The River of Darkness; Or, Under Africa Read online

  CHAPTER X.

  THE SLAVE PRISON.

  The Emir's reply was brief and apparently forcible. He clapped hishands, and half a dozen soldiers appeared instantly. He addressed themwith a word or two, but before they could execute his orders, Guyhastened forward and said to the Arab, "I pray you have my friend'swound dressed. He is suffering much pain."

  The Arab addressed the Emir, pointing to the wounded man, and then,turning to Guy, he said, "It is well. Rao Khan will see to the Inglisman."

  Guy would have sought more information, but the soldiers now cameforward and picking Melton up motioned Guy to follow them. They passedout of the apartment by a rear door, and traversing a long hall, entereda big courtyard.

  On the right and left were high stone walls, and directly opposite was alow, gloomy sandstone structure, with one narrow door opening on thecourt.

  Here were standing more armed guards, who obsequiously opened the doorfor the approaching captives.

  As they passed through the gloomy portal Guy's heart sank. His eyes atfirst could see nothing but darkness, and he blindly followed hisconductors until they came to a stop. A heavy door was closed and boltedbehind him, and then all was silent.

  In a few seconds he was able to see his surroundings. He was in a squaredungeon, lighted by a narrow aperture high up in the wall. The floor wasof stone, strewn with straw. Melton sat up and leaned against the wall.

  "Where are we, Chutney?" he asked.

  "I don't know," answered Guy; "in some sort of prison, I suppose.Why--hello, Melton, here are iron rings sunk in the floor all along theside."

  "That settles it, then," rejoined Melton. "This is Rao Khan's slaveprison. I don't suppose there are many inmates now while the fair isgoing on."

  Approaching footsteps put an end to the conversation, and in a momentthe door opened to admit a tall Arab, followed by a native with bandagesand a basin of water.

  The Arab quietly loosened Melton's shirt and coat, and, washing thewound, wrapped bandages spread with some soft ointment round his body.He did the work speedily and dexterously, and then departed as silentlyas he had come. He had barely gone, however, when a soldier entered witha tray containing dates, figs, and a peculiar kind of cakes, which heplaced before the prisoners. They ate with relish, and then, overcome byweariness, they lay down on the straw and fell asleep.

  It was some hours later when Guy awoke. Night had come, for no lightshone through the aperture. He lay for some time listening to Melton'sdeep breathing and thinking of their terrible situation.

  He was not without hope of deliverance, for he placed a great deal offaith in Makar's promise; yet even then the chances were against them.Perhaps at this very moment Zaila had been retaken, and Makar was killedor a prisoner. If this should happen they were lost. Guy shuddered tothink of Rao Khan's vengeance under such circumstances.

  Presently he became aware of vague noises somewhere in the distance. Hefancied he heard shots fired and a loud tumult of voices.

  He thought it might be imagination, but suddenly the sounds increased,and once or twice footsteps hurried past the dungeon. The noise now wokeMelton, and together they listened, convinced that it was a presentimentof coming evil. The strange sounds rose and fell, at times nearly dyingaway and then bursting out with renewed violence.

  "I can't understand it at all," said Guy. "It can't be a rejoicing overthe capture of Zaila, for they are plainly cries of anger."

  "We'll know pretty soon what it means," returned Melton; "it concernsus, you may be sure."

  In his excitement he arose and began to pace the floor. His wound wasgiving him no pain, he said, adding that he really felt pretty wellagain.

  At last the shouts seemed to come a little nearer, and before long thefierce, angry cries were heard close at hand.

  "They are surrounding the prison," said Guy, huskily.

  He was right. A howling mob was on all sides of them now, and it wasquite clear that they were beginning to attack the walls of thecourtyard, for suddenly half a dozen shots were fired as though theguards were resisting the invaders.

  It was a period of terrible suspense. The shouts increased, the firinggrew heavier, powder-smoke drifted into the prison; but just when theyexpected to see their dungeon door torn open by a mad swarm of fanaticsthe uproar suddenly ceased.

