CHAPTER XIII
A MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE
"Gone," said Pereira again. "Now, friend Pierre, before we ratify thismatter by the aid of holy Church, perhaps you will table the gold. Thisis a cash transaction, remember."
"Certainly," answered Leonard. "Where is that black dog of mine, thedwarf? Ah! there he is. Dog, weigh out the stuff; if you have notenough, here is more." And he unbuckled his belt, from which he had beencareful to extract the ruby, and threw it to Otter.
"Now, gentlemen and companions," he went on, "for I hope that we may dobusiness together by and by, drink my health and my bride's. I havepaid pretty dear for her, but what of it? A gentleman of our professionshould always be ready to back his fancy, for if his is apt to be ashort life he may as well make it a merry one."
"She will think the better of you, and you of her for it," crieda voice. "Here is to Captain Pierre and the girl." And they drank,shouting aloud in their half-drunken merriment.
Meanwhile Otter, advancing with obsequious steps, was pouring handfulafter handful of gold coin and ingots into the large scales whichPereira caused to be held before him. At length all the gold was in, ashining heap.
"The balance does not turn," said Xavier; "I claim the girl."
"Baas," said Otter in a low voice, and speaking in Dutch, "have you moregold? The weight is short."
Leonard glanced carelessly at the scales: they were trembling on theturn.
"As much as you like," he said, "but here is what will do it."
And drawing off his signet ring he threw it on the pile. The rubyexcepted, it was the last thing of value that he had about him. Then thescale vibrated and sank down.
"Good," said Pereira, rubbing his hands at the sight of so muchtreasure. "Bring me the acid that I may test the stuff. No offence,stranger Pierre, but this is a wicked world, in which brass has passedfor gold before to-day."
The acid was brought and the ingots were tested at hazard, Pereiraholding them up to the light of a lamp.
"They are good," he said. "Now, Father, do your part."
The priest Francisco stepped forward. He was very pale and seemedterrified. Leonard, watching him, wondered what had brought him intosuch company, for the man's face was good and even refined.
"Dom Antonio," said the priest in a soft girlish voice, "I protestagainst this. Fate has brought me among you, though not of my ownwill, and I have been forced to bear the sight of much evil, but I havewrought none. I have shriven the dying, I have ministered to the sick, Ihave comforted the oppressed, but I have taken no share of the price ofblood. I am a priest of our holy Church, and if I wed these two beforethe sight of men, they will be husband and wife till death, and I shallhave set the seal of the blessing of the Church upon an act of shame. Iwill not do it."
"You will not do it, you shaveling traitor?" screamed Pereira in a voicehoarse with rage. "Do you want to follow your brother then? Look here,my friend, either you obey me and marry these two or----" and he hisseda horrible threat.
"NO, no," said Leonard, anxious to find an escape from this abominablemockery. "Let him be. What do the cheat's prayers matter? The lady and Ican do without them."
"I tell you, stranger, that you shall marry the girl, and this snivellermust marry you. If you don't, I will keep both her and the gold. And asfor him, he can choose. Here, slaves, bring the _sjamboch_."
Francisco's delicate face flushed pink. "I am no hero that I can sufferthus," he said; "I will do your bidding, Dom Antonio, and may Godforgive me the sin! For you, Pierre and Juanna, I am about to make youman and wife, to join you in a sacrament that is none the less holy andindissoluble because of the dreadful circumstances under which it iscelebrated. I say to you, Pierre, abandon your wickedness, and love andcherish this woman, lest a curse from heaven fall upon you. I sayto you, Juanna, put your trust in God, the God of the fatherless andoppressed, who will avenge your wrongs--and forgive me. Let water bebrought, that I may consecrate it--water and a ring."
"Here, take this one," said Pereira, lifting Leonard's signet ring fromthe pile of gold. "I give it back for a luck-penny."
And he tossed the ring to the priest.
Water was brought in a basin, and the father consecrated it.
Then he bade Leonard stand by the girl and motioned to the crowd to fallback from them. All this while Leonard had been watching Juanna. Shesaid no word, and her face was calm, but her eyes told him the terrorand perplexity which tore her heart.
Once or twice she lifted her clenched right hand towards her lips, thendropped it without touching them. Leonard knew but too well what deedshe meditated. He knew also the deadly nature of the drug she carried.If once it touched her tongue! The suspense was terrible. He could bearit no longer; even at the risk of discovery he must speak with her.
In obedience to the priest's direction he sauntered to her sidelaughing. Then, still laughing, with his hand he separated the tressesof dark hair, as though to look at the beauty of her side face, and bentdown as if to kiss her.
She stood pale and rigid, but once more her hand was lifted towards hermouth.
