by Frank Aubrey
CHAPTER XXXV.
JUST IN TIME!
At sunrise, one morning, a fortnight after the events recorded in thelast chapter, a party of travellers, consisting of three white menand a number of Indians, set out from the Indian village of Daranato,making their way in the direction of Roraima.
The three white men were Dr. Lorien, his son Harry, and RobertKingsford; and among the Indians was Matava. As they toiled along therough path it was easy to see that the travellers were, for the mostpart, travel-worn and weary; they moved forward in a half-listlessfashion, scarcely looking to right or left, and showing but littleinterest in the scenes that lay along their route. Only when they cameto the ridge from which the first view of Roraima is to be obtaineddid any of the party exhibit curiosity. Here a halt was made, and theyall gazed for some time silently at the great mass that raised itselfhigh above the surrounding landscape. This morning, clouds hung overit and it appeared sombre, dark and threatening, and gave no sign ofthe fairy-like lightness and beauty it sometimes assumed when seen fromthis same spot.
Robert Kingsford had come up from the coast, in the company of thedoctor and his son, bent upon solving, if possible, the mysterythat surrounded the fate of the two friends who had left Georgetown,nearly nine months before, to join with an unknown stranger in theexploration of Roraima. All that had since been heard of them was thestrange, almost fantastic account that had been brought back by Matava,according to which they had actually found a way into the mountain, andthenceforth had disappeared. The very entrance by which they had madetheir way through the solid wall of cliff had been afterwards foundfast sealed; and no trace or clue to their fate had been left behind.This had been Matava's account, and he had not hesitated to express hisbelief that the three adventurers had been captured by the demons ofthe mountain, and either eaten up then and there, or kept as prisonersand slaves in durance vile.
This story, however, did not satisfy the minds of the others, andRobert Kingsford, seeing and compassionating the deep sorrow ofTemplemore's widowed mother, and the still more passionate grief ofhis own sister Maud, determined to investigate matters for himself.Dr. Lorien was detained longer in Rio than he had expected; but, whenat last he returned to Georgetown, he readily joined the other in theproposed expedition of inquiry.
They had a very arduous and difficult journey up from the coast. Ithappened to be a season of exceptional drought, and cassava, and foodof all kinds, were extremely scarce. The sun had been unusually fierce,and the heat abnormal; hence, by the time they reached Daranato, eventhe sturdy and seasoned doctor--a very veteran in tropical travel--wasnearly worn out; while the other two were in still worse plight.
Add to these trials the fact that they had little, if any, hope ofsucceeding in their quest, and felt, in reality, that the expeditionwas, at best, but a sort of forlorn hope; and it will be understood whythey had started from Daranato dispirited and depressed.
Thus, when they obtained their first view of the mysterious mountain,the cause of all their trouble, they were not inclined to regard itwith any very friendly feelings; and its gloomy, forbidding look thismorning was reflected, so to speak, in their own minds. "There is ourenemy," they felt. "There is the fascinating, sinister chimera thathas bewitched, and lured away from us, our dear friends, and caused usall this anxiety and useless trouble." And so, as Roraima frowned uponthem, they frowned back, and returned in kind its gloomy and unfriendlygreeting.
But frowns and angry looks could do them no good; so the travellers,with a very few words of comment, continued their route towards'Monella Lodge,' where they arrived towards evening.
Here, a mile or so from the 'haunted wood,' and almost, as it seemedto them, under the very shadow of the mighty towering walls, theyset about making arrangements for a stay of several days. They foundeverything in the cabin much as Matava had led them to expect; theplace, indeed, just as Templemore had left it at his last visit. Manythings had been left there that the travellers now found useful, andthat seemed veritable luxuries after the discomforts of their longjourney.
Kingsford's thoughts were intent upon his missing friends; and, indeed,this was also the case in only a slightly less degree with the othertwo. All were oppressed with vague suspicions of the Indians, even ofMatava. Might these not have murdered the three travellers for the sakeof the things they had with them--articles and stores which wouldbe as priceless treasures to Indians; therefore which might quiteconceivably have offered a temptation too great to be resisted?
However, amongst the tribe at the village, they had seen no signs of'white men's' belongings to any unusual extent; and, now that they sawwhat a number of things had been left undisturbed in 'Monella Lodge,'their suspicions were very considerably lightened. For all that, theyfound it difficult to believe implicitly the fantastic tale Matava hadtold about the three adventurers' disappearance.
