AN ACCIDENT?
As I tossed restlessly in bed I heard above me, as on the first night
after the murder, the pacing to and fro of the Judge. A magnetic
connection seemed to exist between us, causing me to think what he
thought, and to feel what he felt. The same terrible images which
banished sleep from his eyes were present before mine. I heard the
church clock strike hour after hour, and only with the first glimmer of
dawn did I enjoy a short slumber.
At five o'clock I awakened. My first thoughts dwelt upon what the Judge
had told me the evening before. It now appeared to me in quite a
different light. I was more composed. The nervous agitation which had
then possessed me had vanished. I could reflect upon what I had heard.
As the Judge had spoken in his excitement, what he said had such an
effect upon me that it all seemed to me absolute verity without need of
proof, but now doubts sprang up, and a clearer understanding demanded
its rights.
Had Herr Foligno really divulged to me unvarnished facts, which
convinced me of the guilt of Schorn and of his betrothed, as his
accomplice? No! He had accumulated evidence as the doctor had done. The
only fact was that Anna had not adhered to the truth in describing her
relations with her father, and was it not natural that the daughter
should try to clear her father's memory of all evil! It was very
natural that her filial affection should awaken after her father's
terrible death; that she should forget everything that had distressed
her in their relations--his harshness, even his maltreatment--and
remember only his love. And for this was she to be accused as an
accomplice in an accursed crime!
I was ashamed of my credulity. Might not Herr Foligno be governed by
prejudice even to misunderstanding the relations between father and
daughter! A harsh word spoken by the father to Anna in his presence
might appear to him an intolerable offence, while Anna might scarcely
notice it.
I really could not comprehend my credulity of the previous evening, or
how I could have been led by the Judge's excitement to regard as facts
the arguments he had adduced.
And if Anna were not guilty, where were there grounds for suspicion of
Franz Schorn? I repented having signed the deposition and having
promised to be silent with regard to it; but I had given my promise,
and it must be kept. Perhaps, after all, it was as well, for my report
would elicit a judicial investigation of all grounds for suspicion of
Franz Schorn, who could be acquitted of all imputations only by a
thorough examination which could clear him from every suspicion
entertained of him by his fellow-townsmen.
All these considerations soothed me. I could contemplate the expedition
which I had arranged with Franz Schorn for to-day without aversion. It
was rather disagreeable to know that the report signed by me was
already on its way to Laibach, while I was one of a party of pleasure,
all friends of the young man; but I would not ponder on this; it was
irrevocable.
Soon after six o'clock I went down to the garden to take my morning cup
of coffee, and there I found the Captain and Franz awaiting me to
discuss the details for our excursion. Franz was full of life and
animation. I had never seen him so gay, so happy. There was no trace of
the sullen expression which sometimes clouded his handsome face. His
morning greeting was so cordial that I felt ashamed indeed as I shook
his proffered hand. This pleasant, happy young man guilty of a murder?
It was folly, nay, it was wicked to hold any such idea for a minute.
He had early completed every necessary preparation for the excursion we
were about to make. The Captain and I had really nothing to provide;
even the magnesium wire had been bought at the druggist's. Two stout
labourers, who could speak German, were ready to accompany us, each of
them provided with a thick, pointed staff and a long rope, not too
thick, but very strong. Half a dozen pitch torches Schorn had procured
from the fire department, and a lantern for every member of the party.
In addition, the men carried after us two short, strong ladders.
On the stroke of seven Herr Foligno entered the garden. He greeted
Schorn politely; the Captain and myself cordially. He looked ill and
worn. I had never seen his sallow features so expressionless, but his
dark eyes shone with feverish excitement.
We began our walk. The people who met us looked after us in surprise as
we strode through the streets of Luttach. Apparently they could not
understand how two men, known to be such bitter enemies as Herr Foligno
and Franz Schorn, should be walking so peaceably side by side.
At the furthest end of the town we descended to the bed of the Rusina.
