AN EXCITING DAY.
But though I went to bed to sleep, and was sufficiently romantic to
hope that I should dream of the future I was to spend with Alie, I was
destined to be disappointed. My mind was in such a state of excitement
that no sort of rest was possible to me. Hour after hour I tossed and
tumbled upon my couch, now hovering on the borderland of sleep, now
wide awake, listening to the murmur of the stream beyond the camp, and
the thousand and one noises of the night. When at last I did doze off,
my dreams were not pleasant, and I awoke from them quite unrefreshed.
Springing out of bed I went to the door to look out. It was broad
daylight, and the sun was in the act of rising. To go back to bed was
impossible, so, as breakfast was still some hours ahead, I dressed
myself, took a rifle from the stand, and slipping a dozen or so
cartridges into the pocket of my shooting coat, procured a few
biscuits from the dining-hut, and strolled across the open space into
the forest beyond. It was a glorious morning for a hunting excursion,
and before I had gone half a mile I had secured a fine deer for the
camp's commissariat. Fixing the spot where I had left it, and feeling
certain some of the natives would soon be on my trail after hearing
the report, I plunged further into the jungle, capturing here and
there a beetle, a butterfly, or a bird, as they chanced to fall in my
way.
While I walked my brain was busily occupied, but dominating all was
the remembrance that Alie--the wonderful, the beautiful, the
mysterious Alie--loved me. What cared I for the sort of life she led?
What did it matter to me, since I had seen and grasped her real
character for myself, what other people might say of her? Had I not
observed her courage in moments of extreme peril? had I not witnessed
her tenderness by the bedside of dying men and women? had I not noted
her devotion to what she considered her duty? Yes, and better than all
was the knowledge that she had promised to be my wife if I would wait
a year for her. Would I wait? Why, of course I would--ten years,
twenty, nay a lifetime, if only I could secure her at the end.
With these thoughts in my mind, I trudged briskly on, keeping both
eyes open for any specimens, botanical or otherwise, that might come
in my way. Then leaving the little stream, whose course we had
followed on the previous day, behind me, I struck out towards the
west, and presently forsook the forest, to emerge on to an open plain
about a mile long by half that distance wide. To the northward lay a
high cane brake, to the south a deep ravine, and on the open between
them a large herd of deer was feeding quietly. Remembering that I had
been told on the previous day that the cook was short of fresh meat, I
resolved to see how many I could bring to book. The only way to stalk
them was, of course, to approach them upwind, and in order to do this
it was necessary that I should cross a stony ridge which ran parallel
with the edge of the ravine mentioned above. As there would not be a
vestige of cover between us the chances were a hundred to one that I
should reveal my presence to them while passing over the open space
and then the herd would give one look and be off like the wind.
However, I was going to chance that, so throwing myself down flat upon
my stomach, I wriggled myself up the side of the little eminence,
pausing now and again to take breath, until I reached the summit,
thence made my way out on to the bare face of the hill until, at the
end of twenty minutes, I was within a thousand paces of them.
The herd still fed on, though once I saw an old buck raise his head
and look round as if he scented danger. But as I remained quiet for a
few moments he resumed his feeding, and when he had done so I
continued my painful crawl. But the worst part of the business was
still to come, for having got up to them against the wind I had now,
unless I was content to chance a long shot, to descend the hillock
again on to the plain. This was a piece of work which would
necessitate wriggling myself down a steep incline, head first, and
promised to be a most unpleasant experience.
Once on the flat I lay still to recover my wind, and then taking
advantage of every tuft and stone, began to approach my quarry. At the
end of three-quarters of an hour's hard work, counting from the time I
had first seen them, I was near enough to get a shot, and accordingly
I took a cartridge from my pocket and slipped it into the breech of
the rifle. As I did so my elbow overturned a large stone, which rolled
down into the ravine; instantly half a dozen of the herd lifted their
heads, including my old friend the big buck, who on nearer approach,
turned out to be a really magnificent animal.
