do what I tell you just to please Jeekie. Jeekie no one in England, but
Jeekie damn big Lord too out here, great medicine man, pal of Little
Bonsa. You remember Little Bonsa, eh! These chaps think it great honour
to meet Jeekie, so, Major, if he stir, please shoot him through head;
Jeekie 'sponsible, not you. Or if you not like do it, I come back and
see to job myself and don't think those fellows cry very much."

There was something about Jeekie's manner that frightened Aylward, who
understood for the first time that beneath all the negro's grotesque
talk lay some dreadful, iron purpose, as courage lay under his affected
cowardice and under his veneer of selfishness, fidelity. At any rate he
halted with Alan, who stood beside him, the revolver of which Aylward
had been relieved by Jeekie, in his hand. Meanwhile Jeekie, who held the
rifle which he had reloaded, went on and met the natives about twenty
yards away.

"We always disliked each other, Vernon, but I must say that I never
thought a day would come when you proposed to murder me in my own camp,"
said Aylward.

"Odd thing," answered Alan, "but a very similar idea was in my mind.
I never thought, Lord Aylward, that however unscrupulous you might
be--financially--a day would come when you would attempt to shoot down
an unarmed man in an African forest. Oh! don't waste breath in lying; I
saw you recognize me, aim, and fire, after which Jeekie would have had
the other barrel, and who then would have remained to tell the story,
Lord Aylward?"

Aylward made no answer, but Alan felt that if wishes could kill him he
would not live long. His eye fell upon a long, unmistakable mound of