The Gilded Man: A Romance of the Andes

by Clifford Smyth

  XVIII

  SUBTERRANEAN PHOTOGRAPHY

  At first he did not see Una. His glance wandered dreamily off in thedistance and then, recalled, as if by the sudden disappearance of someidle fancy, fixed itself upon Sajipona. A smile of satisfaction passedover his features as he came out to meet her.

  "Why did you stop singing?" he asked, in a voice that was almostinaudible. "I missed you."

  "Some one is here to see you," she said, ignoring the question.

  David turned to Una. One would have said that he had not seen herbefore, although in her presence he betrayed a strange sort ofagitation. Their eyes met. He took the hand she eagerly stretched out tohim, then slowly relinquished it, perplexed, vaguely conscious of theother's emotion.

  "I'm certain I've seen her before," he said, half jokingly, half inirritation, addressing Sajipona, "but I can't remember when or where.For the life of me I can't tell who she is. As for her name, I ought toknow that----"

  "Una! Una! Surely you remember, David?"

  "David! But of course you told her my name, Sajipona. Did you tell heryour pretty fancy, about the El Dorado, the Gilded Man?"

  "Surely, you remember my name--Una?"

  "Una--Una," he repeated uneasily. "It sounds familiar--I'm sure I'veheard it--but I can't exactly place it. Strange! How perfectly familiarit is; yet, I can't place it, I can't place it! It's a beautifulname--I'm sure I used to think so--and you are beautiful, too, Una!"

  Her name, pronounced in the accents she loved so well, brought a floodof memories that, she felt, must thrill him too. And yet--there he stoodbefore her, the David she had always known, but now subtly changed,troubled, unseeing. Amazement robbed her of words. He had forgottenher. To Sajipona, however, more keenly observant even than Una, it wasevident that an undercurrent of recognition on the part of David washopelessly held in check by sheer inability to remember. His manner,moreover, indicated a mental uneasiness, pain, that could not fail toexcite sympathy.

  "When you left us at Honda," began Una, "we expected to follow rightafter. Then we heard you had disappeared----"

  Laughing mirthlessly, David placed both hands to his head in hopelessbewilderment.

  "It sounds like some dream I might have had years ago. I can't make itreal," he said deprecatingly. "It's no use--I can't remember. Indeed, Ialmost believe you are chaffing me. But--it's really too serious a thingto joke about. You will tell--Una," he added, addressing Sajipona, "howlong I've been here, how kind you've been to me ever since I came back,so ill I could scarcely look out for myself."

  "Ever since you came back?" repeated Una, seizing upon the clew. "Thenyou have not always been here? You know the world outside of this cave?You were here once before, and then went away? Where were you? Try toremember."

  "Why, yes," said David, mystified more than ever; "of course I've beenaway. I remember moving about a great deal, visiting many countries,seeing many people. But I don't remember who any of them were--I can'trecall a single thing plainly, not a name, not a face. Sajipona hastried to help me. She's very patient about it. But, so far, it has beenno use--and it's painful, I can tell you, trying to remember thesethings. I feel comfortable, entirely at peace, only when Sajiponasings. There's nothing like her singing. I could listen to her forever,forgetting even to try to remember--if you know what that means."

  "But I want you to remember," interrupted Sajipona. "You must try--nevermind how painful it is. You know how much depends on that for both ofus."

  "Yes, I know. That's why I try. I believe that when I am entirely wellagain it will all come right. All those dark dreams and things thatbother me now will be cleared away and I will be completely myself. Thenit will be as you say. We will be perfectly happy together."

  Involuntarily the two women looked at each other. David, standingbetween them, calmer than before, remained silent, unconscious of theeffect of his words.

  "You must explain what you mean," Sajipona said to him firmly, after amoment of irresolution.

  Aroused from his revery, he looked in perplexity from one to the other.Then his brow cleared and he laughed softly.

  "Oh, yes! You see--Una--Sajipona is very beautiful; and she is just asgood as she is beautiful. I owe her everything. When I am completelymyself again, as I said, she has promised---- You see, I have told herthat I----"

  The words died away as he looked at Una. Her face showed neitheranxiety nor surprise, but a deep tenderness and melancholy. At thesight of her he seemed to lose the thread of what he had to say. He wasmystified, pitiably torn between the struggles of a memory that remainedtongueless, and the realities of a situation that seemed, somehow,peculiarly unreal. Wistfully he held out his hand to the girl whosebeauty thus moved him, then hastily withdrew it, turning as he did so toSajipona.

