The Land of Mystery

  CHAPTER XXV.

  ZIFFAK'S BLOW.

  Ziffak, head chieftain of the Murhapas, was a shrewder and morefar-seeing man than even his white friends suspected.

  He had been the first to observe the significant glances of Fred Ashmanat the hanging curtains, as he was the first to detect the presence ofhis beloved niece behind them.

  Although King Haffgo saw not the smile which flitted over the face ofhis daughter, when her eyes met those of the young American, yet Ziffakobserved it, and he could not have translated it wrongly had he wishedto do so.

  An intimation has been given of the nature of the quarrel betweenZiffak and his royal brother. The latter was so infuriated that hedeclared that every one of the white men should die. Ziffak remindedhim of his pledge that they should be safe for two days, a pledge thathe had repeated in their presence.

  But in his hot anger, Ziffak said, he would break that pledge. One ofthe explorers had dared to look upon the face of Ariel and smile. Hadhe detected her returning it, he would have driven his javelin throughher body as she stood beside him.

  Ziffak gave no hint of what he had observed.

  The head chieftain was not afraid to brave his brother to his face; buthe wisely forbore carrying the quarrel beyond the point ofreconciliation. He told his brother that he was so beside himself thathe forgot he was a Murhapa who never broke his word. But if the kinginsisted, he would see that the white men took their departure beforethe rising of the morrow's sun.

  King Haffgo consented that if that was done, he would permit them to goin peace. It was Ziffak's hope that his brother, after his anger hadtime to cool, would modify his last declaration still further and allowthem to stay their two days, that led him to qualify his remark aboutthe necessity of their withdrawing that night.

  The same cunning which stood the head chieftain so well during thisstormy interview remained with him to the end. While he and hisbrother were wrangling, Ariel stood mute and with bowed head. Shedurst not speak, but withdrew only a minute or two before her parent.

  Ziffak was still warmly attached to Ashman, and was willing to risk hislife in his behalf. Knowing that Waggaman and Burkhardt had had muchto do with stirring the resentment of the king, he was angry enough toslay both of them.

  When the most peculiar situation is considered, however, it is hardlysafe to believe the head chieftain was ready to go to the length ofhelping to bring about a meeting between the lovers.

  He understood his niece well enough to know that despite the fury ofher parent, she would brave a good deal to exchange words with thehandsome stranger that had made such an impression on his heart.

  So long as this young man remained in Ziffak's house, so long was itimpossible for such meeting to take place; but, when Ashman sprang upand announced his intention of taking a stroll, Ziffak believed that itwas with the intention of trying to see Ariel. That is to say, hesuspected what really came to pass, though it was not in the mind ofthe youth.

  Ashman had not been gone long, when Ziffak made an excuse to withdraw,saying he meant to find out, if he could, where Waggaman and Burkhardtwere hiding. He counselled the Professor and the New Englander to staywhere they were until his return, which he promised should not be longdeferred.

  Neither Grimcke nor Long dreamt of the object of their dusky friend inleaving, and as the mother of the Murhapa reappeared about that timeand started a fire, with a view of preparing their evening meal, theyconcluded that the best thing for them was to follow the advice of thebrave fellow.

  The instant Ziffak was on the outside of his own house, he became asalert as a cat scenting a mouse. He held his ponderous javelin withits poisoned tip in his right hand, and he looked keenly about in thegathering gloom.

  A warrior stopped in front of him and made a respectful inquiry aboutthe white men. Ziffak uttered such an angry reply and raised hisweapon so menacingly that the native skurried away in terror of hislife.

  All at once the keen black eyes caught sight of a small, petite figureas it vanished in the darkness. He smiled, for he recognized Ariel onher way to the upper end of the village. He knew on the instant what_that_ meant.

  Then the penetrating gaze outlined the figure of a man, sneaking like awild animal, down the river bank. He was seen only faintly, but he wasequally sure of _his_ identity. It was Burkhardt, one of the hatedwhite men that had poisoned the mind of his brother and caused him toforget he was a Murhapa, whose word should be sacred.

  An exultant gleam came into the dusky face, as he stole forward in thesame direction that the convict took. The action of the miscreantshowed that he was following some prey, and who was it as likely to beas the white man that was abroad and was held in such detestation bythe scoundrel?

  Burkhardt, in one respect, acted precisely as did his intended victim.The latter was so absorbed in his own delicious thoughts, that, afterthat hurried glance around him, he did not once again look to the rear.So Burkhardt, never once dreaming that he was under surveillance, kepthis gloating eyes fixed on the shadowy figure in front, without lookingto see that while the man was hunting the tiger another tiger was nothunting him.

  Being a slight distance to the rear of the convict, Ziffak could notsee the form in front of him with equal distinctness, but the faintglimpse which he caught was all he needed.

  Thus the strange procession passed up the western bank of the calmlyflowing Xingu. Fred Ashman moving slowly and lost in reverie,Burkhardt prowling like a wild beast behind him, with Ziffak clingingto the heels of the wretch as if he were his very shadow.

