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come； no fear； or else Jeekie know reason why。 Now； here coffee；
Major。 Drink him hot before you go take tub； but keep in shallow
water； because crocodile he very early riser。〃
Alan laughed； and departed to 〃take tub。〃 Notwithstanding the
mosquitoes that buzzed round him in clouds； the water was cool and
pleasant by comparison with the hot； sticky air； and the feel of it
seemed to rid him of the languor resulting from his disturbed night。
A month had passed since he had left Old Calabar； and owing to the
incessant rains the journeying had been hard。 Indeed the white men
there thought that he was mad to attempt to go up the river at this
season。 Of course he had said nothing to them of the objects of his
expedition； hinting only that he wished to explore and shoot； and
perhaps prospect for mines。 But knowing as they did； that he was an
Engineer officer with a good record and much African experience； they
soon made up their minds that he had been sent by Government upon some
secret mission that for reasons of his own he preferred to keep to
himself。 This conclusion； which Jeekie zealously fostered behind his
back； in fact did Alan a good turn； since owing to it he obtained
boatmen and servants at a season when； had he been supposed to be but
a private person； these would scarcely have been forthcoming at any
price。 Hitherto his journey had been one long record of mud；
mosquitoes； and misery； but otherwise devoid of incident； except the
eating of one of his boatmen by a crocodile which was a particularly
〃early riser；〃 for it had pulled the poor fellow out of the canoe in
which he lay asleep at night。 Now； however； the real dangers were
about to begin； since at this spot he left the great river and started
forward through the forest on foot with Jeekie and the four bearers
whom he had paid highly to accompany him。
He could not conceal from himself that the undertaking seemed somewhat
desperate。 But of this he said nothing in the long letter he had
written to Barbara on the previous night； sighing as he sealed it； at
the thought that it might well be the last which would ever reach her
from him； even if the boatmen got safely back to Calabar and
remembered to put it in the post。 The enterprise had been begun and
must be carried through； until it ended in successor death。
An hour later they started。 First walked Alan as leader of the
expedition； carrying a double…barrelled gun that could be used either
for ball or shot； about fifty cartridges with brass cases to protect
them from the damp； a revolver； a hunting…knife； a cloth mackintosh；
and lastly； strapped upon his back like a knapsack； a tin box
containing the fetish； Little Bonsa； which was too precious to be
trusted to anyone else。 It was quite a sufficient load for any white
man in that climate； but being very wiry； Alan did not feel its
weight； at any rate at first。
After him in single file came the four porters； laden with a small
tent； some tinned provisions and brandy； ammunition； a box containing
beads； watches； etc。 for presents； blankets； spare clothing and so
forth。 These were stalwart fellows enough； who knew the forest； but
their dejected air showed that now they had come face to face with its
dangers； they heartily wished themselves anywhere else。 Indeed；
notwithstanding their terror of Jeekie's medicine； at the last moment
they threw down their loads intending to make a wild rush for the
departing boat； only to be met by Jeekie himself who； anticipating
some such move； was waiting for them on the bank with a shotgun。 Here
he remained until the canoe was too far out in the stream for them to
reach it by swimming。 Then he asked them if they wished to sit and
starve there with the devils he would leave them for company； of if
they would carry out their bargain like honest men？
The end of it was they took up their loads again and marched； while
behind them walked the terrible and gigantic Jeekie； the barrels of
the shotgun which he carried at full cock and occasionally used to
prod them； pointing directly at their backs。 A strange object he
looked truly； for in addition to the weapons with which he bristled；
several cooking…pots were slung about him； to say nothing of a cork
mattress and a mackintosh sheet tied in a flat bundle to his
shoulders； a box containing medicines and food which he carried on his
head； and fastened to the top of it with string like a helmet on a
coffin； an enormous solar…tope stuffed full of mosquito netting； of
which the ends fell about him like a green veil。 When Alan
remonstrated with him as to the cork mattress； suggesting that it
should be thrown away as too hot to wear； Jeekie replied that he had
been cold for thirty years； and wished to get warm again。 Guessing
that his real reason for declining to part with the article； was that
his master should have something to lie on； other than the damp
ground； Alan said no more at the time； which； as will be seen； was
fortunate enough for Jeekie。
For a mile or more their road ran through fantastic…looking mangrove
trees rooted in the mud； that in the mist resembled； Alan thought；
many…legged arboreal octopi feeling for their food； and tall reeds on
the tops of which sat crowds of chattering finches。 Then just as the
sun broke out； strongly； cheering them with its warmth and sucking up
the vapours； they entered sparse bush with palms and great cotton
trees growing here and there； and so at length came to the borders of
the mighty forest。
Oh！ dark； dark was that forest； he who entered it from the cheerful
sunshine felt as though suddenly and without preparation he had
wandered out of the light we know into some dim Hades such as the old
Greek fancy painted； where strengthless ghosts flit aimlessly；
mourning the lost light。 Everywhere the giant boles of trees shooting
the height of a church tower into the air without a branch； great rib…
rooted trees； and beneath them a fierce and hungry growth of creepers。
Where a tree had fallen within the last century or so； these creepers
ramped upwards in luxuriance； their stems thick as the body of a man；
drinking the shaft of light that pierced downwards； drinking it with
eagerness ere the boughs above met again and starved them。 Where no
tree had fallen the creepers were thin and weak； from year to year
they lived on feebly； biding their time； but still they lived； knowing
that some day it would come。 And always it was coming to those
expectant parasites； since from minute to minute； somewhere in the
vast depths； miles and miles away perhaps； a great crash echoed in the
stillness； the crash of a tree that； sown when the Saxons ruled in
England； or perhaps before Cleopatra bewitched Anthony； came to its
end at last。
On the second day of their march in the forest Alan chanced to see
such a tree fall； and the sight was one that he never could forget。 As
it happened； owing to the vast spread of its branches which had killed
out all rivals beneath； for in its day it had been a very successful
tree embued with an excellent constitution by its parent； it stood
somewhat alone； so that from several hundred yards away as these six
human beings cre