A VENTURE IN THE DARK
It is occasion for deep regret that I was so blind to my opportunities
for learning much relative to this strange people. During those hours
of trial my thoughts were so occupied with our own dangers, it was
merely incidentally I considered anything else. No small temptation
now assails me to record many things I believe true, things I remember
vaguely; but I pass the temptation by, determined to write only what I
may vouch for as of my own observation.
I remained silent, leaning against the wall and making vigorous use of
my pipe, a long time after De Noyan fell peacefully asleep. While the
fast fading daylight clung dimly to the interior, my eyes were fastened
upon his upturned face, almost boyish in the unconsciousness of repose,
and I began to feel pity for his weakness, my anger against him fading
away. As the darkness became pronounced I remained there still, my
sleepless eyes paying small heed to night, the scenes I saw being of
the brain, memory awakening to paint with glowing colors across the
black screen. The evening was quiet,--within, no more was heard than
the regular breathing of my companion; without, an occasional savage
outcry, mingled with the low moaning of the night wind.
It became a lonely vigil, my thoughts unhappy. I had much to reflect
upon. The extreme difficulty of our present situation, encompassed and
separated as we were: De Noyan was bewitched by a siren who had already
bound him by silken cords to any nefarious scheme her unscrupulous
desires might compass; Cairnes was as helplessly entangled in her
power, although held to his fate by ropes of a different nature; while
Madame was scarcely less a prisoner, powerless to escape the ruthless
grasp of a false-hearted woman whose jealousy might at any instant lead
to measures of extremity. I alone of all our little company remained
somewhat my own master. My hands and heart at least were free from all
visible bonds. Yet what hideous mockery was such freedom! I realized
that I could venture no step beyond the door of the lodge without
becoming the focus of spying eyes; that all about was evidence of the
despotic power of this renegade white queen, who deigned to spare me
merely because she deemed I was utterly powerless to interfere with her
cruel purposes. Saint Andrew! it was an environment of evil to chill
the blood of any man, nor amid its gathering gloom could I distinguish
any gleam promising dawn. About us watched impatiently a horde of
ruthless savages, eager to make us victims of their torture, held back
temporarily only by the imperious will of this self-styled "Daughter of
the Sun," who ruled through appeal to their grossest superstitions.
She, I believed, in spite of fair face and evidences of culture, was as
vindictive, barbarous, and relentless as the wildest in that savage
band.
Over and over I turned such unhappy thoughts in my seething brain,
until the faintest sound from without had died away. I may have spent
hours thus, while De Noyan slept on peacefully as a tired child. At
last a wild desire for action overcame my lassitude, conquered all
lingering discretion. There arose before me, clearly as a painted
picture, the pleading face of her I loved. I knew that to no other was
she looking for aid in her despair. There might be little I could
accomplish for her succor, yet it would bring her new courage even to
exchange a brief word with some faithful friend, as proof that she was
not forgotten. Besides, I longed, as no expression can make clear, to
gaze again, if only for an instant, into her clear gray eyes, to listen
to the gentle murmur of her trustful voice. In brief, I was in the
mood for a desperate venture.
I crept to the open door, peering cautiously forth into the darkness.
It was a heavy night, the little basin was wrapped in shadow, and not
even a star peeped forth from the rifts of low-scudding clouds. In no
direction could I distinguish any twinkling of lights except a single
fitful flash from off the altar, where black-robed priests guarded the
sacred fire or worshipped before the Puritan. Encouraged by the
darkness I crept along the outer wall, unchallenged by the skulking
guard, and finally attained the upper corner. Here I observed a second
glimmer, which I instantly recognized as coming from the other great
house upon the summit of the mound--that house in which I understood
dwelt Queen Naladi, and where De Noyan said his wife remained prisoner.
I scarcely know what I hoped to accomplish by such a move, yet helpful
circumstances are apt to develop when one attempts boldly to do his own
part the best he may. It was in blind faith I crept forward through
the dry grass, drawing ever closer toward that beckoning light. It was
a long journey and a slow one, as the tribe would guard vigilantly the
dwelling-place of their Queen. At every rustle in the grass, every
flap of wing overhead, I paused, listening to the pounding of my heart.
I clasped closely in one hand the knife, my sole weapon of defence,
and, as my eyes became accustomed to the gloom and could distinguish
some things more clearly, I paused often, with uplifted head, to study
some indistinct object in the darkness. Thus advancing inch by inch,
avoiding with care the least rustling of dry grass, I wriggled
snake-like forward, until I began breasting the steeper incline of the
mound, its summit now outlined against the lighter space of overarching
sky.
All my rage deserted me when again in the open, actually attempting to
achieve a purpose. My brain cleared as by magic, every nerve steadying
itself to meet whatsoever peril might be lurking along the path.
Half-way up the mound I lay close to the earth, peering steadily
through the gloom. There was no cover to crouch behind, the slope
being totally bare of vegetation except for the short, dry grass, yet I
felt reasonably secure from observation unless I entered that bar of
light. Unable to do more than guess, I concluded that the single
flame, splitting the night like the shining blade of a sword, came from
the northern compartment, while the southern half remained wrapped in
silent darkness. Outwardly this Queen's residence was constructed much
like the building used by the priests as a temple. In the latter I
recalled two entrances opening respectively toward east and west. Were
a partition run between, as in this private dwelling, the eastern door
would open into the southern apartment. It was the west door through
which the light streamed, and, daring approach it no closer, my only
recourse lay in trying my fortune on the opposite side.
