me here to do. Now I want jolly good sacrifice and
got plenty business attend to there at home, things you not understand
just yet. You take me back sharp, or I make you sit up, Jeekie, my
boy;'" and he paused.

"Indeed," said Alan; "and did she tell you anything else in her midnight
visitations?"

"Yes, Major. She say, 'You take that white master of yours along also,
for I want come back Asiki-land on his head, and someone wish see him
there, old pal, what he forget but what not forget him. You tell him
Little Bonsa got score she wants settle with that party and wish use him
to square account. You tell him too that she pay him well for trip; he
lose nothing if he play her game 'cause she got no score against him.
But if he not go, that another matter, then he look out, for Little
Bonsa very nasty customer if she riled, as his late partners find out
one day.'"

"Oh! shut up, Jeekie. What's the use of wasting time telling me your
nightmares?"

"Very well, Major, just as you like, Major. But I got other reasons why
I willing go. Jeekie want see his ma."

"Your ma? I never heard you had a ma. Besides she must be dead long
ago."

"No, Major, 'cause she turn up in dream too, very much alive, swear at
me 'cause I bag her blanket. Also she tough old woman, take lot kill
her."

"Perhaps you have a pa too," suggested Alan.

"Think not, Major, my ma always say she forget him. What she mean,
she not like talk about him, he such a swell. Why Jeekie so strong, so
clever and with such beautiful face? No doubt because he is son of
very great man. All this true reason why he want to go with you, Major.
Still, p'raps poor old Jeekie make mistake, p'raps he dream 'cause he
eat too much supper, p'raps his ma dead, after all. If so, p'raps better
stay at home--not know."

"No," answered Alan, "not know. What between Little Bonsa and one thing
and another my head is swimming--like Little Bonsa in the water."

"Big Bonsa swim in water," interrupted Jeekie. "Little Bonsa swim in
gold tub."

"Well, Big Bonsa, or Little Bonsa, I don't care which. I'm going to bed
and you had better clear away these things and do the same. But, Jeekie,
if you say a word of our talk to anyone, I shall be very angry. Do you
understand?"

"Yes, Major, I understand. I understand that if I tell secrets of Little
Bonsa to anyone except you with whom she live in strange land far away
from home, Little Bonsa come at me like one lion, and cut my throat.