Part 26 (2/2)
”Kill us then,” I answered, ”and bring the curse of the Child upon you.
Bring famine, bring hail, bring war!”
These words were, I think, well chosen; at any rate they induced a pause in their murderous intentions. For a while they hesitated, all talking together at once. At last the advocates of violence appeared to get the upper hand, and once more a number of the men began to dance about us, waving their spears and crying out that we must die who came from the Black Kendah.
I sat down upon the ground, for I was so exhausted that at the time I did not greatly care whether I died or lived, while Hans drew his knife and stood over me, cursing them as he had cursed at Jana. By slow degrees they drew nearer and nearer. I watched them with a kind of idle curiosity, believing that the moment when they came within actual spear-thrust would be our last, but, as I have said, not greatly caring because of my mental and physical exhaustion.
I had already closed my eyes that I might not see the flash of the falling steel, when an exclamation from Hans caused me to open them again. Following the line of the knife with which he pointed, I perceived a troop of men on camels emerging from the gates of the village at full speed. In front of these, his white garments fluttering on the wind, rode a bearded and dignified person in whom I recognized Hart, Hart himself, waving a spear and shouting as he came. Our a.s.sailants heard and saw him also, then flung down their weapons as though in dismay either at his appearance or his words, which I could not catch. Hart guided his rus.h.i.+ng camel straight at the man who I presume was their leader, and struck at him with his spear, as though in fury, wounding him in the shoulder and causing him to fall to the ground. As he struck he called out:
”Dog! Would you harm the guests of the Child?”
Then I heard no more because I fainted away.
CHAPTER XV
THE DWELLER IN THE CAVE
After this it seemed to me that I dreamed a long and very troubled dream concerning all sorts of curious things which I cannot remember. At last I opened my eyes and observed that I lay on a low bed raised about three inches above the floor, in an Eastern-looking room, large and cool. It had window-places in it but no windows, only gra.s.s mats hung upon a rod which, I noted inconsequently, worked on a rough, wooden hinge, or rather pin, that enabled the curtain to be turned back against the wall.
Through one of these window-places I saw at a little distance the slope of the forest-covered hill, which reminded me of something to do with a child--for the life of me I could not remember what. As I lay wondering over the matter I heard a shuffling step which I recognized, and, turning, saw Hans twiddling a new hat made of straw in his fingers.
”Hans,” I said, ”where did you get that new hat?”
”They gave it me here, Baas,” he answered. ”The Baas will remember that the devil Jana ate the other.”
Then I did remember more or less, while Hans continued to twiddle the hat. I begged him to put it on his head because it fidgeted me, and then inquired where we were.
”In the Town of the Child, Baas, where they carried you after you had seemed to die down yonder. A very nice town, where there is plenty to eat, though, having been asleep for three days, you have had nothing except a little milk and soup, which was poured down your throat with a spoon whenever you seemed to half wake up for a while.”
”I was tired and wanted a long rest, Hans, and now I feel hungry. Tell me, are the lord and Bena here also, or were they killed after all?”
”Yes, Baas, they are safe enough, and so are all our goods. They were both with Hart when he saved us down by the village yonder, but you went to sleep and did not see them. They have been nursing you ever since, Baas.”
Just then Savage himself entered, carrying some soup upon a wooden tray and looking almost as smart as he used to do at Ragnall Castle.
”Good day, sir,” he said in his best professional manner. ”Very glad to see you back with us, sir, and getting well, I trust, especially after we had given you and Mr. Hans up as dead.”
I thanked him and drank the soup, asking him to cook me something more substantial as I was starving, which he departed to do. Then I sent Hans to find Lord Ragnall, who it appeared was out walking in the town. No sooner had they gone than Hart entered looking more dignified than ever and, bowing gravely, seated himself upon the mat in the Eastern fas.h.i.+on.
”Some strong spirit must go with you, Lord Mac.u.mazana,” he said, ”that you should live today, after we were sure that you had been slain.”
”That's where you made a mistake. Your magic was not of much service to you there, friend Hart.”
”Yet my magic, as you call it, though I have none, was of some service after all, Mac.u.mazana. As it chanced I had no opportunity of breathing in the wisdom of the Child for two days from the hour of our arrival here, because I was hurt on the knee in the fight and so weary that I could not travel up the mountain and seek light from the eyes of the Child. On the third day, however, I went and the Oracle told me all.
Then I descended swiftly, gathered men and reached those fools in time to keep you from harm. They have paid for what they did, Lord.”
”I am sorry, Hart, for they knew no better; and, Hart, although I saved myself, or rather Hans saved me, we have left your brother behind, and with him the others.”
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