"Hockins, by God's blessing you have saved the lives of all our party
this day--at least it seemed so, for, another step, and that soldier
would have discovered us if your little pipe had not stopped him. You
are therefore entitled to expect some gratitude, and, from what I have
seen of you and your comrades, I have reason to believe you will not
betray us, even if you get the chance."
"Right you are, friend, I will never betray an honest man; an' I may
speak for my comrades as well as self, for they're true-blue to the
back-bone--"
"Furder nor dat," interposed Ebony, "troo-bloo to de marrow!"
"Don't you shove in your oar till you're ordered, you nigger! Well, as
I was a-sayin', we'll never betray honest men, but I give you fair
warnin' if you're _not_ honest, we'll have nothin' to do wi' your
secrets, an' if our duty to God an' man requires us to go against you,
we'll do it without flinchin'."
"So be it. I am satisfied," returned Ravonino, calmly. "I will tell
you as much as I think you are entitled to know. It may have reached
your ears, perhaps, that there has been terrible persecution in this
island for many years."
Here Mark Breezy took up the conversation.
"No," said he, with something of a deprecatory air, "we did not know it.
For my part I am ashamed to say so; but I will say in excuse that the
British empire is widely extended in every quarter of the globe, and her
missions are so numerous that average men can scarcely hope to keep up
with the details of all of the persecutions that occur. Rumours,
indeed, I have heard of doings in Madagascar that vie with the
persecutions of the Scottish Covenanters; but more than this I know not,
though of course there are men connected with our Missionary Societies--
and many people, no doubt, interested in missions--who know all about
the persecutions in Madagascar. Is it in connection with this that you
have been outlawed?"
"It is. Ranavalona, the blood-stained usurper, our present queen, is
filled with such bitter hatred of Christianity that she has for many
years persecuted the native Christians who have been taught by white
missionaries from your land. Hundreds of men and women have been
murdered by her orders because they refused to forsake Christ; others
have been banished to regions so unhealthy that they have died, and many
have been sold into slavery."
The eyes of the guide gleamed for a moment, and his stern countenance
flushed as he thus referred to the sorrows of his people, but by a
strong effort he controlled his feelings, and his countenance resumed
its habitual quietude.
"My mother and my sister and I," he continued, "were sold into slavery.
My mother was a native lady, high in station, and a member of the court
of King Radama the First, who was very favourable to Missionaries. I
was an infant at that time; my little sister was not born. My father
was an English trader, skilled in many handicrafts, and a great
favourite with the king, who fostered the Christian religion and helped
those who came to teach us. Our teachers learned our language; taught
us the love of God, and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, brought
many of us to the Saviour. But they were persevering and wise as well
as good. Having learned our language--in which my father helped them
much--they taught us to read; translated many parts of the Word of God
into our tongue; sent home for presses and types, and had these printed,
as well as the _Pilgrim's Progress_ and other books.
"Peace, joy, and prosperity were spreading in our land. Idol-worship
and cruel customs were being uprooted, and everything was going well
when the king died--whether a Christian or not, who can tell? for,
although favourable to, he never professed, Christianity. `The Lord
knoweth them that are His!' The rightful heir to the throne, according
to our customs, was Rakotobe--a good young man who had been taught by
the missionaries, and was nephew to the king; but Ranavalona, one of the
king's wives, resolved to seize the opportunity. A bold bad woman, with
a powerful will and no principle, she carried her point by reckless
bloodshed. There were men at court as bad as herself who agreed to aid
her. When she boldly claimed the throne, four loyal nobles asserted the
claim of Rakotobe. They were instantly speared in the palace. The
rightful heir was not present. Soldiers were sent to his residence to
seize and kill him, before he should hear of what was going on.
"Not content with shedding blood, the cruel monsters dug the poor
youth's grave before his eyes. When they were thus engaged Rakotobe
kneeled down to pray, and while he was in this position they speared him
and cast him into his grave. Soon after the father and mother of
Rakotobe were murdered--the last being starved to death. The brother of
Radama was destroyed in like manner. He lingered eight days in agony
before death came to his relief. Then Rakotobe's grandmother and other
relations were slain by Ranavalona's orders, and thus the murderess
waded through blood to the throne of Madagascar!
