CHAPTER XIX
THE LAST OF THE ASIKI
Barbara had recovered. She sat upon her bed in the tent and by her sat
Alan, holding her hand, while before them stood Aylward like a
prisoner in the dock, and behind him the armed Jeekie.
"Tell me the story, Barbara," said Alan, "and tell it briefly, for I
cannot bear much more of this."
She looked at him and began in a slow, even voice:
"After you had gone, dear, things went on as usual for a month or two.
Then came the great Sahara Company trouble. First there were rumours
and the shares began to go down. My uncle bought them in by tens and
hundreds of thousands, to hold up the market, because he was being
threatened, but of course he did not know then that Lord Aylward--for
I forgot to tell you, he had become a lord somehow--was secretly one
of the principal sellers, let him deny it if he can. At last the
Ottoman Government, through the English ambassador, published its
repudiation of the concession, which it seems was a forgery, actually
executed or obtained in Constantinople by my uncle. Well, there was a
fearful smash. Writs were taken out against my uncle, but before they
could be served, he died suddenly of heart disease. I was with him at
the time and he kept saying he saw that gold mask which Jeekie calls
Bonsa, the thing you took back to Africa. He had a fine funeral, for
what he had done was not publicly known, and when his will was opened
I found that he had left me his fortune, but made Lord Aylward there
my trustee until I came to the full age of twenty-five under my
father's will. Alan, don't force me to tell you what sort of a
guardian he was to me; also there was no fortune, it had all gone;
also I had very, very little left, for almost all my own money had
gone too. In his despair he had forged papers to get it in order to
support those Sahara Syndicate shares. Still I managed to borrow about
£2000 from that little lawyer out of the £5000 that remain to me, an
independent sum which he was unable to touch, and, Alan, with it I
came to find you.
"Alan, Lord Aylward followed me; although everybody else was ruined,
he remained rich, very very rich, they say, and his fancy was to marry
me, also I think it was not comfortable for him in England. It is a
long tale, but I got up here with about five-and-twenty servants, and
Snell, my maid, whom you remember. Then we were both taken ill with
some dreadful fever and had it not been for those good black people, I
should have died, for I have been very sick, Alan. But they nursed me
and I recovered; it was poor Snell who died, they buried her a few
days ago. I thought that she would live, but she had a relapse. Next
Lord Aylward appeared with twelve soldiers and some porters who, I
believe, have run away now,--oh! you can guess, you can guess. He
wanted my people to carry me away somewhere, to the coast, I suppose,
but they were faithful to me and would not. Then he set his soldiers
on to maltreat them. They shot several of them and flogged them on
every opportunity; they were flogging one of them just now, I heard
them. Well, the poor men made me understand that they could bear it no
longer and must do what he told them.
"And so, Alan, as I was quite hopeless and helpless, I made up my mind
to kill myself, hoping that God would forgive me and that I should
find you somewhere, perhaps after sleeping a while, for it was better
to die than to be given into the power--of that man. I thought that he
was coming for me just now and I was about to do it, but it was you
instead, Alan, /you/, and only just in time. That is all the story,
and I hope you will not think that I have acted very foolishly, but I
did it for the best. If you only knew what I have suffered, Alan, what
I have gone through in one way and another, I am sure that you would
not judge me harshly; also I kept dreaming that you were in trouble
and wanted me to come to you, and of course I knew where you were gone
and had that map. Send him away, Alan, for I am still so weak and I
cannot bear the sight of his face. If you knew everything, you would
understand."
Alan turned on Aylward and in a cold, quiet voice asked him what he
had to say to this story.
"I have to say, Major Vernon, that it is a clever mixture of truth and
falsehood. It is true that your cousin, Champers-Haswell, has been
proved guilty of some very shameful conduct. For instance it appears
that he did forge, or rather cause to be forged that Firman from the
Sultan, although I knew nothing of this until it was publicly
repudiated. It is also true that fearing exposure he entirely lost his
head and spent not only his own great fortune but that of Miss
Champers also, in trying to support Sahara shares. I admit also that I
sold many hundreds of thousands of those shares in the ordinary way,
having made up my mind to retire from business when I was raised to
the peerage. I admit further, what you knew before, that I was
attached to Miss Champers and wished to marry her. Why should I not,
especially as I had a good deal to offer to a lady who has been proved
to be almost without fortune?
"For the rest she set out secretly on this mad journey to Africa,
whither both my duty as her trustee and my affection prompted me to
follow her. I found her here recovering from an illness, and since she
has dwelt upon the point, in self-defence I must tell you that
whatever has taken place between us, has been with her full consent
and encouragement. Of course I allude only to those affectionate
amenities which are common between people who purpose to marry as soon
as opportunity may offer."
