the yellow god-第40章

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been　destined　to　play　a　prominent　part　in　that　ceremony。　At　once　he
saw　that　there　was　something　wrong　with　the　man。　A　curious　change　had
come　over　his　emaciated　face。　It　was　working　like　that　of　a　maniac。
Foam　appeared　upon　his　dyed　lips；　his　haunted　eyes　rolled；　his　thin
hands　gripped　the　side　of　the　canoe　and　he　began　to　sing；　or　rather
howl　like　a　dog　baying　at　the　stars。　Jeekie　hit　him　on　the　head　and
bade　him　be　silent；　but　he　took　no　notice；　even　when　he　hit　him　again
more　heavily。　Presently　came　the　climax。　The　man　sprang　up　in　the
canoe；　causing　it　to　rock　from　side　to　side。　He　pointed　to　the　full
moon　above　and　howled　more　loudly　than　before；　he　pointed　to　something
that　he　seemed　to　see　in　the　air　near　by　and　gibbered　as　though　in
terror。　Then　his　eyes　fixed　themselves　upon　the　water　at　which　he
stared。

Harder　and　harder　he　stared；　his　head　sinking　lower　every　moment；　till
at　length　without　another　sound；　very　quietly　and　unexpectedly　he　went
over　the　side　of　the　boat。　For　a　few　seconds　they　saw　his　bright…
coloured　garments　sinking　to　the　depths；　then　he　vanished。

They　waited　a　while；　expecting　that　he　would　rise　again。　But　he　never
rose。　A　shot…weighted　corpse　could　not　have　disappeared　more　finally
and　completely。　The　thing　was　very　awful；　and　for　a　while　there　was
silence；　which　as　usual　was　broken　by　Jeekie。

〃That　gay　dog　gone；〃　he　said　in　a　reflective　voice。　〃All　those　old
ghosts　come　to　fetch　him　at　proper　time。　No　good　run　away　from　ghosts；
they　travel　too　quick；　one　jump；　and　pop　up　where　you　no　expect。　Well；
more　place　for　Jeekie　now；〃　and　he　spread　himself　out　comfortably　in
the　empty　seat；　adding；　〃like　hello…swello's　room　much　better　than
company；　he　go　in　scent…bath　every　day　and　stink　too　much；　all　that
water　never　wash　/him/　clean。〃

Thus　died　the　Mungana；　and　such　was　the　poor　wretch's　requiem。　With　a
shiver　Alan　reflected　that　had　it　not　been　for　him　and　his　insane
jealousy；　he　too　might　have　been　expected　to　go　into　that　same　scent…
bath　and　have　his　face　painted　like　a　chorus　girl。　Only　would　he
escape　the　spell　that　had　destroyed　his　predecessor　in　the　affections
of　the　priestess　of　the　Bonsas？　Or　would　some　dim　power　such　as　had
drawn　Mungana　to　the　death　drag　him　back　to　the　arms　of　the　Asika　or
to　the　torture　pit　of　〃Great　Swimming　Head。〃　He　remembered　his　dream
in　the　Treasure　Hall　and　shuddered　at　the　very　thought　of　it；　for　all
he　had　undergone　and　seen　made　him　superstitious；　then　bade　the　men
paddle　faster；　ever　faster。

All　that　night　they　rowed　on；　taking　turns　to　rest；　except　Alan　and
Jeekie；　who　slept　a　good　deal　and　as　a　consequence　awoke　at　dawn　much
refreshed。　When　the　sun　rose　they　found　themselves　across　the　lagoon；
over　thirty　miles　from　the　borders　of　Asiki…land；　almost　at　the　spot
where　the　river　up　which　they　had　travelled　some　months　before；　flowed
out　of　the　lake。　Whether　by　chance　or　skill　Fahni　had　steered　a
wonderfully　straight　course。　Now；　however；　they　were　face　to　face　with
a　new　trouble；　for　scarcely　had　they　begun　to　descend　the　river　when
they　discovered　that　at　this　dry　season　of　the　year　it　was　in　many
places　too　shallow　to　allow　the　canoe　to　pass　over　the　sand　and　mud
banks。　Evidently　there　was　but　one　thing　to　be　doneabandon　it　and
walk。

So　they　landed；　ate　from　their　store　of　food　and　began　a　terrible　and
toilsome　journey。　On　either　side　of　the　river　lay　dessicated　swamp
covered　with　dead　reeds　ten　or　twelve　feet　high。　Doubtless　beyond　the
swamp　there　was　high　land；　but　in　order　to　reach　this；　if　it　existed；
they　would　be　obliged　to　force　a　path　through　miles　of　reeds。
Therefore　they　thought　it　safer　to　follow　the　river　bank。　Their
progress　was　very　slow；　since　continually　they　must　make　detours　to
avoid　a　quicksand　or　a　creek；　also　the　stones　and　scrubby　growth
delayed　them　so　that　fifteen　or　at　most　twenty　miles　was　a　good　day's
march。

