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Updated: July 27, 2025
All that night they rowed on, taking turns to rest, except Alan and Jeekie, who slept a good deal and as a consequence awoke at dawn much refreshed. When the sun rose they found themselves across the lagoon, over thirty miles from the borders of Asiki-land, almost at the spot where the river up which they had travelled some months before, flowed out of the lake.
Such was Jeekie. "Shall I unlace your boots, Major?" he said in his full, melodious voice and speaking the most perfect English. "I expect that the gong will sound in nine and a half minutes." "Then let it sound and be hanged to it," answered Alan; "no, I forgot I must hurry. Jeekie, put that fire out and open all the windows as soon as I go down. This room is like a hot-house."
"Fool," answered Jeekie, "as she went, so she returns, on the head of a white man. Yonder I see an elder with grey hair who doubtless knew of Little Bonsa in his youth. Let him come up and look and say whether or no this is the god." "Yes, yes," exclaimed the chief, "go up, old man, go up," and he jabbed at him with his spear until, unwillingly enough, he went.
"What are you thinking of, Jeekie?" he asked nervously. "Thinking of Asika, Major," he answered in a scared whisper. "Seem to me that she about somewhere, just as she use pop up in room in Gold House; seem to me I feel her all down my back, likewise in head wool, which stand up." "It's very odd, Jeekie," replied Alan, "but so do I."
Give the ducks to the boatmen, I don't fancy them in this hot place. By the way, Jeekie, we leave the Qua River here, don't we?" "Yes, yes, Major, just here. I 'member spot well, for your uncle he pray on it one whole hour; I pretend pray too, but in heart give thanks to Little Bonsa, for heathen in those days, quite different now.
Tell him that if he makes any noise, he dies." Jeekie obeyed, and the Mungana's darkening eyes grew bright again as he drew his breath in great sobs. "Now, friend," said Alan in Asiki, "why did you wish to stab me?" "Because I hate you," answered the man, "who to-morrow will take my place and the wife I love." "As a year or two ago you took someone else's place, eh?
Preceded by the Mungana and followed by Jeekie and the priests, the band bringing up the rear, Alan was marched down a lane left open for him till he came to some steps leading to the dais, upon which in addition to that occupied by the Asika, stood two empty chairs.
Poor nigger like me can't keep up with you and sleep hungry to-night." "I am sorry, Jeekie," said Alan with a little laugh, "but I can't eat off living tables, especially when they stare at one like that. You tell them that to-morrow we will breakfast alone." "Oh, yes, I tell them, Major, but I don't know if they listen.
I never thought, Lord Aylward, that however unscrupulous you might be financially a 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?"
I rather forget the facts, but Jeekie, my negro servant, knows them all, for as a lad my uncle saved him from sacrifice, or something, in a place where they worship these things, and he has been with us ever since. It is a fetish with magical powers and all the rest of it. I believe they call it the Swimming Head and other names.
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