In early spring, when the snow melts quickly upon Nanos and when heavy
rainfalls create hundreds of little brooks from the mountains, the
Rusina dashes along in wild fury; but after a drought it is almost
dried up, and is only a shallow rill of water trickling between the
stones of its rocky bed. We could walk along it without wetting our
feet. It was not very agreeable walking, but it was the nearest way to
the grove, which we reached after scarcely ten minutes.
Here, in the centre of this grove, consisting of scarcely a hundred
huge oaks, there is a pile of mighty rocks; large blocks, covered with
luxuriant green moss, are heaped together in a confused mass, in which
is an opening, black and forbidding, about the height of a man, which
forms the entrance to the cave we were to explore. Here we halted and
consulted. It was decided that we should enter in single file, Franz
Schorn first as our guide. I was to follow him. Herr Foligno came after
me, and the Captain was last. Our two porters closed the little
procession. The lanterns were lighted and each of us took one.
We entered the cave, which was at first tolerably spacious; into it
daylight penetrated, making a dim twilight. About four or five yards
above us arched a roof of black, moist stone. The ground beneath,
descending rather precipitously, was covered with small fragments of
rock which had apparently fallen from the roof, loosened by the
dampness. There was no trace of the beautiful stalactites for which the
Adelsberg Grotto is so famous. The light of our lanterns was quite
sufficient to reveal clearly the part of the cave where we stood and
the path leading down to the depths. A few yards from the entrance the
cave narrowed. There was room between the walls of rock for only two
men to walk abreast; and indeed the walking was extremely difficult,
because of the slippery scales of rock with which the floor was strewn.
Forward! We walked, or, rather, we scuffled, downwards, in danger at
every step of falling on the slippery stones. After a few minutes our
path grew easier; it no longer descended; although still strewn with
fragments of rock, the danger of slipping was less. We had more room.
The walls retreated and vanished beyond the circle of light cast by our
lanterns, which could no longer illumine the roof of the cave arching
above us.
"'Here it resembles a cathedral,' the Adelsberger guides would say, if
they were here," said Franz Schorn with a laugh, stopping and raising
his lantern. "How high this dome is I have never before with my
insufficient light been able to discover, and just because I had
insufficient light I ventured but little further into the cave."
"You reached an abyss which prevented your further progress; at least
you told us so yesterday," said the Judge.
"True. It is only a few minutes' walk from here. If we go through the
cathedral and turn a little to the left, we shall reach the only outlet
which leads further among the rocks. It is a very narrow, rocky way,
suddenly ending in a sheer abyss. It is for us to discover to-day
whether it is possible to be lowered by a rope into its depths and to
find sufficient foothold below to enable us to continue our
exploration. When, four or five years ago, I last entered the cave,
quite alone, I could go no further, and so I returned from this spot."
"Must we turn to the left!" asked the Judge. "You are mistaken; we must
turn to the right; to the left the cave is completely blocked by a heap
of rocky fragments."
Franz Schorn regarded the speaker with surprise, bethought himself a
moment, and then exclaimed:
"True, you are right. I remember now that I found a heap of rocks on my
left, and then turned to the right to find an outlet. But how did you
know this, Herr Foligno?"
One of the two porters laughed aloud, and answered in the Judge's stead
with some words in Slavonic, which seemed to surprise the Captain as
well as Schorn.
"What, Herr Foligno, you were here in the cave a week ago, with Rassak,
and ventured as far as the abyss, and never told us anything about it
yesterday?" exclaimed the Captain.
"I told you that I had entered the cave, but had not gone far. I do not
talk much of such trifles," he replied irritably, adding:
"Shall we not light a couple of torches to see how high the roof is?"
The torches were lighted, but did not suffice to reveal the height of
the cave. Only when the magnesium light flamed up and cast its dazzling
radiance upwards did we perceive for a few moments the rocky roof some
twenty yards above us.
"This is gruesome," said the Captain, with a long breath, as the
brilliant light was extinguished and the darkness around us seemed
deeper and blacker than before. "We can now understand how the floor
beneath our feet is so covered with fragments of rock. Evidently large
pieces fall from the roof and are broken into a hundred bits below.
Look, Herr Foligno; the stones just here show traces of having been but
lately broken. At any minute another fragment might fall and be the
death of us."