Still　they　went　on　steadily；　seeing　no　man；　and　when　their　food　was
exhausted；　living　on　the　fish　which　they　caught　in　plenty　in　the
shallows；　and　on　young　flapper　ducks　that　haunted　the　reeds。　So　at
length　they　came　to　the　main　river　into　which　this　tributary　flowed；
and　camped　there　thankfully；　believing　that　if　any　pursuit　of　them　had
been　undertaken；　it　was　abandoned。　At　least　Alan　and　the　rest　believed
this；　but　Jeekie　did　not。

On　the　following　morning；　shortly　after　dawn；　Jeekie　awoke　his　master。

〃Come　here；　Major；〃　he　said　in　a　solemn　voice；　〃I　got　something　pretty
show　you；〃　and　he　led　him　to　the　foot　of　an　old　willow　tree；　adding；
〃now　up　you　go；　Major；　and　look。〃

So　Alan　went　up　and　from　the　topmost　fork　of　that　tree　saw　a　sight　at
which　his　blood　turned　cold。　For　there；　not　five　miles　behind　them；　on
either　side　of　the　river　bank；　the　light　gleaming　on　their　spears；
marched　two　endless　columns　of　men；　who　from　their　head…dresses　he
took　to　be　Asiki。　For　a　minute　he　looked；　then　descended　the　tree　and
approaching　the　others；　asked　what　was　to　be　done。

〃Hook；　scoot；　bolt；　leg　it！〃　exclaimed　Jeekie　emphatically；　then　he
licked　his　finger；　held　it　up　to　the　wind　and　added；　〃but　first　fire
reeds　and　make　it　hot　for　Bonsa　crowd。〃

This　was　a　good　suggestion　and　one　on　which　they　acted　without　delay。
Taking　red　embers；　they　blew　them　into　a　flame　and　lit　torches；　which
they　applied　to　the　reeds　over　a　width　of　several　hundred　yards。　The
strong　northward　wind　soon　did　the　rest；　indeed　with　a　quarter　of　an
hour　a　vast　sheet　of　flame　twenty　or　thirty　feet　in　height　was　rushing
towards　the　Asiki　columns。　Then　they　began　their　advance　along　the
river　bank；　running　at　a　steady　trot；　for　here　the　ground　was　open。

All　that　day　they　ran；　pausing　at　intervals　to　get　their　breath；　and
at　night　rested　because　they　must。　When　the　light　came　upon　the
following　morning　they　looked　back　from　a　little　hill　and　saw　the
outposts　of　the　Asiki　advancing　not　a　mile　behind。　Doubtless　some　of
the　army　had　been　burned；　but　the　rest；　guessing　their　route；　had
forced　a　way　through　the　reeds　and　cut　across　country。　So　they　began
to　run　again　harder　than　before；　and　kept　their　lead　during　the
morning。　But　when　afternoon　came　the　Asika　gained　on　them。　Now　they
were　breasting　a　long　rise；　the　river　running　in　the　cleft　beneath；
and　Jeekie；　who　seemed　to　be　absolutely　untiring；　held　Alan　by　the
hand；　Fahni　following　close　behind。　Two　of　their　men　had　fallen　down
and　been　abandoned；　and　the　rest　straggled。

〃No　go；　Jeekie；〃　gasped　Alan；　〃they　will　catch　us　at　the　top　of　the
hill。〃

〃Never　say　die；　Major；　never　say　die；〃　puffed　Jeekie；　〃they　get　blown
too　and　who　know　what　other　side　of　hill？〃

Somehow　they　struggled　to　the　crest　and　behold！　there　beneath　them　was
a　great　army　of　men。

〃Ogula！〃　yelled　Jeekie；　〃Ogula！　Just　what　I　tell　you；　Major；　who　know
what　other　side　of　/any/　hill。〃



CHAPTER　XVIII

A　MEETING　IN　THE　FOREST

In　five　minutes　more　Alan　and　Jeekie　were　among　the　Ogula；　who；　having
recognized　their　chief　while　he　was　yet　some　way　off；　greeted　him　with
rapturous　cheers　and　the　clapping　of　hands。　Then　as　there　was　no　time
for　explanation；　they　retreated　across　a　little　stream　which　ran　down
the　valley；　four　thousand　or　more　of　them；　and　prepared　for　battle。
That　evening；　however；　there　was　no　fighting；　for　when　the　first　of
the　Asiki　reached　the　top　of　the　rise　and　saw　that　the　fugitives　had
escaped　to　the　enemy；　who　were　in　strength；　they　halted　and　finally
retired。

Now　Alan；　and　Fahni　also；　hoped　that　the　pursuit　was　abandoned；　but
again　Jeekie　shook　his　big　head；　saying：

