Daughter of the Sun
CHAPTER XVII
HOW ONE WHO HAS EVER COMMANDED MUST LEARN TO OBEY
Suddenly Zoraida had become as docile as a little frightened child.She shivered from head to foot. She put her two hands to her throatwhere just now the point of the knife had been.
"Quick!" said Kendric.
She rose in haste. A vertigo was upon her like that dizzy weakness ofone very sick, seeking prematurely to rise from bed. She hadexperienced a shock from which she could rally only gradually; shelooked broken. Her eyes appeared to see nothing about her but staredoff into the distance through a veil of abstraction.
"We will have to go," she said tonelessly. "There is no other way."
They passed by the inert figure on the floor and out, Kendric with hisleft hand always on her arm. Again the knife was hidden under hiscoat, but his fingers did not release it.
"Quick," he said again.
So Zoraida, obedient in this strange new mood governing her, making noeffort to shake off his hand having no thought to gainsay him,hastened. In perhaps five minutes they were unlocking the last door,and Kendric heard beyond the whining of the puma. Kendric had had timefor thought during this brief interval which had seemed much longer;for the present both his safety and Betty's would undoubtedly dependupon his keeping Zoraida with him. So now, as he flung open the door,he carried Zoraida along into the room.
At first he did not see the cat lying close to the cage; he saw onlyBetty. A little color had come back into her cheeks; he saw the lookin her eyes before it changed and knew that to Betty had come the timewhen hope is given up and when death is faced. She had passed beyondtears and pleading and crying out. It was given Kendric then to learnthat when the crisis had come it found in the girl's heart a courage tosustain her. Her face was set, her attitude was no longer cringing.In such tender breasts as Betty's have beat the steady hearts ofmartyrs.
When she saw Jim Kendric and Zoraida standing before her she staredincredulously. She was in a daze. Her first wild thought, reflectingitself unmistakably in her wide eyes, was that they had come to taunther, he and she side by side. Then her faltering gaze left Zoraida andignored her and went, full of earnest questioning, to Jim's face.Suddenly, at what she saw there, the red blood of joyousness ran intoBetty's cheeks. At moments like this it is with few words or none atall that perfect understanding comes. In a flash his look had told herall that it would require many fumbling spoken words to repeat one-halfso eloquently.
The puma had sprung to its feet but stood its ground. The murderouseyes were everywhere at once, on Betty, on Jim, on Zoraida, most of allon Betty; the quivering nostrils widened and sniffed; the tawny throatshook with a series of low growls. Jim's foot stirred; the cat's teethcame together with a snap.
With little wish as Kendric had to create a disturbance just now, itwas beyond his power to withhold his hand as he saw Betty draw backagainst the walls of her cage. In his pocket was Bruce's weapon.Kendric jerked it out, and before Zoraida's cry could burst from herlips and before her hand struck his arm, he drove a bullet into thepuma's skull between the hard evil eyes. The animal dropped in itstracks, with never another whine.
As the puma went down, Zoraida winced as though in bodily pain, asthough it had been her flesh instead of her cat's that had known thedeep bite of hot lead. She looked from the twitching animal to Kendriclike one aghast, like one stupefied by what she had seen, who could notaltogether believe that an accomplished act had in reality taken place.There was horror in her look; she recalled to him vividly thoughfleetingly a South Sea island priest whom he had seen long ago when thesavage's idol had been overthrown and cast down into a mud puddle underthe palm trees. At that moment Zoraida might well have been sister tothe idolater of the South Seas or some ancient Egyptian priestessstricken dumb at the sight of sacred cat violated.
But there was Betty. Jim jerked open the door of the cage. Bettystumbled through and somehow found herself in his arms. They closedtight about her. The two turned to Zoraida. She, white-faced andsilent, watched them with smoldering eyes. And into those eyes, as fora space Betty's heart fluttered against Jim Kendric's breast, came forthe first time since the knife had been withdrawn from her throat, aquickening of purpose, a glint as of a covered fire breaking through.
"Come, Betty," said Jim quickly. "We are going to clear out of this,you and I. Right now!"
He noted a slight restless stirring of Zoraida's foot and stepped toher side, his hand again on her arm.
"We are not through with you yet," he told her. "Miss Gordon will wantsome clothes."
"In her room," agreed Zoraida. "Come."
Had she delayed her answer the fraction of a second he might havefollowed her, suspecting nothing. But as it was he remarked on hereagerness; Zoraida was passionately set on treachery and he sensed it.
"No," he answered. "From here we go straight out into the open."Zoraida had yielded to the pressure on her arm as though to continue inher new role of implicit obedience. But now his distrust was wideawake. There may have been a slight involuntary stiffening of hermuscles, hinting at rebellion; there was something which warned him inthe look she sought to veil. "What clothes Betty needs you can giveher. Here and now."
