CHAPTER XXXVII
"I AM REPAID, QUEEN"
Their position was terrible. Soa had escaped, and Soa knew everything.Moreover, she was mad with hatred and longing for revenge on Leonard,Otter, and in a less degree on Olfan the king. Had they succeeded inrevealing themselves to the people, all might have gone well, for Otterand Juanna would certainly have been accepted as true gods, who hadpassed and repassed the gates of death scatheless. But now the affairwas different. Soa would tell the truth to the priests, who, even ifthey were inclined to desert her father in his extremity, must strikefor their own sakes and for that of their order, which was the mostpowerful among the People of the Mist, and had no desire to be placedunder the yoke of secular authority.
It was clear to all of them that if they could not escape, theymust fall very shortly into the hands of the priests, who, knowingeverything, would not dare to allow them to appeal to the army, or tothe superstition of the outside public. The only good card they held wasthe possession of the person of Nam, though it remained to be seen howfar this would help them.
To begin with, there are always some ready to step into the shoes of ahigh priest, also Nam had blundered so extensively in the matter ofthe false gods, that the greater part of the fraternity, whom he hadinvolved in his mistakes, would not sorrow to see the last of him.
These facts, which were perfectly well known to Olfan and guessed at byhis companions, sharpened their sense of the danger in which they hadbeen placed by Soa's resource and cunning. Indeed, their escape wasa matter of life and death to them and to many hundreds of theiradherents. If once they could reach the temple and proclaim there-arisen gods to the people, all would go well, for the army wouldsuffice to keep the priests from using violence. But if they failed inthis, their death-warrant was already signed, for none of them wouldever be heard of again.
No wonder, then, that they hurled themselves despairingly upon thestubborn doors. For an hour or more they laboured, but all in vain. Themassive timbers of hard wood, six inches or more in thickness, couldscarcely be touched by their knives and spears, nor might their unitedstrength serve even to stir the stone bolts and bars that held themfast, and they had nothing that could be used as a battering-ram.
"It is useless," said Leonard at last, throwing down his knife indespair; "this wood is like iron, it would take us a week to cut throughit."
"Why not try fire, Baas?" suggested Otter.
Accordingly they attempted to burn down the doors, with the resultthat they nearly stifled themselves in the smoke and made but littleimpression upon the woodwork.
At length they gave up the experiment--it was a failure--and sat lookingblankly at each other as they listened to certain sounds which reachedthem from the passages without, telling them that their enemies weregathering there.
"Has anyone a suggestion to make?" said Leonard at last. "If not, Ithink that this game is about played."
"Baas," answered Otter, "I have a word to say. We can all go downthrough that hole by which I came up to you. The Water-Dweller is dead,I slew him with my own hand, so there is nothing to fear from him.Beneath the hole runs a tunnel, and that tunnel leads to the slope ofthe mountain above. At the top of this slope is an ice-bridge by whichmen may reach a fair country if they have a mind to."
"Then for heaven's sake let us cross it," put in Juanna.
"I have seen that bridge," said Olfan, while the captains staredwonderingly at the man whose might had prevailed against the ancientSnake, "but never yet have I heard of the traveller who dared to set hisfoot upon it."
"It is dangerous, but it can be crossed," replied Otter; "at theleast, it is better to try it than to stay here to be murdered by themedicine-men."
"I think that we will go, Leonard," said Juanna; "if I am to die I wishto do so in the open air. Only what is to become of Nam? And perhapsOlfan and the captains would prefer to stop here?"
"Nam will go with us wherever we go," answered Leonard grimly; "wehave a long score to settle with that gentleman. As for Olfan and hiscaptains, they must please themselves."
"What will do you, Olfan?" asked Juanna, speaking to him for the firsttime since the scene in the other prison.
"It seems, Queen," he answered, with downcast eyes, "that I have swornto defend you to the last, and this I will do the more readily becausenow my life is of little value. As for my brethren here, I think, likeyou, that they will choose to die in the open, rather than wait to bemurdered by the priests."
