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on the back and stuck there； providentially enough in the substance of
the cork mattress that he still carried on his shoulders； which the
feeble shafts had not the strength to pierce。
Everybody sprang up and with a curious fascination instead of
attempting to do anything； watched the porter who had been hit in the
neck somewhere in the region of the jugular vein。 The poor man rose to
his feet with great deliberation； reminding Alan in some grotesque way
of a speaker who has suddenly been called on to address a meeting and
seeks to gain time for the gathering of his thoughts。 Then he turned
towards that vast audience of the trees； stretched out his hand with a
declamatory gesture； said something in a composed voice； and fell upon
his face stone dead！ The swift poison had reached his heart and done
its work。
His three companions looked at him for a moment and the next with a
yell of terror； rushed off into the forest； hurling down their loads
as they ran。 What became of them Alan never learned； for he saw them
no more； and the dwarf people keep their secrets。 At the time indeed
he scarcely noticed their departure； for he was otherwise engaged。
One of their hideous little assailants； made bold by success； ventured
to run across an open space between two trees； showing himself for a
moment。 Alan had a gun in his hand； and mad with rage at what had
happened； he raised it and swung on him as he would upon a rabbit。 He
was a quick and practised shot and his skill did not fail him now； for
just as the dwarf was vanishing behind a tree； the bullet caught him
and next instant he was seen rolling over and over upon its further
side。
〃That very nice；〃 said Jeekie reflectively； 〃very nice indeed； but I
think we best move out of this。〃
〃Aren't you hurt？〃 gasped Alan。 〃Your back is full of arrows。〃
〃Don't feel nothing； Major；〃 he answered； 〃best cork mattress； 25/3 at
Stores； very good for poisoned arrow； but leave him behind now；
because perhaps points work through as I run； one scratch do trick；〃
and as he spoke Jeekie untied a string or several strings； letting the
little mattress fall to the ground。
〃Great pity leave all those goods；〃 said Jeekie； surveying the loads
that the porters had cast away； 〃but what says Book？ Life more than
raiment。 Also take no thought for morrow。 Dwarf people do that for us。
Come； Major； make tracks；〃 and dashing at a bag of cartridges which he
cast about his neck； a trifling addition to his other impedimenta； and
a small case of potted meats that he hitched under his arm； he poked
his master in the back with the muzzle of his full…cocked gun as a
signal that it was time to start。
〃Keep that cursed thing off me；〃 said Alan furiously。 〃How often have
I told you never to carry firearms at full cock？〃
〃About one thousand times； Major；〃 answered Jeekie imperturbably； 〃but
on such occasion forget discreetness。 My ma just same； it run in
family； but story too long tell you now。 Cut； Major； cut like hell。
Them dwarfs be back soon； but；〃 he puffed； 〃I think； I think Little
Bonsa come square with them one day。〃
So Alan 〃cut〃 and the huge Jeekie blundered along after him； the
paraphernalia with which he was hung about rattling like the hoofs of
a galloping giraffe。 Nor for all his load did he ever turn a hair。
Whether it were fear within or a desire to save his master； or a
belief in the virtues of Little Bonsa； or that his foot was； as it
were； once more upon his native heath； the fact remained that
notwithstanding the fifty years； almost； that had whitened his wool；
Jeekie was absolutely inexhaustible。 At least at the end of that
fearful chase； which lasted all the day； and through the night also；
for they dared not camp； he appeared to be nearly as fresh as when he
started from Old Calabar； nor did his spirits fail him for one moment。
When the light came on the following morning； however； they perceived
by many signs and tokens that the dwarf people were all about them。
Some arrows were shot even； but these fell short。
〃Pooh！〃 said Jeekie； 〃all right now； they much afraid。 Still； no time
for coffee； we best get on。〃
So they got on as they could； till towards midday the forest began to
thin out。 Now as the light grew stronger they could see the dwarfs； of
whom there appeared to be several hundred； keeping a parallel course
to their own on either side of them at what they thought to be a safe
distance。
〃Try one shot； I think；〃 said Jeekie； kneeling down and letting fly at
a clump of the little men； which scattered like a covey of partridges；
leaving one of its number kicking on the ground。 〃Ah！ my boy；〃 shouted
Jeekie in derision； 〃how you like bullet in tummy？ You not know
Paradox guaranteed flat trajectory 250 yard。 You remember that next
time； sonny。〃 Then off they went again up a long rise。
〃River other side of that rise；〃 said Jeekie。 〃Think those tree…
monkeys no follow us there。〃
But the 〃monkeys〃 appeared to be angry and determined。 They would not
come any more within the range of the Paradox； but they still marched
on either side of the two fugitives； knowing well that at last their
strength must fail and they would be able to creep up and murder them。
So the chase went on till Alan began to wonder whether it would not be
better to face the end at once。
〃No； no； if say die； can't change mind to…morrow morning；〃 gasped
Jeekie in a hoarse voice。 〃Here top rise； much nearer than I thought。
Oh； my aunt！ who those？〃 and he pointed to a large number of big men
armed with spears who were marching up the further side of the hill
from the river that ran below。
At the same moment these savages； who were not more than two hundred
yards away； caught sight of them and of their pursuers； who just then
appeared on the ridge to the right and left。 The dwarfs； on perceiving
these strangers； uttered a shrill yell of terror； and wheeled about to
fly to their fastnesses in the forest； which evidently they regretted
ever having left。 It was too late。 With an answering shout the
spearsmen； who were extended in a long line； apparently hunting for
game； charged after them at full speed。 They were fresh and their legs
were long。 Therefore very soon they overtook the dwarfs and even got
in front of them； heading them off from the forest。 The end may be
guessed；save a few whom they reserved alive； they killed them
mercilessly； and almost without loss to themselves； since the little
forest folk were too terrified and exhausted to shoot at them with
their poisoned arrows； and they had no other weapons。
In fact； as Alan discovered afterwards； for generations there had been
war between them； since all the other tribes hate the dwarfs； whom
they look upon as dangerous human monkeys； and never before had the
big men found such a chance of squaring their account。
When Jeekie saw this fearful…looking company； for the first time his
spirits seemed to fail him。
〃Ogula！〃 he exclaimed with a groan and sat himself upon a flat rock；
pulling Alan down beside him。 〃Ogula！ Know them by hair and spears；〃
he repeated。 〃Up gum tree now； say good…night。〃
〃Why？ Who are they？〃 gasped Alan。
〃Great cannibal