eat too much supper, p'raps his ma dead, after all. If so, p'raps better
stay at home--not know."

"No," answered Alan, "not know. What between Little Bonsa and one thing
and another my head is swimming--like Little Bonsa in the water."

"Big Bonsa swim in water," interrupted Jeekie. "Little Bonsa swim in
gold tub."

"Well, Big Bonsa, or Little Bonsa, I don't care which. I'm going to bed
and you had better clear away these things and do the same. But, Jeekie,
if you say a word of our talk to anyone, I shall be very angry. Do you
understand?"

"Yes, Major, I understand. I understand that if I tell secrets of Little
Bonsa to anyone except you with whom she live in strange land far away
from home, Little Bonsa come at me like one lion, and cut my throat.
No fear Jeekie split on Little Bonsa, oh! no fear at all," and still
shaking his head solemnly, for the second time he seized the cold mutton
and vanished from the room.

"A farrago of superstitious nonsense," thought Alan to himself when
he had gone. "But still there may be something to be made out of it.
Evidently there is lots of gold in this Asiki country, if only one can
persuade the people to deal."

Then weary of Jeekie and his tribal gods, Alan lit his pipe and sat a
while thinking of Barbara and all the events of that tumultuous
day. Notwithstanding his rebuff at the hands of Mr. Haswell and the
difficulties and dangers which threatened, he felt even then that it had