CHAPTER XXVII.IN THE HOLE.
Yes, it was a negro mother and her babe. The body was that of a slight woman, weighing not more than one hundred pounds, and perfectly black. The babe was probably three months old, and was strapped to the back of her mother. The features of the mother were flat and broad, and showed but little intelligence. Both bodies were considerably mutilated; this being caused, very likely, by the storm; not a rag of clothing covered the bodies. Silently the native men and women stood gazing on the strange figures; they could offer no explanation on this as to how these bodies had come here or from whence they had come; theylooked at the bodies and then at the white strangers as if to trace some likeness, but there was none, and this puzzled them all the more. Involuntarily they glanced into the heavens, as if expecting to see a new planet looming up in the midday sun from which these black bodies had fallen. That they had come from the same world which they themselves inhabited—that world which was theirs alone, they could not believe, of course.
Onrai looked at one of the guests and then at another, as if expecting some explanation from them, but they offered none; they being nearly as much in the dark as was he. But finally Onrai, stepping up to Mr. Bruce, said:
“You know so much of the heavens and of the stars, can you not tell me whence came this woman!”
“I can only offer one explanation,” answered Mr. Bruce, “and that is that the woman and child were caught up by the great storm and blown from their own country into this.”
“Ah,” said Onrai, “that explanation maybe truthful, and looking over his people he called them all closely about him and told them what Mr. Bruce had said. It seemed to satisfy them, but it raised their curiosity to a greater extent, and they crowded more closely about the bodies. The hot sun had poured down on these bodies until they were in a bad state of decomposition and our friends soon moved away, leaving the find wholly in possession of the natives.
“What shall we do with these bodies?” asked Onrai of Mr. Graham.
“I would order them burned,” said Mr. Graham.
So Onrai told some of the men to throw together apile of wood and lay the bodies on it; this was soon done and the torch was then applied. As the flames shot into the air, licking the reeking flesh off the bodies, our friends again mounted and moved on.
“What do you think of this, Mr. Bruce?” asked Mr. Graham.
“I can only say what I have already said to Onrai,” answered Mr. Bruce. “The force of the storm must have blown this woman and her child over the cliff and thus far into the heart of the land.”
“Do you not think that another explanation might be made of their appearance?” asked Mr. Graham.
“There may be many explanations made,” answered Mr. Bruce, “but if this country is impregnable, how else could this woman and her child reach here?”
“I think myself that the storm has played a great part in this woman’s appearance in this part of the country, but I cannot help but think that she was this side of the cliffs before the storm,” answered Mr. Graham.
“If that be so, then these people have lived in ignorance of this tribe’s having taken up a residence in this country,” said Mr. Bruce.
“Yes,” said Mr. Graham, “but these Onians very seldom visit the northwestern part of this country, as Onrai has said, and this tribe might have found an entrance and settled in a fertile part near the cliffs, and may now be living there in total ignorance of their having entered a country which has for ages been shut in from the rest of the world?”
“This may all be so,” said Mr. Bruce, “but I would rather cling to my theory.”
“I would gladly accept your explanation,” said Mr.Graham, “if it were not for that part of it, which says that the woman was blown over the cliffs. Now, if this storm had started on the western side of these cliffs, the cliffs themselves would have broken the force, or destroyed it entirely before it reached this side. Therefore, I claim that the storm must have started from this side of the cliff.”
“When put in that way,” said Mr. Bruce, “you almost convince me that I have made a mistake. But whatever the way in which this woman reached this country, I believe that we will hear more of it. It would be strange indeed if we should find a race of negroes quietly villaged in this country.”
“Well, there is a possibility that we may,” said Mr. Graham.
Off to the right, in a clump of trees, is now seen a villa and the party made for it, it now being nearly midday. Once in the cool villa, and all thought of the morning adventure was forgotten. Lunch was served and then came the afternoon siesta.
Late in the afternoon they again started, intending to ride until late in the evening. The journeys in the cool of the evening were delightful. There was always a breeze coming off the lake at this time and it was very refreshing after the close, warm air of the day. Along toward evening the villa, which they had occupied on the evening of the storm, was passed. The storm had made great ravages here, tearing up immense trees by the roots and piling them one above the other. The earth was gouged out in places to a depth of twenty feet, and all along the track of the storm were immense piles of debris.
Thoughts of the storm had long since passed fromthe minds of our friends; they were interested only in the far northwest toward which they were headed, and which promised them so many surprises and adventures. This northwest was almost unknown even to the natives; they knew certain parts of it very well, such as the field of diamonds and one or two other points, which had come under their notice for some special reason. But taken as a whole very little was known of the country, and for this reason Mr. Bruce and the others expected to make some very interesting discoveries. The country had wonderful resources; every known part of it producing certain products, which made it a veritable Eldorado, and it might be expected that the northwest held resources which would astonish all, even Onrai and his people. The field of diamonds alone was enough to make this part of the country interesting to the strangers, and for this alone they had started on this journey.
