Nine Terrible Men.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIX, Issue 23, 4 June 1913, Page 47

Nine Terrible Men.

By

EDGAR WALLACE.

THERE were nine terrible men in the Forest of O'tomb’, ho native report had it. Nine terrible* men who lived on an island set in a swamp. And the swamp was hard to come by, being in the midst of a vast forest. Only a monkey or a leopard could find a way to the inhabitants ot this island—they themselves being privy to the secret ways. No man of the Isisi, of the N’Gombi, df the Akasava or of the river tribes, attempted to track down the nine, for, as it was generally known, most powerful ju-jus giti’rded all paths that led to the secret place. Nine outlawed men, with murder an I worse upon their souls, they came together, God knows how, and preyed upon their world. They raided with impunity, being impartial as to whether Isisi or N'Gombi paid toll. By night they would steal forth in single tile, silent as death, no twig cracking in their path, no word spoken. As relentless as the soldi r ant in bis march of destruction, they made their way without hindrance to the village they had chosen for the scene ot their operations, took what they wanted and returned. Sometimes they wanted food, sometimes spears —for these lords of the wood were superior to craftsmanship—sometimes a woman or two went and never came back. Such lawless communities were not uncommon. Occasionally very ordinary circumstances put an end to them; some there were that flourished, like the Feo pl e- w h o- were- no t -all -al i ke. The nine terrible men of the O’tomb’ excited because nothing short of an army corps could have .surrounded them, and •because, as Sanders thought, they were not a permanent body, but dispersed at times to their several homes. Sanders once sent two companies ot Moussas to diedodge the .nine, but they did nothing, for the .simple reason that never once did they get within shooting ’distance. Then Sanders came himself and caught little else than a vicious attack of malarial fever. He sent messages to alt the chiefs ot

the people within a radius of a hundred miles to kill at sight any of the nine, offering contain rewards. After three palpably inoffensive men of the Ochori tribe had been killed and the reward duly claimed, Sanders countermanded the order. For two years the nine ravaged at will, then a man of the Isisi, one Fembent, found grace. Fembeni became a Christian, though there is no harm in that. This is not satire, but a statement with a reservation. There are certain native men who embrace the faith and lose quality thereby, but Fembeni apparently was a Christian ami a better man—except. . . . Here is another reservation. L r p at Mosunkusn a certain Ruth Alldyne laboured for the cause, she, as I have previously described, being a medical missionary, and pretty to boot. White folk would call her pretty because she had regular features, a faultless complexion, and a tall, well modelled shape. Black folk thought she was plain, because her hips were not as they should be by convention, nor was she developed according to their standards. Also from the N'Gombi point of view her fair long hair was ridiculous and her features ’‘like a bird.” Mr. Commissioner Sanders thought she was very pretty indeed—when he allowed himself to think about her. He did not think about her more often than he could help, for two reasons, the only one of which that is any business of yours or mine being that she was an enormous responsibility. He had little patches of white hair on either side of his temple—when he allowed Ins hair to grow long enough for these to become visible —which lie called, grimly, his ‘missionary hairs.” The safety of t|ie solitary stations set in the wilds were a source of great worry. You must understand that missionaries are very good people. Those, ignoramuses •who sneer at them place themselves in the same absurd position as those who sneer at Nelson, or speak slightingly ot other heroes. Missionaries take terrible risks; they cut themselves adrift from the material

life which is worth the living, they endure hardship incomprehensible to the uninitiated, they suffer from tempestuous illness which find them hale and hearty in the morning and leave their feeble bodies at the edge of death at sunset. "And all this they do,” said Bosambo, of Monrovia, philosophically and thoughtfully, "because of certain mysteries which happened when the world was young and of a famous Mari called Hcsu.* Now I think that is the greatest mvsterv ot all.” Sanders appreciated the disinterestedness of the work, was immensely impressed by the courage of the people who came to labour in the unhealthy field, but all tiie time he fretfully wished they wouldn't. His feelings were those of a professional lion tamer who sees a light-heart-ed amateur stepping into the cage of the most savage of his beasts; they were the feelings of the skilled matador who watches the novice’s awkward handling of an Andalusian bull—a troubled matador with a purple cloak held ready and one neatly shod foot on the barrier, ready to spring into the ring at the novello’s need. The "missionary patches’’ grew larger and whiter in the first few months ot Jluth Alldyne’s presence at Musunkusu, for this village was too near to the wild N’Gombi, too near the erratic Isisi. for Sanders’ liking. Sanders might easily have math* a mistake in his anxiety. He might have sent messengers to the two peoples—or gone in person threatening them with death and worse than death, if they harmed the girl. But that would have aroused a sense of importance in their childlike bosoms and when the time came, as it assuredly would come, that their stomachs wore angry against him, some chief would “Behold, here is a woman who is as the core.of Saudi's eye. If we do her harm we shall be revenged on Saudi. ’ And since children do not know any other tomorrow, than the tomorrow ot good promise, it would have gone badly with the lady missionary. Instead. Sanders laid upon Bosambo, chief of the Ochori, charge of t his woman, and Bosambo he trusted in all big things, though in the matter of goods movable and goods convertible he had no suc.'i confidence. When Fembeni of the isisi w.-w converted from paganism to Christianity, Zanders was fussing about the little creeks which abound on the big river, *The Third Person of ttyc Trinity i.t t*o called in some dialects.

