〃　for　it　had　pulled　the　poor　fellow　out　of　the　canoe　in
which　he　lay　asleep　at　night。　Now；　however；　the　real　dangers　were
about　to　begin；　since　at　this　spot　he　left　the　great　river　and　started
forward　through　the　forest　on　foot　with　Jeekie　and　the　four　bearers
whom　he　had　paid　highly　to　accompany　him。

He　could　not　conceal　from　himself　that　the　undertaking　seemed　somewhat
desperate。　But　of　this　he　said　nothing　in　the　long　letter　he　had
written　to　Barbara　on　the　previous　night；　sighing　as　he　sealed　it；　at
the　thought　that　it　might　well　be　the　last　which　would　ever　reach　her
from　him；　even　if　the　boatmen　got　safely　back　to　Calabar　and
remembered　to　put　it　in　the　post。　The　enterprise　had　been　begun　and
must　be　carried　through；　until　it　ended　in　successor　death。

An　hour　later　they　started。　First　walked　Alan　as　leader　of　the
expedition；　carrying　a　double…barrelled　gun　that　could　be　used　either
for　ball　or　shot；　about　fifty　cartridges　with　brass　cases　to　protect
them　from　the　damp；　a　revolver；　a　hunting…knife；　a　cloth　mackintosh；
and　lastly；　strapped　upon　his　back　like　a　knapsack；　a　tin　box
containing　the　fetish；　Little　Bonsa；　which　was　too　precious　to　be
trusted　to　anyone　else。　It　was　quite　a　sufficient　load　for　any　white
man　in　that　climate；　but　being　very　wiry；　Alan　did　not　feel　its
weight；　at　any　rate　at　first。

After　him　in　single　file　came　the　four　porters；　laden　with　a　small
tent；　some　tinned　provisions　and　brandy；　ammunition；　a　box　containing
beads；　watches；　etc。　for　presents；　blankets；　spare　clothing　and　so
forth。　These　were　stalwart　fellows　enough；　who　knew　the　forest；　but
their　dejected　air　showed　that　now　they　had　come　face　to　face　with　its
dangers；　they　heartily　wished　themselves　anywhere　else。　Indeed；
notwithstanding　their　terror　of　Jeekie's　medicine；　at　the　last　moment
they　threw　down　their　loads　intending　to　make　a　wild　rush　for　the
departing　boat；　only　to　be　met　by　Jeekie　himself　who；　anticipating
some　such　move；　was　waiting　for　them　on　the　bank　with　a　shotgun。　Here
he　remained　until　the　canoe　was　too　far　out　in　the　stream　for　them　to
reach　it　by　swimming。　Then　he　asked　them　if　they　wished　to　sit　and
starve　there　with　the　devils　he　would　leave　them　for　company；　of　if
they　would　carry　out　their　bargain　like　honest　men？

The　end　of　it　was　they　took　up　their　loads　again　and　marched；　while
behind　them　walked　the　terrible　and　gigantic　Jeekie；　the　barrels　of
the　shotgun　which　he　carried　at　full　cock　and　occasionally　used　to
prod　them；　pointing　directly　at　their　backs。　A　strange　object　he
looked　truly；　for　in　addition　to　the　weapons　with　which　he　bristled；
several　cooking…pots　were　slung　about　him；　to　say　nothing　of　a　cork
mattress　and　a　mackintosh　sheet　tied　in　a　flat　bundle　to　his
shoulders；　a　box　containing　medicines　and　food　which　he　carried　on　his
head；　and　fastened　to　the　top　of　it　with　string　like　a　helmet　on　a
coffin；　an　enormous　solar…tope　stuffed　full　of　mosquito　netting；　of
which　the　ends　fell　about　him　like　a　green　veil。　When　Alan
remonstrated　with　him　as　to　the　cork　mattress；　suggesting　that　it
should　be　thrown　away　as　too　hot　to　wear；　Jeekie　replied　that　he　had
been　cold　for　thirty　years；　and　wished　to　get　warm　again。　Guessing
that　his　real　reason　for　declining　to　part　with　the　article；　was　that
his　master　should　have　something　to　lie　on；　other　than　the　damp
ground；　Alan　said　no　more　at　the　time；　which；　as　will　be　seen；　was
fortunate　enough　for　Jeekie。

For　a　mile　or　more　their　road　ran　through　fantastic…looking　mangrove
trees　rooted　in　the　mud；　that　in　the　mist　resembled；　Alan　thought；
many…legg