have
never imagined. Now let me hear your word."

Then Owl No. 2 answered:

"Brother, I make the bargain on behalf of the army, and swear to it by
the double Swimming Head of Bonsa. We will come and take the white man,
Vernoon, who is to be Mungana, and carry him away. In return we promise
not to follow or molest you, or any others in your camp. Indeed, why
should we, who do not desire to be killed by the dreadful magic that
you have, a magic that makes a noise and pierces through our bodies from
afar? What were the words of the Asika? 'Bring back Vernoon, or perish.
I care for nothing else, bring back Vernoon to be my husband.'"

"Good," said Owl No. 1, "within the half of an hour Vernoon shall be
ready for you."

"Good," answered Owl No. 2, "within half an hour eight of us will be
without the east face of your camp to receive him."

"Silently?"

"Silently, my brother in Bonsa. If he cries out we will gag him. Fear
not, none shall know your part in this matter."

"Good, my brother in Bonsa. By the way, how is Big Bonsa? I fear that
the white man, Vernoon, hurt him very much, and that is why I give him
up--because of his sacrilege."

"When I left the god was very sick and all the people mourned, but
doubtless he is immortal."

"Doubtless he is immortal, my brother, a little hard magic in his
stomach--if he has one--cannot hurt _him_. Farewell, dear brother in
Bonsa, I wish that I were you to get the great reward that the Asika
will give to you. Farewell, farewell."

Then the two owls flitted apart again, hooting as they went, till they
came to their respective camps.

Jeekie was in the tent performing a strange toilet upon the sleeping
Aylward by the light of a single candle. From his pouch he produced the
mask of linen painted with gold that Alan used to be forced to wear, and
tied it securely over Aylward's face, murmuring:

"You always love gold, my Lord Aylward, and Jeekie promise you see
plenty of it now."

Then he proceeded to remove his coat, his waistcoat, his socks, and his
boots and to replace these articles of European attire by his own worn
Asiki sandals and his own dirty Asiki robe.

"There," he said, "think that do," and he studied him by the light of
the candle. "Same height, same colour hair, same dirty clothes, and as
Asiki never see Major's face because he always wear mask in public, like
as two peas on shovel. Oh my! Jeekie clever chap, Jeekie devilish clever
chap. But when Asik