the yellow god-第53节

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to　fetch　water　see　them。　Also　believe　they　catch　rest　of　those　soldier
chaps　and　polish　them；　for　porter…man　hear　the　row。〃

Alan　sprang　up　with　an　exclamation；　in　his　new…found　joy　he　had
forgotten　all　about　the　Asiki。

〃Keep　hair　on；　Major；〃　said　Jeekie　cheerfully；　〃don't　think　they
attack　yet；　plenty　of　time　for　breakfast　first。　When　they　come　we　make
it　very　hot　for　them；　lots　of　rifle　and　cartridge　now。〃

〃Can't　we　run　away？〃　asked　Barbara。

〃No；　Missy；　can't　run；　must　stop　here　and　do　best。　Camp　well　built；
open　all　round；　don't　think　they　take　it。　You　leave　everything　to
Jeekie；　he　see　you　through；　but　p'raps　you　like　come　breakfast
outside；　where　you　know　all　that　go　on。〃

Barbara　did　like；　but　as　it　happened　they　were　allowed　to　consume
their　meal　in　peace；　since　no　Asiki　appeared。　As　soon　as　it　was
swallowed　she　returned　to　her　tent；　while　Alan　and　Jeekie　set　to　work
to　strengthen　the　defences　of　the　little　camp　as　well　as　they　were
able；　and　to　make　ready　and　serve　out　the　arms　and　ammunition。

About　midday　a　man　whom　they　had　posted　in　a　tree　that　grew　inside　the
camp　announced　that　he　saw　the　enemy；　and　next　moment　a　company　of
them　rushed　towards　them　across　the　open　and　were　greeted　by　a　volley
which　killed　and　wounded　several　men。　At　this　exhibition　of　miraculous
power；　for　none　of　these　soldiers　had　ever　heard　the　report　of
firearms　or　seen　their　effect；　they　retreated　rapidly；　uttering　shouts
of　dismay　and　carrying　their　dead　and　wounded　with　them。

〃Do　you　suppose　they　have　gone；　Jeekie？〃　asked　Alan　anxiously。

He　shook　his　head。

〃Think　not；　Major；　think　they　frightened；　by　big　bullet　magic；　and　go
consult　priest。　Also　only　a　few　of　them　here；　rest　of　army　come　later
and　try　rush　us　to…morrow　morning　before　dawn。　That　Asiki　custom。〃

〃Then　what　shall　we　do；　Jeekie？　Run　for　it　or　stop　here？〃

〃Think　must　stop　here；　Major。　If　we　bolt；　carrying　Miss　Barbara；　who
can't　walk　much；　they　follow　on　spoor　and　catch　us。　Best　stick　inside
this　fence　and　see　what　happen。　Also　once　outside　p'raps　porters
desert　and　leave　us。〃

So　as　there　was　nothing　else　to　do　they　stayed；　labouring　all　day　at
the　strengthening　of　their　fortifications　till　at　length　the　boma　or
fence　of　boughs；　supported　by　earth；　was　so　high　and　thick　that　while
any　were　left　to　fire　through　the　loopholes；　it　would　be　very
difficult　to　storm　by　men　armed　with　spears。

It　was　a　dreadful　and　arduous　day　for　Alan；　who　now　had　Barbara's
safety　to　think　of；　Barbara　with　whom　as　yet　he　had　scarcely　found
time　to　exchange　a　word。　By　sunset　indeed　he　was　so　worn　out　with　toil
and　anxiety　that　he　could　scarcely　stand　upon　his　feet。　Jeekie；　who
all　that　afternoon　had　been　strangely　quiet　and　reflective；　surveyed
him　critically；　then　said：

〃You　have　good　drink　and　go　sleep　a　bit；　Major。　Very　good　little
shelter　there　by　Miss　Barbara's　tent；　and　you　hold　her　hand　if　you
like　underneath　the　canvas；　which　comforting　and　all　correct。　Jeekie
never　get　tired；　he　keep　good　lookout　and　let　you　know　if　anything
happen；　and　then　you　jump　up　quite　fresh　and　fight　like　tom…cat　in
corner。〃