The three captains nodded an assent to his words. Then they all set towork.
First they took food and drink, of which there was an ample supply inthe other cell, and hurriedly swallowing some of it, disposed the restabout their persons as best they could, for they foresaw that even ifthey succeeded in escaping, it was likely that they would go hungry formany days. Then Leonard wrapped Juanna in a goat-skin cloak which hetook from one of the fallen priests, placing the second cloak overhis own shoulders, for he knew that it would be bitterly cold on themountains. Lastly, they tied Nam's arms behind him and deprived him ofhis knife, so that the old man might work none of them a sudden injuryin his rage.
All being prepared, Otter made his rope fast to the staff and descendedrapidly to the cave below. As his feet touched the ground, the priestsbegan to batter upon the doors of the cell with beams of wood, or somesuch heavy instruments.
"Quick, Juanna!" said Leonard, "sit in this noose and hold the line, wewill let you down. Hurry, those doors cannot stand for long."
Another minute and she was beside Otter, who stood beneath, a candle inhis hand. Then Leonard came down.
"By the way, Otter," he said, "have you seen anything of the jewels thatare supposed to be here?"
"There is a bag yonder by the Water-Dweller's bed, Baas," answered thedwarf carelessly, "but I did not trouble to look into it. What is theuse of the red stones to us now?"
"None, but they may be of use afterwards, if we get away."
"Yes, Baas, _if_ we get away," answered Otter, bethinking himself of theice-bridge. "Well, we can pick it up as we go along."
Just then Nam arrived, having been let down by Olfan and the captains,and stood glaring round him, not without awe, for neither he nor any ofhis brethren had ever dared to visit the sacred home of the Snake-god.Then the captains descended, and last of all came Olfan.
"We have little time to spare, Deliverer," said the king; "the door isfalling," and as he spoke they heard a great crash above. Otter jerkedfuriously at the rope, till by good luck one end of the stake slid overthe edge of the hole and it fell among them.
"No need to leave this line for them to follow by," he said; "besidesit may be useful." At that moment something appeared looking throughthe hole. It was the head of one of the pursuing priests. Nam saw it andtook his opportunity.
"The false gods escape by the tunnel to the mountains," he screamed,"and with them the false king. Follow and fear not, the Water-Dweller isdead. Think not of me, Nam, but slay them."
With an exclamation Otter struck him heavily across the mouth, knockinghim backwards, but the mischief was done, for a voice cried in answer:
"We hear you, father, and will find ropes and follow."
Then they started. One moment they paused to look at the huge bulk ofthe dead crocodile.
"This dwarf is a god in truth," cried one of the captains, "for no mancould have wrought such a deed."
"Forward," said Leonard, "we have no time to lose."
Now they were by the crocodile's bed and among the broken bones of hisvictims.
"The bag, Otter, where is the bag?" asked Leonard.
"Here, Baas," answered the dwarf, dragging it from the moulderingskeleton of the unlucky priest who, having offended the new-found god,had been let down through the hole to lay it in its hiding-place and toperish in the jaws of the Water-Dweller.
Leonard took the bag, and opening its mouth, which was drawn tight witha running strip of hide, he peeped into it while Otter held down thecandle that he
might see. From its depths came a glimmer of red and bluelight that glowed like the heart of some dull fire.
"It is the treasure," he said, in a low tone of exultation. "At last theluck has turned."
"How much does it weigh?" said Juanna, as they sped onwards.
"Some seven or eight pounds, I should say," he answered, stillexultantly. "Seven or eight solid pounds of gems, the finest in theworld."
"Then give it to me," she said; "I have nothing else to carry. You mayhave to use both your hands presently."
"True," he answered, and passed the string of the bag over her head.
Now they went on up the smooth sloping bed of the stream, sufferinglittle inconvenience, except from the cold of the water that flowedabout their ankles.
"The stream has risen a little, Baas, since I passed it this morning,"said Otter. "Doubtless this day's sun has melted some snow at itssource. To-morrow we might not have been able to travel this road."
