let that idea take root in his mind。 No； there was nothing to be done；
if the Major wished to start； the Major must start； and he； Jeekie；
must pay the price。 Well； he deserved it； who had been fool enough to
listen to the secret promptings of Little Bonsa and conduct him to
Asiki…land。
Thus he passed several hours； for the most part in melancholy
speculations as to the exact fashion of his end； until at length
weariness overcame him also and； shutting his eyes； Jeekie began to
doze。 Suddenly he grew aware of the presence of some other person in
the room； but thinking that it was only the Asika prowling about in
her uncanny fashion； or perhaps her spirit； for how her body entered
the place he could not guess； he did not stir； but lay breathing
heavily and watching out of the corner of his eye。
Presently a figure emerged from the shadows into the faint light
thrown by the single lamp that burned above； and though it was wrapped
in a dark cloak； Jeekie knew at once that it was not the Asika。 Very
stealthily the figure crept towards him； as a leopard might creep； and
bent down to examine him。 The movement caused the cloak to slip a
little； and for an instant Jeekie caught sight of the wasted； half…
crazed face of the Mungana； and of a long； curved knife that glittered
in his hand。 Paralyzed with fear； he lay quite still； knowing that
should he show the slightest sign of consciousness that knife would
pierce his heart。
The Mungana watched him a while； then satisfied that he slept； turned
round and； bending himself almost double； glided with infinite
precautions towards Alan's bed； which stood some twelve or fourteen
feet away。 Silently as a snake that uncoils itself； Jeekie slipped
from between his blankets and crept after him； his naked feet making
no noise upon the mat…strewn floor。 So intent was the Mungana upon the
deed which he had come to do that he never looked back； and thus it
happened that the two of them reached the bed one immediately behind
the other。
Alan was lying on his back with his throat exposed； a very easy
victim。 For a moment the Mungana stared。 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。 He choked and weakened； the knife fell from his
hand。 He sank to the ground and lay there helpless； whereon Jeekie
knelt upon his chest and； possessing himself of the knife； held it
within an inch of his heart。
It was at this juncture that Alan woke up and asked sleepily what was
the matter。
〃Nothing； Major；〃 answered Jeekie in low and cheerful tones。 〃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。 Good
riddance of bad rubbish； as Book say。〃
〃I am not so sure； Jeekie。 Give him air and let me think。 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？ Well； suppose
now that I don't want either your place or your wife。〃
〃What would that matter even it if were true； white man； since she
wants you？〃
〃I am thinking； friend； that there is someone else she will want when
she hears of this。 How do you suppose that you will die to…morrow？ Not
so easily as you hope； perhaps。〃
The Mungana's eyes seemed to sink into his head； and his face to
sicken with terror。 That shaft had gone home。
〃Suppose I make a bargain with you；〃 went on Alan slowly。 〃Supposing I
say： 'Mungana； show me the way out of this place； as you can； now at
once。 Or if you prefer it； refuse and be given up to the Asika？' Come；
you are not too mad to understand。 Answerand quickly。〃
〃Would you kill me afterwards？〃 he asked。
〃Not I。 Why should I wish to kill you？ You can come with us and go
where you will。 Or you can stay here and die as the Asika directs。〃
〃I cannot believe you； white man。 It is not possible that you should
wish to run away from so much love and glory； or to spare one who
would have slain you。 Also it would be difficult to get you out of
Bonsa…town。〃
〃Jeekie；〃 said Alan； 〃this fellow is mad after all； I think you had
better go to the door and shout for the priests。〃
〃No； no； lord；〃 begged the wretched creature； 〃I will trust you； I
will try； though it is you who must be mad。〃
〃Very good。 Stand over him； Jeekie； while I put on my things and； yes；
give me that mask。 If he stirs； kill him at once。〃
So Alan made himself ready。 Then he mounted guard over the Mungana； as
did Jeekie； although he shook his head over their prospect of escape。
〃No go；〃 he muttered； 〃no go！ If we get past priests； Asika catch us
