impossible； behind were the priests； beneath the roaring river。 All
three of them stopped as though paralyzed； for all three had seen。
Something struck against Alan's leg； it was his pistol that still
remained fastened to his wrist by its leather thong。 He cocked and
lifted it； took aim and fired。 The shot missed； which was not
wonderful considering the light and the platform on which the shooter
stood。 It missed； but the man； astonished； for he had never seen or
heard such a thing before； stopped his sawing for a moment； and stared
at them。 Then as he began again Alan fired once more； and this time by
good fortune the bullet struck the man somewhere in the body。 He fell；
and as he fell grasped the nearly separated rope and hung to it。
〃Get hold of the other rope and come on；〃 yelled Alan； and once more
they bounded forward。
〃My God！ it's going；〃 he yelled again。 〃Hold fast； Jeekie； hold fast！〃
Next instant the rope parted and the man vanished。 The bridge tipped
over； and supported by the remaining rope； hung edgeways up。 To this
rope the three of them clung desperately； resting their feet upon the
edge of the swaying plank。 For a few seconds they remained thus；
afraid to stir； then Jeekie called out：
〃Climb on； Major； climb on like one monkey。 Look bad； but quite safe
really。〃
As there was nothing else to be done Alan began to climb； shifting his
feet along the plank edge and his hands along the rope； which creaked
and stretched beneath their threefold weight。
It was a horrible journey； and in his imagination took at least an
hour。 Yet they accomplished it； for at last they found themselves
huddled together but safe upon the further bank。 The sweat pouring
down from his head almost blinded Alan； a deadly nausea worked within
him； sickly tremors shot up and down his spine； his brain swam。 Yet he
could hear Jeekie； in whom excitement always took the form of speech；
saying loudly：
〃Think that man no liar what say our great papas was monkeys。 Never
look down on monkey no more。 Wake up； Major； those priests monkey…men
too； for we all brothers； you know。 Wait a bit； I stop their little
game；〃 and springing up with three or four cuts of the big curved
knife； he severed the remaining rope just as their pursuers reached
the further side of the chasm。
They shouted with rage as the long bridge swung back against the rock；
the cut end of it falling into the torrent； and waved their spears
threateningly。 To this demonstration Jeekie replied with gestures of
contempt such as are known to street Arabs。 Then he looked at the
Mungana； who lay upon the ground a melancholy and dilapidated
spectacle； for the perspiration had washed lines of paint off his face
and patches of dye from his hair； also his gorgeous robes were water…
stained and his gem necklaces broken。 Having studied him a while
Jeekie kicked him meditatively till he got up； then asked him to set
out the exact situation。 The Mungana answered that they were safe for
a while； since that torrent could only be crossed by the broken bridge
and was too rapid to swim。 The Asiki； he added； must go a long journey
round through the city in order to come at them； though doubtless they
would hunt them down in time。
Here Jeekie cut him short； since he knew all that country well and
only wished to learn whether any more bridges had been built across
the torrent since he was a boy。
〃Now； Major；〃 he said； 〃you get up and follow me； for I know every
inch of ground； also by and by good short cut over mountains。 You see
Jeekie very clever boy； and when he herd sheep and goat he made note
of everything and never forget nothing。 He pull you out of this hole；
never fear。〃
〃Glad to hear it； I am sure；〃 answered Alan as he rose。 〃But what's to
become of the Mungana？〃
〃Don't know and don't care；〃 said Jeekie； 〃no more good to us。 Can go
and see how Big Bonsa feel； if he like；〃 and stretching out his big
hand as though in a moment of abstraction； he removed the costly
necklaces from their guide's neck and thrust them into the pouch he
wore。 Also he picked up the gilded linen mask which Alan had removed
from his head and placed it in the same receptacle； remarking； that he
〃always taught that it wicked to waste anything when so many poor in
the world。〃
Then they started； the Mungana following them。 Jeekie paused and waved
him off； but the poor wretch still came on； whereon Jeekie produced
the big； crooked knife； Mungana's own knife。
〃What are you going to do；〃 said Alan； awaking to the situation。
〃Cut off head of that cocktail man； Major； and so save him lot of
