me she die her soul go into someone else,
whom priests find out by marks. Also Asika always die young, they never
let her become old woman, but how she die and where they bury her, no
one know 'cept priests. Sometimes she have girl child who become Asika
after her, but if they have boy child, they kill him. I think this Asika
daughter of her who make love to your reverend uncle. All that story
'bout her mother not being married, lies, and all her story lies too,
she often marry."

"But how about the spirit coming back, Jeekie?"

"'Spect that lie too, Major, though she think it solemn fact. Priests
teach her all those old things. Still," he added doubtfully, "Asika
great medicine-woman and know a lot we don't know, can't say how. Very
awkward customer, Major."

"Quite so, Jeekie, I agree with you. But to come to the point, what is
her game with me?"

"Oh! Major," he answered with a grin, "_that_ simple enough. She tired
of black man, want change, mean to marry you according to law, that is
when Mungana dies, and he die jolly quick now. She mustn't kill him,
but polish him off all the same, stick him to sleep with those dead uns,
till he go like drunk man and see things and drown himself. Then she
marry you. But till he dead, you all right, she only talk and make eyes,
'cause of Asiki law, not 'cause she want to stop there."

"Indeed, Jeekie, and how long do you think that Mungana will last?"

"Perhaps three months, Major, and perhaps two. Think not more than two.
Strong man, but he look devilish dicky this morning. Think he begin see
snakes."

"Very well, Jeekie. Now listen to me--you've got to get us out of
Asiki-land by this day two months. If you don't, that lady will do
anything to oblige me and no doubt there are more executioners left."

"Oh! Major, don't talk like silly fool. Jeekie always hate fools and
suffer them badly--like holy first missionary bishop. You know very well
this no place for ultra-Christian man like Jeekie, who only come here
to please you. Both in same bag, Major, if I die, you die and leave
Miss Barbara up gum tree. I get you out if I can. But this stuff the
trouble," and he pointed to the bags of gold. "Not want to leave
all that behind after such arduous walk. No, no, I try get you out,
meanwhile you play game."

"The game! What game, Jeekie?"

"What game? Why, Asika-game of course. If she sigh, you sigh; if she
look at you, you look at her; if she squeeze hand, you squeeze hand;