The Indians gathered wood and lighted fires, while the white men madea careful and interested inspection of the contents of the habitationand its surroundings (the two llamas had been removed to the village,where, however, they had both since died). Inside, they found a lampand a small cask still partly full of oil, which was a discovery theyappreciated when it grew dark.
After their evening meal, the three friends sat for some time smokingtheir pipes and discussing the strange situation in which they foundthemselves. They were now within reach of their journey's end. If thetale told by Matava were correct, and the road through the forest werestill fairly clear, they ought to be able to reach the mysteriouscavern the next day; when they were determined, if requisite, to blowopen the entrance with gunpowder. In addition to that which they hadbrought with them, they had found a considerable quantity at 'MonellaLodge.' This surprised them; for in this country gunpowder is morevalued by Indians than almost anything else.
The three friends were sitting talking, and were thinking of retiringto rest for the night, when Matava came rushing excitedly into theplace.
"Come quickly, my masters," he exclaimed. "Come! Come and see the lighton the mountain!"
Somewhat languidly those addressed rose and went out. They had so oftenheard the usual stories of lights seen at night on unexplored mountainsthat they attached but little importance to them. They had treatedin like manner a statement by Carenna and Matava that some Indians,camping out on the savanna a few months before, had seen strange andunusually bright lights, that they took to be signals, on Roraima'ssummit. The Indians had been scared and broke up their encampment atonce, fearing the lights might have been placed there to lure them intothe power of the demons of the mountain.
When, however, the doctor stepped outside, and looked up towards thetop of the stupendous precipice, he saw a brilliant flame that had allthe appearance of a signal beacon.
"It doesn't look like a forest fire," he said to Kingsford, while theywere examining it carefully through their field-glasses. "And now andthen I almost fancy I can make out human forms passing in front of it."
The others had the same impression, and Harry Lorien declared he couldsee flashes of light, as though the beings round the fire were dressedin clothes, or carried something, that reflected the firelight.
"Let us try burning a little powder," the doctor suggested, "after thefashion Matava says was arranged between him and the others, but whichthey never carried out."
So they sent Matava for the powder, and told him to fire it in themanner that had been settled between him and Monella. It is true noneof the three messages agreed upon would be applicable to the presentoccasion--but that they could not help.
Presently, three tongues of flame leaped up into the air, then suddenlydied out, leaving those around temporarily half-blinded by the glare.Then they stood for some time anxiously watching through their glasses.
What seemed a long interval ensued; when, suddenly, three brilliantgleams flashed out on Roraima's height, in exact imitation, as to theintervals between the flashes, of the signals they had themselves made.
"Try another,
" Doctor Lorien cried, in growing excitement. "Arrange thethree differently this time."
This was done, and the answering flashes came back, again in exactimitation; and this time with scarcely any delay.
Doctor Lorien seized Kingsford by the hand.
"Heaven be praised for this!" he exclaimed, his voice half-choked withemotion. "It begins to look, indeed, as though Matava's account weretrue; as if our dear friends may be alive after all!"
Words cannot describe the delight with which the travel-worn partyhailed these signs, that so unmistakably pointed to the conclusionsuggested in the doctor's words. There was one thing, certainly, theycould not understand; none of the signals agreed upon between Monellaand Matava had been given from the mountain; but they were inclined toattribute this to Matava's having, after the lapse of time, forgottenor mixed up what had been arranged. Only the thought that theirsupply of powder was not unlimited restrained them from continuingthe signalling; but they were reluctantly compelled, as a matter ofprudence, to discontinue it.
"Now," said the doctor, "we can attack the 'haunted wood' with a goodheart. Surely, our friends will come down to meet us, now that theyknow we are here!"
Before daylight they were all astir, and set off at once on thejourney through the forest, Matava guiding them. The road, or track,was followed with difficulty, and was almost blocked at times. Only anIndian's instinct, indeed, could have made it out. In places the roughtemporary bridges that had been made over water-courses had been washedaway, but, the water being very low from the long-continued drought,this caused no serious difficulty. They met with some adventures by theway, which were, however, suggestive of the dangers that lay aroundthem rather than important in themselves. At last, towards evening,Matava told the doctor they were getting near the cavern. And now hebegged him to proceed with caution. He could not get over the fear thatthe 'demons of the mountain' had eaten up or captured their friends,and were now awaiting more victims whom they had lured on by imitatingand answering the signals of their murdered friends.
