‘Look!’ said Yacka, pointing to a range of hills in the distance.
‘There you will find the cave of the White Spirit, and your journey
will be ended.’
Gazing in the direction the black indicated, they saw hill upon hill
towering one above the other like a number of huge pyramids. It was a
strange sight in this wild country, where it was doubtful if ever a
white man had set foot before.
They were all eagerness to continue the journey, but Yacka said this
could not be. Certain forms and ceremonies were to be gone through
before he could venture with them into the hills and caves where
Enooma, the White Spirit, lay at rest. Only the head of the tribe was
permitted to enter the cave, and so superstitious were the blacks upon
this point, that they believed it meant certain death to anyone of
their number who disobeyed. Consequently Yacka would have no difficulty
in showing Edgar and Will what the cave contained, as he alone could
enter.
Yacka had stated to the tribe that the white men were come to see
Enooma, who was of the same race, and therefore they must be permitted
to enter the cave.
At the foot of the nearest hill--it could almost be called a
mountain--they halted, and the blacks commenced a wild, weird chant
which sounded like the wail of lost spirits. They prostrated themselves
upon the ground, and made signs with their spears.
Yacka stepped on ahead, and beckoned to Edgar and Will to follow, which
they did without hesitation. The other blacks came on at a respectful
distance, and seemed afraid that something was about to happen. In the
side of the hill they were approaching, Edgar saw a large cleft in the
rock wide enough to admit half a dozen people to pass in abreast. These
hills were all solid rock, not merely mounds of earth, and were bare
in many places, while in fissures grew trees, and wild creepers hung
down in great profusion. Orchids were growing of exceptional beauty,
and Edgar, as he looked at them, thought of the price they would bring
in the old country. As they entered the cleft in the rock the blacks
remained behind, and squatted down on the ground.
‘They guard the entrance,’ said Yacka. ‘When no one is here this
opening in the rock closes up, and no one can find the cave of Enooma.’
Edgar wondered how Yacka knew the cleft closed up if no one was there
to see such a strange thing happen.
‘How can you tell that,’ he said, ‘if you have never seen it?’
‘Rest and listen,’ said Yacka: ‘You never believe I speak truth because
I am black. Once the Enooma were defeated by the Curracoo, and fled
before them to these hills. They were so hard-pressed that they had
to rush through the cleft in the rock, and when the last of the tribe
passed in the cleft closed and shut the Curracoo out. This is true, for
men of the tribe have told me, and they do not lie to the chief.’
Edgar believed this to be another superstition of the blacks, but he
could not resist looking behind him towards the cleft they had entered
by. With a loud cry he sprang to his feet, for behind them there was a
solid rock, and he could see nothing of the blacks they had left. Will
looked, and turned pale as he saw they were shut in.
‘How is this?’ said Edgar. ‘What has happened?’
‘Enooma has closed her gate,’ said Yacka. ‘She knows of the approach of
her son and the white men, and she wishes to be undisturbed.’
Edgar walked back to where he imagined the cleft in the rock by which
they entered had been, but he could see nothing but a solid mass in
front of him. He felt the rock and it was hard and firm, and must have
been there for ages. How had this strange thing happened? Yacka must
have suddenly turned as they walked along, and the opening become
hidden, but as they entered the black appeared to have gone straight on.
‘I give it up,’ said Edgar. ‘We seem to be blocked in here, and shall
have to trust to Yacka to get us out. It makes a fellow feel queer when
such strange things happen, but I have no doubt there is an explanation
of it if we can find it out.’
The place they were now standing in was a narrow defile between rocks
towering up perpendicularly to a considerable height. These rocks were
bare and smooth, and not a plant or fern could be seen growing on the
sides. Before them was the mouth of a cave, and inside seemed dark as
pitch. Yacka walked to the mouth of the cave, and they followed him.
When they became accustomed to the gloom, they saw a faint glimmer
of light, about the size of a bull’s-eye lantern glass, in the far
distance. So far as Edgar could make out, the sides of the cave were
rocks, but smoothed in a similar way to those on either side of the
defile they had left. The floor of the cave was hard and even, in some
places so smooth that it became slippery and dangerous. Yacka did not
speak, but kept moving slowly forward, and they could see the dim
outline of his figure.
‘It must have been the action of water for ages that has made the floor
so smooth,’ said Edgar. ‘How cold it is after the heat we have had!
Reminds me of a petrifying cave. I believe if we remained here long
enough we should be turned into stone.’
‘I have no desire to be turned into a petrified mummy at present,’ said
Will laughing; ‘but you’re right about the cold--I am chilled to the
bone.’
‘How much more of this is there, Yacka?’ said Edgar, speaking loud
enough for the black, who was some way in front, to hear him.
The sound of his voice echoed through the passage, and gradually died
away in the distance.
‘Wait,’ said Yacka. ‘Be careful here.’
They had need of the warning, for they were now treading upon something
soft and slimy, and the sensation was not pleasant. They slipped about
and made but little progress, and were glad when the ground felt hard
and dry again.
