the yellow god-第24部分

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the　rains。　No　wonder　that　the　Asiki　remained　a　secret　and　hidden
people　when　their　frontier　was　protected　by　such　a　marsh　as　this　upon
the　one　side　and；　as　he　understood；　by　impassable　mountains　upon　the
other。

There　came　a　lull　in　the　tempest　and　the　boatmen　began　to　get　the
better　of　the　water；　which　now　was　up　to　their　knees。　Alan　asked
Jeekie　if　he　thought　it　was　over；　but　that　worthy　shook　his　white　head
mournfully；　causing　the　spray　to　fly　as　from　a　twirling　mop；　and
replied：

〃Can't　say；　cats　and　dogs　not　tumble　so　many　for　present；　only　pups
and　kitties　left；　so　to　speak；　but　think　there　plenty　more　up　there；〃
and　he　nodded　at　the　portentous　fire…laced　cloud　which　seemed　to　be
spreading　over　them；　its　black　edges　visible　even　through　the　gloom。

〃Bad　business；　I　am　afraid；　Jeekie。　Shouldn't　have　brought　you　here；
or　those　poor　beggars　either；〃　and　he　looked　at　the　scared；　frozen
Ogula。　〃I　begin　to　wonder〃

〃Never　wonder；　Major；〃　broke　in　Jeekie　in　alarm。　〃If　wonder；　not　live；
if　wonder；　not　be　born；　too　much　wonder　about　everywhere。　Can't
understand　nothing；　so　give　it　up。　Say；　'Right…O　and　devil
hindermost！'　Very　good　motto　for　biped　in　tight　place。　Better　drown
here　than　in　City　bucket　shop。　But　no　drown。　Should　be　dead　long　ago；
but　Little　Bonsa　play　the　game；　she　not　want　to　sink　in　stinking　swamp
when　so　near　her　happy　home。　Come　out　all　right　somehow；　as　from
dwarf。　Every　cloud　have　silver　lining；　Major；　even　that　black　chap　up
there。　Oh！　my　golly！〃

This　last　exclamation　was　wrung　from　Jeekie's　lips　by　a　sudden
development　of　〃forces　of　Nature〃　which　astonished　even　him。　Instead
of　a　silver　lining　the　〃black　chap〃　exhibited　one　of　gold。　In　an
instant　it　seemed　to　turn　to　acres　of　flame；　it　was　as　though　the
heavens　had　taken　fire。　A　flash　or　a　thunderbolt　struck　the　water
within　ten　yards　of　their　canoe；　causing　the　boatmen　to　throw
themselves　upon　their　faces　through　shock　or　terror。　Then　came　the
hurricane；　which　fortunately　was　so　strong　that　it　permitted　no　more
rain　to　fall。　The　tall　reeds　were　beaten　flat　beneath　its　breath；　the
canoe　was　seized　in　its　grip　and　whirled　round　and　round；　then　driven
forward　like　an　arrow。　Only　the　weight　of　the　men　and　the　water　in　it
prevented　it　from　oversetting。　Dense　darkness　fell　upon　them　and
although　they　could　see　no　star；　they　knew　that　it　must　be　night。　On
they　rushed；　driven　by　that　shrieking　gale；　and　all　about　and　around
them　this　wall　of　darkness。　No　one　spoke；　for　hope　was　abandoned；　and
if　they　had；　their　voices　could　not　have　been　heard。　The　last　thing
that　Alan　remembered　was　feeling　Jeekie　dragging　a　grass　mat　over　him
to　protect　him　a　little　if　he　could。　Then　his　senses　wavered；　as　does
a　dying　lamp。　He　thought　that　he　was　back　in　what　Jeekie　had　rudely
called　〃City　bucket　shop；〃　bargaining　across　the　telephone　wire；　upon
which　came　all　the　sounds　of　the　infernal　regions；　with　a　financial
paper　for　an　article　on　a　Little　Bonsa　Syndicate　that　he　proposed　to
float。　He　thought　he　was　in　The　Court　woods　with　Barbara；　only　the
birds　in　the　trees　sang　so　unnaturally　loud　that　he　could　not　hear　her
voice；　and　she　wore　Little　Bonsa　on　her　head　as　a　bonnet。　Then　she
departed　in　flame；　leaving　him　and　Death　alone。



