Walk
fast and far, for the Asiki are clever at following a spoor. Good-night,
Friend, and to you, Jeekie the cunning, good-night also. I go to tell my
captains that I will surrender you at dawn," and without more words he
vanished out of their sight and out of their lives.
Meanwhile Jeekie, foreseeing the issue of this talk, was already engaged
in doing up their few belongings, including the gold rings, some food,
and a native cooking pot, in a bundle surrounded by a couple of bark
blankets.
"Come on, Major," he said, handing Alan one spear and taking another
himself. "Old cannibal quite right, very nice night for a walk. Come on,
Major, river shallow just here. I think this happen and try it before
dark. You just follow Jeekie, that all you got to do."
So leaving the fire burning in front of their bough shelter, they waded
the stream and started up the opposing slope, meeting no man. Dark as
it was, Jeekie seemed to have no difficulty in finding the way, for as
Fahni said, a native does not forget the path he has once travelled. All
night long they walked rapidly, and when dawn broke found themselves at
the edge of the forest.
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