"Oh, my golly!" said Jeekie, shaking till his great knees knocked
together, "oh! my golly! here pretty go. She think you want bury me all
alive. That mean she want to be rid of Jeekie, because he got sit there
and play gooseberry when she wish talk alone with you. Oh, yes! I see
her little game."
"Well, Jeekie," said Alan, bursting into such a roar of laughter that he
nearly shook off his mask, "you had better be careful, for you just told
me that the Asika is not like a see-saw white woman and never changes
her mind. Say to this man that he must tell the Asika there is a
mistake, and that however much I should like to oblige her, I can't bury
you because it has been prophesied to me that on the day you are buried,
I shall be buried also, and that therefore you must be kept alive."
"Capital notion that, Major," said Jeekie, much relieved. "She not want
bury you just at present; next year perhaps, but not now. I tell him."
And he did with much vigour.
This slight misconception having been disposed of, they explained to the
carpenters what was wanted. First, all the gold was emptied out of the
sacks in which it remained as the priests had brought it, and divided
into heaps, each of which weighed about forty pounds, a weight that
with its box Alan considered would be a good load for a porter.
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