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.”
THE ASIKA’S MESSAGE
Dawn began to break in the forest and Alan woke in
his shelter and stretched himself. He had slept
soundly all the night, so soundly that the innocent
Jeekie wondered much whether by any chance he also
had taken a tot out of that particular whisky bottle,
as indeed he had recommended him to do. People
who drink whisky after long abstinence from spirits
are apt to sleep long, he reflected.
Alan crept out of the shelter and gazed affectionately
at the tent in which Barbara slumbered. Thank
Heaven she was safe so far, as for some unknown reason,
evidently the Asiki had postponed their attack.
Just then a clamour arose in the air, and he perceived
Jeekie striding towards him waving one arm in an excited
fashion, while with the other he dragged along the
captain of the porters, who appeared to be praying
for mercy.
“Here pretty go, Major,” he shouted, “devil
and all to pay! That my Lord, he gone and bolted.
This silly fool say that three hours ago he hear something
break through fence and think it only hyaena what come
to steal, so take no notice. Well, that hyaena,
you guess who he is. You come look, Major, you
come look, and then we tie this fellow up and flog
him.”
Alan ran to Aylward’s tent to find it empty.
“Look,” said Jeekie, who had followed,
“see how he do business, that jolly clever hyaena,”
and he pointed to a broken whisky bottle and some
severed cords. “You see he manage break
bottle and rub rope against cut glass till it come
in two. Then he do hyaena dodge and hook it.”
Alan inspected the articles, nor did any shadow of
doubt enter his mind.
“Certainly he managed very well,” he said,
“especially for a London-bred man, but, Jeekie,
what can have been his object?”
“Oh! who know, Major? Mind of man very
strange and various thing; p’raps he no bear
to see you and Miss Barbara together; p’raps
he bolt coast, get ear of local magistrate before
you; p’raps he sit up tree to shoot you; p’raps
nasty temper make him mad. But he gone any way,
and I hope he no meet Asiki, poor fellow, ’cause
if so, who know? P’raps they knock him
on head, or if they think him you, they make him prisoner
and keep him quite long while before they let him
go again.”