At this declaration poor Barbara gasped and leaned back against her
pillow. Alan stood silent, though his lips turned white, while Jeekie
thrust his big head through the tent opening and stared upwards.
"What are you looking at, Jeekie?" asked Alan irritably.
"Seem to want air, Major, also look to see if clouds tumble. Believe
partickler big lie do that sometimes. Please go on, O good Lord, for
Jeekie want his breakfast."
"As regards the execution of two of Miss Champers' bearers and the
flogging of some others, these punishments were inflicted for mutiny,"
went on Aylward. "It was obviously necessary that she should be moved
back to the coast, but I found out that they were trying to desert her
in a body and to tamper with my own servants, and so was obliged to
take strong measures."
"Sure those clouds come down now," soliloquized Jeekie, "or least
something rummy happen."
"I have only to add, Major Vernon, that unless you make away with me
first, as I daresay you will, as soon as we reach civilization again I
shall proceed against you and this fellow for the cold-blooded murder
of my men, in punishment of which I hope yet to live to see you
hanged. Meanwhile, I have much pleasure in releasing Miss Champers
from her engagement to me which, whatever she may have said to you in
England, she was glad enough to enter on here in Africa, a country of
which I have been told the climate frequently deteriorates the moral
character."
"Hear, hear!" ejaculated Jeekie, "he say something true at last; by
accident, I think, like pig what find pearl in muck-heap."
"Hold your tongue, Jeekie," said Alan. "I do not intend to kill you,
Lord Aylward, or to do you any harm----"
"Nor I neither," broke in Jeekie, "all I do to my Lord just for my
Lord's good; who Jeekie that he wish to hurt noble British
'ristocrat?"
"But I do intend that it shall be impossible that Miss Champers should
be forced to listen to more of your insults," went on Alan, "and to
make sure that your gun does not go off again as it did this morning.
So, Lord Aylward, until we have settled what we are going to do, I
must keep you under arrest. Take him to his tent, Jeekie, and put a
guard over him."
"Yes, Major, certainly, Major. Right turn, march! my Lord, and quick,
please, since poor, common Jeekie not want dirty his black finger
touching you."
Aylward obeyed, but at the door of the tent swung round and favoured
Alan with a very evil look.
"Luck is with you for the moment, Major Vernon," he said, "but if you
are wise you will remember that you never have been and never will be
my match. It will turn again, I have no doubt, and then you may look
to yourself, for I warn you I am a bad enemy."
Alan did not answer, but for the first time Barbara sprang to her feet
and spoke.
"You mean that you are a bad man, Lord Aylward, and a coward too, or
otherwise you would not have tortured me as you have done. Well, when
it seemed impossible that I should escape from you except in one way,
I was saved by another way of which I never dreamed. Now I tell you
that I do not fear you any more. But I think," she added slowly, "that
you would do well to fear for yourself. I don't know why, but it comes
into my mind that though neither Alan nor I shall lift a finger
against you, you have a great deal of which to be afraid. Remember
what I said to you months ago when you were angry because I would not
marry you. I believe it is all coming true, Lord Aylward."
Then Barbara turned her back upon him, and that was the last time that
either she or Alan ever saw his face.
He was gone, and Barbara, her head upon her lover's shoulder and her
sweet eyes filled with tears of joy and gratitude, was beginning to
tell him everything that had befallen her when suddenly they heard a
loud cough outside the tent.
"It's that confounded Jeekie," said Alan, and he called to him to come
in.
"What's the matter now?" he asked crossly.
"Breakfast, Major. His lordship got plenty good stores, borrow some
from him and give him chit. Coming in one minute--hot coffee, kipper
herring, rasher bacon, also butter (best Danish), and Bath Oliver
biscuit."
"Very well," said Alan, but Jeekie did not move.
"Very well," repeated Alan.
"No, Major, not very well, very ill. Thought those lies bring down
clouds."
"What do you mean, Jeekie?"
"Mean, Major, that Asiki smelling about this camp. Porter-man what go
to fetch water see them. Also believe they catch rest of those soldier
chaps and polish them, for porter-man hear the row."
Alan sprang up with an exclamation; in his new-found joy he had
forgotten all about the Asiki.
"Keep hair on, Major," said Jeekie cheerfully; "don't think they
attack yet, plenty of time for breakfast first. When they come we make
it very hot for them, lots of rifle and cartridge now."
"Can't we run away?" asked Barbara.
"No, Missy, can't run; must stop here and do best. Camp well built,
open all round, don't think they take it. You leave everything to
Jeekie, he see you through, but p'raps you like come breakfast
outside, where you know all that go on."
Barbara did like, but as it happened they were allowed to consume
their meal in peace, since no Asiki appeared. As soon as it was
swallowed she returned to her tent, while Alan and Jeekie set to work
to strengthen the defences of the little camp as well as they were
able, and to make ready and serve out the arms and ammunition.
