The Fugitives: The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar Part 23

"Because Ranavalona will probably treat them as she treated the Europeans who lately tried to overthrow her government. She sent them down to the coast with orders to their conductors to keep them so long on the way--especially on the unhealthy fever-stricken parts of the route--that sickness might have time to kill them."

"And was the plan successful?"

"Not quite, for the white people turned out to be tough. They managed to get away from our island alive, but in a state of health, I believe, that will very likely prevent them from ever wishing to return!"

"I have much love for these men," said Ravonino, after a pause. "You have influence with Rainiharo. Can you not befriend them?"

"I shall have little influence now with my uncle," returned Soa, sadly, "for I am a Christian, and he will soon discover that. But I will help them if I can--for your sake."

"And Rafaravavy," said Ravonino, in a lower voice, "do you think she can be induced to fly? If she were brought to me here, I should have little difficulty in taking her to a place of safety."

"The difficulties in your way are greater than you suppose," said Soa.

"The Queen's spies and soldiers are out all over the land. Even now, were it not that I am your friend and brother in Jesus, you would have been caught here as in a trap. Besides, there is the greater difficulty that Rafaravavy is filled with fidelity to her royal mistress, and pities her so much that she will not leave her. You know that she openly confesses Christ in the palace, yet so great is the Queen's regard for her that she will not listen to my uncle, who would gladly see her tossed over the `rock of hurling.' I had converse with her the other day, and I see that she even hopes to be the instrument of the Queen's conversion to Christianity."

"G.o.d bless her!" exclaimed Ravonino, fervently.

"Amen!" returned Soa, "and I doubt not that the blessing will come, though it may not come in the way we hope. It is no easy matter to say `Thy will be done' when we are suffering."

"Prince Rakota has done much for the Christians in time past," urged poor Ravonino, who felt that all hope of delivering the girl he loved, at the present time, from the dangers that surrounded her was gradually slipping away from him; "surely he can and will protect her."

"I fear he has not the power," answered Soa. "He has interfered in behalf of the Christians so often of late that the Queen is losing patience; and you know that if she once gives way to her cruel rage, the life of Rakota himself is not safe. But, you may trust me, my friend; I will do my best to move him to aid you--and your friends also."

Most of the people had left the cave while these two were conversing, with the understanding that they were not to return, as it was no longer a safe retreat. Another and more distant rendezvous was, however, appointed; the treasured Bible was not restored to its old place of concealment, but carried off by Totosy, the young preacher, to be reburied in a new place of refuge.

"Do you follow them?" asked Soa of Ravonino, when the others had all gone and they were about to part.

"No. My companions will come here expecting to find me if they escape.

I must remain, whatever befalls. If the soldiers come, I will see them before they arrive, and give them the slip. If they give chase they will find it troublesome to catch me!"

When Soa returned to the city he went straight to the apartments of the prime minister, whom he found impatiently awaiting him.

"You have been long," said the latter.

"The distance is great," replied the nephew.

"Well?" exclaimed the uncle, inquiringly.

"You ordered me to act as a Christian," returned the young man, with a slight smile, "and you know it takes time to do that."

"True--true. And you have brought me the list?"

"No, uncle."

"What mean you, boy?"

"I mean that I have obeyed your first command; I have been to the Christian meeting _as a Christian_."

A puzzled, inquiring look overspread the premier's countenance.

"Well, what then?"

"Well, then, of course I acted the part of a Christian to the best of my power. I told them why I had been sent, warned them of the evil intended them, and advised them to escape for their lives; but, as no immediate danger was to be feared, I joined them in their worship."

"And you have brought no list?"

"None."

Rainiharo's visage, while his nephew spoke, was a sight to behold; for the conflicting emotions aroused produced a complexity of expression that is quite indescribable.

"Young man!" he said, sternly, "you have disobeyed my orders. Why have you done this? Your head must fall, for you show that you are a Christian."

With great simplicity and gentleness Soa said:

"Yes, my uncle, I _am_ a Christian; and if you please you may put me to death, for I _do_ pray to Jesus."

Utterly confounded by this straightforward and fearless reply, Rainiharo stood for some moments gazing in silent wonder at the youth who thus calmly stood prepared to abide the consequences of his confession. At first it almost seemed as if, in his anger, he would with his own hand, then and there, inflict the punishment he threatened; but once again, as in the case of Ranavalona, love proved more powerful than anger.

"No, no, boy," he said, turning away with a wave of his hand, as if to dismiss the subject finally, "you shall not die. It is a delusion. You deceive yourself. Go. Leave me!"

Soa obeyed, and went straight to the apartment of Prince Rakota to relate to that fast friend and comrade his recent adventures, and consult with him about the dark cloud that threatened to burst in persecution over the unhappy land.

Note 1. A Bible of the kind here described may now be seen in the Museum of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 146 Queen Victoria Street, London, just as it was dug up out of the earth, where it had been buried by christian natives who probably perished in the persecutions. The New Testament bears the date of 1830, the Old Testament that of 1835.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

IN PRISON--EFFECTS OF A FIRST SIGHT OF TORTURE.

A new day had begun, cattle were lowing on the distant plain, and birds were chirping their matutinal songs in bush and tree when Mark Breezy, John Hockins, and James Ginger--_alias_ Ebony--awoke from their uneasy rest on the prison floor and sat up with their backs against the wall.

Their chains rattled sharply as they did so.

"Well now," said Hockins, gasping forth his morning yawn in spite of circ.u.mstances, "I've many a time read and heard it of other folk, but I never did think I should live to hear my own chains rattle."

"Right you are, 'Ockins; ob course I's got de same sentiments zactly,"

said the negro, lifting up his strong arm and ruefully surveying the heavy iron links of native manufacture that descended from his wrist.

Mark only sighed. It was the first time he had ever been restrained, even by bolt or bar, much less by manacles, and the effect on his young mind was at first overwhelming.

Bright though the sun was outside, very little of its light found a pa.s.sage through the c.h.i.n.ks of their all but windowless prison-house, so that they could scarcely see the size or character of the place. But this mattered little. They were too much crushed by their misfortune to care. For some time they sat without speaking, each feeling quite incapable of uttering a word of cheer to his fellows.

The silence was suddenly but softly broken by the sound of song. It seemed to come from a very dark corner of the prison, in which nothing could be seen. To the startled prisoners it sounded like heavenly music--and indeed such it was, for in that corner sat two Christian captives who were spending the first minutes of the new day in singing praise to G.o.d.

The three comrades listened with rapt attention, for although the words were unintelligible, with the exception of the name of Jesus, the air was quite familiar, being one of those in which English-speaking Christians are wont to sing praise all the world over.

When the hymn ceased one of the voices was raised in a reverent and continuous tone, which was obviously the voice of prayer.