Drums in the Forest

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22109, 3 June 1937, Page 7 (Supplement)

Drums in the Forest

Chapter 111 The dancing had begun. Rows of painted warriors advanced and retreated with rhythmic, swaying movements. In tneir hands were shields and spears, and as they shuffled their bare feet in the dust they chanted loudly. At one side of the clearing a group of men were pounding the drums with their bare hands. In the background were the women. A great shout greeted the prisoners. The chief, with Dobson at his side, was seated once more on the dais. His head and shoulders were outlined in the firelight, which flowed unevenly across the clearing and wavered as far as the stockade and the high wall of the jungle on the edge of black night. Near the edge of the dais had been set up a post, and the prisoners were bound to this, back to back. Phillip saw the chief raise his hand, and immediately the dancing stopped, and all the village was silent. But it was a strange and palpitating silence, beneath which they could feel the checked breath of the natives gathering in strong lungs for a new outburst of sound. The chief stood up ai.d began to speak. Sometimes he looked at the prisoners, and his face was frowning with anger. When he had finished, the long-delayed shout burst upon the clearing, and spears were brandished. The warriors began to circle the prisoners. “Looks as if Dobson isn’t going to do anything for us,” muttered Phillip. At that moment the little man rose calmly and began to descend from the dais. The warriors gave way respectfully as he came towards Doctor Jensen. “What are they going to do with us?” asked the doctor. “Take pot shots at you with their spears. They’re pretty good at killing a man by degrees, I tried to persuade the chief to make a quick job of it; but the people need amusement.” “And you’re going to let them do this?” It may have been a trick of the firelight; but for the moment it seemed as if Dobson’s face lost its artificial gravity and looked drawn and old. He leaned closer to the doctor. “I’ve been wishing you hadn’t told me about the sickness that’s on me. I know you lied, but I can’t help thinking about it. If only I could be sure of the truth!” “You’ll be sure soon enough,” said the doctor, looking at him steadily. The little man stared back, and then returned abruptly to the dais. There lie squatted beside the chief and folded his arms as if he had no further interest in the proceedings. But the chief had been waiting for him. Phillip saw the two men talking together. The chief was gesticulating, and at first Dobson shook his head, as if in disagreement. But presently, he stood up again, and advanced to the edge of the dais. Complete silence came over the clearing as the white man began to talk in the native dialect. He spoke slowly, picking his words with care and mouthing the gutturals with the anxious 'emphasis of one who did not wish to be misunderstood. When he had finished, the natives shouted their approval, and the warriors moved back from the prisoners. Dobson descended from the dais and came up to the post. 1 “The fates are on. your side,” he said to the doctor. “I may have to do something for you after aIL”

(By Monte Holcroft)

“What’s happened?” asked Phillip eagerly. “It’s the chief., The old wretch has never been quite sure about me, and now he’s making use of you to put me to a final test before he lets me have the ivory. I’ve been showing him new. tricks for month?, and I’ve done a little bragging now and then. Who wouldn’t? Besides, it’s a language these natives understand. But now he sees a chance to try me out once and for all, and at the same time to make sure that I’m the black man’s friend. The only way I can prove that to the satisfaction of his primitive mind is by doing violence to white .men. He’s just asked me to play a few tricks with you before you’re handed over to the spearmen.” “What are you going to do?” Dobson scowled back at him.

“First of all I’m going to cut these ropes with a jack knife. I’ve explained to the natives that I can hypnotise you so that you won’t do a thing without orders from me. They expect to .see something funny. Maybe they will.” “But how can we get away?” “You’re standing less * than a dozen yards from the lake, and there’s not a native in the way. Canoes are drawn up at the water’s edge. It ought to take us less than a minute to get afloat. But first we’ll have to do a little acting. You can take your lead from me.” He produced a knife and cut the thongs which bound the prisoners to the post. Then he made a few rapid passes with his hands. “Lie down on the ground!” A change had come over him. For the moment his anxieties were forgotten, and once again he was a showman, inteftt on pleasiftg the crowd. He moved in front of the two prisoners, contorting his face, rolling his eyes and making mysterious and flowing movements with his hands. Something of his confidence was transferred to the others. They were aware of great dangers, but they knew also that their only chance lay in obeying Dobson. Without protest, they lay down in the dust. “Roll about as if you’re in a fit. Make it look real!”

