Please forward accompanying fifty-three packages, or as many as arrive, and cable as follows (all costs will be remitted): Miss Champers, Kingswell, England.

Prisoner among Asiki.
No present prospect of escape, but hope for best.

Jeekie and I well.
Allowed send this, but perhaps no future message possible.

Good-bye.
Alan." As it happened just as Alan was finishing this scrawl with a sad heart, he heard a movement and glancing up, perceived standing at his side the Asika, of whom he had seen nothing since the interview when she had beaten Jeekie: "What are those marks that you make upon the board, Vernoon ?" she asked suspiciously.
With the assistance of Jeekie, who kept at a respectful distance, he informed her that they were a message in writing to tell the white men at the coast to forward the gold to his starving family.
"Oh!" she said, "I never heard of writing.

You shall teach it me.