“Perhaps so, Jeekie, but I wish I could be sure you had seen nothing.  Listen to me; we must get out of this place somehow, or as you say, I shall go off my chump.  It’s haunted, Jeekie, its haunted, and I think that Asika is a devil, not a woman.”

“That what priests say, Major, very old devil—­part of Bonsa,” he answered, looking at his master anxiously.  “Well, don’t you fret, Jeekie not afraid of devils, Jeekie get you out in good time.  Go to bed and leave it all to Jeekie.”

Fifteen more days had gone by, and it was the eve of the night of the second full moon when Alan was destined to become the husband of the Asika.  She had sent for him that morning and he found her radiant with happiness.  Whether or no she believed Jeekie’s interpretation of the visions she had called up, it seemed quite certain that her mind was void of fears and doubts.  She was sure that Alan was about to become her husband, and had summoned all the people of the Asiki to be present at the ceremony of their marriage, and incidentally of the death of the Mungana who, poor wretch, was to be forced to kill himself upon that occasion.

Before they parted she had spoken to Alan sweetly enough.

“Vernoon,” she said, “I know that you do not love me as I love you, but the love will come, since for your sake I will change myself.  I will grow gentle; I will shed no more blood; that of the Mungana shall be the last, and even him I would spare if I could, only while he lives I may not marry you; it is the one law that is stronger than I am, and if I broke it I and you would die at once.  You shall even teach me your faith, if you will, for what is good to you is henceforth good to me.  Ask what you wish of me, and as an earnest I will do it if I can.”

Now Alan looked at her.  There was one thing that he wished above all others—­that she would let him go.  But this he did not dare to ask; moreover, it would have been utterly useless.  After all, if the Asika’s love was terrible, what would be the appearance of her outraged hate?  What could he ask?  More gold?  He hated the very name of the stuff, for it had brought him here.  He remembered the old cannibal chief, Fahni, who, like himself, languished a prisoner, daily expecting death.  Only that morning he had implored him to obtain his liberty.

“I thank you, Asika,” he said.  “Now, if your words are true, set Fahni free and let him return to his own country, for if he stays here he will die.”

“Surely, Vernoon, that is a small thing,” she answered, smiling, “though it is true that when he gets there he will probably make war upon us.  Well, let him, let him.”  Then she clapped her hands and summoned priests, whom she bade go at once and conduct Fahni out of Bonsa-Town.  Also she bade them loose certain slaves who were of the Ogula tribe, that they might accompany him laden with provisions, and send on orders to the outposts that Fahni and his party should pass unmolested from the land.