I began a winding advance along the sloping side of the hill, but sank
suddenly to earth as a spectral figure moved forth from the darkness,
stood a moment in the bright glare, and then strode past, vanishing
within the gloom like a shadow. It was an Indian, spear in hand, one
of the body-guard of the Queen. With renewed caution, my imminent
danger being manifest, I barely lifted my head from the level of the
grass, and began to work onward, reaching out until I got firm grasp on
a bunch of grass, then drawing my body forward the full extent of my
arms. The progress was slow, involving much labor, and it required a
full half-hour to attain the other side of the mound. I could now look
above, perceiving nothing except the black shadow of the house. If
Eloise was within, and if this door led to her prison, it was scarcely
possible that it was unguarded. Naladi had special reasons for looking
carefully after the safe keeping of this captive, and was not likely to
forget. I discovered no outward signs of life, but was too thoroughly
versed in wilderness ways to count upon that, knowing that each dark
shadow along the wall might conceal some crouching stealthy figure,
ready to pounce forth. With utmost care, anxiously scanning the silent
hillside, I drew myself forward, hardly venturing upon a full breath,
until I finally rested on my breast barely three paces from where I
believed the entrance must be.
I dreaded any attempt to advance into the unknown, yet I had no
intention of withdrawing until I had accomplished that end for which I
came. To retreat was foreign to my nature; indeed, I was now so close
to Eloise, it required an effort of will to restrain a desire to rush
blindly forward. But long training overcame this rash impulse. I
rested there, silent as a savage, seeking to trace each detail of what
was barely beyond my hand. It was little enough I could distinguish,
straining my eyes to the utmost; and finally, despairing of learning
more, I advanced my hands, silently groping for something to grasp,
when I was instantly frozen into a recumbent statue by a slight
movement of something directly in front. This was so faint that, had
not my every nerve been tense, I should scarcely have noted it at all.
Yet there could be no doubt--some one had given a slight shiver, as
though from the chill of the night air; whoever it might be, the person
was not three paces from my out-stretched hands, and, as near as I
could judge, must be sitting on the very threshold of the entrance.
I was in an awkward position. How I had succeeded in arriving there
without attracting attention was little short of miraculous. I durst
not venture on any retrograde movement; I even pressed my mouth against
the hard earth, the better to deaden the sound of breathing. I know
not how long I remained thus; it was until my strained muscles appeared
to cord themselves, and I could scarcely keep back a moan of pain. Yet
no other sound came from that mysterious presence. Intently as I
listened, not so much as the faint sound of breathing reached me.
Still I could not have been deceived; there assuredly had been
movement; I distinctly felt a consciousness of other presence, so that
every nerve tingled, and it required the utmost self-control to hold me
still. I fairly throbbed with insane impulses to leap forward and
solve the mystery.
Who could be lurking there in such silence? It must assuredly be an
enemy, a guard stationed to watch over the fair prisoner within;
doubtless, he would remain until relieved by some other. What hope for
successful advance held me in such agony of mind and body? I felt that
I must relieve my cramped limbs or else scream aloud in spite of every
effort at control. Slowly I drew back, my outspread hands searching
for some hummock of grass against which I might press, to force my body
silently downward, but discovered none. Then there sounded, slightly
to my left, the soft rustle of a moccasoned foot, and a low, guttural
voice muttered some indistinct sentences. The lurking form in my front
appeared to rise, and there was a brief grunt as if in response to
command. Then a huge warrior stalked past so close that his moccasoned
foot planted itself fairly between my outstretched arms. Instantly he
faded away within the enveloping gloom, and with hardly the hesitation
of a moment I was on hands and knees creeping toward my goal. With
groping fingers I touched the riven trunk that formed the threshold,
and, reaching upward, noted with a thrill of delight that merely a
heavy curtain of woven straw guarded the interior. There was no time
for hesitancy; at any instant the savage guard might return to his
deserted post. Pushing the slight barrier noiselessly aside, I gained
the interior, dropped the mat behind me, and, for the first time,
ventured to pause and survey my surroundings.
The single partition did not extend to the roof by a foot or more, so
sufficient light found passage through the narrow aperture to render
dimly visible the principal features of this apartment into which I had
ventured. It was evidently a sleeping-chamber, handsomely furnished in
barbaric fashion, the faint light gleaming on numerous burnished
ornaments, while a carpet of soft skins concealed the floor. To this I
gave brief attention, my anxious glance falling almost instantly upon
the draped figure of a woman, vaguely defined in the dimness, lying
outstretched on a slightly raised cushioned couch, her face concealed
by the denser shadows of the wall, sound asleep.
Cautiously I crept forward, hesitating to touch her lest so sudden an
awakening might cause alarm. It seemed safer to trust in speech, as
then she would recognize at once who was by her side.
"Madame," I whispered softly, my lips as close as possible to her tiny
ear, "I seek brief word with you to-night."
She must have slept lightly, for at my faint whisper I perceived that
her wide-opened eyes were scrutinizing my face.
"'Tis I, Madame, Geoffrey Benteen. I beg you make no noise."
"You need have no fear," returned a soft voice in purest Spanish. "You
do me honor by so unexpected a visit; I bid you welcome, Geoffrey
Benteen."