The Grave of one of the Unknown Race--Morton's Departure--Charlie
falls Sick.
The shadow cast by the sides of the hole was too dark for Brown to
see at once what sort of treasure he had unearthed, but a nearer
inspection did not afford him any more satisfaction. Apparently
there was nothing beneath the sheet of metal but a deposit of damp,
mouldy earth, emitting a pungent smell of a most repulsive nature.
Brown drew back somewhat sickened, and told the natives to clean out
the trench while he went out for a breath of fresh air.
In a few minutes he returned. The heap of mould alongside the now
empty hole told him that the work was finished. The blacks were on
their knees, eagerly examining some objects they had found amongst
the contents of the trench. Billy handed them to Brown. The first
was a chain of small steel links and most beautiful workmanship,
bearing as a pendant a tiny triangle formed of the same metal. A
metal plate nearly a foot square, covered with hieroglyphics similar
to those inscribed on the walls of the cave, was the next thing he
examined, and then came a dagger resembling the one already
discovered. This, however, had a handle, or what appeared to be one,
made of finely-twisted gold threads wound tightly round the haft.
This was all. Brown puzzled over these relics for some time, and
then strolled to the crest of the ridge to see how the voyagers were
getting on. Apparently they had experienced what is known as a
soldier's wind, for the canoe was coming back with a flowing sail.
Brown and Billy walked down to the shore of the lake to meet them.
The trip had been uninteresting; the lake was exceedingly shallow
everywhere with the exception of the end where they were. There it
was deep and permanent. Brown told them of the discovery he had
made, and they revisited the cave together.
"It's my opinion," said Morton after lengthy examination, "that it is
a grave, and this mould all that there is left of a body--probably
burnt before being put in the grave. The necklet, plate, and dagger
are the ornaments and weapon worn by the man at the time of his
death. He must have been some great priest."
"The same conclusion that I have been working round to," replied
Brown. "That plate is a priestly breastplate, like those we read of
in the Old Testament."
The question of visiting Hentig's grave was one that was now
discussed. It was settled at last that Morton and Billy would make
the trip, leaving Brown and Charlie to continue the investigation of
the caves, and also to come out with relief in case Morton was
overdue. By careful computation they thought they could pretty well
guess the course pursued by the three white men from the last water
to the lake. With two horses packed with water they reckoned they
could get out and back without much trouble, even if there was no
water at the marked tree.
Morton and Billy therefore started early the next morning, for
although the night would have been cooler to cross the spinifex
desert, they might have missed some important indications in the
dark. Four days was the utmost limit Morton allowed himself; Brown
was then to start on his tracks, as something would have probably
happened to the horses.
Left at the lake, Brown and Charlie devoted themselves to a searching
examination of the locality. Several trees marked with an anchor,
similar to the one at the lagoon camp, were discovered, evidently the
work of Murphy, who had seemingly appropriated the symbol. A mark
resembling a rude K was seen once or twice, and they took it to stand
for Kelly's handiwork.
They sounded the caves all over but without any more success, and at
last concluded that they had found all there was to be found.
The sun was high the morning of the third day when Brown returned
from his swim in the lagoon, and, to his surprise, found Charlie
still sleeping, with a hot flush on his face. Brown aroused him, and
the boy sat up and looked vacantly around, recovered himself after a
bit, and proceeded to get up. He refused to eat anything, but drank
a good deal of tea. Brown watched him anxiously.
"What's the matter, old boy?" he asked.
"I don't feel up to the mark. I had a wretched nightmare last night;
it kept me awake afterwards until nearly daylight, so that I
overslept myself."
"I feel off colour too," replied Brown. "Last night I could have
quarrelled with my own shadow. I hope we didn't release any evil
spirit from that grave."
"Don't say that," replied Charlie, "for that is just what I dreamt.
Strange that you should think the same."
"Tell me about it, sonney," said Brown. "We'll soon fix up any
intrusive old ghost."
Charlie, as he could see, was upset by something, and Brown felt
uneasy, as the thought of sickness overtaking one of their party
became patent to him.
"I dreamt," commenced Charlie, "that I was on the edge of this lake.
I was alone, and very frightened with a quite unnatural terror. I
thought you had both gone away and left me. I tried to cry out but
could not, and turned round, for I felt some fearful thing was
approaching me from behind. True enough, the great figure from the
cave was there, looking at me with terrible eyes. On its breast was
the plate we found in the grave, and--I could read the characters
written on it."
Charlie paused.
"What was the writing?" asked Brown, interested by the boy's
earnestness.
"I can shut my eyes and see it now. It ran--'_The Spirit of Evil is
everywhere. Worship then the Spirit of Evil only, and do his
behests._' As I looked and read the figure smiled mockingly at me,
and I woke up in a cold perspiration, and could not sleep again."
"Charlie, my boy," said Brown, "we will discuss your dream by and by.
Meantime, I am going to mix you a dose of quinine and brandy; you've
got a touch of malarial fever coming on. Now I'll fix up a
bough-shade for you; it will be cooler than the tent, and you must
keep quiet all day."
Brown soon had a good shade of boughs erected, and making up as
comfortable a bed as he could for the sick lad, he stopped with him
all day. Charlie was very feverish, but towards sundown he fell into
an uneasy sleep, and Brown went for a stroll up and down and smoked
his pipe. "This is a lively look-out," he mused. "I hope those
devilish old rites don't mean to claim another victim. Dreamt we
both went away and left him!" Brown's eyes grew moist as he thought
of the possibility of the words coming true in one sense, and Charlie
being left in a solitary grave by the side of the lake. "If Morton
does not turn up to time what a fix I shall be in, for I can't go and
look for him."
Charlie passed a restless night, and towards the middle of the
ensuing day he became delirious. This was the margin of Morton's
return, but the sun set, and Brown strained his eyes in vain across
the plain.
Charlie's delirium was at its height that night. Always he raved of
the great figure in the cave standing over and threatening him.
The fifth day passed and still no sign of Morton, and Brown was
nearly distracted at the thought that his friend was in some
difficulty, expecting him to come to his relief, and he could not
leave the sick boy for an hour. He passed the night once more by
Charlie's side, trying to soothe him and listening to his incoherent
mutterings. It was about three o'clock in the morning when Charlie,
who had been quiet for some time, dropped off to sleep. The silence
that ensued was broken by a sound more grateful to Brown than
anything else he could possibly have heard--the distant sound of a
horse-bell. There was no doubt about it, the horses were coming
rapidly across the plain, and evidently being driven, the bell having
been loosened as is generally done when travelling with pack-horses
at night. On they came at a sharp trot, for they were no doubt
thirsty and knew where they were coming to. Brown listened till they
ran down the opposite bank and commenced drinking, then he knew by
the voices that Morton and Billy were both there, and called across
to them.
"That you, Brown?" came back in reply.
"Yes; I could not go out as I promised."
"Glad you didn't, as it happened. But what's up?"
"I'll tell you as soon as you come round, but come quietly."
Brown walked a little distance to meet them, and they unpacked the
horses where they met so as not to disturb Charlie, who was still
sleeping. Brown told Morton in a low voice, and they went into the
tent together. Charlie was muttering in his sleep, and it was still
of the figure on the wall. They went out and sat by the fire, where
they could hear the slightest sound, and Morton told Brown all that
had passed since he left.