strength that was in her seemed to draw him onward whither she would
go。 Then a light shone and that light was the face of Barbara and with
a suddenness that was almost awful； the wild dream came to an end。
Alan was in his own room again； though how he got there he did not
recollect。
〃Jeekie；〃 he said； 〃what has happened？ I seem to have had a very
curious dream； there in the Treasure…place； and to have heard you
telling the Asika a string of incredible falsehoods。〃
〃Oh！ no； Major； Jeekie can't lie； too good Christian； he tell her what
/he/ see； or what he think she see if she look； 'cause though p'raps
he see nothing； she never believe that。 And；〃 he added with a burst of
confidence； 〃what the dickens it matter what he tell her； so long as
she swallow same and keep quiet？ Nasty things always make women like
Asika quite outrageous。 Give them sweet to suck； say Jeekie； and if
they ill afterwards； that no fault of his。 They had sweet。〃
〃Quite so； Jeekie； quite so； only I should advise you not to play too
many tricks upon the Asika； lest she should happen to find you out。
How did I get back here？〃
〃Like man that walk in his sleep； Major。 She go first； you follow；
just as little lamb after Mary in hymn。〃
〃Jeekie； did you really see anything at all？〃
〃No； Major； nothing partic'lar； except ghost of Mrs。 Jeekie and of
your reverend uncle； both of them very angry。 That magic all stuff；
Major。 Asika put something in your grub make you drunk； so that you
think her very wise。 Don't think of it no more； Major； or you go off
your chump。 If Jeekie see nothing； depend on it there nothing to see。〃
〃Perhaps so； Jeekie； but I wish I could be sure you had seen nothing。
Listen to me； we must get out of this place somehow； or as you say； I
shall go off my chump。 It's haunted； Jeekie； its haunted； and I think
that Asika is a devil； not a woman。〃
〃That what priests say； Major； very old devilpart of Bonsa；〃 he
answered； looking at his master anxiously。 〃Well； don't you fret；
Jeekie not afraid of devils； Jeekie get you out in good time。 Go to
bed and leave it all to Jeekie。〃
Fifteen more days had gone by； and it was the eve of the night of the
second full moon when Alan was destined to become the husband of the
Asika。 She had sent for him that morning and he found her radiant with
happiness。 Whether or no she believed Jeekie's interpretation of the
visions she had called up； it seemed quite certain that her mind was
void of fears and doubts。 She was sure that Alan was about to become
her husband； and had summoned all the people of the Asiki to be
present at the ceremony of their marriage； and incidentally of the
death of the Mungana who； poor wretch； was to be forced to kill
himself upon that occasion。
Before they parted she had spoken to Alan sweetly enough。
〃Vernoon；〃 she said； 〃I know that you do not love me as I love you；
but the love will come； since for your sake I will change myself。 I
will grow gentle； I will shed no more blood； that of the Mungana shall
be the last； and even him I would spare if I could； only while he
lives I may not marry you； it is the one law that is stronger than I
am； and if I broke it I and you would die at once。 You shall even
teach me your faith； if you will； for what is good to you is
henceforth good to me。 Ask what you wish of me； and as an earnest I
will do it if I can。〃
Now Alan looked at her。 There was one thing that he wished above all
othersthat she would let him go。 But this he did not dare to ask；
moreover； it would have been utterly useless。 After all； if the
Asika's love was terrible； what would be the appearance of her
outraged hate？ What could he ask？ More gold？ He hated the very name of
the stuff； for it had brought him here。 He remembered the old cannibal
chief； Fahni； who； like himself； languished a prisoner； daily
expecting death。 Only that morning he had implored him to obtain his
liberty。
〃I thank you； Asika；〃 he said。 〃Now； if your words are true； set Fahni
free and let him return to his own country； for if he stays here he
will die。〃
〃Surely； Vernoon； that is a small thing；〃 she answered； smiling；
〃though it is true that when he gets there he will probably make war
upon us。 Well； let him； let him。〃 Then she clapped her hands and
summoned priests； whom she bade go at once and conduct Fahni out of
Bonsa…Town。 Also she bade them loose certain slaves who were of the
Ogula tribe； that they might accompany him laden with provisions； and
send on orders to the outposts that Fahni and his party should pass
unmolested from the land。
This done； she began to talk to Alan about many matters； however
little he might answer her。 Indeed it seemed almost as though she
feared to let him leave her side； as though some presentiment of loss
oppressed her。
At length； to Alan's great relief； the time came when they must part；
since it was necessary for her to attend a secret ceremony of
preparation or purification that was called 〃Putting…off…the…Past。〃
Although she had been thrice summoned； still she would not let him go。
〃They call you； Asika；〃 said Alan。
