A DARING EXPEDITION.
"I have discovered this," replied Canaris. "The Gallas are preparing for
an attack; fresh men have come in from distant towns. They are encamped
at the edge of the burned village, and in a small hut, which is
surrounded by guards, your friends, I am confident, are confined. The
struggle was a severe one, for the ground is strewn with dead, both
Gallas and Abyssinians. I could find no food, and what we are to do I
cannot tell. To attempt a rescue would be madness, and yet our
sufferings would only end the sooner. Without food we can make no use of
the river, and escape in any other way is equally impossible."
Canaris threw himself on the ground and buried his face in his hands.
Guy stood in silence, his face stern and set, a silence that remained
unbroken for five minutes. In that space of time his fertile mind had
sought a way out of the difficulty and grasped an expedient so daring,
so preposterous, that he hesitated to frame it in words.
His face betrayed something of his emotions, for Forbes and Canaris
exclaimed eagerly: "What is it, Chutney? You have thought of something,
have you?"
"Yes," said Guy. "I have. As you say, the case is desperate. If my plan
fails we can be no worse off. What I have resolved to do is this: Forbes
will remain at the cavern. You and I, Canaris, will stain our faces to
pass for Portuguese, and mounted on these camels, we will ride boldly
into the camp of the Gallas and proclaim ourselves messengers from Makar
Makaol at Zaila. We will say that the English are pressing the town
hard, that they agree to withdraw on condition that the English
prisoners are returned safe and sound, and that Makar has sent us to
bring them to the coast. We will add, furthermore, that we came as far
as yonder mountains with a caravan bound for Harar, and to allay any
suspicions they may have, we will ask for an escort of two men to
accompany us to Zaila and receive the money which Makar will pay for the
safe delivery of the Englishmen. If all goes well they will give up our
friends and load us with provisions for a long journey. The escort we
can easily dispose of, and then for the river and freedom!"
Guy snapped his fingers exultantly as he concluded the recital of his
daring plan and waited to see how his friends would receive it.
"Marvelous!" cried Forbes, drawing a long breath.
"Yes, it is marvelous," added the Greek, "truly marvelous. If it
succeeds it will be a miracle indeed. But suppose they have received
recent news from Zaila, or that our disguise is penetrated?"
"As for that," replied Guy coolly, "we must take the chances. I should
fear recognition most from Oko Sam, but he is fortunately a prisoner
among the Abyssinians. Make up your minds quickly. Do you agree to my
proposal or not? Perhaps you can devise a better plan."
"We will try it," said Canaris, decidedly. "It must be done at once,
for at daybreak the Gallas will advance to attack the Abyssinians. Make
your preparations and we will be off." Stepping up to the camels, which
were quietly grazing on the jungle grass, he proceeded to remove every
part of their trappings which would betray its Abyssinian make, until
only the simple covering remained. With a cry of delight he held up two
white burnouses that had been fastened to the saddle bags, and said:
"With these on and our faces darkened it will take a clever man to
penetrate our disguise in the night time."
It was not such an easy matter to stain their faces, but with the
application of a little moist earth from the mouth of the cavern, it was
finally accomplished to their satisfaction, and after a hasty review of
their plans and a code of instructions for Melton's guidance during
their absence, the two daring adventurers mounted their camels and rode
slowly off into the darkness toward the hostile camp of the Gallas.
It was very near midnight, and as they trotted briskly across the
desert, sounds of mirth floated on the air from the camp where the
Abyssinians were making merry over their victory, serenely ignorant of
the surprise that dawn was to bring them.
The distant glow ahead seemed to come nearer and nearer with every
stride of the camels, and Guy could hardly believe that nearly four
miles had been traversed when Canaris pointed out the camp just in front
of them.
It was too late to think of retreat now, for already the approach of the
camels was detected and a host of dark figures were visible moving
across the still glowing embers.
Fearful of an attack, Canaris shouted out loudly, "Makar Makalo! Makar
Makalo!" and then, lashing his beast, they galloped into the very center
of a turbulent throng, who crowded around them with blazing torches.
Canaris knew barely enough of the language to request an interpreter and
the head man of the tribe, and the savages, awed for a moment by the
fierce manner in which he made these demands, fell back a little, and
Guy had opportunity to observe his surroundings.
He was in a corner of the village which seemed to have escaped the
worst of the fray, for a dozen or more huts were standing, and the
largest of these was encircled by a dozen heavily armed men. His heart
beat fast at the thought that Sir Arthur and Colonel Carrington were
confined within.
Just then a huge savage, wearing a leopard skin about his waist,
advanced through the crowd, which fell back at his approach. He was
accompanied by a small, weazened Arab who at once demanded if the
newcomers could "spik Inglis?"
"Go ahead now," whispered Canaris, "and luck be with you. That big
fellow is the head man."
For a moment Guy could find no voice, and failure stared him in the
face.
The horrified expression on the Greek's countenance broke the spell, and
raising his voice he said clearly and distinctly:
"Tell your master we are Portuguese who have come from Zaila at the
bidding of Makar Makalo, the ruler."
The Arab communicated this piece of news in a loud tone that drew a
murmur of surprise from the people, but brought no response from the
chief, who merely stared impudently.
"The English have made an attack on Zaila by land and sea," Guy went on
in a louder voice. "The town is at their mercy. They have promised Makar
to withdraw on condition that the British governor of the town and his
friend, who were taken and sold into slavery, be delivered up to them
safely. Therefore Makar Makalo has sent us to demand of you the two
Englishmen, a supply of food for the journey, and an escort back to
Zaila. For this he agrees to reward you well. We came as far as yonder
mountain with a caravan bound for Harar, and as there is great need of
haste we would start on our return at once."
This long speech the Arab likewise proclaimed aloud, and with the utmost
anxiety Guy and Canaris watched its effect on the people.
They heard it in ominous silence, and the chief spoke a few words to his
interpreter, who instantly turned to Guy and announced, in very
imperfect English, that nothing could be done until Oko Sam was released
from his captivity. He told briefly of the attack on the village, of
their plan of surprising the Abyssinians at daybreak, and concluded by
inviting them to dismount and await the result of the fight.
It was evident at least that nothing was suspected. So far they had
played their part to perfection. But here was an unexpected hindrance.
The leader refused to act without the sanction of Oko Sam, and a delay
would be fatal.
"Insist on it," whispered Canaris hurriedly; "it is our only chance."
"Tell your master we cannot wait," replied Guy, in well feigned anger.
"Every moment is precious, and we must hasten back to Makar Makalo. Give
us the Englishmen at once or we will go away without them and tell Makar
Makalo how you have treated his messengers."
This bold declaration had its effect.
The chief withdrew to a little distance and held a long conference with
half a dozen of his companions.
Guy and Canaris remained calm and motionless on their camels, haughtily
scanning the sea of threatening black faces that hemmed them in on all
sides.
Their only ground for hope rested in the fear which Makar Makalo, by his
summary dealings with these tribes, had inspired in them.
The single motive which in all probability hindered the head man from
acceding at once to their demands was the dread of Oko Sam's displeasure
in case that despotic monarch were rescued in the morning.
The eager confab was still going on as strenuously as ever when a tumult
arose from the outskirts of the throng, and presently, amid hoarse
cheering and applause, a man broke through the parted ranks of the
people and limped feebly into the open space.
It was Oko Sam!