  "Your song was very soothing, my queen," he said ruefully. "I fear Iam not quite myself as yet. Something is wrong--something new. Thislady--Una--you will forgive me?"

  "Try to remember," she said earnestly; "there's nothing to forgive."

  "There's nothing to remember," he said disconsolately. "I havetried--but I begin to think it's all a mistake."

  He turned abruptly, leaving them to go to the room whence he had come amoment before. As he reached the open window he paused irresolutely.

  "You will not go?" he said, his eyes meeting Una's.

  "David!" was all her answer.

  He shook his head mournfully, hesitated, then slowly passed into thedarkened chamber beyond.

  The two women regarded each other in silence. In Sajipona's glance therewas proud defiance; with Una anxiety had changed to determination. Thewordless duel of emotions was interrupted by Narva, who, until now, hadremained in the background. Upon David's withdrawal the old sibyl shookoff her reserve and addressed herself reverently to Sajipona.

  "His old enemy is here," she announced; "there is danger."

  Narva's news did not bring the alarm that any one would have supposed itwould bring. Instead, Sajipona's look of anxiety vanished. A flash ofanger gleamed in her eyes. Then she smiled with an eager air of triumph,grasping the old Indian's arm as if urging her to say more.

  "You mean the American, Raoul Arthur?" she asked. "Is he here? I wanthim. I have waited for him. But, I didn't see him. Are you sure that heis here?"

  Narva shrugged her shoulders. "He comes for no good," she said. "Atlast he finds the way from Guatavita. He seeks treasure. With him aretraitors to the Land of the Condor. He fought Anitoo. He conquered him.He is on his way to the palace. I heard him with his men on the ironpath. They are many. Defend yourself, Sajipona! We have very littletime."

  The appeal was received exultantly. From Una, however, there came a cryof dismay.

  "If there is danger," she exclaimed, "what will become of my uncle andthe others?"

  Narva chuckled to herself. "There is no danger to them," she said. "Thefat man will have trouble to run, and the old woman will die because sheis always afraid."

  Her grim humor fell on unappreciative ears. At Sajipona's rebuke shelapsed again into silence, first giving a grudging explanation of whatshe had done with the party of explorers. The latter, it appeared,were practically prisoners where Narva and Una left them. There theymust remain, unless they were discovered by the hostile band that wasbelieved to have invaded the cave, in which case their release wouldmean capture by Raoul and his men. The possible consequences of thisincreased Una's alarm, and at Sajipona's command Narva grumblingly setforth to effect their rescue. As success depended on her speed, Unawas prevented from returning with her. She was thus left alone withSajipona, whose plans regarding David now absorbed her attention. Here,however, she encountered a reserve which she could not break. Everyattempt to gain information was repelled, and in a manner intimatingthat Una's interest in David was unwarranted by any previous friendshipbetween them.

  "He does not know you," exclaimed Sajipona exultantly, but with a noteof uneasiness that was not lost on the other.

  Una, concerned for David's safety,
ignored the unspoken challenge.

  "What is to become of him? Why is he here?" she demanded.

  "What is that to you?" was the fierce retort. "He doesn't know even yourname. He is happy. He depends on me."

  "That may be. But there is a mystery. Tell me what it all means. Ifhe is happy, if there is nothing more to be said or done, I will go.Only--tell me."

  "You will not go--not until there is no longer a mystery, as you callit."

  The announcement sounded like the sentence of a judge, from whichthere is no appeal. It reminded Una that she was in the power of onewho had shown towards her an inflexible will. At the same time she wasconscious of a softening in Sajipona's attitude that was both mystifyingand reassuring. This beautiful Indian girl had at first resented Una'spresence. She had regarded the other with queenly scorn, and had notdisguised the jealous impatience kindled by the brief and futileinterview with David. Now this impatience had given place to a deeperemotion that was less easily understood. It might be of kindlier import,an unexpected relenting from the harsh mood that apparently weighedUna's every word and act with suspicion. Still, it was possible thatbeneath this newly awakened generosity there lurked something sinister,a deliberate purpose to lead the other to a confession that would be herown undoing. Of this, however, Una had little fear. By nature trustfulof those about her, she did not look for harm to herself from one soyoung, so beautiful, and who now, at any rate, appeared anxious to atonefor her former enmity by a graciousness equally marked.

