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 easy； as he had no books and Jeekie himself after some
thirty years of absence； was doubtful as to many of its details。 Still
being a linguist by nature and education and finding in the tongue
similarities to other African dialects which he knew； he was now able
to speak it a little； in a halting fashion。
On the fifth day of their ascent of the river； they came to a
tributary that flowed into it from the north； up which the Ogula said
they must proceed to reach Asiki…land。 The stream was narrow and
sluggish； widening out here and there into great swamps through which
it was not easy to find a channel。 Also the district was so unhealthy
that even several of the Ogula contracted fever； of which Alan cured
them by heavy doses of quinine； for fortunately his travelling
medicine chest remained to him。 These cures were effected after their
chief suggested that they should be thrown overboard； or left to die
in the swamp as useless； with the result that the white man's magical
powers were thenceforth established beyond doubt or cavil。 Indeed the
poor Ogula now looked on him as a god superior even to Little Bonsa；
whose familiar he was supposed to be。
The journey through that swamp was very trying； since in this wet
season often they could find no place on which to sleep at night； but
must stay in the canoe tormented by mosquitoes； and in constant danger
of being upset by the hippopotami that lived there。 Moreover； as no
game was now available； they were obliged to live on these beasts；
fish when they could catch them； and wildfowl； which sometimes they
were unable to cook for lack of fuel。 This did not trouble the Ogula；
who ate them raw； as did Jeekie when he was hungry。 But Alan was
obliged to starve until they could make a fire。 This it was only
possible to do when they found drift or other wood； since at that
season the rank vegetation was in full growth。 Also the fearful
thunderstorms which broke continually and in a few minutes half filled
their canoe with water； made the reeds and the soil on which they
grew； sodden with wet。 As Jeekie said：
〃This time of year only fit for duck and crocodile。 Human should
remember uncontrollable forces of nature and wait till winter come in
due course； when quagmire bear sole of his foot。〃
This elaborate remark he made to Alan during the progress of a
particularly fearful tempest。 The lightning blazed in the black sky
and seemed to strike all about them like stabbing swords of fire； the
thunder crashed and bellowed as it may be supposed that it will do on
that day when the great earth； worn out at last； shall reel and
stagger to its doom。 The rain fell in a straight and solid sheet； the
tall reeds waved confusedly like millions of dim arms and while they
waved； uttered a vast and groaning noise； the scared wildfowl in their
terror； with screams and the sough of wings； rushed past them in
flocks a thousand strong； now seen and now lost in the vapours。 To
keep their canoe afloat the poor； naked Ogula oarsmen； shivering with
cold and fear； baled furiously with their hands； or bowls of hollowed
wood； and called back to Alan to save them as though he were the
master of the elements。 Even Jeekie was depressed and appeared to be
offering up petitions； though whether these were directed to Little
Bonsa or elsewhere it was impossible to know。
As for Alan； the heart was out of him。 It is true that so far he had
escaped fever or other sickness； which in itself was wonderful； but he
was chilled through and through and practically had eaten nothing for
two days； and very little for a week； since his stomach turned from
half…cooked hippopotamus fat and wildfowl。 Moreover； they had lost the
channel and seemed to be wandering aimlessly through a wilderness of
reeds broken here and there by lines of deeper water。
According the Ogula they should have reached the confines of the great
lake several days before and landed on healthful rising ground that
was part of the Asiki territory。 But this had not happened； and now he
doubted whether it ever would happen。 It was more likely that they
would come to their deaths； there in the marsh； especially as the few
ball and shot cartridges which they had saved in their flight were now
exhausted。 Not one was left； nothing was left except their revolvers
with some charges； which of course were quite useless for the killing
of game。 Therefore they were in a fair way to die of hunger； for here
if fish existed； they refused to be caught and nought remained for
