the yellow god-第60章

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baby；　conversing　pleasantly　with　him　all　the　while；　informing　him
amongst　other　things　that　he　had　better　say　〃big　prayer；〃　because　the
Asiki　would　probably　cut　his　throat　before　morning。

Aylward；　who　was　in　a　state　of　sullen　fury；　scarcely　replied　to　this
talk；　except　to　say　that　if　so；　there　was　one　comfort；　they　would　cut
his　and　his　master's　also。

〃Yes；　my　Lord；〃　answered　Jeekie；　〃that　quite　true；　so　drink　to　next
meeting；　though　I　think　you　go　different　place　to　me；　and　when　you　got
tail　and　I　wing；　you　horn　and　I　crown　of　glory；　of　course　we　not　talk
much　together；〃　and　he　held　a　mug　of　whisky　and　watera　great　deal　of
whisky　and　a　very　little　waterto　his　prisoner's　mouth。

Aylward　drained　it；　feeling　a　need　for　stimulant。

〃There；〃　said　Jeekie；　holding　it　upside　down；　〃you　drink　every　drop
and　not　offer　one　to　poor　old　Jeekie。　Well；　he　turned　teetotaller；　so
no　matter。　Good…night；　my　Lord；　I　call　you　if　Asiki　come。〃

〃Who　are　the　Asiki？〃　asked　Aylward　drowsily。

〃Oh！　you　want　to　know？　I　tell　you；〃　and　he　began　a　long；　rambling
story。

Before　he　ever　came　to　the　end　of　it　Aylward　had　fallen　on　his　side
and　was　fast　asleep。

〃Dear　me！〃　said　Jeekie；　contemplating　him；　〃that　whisky　very　strong；
though　bottle　say　same　as　they　drink　in　House　of　Common。　That　whisky
so　strong　I　think　I　pour　away　rest　of　it；〃　and　he　did　to　the　last
drop；　even　taking　the　trouble　to　wash　out　the　bottle　with　water。　〃Now
you　no　tempt　anyone；〃　he　said；　addressing　the　said　bottle　with　a　very
peculiar　smile；　〃or　if　you　tempt；　at　least　do　no　harmlike　kiss　down
telephone！〃　Then　he　laid　down　the　bottle　on　its　side　and　left　the
tent。

Outside　of　it　three　of　the　head　porters；　who　appeared　to　be　friends　of
his；　were　waiting　for　him；　and　with　these　men　he　engaged　in　low　and
earnest　conversation。　Next；　after　they　had　arrived　at　some　agreement；
which　they　seemed　to　ratify　by　a　curious　oath　that　involved　their
crossing　and　clasping　hands　in　an　odd　fashion；　and　other　symbols　known
to　West　African　secret　societies；　Jeekie　went　the　round　of　the　camp　to
see　that　everyone　was　at　his　post。　Then　he　did　what　most　people　would
have　thought　a　very　curious　and　strange　thing；　namely　climbed　the
fence　and　vanished　into　the　forest；　where　presently　a　sound　was　heard
as　of　an　owl　hooting。

A　little　while　later　and　another　owl　began　to　hoot　in　the　distance；
whereat　the　three　head　porters　nudged　each　other。　Perhaps　they　had
heard　such　owls　hoot　before　at　night；　and　perhaps　they　knew　that
Jeekie；　who　had　〃passed　Bonsa；〃　could　only　be　harmed　by　the　direct
command　of　Bonsa　speaking　through　the　mouth　of　the　Asika　herself。
Still　they　might　have　been　interested　in　the　nocturnal　conversation　of
those　two　owls；　which；　as　is　common　with　such　magical　fowl　in　West
Africa；　had　transformed　themselves　into　human　shapes；　the　shape　of
Jeekie　and　the　shape　of　an　Asiki　priest；　who　was；　as　it　happened；　a
blood　relation　of　Jeekie。

〃Very　good；　Brother；〃　said　Owl　No。　1；　〃all　you　want　is　this　white　man
whom　the　Asika　desires　for　a　husband。　Well；　I　have　done　my　best　for
him；　but　I　must　think　of　myself　and　others；　and　he　goes　to　great
happiness。　I　have　given　him　something　to　make　him　sleep；　do　you　come
presently　with　eight　men；　no　more；　or　we　shall　kill　you；　to　the　fence
of　the　camp；　and　we　will　hand　over　the　white　man；　Vernoon；　to　you　to
take　back　to　the　Asika；　who　will　give　you　a　wonderful　reward；　such　a
reward　as　you　have　never　imagined。　Now　let　me　hear　your　word。〃

Then　Owl　No。　2　answered：

〃Brother；　I　make　the　bargain　on　behalf　of　the　army；　and　swear　to　it　by
the　double　Swimming　Head　of　Bonsa。　We　will　come　and　take　the　white
man；　Vernoon；　who　is　to　be　Mungana；　and　carry　him　away。　In　return　we
promise　not　to　follow　or　molest　you；　or　any　others　in　your　camp。
Indeed；　why　should　we；　who　do　not　desire　to　be　killed　by　the　dreadful
magic　that　you　have；　a　magic　that　makes　a　noise　and　pierces　through
our　bodies　from　afar？　What　were　the　words　of　the　Asika？　'Bring　back
Vernoon；　or　perish。　I　care　for　nothing　else；　bring　back　Vernoon　to　be
my　husband。'〃

〃Good；〃　said　Owl　No。　1；　〃within　the　half　of　an　hour　Vernoon　shall　be
ready　for　you。〃

