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Updated: June 5, 2025
Jeekie obeyed, apparently with much reluctance, and just then they saw one of their own people running towards the camp. "'Fraid he going to tell us Asiki come attack," said Jeekie, shaking his head. "Hope they give us time breakfast first." "No doubt," answered Alan nervously, for he feared the result of that attack.
As he glanced at them in dismay, for they were many, his eye caught the title of one inscribed as were several others "West Africa," and written in brackets beneath "This vol. contains all that is left of the notes of my escape with Jeekie from the Asiki Devil-worshippers." Alan drew it out, and having refilled and closed the box, bore it off to his room, where he proceeded to read it in bed.
"Proceed, Jeekie," said Alan, removing the whisky bottle, "proceed and explain." "Major, thus: The Asiki tribe care nothing about all that gold, it no good to them. Dead people who live long, long ago, no one know when, dig it up and store it there and make the great fetish which they call Bonsa to keep away enemy who want to steal.
She mustn't kill him, but polish him off all the same, stick him to sleep with those dead uns, till he go like drunk man and see things and drown himself. Then she marry you. But till he dead, you all right, she only talk and make eyes, 'cause of Asiki law, not 'cause she want to stop there." "Indeed, Jeekie, and how long do you think that Mungana will last?"
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.
Ogula messengers gone in little canoe to Asiki at break of day. Travel slow till they work off dwarf, but afterwards go quick. I send lion skin with them as present from you to great high-priestess Asika, also claws for necklace. No lions there and she think much of that. Love of head woman very valuable ally among beastly savage peoples."
At first he was puzzled to know what address to put, but finally decided upon the following: Major A. Vernon, care of Miss Champers, The Court, near Kingswell, England. Adding in the corner, From A. V., Asiki Land, Africa. It was all childish enough, he knew, yet when it was done he regarded his handiwork with a sort of satisfaction.
It was to the effect that he had climbed a high tree as he had been bidden to do, and from the top of that tree by the light of the first rays of the rising sun, miles away on the plain beyond the forest, he had seen the Asiki army in full retreat. "Thank God!" exclaimed Alan. "Yes, Major, but that very rum story. Jeekie can't swallow it all at once. Must send out see none of them left behind.
My people, people of the Asiki, that mean people of Spirits, what you call ghosts and say you no believe in, but always look for behind door, they worship Yellow God, Bonsa Big and Bonsa Little, worship both and call them one; only Little Bonsa on trip to this country just now and sit and think in City office.
So they remained while he ate, like bronze statues, nor would they consent to change their posture even when he told them in their language to be pleased to go away. On hearing themselves addressed in the Asiki language, they seemed surprised, for their faces changed a little, but go they would not.
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