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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