Then Owl No. 2 answered: 

“Brother, I make the bargain on behalf of the army, and swear to it by the double Swimming Head of Bonsa.  We will come and take the white man, Vernoon, who is to be Mungana, and carry him away.  In return we promise not to follow or molest you, or any others in your camp.  Indeed, why should we, who do not desire to be killed by the dreadful magic that you have, a magic that makes a noise and pierces through our bodies from afar?  What were the words of the Asika?  ’Bring back Vernoon, or perish.  I care for nothing else, bring back Vernoon to be my husband.’”

“Good,” said Owl No. 1, “within the half of an hour Vernoon shall be ready for you.”

“Good,” answered Owl No. 2, “within half an hour eight of us will be without the east face of your camp to receive him.”

“Silently?”

“Silently, my brother in Bonsa.  If he cries out we will gag him.  Fear not, none shall know your part in this matter.”

“Good, my brother in Bonsa.  By the way, how is Big Bonsa?  I fear that the white man, Vernoon, hurt him very much, and that is why I give him up—­because of his sacrilege.”

“When I left the god was very sick and all the people mourned, but doubtless he is immortal.”

“Doubtless he is immortal, my brother, a little hard magic in his stomach—­if he has one—­cannot hurt him.  Farewell, dear brother in Bonsa, I wish that I were you to get the great reward that the Asika will give to you.  Farewell, farewell.”

Then the two owls flitted apart again, hooting as they went, till they came to their respective camps.

Jeekie was in the tent performing a strange toilet upon the sleeping Aylward by the light of a single candle.  From his pouch he produced the mask of linen painted with gold that Alan used to be forced to wear, and tied it securely over Aylward’s face, murmuring: 

“You always love gold, my Lord Aylward, and Jeekie promise you see plenty of it now.”

Then he proceeded to remove his coat, his waistcoat, his socks, and his boots and to replace these articles of European attire by his own worn Asiki sandals and his own dirty Asiki robe.

“There,” he said, “think that do,” and he studied him by the light of the candle.  “Same height, same colour hair, same dirty clothes, and as Asiki never see Major’s face because he always wear mask in public, like as two peas on shovel.  Oh my!  Jeekie clever chap, Jeekie devilish clever chap.  But when Asika pull off that mask to give him true lover kiss, OH MY! wonder that happen then?  Think whole of Bonsa-Town bust up; think big waterfall run backwards; think she not quite pleased; think my good Lord find himself in false position; think Jeekie glad to be on coast; think he not go back to Bonsa-Town no more.  Oh my aunt! no, he stop in England and go church twice on Sunday,” and pressing his big hands on the pit of his stomach he rocked and rolled in fierce, silent laughter.