Part 23 (1/2)
”What then hath transpired?” asked the son of the Great White Queen.
”What message sendeth our friend Goliba?”
”My father directed me to come hither, for knowing the wife of the Keeper of the Prison I was enabled to pa.s.s the sentries where my father would have been remarked,” she said. ”He sendeth thee word to be of good courage, for all goeth well, and thy cause prospereth. The savages who accompanied thee into our land are all in safety, although the hors.e.m.e.n of the Naya are scouring the country in search of thee and thy companions. In secret, word of thy consent to lead the popular demonstration against oppression and ill-government hath been conveyed to the people even to our land's furthermost limits, and the reports from all sides show that thou art regarded with favour.”
”And thou art also one of my partisans--eh?” asked Omar, smiling.
”I am, O Master,” she answered blus.h.i.+ng deeply. ”I will make fetish for the success of thine arms.”
”I thank thee, Liola,” he answered. ”Thou hast indeed brought us good tidings.”
”But my father sendeth thee a further message,” she continued. ”He told me to tell thee that at sundown to-day he will come and conduct thee hence. Rest and sleep until then, for the way may be long and great vigilance may be demanded.”
”Whither does he intend to take us?” our companion asked.
”I know not, O Master,” she replied. ”Already the people have armed, and are a.s.sembling. I heard my father, in conversation last night with one of the provincial governors who hath lately joined us, declare that the struggle could not be much longer delayed.”
”Then thou meanest that a fight is imminent?” he asked.
”I fear so. Word of thine intention hath been conveyed by some spy unto the Naya, and the city now swarmeth with her soldiers and janissaries, who have orders to suppress the first sign of any insurrection. But in the fight thou shalt a.s.suredly win, for the opinion of the people is in thy favour. May Zomara's jaws close upon thine enemies, and may they be devoured like sacrifices.”
”The people are a.s.sembling, thou hast said,” Omar observed. ”Are they in great numbers?”
”It is impossible to tell. The news of thine opposition to the Naya spread like wildfire through the land, and secret agents soon ascertained that the balance of opinion was in thy favour. For eight days past I have been at work secretly in thy cause, and from my own observations in the city I know that among the palace officials we have many adherents, and even here and there the soldiers will turn against their own comrades. In our own house arms and ammunition are stored, and we have been fortunate enough in obtaining from the a.r.s.enal through the governor, who is on our side, ten of those wonderful guns of the English that fire bullets like streams of water.”
”Maxims, I suppose,” I interrupted.
”I know not their name,” she replied. ”I heard my father say that they are most deadly, and with them we might hold an army at bay.”
”Truly thy father hath neglected nothing on my behalf,” Omar said with sincerity. ”Dost thou return unto him?”
”I go at once.”
”Then tell him we are anxious to accompany him, and will be ready at sundown.”
”Thy words will I convey to him, O Master. Liola shall make great fetish for thine ascent to the Emerald Throne.”
Then, wis.h.i.+ng us adieu, the slim handsome girl with the deep blue expressive eyes slipped out of the door, and noiselessly crept away down the long stone corridor.
”Of a truth, O Master, there can be no fairer daughter on earth than Liola,” Kona observed, addressing Omar when the pretty messenger had gone.
”Yea, she is beautiful. Her face is like the lily, and her eyes as mysterious as the depths of the sea. I have never encountered one so fair,” Omar answered.
”Nor I,” I said. ”Her beauty is incomparable.”
”I had no idea old Goliba had a daughter,” Omar exclaimed. ”He is indeed fortunate to have one so amazingly lovely.”
”She is one of your partisans,” I observed smiling.