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Jeekie also hesitated； then turned and pointed behind them。
Alan looked back and flitting in and out between the cedar trees； saw
the white robes of the priests of Bonsa。 Then despair seized them all；
and they rushed at the bridge。 Jeekie reached it first and dodging
beneath the spears of the two guards； plunged his knife into the
breast of one of them； and butted the other with his great head； so
that he fell over the side of the bridge on to the rocks below。
〃Cut； Major； cut！〃 he said to Alan； who pushed past him。 〃All right
now。〃
They were on the narrow swaying bridgeit was but a single plank
Alan first； then the Mungana； then Jeekie。 When they were half way
across Alan looked before him and saw a sight he could never forget。
The third guard at the further side was sawing through one of the
fibre ropes with his spear。 There they were on the middle of the
bridge with the torrent raving fifty feet beneath them； and the man
had nearly severed the rope！ To get over before it parted was
impossible； behind were the priests； beneath the roaring river。 All
three of them stopped as though paralyzed； for all three had seen。
Something struck against Alan's leg； it was his pistol that still
remained fastened to his wrist by its leather thong。 He cocked and
lifted it； took aim and fired。 The shot missed； which was not
wonderful considering the light and the platform on which the shooter
stood。 It missed； but the man； astonished； for he had never seen or
heard such a thing before； stopped his sawing for a moment； and stared
at them。 Then as he began again Alan fired once more； and this time by
good fortune the bullet struck the man somewhere in the body。 He fell；
and as he fell grasped the nearly separated rope and hung to it。
〃Get hold of the other rope and come on；〃 yelled Alan； and once more
they bounded forward。
〃My God！ it's going；〃 he yelled again。 〃Hold fast； Jeekie； hold fast！〃
Next instant the rope parted and the man vanished。 The bridge tipped
over； and supported by the remaining rope； hung edgeways up。 To this
rope the three of them clung desperately； resting their feet upon the
edge of the swaying plank。 For a few seconds they remained thus；
afraid to stir； then Jeekie called out：
〃Climb on； Major； climb on like one monkey。 Look bad； but quite safe
really。〃
As there was nothing else to be done Alan began to climb； shifting his
feet along the plank edge and his hands along the rope； which creaked
and stretched beneath their threefold weight。
It was a horrible journey； and in his imagination took at least an
hour。 Yet they accomplished it； for at last they found themselves
huddled together but safe upon the further bank。 The sweat pouring
down from his head almost blinded Alan； a deadly nausea worked within
him； sickly tremors shot up and down his spine； his brain swam。 Yet he
could hear Jeekie； in whom excitement always took the form of speech；
saying loudly：
〃Think that man no liar what say our great papas was monkeys。 Never
look down on monkey no more。 Wake up； Major； those priests monkey…men
too； for we all brothers； you know。 Wait a bit； I stop their little
game；〃 and springing up with three or four cuts of the big curved
knife； he severed the remaining rope just as their pursuers reached
the further side of the chasm。
They shouted with rage as the long bridge swung back against the rock；
the cut end of it falling into the torrent； and waved their spears
threateningly。 To this demonstration Jeekie replied with gestures of
contempt such as are known to street Arabs。 Then he looked at the
Mungana； who lay upon the ground a melancholy and dilapidated
spectacle； for the perspiration had washed lines of paint off his face
and patches of dye from his hair； also his gorgeous robes were water…
stained and his gem necklaces broken。 Having studied him a while
Jeekie kicked him meditatively till he got up； then asked him to set
out the exact situation。 The Mungana answered that they were safe for
a while； since that torrent could only be crossed by the broken bridge
and was too rapid to swim。 The Asiki； he added； must go a long journey
round through the city in order to come at them； though doubtless they
would hunt them down in time。
Here Jeekie cut him short； since he knew all that country well and
only wished to learn whether any more bridges had been built across
the torrent since he was a boy。
〃Now； Major；〃 he said； 〃you get up and follow me； for I know every
inch of ground； also by and by good short cut over mountains。 You see
Jeekie very clever boy； and when he herd sheep and goat he made note
of everything and never forget nothing。 He pull you out of this hole；
never fear。〃
〃Glad to hear it； I am sure；〃 answered Alan as he rose。 〃But what's to
become of the Mungana？〃
〃Don't know and don't care；〃 said Jeekie； 〃no more good to us。 Can go
and see how Big Bonsa feel； if he like；〃 and stretching out his big
hand as though in a moment of abstraction； he removed the costly
necklaces from their guide's neck and thrust them into the pouch he
wore。 Also he picked up the gilded linen mask which Alan had removed
from his head and placed it in the same receptacle； remarking； that he
〃always taught that it wicked to waste anything when so many poor in
the world。〃
Then they started； the Mungana following them。 Jeekie paused and waved
him off； but the poor wretch still came on； whereon Jeekie produced
the big； crooked knife； Mungana's own knife。
〃What are you going to do；〃 said Alan； awaking to the situation。
〃Cut off head of that cocktail man； Major； and so save him lot of
trouble。 Also we got no grub； and if we find any he want eat a lot。
Chop what do for two p'raps； make very short commons for three。 Also
he might play dirty trick； so much best dead。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Alan sternly； 〃let the poor devil come along if he
likes。 One good turn deserves another。〃
〃Just so； Major； that hello…swello want cut our throats； so I want cut
hisone good turn deserve another； as wise king say in Book； when he
give half baby to woman what wouldn't have it。 Well； so be； Major；
specially as it no matter； for he not stop with us long。〃
〃You mean that he will run away； Jeekie？〃
〃Oh！ no； he not run away； he in too blue funk for that。 But something
run away with him； because he ought die to…morrow night。 Oh！ yes； you
see； you see； and Jeekie hope that something not run away with you
too； Major； because you ought be married at same time。〃
〃Hope not； I am sure；〃 answered Alan； and bethinking him of Big Bonsa
wallowing and screaming on the water and bleeding out white blood； he
shivered a little。
By this time； advancing at a trot； the Mungana running after them like
a dog； they had entered the bush pierced with a few wandering paths。
Along these paths they sped for hour after hour； Jeekie leading them
without a moment's hesitation。 They met no man and heard nothing；
except occasional weird sounds which Alan put down to wild beasts； but
Jeekie and the Mungana said were produced by ghosts。 Indeed it
appeared that all this jungle was supposed to be haunted； and no Asiki
would enter it at night； or unless he we