grinning head.
But the king looked frightened, and shook his head.
Frank replaced the beads in his pocket.
The king looked wofully sad.
"The wine," said Frank, and Duncan produced it. He poured some out into
a little tin cup and drank, then corked the bottle.
"Goo--goo--goo!" exclaimed the king, excitedly.
"Why, the old rogue," said Duncan, "knows what it is. Let him smell the
bottle."
"Confound him, no! He'd seize and drink the lot."
But he handed him some in a cocoa-nut shell, and having gulped that
down, he handed the shell back to be refilled.
Frank laughed, but shook his head.
He now offered the beads and the bottle for the diamond, and at once the
cannibal yielded.
He waddled over towards the god, and digging out the glorious gem with
the point of an ugly crease--which doubtless had slit many an innocent
throat--he handed it to the financier, Frank Trelawney.
Frank first put it carefully in his pocket, then he proceeded to insert
three beautiful and large beads in the hole in the god's forehead, left
empty by the abstraction of the gem.
"Goo--goo--goo!" cried the king.
"Don't be a big baby! You'll have the wine in a brace of shakes".
Determined to be honest, Frank not only placed a string of beads about
the neck of the idol, but a larger and more handsome one over the king's
broad brisket. Then he gave him nutful after nutful of sherry till there
wasn't a drop left in the bottle.
The king thought he would sing now.
His song was like the snoring of an Indian frog. But the king was happy.
So was Frank.
"I say, Duncan," he said, "a knowledge of finance is an excellent thing.
And honesty is the best policy, isn't it? Well, we've made one man
happy this morning. It is very soothing to one's conscience, and
really, Duncan, I wouldn't mind making a few more cannibals happy--"
"At the same price?"
"That's it," said Frank.
The king slept, and, leaving his wives to fan him, the boys slipped
away.
They now went back "home", as they called the haunted fort, then
arranged for a day's sport.
The stream they soon reached was close to the forest, and seemed alive
with fish. The tackle which they used was simple but effective. Not
original either, for country boys in Scotland constantly use it, and
though the marvellously-dressed and fully-equipped Englishman may fish
all day and catch nothing, the ragged urchin not far off is making a
string of dozens--a string that the Cockney eventually purchases and
palms off as the result of his own prowess.
Such is life! But the tackle? Oh, yes, the tackle! Well, it was a bent
pin, a short string and rod, with a morsel of an insect for bait.
But Duncan and Frank made a discovery to-day that was alarming.
After catching sufficient fish to suffice for more than one hearty meal,
they hid their rods and tackle in the bush, and ventured to march
towards the forest.
It was terribly darksome and gloomy, with very little undergrowth, and
as they knew there were lions about they ventured forward with great
caution, keeping close together, treading lightly, and keeping a good
look-out on every side.
They had not gone far before they found that this great woodland was the
abode of creatures, probably quite as much to be dreaded even as lions.
The first part they traversed, however, was apparently a land of
delight, just as it was a land of the most brilliant flowering trees and
shrubs, among which thousands of bright-winged birds chattered and sang,
while parrots by the score mimicked them.
"Surely," said Frank, "we have come to paradise at last! Did ever you
see such glorious fruit? Oh, we must indulge, Duncan, and carry back
some guavas and mangoes to poor lonely Conal and Viking."
They did indulge, and that too without stint.
But this paradise soon drew to an end.
"Anyhow, Duncan," said Frank, cheerfully, "we shall know now where to
find both fish and fruit."
"Hark!"
Well might he say hark.
The sounds that now broke harsh and terrible upon their ears would have
appalled older and stouter hearts than theirs.
CHAPTER V.--FIGHTING THE GORILLAS.
Frank and Duncan had undoubtedly been rash. They had penetrated for
fully a mile into the gloomy depths of this dark, primeval forest. The
sun-life of beautiful birds and luscious fruits--Frank's paradise--they
had left far behind. Here was nothing that could be called inviting:
slimy, rotting leaves on the bare ground, with here and there a huge and
ugly toadstool; and the branchless trunks of mighty trees covered with
white and yellow mildew or flour-like fungi. And these trees towered
skywards, forming a dark green canopy overhead, that no sunlight could
ever penetrate, nor moonlight or star-rays at night.
The silence for some time had been both cold and irksome. I cannot
otherwise describe it.
But now that dread silence was broken, and not only high overhead, but
far away in front, the forest suddenly awoke into a sylvan pandemonium.
What yells, what shrieks, what hoarse and fearful cries!
The boys instinctively drew closer together, and stood ready to shoot.
But nothing appeared, though the awful noises increased rather than
diminished.
Frank saw Duncan's lips moving, but he could hear nothing.
Surely they were in a demon-haunted forest.
They looked at each other, then at once commenced a speedy retreat.
They ran as fast as ever they had done at school, and up behind them
came the roar of the demons. But they could see no creature as yet,
though they often glanced furtively behind them.
The enemy, however, seeing that they were but little more than a hundred
yards from the sunlight, mustered up courage for the attack.
And down from the trees they leapt--a score, at least, of hideous,
long-armed, hairy gorillas.
If they did not possess the courage, they at all events had far more
than the strength of ordinary men.
As they advanced they beat their breasts furiously, uttering savage
cries.
"A clear head now!" shouted Duncan.
Both young fellows leaned their rifles against trees to make sure of
their aim.
Br-rang! Br-rang!
The sound awakened the echoes of the ugly forest, and two gorillas fell
dead.
There was a silence of fully fifteen seconds, and the boys went hurrying
on again.
Then came wailings and howlings, as of grief, but these were quickly
changed to yells of anger, and on they came once more. They soon
overtook our two heroes, who, after firing with good effect, drew their
revolvers and made a running battle of it.
Luckily they never once allowed these fiendish monsters to get into
grips, else speedily indeed would they have been throttled to death.
Out into the sunshine, the glorious life-giving sunshine at last. And
now they were safe. They crawled rather than walked as far as a little
stream that trickled from a rock, and threw themselves down exhausted.
But youth soon recovers from exertion, and terror too, and so they
finally found themselves back at the ruined fort loaded with both fruit
and fish.
Happy indeed was Conal to see them, for, far away from the fort though
the forest was, he had listened appalled to the awful medley of yells
and shrieks, and made sure they were being murdered.
"Hillo!" cried Frank, cheerful once again--and hungry also--and it seems
to me Frank was always hungry--"Hillo! Why, you have actually dinner
ready?"
"Yes," said Conal, laughing. "Vike and I found some sweet-potatoes and
we cooked these."
"But that splendid fish you are broiling?"
"Ah! isn't she a beauty? But you should have seen the little girl who
brought it, carrying it on a little grass rope. She was a beauty too.
And we had quite a little flirtation."
"Conal! I'm--"
"Oh, are you, indeed? but I don't mind. I gave Umtomie--that's her
pretty name--two lovely beads, and she sat there and sang to me, so
sweetly! Then she brought me a calabash full of water, and, smiling
over teeth quite as white and even as a pointer puppy's, she waved her
hand, her lily hand--no, her raven hand--"
"That's more truthful, Con."
"And off she trotted once again."
"Then, I suppose," said Frank, "the sunshine went all out of your life,
eh?"
"Well, there did seem to be a partial eclipse or something. But down
you sit to chow-chow."
Down they did sit, and a right hearty meal they made.
It was Conal's turn to go sporting the next day. But he and Duncan gave
the forest a wide berth, and so nothing very wild in the shape of
adventure fell to their lot.
----
Much time was spent every day now in prospecting.