At　first　Alan　refused　to　listen；　but　when　Barbara　added　her　entreaties
to　those　of　Jeekie　he　gave　way；　and　ten　minutes　later　was　as　soundly
asleep　as　he　had　ever　been　in　his　life。

〃Keep　eye　on　him；　Miss　Barbara；　and　call　me　if　he　wake。　Now　I　go　give
noble　lord　his　supper　and　see　that　he　quite　comfortable。　Jeekie　seem
very　busy　to…night；　just　like　when　Major　have　dinner…party　at　Yarleys
and　old　cook　get　drunk　in　kitchen。〃

If　Barbara　could　have　followed　Jeekie's　movements　for　the　next　few
hours；　she　would　probably　have　agreed　that　he　was　busy。　First　he　went
to　Aylward's　tent；　and　as　he　had　said　he　would；　gave　him　his　supper；
and　with　it　half　a　bottle　of　whisky　from　the　stores　which　he　had　been
carrying　about　with　him　for　some　time；　as　he　said；　to　prevent　the
porters　from　getting　at　it。　Aylward　would　little；　though　as　his　arms
were　tied　to　the　tent…pole；　Jeekie　sat　beside　him　and　fed　him　like　a
baby；　conversing　pleasantly　with　him　all　the　while；　informing　him
amongst　other　things　that　he　had　better　say　〃big　prayer；〃　because　the
Asiki　would　probably　cut　his　throat　before　morning。

Aylward；　who　was　in　a　state　of　sullen　fury；　scarcely　replied　to　this
talk；　except　to　say　that　if　so；　there　was　one　comfort；　they　would　cut
his　and　his　master's　also。

〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Jeekie；　〃that　quite　true；　so　drink　to　next
meeting；　though　I　think　you　go　different　place　to　me；　and　when　you　got
tail　and　I　wing；　you　horn　and　I　crown　of　glory；　of　course　we　not　talk
much　together；〃　and　he　held　a　mug　of　whisky　and　watera　great　deal　of
whisky　and　a　very　little　waterto　his　prisoner's　mouth。

Aylward　drained　it；　feeling　a　need　for　stimulant。

〃There；〃　said　Jeekie；　holding　it　upside　down；　〃you　drink　every　drop
and　not　offer　one　to　poor　old　Jeekie。　Well；　he　turned　teetotaller；　so
no　matter。　Good…night；　my　Lord；　I　call　you　if　Asiki　come。〃

〃Who　are　the　Asiki？〃　asked　Aylward　drowsily。

〃Oh！　you　want　to　know？　I　tell　you；〃　and　he　began　a　long；　rambling
story。

Before　he　ever　came　to　the　end　of　it　Aylward　had　fallen　on　his　side
and　was　fast　asleep。

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Jeekie；　contemplating　him；　〃that　whisky　very　strong；
though　bottle　say　same　as　they　drink　in　House　of　Common。　That　whisky
so　strong　I　think　I　pour　away　rest　of　it；〃　and　he　did　to　the　last
drop；　even　taking　the　trouble　to　wash　out　the　bottle　with　water。　〃Now
you　no　tempt　anyone；〃　he　said；　addressing　the　said　bottle　with　a　very
peculiar　smile；　〃or　if　you　tempt；　at　least　do　no　harmlike　kiss　down
telephone！〃　Then　he　laid　down　the　bottle　on　its　side　and　left　the
tent。

Outside　of　it　three　of　the　head　porters；　who　appeared　to　be　friends　of
his；　were　waiting　for　him；　and　with　these　men　he　engaged　in　low　and
earnest　conversation。　Next；　after　they　had　arrived　at　some　agreement；
which　they　seemed　to　ratify　by　a　curious　oath　that　involved　their
crossing　and　clasping　hands　in　an　odd　fashion；　and　other　symbols　known
to　West　African　secret　societies；　Jeekie　went　the　round　of　the　camp　to
see　that　everyone　was　at　his　post。　Then　he　did　what　most　people　would
have　thought　a　very　curious　and　strange　thing；　namely　climbed　the
fence　and　vanished　into　the　forest；　where　presently　a　sound　was　heard
as　of　an　owl　hooting。

