A moment's pause, then, turning with sinking heart, I retraced my steps
a considerable distance until, just before I emerged into the great
cavern again, I became aware of a second grotto leading out of the
natural tunnel wherein I stood. This I had not before noticed,
therefore, with eager steps, started forward to explore it. Here again
the ground rose, but the cavern was spacious, and leading out of it was
another grotto rising gradually and leading to a third, slightly
narrower, through which I toiled for fully half-an-hour, burning the
whole of my outer robe as torches, until by accident my light became
entirely extinguished. Unable to rekindle it, I was plunged in darkness
that could be felt. Striving on undaunted, however, my eager hands came
at last in contact with a wall of rock before me; but, scarce had I made
this dismaying discovery, ere I found that the subterranean burrow took
a sudden turn at right angles, and again ascended sharply.
To my surprise the rocky roof above me became just distinguishable. A
grey light showed ghostly and indistinct. Then, a moment later, as I
mounted the steep ascent, I saw, straight before me, the blessed light
of day, and uttered a loud cry of relief and joy.
In eagerness I sped forward, rushing out of the cave, the mouth of which
was half choked by brushwood and brambles, to find that I had actually
passed beneath the Lake of the Accursed, and was beyond the confines of
the Land of the No Return.
Only by a miracle had I escaped death. Of a verity Allah maketh
abundant provision for such of his servants as he pleaseth, therefore I
knelt to return thanks for my deliverance.
My exit had been made at the edge of the forest, within actual sight of
the towering Rock of the Moon-god, and having riveted its exact position
upon my memory, I plucked some bananas and ate them, afterwards setting
my face to the north on my long journey back to Kano.
Following the directions given me by my lost friend Yakul, I searched
for the track which he had told me ran through the great forest to
Ipoto, and after some little difficulty discovered it; then, traversing
it for many days amid the forest gloom, I at length reached the town he
had named. To detail my journey northward is unnecessary. Ever
pressing forward, and without meeting with much adventure, I swam the
Ihourou river, and joining a party of traders, crossed the rocky country
of the Mbelia, passing beneath the snowcapped summit of the mountain
called Nai, eventually arriving at Niam-Niam. Here I was fortunate
enough to fall in with a caravan bound for Katsena, within the Empire of
the Sultan 'Othman; and three moons after my escape from Ea I
experienced the delight of seeing the minarets and cupolas of Kano rise
dark against the blood-red sunset.
News I gained in Katsena, however, had caused me most intense anxiety.
Although, as far as I could learn, no conspiracy against the Sultan had
been attempted, yet I heard from Arab traders in the market-place that
Azala, my beloved, was to be given as bride to the Khalifa, in order to
further cement the friendship between Sokoto and the Eastern Soudan. It
had been arranged months ago, before the Khalifa's return to Omdurman,
and the date of Azala's departure for the east was already past.
Therefore, in fear lest the woman I loved should have already left,
under escort, to become bride of the brutal autocrat, I spurred forward
over the desert to Kano.
My first breathless question of the guards at the gate was of Azala.
She had not left, they answered, but preparations were complete, and she
would go forth, with a large armed escort, at noon on the morrow. Then
I made sudden resolve, and entered the great Fada to boldly seek
audience of the Sultan 'Othman, the ruler who had forbidden me to
re-enter his Empire on pain of death.
While passing beneath the high, sun-blanched wall of the harem, on my
way to the Hall of Audience, I came face to face with the dwarf Tiamo,
who, on beholding me whom he thought dead, stood petrified. When I had
reassured him, he briefly explained how he had returned to Azala with
news of my tragic end; how, overwhelmed by bitter grief, she had become
careless of everything, even of her betrothal to the Khalifa. Hastily I
scribbled a message of reassurance in Arabic to my well-beloved, and the
impish little man hobbled away with it secreted in his gaudy sash, while
I continued my way to crave speech with the autocrat. After many
formalities, I was allowed to approach the divan, where he sat in his
green silk robe, calmly smoking; but as I advanced his keen eyes
recognised my face, and his brow darkened grimly.
"Well?" he exclaimed in anger, as I bowed the knee before him. "What
seekest thou? Have I not already expelled thee from this my kingdom?"
"Yea, O Sultan," I answered. "But I would have a word with thee in
private. I desire to impart unto thee a secret."
"Of what?" he inquired, with a quick look of suspicion.
"I have witnessed that which the eyes of men have never before beheld,"
I answered, "I have discovered the Land of the No Return!"
