the yellow god-第45章

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to　shoot　you；　p'raps　nasty　temper　make　him　mad。　But　he　gone　any　way；
and　I　hope　he　no　meet　Asiki；　poor　fellow；　'cause　if　so；　who　know？
P'raps　they　knock　him　on　head；　or　if　they　think　him　you；　they　make　him
prisoner　and　keep　him　quite　long　while　before　they　let　him　go　again。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Alan；　〃he　has　gone　of　his　own　free　will；　so　we　have　no
responsibility　in　the　matter；　and　I　can't　pretend　that　I　am　sorry　to
see　the　last　of　him；　at　any　rate　for　the　present。　Let　that　poor　beggar
loose；　there　seems　to　have　been　enough　flogging　in　this　place；　and
after　all　he　isn't　much　to　blame。〃

Jeekie　obeyed；　apparently　with　much　reluctance；　and　just　then　they　saw
one　of　their　own　people　running　towards　the　camp。

〃'Fraid　he　going　to　tell　us　Asiki　come　attack；〃　said　Jeekie；　shaking
his　head。　〃Hope　they　give　us　time　breakfast　first。〃

〃No　doubt；〃　answered　Alan　nervously；　for　he　feared　the　result　of　that
attack。

Then　the　man　arrived　breathless　and　began　to　gasp　out　his　news；　which
filled　Alan　with　delight　and　caused　a　look　of　utter　amazement　to
appear　upon　the　broad　face　of　Jeekie。　It　was　to　the　effect　that　he　had
climbed　a　high　tree　as　he　had　been　bidden　to　do；　and　from　the　top　of
that　tree　by　the　light　of　the　first　rays　of　the　rising　sun；　miles　away
on　the　plain　beyond　the　forest；　he　had　seen　the　Asiki　army　in　full
retreat。

〃Thank　God！〃　exclaimed　Alan。

〃Yes；　Major；　but　that　very　rum　story。　Jeekie　can't　swallow　it　all　at
once。　Must　send　out　see　none　of　them　left　behind。　P'raps　they　play
trick；　but　if　they　really　gone；　'spose　it　'cause　guns　frightens　them
so　much。　Always　think　powder　very　great　'vention；　especially　when
enemy　hain't　got　none；　and　quite　sure　of　it　now。　Jeekie　very；　very
seldom　wrong。　Soon　believe；〃　he　added　with　a　burst　of　confidence；
〃that　Jeekie　never　wrong　at　all。　He　look　for　truth　so　long　that　at
last　he　find　it　/always/。〃



Something　more　than　a　month　had　gone　by　and　Major　and　Mrs。　Vernon；　the
latter　fully　restored　to　health　and　the　most　sweet　and　beautiful　of
brides；　stood　upon　the　steamship　/Benin/；　and　as　the　sun　sank；　looked
their　last　upon　the　coast　of　Western　Africa。

〃Yes；　dear；〃　Alan　was　saying　to　his　wife；　〃from　first　to　last　it　has
been　a　very　queer　story；　but　I　really　think　that　our　getting　that
Asiki　gold　after　all　was　one　of　the　queerest　parts　of　it；　also
uncommonly　convenient；　as　things　have　turned　out。〃

〃Namely　that　you　have　got　a　little　pauper　for　a　wife　instead　of　a
great　heiress；　Alan。　But　tell　me　again　about　the　gold。　I　have　had　so
much　to　think　of　during　the　last　few　days；〃　and　she　blushed；　〃that　I
never　quite　took　it　all　in。〃

〃Well；　love；　there　isn't　much　to　tell。　When　that　forwarding　agent；　Mr。
Aston；　knew　that　we　were　in　the　town；　he　came　to　me　and　said　that　he
had　about　fifty　cases　full　of　something　heavy；　as　he　supposed　samples
of　ore；　addressed　to　me　to　your　care　in　England　which　he　was　proposing
to　ship　on　by　the　/Benin/。　I　answered　'Yes；　that　was　all　right；'　and
did　not　undeceive　him　about　their　contents。　Then　I　asked　how　they　had
arrived；　and　if　he　had　not　received　a　letter　with　them。　He　replied
that　one　morning　before　the　warehouse　was　open；　some　natives　had
brought　them　down　in　a　canoe；　and　dumped　them　at　the　door；　telling　the
watchman　that　they　had　been　paid　to　deliver　them　there　by　some　other
natives　whom　they　met　a　long　way　up　the　river。　Then　they　went　away
without　leaving　any　letter　or　message。　Well；　I　thanked　Aston　and　paid
his　charges　and　there's　an　end　of　the　matter。　Those　fifty…three　cases
are　now　in　the　hold　invoiced　as　ore　samples　and；　as　I　inspected　them
myself　and　am　sure　that　they　have　not　been　tampered　with；　besides　the
value　of　the　necklace　the　Asika　gave　me　we've　got　￡100；000　to　begin
our　married　life　upon　with　something　over　for　old　Jeekie；　and　I
daresay　we　shall　do　very　well　on　that。〃