  "There is nothing to fear," said Sajipona, as if reading her thoughts."Narva will protect your people. There is danger only from your friend,this Raoul Arthur----"

  "He is not my friend!" exclaimed Una.

  Sajipona smiled. "We will soon see," she said. "This is the Land of theCondor, all that is left to an ancient race that once ruled over manynations. For centuries the poor remaining handful of my people havemanaged to live unknown in this little corner of the earth. You are thefirst--except one other--from the outside world to find your way intothis forgotten kingdom. When you will be free to return to the outerworld is not for me to say. But, you are here--my guest. Let us have itthat way. This is my kingdom. Enter!"

  They did not pass into the palace through the entrance used by David.Back of where they stood, at a word of command from Sajipona, a largedoor swung open, revealing a spacious court within flooded with a clearwhite light that left not a corner or angle in shadow. This lightradiated from a central shaft overhead, at first indistinguishable inthe dazzling intricacies of the ceiling that stretched away in tierupon tier of crystalline columns above them. Advancing to the middleof this court, under the queen's guidance, Una beheld, at the apex ofthe vast dome curving upward to a seemingly immeasurable distance,a large opening beyond which blazed a great ball of fire suspended,apparently, from the topmost pinnacle of the outer cave. The rays fromthis underground sun--for it is only as a sun that it can be adequatelydescribed--shone with an intensity that was fairly blinding. These raysflashed and sparkled in long, waving streamers of flame, disappearingand suddenly renewing their radiance with a ceaseless energy similar tothat displayed by some gigantic dynamo whose emanations are produced bya concentration of power as yet unattempted by man. Fascinated by thissplendor, Una realized that she was standing beneath the great luminousbody whose magical effects she had first witnessed while approaching thepalace with Narva. Shielding her eyes from a spectacle that wearied byits vehemence, she turned to Sajipona. But Sajipona was not with her.Una stood alone in the center of the great court.

  At another time this sudden isolation would have been alarming. Butthe many strange adventures experienced during the last few hours hadaccustomed Una to danger, so that the disappearance of Sajipona servedmerely to arouse her to a keener sense of her surroundings. Her faithin this beautiful Indian, moreover, was not easily shaken, in spite ofthe repellant attitude she had first assumed towards her. Treachery fromsuch a source, it seemed to her, was inconceivable.

  Stepping back from the direct rays of the great ball of fire, themanifestations of whose mysterious power had until then absorbed herattention, Una found herself in the midst of a throng of people, all ofthem, apparently, watching her. By their dress, simple and flowing asthat worn by the followers of Anitoo, she perceived these were cave menand women, some forty or fifty in number, each one standing motionlessalong the wall farthest from her. With heads bent forward and armsoutstretched towards the center of the court, where Una stood, theyappeared to be engaged in some sort of devotional exercise, the visibleobject of which was a great round disk of gold set in the tessellatedpavement that flashed beneath the light pouring upon it from above.Inlaid within this disk, at the outer rim of which she had been standinga moment before, Una could now discern cabalistic figures wrought inemeralds whose deep effulgence was in striking contrast with the hazeof golden light surrounding them. The intricate design formed by thesefigures was difficult to trace, but that each figure, and the patterninto which it was woven, bore a mystical meaning was suggested by thereverence with which this whole glittering pool of light was regarded bythe silent throng.

  Eagerly Una scanned the white-robed worshipers before her, hopingthat among them she might discover David. Not finding him, she soughtSajipona, with the same disappointing result at first. Then her gaze,wandering away from these strange faces, rested upon a slightlyelevated platform at one end of the court. There, beneath a gold andgem-encrusted canopy, seated upon a massive throne of pure crystal, shebeheld the Indian queen.

