third。
The dark faces of the men turned ashen； but they made no effort to
escape their doom。 One of them crept up the steps and laid his neck
upon the edge of gold； while the other； uttering no word； threw
himself on his face at the foot of them； waiting his turn。 Then a door
opened and there appeared a great and brutal…looking fellow； naked
except for a loin cloth； who bore in his hand a huge weapon； half
knife and half axe。
First he looked at the Asika； who nodded almost imperceptibly； then
sprang on to a prolongation of the golden steps； bowed to Little Bonsa
on her column behind and heaved up his knife。
Now for the first time Alan really understood what was about to
happen； and that what he had imagined a stage rehearsal； was to become
a hideous murder。
〃Stop！〃 he shouted in English； being unable to remember the native
word。
The executioner paused with his axe poised in mid…air； the victim
turned his head and looked； as though surprised； the second victim and
the priests their companions looked also。 Jeekie fell on to his knees
and burst into fervent prayer addressed apparently to Little Bonsa。
The Asika smiled and did nothing。
Again the weapon was lifted and as he felt that words were no longer
of any use； even if he could find them； Alan took refuge in action。
Springing on to the other side of the little platform； he hit out with
all his strength across the kneeling man。 Catching the executioner on
the point of the chin； he knocked him straight backwards in such
fashion that his head struck upon the floor before any other portion
of his body； so that he lay there either dead or stunned。 Alan never
learned which； since the matter was not thought of sufficient
importance to be mentioned。
At this sight the Asika burst into a low laugh； then asked Alan why he
had felled the executioner。 He answered because he would not stand by
and see two innocent men butchered。
〃Why not；〃 she said in an astonished voice； 〃if Little Bonsa； whose
priests they are； needs them； and I； who am the Mouth of the gods
declare that they should die？ Still； she has been in your keeping for
a long while and you may know her will； so if you wish it； let them
live。 Or perhaps you require other victims；〃 and she fixed her eyes
upon Jeekie with a glance of suggestive hope。
〃Oh my golly！〃 gasped Jeekie in English； 〃tell her not for Joe； Major；
tell her most improper。 Say Yellow God my dearest friend and go mad as
hatter if my throat cut〃
Alan stopped his protestations with a secret kick。
〃I choose no victims；〃 he broke in； 〃nor will I see man's blood shed
to me it is /orunda/unholy； I may not look on human blood； and if
you cause me to do so； Asika； I shall hate you because you make me
break my oath。〃
The Asika reflected for a moment； while Jeekie behind muttered between
his chattering teeth：
〃Good missionary talk that； Major。 Keep up word in season； Major。 If
she make Christian martyr of Jeekie； who get you out of this
confounded hole？〃
Then the Asika spoke。
〃Be it as you will； for I desire neither that you should hate me； nor
that you should look on that which is unlawful for your eyes to see。
The feasts and ceremonies you must attend； but if I can help it； no
victim shall be slain in your presence； not even that whimpering
hound； your servant；〃 she added with a contemptuous glance at Jeekie；
〃who it seems； fears to give his life for the glory of the god； but
who because he is yours； is safe now and always。〃
〃That /very/ satisfactory；〃 said Jeekie； rising from his knees； his
face wreathed in smiles； for he knew well that a decree of the Asika
could not be broken。 Then he began to explain to the priestess that it
was not fear of losing his own life that had moved him； but the
certainty that this occurrence would disagree morally with Little
Bonsa； whose entire confidence he possessed。
Taking no notice of his words； with a slight reverence to the fetish；
she passed on； beckoning to Alan。 As he went by the two prostrate
priests whose lives he had saved； lifted their heads a little and
looked at him with heartfelt gratitude in their eyes； indeed one of
them kissed the place where his foot had trodden。 Jeekie； following；
gave him a kick to intimate that he was taking a liberty； but at the
same time stooped down and asked the man his name。 It occurred to him
that these rescued priests might some day be useful。
Alan followed her through a kind of swing door which opened into
another of the endless halls； but when he looked for her there she was
nowhere to be seen。 A priest who was waiting beyond the door bowed and
