THE FOREST REFUGE--VOALAVO IS WAR-LIKE, RAVONINO PEACEFUL, AND FALSE
FRIENDS DANGEROUS.
We change the scene, now, to the profoundest recesses of the tangled
forest. Here, in the deep shadow cast by the over-arching trees, two
native girls wandered out at an early hour one morning to converse about
things that interested them deeply--if the varying aspects of their
expressive faces were any index to their thoughts. One was tall, dark,
majestic in mien and grave of countenance. The other was comparatively
fair, of small stature, and evidently of lively yet timid disposition.
Need we say that they were Ramatoa, the sister of Laihova, and Ra-Ruth,
the sister of Ravonino?
"I fear they will never return to us," said Ra-Ruth, laying her hand on
her friend's arm.
"Say not so," replied Ramatoa, "we know not what blessings our God has
in store for us. Only this we are sure of, that _all_ things will work
together for our good."
"But the Queen is so cruel!" objected her little friend. "When her
anger is roused she will do anything. Besides, has not the messenger
told us that the soldiers have been sent in hundreds over the country to
search for Christians, and spies are about everywhere. Laihova, too,
has been separated from them, he says. Perhaps he has been caught."
"I like not this messenger," said the other, with a touch of sternness
in her look and tone. "He seems to me like a wolf in sheep's clothing.
He does not refer all things to God as `Our Father,' and in his use of
the Word he does not seem sincere. I trust that he is not one of the
spies."
As she spoke her companion uttered a quick exclamation. There was a
rustling in the bushes, and next moment, Laihova, springing out, clasped
Ra-Ruth in his arms.
"Thank God," he said, in deep earnest tones, as he released her. "I am
not too late!"
"Brother," said Ramatoa, anxiously, laying a hand on the man's arm, "are
you alone?"
"Yes. Have not Ravoninohitriniony and Rafaravavy arrived?"
"No. And--and what of Mamba?" asked Ramatoa.
An expression of profound sadness crossed the features of Laihova.
Dropping his eyes on the ground he stood silent. For a few moments his
sister did not speak, but her breast heaved with suppressed emotion. At
last she asked in a low voice--
"Has he been martyred?"
"No--he is not dead. But--he is condemned to slavery in chains for
life."
Terrible though this fate was, the news of it evidently conveyed a
measure of relief to Ramatoa, for it assured her that her lover was at
all events not dead. Where there is life there is hope!
"I fear this will kill his mother," she said. "Poor Reni-Mamba is so
full of love and gentleness, and her sorrows have been very heavy.
Strange that her husband and son should share the same fate--perpetual
slavery! Yet it is not perpetual. Death will set them free. Come to
the cave and let us break the sad news."
As they walked through the forest, Ramatoa gave her brother a rapid
outline of what had occurred since the day he left.
"They will be deeply grieved," she said, "that our friends are not with
you. We had all hoped that you would arrive together. A messenger who
has just come did indeed tell us that you had been separated from them,
but all supposed that you would easily overtake them."
"True, sister, but I over-shot them. That has been the way of it,"
returned Laihova, regretfully.
"Still, I feel sure that they will escape," continued the girl,
"Ravoninohitriniony has such a firm trust in God, and he is so strong
and brave and wise. Besides, he has the blood of the white man in his
veins--he will succeed or die!"
This compliment to her brother, whether deserved or not, had the effect
of raising a flush of pleasure on Ra-Ruth's little face.
"Many things have happened since you left us," resumed Ramatoa.
"Razafil, the poet, has come to stay with us, and Voalavo too."
"Voalavo!" exclaimed Laihova in surprise, "is he not the chief of a
tribe that does not love Jesus? And he was not a Christian when I saw
him last."
"He is a Christian _now_," returned the girl, quietly, "if I may judge
him by his works. He has been our main stay since you went away. Not
long after you left us he came, saying that you had told him about Jesus
delivering men from the power of sin, and he wanted to know about Him.