  The moon, which gave but faint light at the beginning, increased inpower as the minutes passed. Ziffak fell back, so that if Burkhardtshould look around, he would not recognize though he might see him.

  But the ruffian did not turn his head: he was too intent on the fearfultask before him.

  Suddenly he stopped. Instantly Ziffak crouched down into the smallestpossible space and clutched his javelin. The increasing moonlightshowed that he had passed beyond the upper end of the village and waswatching the lovers on the fringe of the forest beyond.

  A movement on the part of Burkhardt, as if he were making preparationto fire his rifle, caused Ziffak to move swiftly and silently forwarduntil he was within twenty paces. Then he paused, for he was closeenough.

  The change of position on the part of the pursuer enabled him to catchthe outlines of the lovers, so absorbed in each other's presence thatthey forgot to keep within the sheltering shadow of the trees.

  Burkhardt could ask for no better opportunity than that which was nowbefore him. He knew the inextinguishable hatred of King Haffgo forthis white man, and no greater favor could be done the ruler than toslay him.

  Sinking on one knee, he carefully brought his gun to a level. Thegleam of the moonlight on the barrel insured unerring aim.

  But a moment before it was perfected, Ashman stepped forward and seizedthe hand of his adored one. This caused such a change of the relativesituation of the two that the weapon could not be fired withoutendangering the life of the maiden.

  That would never do, and waiting a moment in the hope that anothercharge would take place, Burkhardt began stealthily moving to the rightto secure the advantage. A few steps up the slope were all that wasrequired, when he again knelt on one knee and pointed his rifle at theunsuspicious American.

  It was but an instant before that Ariel caught sight of the crouchingfigure and was transfixed with terror. The moonlight enabled her toidentify the person, who was aiming his gun either at her or hercompanion.

  Before she could speak, and at the moment Ashman turned his head, agiant figure was seen to rise as if out of the very earth, directlybehind the miscreant. He held his prodigious javelin poised over hisbead. He was seen to make a sudden onward movement and then the weaponvanished.

  Speeding toward the couple with such amazing velocity it was invisible;but, ere the crouching convict could press the trigger of his rifle, hewas seen to sprawl forwar
d, his gun flying from his grasp. Theterrible javelin had gone entirely through his body as though it weretissue paper, and pinned him like an impaled insect to the earth!

  "The scoundrel!" exclaimed Ashman, who was just too late to anticipatetheir friend.

  "It is Ziffak who has saved us!" gasped Ariel, shrinking against theside of her lover.

  The herculean chieftain towered aloft in more imposing proportions thanever as he strode toward the startled couple. Whether he was advancingto regain his weapon, or whether he meant to join them could not beknown; for, before he reached the body of the assassin, he abruptlystopped and looked in the direction of the village.

  He had caught an ominous sound: it was that made by the discharge offirearms!

  "Great heaven!" exclaimed Ashman; "they have attacked my friends inZiffak's house; I must go to their help; dearest Ariel, what willbecome of you?" added the distracted lover.

  "Leave me alone," she replied, becoming calm again; "I can return home."

  "Well, then, good-bye! It may be for the last time," he impulsivelyadded, catching her, his one arm clasped about her yielding form anddrawing her to him. Then, while she only faintly resisted, he kissedher passionately, as a lover kisses the queen of his heart when hebelieves he is bidding her farewell forever.

  Suddenly, Ashman felt both of the willowy arms about his own neck, andshe returned his caresses with a fervor equal to his own.

  "Heaven bless and keep you!" he murmured; "I now have everything tolive for! I shall fight hard, for it is not the life of my friends ormy own that it is at stake! It is _you_! It is YOU!"

  The startled Ziffak had paused but an instant, when he read aright themeaning of the sounds of guns from the village. The explorers had beenattacked by the Murhapas. King Haffgo must have given the order. Hehad violated his pledge for the first time in his life. Great was hisprovocation!

  The bosom of the giant heaved with indignation. He stood glaring likea lion at the keepers who are torturing his mate to death, while he isbarred within the cage and cannot rush to her help.

  Then, wheeling about, he broke into a run straight for his home, whencecame the shots that left no doubt that Professor Grimcke, Jared Long,and perchance their servants were fighting for their lives.

  The chieftain had not far to go, and half the distance was passed, whenhe paused as suddenly as he had started. A new and startling decisionhad formed itself in his mind.

  Again he wheeled and dashed toward the spot where he had left thelovers a minute before.

  They saw him coming, and Ashman released his beloved and started tojoin the chieftain, who he suspected had come for him.

  "Back!" he commanded, waving his immense arms; "neither of you must goto the village!"

  "But what shall we do?" asked Ariel, pausing in front of the excitedgiant.

  "Flee at once! Delay not a moment! If you do not, Haffgo will slayboth of you! They are searching for Ariel! They suspect she is withyou! They will soon know it and death awaits each!"