like； only nothing to spend it on； pretty necklace； nice paint for
face。 But Asika； little bit by little bit she eat up his spirit。 He
see too many ghosts。 The house where he sleep with dead men who once
have his billet； full of ghosts and every night there come more and
sit with him； sit all round him； look at him with great eyes； just
like you look at me； till at last when Asika finish eating up his
spirit； he go crazy； he howl like man in hell； he throw away all the
gold they give him； and then； sometimes after one week； sometimes
after one month； sometimes after one year if he be strong but never
more； he run out at night and jump into canal where Yellow God float
and god get him； while Asika sit on the bank and laugh； 'cause she
hungry for new man to eat up his spirit too。〃
Jeekie's big voice died away to a whisper and ceased。 There was a
silence in the room； for even in the shine of the electric light and
through the fumes of champagne； in more than one imagination there
rose a vision of that haunted water in which floated the great Yellow
God； and of some mad being casting himself to his death beneath the
moon； while his beautiful witch wife who was 〃hungry for more spirits〃
sat upon its edge and laughed。 Although his language was now
commonplace enough； even ludicrous at times； the negro had undoubtedly
the art of narration。 His auditors felt that he spoke of what he knew；
or had seen； that the very recollection of it frightened him；
therefore he frightened them。
Again Barbara broke the silence which she felt to be awkward。
〃Why do more ghosts come very night to sit with the queen's husband；
Jeekie？〃 she asked。 〃Where do they come from？〃
〃Out of the dead； miss； dead husbands of Asika from beginning of the
world； what they call Munganas。 Also always they make sacrifice to
Yellow God。 From far； far away them poor niggers send people to be
sacrifice that their house or tribe get luck。 Sometimes they send
kings； sometimes great men； sometimes doctors； sometimes women what
have twin babies。 Also the Asiki bring people what is witches； or have
drunk poison stuff which blacks call /muavi/ and have not been sick；
or perhaps son they love best to take curse off their roof。 All these
come to Yellow God。 Then Asiki doctor； they have Death…palaver。 On
night of full moon they beat drum； and drum go Wow！ Wow！ Wow！ and
doctors pick out those to die that month。 Once they pick out Jeekie；
oh！ good Lord； they pick out /me/；〃 and as he said the words he gasped
and with his great hand wiped off the sweat that started from his
brow。 〃But Yellow God no take Jeekie that time； no want him and I
escape。〃
〃How？〃 asked Sir Robert。
〃With my master； Major's uncle； Reverend Austin； he who come try to
make Asiki Christian。 He snap his fingers； put on small mask of Yellow
God which he prig； Little Bonsa herself； that same face which sit in
your office now；〃 and he pointed to Sir Robert； 〃like one toad upon a
stone。 Priests think that god make herself into man； want holiday；
take me out into forest to kill me and eat my life。 So they let us go
by and we go just as though devil kick usfast； fast； and never see
the Asiki any more。 But Little Bonsa I bring with me for luck； tell
truth I no dare leave her behind； she not stand that； and now she sit
in your office and think and think and make magic there。 That why you
grow rich； because she know you worship her。〃
〃That's a nice way for a baptized Christian to talk；〃 said Barbara；
adding； 〃But Jeekie； what do you mean when you say that the god did
not take you？〃
〃I mean this； miss； when victim offered to Big Yellow God； priest…men
bring him to edge of canal where the great god float。 Then if Yellow
God want him； it turn and swim across water。〃
〃Swim across water！ I thought you said it was only a mask of gold？〃
〃I don't know； miss； perhaps man inside the mask； perhaps spirit。 I
say it swim across water in the night； always in the night； and lift
itself up and look in victim's face。 Then priest take him and kill
him； sometimes one waysometimes another。 Or if he escape and they
not kill him； all same for that Johnnie； he die in about one year；
always die； no one ever live long if Yellow God swim to him in dark
and rise up and smile in his face。 No matter if it Big Bonsa or Little
Bonsa； for they man and wife joined in holy matrimony and either do
trick。〃
As these words left Jeekie's lips Alan became aware of some unusual
movement on his left and looking round； saw that Mr。 Champers…Haswell；
who stood by him； had dropped the cigar which he held and； white as a
sheet； was swaying to and fro。 Indeed in another instant he would have
fallen had not Alan caught him in his arms and supported him till
others came to his assistance； when between them they carried him to a
sofa。 On their way they passed a table where spirits and soda water
were set out； and to his astonishment Alan noticed that Sir Robert
Aylward； looking little if at all better than his partner； had helped
himself to half a tumbler of cognac； which he was swallowing in great
