第15章
“Jeekie，“hesaid，“youareagreatrascal——“
“Yes，yes，“interruptedJeekie，“greatrascal。Bestthingtobeinthisworld，Major。HonourableSirRobert，Bart。，M。P。，andMr。
Champers-Haswell，D。L。，J。P。，theyfindthatoutlongagoandsitontopoftreeofopulentrenown。JeekiegreatrascalandthereforehaveSavingsBankaccount——goon，Major。“
“Well，Jeekie，becauseifyouarearascalyouarekind-heartedandbecauseIbelievethatyoucareforme——“
“Oh！Major，“brokeinJeekieagain，“thatmost’utterablytrue。HonourbrightIloveyou，Major，betterthananyoneonearth，exceptmylateoldwoman，nowhappilydead，goneandforgotteninbestoakcoffin，￡4
10withoutfittingsbutpolished，andperhapsyourholyuncle，ReverendMr。Austin，alsocoffinedanddeparted，whosavedmefromearlyextinctioninadarkplace。Major，Inolikegraves，Iseetoomuchofthem，andcan’ttellwhatlieonotherside。Thougheveryonesaytheyknow，Jeekienotquitesure。Maybealllightandcrownsofglory，maybedampblackholeandnowayout。Butthisatleasttrue，thatIloveyoubetter，yes，betterthanMissBarbara，forloveofwomanverypoor，uncertainthing，quickcome，quickgo。Jeekiefindthatout——often。Yes，ifneedbe，thoughdeathmostnasty，ifneedbeIsayIdieforyou，whichgreatunpleasantsacrifice，“andJeekieinthegenuineenthusiasmofhiswarmheart，throwinghimselfuponhiskneesaftertheAfricanfashion，seizedhismaster’shandandkissedit。
“Thanks，Jeekie，“saidAlan，“verykindofyou，Iamsure。Butwehaven’tcometothatyet，thoughnooneknowswhatmayhappenlateron。Nowsituponthatchairandtakealittlewhisky——nottoomuch——
forIamgoingtoaskyouradvice。“
“Major，“saidJeekie，“Iobey，“andseizingthewhiskybottleinacasualmanner，hepouredouthalfatumblerfull，forJeekiewasfondofwhisky。Indeedbeforenowthistastehadbroughthimintoconflictwiththelocalmagistrates。
“Putbackthreepartsofthat，“saidAlan，andJeekiedidso。“Now，“
hewenton，“listen:thisisthecase，MissBarbaraandIare——“andhehesitated。
“Oh！Iknow；likemeandMrs。Jeekieonce，“saidJeekie，gulpingdownsomeoftheneatwhisky。“Goon，Major。“
“AndSirRobertAylwardis——“
“Samething，Major。Continue。“
“AndMr。Haswellhas——“
“Thosefactsallascertained，Major，“saidJeekie，contemplatinghisglasswithamournfuleye。“Nowcometothepoint，Major。“
“Well，thepointis，Jeekie，thatIamwhatyoucalledjustnowcashless，andtherefore——“
“Therefore，“interruptedJeekieagain，“stickfastinhonourableintentiontowardsMissBarbaraowingtoobstinateoppositionofMr。
Haswell，legalunclewithcontrolofpropertyfomentedbynobleSirRobertwhodesiresamegirl。“
“Quiteright，Jeekie，butifyouwouldtalkalittlelessandletmetalkalittlemore，wemightgetonbetter。“
“Ihenceforthsilent，Major，“andliftinghisemptytumblerJeekielookedthroughitasifitwereatelescope，ahintthatAlanignored。
“Jeekie，youinfernaloldfool，Iwantmoney。“
“Yes，Major，Iunderstand，Major。Forgivemeforbreakingconspiracyofsilence，butif￡500inSavingsBankanyuse，verymuchatyourservice，Major；also￡20moreextractedlastnightfromterrorofwealthyJewwhofearfetish。“
“Jeekie，youolddonkey，Idon’twantyour￡500；Iwantagreatdealmore，￡50，000or￡500，000。Tellmehowtogetit。“
“Citybestplace，Major。ButyouchuckCity，toomuchhonestman，greatmistaketobehonestinthisterrestrialsphere。OftennoticethatinWestAfrica。“
“Perhaps，Jeekie，butIhavedonewiththeCity。Asyouwouldsay，formeitis’wipeout，finish。’“
“Yes，Major，toomuchpickpocket，toomuchdirt。Bottomalwaysdropoutofbucketshopatlast。Iunderstand，endinpolicecourtandseveremagistrate，orperhapseven’GentlemenofJury’；etcetera。“
“Well，Jeekie，thenwhatremains？Nowlastnightwhenyoutoldusthatamazingyarnofyours，yousaidsomethingaboutamountainfullofgold，andhousesfullofgold，amongyourpeople。Jeekie，doyouthink——“andhepaused，lookingathim。
Jeekierolledhisblackeyesroundtheroomandinafitofabsentmindednesshelpedhimselftosomemorewhisky。
“DoIthink，Major，thatthisuselesslucrecouldbeconvertedintocoinofgraciousKingEdward？Notatall，Major，bynoone，Major，bynoonewhatsoever，exceptpossiblybyMajorAlanVernon，D。S。O。，andbyone，Jeekie，ChristiansurnameSmith。“
“Proceed，Jeekie，“saidAlan，removingthewhiskybottle，“proceedandexplain。“
