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with a rush。 But the Ogula； who knew their habits； were waiting for
them； so that presently they withdrew； carrying off their wounded and
leaving about fifty dead upon the ground。 As soon as he was quite sure
that the enemy were all gone； Jeekie； armed with a large battle…axe；
went off to inspect these fallen soldiers。 Alan； who was helping the
Ogula wounded； wondered why he took so much interest in them。 Half an
hour later his curiosity was satisfied； for Jeekie returned with over
twenty heavy gold rings； torques； and bracelets slung over his
shoulder。
〃Where did you get those； Jeekie？〃 he asked。
〃Off poor chaps that peg out just now； Major。 Remember Asiki soldiers
nearly always wear these things and that they no more use to them。 But
if ever he get out of this Jeekie want spend his old age in
respectable peace。 So he fetch them。 Hard work； though； for rings all
in one bit and Asiki very tough to chop。 Don't look cross； Major； you
remember what 'postle say； that he who no provide for his own self
worse than cannibal。〃
Just then Fahni came up and announced that the Asiki general had sent
a messenger into the camp proposing terms of peace。
〃What terms？〃 asked Alan。
〃These； white man： that we should surrender you and your servant and
go our way unharmed。〃
〃Indeed； Fahni； and what did you answer？〃
〃White man； I refused； but I tell you；〃 he added warningly； 〃that my
captains wished to accept。 They said that I had come back to them safe
and that they fear the Asiki； who are devils； not men； and who will
bring the curse of Bonsa on us if we go on fighting with them。 Still I
refused； saying that if they gave you up I would go with you； who
saved my life from the lion and afterwards from the priests of Bonsa。
So the messenger went back and； white man； we march at once； and I
pray you always to keep close to me that I may watch over you。〃
Then began that long tramp down the river； which Alan always thought
afterwards tried him more than any of the terrible events of his
escape。 For although there was but little fighting； only rearguard
actions indeed； every day the Asiki sent messengers renewing their
offers of peace on the sole condition of the surrender of himself and
Jeekie。 At last one evening they came to that place where Alan first
met the Ogula； and once more he camped upon the island on which he had
shot the lion。 At nightfall； after he had eaten； Fahni visited him
here and Alan boded evil from his face。
〃White man；〃 he said； 〃I can protect you no longer。 The Asiki
messengers have been with us again and they say that unless we give
you up to…morrow at the dawn； their army will push on ahead of us and
destroy my town； which is two days' march down the river； and all the
women and children in it； and that afterwards they will fight a great
battle with us。 Therefore my people say that I must give you up； or
that if I do not they will elect another chief and do so themselves。〃
〃Then you will give up a dead man； Fahni。〃
〃Friend；〃 said the old chief in a low voice； 〃the night is dark and
the forest not so far away。 Moreover； I have set no guards on that
side of the river； and Jeekie here does not forget a road that he has
travelled。 Lastly； I have heard it said that there are some other
white people with soldiers camped in the edge of the forest。 Now； if
you were not here in the morning； how could I give you up？〃
〃I understand； Fahni。 You have done your best for me； and now； good…
night。 Jeekie and I are going to take a walk。 Sometimes you will think
of the months we spent together in Bonsa…Town； will you not？〃
〃Yes； and of you also； white man； for so long as I shall live。 Walk
fast and far； for the Asiki are clever at following a spoor。 Good…
night； Friend； and to you； Jeekie the cunning； good…night also。 I go
to tell my captains that I will surrender you at dawn；〃 and without
more words he vanished out of their sight and out of their lives。
Meanwhile Jeekie； foreseeing the issue of this talk； was already
engaged in doing up their few belongings； including the gold rings；
some food； and a native cooking pot； in a bundle surrounded by a
couple of bark blankets。
〃Come on； Major；〃 he said； handing Alan one spear and taking another
himself。 〃Old cannibal quite right； very nice night for a walk。 Come
on； Major； river shallow just here。 I think this happen and try it
before dark。 You just follow Jeekie； that all you got to do。〃
So leaving the fire burning in front of their bough shelter； they
waded the stream and started up the opposing slope； meeting no man。
Dark as it was； Jeekie seemed to have no difficulty in finding the
way； for as Fahni said； a native does not forget the path he has once
travelled。 All night long they walked rapidly； and when dawn broke
found themselves at the edge of the forest。
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃what did Fahni mean by that tale about white
people？〃
〃Don't know； Major； think perhaps he lie to let you down easy。 My
golly！ what that？〃
As he spoke a distant echo reached their ears； the echo of a rifle
shot。 〃Think Fanny not lie after all；〃 went on Jeekie； 〃that white
man's gun； sharp crack； smokeless powder； but wonder how he come in
this place。 Well； we soon find out。 Come on； Major。〃
Tired as they were they broke into a run； the prospect of seeing a
white face again was too much for them。 Half a mile or so further on
they caught sight of a figure evidently engaged in stalking game among
the trees； or so they judged from his cautious movements。
〃White man！〃 said Jeekie； and Alan nodded。
They crept forward silently and with care； for who knew what this
white man might be after； keeping a great tree between them and the
man； till at length； passing round its bole； they found themselves
face to face with him and not five yards away。 Notwithstanding his
unaccustomed tropical dress and his face burnt copper colour by the
sun； Alan knew the man at once。
〃Aylward！〃 he gasped； 〃Aylward！ You here？〃
He started。 He stared at Alan。 Then his countenance changed。 Its
habitual calm broke up as it was wont to do in moments of deep
emotion。 It became very evil； as though some demon of hate and
jealousy were at work behind it。 The thin lips quivered； the eyes
glared； and without spoken word or warning； he lifted the rifle and
fired straight at Alan。 The bullet missed him； for the aim was high。
Passing over Alan's head； it cut a neat groove through the hair of the
taller Jeekie who was immediately behind him。
Next instant； with a spring like that of a tiger Jeekie was on
Aylward。 The weight of his charge knocked him backwards to the ground；
and there he lay； pinned fast。
〃What for you do that？〃 exclaimed the indignant Jeekie。 〃What for you
shoot through wool of respectable nigger； Sir Robert Aylward； Bart。？
Now I throttle you； you dirty hog…swine。 No Magistrates' Court here in
Dwarf Forest；〃 and he began to suit the action to the word。
〃Let him go； Jeekie。 Take his rifle and let him go；〃 exclaimed Alan；
who all this while had stood amazed。 〃There must be some mistake； he
cannot have meant to murder me。〃
〃Don't know what he mean； but know his bullet go through my hair；