This theory did not find much favour with the doctor; for all that heso far yielded to the entreaties of the Indian as to send him on toscout in advance, while he, and the others of the party, walked insilence behind. And, since Matava now moved with especial care, theymade slow progress.
As it happened, however, Matava's caution was in a measure justified;for just when they came to the part where there was an opening in thetrees, and they could see ahead of them the light that came down intothe clearing round the cavern, Matava stopped and raised his hand.
All stood still, except the doctor, who moved up to the Indian's sideand looked whither he was pointing.
For a moment or so he could see nothing to account for the other'sbehaviour. To the right the stream that came out of the rock was nowplainly in sight; and ahead of them was the clearing. The entranceto the cavern was as yet hidden by intervening trunks, but thelight-coloured rock could be seen between the trees. Matava slowlyraised his rifle and took a careful aim; then, as though dissatisfied,he lowered the weapon and stood with up-lifted hand enjoining silenceupon those behind him. To make sure, he turned round and, with manygestures, impressed upon them all to keep motionless and silent; then,having satisfied himself that they understood and would obey his signs,he faced round and again raised his rifle.
And now, Doctor Lorien, following the line of the Indian's aim,became conscious of a slight movement among the trees in front ofthem. Presently--the Indian still waiting his opportunity to fire--hesaw that a great hanging mass was swaying to and fro, passing andre-passing the space between the trunks of two trees. At first hethought it was a large mass of hanging creeper, but, remembering thatthere was no wind to cause the movement, he looked more closely and sawthat it was the head and part of the body of a gigantic serpent thatwas depending from a branch above. Suddenly, Matava's rifle rang out,and a moment after an enormous mass fell to the ground and writhed andtwisted about in horrible contortions.
Then a loud, hoarse roar was heard, echoing through the forest. Thestartled travellers looked about on every side, but could see nothingto explain the sound; then it came again and again, while the colossalfolds in front of them, half hidden by the trees, continued to riseand fall, lashing against the trees and shrubs with blows that seemedalmost to shake the ground.
Matava advanced and fired other shots into the struggling monster;then, watching his opportunity, made a rush and dexterously cut offthe creature's head with a blow of his axe.
And now, looking towards the rock, they saw the 'window' entrance tothe cavern, and the head of the big puma from which had proceeded theloud roars they had heard; and by the side of the puma was a pallid,thin, haggard face that they had some difficulty in recognising as JackTemplemore's!
"You have come only just in time," he said, in a weak voice, witha poor attempt at a smile, when the doctor had come near. "We werealmost done for; at least, I know I am. I scarcely know whether I havestrength enough to get the ladder out for you."
They tied two lassoes together and threw one end in; this he fastenedto the ladder, and, thus assisted, it was got out. Immediately thepuma sprang down it and disappeared into the forest. Then the doctor,followed by Kingsford and Harry, climbed up and entered the cavern, tofind Templemore lying on the floor unconscious.
He was suffering from a sprained ankle and a badly bruised arm, and wasexhausted from want of food. It was some time before he could explainmatters to his rescuers; and they, meantime, were anxiously wonderingat finding him thus alone, with no sign about of his two friends. Whenhe had briefly accounted for their absence, he told how he had beenkept prisoner for more than a week by the great serpent that, all thattime, had relentlessly watched and waited outside. But, apart fromthis, he could scarcely have got through the wood in his crippled state.
"Still," he said, "but for that serpent, 'Nea,' the puma, would havebrought in some fresh meat. As it is, I have had to share with her eventhe small amount of tinned food we happened to have left here."
The flying pieces of rock that had injured him had broken his rifle;and he had only a few cartridges for his revolver.
"It's all been unfortunate," he said. "They put all the things in thewrong cave, and, when I came to myself after my desperate race betweenthe falling rocks, I was in darkness and the puma was licking my handsand face. With much difficulty I found my way to the front here andpulled the stone away; then found a lantern and some oil, and got alight. The entrance to the canyon I found was all dark--buried--andI could still hear rumblings as of further falls of rock; but theysounded distant. I imagine, therefore, that the valley must be buriedpretty deep. I set about making myself as comfortable as I could; and,when I put the ladder out, 'Puss,' as I call her, went out huntingwhile I bathed my ankle and arm. Several days she went out and broughtin something pretty regularly, and I thought I should be able to nursemyself up and get well enough to struggle through the wood alone. But,one morning, she refused to go out; that day I had a visit from a packof 'Warracaba tigers'; another time when she stayed in, looking outmyself, I saw that awful serpent hanging from a bough; and there ithas been day and night ever since; 'Puss' refusing to venture forth. Ifired all my cartridges, except two, at it without any effect. It keptceaselessly swaying its head about, and my arm pained me and my handtrembled; and, unless you can put a bullet through its head, it's of nouse firing at a creature like that, you know. If my rifle had been allright, the thing would have been easy enough. I kept two cartridges inreserve--one for poor 'Puss' and the other for myself--and I think youcame only just about in time to save us both." And Jack's voice shook,and he felt a choking sensation in his throat. It was clear he hadgiven up hope and had been making up his mind to face death alone.