with her magic。 When I bolt with your reverend uncle last time； Little
Bonsa arrange business because she go abroad fetch you。 Now likely as
not she bowl you out； and then good…bye Jeekie。〃
Alan sternly bade him be quiet and stop behind if he did not wish to
come。
〃No； no； Major；〃 he answered； 〃I come all right。 Asika very prejudiced
beggar； and if she find me here aloneoh my！ Better die double after
all； Two's company； Major。 Now； all ready； /March！/〃 and he gave the
unfortunate Mungana a fearful kick as a hint to proceed。
So utterly crushed was the poor wretch that even this insult did not
stir him to resentment。
〃Follow me； white man；〃 he said； 〃and if you desire to live； be
silent。 Throw your cloaks about your heads。〃
They did so； and holding their revolvers in their right hands； glided
after the Mungana。 In the corner of the big room they came to a little
stair。 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。 Alan brought up the
rear； keeping hold of Jeekie's cloak。 They passed down twelve steps of
stair； then turned to the right along a tunnel； then to the left； then
to the right again。 In the pitch darkness it was an awful journey；
since they knew not whither they were being led； and expected that
every moment would be their last。 At length； quite of a sudden； they
emerged into moonlight。
Alan looked about him and knew the place。 It was where the feast had
been held two months before； when the priests were poisoned and the
Bonsas chose the victims for sacrifice。 Already it was prepared for
the great festival of to…morrow； when the Mungana should drown himself
and Alan be married to the Asika。 There on the dais were the gold
chairs in which they were to sit； and green branches of trees mixed
with curious flags decked the vast amphitheatre beyond。 Moreover；
there was the broad canal； and floating in the midst of it the hideous
gold fetish； Big Bonsa。 The moon shone on its glaring； deathly eyes；
its fish…like snout and its huge； pale teeth。 Alan looked at it and
shivered； for the thing was horrid and uncanny； and the utter
loneliness in which it lay staring up at the moon； seemed to
accentuate the horror。
The Mungana noticed his fear and whispered：
〃We must swim the water。 If you have a god； white man； pray him to
protect you from Bonsa。〃
〃Lead on；〃 answered Alan； 〃I do not dread a foul fetish； only the look
of it。 But is there no way round？〃
The Mungana shook his head and began to enter the canal。 Jeekie； whose
teeth were chattering； hung back； but Alan pushed him from behind； so
sharply that he stumbled and made a splash。 Then Alan followed； and as
the cold； black water rose to his chest； looked again at Big Bonsa。
It seemed to him that the thing had turned round and was staring at
them。 Surely a few seconds ago its snout pointed the other way。 No；
that must be fancy。 He was swimming now； they were all swimming； Alan
and Jeekie holding their pistols and little stock of cartridges above
their heads to keep them dry。 The gold head of Big Bonsa appeared to
be lifting itself up in the water； as a reptile might； in order to get
a better view of these proceedings； but doubtless it was the ripples
that they caused which gave it this appearance。 Only why did the
ripples make it come towards them； quite gently； like an investigating
fish？
It was about ten yards off and they were in the middle of the canal。
The Mungana had passed it。 It was in a line with Alan's head。 Oh
Heavens！ a sudden smother of foam； a rush like that of a torpedo； and
set low down between two curving waves； a flash of gold。 Then a
gurgling； inhuman laugh and a weight upon his back。 Down went Alan；
down and down！
CHAPTER XVII
THE END OF THE MUNGANA
The moonlight above vanished。 Alan was alone in the depths with this
devil； or whatever it might be。 He could feel hands and feet gripping
and treading on him； but they did not seem to be human； for there were
too many of them。 Also they were very cold。 He gave himself up for
dead and thought of Barbara。
Then something flashed into his mind。 In his hand he still held the
revolver。 He pressed it upwards against the thing that was smothering
him； and pulled the trigger。 Again he pulled it； and again； for it was
a self…cocking weapon； and even there deep down in the water he heard
the thud of the explosion of the damp…proof copper cartridges。 His
lungs were bursting； his senses reeled； only enough of them remained
to tell him that he was free of tha