looking for a man named Oko, who after a long and mysterious absence had returned to his village, killed his wife and fled to the bush. The particular bush happened t<» be in the neighbourhood of the mission station, otherwise Sanders might hive been content to allow his policeman t<» carry out the good work, but no sooner did news come that Oko had broken for that section of the N'Gombi country which impinges on Mqsunkusu, than Sanders went living up river in his steamer because something told him he had identified one of the nine men. Wrote Sergeant Ahmed the Hoiisaa, who prided himself on his English, to ins wife at headquarters: ‘‘At daylight when search for murderer was officially resumed, came our lord Sundah very actively angry. By orders 1 took left bink of Kulula River with three men, being ordered to shoot aforesaid Oko if resistance offered. Abiboo (Sergeant) took right or other bank and our lord searched bush. Truly Oko must be a very’important man that Sundah comes officially .searching for same, saying bitter reproach words to his humble servants.” Ahmed's picture of his chief's agitation may hr a little exaggerated, but I do not doubt, that there was a substratum of fact therein. On the second day of the hunt. San dors' steamer was tied up at the Mission station and he found himself walking in the cool of the evening with Ruth Alldyne. So he learnt about Fembeni, the Isicsi man who had found tin* light and was hot and eager for salvation. “I I’m,” said Sniders, displaying no great enthusiasm. But she was too elated over her first convert to notice the lack of warmth in his tone. "It is just splendid,” she said, her grey eyes alight, and her pretty face kiridlin.g with the thought. ‘-especially when you remember. Mr. Sanders, that I have only an imperfect knowledge ot the language.’’ “Arc you sure,” asked the incredulous Sanders, "that Fembeni understands what it is all about?” -Ob, yes!” She smiled at the t’ommissioner’s simplicity. “Why, he met me half way as it were, he came out to meet the truth, he ” “Fembeni?” said Sanders thoughtfully, “I think 1 know the man: if 1 remember him aright he is not the sort of person who would get religion if he did not m* a strong business end to it.” She frowned n little. Iler eyebrows made a level line over resentful eyrs. “I think that is unworthy of you,” she sud coldly. Ilr Idokcd.at tyer- the knuckle of froiil linger at h‘is bps

