A VISITANT FROM THE SUN
As by magic the uproar of the infuriated savages died away. Gazing up
from where I lay, my eyes beheld every face turned outward, every eye
fastened upon that distant wall of rock. Suddenly a strange cry arose,
each throat giving utterance to the same sound as if in trained
obedience to some recognized signal, and immediately every Indian lay
prostrate, his face in the dust. Gazing toward the spot they had
watched so intently, I could perceive how the rose tints of the early
sun flecked the upper extremity of the precipitous rock with spots of
color, checkers of red and gold, while just below its lofty crest,
seemingly touching the deep blue of the morning sky, hardly more than
dim specks against the dull background of gray rock, appeared several
moving black figures, and I could distinguish a series of flashes as if
they waved blazing torches in welcome to the King of Day.
"_Sacre_! 'tis an uncanny sight," muttered my companion uneasily.
"Have yonder foul priests been given wings whereby they mount the very
rock in their devil worship?"
"Hardly that," I returned tersely. "There will be a footpath leading
to the spot either from above or below."
"True, perchance; yet 'tis not from above. Of that I am certain, as
the crest of the rock overhangs; you may perceive the deep shadow of it
even from here."
Before I could distinguish clearly the peculiarity pointed out, the
woman chief came forth through the open entrance, appearing more fair
and white of skin than ever in the clear light of the dawn. Scarcely
glancing toward either the prostrate tribesmen or those distant
signalling priests, she advanced directly toward where we lay helpless
in our bonds. There was a flush upon her cheeks, a light of animation
in her eyes, yet she stood looking down upon me much as she might have
viewed an insensate stone.
"Señor," she said coldly, still speaking the Spanish tongue, "it did
please my humor but now to play a small trick upon these innocent
children of nature, knowing their faith and tribal customs. For the
time being I won, and it is you who benefit. You, and these others,
are for the present delivered from that torture to which you were
condemned: the rising of yonder Sun has saved you; 'tis the law of the
Natchez. Nay, thank me not," as I sought to express my words of
gratitude. "I told you before it was not from any desire to show
mercy, but for a purpose of my own. Yet if you would continue to
profit through my strange whim--and surely I have seldom been thus
swayed to action--then it will be well to give heed unto my words. I
bid you proceed at once to that second hut yonder, nor dare venture
forth again until I send. The children of the Sun bow now to the
commands of their ancient faith, yet are of temper hard to control."
"You fear they may yet demand us in sacrifice?"
"Not to-day, unless you do that which shall arouse their passions
beyond my power of restraint. While the sun dominates the sky your
lives are preserved from violence, but if you would live longer it must
be through careful guarding of speech and action. I promise nothing
beyond the present day. But now," she bent over, severing my bonds
with a flint blade, "go; do exactly as I bade you, and no longer bandy
words with me."
"But the lady within the lodge?" I ventured anxiously, as I struggled
to my feet, standing erect before her.
"She bides elsewhere."
"It will be hard for her alone--"
"What is all that to you, sirrah?" she interrupted haughtily.
"According to the tale told, you are not her husband. He who might
have right to question separation has made no complaint."
"He does not comprehend your speech. For that reason he remains dumb."
"Mean you it is he who inspires your objection?" she asked scornfully.
"No; yet I doubt not 'tis in his heart even as upon my lips."
She turned aside, an incredulous smile curling her lips, looking
curiously down upon him, and their eyes met. She stooped swiftly,
severing the thongs of grass binding his arms, and with her own hands
assisted him to rise.
"A fair and noble gallant," she said softly, reluctantly turning back
from him to me. "Not of hard, stern visage like yours, but with the
bearing of a gentleman, the smile of a courtier. Pish! he will not
miss her over-much, or else I read not rightly the challenge of his
eyes. But come, hunter, I bade you go in haste, nor is it well for any
one to wait my bidding twice."
"'T is no more than just we should be told the destiny of our
companions," I persisted, determined not to desert them thus. "May not
both the Puritan and the woman abide with us?"
Her eyes flashed in uncontrolled anger, her lips giving vent to a low,
cruel laugh.