gulps。 Then there was confusion and someone went to telephone the
doctor； while the deep voice of Jeekie was heard exclaiming：
〃That Yellow God at workoh yes； Little Bonsa on the job。 Jeekie
Christian man but no doubt she very powerful fetish and can do
anything she like to them that worship her； and you see； she sit in
office of these gentlemen。 'Spect she make Reverend Austin and me
bring her to England because she got eye on firm of Messrs。 Aylward &
Haswell； London； E。C。 Oh； shouldn't wonder at all； for Bonsa know
everything。〃
〃Oh； confound you and your fetish！ Be off； you old donkey；〃 almost
shouted Alan。
〃Major；〃 replied the offended Jeekie； assuming his grand manner and
language； 〃it was not I who wished to narrate this history of blood…
stained superstitions of poor African。 Mustn't blame old Jeekie if
they make Christian gents sick as Channel steamer。〃
〃Be off；〃 repeated Alan； stamping his foot。
So Jeekie went； but outside the door； as it chanced； he encountered
one of the Jew gentlemen who also appeared to be a little 〃sick。〃 An
idea striking him； he touched his white hair with his finger and said：
〃You like Jeekie's pretty story； sir？ Well； Jeekie think that if you
make little present to him； like your brother in there； it please
Yellow God very much； and bring you plenty luck。〃
Then acting upon some unaccustomed impulse； that Jew became
exceedingly generous。 In his pocket was a handful of sovereigns which
he had been prepared to stake at bridge。 He grasped them all and
thrust them into Jeekie's outstretched palm； where they seemed to
melt。
〃Thank you； sir；〃 said Jeekie。 〃Now I sure you have plenty luck； just
like your grandpa Jacob in Book when he do his brudder in eye。〃
CHAPTER IV
ALAN AND BARBARA
There was no bridge or billiards at the Court that night； where
ordinarily the play ran high enough。 After Mr。 Haswell had been
carried to his room； some of the guests； among them Sir Robert
Aylward； went to bed； remarking that they could do no good by sitting
up； while others； more concerned； waited to hear the verdict of the
doctor； who must drive from six miles away。 He came； and half an hour
later Barbara entered the billiard room and told Alan； who was sitting
there smoking； that her uncle had recovered from his faint； and that
the doctor； who was to stay all night； said that he was in no danger；
only suffering from a heart attack brought on apparently by over…work
or excitement。
When Alan woke next morning the first thing that he heard through his
open window was the sound of the doctor's departing dogcart。 Then
Jeekie appeared and told him that Mr。 Haswell was all right again； but
that all night he had shaken 〃like one jelly。〃 Alan asked what had
been the matter with him； but Jeekie only shrugged his shoulders and
said that he did not know〃perhaps Yellow God touch him up。〃
At breakfast； as in her note she had said she would； Barbara appeared
wearing a short skirt。 Sir Robert； who was there； also looked
extremely pale even for him and with black rims round his eyes； asked
her if she were going to golf； to which she answered that she would
think it over。 It was a somewhat melancholy meal； and as though by
common consent no mention was made of Jeekie's tale of the Yellow God；
and beyond the usual polite inquiries； very little of their host's
seizure。
As Barbara went out she whispered to Alan； who opened the door for
her； 〃Meet me at half…past ten in the kitchen garden。〃
Accordingly； having changed his clothes surreptitiously； Alan；
avoiding the others； made his way by a circuitous route to this
kitchen garden； which after the fashion of modern places was hidden
behind a belt of trees nearly a quarter of a mile from the house。 Here
he wandered about till presently he heard Barbara's pleasant voice
behind him saying：
〃Don't dawdle so； we shall be late for church。〃
So they started； somewhat furtively like runaway children。 As they
went Alan asked how her uncle was。
〃All right now；〃 she answered； 〃but he has had a bad shake。 It was
that Yellow God story which did it。 I know； for I was there when he
was coming to； with Sir Robert。 He kept talking about it in a confused
manner； saying that it was swimming to him across the floor； till at
last Sir Robert bent over him and told him to be quiet quite sternly。
Do you know； Alan； I believe that your pet fetish has been manifesting
itself in some unpleasant fashion up there in the office？〃
〃Indeed。 If so； it must be since I left； for I never heard of anything
of the sort； nor are Aylward and your uncle likely people to see
ghosts。 In fact Sir Robert wished to give me about ￡17；000 for the
thing only the day before yesterday； which doesn't look as though it
had been frightening him。〃
〃Well； he won't repeat the offer； Alan； for I heard him promise my
uncle only this morning that it should be sent back to Yarleys at
once。 But why did he want to buy it for such a lot of money？ Tell me
quickly； Alan； I am dying to hear the whole story。〃
So he began and told her； omitting nothing； while she listened eagerly
to every word； hardl