You may be sure we were glad to tell him all we knew. He has never said
he is a Christian, but he has stayed with us ever since, and hunted for
us. He is as active as the youngest men in getting and bringing in wild
fruits, and the youths are glad to have his wisdom and advice. He
listens to us while we sing, and he prays in secret--I know that he
does, for I have overheard him. Moreover, he has brought some of his
people over to our side. He seems to be particularly fond of
Reni-Mamba, and she is fond of him--for he is funny."
"Yes; he is _very_ funny," responded Laihova, with profound gravity.
On reaching the cavern which we have described in a former chapter, they
found that most of the men were out, and the women were busy with those
culinary labours which tend to rejoice the hearts of hunters when they
return home.
The chief, Voalavo, was there, however, deeply engaged in studying--yes,
studying--_The Pilgrim's Progress_! But he could not make much of it,
his education--at the hands of Ra-Ruth--having commenced only a few
weeks before. Besides teaching the chief his letters, Ra-Ruth had read
to him large portions of the book, which had so fascinated him that he
had applied himself to his letters with a will, and, being an able man,
had begun to make rapid progress. His desire, also, to be able to read
the Bible--when he began to understand what it was, and to perceive the
significance of some of its soul-stirring words--stimulated his active
mind to greater exertions.
The unfortunate poet, Razafil, also fell in with the wonderful allegory
in that cave for the first time, and it helped in no small degree to
turn his mind from brooding over the fate of his dear martyred daughter
Raniva. His mind was quicker than that of the chief to perceive the
grand truths which underlie the story, and he was not a little
comforted. Thus these two men, so very differently constituted, sat at
the feet of the fair Ra-Ruth, who being, as we have said, timid and
rather distrustful of herself, was overjoyed to find that even she could
help in advancing the cause of her Lord.
But it rather perplexed the little maiden when these same men, having
been gifted with inquiring minds, puzzled themselves over the question
why the Prince of the country in _The Pilgrim's Progress_ did not kill
Apollyon at once and have done with him.
"Or make him good," suggested Voalavo.
"True, that would have been better, perhaps, than killing him," assented
Razafil.
Like millions of the human race before them, the two men got out of
their depth here; but unlike too many thousands of the same race, they
did not permit such difficulties to interfere with their unshaken
confidence in the love and wisdom of that God, who certainly "doeth all
things well," whatever we in our pride and partial ignorance may think
of Him.
Voalavo's studies on the day we write of did not however engross him so
much as to prevent his starting up in great excitement when he heard the
sound of Laihova's voice. He hastened to the entrance of the cavern,
and received his friend with his wonted effusive heartiness. But he was
damped considerably on learning that Laihova came alone, that Mamba was
enslaved, and that Ravonino and Rafaravavy were still wandering in the
forest, pursued by their enemies.
"Come, my young men!" he shouted, flying into a sudden state of
indignation, and clapping his hands together like a pistol-shot, "we
will go and rouse our warriors. Arm, and make to the rescue! We will
dethrone the Queen--this Ranavalona--usurper! Why should such a woman
live on, filling the land with blood and misery!"
"My friend," said Laihova, in a soothing tone, as he laid his hand on
the chief's shoulder, "the arms of Christians are not the arms of a
soldier. We wrestle not against flesh and blood."
"That is idle talk," exclaimed the unpacified chief. "Did not Christian
use a sword? Did not Greatheart fight Apollyon with a sword?"
"True, but these were spiritual weapons," said Laihova. "Moreover, if
you did rouse your people and march to the capital, what could you do?
Your whole tribe would appear but as a handful of dust in the eyes of
the Hova army."
"I would that we were a handful of dust!" snorted the chief, "and we'd
dash ourselves into the eyes of the Hova army and kill them while they
wept!"
"But there is nothing to prevent us from going forth to meet our
friends," rejoined Laihova, "and we can take our spears. If they stand
in need of help we may give it."
This proposition fell in entirely with the war-like Voalavo's views,
and, a band of the young hunters and fruit-gatherers entering the cave
at that moment, he urged them to make haste with their dinner and get
ready for the war-path.
Ever-ready--as young blades usually are--for fighting, these youths
threw down their loads quickly.
