lashes of the heavy lids beneath them； the rounded cheeks； smooth as a
ripe fruit； the firm； shapely chin； the snake…like poise of the head；
the long bending neck； and the feline smile； all of these combined
made such a dream…vision as he had never seen before； and to tell the
truth； notwithstanding its beauty； for that could not be doubted；
never wished to see again。 Somehow he felt that if Satan should happen
to have a copper…coloured wife； the exact picture of that lady had
projected itself upon his sleeping senses。
She seemed to study him very earnestly； with a kind of passionate
eagerness； indeed； moving a little now and again to let the light fall
upon some part that was in shadow。 Once even she stretched out her
rounded arm and just lifted the edge of the blanket so as to expose
his hand； the left。 As it chanced on the little finger of this hand
Alan wore a plain gold ring which Barbara had given him； once it had
been her grandfather's signet。 This ring； which had a coat of arms cut
upon its bezel seemed to interest her very much as she examined it for
a long while。 Then she drew off from her own finger another ring of
gold fashioned of two snakes curiously intertwined； and gently； so
gently that in his sleep he scarcely felt it； slipped it on to his
finger above Barbara's ring。
After this she seemed to vanish away； and Alan slept soundly until the
morning； when he awoke to find the light of the sun pouring into the
room through the high…set latticed window places。
CHAPTER XI
THE HALL OF THE DEAD
Alan rose and stretched himself； and hearing him； Jeekie； who had a
dog's faculty of instantly awaking from what seemed to be the deepest
sleep； sat up also。
〃You rest well； Major？ No dream； eh？〃 he asked curiously。
〃Not very；〃 answered Alan； 〃and I had a dream； of a woman who stood
over me and vanished away； as dreams do。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Jeekie。 〃But where you find that new ring on finger；
Major？〃
Alan stared at his hand and started； for there set on it above that of
Barbara； was the little circlet formed of twisted snakes which he had
seen in his sleep。
〃Then it must have been true；〃 he said in a low and rather frightened
voice。 〃But how did she come and go？〃
〃Funny place； Gold House。 I tell you that yesterday； Major。 People
come up through hole； like rat。 Never quite sure you alone in Gold
House。 But what this lady like？〃
Alan described his visitor to the best of his ability。
〃Ah！〃 said Jeekie； 〃pretty girl。 Big eyes； gold crown； gold stays
which fit tight in front； very nice and decent； sort of night…shirt
with little gold stars all overby Jingo！ I think that Asika herself。
If sogreat compliment。〃
〃Confound the compliment； I think it great cheek；〃 answered Alan
angrily。 〃What does she mean by poking about here at night and putting
rings on my finger？〃
〃Don't know； Major； but p'raps she wish make you understand that she
like cut of your jib。 Find out by and by。 Meanwhile you wear ring； for
while that on finger no one do you any harm。〃
〃You told me that this Asika is a married woman； did you not？〃
remarked Alan gloomily。
〃Oh； yes； Major； always married； one down； other come on； you see。 But
she not always like her husband； and then she make him sit up； poor
devil； and he die double quick。 Great honour to be Asika's husband；
but soon all finished。 P'raps〃
Then he checked himself and suggested that Alan should have a bath
while he cleaned his clothes； an attention that they needed。
Scarcely had Alan finished his toilet； donned the Arab…looking linen
robe over his own fragmentary flannels； and above it the hateful mask
which Jeekie insisted he must wear； when there came a knocking on the
door。 Motioning to Alan to take his seat upon a stool； Jeekie undid
the bars； and as before women appeared with food and waited while they
ate； which this time； having overcome his nervousness； Alan did more
leisurely。 Their meal done； one of the women asked Jeekie； for to his
master they did not seem to dare to speak； whether the white lord did
not wish to walk in the garden。 Without waiting for an answer she led
him to the end of the large room and； unbarring another door that they
had not noticed； revealed a passage； beyond which appeared trees and
flowers。 Then she and her companions went away with the fragments of
the meal。
〃Come on；〃 said Alan； taking up the box containing Little Bonsa； which
he did not dare to leave behind； 〃and let us get into the air。〃
So they went down the passage and at the end of it through gates of
