the yellow god-第38章

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been　held　two　months　before；　when　the　priests　were　poisoned　and　the
Bonsas　chose　the　victims　for　sacrifice。　Already　it　was　prepared　for
the　great　festival　of　to…morrow；　when　the　Mungana　should　drown　himself
and　Alan　be　married　to　the　Asika。　There　on　the　dais　were　the　gold
chairs　in　which　they　were　to　sit；　and　green　branches　of　trees　mixed
with　curious　flags　decked　the　vast　amphitheatre　beyond。　Moreover；
there　was　the　broad　canal；　and　floating　in　the　midst　of　it　the　hideous
gold　fetish；　Big　Bonsa。　The　moon　shone　on　its　glaring；　deathly　eyes；
its　fish…like　snout　and　its　huge；　pale　teeth。　Alan　looked　at　it　and
shivered；　for　the　thing　was　horrid　and　uncanny；　and　the　utter
loneliness　in　which　it　lay　staring　up　at　the　moon；　seemed　to
accentuate　the　horror。

The　Mungana　noticed　his　fear　and　whispered：

〃We　must　swim　the　water。　If　you　have　a　god；　white　man；　pray　him　to
protect　you　from　Bonsa。〃

〃Lead　on；〃　answered　Alan；　〃I　do　not　dread　a　foul　fetish；　only　the　look
of　it。　But　is　there　no　way　round？〃

The　Mungana　shook　his　head　and　began　to　enter　the　canal。　Jeekie；　whose
teeth　were　chattering；　hung　back；　but　Alan　pushed　him　from　behind；　so
sharply　that　he　stumbled　and　made　a　splash。　Then　Alan　followed；　and　as
the　cold；　black　water　rose　to　his　chest；　looked　again　at　Big　Bonsa。

It　seemed　to　him　that　the　thing　had　turned　round　and　was　staring　at
them。　Surely　a　few　seconds　ago　its　snout　pointed　the　other　way。　No；
that　must　be　fancy。　He　was　swimming　now；　they　were　all　swimming；　Alan
and　Jeekie　holding　their　pistols　and　little　stock　of　cartridges　above
their　heads　to　keep　them　dry。　The　gold　head　of　Big　Bonsa　appeared　to
be　lifting　itself　up　in　the　water；　as　a　reptile　might；　in　order　to　get
a　better　view　of　these　proceedings；　but　doubtless　it　was　the　ripples
that　they　caused　which　gave　it　this　appearance。　Only　why　did　the
ripples　make　it　come　towards　them；　quite　gently；　like　an　investigating
fish？

It　was　about　ten　yards　off　and　they　were　in　the　middle　of　the　canal。
The　Mungana　had　passed　it。　It　was　in　a　line　with　Alan's　head。　Oh
Heavens！　a　sudden　smother　of　foam；　a　rush　like　that　of　a　torpedo；　and
set　low　down　between　two　curving　waves；　a　flash　of　gold。　Then　a
gurgling；　inhuman　laugh　and　a　weight　upon　his　back。　Down　went　Alan；
down　and　down！



CHAPTER　XVII

THE　END　OF　THE　MUNGANA

The　moonlight　above　vanished。　Alan　was　alone　in　the　depths　with　this
devil；　or　whatever　it　might　be。　He　could　feel　hands　and　feet　gripping
and　treading　on　him；　but　they　did　not　seem　to　be　human；　for　there　were
too　many　of　them。　Also　they　were　very　cold。　He　gave　himself　up　for
dead　and　thought　of　Barbara。

Then　something　flashed　into　his　mind。　In　his　hand　he　still　held　the
revolver。　He　pressed　it　upwards　against　the　thing　that　was　smothering
him；　and　pulled　the　trigger。　Again　he　pulled　it；　and　again；　for　it　was
a　self…cocking　weapon；　and　even　there　deep　down　in　the　water　he　heard
the　thud　of　the　explosion　of　the　damp…proof　copper　cartridges。　His
lungs　were　bursting；　his　senses　reeled；　only　enough　of　them　remained
to　tell　him　that　he　was　free　of　that　strangling　grip　and　floating
upwards。　His　head　rose　above　the　surface；　and　through　the　mouth　of　his
mask　he　drew　in　the　sweet　air　with　quick　gasps。　Down　below　him　in　the
clear　water　he　saw　the　yellow　head　of　Big　Bonsa　rocking　and　quivering
like　a　great　reflected　mon；　saw　too　that　it　was　beginning　to　rise。　Yet
he　could　not　swim　away　from　it；　the　fetish　seemed　to　have　hypnotized
him。　He　heard　Jeekie　calling　to　him　from　the　shallow　water　near　the
further　bank；　but　still　he　floated　there　like　a　log　and　stared　down　at
Big　Bonsa　wallowing　beneath。

