The Gilded Man: A Romance of the Andes

  XIX

  A QUEEN'S CONQUEST

  Surrounded by her people, the ancient diadem of the Chibchas, with itsgreat, smouldering emerald, on her head, Sajipona waited at the entranceto the court. Without, the motionless flowers and shrubbery of thegarden were steeped in a pale, quivering light outlining every objectwith a weird intensity sharper, yet more indefinable than gleams frommoon-drenched skies. In this spectral scene the cavemen stood in rows,like carven statues; even Sajipona, mobile, versatile of mood, seemed awoman of marble.

  But Una, stirred profoundly by the picture she had seen, doubtful of itsreality, not altogether sure of her own ground, aware of the dangersthat threatened, but ignorant of their exact character, could not hideher anxiety. Seizing Sajipona's hand, her eyes were eloquent of unspokenquestioning. Her mute appeal was answered by a wistful smile, a glanceat once gracious and sorrowful.

  "For you there is no danger," said the queen. "For me--yes, for me thereis, perhaps, danger."

  "How can that be?"

  "You fear this Raoul Arthur. It is not for you, it is for me he hascome. For three years he has plotted to do this thing. My own kinsman,Rafael Segurra, was in league with him. Before now he has attempted toforce his way here. The two together found their opportunity in yourcoming. And now--Arthur has escaped from his captors and again seems tohave found traitors among my people."

  "What is it he wants?"

  "You ask that--you who know David!"

  For a moment the anger and suspicion with which she had first regardedUna kindled in Sajipona's eyes. But the mood vanished as quickly as itcame.

  "Surely, you remember what Narva said," she went on. "He seeks treasure.He sought it with David three years ago, the poor treasure belonging towhat is left of my people. Segurra told him where it was, how to getit."

  "Ah, yes!" exclaimed Una. "Now I know! The treasure of Guatavita, of ElDorado, it is here."

  "It is here--it is mine!" said Sajipona sternly. "It will never behis. Always your people have fought for it, have sinned and died tomake it theirs. They have driven us off the face of the earth, to hidefor centuries in this cave and in that other land that as yet you knownothing of. Here we have made our world--and we will keep what is ours,unless David----"

  The words died on Sajipona's lips. At the far end of the garden theheavy branches of spectral shrubbery swayed and parted, revealing amajestic figure hastening toward them. It was Narva. Gliding alongthe pathway, she showed an agitation contrasting strangely withher accustomed reserve. Reaching the entrance to the palace, shepointed behind her, at the same time addressing the queen in wordsunintelligible to Una.

  "Yes, they are coming," said Sajipona, smiling composedly. "It is well.There is nothing to fear."

  Narva had arrived none too soon. As she spoke to the queen, shouts wereheard in the distance, and then the tramp of approaching footsteps.Sajipona advanced to the threshold of the palace, where, signing to theothers to remain behind, she stood alone, awaiting the noisy intruders.Her defenseless position brought bitter protest from Narva that wassupported by a movement among the others to protect their queen. Thiswas quickly rebuked; and when Raoul, his followers and the explorerspoured into the garden they were confronted by a group of men and womenwho gave no sign of uneasiness at their arrival.

  It should be noted here that, in spite of his defeat, pictured inthe pool of light, Miranda had by no means relinquished his effortsto gain control of Raoul's men. He had followed along at their side,irrepressible in his attempts to hold their attention--a sort ofgadfly whose persistent teasing nothing can stop. Raoul would have putan end to him, once and for all; but in this he found that his men,pacific by nature and training, would not uphold him. Miranda's rotundfigure, vehemence, spasmodic energy, the unmitigated scorn with whichhe regarded all who differed from him, delighted them. He enjoyed thesort of immunity from punishment granted the old-time court jester. Thecavemen liked him because they could never tell what he was going to donext. The novelty of so dynamic a personality appealed to their senseof humor. Thus, when they were all assembled in the garden, the littledoctor's next move was awaited with eagerness. To their astonishment,the flourish expected of him was not forthcoming. Instead, he stoodstock still, folded his arms across his chest with all the Napoleonicdignity he could muster, and glared at Raoul.

  This extreme composure, however, was not shared by the rest of theexplorers. At the first glimpse of Una, standing immediately behindSajipona, Mrs. Quayle gave a shriek of joy and collapsed into the armsof the schoolmaster, whose own emotions made him a sorry support atthe best. Leighton, on the contrary, accompanied by Herran, strodequickly forward and would have reached the threshold of the palace,had he not been waved imperiously aside by Raoul, who now summoned hisfollowers about him, formed them into a close phalanx and advancedrapidly across the garden. When they were within a hundred yards ofthe palace, they were suddenly met by two men of gigantic stature,who calmly ordered them to halt. Raoul was less intimidated than hisfollowers, who recognized in this unexpected challenge an authority theywere accustomed to obey. The two men confronting them evidently belongedto the priesthood. They were distinguished from the rest of Sajipona'scourtiers by their dress, adorned by various symbolical figuresembroidered in red and gold, and by two wands, each surmounted by anemerald, which they carried in their hands. Although without militarybacking, weaponless except for these wands, Raoul saw with dismay thatthe mere presence of these men excited the respect, and even the homage,of those about him. Many bowed before them; a few showed an unmistakabledisposition to abandon their enterprise altogether and take refuge inflight. Before this movement could become general, however, they werearrested by the appearance of Sajipona in their midst.

