by Eugène Sue
The other kings applauded Neroweg and accentuated their approval with loud laughter and clatter of arms, joined to cries of:
“Yes — that is what we want — do you understand, Gallic dog?”
“I understand,” I replied, unable to refrain from indulging in raillery against such savage insolence. “I understand that you wish to conquer and subjugate us as did the Romans for a time, after our own race dominated and conquered the whole world for centuries in succession. But you who so much love the sunshine, the goods, the country and the women of other peoples, you seem to forget that, despite the universal power that they acquired and despite their innumerable armies, even the Romans were compelled to return to us one by one the rights that we enjoyed, so that, at this hour, the Romans are no longer our conquerors, but our allies. Now, then, seeing that you so much love the sunshine, the country, the goods and wives of others, listen to my words: We, the Gauls, alone and unaided by the Romans, will chase you from our frontiers, or we shall exterminate you to the last man if you persist in being bad neighbors and in proposing to plunder us of our old Gaul.”
“Yes, we are plunderers!” cried Neroweg. “And, by the snows of Germany we shall plunder you of your old Gaul! Our army is four times as large as yours; you have your palaces, your cities, your wealth, your women, your sun, your fertile earth to defend — we have nothing to defend and everything to gain. We camp in our huts and sleep on the backs of our horses; our only wealth is our sword; we have nothing to lose, everything to gain. And we will gain everything, and we will subjugate your race, you Gallic dog! It will be the end of Gaul!”
“Go and ask the Romans, whose army was even larger than yours, how many foreign cohorts the sod of old Gaul has devoured! Even the greatest battles that they, the conquerors of the world delivered, did not cost them one-quarter the number of soldiers that our fathers, as insurgent slaves, exterminated with their scythes and forks. Take care! Strong and sharp is the sword of the Gallic soldier; trenchant is the scythe, heavy the fork of the Gallic husbandman in the defense of hearth, family and freedom! Take care! If you persist in remaining bad neighbors, the Gallic scythe and fork will be enough to drive you back into your snow-bound wilderness, ye people of sloth, of rapine and of carnage, who desire to enjoy the fruits of the labors of others, who covet their soil, their wives and their sunshine, and strive after these by means of theft and massacre!”
“Dare you, Gallic dog, hold such language to us!” cried Neroweg grinding his teeth. “You, a prisoner! You, under the points of our swords! under the edge of the Frankish battle axe!”
“The moment seems to me opportune to say the truth to the enemies of Gaul!”
“And I think the moment is opportune to put you through a thousand deaths!” cried the Frankish king in a passion as towering as that of his fellows. “Yes, you shall undergo a thousand deaths — and after that, my sole answer to the audacious message of your Victoria will be to return your head to her with the announcement in the name of Neroweg the Terrible Eagle, that, before the sun shall have risen six times, I shall capture herself in the midst of her own camp, shall take her to my bed, and shall then pass her over to my men, that they may, in turn, enjoy Victoria, the proud Gallic woman!”
I lost all control over myself at the ribald and ferocious insolence flung at the woman whom I venerated above all others. I was unarmed, but I picked up one of the now extinguished firebrands that lay at my feet and which the Franks had used to torture me with; I seized the heavy log, and swift as lightning struck Neroweg so sound a blow with it over his head that he reeled back, stumbled and fell to the ground unconscious.
Ten swords struck me almost simultaneously. But my casque and cuirass protected me. In their blind rage the Frankish chiefs struck at random, and cried:
“Death! Death to the dog of a Gaul!”
Only Riowag, the captain of the black warriors, did not join in the attempt to avenge upon my person the blow I dealt to his rival, Neroweg. On the contrary, he profited by the tumult to enter the cavern into which Elwig had been driven back, the entrance of which was now left free, seeing that the two kings, who, sword in hand, mounted guard before it, rushed to the assistance of the Terrible Eagle, who lay prostrate at a distance from them.
