CHAPTER EIGHT.
A FRIEND APPEARS UNEXPECTEDLY, AND OUR TRAVELLERS SPEND A DISTURBEDNIGHT.
Whatever ethereal persons may say to the contrary, there can be no doubtwhatever that the consumption of food is an intellectual treat, inasmuchas it sets the body free from the cravings of appetite, and bystimulating those nervous influences which convey vigour and vitality tothe brain, not only becomes the direct cause of physical gratification,but induces that state of mind which is most favourable to thedevelopment of the interesting creations of fancy and the brilliantcoruscations of imagination.
We might pursue this subject further did time and space permit; but ourobjection to "skipping" is so great, that we shrink from giving thereader even a shadow of excuse for doing so. Moreover we dread theassault of the hypercritical reader, who will infallibly object that itis not "the consumption of food," but the resulting mental effect whichis the "intellectual treat." As if we did not know that! "But," wewould retort with scorn, "can any cause be separated from its effectwithout bringing about, so to speak, the condition of nonentity?"
Passing to the subject which gave rise to these erratic thoughts, wehave to relate that the whole party, entertainers and entertained, didample justice to the rice, beef, chicken and marrow-bones, after whichHockins wafted the natives to the seventh heaven of delight and wonderby means of his flageolet. It was very late that night before theyretired to rest. It was later still before they went to sleep.
The native village at which our travellers had arrived was a rude,poor-looking place, inhabited by a brave and war-like tribe, whodepended more for defence on their personal prowess and the difficultiespresented by their forests, than upon ditches or ramparts. The villagewas, however, surrounded by a fence of trees growing so close togetherthat it would have been almost impossible to carry the place by assaultif resolutely defended from within.
The huts were roughly constructed of bamboos plastered with clay andlined with matting,--also with the large leaves of the "traveller'stree," and thatched with rushes.
The chief's hut, in which the white guests were feasted, was of courselarger and somewhat better in construction than the others. Its floor,composed of hard-beaten clay, was covered with matting, clean pieces ofwhich were spread for the visitors to squat upon, for there were nochairs, stools, or tables. In the north-west corner was the hearth--asquare of between two and three feet, with a few large stones forsupporting the cooking utensils, but without chimney of any kind. Smokewas allowed to find an exit as it best could by crevices in the roof andby a small window or hole in the north gable. A few cooking-pots,earthen jars, rice-baskets, some knives, a wooden chest, and severalspears, completed the furniture.
Against the northern roof-post hung a small bottle-shaped basket, whichcontained the household _sampey_, or god, or charm. In Madagascar thisusually consists of a meaningless stone; sometimes a chip of wood, theleaf of a tree, or a flower, and this is what the natives pray to andprofess to trust in!
Our travellers found, after supper was over, that they were not to sleepin the chief's house, for they were led to that of a head-man of thevillage, and told they were to rest with him. This man was old, andseemed to have no wife or family, for the only person at home at thetime, besides himself, was an old woman, perhaps his sister, who lookedafter the household. He was a hospitable old man, however, and madethem heartily welcome to their beds of matting in the north end of thehut. Unfortunately the south end of it was usually occupied by pigs andpoultry. These were expelled for the occasion, but they insistedseveral times on returning to their own abode, being unable, apparently,to believe that their expulsion was really intended! As there wereseveral openings in the hut, the difficulty of excluding the animals wasgreat, for when expelled at one hole, amid remonstrative shrieks andscreams, they quickly re-entered at another with defiant grunts andcacklings.
By stopping up the holes, however, the enemy was finally overcome. Thenthe old man, having retired to his corner, and the sister havingdeparted, Mark Breezy, John Hockins, James Ginger, and Ravonino drewround the fire, heaped-on fresh logs, lay down at full length on theirmats, and prepared to enjoy that sleepy chat which not unfrequentlyprecedes, sometimes even postpones, repose.
"That was a curious speech that Voalavo made to the crocodile,Ravonino," said Mark. "Do you really think he believed it did anygood?"
"Yes, truly, he believed it. This is a land of charms and superstition.Voalavo is of too honest and straightforward a nature to practise whathe does not believe in."
"Does _you_ b'lieve in charms an' soopistition?" asked Ebony, withexpectant eyes.
"What need to ax that, you stoopid nigger?" said Hockins; "don't youknow he's a Christian?"
"Das true, 'Ockins. I hoed an' forgot."
"But tell me, Ravonino, are de crokindiles awrful rampageous when dey'reroused?"