The Sultan started up at my words, and the greatest sensation was
created among his assembled court. For a moment Azala's father regarded
me keenly; then, uttering a word, waved his hand, signifying his desire
to speak with me in private. Instantly the crowd of courtiers, slaves,
eunuchs and soldiers retired, and a few minutes later we were alone.
"Well?" he exclaimed, pulling at his bejewelled pipe thoughtfully.
"Explain unto me thy discovery."
Seated on the mat before the royal divan, I told him the whole story;
how Azala had rescued me; how I had reached his daughter a second time,
and my strange quest at her instigation.
When I mentioned the latter his brows knit severely, and displeasure was
betrayed upon his dark face. Then I related the conversation between
the two conspirators who were plotting to bring about the overthrow of
Sokoto, explained how I had discovered the Rock of the Great Sin, and
described the magnificence and enormous wealth of the kingdom of Ea. I
told him of my adventures within the mysterious realm, of my captivity
in the hands of Istar, and of the strange wall-picture of Semiramis.
During an hour we conversed together; then, at last, I referred to
Azala's forthcoming journey to Omdurman, and hazarded an opinion that
she should not be united to one who was an enemy of his Empire. Upon my
words he pondered deeply, slowly stroked his full, dark beard, but made
no response. Then, not without trepidation, I offered a suggestion. It
was that, in return for Azala's hand, I would lead his hosts by the
secret way into Ea, and conquer that wealthy country, which could then
be annexed to Sokoto.
He reflected, apparently doubting my ability to lead an expedition of
such magnitude; but after I had explained my previous experiences as a
Dervish soldier, he at last accepted the terms of my offer, and very
soon we had arranged the details. He would give me, he promised, twenty
thousand men, armed with European rifles, together with all the cannon
which had been captured in a recent campaign against the French, and the
four Maxim guns and ammunition sent to him as a present a few months
before by the Royal Niger Company. One condition I laid down was, that
I might hold converse with Azala ere I set forth upon the hazardous
undertaking. To this he raised no voice of dissent, therefore, later
that evening, I spent a joyous hour with my well-beloved in the room I
knew so well.
To describe our meeting is unnecessary. Suffice it to say that, when
she set eyes upon me, she burst into a torrent of tears. Long ago had
she mourned for me as one who had lost his life in attempting to fulfil
her wish, and could scarce believe her eyes when Tiamo had given her the
scrap of paper with my message. I explained my discoveries, my
ambitions, and the generous promise of the Sultan. Then, after a
protracted interview, I bade her farewell until such time as I could
claim her, and departed with her fond kiss warm upon my lips.
That she watched the preparations hourly from her lattice I knew, but at
sunrise, three days later, all being ready, I set forth at the head of
the Sultan's army. Tiamo again came with me as body-servant, our
journey over the deserts being of a far different character to when we
had fled like thieves from Kano. With our green standards flying, and
our bright arms and accoutrements glittering in the sun, ours was a
brilliant cavalcade, every man intensely eager to view the mystic,
unknown land of which story-tellers had told through countless ages.
By forced marches we reached, within six weeks, the Rock of the
Moon-god, our army augmented by thousands of black followers from
Niam-Niam, and, on making careful reconnoissance, I soon discovered the
natural, tunnel-like passage whence I had emerged on escaping from Ea.
Taking with me a strong pioneer party, we thoroughly explored the huge
caverns below, fixed lights in various parts, placed ladders against the
wall of rock over which I had tumbled, and above, at the edge of the
chasm, suspended strong ropes and pulleys for raising cannon, horses,
and heavy material. This work occupied us four days, but when at length
everything was complete, we found the entrance to the gallery too small
to admit horses and guns. We therefore blew away the rock with some
dynamite, procured long ago from the Niger traders, and without many
mishaps passed through, and at last gained the fertile Land of the No
Return.
The eagerness of the soldiers of Sokoto and our pagan followers, who had
joined us out of curiosity, to penetrate this strange, legendary land,
knew no bounds, and the excitement on the first night we encamped upon
the grass-plain rose to fever heat.
I had sent forward trusty scouts, attired in the garments of citizens of
Ea, copied from my own, lest we should fall into an ambush, and already
had watchers secreted on the Mountains of the Mist, in full view of the
city we were preparing to surprise.
Well I knew the colossal strength of Ea, "the place with walls
unbreakable," and when addressing the army after we had recited the
sunset prayer that evening, I disguised not the fact that the struggle
must be desperate.
All were, however, undaunted. Each man announced his readiness to go
forward, bent on conquest.