a new trouble； for scarcely had they begun to descend the river when
they discovered that at this dry season of the year it was in many
places too shallow to allow the canoe to pass over the sand and mud
banks。 Evidently there was but one thing to be doneabandon it and
walk。
So they landed； ate from their store of food and began a terrible and
toilsome journey。 On either side of the river lay dessicated swamp
covered with dead reeds ten or twelve feet high。 Doubtless beyond the
swamp there was high land； but in order to reach this； if it existed；
they would be obliged to force a path through miles of reeds。
Therefore they thought it safer to follow the river bank。 Their
progress was very slow； since continually they must make detours to
avoid a quicksand or a creek； also the stones and scrubby growth
delayed them so that fifteen or at most twenty miles was a good day's
march。
Still they went on steadily； seeing no man； and when their food was
exhausted； living on the fish which they caught in plenty in the
shallows； and on young flapper ducks that haunted the reeds。 So at
length they came to the main river into which this tributary flowed；
and camped there thankfully； believing that if any pursuit of them had
been undertaken； it was abandoned。 At least Alan and the rest believed
this； but Jeekie did not。
On the following morning； shortly after dawn； Jeekie awoke his master。
〃Come here； Major；〃 he said in a solemn voice； 〃I got something pretty
show you；〃 and he led him to the foot of an old willow tree； adding；
〃now up you go； Major； and look。〃
So Alan went up and from the topmost fork of that tree saw a sight at
which his blood turned cold。 For there； not five miles behind them； on
either side of the river bank； the light gleaming on their spears；
marched two endless columns of men； who from their head…dresses he
took to be Asiki。 For a minute he looked； then descended the tree and
approaching the others； asked what was to be done。
〃Hook； scoot； bolt； leg it！〃 exclaimed Jeekie emphatically； then he
licked his finger； held it up to the wind and added； 〃but first fire
reeds and make it hot for Bonsa crowd。〃
This was a good suggestion and one on which they acted without delay。
Taking red embers； they blew them into a flame and lit torches； which
they applied to the reeds over a width of several hundred yards。 The
strong northward wind soon did the rest； indeed with a quarter of an
hour a vast sheet of flame twenty or thirty feet in height was rushing
towards the Asiki columns。 Then they began their advance along the
river bank； running at a steady trot； for here the ground was open。
All that day they ran； pausing at intervals to get their breath； and
at night rested because they must。 When the light came upon the
following morning they looked back from a little hill and saw the
outposts of the Asiki advancing not a mile behind。 Doubtless some of
the army had been burned； but the rest； guessing their route； had
forced a way through the reeds and cut across country。 So they began
to run again harder than before； and kept their lead during the
morning。 But when afternoon came the Asika gained on them。 Now they
were breasting a long rise； the river running in the cleft beneath；
and Jeekie； who seemed to be absolutely untiring； held Alan by the
hand； Fahni following close behind。 Two of their men had fallen down
and been abandoned； and the rest straggled。
〃No go； Jeekie；〃 gasped Alan； 〃they will catch us at the top of the
hill。〃
〃Never say die； Major； never say die；〃 puffed Jeekie； 〃they get blown
too and who know what other side of hill？〃
Somehow they struggled to the crest and behold！ there beneath them was
a great army of men。
〃Ogula！〃 yelled Jeekie； 〃Ogula！ Just what I tell you； Major； who know
what other side of /any/ hill。〃
CHAPTER XVIII
A MEETING IN THE FOREST
In five minutes more Alan and Jeekie were among the Ogula； who； having
recognized their chief while he was yet some way off； greeted him with
rapturous cheers and the clapping of hands。 Then as there was no time
for explanation； they retreated across a little stream which ran down
the valley； four thousand or more of them； and prepared for battle。
That evening； however； there was no fighting； for when the first of
the Asiki reached the top of the rise and saw that the fugitives had
escaped to the enemy； who were in strength； they halted and finally
retired。
Now Alan； and Fahni also； hoped that the pursuit was abandoned； but
again Jeekie shook his big head； saying：
〃Not at all； Major； I know Asiki and their little ways。 While one of
