wondering strangely why he had adopted this ceremonial garb； from out
of the mist there came a sound of singing； of wild and solemn singing。
Jeekie seemed to listen to it； then he lifted up his great musical
voice and sang as though in answer。 What he sang Alan could not
understand； but he recognized that the language which he used was that
of the Asiki people。
A pause and a confused murmuring； and now again the wild song rose and
again Jeekie answered。
〃What the deuce are you doing？ Where are we？〃 asked Alan faintly。
Jeekie turned and beamed upon him； although his teeth were chattering
and his face was hollow； still he beamed。
〃You awake； Major？〃 he said。 〃Thought good old sun do trick。 Feel your
heart now and find it beat。 Pulse； too； strong； though temp'rature not
normal。 Well； good news this morning。 Little Bonsa come out top as
usual。 Asiki priests on bank there。 Can't see them； but know their
song and answer。 Same old game as thirty years ago。 Asiki never
change； which good business when you been away long while。〃
〃Hang the Asiki；〃 said Alan feebly； 〃I think all these poor beggars
are dead； and he pointed to the rowers。
〃Look like it； Major； but what that matter now since you and I alive？
Plenty more where they come from。 Not dead though； think only sleep；
no like cold； like dormouse。 But never mind cannibal pig。 They serve
our turn； if they live； live； if they die； die and God have mercy on
souls； if cannibal have soul。 Ah！ here we are；〃 and from beneath six
inches of water he dragged up the tin box containing Little Bonsa；
from which he extracted the fetish； wet but uninjured。
〃Put her on now； Major。 Put her on at once and come sit in prow of
canoe。 Must reach Asiki…land in proper style。 Priests think it your
reverend uncle come back again； just as he leave。 Make very good
impression。〃
〃I can't；〃 said Alan feebly。 〃I am played out； Jeekie。〃
〃Oh！ buck up； Major； buck up！〃 he replied imploringly。 〃One kick more
and you win race； mustn't spoil ship for ha'porth of tar。 You just
wear fetish； whistle once on land； and then go to sleep for whole week
if you like。 I do rest； say it all magic； and so forththat you been
dead and just come out of grave； or anything you like。 No matter if
you turn up as announced on bill and God bless hurricane that blow us
here when we expect die。 Come； Major； quick； quick！ mist melt and soon
they see you。〃 Then without waiting for an answer Jeekie clapped the
wet mask on his master's head； tied the thongs and led Alan to the
prow of the canoe； where he set him down on a little cross bench；
stood behind supporting him and again began to sing in a great
triumphant voice。
The mist cleared away； rolling up like a curtain and revealing on the
shore a number of men and women clad in white robes； who were
martialled in ranks there； chanting and staring out at the dim waters
of the lagoon。 Yonder upon the waters； driven forward by the gentle
breeze； floated a canoe and lo！ in the prow of that canoe sat a white
man and on his head the god which they had lost a whole generation
gone。 On the head of a white man it had departed； on the head of a
white man it returned。 They saw and fell upon their knees。
〃Blow； Major； blow！〃 whispered Jeekie； and Alan blew a feeble note
through the whistle in the mouth of the mask。 It was enough； they knew
it。 They sprang into the water and dragged the canoe to land。 They set
Alan on the shore and worshipped him。 They haled up a lad as though
for sacrifice； for a priest flourished a great knife above his head；
but Jeekie said something that caused them to let him go。 Alan thought
it was to the effect that Little Bonsa had changed her habits across
the Black Water； and wanted no blood； only food。 Then he remembered no
more； again the darkness fell upon him。
CHAPTER X
BONSA TOWN
When consciousness returned to Alan； the first thing of which he
became dimly aware was the slow； swaying motion of a litter。 He raised
himself； for he was lying at full length； and in so doing felt that
there was something over his face。
〃That confounded Little Bonsa；〃 he thought。 〃Am I expected to spend
the rest of my life with it on my head like the man in the iron mask？〃
Then he put up his hand and felt the thing； to find that it was not
Little Bonsa； but something made apparently of thin； fine linen；
fitted to the shape of his face； for there was a nose on it； and
eyeholes through which he could see； yes； and a mouth whereof the lips
by some ingenious contrivance could be moved up and down。
〃Little Bonsa's undress uniform； I expect；〃 he muttered； and tried to
