_CHAPTER EIGHT_
With every step that he took into the darkness the feeling of awedeepened upon Connor, until he went frowning toward the fire as thoughit were an eye that watched his coming. He was quite close when thechestnut threw up its head with a snort and stopped, listening; Connorlistened as well, and he heard a music of men's voices singing together,faint with distance; the sound traveled so far that he caught the pulseof the rhythm and the fiber of the voices rather than the tune itself,yet the awe which had been growing in Connor gathered suddenly in histhroat. He had to close his hands hard to keep from being afraid.
As though the chestnut felt the strangeness also, he neighed suddenly;the rock walls of the ravine caught up the sound and trumpeted it back.Connor, recovering from the shock, buried his fingers in the nostrils ofthe horse and choked the sound away; but the echo still went faintlybefore them and behind. The alarm had been given. The fire winked onceand went out. Connor was left without a light to guide him; he looked upand saw that the sunset flush had fallen away to a dead gray.
He looked ahead to where the fire had been. Just then the horse jerkedhis nose away and gasped in a new breath. Even that slight soundflurried Connor, for it might guide the unknown danger to him. Connorremembered that after all he was not a bandit stealing upon a peacefultown; he composed his mind and his nerves with an effort, and was aboutto step forward again when he saw in the night just before him a deepershade among the shadows. Peering, he discovered the dim outlines of aman.
Ben Connor was not a coward, but he was daunted by this apparition. Hisfirst impulse was to flee; his second was to leap at the other's throat.It spoke much for his steadiness in a crisis that he did neither, butcalled instead: "Who's there?"
Metal gritted on metal, and a shaft of light poured into Connor's faceso unexpectedly that he shrank. The chestnut reared, and turning tocontrol the horse, Connor saw his eyes and the eyes of the mule shininglike phosphorus. When he had quieted the gelding he saw that it was ahooded lantern which had been uncovered. Not a ray fell on the bearer ofthe light.
"I saw a light down here," said Connor, after he had tried in vain tomake out the features of the other. "It looked like a fire, and Istarted for it; I've lost my bearing in these mountains."
Without answering, the bearer of the lantern kept the shaft staring intoConnor's face for another moment; then it was as suddenly hooded andwelcome darkness covered the gambler. With a gesture which he barelycould make out, the silent man waved him forward down the ravine. Itangered Connor, this mummery of speechlessness, but with his anger wasan odd feeling of helplessness as though the other had a loaded gun athis head.
The man walked behind him as they went forward, and presently the fireshone out at them from the entrance to the valley; thus Connor saw theblanket which had screened the fire removed, and caught a glimpse of asecond form.
Even the zenith was dark now, and it was double night in the ravine.With the chestnut stumbling behind him, Connor entered the circle of thefire and was stopped by the raised hand of the second man.
"Why are you here?" said the guard.
The voice was thin, but the articulation thick and soft, and as thequestioner stepped into the full glow of the fire, Connor saw a Negrowhose head was covered by white curls. He was very old; it seemed asthough time had faded his black pigment, and now his skin, a darkbronze, was puckered at the corners of his mouth, about his eyes, and inthe center of his forehead, seeming to have dried in wrinkles likeparchment. While he talked his expression never varied from the wearyfrown; yet years had not bowed him, for he stood straight as a youth,and though his neck was dried away until it was no thicker than a strongman's forearm, he kept his head high and looked at Connor.
The man who had gone out to stop Connor now answered for him, andturning to the voice the gambler saw that this fellow was a Negrolikewise; as erect as the one by the fire, but hardly less ancient.
"He is lost in the mountains, and he saw the fire at the gate, Ephraim."
Ephraim considered Connor wistfully.
"This way is closed," he said; "you cannot pass through the gate."
The gambler looked up; a wall of rock on either side rose so high thatthe firelight failed to carry all the distance, and the darkness archedsolidly above him. The calm dignity of the men stripped him of anadvantage which he felt should be his, but he determined to appear atease.
"Your best way," continued Ephraim, "is toward that largest mountain.You see where its top is still lighted in the west, while the rest ofthe range is black.
