annot take what I love and reject
what I hate? Go away, Vernoon, go away, you have angered me, and if it
were not for what you have said about that new law of mercy, I think
that I would cut your throat," and again she boxed Jeekie's ears and
kicked him in the shins.

Alan rose and bowed himself towards the door while she stood with her
back towards him, sobbing. As he was about to pass it she wheeled round,
wiping the tears from her eyes with her hand, and said:

"I forgot, I sent for you to thank you for your presents; that," and she
pointed to the lion skin, "which they tell me you killed with some kind
of thunder to save the life of that old cannibal, and this," and she
pulled off the necklace of claws, then added, "as I am too bad to wear
it, you had better take it back again," and she threw it with all her
strength straight into Jeekie's face.

Fearing worse things, the much maltreated Jeekie uttered a howl and
bolted through the door, while Alan, picking up the necklace, returned
it to her with a bow. She took it.

"Stop," she said. "You are leaving the room without your mask and my
women are outside. Come here," and she tied the thing upon his head,
setting it all awry, then pushed him from the place.

"Very poor joke, Major, very poor indeed," said Jeekie when they had
reached their own apartment. "Lady make love to _you_; _you_ play prig
and lecture lady about holy customs of her country and she box _my_ ear
till head sing, also kick me all over and throw sharp claws in face.
Please you do it no more. The next time, who knows? she stick knife in
_my_ gizzard, then kiss _you_ afterward and say she so sorry and hope
she no hurt _you_. But how that help poor departed Jeekie who get all
kicks, while you have ha'pence?"

"Oh! be quiet," said Alan; "you are welcome to the halfpence if you
would only leave me the kicks. The question is, how am I to get out of
this mess? While she was a beautiful savage devil, one could deal with
the thing, but if she is going to become human it is another matter."

Jeekie looked at him with pity in his eyes.

"Always thought white man mad at bottom," he said, shaking his big head.
"To benighted black nigger thing so very simple. All you got to do, make
love and cut when you get chance. Then she pleased as Punch, everything
go smooth and Jeekie get no more kicks. Christian religion business very
good, but won't wash in Asiki-land. Your reverend uncle find out that."

Not wis