Immediately after Riowag entered the grotto, the priestess and her two assistant hags rushed out. With streaming hair, haggard looks, and hands raised heavenward they cried:
“The hour has come — the sun is setting — night approaches — death, death to the Gaul! He struck the Terrible Eagle — death, death to the Gaul! Bind him fast. We shall consult the subterranean gods in the magic water in which he is to boil!”
“Yes — death!” cried the Franks rushing upon me and binding me fast again. “He shall die under a prolonged agony! Death to the dog of a Gaul!”
“We are the priestesses of the sacrifice!” Elwig and the two hags protested in chorus, while they redoubled their bizarre contortions that by degrees imposed the Frankish warriors with terror.
“Oh! you who struck my brother, the blood of my blood,” Elwig screamed, writhing her arms, and howling furiously she threw herself upon me in a real or feigned transport of rage; “the gods of the nether world have delivered you into my hands! Come — come — let us drag him into the cavern,” she added addressing the old hags, “we must season him for his death with the proper tortures. Vengeance! Let our vengeance be merciless!”
The confusion into which the Franks were thrown by the blow that I dealt Neroweg kept them from interfering with Elwig and her two female assistants. Several of the kings even joined her in dragging me into the cavern, while the others were hurrying hither and thither or gathered anxiously around the Terrible Eagle who lay prone upon the ground, pale, motionless and his head bleeding.
“Our grand chief is not dead,” said some; “his hands are warm and his heart beats.”
“Let us transport him to his hut.”
“If he die we shall draw lots for his five black horses, his fine Gallic sword with the gold handle, and also for his necklace and silver bracelets.”
“The horses and arms of Neroweg belong to the oldest chief!” cried one of those who were holding up the head of the Terrible Eagle. “I am the oldest. To me belong both horses and arms! To me also his tent and chariots! To me his gold necklaces and silver bracelets!”
“You lie!” came from one of the chiefs at the feet of Neroweg. “His horses, his tent and his arms belong to me as his war companion.”
“No!” cried the others. “No! Everything that belongs to Neroweg must be drawn lots for.”
From the threshold of the cavern where I then was, I could see and hear the dispute wax hot and the swords glisten, while Neroweg, who still remained unconscious, was almost trampled under the feet of the enraged disputants, as they leaped over his body to get at closer quarters with one another. The conflict threatened to take a bloody turn when, leaving me where I was, Elwig threw herself between the combatants, whom she sought to separate, and shouted aloud:
“Shame and ill luck to those who contend over the spoils of a king who is neither dead nor revenged! Shame and ill luck to those who contend over the spoils of a brother before the very eyes of his sister! Shame and ill luck to the impious men who disturb the quiet of a place that is consecrated to the gods of the nether world!”
And with an inspired and dreadful mien, the priestess drew herself to her full length, and throwing up her clenched fists above her head, cried:
“My two hands are full of fearful misfortunes. Tremble!”
At these threats, the frightened barbarians involuntarily lowered their heads, as if afraid of being struck with the mysterious ills that the priestess held in her closed hands. They put their swords back into their scabbards. Profound silence ensued.
“Carry the Terrible Eagle to his hut!” Elwig thereupon commanded. “The sister will accompany her wounded brother. The Gallic prisoner will be watched by Map and Mob who assist me at the sacrifice
s. Two of you will remain at the mouth of the cavern, with your swords in your hands. Night is drawing near. Elwig will presently return with Neroweg. The execution of the prisoner will then begin, and I shall consult the auguries in the magic waters in which he is to boil until death supervenes!”
My last hope was dashed. In contemplating to return with her brother, Elwig must have doubtlessly renounced the project that her greed had caused her to hatch. I had pinned my safety on that project. I was bound firmly, hands and feet. My arms were pinioned behind my back; a belt was strapped around my legs. I could hardly move a step. I slowly followed the two hags into the grotto, at the entrance of which several of the kings posted themselves, sword in hand. The deeper I penetrated the cave, all the darker it grew. After having proceeded a little way, one of the two hags said to me:
“You may lie down on the ground if you wish; the sun has gone down. While waiting for Elwig’s return, my companion and I shall keep the fire alive under the caldron.”
