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cannot have meant to murder me。〃
〃Don't know what he mean； but know his bullet go through my hair；
Major； and give me new parting；〃 grumbled Jeekie as he obeyed。
〃Of course it was a mistake； Vernon； for I suppose it is Vernon；〃 said
Aylward； as he rose。 〃I do not wonder that your servant is angry； but
the truth is that your sudden appearance frightened me out of my wits
and I fired automatically。 We have been living in some danger here and
my nerves are not as strong as they used to be。〃
〃Indeed；〃 answered Alan。 〃No； Jeekie will carry the rifle for you；
yes； and I think that pistol also； every ounce makes a difference
walking in a hot climate； and I remember that you always were
dangerous with firearms。 There； you will be more comfortable so。 And
now； who do you mean by 'we'？〃
〃I mean Barbara and myself；〃 he answered slowly。
Alan's jaw dropped； he shook upon his feet。
〃Barbara and yourself！〃 he said。 〃Do I understand〃
〃Don't you understand nothing； Major；〃 broke in Jeekie。 〃Don't you
believe one word what this pig dog say。 If Miss Barbara marry him he
no want shoot you； he ask you to tea to see the Missus and how much
she love him； ducky！ We just go on and call on Miss Barbara and hear
the news。 Walk up； Sir Robert Aylward； Bart。； and show us which way。〃
〃I do not choose to receive you and your impertinent servant at my
camp；〃 said Aylward； grinding his teeth。
〃We quite understand that； Sir Robert Aylward〃
〃Lord Aylward； if you please； Major Vernon。〃
〃I beg your pardonLord Aylward。 I was aware of the contemplated
purchase of that title； I did not know that it had been completed。 I
was about to add that all the same we mean to go to that camp； and
that if any violence towards us is attempted as we approach it； you
will remember that you are in our hands。〃
〃Yes； my Lord；〃 added Jeekie； bowing； 〃and that monkeys don't tell no
tales； my Lord； and that here there ain't no twelve Good…Trues to sit
on noble corpse unhappily deceased； my Lord； and to bring in Crowner's
verdict of done to death lawful or unlawful； according as evidence may
show when got； my Lord。 So march on； for we no breakfast yet。 No； not
that way； round here to left； where I think I hear kettle sing。〃
So having no choice； Aylward came； marching between the other two and
saying nothing。 When they had gone a couple of hundred yards Alan also
heard something； and to him it sounded like a man crying out in pain。
Then suddenly they passed round some great trees and reached a glade
in the forest where there was a spring of water which Alan remembered。
In this glade the camp had been built； surrounded by a 〃boma〃 or
palisade of rough wood； within which stood two tents and some native
shelters made of tall grass and boughs。 Outside of this camp a curious
and unpleasant scene was in progress。
To a small tree that grew there was tied a man； whom from the fashion
of his hair Alan knew to belong to the Coast negroes； while two great
fellows； evidently of another tribe； flogged him unmercifully with
hide whips。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Jeekie； 〃that the kettle I hear sing。 Think you better
taken him off the fire； my Lord； or he boil over。 Also his brothers no
seem to like that music；〃 and he pointed to a number of other men who
were standing round watching the scene with sullen dissatisfaction。
〃A matter of camp discipline；〃 muttered Aylward。 〃This man has
disobeyed orders。〃
By now Jeekie was shouting something to the natives in an unknown
tongue； which they seemed to understand well enough。 At any rate the
flogging ceased； the two fellows who were inflicting it slunk away；
and the other men ran towards them； shouting back as they came。
〃All right； Major。 You please stop here one minute with my Lord； late
Bart。 of Bloody Hand。 Some of these chaps friends of mine； I meet them
Old Calabar while we get ready to march last rains。 Now I have little
talk with them and find out thing or two。〃
Aylward began to bluster about interference with his servants and so
forth。 Jeekie turned on him with a very ugly grin； and showing his
white teeth； as was his fashion when he grew fierce。
〃Beg pardon； Right Honourable Lord；〃 he said； or rather snarled； 〃you
do what I tell you just to please Jeekie。 Jeekie no one in England；
but Jeekie damn big Lord too out here； great medicine man； pal of
Little Bonsa。 You remember Little Bonsa； eh！ These chaps think it
great honour to meet Jeekie； so； Major； if he stir； please shoot him
through head； Jeekie 'sponsible； not you。 Or if you not like do it； I
come back and see to job myself and don't think those fellows cry very
much。〃
There was something about Jeekie's manner that frightened Aylward； who
understood for the first time that beneath all the negro's grotesque
talk lay some dreadful； iron purpose； as courage lay under his
affected cowardice and under his veneer of selfishness； fidelity。 At
any rate he halted with Alan； who stood beside him； the revolver of
which Aylward had been relieved by Jeekie； in his hand。 Meanwhile
Jeekie； who held the rifle which he had reloaded； went on and met the
natives about twenty yards away。
〃We always disliked each other； Vernon； but I must say that I never
thought a day would come when you proposed to murder me in my own
camp；〃 said Aylward。
〃Odd thing；〃 answered Alan； 〃but a very similar idea was in my mind。 I
never thought； Lord Aylward； that however unscrupulous you might be
financiallya day would come when you would attempt to shoot down an
unarmed man in an African forest。 Oh！ don't waste breath in lying； I
saw you recognize me； aim； and fire； after which Jeekie would have had
the other barrel； and who then would have remained to tell the story；
Lord Aylward？〃
Aylward made no answer； but Alan felt that if wishes could kill him he
would not live long。 His eye fell upon a long； unmistakable mound of
fresh earth； beneath a tree。 He calculated its length； and with a
thrill of terror noticed that it was too small for a negro。
〃Who is buried there？〃 he asked。
〃Find out for yourself；〃 was the sneering answer。
〃Don't be afraid； Lord Aylward； I shall find out everything in time。〃
The conversation between Jeekie and the natives proceeded； their heads
were close together； it grew animated。 They seemed to be coming to
some decision。 Presently one of them ran and cut the lashings of the
man who had been bound to the tree； and he staggered towards them and
joined in the talk； pointing to his wounds。 Then the two fellows who
had been engaged in flogging him； accompanied by eight companions of
the same typethey appeared to be soldiers； for they carried guns
swaggered towards the group who were being addressed by Jeekie； of
whom Alan counted twenty…three。 As they approached Jeekie made some
suggestion which； after one hesitating moment； the others seemed to
accept； for they nodded their heads and separated out a little。
Jeekie stepped forward and asked a question of the guards； to which
they replied with a derisive shout。 Then without a word of warning he
lifted Aylward's express rifle which he carried； and fired first one
barrel and then the other； shooting the two leading so