IN THE HOLE.
Yes, it was a negro mother and her babe. The body was that of a slight
woman, weighing not more than one hundred pounds, and perfectly black.
The babe was probably three months old, and was strapped to the back of
her mother. The features of the mother were flat and broad, and showed
but little intelligence. Both bodies were considerably mutilated; this
being caused, very likely, by the storm; not a rag of clothing covered
the bodies. Silently the native men and women stood gazing on the
strange figures; they could offer no explanation on this as to how these
bodies had come here or from whence they had come; they looked at the
bodies and then at the white strangers as if to trace some likeness, but
there was none, and this puzzled them all the more. Involuntarily they
glanced into the heavens, as if expecting to see a new planet looming up
in the midday sun from which these black bodies had fallen. That they
had come from the same world which they themselves inhabited—that world
which was theirs alone, they could not believe, of course.
Onrai looked at one of the guests and then at another, as if expecting
some explanation from them, but they offered none; they being nearly as
much in the dark as was he. But finally Onrai, stepping up to Mr. Bruce,
said:
“You know so much of the heavens and of the stars, can you not tell me
whence came this woman!”
“I can only offer one explanation,” answered Mr. Bruce, “and that is
that the woman and child were caught up by the great storm and blown
from their own country into this.”
“Ah,” said Onrai, “that explanation maybe truthful, and looking over his
people he called them all closely about him and told them what Mr. Bruce
had said. It seemed to satisfy them, but it raised their curiosity to a
greater extent, and they crowded more closely about the bodies. The hot
sun had poured down on these bodies until they were in a bad state of
decomposition and our friends soon moved away, leaving the find wholly
in possession of the natives.
“What shall we do with these bodies?” asked Onrai of Mr. Graham.
“I would order them burned,” said Mr. Graham.
So Onrai told some of the men to throw together a pile of wood and lay
the bodies on it; this was soon done and the torch was then applied. As
the flames shot into the air, licking the reeking flesh off the bodies,
our friends again mounted and moved on.
“What do you think of this, Mr. Bruce?” asked Mr. Graham.
“I can only say what I have already said to Onrai,” answered Mr. Bruce.
“The force of the storm must have blown this woman and her child over
the cliff and thus far into the heart of the land.”
“Do you not think that another explanation might be made of their
appearance?” asked Mr. Graham.
“There may be many explanations made,” answered Mr. Bruce, “but if this
country is impregnable, how else could this woman and her child reach
here?”
“I think myself that the storm has played a great part in this woman’s
appearance in this part of the country, but I cannot help but think that
she was this side of the cliffs before the storm,” answered Mr. Graham.
“If that be so, then these people have lived in ignorance of this
tribe’s having taken up a residence in this country,” said Mr. Bruce.
“Yes,” said Mr. Graham, “but these Onians very seldom visit the
northwestern part of this country, as Onrai has said, and this tribe
might have found an entrance and settled in a fertile part near the
cliffs, and may now be living there in total ignorance of their having
entered a country which has for ages been shut in from the rest of the
world?”
“This may all be so,” said Mr. Bruce, “but I would rather cling to my
theory.”
“I would gladly accept your explanation,” said Mr. Graham, “if it were
not for that part of it, which says that the woman was blown over the
cliffs. Now, if this storm had started on the western side of these
cliffs, the cliffs themselves would have broken the force, or destroyed
it entirely before it reached this side. Therefore, I claim that the
storm must have started from this side of the cliff.”
“When put in that way,” said Mr. Bruce, “you almost convince me that I
have made a mistake. But whatever the way in which this woman reached
this country, I believe that we will hear more of it. It would be
strange indeed if we should find a race of negroes quietly villaged in
this country.”
“Well, there is a possibility that we may,” said Mr. Graham.
Off to the right, in a clump of trees, is now seen a villa and the party
made for it, it now being nearly midday. Once in the cool villa, and all
thought of the morning adventure was forgotten. Lunch was served and
then came the afternoon siesta.
Late in the afternoon they again started, intending to ride until late
in the evening. The journeys in the cool of the evening were delightful.
There was always a breeze coming off the lake at this time and it was
very refreshing after the close, warm air of the day. Along toward
evening the villa, which they had occupied on the evening of the storm,
was passed. The storm had made great ravages here, tearing up immense
trees by the roots and piling them one above the other. The earth was
gouged out in places to a depth of twenty feet, and all along the track
of the storm were immense piles of debris.
Thoughts of the storm had long since passed from the minds of our
friends; they were interested only in the far northwest toward which
they were headed, and which promised them so many surprises and
adventures. This northwest was almost unknown even to the natives; they
knew certain parts of it very well, such as the field of diamonds and
one or two other points, which had come under their notice for some
special reason. But taken as a whole very little was known of the
country, and for this reason Mr. Bruce and the others expected to make
some very interesting discoveries. The country had wonderful resources;
every known part of it producing certain products, which made it a
veritable Eldorado, and it might be expected that the northwest held
resources which would astonish all, even Onrai and his people. The field
of diamonds alone was enough to make this part of the country
interesting to the strangers, and for this alone they had started on
this journey.
