"It is a strange, wild story which the sahibs shall again hear of the
Hunted Tribe and of its leader," began Hassan, as he rested at our feet
with his sword gripped in his hand ready to wield it in our service at
any moment; "and thus ye will know why the band is out to-night on its
fell errand. Years ago, before the Burmese had overrun Siam, and while
Ayuthia was its capital, so famous for its pagodas and palaces, Yu Chan
became head of the bonzes or priests of the royal monastery.
"Who the great bonze was by birth none knew, although it was whispered
through the kingdom that he sprang from a certain illustrious family
which urged his claim to the position to which the ruler reluctantly
appointed him. The subject bonzes looked darkly upon him, for he was but
young, while many of them were bowed with age and aspired to hold the
high office to which Yu Chan had been appointed. Oft they drew together
in the gloomy cloisters, and when he swept past in silence, raised their
hands threateningly at his disappearing form, though before his lofty,
stern-set face they bowed in seeming humility as they kissed the hem of
his magnificent robe.
[Illustration: "THEY RAISED THEIR HANDS THREATENINGLY AT HIS
DISAPPEARING FORM."]
"Among these bonzes was one who especially resented Yu Chan's rule over
him, for he was more learned in the subtile crafts of the East than the
rest, and the potency of his spells was known and feared throughout
Siam. An unbending ascetic, indeed, was the grey-bearded Klan Hua, and
the ruler of the country had already promised to him that he should
become the head of the bonzes whenever the office was vacated. So much
was this ruler influenced by Klan Hua that he built a covered way from
his palace by which he might pass at night into the bonze's rude cell to
hear the interpretation of his dreams, or learn the coming events of his
destiny. Yet, in spite of all this, when the chief bonze died, the ruler
of Siam, after much hesitation, gave the coveted office to Yu Chan.
Judge, then, of the fierce hatred which this roused in Klan Hua's
breast, and ye will understand the reason of the plot which he formed
against the one who held the position he so much desired."
"Never mind about the quarrels of these estimable bonzes, Hassan,"
interrupted Denviers. "Go on and tell us of these hill-men, or you won't
get that yarn finished before they return, in which case we may never
have the chance to hear the end of it."
"The sahib is always impatient," answered the Arab gravely; then he
continued, quite heedless of Denviers' suggestion: "On the nights when
the ruler went not to Klan Hua's cell, the latter gathered there several
of the other bonzes, and they sat darkly plotting till morning came.
Then they crept stealthily back to their own cells, to shift their eyes
nervously each time that the stern glance of Yu Chan fell upon them, as
he seemed to read there their guilty secret.
"They planned to poison him, but he left the tampered food untasted.
Then they drew lots to assassinate him as he slept, but the one whose
tablet was marked with a poniard was found lifeless the next day, with
his weapon still clutched in his stiffened fingers, and none knew how he
died. That day the eyes of Yu Chan grew sterner set than ever, as he
gazed searchingly into the face of each bonze as they passed in a long
procession before him, while the conspirators grew livid with fear and
baffled rage at the cold smile with which he seemed to mock at the
failure of their schemes. Then they made one last effort a few days
after, and ye shall hear how it ended.
"The stately Meinam, which glitters before us under the midnight sky,
yearly overflows and renders the earth about it productive. Far as the
history of Siam is recorded in the traditions of the race, it has been
the custom to perform a strange ceremony, intended to impress the common
people with awe for the ruler. Even now the King of Siam, he who sends
the silver tree to China in token of subjection, still adheres to it,
and on the day when the waters of the Meinam have reached their highest
point he sends a royal barge down the swollen waters manned by a hundred
bonzes, who command the turbid stream to rise no higher. So then it
happened that the rise of the river took place, and Klan Hua, who was
learned in such things, counted to the hour when the barge should be
launched, even as he had done for many years. When the ruler visited him
one eventful night he declared that the turbid waters would be at their
full on the morrow, and so the command to them to cease rising could
then safely be given.
"Accordingly the royal barge was launched, amid the cries of the people,
whereupon the ruler soon entered it and, fanned by a female slave, leant
back upon the sumptuous cushions under a canopy of crimson silk, while
by his side was the chief bonze--Yu Chan. Near the ruler was the
grey-bearded Klan Hua, with an evil smile upon his face as he saw his
rival resting on the cushions in the place which he had hoped so long to
fill.