"Oh!" cried Betty, with a look of abhorrence and a shudder. "Icouldn't----"
"It can't be helped," he retorted. And to Zoraida: "She'll want shoesand stockings."
The look he had then from Zoraida was one of utter loathing and at lastof unhidden lust for his undoing. But after it she bestowed on him aslow contemptuous smile and again she obeyed. Her little shoes shekicked off; she drew off her stockings and he handed them to Betty.
"Zoraida goes barefooted at a man's command!" A first note of laughterwas in Zoraida's voice. "What more? Am I to disrobe in a man'spresence?"
"Your cloak," he muttered. "We'll make that do."
The cloak Betty accepted and threw about her shoulders. The shoes andstockings she held a moment, looking at them with repulsion in hereyes; they were too intimate, they had come too lately from Zoraida andin the end she threw them down.
"My sandals will do," she said. "I can't wear her things."
Kendric picked them up and thrust them into his pocket.
"Later, then," he said. "God knows we can't be choosers. Now," andagain he confronted Zoraida, "you will show us the way. Clear of thehouse. And we'll want horses. One thing, mind you: It is in mythought that if we allow you to hold us here we'll both be dead insidea few hours. I've no desire for that sort of thing. The issue isclear cut, isn't it?"
Zoraida merely lifted her brows at him.
"If it becomes a question of your life or ours," he told her sternly;"I'd naturally prefer it to be yours! Is that plain enough? For once,young woman, it's up to you to play square. Now, go ahead."
They went out silently through the door which had given them entranceinto this ugly room, Zoraida leading the way, Kendric holding close ather side and allowing her the sight of the obsidian knife held underhis coat with the point within an inch of her side, Betty close behindhim. Kendric felt a crying need of haste. For a few minutes he knewthat the fear of death had been heavy on the spirit of Zoraida,paralyzing her will, freezing up the current of her thought. But shewas still Zoraida, essentially fearless; her characteristic fortitudewould not be long in reinstating itself in her heart; the mentalconfusion was swiftly being replaced by the activity of resurginghatred. He must be watchful of every corner and door, most of allwatchful of her.
Thus it was Kendric's hand, once bolts were shot back, that threw openeach door, as he held himself in readiness to spring forward or back.But as appeared customary here the house seemed deserted. He thankedhis stars that the fellow he had struck down in Zoraida's room hadfallen hard. Not even the dull explosion of the pistol just now hadbrought inquiry; no doubt the thick walls had deadened the sound.After what seemed a long time they came into the wide dimly-lightedhall. The door giving entrance to the _pati
o_ was open; under thestars the little fountain played musically.
"Out this way," commanded Kendric. "Then around to the front of thehouse. And if we meet anyone, Zoraida, you'd best think back a fewminutes before you start anything."
There was no one in the _patio_ and they went through swiftly and outat the far side into the garden. Kendric filled his lungs with thesweet air that was beginning to grow cool. The glitter of the starswas to him like a hope and a promise. Never had he been so sick offour walls and a smothering roof. Now the musty gardens of the goldenking seemed to him infinitely far away, a thousand times fartherremoved than the dancing lights in the heavens.
With his hand gripping Zoraida's forearm they skirted the house.Presently they came to the front driveway and Zoraida must havewondered as he forced her to go with him to a clump of bushes. Hestooped, groped about a moment, and then straightened up with a littlegrunt of satisfaction; the rifle was in his hands.
"Now the horses," he said, and the three walked out into the starlightand toward the double gates. "Whatever you will say will go with themen out there. And be sure you say we are to be allowed to go for aride."
Zoraida did not answer and Kendric wondered, not without uneasiness,what she would say. His grip tightened on her arm. She did not appearto notice.
The watch towers on either side of the gate were lighted as usual.From one came the low drone of two men's voices; the other was silent.No other sound save that of the rattle of bit-chains as a horsesomewhere shook its head.
A man appeared from nowhere, with the air of having suddenlymaterialized out of the atmosphere. He came close, made out that oneof the three was Zoraida and backed away, sweeping off his hat. Theycame to the gates which the newly risen figure threw open; they wentthrough, Kendric having the air of a man lending his arm to a lady,Betty with the cloak drawn close about her, following. They were out!Now nearer than ever came the friendly stars, sweeter than ever was thenight air. Kendric looked swiftly about, taking note of the darknesslying close to the earth, thanking God that there was no moon. If onecould keep for a little in the shadow of the wall, if then he could getclear of the house and out into the fields lying at the rear, it wasbut a short run to the mountains----
They had turned and already were under one of the watch towers, the onewhence came the men's voices. The saddled horses stood, tethered torings set in the wall. Zoraida turned toward Kendric and in thestarlight her eyes shone strangely, bright with mockery. But tonightwas Jim Kendric's, and he was still bent on playing out his hand.
"_Que hay, amigos_?" he called familiarly to the men in the squaretower, his voice sounding careless and indifferent. "La Senorita ishere. She wants horses."