Knowing that if their suspicions were once thoroughly aroused they
would not stop until they had put miles between us, I sighted for five
hundred yards and fired. The buck leaped into the air and fell on his
knees. I thought I had got him, and was going to jump up and run
towards him, when I saw that I was counting my chickens before they
were hatched. He had certainly fallen, but a second later he was on
his feet again and off after the others. I was certain, however, that
I had wounded him, and pretty severely, too.
My belief proved to be a correct one, for about a hundred yards
further on he fell again, and seeing this I picked up my rifle and ran
after him. But even now he was not done for, for after laying still a
moment he rose to his feet again and hobbled into the jungle on the
other side of the plain, at the same spot where the rest of the herd
had disappeared. I followed as swiftly as I could, and, when I had
gained the cover, descried him lying upon the ground near the edge of
a deep but dry water-course. Needless to say I did not lose very much
time in coming up with him, taking the precaution to load my rifle as
I went. When I did I was able to appreciate the majesty of my kill.
He must have been about three years old, and when I saw that he was
not quite dead, I drew my hunting-knife and knelt down beside him to
bestow the _coup de grace_. This done, I wiped my knife on the grass,
and was preparing to rise again when I felt a heavy hand laid upon my
shoulder. Knowing that there was not a soul within five miles of me,
my surprise may be better imagined than described. But it was nothing
to the terror that seized me when I looked round to discover who my
friend really was.
Standing behind me, and seeming to fill the whole universe, was an
enormous orang-outang--the largest I have ever seen or heard of. His
wicked eyes gleamed down at me, his teeth protruded ferociously from
beneath his bluey gums, while his great hairy arms, more powerful than
any coal-heaver's, were opened as if to embrace me. I looked once, and
then--how I managed it I shall never be able to tell--wriggled myself
out of his clutches like an eel, and, leaving my gun behind me, took
to my heels. But before I had proceeded ten yards the great beast was
after me, rolling from side to side in his stride like a drunken
sailor on a pavement. So close was he behind me that it seemed as if I
could almost feel his breath upon the short hair of my poll. One thing
is very certain--I ran then as I had never run in my life before, and
as I shall probably never run again. Hardly conscious where I was
going, knowing only that I must get out of his reach, I fled across
the open space with the intention of making for the plain where I had
stalked my deer; but the ape headed me off, and would have caught me
had I not stopped at a tree and dodged quickly round it. Then back I
went in the direction I had just come, making this time for the
opposite jungle. But once more he headed me off and drove me back on
my tracks. My agony was intolerable, my breath was almost spent, and I
had begun to give myself up for lost, when I espied a tree on the
further side, with a branch close to the ground. Putting forth a new
effort I made for this, dodged round it, and, once on the other side,
swung myself into it with, I flatter myself, as much dexterity as the
most accomplished gymnast could have shown. In that instant I seemed
to live my whole life over again. All the events of my career, even
those connected with my earliest childhood, flashed through my brain.
But the activity of my thoughts did not detract from the quickness of
my legs, and I mounted the tree as fast as I could go. No sailor could
have climbed a mast in better style. Then down I crouched amid the
branches. Through the leaves I could see my tormentor standing looking
stupidly about him, puzzled to know what had become of me. Presently a
trembling of the leafy canopy above him must have attracted his
attention, for he clutched the lowest bough and began to mount the
tree in search of me. Seeing this, I was at a loss to know what to do.
To climb higher would only be to cut off all chance of retreat, and
would inevitably mean capture or a leap which would, in all human
probability, break my neck. In the space of a second I reasoned it all
out, and as he approached on one side I descended on the other. Seeing
this he descended too, and with such amazing rapidity that, although I
had a considerable start, we both landed on the ground at the same
instant. Then the old game of catch-who-catch-can commenced. First I
dodged this way, then I dodged that, but my dexterity was as useless
as it was desperate. He was evidently well accustomed to the sport,
and I felt, with despair, that another five minutes would certainly
see the end of my career unless something unexpected intervened to
prevent it.
