again and again。
〃Go now；〃 she said； 〃go； and let my love go with you； through lives
and deaths； and all the dreams beyond； oh！ let my love go with you； as
it shall； Vernoon。〃
So he went； leaving her weeping on her knees。
During the dark hours that followed Alan and madness were not far
apart。 What could he do？ Escape was utterly impossible。 For weeks he
and Jeekie had considered it in vain。 Even if they could win out of
the Gold House fortress； what hope had they of making their way
through the crowded； tortuous town where； after the African fashion；
peopled walked about all night； every one of whom would recognize the
white man； whether he were masked or no？ Besides； beyond the town were
the river and the guarded walls and gates and beyond them open country
where they would be cut off or run down。 No； to attempt escape was
suicide。 Suicide！ That gave him an idea； why should he not kill
himself？ It would be easy enough； for he still had his revolver and a
few cartridges； and surely it was better than to enter on such a life
as awaited him as the plaything of a priestess of a tribe of fetish…
worshipping savages。
But if he killed himself； how about Barbara and how about poor old
Jeekie； who would certainly be killed also？ Besides； it was not the
right thing to do； and while there is life there is always hope。
Alan paused in his walk up and down the room and looked at Jeekie； who
sat upon the floor with his back resting against the stone altar；
reflectively pulling down his thick under…lip and letting it fly back；
negro…fashion。
〃Jeekie；〃 he said； 〃time's up。 What am I to do？〃
〃Do； Major？〃 he replied with affected cheerfulness。 〃Oh！ that quite
simple。 Jeekie arrange everything。 You marry Asika and by and by； when
you master here and tired of her； you give her slip。 Very interesting
experience； no white man ever have such luck before。 Asika not half
bad； /if/ she fond of you； she like little girl in song； when she
good； she very； very good。 At any rate； nothing else to do。 Marry
Asika or spiflicate； which mean； Major； that Jeekie spiflicate too；
and；〃 he added； shaking his white head sadly； 〃he no like /that/。 One
or two little things on his mind that no get time to square up yet。
Daren't pray like Christian here； 'cause afraid of Bonsas； and Bonsas
come even with him by and by； 'cause he been Christian； so poor Jeekie
fall down bump between two stools。 'Postles kick him out of heaven and
Bonsas kick him out of hell； and where Jeekie go to then？〃
〃Don't know； I am sure；〃 answered Alan； smiling a little in spite of
his sorrow； 〃but I think the Bonsas might find a corner for you
somewhere。 Look here； Jeekie； you old scamp； I am sorry for you； for
you have been a good friend to me and we are fond of each other。 But
just understand this； I am not going to marry that woman if I can help
it。 It's against my principles。 So I shall wait till to…morrow and
then I shall walk out of this place。 If the guards try to stop me I
shall shoot them while I have any cartridges。 Then I shall go on until
they kill me。〃
〃Oh！ But Major； they not kill younever； they chuck blanket over your
head and take you back to Asika。 It Jeekie they kill； skin him
alive…o； and all the rest of it。〃
〃Hope not； Jeekie； because they think we shall die the same day。 But
if so； I can't help it。 To…morrow morning I shall walk out； and now
that's settled。 I am tired and going to sleep；〃 and he threw himself
down upon the bed and； being worn out with weariness and anxiety； soon
fell fast asleep。
But Jeekie did not sleep； although he too lay down upon his bed。 On
the contrary； he remained wide awake and reflected； more deeply
perhaps than he had ever done before； being sure the superstition as
to the dependence of Alan's life upon his own was now worn very thin；
and that his hour was at hand。 He thought of making Alan's wild
attempt to depart impossible by the simple method of warning the
Asika； but； notwithstanding his native selfishness； was too loyal to
let that idea take root in his mind。 No； there was nothing to be done；
if the Major wished to start； the Major must start； and he； Jeekie；
must pay the price。 Well； he deserved it； who had been fool enough to
listen to the secret promptings of Little Bonsa and conduct him to
Asiki…land。
Thus he passed several hours； for the most part in melancholy
speculations as to the exact fashion of his end； until at length
weariness overcame him also and； shutting his eyes； Jeekie began to
doze。 Suddenly he grew aware of the presence of some other person in