"Very likely," answered Leonard. "I told you that our luck had turned atlast."
Twenty minutes more and they reached the mouth of the tunnel, andpassing between the blocks of ice, found themselves upon the mountainside. But, as it chanced, the face of the moon was hidden by clouds,which is often the case in this country at the beginning of the springseason, for whereas in winter the days are almost invariably misty andthe nights clear, in spring and summer these atmospheric conditions arefrequently reversed. So dark was it indeed, that it proved impossible toattempt the ascent of the mountain until the day broke, since to doso would be to run the risk of losing themselves, and very possibly ofbreaking their necks among its numerous clefts and precipices.
After a minute's hasty discussion they set to work to fill up the mouthof the tunnel, or rather the cracks between the blocks of ice thatalready encumbered it, with such material as lay to hand, namely lumpsof frozen snow, gravel, and a few large stones which they were fortunateenough to find in the immediate vicinity, for the darkness renderedit impossible to search for these at a distance. While they were thusengaged they heard the voices of priests speaking on the further sideof their somewhat inefficient barrier, and worked harder than ever,thinking that the moment of attack had come.
To their astonishment, however, the sound of talking died away.
"Now where have they gone?" said Leonard--"to climb the cliff by anotherpath and cut us off?"
"I think not, Deliverer," answered Olfan, "for I know of no such path.I think that they have gone to bring heavy beams by means of which theywill batter down the ice wall."
"Still there is such a path, King," said one of the captains, "forI myself have often climbed it when I was young, searching forsnow-flowers to bring to her whom I courted in those days."
"Can you find it now, friend?" asked Olfan eagerly.
"I do not forget a road that I have trod," said the captain, "but it isone not easy to follow."
"See now, Shepherdess," said Olfan after thinking awhile, "shall we takethis man for a guide and return down the cliff to the city, for there,unless fate is against us, we may find friends among the soldiers andfight out this battle with the priests."
"No, no," answered Juanna almost passionately, "I would rather die thango back to that dreadful place to be murdered at last. Do you go if youwill, Olfan, and leave us to take our chance."
"That I cannot do, Queen, for I am sworn to a certain service," he saidproudly. "But hearken, my friend; follow this path of which you speak,if you can do so in the darkness, and find help. Then return swiftly tothis spot where I and your two comrades will hold the priests at bay.Perchance you will not find us living, but this I charge you, if we aredead give it out that the gods have left the land because they were soevilly dealt with, and rouse up the people to fall upon the priestsand make an end of them once and for ever, for thus only shall they winpeace and safety."
Making no reply, the man shook Olfan and the other two captains by thehand, saluted Juanna, and vanished into the darkness. Then they all satdown in front of the mouth of the tunnel to wait and watch, and veryglad were they of the goat-skin cloaks which had belonged to thepriests, for as the night drew towards the dawn, the cold became sobitter that they could scarcely bear it, but were obliged to rise andstamp to and fro to keep their wet feet from freezing.
"Leonard," said Juanna, "you do not know what passed after Nam trappedyou," and she told him all the tale.
When she had finished he rose and, taking Olfan by the hand, said:"King, I thank you. May fortune deal as well with you as you have dealtby me and mine!"
"Say no more, Deliverer," answered Olfan hastily; "I have but done myduty and fulfilled my oath, though at times the path of duty is hard fora man to follow." And he looked towards Juanna and sighed.
Leonard sat down and was silent, but many a time both then and inafter-days did he wonder at the nobleness of mind of this savage king,which enabled him, under circumstances so cruel, to conquer his ownpassion and show himself willing to lay down life and throne together,that he might carry out his vow to protect the woman who had brought himso much pain and now left him for ever with his successful rival.
At length, looking at the mountain peak above them, they saw its snowsbegin to blush red with the coming of the dawn, and just then also theyheard many voices talking within the tunnel, and caught glimpses oflights flashing through the openings in their rude fortifications. Thepriests, who no doubt had been delayed by the procuring of the timberswhich were to serve as battering-rams, and the labour necessary to dragthem up the steep incline of the tunnel, had returned, and in force. Afew more minutes and a succession of dull thuds on the further side ofthe ice wall told the little band of defenders that their enemies wereat work.