“Major，thus:TheAsikitribecarenothingaboutallthatgold，itnogoodtothem。Deadpeoplewholivelong，longago，nooneknowwhen，digitupandstoreitthereandmakethegreatfetishwhichtheycallBonsatokeepawayenemywhowanttosteal。Alsooldcustomwhenanyoneincountryroundfindbignugget，orprettystone，likeladieswearonbosom，tobringitasofferingtoBonsa，sothattherenowgreatplentyofallthisstuff。ButnooneuseitforanythingexcepttosetonwallsofhouseofAsiki，ortomakebasin，stool，tableandpottocookwith。OnceArabcomethereandIseethepriestsgivehimweightingoldforironhoe，thoughafterwardstheymurderhim，notforthegold，butlesthegoawayandtelltheirsecret。“
“Onemighttradewiththemthen，Jeekie？“
Heshookhiswhiteheaddoubtfully。
“Yes，perhaps，ifyoucanfindanythingtheywantbuyandcancarryitthere。ButIthinkthereonlyonethingtheywant，andyougotthat，Major。“
“I，Jeekie！WhathaveIgot？“
Thenegroleantforwardandtappedhismasterontheknee，sayinginaportentouswhisper:
“YougotLittleBonsa，whichmuchmoreholythananything，eventhanBigBonsaherhusband，Imeangreater，morepowerfuldevil。ThatLittleBonsasitinfrontroomAsika’shouse，andwhenshewantseethings，sheputitinbigbasinofgold，butInotellyouwhatitfloatin。AlsoonceortwiceeveryyeartheytakeoutLittleBonsa；
Asikawearitonheadasmask，andwhoevertheymeettheykillasofferingtoLittleBonsa，sothatspiritcomebacktoworldtobepriestofBonsa。Itellyou，Major，thatYellowGodseemanythousandofpeopledie。“
“Indeed，“saidAlan。“Apleasingfetishtruly。IshouldthinkthattheAsikimustbegladitisgone。“
“No，notglad，verysorry。NoluckforthemwhenLittleBonsagoaway，butplentyluckforthosewhogother。ThatwhyfirmAylward&Haswellmakesomuchmoneywhenyoujointhemandbringhertooffice。Shedropgreenineyeofpublicsotheynosmellrat。Thatwhyyousolucky，notdieofblackwaterfeverwhenyoushould；getsafeoutofdenofthievesinCitywithgoodname；winloveofsweetmaiden，MissBarbara。LittleBonsadoallthosethingsforyou，andbyandbydoplentymore，asLittleBonsabringmyoldmaster，yourholyuncle，safeoutofthatcountrybecausealltheAsikirunawaywhentheyseehimwearheronhead，fortheythinkshecomesacrificethemaftersheeatupmylife。“
“Idon’twonderthattheyran，“saidAlan，laughing，forthevisionofamissionarywithLittleBonsaonhisheadcaughthisfancy。“Butcometothepoint，youoldheathen。WhatdoyoumeanthatIshoulddo？“
“Jeekienotheathennow，Major，butplentyotherthingstrueinthisworld，besidesChristianreligion。Inowantyoudoanything，butI
saythis——yougobacktoAsikiwearingLittleBonsaonheadanddressedlikeReverendunclewhomyouverylike，forhejustyouragethenthirtyyearsago，andtheygiveyouallthegoldyouwant，ifyougivethembackLittleBonsawhomtheyloveandworshipforeverandever，forLittleBonsavery，veryold。“
AlansatupinhischairandstaredatJeekie，whileJeekienoddedhisheadathim。
“Thereissomethinginit，“hesaidslowly，speakingmoretohimselfthantothenegro，“andperhapsthatiswhyIwouldnotsellthefetish，forasyousay，thereareplentyoftruethingsintheworldbesidesthosewhichwebelieve。But，Jeekie，howshouldIfindtheway？“
“Notrouble，Major，LittleBonsafindway，wanttogetbackhome，veryhungrybynow，muchneedsacrifice。ThinkitgoodthingkillpigtoLittleBonsa——orevenlamb。Sheknowyoudoyourbest，sincehumanbeingnottobecomeatinChristianland，andsay’thankyouforlifeofpig。’“
“Stopthatrubbish，“saidAlan。“Iwantaguide；ifIgo，willyoucomewithme？“
Atthissuggestionthenegrolookedexceedinglyuncomfortable。
“Notliketo，notliketoatall，“hesaid，rollinghiseyes。“Asiki-
landveryfunnyplacefornative-born。But，“headdedsadly，“ifyougoJeekiemust，forIservantofLittleBonsaandifIstaybehind，sheangryandkillmebecauseInotattendherwhereshewalk。ButperhapsifIgoandtakehertoGoldHouseagain，shepleasedandletmeoff。AlsoIablehelpyouthere。Yes，ifyouandLittleBonsago，thinkIgotoo。“
AfterthisannouncementJeekieroseandwalkeddowntheroom，carryingthecoldmuttoninhishand。Thenhereturned，replaceditonthetableandstandinginfrontofAlan，saidearnestly:
“Major，Itellyoualltruth，justthisonce。Jeekiebelievehe/got/