  From the first Una had felt the spell of her beauty, but its forcehad been tempered by the flashes of anger, the suspicion, the disdainthat had alternately marked their intercourse. Now, although arrayedand staged, as it were, in all the splendor belonging to her highstation--with crown and scepter and glittering robe of state--this proudbeauty had softened to an almost girlish loveliness, wistful, touchedwith a melancholy as hopeless as it was appealing. That she was a queen,aloof from those about her, seemed strangely pathetic. Nor did thisexpression of sheer womanliness change as her eyes met Una's. Across thewidth of the great presence chamber a mysterious wave of sympathy seemedto bind these two together. Completing its wordless message, Sajiponaarose and stood expectantly while Una approached, the throng before hersilently falling back until she reached the foot of the throne. Then,with hands clasped in greeting, the two women faced each other, theenmity that first had sundered them apparently forgotten, or, at theleast, held in check by some subtler, purer feeling. Again Una wonderedif this could be genuine--if the suspicion with which she had beenregarded at first might not still lurk behind this outward graciousness.Little versed in the arts of dissimulation, however, and apt to takefor current coin whatever offered of friendliness, she accepted thisunlooked-for warmth of welcome with undisguised gratitude. Sajipona drewher gently forward until the two stood side by side on the platformfacing the great court, the silent groups of attendants below them. Thedazzling light, the flashing splendor of columned walls and vaultedceiling, the white-robed figures, the jeweled throne, furnished forth afaery spectacle not easily forgotten.

  "These are my people," said Sajipona proudly. "They will protect you asthey protect me."

  As if in answer to her assurance the waiting courtiers, absorbed untilnow in the contemplation of the mystical figures within the circle oflight at their feet, slowly turned and made grave obeisance beforethe two women standing in front of the throne. Following this sign ofsubmission, they came forward as if expectant of some further command.Sajipona smilingly watched the effect of this ceremony on her companion.

  "Ah! it is not here as in Bogota," she said, "or in the world where youcome from, far from Bogota. You think all this that you see is unreal--adream, perhaps. My people are so different from yours--and all thesemany years they live forgotten, unknown. I have lived in Bogota. Therethey do not know of this great cave that belonged to the ancient rulersof the mountains. They don't know that I am queen here, or of thispalace that is mine--and
the light that burns like the sun. Ah! I wonderwhat your wise uncle will say when he sees our sun!"

  Sajipona laughed noiselessly, with the half-concealed delight that achild hugs to itself when it hides some simple secret from the eyes ofits elders. Una, more bewildered than ever at this allusion to Leighton,sought vainly for a reasonable explanation of the marvels surroundingher.

  "My uncle!" she exclaimed. "How do you know that he is wise--and heis!--and that he is here? Yes, this sun of yours--what is it, where doesit come from?"

  Again Sajipona laughed.

  "Remember," she said, "this is not Bogota. Out there it is all verywonderful, very great. You have the sky, the sun, the stars. Themountains stretch away as far as the eye can see; there are plains,cities; and there are buildings greater than any we have here. This isa toy world, you will say, even when you think some things in it verywonderful. But you do not guess the half of what is here. In this worldmy people have lived in secret for centuries. They have discoveredthings that even the wisest of your people know nothing of. We have eyesthat see everything that happens in our world of stone, eyes that piercethrough the stones themselves. I knew when you came into our kingdom;I watched you when you passed through the great gate where the otherswere fighting. But--you don't believe me. Come, I will show you."

  Sajipona gave her hand to the astonished girl and the two steppeddown from the platform where they were standing and made their way tothe center of the court. Here the great circle of light cast by theball of fire overhead gleamed at their feet like an unruffled pool ofsun-kissed water. At the rim of this circle they halted, Sajipona gentlyrestraining her companion, who, in her eagerness, would have passed on.

  "Look there on the floor," she said. "Your eyes may not be as ours;perhaps you will have to wait before you can see. But it will come--youwill see."

