The Fugitives: The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar Part 16

The chief, being a sympathetic as well as a hilarious soul, made no objection, but rather urged him to make haste.

Ravonino then turned to his white companions, who could, of course, only guess at the meaning of all that had been said, and explained to them the whole matter. They rose at once, and, having no preparations to make, professed to be ready to start there and then.

Now, while they were yet speaking, the festive party received another surprise, or alarm, which was even more exciting than the previous one.

A young man suddenly burst into the village with the announcement that a body of the Queen's soldiers were close at hand. They had been sent off in pursuit of Razafil, with directions to scour the country, and bring in as many Christian fugitives as possible, and he--the young man--being a fast runner, had been sent in advance by some friends of the bard to warn him of his danger.

"I would not try to avoid them if I stood alone," said Razafil, softly.

"Should _I_ shrink from dying for Jesus, after seeing my Raniva go to Him in a chariot of fire? But I stand not alone. My wife claims my support, and my little boy."

While he was speaking, it was seen that a few of the hunters, as well as one or two inhabitants of the village, rose quietly and left the place.

These were either professing or suspected Christians, who were anxious to make their escape from the danger that threatened.

After bidding Voalavo farewell, the guide and his friends left the village and struck into the woods. They were accompanied by the bard a short distance, until a point was reached where their routes diverged, and here, after a few words of brotherly sympathy and counsel from Ravonino, the bereaved man went on his solitary way, and the others directed their course towards the capital.

"Poor man," said Ebony, who looked over his shoulder with profound sorrow in his earnest eyes as long as the tall figure of the bard was in sight, "I's most awrful sorry for 'im. Why don't dey hang Randalvalona, or shot 'er?"

"History teaches that it's not always so easy as one might think to get rid of objectionable queens in that way," said Mark.

"Hm! I'd teach history suffin diff'rent if I had my way," returned the negro.

"But surely the great men around her might have some sort o' power to clap a stopper on 'er?" said Hockins.

"They have some power, but not much," returned the guide, "for Ranavalona is a pa.s.sionate, self-willed, cruel woman; and when such a woman happens to be a despotic queen, nothing short of a revolution, or her death, can save the country. She usurped the throne in 1829, we have now reached 1857, so she has been reigning more than twenty-seven years, and a bitter reign it has been. There have been many persecutions of the Christians since it began. Hundreds have been slain; thousands have been sold into slavery; many more have been banished to pestilential districts, where disease has laid them low.

G.o.d grant that this mad fit may not be the forerunner of another burst of cruelty."

"But do you really think," said Mark, "that Rafaravavy is in great danger? Did not the bard say that she is a favourite with the queen?"

"That is some security, but not much, for Ranavalona is changeable as well as cruel. But my dear one is in the hands of G.o.d. No harm can come to her unless He permits. Nevertheless, our G.o.d works not by miracles but by means, therefore it is my business, having the opportunity given me, to hasten to her rescue."

"And it is mine to help you," said Mark, an impulse of youthful enthusiasm and sympathy swelling his heart as his mind suddenly reverted to the morning when he left England, and said his last good-bye to the fair one with the golden hair and the rosebud mouth and "such lovely blue eyes!"

"But how," he continued, "shall we best aid you in this matter?"

"That question I cannot answer immediately. When we draw near to the capital and hear what is going on I shall be able to form a plan. What we have to do just now is to travel fast. You are strong stout men, all of you. Do you think you can walk fast and far with little rest or sleep, and without breaking down?"

"I think so," answered Mark, modestly.

"I's c.o.c.k-sure ob it," said Ebony, "if we's allowed lots o' grub."

"I'm not quite so sure," said Hockins; "you must remember I've only got sea-legs on--but I'll try."

And he did try, and so did the others; with such success, too, that before the sun set that evening they had penetrated into the very heart of the mountain range which runs through the centre of the island.

There had not been much conversation on the way, for hill-climbing all day at top-speed is not compatible with small talk. Besides, the obvious anxiety of Ravonino rendered his companions less inclined than usual to engage in desultory remarks. Nevertheless there were occasions--during momentary halts to recover breath, or when clear bubbling springs tempted them to drink--when the prolonged silence was broken.

"Putty stiff work dis hill-climbin', ma.s.sa," said Ebony, during one of these brief halts, as he wiped the perspiration from his sable brow with the back of his hand. "Lucky I's used to it."

"Used to it?" repeated Mark.

"Yes. Di'n't I tell you I was born an' raised among de Andes in Sout'

Ameriky?"

"To be sure, I forgot that, but there must be a considerable difference between the two mountain ranges."

