CHAPTER XVIII
A MEETING IN THE FOREST
In five minutes more Alan and Jeekie were among the Ogula, who, having
recognized their chief while he was yet some way off, greeted him with
rapturous cheers and the clapping of hands. Then as there was no time
for explanation, they retreated across a little stream which ran down
the valley, four thousand or more of them, and prepared for battle.
That evening, however, there was no fighting, for when the first of
the Asiki reached the top of the rise and saw that the fugitives had
escaped to the enemy, who were in strength, they halted and finally
retired.
Now Alan, and Fahni also, hoped that the pursuit was abandoned, but
again Jeekie shook his big head, saying:
"Not at all, Major, I know Asiki and their little ways. While one of
them alive, not dare go back to Asika without /you/, Major."
"Perhaps she is with them herself," suggested Alan, "and we might
treat with her."
"No, Major, Asika never leave Bonsa Town, that against law, and if she
do so, priests make another Asika and kill her when they catch her."
After this a council of war was held, and it was decided to camp there
that night, since the position was good to meet an attack if one
should be made, and the Ogula were afraid of being caught on the march
with their backs towards the enemy. Alan was glad enough to hear this
decision, for he was quite worn out and ready to take any risk for a
few hours' rest. At this council he learned also that the Asiki
bearers carrying his gold with their Ogula guides had arrived safely
among the Ogula, who had mustered in answer to their chief's call and
were advancing towards Asiki-land, though the business was one that
did not please them. As for these Asiki bearers, it seemed that they
had gone on into the forest with the gold, and nothing more had been
heard of them.
As they were leaving the council Alan asked Jeekie if he had any
tidings of his mother, who had been their first messenger.
"No, Major," he answered gloomily, "can't learn nothing of my ma,
don't know where she is. Ogula camp no place for old girl if they
short of chop and hungry. But p'raps she never get there; I nose round
and find out."
Apparently Jeekie did "nose round" to some purpose, for just as Alan
was dropping off to sleep in his bough shelter a most fearful din
arose without, through which he recognized the vociferations of
Jeekie. Running out of the shelter he discovered his retainer and a
great Ogula whom he knew again as the headman who had been imprisoned
with him and freed by the Asika to guide the bearers, rolling over and
over on the ground, watched by a curious crowd. Just as he arrived
Jeekie, who notwithstanding his years was a man of enormous strength,
got the better of the Ogula and kneeling on his stomach, was
proceeding to throttle him. Rushing at him, Alan dragged him off and
asked what was the matter.
"Matter, Major!" yelled the indignant Jeekie. "My ma inside this black
villain, /that/ the matter. Dirty cannibal got digestion of one
ostrich and eat her up with all his mates, all except one who not like
her taste and tell me. They catch poor old lady asleep by road so stop
and lunch at once when Asiki bearers not looking. Let me get at him,
Major, let me get at him. If I can't bury my ma, as all good son ought
to do, I bury him, which next best thing."
"Jeekie, Jeekie," said Alan, "exercise a Christian spirit and let
bygones be bygones. If you don't, you will make a quarrel between us
and the Ogula, and they will give us up to the Asiki. Perhaps the man
did not eat your mother; I understand that he denies it, and when you
remember what she was like, it seems incredible. At any rate he has a
right to a trial, and I will speak to Fahni about it to-morrow."
So they were separated, but as it chanced that case never came on, for
next morning this Ogula was killed in the fighting together with two
of his companions, while the others involved in the charge kept
themselves out of sight. Whether Jeekie's "ma" was or was not eaten by
the Ogula no one ever learned for certain. At least she was never
heard of any more.
Alan was sleeping heavily when a sound of rushing feet and of strange,
thrilling battle-cries awoke him. He sprang up, snatching at a spear
and shield which Jeekie had provided for him, and ran out to find from
the position of the moon that dawn was near.
"Come on, Major," said Jeekie, "Asiki make night attack; they always
like do everything at night who love darkness, because their eye evil.