Having tried the north, south, and east sides of the plain I now went
for the west; that is to say, towards the dry river bed I have already
mentioned. By the time I reached it I was completely done for, and the
shock of discovering at least a sixty-foot jump on to the big stones
at the bottom did not give me any additional strength. To jump would
mean almost certain mutilation, and possibly, if not probably, a long
lingering death; while to remain where I was, and be caught by my
horrible pursuer, who had now hemmed me in and had got me at his
mercy, meant _certain_ death. There was one consolation, however; in
those great arms--death, if it would be nothing else, would be swift.
I stood on the very edge of the precipice, revolving these two fates
in my mind, and every moment my assailant was coming nearer. There was
no hope for it now, so I closed my eyes and waited. As I did so, I
could hear the thud-thud of his steps drawing closer. I almost felt
the arms entwine me. Then a voice I should have recognized in the roar
of battle or in the silence of the grave called to me frantically,
"Spring to your right!" As if by instinct I sprang, and, at the very
second that I did so, I heard the great loathsome beast go by me. Even
at that moment, when life and death trembled in the balance, my
curiosity got the upper hand and I opened my eyes and looked.
A wonderful sight it was that I beheld. On the edge of the ravine,
swaying to and fro to recover his balance, stood the orang-outang, and
at his feet, crouched ready for a spring, was the bulldog Beelzebub,
his teeth bared, and his whole body quivering with rage. A second
later he leapt into the air, and then a desperate battle ensued. The
terrified monkey fought with all the courage he possessed, but the dog
had got him firmly by the throat and was holding on with all the dread
tenacity of his breed. Added to this, it must be remembered that the
orang-outang had to preserve his balance on the edge. Without thinking
of my own peril I stood and watched the fight.
Then I heard the same voice, this time steady as of old, order the dog
to let go. With his usual obedience he did as he was commanded, and
crawled out of reach. The great mass above him stood for a moment
bewildered, blood spurting from either side of his throat. Then a
rifle cracked, and, with a cry like a soul in torment, the beast fell
forward on to the ground, shot through the heart.
I waited for a moment, and then, seeing that he was dead, looked
towards the spot by the tree where, a moment before, Alie had stood.
She was not there. Then a bit of white skirt caught my eye among the
bracken, and, running across, I found her stretched out upon the
ground, unconscious.
To fly to a pool close by, to dip my cap into the water, and return
with it to her side was only the work of an instant. In three or four
minutes I had brought her back to consciousness, and she was able to
sit up.
"You are safe?" she gasped, as soon as she could speak. "You are quite
sure you are not hurt? I thought that dreadful beast had caught you."
A shudder passed over her as she spoke, and she threw her little hands
up and covered her face with them. I assured her as emphatically as I
was able that, so far as I knew, I was without even as much as a
scratch, and then we went across the little plain to where the ugly
brute lay dead.
It was with a curious feeling that I stood and looked down upon that
great mass of inanimate flesh and reflected how near he had been to
terminating my own existence. From a contemplation of his ugliness I
turned to the dog, who, at his mistress' command, had saved my life.
Two ugly red gashes seamed his sides, and these I could only suppose
had been made by the talons of the ape.
"Old man," I said to him, as I stooped and patted his ugly head, "you
and I will have to be better friends than ever after this. You have
saved my life to-day and I am grateful to you." Then turning to his
mistress I continued, "Alie, how on earth did you manage to come up
just in the nick of time, like that?"
"I heard your first shot," she answered, "and thought I would follow
you. Thank Heaven I did, for if I had been five minutes longer on the
road I should have been too late. Now we must be getting back to the
camp as fast as we can go. Breakfast will be ready, I expect, and at
twelve I want to send a messenger back to the settlement with
letters."