"Yes, such an exploration is not without danger," the Judge replied
with a sneer. "But let us proceed, gentlemen. The shorter the time
spent here beneath this roof the less danger is there that we shall be
injured by a falling rock. Let us go on, in the same order as hitherto.
You go first, Herr Schorn."
"Since you visited the cave only a week ago, you had better act as
guide, Herr Foligno."
"No, I refuse. I expressly stated yesterday that I should be entirely
guided by you, and I repeat it. Therefore, pray, Herr Schorn, go before
us; I will follow with the Herr Professor."
Schorn made no further objection. We pursued our way, keeping to the
right, and entered the narrow opening between the rocks, which seemed
the only means by which to penetrate further into the cave. It was
narrower than any path hitherto. It would have been impossible for two
men to walk in it abreast, but there was more than enough room, when in
single file. Our lanterns and the torches of the porters cast
sufficient light to show us a gentle ascent in front and to enable us
to proceed free from all risk of danger.
"We have reached the abyss," Schorn said, halting after a few moments.
"Here we can go no further, and if we cannot find, after being lowered
by a rope, another opening, our exploration party has reached its
limits. The abyss appears to be not only sheer, but the rock upon which
we stand overhangs it somewhat. I will lie flat on the ground and look
down. Perhaps I shall succeed in finding an outlet, but I must have a
brighter light than that of the lanterns. Give me one of the torches,
Herr Professor."
A torch was passed from hand to hand; I gave it to Schorn, who laid
himself flat on the ground, and, leaning over the abyss as far as
possible, endeavoured to cast into it the light of the torch. As he lay
there I had a view of the depths, but it gave me little hope for the
continuance of our exploration. The red light of the torch was
sufficient to show me a black wall rising twelve or fifteen feet on the
opposite side of the abyss. It seemed to bar all progress, giving no
hint of any outlet. A few feet above our heads the smoke of the torches
hung in a cloud, which found no egress from the cave.
"Beneath us, scarcely twenty feet below, there is firm footing," cried
Schorn, "and, if I do not mistake, the cave then leads to the right
among the rocks; but I must have a brighter light."
He handed the torch back to me and took a piece of magnesium wire from
his pocket. The next moment the cave as far as we could overlook it was
illumined as by an electric light.
"A happy discovery; we can go on," cried Schorn, delighted, as the
light was extinguished. "I can assure you, gentlemen," he said, rising,
"that the first difficulty is almost without danger, and easy to
overcome."
We crowded about him; even the two porters were determined not to lose
a word of his description.
Beneath the overhanging rock, at a depth of scarcely fifteen or twenty
feet, there was a firm footing, a platform of stone quite broad enough
to give standing room for at least five or six men, and from this
platform a way was distinguishable on the right through a narrow
opening in the rocks.
"Now you see, Herr Foligno, I was right a week ago. You would not
believe me, but so it is," exclaimed Rassak, one of the porters,
exultantly, speaking German.
"Who asked your opinion!" the Judge said harshly.
"Did Rassak, then, discover the continuance of the cave?" said the
Captain.
"Well, yes," the Judge replied irritably. "It seems at present that he
was probably right. He lay down on the ground and let down a lantern by
a rope, and then declared that the cave had a further outlet. I lay
down after him and looked down, but I could see no opening. I did not
believe him, and it was partly to convince myself whether or not he was
correct that I offered to accompany you to-day. I could not explore it
myself then; I had no rope strong enough to lower me to the platform
below, which might have been done without danger."
"Not quite without danger, at least for the first to attempt it,"
Schorn remarked calmly, "but it is not great. It needs a little swing
on the rope to reach the platform, but when one man obtains firm
footing there, the rest is easy. I will be let down first, and can draw
the rest toward me. The porters must stay here, that they may pull us
up when we return."
"But it seems to me a very perilous undertaking," said the Captain
anxiously. "We cannot expose our Herr Professor to such danger. If the
rope breaks before he reaches the platform, or if he should be seized
with giddiness, he would fall into a bottomless abyss."
"I will guarantee the strength of the rope," said Franz Schorn.