And, truly, judging from the contents of the cavern larder that day,
there was no prospect of famine before the persecuted people. In one
part of that larder there was abundance of beef and pork, also of game,
such as guinea-fowl, pheasants, partridges, peacocks, turkeys, geese,
ducks, pigeons, turtle-doves, and snipe. In another place the vegetable
and fruit-gatherers had piled up little mounds of bread-fruit,
pine-apples, cocoa-nuts, yams, plantains, bananas, manioc-root, melons,
etcetera, much of which had been gathered from regions at a considerable
distance from their place of abode. Thus they had laid up store for
many days, and felt somewhat elated.
But there were two hearts there which found it impossible to rejoice,
and very hard to submit to God. Reni and Ramatoa retired to a dark
recess in the cave, and mingled their tears and prayers together.
"Oh! it would have been better if he had died!" sobbed Reni, "for then
he would have been with Jesus; but now it is awful to think of the
life-long slavery; and we shall never more see him on earth."
"Nay, mother, do not think thus. Whatever God does _must_ be best,"
returned Ramatoa in a tremulous voice. "Let us try to say `Thy will
be--'"
She broke down and finished the sentence with prayer for strength and
for a submissive spirit.
Meanwhile the war-like expedition, on which Voalavo and his youths were
only too ready to enter was rendered needless by the sudden appearance
of Ravonino himself, with Rafaravavy and Sarah! After encountering
innumerable hardships and dangers those three had at last arrived at
their forest stronghold in safety.
"So then," remarked Laihova to Ra-Ruth, after the first enthusiastic
reception was over, "I have only over-shot them by a few hours after
all!"
"We were just going to sally forth to look for you--and fight if need
be," said Voalavo.
"There was no need for that," returned Ravonino, "the Lord was our
protector."
"Where is Reni-Mamba? Have you heard, mother, about your son?"
Reni and Ramatoa, who had pressed forward, looked surprised, for their
friend did not speak like a man who had bad news to tell.
"Laihova has told me, truly," replied Reni, still whimpering, "that my
dear boy is worse than dead."
"Not so, mother," said Ravonino, taking the poor woman's hand, "be of
good cheer; Mamba is not dead. I know not indeed where he is at this
moment, having been pressed in my own flight, but I know that the Queen
has set him free--this much I learned from our white friend, Mark
Breezy. More I cannot tell, but is not this cause for joy and
gratitude? Come, let us return thanks to our Father."
Most of those present were glad to give vent to their feelings in prayer
and praise, though some there were who, having been led to join the band
by the mere force of circumstances, had little heart in the matter.
Certainly Voalavo was not among these last, for the enthusiasm which
inclined him to fight with violence also induced him to pray with
vigour.
When this appropriate act of worship was over, food was prepared for the
wearied travellers, and in a short time the whole party was seated round
the cooking-fire, illuminated by the torches on the wall, and listening
eagerly to Ravonino as he recounted his adventures.
"I fear much," he said in conclusion, "that another dark season is about
to fall on us. It may be like the last--or worse."
Ravonino here referred, (and with bated breath), to the terrible
outbreak of persecution which had occurred several years previously,
when, at the lowest estimate, about two thousand men and women were
severely punished, and many tortured and slain, because they professed
or favoured the religion of Jesus.
As, one after another, various members of the party detailed the sad
sufferings or deaths of relatives and friends, the feelings of all
became deeply affected with grief, those of some with a considerable
dash also of indignation. Among the latter of course was Voalavo.
"Why," he cried suddenly, giving his hands the accustomed pistol-shot
clap that betrayed his inability to contain himself, "why do we suffer
all this? Why not assemble the tribes, go up at once to Antananarivo,
take it, cut off the Queen's head, and put Prince Rakota on the throne?"
"Ay, why not?" demanded several of the more fiery young men.
"Because the Lord tells us to overcome evil with good," answered
Ravonino, quietly. Then, wishing to draw attention from the subject, he
inquired for the messenger who had brought news of his own escape.
All looked round as if expecting the man to answer for himself, but no
one replied.
Search was made, and then it was discovered that the messenger had
hastily taken his departure from the place.