and she stretched out her arms with a gesture of infinite passion；
then turned and left him。
〃My！〃 said Jeekie afterwards； for he had watched all this scene open…
mouthed； 〃my！ but she mean business。 Mrs。 Jeekie never kiss me like
that； nor any other female either。 She dead nuts on you； Major。 Very
great compliment！ 'Spect when you Mungana； she keep you alive a long
time； four or five years perhaps； if no other white man come this way。
Pity you can't take it on a bit； Major；〃 he added insidiously；
〃because then she grow careless and make you chief and we get chance
scoop out that gold house and bolt with bally lot。 Miss Barbara
sensible woman； when she see all that cash she not mind； she say
'Bravo； old boy； quite right spoil Lady Potiphar in land of bondage；
but Jeekie must have ten per cent。 because he show you how do it。'〃
Alan was so depressed； and indeed terrified by this demonstration on
the part of his fearful hostess； that he could neither laugh at
Jeekie； nor swear at him。 He only sat still and groaned； feeling that
bad as things were they were bound to become worse。
Above the perpetual booming of the death drums rose a sound of wild
music。 The door burst open； and through it came a number of priests；
their nearly naked bodies hideously painted and on their heads the
most devilish…looking masks。 Some of them clashed cymbals； some blew
horns and some beat little drums all to time which was given to them
by a bandmaster with a golden rod。 In front of them with painted face
and decked in his gorgeous apparel； walked the Mungana himself。
〃They come to take us to Bonsa worship；〃 explained Jeekie。 〃Cheer up；
Major； very exciting business； no go to sleep there； as in English
church。 See the god all time and no sermon。〃
Alan； who wore a linen robe over the remains of his European garments；
and whose mask was already on his head； rose listlessly and bowed to
the gorgeous Mungana who； poor man； answered him with a stare of hate；
knowing that this wanderer was destined to fill his place。 Then they
started； Jeekie accompanying them； and walked a long way through
various halls and passages； bearing first to the left and then to the
right again； till suddenly through some side door they emerged upon a
marvellous scene。 The first impressions that reached Alan's mind were
those of a long stretch of water； very black and still and not more
than eighty feet in width。 On the hither edge of this canal； seated
upon a raised dais in the midst of a great open space of polished
rock； was the Asika； or so he gathered from her gold breastplate and
sparkling garments； for her fierce and beautiful features were hid
beneath an object familiar enough to him； the yellow； crystal…eyed
mask of Little Bonsa。 Arranged in companies about and behind her were
hundreds of people； male and female； clad in hideous costumes to
resemble demons； with masks to match。 Some of these masks were semi…
human and some of them bore a likeness to the heads of animals and had
horns on them； while their wearers were adorned with skins and tails。
To describe them in their infinite variety would be impossible； indeed
the recollection that Alan carried away was one of a medi？val hell as
it is occasionally to be found portrayed upon 〃Doom pictures〃 in old
churches。
On the further side of the water the entire Asiki people seemed to be
gathered； at least there were thousands of them seated upon a rising
rocky slope as in an amphitheatre； clad only in the ordinary costume
of the Western African native； and in some instances in linen cloaks。
This great amphitheatre was surrounded by a high wall with gates； but
in the moonlight he found it difficult to discern its exact limits。
Jeekie nudged Alan and pointed to the centre of the canal or pool。 He
looked and saw floating there a huge and hideous golden head； twenty
times as large as life perhaps； with great prominent eyes that glared
up to the sky。 Its appearance was quite unlike anything else in the
world； more loathsome； more horrible； man； fish and animal； all seemed
to have their part in it； human mouth and teeth； fish…like eyes and
snout； bestial expression。
〃Big Bonsa；〃 whispered Jeekie。 〃Just the same as when I sweet little
boy。He live here for thousand of years。〃
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。 These
steps the Mungana motioned him to mount； but when Jeekie tried to
follow him he turned and struck him contemptuously in the face。 At
once the Asika； who was watching Vernon's approach through the eye…
holes in the Little Bonsa mask； said fiercely：
〃Who bade you strike the servant of my guest； O Mungana？ Let him come
also that he may stand behind us and interpret。〃
Her wretched husband； who knew that this public slight was put upon
him purposely； but did not dare to protest against it； bowed his head。
Then all three of them climbed to the dais； the priests and the
musicians remaining below。
〃Welcome； Vernoon；〃 said the Asika through the lips of the mask； which