"Think you," continued the guide, with a passing gleam of the anger
which he strove to restrain, "think you that I owe allegiance to _such_
a queen?"
"Truly ye do not," answered the seaman, stoutly. "My only wonder is
that the people suffer her to reign."
Scarce heeding the reply the guide continued, with suppressed
excitement, "but she did not rest content. It was in the year 1829 that
she usurped the throne. Since then she has persecuted the Christians
for more than a quarter of a century, and at times blood has flowed like
water in our land. Bad as she is, however, she would have been worse
but for her love to her son. Ay, the woman whose heart is a stone to
most people is soft towards the young prince Rakota, in spite of the
fact that this youth is favourable to the Christians and has often stood
between them and his mother.
"About nine years after the queen's coronation my little sister was
born, and was secretly baptised--the name of Ruth being given to her.
It is our custom to prefix Ra to many names--so she is Ra-Ruth. Look at
her!" He pointed to a group not far-off, where the delicate and
graceful girl was busily assisting an elderly woman in her packing
arrangements. "See you the lady beside her, with the grey hair and the
sad worn face? That is my mother. I have said she was high at the
Court of Radama the First. She was young then. I was born the year
that Radama died. Ranavalona was fond of her, though she loved not her
Christianity, so she continued at the palace. The Queen also became
very fond of my little sister when she began to grow to womanhood, but
Ra-Ruth could not return the affection of one whose hands were stained
so deeply with Christian blood. I was an officer in the palace at the
time, but would gladly have left, only my doing so might have roused the
queen's wrath against my father and mother.
"At last the missionaries were ordered to quit the capital. In 1849 a
great persecution took place. The queen became furious because her
people would not cease to love and serve Jesus. She ordered many men
and women to be speared and burned and tossed over precipices, but all
without avail, because `greater is He who is for us than all who can be
against us.'
"My father was away on a trading expedition at this time. One day in
attempting to cross a lake he was drowned." The guide's voice deepened
as he went on, "He was a good loving father to me. He taught me nearly
all I know, and he was no mean scholar. He also sent me to the
missionary schools. After his death the Queen hardened her heart
against us; and as we refused to give up praying to God and singing His
praise, we were cast out of the palace--my mother and sister and I, with
several others, among whom were Laihova and his sister Ramatoa. We were
sold into slavery in the public market.
"Our purchaser was cruel. He put us to the hardest menial work. We
remained for several years with him. The health of my poor mother and
sister began to give way. Then he sold me to another man, and we were
separated. This was too much, I suppose, for the English blood in me to
endure quietly. I made my escape. I went back to my old owner, and, in
the night, induced my mother and sister to fly. Many persecuted
Christians have fled since then and are now hiding in dens and caves
like hunted beasts. We soon found some of these in the depths of the
forests, and agreed to band together. They made me their leader, and I
brought them here, where we have lived and worshipped God in peace; but,
as you have seen, we are liable to be captured at any moment."
"And if captured," said Mark, "would the Queen really put you to death?"
"I fear she would; nay, I am certain of it, because one who recently
escaped from Antananarivo has just brought the news that the Queen has
been visited with a fresh burst of anger against the Christians, has
thrown many into prison and sent out troops to scour the country in
search of those who have fled."
"But if that is so," said Hockins, earnestly, "what's the use o' you
riskin' your life by goin' with us to Ant--Ant--all-alive-O! (I'll
never git that name into my head!) Why not just sketch us out a rough
chart o' the island on a bit o' bark, give us the bearin's o' the
capital, an' let us steer a straight course for it. I'll be bound that
we'll make our port easy enough."
"Yes, Hockins speaks wisely," added Mark. "It is very kind of you to
take so much trouble for us, but there is no need to run such great risk
on our account."
