CONDEMNED TO DIE.
In spite of all the questions put by Temple and the Doctor, Graham
resolutely refused to speak about his meeting with Volinè in the
garden, and this annoyed the Doctor especially.
"I don't like this want of confidence on your part, Graham," he said,
the following day. "Not that I want to pry into a lover's secrets by
any means, but our trial, as you well know, takes place in a few days,
and I think, as being the leader of this expedition, recognised as such
by common consent, and the duty of defending ourselves rightly falling
on me, every fact that might be of service to us should be known to me,
as well as any adverse circumstances that may resolve into evidence
against us, so that I may be prepared to meet it."
"Doctor," Graham answered, "I admit the justness of your remarks, but
am sorry I cannot disclose what took place last night. The honour of
the woman I love is involved; but, rest assured, I am quite prepared to
defend my conduct if called upon to do so. Believe me, nothing whatever
was said respecting our position, nor did I obtain any information
likely to be of service to us."
"But did you really see and speak to Volinè last night?" asked Temple.
"I admit that I did. Now, do rest content with that, there's good
fellows; and be assured that I am doing the best I can for us all. This
ring I wear upon my finger was given to me by her, with the solemn
assurance that it was a talisman against evil."
"Fudge, Graham; you must be deep in love to believe such nonsense,"
said the Doctor, testily.
"Nonsense or not, Doctor, you see I wear it, and what is more, am
inclined to believe in its virtues. It may be but a lover's trifle; but
some strange instinct, call it superstition if you like, makes me feel
that it will yet be of service to us."
"Well, it is my unbroken experience that if discord or trouble comes,
a woman is invariably at the bottom of it." And with this parting shot
the Doctor walked away to study his note-book.
"What a prejudice the Doctor has against the ladies, Graham!" said
Temple. "Why, he is a regular woman-hater. Depend upon it, some girl
broke his heart in the long ago."
"It is his only failing, and he is to be pitied more than blamed,"
Graham answered.
Kaosp entered at this moment. His face wore a grave look, and he was
unusually silent. Graham alone guessed the cause; for he had no doubt
whatever that what took place within the garden on the previous night
was now known to him, although he never alluded to it in any way. He
did not stay long, and after enquiring about our health, and various
little matters, he shook each one of us by the hand, as was his custom
now every time he went away. This mode of salutation greatly took his
fancy, after we had explained it to him, and he seemed proud of his new
accomplishment. When Graham's turn to shake hands with him came, he
started in surprise, and, drawing back, exclaimed:
"Volinè's talisman! How camest thou by that? Know'st thou the charm of
that ring? Dost thou know that he whose finger carries it is safe from
every harm that men of Gathma can work? It is a passport from Death
itself; for it is the sacred ring of Echri, the most powerful of our
priests, before whom the King himself must bow!"
"Good Kaosp, I came by it honestly. This ring was given to me by Volinè
herself, and by her its wondrous power was told to me. But these,
my companions, ridicule its potency, and refuse to believe in its
talismanic properties."
"They know not what they say. I have heard and seen too much of its
virtues to scoff at its power. But guard it jealously, for I would warn
thee against its loss. No man of Gathma will dare to take it from thee;
for if thou hast received it as a gift, that man is cursed who would
seek to rob thee of it by force, or yet by stealth."
"Not very likely, Kaosp, for I will part with it only with my life,"
Graham answered, as the good-natured soldier passed out.
"Well, Doctor, what do you say now?" asked Graham.
"That it's all humbug; and, from the bottom of my heart, I wish Volinè
and her ring had been far away before we had the misfortune to visit
Edos."
The arrival of our mid-day meal interrupted further conversation; nor
did either of us allude to the subject again.
Day after day passed by, Kaosp coming in as usual; but he was reticent,
his visits were shorter, and in spite of all that Graham could do,
we saw that he evaded his questions. Another thing that perplexed us
exceedingly was the absence of Volinè. From the day that Graham met her
in the garden she had never been to see us herself, nor had she sent
any of her attendants with presents. What had befallen her we knew not.
All was mystery. Kaosp would not speak on the subject. This had a most
depressing effect upon Graham; he rarely ate, and still more rarely
slept. We could see that his heart was heavy at her absence, and his
failing to obtain any news whatever of his loved one made him morose,
dispirited, and silent.
"For the love of Heaven," he said to Kaosp on the day before our trial,
"will you not tell me news of her? You must know what has taken place.
Has any harm befallen her?"
"I am commanded by the King to silence," he answered, not without
sorrow in his voice. "He hath bidden me hold no further conversation
with you, his prisoners. You will know all on the morrow."
The eventful morning dawned at last that was to decide our fate; to set
us free, or mete to us our doom.