Come on quick, Major," and he began to drag him off toward the rear.
"But that's the wrong way," said Alan presently. "They are attacking
over there."
"Do you think Jeekie fool, Major, that he don't know that? He take you
where they /not/ attacking. Plenty Ogula to be killed, but not /many/
white men like you, and in all world only /one/ Jeekie!"
"You cold-blooded old scoundrel!" ejaculated Alan as he turned and
bolted back towards the noise of fighting, followed by his reluctant
servant.
By the time that he reached the first ranks, which were some way off,
the worst of the attack was over. It had been short and sharp, for the
Asiki had hoped to find the Ogula unprepared and to take their camp
with a rush. But the Ogula, who knew their habits, were waiting for
them, so that presently they withdrew, carrying off their wounded and
leaving about fifty dead upon the ground. As soon as he was quite sure
that the enemy were all gone, Jeekie, armed with a large battle-axe,
went off to inspect these fallen soldiers. Alan, who was helping the
Ogula wounded, wondered why he took so much interest in them. Half an
hour later his curiosity was satisfied, for Jeekie returned with over
twenty heavy gold rings, torques, and bracelets slung over his
shoulder.
"Where did you get those, Jeekie?" he asked.
"Off poor chaps that peg out just now, Major. Remember Asiki soldiers
nearly always wear these things and that they no more use to them. But
if ever he get out of this Jeekie want spend his old age in
respectable peace. So he fetch them. Hard work, though, for rings all
in one bit and Asiki very tough to chop. Don't look cross, Major; you
remember what 'postle say, that he who no provide for his own self
worse than cannibal."
Just then Fahni came up and announced that the Asiki general had sent
a messenger into the camp proposing terms of peace.
"What terms?" asked Alan.
"These, white man: that we should surrender you and your servant and
go our way unharmed."
"Indeed, Fahni, and what did you answer?"
"White man, I refused; but I tell you," he added warningly, "that my
captains wished to accept. They said that I had come back to them safe
and that they fear the Asiki, who are devils, not men, and who will
bring the curse of Bonsa on us if we go on fighting with them. Still I
refused, saying that if they gave you up I would go with you, who
saved my life from the lion and afterwards from the priests of Bonsa.
So the messenger went back and, white man, we march at once, and I
pray you always to keep close to me that I may watch over you."
Then began that long tramp down the river, which Alan always thought
afterwards tried him more than any of the terrible events of his
escape. For although there was but little fighting, only rearguard
actions indeed, every day the Asiki sent messengers renewing their
offers of peace on the sole condition of the surrender of himself and
Jeekie. At last one evening they came to that place where Alan first
met the Ogula, and once more he camped upon the island on which he had
shot the lion. At nightfall, after he had eaten, Fahni visited him
here and Alan boded evil from his face.
"White man," he said, "I can protect you no longer. The Asiki
messengers have been with us again and they say that unless we give
you up to-morrow at the dawn, their army will push on ahead of us and
destroy my town, which is two days' march down the river, and all the
women and children in it, and that afterwards they will fight a great
battle with us. Therefore my people say that I must give you up, or
that if I do not they will elect another chief and do so themselves."
"Then you will give up a dead man, Fahni."
"Friend," said the old chief in a low voice, "the night is dark and
the forest not so far away. Moreover, I have set no guards on that
side of the river, and Jeekie here does not forget a road that he has
travelled. Lastly, I have heard it said that there are some other
white people with soldiers camped in the edge of the forest. Now, if
you were not here in the morning, how could I give you up?"
"I understand, Fahni. You have done your best for me, and now, good-
night. Jeekie and I are going to take a walk. Sometimes you will think
of the months we spent together in Bonsa-Town, will you not?"
"Yes, and of you also, white man, for so long as I shall live. Walk
fast and far, for the Asiki are clever at following a spoor. Good-
night, Friend, and to you, Jeekie the cunning, good-night also. I go
to tell my captains that I will surrender you at dawn," and without
more words he vanished out of their sight and out of their lives.