Duncan couldn't and wouldn't believe that the hands that built that
strong fort had not dug for and found both gold and diamonds.
And he determined, if possible, to find some also.
Unluckily they had no mining-tools, neither spade, shovel, nor pick-axe.
But Frank was a boy of infinite resources.
"Why not make miners' tools?" he said. "We have chisels and hammers and
what not, and there is a tree growing yonder that is as hard as iron!"
"What! Another happy thought, Frank?"
"Yes, Duncan, my brave old captain, and I haven't got half-way to the
bottom of my mine of happy thought yet."
Well, picks and spades were now actually fashioned, partly by tools,
partly by fire. And then the boys set to work with a will to open the
old mines.
They had worked for a whole week, but without success, when one evening
a loud and awful trumpeting told them that elephants had arrived on the
plains below, or were passing through the country of the cannibals for
pastures new.
"What a splendid chance for sport!" cried Frank.
"Yes," said Conal. "Fancy bagging a few elephants. Tuskers, don't they
call them, brother?"
"Yes, in India the males are so named, but here in Africa both sexes
have tusks, though those on the he ones are bigger, and are said to be
better ivory."
It was determined, therefore, to march against the elephants next day,
and neither Conal nor Frank could sleep very well for thinking of it.
Now, though I have no desire to be hard upon my heroes, I must say that
I am not sorry for what happened, because elephants--next to our friend
the dog--are probably the wisest and most innocent animals in the world.
When, therefore, Duncan next forenoon killed a lady elephant and Conal
wounded a bull, the lady being his wife, it was no wonder he should lose
his temper and charge right down on the lad.
To fly was impossible. There was no refuge anywhere. But Conal did
attempt to retreat. He stumbled and fell, however, and next moment the
awful foe was upon him. A less brave boy would have fainted, but there
was no such weakness about Conal, though he felt his hour was come, and
Duncan, who was fully eighty yards away, could not assist him. He put
his hands to his eyes to avoid being a witness to the dreadful death of
his brother, which now seemed inevitable.
The wounded monster had dashed forward trumpeting, but, once alongside,
though blood was jerking from a wound through one of his eyes, he
attacked immediately. He knelt beside the boy's prostrate form and
attempted to tusk him. The terrible snorting, blood-streaming head was
close over him. But, with the quickness and cuteness of a professional
footballer, Conal rolled himself between his legs, and now the brute
attempted to squash him to death with his knees, and Conal managed,
strange to say, to avoid each stroke.
It was really a tussle for life, and, unable to bear the sight any
longer, Duncan came rushing on now towards the scene of conflict,
apparently determined to die with Conal if he could not rescue him.
The boy seemed to be dead, and was almost under the elephant. But
Duncan took steady aim, and the bullet put out the poor beast's other
eye. He staggered to his feet now, and, stumbling and trumpeting as he
went, made directly back to the herd.
Conal was bruised and sore, as well he might be, but otherwise intact,
and the two hunters now made for higher ground.
Now I do not know the reason for what followed. I can but guess it, and
give the reader facts. Only, when the great bull regained the herd,
which, by the way, numbered only about a score, he fell, or rather threw
himself down in front of his companions.
"Kill me now," he seemed to plead. "My mate is dead, and I am blind and
in pain. Put me out of my misery."
Next moment the killing had commenced. The bull never winced nor moved,
and his companions trode him to death before the eyes of their human
persecutors.
"Let us go back to the fort," said Duncan sadly. "A more heartrending
sight I never have seen. Conal, I have shot my first and my last
elephant."
When they told Frank all the sad story, he, too, agreed that
elephant-shooting is not sport, but the cowardly murder of one of the
most noble animals ever God placed on earth.
----
Strange to say, every day that Conal was left at the fort to do the
watching and the cooking, little Lilywhite, as he now called the wee
savage lassie, came to pay him a visit, her eyes all a-sparkle, her two
rows alabaster teeth flashing snow-white in the sunshine.
Nor did she ever come without a fish, which she herself had caught. So
tame did she become, that he could trust her to attend to the fire, for
which she gathered wood, turn the fish with a wooden fork, and gather
and cook the sweet-potatoes or yams.
Of course Frank chaffed Conal unmercifully about this lady-love,
Lilywhite, of his.
But Conal cared nothing for that.
"You can't do less than marry her, you know," he said one day. "It
would be cruel to trifle with the young lady's affections."
"I shouldn't think of doing less than leading her to the altar," said
Conal. "I should hate a breach of promise case."
They still paid many visits to the king, but though he frequently asked
for "goo-goo" (wine), no goo-goo was given him for the present.
At last, oh joy! news came from the far-off outer world. For Carrambo
returned.
A little thinner he looked, but maintained the same nonchalant air.
He handed Duncan a letter, and as it was written in a bold English hand
he tore it nervously open.
"Flom de skipper of de _Pen-Gun_," said Carrambo. "When I see de
gun-boat lie in de ribber of Lamoo, I say to myse'f, 'No good bother wid
the Sultan.' Den I go on board. All boo'ful white deck; all shiny
blass, and black big gun; and de men all dress in sca'let and blue. Oh,
dam fine, I 'ssure you. De skipper he take me below and give me
biscocoes and vine till I not can dlink mo'.
"He read the letter. He den write anoder and soon I go again."
"Ten thousand thanks, Carrambo. You have earned your rifle. My brother
and I shall teach you to shoot, and if when we make an attempt to leave
this wild land, you will come with us to be our guide to Lamoo many
another present you shall receive besides."
Lieutenant-commanding H.M.S. _Pen-Gun_ wrote most cheerfully and
hopefully to Duncan, assuring him that he himself would steam at once
eastwards, and if he was successful in finding the unhappy mariners,
they should be immediately taken off, tenderly cared for, and landed at
Zanzibar, to wait under the charge of the British consul until a ship
should arrive and take them back to England.
"Thank God for all his mercies," exclaimed Duncan piously, after he had
twice read the letter aloud to his comrades.
Then all hands shook Carrambo's hard fist, and noting that there was
something more than usual on the tapis, Vike must jump up and go dancing
all round the fort. But he made his way to the water to finish up with,
for racing in Africa is hot work.
Carrambo received his rifle, and that very evening received also his
first lessons in the use thereof.
Carrambo was indeed a proud man now.
He held his head erect and said to Duncan:
"We'n King Slaleema he want some piccaniny kill fo' to eat, I bling dat
piccaniny down wid one lifel bullet plenty twick."
Then Duncan lost his temper.
He was a strong young Scot and athlete, and Carrambo, tough savage
though he was, had no show after Duncan got hold of that rifle.
He wrenched it from his hand before anyone could have said "knife".
"You yellow-skinned scoundrel!" he cried, "you do not touch the rifle
again till you promise me on your honour--though I don't suppose that
weighs much--that you will never attempt to shoot, even at the king's
bidding, any child he wishes to destroy."
Carrambo glanced one moment at Duncan, then, turning on his heel, walked
off.
The boys thought he was gone for good; but presently he returned,
holding in his hand a long thin root.
This he cut in two with his knife.
He placed one half in his bosom, and gave the other to Duncan.
"Carrambo plomise. Suppose Carrambo bleak dat plomise, den de debbil he
cut Carrambo's heart in two, and take he away to de ver bad place."
This was an oath, though of a curious sort, but Duncan knew that this
strange being would keep it, and so the rifle was restored.
The Somali now went off to see the king, but he first and foremost
delivered the rifle into Conal's keeping.
Presently he returned laughing.
"De king--ha, ha!--he want to see you, foh tlue."
"Yes?"
