Part 9 (1/2)
”But if that is so,” said Hockins, earnestly, ”what's the use o' you riskin' your life by goin' with us to Ant--Ant--all-alive-O! (I'll never git that name into my head!) Why not just sketch us out a rough chart o' the island on a bit o' bark, give us the bearin's o' the capital, an' let us steer a straight course for it. I'll be bound that we'll make our port easy enough.”
”Yes, Hockins speaks wisely,” added Mark. ”It is very kind of you to take so much trouble for us, but there is no need to run such great risk on our account.”
”You do not consider,” replied Ravonino, ”that it is more difficult for sailors to cross the wild forest than to find their way on the trackless sea, and you forget also that the way is long, that Madagascar is larger than Great Britain and Ireland put together. There are many tribes, too, some of which are not so hospitable as others. You could not avoid the dangers of this wilderness easily without a guide. Besides, I do not mean to enter the capital. I will merely guide you to within sight of it and then leave you. Fortunately you require no a.s.sistance from natives, not being enc.u.mbered with this world's goods.”
”Das troo; ha, ha-a!” cried Ebony, opening his portentous mouth and shutting his eyes, ”we've got no luggidge.”
”Well, we shall only be too glad of your company,” said Mark, with some feeling, ”and we thank you most heartily for your disinterested kindness.”
”My conduct is not altogether disinterested,” returned the guide. ”The truth is, I had no intention at first of doing more than guiding you to the right pa.s.s in the mountains, but since I have been with you my feelings have been modified, and the news which we have just received has--has filled me with anxiety, and raised in my mind the idea that-- that I may even make use of you!”
”That's right,” exclaimed Mark, heartily, ”I'm glad if there is the smallest chance of our serving you in any way. In what way can we do so?”
For some moments the guide displayed a degree of hesitancy which his friends had not before noticed in him. Then he spoke, slowly--
”Well, the truth is, that I have a friend in the palace who is, I have been told, in great danger, owing to the wrath of Ranavalona. I thought that somehow, perhaps, you might give warning to this friend, and say that Samuel Ravoninohitriniony is in the neighbouring forest, and--”
Here the guide stopped short, and seemed to be in some perplexity. Mark Breezy, whose young and romantic spirit was deeply stirred by the prospect of adventure which his words had opened up, a.s.sured him with enthusiasm that whatever was possible for man to accomplish he might depend upon being at least vigorously attempted. To which a.s.surance John Hockins begged to ”putt the word ditto,” and the negro fervently added, ”Das so--me too!”
”But how are we to find your friend,” asked Mark, ”seeing that we don't know him, and have never seen him?”
”My friend is not a man, but a--a woman, a young girl,” said Ravonino, with the slightest possible symptom of confusion, which opened the eyes of Mark instantly, and still further stirred his sympathies.
”Ravonino,” he exclaimed, suddenly grasping the guide's hand, ”treat me as a friend and trust me. You love this young girl! Is it not so?
Nay, man, don't be angry with me. I can't help sympathising. Why, I know something of your--your--a--condition myself. The morning I left England, the very last person I said good-bye to was a fair young girl, with golden hair, and a rosebud mouth, and such lovely blue--”
”Das right, Ma.s.sa,” burst in Ebony, with a crow of admiration. ”It doos my bery heart good to see a man as is proud ob his sweet'art. I's got one too, bress you! but _she_ ain't fair! No, she's black as de kitchen chimbly, wid a bootiful flat nose, a mout' like a coal-scuttle, an'
_such_ eyes--oh!”
”Hold your tongue, Ebony! Now, am I not right, Ravonino?”
”You are right,” answered the guide, gravely, yet without displeasure.
”My Rafaravavy is in danger, and I must save her from this murderess at all hazards. It is right, however, to tell you that if you attempt to aid me you will encounter both difficulty and danger.”
”Don't mention that, friend. No true man would shrink from either in a good cause,” said Mark. ”But when must we set out on this expedition?”
”By day-break to-morrow. Our new hiding-place is on our way, so the change will not delay us; and from what the fugitives have told us, I hope--indeed I feel sure--that the Queen will do no further mischief for some weeks to come. But now, comrades,” said the guide, rising, ”we must rest if we would work to-morrow. Follow me.”
He led them into one of the side caves, when the whole of the people followed, as if by preconcerted arrangement. Here a much-soiled book in a leathern cover was produced. It was a portion of the Bible in the Malagasy language. A few verses were reverently read by the guide; a brief earnest prayer was offered by a very old man; a hymn was sung, and then the people dispersed to their several sections of the cave.
Finally the lights were extinguished, and the place was left in silence and darkness profound.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
DESCRIBES A MEEK MOTHER AND CROCODILE-SON. JOURNEY RESUMED AND STRANGE TREATMENT OF THE KING OF THE WATERS.
Dawn was still struggling to a.s.sert itself in the far east and the depths of the forest were still shrouded in almost midnight gloom, when the strange band of outlaws emerged from their cave, and, led by Ravonino, went forth to search for a safer dwelling-place in the still more inaccessible fastnesses of the wilderness.
They had not much difficulty in finding a suitable spot, for the particular region to which they had fled from persecution was exceedingly wild and broken in form, and abounded with concealed caverns having outlets in several directions, so that pursuit and discovery were alike difficult.