drag it off。 This； however； proved to be impossible； for it was fitted
tightly to his head and laced or fastened at the back of his neck so
securely that he could not undo it。 Being still weak； soon he gave up
the attempt and began to look about him。
He was in a litter； a very fine litter hung round with beautifully
woven and coloured grass mats； inside of which were a kind of couch
and cushions of soft wool or hair； so arranged that he could either
sit up or lie down。 He peeped between two of these mats and saw that
they were travelling in a mountainous country over a well…beaten road
or trail； and that his litter was borne upon the shoulders of a double
line of white…robed men； while all around him marched numbers of other
men。 They seemed to be soldiers； for they were arranged in companies
and carried large spears and shields。 Also some of them wore torques
and bracelets of yellow metal that might be either brass or gold。
Turning himself about he found an eyehole in the back of the litter so
contrived that its occupant could see without being seen； and
perceived that his escort amounted to a veritable army of splendid…
looking； but sombre…faced savages of a somewhat Semitic cast of
countenance。 Indeed many of them had aquiline features and hair that；
although crisped； was long and carefully arranged in something like
the old Egyptian fashion。 Also he saw that about thirty yards behind
and separated from him by a bodyguard； was borne a second litter。 By
means of a similar aperture in front he discovered yet more soldiers；
and beyond them； at the head of the procession； was what appeared to
be a body of white…robed men and women bearing strange emblems and
banners。 These he took to be priests and priestesses。
Having examined everything that was within reach of his eye； Alan sank
back upon his cushions and began to realize that he was very faint and
hungry。 It was just then that the sound of a familiar voice reached
his ears。 It was the voice of Jeekie； and he did not speak； he chanted
in English to a melody which Alan at once recognized as a Gregorian
tone； apparently from the second litter。
〃Oh； Major；〃 he sang； 〃have you yet awoke from refre…e…eshing sleep？
If so； please answer me in same tone of voice； for remember that you
de…e…evil of a swell； Lord of the Little Bonsa； and must not speak
like co…o…ommon cad。〃
Feeble as he was Alan nearly burst out laughing； then remembering that
probably he was expected not to laugh； chanted his answer as directed；
which having a good tenor voice； he did with some effect； to the
evident awe and delight of all the escort within hearing。
〃I am awake； most excellent Jee…e…ekie； and feel the need of food； if
you have such a thing abou…ou…out you and it is lawful for the Lord of
Little Bonsa to take nu…tri…ment。〃
Instantly Jeekie's deep voice rose in reply。
〃That good tidings upon the mountain tops； Ma…ajor。 Can't come out to
bring you chop because too i…i…infra dig； for now I also biggish bug；
the little bird what sit upon the rose； as poet sa…a…ays。 I tell these
Johnnies bring you grub； which you eat without qualm； for Asiki Al
coo…o…ook。〃
Then followed loud orders issued by Jeekie to his immediate
/entourage/； and some confusion。
As a result presently Alan's litter was halted； the curtains were
opened and kneeling women thrust through them platters of wood upon
which； wrapped up in leaves； were the dismembered limbs of a bird
which he took to be chicken or guinea…fowl； and a gold cup containing
water pleasantly flavoured with some essence。 This cup interested him
very much both on account of its shape and workmanship； which if rude；
was striking in design； resembling those drinking vessels that have
been found in Mycenian graves。 Also it proved to him that Jeekie's
stories of the abundance of the precious metal among the Asiki had not
been exaggerated。 If it were not very plentiful； they would scarcely；
he thought； make their travelling cups of gold。 Evidently there was
wealth in the land。
After the food had been handed to him the litter went on again； and
seated upon his cushions； he ate and drank heartily enough； for now
that the worst of his fatigue had passed away； his hunger was great。
In some absurd fashion this meal reminded him of that which a
traveller makes out of a luncheon basket upon a railway line in Europe
or America。 Only there the cups are not of gold and among the Asiki
were no paper napkins； no salt and mustard； and no three and sixpence
or dollar to pay。 Further； until he got used to it； luncheon i