"Jacob can take you up from the ravine and show you the beginning of theway. But do not pass beyond the sight of the fire, Jacob."
"Good advice," nodded Connor, forcing himself to smile, "if it weren'tthat my horse is too sore-footed to carry me. Even the mule can hardlywalk--you see."
He waved his hand and the chestnut threw up its head and took one or twohalting steps to the side.
"In the meantime, I suppose you've no objection if I sit down here for amoment or two?"
Ephraim, bowing as though he ushered the other into an apartment ofstate, waved to a smooth-topped boulder comfortably near the fire.
"I wish to serve you," he went on, "in anything I can do without leavingthe valley. We have a tank just inside the gate, and Jacob will fillyour canteen and water the horse and mule as well."
"Kind of you," said Connor. "Cigarette?"
The proffered smoke brought a wrinkling of amazed delight into the faceof Ephraim and his withered hand stretched tentatively forth. Jacobforestalled him with a cry and snatched the cigarette from the open palmof Connor. He held it in both his cupped hands.
"Tobacco--again!" He turned to Ephraim. "I have not forgotten!"
Ephraim had folded his arms with dignity, and now he turned a reprovingglance upon his companion.
"Is it permitted?" he asked coldly.
The joy went out of the face of Jacob.
"What harm?"
"Is it permitted?" insisted Ephraim.
"He will not ask," argued Jacob dubiously.
"He knows without asking."
At this, very slowly and unwillingly, Jacob put the cigarette back intothe hand of Ben Connor. A dozen curious questions came into the mind ofthe gambler, but he decided wisely to change the subject.
"The boss gives you orders not to leave, eh?" he went on. "Not a stepoutside the gate? What's the idea?"
"This thing was true in the time of the old masters. Only Joseph canleave the valley," Ephraim answered.
"And you don't know why no one is allowed inside the valley?"
"I have never asked," said Ephraim.
Connor smoked fiercely, peering into the fire.
"Well," he said at length, "you see my troubles? I can't get into thevalley to rest up. I have to turn around and try to cross thosemountains."
"Yes," nodded Ephraim.
"But the horse and mule will never make it over the rocks. I'll have toleave them behind or stay and starve with them."
"That is true."
"Rather than do that," said Connor, fencing for an opening, "I'd leavethe poor devils here to live in the valley."
"That cannot be. No animals are allowed to enter."
"What? You'd allow this pair to die at the gate of the valley?"
"No; I should lead them first into the mountains."
"This is incredible! But I tell you, this horse is my friend--I can'tdesert him!"
He fumbled in his coat pocket and then stretched out his hand toward thechestnut; the horse hobbled a few steps nearer and nosed the palm of itexpectantly.
"So!" muttered Ephraim, and shaded his eyes with his hand to look. Hesettled back and said in a different voice: "The horse loves you; it issaid."
"I put the matter squarely up to you," said Connor. "You see how Istand. Give me your advice!"
Ephraim protested. "No, no! I cannot advise you. I know nothing of whatgoes on out yonder. Nevertheless--"
He broke off
, for Connor was lighting another cigarette from the butt ofthe first one, and Ephraim paused to watch, nodding with a sort ofvicarious pleasure as he saw Connor inhale deeply and then blow out athin drift of smoke.
"You were about to say something else when I lighted this."
"Yes, I was about to say that I could not advise you, but I can send toJoseph. He is near us now."
"By all means send to Joseph."
"Jacob," ordered the keeper of the gate, "go to Joseph and tell him whathas happened."
The other nodded, and then whistled a long note that drifted up theravine. Afterward there was no answer, but Jacob remained facingexpectantly toward the inside of the valley and presently Connor heard asound that made his heart leap, the rhythmic hoofbeats of a gallopinghorse; and even in the darkness the long interval between impacts toldhim something of the animal's gait. Then into the circle of thefirelight broke a gray horse with his tail high, his mane fluttering. Hebrought his gallop to a mincing trot and came straight toward Jacob, buta yard away he stopped and leaped catlike to one side; with head tossedhigh he stared at Connor.
