In the Whirl of the Rising Part 40

"There is the doctor, _Nkose_," said Ujojo, with a sweep of the hand beneath.

Zwabeka's runners had been swift. Crossing the stony hollow was a horseman, and in a minute or two further Lamont and Father Mathias were shaking hands cordially.

"Why we never expected to meet like this again, did we?" said the latter. "Now show me where you have hurt your leg--you have hurt it, I am told. You know, I have a medical diploma in my own country."

"Then you have a double-barrelled sphere of usefulness, Father. But-- how on earth did you get up among Madula's people? Why, the whole country is in a blaze."

"I was called to see a poor white man who was dying. He was a sort of a trader among them, and they were friendly with him, and protected him when the rising began. He sent for me, a.s.suring me that I should be safeguarded until I was back in any township or post I should elect."

"And you put your head into a hornet's nest on that slender a.s.surance?"

The other smiled.

"Why, yes; it is part of my commission. Would you shrink from going to the rescue of someone, Mr Lamont, because the odds were largely against you?"

It was Lamont's turn to smile now, and that grimly, remembering the odds that had been against him in 'going to the rescue of someone.'

"The poor man died, but I was just in time," went on the priest. "Then I stayed on and doctored some of the people who were suffering from ordinary ailments, and indeed from wounds. As for danger, they would not have harmed me."

"No, not if you made yourself useful in that line. I recollect at Zwabeka's that memorable time, I boomed you sky high as a tremendous _isa.n.u.si_, but they wouldn't more than half believe it then."

Father Mathias laughed, then, going outside to where he had left his horse, he detached the saddlebag, and returned.

"I have not so much luggage as the last time we met--but I have a useful medicine chest here. I shall give you something to reduce that fever, then I shall attend to the leg. You have let it fall into a very sore state. The wonder is, it is not one great veldt sore."

While being thus tended with deft surgical skill, Lamont proceeded to narrate all that had befallen within his own experience of the rising.

He kept the plum of his news until the last.

"Why, then, I congratulate you heartily, Mr Lamont," said the priest.

"You are indeed fortunate."

"I quite agree, and now I am wondering when old Zwabeka is going to keep his word, and turn us loose out of this. You can imagine how I am chafing over it."

Father Mathias smiled to himself, as he contrasted the tense feverish earnestness of his friend now, with the cool, impa.s.sive, utterly indifferent demeanour that had characterised him on the last occasion of their meeting. Suddenly a dismal, long-drawn, nasal sound beneath, interrupted them. A number of dark figures were crossing the hollow in a kind of dance, wailing forth their abominable chant.

"It's those infernal Abantwana Mlimo," said Lamont angrily. "The brutes have been agitating to get me into their hands to cut my throat, or worse, all the time. Stirring up the crowd too. If we don't get away from here soon, they may carry things their own way."

There was worse to come. Following upon the heels of the contorting sorcerers, came a number of warriors--from the interest with which those already on the ground jumped up to stare at them, obviously new arrivals. On they came, pouring forward in an open column, their number seemed to be unending; and now these too, clashing their sticks upon their shields, began to take up the song of the Abantwana Mlimo. Lamont listened eagerly as it swelled higher and louder, then turned to his companion, his face dark with bitterness.

"Just as I said, too late now. They are clamouring for our lives, egged on of course by those infernal sorcerers; and they'll get what they want, too, for Zwabeka is nothing like strong enough to defy a number like that."

The situation from one of relief and hope had become appalling. Below, these human beasts, hundreds and hundreds of them, stamping their feet, roaring, waving their tufted shields, flashing their blades, as they bellowed forth, in a kind of improvised rhythm, their bloodthirsty pet.i.tion. Others, too, were joining them; but above all the shrill, yelling voices of the sorcerers rose high and unflagging. Any moment the wild rout might break out of hand, and then--

"Well, Father, I have sunk your ship with mine," said Lamont bitterly.

"If you hadn't come here to look after me you'd have been safe at Madula's now."

"Yes? But where safety and duty take different paths, we must follow the latter," was the tranquil reply.

Lamont looked at him with admiration. Here was a man of the pattern of the old-time saint and martyr, if ever there was one, he thought.

"I am done for, but it is possible they may not harm you," he said. "If you see--her--again, tell her you saw the last of me."

