When they were alone in their room Alan told Jeekie of the expected entertainment of crystal gazing, or whatever it might be, and the part that he was to play in it.

“You say that again, Major,” said Jeekie.

Alan repeated the information, giving every detail that he could remember.

“Oh!” said Jeekie, “I see Asika show us things, ’cause she afraid to look at them herself, or take oath, or can’t, or something.  She no ask you tell her what she see, because you too kind hurt her feeling, if happen to be something beastly.  But Jeekie just tell her because he so truthful and not care curse about her feeling.  Well, that all right, Jeekie tell her sure enough.  Only, Major, don’t you interrupt.  Quite possible these magic things, I see one show, you see another.  So don’t you go say, ‘Jeekie, that a lie,’ and give me away to Asika just because you think you see different, ’cause if so you put me into dirty hole, and of course I catch it afterwards.  You promise, Major?”

“Oh! yes, I promise.  But, Jeekie, do you really think we are going to see anything?”

“Can’t say, Major,” and he shook his head gloomily.  “P’raps all put up job.  But lots of rum things in world, Major, specially among beastly African savage who very curious and always ready pay blood to bad Spirit.  Hope Asika not get this into her head, because no one know what happen.  P’raps we see too much and scared all our lives; but p’raps all tommy rot.”

“That’s it—­tommy rot,” answered Alan, who was not superstitious.  “Well, I suppose that we must go through with it.  But oh!  Jeekie, I wish you would tell me how to get out of this.”

“Don’t know, Major, p’raps never get out; p’raps learn how to-night.  Have to do something soon if want to go.  Mungana’s time nearly up, and then—­oh my eye!”

It was night, about ten o’clock indeed, the hour at which Alan generally went to bed.  No message had come and he began to hope that the Asika had forgotten, or changed her mind, and was just going to say so to Jeekie when a light coming from behind him attracted his attention and he turned to see her standing in a corner of the great room, holding a lamp in her hand and looking towards him.  Her gold breastplate and crown were gone, with every other ornament, and she was clad, or rather muffled in robes of pure white fitted with a kind of nun’s hood which lay back upon her shoulders.  Also on her arm she carried a shawl or veil.  Standing thus, all undecked, with her long hair fastened in a simple knot, she still looked very beautiful, more so than she had ever been, thought Alan, for the cruelty of her face had faded and was replaced by a mystery very strange to see.  She did not seem quite like a natural woman, and that was the reason, perhaps, that Alan for the first time felt attracted by her.  Hitherto she had always repelled him, but this night it was otherwise.

“How did you come here?” he asked in a more gentle voice than he generally used towards her.