256 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



' You fool ! D'you think you can hide this from the 

 fetich? Put — put 'em in a sack, and tumble 'em into the 

 river after dark ! Oh Lord, here's an awful business ! ' 



Moving about the room restlessly as he talked, whilst 

 Boville thrust the orchids into a bag, the agent opened a 

 door which gave upon a platform called the verandah — in 

 fact, the roof of the store. It overlooked the street. In an 

 instant he ran back. 



' It's all up ! ' he cried. ' Oh Lord ! Here's the 

 Vokhimen ! ' 



Boville had heard this name, which belongs to an official 

 of the Vo-dun, the fetich priesthood, whose duty it is to 

 summon offenders. He went to see. The street was in an 

 uproar. Two men clothed in black and white, with faces 

 chalked, were beating Vo-drums furiously — but such din is 

 too usual for notice. They stood at the door of a house — 

 habitations in Whydah are not properly described as huts. 

 All the neighbours surged round vociferous. Presently 

 emerged a grotesque figure, rather clothed than adorned 

 with strings of human teeth and bones, and little wooden 

 idols painted red. His black and white cap had lappets 

 with red snakes sewn thereon ; the breast of his tunic bore 

 a large red cross, the sacred symbol of Dahomey. He came 

 forth with a leap, and danced along with ridiculous gestures 

 to the next house, flourishing the iron bar which marks his 

 ofiice. The bones and images rattled like castanets. The 

 drummers followed. Through the next doorway the Vokhi- 

 men sprang, and disappeared. 



' He isn't after me, thank God ! ' cried Boville. 



' He is, you fool ! It's their way to hunt about like 

 that when they well know where to find the victim. No, 

 it's too late to hide the cursed things now. God help 

 you, Boville ! I can do nothing.' And Mr. Blank hurried 

 out. 