Meanwhile Jeekie, foreseeing the issue of this talk, was already
engaged in doing up their few belongings, including the gold rings,
some food, and a native cooking pot, in a bundle surrounded by a
couple of bark blankets.
"Come on, Major," he said, handing Alan one spear and taking another
himself. "Old cannibal quite right, very nice night for a walk. Come
on, Major, river shallow just here. I think this happen and try it
before dark. You just follow Jeekie, that all you got to do."
So leaving the fire burning in front of their bough shelter, they
waded the stream and started up the opposing slope, meeting no man.
Dark as it was, Jeekie seemed to have no difficulty in finding the
way, for as Fahni said, a native does not forget the path he has once
travelled. All night long they walked rapidly, and when dawn broke
found themselves at the edge of the forest.
"Jeekie," said Alan, "what did Fahni mean by that tale about white
people?"
"Don't know, Major, think perhaps he lie to let you down easy. My
golly! what that?"
As he spoke a distant echo reached their ears, the echo of a rifle
shot. "Think Fanny not lie after all," went on Jeekie; "that white
man's gun, sharp crack, smokeless powder, but wonder how he come in
this place. Well, we soon find out. Come on, Major."
Tired as they were they broke into a run; the prospect of seeing a
white face again was too much for them. Half a mile or so further on
they caught sight of a figure evidently engaged in stalking game among
the trees, or so they judged from his cautious movements.
"White man!" said Jeekie, and Alan nodded.
They crept forward silently and with care, for who knew what this
white man might be after, keeping a great tree between them and the
man, till at length, passing round its bole, they found themselves
face to face with him and not five yards away. Notwithstanding his
unaccustomed tropical dress and his face burnt copper colour by the
sun, Alan knew the man at once.
"Aylward!" he gasped; "Aylward! You here?"
He started. He stared at Alan. Then his countenance changed. Its
habitual calm broke up as it was wont to do in moments of deep
emotion. It became very evil, as though some demon of hate and
jealousy were at work behind it. The thin lips quivered, the eyes
glared, and without spoken word or warning, he lifted the rifle and
fired straight at Alan. The bullet missed him, for the aim was high.
Passing over Alan's head, it cut a neat groove through the hair of the
taller Jeekie who was immediately behind him.
Next instant, with a spring like that of a tiger Jeekie was on
Aylward. The weight of his charge knocked him backwards to the ground,
and there he lay, pinned fast.
"What for you do that?" exclaimed the indignant Jeekie. "What for you
shoot through wool of respectable nigger, Sir Robert Aylward, Bart.?
Now I throttle you, you dirty hog-swine. No Magistrates' Court here in
Dwarf Forest," and he began to suit the action to the word.
"Let him go, Jeekie. Take his rifle and let him go," exclaimed Alan,
who all this while had stood amazed. "There must be some mistake, he
cannot have meant to murder me."
"Don't know what he mean, but know his bullet go through my hair,
Major, and give me new parting," grumbled Jeekie as he obeyed.
"Of course it was a mistake, Vernon, for I suppose it is Vernon," said
Aylward, as he rose. "I do not wonder that your servant is angry, but
the truth is that your sudden appearance frightened me out of my wits
and I fired automatically. We have been living in some danger here and
my nerves are not as strong as they used to be."
"Indeed," answered Alan. "No, Jeekie will carry the rifle for you;
yes, and I think that pistol also, every ounce makes a difference
walking in a hot climate, and I remember that you always were
dangerous with firearms. There, you will be more comfortable so. And
now, who do you mean by 'we'?"
"I mean Barbara and myself," he answered slowly.
Alan's jaw dropped, he shook upon his feet.
"Barbara and yourself!" he said. "Do I understand----"
"Don't you understand nothing, Major," broke in Jeekie. "Don't you
believe one word what this pig dog say. If Miss Barbara marry him he
no want shoot you; he ask you to tea to see the Missus and how much
she love him, ducky! We just go on and call on Miss Barbara and hear
the news. Walk up, Sir Robert Aylward, Bart., and show us which way."
