Indeed Jeekie assured him that
the priests who had put on the headdress when he was insensible were
first blindfolded.
This news depressed Alan very much, since the prospect of living in a
linen mask for an indefinite period was not cheerful. Recovering, he
chanted a query as to the fate of the Ogula crew and their chief Fahni.
"Not de-ad," intoned Jeekie in reply, "and not gone back. A-all alive-O,
somewhere behind there. Fanny very sick about it, for he think Asiki
bring them along for sacrifice, poo-or beg-gars."
Finally he inquired where Little Bonsa was and was answered that he
himself as its lawful guardian, was sitting on the fetish in its tin
box, tidings that he was able to verify by groping beneath the cushions.
After this his voice gave out, though Jeekie continued to sing items of
interesting news from time to time. Indeed there were other things that
absorbed Alan's attention. Looking through the peepholes and cracks in
the curtains, he saw that at last they had reached the crest of a ridge
up which they had been climbing for hours. Before them lay a vast and
fertile valley, much of which seemed to be under cultivation, and down
it flowed a broad and placid river.
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