Cold sweat stood on the forehead of the gambler, for it was likesomething he had seen, something he remembered; all his dreams of what ahorse should be, come true.
Ephraim was saying sternly:
"In my household the colts are taught better manners, Jacob."
And Jacob answered, greatly perturbed: "There is a wild spirit in allthe sons of Harith."
"It is Cassim, is it not?" asked Ephraim.
"Peace, fool!" said Jacob to the stallion, and the horse came and stoodbehind him, still watching the stranger over the shoulder of his master.
"Years dim your eyes, Ephraim," he continued. "This is not Cassim and heis not the height of Cassim by an inch. No, it is Abra, the son of Hira,who was the daughter of Harith."
He smiled complacently upon Ephraim, nodding his ancient head, andEphraim frowned.
"It is true that my eyes are not as young as yours, Jacob; but thehorses of my household are taught to stand when they are spoken to andnot dance like foolish children."
This last reproof was called forth by the continual weaving back andforth of the stallion as he looked at Connor, first from one side ofJacob and then from the other. The old man now turned with a raisedhand.
"Stand!" he ordered.
The stallion jerked up his head and became rigid.
"A sharp temper makes a horse without heart," said the oracular Ephraim.
Jacob scowled, and rolling his eyes angrily, searched for a reply; buthe found none. Ephraim clasped one knee tightly in both hands, andweaving his head a little from side to side, delighted in his triumph.
"And the hand which is raised," went on the tormentor, "should alwaysfall."
He was apparently quoting from an authority against which there was noappeal; now he concluded:
"Threats are for children, and yearlings; but a grown horse is abovethem."
"The spirit of Harith has returned in Abra," said Jacob gloomily. "Fromthat month of April when he was foaled he has been a trial and a burden;yes, if even a cloud blows over the moon he comes to my window and callsme. There was never such a horse since Harith. However, he shall makeamends. Abra!"
The stallion stepped nearer and halted, alert.
"Go to him, fool. Go to the stranger and give him your head. Quick!"
The gray horse turned, hesitated, and then came straight to Connor, veryslowly; there he bowed his head and dropped his muzzle on the knee ofthe white man, but all the while his eyes flared at the strange face interror. Jacob turned a proud smile upon Ephraim, and the latter nodded.
"It is a good colt," he admitted. "His heart is right, and in time hemay grow to some worth."
Once more Connor fumbled in his pocket.
"Steady," he said, looking squarely into the great, bright eyes."Steady, boy."
He put his hand under the nose of the stallion.
"It's a new smell, but little different."
Abra snorted softly, but though he shook he dared not move. The gambler,with a side glance, saw the two men watching intently.
"Ah," said Connor, "you have pulled against a headstall here, eh?"
He touched an old scar on the cheek of the horse, and Abra closed hiseyes, but opened them again when he discovered that no harm was done tohim by the tips of those gentle fingers.
"You may let him have his head again," said Connor. "He will not leaveme now until he is ordered."
"So?" exclaimed Jacob. "We shall see! Enough Abra!"
The gray tossed up his head at that word, but after he had taken onestep he returned and touched the back of the white man's hand, snuffedat his shoulder and at his hat and then stood with pricking ears. A softexclamation came in unison from Jacob and Ephraim.
"I have never seen it before," muttered Jacob. "To see it, one would sayhe was a son of Julanda."
"It is my teaching and not the blood of Julanda that gives my horsesmanners," corrected Ephraim. "However, if I might look in the hand ofthe stranger--"
"There is nothing in it," answered Connor, smiling, and he held out bothempty palms. "All horses are like this with me."
"Is it true?" they murmured together.
"Yes; I don't know why. But you were going to bring Joseph."
"Ah," said Ephraim, shaking his head. "I had almost forgotten. Hurry,Jacob; but if you will take my advice in the matter you will teach yourcolts fewer tricks and more sound sense."
The other grunted, and putting his hand on the withers of Abra, heleaped to the back with the lightness of a strong youth. A motion of hishand sent the gray into a gallop that shot them through the gate intodarkness.