CHAPTER XXIV THE STORY IS TOLD
A half hour later the boys found themselves seated upon cocoanut fibermats drinking Haitian coffee, black and bitter, and listening to one ofthe strangest stories ever told.
"'The Rope of Gold'," the little doctor was saying, "was never in theCitadel. When the black Emperor Christophe found himself paralyzed beyondhope of recovery, and all but deserted by his people, he committedsuicide. There were certain members of his household who remained loyalto him. Among these was the bearer of the telescope.
"Knowing the hiding place of the 'Rope of Gold' within the palace andfearing the destruction of the palace, he called to his aid a handful ofhis own hill people and carried it, not to the Citadel, but to--" hepaused to look up at the ceiling, "to this place."
Instantly there came to Johnny's mind a picture of the golden green snakethat hung from the cave's ceiling. This was not the room but for all thathe seemed to see it dangling there. "That," he told himself, "is the'Rope of Gold'."
As if to verify this conclusion, the doctor went on:
"For more than a century that 'Rope of Gold', with all its matchlessworkmanship in green, white and yellow gold, has hung within the shadowsof this dingy cave.
"To-morrow, Providence permitting, it will again see the light of day."
His young companions leaned forward, eager for the rest of the story.
"When I heard of your search and its purpose," his voice went on quietly,"to benefit thousands of the simple and kindly peasants of Haiti, Ithought once more of my duty regarding the 'Rope of Gold'. I had known ofits whereabouts for many years, knew, too, that its secret was loyallykept.
"But now the only relative of the bearer of the Magic Telescope waspassing. A few more months, weeks, perhaps days, and he would be gone.Who, then, would guard the secret?
"I decided that the time had come for putting the wealth represented bythe heirloom of the past to work.
"I came to the dying man and put my plan before him. I told him of thework you boys and the old Professor were planning and of your search.'Christophe,' I said to him, 'in his earlier days had the good of hispeople at heart. What could be more fitting than that the "Rope of Gold"be sold to some great museum where it will be faithfully preserved, andthat the money thus obtained be spent in bettering Haitian people?'
"He was a very old man," the doctor sighed. "He was long in seeing thelight. In fact, when I sent for you," he nodded toward Johnny, "he hadnot given his consent. When you went for the medicine he had not. That iswhy I did not wish to go.
"But to-night, with his dying breath, he gave his consent. His bestfriends, his henchmen, heard and are satisfied. And to-morrow we bear the'Rope of Gold' once more into the light of day and on down to the valleywhich Christophe in his youth loved and to a service for the people whomhe might have served better had not greed gripped at his heart."
The story was over. Yet, for some time the two boys sat there,motionless, silent. The whole affair was so strange, so gloriouslywonderful that they could not make it seem true.
The doctor rose and went back into the darkness that was the cave. Stillthey sat there a long time in silence.
"To-morrow," said Johnny huskily.
"To-morrow," Curlie echoed.
"And to think," Curlie spoke once more, "he asked nothing for himself."
"He does not care for money. He told me all about that. His is aremarkable story. I'll tell you about him."
And there while the dancing flames cast grotesque shadows on the walls ofthe cave, Johnny told the doctor's story.
* * * * * * * *
In the meantime, far away in the heart of the jungle, Doris, Dot, andthe Marine King had found shelter from the storm in a deserted cabin.For some time their attention was focussed upon the small but richtreasure Dot had brought from the ruins. After that their thoughtswandered elsewhere and they talked of many things; perhaps "ofshoes-and-ships--and sealing wax,--of cabbages--and kings." At any ratethe time passed quickly. The storm, though fierce in its intensity, wasbrief in duration. Midnight found them marching along single file over anarrow path that, lighted by the moon, revealed to all the beauty and theglory of a tropical land after a storm.
In due time they came within sight of the chateau. Standing there, whitein the moonlight, it seemed a land of dreams.
"That," said the King admiringly, "is some barracks!"
"It's my home," was Dot's reply.
"Lucky girl!" The King's compliment was genuine.
"I AM lucky," said Dot in a voice that was deep with emotion. "I reallydon't need a thing. And just for that I am going to give my whole shareof the jewels to a certain king I happen to know that he may build aschool for some of his black subjects."
"That," said the King, bending low, "will be equal to a month's leave andpassage home."