THE POISONED ARROW.
Such being the case, Ashman concluded that the time had arrived when he
should also take a hand.
Ziffak and King Haffgo placed their backs against the face of the
rocks, along which the ledge ran, so as to open a clear course for the
archer. The latter fitted his arrow with great care and then
straightening up drew back the string and slowly levelled, the missile
at the head and breast of the American.
"Does that fool imagine I am going to keep still and let him practice
on me?" the latter asked himself, an instant before discharging his
rifle, whose bullet went straight through the dusky miscreant and sent
him toppling off the side of the ledge as dead as dead could be.
Not only that, but the ball wounded the warrior directly behind him,
causing him to utter a howl which rang with piercing force from side to
side of the cavern of diamonds.
This prompt act caused something like a panic, Ziffak seemed the most
terrified of any. Facing about, he flung his arms aloft and shouted to
the rest to hurry away before the white man killed them all.
They lost no time in obeying, and it was noticeable that King Haffgo,
being well at the rear, added his frenzied commands for his warriors to
lose no time in leaving the fatal spot.
Ashman could have sent a succession of shots along the ridge, as the
party scrambled away, which would have toppled the dusky barbarians off
like so many ten-pins; but he had no desire to inflict needless
slaughter, and, in answer to the appeal of the shrinking Ariel, he had
promised her that, so far as he was concerned, her parent should
receive no harm.
He therefore contented himself with watching them, until a bend in the
ledge hid them from sight, with the exception of their heads, and they,
too, soon disappeared; because the frightened warriors, glancing back,
and seeing their peril, crouched low to escape the bullets which they
seemed to expect would come whistling about their crowns.
As long as the natives kept at such a distance, they could do no harm
to the defenders; for they were too far off to make use of their
javelins, and the single archer left was not likely to attempt to bring
his weapon into play.
Naturally, Ashman and Ariel, finding they were left to themselves for a
time, fell to speculating upon what was likely to be the next move of
their enemies. He believed they would make an attempt to bridge the
chasm separating them, a task which, as will be seen, was comparatively
easy of accomplishment.
But should such a structure be laid, it must be so strait that only one
could pass at a time, and the American could pick them off as often as
they presented themselves. There were now no firearms at the command
of the Murhapas, unless some one recovered the weapon of Burkhardt, and
even then, Ashman would feel little fear of harm from the savages.
Ariel thought her parent and his little company would simply keep guard
at the entrance of the cavern, in order to intercept them, if they
discovered some way of re-crossing the chasm and attempted to leave.
But both were wrong.
The young man was resolved that no march should be stolen upon him. It
was impossible for the Murhapas to pass far enough around to leave the
place, without being seen, provided he kept unremitting watch, which he
felt competent to do for a number of hours to come.
If the siege was prolonged, he could take turns with Ariel, whose
bright eyes were quicker of perception than his.
In the cavern of diamonds, there was no means of telling when it was
day or night on the earth outside. Lit by the eternal fires of the
volcano, it was always day; but he carried a watch, which told him that
the night was far advanced, and that the bright sun would soon shine
upon mountain, forest, and river again, though his heart sank at the
faint prospect of it ever being his privilege to greet the orb again.
The incidents of the next hour mystified both Ashman and Ariel.
The first movement which attracted their notice, was Ziffak, who,
rising to the upright posture, so that his immense shoulders were in
plain sight, was seen picking his way along the ledge, until he reached
the opening on the other side. Through this he passed and was seen no
more.
It was useless to speculate as to the meaning of this proceeding, which
could not be explained until made clear by occurrences themselves. It
was safe to assume, however, that it was ostensibly in the interests of
King Haffgo, and therefore against those of the fugitive lovers.
Probably a half-hour after the disappearance of the chieftain, two of
the party were seen stealing along the ledge in the direction of the
entrance to the cavern. These, however, were of such slight stature,
when compared with Ziffak, and they made such efforts to conceal their
movements, that it was hard to follow or identify them. Ashman thought
that Haffgo was one of the number, but he could not make certain, and,
since Ariel did not catch as favoring a glimpse as he, she could give
no help in solving the question.
The best solution of the singular acts was that while the Murhapas
seemed to try to hide themselves from the lovers, they still took pains
to allow enough to be disclosed to reveal the movements, which they
wished the couple to observe.
And here again, both Ashman and Ariel were in error.
Strange that a possibility which had once been thought of by the two
did not occur again to them.
King Haffgo, despite his confidence in Ziffak, began to feel some
distrust of him. His refusal to attempt the leap of the chasm, and his
former friendship for the explorers, might have been reasonably
explained, but his failure to drive his javelin through the white man,
who was so near and who never stirred from his position, could not be
an accident. He knew the marvellous skill of the head chieftain, who
could have had but one cause for missing Ashman: that was an
intentional deviation of his weapon, which, slight though it was,
proved as effective as if hurled in the opposite direction.
And yet, shrewd as was Ziffak; he really believed he had deceived his
royal brother. No suspicion of the distrust in the mind of the king
came to the chieftain, when he was directed to return to the village
and bring ten more warriors with him.
But this errand secured the absence of Ziffak for a couple of hours at
least, and that was the sole purpose of Haffgo in sending him out of
the cavern of diamonds.
When the chieftain was gone, the archer was directed to ascertain how
far he could steal around the cavern, by taking the opposite course.
Haffgo followed, directing the others to stay where they were until
further orders were given them.
The archer set out at once, ahead of the king, both doing their best to
avoid detection.
Fortune favored them in an unexpected manner. The ledge was found
easier of travel than they expected, and, by using great care, they
worked their way to a point less than two hundred feet from where the
fugitives were standing on guard. They had traversed the whole
distance, too, without detection.
When King Haffgo peered carefully over the shoulders of the crouching
bowman, he saw the couple standing with their backs toward him, as they
faced the chasm which had been found impassable for the Murhapas.
The slumbering anger in the parent's breast was kindled to a white
heat, when he observed the white man holding the hand of his daughter,
and he saw him lean over and touch his lips to hers. He whispered to
the warrior to lose no time.
The latter quickly examined his arrows, and picked out the one which
not only seemed the best, but was most plentifully provided with the
deadly poison. This was speedily fitted to the string, and he
deliberately took aim, his nerves like steel, for the king had
whispered to him that he must not fail.
At the instant the string twanged, something caused Ariel to look
behind them.
She uttered a faint scream as she caught sight of the two crouching
figures. She descried a flitting shadow which she knew was the
approaching missile on its deadly mission.
Knowing that it was aimed at her lover, she threw both her arms around
his neck and interposed her body to protect him while he stood
bewildered, not comprehending what it all meant.
Her figure was too slight to serve the purpose of a shield. The
poisoned arrow whizzed straight at the breast of Ashman, who had turned
about, but instead of entering his body, the point, surcharged with
venom, was imbedded in the snowy arm of Ariel herself!