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CHAPTER IX
THE DAWN
Jeekie looked up and down the river and saw that in the centre of it
about half a mile away； there was an island on which grew some trees。
〃Little Bonsa will camp yonder；〃 he said。 〃Go； make her house ready；
light fire and bring canoe to paddle us across。 Now leave us； all of
you； for if you look too long upon the face of the Yellow God she will
ask a sacrifice； and it is not lawful that you should see where she
hides herself away。〃
At this saying the cannibals departed as one man； and at top speed；
some of the canoes and others to warn their fellows who were engaged
in the congenial work of hunting and killing the dwarfs； not to dare
to approach the white man and his companion。 A third party ran to the
bank of the river that was opposite to the island to make ready as
they had been bidden； so that presently Alan and Jeekie were left
quite alone。
〃Ah！〃 said Jeekie； with a gasp of satisfaction； 〃/that/ all right；
everything arranged quite comfortable。 Thought Little Bonsa come out
top somehow and score off dirty dwarf monkeys。 /They/ never get home
to tea anywaystay and dine with Ogula。〃
〃Stop chattering； Jeekie； and untie this infernal mask； I am almost
choked；〃 broke in Alan in a hollow voice。
〃Not say 'infernal mask；' Major； say 'face of angel。' Little Bonsa
woman and like it better； also true； if on this occasion only； for she
save our skins；〃 said Jeekie as he unknotted the thongs and reverently
replaced the fetish in its tin box。 〃My！〃 he added； contemplating his
master's perspiring countenance； 〃you blush like garden carrot； well；
gold hot wear in afternoon sun beneath Tropic of Cancer。 Now we walk
on quietly and I tell you all I arrange for night's lodging and future
progress of joint expedition。〃
So gathering together what remained of their few possessions； they
started leisurely down the slope towards the island； and as they went
Jeekie explained all that had happened； since Ogula was not one of the
African languages with which Alan was acquainted and he had only been
able to understand a word here and there。
〃Look；〃 said Jeekie when he had finished； and turning； he pointed to
the cannibals who were driving the few survivors of the dwarfs before
them to the spot where their canoes were beached。 〃Those dwarfs done
for； capital business； forest road quite safe to travel home by； Ogula
best friends in world； very remarkable escape from delicate
situation。〃
〃Very remarkable indeed；〃 said Alan； 〃I shall soon begin to believe in
the luck of Little Bonsa。〃
〃Yes； Major； you see she anxious to get home and make path clear。
But；〃 he added gloomily； 〃how she behave when she reach there； can't
say。〃
〃Nor can I； Jeekie； but meanwhile I hope she will provide us with some
dinner； for I am faint for want of food and all the tinned meat is
lost。〃
〃Food；〃 repeated Jeekie。 〃Yes； necessity for human stomach； which
unhappily built that way； so Ogula find out； and so dwarfs find out
presently。〃 Then he looked about him and in a kind of aimless manner
lifted his gun and fired。 〃There we are；〃 he said； 〃Little Bonsa
understand bodily needs；〃 and he pointed to a fat buck of the sort
that in South Africa is called Duiker； which his keen eyes had
discovered in its form against a stone where it now lay shot through
the head and dying。 〃No further trouble on score of grub for next
three day；〃 he added。 〃Come on to camp； Major。 I send one savage skin
and bring that buck。〃
So on they went to the river bank； Alan so tired now that the
excitement was over； that he was not sorry to lean upon Jeekie's arm。
Reaching the stream they drank deep of its water； and finding that it
was shallow at this spot； waded through it to the island without
waiting for a canoe to ferry them over。 Here they found a party of the
cannibals already at work clearing reeds with their large； curved
knives； in order to make a site for the hut。 Another party under the
command of their chief himself had gone to the top end of the island；
to cut the stems of a willow…like shrub to serve as uprights。 These
people stared at Alan； which was not strange； as they had never before
seen the face of a white man and were wondering； doubtless； what had
become of the ancient and terrible fetish that he had worn。 Without
entering into explanations Jeekie in a great voice ordered two of them
to fetch the buck； which the white man； whom he described as 〃husband
of the goddess；〃 had 〃slain by thunder。〃 When these had departed upon
their errand； leaving Jeekie to superintend the building operations；
Alan sat down upon a fallen tree； watching one of the savages making
fire with a pointed stick and some tinder。
Just then from the head of the island where the willows were being
cut； rose the sound of loud roarings and of men crying out in
affright。 Seizing his gun Alan ran towards the spot whence the noise
came。 Forcing his way through a brake of reeds； he saw a curious
sight。 The Ogula in cutting the willows which grew about some tumbled
rocks； had disturbed a lioness that had her lair there； and being
fearless savages； had tried to kill her with their spears。 The brute；
rendered desperate by wounds； and the impossibility of escape； for
here the surrounding water was deep； had charged them boldly； and as
it chanced； felled to the ground their chief； that yellow…toothed man
to whom Jeekie gave his orders。 Now she was standing over him looking
round her royally； her great paw upon his breast； which it seemed
almost to cover； while the Ogula ran round and round shouting； for
they feared that if they tried to attack her； she would kill the
chief。 This indeed she seemed about to do； for just as Alan arrived
she dropped her head as though to tear out the man's throat。 Instantly
he fired。 It was a snap shot； but as it chanced a good one； for the
bullet struck the lioness in the back of the neck just forward of and
between the shoulders； severing the spine so that without a sound or
any further movement she sank stone dead upon the prostrate cannibal。
For a while his followers stood astonished。 They might have heard of
guns from the coast people； but living as they did in the interior
where white folk did not dare to travel； they had never seen their
terrible effects。
〃Magic！〃 they cried。 〃Magic！〃
〃Of course；〃 exclaimed Jeekie； who by now had arrived upon the scene。
〃What else did you expect from the husband of Little Bonsa？ Magic； the
greatest of magic。 Go； roll that beast away before your chief is
crushed to death。〃
They obeyed； and the man sat up； a fearful spectacle； for he was
smothered with the blood of the lion and somewhat cut by her claws；
though otherwise unhurt。 Then feeling that the life was still whole in
him； he crept on his hands and knees to where Alan stood； and kissed
his feet。
〃Aha！〃 said Jeekie； 〃Little Bonsa score again。 Cannibal tribe our
slave henceforth for evermore。 Yes； till kingdom come。 Come on； Major；
and cook supper in perfect peace。〃
The supper was cooked and eaten with gratitude； for seldom had two men
needed a square meal more； and never did venison taste better。 By the
time that it was finished dark