CHAPTER XX.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9508, 3 April 1909, Page 1

CHAPTER XX.

1 OMTCBI. . '.'This is a good camping ground," said Harry, late on the fifth evening after their departure from , Bolton s cave. "We' are away from the other pilgrims, these sugar bushes screen us from prying eyes, and that great dom palm keeps off tfie sun." _ > Frank Trueman, only distinguished from the others by his enveloping lion skin, sank wearily to the ground. "Light a fire, Meva, and let's have scoff?' he said with a eigh. "I'm nearly played out. Those rocks at-*he Inkau Pass seemed red-hot; they scorched the coles of my feet." "Wasn't it fearful?" chimed in Harry. " But we were awfully lucky to get through. That narrow ledge was the worst. I could feel my feet slipping on the wet greasy stone; a puff of air would have blown me over. I wonder how the water came there?" " From' some 6ecret spring in the mountains. Did you see those black devils watching us^from above? Magozo's spies, I expect." "Yes, how they 6tared at the lion's skin ; their eye© never left it.'.' "We've got through the pass' by a fluke; but I don't see how we are to get back with * May," 6aid. Frank, despondently. "Did you see that kind of wooden breastwork through which the water trickled?". : "The barricade at the head of the shoot? Yes, it looked ' like a contrivance for flooding it with water. That would prevent anyone* cfo^sing Jvhere^ the path dips." . I , " : 's "' "Those black scoundrels kept us standing just there while Meva answered their questions. We were at their mercy". Nothing could have saved us from being swept over the cliff if they had /opened the sluice. We're nicely trapped I Bolton said Magozo would never let us out again." "Don't worry about that now, old man; think of May. We might be within a" hundred yards of her at. this present moment." "Or her grave," sighed Frank. " I have been thinking of nothing eke all day. If we are too late, I could lie down on it and die." "Cheer up, Frankly What makes you so low-spirited to-night? . " I can't get those cruel black faces out of my nead; these are the men Bolton warned us against; they will rfever let us return over the t>ass." "Nonsense! Our greatest difficulty all along has been to reach Omtubi. Here we are, inside' Magozo's stronghold, sound in wind and limb. I'm only afraid that May has been carried further off." "No, I can- feel, she is near us. Don't worry about me, Harry; I shall get over this fit of the blues by morning." Jacob, who had been reconnoitring the locality, now joined his companions. "There seem to be a good many niggers camped out in the valley where it is more open. They are having a good time, dancing and singing. ■ J/ll- go and pick up the gossip after scoff.' 1 Jacob Steel showed more confidence than either of his companions. He had boldly courted the acquaintance of anyone they met on the road. His Jewish cast of features lent themselves mqre readily to the deception ; he almost exactly resembled the Mashuna natives'. Their frugal cupper did not detain Jacob long. He strolled round the noisy camp to pick up information. ;An intoxicating beer, brewed from grain, made the pilgrims garrulous. Once or twice he saw white, figures flitting among the trees, but of these he could, obtain no direct information. "Did you hear anything of the White Spirit?" asked Harry, on his return. ..• ' "Yes, the. temple is quite close. The , pilgrims visit it daily, until answers are received to their petitions." "A temple I I have seen no building." ;■■.-. "It may not be what wo could call a temple. I could only gather a hazy description from the niggers. But it is plain we must attend some kind of ceremony during the afternoon." "How about the presents?" "We have each to take an offering. Frank had better give his lion's skin to put Magozo in a good humour." "I don't know whether Dp Wilson would approve of our worshipping at the shrine of a fake god, even to find his daughter," said Harry, rolling himself up in his blanket. "But it*s our only chance. Did you ask about May?" "Yes, but very guardedly. The pilgrinis professed themselves ignorant of a white priestess; they said there were plenty of black ones, and laughed suggestively." ."What about the White Spirit?" ; "They shut me up directly I mentioned it and looked quite soared." "That shows we're too late," sighed Frank, stretching himself on the ground beside Harry. A four days' journey through the desert had caused their elaborately-pre-pared disguise to suffer; advantage was taken of the early hours next morning, while the other pilgrims slept off their night's carouse, to repair damages. A bag of dye, in the form of black powder, and a gourd of oil had been brought for such emergencies. Harry and Jacob, with the razor sup- \ plied by Bolton,. acted mi turn as bar- ' bers, removing every particle of hair ' from head and face. Meva, following ;

