Say to them that the Asiki must send out a company that
Little Bonsa and the Magician with whom she ran away, may be escorted
back to her house with the state which has been hers from the beginning
of time. Say to them also that they must prepare a great offering of
pure gold out of their store, as much gold as fifty strong men can
carry, not one handful less, to be given to the White Magician who
brings back Small Swimming Head, for if they withhold such an offering,
he and Little Bonsa will vanish never to be seen again, and curses
and desolation will fall upon their land. Rise and obey, Chief of the
Ogula."
Then the man scrambled to his feet and answered:
"It shall be done, O Priest of the Yellow God. To-morrow at the dawn
swift messengers will start for the Gold House of the Asiki. To-night
they cannot leave, as we are all very hungry and must eat."
"What must you eat?" asked Jeekie suspiciously.
"O Priest," answered the chief with a deprecatory gesture, "when first
we saw you we hoped that it would be the white man and yourself, for we
have never tasted white man. But now we fear that you will not consent
to this, and as you are holy and the guardian of the god, we cannot eat
you without your own consent.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181