Part 27 (1/2)
Wondering what htly within the entrance, my eyes alarish day to that dull interior Slowly the scene within resolved itself into clearer detail I began to perceive the crawling red flae log resting upon the altar block, and later distinguished the black figure of a priest ed upon the grewsome functions of his office, his presence ever ic spells Beyond these vague suggestions of life--for they see to sound the depths of a cavern, so black, still, and void was all within and about Yet, even as I stood thus, peering uneasily into the gloo forth of a voice, apparently issuing froive ye, Master Benteen, and beHis minister in such stress 'T is I, Ezekiel Cairnes, who hath become an abomination unto Israel”
There was a tone of such utter depression in the great roaring voice, I feared some serious mishap had befallen hi toward the corner whence the sound ca loo prone upon the hard floor, evidently in adoration of that grotesque figure perched above, and now clearly revealed by a blazing up of the charred log Not one a theetting them instantly, my whole attention became riveted upon the marvellous transforht! He sat bolt upright, as though bound in that stiff posture, occupying a low dais, ale of the platfor crihly woven, presumably of native , and hence of rare beauty to Indian eyes Atat the cords which held him helpless, and I soon saw that his entire body rapped about with ropes of grass in such a manner as to render vain any hope of escape His oddly shapen figure, with the wide, square shoulders and short legs, was likewise-draped in red, above which flared his fiery shock of dishevelled hair, while a face fairly distorted with rage, gray fro eyes, glared down upon hter for ye, Master Benteen,” he snorted savagely, straining at his cords, ”could I burst these accursed strings, and lay my hands to your throat Ay! nor would yonder idolatrous swine lie there long if I once got free aine not, vain and presuhty--He who rideth in the chariot of the ind--will long permit the heathen to profane His holy places, or triumph in the ment, when the wicked shall be scattered as chaff”
”You are in ato speak so as to calm his temper ”It is in sorrow, not pleasure, I behold you thus”
”I aled in the snare of the Evil One, Master Benteen But I continue h station”
”Have you been long in so pitiful a state? I dreamed not it would ever conorant of the wiles of that eed, a trifle ht even toward an unregenerated heretic Yet I have sat thus, wrapped like a yptians, since early dawn Ay, verily have I been sore oppressed both of body and spirit Nor has there been any surcease, when the heathen have not lain thus at my feet What means such action?”
”They mistake you for a God, and prostrate themselves in worshi+p You are unto them a mysterious visitant from the Sun--so the Queen naroaned aloud, his chin dropping dejectedly upon his breast
”I feared as reatly oppressed olden calf set aloft in the wilderness to mock the true God
It resteth heavy on my spirit to abide as a vain idol in the tents of these idolaters When first they draped me with this foul livery of Satan,” he touched the scarlet robe gingerly with his chin, ”I orous a protest two of the black iles, binding me fast, as you see But, verily, I have delivered unto them the whole truth as revealed unto the saints; have struck and spared not--ay! the very language of the scriptures have I poured forth unstinted upon them, and drawn before their eyes that fiery hell over which they dangle in their sins It s are darkened, for they hearken not unto my exhortations, only lie thus, or dance before ers and shouting strange words, while twice yonder black e torch so closely to my face the flame scorched the skin Nor have my most fervent prayers availed to drive thes of the spirit 'T is as if the ear of the Lord had been turned aside from the supplications of His servant; yea, verily, as if the vials of His wrath were being poured forth upon my head, because, in a moment of weakness, I yielded to the ain seen her?” I questioned anxiously, as he paused for breath
”Seen her!--the accursed of God, the moral leper who rules this foul nest? Ay; I have, andeyes upon such a sharace
She stood by with e minions bind me fast She is the chief imp of Satan in spite of her fair face, and shall yet be stricken low by the avenging arleam of mercy co through her veins I tell you, Master Benteen, she is the worst devil, for all her softness, in all this heathen crew; and if she spared our lives froh soood can come forth from such as she Marked you the eyes she cast on De Noyan?”
”I paid no heed,” I answered, wondering he had observed so much ”Have you supposed we may owe our escape unto him?”
”Ay! she has marked him victim to her snare, nor do I doubt the full success of her venture 'T is small stock of virtue which bedecks itself in such Punchinello dress as that gay gallant wears Amalekite is written upon his rairoo this devils' den Marry, hea sword, yet will prove the undoing of all who cory,” I insisted, striving to ht of his words ”I value not the mercy of the wo her savage followers It was stern necessity driving her to reliance on the ic of your red hair hich to save us all No doubt she intends giving you early release from so painful a situation”
”You also are bewitched by her vain fleshly beauty,” he bellowed stoutly ”'Tis a carnal generation I tell you, Master Benteen, I am an old man, uplifted by communion of the Spirit above all fleshly lusts I have faithfully preached the word of salvation to civilized and savage more than forty years, and ali me hellward I speak you truth, as delivered of God, so surely as were the tablets of the law delivered unto Moses, when I say that she who, by some wile of the Devil, rules this tribe and holds our lives in her hands, is an incarnate fiend, ill yet ony whenever her own accursed lust shall be satisfied 'T is not only that she jeered at me with cruel smiles, and affronted a preacher of the Word by so ribald a covering; she did as clearly reveal the hideous sin of her heart unto that sweet lady we have in our keeping”
”Madame de Noyan?” I cried in awakened interest ”Mean you this wo by her?”
”I report only what ibberish Yet she who journeyed with us, ever proving herself a ed upon her knees, with tears hot upon her cheeks, to be permitted to accoood Queen; this char down upon her; and later, when the poor lady would not walk voluntarily, that painted harlot ordered two lecherous warriors to drag her forth, and laughed like a fiend at the scene”
”Where did they take her?”
”I know not; beyond the entrance she made no outcry that reachedto work her will on me”
This comprised all he knew, and, no matter what depth of sympathy I may have then felt for Master Cairnes in his unfortunate predica to aid hiht of Eloise, I retained no other desire than a longing to return at once to the hut and hold consultation with De Noyan That sa the brief journey, leaving uarded at the entrance I entered hastily only to find the rooone
CHAPTER XXVI
THE CHRONICLES OF THE NATCHEZ
These pages have been poorly written if he who reads has not discovered that I aed by events, or disheartened by misfortune God had sufficiently armored ht for whatever light of guidance therethe most of it Yet the intense, unanticipated loneliness of that bare hut chilled my blood, and I scarcely recall aand tortured by fears, for the return of De Noyan