"Thank Heaven!" said Graham, earnestly, "all will soon be decided. This
silence, this suspense, is slowly killing me."
Outside we could hear that something unusual was taking place. The
heavy tramp of troops echoed from the distance in muffled tones;
trumpet blasts at intervals sounded afar off, as if an army was being
marshalled; and from time to time the noise of hurrying feet was heard
in the corridor outside. For the first time Kaosp failed to visit us.
New guards came attending the servants that brought us our morning
meal. We were all too excited to eat, and the dishes were taken away
almost untouched.
"One last word to you all," said the Doctor. "Whatever may be the
result of this trial, be sure not to exhibit any anger. It will be no
time, nor place, to strike for freedom in yonder Hall of Justice; for
such could only end in failure. Keep cool, I implore you, whatever the
decision may be. We must wait and watch our opportunity."
A few minutes before ten o'clock our prison doors were opened, and
we were commanded by Kaosp and the guards to follow them. We went in
single file, our dog bringing up the rear, passing along the corridors,
which were lined with Martial troops on either side, through doorway
after doorway until we reached an ante-room which we had not visited
before. Here we were detained for a few moments; then, amidst a fanfare
of trumpets, we passed onward and entered the Great Hall of Justice.
The brilliant scene was much the same as on our previous visit, but
more solemnity seemed to pervade the vast gathering. We heard the hum
of voices before we reached the Hall; but as we entered a great silence
fell upon the assembled throng, and every eye was turned towards us as
we slowly wended our way to the platform, and stepped one by one upon
it. A hundred thousand Martials of both sexes, and apparently of the
highest grade of society, filled that vast Hall; and from the tumult
we could hear outside, as many more must have been clustering round in
eager curiosity. The King and his ministers sat in their old places,
and below them were a hundred scribes, whose business appeared to be to
take down in writing all that was said. We noticed more soldiers than
before, and the guard immediately surrounding us had been considerably
augmented.
Directly we got upon the platform, Graham's eyes wandered round the
circle where the King and his ministers sat. His search was for Volinè;
but his quest was vain, for the luxurious throne upon which she had
reclined was empty. The vacant seat was the last drop in the cup of his
bitterness, and his face reflected the great sorrow that ate like a
canker into his heart. Deserted and lonely, even more so than we were,
his sufferings were deeper than those of his comrades, and he faced his
judges like one in a dream.
The proceedings were commenced at once by the King, who from his throne
commanded that the evidence against us should be given. The same aged
minister, amid a deathlike silence, rose, and, bowing to the King,
arraigned us thus:
"Great and mighty Ruler, King of Gathma, and father of its people, we
have assembled here in this our Justice Hall to conduct the strangest
proceedings that have ever taken place between its ancient walls. We
are here to mete out fair and impartial justice to Beings who belong
not to the world on which we live, but have come unbidden amongst us
from a region so remote that it appears but a bright and wandering
planet in our heavens; for have they not said that they are from the
star Ramos, which they call Earth? Beyond our own moons Ramos is the
nearest orb to us, but its distance is so vast that no man of science
in Gathma hath yet been bold enough to say the space between our world
and this can ever be traversed by men in mortal shape who shall survive
the journey. This being so, we can only look upon these strangers as
practisers of some magic art which they may ultimately employ to the
danger of our people. They came here borne in a carriage of curious
form and cunning workmanship, dropping from the sky to the east of
Edos. Their arrival is immediately celebrated in bloodshed; for the
inoffensive Osa, a tiller of the soil, was killed by some explosive
machine carried in their hand, which was turned upon him (here a great
trooper, clad in armour, stepped forward and pointed with his weapon
to Sandy), and his wife and children are even now mourning sorely for
his death. When pressed, they fled to their curious carriage, and
escaped into the sky, whither no one of Gathma could follow them;
but instead of leaving us in peace, they had the temerity to advance
through the air towards our city Edos, and to descend therein, in the
very precincts of thy royal palace. They speak a strange tongue; their
dress, their manners, and customs are mysterious; their mission here
seems one of blood. Hath not holy Echri foretold a great calamity to
our people, heralded by signs and appearances in the heavens, from
which we may escape if we only act with courage and promptitude?
Methinks these strangers are this sign. Then we must take heed of holy
Echri's words of warning, and so destroy these men of Ramos that not
a trace of them shall be left. Let them and their evil carriage be
hurled into the Lake of Melag, from the crag Remagaloth, so that all
may be consumed in living fire, and we may see them no more. Oh! mighty
King and father, I beseech thee in thy wisdom to heed the words of thy
faithful servant, whose hair hath grown hoary with the work of three
hundred years in thy illustrious service. Justice shall be done, Osa be
avenged, and Gathma saved, if thou shalt only bid these strangers die!"
