Jeekie was in the tent performing a strange toilet upon the sleeping
Aylward by the light of a single candle。 From his pouch he produced
the mask of linen painted with gold that Alan used to be forced to
wear； and tied it securely over Aylward's face； murmuring：
〃You always love gold； my Lord Aylward； and Jeekie promise you see
plenty of it now。〃
Then he proceeded to remove his coat； his waistcoat； his socks； and
his boots and to replace these articles of European attire by his own
worn Asiki sandals and his own dirty Asiki robe。
〃There；〃 he said； 〃think that do；〃 and he studied him by the light of
the candle。 〃Same height； same colour hair； same dirty clothes； and as
Asiki never see Major's face because he always wear mask in public；
like as two peas on shovel。 Oh my！ Jeekie clever chap； Jeekie devilish
clever chap。 But when Asika pull off that mask to give him true lover
kiss； OH MY！ wonder that happen then？ Think whole of Bonsa…Town bust
up； think big waterfall run backwards； think she not quite pleased；
think my good Lord find himself in false position； think Jeekie glad
to be on coast； think he not go back to Bonsa…Town no more。 Oh my
aunt！ no； he stop in England and go church twice on Sunday；〃 and
pressing his big hands on the pit of his stomach he rocked and rolled
in fierce； silent laughter。
Then an owl hooted again immediately beneath the fence and Jeekie；
blowing out the candle； opened the flap of the tent and tapped the
head porter； who stood outside； on the shoulder。 He crept in and
between them they lifted the senseless Aylward and bore him to the
V…shaped entrance of the boma which was immediately opposite to the
tent and； oddly enough； half open。 Here the two other porters with
whom Jeekie had performed some ceremony； chanced to be on guard； the
rest of their company being stationed at a distance。 Jeekie and the
head porter went through the gap like men carrying a corpse to
midnight burial； and presently in the darkness without two owls began
to hoot。
Now Aylward was laid upon a litter that had been prepared； and eight
white…robed Asiki bearers stared at his gold mask in the faint
starlight。
〃I suppose he is not dead； brother；〃 said Owl No。 2 doubtfully。
〃Nay； brother；〃 said Owl No。 1； 〃feel his heart and his pulse。 Not
dead； only drunk。 He will wake up by daylight； by which time you
should be far upon your way。 Be good and gentle to the white man
Vernoon； who has been my master。 Be careful； too； that he does not
escape you； brother； for as you know he is very strong and cunning。
Say to the Asika that Jeekie her servant makes his reverence to her；
and hopes that she will have many； many happy years with the husband
that he sends her； also that she will remember him whom she called
'Black Dog；' in her prayers to the gods and spirits of our people。〃
〃It shall be done； brother； but why do you not return with us？〃
〃Because； brother； I have ties across the Black Waterdear children；
almost whitewhom I love so much that I cannot leave them。 Farewell；
brethren； the blessings of the Bonsas be on you； and may you grow fat
and prosper in the love and favour of our lady the Asika。〃
〃Farewell；〃 they murmured in answer。 〃Good fortune be your bedfellow。〃
Another minute and they had lifted up the litter and vanished at a
swinging trot into the shadow of the trees。 Jeekie returned to the
camp and ordered the three men to re…stop the gateway with thorns；
muttering in their ears：
〃Remember； brethren； one word of this and you die； all of you； as
those die who break the oath。〃
〃Have we not sworn？〃 they whispered； as they went back to their posts。
Jeekie stood a while in front of the empty tent and if any had been
there to note him； they might have seen a shadow as of compunction
creep over his powerful black face。
〃When he wake up he won't know where he are；〃 he reflected； 〃and when
he get to Bonsa…Town he'll wonder where he is； and when he meet Asika！
Well； he very big blackguard； try to murder Major； whom Jeekie nurse
as baby； the only thing that Jeekie care forexceptJeekie； try to
make love to Miss Barbara against will when he catch her alone in
forest； which not playing game。 Jeekie self not such big blackguard as
that dirt…born noble Lord； Jeekie never murder no onenot quite；
Jeekie never make love to girl what not want himno need； so many
what do that he have to shove them off； like good Christian man。 Mrs。
Jeekie see to that while she live。 Also better that mean white man go
call on Bonsas than Major and Missy Barbara and all porters； and