  Una remembered how she had heard--and laughed--of magicians whopretended to read the future by gazing into a crystal globe. Theexperiment to which she was now invited seemed like that, only here itwas apparently a huge mirror of reflected light that she was told towatch, while no word had been said of finding therein a revelation ofthings to come. Nor could she see anything in this mirror at first.Waves of light, tongues of leaping flame, passed over the polishedsurface of the metal, here darting off in long zigzag streaks, thereforming a sort of pool of molten, quivering fluorescence, as thephysicists call it, varying in size and color, then vanishing utterly.Much the same appearance Una remembered having seen on the surfaceof a copper kettle when subjected to intense heat. But in this casethere was no perceptible heat to account for the phenomenon, whichwas rather electric in its fantastic weavings--a reduplication, on agigantic scale, of the wavering finger of light that she had watchedplay, with such fatal results, on her uncle's electric psychometer. Theresemblance, recognized with a shudder, intensified her interest. Thesuccession of marvels through which she had been passing prepared herfor anything. In her present mood, nothing would have surprised her.

  "What is it? What is it?" she asked eagerly.

  Sajipona followed the twisting maze of figures before them with unwontedanxiety. Her usual calm demeanor was gone. She appeared to be readingsomething the purport of which was not at all to her liking.

  "Look!" she exclaimed. "There he is. They have let him pass through thegate. He is coming here. Anitoo's men are with him."

  To Una the words were meaningless. Yet she knew that her companion wasreading, or, rather, witnessing something that was passing before herown eyes, and that hence should have been quite as visible to her--ifonly she had the clew. But this she did not have. She recognized thehint of danger. She knew that in some way Sajipona had caught a glimpseof some one whom she counted an enemy. She felt that this person was insome way connected with her own party; and then the thought of RaoulArthur flashed across her mind, at the same time that his veritableimage--so it seemed--stood forth in wavering lines of light at her feet.

  "Save David from him!" she cried involuntarily.

  "You see him--you know him!"

  "He came in with us. He is there--look! I don't know by what invisiblepower you have conjured up this apparition, but it is real. He is theone man I have feared--and he is coming here!"

  Sajipona laughed softly to herself.

  "Ah!" she cried, "now you have our secret. Here in this ancient hall,under this sun we have worshiped for countless ages, nothing is hidden.But the man you fear, that you see there, will bring freedom to usboth."

  Whatever Sajipona meant by her enigmatical words, the fact was there,the living, moving likeness of Raoul Arthur, in the light-woven tapestryat Una's feet. Eagerly she watched him. It was certainly Raoul, Raoulhurrying towards her, growing more distinct, more threatening withevery moment. Behind him streamed a shadowy line of men--swiftly,confidently--following a trail amid the jagged rocks and precipicesof the cave that might well have daunted the boldest spirits, butwhich seemed powerless to retard their progress. As Una's eyes becameaccustomed to the shifting panorama before her, sundry details came intoview that at first had been unnoticed. She was familiar with the curiousphenomena wrought by the camera obscura, and this singular portrayal onthe gleaming floor of Sajipona's palace seemed at first not unlike thatsimple method of reproducing objects invisible to the spectator. But asthe present picture grew and then faded away, to be followed by othersin this magic pool of light, she knew that what she now beheld wasquite beyond the power of the cunningly placed lens used in experimentswith the camera obscura to portray. The latter, she remembered, couldreproduce objects only when they came within a certain definitedistance from the lens itself. But here Raoul Arthur and his companionsmoved across a constantly changing, lengthening space. Moreover, sherecognized the path they were following as the one over which she hadtraveled at a point far away from the palace. They had reached, indeed,the very spot where she and Narva had first caught sight of that topmostpinnacle of the cave, behind and above which flamed the great ball offire, the sun of this subterranean world. As Sajipona's palace stood atthe base of this pinnacle, she calculated, from her own experience ofthe journey, that Raoul and his followers were coming directly towardsthem.

  "There is nothing to fear," resumed Sajipona, as if in answer to herthoughts. "Be glad of their coming. But--for your own people I amafraid."

  "Ah, my poor uncle! I have brought him into all this danger," exclaimedUna. "Where is he? How can I save him?"

  "Look!"

