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appeared that all this jungle was supposed to be haunted； and no Asiki
would enter it at night； or unless he were very bold and protected by
many charms； by day either。 Therefore it was an excellent place for
fugitives who sorely needed a good start。
At length the day began to dawn just as they reached the main road
where it crossed the hills； whence on his journey thither Alan had his
first view of Bonsa Town。 Peering from the edge of the bush； they
perceived a fire burning near the road and round it five or six men；
who seemed to be asleep。 Their first thought was to avoid them； but
the Mungana； creeping up to Alan； for Jeekie he would not approach；
whispered：
〃Not Asiki； Ogula chief and slaves who left Bonsa Town yesterday。〃
They crept nearer the fire and saw that this was so。 Then rejoicing
exceedingly； they awoke the old chief； Fahni； who at first thought
they must be spirits。 But when he recognized Alan； he flung himself on
his knees and kissed his hand； because to him he owed his liberty。
〃No time for all that； Fahni；〃 said Alan。 〃Give us food。〃
Now of this as it chanced there was plenty； since by the Asika's
orders the slaves had been laden with as much as they could carry。
They ate of it ravenously； and while they ate； told Fahni something of
the story of their escape。 The old chief listened amazed； but like
Jeekie asked Alan why he had not killed the Mungana； who would have
killed him。
Alan； who was in no mood for long explanations； answered that he had
kept him with them because he might be useful。
〃Yes； yes； friend； I see；〃 exclaimed the old cannibal； 〃although he is
so thin he will always make a meal or two at a pinch。 Truly white men
are wise and provident。 Like the ants； you take thought for the
morrow。〃
As soon as they had swallowed their food they started all together；
for although Alan pointed out to Fahni that he might be safer apart；
the old chief who had a real affection for him； would not be persuaded
to leave him。
〃Let us live or die together；〃 he said。
Now Jeekie； abandoning the main road； led them up a stream； walking in
the water so that their footsteps might leave no trace； and thus away
into the barren mountains which rose between them and the great swamp。
On the crest of these mountains Alan turned and looked back towards
Bonsa Town。 There far across the fertile valley was the hateful；
river…encircled place。 There fell the great cataract in the roar of
which he had lived for so many weeks。 There were the black cedars and
there gleamed the roofs of the Gold House； his prison where dwelt the
Asika and the dreadful fetishes of which she was the priestess。 To him
it was like the vision of a nightmare； he could scarcely think it
real。 And yet by this time doubtless they sought him far and wide。
What mood； he wondered； would the Asika be in when she learned of his
escape and the fashion of it； and how would she greet him if he were
recaptured and taken back to her？ Well； he would not be recaptured。 He
had still some cartridges and he would fight till they killed him； or
failing that； save the last of them for himself。 Never； never could he
endure to be dragged back to Bonsa Town there to live and die。
They went on across the mountains； till in the afternoon once more
they saw the road running beneath them like a ribbon； and at the end
of it the lagoon。 Now they rested a while and held a consultation
while they ate。 Across that lagoon they could not escape without a
canoe。
〃Lord；〃 said the Mungana presently； 〃yesterday when these cannibals
were let go a swift runner was sent forward commanding that a good
boat should be provisioned and made ready for them； and by now
doubtless this has been done。 Let them descend to the road； walk on to
the bay and ask for the boat。 Look； yonder； far away a tongue of land
covered with trees juts out into the lake。 We will make our way
thither and after nightfall this chief can row back to it and take us
into the canoe。〃
Alan said that the plan was good； but Jeekie shook his head； asking
what would happen if Fahni； finding himself safe upon the water；
thought it wisest not to come to fetch them。
Alan translated his words to the old chief； whereon Fahni wanted to
fight Jeekie because of the slur that he had cast upon his honour。
This challenge Jeekie resolutely declined； saying that already there
were plenty of ways to die in Asiki…land without adding another to
them。 Then Fahni swore by his tribal god and by the spirit of every
man he had ever eaten； that he would come to that promontory after
dark； if he were still alive。
So they separated； Fahni and his men slipping down to the road； which
they did without being seen by anyone； while Alan； Jeekie and the
Mungana bore away to the right towards the promontory。 The road was
long and rough and； though by good fortune they met no one； since the
few who dwelt in these wild parts had gone up to Bonsa Town to be
present at the great feast； the sun was sinking before ever they
reached the place。 Moreover； this promontory proved to be covered with
dense thorn scrub； through which they must force a way in the
gathering darkness； not without hurt and difficulty。 Still they
accomplished it and at length； quite exhausted； crept to the very
point； where they hid themselves between some stones at the water's
edge。
Here they waited for three long hours； but no boat came。
〃All up a gum…tree now； Major；〃 said Jeekie。 〃Old blackguard； Fanny；
bolt and leave us here； and to…morrow morning Asika nobble us。 Better
have gone down to bay； steal his boat and leave him behind； because
Asika no want /him/。〃
Alan made no answer。 He was too tired； and although he trusted Fahni；
it seemed likely enough that Jeekie was right； or perhaps the
cannibals had not been able to get the boat。 Well； he had done his
best； and if Fate overtook them it was no fault of his。 He began to
doze； for even their imminent peril could not keep his eyes open； then
presently awoke with a start； for in his sleep he thought he heard the
sounds of paddles beating the quiet water。 Yes； there dimly seen
through the mist； was a canoe； and seated in the stern of it Fahni。 So
that danger had gone by also。
He woke his companions； who slept at his side； and very silently they
rose； stepping from rock to rock till they reached the canoe and
entered it。 It was not a large craft； barely big enough to hold them
all indeed； but they found room； and then at a sign from Fahni the
oarsmen gave way so heartily that within half an hour they had lost
sight of the accursed shores of Asiki…land； although presently its
mountains showed up clearly beneath the moon。
Meanwhile Fahni had told his tale。 It appeared that when he reached
the bay he found the Asiki headman who dwelt there； and those under
him； in a state of considerable excitement。
Rumours had reached them that someone had escaped from Bonsa Town；
they thought it was the Mungana。 Fahni asked who had brought the
rumour； whereon the headman answered that it came 〃in a dream；〃 and
would say no more。 Then he demanded the canoe which had been promised
to him and his people； and the headman admitt