Accordingly we set off at a good pace on our return, reaching the huts
in something under three-quarters of an hour.
As we approached the plateau we saw a man on horseback enter it from
the jungle on the other side. He pulled up before the dining-hut, and
then I saw that it was my old friend Walworth, covered with dust and
showing all the signs of having ridden in great haste. On seeing Alie
he dismounted and removed his helmet, waiting respectfully for her to
speak.
"Have you bad news, Mr. Walworth," she said, "that you come in such
haste?"
"I have a letter for your consideration that is of the utmost
importance," he answered; "the junk arrived with it this morning."
I must here explain that communications from the outside world were
conveyed by well-chosen messengers once every month to a certain spot
in the group of islands, about two degrees west of the settlement.
Thence they were brought on to their destination by a swift-sailing
junk, the property of the Beautiful White Devil, which had already
conveyed and handed over the outward mail in exchange. Thus a regular
service was kept up, to the advantage of both parties.
Taking the letter from Walworth's hand she gave him an invitation to
breakfast, and then passed with it into her own hut. I took him to
mine, and when the gong sounded for the meal we sought the dining
saloon together. A moment later Alie joined us, and I gathered from
her face that there was something serious toward. Until the meal was
finished, however, she said nothing. Then, suggesting that we should
bring our cigars outside, so as to be away from any possible
eavesdroppers, she intimated that she had something important to tell
us. We accordingly rose and followed her into the open air, across the
plateau to the glade in the jungle where I had told her of my love the
previous day. Throughout the walk she did not speak, and when she
turned and bade us be seated, her face was as hard set as when she had
sentenced Kwong Fung to death in her verandah more than two months
before.
"Gentlemen," she said, "I have brought you out here in order that I
may consult you on a most important matter. Dr. De Normanville, before
I begin I may say that I have had an excellent opportunity of studying
your character, while you have had an equal chance of studying mine.
You know now exactly what my life is, but at the same time I cannot
keep from myself a remembrance of the fact that you are only here as a
visitor; if you wish therefore to withdraw before you hear any more I
will give you free permission to do so. On the other hand, if you will
give me your advice, I assure you I shall be most grateful for it.
You, Mr. Walworth, have been my trusted and faithful servant for many
years past, and I could not have a better. Doctor, I await your
decision."
She looked fixedly at me, and I began to see the reason of her speech.
"I beg that you will let me advise you," I answered promptly. "I think
you know that you can place implicit trust in me?"
"I am quite sure of that," she answered solemnly, and, as she said it,
she took from her pocket the letter she had that morning received.
"This communication," she began, "is from a person in Singapore, whose
word I have the very best of all possible reasons for being able to
trust. He tells me that my own confidential agent in that place, a man
in whom I have hitherto placed the most implicit confidence, whom I
have saved from ruin, and worse, who owes his very life to my
generosity, contemplates selling me to the English authorities. My
correspondent, who holds a high position in the Straits Settlements,
informs me that this dastardly traitor has already hinted to the
authorities that it is in his power to disclose my long-sought
rendezvous. He only stipulates that, seeing the nature of his
communication, and the dangerous position in which he stands regarding
me, the reward offered shall be doubled. The authorities, of whom my
informant is one, have asked him to wait until the arrival of the new
English admiral, who is expected in Singapore, _en route_ for Hong
Kong, early next month. As soon as he arrives this man's evidence will
be taken and decisive measures adopted to rid the world of the
notorious White Devil."
"The traitor--the scoundrel--he shall pay for this!" came from between
Walworth's clenched teeth. I said nothing. But perhaps I was like the
owl, and thought the more. At any rate I told myself under my breath
that it would be an exceedingly bad day for the man if he ever fell
into my hands, and, after a glance at Alie's face, I thought it would
be a worse one for him should he fall into hers. She resumed the
conversation.