Alan　awoke。　Above　the　sun　shone　hotly；　warming　him　back　to　life；　but
in　front　was　a　thick　wall　of　mist　and　rising　beyond　it　in　the　distance
he　saw　the　rugged　swelling　forms　of　mountains。　Doubtless　these　had
been　visible　before；　but　the　tall　reeds　through　which　they　travelled
had　hid　the　sight　of　them。　He　looked　behind　him　and　there　in　a　heap
lay　the　Ogula　around　their　chief；　insensible　or　sleeping。　He　counted
them　and　found　that　two　were　gone；　lost　in　the　tempest；　how　or　where
no　man　ever　learned。　He　looked　forward　and　saw　a　peculiar　sight；　for
in　the　prow　of　the　drifting　canoe　stood　Jeekie　clad　in　the　remains　of
his　white　robe　and　wearing　on　his　head　the　battered　helmet　and　about
his　shoulders　the　torn　fragments　of　green　mosquito　net。　While　Alan　was
wondering　strangely　why　he　had　adopted　this　ceremonial　garb；　from　out
of　the　mist　there　came　a　sound　of　singing；　of　wild　and　solemn　singing。
Jeekie　seemed　to　listen　to　it；　then　he　lifted　up　his　great　musical
voice　and　sang　as　though　in　answer。　What　he　sang　Alan　could　not
understand；　but　he　recognized　that　the　language　which　he　used　was　that
of　the　Asiki　people。

A　pause　and　a　confused　murmuring；　and　now　again　the　wild　song　rose　and
again　Jeekie　answered。

〃What　the　deuce　are　you　doing？　Where　are　we？〃　asked　Alan　faintly。

Jeekie　turned　and　beamed　upon　him；　although　his　teeth　were　chattering
and　his　face　was　hollow；　still　he　beamed。

〃You　awake；　Major？〃　he　said。　〃Thought　good　old　sun　do　trick。　Feel　your
heart　now　and　find　it　beat。　Pulse；　too；　strong；　though　temp'rature　not
normal。　Well；　good　news　this　morning。　Little　Bonsa　come　out　top　as
usual。　Asiki　priests　on　bank　there。　Can't　see　them；　but　know　their
song　and　answer。　Same　old　game　as　thirty　years　ago。　Asiki　never
change；　which　good　business　when　you　been　away　long　while。〃

〃Hang　the　Asiki；〃　said　Alan　feebly；　〃I　think　all　these　poor　beggars
are　dead；　and　he　pointed　to　the　rowers。

〃Look　like　it；　Major；　but　what　that　matter　now　since　you　and　I　alive？
Plenty　more　where　they　come　from。　Not　dead　though；　think　only　sleep；
no　like　cold；　like　dormouse。　But　never　mind　cannibal　pig。　They　serve
our　turn；　if　they　live；　live；　if　they　die；　die　and　God　have　mercy　on
souls；　if　cannibal　have　soul。　Ah！　here　we　are；〃　and　from　beneath　six
inches　of　water　he　dragged　up　the　tin　box　containing　Little　Bonsa；
from　which　he　extracted　the　fetish；　wet　but　uninjured。

〃Put　her　on　now；　Major。　Put　her　on　at　once　and　come　sit　in　prow　of
canoe。　Must　reach　Asiki…land　in　proper　style。　Priests　think　it　your
reverend　uncle　come　back　again；　just　as　he　leave。　Make　very　good
impression。〃

〃I　can't；〃　said　Alan　feebly。　〃I　am　played　out；　Jeekie。〃

〃Oh！　buck　up；　Major；　buck　up！〃　he　replied　imploringly。　〃One　kick　more
and　you　win　race；　mustn't　spoil　ship　for　ha'porth　of　tar。　You　just
wear　fetish；　whistle　once　on　land；　and　then　go　to　sleep　for　whole　week
if　you　like。　I　do　rest；　say　it　all　magic；　and　so　forththat　you　been
dead　and　just　come　out　of　grave；　or　anything　you　like。　No　matter　if
you　turn　up　as　announced　on　bill　and　God　bless　hurricane　that　blow　us
here　when　we　expect　die。　Come；　Major；　quick；　quick！　mist　melt　and　soon
they　see　you。〃　Then　without　waiting　for　an　answer　Jeekie　clapped　the
wet　mask　on　his　master's　head；　tied　the　thongs　and　led　Alan　to　the
prow　of　the　canoe；　where　he　set　him　down　on　a　little　cross　bench；
stood　behind　supporting　him　and　again　began　to　sing　in　a　great
triumphant　voice。

