guns from the coast people； but living as they did in the interior
where white folk did not dare to travel； they had never seen their
terrible effects。
〃Magic！〃 they cried。 〃Magic！〃
〃Of course；〃 exclaimed Jeekie； who by now had arrived upon the scene。
〃What else did you expect from the husband of Little Bonsa？ Magic； the
greatest of magic。 Go； roll that beast away before your chief is
crushed to death。〃
They obeyed； and the man sat up； a fearful spectacle； for he was
smothered with the blood of the lion and somewhat cut by her claws；
though otherwise unhurt。 Then feeling that the life was still whole in
him； he crept on his hands and knees to where Alan stood； and kissed
his feet。
〃Aha！〃 said Jeekie； 〃Little Bonsa score again。 Cannibal tribe our
slave henceforth for evermore。 Yes； till kingdom come。 Come on； Major；
and cook supper in perfect peace。〃
The supper was cooked and eaten with gratitude； for seldom had two men
needed a square meal more； and never did venison taste better。 By the
time that it was finished darkness had fallen； and before they turned
in to sleep in the neat reed hut that the Ogula had built； Alan and
Jeekie walked up the island to see if the lioness had been skinned； as
they directed。 This they found was done； even the carcase itself had
been removed to serve as meat for these foul…feeding people。 They
climbed on to the pile of rocks in which the beast had made her lair；
and looked down the river to where； two hundred yards away； the Ogula
were encamped。 From this camp there rose a sound of revelry； and by
the light of the great fires that burned there； they perceived that
the hungry savages were busy feasting； for some of them sat in
circles； whilst others； their naked forms looking at that distance
like those of imps in the infernal regions； flitted to and fro against
the glowing background of the fires； bearing strange…looking joints on
prongs of wood。
〃I suppose they are eating the lioness；〃 said Alan doubtfully。
〃No； no； Major； not lioness； eat dwarf by dozenjust like oysters at
seaside。 But for Little Bonsa /we/ sit on those forks now and look
uncommon small。〃
〃Beasts！〃 said Alan in disgust； 〃they make me feel uncommon sick。 Let
us go to bed。 I suppose they won't murder us in our sleep； will they？〃
〃Not they； Major； too much afraid。 Also we their blood…brothers now；
because we bring them first…class dinner and save chief from lion's
fury。 No blame them too much； Major； good fellows really with gentle
heart； but grub like that from generation to generation。 Every
mother's son of them have many men inside； that why they so big and
strong。 Ogula people cover great multitude like Charity in Book。 No
doubt sent by Providence to keep down extra pop'lation。 Not right to
think too hard of poor fellows who； as I say； very kind and gentle at
heart and most loving in family relation； except to old women whom
they eat also； so that they no get bored with too long life。〃
Weary and disgusted by this abominable sight though he was； Alan burst
out laughing at his retainer's apology for the sweet…natured Ogula；
who struck him as the most repulsive blackguards that he had ever met
or heard of in all his experience of African savages。 Then wishing to
see and hear no more of them that night； he retreated rapidly to the
hut and was soon fast asleep with his head pillowed on the box that
hid the charms of Little Bonsa。 When he awoke it was broad daylight。
Rising he went down to the river to wash； and never had a bath been
more welcome； for during all their journey through the forest no such
thing was obtainable。 On his return he found his garments well brushed
with dry reeds and set upon a rock in the hot sun to air； while Jeekie
in a cheerful mood； was engaged cooking breakfast in the frying…pan；
to which he had clung through all the vicissitudes of their flight。
〃No coffee； Major；〃 he said regretfully； 〃that stop in forest。 But
never mind； hot water better for nerve。 Ogula messengers gone in
little canoe to Asiki at break of day。 Travel slow till they work off
dwarf； but afterwards go quick。 I send lion skin with them as present
from you to great high…priestess Asika； also claws for necklace。 No
lions there and she think much of that。 Also it make her love mighty
man who can kill fierce lion like Samson in Book。 Love of head woman
very valuable ally among beastly savage peoples。〃
〃I am sure I hope it won't；〃 said Alan with earnestness； 〃but no doubt
it is as well to keep on the soft side of the good lady if we can。
What time do we start？〃