"I do not choose to receive you and your impertinent servant at my
camp," said Aylward, grinding his teeth.
"We quite understand that, Sir Robert Aylward----"
"Lord Aylward, if you please, Major Vernon."
"I beg your pardon--Lord Aylward. I was aware of the contemplated
purchase of that title, I did not know that it had been completed. I
was about to add that all the same we mean to go to that camp, and
that if any violence towards us is attempted as we approach it, you
will remember that you are in our hands."
"Yes, my Lord," added Jeekie, bowing, "and that monkeys don't tell no
tales, my Lord, and that here there ain't no twelve Good-Trues to sit
on noble corpse unhappily deceased, my Lord, and to bring in Crowner's
verdict of done to death lawful or unlawful, according as evidence may
show when got, my Lord. So march on, for we no breakfast yet. No, not
that way, round here to left, where I think I hear kettle sing."
So having no choice, Aylward came, marching between the other two and
saying nothing. When they had gone a couple of hundred yards Alan also
heard something, and to him it sounded like a man crying out in pain.
Then suddenly they passed round some great trees and reached a glade
in the forest where there was a spring of water which Alan remembered.
In this glade the camp had been built, surrounded by a "boma" or
palisade of rough wood, within which stood two tents and some native
shelters made of tall grass and boughs. Outside of this camp a curious
and unpleasant scene was in progress.
To a small tree that grew there was tied a man, whom from the fashion
of his hair Alan knew to belong to the Coast negroes, while two great
fellows, evidently of another tribe, flogged him unmercifully with
hide whips.
"Ah!" exclaimed Jeekie, "that the kettle I hear sing. Think you better
taken him off the fire, my Lord, or he boil over. Also his brothers no
seem to like that music," and he pointed to a number of other men who
were standing round watching the scene with sullen dissatisfaction.
"A matter of camp discipline," muttered Aylward. "This man has
disobeyed orders."
By now Jeekie was shouting something to the natives in an unknown
tongue, which they seemed to understand well enough. At any rate the
flogging ceased, the two fellows who were inflicting it slunk away,
and the other men ran towards them, shouting back as they came.
"All right, Major. You please stop here one minute with my Lord, late
Bart. of Bloody Hand. Some of these chaps friends of mine, I meet them
Old Calabar while we get ready to march last rains. Now I have little
talk with them and find out thing or two."
Aylward began to bluster about interference with his servants and so
forth. Jeekie turned on him with a very ugly grin, and showing his
white teeth, as was his fashion when he grew fierce.
"Beg pardon, Right Honourable Lord," he said, or rather snarled, "you
do what I tell you just to please Jeekie. Jeekie no one in England,
but Jeekie damn big Lord too out here, great medicine man, pal of
Little Bonsa. You remember Little Bonsa, eh! These chaps think it
great honour to meet Jeekie, so, Major, if he stir, please shoot him
through head; Jeekie 'sponsible, not you. Or if you not like do it, I
come back and see to job myself and don't think those fellows cry very
much."
There was something about Jeekie's manner that frightened Aylward, who
understood for the first time that beneath all the negro's grotesque
talk lay some dreadful, iron purpose, as courage lay under his
affected cowardice and under his veneer of selfishness, fidelity. At
any rate he halted with Alan, who stood beside him, the revolver of
which Aylward had been relieved by Jeekie, in his hand. Meanwhile
Jeekie, who held the rifle which he had reloaded, went on and met the
natives about twenty yards away.
"We always disliked each other, Vernon, but I must say that I never
thought a day would come when you proposed to murder me in my own
camp," said Aylward.
"Odd thing," answered Alan, "but a very similar idea was in my mind. I
never thought, Lord Aylward, that however unscrupulous you might be--
financially--a day would come when you would attempt to shoot down an
unarmed man in an African forest. Oh! don't waste breath in lying; I
saw you recognize me, aim, and fire, after which Jeekie would have had
the other barrel, and who then would have remained to tell the story,
Lord Aylward?"