"There is one point I may count in my favour, however," she said; "and
that is, he will be hardly likely to reveal the fact that for the last
five years he has acted as my agent, and for that reason it will be
only possible for him to give his evidence on hearsay."
"He must be prevented from giving it at all," cried Walworth, looking
swiftly up at her.
"But how?" she answered.
"A warning would be of no avail, I presume?" I said.
"Not the least," she answered; "even if he took it I should always be
in danger of him. In that case I should have to discharge him, and his
very life would be a continual menace to me!"
"Is he a married man?"
"No; he is not."
"Has he an extensive business? I mean by that, would his death or
departure be the means of bringing misery upon other people?"
"He has no occupation at all, save what I have given him. No. He has
idled away his life on the bounty I have paid him for keeping me
informed of all that goes on."
"And now he is going to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? The
man must be mad to contemplate such an act of folly."
"There is a method in his madness, though," she answered. "He
evidently believes I am on the eve of being captured, and as the
reward is a large one, he wishes to secure it before it is snapped up
by anybody else."
I thought for a little while and then spoke again.
"You say he is unmarried; in that case he has no wife or children to
consider. He has no business--then he cannot bring ruin upon a
trusting public. I should say abduct him before he can do any harm.
Surely it could be managed with a little ingenuity?"
Alie was silent for a few moments. Then she looked up and her face
brightened.
"I believe you have hit on the very idea," she said. "I will think it
over, and, if possible, it shall be carried into effect. Yes, I will
abduct him, and bring him here. But we must remember that he has
always been most suspicious, and he will be doubly so now. For every
reason it is impossible for me to go into Singapore and abduct him in
my own proper person, so I must do it in disguise."
"No!" I answered promptly; "you must not run such a risk. Supposing he
should recognise you?"
"He has never seen me in his life," she replied; then, smiling, she
continued, "And you have evidently not yet grasped my talent for
disguising myself."
"But somebody must accompany you," said Walworth, who all this time
had been turning my scheme over and over in his mind; "and the worst
part of it is, he knows me so well that I dare not go."
Long before this I had made up my mind.
"I think, since you have honoured me with your confidence," I said,
turning to Alie, "I have a right to ask a favour at your hands."
She looked at me with a little surprise.
"And what is that favour, Dr. De Normanville?" she asked.
"That in whatever you are going to do you will let me help you. No; I
am not making this offer without thought, I assure you. It is my
greatest wish to be of any service I can to you."
I saw Walworth look at me in rather a peculiar fashion, but whatever
he may have thought he kept to himself. Alie paused before replying,
then she stretched out her little hand to me.
"I accept your offer in the spirit in which it is made," she said. "I
_will_ ask you to help me to get this traitor out of the way. Now we
must consider the _modus operandi_."
Many and various were the schemes proposed, discussed, and eventually
thrown aside. Indeed, it was not until nearly midday that we had
decided on one to our liking. Once this was settled, however, we
returned to the camp. Orders for starting were immediately given, and,
by the time lunch was over, the packs were made up, the loads
distributed, the ponies saddled, and we were ready to start upon our
return journey to the settlement.
It was a long and tedious ride, and it was far into the night before
we arrived at our destination. But late though it was, no one thought
of bed. Too much important business had to be transacted before
daylight.
On arrival, we repaired instantly to the bungalow on the hill, where a
hasty supper was eaten, and an adjournment made from the dining-room
to the large chart-room at the rear of the house. In this apartment
were stored the latest Admiralty charts of all the seas and harbours
in the world, and it was here, as I gathered later, that the Beautiful
White Devil concocted the most cunning and audacious of her plans.
Arriving in it, she bade us seat ourselves while she gave us the
details of the plan she had prepared.
"I have come to the conclusion," she said, "that your scheme is an
excellent one, Dr. De Normanville, and I have arranged it all as
follows: We will proceed in the yacht to-morrow morning (I have
already sent the necessary instructions down to the harbour) to Java.