Saying this both the hags left me. I remained alone.
CHAPTER VI.
THE FLIGHT.
FROM THE SOLITUDE and darkness in which I was left at the departure of Elwig’s sacrificial assistants, I could see the mouth of the cavern at some distance. The opening grew darker and darker as dusk yielded to night. Presently the gloom became complete, relieved only, from time to time, by the flickering light that the flames of the fire, kept alive under the huge brass caldron by the two hags, occasionally cast upon the grotto’s mouth.
I tried to snap my bonds. With my hands and feet free, I would have endeavored to disarm one of the Franks who guarded the issue, and, sword in hand, and protected by the darkness of the night, I would have reached the river bank guided by the sound of the rushing waves. Perhaps and notwithstanding the orders I gave him, Douarnek might not yet have rowed back to camp. But all my efforts proved futile against the bow-strings and the belt that held me fast. A muffled but increasing rumbling of feet and voices began to announce to me the arrival and assembling of a large number of people in the neighborhood of the cave. They must he doubtlessly gathering to witness my execution and listen to the auguries of the priestess.
I believed there was nothing left to me but to resign myself to my fate. I turned my last thoughts to my wife and child.
Suddenly, from the thickest of the surrounding darkness I heard the voice of Elwig two steps behind me. I started with surprise. I was certain she did not enter by the mouth of the cavern.
“Follow me,” she said.
At the same moment her feverish hand seized mine and held it firmly.
“How came you here?” I asked her stupefied, with hope re-rising in my breast, and endeavoring to walk.
“The cavern has two issues,” Elwig answered. “One of them is secret and known to me only. It is by that entrance that I came in, while the kings are waiting for me at the other entrance near the caldron. Come! Come! Take me to the bark where the treasure lies, where you left the necklaces, bracelets, diadems and other jewels!”
“My legs are tied,” I said. “I can hardly put one foot before the other.”
Elwig did not answer, but I could feel that she was cutting with her knife the leather strap and the bow-strings that bound my arms and legs. I was free!
“And your brother,” I inquired, following close upon her footsteps, “has he regained consciousness?”
“Neroweg is still dazed, like a bull whom the butcher did not kill outright. He awaits in his hut the hour of your execution. I am to notify him in time. He wishes to see you suffer and die. Come, come!”
“The darkness is so intense that I can not see before me.”
“Give me your hand.”
“Should your brother tire of waiting,” I observed as she almost dragged me along through the windings of the secret issue, “and should he enter the sacred wood with the other chieftains and not find either you or me in the cavern, what will happen? Will they not immediately start in pursuit of us?”
“Only I know this secret issue. When they miss both you and me from the cave, my brother and the chiefs will believe that I made you descend to the gods of the nether world. They will be all the more afraid of me. Come! Come quick!”
While Elwig thus spoke I was following her through so narrow a passage that I felt myself grazing the rocks on either side. The passage seemed at first to dip down towards the bowels of the earth, but presently its ascent became so steep and difficult for my legs, still numb from their recent ligatures, that it was with difficulty I kept step with the hurrying priestess. We had been for some time in the maze of the underground cave when at last I felt the fresh air strike my face. I imagined we were about to step into the open.
“To-night, after I shall have killed my brother in revenge for his outrages upon me,” Elwig explained to me in abrupt words, “I shall flee with a king whom I love. He is waiting for us outside. He is strong, brave and well armed. He will accompany us to your bark. If you deceived me, Riowag will kill you — do you hear me, Gaul? You will fall under his axe.”
I was little affected by the threat — my hands were free — my only uneasiness was whether Douarnek and the bark still waited for me.
A moment later we issued out of the cavern. The stars shone so brilliant in the sky that once out of the wood in which we still were, I was certain I would be able to see my way before me.
The priestess stopped for a moment and called:
“Riowag!”