"And I that I shall suffer no dizziness; I do not know the sensation."
I was so keen for the continuance of our exploration that I was almost
irritated by the Captain's anxiety on my behalf. The danger would have
to be far greater than it was to deter me from further progress.
Hitherto I had found no trace of a cave beetle; there had been nothing
living among the bald black rocks. Only at a greater depth could I hope
to satisfy my passion for collecting.
"If the Captain thinks the danger too great, he can remain with the
porters. I shall be glad to follow the Herr Professor," said the Judge;
whereupon the Captain turned upon him angrily, declaring that he was
not thinking of danger for himself, but for the old gentleman who was
their guest in Luttach; since, however, the Herr Professor wished to
go, he himself should surely not remain behind.
Thus we determined to proceed. Franz Schorn gave us the necessary
directions. He wished us to put the rope around us and to hold it
firmly when we were lowered. These directions were not necessary in my
case; I have made use of rope so often with my guides among the
glaciers, and have so frequently been let down from the rocks to obtain
some rare plant, that I was quite familiar with its use. There seemed
to be no possible peril here, even for Franz Schorn, for four of us
would hold the rope and we could lower him very gradually for the short
distance to the platform below, making any great swing of the rope
impossible. The two porters could easily lower the Captain, who was to
be the last of us to follow.
Schorn arranged the rope so that he could place himself in the loop; he
fastened a lantern to it, and then advanced to the edge of the rocks,
seated himself, and, still holding to the irregular surface he slowly
lowered himself, while we, holding the rope, paid it out inch by inch.
I followed him to the edge, but I did not look down, because I
concentrated all my attention upon the paying out of the rope.
After scarcely a minute we heard him call from below:
"Halt! I am all right. Draw the rope up again."
I laid myself flat on the ground and looked over the edge of the
platform, which was now illuminated by the lantern which Schorn held.
It was light enough for me to see the young man distinctly as he stood
quite comfortably not far below me. I could also discern the black
opening to the right, the continuation of the cave.
"Follow me, Herr Professor," Schorn called up. "Do just as I did; there
is no danger; seat yourself in the loop and as soon as you are lowered,
I will drag you to me. A dozen men beside us could find room on this
platform."
I did as he directed and seated myself in the loop, but as I was about
to swing clear of the outer edge of the rock to follow Schorn's
example, my heart suddenly gave a leap. For a moment horror overcame me
as I looked into the depths below; I hesitated to cast myself loose.
"Are you afraid, Herr Professor!" The Judge stood immediately behind
me, regarding me with a sneer. His eyes gleamed strangely as he leaned
over me.
There is no greater folly than to expose oneself to a danger out of
fear of being called a coward. I have often declared this, but at that
moment, old man as I am, I committed this folly.
"Hold the rope firmly; I will let myself down," I replied.
"Have no fear, we will hold it fast."
I hovered above the abyss and was slowly lowered. I had almost reached
the platform when I heard above me a strange creaking; at the next
moment I knew I was falling, but a strong arm was thrown around me and
Franz Schorn and I staggered and fell on the platform. Just then I
heard a scream from above.
"Great God!" exclaimed the voice of the Judge. "The rope has broken;
the Professor has fallen into the abyss!"
This was all the work of a moment. I tried to stand up, but I could
not; my right ankle was terribly painful. Franz Schorn, who had fallen
with me, was quickly on his feet.
"I never will believe that the rope broke," he whispered. He seized it
and examined it by the light of his lantern on the ground; mine had
been broken and extinguished in my fall.
"It was half cut through before it broke," he said in a dull tone.
"That scoundrel, Foligno, has tried to plunge you into the abyss."
Hastily taking a knife from his breast pocket he cut off the end of the
rope and handed it to me.
"Keep this," he whispered. "You may perhaps need it for proof that the
rascal tried to murder you."
I heard his words, but I did not understand him. My thoughts were in
wild confusion; I was still half stunned by my fall. Mechanically I
followed his directions and put the piece of rope in my pocket. Only
gradually did I clearly understand in what danger I had been, and that
Franz Schorn had ventured his own life to rescue mine. It was almost a
certainty that I should drag him down to the abyss, but he had seized
me as I fell, and at the risk of his life had pulled me back to the
platform.