This speech made a profound sensation, and was greeted with a thunder
of applause from the surrounding multitude, as the aged councillor
bowed low and returned to his seat. Clearly, popular opinion was on
his side, and we feared that our doom was sealed. Graham alone felt
relieved when the speech was done, for to his great, though secret joy,
Volinè's name had not been mentioned, and evidently the King and his
councillors were in ignorance of his love for her, and the untoward
occurrence in the garden. His rival had not dared to do as he had
threatened, after all.
"Now, strangers from Ramos," said the King, "have you aught to say to
vindicate yourselves? No man shall be judged unfairly, or condemned
unheard. Speak, so that we may know your history, and learn if there
be aught to swing the balance of Justice in your favour. Kaosp hath
informed me that you are now able to converse in our tongue, and
therefore to understand the charges that have been laid against you."
Hereupon Doctor Hermann, with note-book in hand, stepped forward,
amidst a breathless silence, and said:--
"King of Gathma, and citizens of Edos, I and my companions appear
before you under circumstances which place us, unfortunately, at a
great disadvantage. We came to visit your world, bearing tidings of
Peace, and bringing news of your brothers out yonder on the star
Ramos, hoping to return to them in due season as messengers of your
goodwill, and partakers of your hospitality and kindness. But evil
fortune overtook us as soon as we descended upon your soil, and to our
everlasting regret our first intercourse with your people has ended
fatally for one of your subjects. Believe it or not, O King, but this
husbandman, whom you call Osa, threatened us with a deadly weapon,
with which he had already slain some beast to intimidate us and to
prove his prowess, and we purely in self-defence drew our firearms and
struck him dead. We came here to Gathma only as explorers and men of
science, in quest of knowledge. We have no desire to slay your people
nor to work them harm; of magic we know nothing; we are flesh and blood
as yourselves--seekers after truth, who have braved the perils of a
frightful voyage across the realms of space, with no other motive than
to extend the philosophy of Man. My life has been spent in solving
the secrets that barred Man's way across the noble pathway of the
planets; my companions have assisted me by their labour, and by their
riches, to make that attempt which we thought we had crowned with such
brilliant success. For more than two long years have we sped onwards
and onwards across the silent sky, threatened by dangers so awful, that
we recall them even now with horror. And yet we find enemies in this
new world, instead of friends; our bodies are weary and fain would
rest, yet we only meet with strife; and we are condemned to die the
most horrible of deaths because we did what any of you, placed as we
were, would have done in self-defence. We are not cowards; we are not
afraid to die; but in the name of Science we plead for, nay, demand our
lives, so that we may return to Earth and tell our brothers yonder of
the wonders of this new world."
The Doctor sat down amid a murmur of voices, but whether of approval or
dissent we were unable to say. Then the King, with a wave of his hand,
made silence, and in a more friendly voice he said:
"Wilt not thy companions speak to us as well? Have they got nought to
say?"
"Say what you can, in Martial, Temple. It seems to be expected of us,"
said the Doctor, in an undertone.
"King and citizens of Edos," said Temple, "the words I shall say are
few, for my tongue is not so fluent of your language as that of my
friend who has already spoken. His words are my words. But I would
ask you to let his great attainments as a man of Science plead in his
favour. His name is justly honoured among the men of Earth; and he has
triumphed over the secrets of the universe in a manner which should
claim the respect and gratitude of such a wise and highly-cultured
people as yourselves, rather than your hatred. I can only say that the
crime for which we stand on trial to-day was justifiable, and needs
no penalty to purge it. We shall be willing to live amongst you for a
season, and to teach you much that cannot fail to be of inestimable
service to your race. In condemning us to die you rob yourselves, and
become guilty of a crime that a just God will visit with punishment."
As Temple withdrew Sandy came to the front, and in excited English
asked that mercy might be shown to his companions. "If ye want to
murder somebody, murder me. These gentlemen here had no hand in
shooting that farmer chap. I did it mysel'; for the fellow was after
murderin' o' us. There wa' mischief lurking in his ugly een. I tell ye,
they be as innocent as the lambs on the hillsides. I did it mysel', and
am ready to dee for the deed; but let innocent men alone."
He had spoken so far, although not a word was understood, save by us,
and perhaps by Kaosp, before Graham could quieten him.
"Hold your tongue, Sandy," he said, "they can't understand you. Leave
it to us. We will do all we can for your sake as well as our own."
"That's true, Mr. Graham, but the blood o' the Cam'bells within me
boils wi' honest indignation when I see innocent men treated as
criminals."
Graham now came to the front of the platform to speak. We all felt
proud of him, as he stood erect and defiant before the multitude, tall
and strong, but with face pale and furrowed with nights of sleepless
anxiety over the fate of Volinè. The King scanned him closely, and
seemed impressed by his bold and manly bearing; and we noticed many of
the ladies near us--women fair and well-formed as goddesses, each one
of them--scrutinizing him closely, and whispering one to the other.