She was very pretty. he thought, or else he had been so long removed from the society of white women that she »reined beautiful only because she stood before a background of brutal ugliness. Klim, straight, grave eyed, complexion faultless though tanned by the African inn, features regular and delicate, hair |a quantity) russet brown. Kauders shook his head. “I wish to heaven you weren’t monkeying about in this infernal country,” he raid. “That is beside the question,” she replied with a little smile, “we are talking of Feinbeni and I think you are being rather horrid.” They reached the big square hut that Sanders had built for her and (limbed the wooden steps that led to the stoop. Sanders made no reply, but when she had disappeared into the interior of the hut to make him some tea, he beckoned Abiboo who had followed him at a respectful distance. “Go you,” he said, “and bring me Fembeni of the Isisi.” lie was stirring his tea whilst the girl was giving him a rosy account of her work when Fembeni came, a tall man of middle ago, wearing the trousers and Waistcoat which were the outward and visible signs of his inward and spiritual grace. “Come near, Fembeni,” said Sanders gently. The man walked with confidence up the step on to the stoop and without invitation drew a chair toward him and seated himself. Sanders said nothing, lie looked at the man for a very long time, then: “Who asked you to sit in my presence?” he said softly. “Lord,” said Fembeni pompously, “since I have found the blessed truth Something in Sanders’ eyes caused him to rise hurriedly. “You may sit—on the ground,” said Sanders quietly, “after the manner of yr» people, and I will sit on this chair after the manner of mine. For behold, Fembeni, even the blessed truth shall not make black white or white black, nor shall it make you equal with Saudi who is your master.” “Lord, that is so,” said the sullen Fembeni, “yet we are all equal in the eyes of the Great One.” “Then there are a million people in the Tsi>i, in the N’Gombi, the Akasava and the Ochori who are your equals,” said Sanders, “and it is no shame for yon to do as they do.” Which was unanswerable, according to Fembeni’s sense of logic. • The girl had listened to the talk between her novitiate and the Commissioner with rising wrath, for she had not Sanders’ knowledge of native peoples. “1 think that it is rather small of you, Mr Sanders,” she said hotly, “it is a much more important matter that a heathen should be brought "to the truth, than that your dignity should be preserved.” Sanders frowned horribly—he had no society manners and was not used to disputation. “1 do not agree with you. Miss Alldyne,” he said a little gruffly’, “for whilst the Isisi cannot see the ecstatic condition of his soul which leads him to be disrespectful to me, they can and do Bee the gros materialism of his sitting body.” A thought struck him and he turned io the man. That thought made all the difference between life and death to Feinbeni. “Fembeni,” he said, relapsing into the language • of the Isisi, “you are a rich man by all accounts.” “Lord, it is so.” “And wives—how many have you?” “Four, lord.” Kauders nodded and turned to the girl. “IL* has four wives,” he said. “’Well?” There was a hint of defiance in the questioning “Well?” “He has four wives,” repeated Sanders, “what is your view on this matter?” “He shall marry one in the Christian style,” she said flushing. “Oh, you know, Mr Sanders. it is impossible for a man to be a Christian and have more wives than one.” Kandern turned to the man again. “In this matter of wiver. Fembeni,” he said gently, “how shall you deal with the women of your house*” Feinbeni wriggled his ban* shoulders uncomfort .1 hly. “Lord, I shall put them all a wav save one.” he said sulkily, “for that is the blew-, rd way.*

"H’m/’ said Sanders for the second time 'that morning. He was silent for a long time, then: “It is rather a problem,’’ he said. “It presents no difficulty to my mind,” said the girl stiffly. She was growing very angry, though’ Sanders did not realise the fact, being unused to the ways of white women. “I think it is rather horrid of you, Mr Sanders, to discourage this man, to put obstacles in his faith ” “I ptit no obstacle,” interrupted the Commissioner. He was short of speech, being rather so intent upon his subject that he took no account of the fine feelings of a zealous lady missionary. “But I eannot allow this to happen in my district. This man has four wives, each of them lias borne him children, What justice or what Christianity is there in turning loose three women who have served this man?” Here was a problem for the girl, and in her desperation she used an argument which was unanswerable. “The law allows this,” she said; “these things happen all over the world where missionary work is in progress. Perhaps I could bring the women to understand, perhaps 1 could explain ’’ “You couldn’t explain the babies out of existence,” said Sanders brutally.

That ended the discussion, for with a look of scorn and disgust she passed into the hut, leaving Sanders a prey to some emotion. He turned a cold eye to the offending Fembeni. "It seems,” he said, “that a man by becoming a Christian has less mouths to fill. Now I must investigate this matter.” Fembeni regarded him apprehensively, for if a woman is questioned, who knows what she will say. And it was fairly unimportant to the man if he had .one wife or forty. There was no possibility of searching any further that night for the erring Oko, and Sanders was rowed across the river in his canoe to interview the wives of the new convert. - He found one woman who viewed the coining change with considerable philosophy and three who were very shrill and very voluble. • "Lord.” said one of these three in that insolent tone which only native women assume, "this white witch has taken our man ” "I do not hear well,” said Sanders quickly, “yet I thought I heard a word J do not like.” He whiffled his pliant stick till it hummed- n tune. ’ "ord,” said the woman, dropping her

voice and speaking more mildly, "this God-lady has taken our man.” "God-ladies do not take men,” said Sanders, “rather they influence their spirits that they may be better men.” “Fembeni will be no better and no worse,” said the woman bitterly, “for he goes to the forest by night. Often he has arisen from my side and when he has gone, behold the Nine Terrible Men have come from nearby and taken that which they wanted.” She stopped abruptly. There was horror in the eyes which met the Commissioner’s: in her anger she had said too much. "That is foolish talk,” said Sanders easily. He knew there would be no more information here and he played to quiet her fears. He strolled through the village, talked a while with the headman and returned to his canoe. Once on the Zaire he summoned Abilioo. "Take three men and bring Fembeni to me,” he said, “and be very ready to shoot him, for I have heard certain things.” He wafted for ten minutes, then Abiboo returned —alone.

