Prisoners of Chance
CHAPTER XXIV
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SUN
At first my dimmed eyes beheld her through a mist, my hands shaking asif stricken by palsy, nor did I retain sufficient strength of body touplift myself from the spot where I had fallen with the force of myblow. Nevertheless I shall forever retain the vivid picture imprintedon memory. Before us stood a tall, fair-skinned woman, having dignityof command in every movement, her face thin, strong, dominant, withlarge, dark, passionate eyes, flashing in scornful beauty over theexcited warriors at her feet. Pride, power, imperious will, a scarcelyhidden tigerish cruelty, were in every line of her features; yet sheremained strikingly handsome, with that rare beauty which drives menmad and laughs mockingly at its victims. She was robed completely inred, the brilliant color harmonizing strangely with her countenance,the single outer garment extending, devoid of ornament, from throat toheel, loosely gathered at the waist, and resembling in form and draperythose pictures I have seen of Roman togas, while her magnificent wealthof hair, of richest reddish gold, appeared to shimmer and glow in thesparkle of leaping flames as if she wore a tiara of rubies.
With quick, passionate speech she poured forth her purpose, and I sawthe savage throng shrink before her, as if they knew and dreaded theoutburst of her anger. Yet, as she paused breathless, the oldwar-chief ventured to face her, returning a stern reply. Thisdisregard of her temper so imparted courage to the others that theyrallied about their leader as one man, numerous hoarse voicessupplementing his protest, until it was plain to be seen that the womanremained alone and unsupported against the savage crew. Yet the linesof determination but deepened in her face, her lips curled in scorn,and she turned from them to look down where we were huddled in despair.A moment her flashing eyes swept across our upturned faces, the howlsof her opponents growing fiercer on every side. With one imperiousgesture she commanded silence, and, as the gruff voices died away inmuttered discontent, the woman addressed us, speaking a clear, pureSpanish, making use now and then of words unknown to me.
"Prisoners, can any among you interpret my speech?"
I caught my breath in glad surprise, struggling to my feet, and makinghaste to answer.
"If you speak slowly," I said, "I shall be able to understand."
"'Tis well, as it is a tongue unknown to these Indians," her eyeslighting up with cunning. "Then, Senor, mark with care what I say,and, if the meaning of any escape your ears, bid me speak again, so nomistake be made."
"It will give me great pleasure, O Queen."
"I am the Daughter of the Sun," she interposed proudly, as ifcorrecting my mode of address. "These are my children, given unto meby the great Sun-god. For what purpose have you of white skin daredinvade the land of the Sun?"
"We knew nothing of your presence here, merely seeking a passagethrough these mountains northward."
"But you killed the warriors of our nation; you have stricken thepeople of the Sun."
"True, Daughter of the Sun; yet it was done only in self-defence. Whenattacked we struck hard blows."
Her eyes glowed angrily, her face becoming cruelly hard.
"None of white blood may set foot in this valley and live. It is theland of the Sun," she said haughtily. "None have ever before venturedto do so, and found safe way back to their own. Are you French?"
"I am the Daughter of the Sun. These are my children,given unto me by the great Sun-god. . . . None of white blood may setfoot in this valley and live."]
"Not all,--the lady and yonder cavalier are of French blood, I am ahunter of the Ohio country, while he who crouches beyond also callshimself American."
"I know nothing of your Ohio, nor what may be an American," she repliedwith an impatient stamp of the foot, "but it is bad any among youshould prove French. What does the woman do here?"
In a few brief sentences I told our story, marking as I spoke that shefollowed my words with care. As I concluded she merely gazed moreclosely into Madame's upturned face, speaking as though communing withherself.
"She has the appearance of a fair woman; we need no such here." Sheraised her voice slightly, addressing me in cold reserve.