"And he vant to see you vely mooch dilectly."
"Well?"
"Well, ha, ha, ha!" Carrambo evidently couldn't contain himself, "he
wants one bottle of goo-goo."
The royal command was obeyed by Frank and Duncan, Carrambo accompanying
them to carry the goo-goo.
The king laughed like one possessed when he saw the bottle, and made
various signals for a drink, holding out the same old nutshell.
It was three times filled, and Carrambo himself was also presented with
a nutful.
Then the king waxed communicative, and, after calling upon two of his
wives to fan him, and two more to cool Duncan and Frank down, he said he
would tell them the story of the fort, and Carrambo himself stood by to
translate.
The story was certainly a sort of a "freezer", as Frank termed it, but
Carrambo, I have no doubt, gave a very literal translation thereof.
Let me carry it on to the next chapter please.
CHAPTER VI.--AN INVADING ARMY--VICTORY!
"Goo-goo!" said the king.
Duncan shook his head as he sat on a block of wood near to him, and just
where he could get a good look of his sable countenance.
"He say," Carrambo interpreted, "no goo-goo, no stoly."
But Duncan was firm. Savages are very like children in some of their
ways, and Duncan knew it. He shifted the bottle farther back therefore.
"No story, no goo-goo. Tell him that, Carrambo."
The fat king grinned, slapped one of his wives, grinned again, and began
to talk.
As translated by the Somali, the story ran somewhat as follows:--
"I king now. My fadder he king once. My fadder fadder he king befo';
my fadder fadder fadder he king too. 'Twas when fadder fadder fadder
king. De boys all in de bush one day, make much fine spolt. Shoot de
monkey fo' eat; shoot de lion and de spot-cat (leopard) all wid bow and
arrow. Some dey kill wid spear.
"Plesantly, all as soon as nuffin, plenty much noise and shout in de
bush. Den fire-sticks flash and plenty thunder, and one, two, tlee,
nine, ten (the king was counting on his fingers and could go no further)
ob my fadder's fadder's fadder's poor people lie down and bleed red, and
die. But dis not all. De king's people fight, and many mo' all kill
and bleeding, and so de king make peace.
"De white men dey take many wives away, den take de country, and de king
he king no mo'. All de same he not conquer. Plaps he take revenge one
day. You see plenty soon.
"Well, de white men wid de thunder-sticks, they build big big
house--big, big, stlong, stlong, all de same as you young gemmans lib in
now. So dey settle down and lib heah.
"Dey go spolt plenty in de bush, and kill much wild beast. Sometimes de
wild beast--ha, ha!--kill dey, and chew up foh tlue.
"But all de same de white folks stay one two year. Dey gadder much glass
stone--"
"These," said Duncan, "were evidently diamonds."
"Were they like these?" said Frank, taking the splendid diamond from his
pocket and holding it up.
"All same, all same, de king say," cried Carrambo.
"Dey go heah and dere all ober de mountain to seek fo' de glass stone,
and many dey find and buly."
"Bury," cried Duncan, showing some little excitement. "Ask him,
Carrambo, where the glass was buried. Wait a minute though," he added.
"Frank, give him another nutful of goo-goo."
Frank did as he was told. Carrambo put the question, and the king's
eyes sparked.
"What does he say, Carrambo?"
"He says de debbil guard the glass stones, and if he tell any white man
where they lie, den de debbil take he plenty quick."
The king was offered a whole bottle of goo-goo if he would only divulge
the secret, but he was obdurate.
"No, no, no," said Carrambo. "He say de debbil no catchee he foh many
many long year yet."
Then his majesty proceeded with the story.
"De white men now begin to dig holes in the earf. Dey want to make hole
for bad men to come up throo, and cut all de throats of my fadder's
fadder's fadder's pore people.
"De ole ole king he fink, 'I no can stand dis no mo'." "Den one night in
de dark folest he gadder his people togedder.
"He 'splain to dem all 'bout de big hole. 'Plaps,' he say, 'eben
to-mollow de bad white debbils come up out ob de hole, and catchee us
foh tlue.'
"And de ole king's people shake wid anger.
"'Kill, kill, kill, and eat the fire-stick men!' dey cly.
"Dey shake moh and moh wid anger, den de ole king say, 'Vely well, all
kill'.
"Dat night, out on de plain de moon he shine. De moon hab one big led
(red) face. He look down, he smile and laugh. 'Kill, kill!' he seem to
say. 'Kill de white debbils and dair wives, kill de white piccaninnies
too. Make much fine bobbery, much fine kill. I not tell.'
"But de white men dat night say, 'O, de black cannibal not come dis
night. Too much moon!' So dey dlink goo-goo, and moh and moh goo-goo.
Den dey sing--ha, ha!--den dey sleep.
"De moon he smile all de same. And the black man wid plenty spear and
knife lie quiet in de bush.
"But the king cly now, and all at once de savage jump up.
"Plenty much branch ob tree dey cut.
"Plenty much fire.
"Den wid gleat stones de door fly all bloken, and de white men come out
to fight.
"But too much goo-goo--he, he, he!--and dey fall and fall all in one big
heap. Much blood. Much kick and scream!
"Not one alibe now, only de white women and de piccaninnies.
"Ha, ha, ha, how de king do laugh. My fadder, fadder, fadder, dat is.
"But now all de women am drag out, and all de piccaninny. Der troats--"
"Horrible!" cried Duncan. "We will have no more. Give the old pig of a
king more goo-goo and let him go and sleep it off. I have never heard,
Frank, of a more diabolical massacre in my life."
Said Carrambo now: "What foh you open again de old debbil pits? Some
night dey people rise and murder you tree pooh souls all same as dey
kill and eat de odder white folks long, long ago. Carrambo know well.
Dese sabages not hab de debbil pits open. Oh, no!"
"There is much truth," said Duncan, "in what Carrambo says. It would be
a pity to leave this land of gold and diamonds without knowing for
certain whether the mines are worth working; but I move that we leave
the devil pits alone for a time until we try to reclaim these savages
just a little."
"I should reclaim them off the face of the earth," said Frank.
"That is impossible, and were it not, we should only be reducing
ourselves to their level. That is not the doctrine of Jesus Christ."
So the "debbil pits", much to the joy of the king, were partially
refilled. But just as they were shovelling in the earth, brave
broad-shouldered Duncan struck something with his wooden spade.
"Hillo!" he cried, "what have we here?"
Frank and Conal rushed up to see.
"Why, a nugget. And, boys, it is six pounds weight if an ounce."
The excitement of the three young fellows now knew no bounds. They
shook each other by the hand; they shouted aloud for joy, and then,
while honest Viking capered around them, they raised their voices in
song, Duncan leading in an old song, sung by the gold-diggers of
California in days long, long gone by.
But a right cheery one it was.
"Pull away, cheerily,
Not slow and wearily,
Rocking the cradle,[1] boys, swift to and fro.
Working the hand about,
Sifting the sand about,
Looking for treasures that lie in below."
[1] The machine used for washing the "pay-dirt".
"Hurrah! Hurrah!"
Another and a truly British cheer. The savages far down below heard it
and trembled.
"Plaps," said Carrambo, "dey tink all de debbils was let loose now foh
tlue."
"Here, Carrambo, hurry down with a bottle of goo-goo to the old king,
and tell him we are his friends now, and if an enemy comes we will help
to fight him."
Carrambo came back the same evening rejoicing, but laughing his wildest.
"Plenty much fun!" he cried. "De fat king he dlunk, ebber so much
dlunk. He do nuffin' now. Jus' lie on him back and sing. Ha! ha! ha!"