to Alan； notwithstanding the dreadful cruelty of its expression；
looked less hateful than the lovely； tigerish face it hid。 〃Welcome
and be seated here on my left hand； since on my right you may not sit
as yet。〃
He bowed and took the chair to which she pointed； while her husband
placed himself in the other chair upon her right； and Jeekie stood
behind； his great shape towering above them all。
〃This is a festival of my people； Vernoon；〃 she went on； 〃such a
festival as has not been seen for years； celebrated because Little
Bonsa has come back to them。〃
〃What is to happen？〃 he asked uneasily。 〃I have told you； Lady； that
blood is /orunda/ to me。 I must not witness it。〃
〃I know； be not afraid；〃 she answered。 〃Sacrifice there must be； since
it is the custom and we may not defraud the gods； but you shall not
see the deed。 Judge from this； Vernoon； how greatly I desire to please
you。〃
Now Alan； looking about him； saw that immediately beneath the dais and
between them and the edge of the water； were gathered his cannibal
friends； the Ogula； and Fahni their chief who had rowed him to Asiki…
land； and with them the messengers whom they had sent on ahead。 Also
he saw that their arms were tied behind them and that they were
guarded by men dressed like devils and armed with spears。
〃Ask Fahni why he and his people are bound； Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃and
why have they not returned to their own country。〃
Jeekie obeyed； putting the question in the Ogula language； whereon the
poor men turned and began to implore Alan to save their lives； Fahni
adding that he had been told they were to be killed that night。
〃Why are these men to be slain？〃 asked Alan of the Asika。
〃Because I have learned that they attacked you in their own country；
Vernoon；〃 she answered； 〃and would have killed you had it not been for
Little Bonsa。 It is therefore right that they should die as an
offering to you。〃
〃I refuse the offering since afterwards they dealt well with me。 Set
them free and let them return to their own land； Asika。〃
〃That cannot be；〃 she replied coldly。 〃Here they are and here they
remain。 Still； their lives are yours to take or to spare； so keep them
as your servants if you will；〃 and bending down she issued a command
which was instantly obeyed； for the men dressed like devils cut the
bonds of the Ogula and brought them round to the back of the dais；
where they stood blessing Alan loudly in their own tongue。
Then the ceremonies began with a kind of infernal ballet。 On the
smooth space between them and the water's edge appeared male and
female bands of dancers who emerged from the shadows。 For the most
part they were dressed up like animals and imitated the cries of the
beasts that they represented； although some of them wore little or no
clothing。 To the sound of wild music of horns and drums these
creatures danced a kind of insane quadrille which seemed to suggest
everything that is cruel and vile upon the earth。 They danced and
danced in the moonlight till the madness spread from them to the
thousands who were gathered upon the farther side of the water； for
presently all of these began to dance also。 Nor did it stop there；
since at length the Asika rose from her chair upon the dais and joined
in the performance with the Mungana her husband。 Even Jeekie began to
prance and shout behind； so that at last Alan and the Ogula alone
remained still and silent in the midst of a scene and a noise which
might have been that of hell let loose。
Leaving go of her husband； the Asika bounded up to Alan and tried to
drag him from his chair； thrusting her gold mask against his mask。 He
refused to move and after a while she left him and returned to
Mungana。 Louder and louder brayed the music and beat the drums； wilder
and wilder grew the shrieks。 Individuals fell exhausted and were
thrown into the water where they sank or floated away on the slow
moving stream； as part of some inexplicable play that was being
enacted。
Then suddenly the Asika stood still and threw up her arms and they
fell upon their faces and lay as though they were dead。 A third time
she threw up her arms and they rose and remained so silent that the
only sound to be heard was that of their thick breathing。 Then she
spoke； or rather screamed； saying：
〃Little Bonsa has come back again； bringing with her the white man
whom she led away；〃 and all the audience answered； 〃Little Bonsa has
come back again。 Once more we see her on the head of the Asika as our
fathers did。 Give her a sacrifice。 Give her the white man。〃
〃Nay；〃 she screamed back； 〃the white man is mine。 I name him as the
next Mungana。〃
〃Oho！〃 roared the audience； 〃Oho！ she names him as the next Mungana。
Good…bye； old Mungana！ Greeting； new Mungana！ When will be the
marriage feast？〃
〃Tell us； Mungana； tell us；〃 cried the Asika； patting her wretched
husband on the cheek。 〃Tell us when you mean to die； as you are bound
to do。〃
〃On the night of the second full