"Out into the middle of the swollen river the royal barge went; then
half way between bank and bank the rhythmic music of the oars as they
dipped together into the water ceased, and the rowers rested. From his
seat Yu Chan arose, and uttered in the priestly tongue the words which
laid a spell upon the stream and bade it cease to rise. Scarcely had he
done so and sunk back again upon the cushions when Klan Hua threw
himself at the monarch's feet and petitioned to utter a few words to
him. The ruler raised the bonze, and bade him speak. Holding one hand
aloft, the plotting Klan Hua pointed with the other towards the
astonished Yu Chan, as he fiercely cried:--
"'Thou false-tongued traitor, thou hast insulted thy monarch to his
face!'
"The ruler bent forward from his cushions and looked in surprise from
the accuser to the accused.
"'Speak!' he cried to Klan Hua; 'make good thy unseemly charge, or, old
as thou art, thy head shall roll from thy shoulders!'
"'Great Ruler of Siam and Lord of the White Elephant,' exclaimed the
accuser, giving the monarch his strange but august title, 'I declare to
thee that the chief bonze has doomed the country to destruction. Taking
advantage of the language in which the exorcism is pronounced, he has
done what never the greatest prince under thee would dare to do. This
man, the head of our order, has spoken words which will make the people
scorn thee and this ceremony, if his command comes to pass. Yu Chan, the
traitor, has bidden the waters _to rise_!'
"The monarch crimsoned with anger, as he turned to Yu Chan, who had
already regained his composure, and sat with crossed arms, smiling
scornfully at his accuser, and then asked:--
"'Hast thou so misused thy power? Speak!'
"'How can'st thou doubt me, knowing my great descent?' cried Yu Chan,
bitterly. 'Even at thy bidding I will not answer a question which casts
so much shame upon me.'
"'Thou can'st not deny this charge!' exclaimed the infuriated monarch.
"'Not so,' replied the chief bonze, 'I will not! If thou carest to
believe the slanderous words which Klan Hua has uttered, and such that
not one in this barge will dare to repeat, so be it!'
"Yu Chan withdrew from his seat at the monarch's side, and taking his
rival's place pointed to the one he had himself vacated.
"'There rest thyself, and be at last content,' he said, scornfully:
'thou false bonze, whisper thence more of thy malicious words into the
ears of the great ruler of Siam!'
"The monarch was disconcerted for a moment, then motioning one of the
other bonzes forward, he exclaimed:--
"'Yu Chan declares that no one in this barge will support his accuser's
words. Thou who wert near, tell me, what am I to believe?'
"'Alas!' answered the bonze, with simulated grief, 'Klan Hua spoke
truly, great monarch; thy trust in Yu Chan has been sorely abused.'
"One after another the bonzes near came before the monarch and gave the
same testimony, for the crafty Klan Hua had so placed the plotters for
the furtherance of their subtle scheme. The ruler gazed angrily at Yu
Chan, then summoning his rival to his side, bade him rest there.
"'Henceforth thou art chief bonze,' he said; then added threateningly to
the fallen one: 'Thou shalt be exiled from this hour, and if the waters
rise to-morrow, as thou hast bidden them, I will have thee hunted down,
hide where thou mayest, and thy head shall fall.'
"The barge reached the shore, and the people drew back amazed to see the
monarch pass on, attended closely by Klan Hua, while he who was as they
thought chief bonze flung off his great robe of purple-embroidered silk,
and idly watched the bonzes disembark, then moved slowly away across the
great plain.
[Illustration: "KLAN HUA WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS CELL."]
"Two days afterwards Klan Hua was found dead in his cell covered with
the robes of his newly-acquired office, and the ruler of Siam had
dispatched a body of soldiers to hunt down Yu Chan and to take him alive
or dead to Ayuthia. The Meinam had risen still higher the day after the
ceremony, not, as the startled monarch thought, because of the deposed
one's power, but owing to Klan Hua's deception in regard to the real
time when he knew the water would reach its limit.