〃In one hour； Major。 I been to camp already； chosen best canoe and
finest men for rowers。 Chiefhe called Fannyso grateful that he
come with them himself。〃
〃Indeed。 That is very kind of him； but I say； Jeekie； what are these
fellows going to live on？ I can't stand what you call their 'favourite
chop。'〃
〃No； no； Major； that all right。 I tell them that when they travel with
Little Bonsa； they must keep Lent like pious Roman Catholic family
that live near Yarleys。 They catch plenty fish in river； and perhaps
we shoot game； or rich 'potamus； which they like 'cause he fat。〃
Evidently the Ogula chief； Fahni by name； not Fanny； as Jeekie called
him； was a man of his word； for before the hour was up he appeared at
the island in command of a large canoe manned by twelve splendid…
looking savages。 Springing to land； he prostrated himself before Alan；
kissing his feet as he had done on the previous night； and making a
long speech。
〃That very good spirit；〃 exclaimed Jeekie。 〃Like to see heathen in his
darkness lick white gentleman's boot。 He say you his lord and great
magician who save his life； and know all Little Bonsa's secrets； which
many and unrepeatable。 He say he die for you twice a day if need be；
and go on dying to…morrow and all next year。 He say he take you safe
till you meet Asiki and for your sake； though he hungry； eat no man
for one whole month； or perhaps longer。 Now we start at once。〃
So they started up the river that was called Katsena； Alan and Jeekie
seated in a lordly fashion near the stern of the canoe beneath an
awning made out of some sticks and a grass mat。 In truth after their
severe toil and adventures in the forest； this method of journeying
proved quite luxurious。 Except for a rapid here and there over or
round which the canoe must be dragged； the river was broad and the
scenery on its banks park…like and beautiful。 Moreover the country；
perhaps owing to the appetites of the Ogula； appeared to be
practically uninhabited except by vast herds of every sort of game。
All day they sat in the canoe which the stalwart rowers propelled； in
silence for the most part； since they were terribly afraid of the
white man； and still more so of the renowned fetish which they knew he
carried with him。 Then when evening came they moored their craft to
the bank and camped till the following morning。 Nor did they lack for
food； since game being so plentiful； it was only necessary for Alan to
walk a few hundred yards and shoot a fat eland； or hartebeest； or
other buck which in its ignorance of guns would allow him to approach
quite close。 Elephants； rhinoceros； and buffalo were also common；
while great herds of giraffe might be seen wandering between the
scattered trees； but as they were not upon a hunting trip and their
ammunition was very limited； with these they did not interfere。
Having their daily fill of meat which their souls loved； the Ogula
oarsmen remained in an excellent mood； indeed the chief； Fahni；
informed Alan that if only they had such magic tubes wherewith to
slaughter game； he and his tribe would gladly give up cannibalism
except on feast days。 He added sadly that soon they would be obliged
to do so； or die； since in those parts there were now few people left
to eat； and they hated vegetables。 Moreover； they kept no cattle； it
was not the custom of that tribe； except a very few for milk。 Alan
advised them to increase their herds； since； as he pointed out to
them； 〃dog should not eat dog〃 or the human being his own kind。
The chief answered that there was a great deal in what he said； which
on his return he would lay before his head men。 Indeed Alan； to his
astonishment； discovered that Jeekie had been quite right when he
alleged that these people； so terrible in their mode of life； were yet
〃kind and gentle at heart。〃 They preyed upon mankind because for
centuries it had been their custom so to do； but if anyone had been
there to show them a better way； he grew sure that they would follow
it gladly。 At least they were brave and loyal and even after their
first fear of the white man had worn off； fulfilled their promises
without a murmur。 Once； indeed； when he chanced to have gone for a
walk unarmed and to be charged by a bull elephant； these Ogula ran at
the brute with their spears and drove it away； a rescue in which one
of them lost his life； for the 〃rogue〃 caught and killed him。
So the days went on while they paddled leisurely up the river； Alan
employing the time by taking lessons in the Asiki tongue from Jeekie；
a language which he had been studying ever since he left England。 The
task was not e