The following morning the party was up and off exceptionally early, long
before the sun had risen. They were only to make half a march that day,
for the shaft, which Onrai had spoken of on the previous day, was to be
explored. That is, men were to be lowered into it and if the bottom
could be reached and openings found leading from it, then all of the men
of the party were to go down and explore these. Such was the programme
laid out for the day and with this prospect of new diversions the men
started off with happy hearts.
Each day now was bringing them nearer to the great northwest and the
cliffs were growing plainer as they advanced. The country began to
assume a wilder appearance; still there were well-kept fields and
numerous farm villas and many men at work in the fields. At another
point to-day they had passed a great herd of elephants, which had been
brought from the city to recuperate, the former hospital having been
almost entirely destroyed by the storm. These elephants, like many
others which they had passed, had followed them until driven back by the
attendant.
The morning was getting pretty well-advanced and the hopes of reaching
the shaft shortly were making the men keep up a constant watch on both
sides of them for fear of passing it. It was partially hid in a piece of
woods which bordered the lake at this point for some distance. None of
the party knew the exact locality of the opening and so care had to be
taken in order not to pass it.
“What do you think of this hole in the ground?” asked Mr. Graham of Mr.
Bruce.
“I do not know what to think of it,” said Mr. Bruce, “but I do know that
it is a very strange thing that these people should be in ignorance of
its origin. It seems to me that such things would start the curiosity in
these people, but I have seen very little of this article in their
make-up. They did look a little bewildered yesterday when they saw the
negress and child, but I will wager you a shilling they have forgotten
all about it by this time. This very lack of curiosity in these people
almost puts me out of patience with them.”
“It may be, though,” said Mr. Graham, smiling at Mr. Bruce’s impatience,
“that it is better that they have left to us the exploring of this
extinct mine or well, or whatever it is; anyway I would feel better
satisfied finding something, which is not already known by this people.
There goes one of the attendants now towards the trees; perhaps we have
reached the hole.”
And they had, for the fellow, pulling aside some underbrush, disclosed a
large, dark opening running straight into the ground. The wind seemed to
be rushing into this hole with great force. He turned and motioned to
the party and they rode toward them. All dismounting, ropes were
procured and tied to the trunks of the trees, surrounding the hole. A
glance down the dark aperture would have been enough for most men, but
for those here assembled, the blackness but whetted their curiosity and
desire to investigate. A lighted torch was thrown down, but the fearful
wind which rushed down the hole extinguished this before it had fallen
far.
“Let us all go down in a bunch and with our combined efforts we may be
able to keep our feet,” Harry said.
And so it was decided; Mr. Bruce, Mr. Graham and Harry and Onrai were to
go down, well tied together, only allowing enough freedom for the limbs
to move easily. A small supply of food and a few skins of water were put
up and strapped to the back of each and several torches were also taken.
It was strange, but Onrai seemed to take quite as much interest in the
contemplated subterranean journey as did the other members of the
expedition, and he showed more enthusiasm than he had at any time since
the arrival of the strangers. This was the first opportunity though that
he had had to display any enthusiasm, for everything in this country had
been familiar to him since childhood and he could hardly be expected to
show any great interest in things. But now, though by the eagerness
displayed by his guests, he had also had his curiosity aroused and he
was really impatient to get started.
“Are you ready, Onrai?” asked Harry.
“I am,” answered Onrai, “and eager to start. If there is anything new in
my country, I want to know it.”
“Well, I think you will be surprised by the things that you will see and
learn to-day,” said Mr. Bruce. “That is, if the passage-way and its gale
of wind are any criterion.”
“’Tis well, let us start,” Onrai answered.
All bade the ladies good-bye, Enola almost crying because Mr. Bruce
forbade her accompanying them. Sedai was left to look out for the
interest of the women folks.
The four men were now tied together, and many sturdy hands grabbing the
strong rope, they were lowered over the side of the hole. Slowly they
descended, each moment nearing the passage. Suddenly, without any
warning, they were swung in, and the line giving way, they landed on the
floor of the cavern. They scrambled to their feet in the dark, for they
had not lit the torches in descending, and by keeping breast to back and
throwing themselves well against the wind by leaning as far back as
possible, they were enabled to keep their feet and advance. The angle
was reached and they turned; now the wind caught them full force again,
and it was hard to keep an upright position. They were in hopes of
reaching another passage though, through which the wind did not rush
with such force, and where they could keep their torches lit. If they
could not find such a one, they might as well return, for they could
explore or learn nothing in this Egyptian darkness.
[Illustration: “Grinning at them with open mouths and sightless
eyes.”—_Page 209._]
Slowly they proceeded, feeling their way every step, and keeping tight
against the right wall. Mr. Bruce, who was in the lead, suddenly felt an
opening on the right, and telling his companions to follow him, turned
into this new avenue. They were now comparatively out of the wind and,
stopping, they lit a torch. Looking about them they saw, grinning at
them with open mouths and sightless eyes, thousands of human faces.