"Yes, they are pretty bad," said the guide, clearing his throat, for hewas fond of expatiating on the wonders and beauties of his native land!"And although they look sluggish enough when sprawling on mud-banks,half-asleep in the sun, you would be surprised to see them go afterfish, which is their principal food. Their favourite haunts are thedeep rugged banks of a river or lake overhung with trees, where they canhide themselves and watch for prey. It is not only in water that theyare dangerous. They fasten their teeth, if they get the chance, on anyanimal that comes to the river to drink. They sometimes get hold ofbullocks when drinking, and often do so when the cattle are swimmingacross. They are unnaturally ferocious, too, for they will devour theirown young."
"Oh! de brutes!" exclaimed Ebony, poking the fire with a bit of sticksavagely. "Don't de mudders fight for de young uns?"
"Not they. The mothers lay their eggs in the sand and leave them tolook after themselves. The others are sly, and--"
"Dat's de fadders, brudders, an' unkles ob de eggs, you mean?"
"Yes, that's what I mean. The old he-crocodiles watch where the eggsare laid, an' when it's about time for them to break an' let the youngones out, these monsters go into the water at the edge and wait. Whenthe baby-crocodiles get out of prison they make straight for the water,where the old villains are ready to receive an' devour them. Some timesthe young ones are stupid when they are born, they take the wrong roadand escape their relations' teeth only to get to the rice-grounds andfall into the hands of the natives. Many of the eggs, too, aredestroyed, before they are hatched, by vultures and other birds, as wellas by serpents. Men also gather them by hundreds, boil them and drythem in the sun to preserve them for use or sale."
"The miserable young things seem to have a poor chance of life then,"said Mark, sleepily.
"Das so, massa. I'd rader be a nigger dan a crokindile."
Hockins said nothing, being sound asleep.
"What makes that rattling among the cooking-pots?" asked Mark, lookinground lazily.
"Rats," replied the guide. "Didn't you see them running along the roofwhen you came in?"
"No, I didn't."
"Look up now, then, and you'll see them on the beams."
Mark and Ebony both looked up, and beheld a row of rats on the beamoverhead--their bead-like eyes glittering as they gazed over one side ofthe beam, and their long tails just showing on the other.
"Das funny," said the negro, who was in sympathy with the whole brutecreation!
Mark thought it very much the reverse of funny, but held his peace.
"Dar's a ole grey un, massa, right ober 'Ockins's head--a tremenjous big'un. Don't you see 'im wid a griggy young un beside 'im?"
Whether the griggy young one was also larky we cannot tell, but whilethe negro was speaking it executed a flourish (whether intentional orotherwise who can say?) which knocked the big grey rat off the beam, andcaused it to fall with a heavy flop on Hockins's face. Three othersfell off in their anxiety to observe the result.
Hockins leapt up with an indignant roar, and the rats leaped among thepots and pans with a horrified squeak,
while Ebony and the others lookedon with excruciating enjoyment.
The scurrying of many little feet among the household implements toldthat the grey rat's friends were numerous though unseen, and the angrygrunting of pigs proved that other slumbers had been broken. Of coursethe whole party were thoroughly awakened by this incident, but they tookit good-humouredly, and, after replenishing the fire, lay down again,and resolutely shut their eyes and ears.
Slumber was once more stealing over them, when a noise at the door ofthe hut awakened them. Next moment they started up, for two warriors ofthe tribe entered with a prisoner between them.
"We caught this man entering our village," said one of the warriors,fiercely, to the guide; "we would have taken him to our chief, but hesays that you are his friend--yet I think he lies."
"He speaks the truth," returned Ravonino, calmly. "He is my friend.Doubtless he has good reasons for coming here. Leave him with us, wewill guard him till morning."
The warriors at once released their prisoner and retired, while the manstepping forward into clearer light revealed the handsome countenance ofLaihova.
"Sit down, my brother," said Ravonino to the youth, in tones of unusualtenderness, "and let me know what brings you here so unexpectedly."
"I come to offer my service," replied the youth, with a modest air."You have told me that you go to Antananarivo to rescue Rafaravavy.Your face is known to every one in the town. If you enter it, yourdeath will be certain."
"But I do not intend to enter it," said Ravonino; "these my whitefriends will aid me."
"The white men may be wise and brave, but they know not how to aid you,I am not so well-known in the town. I will venture into it, and willshow them where to go and what to do."
The guide shook his head and was silent for some moments. He seemeduncertain how to act.
