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daresayweshalldoverywellonthat。“
“Yes，Alan，verywellindeed。“Thenshereflectedawhile，forthementionofJeekie’snameseemedtohavemadeherthoughtful，andadded，“Alan，what/do/youthinkbecameofLordAylward？“
“IamsureIdon’tknow。JeekieandIandsomeoftheporterswenttoseetheOldCalabarofficialsandmadeaffidavitsastothecircumstancesofhisdisappearance。Wecouldn’tdoanymore，couldwe？“
“No，Alan。ButdoyouthinkthatJeekiequiteunderstandsthemeaningofanoath？Imeanitseemssostrangethatweshouldneverhavefoundtheslightesttraceofhim，and，Alan，Idon’tknowifyounoticedit，butwhydidJeekieappearthatmorningwearingLordAylward’ssocksandboots？“
“Heoughttoknowallaboutoaths，hehasheardenoughoftheminMagistrates’Courts，butasregardstheboots，IamsureIcan’tsay，dear，“answeredAlanuneasily。“Herehecomes，wewillaskhim，“andhedid。
“Sockandboot，“repliedJeekie，withasurprisedair，“why，Mrs。
Major，ifthatgoodlordgomadandcutoffintoforestleavingthembehind，ofcourseIputthemon，astheynomoreusetohim，andI
justburnmydirtyoldAsikidressandsandalandgotnothingtokeepjiggeroutoftoe。Don’tyousituphereinthisdamp，cold，Mrs。
Major，elseyougetmorefever。Yougodownanddressdinner，whichathalf-pastsixto-night。Ijustcometellyouthat。“
SoBarbarawent，leavingtheothertwotalkingaboutvariousmatters，fortheywerealonetogetheronthedeck，allthepassengers，ofwhomtherewerebutfew，havinggonebelow。
TheshortAfricantwilighthadcome，akindofsoftbluehazethatmadetheshiplookmysteriousandunnatural。Bydegreestheirconversationdiedaway。Theylapsedintoasilence，whichAlanwasthefirsttobreak。
“Whatareyouthinkingof，Jeekie？“heaskednervously。
“ThinkingofAsika，Major，“heansweredinascaredwhisper。“Seemtomethatsheaboutsomewhere，justassheusepopupinroominGoldHouse；seemtomeIfeelheralldownmyback，likewiseinheadwool，whichstandup。“
“It’sveryodd，Jeekie，“repliedAlan，“butsodoI。“
“Well，Major，’spectshethinkingofus，speciallyofyou，andjustthrowwhatshethinkatus，likeboythrowstonesatbirdwhatflyawayoutofcage。Asikadoallthat，youknow，shenotquitehuman，fullofplentyBonsadevil，fromgen’rationtogen’rations，amen！
P’rapsshejustfindoutsomethingwhatmakehermad。“
“Whatcouldshefindoutafterallthistime，Jeekie？“
“Oh，don’tknow。HowIknow？Jeekiecan’tguess。FindoutyoumarryMissBarbara，p’raps。Verysickthatsheloseyouforthistime，p’raps。Killherselfthatshekeepnearyou，p’raps，whileshewaittillyoucomeroundagain，p’raps。Asikacandoallthesethingsifshelike，Major。“
“Stuffandrubbish，“answeredAlanuneasily，forJeekie’ssuggestionsweremostuncomfortable，“IbelieveinnoneofyourWestCoasts