"Then began the strange events which made the name of Yu Chan so
memorable. For some years a band of marauders had taken possession of
the far range known as the Three Hundred Peaks, but hitherto their raids
in Burmah and Siam had attracted scant attention, while in Ayuthia few
knew of their existence. To them the bonze went, and when the
half-savage troops sent in search of him were encamped on the edge of
the plain the mountaineers unexpectedly swooped down upon them. The
remnant which escaped hastened back to the monarch with strange stories
of the prowess of the enemy, and especially of Yu Chan, the exile, whom
they averred led on the foe to victory. The ruler of Siam, deeply
chagrined at their non-success, ordered the vanquished ones to be
decapitated for their failure to bring back the bonze or his lifeless
body.
"A second expedition was sent against them, but the mountaineers held
their fastnesses so well that, in despair of conquering them, the few
who survived their second onslaught slew themselves rather than return
to Ayuthia to suffer a like fate to that which the monarch had awarded
the others. Maddened at these repeated defeats, the ruler himself headed
a large army and invested the passes, cutting off the supplies of the
mountaineers, in the hope of starving them into subjection. So deeply
was he roused against Yu Chan that he offered to pardon the rebels on
condition that they betrayed their leader.
"They scornfully rejected such terms, and withdrew to the heart of the
mountains to endure all the horrors of famine with a courage which was
heroic. At times the brave band made desperate efforts to break through
the wall of men which girded them about, and each onset, in which they
were beaten back, inspired them to try yet again.
"The Malay who told me their story declared they were reduced to such
straits at last that for one dreadful month they lived upon their dead.
Never once did they waver from their allegiance to Yu Chan, whose
stern-set face inspired them to resist to the last, for well he knew
that the monarch's promise could not be trusted, and that surrender for
them meant death. Often would they be repulsed at sunset in an attempt
to break through the cordon which held them, and yet before nightfall,
at the entrance of some precipitous pass, far remote from that spot,
swift and sudden the gaunt and haggard band appeared, led on by Yu Chan,
sword in hand, as he hewed down those who dared to face him.
"Just when they were most oppressed relief came to the band of a quite
unexpected kind, for the Burmese on the border overran Siam, and the
soldiers were withdrawn to meet the new enemy. So, for a time, the band
was left unmolested; but still none, save their leader, ventured to
leave their wild haunts. Before he had been appointed chief of the
bonzes who brought about his exile, Yu Chan had been the lover of a
maiden of Ayuthia, but the high office which had been bestowed on him
kept them apart. No sooner had the robes which he wore as a bonze been
exchanged for those of a mountaineer than Yu Chan determined to see this
maiden again. On the departure of their enemies he prepared to visit
Ayuthia, although strongly counselled not to do so by his devoted band.
He was, however, obdurate, and set forth on his perilous enterprise
alone.
"Yu Chan crossed the great plain of Siam, and then, resting in a
thatched hut upon the bank of the Meinam, dispatched a Malay, who
chanced to dwell there, with a message to his beloved to visit him, for
he thought it useless to attempt to enter Ayuthia if he wished to live.
At nightfall the Malay returned from the island in the middle of the
bend of the Meinam, whereon ye know the city is built. He thrust a
tablet into Yu Chan's hand, whereon was a desire that the latter would
wait the maiden's coming at a part of the bank where often the boat of
the lovers had touched at before. Soon the exile beheld the slight craft
making for the shore, manned by six rowers muffled in their cloaks, for
the night was cold. Happy indeed would it have been for the lovers if
the maiden had scanned closely the features of those who ferried her
across the river, for the treacherous Malay had recognised Yu Chan, and
six of the monarch's soldiers were the supposed boatmen, hurriedly
gathered to take the exile or to slay him.
"The maiden stepped from the boat, and, with a glad cry, flung her arms
about Yu Chan, who had passed down the narrow path to meet her. Together
they climbed up the steep way that led to the plain above the high bank,
followed by the muffled soldiers, who lurked cautiously in the shadows
of the limestone, through which wound the toilsome path. Once, as they
passed along, a slight sound behind them arrested the footsteps of the
lovers, and Yu Chan turned and glanced back searchingly, then on they
went again. For an hour or more they wandered together over the plain,
then, with many a sigh, turned to descend the path once more. Again they
heard a sound, and that time on looking round quickly Yu Chan saw the
boatmen, whom he had thought awaited the maiden's return by the river
brink, stealing closely after him, their faces shrouded in their black
cloaks.