The　mist　cleared　away；　rolling　up　like　a　curtain　and　revealing　on　the
shore　a　number　of　men　and　women　clad　in　white　robes；　who　were
martialled　in　ranks　there；　chanting　and　staring　out　at　the　dim　waters
of　the　lagoon。　Yonder　upon　the　waters；　driven　forward　by　the　gentle
breeze；　floated　a　canoe　and　lo！　in　the　prow　of　that　canoe　sat　a　white
man　and　on　his　head　the　god　which　they　had　lost　a　whole　generation
gone。　On　the　head　of　a　white　man　it　had　departed；　on　the　head　of　a
white　man　it　returned。　They　saw　and　fell　upon　their　knees。

〃Blow；　Major；　blow！〃　whispered　Jeekie；　and　Alan　blew　a　feeble　note
through　the　whistle　in　the　mouth　of　the　mask。　It　was　enough；　they　knew
it。　They　sprang　into　the　water　and　dragged　the　canoe　to　land。　They　set
Alan　on　the　shore　and　worshipped　him。　They　haled　up　a　lad　as　though
for　sacrifice；　for　a　priest　flourished　a　great　knife　above　his　head；
but　Jeekie　said　something　that　caused　them　to　let　him　go。　Alan　thought
it　was　to　the　effect　that　Little　Bonsa　had　changed　her　habits　across
the　Black　Water；　and　wanted　no　blood；　only　food。　Then　he　remembered　no
more；　again　the　darkness　fell　upon　him。



CHAPTER　X

BONSA　TOWN

When　consciousness　returned　to　Alan；　the　first　thing　of　which　he
became　dimly　aware　was　the　slow；　swaying　motion　of　a　litter。　He　raised
himself；　for　he　was　lying　at　full　length；　and　in　so　doing　felt　that
there　was　something　over　his　face。

〃That　confounded　Little　Bonsa；〃　he　thought。　〃Am　I　expected　to　spend
the　rest　of　my　life　with　it　on　my　head　like　the　man　in　the　iron　mask？〃

Then　he　put　up　his　hand　and　felt　the　thing；　to　find　that　it　was　not
Little　Bonsa；　but　something　made　apparently　of　thin；　fine　linen；
fitted　to　the　shape　of　his　face；　for　there　was　a　nose　on　it；　and
eyeholes　through　which　he　could　see；　yes；　and　a　mouth　whereof　the　lips
by　some　ingenious　contrivance　could　be　moved　up　and　down。

〃Little　Bonsa's　undress　uniform；　I　expect；〃　he　muttered；　and　tried　to
drag　it　off。　This；　however；　proved　to　be　impossible；　for　it　was　fitted
tightly　to　his　head　and　laced　or　fastened　at　the　back　of　his　neck　so
securely　that　he　could　not　undo　it。　Being　still　weak；　soon　he　gave　up
the　attempt　and　began　to　look　about　him。

He　was　in　a　litter；　a　very　fine　litter　hung　round　with　beautifully
woven　and　coloured　grass　mats；　inside　of　which　were　a　kind　of　couch
and　cushions　of　soft　wool　or　hair；　so　arranged　that　he　could　either
sit　up　or　lie　down。　He　peeped　between　two　of　these　mats　and　saw　that
they　were　travelling　in　a　mountainous　country　over　a　well…beaten　road
or　trail；　and　that　his　litter　was　borne　upon　the　shoulders　of　a　double
line　of　white…robed　men；　while　all　around　him　marched　numbers　of　other
men。　They　seemed　to　be　soldiers；　for　they　were　arranged　in　companies
and　carried　large　spears　and　shields。　Also　some　of　them　wore　torques
and　bracelets　of　yellow　metal　that　might　be　either　brass　or　gold。
Turning　himself　about　he　found　an　eyehole　in　the　back　of　the　litter　so
contrived　that　its　occupant　could　see　without　being　seen；　and
perceived　that　his　escort　amounted　to　a　veritable　army　of　splendid…
looking；　but　sombre…faced　savages　of　a　somewhat　Semitic　cast　of
countenance。　Indeed　many　of　them　had　aquiline　features　and　hair　that；
although　crisped；　was　long　and　carefully　arranged　in　something　like
the　old　Egyptian　fashion。　Also　he　saw　that　about　thirty　yards　behind
and　separated　from　him　by　a　bodyguard；　was　borne　a　second　litter。　By
means　of　a　similar　aperture　in　front　he　discovered　yet　more　soldiers；
and　beyo