“Oh！“shesaid，“Ineverheardofwriting。Youshallteachitme。Itwillservetopassthetimetillwearemarried，thoughitwillnotbeofmuchuseafterwards，asweshallneverbeseparatedanymoreandwordsarebetterthanmarksuponaboard。But，“sheaddedcheerfully，“Icansendawaythisblackdogofyours，“andshelookedatJeekie，“andhecanwritetous。No，Icannot，foranaccidentmighthappentohim，andtheytellmeyousaythatifhedies，youdiealso，sohemuststopherealways。Whathaveyouinthoselittleboxes？“
“Thegoldyougaveme，Asika，packedinloads。“
“Asmallgiftenough，“sheansweredcontemptuously；“wouldyounotlikemore，sinceyouvaluethatstuff？Well，anothertimeyoushallsendallyouwant。Meanwhiletheportersarewaiting，fiftymenandthree，asyousentmeword，andtenspareonestotaketheplaceofanywhodie。Buthowtheywillfindtheirway，Iknownot，sincenoneofthemhaveeverbeentothecoast。“
AnideaoccurredtoAlan，whohadsmallfaithinJeekie’s“ma“asamessenger。
“TheOgulaprisonerscouldshowthem，“hesaid；“atanyrateasfarastheforest，andafterthattheycouldfindout。Maytheynotgo，Asika？“