the yellow god-第39章

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wore。　Also　he　picked　up　the　gilded　linen　mask　which　Alan　had　removed
from　his　head　and　placed　it　in　the　same　receptacle；　remarking；　that　he
〃always　taught　that　it　wicked　to　waste　anything　when　so　many　poor　in
the　world。〃

Then　they　started；　the　Mungana　following　them。　Jeekie　paused　and　waved
him　off；　but　the　poor　wretch　still　came　on；　whereon　Jeekie　produced
the　big；　crooked　knife；　Mungana's　own　knife。

〃What　are　you　going　to　do；〃　said　Alan；　awaking　to　the　situation。

〃Cut　off　head　of　that　cocktail　man；　Major；　and　so　save　him　lot　of
trouble。　Also　we　got　no　grub；　and　if　we　find　any　he　want　eat　a　lot。
Chop　what　do　for　two　p'raps；　make　very　short　commons　for　three。　Also
he　might　play　dirty　trick；　so　much　best　dead。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Alan　sternly；　〃let　the　poor　devil　come　along　if　he
likes。　One　good　turn　deserves　another。〃

〃Just　so；　Major；　that　hello…swello　want　cut　our　throats；　so　I　want　cut
hisone　good　turn　deserve　another；　as　wise　king　say　in　Book；　when　he
give　half　baby　to　woman　what　wouldn't　have　it。　Well；　so　be；　Major；
specially　as　it　no　matter；　for　he　not　stop　with　us　long。〃

〃You　mean　that　he　will　run　away；　Jeekie？〃

〃Oh！　no；　he　not　run　away；　he　in　too　blue　funk　for　that。　But　something
run　away　with　him；　because　he　ought　die　to…morrow　night。　Oh！　yes；　you
see；　you　see；　and　Jeekie　hope　that　something　not　run　away　with　you
too；　Major；　because　you　ought　be　married　at　same　time。〃

〃Hope　not；　I　am　sure；〃　answered　Alan；　and　bethinking　him　of　Big　Bonsa
wallowing　and　screaming　on　the　water　and　bleeding　out　white　blood；　he
shivered　a　little。

By　this　time；　advancing　at　a　trot；　the　Mungana　running　after　them　like
a　dog；　they　had　entered　the　bush　pierced　with　a　few　wandering　paths。
Along　these　paths　they　sped　for　hour　after　hour；　Jeekie　leading　them
without　a　moment's　hesitation。　They　met　no　man　and　heard　nothing；
except　occasional　weird　sounds　which　Alan　put　down　to　wild　beasts；　but
Jeekie　and　the　Mungana　said　were　produced　by　ghosts。　Indeed　it
appeared　that　all　this　jungle　was　supposed　to　be　haunted；　and　no　Asiki
would　enter　it　at　night；　or　unless　he　were　very　bold　and　protected　by
many　charms；　by　day　either。　Therefore　it　was　an　excellent　place　for
fugitives　who　sorely　needed　a　good　start。

At　length　the　day　began　to　dawn　just　as　they　reached　the　main　road
where　it　crossed　the　hills；　whence　on　his　journey　thither　Alan　had　his
first　view　of　Bonsa　Town。　Peering　from　the　edge　of　the　bush；　they
perceived　a　fire　burning　near　the　road　and　round　it　five　or　six　men；
who　seemed　to　be　asleep。　Their　first　thought　was　to　avoid　them；　but
the　Mungana；　creeping　up　to　Alan；　for　Jeekie　he　would　not　approach；
whispered：

〃Not　Asiki；　Ogula　chief　and　slaves　who　left　Bonsa　Town　yesterday。〃

They　crept　nearer　the　fire　and　saw　that　this　was　so。　Then　rejoicing
exceedingly；　they　awoke　the　old　chief；　Fahni；　who　at　first　thought
they　must　be　spirits。　But　when　he　recognized　Alan；　he　flung　himself　on
his　knees　and　kissed　his　hand；　because　to　him　he　owed　his　liberty。

〃No　time　for　all　that；　Fahni；〃　said　Alan。　〃Give　us　food。〃

Now　of　this　as　it　chanced　there　was　plenty；　since　by　the　Asika's
orders　the　slaves　had　been　laden　with　as　much　as　they　could　carry。
They　ate　of　it　ravenously；　and　while　they　ate；　told　Fahni　something　of
the　story　of　their　escape。　The　old　chief　listened　amazed；　but　like
Jeekie　asked　Alan　why　he　had　not　killed　the　Mungana；　who　would　have
killed　him。

Alan；　who　was　in　no　mood　for　long　explanations；　answered　that　he　had
kept　him　with　them　because　he　might　be　useful。

