the yellow god-第41章

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and　shield　which　Jeekie　had　provided　for　him；　and　ran　out　to　find　from
the　position　of　the　moon　that　dawn　was　near。

〃Come　on；　Major；〃　said　Jeekie；　〃Asiki　make　night　attack；　they　always
like　do　everything　at　night　who　love　darkness；　because　their　eye　evil。
Come　on　quick；　Major；〃　and　he　began　to　drag　him　off　toward　the　rear。

〃But　that's　the　wrong　way；〃　said　Alan　presently。　〃They　are　attacking
over　there。〃

〃Do　you　think　Jeekie　fool；　Major；　that　he　don't　know　that？　He　take　you
where　they　/not/　attacking。　Plenty　Ogula　to　be　killed；　but　not　/many/
white　men　like　you；　and　in　all　world　only　/one/　Jeekie！〃

〃You　cold…blooded　old　scoundrel！〃　ejaculated　Alan　as　he　turned　and
bolted　back　towards　the　noise　of　fighting；　followed　by　his　reluctant
servant。

By　the　time　that　he　reached　the　first　ranks；　which　were　some　way　off；
the　worst　of　the　attack　was　over。　It　had　been　short　and　sharp；　for　the
Asiki　had　hoped　to　find　the　Ogula　unprepared　and　to　take　their　camp
with　a　rush。　But　the　Ogula；　who　knew　their　habits；　were　waiting　for
them；　so　that　presently　they　withdrew；　carrying　off　their　wounded　and
leaving　about　fifty　dead　upon　the　ground。　As　soon　as　he　was　quite　sure
that　the　enemy　were　all　gone；　Jeekie；　armed　with　a　large　battle…axe；
went　off　to　inspect　these　fallen　soldiers。　Alan；　who　was　helping　the
Ogula　wounded；　wondered　why　he　took　so　much　interest　in　them。　Half　an
hour　later　his　curiosity　was　satisfied；　for　Jeekie　returned　with　over
twenty　heavy　gold　rings；　torques；　and　bracelets　slung　over　his
shoulder。

〃Where　did　you　get　those；　Jeekie？〃　he　asked。

〃Off　poor　chaps　that　peg　out　just　now；　Major。　Remember　Asiki　soldiers
nearly　always　wear　these　things　and　that　they　no　more　use　to　them。　But
if　ever　he　get　out　of　this　Jeekie　want　spend　his　old　age　in
respectable　peace。　So　he　fetch　them。　Hard　work；　though；　for　rings　all
in　one　bit　and　Asiki　very　tough　to　chop。　Don't　look　cross；　Major；　you
remember　what　'postle　say；　that　he　who　no　provide　for　his　own　self
worse　than　cannibal。〃

Just　then　Fahni　came　up　and　announced　that　the　Asiki　general　had　sent
a　messenger　into　the　camp　proposing　terms　of　peace。

〃What　terms？〃　asked　Alan。

〃These；　white　man：　that　we　should　surrender　you　and　your　servant　and
go　our　way　unharmed。〃

〃Indeed；　Fahni；　and　what　did　you　answer？〃

〃White　man；　I　refused；　but　I　tell　you；〃　he　added　warningly；　〃that　my
captains　wished　to　accept。　They　said　that　I　had　come　back　to　them　safe
and　that　they　fear　the　Asiki；　who　are　devils；　not　men；　and　who　will
bring　the　curse　of　Bonsa　on　us　if　we　go　on　fighting　with　them。　Still　I
refused；　saying　that　if　they　gave　you　up　I　would　go　with　you；　who
saved　my　life　from　the　lion　and　afterwards　from　the　priests　of　Bonsa。
So　the　messenger　went　back　and；　white　man；　we　march　at　once；　and　I
pray　you　always　to　keep　close　to　me　that　I　may　watch　over　you。〃

Then　began　that　long　tramp　down　the　river；　which　Alan　always　thought
afterwards　tried　him　more　than　any　of　the　terrible　events　of　his
escape。　For　although　there　was　but　little　fighting；　only　rearguard
actions　indeed；　every　day　the　Asiki　sent　messengers　renewing　their
offers　of　peace　on　the　sole　condition　of　the　surrender　of　himself　and
Jeekie。　At　last　one　evening　they　came　to　that　place　where　Alan　first
met　the　Ogula；　and　once　more　he　camped　upon　the　island　on　which　he　had
shot　the　lion。　At　nightfall；　after　he　had　eaten；　Fahni　visited　him
here　and　Alan　boded　evil　from　his　face。

〃White　man；〃　he　said；　〃I　can　protect　you　no　longer。　The　Asiki
messengers　have　been　with　us　again　and　they　say　that　unless　we　give
you　up　to…morrow　at　the　dawn；　their　army　will　push　on　ahead　of　us　and
destroy　my　town；　which　is　two　days'　march　down　the　river；　and　all　the
women　and　children　in　it；　and　that　afterwards　they　will　fight　a　great
battle　with　us。　Therefore　my　people　say　that　I　must　give　you　up；　or
that　if　I　do　not　they　will　elect　another　chief　and　do　so　themselves。〃

