Thus died the Mungana, and such was the poor wretch's requiem. With
a shiver Alan reflected that had it not been for him and his insane
jealousy, he too might have been expected to go into that same
scent-bath and have his face painted like a chorus girl. Only would he
escape the spell that had destroyed his predecessor in the affections of
the priestess of the Bonsas? Or would some dim power such as had drawn
Mungana to the death drag him back to the arms of the Asika or to the
torture pit of "Great Swimming Head." He remembered his dream in the
Treasure Hall and shuddered at the very thought of it, for all he had
undergone and seen made him superstitious; then bade the men paddle
faster, ever faster.

All that night they rowed on, taking turns to rest, except Alan and
Jeekie, who slept a good deal and as a consequence awoke at dawn much
refreshed. When the sun rose they found themselves across the lagoon,
over thirty miles from the borders of Asiki-land, almost at the spot
where the river up which they had travelled some months before,
flowed out of the lake. Whether by chance or skill Fahni had steered a
wonderfully straight course. Now, however, they were face to face with a
new trouble, for scarcely had they begun to descend the river when they
discovered that at this dry season of the year it was in many places
too shallow to allow the canoe to pass over the sand and mud banks.
Evidently there was but one thing to be done--abandon it and walk.

So they landed, ate from their store of food and began a terrible and
toilsome journey. On either side of the river lay dessicated swamp
covered with dead reeds ten or twelve feet high. Doubtless beyond the
swamp there was high land, but in order to reach this, if it existed,
they would be obliged to force a path through miles of reeds. Therefore