and as he spoke Jeekie untied a string or several strings； letting the
little mattress fall to the ground。
〃Great pity leave all those goods；〃 said Jeekie； surveying the loads
that the porters had cast away； 〃but what says Book？ Life more than
raiment。 Also take no thought for morrow。 Dwarf people do that for us。
Come； Major； make tracks；〃 and dashing at a bag of cartridges which he
cast about his neck； a trifling addition to his other impedimenta； and
a small case of potted meats that he hitched under his arm； he poked
his master in the back with the muzzle of his full…cocked gun as a
signal that it was time to start。
〃Keep that cursed thing off me；〃 said Alan furiously。 〃How often have
I told you never to carry firearms at full cock？〃
〃About one thousand times； Major；〃 answered Jeekie imperturbably； 〃but
on such occasion forget discreetness。 My ma just same； it run in
family； but story too long tell you now。 Cut； Major； cut like hell。
Them dwarfs be back soon； but；〃 he puffed； 〃I think； I think Little
Bonsa come square with them one day。〃
So Alan 〃cut〃 and the huge Jeekie blundered along after him； the
paraphernalia with which he was hung about rattling like the hoofs of
a galloping giraffe。 Nor for all his load did he ever turn a hair。
Whether it were fear within or a desire to save his master； or a
belief in the virtues of Little Bonsa； or that his foot was； as it
were； once more upon his native heath； the fact remained that
notwithstanding the fifty years； almost； that had whitened his wool；
Jeekie was absolutely inexhaustible。 At least at the end of that
fearful chase； which lasted all the day； and through the night also；
for they dared not camp； he appeared to be nearly as fresh as when he
started from Old Calabar； nor did his spirits fail him for one moment。
When the light came on the following morning； however； they perceived
by many signs and tokens that the dwarf people were all about them。
Some arrows were shot even； but these fell short。
〃Pooh！〃 said Jeekie； 〃all right now； they much afraid。 Still； no time
for coffee； we best get on。〃
So they got on as they could； till towards midday the forest began to
thin out。 Now as the light grew stronger they could see the dwarfs； of
whom there appeared to be several hundred； keeping a parallel course
to their own on either side of them at what they thought to be a safe
distance。
〃Try one shot； I think；〃 said Jeekie； kneeling down and letting fly at
a clump of the little men； which scattered like a covey of partridges；
leaving one of its number kicking on the ground。 〃Ah！ my boy；〃 shouted
Jeekie in derision； 〃how you like bullet in tummy？ You not know
Paradox guaranteed flat trajectory 250 yard。 You remember that next
time； sonny。〃 Then off they went again up a long rise。
〃River other side of that rise；〃 said Jeekie。 〃Think those tree…
monkeys no follow us there。〃
But the 〃monkeys〃 appeared to be angry and determined。 They would not
come any more within the range of the Paradox； but they still marched
on either side of the two fugitives； knowing well that at last their
strength must fail and they would be able to creep up and murder them。
So the chase went on till Alan began to wonder whether it would not be
better to face the end at once。
〃No； no； if say die； can't change mind to…morrow morning；〃 gasped
Jeekie in a hoarse voice。 〃Here top rise； much nearer than I thought。
Oh； my aunt！ who those？〃 and he pointed to a large number of big men
armed with spears who were marching up the further side of the hill
from the river that ran below。
At the same moment these savages； who were not more than two hundred
yards away； caught sight of them and of their pursuers； who just then
appeared on the ridge to the right and left。 The dwarfs； on perceiving
these strangers； uttered a shrill yell of terror； and wheeled about to
fly to their fastnesses in the forest； which evidently they regretted
ever having left。 It was too late。 With an answering shout the
spearsmen； who were extended in a long line； apparently hunting for
game； charged after them at full speed。 They were fresh and their legs
were long。 Therefore very soon they overtook the dwarfs and even got
in front of them； heading them off from the forest。 The end may be
guessed；save a few whom they reserved alive； they killed them
mercilessly； and almost without loss to themselves； since the little
forest folk were too terrified and exhausted to shoot at them with
their poisoned arrows； and they had no other weapons。
In fact； as Alan discovered afterwards； for generations there had been
