THE SNAKE GOD
I was now to meet with a surprise. The chief deity worshipped by the
people of the Island of Gems was a snake god, a monster who at regular,
intervals visited a coral cave rising out of a pool of water said to be
fathomless, from which I conjectured it was connected with the sea. The
water in this pool was of a deep blue colour, salt to the taste, which
further convinced me of its link with the ocean. On the first night of
each full moon a human sacrifice was offered, with which the monster
retreated into the coral cave, where it remained feasting upon its
victim three days. During this period the natives continued without
sleep, and fasting. At the end of three days the snake god disappeared,
nor was it seen again until its next periodical visit.
There ran, a legend among the people of the Island of Gems that if a
human sacrifice was not made to the snake god at the time of its
coming, the island would be destroyed and its people exterminated, so
that great care was taken to provide the monster with its accustomed
tribute. Prisoners of war, and all strangers found upon the island,
were, in the first place, offered to the snake god, and, failing these,
a victim was chosen among the tribe.
It now appeared, so far as I could gather from Ackbau, who made no
secret of his intentions regarding me, that had it not been, for the
arrival of another stranger upon the island, I myself would have been
offered as a sacrifice to the snake god at his next coming, and it was
for this reason I had been received with apparent friendship. But a
fresh captive being taken soon after I had been washed ashore had
caused a change of plan very much to my advantage. Queen Melannie also
had interested herself in my favour, and had refused to speak words at
the secret council which would have decreed my death. But I might
assure myself, said Ackbau, that my fate was only delayed, and at the
coming of the snake god, next after the one immediately expected, my
death had been decided upon. I appealed to Melannie, but she could only
confirm what Ackbau had told me.
"I cannot save you, Peter," she said, "unless you will become my
husband, when, if you are strong, we may overcome Ackbau, and rule as
king and queen upon this island. But if that cannot be, let us escape
by a means that I know of."
I put aside the question of marriage, but I eagerly embraced the
proposal to escape.
Melannie then led me, secretly, by a path known only to Ackbau, the
council, and herself, to a rock cavern close to the water's edge, in
which was kept a ship's boat, which the queen told me had been washed
ashore at the same time when, she was found crying upon the beach. It
was a well-built, serviceable cutter, with spare oars, and a sail
stowed under the thwarts, just as they had been placed in her when she
had put to sea, but there was neither food nor water in the boat,
although I discovered a water-tank forward, which could readily be
filled from one of the many streams on the island. I became so excited
at the prospect of escape that Melannie looked grave.
"You are glad to go, Peter," she said. "Go, then; take the boat, and
leave me to my fate."
"Not so, Melannie," I answered. "I will take you with me, and restore
you to your own people. It is not meet that a white girl, such as thou,
should abide with savages."
At these words Melannie recovered her gaiety.
"Let me go with thee, Peter," she said, clapping her hands with
pleasure. "It is all I ask. But if we would not be followed by war
canoes, which could easily overtake us, we must use much cunning in the
manner of our going."
We then took counsel together, when Melannie advised that our best
chance to escape would be at the time of the coming of the snake god.
When the monster appeared, and for three days afterward, while it
remained in the coral cave, the savages would be held to the spot by
their traditions from which nothing would induce them to depart. We
might then slip away unobserved, and be out of sight of land before the
ceremonies in connexion with the sacrifice were over. This appearing to
be our opportunity, we at once set about making preparations. From a
stream near the cave I filled the boat's water-tank, and we collected a
quantity of coconuts, bananas, and other fruits, which we stowed on
board; nor did I forget to take some of the largest gems from the
treasure cave, which I stuffed into my belt with the others. The gold I
did not touch. It was heavy to carry, and its transport might have
caused suspicion. We also launched the boat, with some difficulty, into
a natural boat harbour formed by a coral reef, so that no time might be
lost in getting away. All being ready, we waited impatiently for the
day upon which we had planned to set out upon our voyage.
During this time I observed a change upon the mountain in the centre of
the island. The smoke cloud, which always hovered over it, had
increased until it hung like a funeral pall over the top of the
volcano. Loud rumblings also were heard like distant thunder, while
earth tremors were constantly felt. I mentioned these matters to
Melannie, but she did not appear to attach any importance to them.
"The mountain was always like that," she said. "Perhaps the evil
spirits who live there are angry." But I knew from my reading and
experience that these signs and portents were such as heralded an
eruption. In the excitement of leaving the island, however, I forgot my
anxieties with regard to the volcano.
I now questioned Melannie with regard to the white stranger whose
coming had saved me from being offered as a sacrifice to the snake god.
At first she refused to tell me anything concerning him, but when I
pressed her she conducted me to a cavern in which the captive was
confined. The door of this dungeon was a swinging rock, which Melannie
caused to open by some means of which she knew the secret, when the
wretched man who was reserved for the sacrifice was seen crouching in
darkness at the farther end of the cave. He came toward us bent double.
There was a scared look upon his face. The light dazzled him. I knew
him at once, and held my breath. It was Van Luck. When he saw me he
threw himself upon his knees and implored me to save him, but I told
him I had no power to avert his death even if I would. In answer to my
question as to how he came upon the island, he answered, that almost at
the same time as I had been washed overboard he himself had been
precipitated by a wave into the sea.
"Well, Van Luck," I said to him. "It seemeth to me that the hand of
Providence is in this business. But for your conduct we had both now
been on board the 'Arms of Amsterdam,' yet no sooner was I cast into
the sea by your treachery than you were made to follow me, to be
brought to this island, where, but for your coming, I would have been
subject to the cruel fate which now awaits you."
"Mercy!" he cried. "I do not fear death. But the death that I am to
suffer is not for a human to contemplate. If you cannot save me, at
least kill me, so that I may escape the torture of being devoured
alive."
But I was powerless to aid him, and at a sign from Melannie, who was
fearful lest our visit might be discovered, I stepped back, as the rock
at the mouth of the cave returned to its place, and consigned the
miserable captive to a darkness from which he would not emerge until
the time for the sacrifice.