Part 23 (1/2)
”Dost thou think thou wilt succeed where valiant men for ages past have failed?” he asked, in a tone of reproach.
”I may fail also,” I said. ”If thou wilt lead me thither, I will make at least an effort.”
The black chief did not reply, but sat silent and motionless, still hugging his knees, and gazing with thoughtful, heavy expression into the fire. Perhaps he was trying to devise some scheme whereby I might be deterred from committing an act which he considered sheer folly. But I was determined to keep the promise I had made to Azala, and seek some explanation of the mystic marks upon our b.r.e.a.s.t.s. It was strange that every tribe--followers of the Prophet and pagans alike--possessed some curious legend regarding the unapproachable country; strange, also, that so many of the quaint beliefs coincided in two facts; namely, the escape of an adventurous spirit and the subsequent disappearance of the cavern.
These legends had apparently been handed down through so many ages that they had now become bound up in the quaint and simple religious belief of the pagans, proving the great antiquity of the original incident or story upon which they were founded.
That some extraordinary mystery was therein hidden, I felt instinctively, and longed for the days to pa.s.s in order to stand before the gigantic rock and examine it closely. Tiamo, much impressed by what Yakul had said, was likewise eager to view the spot; but the chief's declaration that it was the dwelling-place of the Evil Spirit caused him considerable perturbation, for, as a pagan himself, he believed implicitly in the existence of Jinns, and in the One of Evil, which he constantly declared lurked in the most gloomy depths of the Forest of Perpetual Night. Once or twice on our lonely journey he had been terrified at seeing in the darkness some mysterious object moving, but it generally turned out to be a monkey, a leopard, or some other animal startled by our sudden invasion of his domain.
At such times I laughed at his dread of darkness, but I confess that more than once in that weird and terrible wilderness of trees I, myself, had become infected by his abject fear, and stood in readiness to witness some uncanny being advance towards us. Now, however, my little apelike companion expressed a profound belief that the seat of the Evil Spirit was actually beyond the Rock of the Great Sin, and that the story, as related by Yakul, was the most sensible solution of the mystery he had yet heard. I could not reprimand him, because I did not wish to cast doubt upon the belief of the grateful savage who had proved our sincere friend. Therefore I held my peace, declaring that I would express no opinion before I saw the spot.
Yakul laughed when I thus made reply to my slave, and turning to him, said,--
”Thy master acteth with discretion. Ofttimes, we trip in the hurry of the tongue. They are wise who speak not before examining a matter themselves.”
”For many moons have we journeyed in search of the Rock of the Great Sin,” the dwarf answered, ”and, even though I may fear him who dwelleth therein, yet I, like my master, will not be deterred from approaching it closely.”
”Then, thy life will pay the penalty of thy rashness,” the chief observed, slowly nodding his head to emphasise his words.
”The result of any folly will be upon us alone,” Tiamo said, in a resentful tone. ”Lead us thither, and leave us to our own devices.”
”Such is my intention,” answered the chief of the Avejeli. ”If thou hadst searched through the Forest of Perpetual Night, thou wouldst not have obtained a guide, even though thou hadst offered him a sack of cowries, or an a.s.s's load of bra.s.s rods.”
”Why?” I inquired.
”Because the secret of the existence of the seat of the Evil Spirit in our midst is carefully guarded by the forest tribes, and to lead a stranger thither is an offence punishable by death. Our prophets have for centuries urged upon us the necessity for keeping the whereabouts of the rock secret, declaring that some day a stranger will come from the north, and seek to penetrate the mystery. If the stranger is successful, then the vengeance of the Evil One will descend upon all forest-dwellers in whose keeping the secret remaineth, and sweep them out of existence by means of a terrible scourge of leprosy. Therefore, the tribe of pigmies holding the country near the rock are deadly hostile towards those who approach them, and none, save the Manuyema, have ever been permitted to go near, and even they were all quickly ma.s.sacred by us, not one being spared to spread the news among his compatriots.”
”Then, in acting as our guide, thou art running a risk of death?” I exclaimed, in surprise.
The chief nodded a.s.sent, adding: ”It is the only means by which I can repay thee for giving me my life.”
”If our efforts are satisfactory, thou wilt a.s.suredly receive ample reward,” I said.
”I want none,” he replied. ”But bring not upon our people the doom that hath so long been prophesied,” he added, with earnest fervency.
”I may be the stranger whose coming hath been foretold,” I observed, laughing.
El-Sadic, the dwarf, grinned from ear to ear, and rubbed his thighs, while Yakul moved uneasily, and, taking up a stick, slowly stirred the fire.
”I trust not,” he said, in a harsh tone. ”It would be better that I had died where the murderers of Tippu-Tib bound me, than I should be instrumental in leading the destroyer of our race unto victory.”
”Destroyer of thy race!” I echoed. ”I have no desire to destroy either the pigmies of the forest, or the stalwart dwellers of the river banks.
My campaign is not one of conquest, but of curiosity. In searching for the rock I am but redeeming a pledge to the woman I love. Therefore, have no fear as to my intentions;” and laughing again, I added, ”Whatever may occur, thou wilt a.s.suredly be remembered.”
”But the prophecy, it is--”
”Heed it not, be it what it may,” I urged, interrupting him. ”Be thou our guide, and give us thy protection through the country of the pigmies. a.s.suredly wilt thou be fitly rewarded.”
”I take no reward from one to whom I owe so much,” he answered, proudly.
For a few moments he hesitated, then added: ”I have promised to direct thy footsteps unto the mysterious region of the Evil One, and will do so, notwithstanding the prophecy. The pledge of Yakul is never broken.