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the rest they could find no exit to that garden which on one side was
enclosed by a sheer cliff of living rock； and on the others with steep
stone walls beyond which ran a torrent； and by the buildings of the
Gold House itself。
For a while they walked up and down the rough paths； till at last
Jeekie； wearying of this occupation； remarked：
〃Melancholy hole this； Major。 Remind me of Westminster Abbey in London
fog； where your uncle of blessed mem'ry often take me pray and look at
fusty tomb of king。 S'pose we go back Gold House and see what happen。
Anything better than stand about under cursed old cedar tree。〃
〃All right；〃 said Alan； who through the eyeholes of his mask had been
studying the walls to seek a spot in them that could be climbed if
necessary； and found none。
So they returned to the room； which had been swept and garnished in
their absence。 No sooner had they entered it than the door opened and
through it came long lines of Asiki priests； each of whom staggered
beneath the weight of a hide bag that he bore upon his shoulder； which
bags they piled up about the stone altar。 Then； as though at some
signal； each priest opened the mouth of his bag and Alan saw that they
wee filled with gold； gold in dust； gold in nuggets； gold in vessels
perfect or broken； more gold than Alan had ever seen before。
〃Why do they bring all this stuff here？〃 he asked； and Jeekie
translated his question。
〃It is an offering to the lord of Little Bonsa；〃 answered the head
priest； bowing； 〃a gift from the Asika。 The heaven…born white man sent
word by his Ogula messengers that he desired gold。 Here is the gold
that he desired。〃
Alan stared at the treasure； which after all was what he had come to
seek。 If only he had it safe in England； he would be a rich man and
his troubles ended。 But how could he get it to England？ Here it was
worthless as mud。
〃I thank the Asika；〃 he said。 〃I ask for porters to bear her gift back
to my own country； since it is too heavy for me and my servant to
carry alone。〃
At these words the priest smiled a little； then said that the Asika
desired to see the white lord and to receive from him Little Bonsa in
return for the gold； and that he could proffer his request to her。
〃Good；〃 replied Alan； 〃lead me to the Asika。〃
Then they started； Alan bearing the box containing Little Bonsa； and
Jeekie following after him。 They went down passages and through sundry
doors till at length they came to a long and narrow hall that seemed
to be lined with plates of gold。 At the end of this hall was a large
chair of black wood and ivory placed upon a dais； and sitting in this
chair with the light pouring on her from some opening above； was the
woman of Alan's dream； beautiful to look on in her crown and
glittering garments。 Upon a stool at the foot of the dais sat a man； a
handsome and melancholy man。 His hair was tied behind his head in a
pigtail and gilded； his face was painted red； white and yellow； he
wore ropes of bright…coloured stones about his neck； middle； arms and
ankles； and held a kind of sceptre in his hand。
〃Who is that creature？〃 asked Alan over his shoulder to Jeekie。 〃The
Court fool？〃
〃That husband of Asika； Major。 He not fool； very big gun； but look a
little low now because his time soon up。 Come on； Major； Asika beckon
us。 Get on stomach and crawl； that custom here；〃 he added； going down
on to his hands and knees； as did all the priests who followed them。
〃I'll see her hanged first；〃 answered Alan in English。
Then accompanied by the creeping Jeekie and the train of prostrate
priests； he marched up the long hall to the edge of the dais and there
stood still and bowed to the woman in the chair。
〃Greeting； white man；〃 she said in a low voice when she had studied
him for a while。 〃Do you understand my tongue？〃
〃A little；〃 he answered in Asiki； 〃moreover； my servant here knows it
well and can translate。〃
〃I am glad；〃 she said。 〃Tell me then； in your country do not people go
on to their knees before their queen； and if not； how do they greet
her？〃
〃No；〃 answered Alan with the help of Jeekie。 〃They greet her by
raising their head…dress or kissing her hand。〃
〃Ah！〃 she said。 〃Well； you have no head…dress； so kiss /my/ hand；〃 and
she stretched it out towards him； at the same time prodding the man
whom Jackie had said was her husband； in the back with her foot；
apparently to make him get out of the way。
Not knowing what to do； Alan stepped on to the dais； the painted man
scowling at him as he passed。 Then he halted and said：
〃How can I kiss your hand through this mask； Asika？〃
〃True；〃 she answered； then considered a little and added； 〃White man；
you have brought back Little Bonsa； have you not； Little Bonsa who ran
away with you a great many years ago？〃
〃I have；〃 he said； ignoring the rest of the question。
〃Your messengers said that you required a present of gold in return
for Little Bonsa。 I have sent you one； is it sufficient？ If not； you
can have more。〃
〃I cannot say； O Asika； I have not examined it。 But I thank you for
the present and desire porters to enable me to carry it away。〃
〃You desire porters；〃 she repeated meditatively。 〃We will talk of that
when you have rested here a moon or two。 Meanwhile； give me Little
Bonsa that she may be restored to her own place。〃
Alan opened the tin box and lifting out the fetish； gave it to the
priestess； who took it and with a serpentine movement of extraordinary
grace glided from her chair on to her knees； holding the mask above
her head in both hands； then thrice covered her face with it。 This
done； she called to the priests； bidding them take Little Bonsa to her
own place and give notice throughout the land that she was back again。
She added that the ancient Feast of Little Bonsa would be held on the
night of the full moon within three days； and that all preparations
must be made for it as she had commanded。
Then the head medicine…man； raising himself upon his knees； crept on
to the dais； took the fetish from her hands； and breaking into a wild
song of triumph； he and his companions crawled down the hall and
vanished through the door； leaving them alone save for the Asika's
husband。
When they had gone the Asika looked at this man in a reflective way；
and Alan looked at him also through the eyeholes of his mask； finding
him well worth studying。 As has been said； notwithstanding his paint
and grotesque decorations； he was very good…looking for a native； with
well…cut features of an Arab type。 Also he was tall and muscular and
not more than thirty years of age。 What struck Alan most； however； was
none of these things； nor his jewelled chains； nor even his gilded
pigtail； but his eyes； which were full of terrors。 Seeing them； Alan
remembered Jeekie's story； which he had told to Mr。 Haswell's guests
at The Court； of how the husband of the Asika was driven mad by
ghosts。
Just then she spoke to the man； addressing him by name and saying：
〃Leave us alone； Mungana； I wish to speak with this white lord。〃
He did not seem to hear her words； but continued to stare at Alan。
〃Hearken！〃 she exclaimed in a voice of ice。 〃Do my bi