tion of one ostrich
and eat her up with all his mates, all except one who not like her taste
and tell me. They catch poor old lady asleep by road so stop and lunch
at once when Asiki bearers not looking. Let me get at him, Major, let me
get at him. If I can't bury my ma, as all good son ought to do, I bury
him, which next best thing."

"Jeekie, Jeekie," said Alan, "exercise a Christian spirit and let
bygones be bygones. If you don't, you will make a quarrel between us and
the Ogula, and they will give us up to the Asiki. Perhaps the man
did not eat your mother; I understand that he denies it, and when you
remember what she was like, it seems incredible. At any rate he has a
right to a trial, and I will speak to Fahni about it to-morrow."

So they were separated, but as it chanced that case never came on, for
next morning this Ogula was killed in the fighting together with two of
his companions, while the others involved in the charge kept themselves
out of sight. Whether Jeekie's "ma" was or was not eaten by the Ogula no
one ever learned for certain. At least she was never heard of any more.

Alan was sleeping heavily when a sound of rushing feet and of strange,
thrilling battle-cries awoke him. He sprang up, snatching at a spear and
shield which Jeekie had provided for him, and ran out to find from the
position of the moon that dawn was near.

"Come on, Major," said Jeekie, "Asiki make night attack; they always
like do everything at night who love darkness, because their eye evil.
Come on quick, Major," and he began to drag him off toward the rear.

"But that's the wrong way," said Alan presently. "They are attacking
over there."

"Do you think Jeekie fool, Major, that he don't know that? He take you
where they _not_ attacking. Plenty Ogula to be killed, but not _many_
white men like you, and in all world only _one_ Jeekie!"

"You cold-blooded old scoundrel!" ejaculated Alan as he turned and
bolted back towards the noise of fighting, followed by his reluctant
servant.

By the time that he reached the first ranks, which were some way off,
the worst of the attack was over. It had been short and sharp, for the
Asiki had hoped to find the Ogula unprepared and to take their camp with
a rush. But the Ogula, who knew their habits, were waiting for them,
so that presently they withdrew, carrying off their wounded and leaving
about fifty dead upon the ground. As soon as he was quite sure that the
enemy were all gone, J