the yellow god-第42章

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dragged　them　down　to　the　bank　of　the　canal。　Here　to　the　number　of　a
hundred　or　more；　a　wailing；　struggling　mass；　they　were　confined　in　a
pen　like　sheep。　Then　a　bar　was　lifted　and　one　of　them　allowed　to
escape；　only　to　find　himself　in　a　kind　of　gangway　which　ran　down　into
shallow　water。　Being　forced　along　this　he　came　to　an　open　space　of
water　exactly　opposite　to　the　floating　fetishes；　and　there　was　kept　a
while　by　men　armed　with　spears。　As　nothing　happened　they　lifted　their
spears　and　the　man　bolted　up　an　incline　and　was　lost　among　the
thousands　of　spectators。

The　next　one；　evidently　a　person　of　rank；　was　not　so　fortunate。
Jumping　into　the　pool　off　the　gangway；　he　stood　there　like　a　sheep
about　to　be　washed；　the　water　reaching　up　to　his　middle。　Then　Alan　saw
a　terrifying　thing；　for　suddenly　the　horrid；　golden　head　of　Big　Bonsa；
towing　Little　Bonsa　behind　it；　began　to　swim　with　a　deliberate　motion
across　the　stream　until；　reaching　the　man；　it　seemed　to　rear　itself　up
and　poke　him　with　its　snout　in　the　chest　as　a　turtle　might　do。　Then　it
sank　again　into　the　water　and　slowly　floated　back　to　its　station；
directed　by　some　agency　or　power　that　Alan　could　not　discover。

At　the　touch　of　the　fetish　the　man　screamed　like　a　horse　in　pain　or
terror；　and　soldiers　leaping　on　him　with　a　savage　shout；　dragged　him
up　another　gangway　opposite　to　that　by　which　he　had　descended；
whereon；　to　all　appearances　more　dead　than　alive；　he　departed　into　the
shadows。　The　horns　and　drums　set　up　a　bray　of　triumph；　the　Asika
clapped　her　hands　approvingly；　the　spectators　cheered；　and　another
victim　was　bundled　down　the　gangway　and　submitted　to　the　judgment　of
the　Bonsas；　which　came　at　him　like　a　hungry　pike　at　a　frog。　Then
followed　more　and　more；　some　being　chosen　and　some　let　go；　till　at
last；　growing　weary；　the　priests　directed　the　soldiers　to　drive　the
prisoners　down　in　batches　until　the　pen　in　the　water　was　full　as
though　with　huddled　sheep。　If　the　horrible　golden　masks　swam　at　them
and　touched　one　of　their　number；　they　were　all　dragged　away；　if　these
remained　quiescent　they　were　let　go。

So　the　thing　went　on　until　at　length　Alan　could　bear　no　more　of　it。

〃Lady；〃　he　said　to　the　Asika　when　she　paused　for　a　moment　from　her
hand…clapping；　〃I　am　weary；　I　would　sleep。〃

〃What！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃do　you　wish　to　sleep　on　such　a　glorious　night
when　so　many　evil　doers　are　coming　to　their　just　doom？　Well；　well；　go
if　you　will；　for　then　my　promise　is　off　me　and　I　can　hasten　this
business　and　deal　with　the　wicked　before　the　people　according　to　our
custom。　Good…night　to　you；　Vernoon；　to…morrow　we　will　meet；〃　and　she
called　to　some　priests　to　lead　him　away；　and　with　him　the　Ogula
cannibals　whom　she　had　given　to　him　as　servants。

Alan　went　thankfully　enough。　As　he　plunged　into　one　of　the　passages
the　sound　of　frightful　yelling　reached　his　ears；　followed　by　loud；
triumphant　shouts。

〃Now　you　gone　they　kill　those　who　Bonsa　smell　out；〃　said　Jeekie。　〃Why
you　no　wait　and　see？　Very　interesting　sight。〃

〃Hold　your　tongue；〃　answered　Alan　savagely。　〃Did　you　think　so　years
ago　when　you　were　put　into　that　pen　to　be　butchered？〃

〃No；　Major；〃　replied　the　unabashed　Jeekie；　〃not　think　at　all　then；　too
far　gone。　But　see　other　people　in　there　and　know　it　not　/you/；　quite
different　matter。〃

They　reached　their　room。　At　the　door　of　it　Fahni　and　his　followers
were　led　off　to　some　quarters　near　by；　blessing　Alan　as　they　went
because　he　had　saved　their　lives。

〃Jeekie；〃　he　said　when　they　were　alone；　〃tell　me；　what　makes　that
hellish　idol　swim　about　in　the　water　picking　out　some　people　and
leaving　others　alone？〃

〃Major；　I　not　know；　no　one　know　except　top　priest　and　Asika。　Perhaps
there　man　underneath；　perhaps　they　pull　string；　or　perhaps　fetish
alive　and　he　do　what　he　like。　Please　don't　call　him　names；　Major；　or
he　remember　and　come　after　us　one　time；　and　that　bad　job；〃　and　Jeekie
shivered　visibly。

〃Bosh！〃　answered　Alan；　but　all　the　same　he　shivered　also。　〃Jeekie；〃　he
asked　again；　〃what　happens　to　those　people　whom　the　Bonsas　smell　out？〃