"Your story sounds well. True or false, it makes small odds. Weattacked your party, believing you French, whom the children of the Sunhave good reason to hate. You have cost us the lives of many warriors,and the Sun calls for vengeance. Already has the tribe solemnly votedyour death by fire. Now mark me closely. 'Tis not often I interferein such affairs as this, nor do I now for any higher object than my owngratification. The Daughter of the Sun is no angel, nor ambitious tobecome one. I have looked on unmoved at the torture of the stake morethan once, so 'tis no weak sentimentality that leads me to try to avertyour fate. Nor am I sure I can, whatever my motive be. I possess nopower to overturn the united vote of these warriors--they are allchildren of the Sun. I can think of but one method by which I can evenhope to encompass your escape from immediate torture. If by somesubterfuge I can delay action until day-dawn, I may be able to controlthese savages. The children of the Sun do not light their fires in thepresence of their Father. There is but one possible way to thatend,--does yonder red-headed man comprehend the Spanish tongue?"
"He does not."
"That is bad," her brows contracting. "Still he must be used, as noother among you will answer my purpose. Bid him advance to my side onthe platform; bid him pretend to hold converse with me, and, above allelse, have him attend my every gesture and obey. Will he do yourbidding?"
"I know not," I replied honestly. "He is of a bull-headed breed, yet Imay be able to drive into him a moment of sense."
"Do your part thoroughly, nor be too long about it. The chiefs growrestless at our talk, and may yet take affairs into their own hands."
I turned doubtfully toward the Puritan, who was glaring up at the womanfrom beneath his shaggy brows, much as he might have looked upon somewild animal seen for the first time. I presume the fiery red draperycaused him to deem her that veritable scarlet woman about whom heprated so much. He appeared far from being a promising subject for myovertures, especially as his great head must have ached still fromcontact with the club, which had alone beaten him into sullen silence.Yet she commanding the attempt was so desperately in earnest that Idetermined to do my part.
"Watch carefully my words," I said sternly in English, "and bear inmind the preservation of all our lives depends on the part you play.The woman chief has made choice of you to help in winning mercy fromthese savages. I know not why you are the one thus chosen, yet Isuspect that fiery crop of hair may have something to do with thehonor. The main point is, are you in a humor to do her bidding?"
"Nay!" he replied, gazing at me stubbornly.
"You refuse to assist in saving your own life, and the lives of yourcomrades?"
"I touch not the accursed abominations of this place," he answered,hoarse with anger, "nor will I have aught to do with yonder shamelesscreature."
"Sirrah!" I cried, thoroughly aroused by his mulishness, "do youdeliberately choose to sacrifice the life of this lady to yourbull-headed fanaticism? Do you refuse to unbend your miserableConnecticut sectarianism, your Puritan cant, although by so doing youmight keep your comrades from the horrors of the stake? If this iswhat you mean, I denounce you as unworthy to be called a man, and Iname your loud protestations of religion no more than a hissing and abyword before the ungodly you profess to despise. You are no betterthan a Pharisee, full of loud-mouthed prayers and vain conceit ofrighteousness, a false prophet, haggling over formalism when theslightest sacrifice of what you hold the letter of the law would resultin the salvation of human life. You call yourself a Christian, afollower of that Nazarene who died for sinners on the cross, deemingyourself better than those who cling to other creed. You sneer at thatrosary in Madame's fingers, yet do you suppose it possible she wouldnot endeavor to pluck your life from the jaws of death if it lay in herpower? Ay! and never waste speech about abominations in the path."
"The
spirit is of greater value than the body," he persisted doggedly."Yea, 'tis better the flesh perish miserably in the flame thansurrender up the soul unto the devil."
"That is no issue here; you seek to deceive yourself by false words. Idenounce you openly as a false follower, for if I read rightly thelanguage of Holy Writ, it was He whom you so delight to term Master whogave his life freely for His friends. But you--you are all words, acharnel-house of dead men's bones."
Had he been free I might have rued my hasty words, for his eyes werehot with anger, and he strained fiercely at his bonds in effort tobreak free. Yet I felt safe enough beyond the sweep of his great arm,rejoicing that my tongue was sharp enough to penetrate so thick a hide,and make the man squirm beneath his outer vestment of piety.
