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〃Where to； Alan？〃
〃To West Africa； I think。〃
〃To West Africa？〃 repeated Barbara； her voice trembling a little。
〃After that treasure； Alan？〃
〃Yes； Barbara。 But first come and have your lunch； then we will talk。
I have got lots to tell and show you。〃
So they lunched； speaking of indifferent things； for the servant was
there waiting on them。 Just as they were finishing their meal Jeekie
entered the room carrying a box and a large envelope addressed to his
master； which he said had been sent by special messenger from the
office in London。
〃What's in the box？〃 asked Alan； looking somewhat nervously at the
envelope； which was addressed in a writing that he knew。
〃Don't know for certain； Major；〃 answered Jeekie； 〃but think Little
Bonsa； think I smell her through wood。〃
〃Well； look and see；〃 replied Alan； while he broke the seal of the
envelope and drew out its contents。 They proved to be sundry documents
sent by the firm's lawyers； among which were a notice of the formal
dissolution of partnership to be approved by him before it appeared in
the /Gazette/； a second notice calling in a mortgage for fifteen
thousand and odd pounds on Yarleys； which as a matter of business had
been taken over by the firm while he was a partner； a cash account
showing a small balance against him； and finally a receipt for him to
sign acknowledging the return of the gold image that was his property。
〃You see；〃 said Alan with a sigh； pushing over the papers to Barbara；
who read them carefully one by one。
〃I see；〃 she answered presently。 〃It is war to the knife。 Alan； I hate
the idea of it； but perhaps you had better go away。 While you are here
they will harass the life out of you。〃
Meanwhile with the aid of a big jack…knife and the dining…room poker；
Jeekie had prized off the lid of the box。 Chancing to look round
Barbara saw him on his knees muttering something in a strange tongue；
and bowing his white head until it touched an object that lay within
the box。
〃What are you doing； Jeekie？〃 she asked。
〃Make bow to Little Bonsa； Miss Barbara； tell her how glad I am see
her come back from town。 She like feel welcome。 Now you come bow too；
Little Bonsa take that as compliment。〃
〃I won't bow； but I will look； Jeekie； for although I have heard so
much about it I have never really examined this Yellow God。〃
〃Very good； you come look； miss；〃 and Jeekie propped up the case upon
the end of the dining…room table。 As from its height and position she
could not see its contents very well whilst standing above it； Barbara
knelt down to get a better view of it。
〃My goodness！〃 she exclaimed； 〃what a terrible face； beautiful too in
its way。〃
Hardly had the words left her lips when for some reason unexplained
that probably had to do with the shifting of the centre of gravity；
Little Bonsa appeared to glide or fall out of her box with a startling
suddenness； and project herself straight at Barbara； who； with a faint
scream； fearing lest the precious thing should be injured； caught it
in her arms and for a moment hugged it to her breast。
〃Saved！〃 she exclaimed； recovering herself and placing it on the
table； whereon Jeekie； to their astonishment； began to execute a kind
of war dance。
〃Oh！ yes；〃 he said； 〃saved； very much saved。 All saved； most
magnificent omen。 Lady kneel to Little Bonsa and Little Bonsa nip out
of box； make bow and jump in lady's arms。 That splendid； first…class
luck； for miss and everybody。 When Little Bonsa do that need fear
nothing no more。 All come right as rain。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Barbara； laughing。 Then from a cautious distance she
continued her examination of the fetish。
〃See；〃 said Jeekie； pointing to the misshapen little gold legs which
were yet so designed that it could be stood up upon them； 〃when anyone
wear Little Bonsa； tie her on head behind by these legs； look； here
same old leather string。 Now I put her on； for she like to be worn
again；〃 and with a quick movement he clapped the mask on to his face；
manipulated the greasy black leather thongs and made them fast。 Thus
adorned the great negro looked no less than terrific。
〃I see you； miss；〃 he said； turning the fixed eyes of opal…like stone；
bloodshot with little rubites； upon Barbara； 〃I see you； though you no
see me； for these eyes made very cunning。 But listen； you hear me；〃
and suddenly from the mask； produced by some contrivance set within
it； there proceeded an awful； howling sound that made her shiver。
〃Take that thing off； Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃we don't want any banshees
here。〃
〃Banshees？ Not know him； he poor English fetish p'raps；〃 said Jeekie；
as he removed the mask。 〃This real African god； howl banshee and all
that sort into middle of next week。 This Little Bonsa and no mistake；
ten thousand years old and more； eat up lives； so many that no one can
count them； and go on eating for ever； yes unto the third and fourth
generation； as Ten Commandments lay it down for benefit of Christian
man； like me。 Look at her again； Miss Barbara。〃
Miss Barbara took the hateful； ancient thing in her hands and studied
it。 No one could doubt its antiquity； for the gold plate of which it
was made was literally worn away wherever it had touched the foreheads
of the high priests or priestesses who donned it upon festive
occasions or days of sacrifice； showing that hundreds and hundreds of
them must have used it thus in succession。 So was the vocal apparatus
within the mouth； and so were the little toad…like feet upon which it
was stood up。 Also the substance of the gold itself as here and there
pitted as though with acid or salts； though what those salts were she
did not inquire。 And yet； so consummate was the art with which it had
originally been fashioned； that the battered beautiful face of Little
Bonsa still peered at them with the same devilish smile that it had
worn when it left the hands of its maker； perhaps before Mohammed
preached his holy war； or even earlier。
〃What is all that writing on the back of it？〃 asked Barbara； pointing
to the long lines of rune…like characters which were inscribed within
it。
〃Not know； miss； think they dead tongue cut in the beginning when
black men could write。 But Asiki priests swear they remember every one
of them； and that why no one can copy Little Bonsa； for they look
inside and see if marks all right。 They say they names of those who
died for Little Bonsa； and when they all done； Little Bonsa begin
again； for Little Bonsa never die。 But p'raps priests lie。〃
〃I daresay；〃 said Barbara； 〃but take Little Bonsa away； for however
lucky she may be； she makes me feel sick。〃
〃Where I put her； Major？〃 asked Jeekie of Alan。 〃In box in library
where she used to live； or in plate…safe with spoons？ Or under your
bed where she always keep eye on you？〃
〃Oh！ put her with the spoons；〃 said Alan angrily； and Jeekie departed
with his treasure。
〃I think； dear；〃 remarked Barbara as the door closed behind him； 〃that
if I come to lunch here any more； I shall bring my own christening
present with me； for I can't eat off silver that has been shut up with
that thing。 Now let us get to businessshow me the diary and the
m