"What says Laihova?" asked Mark Breezy at this point, for theconversation having been conducted in the native tongue they as yetunderstood nothing.
The guide briefly explained, and then turned to the young man.
"But how can you think of leaving your friends in the cave, Laihova?They may require your strong arm; and my sister is--"
"It was my friends who advised me to leave them," said the youth,quickly, "and Ra-Ruth bade me go. Besides, have we not entered into theCovenant of Blood?"
"Well, you may come with us. After all, Ra-Ruth is right."
"What does he mean by the Covenant of Blood?" asked Mark when the guideexplained what had just been said.
"It means that he and I are united by one of the closest ties that bindthe men of this island. No doubt you will think it a strange alliance,nevertheless it is a true and a strong bond of brotherhood. It is meantto unite two people in sacred friendship, so that ever afterwards theyfeel bound to help and defend each other. When two persons agree toform this bond, a meeting is arranged for the performance of theceremony and taking the vow. Some gunpowder and a ball are brought,with a little ginger, a spear, and two particular kinds of grass. Afowl is also used. Its head is nearly cut off, and it is left to bleedduring the ceremony. Then a long vow of mutual friendship, assistance,and defence is pronounced. After this each man drinks a few drops ofthe other's blood. To obtain it they make a small cut in the skin ofthe centre of the bosom, which they call `the mouth of the heart.'"
"And did you go through this ceremony with Laihova?" asked Mark.
"I did, many years ago, when we were little more than boys. He saved mylife by jumping into a deep pool in a lake and rescuing me from thecrocodiles. I had fallen in off the steep bank. I could not swim, andhe could. After that we made the alliance of brotherhood. Laihova wasnot a Christian at that time. Since then God has made use of me torescue him from a more awful death than that which threatened me.Laihova is grateful, and, knowing that I run much risk in going near thecapital, has come, as you see, to help me."
"Not a bad style of brotherhood that," said Hockins, with a tremendousyawn. "Eh, Ebony? What d'ee think of you an' me goin' in for the samesort o' thing?"
"P'r'aps," answered Ebony, with a responsive yawn which threw that ofHockins quite into the shade, "p'r'aps black blood mightn't agree widyour stummick. But I say, Massa Breezy, don' you tink it a'most time wewas goin' to sleep?"
As the night was far spent--or, rather, the morning far advanced--bythat time, the whole party willingly assented. Laihova was suppliedwith a separate mat, the embers of the wood-fire were drawn together,and they all lay down once more, to make the most of what remained ofthe period of repose. But circumstances were against them.
True, being tired and healthy men, they dropped off at once with thefacility of infants, and during a quarter of an hour or so, while thefire continued to emit an occasional flicker, all went well; but whenthe last vestige of flame died away, the rats again came out withbead-like eyes and cautious tread. Gradually they became bolder.Impunity never fails to encourage presumption. In short they soon beganto hold a sort of carnival. The pots and pans became, as it were,musical, to the evident distress of the slumbering seaman--especiallywhen the large grey rat fairly overturned a small rice-jar, which in itsfall removed several props from other utensils and caused a seriousclatter. Still the wearied men slept through it all, until the enemytook to scampering over their bodies. Then the enraged Ebony, beingpartially awakened, made a fierce grasp at one of the foe, and caughtHockins by the ear. Of course the result was a howl, and a sleepyrequest from Mark, to "Stop that noise!"
But even that incident failed to arouse them thoroughly, though itfilled the rats with temporary horror, and caused them to flee.
The last word reminds us that there were others there that night,besides rats, to disturb the sleepers' dreams--but we merely make asuggestive hint at that!
Soon the rats returned in greater force and more demonstrative hilaritythan ever. They evidently went in for a game of hide-and-seek round andover the slumberers, causing the sleepy growls of John Hockins toresemble the fitful mutterings of distant thunder.
Thus they went on until the grey dawn of morning appeared. Then anextremely large cock, in the south-east corner of the hut, feeling thatit had enjoyed a sufficiently good night's rest, flapped its ungainlywings, stretched out its neck, and gave vent to a clarion-crow which--
"Brute!" exclaimed Hockins, not even giving us time to finish thesentence!
He said no other word, but seizing a piece of wood, sent it forth withsuch true and effective aim, that he cleared not only the cock, but allhis wives off their perch, and sent them in cackling consternation outof the hut by the nearest hole in the wall.
After that the much-tried party slumbered in peace until the sun washigh.