The frightful racket of the blood-song had become deafening now. A glance forth served to show that many of the clamouring rout had faced round, and were flourishing shields and weapons in the direction of their retreat.

"It may be any minute now," he went on. Then, vehemently, "Father, I would like to die in Clare's faith."

"And if you live, would you _live_ in it?"

"To the end of my days. I have been thinking a good deal about things since I have been lying here."

The two were looking each other straight in the face. That of the priest had brightened as though by a semi-supernatural irradiation.

"It may not be too late now," he said.

It was not. Something was done--not much, but sufficient. Something was said--not much, but sufficient under the circ.u.mstances, as sufficient indeed as though that pile of boulders had been a cathedral.

And no sooner was that so than the whole roaring, stamping rout came surging up to the opening.

But, barring the said opening, stood ten men with levelled guns, foremost among them the faithful Ujojo.

"Back!" cried the latter in stentorian tones. "You only enter here over us dead ones. But you will enter over even more of your own dead ones first."

The crowd halted, so fierce and resolute was the aspect of Zwabeka's guards. Some vociferated one thing, some another. Some cried that they would not harm the white doctor, but the man who had done such terrible execution against them. U' Lamonti--him they must and would put to death; while others shouted that no difference should be made between either, that all whites should be stamped from the land, for had not Umlimo said it. And the abominable sorcerers, hanging on the outskirts of the crowd, took up this cue and worked it for all it was worth.

"Hear now!" cried Ujojo. "Zwabeka is my father and chief. He placed me here saying, 'Suffer none to enter.' If you can find the chief and induce him to say to me, 'Let those men enter'--then ye enter--not otherwise."

For a moment the rout looked staggered, then the uproar redoubled. As a matter of fact Zwabeka was at that moment about four miles away across the mountains, and, of course, in complete ignorance of the demonstration which was going on at his camp.

"I have an idea, but a desperate one," said Lamont. "It may be worth something if only to gain a little time. _Ho, amadoda_!" he called out, advancing near the entrance, though not showing himself. "Remember what happened to those who would have plundered my house. Well, the white doctor and I have enough of the same evil _muti_ to blow half this mountain away ten times over. Where will ye be then? But we, and these few men who are obeying their chief, will come to no harm. We and they will come through it safe, even as I did before, and those that were with me."

The effect of this statement was greater than its propounder had dared to hope. The awful effects of the explosion at Lamont's farm had been sounded throughout the length and breadth of the nation. The clamour, which had been deafening, was suddenly hushed, only finding vent in a buzzing murmur. The bloodthirsty fervour of the crowd seemed to have sizzled.

"May I use anything I find in your medicine chest, Father," said Lamont hurriedly. "Thanks. Ah, this will do. It may be advisable to set up a preliminary scare."

He selected nothing more formidable than an ordinary medicine measure, a ball of cotton wool, and a strand of magnesium wire. Then he advanced to the entrance and for the first time showed himself.

"Fear nothing, Ujojo. You and your men are safe," he murmured. Then, aloud: "Now! Will ye all go? You weary us."

The uncanny looking gla.s.s, inverted, caught the light. Upon the upturned bottom of the gla.s.s he had placed the ball of wool. Now, as in full view of them all he ignited the magnesium wire, flashing it within the inverted gla.s.s, the whole crowd, with the fear of the former explosion before its eyes, could stand it no longer. It backed, stumbled--then half turned.

"We withdraw, Lamonti, we withdraw," cried a voice.

"Withdraw then. This fire is nearly burnt out. Then follows the rending of the earth."

Swiftly, almost at a run, the badly frightened crowd, which a moment since had been bellowing for his blood, moved away, not halting to look back until it had reached a very respectable distance indeed. With difficulty Lamont restrained a hysterical roar of laughter.

"A near thing, Father," he said to his companion. "But for that idea of mine they would have rushed the place. We are not out of the wood yet though. Hallo--what new excitement can be in the wind now?"

For among those who had just been giving trouble a new hubbub had arisen, but this time their retreat was not its object, for glances were turned in the opposite direction, and now among the varying vociferations could be descried the word 'Amakiwa.' And then, away beyond the stony ridge, rose the m.u.f.fled, dropping roar of firearms.