informed him that the Asika had gone to her own place； and would see
him that evening。 Then bowing again he led them back by various
passages to the room where they had slept。
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan after their food had been brought to them； this
time； he observed； by men； for it was now past midday； 〃you were born
in Asiki…land； tell me the truth of this business。 What does that
woman mean when she talks about her spirit having been here from the
beginning。〃
〃She mean； Major； that every time she die her soul go into someone
else； whom priests find out by marks。 Also Asika always die young；
they never let her become old woman； but how she die and where they
bury her； no one know 'cept priests。 Sometimes she have girl child who
become Asika after her； but if they have boy child； they kill him。 I
think this Asika daughter of her who make love to your reverend uncle。
All that story 'bout her mother not being married； lies； and all her
story lies too； she often marry。〃
〃But how about the spirit coming back； Jeekie？〃
〃'Spect that lie too； Major； though she think it solemn fact。 Priests
teach her all those old things。 Still；〃 he added doubtfully； 〃Asika
great medicine…woman and know a lot we don't know； can't say how。 Very
awkward customer； Major。〃
〃Quite so； Jeekie； I agree with you。 But to come to the point； what is
her game with me？〃
〃Oh！ Major；〃 he answered with a grin； 〃/that/ simple enough。 She tired
of black man； want change； mean to marry you according to law； that is
when Mungana dies； and he die jolly quick now。 She mustn't kill him；
but polish him off all the same； stick him to sleep with those dead
uns； till he go like drunk man and see things and drown himself。 Then
she marry you。 But till he dead； you all right； she only talk and make
eyes； 'cause of Asiki law； not 'cause she want to stop there。〃
〃Indeed； Jeekie； and how long do you think that Mungana will last？〃
〃Perhaps three months； Major； and perhaps two。 Think not more than
two。 Strong man； but he look devilish dicky this morning。 Think he
begin see snakes。〃
〃Very well； Jeekie。 Now listen to meyou've got to get us out of
Asiki…land by this day two months。 If you don't； that lady will do
anything to oblige me and no doubt there are more executioners left。〃
〃Oh！ Major； don't talk like silly fool。 Jeekie always hate fools and
suffer them badlylike holy first missionary bishop。 You know very
well this no place for ultra…Christian man like Jeekie； who only come
here to please you。 Both in same bag； Major； if I die； you die and
leave Miss Barbara up gum tree。 I get you out if I can。 But this stuff
the trouble；〃 and he pointed to the bags of gold。 〃Not want to leave
all that behind after such arduous walk。 No； no； I try get you out；
meanwhile you play game。〃
〃The game！ What game； Jeekie？〃
〃What game？ Why； Asika…game of course。 If she sigh； you sigh； if she
look at you； you look at her； if she squeeze hand； you squeeze hand；
if she kiss； you kiss。〃
〃I am hanged if I do； Jeekie。〃
〃Must； Major； must or never get out of Asiki…land。 What all that
matter？〃 he added confidentially。 〃Miss Barbara never know。 Jeekie
doesn't split； also quite necessary in situation； and you can't be
married till that Mungana dead。 All matter business； Major； make time
pass pleasant as well。 Asika jolly enough if you stroke her fur right
way； but if you put her back upoh Lor！ No trouble； sit and smile and
say； 'Oh； ducky； how beautiful you are！' that not hurt anybody。〃
In spite of himself Alan burst out laughing。
〃But how about the Mungana？〃 he asked。
〃Mungana； he got take that with rest。 Also I try make friends with
that poor devil。 Tell him it all my eye。 Perhaps he believe menot
sure。 If he me； I no believe /him/。 Mungana；〃 he added oracularly；
〃Mungana take his chance。 What matter？ In two months' time he nothing
but gold figure； No。 2403； just like one mummy in museum。 Now I try
catch my ma。 I hear she alive somewhere。 They tell me she used keep
lodging house for Bonsa pilgrim； but steal grub； say it cat； all that
sort of thing； and get run in as thief。 Afraid my ma come down very
much in world； not society lady now； shut up long way off in suburb。
Still p'raps she useful so best send her message by p'liceman； say how
much I love her； say her dear little Jeekie turn up again just to see
her sweet face。 Only don't know if she swallow that or if they let her
out prison unless I pay for all she prig。〃
CHAPTER XIII
THE FEAST OF LITTLE BONSA
It was the night of full moon and of the great feast of the return of
L