Aylward made no answer, but Alan felt that if wishes could kill him he
would not live long. His eye fell upon a long, unmistakable mound of
fresh earth, beneath a tree. He calculated its length, and with a
thrill of terror noticed that it was too small for a negro.
"Who is buried there?" he asked.
"Find out for yourself," was the sneering answer.
"Don't be afraid, Lord Aylward; I shall find out everything in time."
The conversation between Jeekie and the natives proceeded, their heads
were close together; it grew animated. They seemed to be coming to
some decision. Presently one of them ran and cut the lashings of the
man who had been bound to the tree, and he staggered towards them and
joined in the talk, pointing to his wounds. Then the two fellows who
had been engaged in flogging him, accompanied by eight companions of
the same type--they appeared to be soldiers, for they carried guns--
swaggered towards the group who were being addressed by Jeekie, of
whom Alan counted twenty-three. As they approached Jeekie made some
suggestion which, after one hesitating moment, the others seemed to
accept, for they nodded their heads and separated out a little.
Jeekie stepped forward and asked a question of the guards, to which
they replied with a derisive shout. Then without a word of warning he
lifted Aylward's express rifle which he carried, and fired first one
barrel and then the other, shooting the two leading soldiers dead.
Their companions halted amazed, but before they could lift their guns,
Jeekie and those with him rushed at them and began stabbing them with
spears and striking them with sticks. In three minutes it was over
without another shot being fired. Most of them were despatched, and
the others, throwing down their guns, had fled wounded into the
forest.
Now, shouting in jubilation, some of the men began to drag away the
dead bodies, while others collected the rifles and the remainder,
headed by Jeekie, advanced towards Alan and Aylward, waving their red
spears. Alan stood staring, for he did not in the least understand the
meaning of what had happened, but Aylward, who had turned very pale,
addressed Jeekie, saying:
"I suppose that you have come to murder me also, you black villain."
"No, no, my Lord," answered Jeekie politely, "not at present. Also
that wrong word, execute, not murder, just what you do to some of
these poor devils," and he pointed to the mob of porters. "Besides,
mustn't kill holy white man, poor black chap don't matter, plenty more
where he come from. Think we all go see Miss Barbara now. You come
too, my Lord Bart., but p'raps best tie your hands behind you first;
if you want scratch head, I do it for you. That only fair, you scratch
mine this morning."
Then at a word from Jeekie some of the natives sprang on Aylward and
tied his hands behind his back.
"Is Miss Barbara alive?" said Alan to Jeekie in an agonized whisper,
at the same time nodding towards the grave that was so ominously
short.
"Hope so, think so, these cards say so, but God He know alone,"
answered Jeekie. "Go and look, that best way to find out."
So they advanced into the camp through a narrow gateway made of a
V-shaped piece of wood, to where the two tents were placed in its
inner division. Of these tents, the first, was open, whereas the
second was closed. As the open tent was obviously empty, they went to
the second, whereof Jeekie began to loosen the lashings of the flap.
It was a long business, for they seemed to have been carefully knotted
inside; indeed at last, growing impatient, Jeekie cut the cord, using
the curved knife with which the Mungana had tried to kill Alan.
Meanwhile Alan was suffering torments, being convinced that Barbara
was dead and buried in that new-made grave beneath the trees. He could
not speak, he could scarcely stand, and yet a picture began to form in
his numb mind. He saw himself seated in the dark in the Treasure-house
at Bonsa-Town; he saw a vision in the air before him.
Lo! the tent door opened and that vision reappeared.
There was the pale Barbara seated, weeping. There again, as he entered
she sprang up and snatching the pistol that lay beside her, turned it
to her breast. Then she perceived him and the pistol sank downwards
till from her relaxed hand it dropped to the ground. She threw up her
arms and without a sound fell backwards, or would have fallen, had he
not caught her.
