THE GREAT SIN.

Hastily we sped forward early next morning, our eyes eagerly riveted

upon our goal.

The saffron streak of dawn showed behind the great, gloomy range of blue

and grey, and as the fleecy clouds lifted, we saw that the higher peaks

beyond were tipped with snow. The lofty crests were tinted with an

unusual blood-red light. Truly the country beyond had been justly named

by the pagans the Land of the Myriad Mysteries.

Soon we ascended a knoll, and at its summit were enabled to distinguish,

straight in front of us, a pool of dark water which, at that distance,

seemed only a leopard's leap in width, lying immediately beneath the

Rock of the Great Sin.

"Behold!" cried Tiamo, who had sped forward a few paces and gazed

around. "See! O master! Yonder must be the Lake of the Accursed, the

poisonous waters that all men fear!"

Even as I gazed, the sun shone forth from behind the mountains which

Yakul called the Jebel el-Mantar (Mountains of the Look-out), and the

shadow cast by the dark, towering rock fell across the black, silent

pool. We quickened our pace, each of us breathlessly eager to

investigate the mysterious spot. A great golden eagle came from his

nest on the summit of the rock, soaring high above us, while a crowd of

grey vultures hovered around with a persistency which seemed precursory

of death.

"Alas! The birds of evil follow us," exclaimed Yakul, observing them;

but neither Tiamo nor myself answered, for we were both too full of our

own thoughts, fearing lest our mission should prove abortive. My slave

fingered his amulets, uttering many strange exhortations, while my

companion, the chief of the Avejeli, raised his long, sinewy arms

towards the rock and cried aloud to the Evil Spirit, humbly

acknowledging that he had broken the commandment, and earnestly craving

forgiveness.

Nevertheless, we still hurried forward, and, half-an-hour before the sun

reached the noon, were standing at the shore of the black pool, upon the

unruffled surface of which the high, inaccessible face of the rock

descending sheer into the water was faithfully reflected, with every

detail of colour and form.

The scene was exactly similar in every particular to that which, from

the lattice in the palace of Kano, I had seen reflected upon the sky.

The mirage, though inverted, had been an exact reproduction of the wild,

gloomy landscape.

With wondering eyes I gazed around, seeking to discover some clue to the

mystery, but was at a loss how to commence.

The width of the Lake of the Accursed, from the spot where we stood to

the base of the rock, was about a gunshot, and it extended on either

side along the bases of the mountains as far as the eye could reach.

The Rock of the Great Sin rose, a wall of dark grey stone devoid of any

vestige of herbage, towering rough and rugged to enormous height, and

overhanging in such a manner that it could not be scaled. Like the

giant mountains and rocky pinnacles around and beyond, it was utterly

inaccessible. Even if the water had not formed a natural barrier no man

could ascend its precipitous face or climb its rugged, overhanging

crags; while all around a chain of impassable rocks and mountains reared

their mighty crests between us and the mysterious Land of the No Return.

Suddenly I felt in my throat a strange sensation as of asphyxiation.

Violent fits of coughing seized both my companions, while my own throat

seemed to contract strangely, until I could only breathe in short,

painful gasps.

Just at that moment my eyes fell upon the long, narrow pool, and I saw,

wafted slowly along its glassy surface, a thin blue vapour. Bending, I

placed my hand in the water; it was just tepid, and strongly impregnated

with sulphur. Then I noticed that, within an arrow's flight of the

shore, not even a blade of grass grew. The Lake of the Accursed was

evidently fed by a large number of hot springs, and the strong

sulphurous fumes given off exterminated life in every form. The

assertions of the pigmies were correct. Those who approached the waters

were in imminent peril of death.

Finding ourselves in this critical position, we all three sped away to

the zone where the grass grew abundantly, and there found that we could

again breathe freely. Without approaching nearer to the Lake of the

Accursed, we proceeded to investigate the rocks to right and left.

Apparently these high, grey crags flanked the bases of the giant,

snow-capped mountains that beyond, in the unknown Land of the No Return,

reared their heads to the cloudless heavens; but though we searched

throughout the long and brilliant day, we were unable to discover any

means of approach to the unknown and unexplored plateau that lay behind.

As far as we travelled east or west the poisonous waters and soft,

slimy swamps formed a natural gulf that precluded any attempt to scale

the dizzy heights forming the outer, impregnable limits to the strange,

rock-girt realm.

Times without number I stood gazing up at the dark mysterious rock, the

spot held in awe alike by pagans of the Forest of Perpetual Night and

true Believers. It had remained for me to discover that which for

generations my kinsmen had sought and failed. So far, indeed, Allah had

allowed me to be successful, but the promised elucidation of the mystery

seemed as far off as ever, and as evening fell and the gigantic

mountains, magnificent in their wild ruggedness, became crimsoned by the

fiery afterglow, I began to realise the utter impossibility of obtaining

from that grey, frowning wall any explanation of the Mark of the Asps,

or of gaining the Land of the No Return, whereon the foot of man had

never fallen.