"At once his suspicions were aroused, and hastily unsheathing his sword
he confronted them just as they flung off their cloaks and the fierce
faces of six of the half-savage soldiery of the monarch were revealed to
Yu Chan. Slowly the latter retreated till he was a little way down the
path with his back to the protecting limestone, then stood at bay to
defend the maiden and himself from the advancing foes. Warily they came
on, for well they knew the deadly thrusts which he could deal with his
keen sword. Yu Chan in fighting at such desperate odds more than once
failed to beat down the weapons lunged at him, but though severely
wounded he did not flinch from the combat. Three of his assailants lay
dead at his feet, when the leader of the monarch's soldiery twisted the
sword from Yu Chan's hand, and then the three surviving foes rushed upon
the defenceless man. With a cry that pierced the air the maiden flung
herself before her lover--to fall dead as her body was thrust through
and through by the weapons intended for the heart of Yu Chan!
[Illustration: "THE MAIDEN FLUNG HERSELF BEFORE HER LOVER."]
"Like a boarhound the mountain chief leapt upon his nearest assailant,
wrenched the sword dripping with the maiden's blood from his hand, and
almost cleaved him in half with one resistless stroke. He turned next
upon the remaining two, but they fled headlong down the path, Yu Chan
following with a fierce cry at their heels. Into the boat they leapt,
nor dared to look behind till they were out in mid-stream; then they saw
the wounded chief slowly dragging himself back to where the maiden lay
lifeless.
"Yu Chan bent despairingly over her as he saw the fatal stains which
dyed her garments and reddened some of the fragrant white flowers fallen
from her hair, which lay in masses framing her white, still face. Taking
up his own sword, he sheathed it; then he raised the maiden gently in
his arms, and, covered himself with gaping wounds, he set out to cross
the great plain to the Three Hundred Peaks, where his followers awaited
his return. On he struggled for two weary days with his lifeless burden;
then at last he reached the end of his journey, and as the mountaineers
gathered hastily about him and shuddered to see the ghastly face of
their chief, Yu Chan tottered and fell dead in their midst!
"Round the two lifeless forms the hunted tribe gathered, and, looking
upon them, knew that they had been slain by their remorseless foes. One
by one the mountaineers pressed forward, and amid the deathly silence of
the others, each in turn touched the sword of their slain chief and
sternly swore the blood-revenge. Fierce, indeed, as are such outbreaks
in many eastern lands, that day marked the beginning of dark deeds of
requitement that have made all others as nothing in comparison to them.
The Burmese came down upon Siam and swept over fair Ayuthia, leaving
nothing but the ruins of the city; yet, even in that national calamity,
the fierce instinct of murder so fatally roused in the breasts of the
mountaineers never paused nor seemed dulled. While the magnificent city
lay despoiled, the once hunted tribe fell upon the others about the
Meinam, and long after peace reigned throughout the country, still their
deeds of pillage and massacre went on, as they do even to this day, so
remote from the one when their leader was slain.
[Illustration: "THEY SWORE THE BLOOD-REVENGE."]
"For months the tribe will be unheard of, and lulled by a false sense of
security the inhabitants of one of these cities will make preparations
for one of their recurring festivals. Even in the midst of such the
strange cry of the hunted tribe will be heard, and the coming day will
reveal to the awe-struck people the evidence of a night attack, in which
men and women have been slain or carried off suddenly to the Three
Hundred Peaks."
"The present descendants of the avengers of Yu Chan's death are a
cowardly lot, at all events," commented Denviers, as the Arab finished
his recital: "they attacked us without reason, and have consequently got
their deserts. If they come upon us again----"
"Hist, sahib," Hassan whispered cautiously, as he pointed with his sword
towards the fantastic bridge of limestone; "the hunted tribe is
returning from its raid, see!" We looked in the direction in which he
motioned us, and saw that the mountaineers bore a captive in their
midst! Immediately one of the prisoners lashed to the trees gave a
warning cry, regardless of the threats which Denviers had uttered.
Hassan sprang to his feet, and stood by my side as we raised our rifles,
still hidden as we were in the shadow of the ruined palace wall.