Robert Kingsford's gratification and delight in the fact that hisjourney had, after all, turned out to be the means of rescuing hisfriend, the lover of his sister, may be imagined. Nor were the othersless pleased; only the good doctor's satisfaction was c
louded byhis inability to get out into the wonderful valley to obtain any ofthe botanical treasures that lay so near at hand. But his chagrindisappeared when Templemore, as some consolation, showed him the purseof gems that had been sent to him.
"We'll give up orchid-collecting after this, lad!" he exclaimed tohis son. "No need to wear out my old bones any longer in toilsomewanderings, when we've got enough to live on comfortably without."
Presently, 'Puss' came back with a wild pig, and great was therejoicing over the meal that followed.
Then all, save Templemore--who could only look on from the window--wentout to examine the reptile monster they had killed and to gaze inastonishment at its huge proportions. The Indians had already begunto skin it, but had not finished the operation when the time came formaking their preparations to pass the night.
These were complete--the four white men sleeping in the cavern and theIndians bivouacking outside--when strange cries were heard echoingthrough the forest. Instantly there was a great stir among the Indians.With one accord they started up, exclaiming, "The tigers! The tigersare coming!" Forgetting their fear of the 'demons' cavern,' they criedout piteously for the ladder to be put out for them; and no sooner wasthis done than they scrambled up it with all speed into the cave, andpulled it in after them.
In reply to the amazed inquiries of the others, Matava explained thatthey had recognised the distant trumpetings of 'Warracaba tigers,'those fierce animals that nothing--not even fires--can stay or keep atbay. Soon, in fact, the animals could be heard on all sides around thecavern, though but little could be seen of them in the darkness. Theirgrowls and roars and squeals were answered by hoarse roars of defiancefrom the puma that were deafening as they reverberated through thegalleries of the cavern. Outside, the 'tigers' made frantic effortsto leap up and get in at the window, while those within had much adoto keep the puma from leaping out amongst them. They also fired a fewshots at them, but in the darkness--for the fires had burned low--theywere fired at random.
"Why," said the doctor, "I should think there must be a hundred ofthem! What an awful place this forest must be! I know that wolves huntin packs, but I never before heard of 'tigers' doing so. Wolves can'tclimb trees as these can. It's awful, perfectly awful!" he added, thewhile he listened to the diabolical noises going on outside. It was,indeed, as a former traveller has expressed it, 'like a witheringscourge sweeping through the forest.'[11]
[11] See Mr. Barrington Brown's 'Canoe and Camp Life Among the Indians of British Guiana,' p. 71. He says these animals hunt in packs of as many as a hundred or more.
It was hours before the din died down; and then, just when the tiredtravellers were falling asleep, the most appalling, human-like criesbroke forth, sounding first quite close at hand, and then dying away ina long-drawn wail or shriek.
Again the new-comers started up in alarm; but Templemore, smilingfeebly, bade them take no notice.
"It is only the 'lost souls'," said he.[12]
[12] See foot-note, Chapter V., p. 52.
"The 'lost souls'!" exclaimed Kingsford. "What can you mean?" He beganto think the other must be raving.
"I know no more than you do," was Templemore's reply. "So the Indiansaccount for those sounds, and that is all I can tell you. Since I havebeen here they have serenaded me thus every night--even sometimes byday--and at times I have thought all the 'lost souls' from the InfernalRegions must have been let loose for my especial entertainment--or tofrighten me to death or drive me mad--I know not which. I really think,if I had not had the company of this faithful beast--she always roarsback defiance at them--I _should_ have gone mad."
Towards morning the sounds ceased, and sleep became possible for two orthree hours. But when, at daylight, the Indians rose and ventured out,they found the great snake had been almost completely devoured. Onlysome bones and a few bits of skin were left.