trouble。 Also we got no grub； and if we find any he want eat a lot。
Chop what do for two p'raps； make very short commons for three。 Also
he might play dirty trick； so much best dead。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Alan sternly； 〃let the poor devil come along if he
likes。 One good turn deserves another。〃
〃Just so； Major； that hello…swello want cut our throats； so I want cut
hisone good turn deserve another； as wise king say in Book； when he
give half baby to woman what wouldn't have it。 Well； so be； Major；
specially as it no matter； for he not stop with us long。〃
〃You mean that he will run away； Jeekie？〃
〃Oh！ no； he not run away； he in too blue funk for that。 But something
run away with him； because he ought die to…morrow night。 Oh！ yes； you
see； you see； and Jeekie hope that something not run away with you
too； Major； because you ought be married at same time。〃
〃Hope not； I am sure；〃 answered Alan； and bethinking him of Big Bonsa
wallowing and screaming on the water and bleeding out white blood； he
shivered a little。
By this time； advancing at a trot； the Mungana running after them like
a dog； they had entered the bush pierced with a few wandering paths。
Along these paths they sped for hour after hour； Jeekie leading them
without a moment's hesitation。 They met no man and heard nothing；
except occasional weird sounds which Alan put down to wild beasts； but
Jeekie and the Mungana said were produced by ghosts。 Indeed it
appeared that all this jungle was supposed to be haunted； and no Asiki
would enter it at night； or unless he were very bold and protected by
many charms； by day either。 Therefore it was an excellent place for
fugitives who sorely needed a good start。
At length the day began to dawn just as they reached the main road
where it crossed the hills； whence on his journey thither Alan had his
first view of Bonsa Town。 Peering from the edge of the bush； they
perceived a fire burning near the road and round it five or six men；
who seemed to be asleep。 Their first thought was to avoid them； but
the Mungana； creeping up to Alan； for Jeekie he would not approach；
whispered：
〃Not Asiki； Ogula chief and slaves who left Bonsa Town yesterday。〃
They crept nearer the fire and saw that this was so。 Then rejoicing
exceedingly； they awoke the old chief； Fahni； who at first thought
they must be spirits。 But when he recognized Alan； he flung himself on
his knees and kissed his hand； because to him he owed his liberty。
〃No time for all that； Fahni；〃 said Alan。 〃Give us food。〃
Now of this as it chanced there was plenty； since by the Asika's
orders the slaves had been laden with as much as they could carry。
They ate of it ravenously； and while they ate； told Fahni something of
the story of their escape。 The old chief listened amazed； but like
Jeekie asked Alan why he had not killed the Mungana； who would have
killed him。
Alan； who was in no mood for long explanations； answered that he had
kept him with them because he might be useful。
〃Yes； yes； friend； I see；〃 exclaimed the old cannibal； 〃although he is
so thin he will always make a meal or two at a pinch。 Truly white men
are wise and provident。 Like the ants； you take thought for the
morrow。〃
As soon as they had swallowed their food they started all together；
for although Alan pointed out to Fahni that he might be safer apart；
the old chief who had a real affection for him； would not be persuaded
to leave him。
〃Let us live or die together；〃 he said。
Now Jeekie； abandoning the main road； led them up a stream； walking in
the water so that their footsteps might leave no trace； and thus away
into the barren mountains which rose between them and the great swamp。
On the crest of these mountains Alan turned and looked back towards
Bonsa Town。 There far across the fertile valley was the hateful；
river…encircled place。 There fell the great cataract in the roar of
which he had lived for so many weeks。 There were the black cedars and
there gleamed the roofs of the Gold House； his prison where dwelt the
Asika and the dreadful fetishes of which she was the priestess。 To him
it was like the vision of a nightmare； he could scarcely think it
real。 And yet by this time doubtless they sought him far and wide。
What mood； he wondered； would the Asika be in when she learned of his
escape and the fashion of it； and how would she greet him if he were
recaptured and taken back to her？ Well； he would not be recaptured。 He
had still some cartridges and he would fight till they killed him； or
failing that； save the last of them for himself。 Never； never could