"You do not consider," replied Ravonino, "that it is more difficult for
sailors to cross the wild forest than to find their way on the trackless
sea, and you forget also that the way is long, that Madagascar is larger
than Great Britain and Ireland put together. There are many tribes,
too, some of which are not so hospitable as others. You could not avoid
the dangers of this wilderness easily without a guide. Besides, I do
not mean to enter the capital. I will merely guide you to within sight
of it and then leave you. Fortunately you require no assistance from
natives, not being encumbered with this world's goods."
"Das troo; ha, ha-a!" cried Ebony, opening his portentous mouth and
shutting his eyes, "we've got no luggidge."
"Well, we shall only be too glad of your company," said Mark, with some
feeling, "and we thank you most heartily for your disinterested
kindness."
"My conduct is not altogether disinterested," returned the guide. "The
truth is, I had no intention at first of doing more than guiding you to
the right pass in the mountains, but since I have been with you my
feelings have been modified, and the news which we have just received
has--has filled me with anxiety, and raised in my mind the idea that--
that I may even make use of you!"
"That's right," exclaimed Mark, heartily, "I'm glad if there is the
smallest chance of our serving you in any way. In what way can we do
so?"
For some moments the guide displayed a degree of hesitancy which his
friends had not before noticed in him. Then he spoke, slowly--
"Well, the truth is, that I have a friend in the palace who is, I have
been told, in great danger, owing to the wrath of Ranavalona. I thought
that somehow, perhaps, you might give warning to this friend, and say
that Samuel Ravoninohitriniony is in the neighbouring forest, and--"
Here the guide stopped short, and seemed to be in some perplexity. Mark
Breezy, whose young and romantic spirit was deeply stirred by the
prospect of adventure which his words had opened up, assured him with
enthusiasm that whatever was possible for man to accomplish he might
depend upon being at least vigorously attempted. To which assurance
John Hockins begged to "putt the word ditto," and the negro fervently
added, "Das so--me too!"
"But how are we to find your friend," asked Mark, "seeing that we don't
know him, and have never seen him?"
"My friend is not a man, but a--a woman, a young girl," said Ravonino,
with the slightest possible symptom of confusion, which opened the eyes
of Mark instantly, and still further stirred his sympathies.
"Ravonino," he exclaimed, suddenly grasping the guide's hand, "treat me
as a friend and trust me. You love this young girl! Is it not so?
Nay, man, don't be angry with me. I can't help sympathising. Why, I
know something of your--your--a--condition myself. The morning I left
England, the very last person I said good-bye to was a fair young girl,
with golden hair, and a rosebud mouth, and such lovely blue--"
"Das right, Massa," burst in Ebony, with a crow of admiration. "It doos
my bery heart good to see a man as is proud ob his sweet'art. I's got
one too, bress you! but _she_ ain't fair! No, she's black as de kitchen
chimbly, wid a bootiful flat nose, a mout' like a coal-scuttle, an'
_such_ eyes--oh!"
"Hold your tongue, Ebony! Now, am I not right, Ravonino?"
"You are right," answered the guide, gravely, yet without displeasure.
"My Rafaravavy is in danger, and I must save her from this murderess at
all hazards. It is right, however, to tell you that if you attempt to
aid me you will encounter both difficulty and danger."
"Don't mention that, friend. No true man would shrink from either in a
good cause," said Mark. "But when must we set out on this expedition?"
"By day-break to-morrow. Our new hiding-place is on our way, so the
change will not delay us; and from what the fugitives have told us, I
hope--indeed I feel sure--that the Queen will do no further mischief for
some weeks to come. But now, comrades," said the guide, rising, "we
must rest if we would work to-morrow. Follow me."
He led them into one of the side caves, when the whole of the people
followed, as if by preconcerted arrangement. Here a much-soiled book in
a leathern cover was produced. It was a portion of the Bible in the
Malagasy language. A few verses were reverently read by the guide; a
brief earnest prayer was offered by a very old man; a hymn was sung, and
then the people dispersed to their several sections of the cave.
Finally the lights were extinguished, and the place was left in silence
and darkness profound.