The boys went back to their fort to dine. Carrambo would be their
friend, though to the savages he pretended not to be so. He was even
entrusted with a revolver, and thus a right happy man was he.
Well, when Duncan talked about the invasion of an enemy he might have
been speaking for speaking sake; but one evening a runner brought the
alarming intelligence that a rich neighbouring tribe were preparing to
fall upon and extirpate the inhabitants of these glens and hills.
"And a jolly good job too," said Frank. "We'll stand by and look on,
won't we, Duncan?"
But Duncan shook his head.
"A promise even to a savage is sacred, Frank, and we must fight."
The Umbaloomi, as the invading tribe was called, did not keep the tribe
long waiting.
They came in force on the very next day. The king himself marched along
with his warriors, mounted on a huge elephant, while behind him, on
another, rode his two favourite wives. The Umbaloomi potentate had
promised them a great treat, and many heads with which to decorate their
huts.
Now Duncan had determined that Goo-goo, as the fat king had come to be
called, should attack the invaders first. If he failed to conquer, then
Duncan, with Frank, Conal, and Carrambo, meant to give them a startler,
and something like a surprise.
This was all as it should be, and the fight, as seen from the bush where
our heroes lay _perdu_, was a fearful one.
What a horrible melee! What a murderous massacre! No wonder that the
wild birds rose in screaming clouds, or that the echoes of the forest
were awakened by the bedlam shrieks and howlings of the gorillas!
"Now for it, lads!" cried Duncan, as he noticed that Goo-Goo's side was
losing. "Steady aim. Give 'em fits, but don't fire until I tell you."
Nearer and nearer to the foe they crept under cover of the mimosa
bushes.
"Fire!"
At the word a rattling volley was poured into the very midst of the foe.
Another and another, for the rifles were repeaters.
"Hurrah!" shouted Carrambo, "the fire-debbils have come!"
Whether the enemy understood him or not I cannot say, but they were
staggered, and backward now they reeled in a confusion which is
indescribable.
The elephants waxed wild, and, instead of flying, charged right towards
the Goo-Goo tribe.
And the invading king, with both his wives, were instantly slain.
That completed the victory.
But after victory came the rout, the slaughter, and utter extermination
of the invaders.
With the details of the fearful feast that followed, I should be sorry,
indeed, to sully my pages.
So the curtain drops on a sadder scene than ever I trust any of my
readers shall ever behold.
There was another feast, however, of a somewhat less terrible kind. For
on the slain that night the beasts of the forest held high revel.
And thus ended the invasion of King Goo-Goo's land.
CHAPTER VII.--THE MYSTERIOUS STONE.
For the first time since their arrival Goo-Goo paid the boys a visit of
ceremony, on the day after the battle.
Carrambo had apprised them of the honour they were about to be the
recipients of, and they stayed at home in consequence.
Goo-Goo was very pompous--and precious little else.
He was elated with his victory, but did not hesitate to admit that
Duncan and his comrades had contributed a little to the turn of the tide
of battle.
Goo-Goo was even boastful
Goo-Goo was also very thirsty.
So Duncan invited him to come inside.
He refused. Not even a whole bottle of his favourite sherry would have
tempted him to cross the threshold of the fort, because--as he explained
through Carrambo--"plenty much debbil lib (live) in one hole below de
floor".
But he made very small work of a nut-shell of goo-goo that Duncan
presented to him with his own hand.
Then he explained why he had come. It was to offer to our heroes the
two tame elephants that had been captured in battle.
Duncan nodded to his fellows, and the gift was accepted unconditionally,
and that very day the great wise beasts were taken over.
A huge compound was erected for them in a bit of jungle not far off; the
king's men building it with their own hands.
Moreover, two men were told off to feed and care for the noble brutes,
who soon became very great pets indeed, with all hands.
The larger of the two might well have been called immense or colossal.
He seemed especially fond of Frank, and there wasn't a titbit Frank
could think of that he did not bring to Ju-ju of a morning.
Ju-ju was certainly grateful. He had one very curious method of showing
his gratitude, namely, by encircling the boy with his trunk and swaying
him up and down, and to and fro.
"Gently, Ju-ju," Frank would say sometimes; "gently, Ju, old man."
Then Ju would set him quietly down and trumpet with delight.
----
But as soon as it was dark, all was generally peaceful enough about the
fort, for after a residence of some months in king Goo-Goo's country
they had got quite used to the cry of wild beasts, and even the roar of
lions did not disturb their slumbers.
But the nugget and the diamond--oh! these indeed. Duncan's eyes used to
sparkle with delight as they were placed upon the table of an evening.
What possibilities did they not point to! What joy for the future
seemed to scintillate from the diamond! One night something that the
king had said during his visit to the fort suddenly flashed across
Frank's memory.
He almost startled both Conal and Duncan by the eagerness with which he
almost shouted:
"Cousins!" he cried, "I have the happiest thought that ever I had. Do
you not remember that the king refused to come into the fort because
devils dwelt in a hole beneath the floor!"
"Yes, yes, he did say so."
"Duncan, those devils are diamonds, and, it may be, gold nuggets as
well."
His comrades were thunder-struck apparently, but they admitted that in
all likelihood Frank's surmise was correct.
"Then, boys," said Frank, "we shall open a devil hole right here where
we sit."
This proposal was agreed to, and the work would have commenced the very
next day had not a strange adventure happened to Frank.
It may be observed that mostly all the terrible adventures did happen to
Frank. Some people are born unlucky, you know.
But next forenoon Duncan and he had gone towards the forest for the
purpose of shooting hyenas, no great or very exalted sport, it is true,
but they had become numerous and bold of late, and needed scattering.
Duncan had followed a wounded monster some distance for the sake of
giving him his _conge_, when he came back---- lo! Frank was gone.
For hours and hours Duncan searched all that portion of the forest that
he dared to enter, but in vain.
But he found his comrade's gun, and at some little distance his cap.
So he went sorrowfully home.
Further search was made next day, some of the bravest of Goo-Goo's
native soldiers assisting.
But no more trace of the lost Frank could be found.
A whole fortnight went past, and he was mourned for as one dead, and
even Carrambo gave up hopes.
Frank, he told them, must have been throttled by the gorillas and hung
up in a tree.
But lo! and behold, one forenoon who should appear again _in propria
persona_, but the laughing little Cockney boy himself.
By the hand he led a little long-armed hairy gorilla, that clung to him
in terror when Viking began to growl.
Jeannie, as she was called, sprang trembling into Frank's arms, but he
gently soothed her, and after having a cup of coffee he told his
marvellous story.[2] It was briefly as follows:--
[1] This is no sailor's yarn, but founded on fact.
He had been captured by the awful gorillas, having been first stunned by
a blow from a club. Then carried deep into the forest and up into a
very high tree. There he found a shelter, quite a hut in fact, and far
from being unkind to him, the gorillas fed and tended him every day,
only guarding him at night.
"And this is my little pupil," he added. "Jeannie was given me to
educate, I suppose; but early this morning the gorillas went off to do
battle with some neighbouring tribe, and Jeannie and I slipped down the
tree and ran for it.
"So here I am!"
"Heaven be praised!" cried Duncan with tears in his eyes. "You come to
us as one risen from the dead."
"And what are you going to do with Jeannie?" asked Conal.
"Oh!" said Frank, "Jeannie is a sweet child. She shall go with us
wherever we go."
"I hope," said Conal, "her parents won't come for her. It might be
rather inconvenient."
----
Two long months passed away, and our heroes were almost weary of this
lonesome and wild land.
But they had not been idle all the time of their sojourn here. On the
contrary, they had commenced to dig in the fort itself for buried
treasure.
There was plenty of excitement about this, but for many a weary week no
luck attended their excavations.
The excitement, however, was somewhat like that of gambling, and once
begun they felt they could not give it up until they came to something.
So they dug and dug.
But all in vain.
They still spent much of their time in fishing and shooting, however.
These were necessary sports. Food they must have.
A rather gloomy time arrived later on, when they had finally abandoned
all hopes of finding any buried treasure. Tremendously heavy banks of
clouds had rolled up from the horizon and overspread the heavens.
Then with terrible thundering and vivid lightning a short rainy season
was ushered in. The stream became flooded, so that fishing was now out
of the question.
But Conal's little Lilywhite visited the fort every day, and--though I
cannot say where she found them--never came without a fish, while just
as often as not she brought the boys a present of delightful fruit.
The rain-clouds were scattered at last, and soon the country all around
was greener and more lovely than ever the wanderers had seen it, while
the most gorgeous of flowers seemed to spring into existence in the
short space of twenty-four hours.
Sport began again once more.
They still paid visits to the king, but these were not so welcome now to
his sable majesty, for the goo-goo was all finished, and he cared for
little else--with, of course, the exception of human flesh.
Conal was exceedingly well developed, and under certain conditions he
would not have objected being reminded of this.
But when the king one day felt his arm and said something which Carrambo
translated: "Ah, num-num! you plenty good to eat," Conal hardly relished
the verdict.
But the great elephants became a source of much pleasure to everyone.
They were so perfectly tractable and manageable that the boys often went
across country with them.
This was practice, and Duncan had a meaning for it.
Well, one day as Frank was entering the living-room of the fort, his
eyes fell upon a curious mark upon a stone, which proved to be an arrow
bent partly upwards. He followed its direction with his eye and on
another stone found another arrow, then two or three more, and finally
there was a square stone above the window with a cross over it, thus
(cross symbol).
There were no more arrows.
Frank rushed out half frantic with joy.
"Duncan! Conal!" he shouted.
They were coming quietly up the hill.
"Come quick, boys, I've made a discovery!"
Then he led them in and pointed the arrows, and the stone marked with
the (cross symbol).
"The diamonds are there," he said excitedly.
----
The stone, however, was so firmly cemented in that it defied any
ordinary methods to get it out.
So they determined to dine first, and go to work on it afterwards.
But no one could think or speak of anything else except their hopes of
finding the treasure.
The boys had made cocoa-nut-oil lamps, and by the little flicker of
light these gave, they now set about attacking the flint-hard cement in
earnest. They chipped it out bit by bit, and hard, tedious work they
found it.
But they succeeded at last, and stood silent and with a kind of awesome
delight. For there before them was the glad sparkle of diamonds--a
sparkle that seemed to dim the light of their poor oil lamp.
"Boys," cried Duncan, "our fortune is made!"
The diamonds, however, were but few--eight in all--but of great size,
and apparently of high value, although the boys were no judges.
The hole where they had lain was carefully cemented all round, and
besides the diamonds they found here two or three nuggets of gold, and a
tiny brick of cement about six inches by four by three.
Just one word was engraved thereon.
That word was evidently Spanish, though partly obliterated--ABRIR--
They hoped to find diamonds inside.
They did not, however; only a piece of parchment, on which many words
were written which they could not understand.
They were just putting in the stone again, after carefully storing away
the diamonds and parchment, when Viking sprang up fiercely barking, and
with his hair erect all along his spine.
At the same moment they perceived a terrible face at the open window.
It was that of a savage in his war-paint--the lips were painted red,
great red rings were around each eye, and cheeks and brow were daubed
with spots of white.
"Idle curiosity, I suppose," said Duncan, "or a trick to frighten us.
For now that the goo-goo is all exhausted, I believe the king would like
to see the very last of us."
When Carrambo came next day they told him about the terrible face at the
window.
Carrambo considered for a moment, then shook his head.
"Dat no good," he said. "You close all de debbil pit?"
"Yes," said Duncan.
"Dat bad sabage see somefing, sah! He go tell de king. King make
bobbery soon. Plaps cut all you troats, like he kill pore leetle
Lilywhite to-mollow."
"What!" cried Conal, "kill Lilywhite! If he dares, I'll put a bullet
through his fat and ugly phiz."
"Poh Lilywhite!" continued Carrambo, as if speaking to himself. "But,"
he added, "s'pose you come to-night, I take you to de hut. Lily come
back heah; den not die."
Conal at once agreed, and Carrambo came for him some hours after sunset.
The butchering hut was at a considerable distance from the main village,
and, strange to say, unguarded. But they crept in and found Lily bound
hand and foot.
She was speedily rescued, and in an hour's time they were all back at
the fort.
But Conal had seen something that night which seriously alarmed both him
and his companions.
The savages were squatted out-of-doors around fires, and all in
war-paint.
They looked fierce and terrible.
Very busy, too, were they, sharpening horrid knives and spears.
This was fearful intelligence to bring back, and Carrambo, being asked
what it all meant, did not hesitate a moment in replying.
"It mean dis," he said; "dey tink dat you open de debbil hole again.
To-mollow dey come plenty twick and cut all you troats, foh shuah."
"Carrambo," said Duncan after a pause, "can you guide us towards Lamoo?"
"Ees, sah, I guide you foh tlue!"
"Without having to go through that gorilla-haunted forest?"
"Ees, sah, ees," was the quick reply. "I myse'f not go t'loo de
folast."
"Well, Carrambo, send for the men who attend to the elephants, and we
shall start this very night."
The two elephant attendants were very sincere, and when Duncan promised
them clothes and beads and many fine gifts, they readily consented to go
with them to the coast.
So packing was commenced without a moment's delay.
And none too soon, as things turned out.
CHAPTER VIII.--THE BATTLE AT THE FORD.
Even Viking seemed to understand the seriousness of the situation, for
while he watched with great earnestness, not to say joy, the hurried
preparations for departure, he never once barked.
All was ready at last, and just a little before midnight a start was
made.
Nothing had been forgotten, and luckily the two men who had charge of
the elephants knew how to load these. On the first, a very large
animal, was a low but strong howdah, in which were packed the
instruments, spare arms, and ammunition, food, cooking utensils, rugs
and wraps, &c. It was built low and of wattle, not only for lightness'
sake, but that it might not catch against any trees they might have to
get under, during their long and dangerous march towards the coast.
But a strange and curious band they formed, had anyone been there to
behold them. Let us count and see how many souls they numbered. Six
men in all, Lilywhite and Jeannie, Viking, and the two elephants. Eleven
all told.
Why, I do believe I have given a soul to each. But just listen, boys,
while I, the author of this book, make a confession. The generality of
us poor upstarts have an idea we are immensely superior to the beings we
are all so fond of calling "the lower animals". We imagine--the majority
of us, I mean--that these were all made for our use, and they are badly
used accordingly. What utter rot, and what a shame! There is no great
gulf fixed between us and them. Their minds differ but in degree, not in
kind, from our own, and if we have a future existence, be sure and
certain that your pet dog or cat that died not long ago--and whom you
cannot forget--will live again also. Nothing good ever dies--only sin!
So I certainly should not think of withholding a soul from those two
marvellously-wise elephants, and of course Viking was more wise and far
higher in the scale of intellect than many and many a drink-besotted
Englishman or Scotsman, whom I see making heavy weather and steering
badly as he marches homewards of a Saturday night.
Well, Lilywhite and Jeannie occupied the other howdah, and I'm sure I
should not be mean enough to deny the possession of a soul to either.
Pray, love the lower animals, boys, for, mind you, the same God who made
you made them.
"Oh happy living things! no tongue
Their beauty may declare;
If springs of love gush from your heart
You bless them unaware."
Well, this good Somali, Carrambo, was to be depended upon. That was
evident. He was indeed a strange being in many ways, and held every
life but his own very cheap indeed, but he was going to be faithful to
his employers. He had a certain code of morality which he considered
binding on him, else he could have robbed our heroes and delivered them
into Goo-goo's hands very easily indeed. But he had no such thought.
He now walked in front, as the elephants felt their way with cautious
steps adown the hill towards a ford in the stream, an attendant close by
the head of each.
Carrambo did not mean to take his party through that demon-haunted
forest, but by a more circuitous and safer route.
Well was it for all that they had abandoned the fort and the hill at the
time they did; for the savages had worked themselves up into a kind of
murderous frenzy, and determined to attack and slay the whites long
before daybreak.
On looking behind them while still some distance from the ford, our boys
could hear their bloodthirsty and maniacal howls, and knew they had
reached the fort and found it empty.
And then they knew they were being pursued!
The full moon had now arisen, and its pure silvery light was bathing
hill and glen and forest. Even the distant snow-clad mountain-peaks
could be seen sparkling like koh-i-noors in its radiance.
But here is the ford, and it is quickly negotiated. None too quickly,
however, for hardly are they on the other bank ere the savages had
reached the stream.
A battle was now unavoidable.
So all wheeled.
Spears were thrown in a cloud from the other side, but each one missed
its mark.
"Steady now, men!" cried Duncan. "Be cautious! Fire!"
It was a rattling and a most destructive volley they poured into that
savage mob. The terrible shrieking increased, but it was now mingled
with howls of pain and impotent rage.
Five more volleys were fired, and as the natives were crowded close
together the effect was fearful.
They reeled, they turned, and were about to seek safety in flight when
one painted wretch, more brave than his fellows, waving his spear aloft,
dashed into the river and commenced to cross.
More than one were following, and had they succeeded in getting over,
the fight would doubtless have had a sad and speedy ending.
But now something happened that at once turned the tide of battle.
Vike had hitherto been only a very interested spectator of the fight,
but now, seeing that savage half-way across, with a howl and a roar he
leapt into the river, and quickly ploughed his way towards him.
All the courage that the cannibal possessed deserted him at once, when
he saw what he thought was an evil spirit coming towards him. With a
yell that quite demoralized his companions behind, he dropped his spear
and tried to rush back.
A man cannot walk in deepish water so quickly as a dog can swim, and so
Viking seized him before he had gone many yards.
Do savages faint, I wonder? I never have seen one "go off", as old
wives call it, and require smelling-salts and burned feathers.
Nevertheless this fellow became insensible when Vike proceeded to shake
him out of his skin.
So the dog towed him in.
Carrambo drew his knife, and would have killed him at once but for
Duncan's interference.
"No, no," he shouted, "spare his life, Carrambo!"
Firing had never slackened, and now as the enemy gave way it was more
rapid and deadly than ever. But in a few minutes' time there was not a
savage left on the opposite bank. Only the dead, only the wounded
tossing and writhing in agony in the moonlight.
There was still a chance, however, of the attack being renewed. For
this reason: King Goo-goo had adopted a plan of his own for punishing
those who were defeated in battle, and invariably the first half-dozen
men who returned were clubbed to death. Goo-goo was rather partial to
brain fritters, and cared very little whose brains contributed to this
little _entree_.
And now the march was resumed.
Sometimes the little band was so close to the forest that they could
hear the howling and din of the gorillas, at other times they were
stretching over arid tracts of a kind of prairie land. Nor were these
silent and uninhabited. Beasts of the desert were leopards and even
lions.
The former fled on sight, the latter did not dare to attack.
Yet when one leapt up almost close to the foremost elephants, and began
slowly to retreat with head and tail erect and growling like loudest
thunder, bold Carrambo levelled and fired. The bullet must have pierced
the splendid beast's heart, for he at once dropped dead in his tracks.
Carrambo was indeed a proud man now, and although the boys knew the shot
was only a fluke, he was patted on the back and permitted to wear the
laurels he had won.
Yes, but Carrambo had the skin as well as the laurels. And this, after
rubbing the inside well with a kind of earth he found near by, and which
is often used as a preservative, he stowed it away in one of the
howdahs.
On and on they marched all that night, often having to cross small
rivers and streams, or journey long distances by the banks of larger
ones, which proved unfordable, till at daylight they found themselves on
a tree-covered little hill, and here Duncan called a halt for
refreshment and for rest.
All were tired, except little Lilywhite. For with the child-gorilla in
her arms she had slept most of the way.
She was helped down. Both the shes in fact, and Jeannie soon jumped
into Frank's arms, caressing him in the most affectionate manner.
"Behold how she loves her father!" said the boy laughing.
"Well," he added, "I would rather have one little hairy gorilla who
loved me, than a thousand hairless bipeds of men who didn't give shucks
for me."
To a stream close by ran Lily, and in a surprisingly quick time returned
with fish enough for all hands.
And these, one of the men having lit a fire, she speedily cooked.
Lily was, indeed, a jewel in her own way--though a black one.
After a hearty breakfast, of which fruit formed a not unimportant
portion, rugs were spread in the shade, and leaving Carrambo on
guard--his time for rest would come afterwards--all lay down to snatch a
few hours' sleep.
Lily squatted at Conal's head, fanning him with a broad leaf, till
finally he slept.
Jeannie curled up beside Frank, and Viking with Duncan. So everyone was
contented and happy.
I do not think the boys ever slept more soundly than they did under the
cool green shadow of those trees, and when the sun had gone a certain
distance round, and Carrambo, acting on his instructions, awoke them,
they felt as fresh as meadow larks, and quite fit to resume the journey.
"I hope we won't have any more fighting, boys," said Duncan.
"Why not?" said Frank the Cockney. "I think fighting is good fun.
"Especially," he added, "when you win."
"That's just it, Frank; but the bother is, that if we are hard pressed,
the other fellows will win next time, because our cartridges would soon
be all expended."
"Let us hope for the best," said Conal. "We have plenty of ammunition
for our revolvers."
"True, Conal; but when you are near enough to shoot a savage with a
revolver, he is near enough to scupper you with his spear."
They encamped that night close to the banks of a sandy-bottomed river,
which Duncan said looked as if it contained gold. And once more
Lilywhite assumed the responsibility of cooking.
Then, keeping the fire still alight to keep wild beasts at bay, the boys
left Vike on watch and curled up.
In spite of the warm attentions of scores of very musical mosquitoes
they slept long and soundly, and daylight was almost breaking before
they awoke.
On and on they journeyed day by day, and many and strange were their
adventures among wild beasts and wilder men. But although our heroes
always showed a bold front when trouble seemed rising, they found it
safest and best, if possible, to make friends with the different tribes
they came into contact with.
The beads they still possessed went a long way to cement friendship.
They had been on the road for over a month, for they did not hurry,
knowing the advantage of harbouring their strength in case of having to
fight for dear life itself.
One day about this time, after crossing a high and desert upland, they
descended a hill and found themselves among a very strange people
indeed, and in a strangely beautiful country.
As the inhabitants were friendly, Duncan resolved to stay with them for
a time, that all might recruit their health, and that Conal might regain
his.