"You have saved my life----"
He interrupted me. "Don't speak of it. We all help one another as well
as we can. What we have to think of now is how to reach the rock above
us without injury."
He suddenly paused, as from above came the voice of the Judge:
"Thank God! The accident is not so bad as I feared. I can see the Herr
Professor and Herr Schorn on the platform below. Are you hurt, Herr
Professor?"
"I believe my right ankle is broken," I called back.
"Good heavens! What shall we do?"
"Why, of course," Schorn replied, "you must lower the second rope to
pull us up. I beg, however, that Rassak may be the first man, Bela the
second, the Captain the third, and that you, Herr Foligno, do not touch
the rope. It might break in your hands a second time. I will not trust
you with the Herr Professor's life or my own."
The Judge made no reply. For a moment all was silent, and then the
Captain called down to us:
"What nonsense you are talking, Franz! You have mortally offended the
Judge. He had nothing to do with the accident. He is in despair that
the Herr Professor should be injured."
"His anger is of no consequence," Franz answered. "He promised me to
submit to my orders, and I insist upon his not touching the rope
again."
A long discussion began. The Captain was seriously angry at the offence
Franz had given to the Judge, whom he attempted to soothe, but Franz
declared positively that he would wait with me on the platform for
hours until Rassak could procure two other men rather than trust
himself and me to a rope passing through the hands of the Judge. He
said nothing of his suspicion that the rope had been partly cut
through, and, therefore, the Captain thought his demand unjustifiable
and prompted solely by hatred of his foe. He was indignant, but he was
obliged to comply with the young man's demand, in order that I might be
relieved from my most unpleasant situation as soon as possible. He
promised that Rassak should be stationed close to the edge and that the
Judge should take no part in the pulling up of the rope. While the
Captain and Franz were discussing the matter I had examined my ankle,
and, to my great joy, found that it was not broken, but had been
severely sprained by my fall. It was excessively painful, but I could
move it; I could even stand with Franz's assistance. Some moments
passed, and then Schorn's name was called from above.
"Is that you, Rassak?"
"Yes."
"Where is the Judge?"
"Herr Foligno has gone back to the dome alone. He is to wait there
until we come."
"Lower the second rope to me; I wish to examine it."
After a minute the rope hovered above us; Franz seized it, unfastened
it from the other rope to which it was tied and examined it narrowly by
the light of the lantern.
"It is sound and uninjured. I feared the rascal might have cut this
through secretly; but he has not dared to do so. Now we can allow
ourselves to be pulled up without delay."
Rassak was ordered to pull the rope up again and then to throw down to
us the broken one. This was done. Franz cut a piece from the broken end
with his knife and gave it to me, saying:
"Keep it with the one you have, Herr Professor."
After which he busied himself with preparations for my rescue. These he
made with great care, trying the strength of the rope which he tied
about me and of the loop in which I seated myself. Although I protested
and declared that I could now care for myself perfectly, he used the
piece of old rope to keep me steady as I ascended, holding it firmly
below to prevent any swaying of the other. Thus I reached the top of
the rock in safety, although my short ascent had caused almost
intolerable pain in my sprained ankle, and when Rassak received me in
his powerful arms above, I could not move the injured foot. I tried to
stand up and to walk, but it was quite impossible. Rassak was forced to
take me on his broad shoulders and carry me back to the dome. The
Captain and Bela carried their lanterns in advance; without their light
he could scarcely have made his way along the narrow path through the
rocks. Franz was obliged to wait on the platform for some minutes
before being drawn up.
We found the Judge seated on a block of stone at the entrance of the
rocky way beneath the dome. He sprang up as we approached.