“Riowag is here,” answered a voice so close to me that I realized the chief of the black warriors was near enough to be able to touch me. Nevertheless, it was in vain that I sought to distinguish his black shape in the dark. It became clearer to me than ever before how, by rendering themselves undistinguishable in the dark, these men could not choose but be dangerous foes in a night assault or ambuscade.
“Is it far from here to the river bank?” I asked Riowag. “You must know the spot where I landed; you were the chief of the band that greeted me with a volley of arrows.”
“No, we have not far to go,” Riowag answered.
“Shall we have to cross the camp?” I inquired, perceiving the lights of the Frankish encampment at a little distance.
Neither of my two guides made any answer. They exchanged a few words in a low voice, each took me by an arm, and they struck into a path that led away from the camp. Soon the roar of the rushing waters of the Rhine reached our ears. We drew rapidly near the shore. Finally from the height of the embankment on which we stood, I could distinguish a bluish sheet of water across the darkness — it was the river!
“We shall now ascend the beach about two hundred feet,” said Riowag; “we shall then be at the spot where you reached land under our arrows. Your bark must be only a little distance from there. If you deceived us your blood will redden the beach, and the waters of the Rhine will wash away your corpse.”
“Can we call out from the bank without being heard by the outposts of the camp?” I asked the Frank.
“The wind blows off shore,” Riowag answered with the sagacity of a savage. “You can freely raise your voice and call; you will not be heard at the camp, and your voice will surely travel to the middle of the stream.”
Riowag walked a few steps further and then stopped.
“It is here,” he said, “where you reached land; your bark must be anchored near by. I am a professional night warrior, and am able to see through the dark, but I can not distinguish your bark.”
“Oh! You deceived us! You deceived us!” murmured Elwig in a subdued voice. “You will die for it!”
“It may be,” I observed, “that, after having waited for me in vain, the bark may have just left its anchorage. The wind will carry my voice far; I shall call.”
Saying this I raised our battle cry of rally, well known to Douarnek.
Only the sound of the waves made answer.
Doubtlessly Douarnek had followed my orders and rowed back to camp at sunset.
I utte
red our war cry a second time and louder than the first.
Again the only response was the rushing of the waves.
Meaning to gain time and prepare myself for defense, I said to Elwig: “The wind blows off shore; it carries my voice to the river; but it blows back the voices that may have answered my signal. Let us listen!”
While I spoke I strained my eyes to peer through the dark and discover the weapons that Riowag was armed with. In his belt he carried a dagger; in his hand his short, broad sword. Although he and his beloved were close to me, one on each side, I could elude them with a bound, plunge into the river, and escape by swimming. I was watching for my opportunity when suddenly the distant and rhythmic sound of oars reached my ears. My call was heard by Douarnek.
In the measure that the decisive instant approached, the suspense and uneasiness of Elwig and her companion increased. To kill me would be to renounce the possession of the treasure, which, I had clearly told them, my soldiers would deliver only at my orders. But again, to allow the latter to disembark would be to furnish me with auxiliaries and render mine the stronger side. Elwig no doubt began to realize that her greed had carried her too far. Seeing the bark draw nearer she said to me in great excitement:
“The sacredness of the Gallic word is proverbial. You owe your life to me. I hope you did not deceive me with a false promise.”
That priestess of the nether world, the incestuous and blood-thirsty monster, who had meant to cut out my tongue in order to make sure of my silence, and who calmly contemplated adding fratricide to her other crimes, had saved my life moved thereto only by base greed. Nevertheless, I could not remain insensible to her appeal to Gallic faith. I almost regretted the lie I had uttered, however excusable it might be in view of the treachery that the Frankish warriors had practiced towards me. At that critical moment I was, however, bound to consider my own safety only. I jumped at Riowag, and after a violent struggle in which Elwig did not venture to take a hand, out of fear that she might wound her lover while seeking to strike me, I succeeded in disarming the warrior. Soon as that was done I threw myself into a posture of defense with the sword in my hand and cried: