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barrel and then the other； shooting the two leading soldiers dead。
Their companions halted amazed； but before they could lift their guns；
Jeekie and those with him rushed at them and began stabbing them with
spears and striking them with sticks。 In three minutes it was over
without another shot being fired。 Most of them were despatched； and
the others； throwing down their guns； had fled wounded into the
forest。
Now； shouting in jubilation； some of the men began to drag away the
dead bodies； while others collected the rifles and the remainder；
headed by Jeekie； advanced towards Alan and Aylward； waving their red
spears。 Alan stood staring； for he did not in the least understand the
meaning of what had happened； but Aylward； who had turned very pale；
addressed Jeekie； saying：
〃I suppose that you have come to murder me also； you black villain。〃
〃No； no； my Lord；〃 answered Jeekie politely； 〃not at present。 Also
that wrong word； execute； not murder； just what you do to some of
these poor devils；〃 and he pointed to the mob of porters。 〃Besides；
mustn't kill holy white man； poor black chap don't matter； plenty more
where he come from。 Think we all go see Miss Barbara now。 You come
too； my Lord Bart。； but p'raps best tie your hands behind you first；
if you want scratch head； I do it for you。 That only fair； you scratch
mine this morning。〃
Then at a word from Jeekie some of the natives sprang on Aylward and
tied his hands behind his back。
〃Is Miss Barbara alive？〃 said Alan to Jeekie in an agonized whisper；
at the same time nodding towards the grave that was so ominously
short。
〃Hope so； think so； these cards say so； but God He know alone；〃
answered Jeekie。 〃Go and look； that best way to find out。〃
So they advanced into the camp through a narrow gateway made of a
V…shaped piece of wood； to where the two tents were placed in its
inner division。 Of these tents； the first； was open； whereas the
second was closed。 As the open tent was obviously empty； they went to
the second； whereof Jeekie began to loosen the lashings of the flap。
It was a long business； for they seemed to have been carefully knotted
inside； indeed at last； growing impatient； Jeekie cut the cord； using
the curved knife with which the Mungana had tried to kill Alan。
Meanwhile Alan was suffering torments； being convinced that Barbara
was dead and buried in that new…made grave beneath the trees。 He could
not speak； he could scarcely stand； and yet a picture began to form in
his numb mind。 He saw himself seated in the dark in the Treasure…house
at Bonsa…Town； he saw a vision in the air before him。
Lo！ the tent door opened and that vision reappeared。
There was the pale Barbara seated； weeping。 There again； as he entered
she sprang up and snatching the pistol that lay beside her； turned it
to her breast。 Then she perceived him and the pistol sank downwards
till from her relaxed hand it dropped to the ground。 She threw up her
arms and without a sound fell backwards； or would have fallen； had he
not caught her。
CHAPTER XIX
THE LAST OF THE ASIKI
Barbara had recovered。 She sat upon her bed in the tent and by her sat
Alan； holding her hand； while before them stood Aylward like a
prisoner in the dock； and behind him the armed Jeekie。
〃Tell me the story； Barbara；〃 said Alan； 〃and tell it briefly； for I
cannot bear much more of this。〃
She looked at him and began in a slow； even voice：
〃After you had gone； dear； things went on as usual for a month or two。
Then came the great Sahara Company trouble。 First there were rumours
and the shares began to go down。 My uncle bought them in by tens and
hundreds of thousands； to hold up the market； because he was being
threatened； but of course he did not know then that Lord Aylwardfor
I forgot to tell you； he had become a lord somehowwas secretly one
of the principal sellers； let him deny it if he can。 At last the
Ottoman Government； through the English ambassador； published its
repudiation of the concession； which it seems was a forgery； actually
executed or obtained in Constantinople by my uncle。 Well； there was a
fearful smash。 Writs were taken out against my uncle； but before they
could be served； he died suddenly of heart disease。 I was with him at
the time and he kept saying he saw that gold mask which Jeekie calls
Bonsa； the thing you took back to Africa。 He had a fine funeral； for
what he had done was not publicly known； and when his will was opened
I found that he had left me his fortune； but made Lord Aylward there
my trustee until I came to the full age of twenty…five under my
father's will。 Alan； don't force me to tell you what sort of a
guardian he was to me； also there was no fortune； it had all gone；
also I had very； very little left； for almost all my own money had
gone too。 In his despair he had forged papers to get it in order to
support those Sahara Syndicate shares。 Still I managed to borrow about
￡2000 from that little lawyer out of the ￡5000 that remain to me； an
independent sum which he was unable to touch； and； Alan； with it I
came to find you。
〃Alan； Lord Aylward followed me； although everybody else was ruined；
he remained rich； very very rich； they say； and his fancy was to marry
me； also I think it was not comfortable for him in England。 It is a
long tale； but I got up here with about five…and…twenty servants； and
Snell； my maid； whom you remember。 Then we were both taken ill with
some dreadful fever and had it not been for those good black people； I
should have died； for I have been very sick； Alan。 But they nursed me
and I recovered； it was poor Snell who died； they buried her a few
days ago。 I thought that she would live； but she had a relapse。 Next
Lord Aylward appeared with twelve soldiers and some porters who； I
believe； have run away now；oh！ you can guess； you can guess。 He
wanted my people to carry me away somewhere； to the coast； I suppose；
but they were faithful to me and would not。 Then he set his soldiers
on to maltreat them。 They shot several of them and flogged them on
every opportunity； they were flogging one of them just now； I heard
them。 Well； the poor men made me understand that they could bear it no
longer and must do what he told them。
〃And so； Alan； as I was quite hopeless and helpless； I made up my mind
to kill myself； hoping that God would forgive me and that I should
find you somewhere； perhaps after sleeping a while； for it was better
to die than to be given into the powerof that man。 I thought that he
was coming for me just now and I was about to do it； but it was you
instead； Alan； /you/； and only just in time。 That is all the story；
and I hope you will not think that I have acted very foolishly； but I
did it for the best。 If you only knew what I have suffered； Alan； what
I have gone through in one way and another； I am sure that you would
not judge me harshly； also I kept dreaming that you were in trouble
and wanted me to come to you； and of course I knew where you were gone
and had that map。 Send him away； Alan； for I am still so weak and I
cannot bear the sight of his face。 If you knew everything； you would
understand。〃
Alan turned on Aylward