Jeekie　plunged　back　into　the　canal　and　with　a　few　strong　strokes
reached　him；　gripped　him　by　the　arm　and　began　to　tow　him　to　the　shore。
Before　they　came　there　Big　Bonsa　rose　like　a　huge　fish　and　tried　to
follow　them；　but　could　not；　or　so　it　seemed。　At　any　rate　it　only
whirled　round　and　round　upon　the　surface；　while　from　it　poured　a　white
fluid　that　turned　the　black　water　to　the　hue　of　milk。　Then　it　began　to
scream；　making　a　thin　and　dreadful　sound　more　like　that　of　an　infant
in　pain　than　anything　they　had　ever　heard；　a　very　sickening　sound　that
Alan　never　could　forget。　He　staggered　to　the　bank　and　stood　staring　at
it　where　it　bled；　rolled　and　shrieked；　but　because　of　the　milky　foam
could　make　nothing　out　in　that　light。

〃What　is　it；　Jeekie？〃　he　said　with　an　idiotic　laugh。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Oh！　don't　know。　Devil　and　all；　perhaps。　Come　on；　Major；　before　it
catch　us。〃

〃I　don't　think　it　will　catch　anyone　just　at　present。　Devil　or　not
hollow…nosed　bullets　don't　agree　with　it。　Shall　I　give　it　another；
Jeekie？〃　and　he　lifted　the　pistol。

〃No；　no；　Major；　don't　play　tomfool；〃　and　Jeekie　grabbed　him　by　the　arm
and　dragged　him　away。

A　few　paces　further　on　stood　the　Mungana　like　a　man　transfixed；　and
even　then　Alan　noticed　that　he　regarded　him　with　something　akin　to
awe。

〃Stronger　than　the　god；〃　he　muttered；　〃stronger　than　the　god；〃　and
bounded　forward。

Following　the　path　that　ran　beside　the　canal；　they　plunged　into　a
tunnel；　holding　each　other　as　before。　In　a　few　minutes　they　were
through　it　and　in　a　place　full　of　cedar　trees　outside　the　wall　of　the
Gold　House；　under　which　evidently　the　tunnel　passed；　for　there　it　rose
behind　them。　Beneath　these　cedar　trees　they　flitted　like　ghosts；　now
in　the　moonlight　and　now　in　the　shadow。

The　great　fall　to　the　back　of　the　town　was　on　their　left；　and　in　front
of　them　lay　one　of　the　arms　of　the　river；　at　this　spot　a　raging
torrent　not　much　more　than　a　hundred　feet　in　width；　spanned　by　a
narrow　suspension　bridge　which　seemed　to　be　supported　by　two　fibre
ropes。　On　the　hither　side　of　this　bridge　stood　a　guard　hut；　and　to
their　dismay　out　of　this　hut　ran　three　men　armed　with　spears；
evidently　to　cut　them　off。　One　of　these　men　sped　across　the　bridge　and
took　his　stand　at　the　further　end；　while　the　other　two　posted
themselves　in　their　path　at　the　entrance　to　it。

The　Mungana　slacked　his　speed　and　said　one　word〃Finished！〃　and
Jeekie　also　hesitated；　then　turned　and　pointed　behind　them。

Alan　looked　back　and　flitting　in　and　out　between　the　cedar　trees；　saw
the　white　robes　of　the　priests　of　Bonsa。　Then　despair　seized　them　all；
and　they　rushed　at　the　bridge。　Jeekie　reached　it　first　and　dodging
beneath　the　spears　of　the　two　guards；　plunged　his　knife　into　the
breast　of　one　of　them；　and　butted　the　other　with　his　great　head；　so
that　he　fell　over　the　side　of　the　bridge　on　to　the　rocks　below。

〃Cut；　Major；　cut！〃　he　said　to　Alan；　who　pushed　past　him。　〃All　right
now。〃

They　were　on　the　narrow　swaying　bridgeit　was　but　a　single　plank
Alan　first；　then　the　Mungana；　then　Jeekie。　When　they　were　half　way
across　Alan　looked　before　him　and　saw　a　sight　he　could　never　forget。

The　third　guard　at　the　further　side　was　sawing　through　one　of　the
fibre　ropes　with　his　spear。　There　they　were　on　the　middle　of　the
bridge　with　the　torrent　raving　fifty　feet　beneath　them；　and　the　man
had　nearly　severed　the　rope！　To　get　over　before　it　parted　was
impossible；　behind　were　the　priests；　beneath　the　roaring　river。　All
three　of　them　stopped　as　though　paralyzed；　for　all　three　had　seen。
Something　struck　against　Alan's　leg；　it　was　his　pistol　that　still
remained　fastened　to　his　wrist　by　its　leather　thong。　He　cocked　and
lifted　it；　took　aim　and　fired。　The　shot　missed；　which　was　not
wonderful　considering　the　light　and　the　platform　on　which　the　shooter
stood。　It　missed；　but　the　man；　astonished；　for　he　had　never　seen　or
heard　such　a　thing　before；　stopped　his　sawing　for　a　moment；　and　stared
at　them。　Then　as　he　began　again　Alan　fired　once　more；　and　this　time　by
good　fortune　the　bullet　struck　the　man　somewhere　in　the　body。　He　fell；
and　as　he　fell　grasped　the　nearly　separated　rope　and　hung　to　it。