〃Then　you　will　give　up　a　dead　man；　Fahni。〃

〃Friend；〃　said　the　old　chief　in　a　low　voice；　〃the　night　is　dark　and
the　forest　not　so　far　away。　Moreover；　I　have　set　no　guards　on　that
side　of　the　river；　and　Jeekie　here　does　not　forget　a　road　that　he　has
travelled。　Lastly；　I　have　heard　it　said　that　there　are　some　other
white　people　with　soldiers　camped　in　the　edge　of　the　forest。　Now；　if
you　were　not　here　in　the　morning；　how　could　I　give　you　up？〃

〃I　understand；　Fahni。　You　have　done　your　best　for　me；　and　now；　good…
night。　Jeekie　and　I　are　going　to　take　a　walk。　Sometimes　you　will　think
of　the　months　we　spent　together　in　Bonsa…Town；　will　you　not？〃

〃Yes；　and　of　you　also；　white　man；　for　so　long　as　I　shall　live。　Walk
fast　and　far；　for　the　Asiki　are　clever　at　following　a　spoor。　Good…
night；　Friend；　and　to　you；　Jeekie　the　cunning；　good…night　also。　I　go
to　tell　my　captains　that　I　will　surrender　you　at　dawn；〃　and　without
more　words　he　vanished　out　of　their　sight　and　out　of　their　lives。

Meanwhile　Jeekie；　foreseeing　the　issue　of　this　talk；　was　already
engaged　in　doing　up　their　few　belongings；　including　the　gold　rings；
some　food；　and　a　native　cooking　pot；　in　a　bundle　surrounded　by　a
couple　of　bark　blankets。

〃Come　on；　Major；〃　he　said；　handing　Alan　one　spear　and　taking　another
himself。　〃Old　cannibal　quite　right；　very　nice　night　for　a　walk。　Come
on；　Major；　river　shallow　just　here。　I　think　this　happen　and　try　it
before　dark。　You　just　follow　Jeekie；　that　all　you　got　to　do。〃

So　leaving　the　fire　burning　in　front　of　their　bough　shelter；　they
waded　the　stream　and　started　up　the　opposing　slope；　meeting　no　man。
Dark　as　it　was；　Jeekie　seemed　to　have　no　difficulty　in　finding　the
way；　for　as　Fahni　said；　a　native　does　not　forget　the　path　he　has　once
travelled。　All　night　long　they　walked　rapidly；　and　when　dawn　broke
found　themselves　at　the　edge　of　the　forest。

〃Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　〃what　did　Fahni　mean　by　that　tale　about　white
people？〃

〃Don't　know；　Major；　think　perhaps　he　lie　to　let　you　down　easy。　My
golly！　what　that？〃

As　he　spoke　a　distant　echo　reached　their　ears；　the　echo　of　a　rifle
shot。　〃Think　Fanny　not　lie　after　all；〃　went　on　Jeekie；　〃that　white
man's　gun；　sharp　crack；　smokeless　powder；　but　wonder　how　he　come　in
this　place。　Well；　we　soon　find　out。　Come　on；　Major。〃

Tired　as　they　were　they　broke　into　a　run；　the　prospect　of　seeing　a
white　face　again　was　too　much　for　them。　Half　a　mile　or　so　further　on
they　caught　sight　of　a　figure　evidently　engaged　in　stalking　game　among
the　trees；　or　so　they　judged　from　his　cautious　movements。

〃White　man！〃　said　Jeekie；　and　Alan　nodded。

They　crept　forward　silently　and　with　care；　for　who　knew　what　this
white　man　might　be　after；　keeping　a　great　tree　between　them　and　the
man；　till　at　length；　passing　round　its　bole；　they　found　themselves
face　to　face　with　him　and　not　five　yards　away。　Notwithstanding　his
unaccustomed　tropical　dress　and　his　face　burnt　copper　colour　by　the
sun；　Alan　knew　the　man　at　once。

〃Aylward！〃　he　gasped；　〃Aylward！　You　here？〃

He　started。　He　stared　at　Alan。　Then　his　countenance　changed。　Its
habitual　calm　broke　up　as　it　was　wont　to　do　in　moments　of　deep
emotion。　It　became　very　evil；　as　though　some　demon　of　hate　and
jealousy　were　at　work　behind　it。　The　thin　lips　quivered；　the　eyes
glared；　and　without　spoken　word　or　warning；　he　lifted　the　rifle　and
fired　straight　at　Alan。　The　bullet　missed　him；　for　the　aim　was　high。
Passing　over　Alan's　head；　it　cut　a　neat　groove　through　the　hair　of　the
taller　Jeekie　who　was　immediately　behind　him。

Next　instant；　with　a　spring　like　that　of　a　tiger　Jeekie　was　on
Aylward。　The　weight　of　his　charge　knocked　him　backwards　to　the　ground；
and　there　he　lay；　pinned　fast。