In Batavia we shall meet a young English doctor named De Normanville,
who will accompany me to Singapore. I shall remain with a companion in
that place for a short time while I do the sights, stopping at the
Mandalay Hotel, where the man resides whom we want to catch. You will
gradually make his acquaintance, and, having done so, introduce him to
me. All the rest will be plain sailing. Do you think my scheme will
do?"
"Admirably, I should say."
"It will be necessary, however, Dr. De Normanville, that you should
remember one thing: you must not, for your own sake, be seen about too
much with me. You are just to be a casual acquaintance whom I have
picked up while travelling between Singapore and Batavia. Do you
understand? After your great kindness, I cannot allow you to be
implicated in any trouble that may arise from what I may be compelled
to do."
"Pray do not fear for my safety," I answered. "I am content to chance
that. In for a penny, in for a pound. Believe me, I am throwing my lot
in with you with my eyes open. I hope you understand that very
thoroughly?"
"I am perfectly sensible, you may be sure, of the debt we are under to
you," she answered. "Now we must get to business, for there is much to
be done before daylight."
Accordingly we set to work perfecting all the ins and outs of our
plan, and when it was completed, and my bags were packed and
despatched to the harbour, the stars were paling in the eastern
heavens preparatory to dawn.
Walworth had preceded us to the yacht some time before, and nothing
remained now but for me to follow with Alie and the bulldog.
A boat was waiting for us at the same jetty on which I had landed on
my arrival nearly three months before, and in it we were rowed out to
the _Lone Star_, whose outline we could just discern. It was an
uncanny hour to embark, and my feelings were quite in keeping with the
situation. I was saying good-bye to a place for which I had developed
a sincere affection, and I was going out into the world again to do a
deed which might end in cutting me off from my profession, my former
associates, and even my one remaining relation. These thoughts sat
heavily upon me as I mounted the ladder, but when, on reaching the
deck, Alie turned and took my hand and gave me a welcome back to the
yacht, they were dispelled for good and all.
Side by side we went aft. Steam was up, the anchor was off the ground,
and five minutes later, in the fast increasing light, we were moving
slowly across the harbour towards what looked to me like impenetrable
cliffs. When we got closer to them, however, I saw that one projected
further than the other, and that between the two was a long opening,
the cliffs on either side being nearly a hundred and fifty feet high.
This opening was just wide enough to let a vessel pass through with
the exercise of extreme caution.
At the further end of this precipitous canal the width was barely
sufficient to let our vessel out, though at that particular point the
cliffs on either side were scarcely more than eighty feet high. Here,
lying flat against the walls of stone, were two enormous, and very
curious, gates, the use of which I could not at all determine.
We passed through and out into the sea. By the time we reached open
water daylight had increased to such an extent that, when we were a
mile out, objects ashore could be quite plainly distinguished.
"Look astern," said Alie, who stood by my side upon the bridge, "and
tell me if you can discover the entrance to the harbour."
I did so, but though I looked, and looked, and even brought a glass to
bear upon the cliffs, I could see no break in the line through which a
vessel of any size might pass.
"No!" I said at last, "I must confess I cannot see it."
"Now you will understand," she said, smiling at my bewilderment, "the
meaning of those great doors. On the seaward side they are painted to
resemble the cliffs. Could anyone wish for a better disguise?"
I agreed that no one could. And, indeed, it was most wonderful. A
man-of-war might have patrolled that seemingly barren coast for weeks
on end and still have been unaware of the harbour that lay concealed
behind.
"Now you will want to rest, I know," she said. "I think you will find
your old cabin prepared for you."
"And you?"
"I am going below too. Look, the coast is fast disappearing from our
sight. There it goes beneath the horizon. Now will you wish our
enterprise good luck?"
"Good luck," I said, with a little squeeze of her hand.
"Thank you, and may God bless you," she answered softly, and
immediately vanished down the companion-ladder.