"Stop," he whispered swiftly into her ear, speaking in English, "I havecome to rescue you. Go through with this farce, it means nothing. Then,if I bid you, run for the drawbridge into the slave-camp."
She heard, a light of intelligence shone in her eyes, and her hand fellagain.
"Come, stop that, friend Pierre," said Pereira suspiciously. "What areyou whispering about?"
"I was telling the bride how beautiful I think her," he answeredcarelessly.
Juanna turned and flashed on him a well-simulated glance of hate andscorn. Then the service began.
The young priest was gifted with a low and beautiful voice, and by thelight of the moon he read the ritual of marriage so solemnly that eventhe villains who stood round ceased their jokes and sneers and weresilent. All things were done in order, though Juanna made no replyto the usual questions. With much sham courtesy the loathsome Pereirapresided over the ceremony--their hands were joined, the ring was setupon Juanna's finger, the blessing was pronounced, and it was finished.
All this while Leonard stood like a man in a dream. He felt as though hewere really being married; it even came into his mind, as he looked uponthe loveliness of the mock bride at his side, that a worse fate mightbefall him. Then of a sudden he woke from his reverie--the farce wasplayed, now they must strive to escape.
"There, that is done with, Dom Antonio," he said, "and I think I heardthis lady whisper that with your permission we will bid you good-bye. Mycanoe----"
"Nonsense, you will stop here to-night," said Pereira.
"Thanks, I think not," answered Leonard. "To-morrow I may return to do alittle business of another kind. I have a commission for about fifty, ata good price for the right sort."
As Leonard spoke thus, glancing to the east, he saw dense masses ofvapour rising into the air far away. The damp reeds were fired at last.The Settlement men had not failed in their task, and soon the flameswould be discovered; he must be gone and swiftly.
"Well, if you must, you must," answered Pereira, and Leonard observedthat he looked relieved as he said it. He did not know the reason at thetime. It was this: Juanna had told him that the man who bought herwould find his death in it. He had a superstitious fear of the girl, andbelieved her; therefore he was glad that her purchaser should go, lestit might be said that he had murdered him in order to retain both thewoman and her price. So he bade him farewell, and Leonard turned todepart, followed by Otter and Juanna, whom he led by the hand.
All might have gone well for that time had it not been for an unluckychance. Leonard's scheme was to walk towards the water-gate, but, if nobetter plan of reaching it should offer, to turn suddenly and run forthe drawbridge, where Soa and the others would be waiting, and thence,with or without the people of Mavoom, to escape up the banks of theZambesi.
Already he had started when the great Portuguese, Xavier, who waswatching plunged in sullen thought, step
ped forward. "At least I willhave a kiss for my trouble," he said, and seizing Juanna round thewaist, he drew her towards him.
Then it was that Leonard forgot his caution, as under such circumstancesa man, with nerves already strained to breaking point, well might do.Doubling his fist, he struck the giant in the face with such force thatXavier fell headlong to the ground, dragging Juanna after him. Leonardwould have done better had he suffered her to be insulted, but just thenhe remembered only that he was protecting a helpless girl.
Juanna was up in a moment and at his side. Xavier also sprang to hisfeet, cursing with fury and drawing his sabre as he rose.
"Follow me," said Leonard to Juanna and Otter. Then without more ado hetook to his heels.
A shout of laughter went up from the mob.
"This is the brave man. This is the French fire-eater," they cried. "Hestrikes unawares and is afraid to fight." Nor did they stop at words.All of them were jealous of the stranger, and would have rejoiced to seehim dead.
"Stop him!" they shouted, and many of the men started, running like dogsto turn a hare.
Still Leonard might have won through, for he was swift of foot. Butneither Juanna nor Otter could run so fast as he, and his pace mustbe their pace. Before he had gone a hundred yards he found himselfconfronted by a dozen or more of the slavers, some of whom had knives intheir hands.
"Stop, coward, stop and fight," they yelled in Portuguese and Arabic,waving their weapons in his face.
"Certainly," answered Leonard, wheeling round and glancing about him.
There, not thirty yards away, was the drawbridge of the slave camp, andhe thought that he saw it tremble, as if it was about to fall. At hisside were Otter and Juanna, and towards him, his hideous face redwith blood, rushed the great Portugee, sabre aloft, and screamingimprecations.
"Otter," Leonard said quickly, as he drew his sword, "guard my back, forwhen I have killed this one the rest will spring. For you, young lady,reach the bridge if you can. Soa and your people are there."