  A full minute of silence followed, and then on the night air rose a howlof triumph, so savage, so vindictive, that Guy and Melton shivered fromhead to foot. For some reason the attack had been suddenly abandoned.What that reason was they could only surmise.

  The silence continued. The invaders had dispersed. Sleep was impossible,and they passed the time in conversation until a streak of light,flickering through the opening, showed that morning had come.

  Food and drink were brought in. The prisoners ate sparingly. The shadowof a great calamity was overhanging.

  "I am just as sure," said Melton, "that something will shortly happen,as I am that you and I are in Rao Khan's slave prison at Harar."

  "Listen," answered Guy.

  Footsteps approached. The door creaked and opened, and a man entered.With a cry of wonder Guy and Melton sprang to their feet. The newcomerwas bronzed and burnt, he had light hair, a mustache and a soft blondbeard, but he wore trousers and a tunic of white linen.

  The surprise was mutual. The stranger scanned them closely from head tofoot.

  "Who are you?" cried Guy hoarsely. "Can it be possible that you are anEnglishman--an Englishman in Harar?"

  The man paused a moment, and then said quietly: "I am a Greek. My nameis Canaris Mataplan. At present I am an interpreter to Rao Khan, theEmir."

  "But your English?" cried Melton. "It is perfect."

  "I was a cafe-keeper at Cairo for seven years," replied the Greek. "Ilearned English there."

  An embarrassing pause now occurred. It was certain that the Greek wasthe bearer of tidings from the Emir. No one dared speak. At last theGreek said quietly: "You are truly unfortunate. Tell me how you camehere. I know that Zaila has fallen into the possession of Rao Khan'semissaries. I know nothing else."

  Guy briefly told the tale, and Canaris listened quietly.

  "Fools!" he said. "The English will be in Zaila again in a month."

  "And you?" rejoined Guy. "What brought you to Harar?"

  "I left Cairo for Calcutta," said Canaris. "The steamer was lost offCape Guardafui; ten of us reached shore in a boat; the Somalisslaughtered all but myself. I was sold to the Arabs and came ultimatelyto Harar. I was useful to Rao Khan in many ways, and my life was spared.I have been here two years, two long years. I shall never see Greeceagain," he added gloomily. "I am a slave to the Emir for life."

  "Is escape then impossible?" asked Guy.

  "Absolutely. Between here and the coast is the desert. To the south arethe bloodthirsty Gallas. No, no; one can never escape from Harar."

  The tramp of the guard was heard in the corridor, and a sudden changepassed over the Greek's face.

  "I have come from Rao Khan," he said in a low voice. "He sends me with amessage."

  He paused.

  "Go on," said Guy; "we are listening." He was breathing heavily.

  "Two hours after you arrived here yesterday morning," resumed Canaris,"Rao Khan despatched the Arabs to Zaila again, in company with twohundred of his best soldiers, who will assist in holding the town. Theyhad scarcely gone when an insurrection broke out. The people wereangered at the slaughter done by the Emir's troops when they rescued youfrom the crowd. It is an ancient law in Harar that every Christianstranger who enters her gates must die. Englishmen are most detested ofall. The populace became maddened and furious; from all quarters of thetown they came, clamoring, demanding your lives. When Rao Khan calledout his remaining troops they refused to fire. The people, they said,were right. A very few remained faithful to the Emir. The mob surroundedthe palace and the prison; they tried to scale the walls; the guards inthe court fired on them. Then R
ao Khan appeared and spoke to the angrycrowd. He begged them to wait. He told them that you belonged not tohim, but that Makar Makalo had sent you here for safe-keeping, that youwere the slaves of Makar Makalo. The people only howled in derision.They became more angry and infuriated, and refused to listen any longer.'The Englishmen must die!' they cried. Rao Khan was fearful in hisanger. But he was powerless. He feared the destruction of the palace,the loss of his own life." Here Canaris paused and looked with infinitepity at the Englishmen.

  Guy tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. Melton laid hishand on the Greek's arm. "Go on, go on," he whispered hoarsely. "We aremen, not cowards. Let us know the worst."