They began to writhe and struggle. The watching natives showed signs of being entertained, but it .was really the antics of Dobson which made" the scene convincing. He strutted and posed. The bowler hat was tilted on the back of his head. With great skill he re-enacted the rollings and writhings of his victims. By this time the natives were laughing delightedly. Even the chief, hugging his paunch, was shaking with satisfaction. "Get up!” They obeyed willingly. “Face up to each other,” went on Dobson. "Pretend to be angry, and make a show of fighting. And while you’re sparring and grappling see that you edge down towards the lake,” They began to see what he wanted, and this helped them to enter into their make-believe struggle with some sort of realism. The antics of Dobson gave them encouragement. To the great delight of the crowd he managed to get himself mixed up with the combatants. Simulating alarm, he pre-

tended to have lost control of his victims, and much clowning was necessary before he could get them apart. And all this time the three of them were working down towards the margin of the lake. Out of the corner of his eye Phillip could see a large canoe lying a few paces from where they were trampling ip the dust. Dobson lunged against him, almost tumbling him to the ground. His voice came sharply. “Now’s our chance! Run for it!” They dashed forward. In a moment they had come to the canoe, and were pushing it into the water. The surprised natives were slow in realising what was happening. but as the canoe floated on the water and the fugitives began to scramble into it there came a loud shout from the chief. Uproar followed, The warriors ran forward, spears in hand. “They’ll get us!” muttered Phillip, lunging at the water with a paddle. The doctor said nothing. He also had seized a paddle, and the water began to whiten as they floated out from the shallows. Dobson was the last man into the canoe. A spear skimmed near their heads as he gave a final push and pulled himself aboard. “Paddle for your lives!” ~j&;

The others were in no need* • encouragement. With short strong strokes they urged the can* towards deep water and the W tering darkness. Many warria* were now at the edge of the Im%hurling their spears and sboottag in baffled rage. “Why don’t they come after® in the other canoes?” asked “That's what Fv6 been gsmbSag on,” said Dobson hastily. “No eetive ever leaves the village afltf nightfall. They believe the lakt if full of hostile spirits that vtoi seize them In the darkness. Ones we can get out of range of tho» cursed spears we’ll be safe.” The words were scarcely spokei when a spear lodged quivering |g his back. He gasped faintly, on sagged against the side of the canoe Phillip bent forward and steads® the canoe by dragging the stride® man away from the edge SpesO were still whistling past theit heads, but some were now beginning to fall short. A few MS® paddle-strokes, and they were o» of range. But they kept « paddling, until the shouting dm away in the night silence and the fires shone redly from an increasing distance. Dobson was breathing with difficulty when Doctor Jensen bon over him. ' “It wasn’t such a bad show afl® all,” he muttered. “Funny 1 how l man goes on acting to the raj end.” “You were pretty good. Dob**." said the doctor in a low voice. . saved our lives.” The dying man said nothing a time. Then he stared HP ® Jensen, and struggled to speak. “You weren’t fooling me about that illness, were you. Doc?* Jensen shook his head. “It was the truth. Dobson. YoS were in for a bad time.” “That’s all right, then. SoMtobo* a fellow can’t bear to be trick**” even when it doesn’t matter any more.” After that his head fell forward and they knew that he was deaflL They paddled on under the dw sky of night. The stars burned I* motely, and the rim of a full mojf was beginning to appear above toe jungle. Prom the nearest SM® the cry of a wild beast came » them as it stood with lifted head W its drinking place. “If my maps were right,” the doctor presently, “there be an outlet from the head of*™* lake Into a river that goes dv*a to the Congo. A good journey morrow should bring us to a B®* pean trading station. Then .w® troubles will be over.” “I wish Dobson had come threugk too.” said Phillip. “It doesn't B®J fair that he should have to pay®*? passage like this. And I’d fee* ter about it if I didn’t have ® think we tricked him.” For a moment or two the dflri** paddled silently. Then he over his shoulder, in a low “You’ve nothing to worry eb*»j Phillip. He was in a bad wy. -j? right The one thing I dldnT*S him doesn’t matter any more. *** disease was incurable.” (The end.) A Firman A firman is a document of aoffi* ority issued by Oriental g w ®®* ments granting any special priva®* or concession, containing j mand or installing a new office*)*" conveying protection like a port. The decree is issued Kf W Sultan and signed by one of. Ministers,