"Das troo, ma.s.sa, but de diff'rence don't make much diff'rence to de legs. You see, wild rugged ground much de same wheder de mountains rise a few t'ousand foot, like dese, or poke der snow-topped heads troo de clouds right away up into de blue sky, like de Andes. Rugged ground is rugged ground, an' hard on de legs all de same, an' dis am rugged 'nuff even for 'Ockins!"

The negro opened his huge mouth in an amiable laugh at his companion, who had taken advantage of the brief halt to give a hearty rub to his colossal limbs.

"Rugged enough it is, no doubt," said the sailor, gravely, "an' it makes my sea-legs raither stiffish. But never you fear, Ebony; they're tough, an' will last as long as yours, anyhow."

"You's right, 'Ockins. Dey'll last _longer_ dan mine by eight or ten hinches--if not more."

"Your jokes are small, Ebony, which is more than can be said for your mouth. Shut it, man, or some of us'll go tumblin' into it by accident."

While these two were indulging their little pleasantries, the guide and his friend Laihova had gone to the top of a neighbouring bluff to consult as to the best route to adopt in the present troubled state of the country.

The view from the commanding height on which they stood was indeed marked by a rugged grandeur which might have done credit even to the giant Andes themselves, and offered a variety of routes, or rather obstructions to routes, which might well perplex men who were eager to cross country swiftly.

The point which they had reached, and much of the range they had crossed, was formed of basalt in various stages of decomposition; but in the country before them, for several miles in advance, huge ma.s.ses of granite and fragments of quartz indicated a change in the nature of the prevailing rock. The position of these ma.s.ses, as well as their size, gave a wild t.i.tanic aspect to much of the scenery.

Many enormous stones projected out of the ground at various angles. One of these stood out horizontally to the distance of between twenty and thirty feet, forming a cave under it, in which it was evident, from sundry suggestive appearances, that wayfarers were accustomed to lodge.

The neighbourhood of this cave formed one of the most romantic and picturesque scenes they had yet seen. It was a dark narrow vale, in many places not less than five hundred feet deep, with a considerable stream at the bottom, which brawled among detached and shattered rocks, or was partly lost to view in its meanderings among the beautiful green shrubs which clothed its banks. Various kinds of birds twittered among the bushes, and wherever water expanded in the form of pond or lakelet numerous waterfowl sported on the surface.

"A glorious prospect!" exclaimed Mark, as he joined the guide and his friend, "and a splendid place, I should think, for fugitives from persecution."

He pointed, as he spoke, to the scene on his right, where ma.s.ses of rock varying from thirty to fifty feet in length projected from the side of the ravine. On the top of these rested other ma.s.ses in a position that seemed to threaten destruction to all who ventured beneath them.

"The caves of this region," said the guide, "have served to shelter the Christians many a time. It looks as if G.o.d had provided these blocks of granite for this very purpose, for the caverns which extend beneath them are dark and intricate, having many entrances, and being lighted in some places by openings between the blocks, while in other places they are profoundly dark and of unknown extent. See also, if you look at the stream below, they form a splendid bridge. At this distance they do not seem large, but some of these blocks are not less than a hundred feet long. This whole region is infested by robbers, but the recent act of the Queen in sending troops out to scour the country for fugitive Christians seems to have driven them away. But if they had been here we should have had little to fear, for robbers are not usually fond of attacking even small parties of men who are well able to defend themselves; besides, they do not injure the outlawed Christians much.

Perhaps they have a sort of fellow-feeling for us!"

At this point Laihova spoke a few words to the guide in the native tongue. The latter nodded approval, and turning to Mark, said--

"We have been consulting about our route. There are two roads--one rugged, round-about, and safe, which would take us a longer time, however, to reach the capital than the other, which is the regular beaten path, through the villages. But this latter way lays us open to the danger of meeting with soldiers, and of my being captured along with my friend Laihova. There would be no danger to you and your friends, for you are strangers."

"Ravonino," said Mark, quickly, "do what is best for rescuing Rafaravavy. We have no will but yours. We will follow wherever you choose to lead."

A quiet look of satisfaction played on the guide's features as he turned to his friend.

"What says Laihova? The Englishmen are willing to do whatever we wish."

"Let us go by the villages. Let us push on by night as well as by day,"

said Laihova. "Time flies! Ranavalona is mad! Rafaravavy is in danger!"

It was finally arranged that, at this place, which was considerably to the south of Antananarivo, they should diverge to the right, so as to avoid certain points of danger, and arrive ultimately at the eastern side of the capital.

Having settled this point, the three men rejoined their comrades, who were still conversing amicably beside the spring. Thereafter they all descended into the valley by a steep and rugged pathway.