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 he
endure to be dragged back to Bonsa Town there to live and die。
They went on across the mountains； till in the afternoon once more
they saw the road running beneath them like a ribbon； and at the end
of it the lagoon。 Now they rested a while and held a consultation
while they ate。 Across that lagoon they could not escape without a
canoe。
〃Lord；〃 said the Mungana presently； 〃yesterday when these cannibals
were let go a swift runner was sent forward commanding that a good
boat should be provisioned and made ready for them； and by now
doubtless this has been done。 Let them descend to the road； walk on to
the bay and ask for the boat。 Look； yonder； far away a tongue of land
covered with trees juts out into the lake。 We will make our way
thither and after nightfall this chief can row back to it and take us
into the canoe。〃
Alan said that the plan was good； but Jeekie shook his head； asking
what would happen if Fahni； finding himself safe upon the water；
thought it wisest not to come to fetch them。
Alan translated his words to the old chief； whereon Fahni wanted to
fight Jeekie because of the slur that he had cast upon his honour。
This challenge Jeekie resolutely declined； saying that already there
were plenty of ways to die in Asiki…land without adding another to
them。 Then Fahni swore by his tribal god and by the spirit of every
man he had ever eaten； that he would come to that promontory after
dark； if he were still alive。
So they separated； Fahni and his men slipping down to the road； which
they did without being seen by anyone； while Alan； Jeekie and the
Mungana bore away to the right towards the promontory。 The road was
long and rough and； though by good fortune they met no one； since the
few who dwelt in these wild parts had gone up to Bonsa Town to be
present at the great feast； the sun was sinking before ever they
reached the place。 Moreover； this promontory proved to be covered with
dense thorn scrub； through which they must force a way in the
gathering darkness； not without hurt and difficulty。 Still they
accomplished it and at length； quite exhausted； crept to the very
point； where they hid themselves between some stones at the water's
edge。
Here they waited for three long hours； but no boat came。
〃All up a gum…tree now； Major；〃 said Jeekie。 〃Old blackguard； Fanny；
bolt and leave us here； and to…morrow morning Asika nobble us。 Better
have gone down to bay； steal his boat and leave him behind； because
Asika no want /him/。〃
Alan made no answer。 He was too tired； and although he trusted Fahni；
it seemed likely enough that Jeekie was right； or perhaps the
cannibals had not been able to get the boat。 Well； he had done his
best； and if Fate overtook them it was no fault of his。 He began to
doze； for even their imminent peril could not keep his eyes open； then
presently awoke with a start； for in his sleep he thought he heard the
sounds of paddles beating the quiet water。 Yes； there dimly seen
through the mist； was a canoe； and seated in the stern of it Fahni。 So
that danger had gone by also。
He woke his companions； who slept at his side； and very silently they
rose； stepping from rock to rock till they reached the canoe and
entered it。 It was not a large craft； barely big enough to hold them
all indeed； but they found room； and then at a sign from Fahni the
oarsmen gave way so heartily that within half an hour they had lost
sight of the accursed shores of Asiki…land； although presently its
mountains showed up clearly beneath the moon。
Meanwhile Fahni had told his tale。 It appeared that when he reached
the bay he found the Asiki headman who dwelt there； and those under
him； in a state of considerable excitement。
Rumours had reached them that someone had escaped from Bonsa Town；
they thought it was the Mungana。 Fahni asked who had brought the
rumour； whereon the headman answered that it came 〃in a dream；〃 and
would say no more。 Then he demanded the canoe which had been promised
to him and his people； and the headman admitted that it was ready in
accordance with orders received from the Asika； but demurred to
letting him have it。 A long argument followed； in the midst of which
Fahni and his men got into the canoe； the headman apparently not
daring to use force to prevent him。 Just as they were pushing off a
messenger arrived from Bonsa Town； reeling with exhaustion and his
tongue hanging from his jaws； who called out that it was the white man
who had escaped with his servant and the Mungana； and that although