with the powder and oil worked up into a past©, renewed the dye where scraped away by the razor or rubbed off during the march ; and all the rings and ornaments had. to be cleaned and brightened. , • ", How shall we go?" asked Harry, wh^n. all were ready. "I have "considered that," replied! Jacob. "I'll go first— -there's very little' risk of Magozo seeing, through, my disguise) Frank second— -mind you keep well covered 1 your lion'a skin, and whatever you- do, don't let anyone see your eyes. You come next, Harry— the skin will occupy Magozo's attention till you^are safe past. can bring up the rear. , We'll keep well back in the procession •Hhe prieeta are not so likely to be on .the alert towards the finish. Don't any of'ybitf speak a word. Our' petition is nofc ; to be presented until- to-morrow; wef shall- know better Ei>w to arrange iiy after, seeing what the other people doi' v Out four neophytes strolled leisurely towards the assembled pilgrims, ana presently found themselves bringing up the rear of a long procession that ad* vanced in single file .towards a grov© of machabelle trees.;' ..They came to a 'Standstill in the deep shade; those ia front " advancing, two f or ' three at a; time, towards a natural avenue through, dense bamboo thickets. > All waited in silence-, their eye* studiously cast towards ' the ground. At the -expiration of an hour, a young negro woman, attired in ' pure ; white* vestments, reaching to the knee, ■ her bead adorned with a bright yellow scarf, arranged like # a. lottee turban, "he* shining bangles jangling ,> ushered Jacob and his. party through the bamboo avenue. . Superb butterflies darted across,, displaying all the colours of the rainbow in the stray sunbeams which penetrated "the leafy ; canopy ; one beautiful insect, with jet' black wings, poised itself in Btich a position that the sunlight played round' an irregular silvery pateh 1 on the upper pinions, changing the dark margin into a band of glowing purple: and all around twittered strange birds. Arrived at the further «nd, the pilhalted. Their view in front was screened, iy & band of young women, dressed exactly like the girl who bore the' wand, carrying overhead such, a forest of palm-leaf fans as to form a close canopy of radiating leaves. Presently these parted, and Jacob saw ia front of him a green sward surrounding an ancient ant-heap; which rase, »' smooth., swelling mound, carpeted wifcb. the samejne grass. ' ' - He had steadily kept his eyes down, but they, folio wed naturally the upward slope of "the mound, and were presently arrested by a mass of glittering yellow metal. The sight fascinated him. Drawing nearer, a smothered «x---'clamation escaped Bis lips— "The Golden Chain 1" ' Coil upon coil of maesiv-e links, all polished until they shone like glass, rested one above the other in the form of a pyramid. The coveted treasure so entranced, Jacob Steel that his eyes never left it, Frank Trueman, following .close behind, took advantage . of Tiis hairy covering to raise his eyes higher. They rested on a figure in -pure white, seated on a leopard skin thrown over the shining throne. a r^ais-teart >topp6d- beating. '-, /Efts En«£ ! her at the first glance-; the delicate two* file, the streaming golden hair— May! his goddess I Petrified with astonishment, PranK stood rooted to the ground, forgetful or «11 ©are the fair vision in front of him — never had she looked so lovely I Harry Lancaster, peeping ova* Frank's sh#ulder, had discovered Mad at the same moment.' He felt the hoi blood mounting over cheek and browa sign of emotion fortunately concealed] by his black disguise. The eituatiort was critical. Frank had his blue eyej opened to v their utmost, 'fixed in unx disguised admiration on May's beau-* tiful features. He stood stock still! impeding -those behind and would, in a moment, attract the attention of th< women crowded round; or May her* self might turn her 'eyes* in his direct tion. She was under close surveillance ; any sudden start on her part would be immediately detected. These thoughts passed through Harry's brain like a flash. Nothing but prompt action would avert a catastrophe. ■/ Pretending to stumble^ he brought Frank back to earth by_ treading heav-* ily on his foot, and whispered, "Don't let her see. your eyes." Trueman controlled his emotion, casK his looks to the ground, and resumed!' the formal march. Meanwhile, Jacob was led before tli» Great- White Spirit, at whom he did not look; his eyes were riveted on the Golden Chain. .. After presenting hLp offering, making obeisance, clapping, hi* hards in the prescribed manner, and backing towards the exit, he mechanic* ally raised his eyes to note the re< ception of his gift. \Not till then wa< May's presence revealed to him. Hid presence of mind did not desert him* His gift had been laid at her feet T apparently unnoticed.: One paeaonatw glance fell upon the pensive face; hut he controlled his feelings and retired 1 without being recognised. Frank, with trembling hands, threw down the magnificent lion's skin, wher»» at she scarcely glanced. He did no* venture- to raise his eyee until at earn* distance, but could not then resist m parting glance. Her face^, pale M marble, looked transparently, beautiful; it was dominated by a .dreamy expression, as if her "thoughts wander* ed far from the barbario surroundings. Her dress of pure white- siux. soft and* glossy, -was bound above the bosonv, leaving the beautifully-moulded arm* and graceful neck barey A narrow sash, richly embroidered with gold, encircled her waist, and a deeper border of the same rich material edged the skirt, which reached to her ankles While Jj'rank looked, Harry came before the throne, prostrated himself, clapped his hands, and- laid a chaptot of beads at bis. feet. The pretty orna* nient caught May's wandering ey«, which rested a moment on the donor> She started visibly, and, aa the suppliant raised his eyes for an instant, a warm flush spread over the white skin, mantling even to her cheeks. . May's lips opened as^ if to speak* but on seeing Harry retire' without 4 sign of recognition^ she bowed. n«* head and suffered him to depart. Thus ended the strange ceremony, so entirely different, from what bad been expected. The three, youths had gone to it in the anticipation of witnessing a piece of gross, mummery ©* crafty deception, and with the ayow«i intension of penetrating MagozoS trickery. Instead of unmaeking thj SyXious White Spirit, they reWn*d her most ardent worshippers.