them to fill themselves with except water slugs； and snails which the
boatmen were already gathering and crunching up in their great teeth。
Or； perhaps the Ogula； forgetting friendship under the pressure of
necessity； would murder them as they slept andrevert to their usual
diet。
Jeekie was right； he should have remembered the 〃uncontrollable forces
of Nature。〃 Only a madman would have undertaken such an expedition in
the rains。 No wonder that the Asiki remained a secret and hidden
people when their frontier was protected by such a marsh as this upon
the one side and； as he understood； by impassable mountains upon the
other。
There came a lull in the tempest and the boatmen began to get the
better of the water； which now was up to their knees。 Alan asked
Jeekie if he thought it was over； but that worthy shook his white head
mournfully； causing the spray to fly as from a twirling mop； and
replied：
〃Can't say； cats and dogs not tumble so many for present； only pups
and kitties left； so to speak； but think there plenty more up there；〃
and he nodded at the portentous fire…laced cloud which seemed to be
spreading over them； its black edges visible even through the gloom。
〃Bad business； I am afraid； Jeekie。 Shouldn't have brought you here；
or those poor beggars either；〃 and he looked at the scared； frozen
Ogula。 〃I begin to wonder〃
〃Never wonder； Major；〃 broke in Jeekie in alarm。 〃If wonder； not live；
if wonder； not be born； too much wonder about everywhere。 Can't
understand nothing； so give it up。 Say； 'Right…O and devil
hindermost！' Very good motto for biped in tight place。 Better drown
here than in City bucket shop。 But no drown。 Should be dead long ago；
but Little Bonsa play the game； she not want to sink in stinking swamp
when so near her happy home。 Come out all right somehow； as from
dwarf。 Every cloud have silver lining； Major； even that black chap up
there。 Oh！ my golly！〃
This last exclamation was wrung from Jeekie's lips by a sudden
development of 〃forces of Nature〃 which astonished even him。 Instead
of a silver lining the 〃black chap〃 exhibited one of gold。 In an
instant it seemed to turn to acres of flame； it was as though the
heavens had taken fire。 A flash or a thunderbolt struck the water
within ten yards of their canoe； causing the boatmen to throw
themselves upon their faces through shock or terror。 Then came the
hurricane； which fortunately was so strong that it permitted no more
rain to fall。 The tall reeds were beaten flat beneath its breath； the
canoe was seized in its grip and whirled round and round； then driven
forward like an arrow。 Only the weight of the men and the water in it
prevented it from oversetting。 Dense darkness fell upon them and
although they could see no star； they knew that it must be night。 On
they rushed； driven by that shrieking gale； and all about and around
them this wall of darkness。 No one spoke； for hope was abandoned； and
if they had； their voices could not have been heard。 The last thing
that Alan remembered was feeling Jeekie dragging a grass mat over him
to protect him a little if he could。 Then his senses wavered； as does
a dying lamp。 He thought that he was back in what Jeekie had rudely
called 〃City bucket shop；〃 bargaining across the telephone wire； upon
which came all the sounds of the infernal regions； with a financial
paper for an article on a Little Bonsa Syndicate that he proposed to
float。 He thought he was in The Court woods with Barbara； only the
birds in the trees sang so unnaturally loud that he could not hear her
voice； and she wore Little Bonsa on her head as a bonnet。 Then she
departed in flame； leaving him and Death alone。
Alan awoke。 Above the sun shone hotly； warming him back to life； but
in front was a thick wall of mist and rising beyond it in the distance
he saw the rugged swelling forms of mountains。 Doubtless these had
been visible before； but the tall reeds through which they travelled
had hid the sight of them。 He looked behind him and there in a heap
lay the Ogula around their chief； insensible or sleeping。 He counted
them and found that two were gone； lost in the tempest； how or where
no man ever learned。 He looked forward and saw a peculiar sight； for
in the prow of the drifting canoe stood Jeekie clad in the remains of
his white robe and wearing on his head the battered helmet and about
his shoulders the torn fragments of green mosquito net。 While Alan was
wondering strangely why he had adopted this ceremonial garb； from out
of the mist the