The round ball of light at the end was gradually widening, and they
could now see more plainly the nature of the passage they were
traversing. Looking up to the roof Edgar saw thousands of glittering
stars, which flashed and twinkled even with the faint light from the
opening.
‘Look, Will,’ he said; ‘how lovely this roof would be if there was more
light! They might be diamonds, they sparkle so.’
‘Wish they were,’ replied Will. ‘A few diamonds would help a fellow
along--you know in what direction I mean.’
‘Yacka has promised to make us rich. I wonder if he will let us take
what we like if there is anything to take?’
It was a mass of various-coloured stalactites on the roof that had
attracted Edgar’s attention, and as they got more light in the passage
they were seen in all their beauty. The sides were also covered with
curiously-twisted and gnarled designs. As they neared the opening they
saw the sun was shining brightly, and that they were about to enter an
open space. They were not, however, prepared for the sight that burst
upon their astonished gaze as they stepped out of the darkness into the
full light of the sun. Yacka watched them with a delighted expression
in his eyes, and had evidently anticipated the surprise he was about to
give them.
They were so charmed with the scene that they sat down and looked upon
it without saying a word. The spot they were in was like a large basin
hollowed out of the solid rocks. The sides sloped down gradually, and
were hollowed out at the base. Had there been tiers of seats round, it
would have resembled in shape a vast amphitheatre. There was, however,
something far more picturesque than bare seats round this wonderful
circle. The whole of the basin was covered with a kind of green moss,
which looked like velvet as the sun shone upon it.
This velvet bed was studded with a profusion of flowers of all colours,
shapes, and sizes. Brilliant orchids selected the most shady nooks to
fix their abode in. Huge white convolvulus spread over projections and
clumps; lilies of great height filled in spaces where water lodged, and
gently trickled down into a pool in the hollow of the basin. Great nest
ferns surrounded the water, their fronds, over six feet long, spreading
out like large fans. The miniata had its large carmine blossoms showing
to perfection, the colour being dazzling. Pandanus and screw palms also
grew amongst the giant ferns and lilies. Floating on the water in the
basin were gigantic water-lilies.
So scooped out was this basin, that there was an ample shade for the
numerous ferns and lilies that do not flourish with the full light of
the sun upon them. Surrounded by such lovely flowers and ferns, and
with a cool pool of water to make everything refreshing, it is small
wonder, after their recent experiences, that Edgar and Will fancied
themselves in an enchanted spot. How it all came here no one could
fathom. Nature fixes upon strange spots in which to work at her best.
All they knew and cared about was that in an unexplored part of
Australia they had come upon such a wonderful scene.
Yacka assured them this was a mere nothing when compared with the cave
of Enooma.
The place they were now in he described as the bathing-place of Enooma,
and said the waters from the caves did not run into this place.
‘You can drink this water,’ said Yacka, ‘but not that in the caves. It
is bitter, and will turn the tongue hard, and you will have no taste.’
It always struck Edgar as curious that, no matter where they happened
to be, Yacka could invariably procure them a good meal. Even in this
spot, where it did not seem likely they would be able to find much to
relieve their hunger, Yacka got berries and roots, some water from the
pool, and made quite a pleasant, and what proved to be a strengthening,
drink. He also gave them a root which he said would appease hunger for
a time whenever tasted.
Yacka would not allow them to linger here, but walked round the basin.
Edgar saw no outlet except the one by which they had entered. At the
far side Yacka pulled aside the dense masses of ferns, and they saw an
opening large enough to admit of a man crawling through. Yacka went
first, and they followed on their hands and knees.
This passage was about fifty yards in length, and at the other end
was an open cave, which was lighted by a hole in the roof, naturally
formed. Gliding down the walls were glistening drops of water, and
the floor was very uneven, and covered with masses of rock that must
at some remote period have become detached from the roof. Some of the
tracery on the walls Edgar looked at with wonder. It was of a rich
cream colour, and almost like the texture of a cashmere shawl.
All sorts of shapes and figures could be seen caused by the action of
the water, which must have taken thousands of years to perform its
work, and would take thousands more years to complete it. Hanging from
the roof were large pendants like icicles, and the water ran slowly
down them and dripped off at the end. The hollow underneath caused by
these drips showed the extreme age of the cave.
Leaning against the side of the cave Edgar saw close to him what at
first looked like a bunch of grapes; but when he observed it closely he
found it was a peculiar formation in the rock.
‘That is one of the secrets,’ said Yacka. ‘It is a guide to the inner
cave we must enter. Watch.’
Yacka pushed the bunch of grapes, and a large slab of rock moved slowly
round, and through the opening they saw another large cave beyond.
‘Enter and wait,’ said Yacka.
‘Are you coming?’ said Edgar.
‘I will fetch you,’ said Yacka; ‘but I must enter the White Spirit’s
cave before you, or harm may befall.’
‘I don’t half like it,’ said Edgar. ‘We are not afraid, but you had
better go on with us.’
Yacka said: ‘You must remain alone.’
‘All right,’ said Edgar, sitting down on a projection from the rock;
‘but make haste back.’
Yacka went away, and when they looked round they found the rock had
swung back into its place, and they were imprisoned in the cave.