Now Xavier was upon him with a rush. He struck furiously, and Leonardavoided the blow, springing backwards out of his reach. Twice more herushed on thus and twice he smote, but each time Leonard ran backwardtowards the drawbridge, that now was not more than twenty yards away.A fourth time the Portugee came on, and the Englishman could not repeathis tactics, for the mob hemmed him in behind. On sped Xavier and smotehis hardest: Leonard saw the steel gleam in the moonlight and lifted hissword to guard. The blow fell, fire sprang from it in sparks, and downrattled fragments of shattered steel. His sword was broken.
"Fight on, Baas," said the voice of Otter, "fight on! Both swords havegone."
Leonard looked up. It was true: the Portugee was casting aside hisbroken weapon and clutching at his knife. Now Leonard had no knife, andat the moment he never thought of his revolver. But he still held thehilt of his sword, and with it he sprang straight at Xavier, who rushedto meet him.
They met with a dull shock as bull meets bull. Leonard struck one blowwith the broken sword-hilt, then dropped it--it was useless. But thestroke did him good service, for, falling on the right hand of thePortugee, it paralysed his arm for a second, causing him to let fall thedagger. Then they gripped each other, fighting desperately with theirnaked strength alone. Twice the huge Portugee lifted the Englishmanfrom the ground, striving to throw him, while the crowd yelled withexcitement, but twice he failed. Not for nothing had Leonard learntwrestling as a lad and hardened his iron muscles by years of toil.Xavier may have weighed sixteen stone and Leonard did not weighthirteen, but his arms were like bars of steel and he was struggling fordear life.
He waited awhile, letting the Portugee exhaust himself in efforts tohurl him to the ground. Then suddenly tightening his grip, Leonard putout all his strength. He could not hope to lift the man, that he knew,but he might throw him. With a sudden movement he hooked his right legbehind Xavier's left calf. Then he cast his weight forward and pushedwith all his strength upon the great man's breast.
Xavier tottered, recovered himself, tottered again, and strove to shifthis leg. Leonard felt the movement and met it with a supreme effort.Losing his balance, his foe swayed slowly backwards like a falling tree,then fell with a thud that shook the ground. It was a gallant throw, andeven the "ranks of Tusculum" as represented by the slave-drivers "couldscarce forbear to cheer." Now Leonard lay upon the breast of the man,for he was dragged to earth with him.
For a moment his enemy was still, breathing stertorously, for the shockof their fall had been great. Leonard looked round; there, some eightfeet away, was the knife, and he who could grasp it must win this deadlygame. But how could he grasp it? Xavier, whose strength and powerswere coming back, still hugged him in his fearful grip; he also saw theknife, and would win it. Rapidly, by instinct almost, Leonard measuredthe distance with his eye. There was but one plan, to roll to it. Thefirst roll would leave him undermost, but the dagger would still be outof Xavier's reach. Then, could he succeed in turning him upon his backonce more, Leonard would be uppermost again, and if he was able to freehis hand it might grasp the weapon. It was a terrible risk, but hemust take it. He lay motionless awhile, husbanding his force, and thePortugee surged and heaved beneath him; he could feel the muscles of hismighty frame start up in knots as he struggled. At last Leonard lethim have his way, and over they went, the two of them. Now Xavier wasuppermost, and the mob yelled in triumph, for they thought that thestranger's strength was spent.
"The knife, the knife!" gasped Xavier, and one of his servants sprangforward to give it to him. But Otter was watching and started out of thepress, naked sabre in hand: his fierce and ugly face was twitching withexcitement, his black eyes shone, and his vast shoulders worked to andfro. To Juanna, fascinated by the fearful struggle, the dwarf lookedlike some black gnome, like a thing of supernatural power, half toad,half human.
"He who touches the knife dies!" he said in guttural Arabic, stretchinghis long arm and sabre over it. "Let these cocks fight it out, mymasters."
The man shrank back: he also was afraid of Otter, deeming him uncanny;nor did any other interfere.
Now came the moment of death or victory. As he could not reach theweapon, with a sudden movement Xavier freed his right hand and graspedthe Englishman's throat; but to do this he must lessen the pressure onhis breast. Leonard felt the grip, and the knowledge that his end wasat hand renewed his powers. Twice he writhed like a snake, gripping theground with the muscles of his back and legs; once he swung his frame tothe right, then a vast effort, and lo! Xavier turned slowly over like alog of wood, and again Leonard lay upon his breast.
Leonard lay upon his breast, and his right arm was free and within reachof the dagger. But the giant's grasp of his throat was cruel; the blooddrummed in his ears and his senses began to fail. No, he would not diethus and leave the girl helpless. Where was it? He was blind, he couldsee nothing but her white face. He must get free--ah, he knew now!
They thought that he was spent: see! his head fell, when suddenly helifted himself and heaved up his arm.