〃Good；〃　answered　Owl　No。　2；　〃within　half　an　hour　eight　of　us　will　be
without　the　east　face　of　your　camp　to　receive　him。〃

〃Silently？〃

〃Silently；　my　brother　in　Bonsa。　If　he　cries　out　we　will　gag　him。　Fear
not；　none　shall　know　your　part　in　this　matter。〃

〃Good；　my　brother　in　Bonsa。　By　the　way；　how　is　Big　Bonsa？　I　fear　that
the　white　man；　Vernoon；　hurt　him　very　much；　and　that　is　why　I　give　him
upbecause　of　his　sacrilege。〃

〃When　I　left　the　god　was　very　sick　and　all　the　people　mourned；　but
doubtless　he　is　immortal。〃

〃Doubtless　he　is　immortal；　my　brother；　a　little　hard　magic　in　his
stomachif　he　has　onecannot　hurt　/him/。　Farewell；　dear　brother　in
Bonsa；　I　wish　that　I　were　you　to　get　the　great　reward　that　the　Asika
will　give　to　you。　Farewell；　farewell。〃

Then　the　two　owls　flitted　apart　again；　hooting　as　they　went；　till　they
came　to　their　respective　camps。



Jeekie　was　in　the　tent　performing　a　strange　toilet　upon　the　sleeping
Aylward　by　the　light　of　a　single　candle。　From　his　pouch　he　produced
the　mask　of　linen　painted　with　gold　that　Alan　used　to　be　forced　to
wear；　and　tied　it　securely　over　Aylward's　face；　murmuring：

〃You　always　love　gold；　my　Lord　Aylward；　and　Jeekie　promise　you　see
plenty　of　it　now。〃

Then　he　proceeded　to　remove　his　coat；　his　waistcoat；　his　socks；　and
his　boots　and　to　replace　these　articles　of　European　attire　by　his　own
worn　Asiki　sandals　and　his　own　dirty　Asiki　robe。

〃There；〃　he　said；　〃think　that　do；〃　and　he　studied　him　by　the　light　of
the　candle。　〃Same　height；　same　colour　hair；　same　dirty　clothes；　and　as
Asiki　never　see　Major's　face　because　he　always　wear　mask　in　public；
like　as　two　peas　on　shovel。　Oh　my！　Jeekie　clever　chap；　Jeekie　devilish
clever　chap。　But　when　Asika　pull　off　that　mask　to　give　him　true　lover
kiss；　OH　MY！　wonder　that　happen　then？　Think　whole　of　Bonsa…Town　bust
up；　think　big　waterfall　run　backwards；　think　she　not　quite　pleased；
think　my　good　Lord　find　himself　in　false　position；　think　Jeekie　glad
to　be　on　coast；　think　he　not　go　back　to　Bonsa…Town　no　more。　Oh　my
aunt！　no；　he　stop　in　England　and　go　church　twice　on　Sunday；〃　and
pressing　his　big　hands　on　the　pit　of　his　stomach　he　rocked　and　rolled
in　fierce；　silent　laughter。

Then　an　owl　hooted　again　immediately　beneath　the　fence　and　Jeekie；
blowing　out　the　candle；　opened　the　flap　of　the　tent　and　tapped　the
head　porter；　who　stood　outside；　on　the　shoulder。　He　crept　in　and
between　them　they　lifted　the　senseless　Aylward　and　bore　him　to　the
V…shaped　entrance　of　the　boma　which　was　immediately　opposite　to　the
tent　and；　oddly　enough；　half　open。　Here　the　two　other　porters　with
whom　Jeekie　had　performed　some　ceremony；　chanced　to　be　on　guard；　the
rest　of　their　company　being　stationed　at　a　distance。　Jeekie　and　the
head　porter　went　through　the　gap　like　men　carrying　a　corpse　to
midnight　burial；　and　presently　in　the　darkness　without　two　owls　began
to　hoot。

Now　Aylward　was　laid　upon　a　litter　that　had　been　prepared；　and　eight
white…robed　Asiki　bearers　stared　at　his　gold　mask　in　the　faint
starlight。

〃I　suppose　he　is　not　dead；　brother；〃　said　Owl　No。　2　doubtfully。

〃Nay；　brother；〃　said　Owl　No。　1；　〃feel　his　heart　and　his　pulse。　Not
dead；　only　drunk。　He　will　wake　up　by　daylight；　by　which　time　you
should　be　far　upon　your　way。　Be　good　and　gentle　to　the　white　man
Vernoon；　who　has　been　my　master。　Be　careful；　too；　that　he　does　not
escape　you；　brother；　for　as　you　know　he　is　very　strong　and　cunning。
Say　to　the　Asika　that　Jeekie　her　servant　makes　his　reverence　to　her；
and　hopes　that　she　will　have　many；　many　happy　years　with　the　husband
that　he　sends　her；　also　that　she　will　remember　him　whom　she　called
'Black　Dog；'　in　her　prayers　to　the　gods　and　spirits　of　our　people。〃

〃It　shall　be　done；　brother；　but　why　do　you　not　return　with　us？〃

〃Because；　brother；　I　have　ties　across　the　Black　Waterdear　children；
almost　whitewhom　I　love　so　much　that　I　cannot　leave　them。　Farewell；
brethren；　the　blessings　of　the　Bonsas　be　on　you；　and　may　you　grow　fat
and　prosper　in　the　love　and　favour　o