About midday a man whom they had posted in a tree that grew inside the
camp announced that he saw the enemy, and next moment a company of
them rushed towards them across the open and were greeted by a volley
which killed and wounded several men. At this exhibition of miraculous
power, for none of these soldiers had ever heard the report of
firearms or seen their effect, they retreated rapidly, uttering shouts
of dismay and carrying their dead and wounded with them.
"Do you suppose they have gone, Jeekie?" asked Alan anxiously.
He shook his head.
"Think not, Major, think they frightened, by big bullet magic, and go
consult priest. Also only a few of them here, rest of army come later
and try rush us to-morrow morning before dawn. That Asiki custom."
"Then what shall we do, Jeekie? Run for it or stop here?"
"Think must stop here, Major. If we bolt, carrying Miss Barbara, who
can't walk much, they follow on spoor and catch us. Best stick inside
this fence and see what happen. Also once outside p'raps porters
desert and leave us."
So as there was nothing else to do they stayed, labouring all day at
the strengthening of their fortifications till at length the boma or
fence of boughs, supported by earth, was so high and thick that while
any were left to fire through the loopholes, it would be very
difficult to storm by men armed with spears.
It was a dreadful and arduous day for Alan, who now had Barbara's
safety to think of, Barbara with whom as yet he had scarcely found
time to exchange a word. By sunset indeed he was so worn out with toil
and anxiety that he could scarcely stand upon his feet. Jeekie, who
all that afternoon had been strangely quiet and reflective, surveyed
him critically, then said:
"You have good drink and go sleep a bit, Major. Very good little
shelter there by Miss Barbara's tent, and you hold her hand if you
like underneath the canvas, which comforting and all correct. Jeekie
never get tired, he keep good lookout and let you know if anything
happen, and then you jump up quite fresh and fight like tom-cat in
corner."
At first Alan refused to listen, but when Barbara added her entreaties
to those of Jeekie he gave way, and ten minutes later was as soundly
asleep as he had ever been in his life.
"Keep eye on him, Miss Barbara, and call me if he wake. Now I go give
noble lord his supper and see that he quite comfortable. Jeekie seem
very busy to-night, just like when Major have dinner-party at Yarleys
and old cook get drunk in kitchen."
If Barbara could have followed Jeekie's movements for the next few
hours, she would probably have agreed that he was busy. First he went
to Aylward's tent, and as he had said he would, gave him his supper,
and with it half a bottle of whisky from the stores which he had been
carrying about with him for some time, as he said, to prevent the
porters from getting at it. Aylward would little, though as his arms
were tied to the tent-pole, Jeekie sat beside him and fed him like a
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 water--a great deal of
whisky and a very little water--to 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 harm--like 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
up--because 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
stomach--if he has one--cannot 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 Water--dear children,
almost white--whom 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 of our lady the Asika."
"Farewell," they murmured in answer. "Good fortune be your bedfellow."
Another minute and they had lifted up the litter and vanished at a
swinging trot into the shadow of the trees. Jeekie returned to the
camp and ordered the three men to re-stop the gateway with thorns,
muttering in their ears:
"Remember, brethren, one word of this and you die, all of you, as
those die who break the oath."
"Have we not sworn?" they whispered, as they went back to their posts.
Jeekie stood a while in front of the empty tent and if any had been
there to note him, they might have seen a shadow as of compunction
creep over his powerful black face.
"When he wake up he won't know where he are," he reflected, "and when
he get to Bonsa-Town he'll wonder where he is, and when he meet Asika!
Well, he very big blackguard; try to murder Major, whom Jeekie nurse
as baby, the only thing that Jeekie care for--except--Jeekie; try to
make love to Miss Barbara against will when he catch her alone in
forest, which not playing game. Jeekie self not such big blackguard as
that dirt-born noble Lord; Jeekie never murder no one--not quite;
Jeekie never make love to girl what not want him--no need, so many
what do that he have to shove them off, like good Christian man. Mrs.
Jeekie see to that while she live. Also better that mean white man go
call on Bonsas than Major and Missy Barbara and all porters, and
Jeekie--specially Jeekie--get throat cut. No, no, Jeekie nothing to be
ashamed of, Jeekie do good day's work, though Jeekie keep it tight as
wax since white folk such silly people, and when Major in a rage, he
very nasty customer and see everything upside down. Now, Jeekie quite
tired, so say his prayers and have nap. No, think not in tent, though
very comfortable. Major might wake up, poke his nose in there, and if
he see black face instead of white one, ask ugly question, which if
Jeekie half asleep he no able to answer nice and neat. Still he just
arrange things a little so they look all right."