they were believed to be still hidden in the holy woods near Bonsa
Town； none were to be allowed to leave the bay。 So the headman shouted
to Fahni to return； but he pretended not to hear and rowed away； nor
did anyone attempt to follow him。 Still it was only after nightfall
that he dared to put the boat about and return to the headland to pick
up Alan and the others as he had promised。 That was all he had to say。
Alan thanked him heartily for his faithfulness and they paddled on
steadily； putting mile after mile of water between them and Asiki…
land。 He wondered whether he had seen the last of that country and its
inhabitants。 Something within him answered No。 He was sure that the
Asika would not allow him to depart in peace without making some
desperate effort to recapture him。 Far as he was away； it seemed to
him that he could feel her fury hanging over him like a cloud； a cloud
that would burst in a rain of blood。 Doubtless it would have burst
already had it not been for the accident that he and his companions
were still supposed to be hiding in the woods。 But that error must be
discovered； and then would come the pursuit。
He looked at the full moon shining upon him and reflected that at this
very hour he should have been seated upon the chair of state； wedding；
or rather being wedded by the Asika in the presence of Big and Little
Bonsa and all the people。 His eye fell upon the Mungana； who had also
been destined to play a prominent part in that ceremony。 At once he
saw that there was something wrong with the man。 A curious change had
come over his emaciated face。 It was working like that of a maniac。
Foam appeared upon his dyed lips； his haunted eyes rolled； his thin
hands gripped the side of the canoe and he began to sing； or rather
howl like a dog baying at the stars。 Jeekie hit him on the head and
bade him be silent； but he took no notice； even when he hit him again
more heavily。 Presently came the climax。 The man sprang up in the
canoe； causing it to rock from side to side。 He pointed to the full
moon above and howled more loudly than before； he pointed to something
that he seemed to see in the air near by and gibbered as though in
terror。 Then his eyes fixed themselves upon the water at which he
stared。
Harder and harder he stared； his head sinking lower every moment； till
at length without another sound； very quietly and unexpectedly he went
over the side of the boat。 For a few seconds they saw his bright…
coloured garments sinking to the depths； then he vanished。
They waited a while； expecting that he would rise again。 But he never
rose。 A shot…weighted corpse could not have disappeared more finally
and completely。 The thing was very awful； and for a while there was
silence； which as usual was broken by Jeekie。
〃That gay dog gone；〃 he said in a reflective voice。 〃All those old
ghosts come to fetch him at proper time。 No good run away from ghosts；
they travel too quick； one jump； and pop up where you no expect。 Well；
more place for Jeekie now；〃 and he spread himself out comfortably in
the empty seat； adding； 〃like hello…swello's room much better than
company； he go in scent…bath every day and stink too much； all that
water never wash /him/ clean。〃
Thus died the Mungana； and such was the poor wretch's requiem。 With a
shiver Alan reflected that had it not been for him and his insane
jealousy； he too might have been expected to go into that same scent…
bath and have his face painted like a chorus girl。 Only would he
escape the spell that had destroyed his predecessor in the affections
of the priestess of the Bonsas？ Or would some dim power such as had
drawn Mungana to the death drag him back to the arms of the Asika or
to the torture pit of 〃Great Swimming Head。〃 He remembered his dream
in the Treasure Hall and shuddered at the very thought of it； for all
he had undergone and seen made him superstitious； then bade the men
paddle faster； ever faster。
All that night they rowed on； taking turns to rest； except Alan and
Jeekie； who slept a good deal and as a consequence awoke at dawn much
refreshed。 When the sun rose they found themselves across the lagoon；
over thirty miles from the borders of Asiki…land； almost at the spot
where the river up which they had travelled some months before； flowed
out of the lake。 Whether by chance or skill Fahni had steered a
wonderfully straight course。 Now； however； they were face to face with
a new trouble； for scarcely had they begun to descend the river when
they discovered that at thi