〃Case　of　good…bye；　Major。　Sometimes　they　chop　off　nut；　sometimes　they
spiflicate　in　gold　tub；　sometimes　priest…man　make　hole　in　what　white
doctor　call　/diagram/and　shake　hands　with　heart。All　matter　of
taste；　Major；　just　as　Asika　please。　If　she　like　victim　or　they　old
friends；　chop　off　head；　if　she　not　like　himdo　worse　things。〃

More　than　satisfied　with　his　information　Alan　went　to　bed。　For　hour
after　hour　that　night　he　lay　tossing　and　turning；　haunted　by　the
recollections　of　the　dreadful　sights　that　he　had　seen　and　of　the
horrible　Asika；　horrible　and　half…naked；　glaring　at　him　amorously
through　the　crystal　eyes　of　Little　Bonsa。　When　at　last　he　fell　asleep
it　was　to　dream　that　he　was　alone　in　the　water　with　the　god　which
pursued　him　as　a　shark　pursues　a　shipwrecked　sailor。　Never　did　he
experience　a　nightmare　that　was　half　so　awful。　Only　one　thing　could　be
more　awful；　the　reality　itself。



CHAPTER　XIV

THE　MOTHER　OF　JEEKIE

〃Jeekie；〃　said　Alan　next　morning；　〃I　tell　you　again　that　I　have　had
enough　of　this　place；　I　want　to　get　out。〃

〃Yes；　Major；　that　just　what　mouse　say　when　he　finish　cheese　in　trap；
but　missus　come　along；　call　him　'Pretty；　pretty；'　and　drown　him　all
the　same；〃　and　he　nodded　in　the　direction　of　the　Asika's　house。

〃Jeekie；　it　has　got　to　be　donedo　you　hear　me？　I　had　rather　die
trying　to　get　away　than　stop　here　till　the　next　two　months　are　up。　If
I　am　here　on　the　night　of　the　next　full　moon　but　one；　I　shall　shoot
that　Asika　and　then　shoot　myself；　and　you　must　take　your　chance。　Do
you　understand？〃

〃Understand　that　foolish　game　and　poor　lookout　for　Jeekie；　Major；　but
can't　think　of　any　plan。〃　Then　he　rubbed　his　big　nose　reflectively　and
added；　〃Fahni　and　his　people　your　slaves　now；　'spose　we　have　talk　with
him。　I　tell　priests　to　bring　him　along　when　they　come　with　breakfast。
Leave　it　to　me；　Major。〃

Alan　did　leave　it　to　him；　with　the　result　that　after　long　argument　the
priests　consented　or　obtained　permission　to　produce　Fahni　and　his
followers；　and　a　little　while　after　the　great　men　arrived　looking　very
dejected；　and　saluted　Alan　humbly。　Bidding　the　rest　of　them　be　seated；
he　called　Fahni　to　the　end　of　the　room　and　asked　him　through　Jeekie　if
he　and　his　men　did　not　wish　to　return　home。

〃Indeed　we　do；　white　lord；〃　answered　the　old　chief；　〃but　how　can　we？
The　Asika　has　a　grudge　against　our　tribe　and　but　for　you　would　have
killed　every　one　of　us　last　night。　We　are　snared　and　must　stop　here
till　we　die。〃

〃Would　not　your　people　help　you　if　they　knew；　Fahni？〃

〃Yes；　lord；　I　think　so。　But　how　can　I　tell　them　who　doubtless　believe
us　dead？　Nor　can　I　send　a　messenger；　for　this　place　is　guarded　and　he
would　be　killed　at　once。　We　came　here　for　your　sake　because　you　had
Little　Bonsa；　a　god　that　is　known　in　the　east　and　the　west；　in　the
north　and　the　south；　and　because　you　saved　me　from　the　lion；　and　here；
alas！　we　must　perish。〃

〃Jeekie；〃　said　Alan；　〃can　you　not　find　a　messenger？　Have　you；　who　were
born　of　this　people；　no　friend　among　them　at　all？〃

Jeekie　shook　his　white　head　and　rolled　his　eyes。　Then　suddenly　an　idea
struck　him。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　think　one；　p'raps。　I　mean　my　ma。〃

〃Your　ma！〃　said　Alan。　〃Oh！　I　remember。　Have　you　heard　anything　more
about　her？〃

〃Yes；　Major。　Very　old　girl　now；　but　strong　on　leg；　so　they　say。
Believe　she　glad　go　anywhere；　because　she　public　nuisance；　they　tired
of　her　in　prison　and　there　no　workhouse　here；　so　they　want　turn　her
out　starve；　which　of　course　break　my　heart。　Perhaps　she　take　message。
Some　use　that　way。　Only　think　she　afraid　go　Ogula…land　because　they
nasty　cannibal　and　eat　old　woman。〃

When　all　this　was　translated　to　Fahni　he　assured　Jeekie　with
earnestness　that　nothing　would　induce　the　Ogula　people　to　eat　his
mother；　moreover；　that　for　her　sake　they　would　never　look
carnivorously　on　another　old　woman；　fat　or　thin。

〃Well；〃　said　Jeekie；　〃I　try　again　to　get　hold　of　old　lady　and　we　see。
I　pray　priests；　whom　you　save　other　day；　let　her　out　of　chokey　as　I
sick　to　fall　upon　bosom；　which　quite　true；　only　so　much　to　think　of
that　no　time　to　attend　to　domesti