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"Snake just going to bite you and I catch him, that all," and he gave an extra squeeze to the Mungana's throat, who turned black in the face and rolled his eyes. "Be careful, Jeekie, or you will kill the man," exclaimed Alan, recognizing the Mungana and taking in the situation. "Why not, Major? He want kill you, and me too afterwards. "I am not so sure, Jeekie. Give him air and let me think.
Then he erected himself like a snake about to strike, and lifted the great curved knife, taking aim at Alan's naked breast. Jeekie erected himself also, and even as the knife began to fall, with one hand he caught the arm that drove it and with the other the murderer's throat. The Mungana fought like a wild-cat, but Jeekie was too strong for him. His fingers held the man's windpipe like a vise.
Then Fahni swore by his tribal god and by the spirit of every man he had ever eaten, that he would come to that promontory after dark, if he were still alive. So they separated, Fahni and his men slipping down to the road, which they did without being seen by anyone, while Alan, Jeekie and the Mungana bore away to the right towards the promontory.
No trouble, sit and smile and say, 'Oh, ducky, how beautiful you are! that not hurt anybody." In spite of himself Alan burst out laughing. "But how about the Mungana?" he asked. "Mungana, he got take that with rest. Also I try make friends with that poor devil. Tell him it all my eye. Perhaps he believe me not sure. If he me, I no believe him.
Just then the Asika arrived and by way of excuse for his flight, Alan remarked to her that the treasure-hall was hot. "I did not notice it," she answered, "but he who is called my husband, Mungana, says the same.
What all that matter?" he added confidentially. "Miss Barbara never know. Jeekie doesn't split, also quite necessary in situation, and you can't be married till that Mungana dead. All matter business, Major; make time pass pleasant as well. Asika jolly enough if you stroke her fur right way, but if you put her back up oh Lor!
How it opened in that place where no stair had been, they could not see or even guess, for it was too dark, only now they knew the means by which the Asika had been able to visit them at night. The Mungana went first down the stair. Jeekie followed, grasping him by the arm with one hand, while in the other he kept his own knife ready to stab him at the first sign of treachery.
"Lord," said the Mungana presently, "yesterday when these cannibals were let go a swift runner was sent forward commanding that a good boat should be provisioned and made ready for them, and by now doubtless this has been done. Let them descend to the road, walk on to the bay and ask for the boat. Look, yonder, far away a tongue of land covered with trees juts out into the lake.
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.
Nor was this all, for she burst into weeping, threw her arms about him, drew him to her, kissed him on the forehead, and then thrust him away, saying: "Curses on the priests' law that makes us wait so long, and curses on that Mungana who will not die and may not be killed.
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