nd the priests, the band
bringing up the rear, Alan was marched down a lane left open for him
till he came to some steps leading to the dais, upon which in addition
to that occupied by the Asika, stood two empty chairs. These steps the
Mungana motioned him to mount, but when Jeekie tried to follow him he
turned and struck him contemptuously in the face. At once the Asika, who
was watching Vernon's approach through the eye-holes in the Little Bonsa
mask, said fiercely:

"Who bade you strike the servant of my guest, O Mungana? Let him come
also that he may stand behind us and interpret."

Her wretched husband, who knew that this public slight was put upon him
purposely, but did not dare to protest against it, bowed his head. Then
all three of them climbed to the dais, the priests and the musicians
remaining below.

"Welcome, Vernoon," said the Asika through the lips of the mask, which
to Alan, notwithstanding the dreadful cruelty of its expression, looked
less hateful than the lovely, tigerish face it hid. "Welcome and be
seated here on my left hand, since on my right you may not sit--as yet."

He bowed and took the chair to which she pointed, while her husband
placed himself in the other chair upon her right, and Jeekie stood
behind, his great shape towering above them all.

"This is a festival of my people, Vernoon," she went on, "such a
festival as has not been seen for years, celebrated because Little Bonsa
has come back to them."

"What is to happen?" he asked uneasily. "I have told you, Lady, that
blood is _orunda_ to me. I must not witness it."

"I know, be not afraid," she answered. "Sacrifice there must be, since
it is the custom and we may not defraud the gods, but you shall not see
the deed. Judge from this, Vernoon, how greatly I desire to please you."

Now Alan, looking about him, saw that immediately beneath the dais
and between them and the edge of the water, were gathered his cannibal
friends, the Ogula, and Fahni their chief who had rowed him to
Asiki-land, and with them the messengers whom they had sent on ahead.
Also he saw that their arms were tied behind them and that they were
guarded by men dressed like devils and armed with spears.

"Ask Fahni why he and his people are bound, Jeekie," said Alan, "and why
have they not returned to their own country."

Jeekie obeyed, putting the question in the Ogula language, whereon the
poor men turned and began to implore Alan to save their lives, Fahni