"You speak falsely," he bellowed, nearly beside himself. "Satan putsthose foul words upon your lips tempting me to do evil."
"Nay; the words are true," I went on, determined to drive him bytaunts. "They are neither foul nor false, and right glad I am todiscover your real character even at this eleventh hour. I make noloud boasting of my religion, dinning it into the ears of all I meet asif I were the only righteous man on earth, but I do thank God from thedepths of my heart I have never yet basely deserted a friend in time oftrouble. I did consider you a good comrade, but I know now you arenothing but a whited sepulchre, a miserable hypocrite, a Judasbetraying his master with a kiss. Pah! go your way, you are unclean;nor ever hope again for word of fellowship from lips of honest men. Ishall die having performed my duty to the extent of my knowledge, butyou as a dog, a traitor to your comrades, the betrayer of a woman intime of peril."
"'Tis false, I say; I would yield life gladly to aid her."
"Zounds! that sounds good from such lips. Why, you have just refusedmuch less."
"Yonder is an emissary of the Evil One."
"Keep your cowardly excuses to yourself. Whatever the woman may be,she offers us a chance for our lives, provided only you will performher will in sundry matters."
He hesitated, his uncertain eyes shifting from her face to mine.
"What does this scarlet priestess of Baal require that I do?" hequestioned sullenly.
"Good lack, 'tis little enough even to satisfy your conscience. Merelythat you stand beside her on the platform, pretending converse, markingcarefully her every signal, and obeying it."
"I play no idolatrous mummery with her."
"Then may the devil fly away with you," I retorted, so enraged by thistime I could scarcely refrain from grappling him with my hands. "I goto tell Madame of the fool you are."
He gave vent to a deep groan, rolling his eyes as was his habit in timeof trial, yet never removing his gaze from that red figure, standingmotionless as a statue, impatiently awaiting his decision.
"In the name of the holy prophets of Israel!" he snorted desperately atlast. "'T is, indeed, a grievous trial like unto that which befellDaniel in the den of the lions. If I go upon yonder sinful platformbefore these hosts of Satan, it will be only as led by the Almighty,and that I may wrestle mightily in prayer for the redemption of theheathen."
"I care not, man, so you go. Pray loud as you please, yet give heed tothe signals of the woman if you value your own life or ours."
Odds! it was a picture to see the fellow start on his unwelcomemission, slouching through the ranks of the surprised savages with ashangdog a look on his mournful countenance as though he mounted thegallows. It was with faint hope as to the result that I watched himlumber onto the platform, doubting not he would perform some crazytrick to offset any good he might endeavor. I could scarce restrain asmile as the two actors faced each other, marking the look ofundisguised horror on his leathern face, and how he shrank back as herhand extended to touch him. The wild, discordant cries of the groupedsavages ceased in wonderment at this unanticipated scene; even theperpetual incantations of the priests died away, every eye gazingcuriously on the strange spectacle. The Puritan had appropriated oneof De Noyan's hats, broad of brim, and so ample of crown the highpeaked head of the worthy sectary was almost lost within its capaciousinterior. No sooner, however, did he attain her side than the womangrasped it in her white fingers, flinging it disdainfully upon thefloor, and, like a flash of unexpected color in the dancing light ofthe fire, there blazed forth before us his flaming covering with abrilliancy which startled even me. Saint Andrew! it was a glow to makethe eyes blink.
The sudden effect of this disclosure upon the thronging warriors wasbeyond words of mine. There followed a hush so painful in intensity Icould distinguish the quick throbbing of my own heart. I saw the womanpoint at the fellow, giving eager utterance to a single word, her eyessweeping the faces below. Then came an irregular rush forward,inarticulate cries pierced the air, war weapons were dashed clangingupon the earthen floor, while numerous torches, grasped from off thesacred altar, were waved aloft by excited hands, all serving to form asdemoniacal a scene as was ever witnessed this side of hell.