"Fembeni has gone into the forest,” he said, “also the God-lady.” Sanders looked at him. "How?” "Lord, this Fembeni is a Christian and desired to speak with the God-woman of the new magic. Sb they walked together, the God-woman reading from a book. Also he had a gift for her, which he bought from a French trader.” “I see,” said Sanders. He poured himself out a stiff glass of whisky and his hand shook a little. Then he lifted down a sporting rifle that hung on the wall of his cabin, broke open two packets of cartridges and dropped them into his coat pocket. "Let the men come on quickly,” he said, “you commanding.” "Lord, there are other sergeants,” said Abiboo, "1 go with you, for I am at your right hand, though death waits me.” “As you will,” said Sanders roughly. He went through the missionary compound, stopping only that a boy should point out tile direction the two had taken, then he moved swiftly towards the forest, Abiboo at his heels. He followed the beaten track for a hundred yards. Then be stopped and sniffed like a dog. He went on a little farther and came back on his tracks.

He stopped and picked up some pieces of broken glass and turned aside from the path, following his nose. Ruth Alldyne had supreme faith in the power of the word which makes martyrs. “You must have no doubt, Fembeni,” she said in her halting Isisi, “for with Light, such as the Word begins, all things will be made plain to you.” . They were beyond the confines of the little mission station, walking slowly toward the forest. She read little extracts from the book she carried, and so full of her subject was she that she did not observe that they had passed the straggling trees, the outposts of the big forest. When she did notice this, she turned: "More I will tell you, Fembeni,” she said. "Lady, tell me now,” he begged, “for Sandi has made nie doubt.” She frowned. What mischief can a materialist work! She had liked Sanders. Now for one resentful moment she almost hated him. “There are white men who doubt,” she said, “and who place pitfalls in the way ” “Also this have I bought for you,” said Fembeni, “paying one bag of salt.” From the leather pouch at his side he produced a long flat flask. She smiled as she recognised the floral label of the abominable scent beloved of the. native. “This I bought for you, Teacher,” he said, and removed the stopper so that the unoffending evening reeked of a sudden with the odour of musk, "that you might protect me against Sandi, who is no Godman but a devil.” She took the bottle and hastily replaced the stopper. “Sandi is no devil,” she said gently, "and will do you no harm ” “He has crossed the river.” said Fembeni sulkily, and there was a curious glitter in his eyes, “and be wilF speak ■with my wives, and they will tell him evil things of me.’* She looked at him gravely. “What evil things can they say?” she asked. "They can lie,” he said shortly, “and Sandi w,ill bring his rope and I shall die.’’ She smiled. "I do not think you need fear,” she said and began to walk back, but he stood in front of her and at that instant she realized her danger and the colour faded from her face. “If Sandi comes after me to kill me,” lie said slowly 7, “I shall say to hint, ‘Behold I have a woman of your kind, and if you do not pardon me, you will be sorry.’ ” She thought quickly, then of a sudden, leapt past him and tied in the direction of the station. He was after her in a flash. She heard the fast patter of his feet and suddenly felt his arm about her waist. She screamed, but there was none to hear her, and his big hand covered her mouth. He shook her violently. “You live or you die.” he said, “but if you cry out, 1 will beat you till you die.”' He half carried, half dragged her in the direction of the forest. She was nearly dead with fear; she was dimly conscious of the fact that he did not take the beaten path, that he turned at right angles and moved unerringly through the wood, following a path of his own knowing. As he turned she made another attempt to secure her liberty. She still held the scent flask in her hand and struck at him with all her might. He caught her arm ami nearly broke it. The stopper fell out and her dress was drenched with the vile perfume. He wrenched the flask from her ham? and threw it away. Grasping her by the arm he led her on. She was nearly’ exhausted when ha stopped and she sank an inert heap to the ground. She dare not faint, though she was on the verge of such a breakdown. How they had been travelling, she had no idea. The sun was setting: Ibis she gessed rather than know, for no sunlight penetrated the dim aisles. Fembeni watched her; he sat with his back to a tree and regarded her thoughtfully. After a while be rose. “Come,” he said. They moved on in silence. She made no appeal to him. She knew now the futility of speech. Her mind was still bewildered. Why why - why? it asked incoherently. Why had this man nrofessed Christianity t

