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I say I die for you； which great unpleasant sacrifice；〃 and Jeekie in
the genuine enthusiasm of his warm heart； throwing himself upon his
knees after the African fashion； seized his master's hand and kissed
it。
〃Thanks； Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃very kind of you； I am sure。 But we
haven't come to that yet； though no one knows what may happen later
on。 Now sit upon that chair and take a little whiskynot too much
for I am going to ask your advice。〃
〃Major；〃 said Jeekie； 〃I obey；〃 and seizing the whisky bottle in a
casual manner； he poured out half a tumbler full； for Jeekie was fond
of whisky。 Indeed before now this taste had brought him into conflict
with the local magistrates。
〃Put back three parts of that；〃 said Alan； and Jeekie did so。 〃Now；〃
he went on； 〃listen： this is the case； Miss Barbara and I are〃 and
he hesitated。
〃Oh！ I know； like me and Mrs。 Jeekie once；〃 said Jeekie； gulping down
some of the neat whisky。 〃Go on； Major。〃
〃And Sir Robert Aylward is〃
〃Same thing； Major。 Continue。〃
〃And Mr。 Haswell has〃
〃Those facts all ascertained； Major；〃 said Jeekie； contemplating his
glass with a mournful eye。 〃Now come to the point； Major。〃
〃Well； the point is； Jeekie； that I am what you called just now
cashless； and therefore〃
〃Therefore；〃 interrupted Jeekie again； 〃stick fast in honourable
intention towards Miss Barbara owing to obstinate opposition of Mr。
Haswell； legal uncle with control of property fomented by noble Sir
Robert who desire same girl。〃
〃Quite right； Jeekie； but if you would talk a little less and let me
talk a little more； we might get on better。〃
〃I henceforth silent； Major；〃 and lifting his empty tumbler Jeekie
looked through it as if it were a telescope； a hint that Alan ignored。
〃Jeekie； you infernal old fool； I want money。〃
〃Yes； Major； I understand； Major。 Forgive me for breaking conspiracy
of silence； but if ￡500 in Savings Bank any use； very much at your
service； Major； also ￡20 more extracted last night from terror of
wealthy Jew who fear fetish。〃
〃Jeekie； you old donkey； I don't want your ￡500； I want a great deal
more； ￡50；000 or ￡500；000。 Tell me how to get it。〃
〃City best place； Major。 But you chuck City； too much honest man；
great mistake to be honest in this terrestrial sphere。 Often notice
that in West Africa。〃
〃Perhaps； Jeekie； but I have done with the City。 As you would say； for
me it is 'wipe out； finish。'〃
〃Yes； Major； too much pickpocket； too much dirt。 Bottom always drop
out of bucket shop at last。 I understand； end in police court and
severe magistrate； or perhaps even 'Gentlemen of Jury'； etcetera。〃
〃Well； Jeekie； then what remains？ Now last night when you told us that
amazing yarn of yours； you said something about a mountain full of
gold； and houses full of gold； among your people。 Jeekie； do you
think〃 and he paused； looking at him。
Jeekie rolled his black eyes round the room and in a fit of
absentmindedness helped himself to some more whisky。
〃Do I think； Major； that this useless lucre could be converted into
coin of gracious King Edward？ Not at all； Major； by no one； Major； by
no one whatsoever； except possibly by Major Alan Vernon； D。S。O。； and
by one； Jeekie； Christian surname Smith。〃
〃Proceed； Jeekie；〃 said Alan； removing the whisky bottle； 〃proceed and
explain。〃
〃Major； thus： The Asiki tribe care nothing about all that gold； it no
good to them。 Dead people who live long； long ago； no one know when；
dig it up and store it there and make the great fetish which they call
Bonsa to keep away enemy who want to steal。 Also old custom when any
one in country round find big nugget； or pretty stone； like ladies
wear on bosom； to bring it as offering to Bonsa； so that there now
great plenty of all this stuff。 But no one use it for anything except
to set on walls of house of Asiki； or to make basin； stool； table and
pot to cook with。 Once Arab come there and I see the priests give him
weight in gold for iron hoe； though afterwards they murder him； not
for the gold； but lest he go away and tell their secret。〃
〃One might trade with them then； Jeekie？〃
He shook his white head doubtfully。
〃Yes； perhaps； if you can find anything they want buy and can carry it
there。 But I think there only one thing they want； and you got that；
Major。〃
〃I； Jeekie！ What have I got？〃
The negro leant forward and tapped his master on the knee； saying in a
portentous whisper：
〃You got Little Bonsa； which much more holy than anything； even than
Big Bonsa her husband； I mean greater； more powerful devil。 That
Little Bonsa sit in front room Asika's house； and when she want see
things； she put it in big basin of gold； but I no tell you what it
float in。 Also once or twice every year they take out Little Bonsa；
Asika wear it on head as mask； and whoever they meet they kill as
offering to Little Bonsa； so that spirit come back to world to be
priest of Bonsa。 I tell you； Major； that Yellow God see many thousand
of people die。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Alan。 〃A pleasing fetish truly。 I should think that the
Asiki must be glad it is gone。〃
〃No； not glad； very sorry。 No luck for them when Little Bonsa go away；
but plenty luck for those who got her。 That why firm Aylward & Haswell
make so much money when you join them and bring her to office。 She
drop green in eye of public so they no smell rat。 That why you so
lucky； not die of blackwater fever when you should； get safe out of
den of thieves in City with good name； win love of sweet maiden； Miss
Barbara。 Little Bonsa do all those things for you； and by and by do
plenty more； as Little Bonsa bring my old master； your holy uncle；
safe out of that country because all the Asiki run away when they see
him wear her on head； for they think she come sacrifice them after she
eat up my life。〃
〃I don't wonder that they ran；〃 said Alan； laughing； for the vision of
a missionary with Little Bonsa on his head caught his fancy。 〃But come
to the point； you old heathen。 What do you mean that I should do？〃
〃Jeekie not heathen now； Major； but plenty other things true in this
world； besides Christian religion。 I no want you do anything； but I
say thisyou go back to Asiki wearing Little Bonsa on head and
dressed like Reverend uncle whom you very like； for he just your age
then thirty years ago； and they give you all the gold you want； if you
give them back Little Bonsa whom they love and worship for ever and
ever； for Little Bonsa very； very old。〃
Alan sat up in his chair and stared at Jeekie； while Jeekie nodded his
head at him。
〃There is something in it；〃 he said slowly； speaking more to himself
than to the negro； 〃and perhaps that is why I would not sell the
fetish； for as you say； there are plenty of true things in the world
besides those which we believe。 But； Jeekie； how should I find the
way？〃
〃No trouble； Major； Little Bonsa find way； want to get back home； very
hungry by now； much need sacrifice。 Think it good thing kill pig to
Little Bonsaor even lamb。 She know you do your best； since human
being not to be come at in Christian land； and say 'thank you for life
of pig。'〃
〃Stop that rubbish；〃 said Alan。 〃I want a