〃Yes；　yes；　friend；　I　see；〃　exclaimed　the　old　cannibal；　〃although　he　is
so　thin　he　will　always　make　a　meal　or　two　at　a　pinch。　Truly　white　men
are　wise　and　provident。　Like　the　ants；　you　take　thought　for　the
morrow。〃

As　soon　as　they　had　swallowed　their　food　they　started　all　together；
for　although　Alan　pointed　out　to　Fahni　that　he　might　be　safer　apart；
the　old　chief　who　had　a　real　affection　for　him；　would　not　be　persuaded
to　leave　him。

〃Let　us　live　or　die　together；〃　he　said。

Now　Jeekie；　abandoning　the　main　road；　led　them　up　a　stream；　walking　in
the　water　so　that　their　footsteps　might　leave　no　trace；　and　thus　away
into　the　barren　mountains　which　rose　between　them　and　the　great　swamp。
On　the　crest　of　these　mountains　Alan　turned　and　looked　back　towards
Bonsa　Town。　There　far　across　the　fertile　valley　was　the　hateful；
river…encircled　place。　There　fell　the　great　cataract　in　the　roar　of
which　he　had　lived　for　so　many　weeks。　There　were　the　black　cedars　and
there　gleamed　the　roofs　of　the　Gold　House；　his　prison　where　dwelt　the
Asika　and　the　dreadful　fetishes　of　which　she　was　the　priestess。　To　him
it　was　like　the　vision　of　a　nightmare；　he　could　scarcely　think　it
real。　And　yet　by　this　time　doubtless　they　sought　him　far　and　wide。
What　mood；　he　wondered；　would　the　Asika　be　in　when　she　learned　of　his
escape　and　the　fashion　of　it；　and　how　would　she　greet　him　if　he　were
recaptured　and　taken　back　to　her？　Well；　he　would　not　be　recaptured。　He
had　still　some　cartridges　and　he　would　fight　till　they　killed　him；　or
failing　that；　save　the　last　of　them　for　himself。　Never；　never　could　he
endure　to　be　dragged　back　to　Bonsa　Town　there　to　live　and　die。

They　went　on　across　the　mountains；　till　in　the　afternoon　once　more
they　saw　the　road　running　beneath　them　like　a　ribbon；　and　at　the　end
of　it　the　lagoon。　Now　they　rested　a　while　and　held　a　consultation
while　they　ate。　Across　that　lagoon　they　could　not　escape　without　a
canoe。

〃Lord；〃　said　the　Mungana　presently；　〃yesterday　when　these　cannibals
were　let　go　a　swift　runner　was　sent　forward　commanding　that　a　good
boat　should　be　provisioned　and　made　ready　for　them；　and　by　now
doubtless　this　has　been　done。　Let　them　descend　to　the　road；　walk　on　to
the　bay　and　ask　for　the　boat。　Look；　yonder；　far　away　a　tongue　of　land
covered　with　trees　juts　out　into　the　lake。　We　will　make　our　way
thither　and　after　nightfall　this　chief　can　row　back　to　it　and　take　us
into　the　canoe。〃

Alan　said　that　the　plan　was　good；　but　Jeekie　shook　his　head；　asking
what　would　happen　if　Fahni；　finding　himself　safe　upon　the　water；
thought　it　wisest　not　to　come　to　fetch　them。

Alan　translated　his　words　to　the　old　chief；　whereon　Fahni　wanted　to
fight　Jeekie　because　of　the　slur　that　he　had　cast　upon　his　honour。
This　challenge　Jeekie　resolutely　declined；　saying　that　already　there
were　plenty　of　ways　to　die　in　Asiki…land　without　adding　another　to
them。　Then　Fahni　swore　by　his　tribal　god　and　by　the　spirit　of　every
man　he　had　ever　eaten；　that　he　would　come　to　that　promontory　after
dark；　if　he　were　still　alive。

So　they　separated；　Fahni　and　his　men　slipping　down　to　the　road；　which
they　did　without　being　seen　by　anyone；　while　Alan；　Jeekie　and　the
Mungana　bore　away　to　the　right　towards　the　promontory。　The　road　was
long　and　rough　and；　though　by　good　fortune　they　met　no　one；　since　the
few　who　dwelt　in　these　wild　parts　had　gone　up　to　Bonsa　Town　to　be
present　at　the　great　feast；　the　sun　was　sinking　before　ever　they
reached　the　place。　Moreover；　this　promontory　proved　to　be　covered　with
dense　thorn　scrub；　through　which　they　must　force　a　way　in　the
gathering　darkness；　not　without　hurt　and　difficulty。　Still　they
accomplished　it　and　at　length；　quite　exhausted；　crept　to　the　very
point；　where　they　hid　themselves　between　some　stones　at　the　water's
edge。

