the yellow god-第23章
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and submit to such insults？ I went to see my friend the lawyer；
and he tells me that of course we can marry if we like； but in
that case my father's will； which he has consulted at Somerset
House； is absolutely definite； and if I do so in opposition to my
uncle's wishes； I must lose everything except ￡200 a year。 Now I
am no money…grubber； but I will not give my uncle the satisfaction
of robbing me of my fortune； which may be useful to both of us by
and by。 The lawyer says also that he does not think that the Court
of Chancery would interfere； having no power to do so as far as
the will is concerned； and not being able to make a ward of a
person like myself who is over age and has the protection of the
common law of the country。 So it seems to me that the only thing
to do is to be patient； and wait until time unties the knot。
〃Meanwhile； if you can make some money in Africa； so much the
better。 So go； Alan； go as soon as you like； for I do not wish to
prolong this agony； or to see you exposed daily to all you have to
bear。 Whenever you return you will find me waiting for you； and if
you do not return； still I shall wait； as you in like
circumstances will wait for me。 But I think you will return。〃
Then followed much that need not be written； and at the end a
postscript which ran：
〃I am glad to hear that you have succeeded in shifting the mortgage
on Yarleys； although the interest is so high。 Write to me whenever
you get a chance； to the care of the lawyer； for then the letters
will reach me； but never to this house； or they may be stopped。 I
will do the same to you to the address you give。 Good…bye； dearest
Alan； my true and only lover。 I wonder where and when we shall
meet again。 God be with us both and enable us to bear our trial。
〃P。P。S。 I hear that the Sahara flotation was /really/ a success；
notwithstanding the /Judge/ attacks。 Sir Robert and my uncle have
made millions。 I wonder how long they will keep them。〃
A week after he received this letter Alan was on the seas heading for
the shores of Western Africa。
CHAPTER VIII
THE DWARF FOLK
It was dawn at last。 All night it had rained as it can rain in West
Africa； falling on the wide river with a hissing splash； sullen and
continuous。 Now； towards morning； the rain had ceased and everywhere
rose a soft and pearly mist that clung to the face of the waters and
seemed to entangle itself like strands of wool among the branches of
the bordering trees。 On the bank of the river at a spot that had been
cleared of bush； stood a tent； and out of this tent emerged a white
man wearing a sun helmet and grey flannel shirt and trousers。 It was
Alan Vernon； who in these surroundings looked larger and more
commanding than he had done at the London office； or even in his own
house of Yarleys。 Perhaps the moustache and short brown beard which he
had grown； or his skin； already altered and tanned by the tropics； had
changed his appearance for the better。 At any rate it was changed。 So
were his manner and bearing； whereof all the diffidence had gone。 Now
they were those of a man accustomed to command who found himself in
his right place。
〃Jeekie；〃 he called； 〃wake up those fellows and come and light the
oil…stove。 I want my coffee。〃
Thereon a deep voice was heard speaking in some native tongue and
saying：
〃Cease your snoring； you black dogs； and arouse yourselves； for your
lord calls you；〃 an invocation that was followed by the sound of
kicks； thumps； and muttered curses。
A minute or two later Jeekie himself appeared； and he also was much
changed in appearance； for now instead of his smart； European clothes；
he wore a white robe and sandals that gave him an air at once
dignified and patriarchal。
〃Good…morning； Major；〃 he said cheerfully。 〃I hope you sleep well；
Major； in this low…lying and accursed situation； which is more than we
do in boat that half full of water； to say nothing of smell of black
man and prevalent mosquito。 But the rain it over and gone； and
presently the sun shine out； so might be much worse； no cause at all
complain。〃
〃I don't know；〃 answered Alan； with a shiver。 〃I believe that I am
fever proof； but otherwise I should have caught it last night； and
just give me the quinine； I will take five grains for luck。〃
〃Yes； yes； for luck；〃 answered Jeekie as he opened the medicine chest
and found the quinine； at the same time glancing anxiously out of the
corner of his eye at his master's face； for he knew that the spot
where they had slept was deadly to white men at this season of the
year。 〃You not catch fever； Little Bonsa；〃 here he dropped his voice
and looked down at the box which had served Alan for a pillow； 〃see to
that。 But quinine give you appetite for breakfast。 Very good chop this
morning。 Which you like best？ Cold ven'son； or fish； or one of them
ducks you shoot yesterday？〃
〃Oh！ some of the cold meat； I think。 Give the ducks to the boatmen； I
don't fancy them in this hot place。 By the way； Jeekie； we leave the
Qua River here； don't we？〃
〃Yes； yes； Major； just here。 I 'member spot well； for your uncle he
pray on it one whole hour； I pretend pray too； but in heart give
thanks to Little Bonsa； for heathen in those days； quite different
now。 This morning we begin walk through forest where it rather dark
and cool and comfortable； that is if we no see dwarf people from whom
good Lord deliver us；〃 and he bowed towards the box containing Little
Bonsa。
〃Will those four porters come with us through the forest； Jeekie； as
they promised？〃
〃Yes； yes； they come。 Last night they say they not come； too much
afraid of dwarf。 But I settle their hash。 I tell them I save up bits
of their hair and toe nails when they no thinking； and I mix it with
medicine； and if they not come； they die every one before they get
home。 They think me great doctor and they believe。 Perhaps they die if
they go on。 If so； I tell them that because they want show white
feather； and they think me greater doctor still。 Oh！ they come； they
come； no fear； or else Jeekie know reason why。 Now； here coffee；
Major。 Drink him hot before you go take tub； but keep in shallow
water； because crocodile he very early riser。〃
Alan laughed； and departed to 〃take tub。〃 Notwithstanding the
mosquitoes that buzzed round him in clouds； the water was cool and
pleasant by comparison with the hot； sticky air； and the feel of it
seemed to rid him of the languor resulting from his disturbed night。
A month had passed since he had left Old Calabar； and owing to the
incessant rains the journeying had been hard。 Indeed the white men
there thought that he was mad to attempt to go up the river at this
season。 Of course he had said nothing to them of the objects of his
expedition； hinting only that he wished to explore and shoot； and
perhaps prospect for mines。 But knowing as they did； that he was an
Engineer officer with a good record and much African experience； they
soon made up their minds that he had been sent by Government upon some
secret mission that for reasons of his own he preferred to keep to
himself。 This conclusion； which Jeekie zealously fostered behind his
back； in fact did Alan a good turn； since owing to it he obtained
boatmen and servants at a season when； had he been supposed to be but
a private person； these would scarcely have been forthcoming at any
price。 Hitherto his journey had been one long record of mud；
mosquitoes； and misery； but otherwise devoid of incident； except the
eating of one of his boatmen by a crocodile which was a particularly
〃early riser；〃 for it had pulled the poor fellow out of the canoe in
which he lay asleep at night。 Now； however； the real dangers were
about to begin； since at this spot he left the great river and started
forward through the forest on foot with Jeekie and the four bearers
whom he had paid highly to accompany him。
He could not conceal from himself that the undertaking seemed somewhat
desperate。 But of this he said nothing in the long letter he had
written to Barbara on the previous night； sighing as he sealed it； at
the thought that it might well be the last which