"I tell you no, and understand once for all my word is law. You are
not standing before a French court to haggle over trifles, and dispute
about your rights. Bah! you have no rights; you live from day to day
merely by my whim. The red-headed man tarries where he is as long as
it remains my pleasure; while as to yon dainty creature, she shall meet
no harm. Forsooth, it will not greatly hurt her to be beyond your
sight for a space."
"Does she bide with you?"
"If I so will it, yes; if not, no. Who are you, hunter, to dare
question Naladi after she bids you cease?" she exclaimed, her cheeks
crimsoning. "Now go; go ere I am tempted to show you I possess power
to enforce my will. Another word, and you will long regret it."
She was a tigress now, her eyes burning into mine with the fierceness
of a wild animal scenting blood. It would have been sheer madness to
attempt more, with those scowling, savage faces lowering at us from
every side, their possessors only too eager to spring forward in cruel
obedience to a gesture of their Queen. A single word from her red lips
would, in spite of all superstition, cause them to rend us limb from
limb, so I bade De Noyan follow me, feeling relief when once beyond her
sight in the cool depths of the sheltering hut.
"Well, Master Benteen," remarked my comrade easily, finding a soft
bearskin upon which to rest his aching limbs, "this is an odd company
among whom you have piloted us; one not altogether appealing to my
taste in its masculine elements. Yet, damme, but you possess rare
advantage over the rest of us in holding converse with these people,
while I must remain dumb as an oyster, save for a glance of the eye.
Perhaps, now that we have time for it, you will kindly explain the
meaning of all this mummery with which we passed the night, for, by all
the gods of Rome, it was weird enough to turn my hair gray, yet I
understood neither word nor deed. How came that grim preacher to
attain such honor, taking position beside their peerless Queen?"
His idiotic lightness of speech and manner jarred unpleasantly upon my
humor. I was heavy-hearted from what had passed, retaining little
confidence in the future, yet I told him the story as best I could,
trusting the recital might serve to sober him, so we could counsel
together regarding our plans.
"_Pardieu_! 'twas rather a pretty trick of the lady," he exclaimed
laughingly, as I ended the tale. "She would do honor to a more
pretentious court with her wit as well as beauty. What did you call
the title she bore?"
"'Daughter of the Sun' was the name given in the altar-house yonder;
later she made use of the word Naladi."
"Ay! that was it. 'T is a name fitting her well to my taste, and I
boast of some experience with the sex. _Sacre_! I trust not to have
seen the last of so fair a vision as this Queen Naladi."
He was twirling his moustache, such a look of complacency upon his
features I could only stare at him in bewildered surprise.
"You appear reconciled to our situation with marvellous good grace," I
managed to say at last, in a tone which made no attempt to conceal my
disgust at his coxcombry. "For myself I can see very little to hope
for."
"Tut, tut, man," stretching himself negligently into a posture of
greater ease, "an old soldier learns to take things as they come,
without complaint; to extract sweets from every flower. Surely here is
a rare rose we have uncovered blooming in the wilderness; nor am I
blind to its beauty, or unmindful of my privileges. Besides, lad, what
is there greatly to worry about? We are preserved, you tell me, from
torture; food will undoubtedly be supplied in plenty, while the lady is
surely fair enough to promise pleasant companionship in exile--provided
I ever learn to have private speech with her. What was the tongue?"
"We conversed in Spanish."
"I thought as much; there were certain familiar words. But, as I said,
why complain of fate, with all these blessings showered upon us.
_Pardieu_! it would prove us ungrateful wretches. Surely 'tis better
than the tender mercy of O'Reilly, ay, or the hardship and starvation
of the trail."
"You have forgotten your wife."
"Forgotten? _Sacre_! I should say not, Master Benteen; nor is that
likely to occur. Yet what cause have I to worry regarding her present
comfort. Did you not say that the Queen pledged her safety and good
care? What more could I accomplish for her than that, even were we
back in New Orleans, beneath French protection? Saint Denis! you are
of a complaining breed, inclined to act as conscience for your betters.
