the yellow god-第42章

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hide　whips。

〃Ah！〃　exclaimed　Jeekie；　〃that　the　kettle　I　hear　sing。　Think　you　better
taken　him　off　the　fire；　my　Lord；　or　he　boil　over。　Also　his　brothers　no
seem　to　like　that　music；〃　and　he　pointed　to　a　number　of　other　men　who
were　standing　round　watching　the　scene　with　sullen　dissatisfaction。

〃A　matter　of　camp　discipline；〃　muttered　Aylward。　〃This　man　has
disobeyed　orders。〃

By　now　Jeekie　was　shouting　something　to　the　natives　in　an　unknown
tongue；　which　they　seemed　to　understand　well　enough。　At　any　rate　the
flogging　ceased；　the　two　fellows　who　were　inflicting　it　slunk　away；
and　the　other　men　ran　towards　them；　shouting　back　as　they　came。

〃All　right；　Major。　You　please　stop　here　one　minute　with　my　Lord；　late
Bart。　of　Bloody　Hand。　Some　of　these　chaps　friends　of　mine；　I　meet　them
Old　Calabar　while　we　get　ready　to　march　last　rains。　Now　I　have　little
talk　with　them　and　find　out　thing　or　two。〃

Aylward　began　to　bluster　about　interference　with　his　servants　and　so
forth。　Jeekie　turned　on　him　with　a　very　ugly　grin；　and　showing　his
white　teeth；　as　was　his　fashion　when　he　grew　fierce。

〃Beg　pardon；　Right　Honourable　Lord；〃　he　said；　or　rather　snarled；　〃you
do　what　I　tell　you　just　to　please　Jeekie。　Jeekie　no　one　in　England；
but　Jeekie　damn　big　Lord　too　out　here；　great　medicine　man；　pal　of
Little　Bonsa。　You　remember　Little　Bonsa；　eh！　These　chaps　think　it
great　honour　to　meet　Jeekie；　so；　Major；　if　he　stir；　please　shoot　him
through　head；　Jeekie　'sponsible；　not　you。　Or　if　you　not　like　do　it；　I
come　back　and　see　to　job　myself　and　don't　think　those　fellows　cry　very
much。〃

There　was　something　about　Jeekie's　manner　that　frightened　Aylward；　who
understood　for　the　first　time　that　beneath　all　the　negro's　grotesque
talk　lay　some　dreadful；　iron　purpose；　as　courage　lay　under　his
affected　cowardice　and　under　his　veneer　of　selfishness；　fidelity。　At
any　rate　he　halted　with　Alan；　who　stood　beside　him；　the　revolver　of
which　Aylward　had　been　relieved　by　Jeekie；　in　his　hand。　Meanwhile
Jeekie；　who　held　the　rifle　which　he　had　reloaded；　went　on　and　met　the
natives　about　twenty　yards　away。

〃We　always　disliked　each　other；　Vernon；　but　I　must　say　that　I　never
thought　a　day　would　come　when　you　proposed　to　murder　me　in　my　own
camp；〃　said　Aylward。

〃Odd　thing；〃　answered　Alan；　〃but　a　very　similar　idea　was　in　my　mind。　I
never　thought；　Lord　Aylward；　that　however　unscrupulous　you　might　be
financiallya　day　would　come　when　you　would　attempt　to　shoot　down　an
unarmed　man　in　an　African　forest。　Oh！　don't　waste　breath　in　lying；　I
saw　you　recognize　me；　aim；　and　fire；　after　which　Jeekie　would　have　had
the　other　barrel；　and　who　then　would　have　remained　to　tell　the　story；
Lord　Aylward？〃

Aylward　made　no　answer；　but　Alan　felt　that　if　wishes　could　kill　him　he
would　not　live　long。　His　eye　fell　upon　a　long；　unmistakable　mound　of
fresh　earth；　beneath　a　tree。　He　calculated　its　length；　and　with　a
thrill　of　terror　noticed　that　it　was　too　small　for　a　negro。

〃Who　is　buried　there？〃　he　asked。

〃Find　out　for　yourself；〃　was　the　sneering　answer。

〃Don't　be　afraid；　Lord　Aylward；　I　shall　find　out　everything　in　time。〃

The　conversation　between　Jeekie　and　the　natives　proceeded；　their　heads
were　close　together；　it　grew　animated。　They　seemed　to　be　coming　to
some　decision。　Presently　one　of　them　ran　and　cut　the　lashings　of　the
man　who　had　been　bound　to　the　tree；　and　he　staggered　towards　them　and
joined　in　the　talk；　pointing　to　his　wounds。　Then　the　two　fellows　who
had　been　engaged　in　flogging　him；　accompanied　by　eight　companions　of
the　same　typethey　appeared　to　be　soldiers；　for　they　carried　guns
swaggered　towards　the　group　who　were　being　addressed　by　Jeekie；　of
whom　Alan　counted　twenty…three。　As　they　approached　Jeekie　made　some
suggestion　which；　after　one　hesitating　moment；　the　others　seemed　to
accept；　for　they　nodded　their　heads　and　separated　out　a　little。