Jeekiespecially Jeekieget throat cut。 No； no； Jeekie nothing to be
ashamed of； Jeekie do good day's work； though Jeekie keep it tight as
wax since white folk such silly people； and when Major in a rage； he
very nasty customer and see everything upside down。 Now； Jeekie quite
tired； so say his prayers and have nap。 No； think not in tent； though
very comfortable。 Major might wake up； poke his nose in there； and if
he see black face instead of white one； ask ugly question； which if
Jeekie half asleep he no able to answer nice and neat。 Still he just
arrange things a little so they look all right。〃
CHAPTER XX
THE ASIKA'S MESSAGE
Dawn began to break in the forest and Alan woke in his shelter and
stretched himself。 He had slept soundly all the night； so soundly that
the innocent Jeekie wondered much whether by any chance he also had
taken a tot out of that particular whisky bottle； as indeed he had
recommended him to do。 People who drink whisky after long abstinence
from spirits are apt to sleep long； he reflected。
Alan crept out of the shelter and gazed affectionately at the tent in
which Barbara slumbered。 Thank Heaven she was safe so far； as for some
unknown reason； evidently the Asiki had postponed their attack。 Just
then a clamour arose in the air； and he perceived Jeekie striding
towards him waving one arm in an excited fashion； while with the other
he dragged along the captain of the porters； who appeared to be
praying for mercy。
〃Here pretty go； Major；〃 he shouted； 〃devil and all to pay！ That my
Lord； he gone and bolted。 This silly fool say that three hours ago he
hear something break through fence and think it only hy？na what come
to steal； so take no notice。 Well； that hy？na； you guess who he is。
You come look； Major； you come look； and then we tie this fellow up
and flog him。〃
Alan ran to Aylward's tent to find it empty。
〃Look；〃 said Jeekie； who had followed； 〃see how he do business； that
jolly clever hy？na；〃 and he pointed to a broken whisky bottle and some
severed cords。 〃You see he manage break bottle and rub rope against
cut glass till it come in two。 Then he do hy？na dodge and hook it。〃
Alan inspected the articles； nor did any shadow of doubt enter his
mind。
〃Certainly he managed very well；〃 he said； 〃especially for a London…
bred man； but； Jeekie； what can have been his object？〃
〃Oh！ who know； Major？ Mind of man very strange and various thing；
p'raps he no bear to see you and Miss Barbara together； p'raps he bolt
coast； get ear of local magistrate before you； p'raps he sit up tree
to shoot you； p'raps nasty temper make him mad。 But he gone any way；
and I hope he no meet Asiki； poor fellow； 'cause if so； who know？
P'raps they knock him on head； or if they think him you； they make him
prisoner and keep him quite long while before they let him go again。〃
〃Well；〃 said Alan； 〃he has gone of his own free will； so we have no
responsibility in the matter； and I can't pretend that I am sorry to
see the last of him； at any rate for the present。 Let that poor beggar
loose； there seems to have been enough flogging in this place； and
after all he isn't much to blame。〃
Jeekie obeyed； apparently with much reluctance； and just then they saw
one of their own people running towards the camp。
〃'Fraid he going to tell us Asiki come attack；〃 said Jeekie； shaking
his head。 〃Hope they give us time breakfast first。〃
〃No doubt；〃 answered Alan nervously； for he feared the result of that
attack。
Then the man arrived breathless and began to gasp out his news； which
filled Alan with delight and caused a look of utter amazement to
appear upon the broad face of Jeekie。 It was to the effect that he had
climbed a high tree as he had been bidden to do； and from the top of
that tree by the light of the first rays of the rising sun； miles away
on the plain beyond the forest； he had seen the Asiki army in full
retreat。
〃Thank God！〃 exclaimed Alan。
〃Yes； Major； but that very rum story。 Jeekie can't swallow it all at
once。 Must send out see none of them left behind。 P'raps they play
trick； but if they really gone； 'spose it 'cause guns frightens them
so much。 Always think powder very great 'vention； especially when
enemy hain't got none； and quite sure of it now。 Jeekie very； very
seldom wrong。 Soon believe；〃 he added with a burst of confidence；
〃that Jeekie never wrong at all。 He look for truth so long that at
last he find it /always/。〃
Something more than a month had gone by and Major and Mrs。 Vernon； the
latter fully restored to health and the most sweet and beautiful of
brides； stood upon the steamship /Benin/