When the plain was flooded with roseate radiance, we held earnest

consultation together, and agreed that to remain nearer the lake for any

length of time would prove fatal. Even Tiamo, who had been so sanguine

of success, now expressed a fear that, with the exception of discovering

the rock, our journey could have no further result. Yakul endorsed the

dwarf's opinion, as, sitting upon his haunches, hugging his knees, he

repeated a prayer to the Evil Spirit whose vengeance he feared.

Night came soon, and the mountains were silver with moonlight. The

waters of the lake glittered in the white beams; the silver moon queened

heaven amid her court of silver stars. What was there beyond that

impassable barrier? A world all purity, all peace; a blanched world,

bleached of blood and shame; a world of mystery, so fair it seemed to

wait for some ethereal being, tall and radiant, winged with light, to

path its unknown valleys. Sleep came not to my eyes. By some strange

intuition I felt that at that spot some weird mystery remained hidden,

and having travelled thus far, and actually discovered the Rock of the

Great Sin, the spot that had remained a mystery through ages, I was

determined that nothing should deter me from exploring further.

Yakul and the dwarf were eating their morning meal as I strolled alone

at the edge of the zone, beyond reach of the poisonous, insidious

vapours. Once again I gazed up at the weird, precipitous crag in abject

wonderment. With its towering summit standing out boldly against the

vault of cloudless blue, and its delicate tints of brown and grey

faithfully reflected upon the still waters, it rose, a barrier between

the Known and the Unknown--mysterious, marvellous, magnificent.

With arms folded and chin upon my breast, I surveyed its inaccessible

base, seeking for the hundredth time to discover some means of gaining

the land beyond, when suddenly my eyes were attracted by a portion of

the rock close to where the waveless waters lapped its enormous base.

In its aspect there was nothing very remarkable, yet my eyes, on the

alert for the slightest clue, detected that for a short distance the

black strata of the rock ran at an entirely different angle to the

remainder, as if at some time or other the base had been disturbed by

some violent upheaval. Covering my mouth with my hand to exclude the

suffocating vapours, I rushed down to the edge of the lake, straining my

gaze in its direction. At about a spear's length above the surface,

this strange inequality extended, but apparently the rock above had

remained undisturbed by the volcanic action.

The legend alleging that the savage serpent, which ages ago guarded the

entrance to the Land of the No Return, had smote the rock in his wrath,

and that its rocky portals had instantly closed, recurred to me. Could

that spot have been the actual entrance to the Unknown Land? Might not

the zealously-guarded gate have closed and sunk beneath the surface of

the unfathomable waters?

I held my breath, feeling myself on the verge of a discovery. Yet to

investigate seemed impossible, for we had no wood from which to

construct a raft, and the very air was poisoned by noxious vapours that

wafted in serpentine gusts across the surface with the faintest zephyr.

Yakul shouted, but I heeded him not. I was gazing fixedly at the Rock

of the Great Sin, striving to devise some means by which to reach and

examine the disturbed portion of its base. It occurred to me that, by

diving into the water, I could perhaps swim across and return without

becoming asphyxiated, therefore I walked back to where my two companions

were squatting, and amazed them by announcing my intention to cross the

Lake of the Accursed.

"But are not its waters fatal? Thou wilt, of a verity, be poisoned!"

cried Tiamo, springing to his feet and clutching my arm in alarm.

"Unto the Lalla Azala I gave my pledge that I would strive to elucidate

this mystery," I answered, calmly. "I shall plunge in yonder, and

strike towards the rock. If I fail, return quickly unto her and tell

her in what manner I died. Tell her that for many moons have I

journeyed until at last I discovered the Rock of the Great Sin, and

that, in seeking what was hidden, I was brought unto Certainty. But, by

the grace of the One Merciful, who hath guided me by the sun of his

favour, I hope to find strength sufficient to make my investigation, and

return hither in safety. In case I should not," I added, removing one

of my amulets from the little string of talismans, sewn carefully in

soft leather, that I had worn always next my skin ever since I could

remember, and handing it to him, "in case I should fail, take this to

the Lalla Azala, and tell her that my last thoughts were of her."

"Truly I will, O master," answered the dwarf, grasping the small golden

circle, and feeling it with nervous, trembling fingers.

"Is it not folly, O friend, to trust thyself in yon sacred lake? There

is death in its breath," Yakul urged, regarding me with a strange look

of pitying suspicion, as if fearing that I had taken leave of my senses.

To him the very suggestion seemed preposterous. He had feared to

approach the waters, and my resolution to desecrate them by plunging in

filled him with awe.

"It cannot be avoided," I answered. "I seek that which I desire to

find, and am determined to make the attempt if Allah--whose name be

exalted!--willeth it."

"And if thou failest?" he asked.

"Allah alone knoweth the hearts of men. He leadeth me, and I am not

afraid," I answered.

