the yellow god-第52章
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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 that strangling grip and floating
upwards。 His head rose above the surface； and through the mouth of his
mask he drew in the sweet air with quick gasps。 Down below him in the
clear water he saw the yellow head of Big Bonsa rocking and quivering
like a great reflected mon； saw too that it was beginning to rise。 Yet
he could not swim away from it； the fetish seemed to have hypnotized
him。 He heard Jeekie calling to him from the shallow water near the
further bank； but still he floated there like a log and stared down at
Big Bonsa wallowing beneath。
Jeekie plunged back into the canal and with a few strong strokes
reached him； gripped him by the arm and began to tow him to the shore。
Before they came there Big Bonsa rose like a huge fish and tried to
follow them； but could not； or so it seemed。 At any rate it only
whirled round and round upon the surface； while from it poured a white
fluid that turned the black water to the hue of milk。 Then it began to
scream； making a thin and dreadful sound more like that of an infant
in pain than anything they had ever heard； a very sickening sound that
Alan never could forget。 He staggered to the bank and stood staring at
it where it bled； rolled and shrieked； but because of the milky foam
could make nothing out in that light。
〃What is it； Jeekie？〃 he said with an idiotic laugh。 〃What is it？〃
〃Oh！ don't know。 Devil and all； perhaps。 Come on； Major； before it
catch us。〃
〃I don't think it will catch anyone just at present。 Devil or not
hollow…nosed bullets don't agree with it。 Shall I give it another；
Jeekie？〃 and he lifted the pistol。
〃No； no； Major； don't play tomfool；〃 and Jeekie grabbed him by the arm
and dragged him away。
A few paces further on stood the Mungana like a man transfixed； and
even then Alan noticed that he regarded him with something akin to
awe。
〃Stronger than the god；〃 he muttered； 〃stronger than the god；〃 and
bounded forward。
Following the path that ran beside the canal； they plunged into a
tunnel； holding each other as before。 In a few minutes they were
through it and in a place full of cedar trees outside the wall of the
Gold House； under which evidently the tunnel passed； for there it rose
behind them。 Beneath these cedar trees they flitted like ghosts； now
in the moonlight and now in the shadow。
The great fall to the back of the town was on their left； and in front
of them lay one of the arms of the river； at this spot a raging
torrent not much more than a hundred feet in width； spanned by a
narrow suspension bridge which seemed to be supported by two fibre
ropes。 On the hither side of this bridge stood a guard hut； and to
their dismay out of this hut ran three men armed with spears；
evidently to cut them off。 One of these men sped across the bridge and
took his stand at the further end； while the other two posted
themselves in their path at the entrance to it。
The Mungana slacked his speed and said one word〃Finished！〃 and
Jeekie also hesitated； then turned and pointed behind them。
Alan looked back and flitting in and out between the cedar trees； saw
the white robes of the priests of Bonsa。 Then despair seized them all；
and they rushed at the bridge。 Jeekie reached it first and dodging
beneath the spears of the two guards； plunged his knife into the
breast of one of them； and butted the other with his great head； so
that he fell over the side of the bridge on to the rocks below。
〃Cut； Major； cut！〃 he said to Alan； who pushed past him。 〃All right
now。〃
They were on the narrow swaying bridgeit was but a single plank
Alan first； then the Mungana； then Jeekie。 When they were half way
across Alan looked before him and saw a sight he could never forget。
The third guard at the further side was sawing through one of the
fibre ropes with his spear。 There they were on the middle of the
bridge with the torrent raving fifty feet beneath them； and the man
had nearly severed the rope！ To get over before it parted was
impossible； behind were the priests； beneath the roaring river。 All
three of them stopped as though paralyzed； for all three had seen。
Something struck against Alan's leg； it was his pistol that still
remained fastened to his wrist by its leather thong。 He cocked and
lifted it； took aim and fired。 The shot missed； which was not
wonderful considering the light and the platform on which the shooter
stood。 It missed； but the man； astonished； for he had never seen or
heard such a thing before； stopped his sawing for a moment； and stared
at them。 Then as he began again Alan fired once more； and this time by
good fortune the bullet struck the man somewhere in the body。 He fell；
and as he fell grasped the nearly separated rope and hung to it。
〃Get hold of the other rope and come on；〃 yelled Alan； and once more
they bounded forward。
〃My God！ it's going；〃 he yelled again。 〃Hold fast； Jeekie； hold fast！〃
Next instant the rope parted and the man vanished。 The bridge tipped
over； and supported by the remaining rope； hung edgeways up。 To this
rope the three of them clung desperately； resting their feet upon the
edge of the swaying plank。 For a few seconds they remained thus；
afraid to stir； then Jeekie called out：
〃Climb on； Major； climb on like one monkey。 Look bad； but quite safe
really。〃
As there was nothing else to be done Alan began to climb； shifting his
feet along the plank edge and his hands along the rope； which creaked
and stretched beneath their threefold weight。
It was a horrible journey； and in his imagination took at least an
hour。 Yet they accomplished it； for at last they found themselves
huddled together but safe upon the further bank。 The sweat pouring
down from his head almost blinded Alan； a deadly nausea worked within
him； sickly tremors shot up and down his spine； his brain swam。 Yet he
could hear Jeekie； in whom excitement always took the form of speech；
saying loudly：
〃Think that man no liar what say our great papas was monkeys。 Never
look down on monkey no more。 Wake up； Major； those priests monkey…men
too； for we all brothers； you know。