Jeekie　stepped　forward　and　asked　a　question　of　the　guards；　to　which
they　replied　with　a　derisive　shout。　Then　without　a　word　of　warning　he
lifted　Aylward's　express　rifle　which　he　carried；　and　fired　first　one
barrel　and　then　the　other；　shooting　the　two　leading　soldiers　dead。
Their　companions　halted　amazed；　but　before　they　could　lift　their　guns；
Jeekie　and　those　with　him　rushed　at　them　and　began　stabbing　them　with
spears　and　striking　them　with　sticks。　In　three　minutes　it　was　over
without　another　shot　being　fired。　Most　of　them　were　despatched；　and
the　others；　throwing　down　their　guns；　had　fled　wounded　into　the
forest。

Now；　shouting　in　jubilation；　some　of　the　men　began　to　drag　away　the
dead　bodies；　while　others　collected　the　rifles　and　the　remainder；
headed　by　Jeekie；　advanced　towards　Alan　and　Aylward；　waving　their　red
spears。　Alan　stood　staring；　for　he　did　not　in　the　least　understand　the
meaning　of　what　had　happened；　but　Aylward；　who　had　turned　very　pale；
addressed　Jeekie；　saying：

〃I　suppose　that　you　have　come　to　murder　me　also；　you　black　villain。〃

〃No；　no；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Jeekie　politely；　〃not　at　present。　Also
that　wrong　word；　execute；　not　murder；　just　what　you　do　to　some　of
these　poor　devils；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　mob　of　porters。　〃Besides；
mustn't　kill　holy　white　man；　poor　black　chap　don't　matter；　plenty　more
where　he　come　from。　Think　we　all　go　see　Miss　Barbara　now。　You　come
too；　my　Lord　Bart。；　but　p'raps　best　tie　your　hands　behind　you　first；
if　you　want　scratch　head；　I　do　it　for　you。　That　only　fair；　you　scratch
mine　this　morning。〃

Then　at　a　word　from　Jeekie　some　of　the　natives　sprang　on　Aylward　and
tied　his　hands　behind　his　back。

〃Is　Miss　Barbara　alive？〃　said　Alan　to　Jeekie　in　an　agonized　whisper；
at　the　same　time　nodding　towards　the　grave　that　was　so　ominously
short。

〃Hope　so；　think　so；　these　cards　say　so；　but　God　He　know　alone；〃
answered　Jeekie。　〃Go　and　look；　that　best　way　to　find　out。〃

So　they　advanced　into　the　camp　through　a　narrow　gateway　made　of　a
V…shaped　piece　of　wood；　to　where　the　two　tents　were　placed　in　its
inner　division。　Of　these　tents；　the　first；　was　open；　whereas　the
second　was　closed。　As　the　open　tent　was　obviously　empty；　they　went　to
the　second；　whereof　Jeekie　began　to　loosen　the　lashings　of　the　flap。
It　was　a　long　business；　for　they　seemed　to　have　been　carefully　knotted
inside；　indeed　at　last；　growing　impatient；　Jeekie　cut　the　cord；　using
the　curved　knife　with　which　the　Mungana　had　tried　to　kill　Alan。

Meanwhile　Alan　was　suffering　torments；　being　convinced　that　Barbara
was　dead　and　buried　in　that　new…made　grave　beneath　the　trees。　He　could
not　speak；　he　could　scarcely　stand；　and　yet　a　picture　began　to　form　in
his　numb　mind。　He　saw　himself　seated　in　the　dark　in　the　Treasure…house
at　Bonsa…Town；　he　saw　a　vision　in　the　air　before　him。

Lo！　the　tent　door　opened　and　that　vision　reappeared。

There　was　the　pale　Barbara　seated；　weeping。　There　again；　as　he　entered
she　sprang　up　and　snatching　the　pistol　that　lay　beside　her；　turned　it
to　her　breast。　Then　she　perceived　him　and　the　pistol　sank　downwards
till　from　her　relaxed　hand　it　dropped　to　the　ground。　She　threw　up　her
arms　and　without　a　sound　fell　backwards；　or　would　have　fallen；　had　he
not　caught　her。



CHAPTER　XIX

THE　LAST　OF　THE　ASIKI

Barbara　had　recovered。　She　sat　upon　her　bed　in　the　tent　and　by　her　sat
Alan；　holding　her　hand；　while　before　them　stood　Aylward　like　a
prisoner　in　the　dock；　and　behind　him　the　armed　Jeekie。

〃Tell　me　the　story；　Barbara；〃　said　Alan；　〃and　tell　it　briefly；　for　I
cannot　bear　much　more　of　this。〃