The full truth flashed across my mind--our comrade had in that momentbeen changed from a helpless, beaten prisoner into an object ofsuperstitious worship. By the magic of a word, the alchemy of athought, he had become to these superstitious savages a mysteriousvisitant from the Sun, and for once, at least, he might fervently blessNature, who had bestowed upon him so rich a coloring of hair. Whetheror not the fellow comprehended the meaning of that uproar, of thosewildly dancing figures in his front, I could never determine; but,before the woman could in any way interfere, the sectary plumped downupon his knees, and, with head bent so low that every separate haircaught the reflection of the ruddy flames, began pouring forth apetition in sturdy English, and with a volume of voice that shook thewhole interior. It was not such a bad play, I take it, although he wasdesperately in earnest. Very plainly he compared his worshippingauditory to certain scriptural characters, in a way that would not haveproven flattering to them could they have interpreted his language.
"Oh, Lord God!" he roared, rolling his eyes upward and interjectingmany a deep groan after each sentence. "Infinite Jehovah, for somejust reason of Thy own, Thou hast seen fit to lead Thy most humbleservant into this den of iniquity. Thou hast placed me in the fieryfurnace of tribulation, it may be in the test of that faith which wasdelivered unto the saints, yet will I not bow down in the tents of theidolaters, nor profane Thy Holy Name by the worship of their falsegods. Here in the midst of the ravening lions I uplift my eyes untoJerusalem, and my lips unto the throne of grace, beseeching Thee togive unto me the salvation of these heathen, even as brands pluckedfrom the burning. Quench the fire on this altar of Baal, O Lord, bythe outpouring of Thy Spirit, and give unto this people a manifestationof Thy mighty power, redeeming them from their manifold sins. Yea,Lord, give ear unto the words of my petition, and as of old times thoudidst send a message of fire unto Thy prophet Elijah, so come down evennow to visit these unbelieving and mocking hearts with the terror ofThy just wrath. Make bare Thy arm of infinite power that thisabomination of heathendom may be purged of its vain idolatry, and thatThy Israel may triumph over the hosts of the sinful. Even as Thoudidst scatter the forces of the Egyptians in the waters of the Red Sea,even so, O Lord, visit now Thy wrath upon those who mock Thee anddegrade Thy image. Save us from the snare of this scarlet woman, thisproud harlot of Babylon, and forgive Thy servant for thus seeming toobey her will. Thou knowest, O Lord, that it is only that I may thebetter serve Thee, and thus overcome the wiles of the Wicked One. Giveunto me in this hour the strength of Samson that I may overturn thepillars of this temple of abominations, even though we all perish inits destruction. Yea, visit us with power and righteousness, andscatter Thy enemies over the face of the earth. O Lord! I am asnothing, a mere worm of the dust: smite me if Thou wilt, yet I butwrestle with Thee in prayer that through me the heathen may be broughtlow, and led to see the error of their way."
There was no halting him, yet even as he continued to pour forthfervent supplication, the warriors drew back from the d
ense circlepressing against the platform, taking solemn counsel together. Thenthe old war-chief advanced to the centre, pointing maliciously towardDe Noyan and myself. I observed the Queen wave her hand in a gestureof apparent carelessness, and before I could clearly conjecture thefull meaning of it, strong hands clutched us, and, in spite ofstruggles, we were dragged roughly back toward the shrouded entrance ofthe lodge. There was no shouting, no din of any kind to disturb thedevotions of the Puritan, who prayed on with closed eyes and a vigor ofutterance making mock of all other sound. Silently as they moved, itwas nevertheless plain to be read in the grim, savage faces closingabout us, that we were being driven forth to no scene of pleasure.Harshly did their gripping hands hustle us forward. The heavy matshading the entrance was flung aside, and like the unexpected flight ofan arrow, into the black gloom of the lodge, weirdly lighting up thewild faces, streamed the clear, white light of the dawn. Far off uponthe highest summit of the yellow cliff there already rested the firstrosy reflection of the rising sun. One shout rang discordant from thesurprised throats of our captors; the brutal hands released theirgrasp, and De Noyan and myself sank back helpless upon the ground.