“Fembeni,” she faltered, “I have been kind to you.” “Woman,” lie caid grimly, “you may be kinder.” She said no more. The horror of the thing began to take shape. She half stopped and he grasped her arm roughly’. “By my head, you shall live,” he said, “if Sandi gives his word that none of us shall hang—for we are the Terrible Men and Sandi has smelt me out.” There was a gleam of hope in this speech. If it was only as a hostage that they held her... . Night had fallen when they earae to water. Here Fembeni halted. He searched about in the undergrowth and dragged to view a section of hollow tree trunk, inside were two sticks of ironwood, and squatting down before the lokaki he rattled a metallic tattoo. For ten minutes he played his tuneless rhythm. When he stopped there came a fain reply from somewhere across the lake. They waited, the girl and her captor, for nearly half an hour. She strained her ears for the sound of oars, not knowing that the water did not extend for more than a hundred yards and that beyond and around lay the great swamp wherein stood the island headquarters of the Nine. The first intimation of the presence of others was a stealthy rustle, then through the gloom she saw the men coming toward her. Fembeni grasped her arm and led her forward. He exchanged a few words with the newcomers in a dialect she could not understand. There was a brief exchange of questions and then the party moved on. The ground beneath her feet grew soft and soddened. Sometimes the w’atei- was up to her ankles. The leader of the men picked his way unerringly, now following a semicircular route, now turning off at right angles, now winding in and out, till she lost all sense of direction. Her legs were like lead, her head was swimming, and she felt she was on the point of collapse when suddenly the party reached dry land. A few minutes later they reached the tumbledown village which the outlaws had built themselves. A fire was burning, screened from view by the arrangement of the huts, which had been built in a crescent. The girl was shown a hut and thrust inside. Soon afterwards a woman brought her

a bowl of boded fish and a gourd of water. In her broken Isisi she begged the woman to stay with her, but she was evidently of the N’Gonibi people and did not understand. A few minutes later she was alone. Outside the hut about the fire sat eight of the nine terrible men. One of these was Oko of the Isisi, a man of some power “This woman I do not like,” he said, “and by my way of thinking. Fembeni is a fool and a son of a fool to bring her unless she comes as other women have come, to serve us.” “Ix>rd Oko,” said Fembeni, “I am more skilled in the ways of white folk than yon. And I tell you that if we keep this woman here it shall be well with us. For if Saudi shall eateh you or me. or any of us. we shall say to him: ’There is a woman with us whom you greatly prize, and if you hang me. liehold you kill her also.’ ” Still Oko was not satisfied. “I also know’ white people and their ways,” he said. “Saudi would have left us. now he will not rest till we are scattered ami dead; for Sandi has a memory like the river which never ceases to flow.” A man of the Akasava suggested an evil thing. “That we shall consider,” said Oko. He had already decided. He had none of the subtlety of mind which distinguished Fembeni He saw the end and was for crowding in the space of life left to him as much of life as his hand could grasp. They sat in palaver till early’ in the morning, the firelight reflected on the skin of their bodies. Then Oko left the circle and crept to the girl s hut. They’ say him stoop and enter and heard a little scream. "Oko has killed her,” said Fembeni. “It ie best,” said the other men. Fembeni rose and w>ent to the hut. “Oko,” he called softly, then stooped and went in. — Facing him was a ragged square of dim light, where a great hole had been cut in the farther side of the hut. “Oko,” he called sharply, then two hands of steel caught him by’ the throat and two others pulled his legs from under him. He went to the ground, too terrified to resist. “■Fembeni,” said a soft voice in his ear. “I have been waiting for you.” He was rolled on to his face and he made no resistance. His hands were

pulled behind and he felt the cold steel hands encircle his wrist and heard a "sniek” as they fastened. He was expeditiously gagged. "As for Oko,” said Sanders’ voice, "he is dead, and if you had heard him ery, you also would have been dead.” That ended the one-sided conversation, Sanders and his sergeant sitting patiently in their lair waiting for the rest of the men to come. •With the morning arrived a detachment of Houssas under Sergeant Ahmed, following the trail Sanders had followed. There were four dead men to be buried —including him who had stood on guard at the edge of the swamp. Then- was a white faced girl to be guarded back across the swamp to the seclusion of the forest, and with her went to the women of the outlaws’ village. Fembeni and his four companions stood up for judgment. "One thing 1 would ask you, Fembeni,” said .Sanders, “and that is this: yon are by some account a Christian. Do you practise this magic or are you for the ju-jus and gods of your fathers?” "Lord,” said Fembeni eagerly, “I am a Christian in all ways; remember this, master, I am of your faith.” Sanders, with his lips parted and his eyes narrowed, itjuked at the man. "Then it is proper that 1 should give you time to say your prayers,” he said. “Abiboo, we hang this man last.” “I see tliat you are a devil,” said Fembeni, "otherwise you would not follow us in the night with none to show you the way. Now I tell you, Sandi, that I. am no Christian, for all God-folk are foolish save you, and 1 know that vou are no God-man. Therefore if I am to hang, let me hang with the rest.” . Sanders nodded.