"No go," he muttered, "no go! If we get past priests, Asika catch us
with her magic. When I bolt with your reverend uncle last time, Little
Bonsa arrange business because she go abroad fetch you. Now likely as
not she bowl you out, and then good-bye Jeekie."

Alan sternly bade him be quiet and stop behind if he did not wish to
come.

"No, no, Major," he answered, "I come all right. Asika very prejudiced
beggar, and if she find me here alone--oh my! Better die double after
all, Two's company, Major. Now, all ready, _March!_" and he gave the
unfortunate Mungana a fearful kick as a hint to proceed.

So utterly crushed was the poor wretch that even this insult did not
stir him to resentment.

"Follow me, white man," he said, "and if you desire to live, be silent.
Throw your cloaks about your heads."

They did so, and holding their revolvers in their right hands, glided
after the Mungana. In the corner of the big room they came to a little
stair. How it opened in that place where no stair had been, they could
not see or even guess, for it was too dark, only now they knew the means
by which the Asika had been able to visit them at night.

The Mungana went first down the stair. Jeekie followed, grasping him by
the arm with one hand, while in the other he kept his own knife ready
to stab him at the first sign of treachery. Alan brought up the rear,
keeping hold of Jeekie's cloak. They passed down twelve steps of stair,
then turned to the right along a tunnel, then to the left, then to the