〃Get　hold　of　the　other　rope　and　come　on；〃　yelled　Alan；　and　once　more
they　bounded　forward。

〃My　God！　it's　going；〃　he　yelled　again。　〃Hold　fast；　Jeekie；　hold　fast！〃

Next　instant　the　rope　parted　and　the　man　vanished。　The　bridge　tipped
over；　and　supported　by　the　remaining　rope；　hung　edgeways　up。　To　this
rope　the　three　of　them　clung　desperately；　resting　their　feet　upon　the
edge　of　the　swaying　plank。　For　a　few　seconds　they　remained　thus；
afraid　to　stir；　then　Jeekie　called　out：

〃Climb　on；　Major；　climb　on　like　one　monkey。　Look　bad；　but　quite　safe
really。〃

As　there　was　nothing　else　to　be　done　Alan　began　to　climb；　shifting　his
feet　along　the　plank　edge　and　his　hands　along　the　rope；　which　creaked
and　stretched　beneath　their　threefold　weight。

It　was　a　horrible　journey；　and　in　his　imagination　took　at　least　an
hour。　Yet　they　accomplished　it；　for　at　last　they　found　themselves
huddled　together　but　safe　upon　the　further　bank。　The　sweat　pouring
down　from　his　head　almost　blinded　Alan；　a　deadly　nausea　worked　within
him；　sickly　tremors　shot　up　and　down　his　spine；　his　brain　swam。　Yet　he
could　hear　Jeekie；　in　whom　excitement　always　took　the　form　of　speech；
saying　loudly：

〃Think　that　man　no　liar　what　say　our　great　papas　was　monkeys。　Never
look　down　on　monkey　no　more。　Wake　up；　Major；　those　priests　monkey…men
too；　for　we　all　brothers；　you　know。　Wait　a　bit；　I　stop　their　little
game；〃　and　springing　up　with　three　or　four　cuts　of　the　big　curved
knife；　he　severed　the　remaining　rope　just　as　their　pursuers　reached
the　further　side　of　the　chasm。

They　shouted　with　rage　as　the　long　bridge　swung　back　against　the　rock；
the　cut　end　of　it　falling　into　the　torrent；　and　waved　their　spears
threateningly。　To　this　demonstration　Jeekie　replied　with　gestures　of
contempt　such　as　are　known　to　street　Arabs。　Then　he　looked　at　the
Mungana；　who　lay　upon　the　ground　a　melancholy　and　dilapidated
spectacle；　for　the　perspiration　had　washed　lines　of　paint　off　his　face
and　patches　of　dye　from　his　hair；　also　his　gorgeous　robes　were　water…
stained　and　his　gem　necklaces　broken。　Having　studied　him　a　while
Jeekie　kicked　him　meditatively　till　he　got　up；　then　asked　him　to　set
out　the　exact　situation。　The　Mungana　answered　that　they　were　safe　for
a　while；　since　that　torrent　could　only　be　crossed　by　the　broken　bridge
and　was　too　rapid　to　swim。　The　Asiki；　he　added；　must　go　a　long　journey
round　through　the　city　in　order　to　come　at　them；　though　doubtless　they
would　hunt　them　down　in　time。

Here　Jeekie　cut　him　short；　since　he　knew　all　that　country　well　and
only　wished　to　learn　whether　any　more　bridges　had　been　built　across
the　torrent　since　he　was　a　boy。

〃Now；　Major；〃　he　said；　〃you　get　up　and　follow　me；　for　I　know　every
inch　of　ground；　also　by　and　by　good　short　cut　over　mountains。　You　see
Jeekie　very　clever　boy；　and　when　he　herd　sheep　and　goat　he　made　note
of　everything　and　never　forget　nothing。　He　pull　you　out　of　this　hole；
never　fear。〃

〃Glad　to　hear　it；　I　am　sure；〃　answered　Alan　as　he　rose。　〃But　what's　to
become　of　the　Mungana？〃

〃Don't　know　and　don't　care；〃　said　Jeekie；　〃no　more　good　to　us。　Can　go
and　see　how　Big　Bonsa　feel；　if　he　like；〃　and　stretching　out　his　big
hand　as　though　in　a　moment　of　abstraction；　he　removed　the　costly
necklaces　from　their　guide's　neck　and　thrust　them　into　the　pouch　he
wore。　Also　he　picked　up　the　gilded　linen　mask　which　Alan　had　removed
from　his　head　and　placed　it