〃Yes；　Alan；　very　well　indeed。〃　Then　she　reflected　a　while；　for　the
mention　of　Jeekie's　name　seemed　to　have　made　her　thoughtful；　and
added；　〃Alan；　what　/do/　you　think　became　of　Lord　Aylward？〃

〃I　am　sure　I　don't　know。　Jeekie　and　I　and　some　of　the　porters　went　to
see　the　Old　Calabar　officials　and　made　affidavits　as　to　the
circumstances　of　his　disappearance。　We　couldn't　do　any　more；　could
we？〃

〃No；　Alan。　But　do　you　think　that　Jeekie　quite　understands　the　meaning
of　an　oath？　I　mean　it　seems　so　strange　that　we　should　never　have　found
the　slightest　trace　of　him；　and；　Alan；　I　don't　know　if　you　noticed　it；
but　why　did　Jeekie　appear　that　morning　wearing　Lord　Aylward's　socks
and　boots？〃

〃He　ought　to　know　all　about　oaths；　he　has　heard　enough　of　them　in
Magistrates'　Courts；　but　as　regards　the　boots；　I　am　sure　I　can't　say；
dear；〃　answered　Alan　uneasily。　〃Here　he　comes；　we　will　ask　him；〃　and
he　did。

〃Sock　and　boot；〃　replied　Jeekie；　with　a　surprised　air；　〃why；　Mrs。
Major；　if　that　good　lord　go　mad　and　cut　off　into　forest　leaving　them
behind；　of　course　I　put　them　on；　as　they　no　more　use　to　him；　and　I
just　burn　my　dirty　old　Asiki　dress　and　sandal　and　got　nothing　to　keep
jigger　out　of　toe。　Don't　you　sit　up　here　in　this　damp；　cold；　Mrs。
Major；　else　you　get　more　fever。　You　go　down　and　dress　dinner；　which　at
half…past　six　to…night。　I　just　come　tell　you　that。〃

So　Barbara　went；　leaving　the　other　two　talking　about　various　matters；
for　they　were　alone　together　on　the　deck；　all　the　passengers；　of　whom
there　were　but　few；　having　gone　below。

The　short　African　twilight　had　come；　a　kind　of　soft　blue　haze　that
made　the　ship　look　mysterious　and　unnatural。　By　degrees　their
conversation　died　away。　They　lapsed　into　a　silence；　which　Alan　was　the
first　to　break。

〃What　are　you　thinking　of；　Jeekie？〃　he　asked　nervously。

〃Thinking　of　Asika；　Major；〃　he　answered　in　a　scared　whisper。　〃Seem　to
me　that　she　about　somewhere；　just　as　she　use　pop　up　in　room　in　Gold
House；　seem　to　me　I　feel　her　all　down　my　back；　likewise　in　head　wool；
which　stand　up。〃

〃It's　very　odd；　Jeekie；〃　replied　Alan；　〃but　so　do　I。〃

〃Well；　Major；　'spect　she　thinking　of　us；　specially　of　you；　and　just
throw　what　she　think　at　us；　like　boy　throw　stones　at　bird　what　fly
away　out　of　cage。　Asika　do　all　that；　you　know；　she　not　quite　human；
full　of　plenty　Bonsa　devil；　from　gen'ration　to　gen'rations；　amen！
P'raps　she　just　find　out　something　what　make　her　mad。〃

〃What　could　she　find　out　after　all　this　time；　Jeekie？〃

〃Oh；　don't　know。　How　I　know？　Jeekie　can't　guess。　Find　out　you　marry
Miss　Barbara；　p'raps。　Very　sick　that　she　lose　you　for　this　time；
p'raps。　Kill　herself　that　she　keep　near　you；　p'raps；　while　she　wait
till　you　come　round　again；　p'raps。　Asika　can　do　all　these　things　if
she　like；　Major。〃

〃Stuff　and　rubbish；〃　answered　Alan　uneasily；　for　Jeekie's　suggestions
were　most　uncomfortable；　〃I　believe　in　none　of　your　West　Coast
superstitions。〃

〃Quite　right；　Major；　nor　don't　I。　Only　you　'member；　Major；　what　she
show　us　there　in　Treasure…placeMr。　Haswell　being　buried；　eh？　Miss
Barbara　in　tent；　eh？　t'other　job　what　hasn't　come　off　yet；　eh？　Oh！　my
golly！　Major；　just　you　look　behind　you　and　say　you　see　nothing；
please；〃　and　the　eyes　of　Jeekie　grew　large　as　Maltese　oranges；　while
with　chattering　teeth　he　pointed　over　the　bulwark　of　the　vessel。