〃What　for　you　do　that？〃　exclaimed　the　indignant　Jeekie。　〃What　for　you
shoot　through　wool　of　respectable　nigger；　Sir　Robert　Aylward；　Bart。？
Now　I　throttle　you；　you　dirty　hog…swine。　No　Magistrates'　Court　here　in
Dwarf　Forest；〃　and　he　began　to　suit　the　action　to　the　word。

〃Let　him　go；　Jeekie。　Take　his　rifle　and　let　him　go；〃　exclaimed　Alan；
who　all　this　while　had　stood　amazed。　〃There　must　be　some　mistake；　he
cannot　have　meant　to　murder　me。〃

〃Don't　know　what　he　mean；　but　know　his　bullet　go　through　my　hair；
Major；　and　give　me　new　parting；〃　grumbled　Jeekie　as　he　obeyed。

〃Of　course　it　was　a　mistake；　Vernon；　for　I　suppose　it　is　Vernon；〃　said
Aylward；　as　he　rose。　〃I　do　not　wonder　that　your　servant　is　angry；　but
the　truth　is　that　your　sudden　appearance　frightened　me　out　of　my　wits
and　I　fired　automatically。　We　have　been　living　in　some　danger　here　and
my　nerves　are　not　as　strong　as　they　used　to　be。〃

〃Indeed；〃　answered　Alan。　〃No；　Jeekie　will　carry　the　rifle　for　you；
yes；　and　I　think　that　pistol　also；　every　ounce　makes　a　difference
walking　in　a　hot　climate；　and　I　remember　that　you　always　were
dangerous　with　firearms。　There；　you　will　be　more　comfortable　so。　And
now；　who　do　you　mean　by　'we'？〃

〃I　mean　Barbara　and　myself；〃　he　answered　slowly。

Alan's　jaw　dropped；　he　shook　upon　his　feet。

〃Barbara　and　yourself！〃　he　said。　〃Do　I　understand〃

〃Don't　you　understand　nothing；　Major；〃　broke　in　Jeekie。　〃Don't　you
believe　one　word　what　this　pig　dog　say。　If　Miss　Barbara　marry　him　he
no　want　shoot　you；　he　ask　you　to　tea　to　see　the　Missus　and　how　much
she　love　him；　ducky！　We　just　go　on　and　call　on　Miss　Barbara　and　hear
the　news。　Walk　up；　Sir　Robert　Aylward；　Bart。；　and　show　us　which　way。〃

〃I　do　not　choose　to　receive　you　and　your　impertinent　servant　at　my
camp；〃　said　Aylward；　grinding　his　teeth。

〃We　quite　understand　that；　Sir　Robert　Aylward〃

〃Lord　Aylward；　if　you　please；　Major　Vernon。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardonLord　Aylward。　I　was　aware　of　the　contemplated
purchase　of　that　title；　I　did　not　know　that　it　had　been　completed。　I
was　about　to　add　that　all　the　same　we　mean　to　go　to　that　camp；　and
that　if　any　violence　towards　us　is　attempted　as　we　approach　it；　you
will　remember　that　you　are　in　our　hands。〃

〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　added　Jeekie；　bowing；　〃and　that　monkeys　don't　tell　no
tales；　my　Lord；　and　that　here　there　ain't　no　twelve　Good…Trues　to　sit
on　noble　corpse　unhappily　deceased；　my　Lord；　and　to　bring　in　Crowner's
verdict　of　done　to　death　lawful　or　unlawful；　according　as　evidence　may
show　when　got；　my　Lord。　So　march　on；　for　we　no　breakfast　yet。　No；　not
that　way；　round　here　to　left；　where　I　think　I　hear　kettle　sing。〃

So　having　no　choice；　Aylward　came；　marching　between　the　other　two　and
saying　nothing。　When　they　had　gone　a　couple　of　hundred　yards　Alan　also
heard　something；　and　to　him　it　sounded　like　a　man　crying　out　in　pain。
Then　suddenly　they　passed　round　some　great　trees　and　reached　a　glade
in　the　forest　where　there　was　a　spring　of　water　which　Alan　remembered。
In　this　glade　the　camp　had　been　built；　surrounded　by　a　〃boma〃　or
palisade　of　rough　wood；　within　which　stood　two　tents　and　some　native
shelters　made　of　tall　grass　and　boughs。　Outside　of　this　camp　a　curious
and　unpleasant　scene　was　in　progress。

To　a　small　tree　that　grew　there　was　tied　a　man；　whom　from　the　fashion
of　his　hair　Alan　knew　to　belong　to　the　Coast　negroes；　while　two　great
fellows；　evidently　of　another　tribe；　flogged　him　unmercifully　with
hide　whips。

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Jeekie；　〃that　the　kettle　I　hear　sing。　Think　you　better
taken　him　off　the　fire；　my　Lord；　or　he　boil　ove