copper or gold； they knew not which； that had evidently been left open
for them； into the garden。 It was a large place； a good many acres in
extent indeed； and kept with some care； for there were paths in it and
flowers that seemed to have been planted。 Also here grew certain of
the mighty cedar trees that they had seen from far off； beneath those
spreading boughs twilight reigned； while beyond； not more than half a
mile away； the splendid river…fall thundered down the precipice。 For
the rest they could find no exit to that garden which on one side was
enclosed by a sheer cliff of living rock； and on the others with steep
stone walls beyond which ran a torrent； and by the buildings of the
Gold House itself。
For a while they walked up and down the rough paths； till at last
Jeekie； wearying of this occupation； remarked：
〃Melancholy hole this； Major。 Remind me of Westminster Abbey in London
fog； where your uncle of blessed mem'ry often take me pray and look at
fusty tomb of king。 S'pose we go back Gold House and see what happen。
Anything better than stand about under cursed old cedar tree。〃
〃All right；〃 said Alan； who through the eyeholes of his mask had been
studying the walls to seek a spot in them that could be climbed if
necessary； and found none。
So they returned to the room； which had been swept and garnished in
their absence。 No sooner had they entered it than the door opened and
through it came long lines of Asiki priests； each of whom staggered
beneath the weight of a hide bag that he bore upon his shoulder； which
bags they piled up about the stone altar。 Then； as though at some
signal； each priest opened the mouth of his bag and Alan saw that they
wee filled with gold； gold in dust； gold in nuggets； gold in vessels
perfect or broken； more gold than Alan had ever seen before。
〃Why do they bring all this stuff here？〃 he asked； and Jeekie
translated his question。
〃It is an offering to the lord of Little Bonsa；〃 answered the head
priest； bowing； 〃a gift from the Asika。 The heaven…born white man sent
word by his Ogula messengers that he desired gold。 Here is the gold
that he desired。〃
Alan stared at the treasure； which after all was what he had come to
seek。 If only he had it safe in England； he would be a rich man and
his troubles ended。 But how could he get it to England？ Here it was
worthless as mud。
〃I thank the Asika；〃 he said。 〃I ask for porters to bear her gift back
to my own country； since it is too heavy for me and my servant to
carry alone。〃
At these words the priest smiled a little； then said that the Asika
desired to see the white lord and to receive from him Little Bonsa in
return for the gold； and that he could proffer his request to her。
〃Good；〃 replied Alan； 〃lead me to the Asika。〃
Then they started； Alan bearing the box containing Little Bonsa； and
Jeekie following after him。 They went down passages and through sundry
doors till at length they came to a long and narrow hall that seemed
to be lined with plates of gold。 At the end of this hall was a large
chair of black wood and ivory placed upon a dais； and sitting in this
chair with the light pouring on her from some opening above； was the
woman of Alan's dream； beautiful to look on in her crown and
glittering garments。 Upon a stool at the foot of the dais sat a man； a
handsome and melancholy man。 His hair was tied behind his head in a
pigtail and gilded； his face was painted red； white and yellow； he
wore ropes of bright…coloured stones about his neck； middle； arms and
ankles； and held a kind of sceptre in his hand。
〃Who is that creature？〃 asked Alan over his shoulder to Jeekie。 〃The
Court fool？〃
〃That husband of Asika； Major。 He not fool； very big gun； but look a
little low now because his time soon up。 Come on； Major； Asika beckon
us。 Get on stomach and crawl； that custom here；〃 he added； going down
on to his hands and knees； as did all the priests who followed them。
〃I'll see her hanged first；〃 answered Alan in English。
Then accompanied by the creeping Jeekie and the train of prostrate
priests； he marched up the long hall to the edge of the dais and there
stood still and bowed to the woman in the chair。
〃Greeting； white man；〃 she said in a low voice when she had studied
him for a while。 〃Do you understand my tongue？〃
〃A little；〃 he answered in Asiki； 〃moreover； my servant here knows it
well and can translate。〃
〃I am glad；〃 she said。 〃Tell me then； in your country do not people go
on to their knees before their queen； and if not； how do they greet
her？〃
〃No；〃 answered Alan with the help of Jeekie。 〃They greet her by
raising their head…