"Thank God, Herr Professor!" he cried, throwing his arm kindly about me
for my support, as Rassak placed me on the ground. He pushed aside
several large stones to make a comfortable bed for me. He even took off
his coat and put it upon the rock that I might have a softer resting
place. He was full of kind attention, far exceeding the Captain, who
congratulated me in a few simple words and expressed his joy upon my
escape; nevertheless I had a strange sensation, akin to fear, when he,
with Rassak and Bela, returned through the narrow way to rescue Franz
and I was left alone in the vault with the Judge. Involuntarily I put
my hand in my breast pocket where was the trusty companion of all my
excursions, my revolver. I could not but recall Franz Schorn's words on
the platform, and the impression which they had made upon me was
deepened when my hand met the small pieces of rope. I dreaded to see
the fading light of the last lantern disappear in the narrow pathway. I
was miserably uncomfortable in the spacious dark vault, where the light
of a single lantern cast a ray of light so weak as only to enhance the
black darkness of the place.
The Judge seated himself close beside me, and when the Captain vanished
in the narrow path he seized my hand.
"Herr Professor," he said, modulating his voice to the lowest whisper,
"I have been assailed by a horrible suspicion as I sat here. I feared I
never should see you again. Was the accident which befell you
occasioned by chance? If the rope was strong enough to sustain the
heavy weight of Schorn, how could it break with the much lesser strain
of your weight? Tell me, Herr Professor, does Franz Schorn know that
you have told me of his meeting you in the forest on the day of the
murder?"
"No."
"Then what I feared is but too certain. You saw him in the
neighbourhood of the Lonely House on that day. The only witness against
him must die. While he stood beneath us on the rocky platform he
loosened the rope and cut it so that it parted as we were lowering you.
We will examine the rope; there must be traces of a cut in it."
Schorn had brought against this man the very accusation which was now
brought against himself. He could have had no cause for his
supposition, whilst the reason adduced by the Judge was not without
probability.
"Perhaps you will object," the Judge continued, "that he has saved your
life; that without his aid you must have fallen into the chasm. He need
not have stretched out his hand if he had wished to murder you. This
thought also occurred to me, but, upon reflection, I find that my
suspicion is only strengthened by your rescue. Perhaps his movement was
involuntary--an impulse of the moment to seize a falling man--but,
again, perhaps your rescue is only part of a cunning scheme. He makes
sure that you never could decide to speak a word against the saviour of
your life; he does not know that this word is already spoken. He
thought, therefore, that he could save your life and yet attain his
purpose without burdening his soul with a second murder. Indeed, should
suspicion arise that the rope did not break accidentally, he might
easily cast it upon another. Why else did he demand that I should take
no part in drawing you up? He wished to arouse suspicion of me in your
mind and in the Captain's. None could attach to him, were it discovered
later that the rope had actually been cut, if he saved your life, and
he will not fail to remind you that it was at the risk of his own. He
is a thorough villain and incredibly cunning. I fear I shall have many
difficulties to overcome before establishing the proof of his guilt and
revealing him as the murderer of old Pollenz."
The Judge's words produced a deep impression on me. Had not everything
that he set forth actually happened? One thing was certain--the rope
had been cut. Whose was the blame? The Judge's--who could have no
interest in plunging me into the abyss? Why should he attempt to take
my life? Franz Schorn's--who had saved my life at the risk of his own?
However the Judge might endeavour to disparage the danger to which he
had exposed himself, I knew better. I had felt him stagger as he leaned
over beyond the rock and dragged me toward him. The success of this
hazardous action was due to his physical strength and good luck; it was
little short of a miracle that he had not been dragged down to the
depths with me. Where lay the truth? In vain I pondered; I could not
fathom it.
Voices were heard coming through the narrow pathway, and the Captain,
Rassak, Bela, and last of all, Schorn, appeared. Franz gave me a kindly
nod; of the Judge he took not the smallest notice, but resumed his
command and the guidance of the expedition. He directed the porters to
strap together the ladders, of which we had hitherto made no use, and
upon them placed the jackets of the men of the party, forming a litter
for me. Rassak and Bela then bore me from beneath the vault to the
entrance of the cave. I suffered intolerably; only when we had again
entered the forest and my kind companions were able to make my litter
softer with boughs and branches of trees did I find any relief from the
torture I was enduring.
In this melancholy wise we returned to Luttach, and thus ended my
investigation of an unexplored Ukraine cave.