About midday a man whom they had posted in a tree that grew inside the camp announced that he saw the enemy, and next moment a company of them rushed towards them across the open and were greeted by a volley which killed and wounded several men.  At this exhibition of miraculous power, for none of these soldiers had ever heard the report of firearms or seen their effect, they retreated rapidly, uttering shouts of dismay and carrying their dead and wounded with them.

“Do you suppose they have gone, Jeekie?” asked Alan anxiously.

He shook his head.

“Think not, Major, think they frightened, by big bullet magic, and go consult priest.  Also only a few of them here, rest of army come later and try rush us to-morrow morning before dawn.  That Asiki custom.”

“Then what shall we do, Jeekie?  Run for it or stop here?”

“Think must stop here, Major.  If we bolt, carrying Miss Barbara, who can’t walk much, they follow on spoor and catch us.  Best stick inside this fence and see what happen.  Also once outside p’raps porters desert and leave us.”

So as there was nothing else to do they stayed, labouring all day at the strengthening of their fortifications till at length the boma or fence of boughs, supported by earth, was so high and thick that while any were left to fire through the loopholes, it would be very difficult to storm by men armed with spears.

It was a dreadful and arduous day for Alan, who now had Barbara’s safety to think of, Barbara with whom as yet he had scarcely found time to exchange a word.  By sunset indeed he was so worn out with toil and anxiety that he could scarcely stand upon his feet.  Jeekie, who all that afternoon had been strangely quiet and reflective, surveyed him critically, then said: 

“You have good drink and go sleep a bit, Major.  Very good little shelter there by Miss Barbara’s tent, and you hold her hand if you like underneath the canvas, which comforting and all correct.  Jeekie never get tired, he keep good lookout and let you know if anything happen, and then you jump up quite fresh and fight like tom-cat in corner.”

At first Alan refused to listen, but when Barbara added her entreaties to those of Jeekie he gave way, and ten minutes later was as soundly asleep as he had ever been in his life.

“Keep eye on him, Miss Barbara, and call me if he wake.  Now I go give noble lord his supper and see that he quite comfortable.  Jeekie seem very busy to-night, just like when Major have dinner-party at Yarleys and old cook get drunk in kitchen.”

If Barbara could have followed Jeekie’s movements for the next few hours, she would probably have agreed that he was busy.  First he went to Aylward’s tent, and as he had said he would, gave him his supper, and with it half a bottle of whisky from the stores which he had been carrying about with him for some time, as he said, to prevent the porters from getting at it.  Aylward would little, though as his arms were tied to the tent-pole, Jeekie sat beside him and fed him like a baby, conversing pleasantly with him all the while, informing him amongst other things that he had better say “big prayer,” because the Asiki would probably cut his throat before morning.