The poor lad, in a skirmish with some savages that had taken place
farther inland, had been wounded by a poisoned arrow, and although he
appeared to have recovered, the wound had broken out afresh, and he was
now in so low a condition, that he had to be carried on a bed of grass
made for him in one of the howdahs.
A cool grass hut was set apart for the poor white boy, as the natives
called him, and Lily was a most attentive nurse to him. But indeed all
the people near by were unremitting in their attentions, not only to
Conal, but to everyone in the camp.
This was a country of villages, scattered here and there wherever the
water was most plentiful for themselves and the cattle they owned. But
scattered though these were, and but sparsely inhabited, yet if the
tocsin of war sounded, they speedily flocked to one standard to repel an
invading foe. It was a real republic, owning no king or chief, and
placing the law in the hands of their elders in virtue of their age and
wisdom.
As there was perfect peace and good understanding between these simple
pastoral natives and Duncan's little band, the latter were very happy
indeed.
Conal got slowly well, but all hands had to remain in this happy land
for nearly six weeks before the journey could be renewed.
And poor little Lilywhite stayed here for better or for worse.
Here is how it happened. Shortly before Duncan was about to resume the
march towards the big river and city of Lamoo, Carrambo one day came
forward, leading a tall and rather ungainly young savage, and addressed
Conal as follows:--
"Dis dam young rascal he say you all de same's one fadder to Lily. He
want to mally Lily. He gib tree goat foh Lily."
Here he struck the suitor under the chin.
"Hol' you head up, Choo-ka!" he cried. "De white man no eat de likes ob
you!"
Choo-ka would have blushed if he hadn't been black.
"Is Lily willing?" said Conal, laughing.
"Oh ees, sah, she plenty willin' 'nuff."
"Well, consider it all arranged."
So Conal lost his nurse, and Choo-ka gained a bride. As, however, the
girl had taken a great fancy for Jeannie, Frank gave the gorilla to her
as a wedding gift, and Duncan presented her with a string of beautiful
beads.
And so they were married, and no doubt lived, or will live, for my story
does not date back any very extraordinary number of years, happy ever
after.
The journey was now resumed, and with the exception of some adventures
with pythons and alligators, they reached the river without much further
trouble, and in a few days after this struck the outlying huts of the
large Arab city of Lamoo, and were received in the most hospitable way,
not only by the Portuguese, but by the Arabs, and even by the sultan
himself.
A question now arose as to what they should do with the elephants. It
would be impossible to take these to sea with them.
But a very wealthy Arab merchant offered to buy them, and after a
considerable deal of haggling he became the purchaser, and the boys were
paid in gold.
----
They had half expected to find a gun-boat here, but were disappointed.
So after waiting for a whole week, they paid poor Carrambo off, after
telling him that they meant to revisit his country another day and open
the "debbil pits" in spite of old Goo-goo, then took passage in a large
Arab dhow for Zanzibar, with all their goods and chattels, their gold
and diamonds.
Two weeks after this there landed on the white sandy beach of that
place, three as jolly and as happy boys as anyone ever shook hands with.
CHAPTER IX.--THE VERY IDENTICAL BIRD.
Zanzibar! The spotless sand, on which the blue waves broke lazily into
foam, sparkled like silver in the rays of the noonday sun. Higher up
were the walls of many a palatial-looking building, consulates, most of
them, and each one flying the flag of its country, and with, here and
there, gigantic cocoa-palms waving their dark-green foliage between.
Conspicuous above all, the palace of the Sultan, with above it the
blood-red Arab flag.
There were many ships in the roadstead; some men-o'-war too, but none
belonging to Her Majesty the Queen.
This was slightly disappointing, for our heroes had been told that the
little gun-boat was here, and they longed with an indescribable longing
to know if their dear friends had been rescued alive from the
uninhabited island.
During their voyage from Lamoo--the town lies about fifteen miles
inland, and on the banks of the river, and is navigable to vessels of
light draught all the way up--the Arab skipper had been both courteous
and kind to the young fellows, and when, after the landing of their
chattels, they bade him good-bye, they felt truly sorry to part with
him.
There were plenty of willing hands on the beach to carry their goods to
the hotel. Indeed, they would have carried the boys themselves, and
Viking too, had a few pice been offered them as a reward.
But here is the hotel. It has not been a long walk, albeit the narrow
streets have been--as they always are--crowded to excess with Arabs,
Parsees, Hindoos, Portuguese, Indians, and niggers of every size and
shade. Through this crowd they had to jostle their way with many a
shout of "Sameela! Sameela!" For neither the streets themselves nor
those who fill them have the sweet savour of--
"A primrose by the river's brim".
Yes, here is the hotel, and though the street in front is fairly wide,
the hostelry itself is not over-inviting. But the landlord, who happens
to be a Frenchman, gives them a right hearty welcome, and asks them
immediately what they will have for "deenir".
"Oh," said Duncan, "what can we have?"
"Eberytings, gentlemans; soup, feesh, entree, curry."
"Ah! let us have some real curry. No, not any soup; we want solids.
And as soon as you are ready, we are."
"Sartainly, gentlemans."
"And now," continued Duncan, "we would like to see our bedrooms."
"I have put your luggash all in one big, big room. Three beds it have,
'cause I know young officers like to talk much togedder."
"Very thoughtful of you indeed!"
"And dare is a bat'room just off it."
"How luxurious!" cried Frank. "Why, boys, we are back once more into
civilization!"
They certainly enjoyed their bath, as well as a change of raiment.
"Now, if we had some coffee," said Frank "we--"
He had no time to complete the sentence, for just as he was talking, the
landlord re-entered the room smiling.
He bore, on a level with his forehead, a tray with a pot of the most
fragrant coffee, flanked by cups.
Besides this, there was a huge basin of goat's milk.
"For your beautiful dog, sir officer."
Duncan thanked him most heartily, and Viking seemed most grateful also.
"I sincerely love all de animiles in de world," said the Frenchman.
"One gentleman stay here now. Hab been stay many mont's, with one
leetle blackamoor servant. He possess one very curious bird. Ha, ha!
'Scuse me laugh. But ven I play on my little flute, den the bird and de
boy dance. It is all so funny!"
The boys exchanged glances.
"Can it be possible?" said Duncan.
"I declare," cried Frank, "I feel fidgety all over."
"And I," said Conal, "am cramful of nerves."
"Landlord, can you introduce us to the bird and the boy?"
"Sartainly, gentlemans. Follow, if you will be so kind."
He led them down and down a flight of stone stairs that seemed to have
no end.
Then the young fellows followed him into a large room.
"Gol-a-mussy, gemmans, has you risen again flom de grabe?"
It was little Johnnie Shingles, and none but he.
"Grunt, grunt! squeak, squawk, and squawl!" Up rushed Pen himself.
Yes, the very identical bird!
"Wowff!" cried Vike, entering fully into the excitement.
"Wowff, wowff, wonders will never cease."
Then out came Monsieur T.'s flute.
And Monsieur struck up a merry lilt.
Up went the great bird's flappers, stretched out were Johnnie's arms,
and next moment they were whirling together round and round that
stone-floored room, in surely as daft a dance as ever yet was seen.
It was just at this moment, and while all three boys were convulsed with
laughter, that a third person put in an appearance, and now for a time
everything else paled before the pleasure of once more meeting, and
grasping the hand of brave Master-mariner Talbot himself.
----
What anyone said for the matter of a minute or two is not worth
recording, consisting, as it did, chiefly of ejaculations, and little
brief sentences of wonder and pleasure.