True, there are some few things I greatly miss, that would minister to
comfort. I was ever careful in my toilet, and choice as to my wines in
town; still, if these savages have not lost my soaps and brushes, I
will strive to exist even here, and be content until a way opens toward
that which is better."
"I greatly admire your patience."
"Pah! 'tis but the long practice of a soldier. Yet I am somewhat weary
from the night, and, if you have talked enough, will seek rest to dream
of Naladi, trusting she may send for me ere long. Did you note the
beauty of her eyes?"
"I marked their cruelty."
"_Le Diable_! I ever admired spirit in a woman; 'tis the greater
pleasure to watch them take on softer light. In such orbs love shines
the clearer, once awakened."
I sat there some time in silence until he fell asleep. Then, realizing
how useless it was for me, wearily as my eyelids drooped, to strive
longer in thought, I sought another robe to rest upon, and was soon
happily unconscious also.
I presume some unusual noise aroused me, for as I awoke and stared
about, unable at the moment to comprehend my situation, I noticed, by
evidence of the sun shining through the entrance of the hut, it was
already past the noon hour. Consciousness becoming more acute, I
perceived, standing barely within the shadows of the interior, the
dusky figure of a warrior, unarmed, and motionless except for a gesture
of the hand which seemed to command my following him. Retaining
concealed within my doublet the sharp knife intrusted to me by Madame,
I felt little trepidation at the fellow's presence, nor was there
anything about his countenance to foster alarm, he appearing the least
ferocious of aspect of all I had observed among the tribe. A moment I
hesitated, then believing him a messenger from the Queen, I followed
his retreating figure out into the sunlight.
The village reposed in loneliness and silence, nor did I see even child
or dog playing before the square huts as we passed them. As we mounted
higher along the slope and began climbing the strangely rounded hill on
the summit of which perched the altar-house, I glanced back curiously
over the plain outspread below. Little clusters of dark figures were
scattered here and there throughout the pleasant valley, many of them
congregated along the greener banks of the circling water-course,
others scattered more widely afield, yet all earnestly engaged in
cultivation of the ground. This quiet, pastoral scene was so foreign
to all my previous conception of Indian nature that for the moment I
paused amazed, gazing upon this picture of peaceful agriculture in the
heart of the wilderness. Surely, cruel, revengeful savages though they
were, yet here was a people retaining traditions of a higher life than
that of the wild chase and desert war. I could perceive no guards
stationed anywhere, yet felt no doubt that every entrance leading into
this hidden paradise, this rock-barricaded basin amid the hills, would
be amply protected by armed and vigilant warriors, confining us as
securely within its narrow limits as if a dozen savages followed our
every footfall. My silent guide, after one glance across his naked
shoulder, to assure himself that I followed, led straight forward up
the hill on a dog-trot, soon placing him far in advance. At the
entrance of the altar-house he paused, showing disinclination to enter.
In obedience to a gesture I passed within, leaving him standing there,
as if awaiting my return, a silent statue in light bronze, the glow of
the sunshine upon him.
Wondering what my mission might be, I remained a moment motionless
slightly within the entrance, my eyes almost totally blinded by the
sudden transition from the garish day to that dull interior. Slowly
the scene within resolved itself into clearer detail. I began to
perceive the crawling red flames licking with hungry tongues along the
sides of the huge log resting upon the altar block, and later
distinguished the black figure of a priest moving silently from point
to point amid the shadows, engaged upon the grewsome functions of his
office, his presence ever manifested by the dismal crooning with which
he worked his magic spells. Beyond these vague suggestions of
life--for they seemed scarcely more--it was like endeavoring 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 gloom, I
was thoroughly startled at the sudden booming forth of a voice,
apparently issuing from the darkest corner.