war between them； since all the other tribes hate the dwarfs； whom
they look upon as dangerous human monkeys； and never before had the
big men found such a chance of squaring their account。
When Jeekie saw this fearful…looking company； for the first time his
spirits seemed to fail him。
〃Ogula！〃 he exclaimed with a groan and sat himself upon a flat rock；
pulling Alan down beside him。 〃Ogula！ Know them by hair and spears；〃
he repeated。 〃Up gum tree now； say good…night。〃
〃Why？ Who are they？〃 gasped Alan。
〃Great cannibal； Major； eat man； eat us to…night； or perhaps to…morrow
morning when we nice and cool。 Say prayers； Major； quick no time
waste。〃
〃I think I will shoot an Ogula or two first；〃 said Alan grimly； as he
stood up and lifted his gun。
〃No； not shoot； no good。 Pretend not be afraid； best chance。 Let
Jeekie think； let Jeekie think；〃 and he slapped his forehead with his
large hand。
Apparently the action brought inspiration； for next instant he grabbed
his master by the arm and dragged him back behind the shelter of a big
boulder which they had just passed。 Then with really marvellous
swiftness he cut the straps of the tin box that Alan wore upon his
back； and since there was no time to find the key and unlock it；
seized the little padlock with which it was fastened between his
finger and thumb； and putting out his great strength； with a single
wrench twisted it off。
〃What are you〃 began Alan。
〃Hold tongue；〃 he answered savagely； 〃make you god； I priest。 Ogula
know Little Bonsa。 Quick； quick！〃
In a minute it was done； the golden mask was clapped on to Alan's
head； and the leather thongs were fastened。 Moreover； Jeekie himself
was arrayed in the solar…tope to which all this while he had clung；
allowing streams of green mosquito netting to hang down over his white
robe。
〃Come out now； Major；〃 he said； 〃and play god。 You whistle； I do
palaver。〃
Then hand in hand they walked from behind the rock。 By this time the
particular company of the cannibals that was opposite to them； which
happened to include their chief； had climbed the steep slope of the
hill and arrived within a distance of twenty yards。 Having seen the
two men and guessed that they had taken refuge behind the rock； their
spears were lifted to kill them； since when he beholds anything
strange； the first impulse of a savage is to bring it to its death。
They looked； they saw。 Of a sudden down went the raised spears。
Some of those who held them fell upon their faces； while others turned
to fly； appalled by the vision of this strangely clad man with the
head of gold。 Only their chief； a great yellow…toothed fellow who wore
a necklace of baboon claws； remained erect； staring at them with open
mouth。
Alan blew the whistle that was set between the lips of the mask； and
they shivered。 Then Jeekie spoke to them in some tongue which they
understood； saying：
〃Do you； O Ogula； dare to offer violence to Little Bonsa and her
priests？ Say now； why should we not strike you dead with the magic of
the god which she has borrowed from the white man？〃 and he tapped the
gun he held。
〃This is witchcraft；〃 answered the chief。 〃We saw two men running；
hunted by the dwarfs； not three minutes ago； and now we seewhat we
see；〃 and he put his hand before his eyes； then after a pause went on
〃As for Little Bonsa； she left this country in my father's day。 He
gave her passage upon the head of a white man and the Asiki wizards
have mourned her ever since； or so I hear。〃
〃Fool；〃 answered Jeekie； 〃as she went； so she returns； on the head of
a white man。 Yonder I see an elder with grey hair who doubtless knew
of Little Bonsa in his youth。 Let him come up and look and say whether
or no this is the god。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 exclaimed the chief； 〃go up； old man； go up；〃 and he
jabbed at him with his spear until； unwillingly enough； he went。
The elder arrived； making obeisance； and when he was near； Alan blew
the whistle in his face； whereon he fell to his knees。
〃It is Little Bonsa；〃 he said in a trembling voice； 〃Little Bonsa
without a doubt。 I should know； as my father and my elder brother were
sacrificed to her； and I only escaped because she rejected me。 Down on
your face； Chief； and do honour to the Yellow God before she slay
you。〃
Instantly every man within hearing prostrated himself and lay still。
Then Jeekie strode up and down among them shouting out：
〃Little Bonsa has come back and brought to you； Man…eaters； a fat
offering； an offering of the dwarf…people whom you hate； of the
treacherous dwarf…people who when you walk the a