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would say no more。 Then he demanded the canoe which had been promised
to him and his people； and the headman admitted that it was ready in
accordance with orders received from the Asika； but demurred to
letting him have it。 A long argument followed； in the midst of which
Fahni and his men got into the canoe； the headman apparently not
daring to use force to prevent him。 Just as they were pushing off a
messenger arrived from Bonsa Town； reeling with exhaustion and his
tongue hanging from his jaws； who called out that it was the white man
who had escaped with his servant and the Mungana； and that although
they were believed to be still hidden in the holy woods near Bonsa
Town； none were to be allowed to leave the bay。 So the headman shouted
to Fahni to return； but he pretended not to hear and rowed away； nor
did anyone attempt to follow him。 Still it was only after nightfall
that he dared to put the boat about and return to the headland to pick
up Alan and the others as he had promised。 That was all he had to say。
Alan thanked him heartily for his faithfulness and they paddled on
steadily； putting mile after mile of water between them and Asiki…
land。 He wondered whether he had seen the last of that country and its
inhabitants。 Something within him answered No。 He was sure that the
Asika would not allow him to depart in peace without making some
desperate effort to recapture him。 Far as he was away； it seemed to
him that he could feel her fury hanging over him like a cloud； a cloud
that would burst in a rain of blood。 Doubtless it would have burst
already had it not been for the accident that he and his companions
were still supposed to be hiding in the woods。 But that error must be
discovered； and then would come the pursuit。
He looked at the full moon shining upon him and reflected that at this
very hour he should have been seated upon the chair of state； wedding；
or rather being wedded by the Asika in the presence of Big and Little
Bonsa and all the people。 His eye fell upon the Mungana； who had also
been destined to play a prominent part in that ceremony。 At once he
saw that there was something wrong with the man。 A curious change had
come over his emaciated face。 It was working like that of a maniac。
Foam appeared upon his dyed lips； his haunted eyes rolled； his thin
hands gripped the side of the canoe and he began to sing； or rather
howl like a dog baying at the stars。 Jeekie hit him on the head and
bade him be silent； but he took no notice； even when he hit him again
more heavily。 Presently came the climax。 The man sprang up in the
canoe； causing it to rock from side to side。 He pointed to the full
moon above and howled more loudly than before； he pointed to something
that he seemed to see in the air near by and gibbered as though in
terror。 Then his eyes fixed themselves upon the water at which he
stared。
Harder and harder he stared； his head sinking lower every moment； till
at length without another sound； very quietly and unexpectedly he went
over the side of the boat。 For a few seconds they saw his bright…
coloured garments sinking to the depths； then he vanished。
They waited a while； expecting that he would rise again。 But he never
rose。 A shot…weighted corpse could not have disappeared more finally
and completely。 The thing was very awful； and for a while there was
silence； which as usual was broken by Jeekie。
〃That gay dog gone；〃 he said in a reflective voice。 〃All those old
ghosts come to fetch him at proper time。 No good run away from ghosts；
they travel too quick； one jump； and pop up where you no expect。 Well；
more place for Jeekie now；〃 and he spread himself out comfortably in
the empty seat； adding； 〃like hello…swello's room much better than
company； he go in scent…bath every day and stink too much； all that
water never wash /him/ clean。〃
Thus died the Mungana； and such was the poor wretch's requiem。 With a
shiver Alan reflected that had it not been for him and his insane
jealousy； he too might have been expected to go into that same scent…
bath and have his face painted like a chorus girl。 Only would he
escape the spell that had destroyed his predecessor in the affections
of the priestess of the Bonsas？ Or would some dim power such as had
drawn Mungana to the death drag him back to the arms of the Asika or
to the torture pit of 〃Great Swimming Head。〃 He remembered his dream
in the Treasure Hall and shuddered at the very thought of it； for all
he had undergone and seen made him superstitious； then bade the men
paddle faster； ever faster。
All that night they rowed on； taking turns to rest； except Alan and
Jeekie； who slept a good deal and as a consequence awoke at dawn much
refreshed。 When the sun rose they found themselves across the lagoon；
over thirty miles from the borders of Asiki…land； almost at the spot
where the river up which they had travelled some months before； flowed
out of the lake。 Whether by chance or skill Fahni had steered a
wonderfully straight course。 Now； however； they were face to face with
a new trouble； for scarcely had they begun to descend the river when
they discovered that at this dry season of the year it was in many
places too shallow to allow the canoe to pass over the sand and mud
banks。 Evidently there was but one thing to be doneabandon it and
walk。
So they landed； ate from their store of food and began a terrible and
toilsome journey。 On either side of the river lay dessicated swamp
covered with dead reeds ten or twelve feet high。 Doubtless beyond the
swamp there was high land； but in order to reach this； if it existed；
they would be obliged to force a path through miles of reeds。
Therefore they thought it safer to follow the river bank。 Their
progress was very slow； since continually they must make detours to
avoid a quicksand or a creek； also the stones and scrubby growth
delayed them so that fifteen or at most twenty miles was a good day's
march。
Still they went on steadily； seeing no man； and when their food was
exhausted； living on the fish which they caught in plenty in the
shallows； and on young flapper ducks that haunted the reeds。 So at
length they came to the main river into which this tributary flowed；
and camped there thankfully； believing that if any pursuit of them had
been undertaken； it was abandoned。 At least Alan and the rest believed
this； but Jeekie did not。
On the following morning； shortly after dawn； Jeekie awoke his master。
〃Come here； Major；〃 he said in a solemn voice； 〃I got something pretty
show you；〃 and he led him to the foot of an old willow tree； adding；
〃now up you go； Major； and look。〃
So Alan went up and from the topmost fork of that tree saw a sight at
which his blood turned cold。 For there； not five miles behind them； on
either side of the river bank； the light gleaming on their spears；
marched two endless columns of men； who from their head…dresses he
took to be Asiki。 For a minute he looked； then descended the tree and
approaching the others； asked what was to be done。
〃Hook； scoot； bolt； leg it！〃 exclaimed Jeekie emphatically； then he
licked his finger； held it up to the wind and added； 〃but first fire
reeds