the room； but thinking that it was only the Asika prowling about in
her uncanny fashion； or perhaps her spirit； for how her body entered
the place he could not guess； he did not stir； but lay breathing
heavily and watching out of the corner of his eye。
Presently a figure emerged from the shadows into the faint light
thrown by the single lamp that burned above； and though it was wrapped
in a dark cloak； Jeekie knew at once that it was not the Asika。 Very
stealthily the figure crept towards him； as a leopard might creep； and
bent down to examine him。 The movement caused the cloak to slip a
little； and for an instant Jeekie caught sight of the wasted； half…
crazed face of the Mungana； and of a long； curved knife that glittered
in his hand。 Paralyzed with fear； he lay quite still； knowing that
should he show the slightest sign of consciousness that knife would
pierce his heart。
The Mungana watched him a while； then satisfied that he slept； turned
round and； bending himself almost double； glided with infinite
precautions towards Alan's bed； which stood some twelve or fourteen
feet away。 Silently as a snake that uncoils itself； Jeekie slipped
from between his blankets and crept after him； his naked feet making
no noise upon the mat…strewn floor。 So intent was the Mungana upon the
deed which he had come to do that he never looked back； and thus it
happened that the two of them reached the bed one immediately behind
the other。
Alan was lying on his back with his throat exposed； a very easy
victim。 For a moment the Mungana stared。 Then he erected himself like
a snake about to strike； and lifted the great curved knife； taking aim
at Alan's naked breast。 Jeekie erected himself also； and even as the
knife began to fall； with one hand he caught the arm that drove it and
with the other the murderer's throat。 The Mungana fought like a wild…
cat； but Jeekie was too strong for him。 His fingers held the man's
windpipe like a vise。 He choked and weakened； the knife fell from his
hand。 He sank to the ground and lay there helpless； whereon Jeekie
knelt upon his chest and； possessing himself of the knife； held it
within an inch of his heart。
It was at this juncture that Alan woke up and asked sleepily what was
the matter。
〃Nothing； Major；〃 answered Jeekie in low and cheerful tones。 〃Snake
just going to bite you and I catch him； that all；〃 and he gave an
extra squeeze to the Mungana's throat； who turned black in the face
and rolled his eyes。
〃Be careful； Jeekie； or you will kill the man；〃 exclaimed Alan；
recognizing the Mungana and taking in the situation。
〃Why not； Major？ He want kill you； and me too afterwards。 Good
riddance of bad rubbish； as Book say。〃
〃I am not so sure； Jeekie。 Give him air and let me think。 Tell him
that if he makes any noise； he dies。〃
Jeekie obeyed； and the Mungana's darkening eyes grew bright again as
he drew his breath in great sobs。
〃Now； friend；〃 said Alan in Asiki； 〃why did you wish to stab me？〃
〃Because I hate you；〃 answered the man； 〃who to…morrow will take my
place and the wife I love。〃
〃As a year or two ago you took someone else's place； eh？ Well； suppose
now that I don't want either your place or your wife。〃
〃What would that matter even it if were true； white man； since she
wants you？〃
〃I am thinking； friend； that there is someone else she will want when
she hears of this。 How do you suppose that you will die to…morrow？ Not
so easily as you hope； perhaps。〃
The Mungana's eyes seemed to sink into his head； and his face to
sicken with terror。 That shaft had gone home。
〃Suppose I make a bargain with you；〃 went on Alan slowly。 〃Supposing I
say： 'Mungana； show me the way out of this place； as you can； now at
once。 Or if you prefer it； refuse and be given up to the Asika？' Come；
you are not too mad to understand。 Answerand quickly。〃
〃Would you kill me afterwards？〃 he asked。
〃Not I。 Why should I wish to kill you？ You can come with us and go
where you will。 Or you can stay here and die as the Asika directs。〃
〃I cannot believe you； white man。 It is not possible that you should
wish to run away from so much love and glory； or to spare one who
would have slain you。 Also it would be difficult to get you out of
Bonsa…town。〃
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃this fellow is mad after all； I think you had
better go to the door and shout for the priests。〃
〃No； no； lord；〃 begged the wretched creature； 〃I will trust you； I
will try； though it is you who must be mad。〃
〃Very good。 Stand over him； Jeekie； while I put on my things and； yes；
give me that mask。 If he stirs； kill him at once。〃
So Ala