Alan　turned　and　saw。

This　was　what　he　saw　or　seemed　to　see：　The　figure　of　the　Asika　in　her
robes　and　breastplate　of　gold；　standing　upon　the　air；　just　beyond　the
ship；　as　though　on　it　she　might　set　no　foot。　Her　waving　black　hair
hung　about　her　shoulders；　but　the　sharp　wind　did　not　seem　to　stir　it
nor　did　her　white　dress　flutter；　and　on　her　beautiful　face　was　stamped
a　look　of　awful　rage　and　agony；　the　rage　of　betrayal；　the　agony　of
loss。　In　her　right　hand　she　held　a　knife；　and　from　a　wound　in　her
breast　the　red　blood　ran　down　her　golden　corselet。　She　pointed　to
Jeekie　with　the　knife；　she　opened　her　arms　to　Alan　as　though　in
unutterable　longing；　then　slowly　raised　them　upwards　towards　the
fading　glory　of　the　sky　aboveand　was　gone。



Jeekie　sat　down　upon　the　deck；　mopping　his　brow　with　a　red
handkerchief；　while　Alan；　who　felt　faint；　clung　to　the　bulwarks。

〃Tell　you；　Major；　that　Asika　can　do　all　that　kind　of　thing。　Never　know
where　you　find　her　next。　'Spect　she　come　to　live　with　us　in　England
and　just　call　in　now　and　again　when　it　dark。　Tell　you；　she　very
awkward　customer；　think　p'raps　you　done　better　stop　there　and　marry
her。　Well；　she　gone　now；　thank　Heaven！　seem　to　drop　in　sea　and　hope
she　stay　there。〃

〃Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　recovering　himself；　〃listen　to　me；　this　is　all
infernal　nonsense；　we　have　gone　through　a　great　deal　and　the　nerves　of
both　of　us　are　overstrained。　We　think　we　saw　what　we　did　not　see；　and
if　you　dare　to　say　a　single　word　of　it　to　your　mistress；　I'll　break
your　neck。　Do　you　understand？〃

〃Yes；　Major；　think　so。　All　'fernal　nonsense；　nerves　strained；　didn't
see　what　we　see；　and　say　nothing　of　what　did　see　to　Mrs。　Major；　if
either　do　say　anything；　t'other　one　break　his　neck。　That　all　right；
quite　understand。　Anything　else；　Major？〃

〃Yes；　Jeekie。　We　have　had　some　wonderful　adventures；　but　they　are　past
and　done　with　and　the　less　we　talk　or　even　think　about　them　the
better；　for　there　is　a　lot　that　would　be　rather　difficult　to　explain；
and　that　if　explained　would　scarcely　be　believed。〃

〃Yes；　Major；　for　instance；　very　difficult　explain　Mrs。　Barbara　how
Asika　so　fond　of　you　if　you　only　tell　her；　'Go　away；　go　away！'　all　the
time；　like　old　saint…gentleman　to　pretty　girl　in　picture。　P'raps　she
smell　rat。〃

〃Stop　your　ribald　talk；〃　said　Alan　in　a　stern　voice。　〃It　would　be
better　if　instead　of　making　jokes　you　gave　thanks　to　Providence　for
bringing　both　of　us　alive　and　well　out　of　very　dreadful　dangers。　Now　I
am　going　to　dress　for　dinner；〃　and　with　an　anxious　glance　seaward　into
the　gathering　darkness；　he　turned　and　went。



Jeekie　stood　alone　upon　the　empty　deck；　wagging　his　great　white　head
to　and　fro　and　soliloquizing　thus：

〃Wonder　if　Major　see　what　under　lady　Asika's　feet　when　she　stand　out
there　over　nasty　deep。　Think　not　or　he　say　something。　That　noble　lord
not　look　nice。　No；　private　view　for　Jeekie　only；　free　ticket　and
nothing　to　pay　and　me　hope　it　no　come　back　when　I　go　to　bed。　Major
know　nothing　about　it；　so　he　not　see；　but　Jeekie　know　a　lot。　Hope　that
Aylward　not　write　any　letters　home；　or　if　he　write；　hope　no　one　post
them。　Ghost　bad　enough；　but　murder；　oh　my！〃

He　paused　a　while；　then　went　on：

〃Jeekie　do　big　sacrifice　to　Bonsa　when　he　reach　Yarleys；　get　lamb　in
back　kitchen　at　night；　or　if　ghost　come　any　more；　calf　in　wood
outside。　Not　steal　it；　pay　for　it　himself。　Then　think　Jeekie　turn
Cath'lic；　confess　his　sins；　they　say　them　priest　chaps　not　split；　and
after　they　got　his　sins；　they　tackle　Asika　and　Bonsas　too；〃　and　he
uttered　a　series　of　penitent　groans；　turning　slowly　round　and　round　to
be　sure　that　nothing　was　behind　him。

Just　then　the　full　moon　appeared　out　of　a　bank　of　clouds；　and　as　it
rose　higher；　flooding　the　world　with　light；　Jeekie's　spirits　rose
also。

〃Asika　never　come　in　moonshine；〃　he　said；　〃that　not　the　game；　against
rule；　and　after　all；　what　Jeekie　done　bad？　He　very　good　fellow　really。
Aylward　great　villain；　serve　him　jolly　well　right　if　Asika　spiflicate
him；　that　not　Jeekie's　faul