them alive； not dare go back to Asika without /you/； Major。〃
〃Perhaps she is with them herself；〃 suggested Alan； 〃and we might
treat with her。〃
〃No； Major； Asika never leave Bonsa Town； that against law； and if she
do so； priests make another Asika and kill her when they catch her。〃
After this a council of war was held； and it was decided to camp there
that night； since the position was good to meet an attack if one
should be made； and the Ogula were afraid of being caught on the march
with their backs towards the enemy。 Alan was glad enough to hear this
decision； for he was quite worn out and ready to take any risk for a
few hours' rest。 At this council he learned also that the Asiki
bearers carrying his gold with their Ogula guides had arrived safely
among the Ogula； who had mustered in answer to their chief's call and
were advancing towards Asiki…land； though the business was one that
did not please them。 As for these Asiki bearers； it seemed that they
had gone on into the forest with the gold； and nothing more had been
heard of them。
As they were leaving the council Alan asked Jeekie if he had any
tidings of his mother； who had been their first messenger。
〃No； Major；〃 he answered gloomily； 〃can't learn nothing of my ma；
don't know where she is。 Ogula camp no place for old girl if they
short of chop and hungry。 But p'raps she never get there； I nose round
and find out。〃
Apparently Jeekie did 〃nose round〃 to some purpose； for just as Alan
was dropping off to sleep in his bough shelter a most fearful din
arose without； through which he recognized the vociferations of
Jeekie。 Running out of the shelter he discovered his retainer and a
great Ogula whom he knew again as the headman who had been imprisoned
with him and freed by the Asika to guide the bearers； rolling over and
over on the ground； watched by a curious crowd。 Just as he arrived
Jeekie； who notwithstanding his years was a man of enormous strength；
got the better of the Ogula and kneeling on his stomach； was
proceeding to throttle him。 Rushing at him； Alan dragged him off and
asked what was the matter。
〃Matter； Major！〃 yelled the indignant Jeekie。 〃My ma inside this black
villain； /that/ the matter。 Dirty cannibal got digestion of one
ostrich and eat her up with all his mates； all except one who not like
her taste and tell me。 They catch poor old lady asleep by road so stop
and lunch at once when Asiki bearers not looking。 Let me get at him；
Major； let me get at him。 If I can't bury my ma； as all good son ought
to do； I bury him； which next best thing。〃
〃Jeekie； Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃exercise a Christian spirit and let
bygones be bygones。 If you don't； you will make a quarrel between us
and the Ogula； and they will give us up to the Asiki。 Perhaps the man
did not eat your mother； I understand that he denies it； and when you
remember what she was like； it seems incredible。 At any rate he has a
right to a trial； and I will speak to Fahni about it to…morrow。〃
So they were separated； but as it chanced that case never came on； for
next morning this Ogula was killed in the fighting together with two
of his companions； while the others involved in the charge kept
themselves out of sight。 Whether Jeekie's 〃ma〃 was or was not eaten by
the Ogula no one ever learned for certain。 At least she was never
heard of any more。
Alan was sleeping heavily when a sound of rushing feet and of strange；
thrilling battle…cries awoke him。 He sprang up； snatching at a spear
and shield which Jeekie had provided for him； and ran out to find from
the position of the moon that dawn was near。
〃Come on； Major；〃 said Jeekie； 〃Asiki make night attack； they always
like do everything at night who love darkness； because their eye evil。
Come on quick； Major；〃 and he began to drag him off toward the rear。
〃But that's the wrong way；〃 said Alan presently。 〃They are attacking
over there。〃
〃Do you think Jeekie fool； Major； that he don't know that？ He take you
where they /not/ attacking。 Plenty Ogula to be killed； but not /many/
white men like you； and in all world only /one/ Jeekie！〃
〃You cold…blooded old scoundrel！〃 ejaculated Alan as he turned and
bolted back towards the noise of fighting； followed by his reluctant
servant。
By the time that he reached the first ranks； which were some way off；
the worst of the attack was over。 It had been short and sharp； for the
Asiki had hoped to find the Ogula unprepared and to take their camp
with a rush。 But the Ogula； who knew their habits； were waiting for
them； so that presently they wit