  Eagerly studying the portion of the picture indicated, Una suddenlyfound, to her horror, that Raoul, with that vague, shadowy rabble at hisheels, was approaching another group of people, just ahead, among whomshe recognized the gaunt figure of Narva, evidently exasperated by theinability of the others to keep pace with her. Even in the uncertainlines of the picture the scorn darkening the features of the old sibylwas easily discernible. Behind her tottered Mrs. Quayle, waving herarms in helpless protest, supported by the faithful Andrew, whose faceshowed an even greater degree of woe and alarm than usual. They wereclosely followed by Leighton, imperturbable as ever, and Miranda, whoseirascible rocketing from one side to the other of the narrow trail, andwhose violent gesticulations manifested all too plainly his indignation.Had it not been for her companions Narva could easily have outstrippedher pursuers; but with so timorous a person as Mrs. Quayle this seemedimpossible. The hopelessness of it, in spite of all his scolding andprodding, had evidently convinced Miranda of the necessity for a changeof tactics. Further flight being a mere waste of energy, there was leftthe alternative of parleying with the enemy. Hence, without stopping toconsult with General Herran, who still suffered, apparently, from hiswound, and who plodded patiently along immediately behind Leighton, thedoctor suddenly came to a standstill. This unexpected halt very nearlytoppled over the others, who were pressing on as hard as they could goand found it difficult to stop on the instant. But Miranda did not heedthe ludicrous disorder into which he had thrown them. Facing quicklyabout, and with arms impressively folded, he bestrod
e the narrow pathas if defying any one who might be foolhardy enough to challenge him.At a distance, and without hearing the torrent of abuse with which heevidently greeted his pursuers, the fiery doctor resembled a smallterrier disputing the right of way with a pack of hounds hot on theirquarry. What he lacked in physical presence, however, Miranda made up inenergy. Undaunted he stood his ground, the men whom he addressed haltingwith astonishment depicted on their faces. Then, most amazing of all, hewheeled about, placed himself at their head and, waving them forward,strutted along as if he had been their chosen leader.

  Amused and impressed by his boldness, the men were apparently willingat first to accept Miranda for their commander. He furnished them witha new kind of entertainment, and for the moment, and just becausethey did not understand him, it seemed as if they recognized in hima superiority they were not loath to follow. But Raoul's leadershipwas not to be so easily superseded. Quickly thrusting Miranda aside,breathless and triumphant from his exertions, the wiry American angrilyharangued his troops. He threatened the foremost of them with a pikethat he held in his hand, and by their downcast looks and passivedemeanor, it was evident that his words and gestures had brought themback to a recognition of his authority. Miranda, still shouting andgesticulating, was ignominiously left to shift for himself, while thecavemen, obeying Raoul's command, swept onward until they reached thestupefied group of explorers ahead of them. Here another halt wasordered, and Raoul pointed out Mrs. Quayle to his men. Four of thelatter promptly left the ranks of their comrades, went forward ata round trot, seized the horrified lady, and swung her up to theirshoulders before she knew what was happening, or had time to defendherself. Thus carried by two of the men and held in place by the othertwo, she was speedily brought into line not far behind Raoul. Leightonevidently protested against the sudden capture of Mrs. Quayle, forwhose safety he felt peculiarly responsible. But his appeal was wavedscornfully aside. The rest of the explorers, Miranda included, seeingthat further resistance was futile, and that they were virtually Raoul'sprisoners, hopelessly resigned themselves to their fate and followedalong with the others. A signal was then given, and the entire throngmarched rapidly down the trail to the palace. Narva, however, was notamong them. In the commotion that took place during the altercation withMiranda, and the subsequent seizure of Mrs. Quayle, she had disappeared.

  As the last figures in this strange picture faded from view, Sajiponaseized Una's arm. The waving streams of light reflected on the floorhad again become meaningless. It was as if a dream had suddenly passedbefore them, leaving them, as sleepers awakening, uncertain of thereality of what they had witnessed.

  "Who is he?" asked Sajipona--"the stout man who so nearly captured thesetraitors?"

  "A friend, a doctor, who came with us."

  "He is brave! But it is strange that this Raoul Arthur could freehimself so easily from Anitoo. He must have killed my poor Anitoo todo that. But your friend was nearly too much for him! Never mind if hefailed. They will soon be here. Let us be ready!"

  Then, turning to her attendants who stood in a circle at a distance fromthem, she cried:

  "Open the door!"

  Obeying her command, two of the cavemen hurried to the farther end ofthe hall. There was a muffled sound of grating stone, and then the twoleaves of the great portal swung slowly open, revealing the glittering,silent garden of the palace beyond.