〃Not　at　all；　Major；　I　know　Asiki　and　their　little　ways。　While　one　of
them　alive；　not　dare　go　back　to　Asika　without　/you/；　Major。〃

〃Perhaps　she　is　with　them　herself；〃　suggested　Alan；　〃and　we　might
treat　with　her。〃

〃No；　Major；　Asika　never　leave　Bonsa　Town；　that　against　law；　and　if　she
do　so；　priests　make　another　Asika　and　kill　her　when　they　catch　her。〃

After　this　a　council　of　war　was　held；　and　it　was　decided　to　camp　there
that　night；　since　the　position　was　good　to　meet　an　attack　if　one
should　be　made；　and　the　Ogula　were　afraid　of　being　caught　on　the　march
with　their　backs　towards　the　enemy。　Alan　was　glad　enough　to　hear　this
decision；　for　he　was　quite　worn　out　and　ready　to　take　any　risk　for　a
few　hours'　rest。　At　this　council　he　learned　also　that　the　Asiki
bearers　carrying　his　gold　with　their　Ogula　guides　had　arrived　safely
among　the　Ogula；　who　had　mustered　in　answer　to　their　chief's　call　and
were　advancing　towards　Asiki…land；　though　the　business　was　one　that
did　not　please　them。　As　for　these　Asiki　bearers；　it　seemed　that　they
had　gone　on　into　the　forest　with　the　gold；　and　nothing　more　had　been
heard　of　them。

As　they　were　leaving　the　council　Alan　asked　Jeekie　if　he　had　any
tidings　of　his　mother；　who　had　been　their　first　messenger。

〃No；　Major；〃　he　answered　gloomily；　〃can't　learn　nothing　of　my　ma；
don't　know　where　she　is。　Ogula　camp　no　place　for　old　girl　if　they
short　of　chop　and　hungry。　But　p'raps　she　never　get　there；　I　nose　round
and　find　out。〃

Apparently　Jeekie　did　〃nose　round〃　to　some　purpose；　for　just　as　Alan
was　dropping　off　to　sleep　in　his　bough　shelter　a　most　fearful　din
arose　without；　through　which　he　recognized　the　vociferations　of
Jeekie。　Running　out　of　the　shelter　he　discovered　his　retainer　and　a
great　Ogula　whom　he　knew　again　as　the　headman　who　had　been　imprisoned
with　him　and　freed　by　the　Asika　to　guide　the　bearers；　rolling　over　and
over　on　the　ground；　watched　by　a　curious　crowd。　Just　as　he　arrived
Jeekie；　who　notwithstanding　his　years　was　a　man　of　enormous　strength；
got　the　better　of　the　Ogula　and　kneeling　on　his　stomach；　was
proceeding　to　throttle　him。　Rushing　at　him；　Alan　dragged　him　off　and
asked　what　was　the　matter。

〃Matter；　Major！〃　yelled　the　indignant　Jeekie。　〃My　ma　inside　this　black
villain；　/that/　the　matter。　Dirty　cannibal　got　digestion　of　one
ostrich　and　eat　her　up　with　all　his　mates；　all　except　one　who　not　like
her　taste　and　tell　me。　They　catch　poor　old　lady　asleep　by　road　so　stop
and　lunch　at　once　when　Asiki　bearers　not　looking。　Let　me　get　at　him；
Major；　let　me　get　at　him。　If　I　can't　bury　my　ma；　as　all　good　son　ought
to　do；　I　bury　him；　which　next　best　thing。〃

〃Jeekie；　Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　〃exercise　a　Christian　spirit　and　let
bygones　be　bygones。　If　you　don't；　you　will　make　a　quarrel　between　us
and　the　Ogula；　and　they　will　give　us　up　to　the　Asiki。　Perhaps　the　man
did　not　eat　your　mother；　I　understand　that　he　denies　it；　and　when　you
remember　what　she　was　like；　it　seems　incredible。　At　any　rate　he　has　a
right　to　a　trial；　and　I　will　speak　to　Fahni　about　it　to…morrow。〃

So　they　were　separated；　but　as　it　chanced　that　case　never　came　on；　for
next　morning　this　Ogula　was　killed　in　the　fighting　together　with　two
of　his　companions；　while　the　others　involved　in　the　charge　kept
themselves　out　of　sight。　Whether　Jeekie's　〃ma〃　was　or　was　not　eaten　by
the　Ogula　no　one　ever　learned　for　certain。　At　least　she　was　never
heard　of　any　more。

Alan　was　sleeping　heavily　when　a　sound　of　rushing　feet　and　of　strange；
thrilling　battle…cries　awoke　him。　He　sprang　up；　snatching　at　a　spear
and　shield　which　Jeekie　had　provided　for　him；　and　ran　out　to　find　from
the　position　of　the