"May the Lord God forgive ye, Master Benteen, and be merciful unto ye,
for thus placing His 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 him, and hastened to cross the
room, heading toward the corner whence the sound came. As I attained
the outer edge of the platform, groping my passage through the dense
gloom, I was halted in the midst of a dozen or more savages, lying
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 among them stirred from his prostrate position at
my approach. Forgetting them instantly, my whole attention became
riveted upon the marvellous transformation presented by my old Puritan
comrade. Odds! what a sight! He sat bolt upright, as though bound in
that stiff posture, occupying a low dais, almost at the edge of the
platform. This latter had been covered with a glaring crimson cloth,
roughly woven, presumably of native manufacture, peculiarly brilliant
in its coloring, and hence of rare beauty to Indian eyes. At my
approach he began straining at the cords which held him helpless, and I
soon saw that his entire body was wrapped 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 from
loss of sleep, and rendered ludicrous by its little snapping eyes,
glared down upon me.
"Memory of Beelzebub! It would be no matter of laughter 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 among them.
Imagine not, vain and presumptuous unbeliever that the Lord God
Almighty--He who rideth in the chariot of the whirlwind--will long
permit the heathen to profane His holy places, or triumph in the misery
of one of the elect. There cometh the Day of Judgment, when the wicked
shall be scattered as chaff."
"You are in a most unpleasant condition, friend," I replied,
endeavoring to speak so as to calm his temper. "It is in sorrow, not
pleasure, I behold you thus."
"I am entangled in the snare of the Evil One, Master Benteen. But I
continue manfully to war against the adversary even as becomes my high
station."
"Have you been long in so pitiful a state? I dreamed not it would ever
come to this."
"It may be true you were ignorant of the wiles of that emissary of
Satan who doth encompass us," he acknowledged, a trifle mollified by my
sympathy. "I would not be guilty of evil thought even toward an
unregenerated heretic. Yet I have sat thus, wrapped like a mummy of
the Egyptians, 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 worship. You
are unto them a mysterious visitant from the Sun--so the Queen named
you, inspired by the color of your hair."
He groaned aloud, his chin dropping dejectedly upon his breast.
"I feared as much, and the thought greatly oppressed me. 'T is as if I
were a golden 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 made so
vigorous a protest two of the black imps went down before me, but the
others overpowered my struggles, 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
must be their understandings are darkened, for they hearken not unto my
exhortations, only lie thus, or dance before me by the hour in unholy
worship, snapping their fingers and shouting strange words, while twice
yonder black emissary of false religion held his smoking torch so
closely to my face the flame scorched the skin. Nor have my most
fervent prayers availed to drive them hence, or ease the prickings 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 machinations of that scarlet woman."
"Have you again 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, and may the Lord forgive my ever casting eyes upon
such a shameless creature. 'T was she who brought me this disgrace.
She stood by with mocking smile, bidding her savage 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 arm of the Almighty. 'Tis no
gleam of mercy cometh to me from her taunts, nor in the harlot blood
flowing 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 from the torture, it was done through some dark
project born of the demon within her soul. Nothing good 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 raiment, and he is ever attired as becomes a
bridegroom to the shameless harlot ruling this devils' den. Marry, he
may be good enough wielding a sword, yet will prove the undoing of all
who company with him in this adventure."
"You are unjustly angry," I insisted, striving to make light of his
words. "I value not the mercy of the woman, yet she used the only
means she had for restraining her savage followers. It was stern
necessity driving her to reliance on the magic of your red hair with
which 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 am not likely to be led astray by
a glimpse of a fair face tempting 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, who
will yet mock our agony 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 woman
dared do wrong by her?"
"I report only what my eyes beheld, for I can make nothing out of their
heathen gibberish. Yet she who journeyed with us, ever proving herself
a modest, high-bred lady in times of sore trial, begged upon her knees,
with tears hot upon her cheeks, to be permitted to accompany you and
her husband. What result? Why, this good Queen; this charming
creature, stood there, like an insensate stone, gazing 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 reached my
ears, while that red-draped witch came back smiling to 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 predicament, it
was equally clear I could do nothing to aid him. My heart was so
heavily laden by the plight of Eloise, I retained no other desire than
a longing to return at once to the hut and hold consultation with De
Noyan. That same silent spectre accompanied me along the brief
journey, leaving me unguarded at the entrance. I entered hastily only
to find the room vacant, my comrade gone.