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and poke him with its snout in the chest as a turtle might do。 Then it
sank again into the water and slowly floated back to its station；
directed by some agency or power that Alan could not discover。
At the touch of the fetish the man screamed like a horse in pain or
terror； and soldiers leaping on him with a savage shout； dragged him
up another gangway opposite to that by which he had descended；
whereon； to all appearances more dead than alive； he departed into the
shadows。 The horns and drums set up a bray of triumph； the Asika
clapped her hands approvingly； the spectators cheered； and another
victim was bundled down the gangway and submitted to the judgment of
the Bonsas； which came at him like a hungry pike at a frog。 Then
followed more and more； some being chosen and some let go； till at
last； growing weary； the priests directed the soldiers to drive the
prisoners down in batches until the pen in the water was full as
though with huddled sheep。 If the horrible golden masks swam at them
and touched one of their number； they were all dragged away； if these
remained quiescent they were let go。
So the thing went on until at length Alan could bear no more of it。
〃Lady；〃 he said to the Asika when she paused for a moment from her
hand…clapping； 〃I am weary； I would sleep。〃
〃What！〃 she exclaimed； 〃do you wish to sleep on such a glorious night
when so many evil doers are coming to their just doom？ Well； well； go
if you will； for then my promise is off me and I can hasten this
business and deal with the wicked before the people according to our
custom。 Good…night to you； Vernoon； to…morrow we will meet；〃 and she
called to some priests to lead him away； and with him the Ogula
cannibals whom she had given to him as servants。
Alan went thankfully enough。 As he plunged into one of the passages
the sound of frightful yelling reached his ears； followed by loud；
triumphant shouts。
〃Now you gone they kill those who Bonsa smell out；〃 said Jeekie。 〃Why
you no wait and see？ Very interesting sight。〃
〃Hold your tongue；〃 answered Alan savagely。 〃Did you think so years
ago when you were put into that pen to be butchered？〃
〃No； Major；〃 replied the unabashed Jeekie； 〃not think at all then； too
far gone。 But see other people in there and know it not /you/； quite
different matter。〃
They reached their room。 At the door of it Fahni and his followers
were led off to some quarters near by； blessing Alan as they went
because he had saved their lives。
〃Jeekie；〃 he said when they were alone； 〃tell me； what makes that
hellish idol swim about in the water picking out some people and
leaving others alone？〃
〃Major； I not know； no one know except top priest and Asika。 Perhaps
there man underneath； perhaps they pull string； or perhaps fetish
alive and he do what he like。 Please don't call him names； Major； or
he remember and come after us one time； and that bad job；〃 and Jeekie
shivered visibly。
〃Bosh！〃 answered Alan； but all the same he shivered also。 〃Jeekie；〃 he
asked again； 〃what happens to those people whom the Bonsas smell out？〃
〃Case of good…bye； Major。 Sometimes they chop off nut； sometimes they
spiflicate in gold tub； sometimes priest…man make hole in what white
doctor call /diagram/and shake hands with heart。All matter of
taste； Major； just as Asika please。 If she like victim or they old
friends； chop off head； if she not like himdo worse things。〃
More than satisfied with his information Alan went to bed。 For hour
after hour that night he lay tossing and turning； haunted by the
recollections of the dreadful sights that he had seen and of the
horrible Asika； horrible and half…naked； glaring at him amorously
through the crystal eyes of Little Bonsa。 When at last he fell asleep
it was to dream that he was alone in the water with the god which
pursued him as a shark pursues a shipwrecked sailor。 Never did he
experience a nightmare that was half so awful。 Only one thing could be
more awful； the reality itself。
CHAPTER XIV
THE MOTHER OF JEEKIE
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan next morning； 〃I tell you again that I have had
enough of this place； I want to get out。〃
〃Yes； Major； that just what mouse say when he finish cheese in trap；
but missus come along； call him 'Pretty； pretty；' and drown him all
the same；〃 and he nodded in the direction of the Asika's house。
〃Jeekie； it has got to be donedo you hear me？ I had rather die
trying to get away than stop here till the next two months are up。 If
I am here on the night of the next full moon but one； I shall shoot
that Asika and then shoot myself； and you must take your chance。 Do
you understand？〃
〃Understand that foolish game and poor lookout for Jeekie； Major； but
can't think of any plan。〃 Then he rubbed his big nose reflectively and
added； 〃Fahni and his people your slaves now； 'spose we have talk with
him。 I tell priests to bring him along when they come with breakfast。
Leave it to me； Major。〃
Alan did leave it to him； with the result that after long argument the
priests consented or obtained permission to produce Fahni and his
followers； and a little while after the great men arrived looking very
dejected； and saluted Alan humbly。 Bidding the rest of them be seated；
he called Fahni to the end of the room and asked him through Jeekie if
he and his men did not wish to return home。
〃Indeed we do； white lord；〃 answered the old chief； 〃but how can we？
The Asika has a grudge against our tribe and but for you would have
killed every one of us last night。 We are snared and must stop here
till we die。〃
〃Would not your people help you if they knew； Fahni？〃
〃Yes； lord； I think so。 But how can I tell them who doubtless believe
us dead？ Nor can I send a messenger； for this place is guarded and he
would be killed at once。 We came here for your sake because you had
Little Bonsa； a god that is known in the east and the west； in the
north and the south； and because you saved me from the lion； and here；
alas！ we must perish。〃
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃can you not find a messenger？ Have you； who were
born of this people； no friend among them at all？〃
Jeekie shook his white head and rolled his eyes。 Then suddenly an idea
struck him。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I think one； p'raps。 I mean my ma。〃
〃Your ma！〃 said Alan。 〃Oh！ I remember。 Have you heard anything more
about her？〃
〃Yes； Major。 Very old girl now； but strong on leg； so they say。
Believe she glad go anywhere； because she public nuisance； they tired
of her in prison and there no workhouse here； so they want turn her
out starve； which of course break my heart。 Perhaps she take message。
Some use that way。 Only think she afraid go Ogula…land because they
nasty cannibal and eat old woman。〃
When all this was translated to Fahni he assured Jeekie with
earnestness that nothing would induce the Ogula people to eat his
mother； moreover； that for her sake they would never look
carnivorously on another old woman； fat or thin。
〃Well；〃 said Jeekie； 〃I try again to get hold of old lady and we see。
I pray priests； whom you save other day； let her out of chokey as I
sick to fall upon bosom； which quite true； only so much to think of
that no