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Alan crept out of the shelter and gazed affectionately at the tent in which Barbara slumbered. Thank Heaven she was safe so far, as for some unknown reason, evidently the Asiki had postponed their attack.
His lordship got plenty good stores, borrow some from him and give him chit. "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.
Aylward would drink little, though as his arms were tied to the tent-pole, Jeekie sat beside him and fed him like a baby, conversing pleasantly with him all the while, informing him amongst other things that he had better say "big prayer," because the Asiki would probably cut his throat before morning.
"I look like a devil crossed with Guy Fawkes. Do you mean to tell me that I have got to live in this thing?" "Afraid so, Major, upon all public occasion. At least they say that. You holy, not lawful see your sacred face." "Who do the Asiki think I am, then, Jeekie?" "They think you your reverend uncle come back after many, many year.
As each of them was filled and pegged down, the gold within being packed in sawdust to keep it from rattling, Alan amused himself in adding an address with a feather brush and a supply of red paint such as the Asiki priests used to decorate their bodies.
So they let us go by and we go just as though devil kick us fast, fast, and never see the Asiki any more. But Little Bonsa I bring with me for luck, tell truth I no dare leave her behind, she not stand that; and now she sit in your office and think and think and make magic there. That why you grow rich, because she know you worship her."
The strong northward wind soon did the rest; indeed with a quarter of an hour a vast sheet of flame twenty or thirty feet in height was rushing towards the Asiki columns. Then they began their advance along the river bank, running at a steady trot, for here the ground was open. All that day they ran, pausing at intervals to get their breath, and at night rested because they must.
Now they were in it and Alan became aware that they had entered the treasure house of the Asiki, since here were piled up great heaps of gold, gold in ingots, gold in nuggets, in stone jars filled with dust, in vessels plain or embossed with monstrous shapes in fetishes and in little squares and discs that looked as though they had served as coins. Never had he seen so much gold before.
At any rate now they began to appear upon its further side and to wind their way singly among the thousands of the Asiki people who were gathered upon the rocky slope beyond in order to witness this fearsome entertainment. Alan observed that the spectators did not appear to appreciate the arrival amongst them of these priests, from whom they seemed to edge away.
If a woman looks upon your uncovered face, remember that she dies not nicely." Alan stared at her blankly, being unable to find appropriate Asiki words in which to reply to this threat. But the Asika only leaned back in her chair and laughed at his evident confusion and dismay, till a new thought struck her.
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