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than had that Hall of the Dead and of heaped…up golden treasure。
〃Does my house please you？〃 the Asika asked of him。
〃Not altogether；〃 he answered； 〃I think it is dark。〃
〃From the beginning my spirit has ever loved the dark； Vernoon。 I
think that it was shaped in some black midnight。〃
They passed through the chief entrance of the house which had pillars
of woodwork grotesquely carved； down some steps into a walled and
roofed…in yard where the shadows were even more dense than in the
house they had left。 Only at one spot was there light flowing down
through a hole in the roof； as it did apparently in that hall where
Alan had found the Asika sitting in state。 The light fell on to a
pedestal or column made of gold which was placed behind an object like
a large Saxon font； also made of gold。 The shape of this column
reminded Alan of something； namely of a very similar column； although
fashioned of a different material which stood in the granite…built
office of Messrs。 Aylward & Haswell in the City of London。 Nor did
this seem wonderful to him； since on top of it； squatting on its dwarf
legs； stood a horrid but familiar thing； namely Little Bonsa herself
come home at last。 There she sat smiling cruelly； as she had smiled
from the beginning； forgetful doubtless of her wanderings in strange
lands； while round her stood a band of priests armed with spears。
Followed by the Asika and Jeekie； Alan walked up and looked her in the
face and to his excited imagination she appeared to grin at him in
answer。 Then while the priests prostrated themselves； he examined the
golden basin or laver； and saw that at the further side of it was a
little platform approached by steps。 On the top of these golden steps
were two depressions such as might have been worn out in the course of
ages by persons kneeling there。 Also the flat edge of the basin which
stood about thirty inches above the level of the topmost step； was
scored as though by hundreds of sword cuts which had made deep lines
in the pure metal。 The basin itself was empty。
Seeing that these things interested him； the Asika volunteered the
information through Jeekie； that this was a divining…bowl； and that if
those who went before her had wished to learn the future； they caused
Little Bonsa to float in it and found out all they wanted to know by
her movements。 She； however； she added； had other and better methods
of learning things that were predestined。
〃Where does the water come from？〃 asked Alan thoughtlessly searching
the bowl for some tap or inlet。
〃Out of the hearts of men；〃 she answered with a low and dreadful
laugh。 〃These marks are those of swords and every one of them means a
life。〃 Then seeing that he looked incredulous she added； 〃Stay； I will
show you。 Little Bonsa must be thirsty who has fasted so long； also
there are matters that I desire to know。 Come hitheryou； and you；〃
and she pointed at hazard to the two priests who knelt nearest to her；
〃and do you bid the executioner bring his axe；〃 she went on to a
third。
The dark faces of the men turned ashen； but they made no effort to
escape their doom。 One of them crept up the steps and laid his neck
upon the edge of gold； while the other； uttering no word； threw
himself on his face at the foot of them； waiting his turn。 Then a door
opened and there appeared a great and brutal…looking fellow； naked
except for a loin cloth； who bore in his hand a huge weapon； half
knife and half axe。
First he looked at the Asika； who nodded almost imperceptibly； then
sprang on to a prolongation of the golden steps； bowed to Little Bonsa
on her column behind and heaved up his knife。
Now for the first time Alan really understood what was about to
happen； and that what he had imagined a stage rehearsal； was to become
a hideous murder。
〃Stop！〃 he shouted in English； being unable to remember the native
word。
The executioner paused with his axe poised in mid…air； the victim
turned his head and looked； as though surprised； the second victim and
the priests their companions looked also。 Jeekie fell on to his knees
and burst into fervent prayer addressed apparently to Little Bonsa。
The Asika smiled and did nothing。
Again the weapon was lifted and as he felt that words were no longer
of any use； even if he could find them； Alan took refuge in action。
Springing on to the other side of the little platform； he hit out with
all his strength across the kneeling man。 Catching the executioner on
the point of the chin； he knocked him straight backwards in such
fashion that his head struck upon the floor before any other portion
of his body； so that he lay there either dead or stunned。 Alan never
learned which； since the matter was not thought of sufficient
importance to be mentioned。
At this sight the Asika burst into a low laugh； then asked Alan why he
had felled the executioner。 He answered because he would not stand by
and see two innocent men butchered。
〃Why not；〃 she said in an astonished voice； 〃if Little Bonsa； whose
priests they are； needs them； and I； who am the Mouth of the gods
declare that they should die？ Still； she has been in your keeping for
a long while and you may know her will； so if you wish it； let them
live。 Or perhaps you require other victims；〃 and she fixed her eyes
upon Jeekie with a glance of suggestive hope。
〃Oh my golly！〃 gasped Jeekie in English； 〃tell her not for Joe； Major；
tell her most improper。 Say Yellow God my dearest friend and go mad as
hatter if my throat cut〃
Alan stopped his protestations with a secret kick。
〃I choose no victims；〃 he broke in； 〃nor will I see man's blood shed
to me it is /orunda/unholy； I may not look on human blood； and if
you cause me to do so； Asika； I shall hate you because you make me
break my oath。〃
The Asika reflected for a moment； while Jeekie behind muttered between
his chattering teeth：
〃Good missionary talk that； Major。 Keep up word in season； Major。 If
she make Christian martyr of Jeekie； who get you out of this
confounded hole？〃
Then the Asika spoke。
〃Be it as you will； for I desire neither that you should hate me； nor
that you should look on that which is unlawful for your eyes to see。
The feasts and ceremonies you must attend； but if I can help it； no
victim shall be slain in your presence； not even that whimpering
hound； your servant；〃 she added with a contemptuous glance at Jeekie；
〃who it seems； fears to give his life for the glory of the god； but
who because he is yours； is safe now and always。〃
〃That /very/ satisfactory；〃 said Jeekie； rising from his knees； his
face wreathed in smiles； for he knew well that a decree of the Asika
could not be broken。 Then he began to explain to the priestess that it
was not fear of losing his own life that had moved him； but the
certainty that this occurrence would disagree morally with Little
Bonsa； whose entire confidence he possessed。
Taking no notice of his words； with a slight reverence to the fetish；
she passed on； beckoning to Alan。 As he went by the two prostrate
priests whose lives he had saved； lifted their heads a little and
looked at him with heartfelt gratitude in their eyes； indeed one of