Crash it came full on the forehead of Xavier, that in its turn waspillowed on the stony earth. The grip slackened. Crash again, a fearfuland despairing blow! Leonard's throat was free, and the air rushed intohis bursting lungs. Now he could see and grasp the knife, but therewas no need to use it. The great man beneath him flung his arms wide,shivered, and grew still.
Then it was, while men paused wondering at those awful blows, thatJuanna, mindful of her deliverer's bidding, turned and fled, sick atheart but unhindered, to the edge of the ditch opposite the drawbridge.Otter also rushed up and dragged Leonard from the ground.
"_Wow!_" he cried, "a good fight and a great blow! Dead, by my mother'sspirit, and no touch of steel. Awake, my father, awake! for if the boaris down the pigs remain!"
Leonard heard his words dimly and knew their import. With an effort heceased to stagger and rested his weight upon the dwarf, much as a manmight lean upon some sturdy post. His breath came back to
him and hismind cleared. He looked round and saw Juanna standing near the bridgelike one who hesitates whether to fly or stay.
"Sirs," gasped Leonard, "I have fought and I have won. Now let me go inpeace with the girl. Is the man alive?"
A ring of men had crowded round the body of Xavier, and in their centreknelt the priest Francisco. At this moment he rose and said:
"It is useless to minister to him; he is no more."
The slavers looked at Leonard with awe not unmixed with admiration. Whohad ever seen such a thing, that one whose strength had been a bywordshould be slain with the naked fist? They forgot that it is easy to killthe man whose head rests upon a stone.
Presently, however, their wonder gave way to rage. Xavier had beena favourite among them, and they were not minded that he should dieunavenged. So they drew round Leonard scowling and cursing.
"Stand back," he said, "and let me pass. I fought your friend fairly;had I wished to take advantage of him, should I not have used this?" Andfor the first time he remembered and drew his Colt, the sight of whichcooled their ardour somewhat, for they gave way. "Perhaps you will giveme an arm, Father," Leonard went on, speaking to the priest, who wasstanding by. "I am much shaken."
Francisco complied, and they started towards Juanna, Otter guardingtheir rear with his sabre. Before they had gone ten yards, however,Pereira waddled towards them after a hasty consultation with one of hiscaptains.
"Seize that man," he shouted; "he has killed the worthy Dom Xavier:having first insulted him, he has slain him by violence, and he mustanswer for it."
A dozen ruffians sprang forward at his bidding, only to be met by thesabre and pistol of Otter, with neither of which were they anxiousto make a closer acquaintance. Leonard saw that the position was verygrave, and a thought came into his mind. "You wish to escape from thisplace, Father?" he said rapidly to the priest.
"Yes," answered Francisco, "it is a hell."
"Then lead me as swiftly as you may to that bridge; I am hurt and weak,but there is succour beyond."
As he spoke the drawbridge, which was not ten yards away, fell with acrash.
"Run across, Juanna Rodd," cried Leonard in English.
She hesitated, then obeyed. It seemed to Leonard that the look upon herface said, "How can I leave you?"
"Now, Father," said Leonard, "make a rush for it," and leaning on thepriest's shoulder he stumbled towards the bridge. But he would neverhave reached it had it not been for Otter.
"Treason!" roared Pereira; "stop him! Who let down the bridge?"
A man came on the attack; it was the same young captain that Leonardhad offered to fight before the auction. In his hand was a knife alreadyuplifted to fall on Leonard's back when Otter's sabre flashed and theman went down.
"Seize the bridge and hold it," roared Pereira again.
"Wind up! wind up!" yelled Otter in answer, as with sabre and pistol heheld back the mob.
Those on the further side obeyed with such a will that Leonard and thepriest rolled down the slanting planks.
"Otter!" cried Leonard--"good God! he will be killed!"
By way of answer Otter fired the last barrel of his pistol. Then witha yell, before his foes could close upon him he sprang like a wild catstraight at the iron chains of the bridge, which were used to secureit in its place when needful. At the moment they hung four feet or moreabove his head, but he grasped them and shouted to Soa to hoist away.
A man attempted to seize his legs, but Otter kicked him in the faceand he fell into the water. Next second he was out of their reach andrapidly rising high into the air. Some threw knives and some firedpistol-shots after him, but none of these touched him.
"Ah! Yellow Devil," the dwarf cried as he swung, "look behind you: thereis another devil, yellower and fiercer than you."
Pereira turned and all his company with him, and at that moment, witha crackling roar, a vast sheet of flame burst up from the morass. Thereeds had caught at last in good earnest, and the strengthening wind wasbringing the fire down upon them.