A long argument followed, in the midst of which Fahni and his men got into the canoe, the headman apparently not daring to use force to prevent him.

Just as they were pushing off a messenger arrived from Bonsa Town, reeling with exhaustion and his tongue hanging from his jaws, who called out that it was the white man who had escaped with his servant and the Mungana, and that although they were believed to be still hidden in the holy woods near Bonsa Town, none were to be allowed to leave the bay.

So the headman shouted to Fahni to return, but he pretended not to hear and rowed away, nor did anyone attempt to follow him.

Still it was only after nightfall that he dared to put the boat about and return to the headland to pick up Alan and the others as he had promised.

That was all he had to say.
Alan thanked him heartily for his faithfulness and they paddled on steadily, putting mile after mile of water between them and Asiki-land.
He wondered whether he had seen the last of that country and its inhabitants.