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knew the road well enough； he even knew the elm tree beneath which he
seemed to stand on the crest of a hill。 It was that which ran from Mr。
Champers…Haswell's splendid house； The Court； to the church； he could
see them both； the house to the right； the church to the left； and his
eyesight seemed to have improved； since he was able to observe that at
either place there was bustle and preparation as though for some big
ceremony。
Now the big gates of The Court opened and through them came a funeral。
It advanced toward him with unnatural swiftness； as though it floated
upon air； the whole melancholy procession of it。 In a few seconds it
had come and gone and yet during those seconds he suffered agony； for
there arose in his mind a horrible terror that this was Barbara's
burying。 He could not have endured it for another moment； he would
have cried out or died； only now the mourners passed him following the
coffin； and in the first carriage he saw Barbara seated； looking sad
and somewhat troubled； but well。 A little further down the line came
another carriage； and in it was Sir Robert Aylward； staring before him
with cold； impassive face。
In his dream Alan thought to himself that he must have borrowed this
carriage； which would not be strange； as he generally used motors； for
there was a peer's coronet upon the panels and the silver…mounted
harness。
The funeral passed and suddenly vanished into the churchyard gates；
leaving Alan wondering why his cousin Haswell was not seated at
Barbara's side。 Then it occurred to him that it might be because he
was in the coffin； and at that moment in his dream he heard the Asika
asking Jeekie what he saw； heard Jeekie answering also； 〃A burying in
the country called England。〃
〃Of whom； Jeekie？〃 Then after some hesitation； the answer：
〃Of a lady whom my lord loves very much。 They bury her。〃
〃What was her name； Jeekie？〃
〃Her name was Barbara。〃
〃Bar…bara； why that you told me was the name of his mother and his
sister。 Which of them is buried？〃
〃Neither； O Asika。 It was another lady who loved him very much and
wanted to marry him； and that was why he ran away to Africa。 But now
she is dead and buried。〃
〃Are all women in England called Barbara； Jeekie？〃
〃Yes； O Asika； Barbara means woman。〃
〃If your lord loved this Barbara； why then did he run away from her？
Well； it matters not since she is dead and buried； for whatever their
spirits may feel； no man cares for a woman that is dead until she
clothes herself in flesh again。 That was a good vision and I will
reward you for it。〃
〃I have earned nothing； O Asika；〃 answered Jeekie modestly； 〃who only
tell you what I see as I must。 Yet； O Asika；〃 he added with a note of
anxiety in his voice； 〃why do you not read these magic writings for
yourself？〃
〃Because I dare not； or rather because I can not；〃 she answered
fiercely。 〃Be silent； slave； for now the power of the good broods upon
my soul。〃
The dream went on。 A great forest appeared； such a forest as they had
passed before they met the cannibals； and set beneath one of the
trees； a tent and in that tent Barbara； Barbara weeping。 Someone began
to lift the flap of the tent。 She sprang up； snatching at a pistol
that lay beside her； turning its muzzle towards her breast。 A man
entered the tent。 Alan saw his face； it was his own。 Barbara let fall
the pistol and fell backwards as though a bullet from it had pierced
her heart。 He leapt towards her； but before he came to where she lay
everything had vanished and he heard Jeekie droning out his lies to
the Asika； telling her that the vision he had seen was one of her and
his master seated with their arms about each other in a chamber of the
Golden House。
A third time the dream descended on Alan like a cloud。 It seemed to
him that he was borne beyond the flaming borders of the world。
Everything around was new and unfamiliar； vast； changing； lovely；
terrible。 He stood alone upon a pearly plain and the sky above him was
lit with red moons； many and many of them that hung there like lamps。
Spirits began to pass him。 He could catch something of their splendour
as they sped by with incredible swiftness； he could hear the music of
their laughter。 One rose up at his side。 It was the Asika； only a
thousand times more splendid； clothed in all the glory of hell。
Majestically she bent towards him； her glowing eyes held his； the
deadly perfume of her breath beat upon his brow and made him drunken。
She spoke to him and her voice sounded like distant bells。
〃Through many a life； through many a life；〃 she said； 〃bought with
much blood； paid for with a million tears； but mine at last； the soul
that I have won to comfort my soul in the eternal day。 Come to the
place I have made ready for you； the hell that shall turn to heaven at
your step； come； you by whom I am redeemed； and drive away those gods
that torture me because I was their servant that I might win you。〃
So she spoke； and though all his soul revolted； yet the fearful
strength that was in her seemed to draw him onward whither she would
go。 Then a light shone and that light was the face of Barbara and with
a suddenness that was almost awful； the wild dream came to an end。
Alan was in his own room again； though how he got there he did not
recollect。
〃Jeekie；〃 he said； 〃what has happened？ I seem to have had a very
curious dream； there in the Treasure…place； and to have heard you
telling the Asika a string of incredible falsehoods。〃
〃Oh！ no； Major； Jeekie can't lie； too good Christian； he tell her what
/he/ see； or what he think she see if she look； 'cause though p'raps
he see nothing； she never believe that。 And；〃 he added with a burst of
confidence； 〃what the dickens it matter what he tell her； so long as
she swallow same and keep quiet？ Nasty things always make women like
Asika quite outrageous。 Give them sweet to suck； say Jeekie； and if
they ill afterwards； that no fault of his。 They had sweet。〃
〃Quite so； Jeekie； quite so； only I should advise you not to play too
many tricks upon the Asika； lest she should happen to find you out。
How did I get back here？〃
〃Like man that walk in his sleep； Major。 She go first； you follow；
just as little lamb after Mary in hymn。〃
〃Jeekie； did you really see anything at all？〃
〃No； Major； nothing partic'lar； except ghost of Mrs。 Jeekie and of
your reverend uncle； both of them very angry。 That magic all stuff；
Major。 Asika put something in your grub make you drunk； so that you
think her very wise。 Don't think of it no more； Major； or you go off
your chump。 If Jeekie see nothing； depend on it there nothing to see。〃
〃Perhaps so； Jeekie； but I wish I could be sure you had seen nothing。
Listen to me； we must get out of this place somehow； or as you say； I
shall go off my chump。 It's haunted； Jeekie； its haunted； and I think
that Asika is a devil； not a woman。〃
〃That what priests say； Major； very old devilpart of Bonsa；〃 he
answered； looking at his master anxiously。 〃Well； don't you fret；
Jeekie not afraid of devils； Jeekie get you out in good time。 Go to
bed and leave it all to Jeekie。〃
Fifteen more days had gone by； and it wa