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cannot bear the sight of his face。 If you knew everything； you would
understand。〃
Alan turned on Aylward and in a cold； quiet voice asked him what he
had to say to this story。
〃I have to say； Major Vernon； that it is a clever mixture of truth and
falsehood。 It is true that your cousin； Champers…Haswell； has been
proved guilty of some very shameful conduct。 For instance it appears
that he did forge； or rather cause to be forged that Firman from the
Sultan； although I knew nothing of this until it was publicly
repudiated。 It is also true that fearing exposure he entirely lost his
head and spent not only his own great fortune but that of Miss
Champers also； in trying to support Sahara shares。 I admit also that I
sold many hundreds of thousands of those shares in the ordinary way；
having made up my mind to retire from business when I was raised to
the peerage。 I admit further； what you knew before； that I was
attached to Miss Champers and wished to marry her。 Why should I not；
especially as I had a good deal to offer to a lady who has been proved
to be almost without fortune？
〃For the rest she set out secretly on this mad journey to Africa；
whither both my duty as her trustee and my affection prompted me to
follow her。 I found her here recovering from an illness； and since she
has dwelt upon the point； in self…defence I must tell you that
whatever has taken place between us； has been with her full consent
and encouragement。 Of course I allude only to those affectionate
amenities which are common between people who purpose to marry as soon
as opportunity may offer。〃
At this declaration poor Barbara gasped and leaned back against her
pillow。 Alan stood silent； though his lips turned white； while Jeekie
thrust his big head through the tent opening and stared upwards。
〃What are you looking at； Jeekie？〃 asked Alan irritably。
〃Seem to want air； Major； also look to see if clouds tumble。 Believe
partickler big lie do that sometimes。 Please go on； O good Lord； for
Jeekie want his breakfast。〃
〃As regards the execution of two of Miss Champers' bearers and the
flogging of some others； these punishments were inflicted for mutiny；〃
went on Aylward。 〃It was obviously necessary that she should be moved
back to the coast； but I found out that they were trying to desert her
in a body and to tamper with my own servants； and so was obliged to
take strong measures。〃
〃Sure those clouds come down now；〃 soliloquized Jeekie； 〃or least
something rummy happen。〃
〃I have only to add； Major Vernon； that unless you make away with me
first； as I daresay you will； as soon as we reach civilization again I
shall proceed against you and this fellow for the cold…blooded murder
of my men； in punishment of which I hope yet to live to see you
hanged。 Meanwhile； I have much pleasure in releasing Miss Champers
from her engagement to me which； whatever she may have said to you in
England； she was glad enough to enter on here in Africa； a country of
which I have been told the climate frequently deteriorates the moral
character。〃
〃Hear； hear！〃 ejaculated Jeekie； 〃he say something true at last； by
accident； I think； like pig what find pearl in muck…heap。〃
〃Hold your tongue； Jeekie；〃 said Alan。 〃I do not intend to kill you；
Lord Aylward； or to do you any harm〃
〃Nor I neither；〃 broke in Jeekie； 〃all I do to my Lord just for my
Lord's good； who Jeekie that he wish to hurt noble British
'ristocrat？〃
〃But I do intend that it shall be impossible that Miss Champers should
be forced to listen to more of your insults；〃 went on Alan； 〃and to
make sure that your gun does not go off again as it did this morning。
So； Lord Aylward； until we have settled what we are going to do； I
must keep you under arrest。 Take him to his tent； Jeekie； and put a
guard over him。〃
〃Yes； Major； certainly； Major。 Right turn； march！ my Lord； and quick；
please； since poor； common Jeekie not want dirty his black finger
touching you。〃
Aylward obeyed； but at the door of the tent swung round and favoured
Alan with a very evil look。
〃Luck is with you for the moment； Major Vernon；〃 he said； 〃but if you
are wise you will remember that you never have been and never will be
my match。 It will turn again； I have no doubt； and then you may look
to yourself； for I warn you I am a bad enemy。〃
Alan did not answer； but for the first time Barbara sprang to her feet
and spoke。
〃You mean that you are a bad man； Lord Aylward； and a coward too； or
otherwise you would not have tortured me as you have done。 Well； when
it seemed impossible that I should escape from you except in one way；
I was saved by another way of which I never dreamed。 Now I tell you
that I do not fear you any more。 But I think；〃 she added slowly； 〃that
you would do well to fear for yourself。 I don't know why； but it comes
into my mind that though neither Alan nor I shall lift a finger
against you； you have a great deal of which to be afraid。 Remember
what I said to you months ago when you were angry because I would not
marry you。 I believe it is all coming true； Lord Aylward。〃
Then Barbara turned her back upon him； and that was the last time that
either she or Alan ever saw his face。
He was gone； and Barbara； her head upon her lover's shoulder and her
sweet eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude； was beginning to
tell him everything that had befallen her when suddenly they heard a
loud cough outside the tent。
〃It's that confounded Jeekie；〃 said Alan； and he called to him to come
in。
〃What's the matter now？〃 he asked crossly。
〃Breakfast； Major。 His lordship got plenty good stores； borrow some
from him and give him chit。 Coming in one minutehot coffee； kipper
herring； rasher bacon； also butter （best Danish）； and Bath Oliver
biscuit。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Alan； but Jeekie did not move。
〃Very well；〃 repeated Alan。
〃No； Major； not very well； very ill。 Thought those lies bring down
clouds。〃
〃What do you mean； Jeekie？〃
〃Mean； Major； that Asiki smelling about this camp。 Porter…man what go
to fetch water see them。 Also believe they catch rest of those soldier
chaps and polish them； for porter…man hear the row。〃
Alan sprang up with an exclamation； in his new…found joy he had
forgotten all about the Asiki。
〃Keep hair on； Major；〃 said Jeekie cheerfully； 〃don't think they
attack yet； plenty of time for breakfast first。 When they come we make
it very hot for them； lots of rifle and cartridge now。〃
〃Can't we run away？〃 asked Barbara。
〃No； Missy； can't run； must stop here and do best。 Camp well built；
open all round； don't think they take it。 You leave everything to
Jeekie； he see you through； but p'raps you like come breakfast
outside； where you know all that go on。〃
Barbara did like； but as it happened they were allowed to consume
their meal in peace； since no Asiki appeared。 As soon as it was
swallowed she returned to her tent； while Alan and Jeekie set to work
to strengthen the defences of the little camp as well as they were
able； and to make ready and serve out the arms and ammunition。
About midday a man whom they had posted in a tree that grew inside the
camp announced that he saw the ene