下载辰思小说免费APP
“Myhusband，thief，whichhusband？Doyoumeanyourfather，theonewiththebrokennose，whowassacrificedbecauseyouranawaywiththewhitemanwhomBonsaloved？Well，youlookoutforhimwhenyougetintotheworldofghosts，forhesaidthathewasgoingtowaitforyoutherewiththebiggeststickthathecouldfind。WhyIhaven’tthoughtofhimforyears，butthenIhavehadthreeotherhusbandssincehistime，badenough，butbetterthanhewas，sowhowould？AndnowBonsahasgotthelot，andIhavenochildrenalive，andtheysayIamtobedrivenoutoftheprisontostarvenextweekastheywon’tfeedmeanylonger，Iwhocanstillworkagainstanyoneofthem，and——you’vegotmyblanket，youuglyoldrascal，“andcollapsingbeneaththeweightofherrecitedwoes，thehagburstintoamelancholyhowl。
“Peace，mymother，“saidJeekie，pattingheronthehead。“DowhatI
tellyouandyoushallhavemoreblanketsthanyoucanwearand，asyouarestillsohandsome，anotherhusbandtooifyoulike，andagardenandslavestoworkforyouandplentytoeat。“
“HowshallIgetallthesethings，myson？“askedtheoldwoman，lookingup。“Willyoutakemetoyourhomeandsupportme，orwillthatwhitelordmarryme？TheytoldmethattheAsikahadnamedhimastheMungana，andsheisveryjealous，themostjealousAsikathatI
haveeverknown。“
“No，mother，hewouldliketo，buthedarenot，andIcannotsupportyouasIshouldwish，ashereIhavenohouseorproperty。Youwillgetallthisbytakingawalkandholdingyourtongue。Youseethismanhere，heisFahni，kingofagreattribe，theOgula。Hewantsyoutocarryamessageforhim，andbyandbyhewillmarryyou，won’tyou，Fahni？“
“Oh！yes，yes，“saidFahni；“Iwilldoanythingshelikes。Nooneshallbesorichandhonouredinmycountry，andforhersakewewillnevereatanotheroldwoman，whereasifshestayshereshewillbedriventothemountainstostarveinaweek。“
“Setoutthematter，“saidthemotherofJeekie，whowasbynomeanssofoolishassheseemed。
Sotheytoldherwhatshemustdo，namely，traveldowntotheOgulaandtellthemoftheplightoftheirchief，biddingthemmusteralltheirfightingmenandwhentheswampsweredryenough，advanceasnearastheydaredtotheAsikicountryand，iftheycouldnotattackit，waittilltheyhadfurthernews。
TheendofitwasthatthemotherofJeekie，whoknewhercasetobedesperateathome，whereshewasinnogoodrepute，promisedtoattemptthejourneyinconsiderationofadvantagestobereceived。
Sinceshewastobeturnedadrifttomeetherfatewithasmuchfoodasshecouldcarry，thisshecoulddowithoutexcitinganysuspicion，forwhowouldtroubleaboutthemovementsofauselessoldthief？
MeanwhileJeekiegaveheroneoftherobeswhichtheAsikahadprovidedforAlan，alsovariousarticleswhichshedesiredand，havinglearnedFahni’smessagebyheartandannouncedthatsheconsideredherselfhisaffiancedbride，thegauntoldcreaturedepartedhappyenoughafterexchangingembraceswithherlonglostson。
“Shewilltellsomebodyallaboutitandweshallonlygetourthroatscut，“saidAlanwearily，forthewholethingseemedtohimafoolishfarce。
“No，no，Major。ImakeherswearnotsplitonghostsofallherhusbandsandbyBigBonsahisself。Shesittightaswax，becauseshethinktheyhauntherifsh