A　little　while　later　and　another　owl　began　to　hoot　in　the　distance；
whereat　the　three　head　porters　nudged　each　other。　Perhaps　they　had
heard　such　owls　hoot　before　at　night；　and　perhaps　they　knew　that
Jeekie；　who　had　〃passed　Bonsa；〃　could　only　be　harmed　by　the　direct
command　of　Bonsa　speaking　through　the　mouth　of　the　Asika　herself。
Still　they　might　have　been　interested　in　the　nocturnal　conversation　of
those　two　owls；　which；　as　is　common　with　such　magical　fowl　in　West
Africa；　had　transformed　themselves　into　human　shapes；　the　shape　of
Jeekie　and　the　shape　of　an　Asiki　priest；　who　was；　as　it　happened；　a
blood　relation　of　Jeekie。

〃Very　good；　Brother；〃　said　Owl　No。　1；　〃all　you　want　is　this　white　man
whom　the　Asika　desires　for　a　husband。　Well；　I　have　done　my　best　for
him；　but　I　must　think　of　myself　and　others；　and　he　goes　to　great
happiness。　I　have　given　him　something　to　make　him　sleep；　do　you　come
presently　with　eight　men；　no　more；　or　we　shall　kill　you；　to　the　fence
of　the　camp；　and　we　will　hand　over　the　white　man；　Vernoon；　to　you　to
take　back　to　the　Asika；　who　will　give　you　a　wonderful　reward；　such　a
reward　as　you　have　never　imagined。　Now　let　me　hear　your　word。〃

Then　Owl　No。　2　answered：

〃Brother；　I　make　the　bargain　on　behalf　of　the　army；　and　swear　to　it　by
the　double　Swimming　Head　of　Bonsa。　We　will　come　and　take　the　white
man；　Vernoon；　who　is　to　be　Mungana；　and　carry　him　away。　In　return　we
promise　not　to　follow　or　molest　you；　or　any　others　in　your　camp。
Indeed；　why　should　we；　who　do　not　desire　to　be　killed　by　the　dreadful
magic　that　you　have；　a　magic　that　makes　a　noise　and　pierces　through
our　bodies　from　afar？　What　were　the　words　of　the　Asika？　'Bring　back
Vernoon；　or　perish。　I　care　for　nothing　else；　bring　back　Vernoon　to　be
my　husband。'〃

〃Good；〃　said　Owl　No。　1；　〃within　the　half　of　an　hour　Vernoon　shall　be
ready　for　you。〃

〃Good；〃　answered　Owl　No。　2；　〃within　half　an　hour　eight　of　us　will　be
without　the　east　face　of　your　camp　to　receive　him。〃

〃Silently？〃

〃Silently；　my　brother　in　Bonsa。　If　he　cries　out　we　will　gag　him。　Fear
not；　none　shall　know　your　part　in　this　matter。〃

〃Good；　my　brother　in　Bonsa。　By　the　way；　how　is　Big　Bonsa？　I　fear　that
the　white　man；　Vernoon；　hurt　him　very　much；　and　that　is　why　I　give　him
upbecause　of　his　sacrilege。〃

〃When　I　left　the　god　was　very　sick　and　all　the　people　mourned；　but
doubtless　he　is　immortal。〃

〃Doubtless　he　is　immortal；　my　brother；　a　little　hard　magic　in　his
stomachif　he　has　onecannot　hurt　/him/。　Farewell；　dear　brother　in
Bonsa；　I　wish　that　I　were　you　to　get　the　great　reward　that　the　Asika
will　give　to　you。　Farewell；　farewell。〃

Then　the　two　owls　flitted　apart　again；　hooting　as　they　went；　till　they
came　to　their　respective　camps。



Jeekie　was　in　the　tent　performing　a　strange　toilet　upon　the　sleeping
Aylward　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle。　From　his　p