〃Yes； yes； they call me；〃 she replied； springing up。 〃Leave me；
Vernoon； till we meet to…morrow to part no more。 Oh！ why is my heart
so heavy in me？ That black dog of yours read the visions that I
summoned but might not look on； and they were good visions。 They
showed that the woman who loved you is dead； they showed us wedded；
and other deeper things。 Surely he would not dare to lie to me；
knowing that if he did I would flay him living and throw him to the
vultures。 Why； then； is my heart so heavy in me？ Would you escape me；
Vernoon？ Nay； you are not so cruel； nor could you do it except by
death。 Moreover； man； know that even in death you cannot escape me；
for there be sure I shall follow you and claim you； to whose side my
spirit has toiled for ages； and what is there so strong that it can
snatch you from my hand？〃
She looked at him a moment； and seizing his hand burst into a flood of
tears； and seizing his hand threw herself upon her knees and kissed it
again and again。
〃Go now；〃 she said； 〃go； and let my love go with you； through lives
and deaths； and all the dreams beyond； oh！ let my love go with you； as
it shall； Vernoon。〃
So he went； leaving her weeping on her knees。
During the dark hours that followed Alan and madness were not far
apart。 What could he do？ Escape was utterly impossible。 For weeks he
and Jeekie had considered it in vain。 Even if they could win out of
the Gold House fortress； what hope had they of making their way
through the crowded； tortuous town where； after the African fashion；
peopled walked about all night； every one of whom would recognize the
white man； whether he were masked or no？ Besides； beyond the town were
the river and the guarded walls and gates and beyond them open country
where they would be cut off or run down。 No； to attempt escape was
suicide。 Suicide！ That gave him an idea； why should he not kill
himself？ It would be easy enough； for he still had his revolver and a
few cartridges； and surely it was better than to enter on such a life
as awaited him as the plaything of a priestess of a tribe of fetish…
worshipping savages。
But if he killed himself； how about Barbara and how about poor old
Jeekie； who would certainly be killed also？ Besides； it was not the
right thing to do； and while there is life there is always hope。
Alan paused in his walk up and down the room and looked at Jeekie； who
sat upon the floor with his back resting against the stone altar；
reflectively pulling down his thick under…lip and letting it fly back；
negro…fashion。
〃Jeekie；〃 he said； 〃time's up。 What am I to do？〃
〃Do； Major？〃 he replied with affected cheerfulness。 〃Oh！ that quite
simple。 Jeekie arrange everything。 You marry Asika and by and by； when
you master here and tired of her； you give her slip。 Very interesting
experience； no white man ever have such luck before。 Asika not half
bad； /if/ she fond of you； she like little girl in song； when she
good； she very； very good。 At any rate； nothing else to do。 Marry
Asika or spiflicate； which mean； Major； that Jeekie spiflicate too；
and；〃 he added； shaking his white head sadly； 〃he no like /that/。 One
or two little things on his mind that no get time to square up yet。
Daren't pray like Christian here； 'cause afraid of Bonsas； and Bonsas
come even with him by and by； 'cause he been Christian； so poor Jeekie
fall down bump between two stools。 'Postles kick him out of heaven and
Bonsas kick him out of hell； and where Jeekie go to then？〃
〃Don't know； I am sure；〃 answered Alan； smiling a little in spite of
his sorrow； 〃but I think the Bonsas might find a corner for you
somewhere。 Look here； Jeekie； you old scamp； I am sorry for you； for
you have been a good friend to me and we are fond of each other。 But
just understand this； I am not going to marry that woman if I can help
it。 It's against my principles。 So I shall wait till to…morrow and
then I shall walk out of this place。 If the guards try to stop me I
shall shoot them while I have any cartridges。 Then I shall go on until
they kill me。〃
〃Oh！ But Major； they not kill younever； they chuck blanket over your
head and take you back to Asika。 It Jeekie they kill； skin him
alive…o； and all the rest of it。〃
〃Hope not； Jeekie； because they think we shall die the same day。 But
if so； I can't help it。 To…morrow morning I shall walk out； and now
that's settled。 I am tired and going to sleep；〃 and he threw himself
down upon the bed and； being worn out with weariness and anxiety； soon
fell fast asleep。
But Jeekie did not sleep； although he too lay down upon his bed。 On
the contrary； he remained wide awake and reflected； more deeply
perhaps than he had ever done before； being sure the superstition as
to the dependence of Alan's life upon his own was now worn very thin；
and that his hour was at hand。 He thought of making Alan's wild
attempt to depart impossible by the simple method of warning the
Asika； but； notwithstanding his native selfishness； was too loyal to
let that idea take root in his mind。 No； there was nothing to be done；
if the Major wished t