"King and people of Gathma," he commenced "my comrades and myself
have listened in sorrow more than anger to the words of your learned
councillor; and we fain would ask you, O King, in your royal wisdom,
to set such bigoted utterances aside, and to decide our case on its
simple merits. We came to your world as friends; but we are treated
as the vilest of enemies, because we killed one who in another moment
would have slain us. Your weapons are more deadly than our own, as we
had ample testimony before we struck a blow; and this Osa treated us in
no friendly spirit, giving us no opportunity of explaining ourselves to
him. Right gladly would we have done so. That we killed him we do not
deny, but to say that the deed was premeditated and done in malice, is
to say that which is false. We did not seek to escape the consequences
of our act, or we could readily have done so in the carriage that
bore us hither. We came to this city at once, and yielded ourselves
to your authority without resistance, as Kaosp, a worthy captain of
your troops, can bear testimony. We are anxious to be friends, to knit
together the peoples of Earth and Gathma in tranquil unity. We hold out
the hand of brotherhood, the olive branch of peace, from our world to
yours. Grasp it in the same spirit in which it is extended towards you,
and let each race, strangers now no more, reap the rich harvest of
mutual benefits my comrades and myself have dared and done so much to
sow!"
Graham's words produced a marked impression in our favour with the
King, which he was not unwilling to show; but before he uttered the
words we could see he was about to speak, a Martial, dressed in the
uniform of a prince or noble, rose to his feet and in a voice of
thunder said:
"Enough! These men of Ramos have spoken well, and with an oily tongue,
O King, but hearken to my tidings before thy Majesty decides their
fate. One of them standing here before thee hath stained his hands
with the innocent blood of thy subject, Osa; but what is Osa's blood
compared with the dignity of a mighty monarch, and the honour of that
monarch's daughter? The tallest of these men of Ramos here before thee,
he who with his persuasive tongue addressed thee last, hath dared to
hold private converse with thy daughter Volinè; to steal her heart,
and to mantle her with shame! With mine own ears I heard the sweet yet
poisoned words of yon seducer poured into thy innocent daughter's ears;
with mine own eyes did I see them locked in tight embrace within an
arbour in thy garden of Siccoth-trees, at an hour when no maiden should
wander forth unattended! If my words are lies, why is not Volinè here
by her father's side, as is her unvarying custom? why doth she shun our
company? And why doth yonder stripling from Ramos carry the sacred ring
of Echri upon his finger?--a gift from her! Why?"----
"Base, craven-hearted bully," Graham shouted, unable to control his
anger longer--"coward, who would seek to rob a woman of all that
is dearer to her than life--you lie! Volinè is as pure and as free
from sin as a babe unborn; her soul is whiter than the snows on your
mountains' highest points; and the day shall yet come when I--yes,
_I_--will make you proclaim her innocence as loudly as you now have
cried her shame!"
"By God! Mr. Graham, and if ye want any help, Sandy Cam'bell will be
there," shouted Sandy, carried away in his excitement at the prospect
of a fight, yet understanding little of what was being said.
Graham was prevented by a dozen guards from saying more; but we noticed
that not a man amongst them treated him roughly. Did the ring he wore
possess the magic power of which we had been told?
The King was now filled with rage. Anger so hot and violent filled his
heart, that we could see he controlled it with the greatest effort; and
the multitude of spectators were worked up into a state of frenzy by
what had just been said. No language can express our amazement as we
heard the damning words. Graham alone could understand them, and our
hearts were filled with despair.
"Say now, O King, if these men of Ramos do not justly perish?"
continued the Prince, with a voice in which triumph and revenge were
mingled. "Shall they go free who spill innocent blood; yea, sully a
woman of thy peerless race, and she thy daughter?"
Stung to madness by this bitter taunt, the King waved his hand towards
the speaker, and in a stern and angry voice cried out:----
"Peace, Peace, Perodii. Thou thyself hath fanned our wrath in
proclaiming thus publicly our shame; and I bid thee retire at once to
my privy chamber, whither I will hold consultation with thee. Heed
well thy words, Perodii, for strongest proof of what thou sayest will
be required of thee." Then, addressing the officers and ministers of
State, the King continued:
"Let these four men of Ramos be taken back and guarded well. Each one
of them shall die. Their blood shall wash away our dishonour. Three
days hence, at setting of the sun, let them meet their doom without
prayer or priest, and be consumed with their handiwork within the
fiery depths of Melag, hurled therein from the crag Remagaloth. Lead
them hence, and let me see them no more; for they have covered me with
humiliation before my people, and bowed mine aged head in naked shame!"