  Descending the steps of the palace, the queen, attended only by Una andNarva, came swiftly forward to meet them. Her bearing, the proud majestyof her beauty, caused a murmur of admiration throughout the ranks ofthe cavemen that was punctuated by a hearty shout from Miranda, whowatched the troubles of Raoul with unrestrained delight. It was notoften, indeed, that the rank and file of the Land of the Condor cameface to face with their queen. When they did so, the meeting aroused aprofound feeling of pride and loyalty. Raoul, seeing the effect Sajiponahad upon his men, and already disconcerted by the reception accorded thetwo priests, had no mind for further encounters that might cost him hisentire following. In the outside world, faced by a similar danger, hewould have retreated. But here, in the midst of a subterranean labyrinthof unknown extent, retreat was impossible. The alternative was a boldrallying of his forces, a sudden rush for the prize he had ventured sofar to win. Turning upon his men, he denounced them savagely for theirapparent change of purpose, their cowardice.

  "You will remain slaves!" he cried tauntingly. "We have your tyrants inour power. All you need do for your freedom is to follow me and takewhat belongs to you."

  There were enough who understood his words to translate them to thoseignorant of Spanish, and the immediate effect produced on these people,vacillating by nature, ever ready to yield to the strongest personalitythat appealed to them, was not far from that intended. Spears, knives,blowguns were brandished, a score or more men leaped forward utteringcries of triumph--and again the attack planned by Raoul seemed fairlyunder way and with a reasonable prospect of success. It was checked--butonly for an instant--by a clamorous protest from Miranda. The latter,blazing with indignation, bounded to the front, gesticulating andmenacing all who were within his reach.

  "He is one canaille, this fellow!" he shouted. "He fight with thewomens. He take from you all you have. Do not be estupid. He lie! Helie!"

  This outburst astonished more than it convinced those to whom it wasaddressed. As Miranda spoke in a mixture of English and Spanish,scarcely any one understood what he said. In another moment he wouldhave been swept derisively aside, had not Sajipona quietly interposed.Pointing at Raoul, she spoke a few words to the cavemen in their nativetongue. Then she turned to the man whose armed presence at t
he doors ofher palace, threatened her authority, if not her life.

  "So! This is the man who, a short time ago, I saved from death at thehands of an angry mob!" she said scornfully. "You did not come to myhouse then, Don Raoul, as you come now. And yet--if I order these men,whom you think are your followers, to treat you as that other mob wouldhave treated you, they would obey me. Be sure of that! And now, tell me:what have you done with Anitoo?"

  Raoul hesitated a moment, then answered sullenly:

  "He attacked me. I killed him in self-defense."

  The reply was only half understood by the cavemen; but the attitude ofRaoul, contrasted with the majestic bearing and composure of Sajipona,had already aroused their indignation.

  "It may have been, as you say, in self-defense--I have only your wordfor it. But, for the treachery, the rebellion you have brought here,"the queen went on, "by all the laws of our kingdom you should die. But Ihave something I wish you to do. If you do it, your life will be sparedand you will be taken in safety from this cave never to enter it again."

  Sajipona checked the tumult that she saw rising among the cavemen, andspoke a few words to them.

  "I have told them," she explained, turning to Raoul, "that I knew ofyour coming--as I did. I have told them I have something for you to dobefore you are expelled from our kingdom. And I have pledged my word foryour safety--although none of the men you have led here against me seemto care what happens to you. And now you will come with me."

  There was a murmur of approval. Raoul looked fearfully at his followers.Their submission to the commands of the woman they were accustomedto obey was sufficiently evident to destroy his last hope for even adivided authority. Neither--for he was ignorant of their language--couldhe tell just what had passed between them and Sajipona. He was glad toaccept, however, the queen's promise of safety; and this, coupled with adesire to get to the bottom of the mystery that had tantalized him sincehe first met this strange and fascinating being, reconciled him to theenforced abandonment of his schemes for the conquest of a subterraneanstronghold into which he had ventured too far to retreat. He thereforebowed his head to Sajipona's commands and prepared to do as shedirected. His submission was greeted with ironical approval by Miranda,who how waddled forward impatiently, dragging Leighton with him, toenter the palace. But in this he was prevented by Sajipona.

  "Senor, Doctor," she said, pleasing his vanity by her knowledge of hisprofessional title, "you must wait. There is much to be done. You are afine general. You have helped save this palace, my kingdom and all ofus from ruin. I am very grateful. Soon you will have everything thatyou want. And you and your friends will return to your own country insafety."

  This unexpected check, although expressed in terms that were highlypleasing to Miranda's vanity, was received with a grumbling protest.

  "But, Senorita," he expostulated; "this young lady is here. I look forher everywhere in this cave. I am her family. She must come back to us."

  "Not yet," was the calm reply. "Very soon, yes. But now she will staywith me."

  There was a finality about this way of putting things that dashedeven Miranda's impetuosity. Leighton, silently watching the briefaltercation, and perceiving that Una, who still remained where Sajiponahad left her, was perfectly calm and in no need of their assistance,exerted himself to restrain her headstrong champion. This was no easymatter, and the struggle between the two was watched with a covert smileby Sajipona. With the help of Herran and Andrew, however, Miranda'sopposition was finally overcome. After which, without waiting to hearthe tirade that, she could see, the doctor was ready to launch, thequeen, followed by Raoul, turned to the palace. Regaining the entrance,she faced them once more and waved a farewell to the silent throng inthe garden. Then, giving her hand to Una, she passed within, the greatdoors clanging behind her.