The following morning the party was up and off exceptionally early, long before the sun had risen. They were only to make half a march that day, for the shaft, which Onrai had spoken of on the previous day, was to be explored. That is, men were to be lowered into it and if the bottom could be reached and openings found leading from it, then all of the men of the party were to go down and explore these. Such was the programme laid out for the day and with this prospect of new diversions the men started off with happy hearts.
Each day now was bringing them nearer to the great northwest and the cliffs were growing plainer as they advanced. The country began to assume a wilder appearance; still there were well-kept fields and numerousfarm villas and many men at work in the fields. At another point to-day they had passed a great herd of elephants, which had been brought from the city to recuperate, the former hospital having been almost entirely destroyed by the storm. These elephants, like many others which they had passed, had followed them until driven back by the attendant.
The morning was getting pretty well-advanced and the hopes of reaching the shaft shortly were making the men keep up a constant watch on both sides of them for fear of passing it. It was partially hid in a piece of woods which bordered the lake at this point for some distance. None of the party knew the exact locality of the opening and so care had to be taken in order not to pass it.
“What do you think of this hole in the ground?” asked Mr. Graham of Mr. Bruce.
“I do not know what to think of it,” said Mr. Bruce, “but I do know that it is a very strange thing that these people should be in ignorance of its origin. It seems to me that such things would start the curiosity in these people, but I have seen very little of this article in their make-up. They did look a little bewildered yesterday when they saw the negress and child, but I will wager you a shilling they have forgotten all about it by this time. This very lack of curiosity in these people almost puts me out of patience with them.”
“It may be, though,” said Mr. Graham, smiling at Mr. Bruce’s impatience, “that it is better that they have left to us the exploring of this extinct mine or well, or whatever it is; anyway I would feel better satisfied finding something, which is not already knownby this people. There goes one of the attendants now towards the trees; perhaps we have reached the hole.”
And they had, for the fellow, pulling aside some underbrush, disclosed a large, dark opening running straight into the ground. The wind seemed to be rushing into this hole with great force. He turned and motioned to the party and they rode toward them. All dismounting, ropes were procured and tied to the trunks of the trees, surrounding the hole. A glance down the dark aperture would have been enough for most men, but for those here assembled, the blackness but whetted their curiosity and desire to investigate. A lighted torch was thrown down, but the fearful wind which rushed down the hole extinguished this before it had fallen far.
“Let us all go down in a bunch and with our combined efforts we may be able to keep our feet,” Harry said.
And so it was decided; Mr. Bruce, Mr. Graham and Harry and Onrai were to go down, well tied together, only allowing enough freedom for the limbs to move easily. A small supply of food and a few skins of water were put up and strapped to the back of each and several torches were also taken. It was strange, but Onrai seemed to take quite as much interest in the contemplated subterranean journey as did the other members of the expedition, and he showed more enthusiasm than he had at any time since the arrival of the strangers. This was the first opportunity though that he had had to display any enthusiasm, for everything in this country had been familiar to him since childhood and he could hardly be expected to show any great interest inthings. But now, though by the eagerness displayed by his guests, he had also had his curiosity aroused and he was really impatient to get started.
“Are you ready, Onrai?” asked Harry.
“I am,” answered Onrai, “and eager to start. If there is anything new in my country, I want to know it.”
“Well, I think you will be surprised by the things that you will see and learn to-day,” said Mr. Bruce. “That is, if the passage-way and its gale of wind are any criterion.”
“’Tis well, let us start,” Onrai answered.
All bade the ladies good-bye, Enola almost crying because Mr. Bruce forbade her accompanying them. Sedai was left to look out for the interest of the women folks.
The four men were now tied together, and many sturdy hands grabbing the strong rope, they were lowered over the side of the hole. Slowly they descended, each moment nearing the passage. Suddenly, without any warning, they were swung in, and the line giving way, they landed on the floor of the cavern. They scrambled to their feet in the dark, for they had not lit the torches in descending, and by keeping breast to back and throwing themselves well against the wind by leaning as far back as possible, they were enabled to keep their feet and advance. The angle was reached and they turned; now the wind caught them full force again, and it was hard to keep an upright position. They were in hopes of reaching another passage though, through which the wind did not rush with such force, and where they could keep their torches lit. If they could not find such a one, they might as well return, for they could explore or learn nothing in this Egyptian darkness.
“Grinning at them with open mouths and sightless eyes.”—Page209.
“Grinning at them with open mouths and sightless eyes.”—Page209.
“Grinning at them with open mouths and sightless eyes.”—Page209.
Slowly they proceeded, feeling their way every step, and keeping tight against the right wall. Mr. Bruce, who was in the lead, suddenly felt an opening on the right, and telling his companions to follow him, turned into this new avenue. They were now comparatively out of the wind and, stopping, they lit a torch. Looking about them they saw, grinning at them with open mouths and sightless eyes, thousands of human faces.