"
"What is to happen?" he asked uneasily. "I have told you, Lady, that
blood is _orunda_ to me. I must not witness it."
"I know, be not afraid," she answered. "Sacrifice there must be, since
it is the custom and we may not defraud the gods, but you shall not see
the deed. Judge from this, Vernoon, how greatly I desire to please you."
Now Alan, looking about him, saw that immediately beneath the dais
and between them and the edge of the water, were gathered his cannibal
friends, the Ogula, and Fahni their chief who had rowed him to
Asiki-land, and with them the messengers whom they had sent on ahead.
Also he saw that their arms were tied behind them and that they were
guarded by men dressed like devils and armed with spears.
"Ask Fahni why he and his people are bound, Jeekie," said Alan, "and why
have they not returned to their own country."
Jeekie obeyed, putting the question in the Ogula language, whereon the
poor men turned and began to implore Alan to save their lives, Fahni
adding that he had been told they were to be killed that night.
"Why are these men to be slain?" asked Alan of the Asika.
"Because I have learned that they attacked you in their own country,
Vernoon," she answered, "and would have killed you had it not been for
Little Bonsa.
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