"The light grows quickly, Deliverer," said Olfan quietly; "I think thatnow you may begin to ascend the mountain and take no harm."
"What shall we do with this man?" asked Leonard, pointing to Nam.
"Kill him," said Otter.
"No, not yet awhile," answered Olfan. "Take this," and he handed Leonardthe spear of the third captain, who had left it when he started down themountain, fearing that it might encumber him, "and drive him along withyou at its point. Should we be overpowered, you may buy your lives asthe price of his. But should we hold them back and you escape, then dowith him what you will."
"I know well what I would do," muttered Otter, glowering at the priest.
"And now, farewell," went on Olfan in the same calm voice. "Bring moreice, comrades, or stone if you can see any; the wall cracks."
Leonard and Otter wrung the king's hand in silence, but Juanna couldnot leave him thus, for her heart was melted at the thought of all hisgoodness.
"Forgive me," she murmured, "that I have brought you grief, and, as Ifear, death to follow grief."
"The grief you could not help, Queen, and be sure I shall welcome deathif he should choose me. Go now, and happiness go with you. May youescape in safety with the bright pebbles which you desire! May you andyour husband, the Deliverer, be blessed for many years in each other'slove, and when you grow old together, from time to time think kindly ofthat wild man, who worshipped you while you were young and laid down hislife to save you."
Juanna listened, and tears sprang to her eyes; then of a sudden sheseized the great man's hand and kissed it.
"I am repaid, Queen," he said, "and perchance your husband will not bejealous. Now go, and swiftly."
As he spoke a small portion of the wall fell outwards and the fierceface of a priest appeared at the opening. With a shout Olfan lifted hisbroad spear and thrust. The priest fell backwards, and just then thecaptains arrived with stones and stopped the hole.
Then the three turned and fled up the mountain side, Otter driving Nambefore him with blows and curses, till at length the old man fell andlay on his face groaning. Nor could the dwarf's blows, which were not ofthe softest, force him to rise.
"Get up, you treacherous dog," said Leonard, threatening him with thespear.
"Then yo
u must loose my arms, Deliverer," answered the priest; "I amvery weak, and I cannot travel up this mountain with my hands boundbehind me. Surely you have nothing to fear from one aged and unarmedman."
"Not much at present, I suppose," muttered Leonard, "though we have hadenough to fear from you in the past." And taking his knife he cut loosethe lashings.
While he did so, Juanna turned and looked behind her. Far below themshe could see the forms of Olfan and his companions standing shoulderto shoulder, and even catch the gleams of light reflected from theirspears, for now the sun was rising. Beneath them again she saw thegrass-grown roofs of that earthly hell, the City of the People of theMist, and the endless plain beyond through which the river wandered likea silver serpent. There also was the further portion of the huge wall ofthe temple built by unknown hands in forgotten years, and risingabove the edge of that gap in the cliff through which she was looking,appeared a black mass which she knew to be the head and shoulders of thehideous colossus, on whose dizzy brow she had sat in that strange hourwhen the shouting thousands thundered a welcome to her as their goddess,and whence her most beloved friend, Francisco, had been hurled to hiscruel death.
"Oh, what I have suffered in that place!" she thought to herself. "Howhave I lived through it, I wonder? And yet I have won something," andshe glanced at Leonard who was driving Nam towards her, "and if onlywe survive and I am the means of enabling him to fulfil his vow andbuy back his home with these jewels, I shall not regret all that I haveendured to win them. Yes, even when he is no longer so very much inlove, he must always be grateful to me, for few women will have done asmuch for their husbands."
Then Nam staggered past her, hissing curses, while the untiring Otterrained blows upon his back, and losing sight of Olfan and his companionsthey went on in safety, till they reached the neck and saw theice-bridge glittering before them and the wide fields of snow beyond.