She　looked　at　him　and　began　in　a　slow；　even　voice：

〃After　you　had　gone；　dear；　things　went　on　as　usual　for　a　month　or　two。
Then　came　the　great　Sahara　Company　trouble。　First　there　were　rumours
and　the　shares　began　to　go　down。　My　uncle　bought　them　in　by　tens　and
hundreds　of　thousands；　to　hold　up　the　market；　because　he　was　being
threatened；　but　of　course　he　did　not　know　then　that　Lord　Aylwardfor
I　forgot　to　tell　you；　he　had　become　a　lord　somehowwas　secretly　one
of　the　principal　sellers；　let　him　deny　it　if　he　can。　At　last　the
Ottoman　Government；　through　the　English　ambassador；　published　its
repudiation　of　the　concession；　which　it　seems　was　a　forgery；　actually
executed　or　obtained　in　Constantinople　by　my　uncle。　Well；　there　was　a
fearful　smash。　Writs　were　taken　out　against　my　uncle；　but　before　they
could　be　served；　he　died　suddenly　of　heart　disease。　I　was　with　him　at
the　time　and　he　kept　saying　he　saw　that　gold　mask　which　Jeekie　calls
Bonsa；　the　thing　you　took　back　to　Africa。　He　had　a　fine　funeral；　for
what　he　had　done　was　not　publicly　known；　and　when　his　will　was　opened
I　found　that　he　had　left　me　his　fortune；　but　made　Lord　Aylward　there
my　trustee　until　I　came　to　the　full　age　of　twenty…five　under　my
father's　will。　Alan；　don't　force　me　to　tell　you　what　sort　of　a
guardian　he　was　to　me；　also　there　was　no　fortune；　it　had　all　gone；
also　I　had　very；　very　little　left；　for　almost　all　my　own　money　had
gone　too。　In　his　despair　he　had　forged　papers　to　get　it　in　order　to
support　those　Sahara　Syndicate　shares。　Still　I　managed　to　borrow　about
￡2000　from　that　little　lawyer　out　of　the　￡5000　that　remain　to　me；　an
independent　sum　which　he　was　unable　to　touch；　and；　Alan；　with　it　I
came　to　find　you。

〃Alan；　Lord　Aylward　followed　me；　although　everybody　else　was　ruined；
he　remained　rich；　very　very　rich；　they　say；　and　his　fancy　was　to　marry
me；　also　I　think　it　was　not　comfortable　for　him　in　England。　It　is　a
long　tale；　but　I　got　up　here　with　about　five…and…twenty　servants；　and
Snell；　my　maid；　whom　you　remember。　Then　we　were　both　taken　ill　with
some　dreadful　fever　and　had　it　not　been　for　those　good　black　people；　I
should　have　died；　for　I　have　been　very　sick；　Alan。　But　they　nursed　me
and　I　recovered；　it　was　poor　Snell　who　died；　they　buried　her　a　few
days　ago。　I　thought　that　she　would　live；　but　she　had　a　relapse。　Next
Lord　Aylward　appeared　with　twelve　soldiers　and　some　porters　who；　I
believe；　have　run　away　now；oh！　you　can　guess；　you　can　guess。　He
wanted　my　people　to　carry　me　away　somewhere；　to　the　coast；　I　suppose；
but　they　were　faithful　to　me　and　would　not。　Then　he　set　his　soldiers
on　to　maltreat　them。　They　shot　several　of　them　and　flogged　them　on
every　opportunity；　they　were　flogging　one　of　them　just　now；　I　heard
them。　Well；　the　poor　men　made　me　understand　that　they　could　bear　it　no
longer　and　must　do　what　he　told　them。

〃And　so；　Alan；　as　I　was　quite　hopeless　and　helpless；　I　made　up　my　mind
to　kill　myself；　hoping　that　God　would　forgive　me　and　that　I　should
find　you　somewhere；　perhaps　after　sleeping　a　while；　for　it　was　better
to　die　than　to　be　given　into　the　powerof　that　man。　I　thought　that　he
was　coming　for　me　just　now　and　I　was　about　to　do　it；　but　it　was　you
instead；　Alan；　/you/；　and　only　just　in　time。　That　is　all　the　story；
and　I　hope　you　will　not　think　that　I　have　acted　very　foolishly；　but　I
did　it　for　the　best。　If　you　only　knew　what　I　have　suffered；　Alan；　what
I　have　gone　through　in　one　way　and　another；　I　am　sure　that　you　would
not　judge　me　harshly；　also　I　kept　dreaming　that　you　were　in　trouble
and　wanted　me　to　come　to　you；　and　of　course　I　knew　where　you　were　gone
and　had　that　map。　Send　him　away；　Alan；　for　I　am　still　so　weak　and　I
cannot　bear　the　sight　of　his　face。　If　you　knew　everything；　you　would