"I think these Formosans are altogether too friendly, Harold," said
Denviers, as we eventually reached the rough coast to which we had been
directed, and our boat was being dragged through the blinding surf by a
dozen fierce-looking savages.
"The sahibs need not fear," interposed Hassan, as he overheard this
remark; "it is necessary that we should be led by them, for not
otherwise could we see Wimpai, who is their head-man, so the coolies
told me."
"I expect we could have managed very well without seeing him," I
replied. "Would it not have been possible to have found the sailor's
treasure, wherever it is hidden, without landing at a spot where these
savages were evidently on the look-out?"
"Not so, by Mahomet!" answered the Arab. "The sahibs would certainly be
slain if they attempted to do so without Wimpai permitted them."
"Well, come on then," said Denviers, as he made his way through the
wreckage and huge fragments of coral lying on the beach: "I daresay we
shall get out of this adventure as safely as we have others. Our new
acquaintances are certainly making themselves quite at home with our
possessions, before being invited even," he added, as four of them
placed on their heads some pieces of cloth and a native basket filled
with handsome beads, which Hassan had advised us to bring in order to
propitiate Wimpai.
"They seem to consider us their prisoners," I remarked, as the savages
marched on the right and left of us, while we strode on with our rifles
shouldered.
"I don't relish the look of their knives," commented Denviers; "they are
likely to do us far more harm with them than with the clumsy matchlocks
which they now carry instead of spears. What a splendid set of fellows
they are!"
The savages who inhabited this part of Formosa, so much avoided on
account of its dangerous coral reefs, wore only a blue loin-cloth. Their
hair was adorned with a number of brightly-coloured feathers, while
across the shoulder of each passed a strip of scarlet cloth, reaching to
the waist, supporting a plaited loop, into which was thrust the
long-bladed knife which my companion mentioned. For some time the
tangled pathway which we traversed wound up the steep side of a mountain
spur, running almost down to the edge of the raised coral beach. Forcing
our way through the screw-pine, which obstructed us, we were soon
passing under the shade of some bamboos and banyans, when Denviers
motioned to some trees a little way ahead, and suddenly exclaimed:--
"Look out, Harold! These savage niggers mean mischief!"
I glanced carefully to where my companion directed me, and saw a number
of matchlocks pointed at us, while the heads of those who held them
peered cautiously forth. We raised our rifles to defend ourselves, for
we were completely covered by the shining barrels of the enemy, and for
a moment fully expected that the lighted port-fires would be applied to
their old-fashioned weapons. Seeing that we were closely guarded by the
others from any attempt to escape, the savages came out from their
lurking-places and advanced to meet us.
"It looks as if Hassan's incredible yarn is going to turn out true after
all," said Denviers to me, aside; "at all events, there are several
women carrying arms among those in front."
Upon getting close to us the savages passed on one side, and giving a
fierce yell of triumph as they did so, turned and followed behind, while
our guides or captors still inclosed us, except one of them who led the
way. The burden-bearers soon after this disappeared, and we saw no more
of the presents which we had brought.
"I expect we are in for it," said Denviers, as the savage led us towards
a narrow gap in the heart of the mountain up which we had been toiling.
Through this a number of the men passed in single file, and we were
bidden to follow them. We halted irresolutely and turned round, only to
see the wild horde pressing on behind, impatient at our delay.
"We must go on," said Denviers, "for we are completely surrounded."
The Arab pressed forward, anxious to be the first to test whatever
danger confronted us, but my companion prevented this, and Hassan was
compelled to take second place, while I followed him. We were absolutely
in the dark before we had proceeded a dozen yards through the cleft in
the mountain side, and then our worst fears were realized.
I heard a warning cry from Denviers, followed by Hassan's fierce answer,
as the savages gathered closely about us where the passage or cave mist
have widened out, and then I felt the grip of a hand upon my throat and
saw even in the gloom the fierce glitter of my enemy's eyes. With a thud
I brought my rifle down, and the blow evidently told, for my throat was
released, while the one who had attacked me fell heavily to the ground.
[Illustration: "I FELT THE GRIP OF A HAND UPON MY THROAT."]
Of all the adventures which we had met with, that one, during those few
minutes of desperate fighting for our lives in the blackness about us,
seemed the most weird and exciting. Once I heard the ring of the Arab's
sword as it struck against the side of the rocky excavation, and a call
to Mahomet for help came from his lips, while through it all Denviers
was cheering us madly on in the blind conflict with our foes. I felt my
rifle wrenched at last from my hands, and drawing a pistol from my belt
thrust it between the glaring eyes of a savage and fired, sending him
down at my feet. In a second that weapon too was snatched from me, and
feeling hastily for the other I found it gone! Still another savage
faced me, and I struck blindly at him with my fist, dealing a stunning
blow which sent him spinning and laid my knuckles bare. With all my
might I struggled to keep off the rope or thong which I felt was being
bound about me, but the odds were too great, and with my arms lashed
tightly to my sides I was dragged forward, wondering what fate was in
store and why the savages did not kill us outright with their knives.
