He not fool, very big gun, but look a
little low now because his time soon up. Come on, Major, Asika beckon
us. Get on stomach and crawl; that custom here," he added, going down on
to his hands and knees, as did all the priests who followed them.
"I'll see her hanged first," answered Alan in English.
Then accompanied by the creeping Jeekie and the train of prostrate
priests, he marched up the long hall to the edge of the dais and there
stood still and bowed to the woman in the chair.
"Greeting, white man," she said in a low voice when she had studied him
for a while. "Do you understand my tongue?"
"A little," he answered in Asiki, "moreover, my servant here knows it
well and can translate."
"I am glad," she said. "Tell me then, in your country do not people
go on to their knees before their queen, and if not, how do they greet
her?"
"No," answered Alan with the help of Jeekie. "They greet her by raising
their head-dress or kissing her hand."
"Ah!" she said. "Well, you have no head-dress, so kiss _my_ hand," and
she stretched it out towards him, at the same time prodding the man whom
Jackie had said was her husband, in the back with her foot, apparently
to make him get out of the way.
Pages:
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232