"Of course, you will dine with us, captain," said Duncan at last, "for
we have much to tell you, and your story will all be perfectly new to
us."
"Another plate, landlord."
"Sartainly, sah."
To say that this was a happy meeting would be to print a mere
commonplace.
It was more than happy, but it was agreed that they should not tell each
other the story of their adventures, till dinner had been discussed.
Their anxiety, I may tell you at once, reader, did not prevent our
heroes doing ample justice to the delightful little meal that the
Frenchman had set before them.
He waited upon them himself, too, and presently informed them that
dessert was laid upstairs. Duncan opened his eyes wonderingly.
"What!" he cried, "do you serve dessert in the bedrooms?"
Talbot laughed.
"No," he said, "not in the bedroom, but on the upper deck. Follow me,
and see for yourself."
CHAPTER X.--THE WELCOME HOME.
Up and up and up! They were getting heavenwards, and presently found
themselves in quite an aerial paradise.
On the roof, but covered with awning it was. From this place they could
see all over the city and catch glimpses of the blue ocean itself, to
say nothing of the greenery of the far-off woods.
But here were splendid palms in pots, flowers of every hue, orange and
lemon trees, whose cool green foliage refreshed the eyes that gazed upon
them. Settees or lounges also, mild cigarettes on the tiny tables, iced
sherbet, mangoes, pine-apples, guavas, and great purple grapes.
And presently a waiter brought cups of black coffee, of far better taste
and flavour than any they had ever drank on British soil.
"What a treat after our hard and terrible life in the land of the
gorilla!" This from Conal.
"But, my dear boy," said Frank, "the gorilla is really a gentleman
compared to the cannibal king Goo-goo. But now, Captain, we are all
anxious to hear your story."
Captain Talbot did not reply at once. He simply smiled and smoked,
leaning well back in his rocking chair with his eyes on the curling
wreaths, just as he used to do of an evening on the deck of the dear old
_Flora M'Vayne_.
"I am sorry to disappoint you, my brave lads, but the real truth is that
I've got no story to tell.
"You know," he continued, "what our sufferings were before you left."
"Alas! yes," said Duncan.
"They grew worse instead of better after you sailed away. More men
died. Died, I think, of fever brought on by thirst. I, too, should
have died but for that child Johnnie. I do believe he brought me a
portion, and a large one too, of his own allowance of water.
"Then it seemed to be all darkness, all night, and when I opened my eyes
at last I was no longer on the little island but at sea.
"I was lying under an awning on the quarter-deck of a tiny British
man-o'-war called the _Pen-Gun_."
"But," said Duncan, "soon after we left you we sighted and communicated
with a big steamer, and as far as we could make out she started off to
your rescue."
"Well, she came not near us. But as long as I live I shall never forget
the unremitting kindness and attention bestowed upon us by the officers
of the _Pen-Gun_."
"And Morgan the mate?"
"Morgan has gone to England with the remainder of my crew, but after
hearing from you through the captain of the bold _Pen-Gun_ I determined
to wait and wait, and had you not put in an appearance in another week's
time, I was about to undertake an expedition into your charming King
Goo-goo's land and effect your rescue by hook or by crook.
"That is all my little story; and now for yours."
----
It was late that night before Talbot and his boys parted, for the tale
of their adventures took a much longer time to tell.
Every word of that story was of the greatest interest to the listener,
but when they told him about the gold and the diamonds, and showed him
their specimens, he must needs jump up from the chair and once more
shake hands all round.
"Boys," he said, "you have made your fortunes. I do not mean to say
that it is here, but there are more diamonds and there is more gold
where these came from.
"Leave it to me, lads, but you may give yourselves the credit of being
brave pioneers to a country bound, in the not far distant future, to be
one of the richest and greatest in the world.
"As soon as we get back once more," he continued, "to the shores of
Britain, we shall set about forming a great company, and this will
speedily open up a road to your Goo-goo land, and open up the "debbil
pits" also, in spite of all that wretched king shall urge against it."
"But we shall not call it Goo-goo Land," said Frank.
"No? Well, I shall leave the naming of it to you."
Then something very faint in the shape of a blush suffused the young
fellow's cheeks for a moment.
"You know, Captain Talbot," he said, "my dear cousins know also how fond
of little Flora I am!"
"Oh! she won't be so little by the time we get home," said Conal,
laughing.
"Well, anyhow, when she grows bigger and grows a little older, she shall
be my wife.
"Oh! you needn't smile; she has promised, and so after her I am going to
call our newly-discovered El Dorado--Floriana."
----
We are back again in bonnie Scotland, and it was Conal himself who
exclaimed, when bonnie Glenvoie, for the first time since coming home,
and as he was nearing it, spread itself out before him:
"O Caledonia! stern and wild,
Meet nurse for a poetic child!
Land of brown heath and shaggy wood,
Land of the mountain and the flood,
Land of my sires! what mortal hand
Can e'er untie the filial band
That knits me to thy rugged strand!"
They had driven a great part of the way to Glenvoie, but had been seen
while still a long way off coming down the glen, and not only the
stalwart chief himself, but Frank's father, with about half a dozen
dogs, came out to meet them.
Many of the dogs were old hill-mates of Viking's, so that was all right,
and a glorious gambol they had.
But just as the principal actors and most of the company crowd the stage
before the curtain falls, so they do at the end of a story.
If I tell you that the reunion was a happy one, I can do but little
more.
Poor to some considerable extent both Colonel Trelawney and the laird
were, but I speak the honest truth when I say that had their brave boys
returned penniless and hatless, they would have been sure of a hearty
Highland welcome under the old roof-tree.
Yes, Flora had grown very much too, but she had also grown more
beautiful--I do not like the word "pretty"--and as she bade her brothers
and her cousin welcome home, the tears were quivering on her eyelids and
a flush of joy suffused her face.
And soon our young fellows settled down, and all the old wild life of
wandering on the hills and of sport began again. For indeed the boys
needed a rest.
Little Johnnie Shingles and that droll Old Pen took up their abode in
the servants' hall, but were often invited into the drawing-room of an
evening, when, to the music of Frank's fiddle, the boy and Mother Pen
brought down the house, so to speak, by their inimitable waltzing. This
was fun to everybody else, and even to Johnnie himself. But while
whirling around in the mazy dance, with his head leant lovingly on the
nigger-boy's shoulder, Pen never looked more serious in his life.
A great ball was given shortly after the return of our heroes, and
Glenvoie House looked very gay indeed.
While dancing that night with Flora, Frank took occasion to say to his
partner, in language that was certainly more outspoken than romantic:
"Mind, Flo, you and I are going to get hitched when we're a bit older."
"Hitched, Frank?"
"Well, spliced then. You know what I mean."
"She looked down to blush, she looked up to sigh,
"With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye."
I throw in these two lines of poetry just because they look pretty, and
I sha'n't charge my publisher a penny for them either. But, to tell the
truth--a thing I always do except when--but never mind--Flora neither
blushed nor sighed.
"That means getting married, doesn't it?" she said. "Well, we'll see;
but do keep step, Frank!"
And this was all the wooing.
But years have fled away since then. Five, six, nearly seven of them.
The company was started. The parchment the boys had found in the old
fort gave the clue to the situation. The "debbil pits" were opened, and
are, even as I write, being worked with success.
The boys are men!
Boys will be men, you know!
They are fairly wealthy, and happy also. Not that wealth makes people
happy, only it helps.
Frank is spliced.
And where do you think Flora and he spent their long, long honeymoon?
Yes, you are right. In Floriana, in the country of gold and diamonds.
The land of the great Goo-goo.