A head appeared at the little opening that served for window above, ahat was doffed with exaggerated deference, a second uncovered head wasthrust out. Kendric stepped back half a pace so that they could seeplainly that it was Zoraida.
"_Bueno_," said one of the two men. "_Viva la Senorita_!"
Already Kendric was undoing the two tie ropes. He regretted thenecessity of stepping two paces from Zoraida's side, but realized thatinevitably that necessity must come soon or late and he lost no timegrieving over it. The horses were at hand, saddled and bridled; Bettywas with him; the night was too dark for eyes to watch from a distance;the two men within Zoraida's call were still up in the tower. He wastaking his chance now and he knew it; Zoraida's period of obedience andinactivity was no doubt near at end. Well, his luck had befriended himthus far and for the rest it was up to Jim Kendric. And they were outin the open!
Thus he was ready for Zoraida's outcry. He saw her whip back so as tobe beyond the sweep of his arm, he heard her crying out wildly,commanding her retainers to stop the flight of her prisoners, shriekingat them to shoot, to shoot to kill!
"Betty!" cried Jim. "Quick!"
Then he saw that Betty, too, had been ready. Just how she managed it,encumbered as she was with Zoraida's cloak, he did not know. But shewas already in one of the saddles.
"Jim!" she cried wildly. "Run!"
He went up to the back of the other horse, his rifle in his hand. Andas he struck saddle leather his horse and Betty's shot forward andaway. He heard Zoraida's scream of command, breaking with rage. Heheard men's voices shouting excitedly; there came the well-rememberedshrilling of a whistle and then drowning its silver note the popping ofrifles.
"There'll be a dozen of them in the saddle and after us!" Jim shoutedat Betty. "Swing off to the right. We've got to make for themountains. Ride, girl! Ride, Betty! Ride for all that's in it!"
He glanced over his shoulder. Only a flare here and there as a riflespat its red threat, that and a blur of running figures. As yet nohorseman following them. That would take another minute or two. Helooked at Betty. She rode astride and well; no need to bid her makehaste. She leaned forward in the saddle, the loose ends of her reinswhipping back and forth regularly, lashing her horse's shoulders. Helooked ahead. There the mountains rose black and without detailagainst the sky. He looked up; the stars were shining.
Abruptly, as though at a command, the rifles ceased firing after them.And, instead of the explosions which had concerned Kendric little, cameanother sound fully to be expected by now and of downright seriousimport. It was the scurry and race of hoofs, how many there was noguessing. Pursuit had started and it was certain that the numbers ofthe pursuers would swell swiftly until perhaps a score of Zoraida'sriders were on their track. Kendric settled down to hard riding,drawing in close to Betty's side.
"We got a couple of minutes on them," he called to her. "That meanswe're ahead of them between a quarter and a half mile. In the darkthat's something."
Betty made no answer. They sped on. He tried to see her face but herhair was flying wildly. He wondered if her terror were freezing theheart in her. His own sensation at the moment was one of a strangesort of leaping gladness. After prison walls, this rushing through thenight was like a zestful game. He felt that he had that even breakwhich was ever all that he asked. If only Betty could feel as he did.
His horse stumbled and then steadied and plunged on. The groundunderfoot was rapidly growing steeper and more broken. The firstslopes of the mountains were beneath them. The horses, though urgedon, were not making their former speed. Now and then dry brushsnatched and whipped at the stirrups; here and there a pine tree stoodup black and still.
And then Kendric knew that the riders behind were gaining on them.Zoraida's men would know every trail even in the dark, would know allof the cleared spaces, would thus avoid both brush and steeps. Kendricturned in the saddle. He made out dimly the foremost of the pursuersand heard the man's shout to his companions.
"Betty," called Kendric.
"Yes?" she answered, and it struck him that perhaps he had imagined herterror greater than it actually was; for her voice was quite clear andeven sounded untroubled. "What is it?"
"In ten minutes or so they'll overhaul us. They know the way and wedon't. Further, we're apt to get a spill over a pile of rocks."
"Yes, Jim," she answered. And still her voice failed to tremble as hehad thought it must.
"The old dodge is all that's left us," he told her. "When I say theword, pull up a little and slide out of the saddle. Let your horse runon and you duck into the brush."
"And you?"
"I'm with you, of course." And presently, when they were in theshadows of the ever-steepening mountain side, he called softly: "Now!"
Until then he had never done Betty's horsemanship justice. He saw herbring her mount down from a flying gallop to a sliding standstill, hesaw her throw herself from the saddle, he saw the released animalplunge on again under a blow from the quirt which Betty had snatchedfrom the horn, the whole act taking so little time that it hardlyseemed that the horse had stopped for a second's time. Kendricduplicated her act and ran toward the spot where she had disappeared.In another moment his hand had closed about hers, was gree
ted by alittle welcoming squeeze, and he and Betty slipped side by side intothe thicker dark at the mouth of a friendly canon.