Then, as though at some signal, each priest opened the mouth of his bag and Alan saw that they wee filled with gold, gold in dust, gold in nuggets, gold in vessels perfect or broken; more gold than Alan had ever seen before.
"Why do they bring all this stuff here ?" he asked, and Jeekie translated his question.
"It is an offering to the lord of Little Bonsa," answered the head priest, bowing, "a gift from the Asika.

The heaven-born white man sent word by his Ogula messengers that he desired gold.

Here is the gold that he desired." Alan stared at the treasure, which after all was what he had come to seek.

If only he had it safe in England, he would be a rich man and his troubles ended.

But how could he get it to England?
Here it was worthless as mud.
"I thank the Asika," he said.