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somewhat alone； so that from several hundred yards away as these six
human beings crept towards it like ants towards a sapling in a
cornfield； its mighty girth and bulk set upon a little mound and the
luxuriant greenness of its far…reaching boughs made a kind of
landmark。 Then in the hot noon when no breath of wind stirred；
suddenly the end came。 Suddenly that mighty bole seemed to crumble；
suddenly those far…reaching arms were thrown together as their support
failed； gripping at each other like living things； flogging the air；
screaming in their last agony； and with an awful wailing groan
sinking； a tumbled ruin； to the earth。
Silence again； and in the midst of the silence Jeekie's cheerful
voice。
〃Old tree go flop！ Glad he no flop on us； thanks be to Little Bonsa。
Get on； you lazy nigger dog。 Who pay you stand there and snivel？ Get
on or I blow out your stupid skull；〃 and he brought the muzzle of the
full…cocked； double…barrelled gun into sharp contact with that part of
the terrified porter's anatomy。
Such was the forest。 Of their march through it for the first four
days； there is nothing to tell。 Its depths seemed to be devoid of
life； although occasionally they heard the screaming of parrots in the
treetops a couple of hundred feet above； or caught sight of the dim
shapes of monkeys swinging themselves from bough to bough。 That was in
the daytime； when； although they could not see it； they knew that the
sun was shining somewhere。 But at night they heard nothing； since
beasts of prey do not come where there is no food。 What puzzled Alan
was that all through these impenetrable recesses there ran a distinct
road which they followed。 To the right and left rose a wall of
creepers； but between them ran this road； an ancient road； for nothing
grew on it； and it only turned aside to avoid the biggest of the trees
which must have stood there from time immemorial； such a tree as that
which he had seen fall； indeed it was one of those round which the
road ran。
He asked Jeekie who made the road。
〃People who come out Noah's Ark；〃 answered Jeekie； 〃I think they run
up here to get out of way of water； and sent them two elephants ahead
to make path。 Or perhaps dwarf people make it。 Or perhaps those who go
up to Asiki…land to do sacrifice like old Jews。〃
〃You mean you don't know；〃 said Alan。
〃No； of course don't know。 Who know about forest path made before
beginning of world。 You ask question； Major； I answer。 More lively
answer than to shake head and roll eyes like them silly fool porters。〃
It was on the fourth night that the trouble began。 As usual they had
lit a huge fire made of the fallen boughs and rotting tree trunks that
lay about in plenty。 There was no reason why the fire should be so
large； since they had little to cook and the air was hot； but they
made it so for the same reason that Jeekie answered questions； for the
sake of cheerfulness。 At least it gave light in the darkness； leaping
up in red tongues of flame twenty or thirty feet high； and its roar
and crackle were welcome in the primeval silence。
Alan lay upon the cork mattress in the open； for here there was no
need to pitch the tent； if any rain fell above； the canopy of leaves
absorbed it。 He was amusing himself while he smoked his pipe with
watching the reflection of the fire…light against a patch of darkness
caused probably by some bush about twenty yards away； and by picturing
in his own mind the face of Barbara； that strong； pleasant English
face； as it might appear on such a background。 Suddenly there； on the
identical spot he did see a face； though one of a very different
character。 It was round and small and hideous； resembling in its
general outline that of a bloated child。 At this distance he could not
distinguish the features； except the lips； which were large and
pendulous； and between them the flash of white teeth。
〃Look here；〃 he whispered to Jeekie in English； and Jeekie looked；
then without saying a word； lifted the shotgun that lay at his side
and fired straight at the bush。 Instantly there arose a squeaking
noise； such as might be made by a wounded animal； and the four porters
sprang up in alarm。
〃Sit down；〃 said Jeekie to them in their own tongue； 〃a leopard was
stalking us and I fired to frighten it away。 Don't go near the place；
as it may be wounded and angry； but drag up some boughs and make a
fence round the fire； for fear of others。〃
The men who dreaded leopards； looking on these animals； indeed； with
superstitious reverence； obeyed readily enough； and as there was
plenty of wood lying within a few yards； soon constructed a /boma/
fence that； rough as it was； would serve for protection。
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan presently as they laboured at the fence； 〃that was
not a leopard； it was a man。〃
〃No； no； Major； not man； little dwarf devil； him that have poisoned
arrow。 I shoot at once to make him sit up。 Think he no come back
to…night； too much afraid of shot fetish。 But to…morrow； can't say。
Not tell those fellows anything；〃 and he nodded towards the porters；
〃or perhaps they bolt。〃
〃I think you would have done better to leave the dwarf alone；〃 said
Alan； 〃and they might have left us alone。 Now they will have a blood
feud against us。〃
〃Not agree； Major； only chance for us put him in blue funk。 If I not
shoot； presently he shoot；〃 and he made a sound that resembled the
whistling of an arrow； then added； 〃Now you go sleep。 I not tired； I
watch； my eyes see in dark better than yours。 Only two more days of
this damn forest； then open land with tree here and there； where dwarf
no come because he afraid of lion and cannibal man； who like eat him。〃
As there was nothing else to be done Alan took Jeekie's advice and in
time fell fast asleep； nor did he wake again till the faint light
which for the want of a better name they called dawn； was filtering
down to them through the canopy of boughs。
〃Been to look；〃 said Jeekie as he handed him his coffee。 〃Hit that
dwarf man； see his blood； but think others carry him away。 Jeekie very
good shot； stone； spear； arrow； or gun； all same to him。 Now get off
as quick as we can before porters smell a rat。 You eat chop； Major； I
pack。〃
Presently they started on their trudge through those endless trees；
with Fear for a companion。 Even the porters； who had been told
nothing； seemed more afraid than usual； though whether this was
because they 〃smell rat；〃 as Jeekie called it； or owing to the
progressive breakdown of their nervous systems； Alan did not know。
About midday they stopped to eat because the men were too tired to
walk further without rest。 For an hour or more they had been looking
for a comparatively open place； but as it chanced could find none； so
were obliged to halt in dense forest。 Just as they had finished their
meal and were preparing to proceed； that which they had feared；
happened； since from somewhere behind the tree boles came a volley of
reed arrows。 One struck a porter in the neck； one fixed itself in
Alan's helmet without touching him； and no less than three hit Jeekie
on the back and stuck there； providentially enough in the substance of
the cork mattress that he