"Alas! I fear thou wilt find naught," the savage chieftain exclaimed.

"Yon mystery is hidden from man, and vengeance falleth upon him who

seeketh to tear aside the veil."

"I know," I said. "A hundred times hath the same words been spoken unto

me. Each man to whom I mentioned the object of my journey prophesied

failure, yet their prognostications have, up to the present, proved

untrue. I stand here, before the rock which followers of the Prophet

have sought for ages, but could not find, and I tell thee I am resolved

to investigate further."

"Have a care of thy life, O master," cried my slave. "Think, the Lalla

Azala, who loveth thee, could live no longer if thou wert dead."

"It is to aid her, El-Sadic, to fulfil my pledge, to gain that which she

hath said will bring us together never to part, that I essay this

attempt. I go. If I fail, act as I have spoken. May Allah accord thee

his favours."

Convinced of the fruitlessness of any effort to deter me from diving

into the poisonous pool, the pagan dwarf bowed his head, while Yakul

drove his spear viciously into the ground and turned from me with a

gesture of impatience. Addressing Tiamo, I asked him to accompany me,

and we walked along the edge of the grass to a point opposite where the

strata of the rock had apparently been disturbed. Then, halting a few

moments, I gave him a further message of affection to deliver to my

enchantress in case my strength should fail. Overcome with emotion, the

faithful slave again and again pointed out the perils of such a rash

attempt, urging me to abandon it, but I was determined, and quickly

divested myself of a portion of my clothing.

Aloud I besought the Omniscient One to bear me on the strong arm of his

aid, and shouting a word of encouragement to my alarmed companions, I

dashed across the strip of parched, barren ground, holding my breath,

throwing myself upon the mercy of the One Merciful--then, a moment

later, I plunged headlong into the reeking, malodorous waters.

The strange sensation of asphyxiation seized me as I rose to the

surface, but, determined not to turn back, I struck out boldly for the

opposite side, where the rock descended sheer into the lake. Keeping my

mouth well closed I took long, bold strokes, each of which brought me

nearer to the precipitous face of the giant rock. The shouts of my

excited companions broke upon my ears, but I swam on, striving with all

my might.

Exerting every muscle, I clave the waters, propelling myself towards the

point that had been disturbed by the singular upheaval. Very soon,

however, my breathing became shorter and more difficult. The surface of

the water seemed gloomy and ominous in the shadow cast by the sacred

rock, and although I had long considered myself a strong swimmer, yet

the difficulty of gaining breath paralysed my muscles, and a strange

cramp that I had never before experienced seemed to seize me in iron

grip.

In the centre of the dreaded Lake of the Accursed I felt my strength

fast ebbing.

With set teeth I struggled against the fate that threatened each moment

to overwhelm me, and, after resting a few seconds, struck out again

straight towards my goal. As I neared it I was astonished to find that

swimming was much easier, and my pace increased. Then suddenly I became

aware that a current was carrying me swiftly towards the very spot I

desired to reach. The dark rock rose before me, bare and imposing, and

the black strata, that from the shore had appeared like lines thin as

bow strings, now showed wide, rugged and distinct. My satisfaction at

being thus assisted by a current, the existence of which I was ignorant,

was quickly succeeded by a fear that froze my blood, as suddenly I

noticed, right under the disturbed portion of the rock, a great eddying

whirlpool, towards which I was being swiftly carried.

To enter those circling waters meant certain death. With all my might I

fought and struggled, endeavouring to turn back, but, alas! found myself

utterly powerless, being carried helplessly forward towards the

funnel-shaped depression in the centre of the whirlpool, where all

objects that entered were sucked down into its deep, unfathomable

depths. When in England, I read of fatal circling currents in the sea,

but the discovery of one in a still lake dismayed me.

Onward I was swept, the current gaining greater rapidity every moment.

Knowing that no hand could be outstretched to rescue me, I cried

farewell words to my companions. But my voice, thin and weak as a

child's, could not reach them. For life I fought desperately, but all

effort was futile. Like a mere chip of wood floating upon the surface I

was drawn into the fatal circle, and carried round the outer edge of the

strange whirlpool with such terrible velocity that my head reeled, and a

sickening dizziness overcrept me.

So near I passed to the mysterious rock, that in order to steady and

save myself, I clutched at its smooth, gigantic base with both hands.

But only for a second. Over the pale yellow slime with which the stone

was covered my frantic fingers slipped, and falling back powerless into

the eddying waters, I was again swept into the fatal, ever-narrowing

circle.

The eddying current whirled me round and round with amazing swiftness

for a few moments, until suddenly I reached its centre, and felt myself

being sucked down by an irresistible force. An instant later I knew

that the black waters had closed over me. Confused sounds roared in my

ears like the thunder in Ramadan, but ere my sensibility became utterly

obliterated I knew I was being carried deep down into a darkness that,

even in my critical state of breathless half-consciousness, filled me

with an all-consuming terror and chilled my heart.