We were not able to observe what the entire number of the savages was,
since the cave into which we went led to several others where we caught
glimpses of many of the wild tribe. We estimated that those among whom
we were amounted to about five hundred, more than a half of whom were
female warriors. Our appearance was the signal for the savages to raise
excited cries, which continued till we stood before Wimpai, who was
partly surrounded by a number of his armed women. The chief of our
captors, who had received several severe burns and injuries through his
fall, pressed forward, and telling first of our fight in the rocky
passage, afterwards spoke of his own rescue by Denviers, so we learnt
from Hassan. Wimpai rose and leant upon his spear when the savage had
concluded his account, and was evidently perplexed as to what course to
pursue.
Hassan managed to explain our purpose in visiting the chief, and with an
immobile countenance asked for us to be shown the hidden treasure, a
request which brought forth a shrill laugh from those around. We could
not understand what passed between Wimpai and the Arab, but the latter
succeeded in producing a favourable effect by his persuasive words, for
he turned to us eventually, saying:--
"Wimpai declares that between his tribe and those who carry the dragon
banner to war there has been of late much fighting, which is the reason
his people have sought this strange shelter."
"I should have thought these niggers could tell the difference between
us and Chinamen," interposed Denviers.
"That is so," responded the Arab; "but the sahib forgets that in the
memory of every wild tribe those who have injured them are never
forgotten. Finding that we were not like the people with whom they have
recently been fighting, those who took us prisoners thought we were the
descendants of the fell Spaniards whom their traditions recall. I have
told Wimpai that ye are of the same nation as the Feringhee sailor who
married the daughter of one of their chiefs so long ago, and he promises
that we shall see the treasure, and may take as much of it as we can
bear away. Even now a boat is being got ready for us to enter, and a
warrior woman is to accompany us down the strange stream which leads to
the place where the contents of the galleon have long been hidden."
[Illustration: "WE SAW A WOMAN APPROACH."]
As the Arab finished speaking, we saw a woman approach, bearing a torch.
Obedient to Wimpai's command, she moved towards one of the rocky
passages, and motioned to us to follow. We advanced in single file
behind our strange guide, and soon found ourselves in another of the
great fissures, which seemed to traverse the heart of the volcano in all
directions. Before us, by the light of the flaring torch, we saw a wide
stream flowing between lava walls, the lofty top of these meeting far
above our heads, and supporting long crystal prisms of a yellowish hue,
which hung down in thousands.
The woman who was appointed to guide us pointed to where the native boat
had been placed, and into it we leapt, eager to see the treasure taken
from the lost galleon. Although there were two pairs of oars of peeled
wood ready to hand, we had no occasion to use them, for the underground
river carried us along with its steady current. We each held aloft a
blazing torch, which the female warrior had thrust into our hands before
she took her seat in the prow of the boat, where she sat facing us.
For more than an hour we passed on, watching the shifting lights of that
wonderful scene, and the grey mist that stole upwards from the hot
spring down which our little craft was floating fast.
At last we saw several narrow channels into which the stream was divided
by its rocky bed, and down one of these we passed in devious turns until
our new-found guide rose again in the boat and pointed to a jagged
fissure which faced us. Denviers seized a pair of the rude oars and
pulled the boat towards it, then leaping out he secured our frail
conveyance, after which the woman handed to him a fresh torch, and we
all advanced into the cave before us, vaguely wondering what treasure
would be revealed to us.
All doubts as to the truth of the wreck of the richly-laden galleon off
the coast about which Hassan had told us vanished as soon as ever we
entered there. The various things which had formed the cargo of the
vessel lay strewed in confused heaps about us. There were wedges of gold
and bars of silver, discoloured by the fumes from the crater and the
mists from the hot stream, while Spanish muskets, strange-looking
pistols, and swords with richly-chased handles, and rust-incrusted
barrels and blades lay about in piles. Among these weapons I observed a
pair of pistols with gems studding their handles, and thrust them into
my sash, besides a splendid sword, which proved very serviceable when
polished up, especially as my own defensive arms had been taken away.