Here　they　waited　for　three　long　hours；　but　no　boat　came。

〃All　up　a　gum…tree　now；　Major；〃　said　Jeekie。　〃Old　blackguard；　Fanny；
bolt　and　leave　us　here；　and　to…morrow　morning　Asika　nobble　us。　Better
have　gone　down　to　bay；　steal　his　boat　and　leave　him　behind；　because
Asika　no　want　/him/。〃

Alan　made　no　answer。　He　was　too　tired；　and　although　he　trusted　Fahni；
it　seemed　likely　enough　that　Jeekie　was　right；　or　perhaps　the
cannibals　had　not　been　able　to　get　the　boat。　Well；　he　had　done　his
best；　and　if　Fate　overtook　them　it　was　no　fault　of　his。　He　began　to
doze；　for　even　their　imminent　peril　could　not　keep　his　eyes　open；　then
presently　awoke　with　a　start；　for　in　his　sleep　he　thought　he　heard　the
sounds　of　paddles　beating　the　quiet　water。　Yes；　there　dimly　seen
through　the　mist；　was　a　canoe；　and　seated　in　the　stern　of　it　Fahni。　So
that　danger　had　gone　by　also。

He　woke　his　companions；　who　slept　at　his　side；　and　very　silently　they
rose；　stepping　from　rock　to　rock　till　they　reached　the　canoe　and
entered　it。　It　was　not　a　large　craft；　barely　big　enough　to　hold　them
all　indeed；　but　they　found　room；　and　then　at　a　sign　from　Fahni　the
oarsmen　gave　way　so　heartily　that　within　half　an　hour　they　had　lost
sight　of　the　accursed　shores　of　Asiki…land；　although　presently　its
mountains　showed　up　clearly　beneath　the　moon。

Meanwhile　Fahni　had　told　his　tale。　It　appeared　that　when　he　reached
the　bay　he　found　the　Asiki　headman　who　dwelt　there；　and　those　under
him；　in　a　state　of　considerable　excitement。

Rumours　had　reached　them　that　someone　had　escaped　from　Bonsa　Town；
they　thought　it　was　the　Mungana。　Fahni　asked　who　had　brought　the
rumour；　whereon　the　headman　answered　that　it　came　〃in　a　dream；〃　and
would　say　no　more。　Then　he　demanded　the　canoe　which　had　been　promised
to　him　and　his　people；　and　the　headman　admitted　that　it　was　ready　in
accordance　with　orders　received　from　the　Asika；　but　demurred　to
letting　him　have　it。　A　long　argument　followed；　in　the　midst　of　which
Fahni　and　his　men　got　into　the　canoe；　the　headman　apparently　not
daring　to　use　force　to　prevent　him。　Just　as　they　were　pushing　off　a
messenger　arrived　from　Bonsa　Town；　reeling　with　exhaustion　and　his
tongue　hanging　from　his　jaws；　who　called　out　that　it　was　the　white　man
who　had　escaped　with　his　servant　and　the　Mungana；　and　that　although
they　were　believed　to　be　still　hidden　in　the　holy　woods　near　Bonsa
Town；　none　were　to　be　allowed　to　leave　the　bay。　So　the　headman　shouted
to　Fahni　to　return；　but　he　pretended　not　to　hear　and　rowed　away；　nor
did　anyone　attempt　to　follow　him。　Still　it　was　only　after　nightfall
that　he　dared　to　put　the　boat　about　and　return　to　the　headland　to　pick
up　Alan　and　the　others　as　he　had　promised。　That　was　all　he　had　to　say。

Alan　thanked　him　heartily　for　his　faithfulness　and　they　paddled　on
steadily；　putting　mile　after　mile　of　water　between　them　and　Asiki…
land。　He　wondered　whether　he　had　seen　the　last　of　that　country　and　its
inhabitants。　Something　within　him　answered　No。　He　was　sure　that　the
Asika　would　not　allow　him　to　depart　in　peace　without　making　some
desperate　effort　to　recapture　him。　Far　as　he　was　away；　it　seemed　to
him　that　he　could　feel　her　fury　hanging　over　him　like　a　cloud；　a　cloud
that　would　burst　in　a　rain　of　blood。　Doubtless　it　would　have　burst
already　had　it　not　been　for　the　accident　that　he　and　his　companions
were　still　supposed　to　be　hiding　in　the　woods。　But　that　error　must　be
discovered；　and　then　would　come　the　pursuit。

He　looked　at　the　full　moon　shining　upon　him　and　reflected　that　at　this
very　hour　he　should　have　been　seated　upon　the　chair　of　state；　wedding；
or　rather　being　wedded　by　the　Asika　in　the　presence　of　Big　and　Little
Bonsa　and　all　the　people。　His　eye　fell　upon　the　Mungana；　who　had　also
been　destined　to　play　a　prominent　part　in　that　ceremony。　At　once　he
saw　that　there　was　something　wrong　with　the　man。　A　curiou