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shall shoot them while I have any cartridges。 Then I shall go on until
they kill me。〃
〃Oh！ But Major； they not kill younever； they chuck blanket over your
head and take you back to Asika。 It Jeekie they kill； skin him
alive…o； and all the rest of it。〃
〃Hope not； Jeekie； because they think we shall die the same day。 But
if so； I can't help it。 To…morrow morning I shall walk out； and now
that's settled。 I am tired and going to sleep；〃 and he threw himself
down upon the bed and； being worn out with weariness and anxiety； soon
fell fast asleep。
But Jeekie did not sleep； although he too lay down upon his bed。 On
the contrary； he remained wide awake and reflected； more deeply
perhaps than he had ever done before； being sure the superstition as
to the dependence of Alan's life upon his own was now worn very thin；
and that his hour was at hand。 He thought of making Alan's wild
attempt to depart impossible by the simple method of warning the
Asika； but； notwithstanding his native selfishness； was too loyal to
let that idea take root in his mind。 No； there was nothing to be done；
if the Major wished to start； the Major must start； and he； Jeekie；
must pay the price。 Well； he deserved it； who had been fool enough to
listen to the secret promptings of Little Bonsa and conduct him to
Asiki…land。
Thus he passed several hours； for the most part in melancholy
speculations as to the exact fashion of his end； until at length
weariness overcame him also and； shutting his eyes； Jeekie began to
doze。 Suddenly he grew aware of the presence of some other person in
the room； but thinking that it was only the Asika prowling about in
her uncanny fashion； or perhaps her spirit； for how her body entered
the place he could not guess； he did not stir； but lay breathing
heavily and watching out of the corner of his eye。
Presently a figure emerged from the shadows into the faint light
thrown by the single lamp that burned above； and though it was wrapped
in a dark cloak； Jeekie knew at once that it was not the Asika。 Very
stealthily the figure crept towards him； as a leopard might creep； and
bent down to examine him。 The movement caused the cloak to slip a
little； and for an instant Jeekie caught sight of the wasted； half…
crazed face of the Mungana； and of a long； curved knife that glittered
in his hand。 Paralyzed with fear； he lay quite still； knowing that
should he show the slightest sign of consciousness that knife would
pierce his heart。
The Mungana watched him a while； then satisfied that he slept； turned
round and； bending himself almost double； glided with infinite
precautions towards Alan's bed； which stood some twelve or fourteen
feet away。 Silently as a snake that uncoils itself； Jeekie slipped
from between his blankets and crept after him； his naked feet making
no noise upon the mat…strewn floor。 So intent was the Mungana upon the
deed which he had come to do that he never looked back； and thus it
happened that the two of them reached the bed one immediately behind
the other。
Alan was lying on his back with his throat exposed； a very easy
victim。 For a moment the Mungana stared。 Then he erected himself like
a snake about to strike； and lifted the great curved knife； taking aim
at Alan's naked breast。 Jeekie erected himself also； and even as the
knife began to fall； with one hand he caught the arm that drove it and
with the other the murderer's throat。 The Mungana fought like a wild…
cat； but Jeekie was too strong for him。 His fingers held the man's
windpipe like a vise。 He choked and weakened； the knife fell from his
hand。 He sank to the ground and lay there helpless； whereon Jeekie
knelt upon his chest and； possessing himself of the knife； held it
within an inch of his heart。
It was at this juncture that Alan woke up and asked sleepily what was
the matter。
〃Nothing； Major；〃 answered Jeekie in low and cheerful tones。 〃Snake
just going to bite you and I catch him； that all；〃 and he gave an
extra squeeze to the Mungana's throat； who turned black in the face
and rolled his eyes。
〃Be careful； Jeekie； or you will kill the man；〃 exclaimed Alan；
recognizing the Mungana and taking in the situation。
〃Why not； Major？ He want kill you； and me too afterwards。 Good
riddance of bad rubbish； as Book say。〃
〃I am not so sure； Jeekie。 Give him air and let me think。 Tell him
that if he makes any noise； he dies。〃
Jeekie obeyed； and the Mungana's darkening eyes grew bright again as
he drew his breath in great sobs。
〃Now； friend；〃 said Alan in Asiki； 〃why did you wish to stab me？〃
〃Because I hate you；〃 answered the man； 〃who to…morrow will take my
place and the wife I love。〃
〃As a year or two ago you took someone else's place； eh？ Well； suppose
now that I don't want either your place or your wife。〃
〃What would that matter even it if were true； white man； since she
wants you？〃
〃I am thinking； friend； that there is someone else she will want when
she hears of this。 How do you suppose that you will die to…morrow？ Not
so easily as you hope； perhaps。〃
The Mungana's eyes seemed to sink into his head； and his face to
sicken with terror。 That shaft had gone home。
〃Suppose I make a bargain with you；〃 went on Alan slowly。 〃Supposing I
say： 'Mungana； show me the way out of this place； as you can； now at
once。 Or if you prefer it； refuse and be given up to the Asika？' Come；
you are not too mad to understand。 Answerand quickly。〃
〃Would you kill me afterwards？〃 he asked。
〃Not I。 Why should I wish to kill you？ You can come with us and go
where you will。 Or you can stay here and die as the Asika directs。〃
〃I cannot believe you； white man。 It is not possible that you should
wish to run away from so much love and glory； or to spare one who
would have slain you。 Also it would be difficult to get you out of
Bonsa…town。〃
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃this fellow is mad after all； I think you had
better go to the door and shout for the priests。〃
〃No； no； lord；〃 begged the wretched creature； 〃I will trust you； I
will try； though it is you who must be mad。〃
〃Very good。 Stand over him； Jeekie； while I put on my things and； yes；
give me that mask。 If he stirs； kill him at once。〃
So Alan made himself ready。 Then he mounted guard over the Mungana； as
did Jeekie； although he shook his head over their prospect of escape。
〃No go；〃 he muttered； 〃no go！ If we get past priests； Asika catch us
with her magic。 When I bolt with your reverend uncle last time； Little
Bonsa arrange business because she go abroad fetch you。 Now likely as
not she bowl you out； and then good…bye Jeekie。〃
Alan sternly bade him be quiet and stop behind if he did not wish to
come。
〃No； no； Major；〃 he answered； 〃I come all right。 Asika very prejudiced
beggar； and if she find me here aloneoh my！ Better die double after
all； Two's company； Major。 Now； all ready； /March！/〃 and he gave the
unfortunate Mungana a fearful kick as a hint to proceed。
So utterly crushed was the poor wretch that even this insult did not
stir him to resentment。
〃Follow me； white man；〃 he said； 〃and if you desire to live； be
silent。 Throw your cloaks about your heads。〃
They did so； and hold