Evidently that was not their purpose, for as soon as I was helplessly
bound no more blows were rained upon me, nor did my captors attempt to
inflict further injuries.
How long I was hauled through the gloomy passage in the mountain would
be difficult to conjecture, but eventually a stifling heat seemed to
penetrate to where I was being hurried along, and a dull red glow
appeared ahead which lit up the scene, showing what had happened and
where we were. Denviers and Hassan were both bound, the latter having
one of his arms left loose, from which circumstance I concluded that it
was broken, and this was subsequently found to be true.
The glowing mass ahead increased in its intensity, and cast strange
shadows of the savages upon the jagged walls of rock which inclosed us
on each side and rose to a height of more than twenty feet at the point
we had then reached. We drew near to each other as we emerged into the
lighter part of the mountain passage, and the savages ceased to drag us
along, since they could watch our movements.
"We ought to be glad these niggers didn't try conclusions with their
knives in that fight in the dark," said Denviers, as I got close to him
and the Arab. Then, observing the latter's injured arm, he added: "You
seem to have got the worst of the encounter with one of them,
Hassan----"
"Not so, by the Koran!" answered the Arab, promptly. "He who dealt that
blow felt the edge of my sword, and lived but a second after he did it."
"Where are we being taken to, do you think, Hassan?" I asked, looking in
surprise at the changing colours of the walls of the passage, which just
there were tinted a bluish-grey, then crimsoned a little further on,
until the long cave seemed to terminate in an enormous hollow
surrounded by blood-red rocks which rose precipitously upwards.
"The sahib will soon see for himself," answered the Arab. "The savage
tribe has chosen a safe retreat where none would expect to find living
people, for, see! before us is the jagged side of a crater!"
We emerged from the cave to observe in front of us the cause of the
intense heat which had been so oppressive while we were in it. A white
cloud of smoke rose from the funnel-like hollow, and occasionally
flickering red flames shot up and turned this to the same hue, while at
times the cloud wore a blue colour, matching the changing tints of the
lake of fire below. Round the interior of the great crater in which we
were ran a rugged path of broken masses of rock, between which streams
of lava lay, and over them we had to pass. Even as we went along,
scarcely able to breathe, we saw a huge fragment of rock crash down into
the depths below. This was followed by a grinding sound and a rumble
like thunder; then high above us shot a shower of red-hot lava and
stones, while we crouched under a projecting shelf of black basalt, and
forgot that we were prisoners in the midst of such an impressive scene.
When the stream of fire which darted upwards had somewhat subsided, our
captives urged us forward, and on we went, tumbling and slipping over
the dangerous rocks, which threatened every instant to give way beneath
our feet. Even the savages became exceedingly cautious as we wound our
way around the crater, and seemed to be getting nearer and nearer still
to the molten fire below.
[Illustration: "HE FELL HEAD FIRST."]
As he turned round for a moment to see if we were following, the
foremost of our captors missed his footing, and, bound as we were, none
of us could make an attempt to save him. Uttering an appalling cry of
horror, he fell head first into the roaring furnace! We flung ourselves
upon our faces and tried to shut out that weird scream of terror; then
Denviers, prone as he was, worked his body forward upon a loose,
overhanging rock, and stared down into the red sea of fire below.
"The sahib is mad! Come back, come back!" cried Hassan, excitedly;
whereupon the savages, looking more like demons than men, as their faces
were lighted up by the glow of the lambent flames, seized hold of my
companion and dragged him from threatening death.
"He has not fallen right in," said Denviers to me, calmly, as though his
own danger had been a mere nothing; "the man is clinging to a projecting
crag just above the flames. Hassan," he cried to our guide, "tell these
savages if they will unbind me I think I can save him."
Half stupefied with fear and horror, our captors unbound the long rope
which held my companion's arms to his sides, and at once he made a loop
at one end of it and advanced again upon the projecting rock. Quickly
the rope was lowered and, leaning right over, Denviers managed to reach
the almost senseless man, for we saw him hauling the rope slowly in, and
finally the head of the savage appeared before us, while the loose rock
which upheld rescuer and rescued swayed ominously upon the solid mass
which supported it. Scarcely were the two of them dragged back from the
rock when over it went, and again a fierce shower of fire shot up, from
which with much difficulty we protected ourselves.
The savage lay scorched and motionless for several minutes, then,
struggling to his feet, he took one of the knives which another
proffered and cut Hassan's bonds as well as my own. Again we moved
forward and, conscious that this unexpected rescue of their companion
had won for us the goodwill of all, we passed on, hoping that when we
faced Wimpai, their chief, it would be turned to good account. Freed
from our bonds so unexpectedly, we went on with more confidence than
before, and at last saw another huge cavern facing us, upon entering
which we found ourselves in the presence of the savage chief.