The River of Darkness; Or, Under Africa Read online

  CHAPTER XIII.

  THE FLIGHT THROUGH THE TOWN.

  It was a critical situation for the three fugitives, crouching behindthe heavy prison door. That grim sentry over yonder by the gate must benoiselessly and effectually overpowered, and that at once. Any momentguards might come from the palace, and then--oh, it was horrible! Thepublic square, the executioner's gleaming knife, the roar of thepopulace!

  Guy's brain whirled at this appalling panorama, and he clutched the doorfor support.

  "Can't we rush on him?" asked Melton.

  Canaris laughed grimly.

  "Before we could take three steps from the door," he said, "the fellowwould see us and alarm the palace. If I go alone the chances are thatbefore you can reach me he would succeed in making an outcry. Our onlyhope lies in getting away from the town before our escape isdiscovered."

  "But what are you going to do, Canaris?" asked Guy excitedly. "We arelosing precious time."

  "Keep cool," replied the Greek. "I will fix him in five minutes. Staywhere you are and don't make a sound. When I wave my hand, then come."

  He removed his burnous and stuffed it under his tunic. Then he calmlyopened the door and walked straight across the court toward the guard,who looked up carelessly at his approach. With their eyes glued againstthe cracks of the door Guy and Melton waited in terrible suspense.

  A short conversation ensued. Canaris turned and pointed toward theprison. The guard replied with many gestures, and finally in hiseagerness placed his rifle against the wall. What followed was so swiftand dexterous that it seemed like a dream.

  The Greek's right hand shot out from his bosom clasping some glitteringobject. It struck the astonished guard on the forehead with a sharpclick that echoed across the courtyard, and without a sound he droppedon his knees and then rolled over on the stone pavement.

  Canaris waved his hand, and then the two captives dashed breathlesslyacross the courtyard.

  "Is he dead?" asked Guy in a horrified whisper.

  "Only stunned," replied Canaris. "I struck him with the butt of myrevolver. Quick now; bind and gag him while I find the key and open thegate."

  Guy hastily fastened the fellow's feet and arms and stuffed a roll oflinen in his mouth.

  Melton stood looking on. His wound was beginning to give him some painagain.

  With a low exclamation of triumph Canaris pulled from the Nubian's waista narrow belt on which hung a ponderous iron key. All rose to theirfeet. Guy dropped the unconscious guard under the shadow of the wall.The supreme moment had come. The great courtyard, white in the light ofthe moon, was empty. The heavy doors leading to the palace were shut.Behind the high prison walls all seemed quiet. The city was asleep.

  The first stage of the journey was accomplished in safety. The terriblepassage through the town was before them now. With a hand that trembledslightly Canaris inserted the key in the lock. It turned with a harshrattle, and at a touch of the hand the brazen gate swung outward.

  The Greek made a hasty survey and then stepped noiselessly outside. Theywere in a narrow side street which ran past the Emir's palace. The sidetoward the prison was in deep shadow. On the other side was a long stonebuilding, with two or three narrow grated windows.

  "That is an Arab storehouse opposite," said Canaris. "We are safe forthe present. Now follow me closely. Walk boldly and fearlessly and keepa few feet apart."

  He started off at a rapid gait, his white burnous tossing on hisshoulders, and with fast-beating hearts Guy and Melton came closebehind. In five minutes they turned into another narrow passage runningat right angles, and, continuing along this for forty or fifty yards,made still another turn.

  The two streets they had just traversed had been lined for the most partwith big warehouses and slave-markets. It was, in fact, the businesspart of the town, alive with people during the day, deserted at night.But now a crisis was at hand. Canaris halted his little party in theshadow of a building and pointed straight up the street.

  "Yonder lies the main avenue," he said. "We must cross it to reach ourdestination. Keep yourselves well under control, don't show any fear,and if any people are about don't look at them. If they address you makeno reply."

  Guy marveled at the Greek's coolness under such terrible circumstances.Every moment was a torture to him as long as they remained in the midstof these bloodthirsty fiends.

  In five minutes they reached the main street. From the slight ridge onwhich they stood they could see stretching afar on either hand themoonlit roadway, spectered with the dark shadows of the houses. They hadbeen traveling on three sides of a square. Fifty yards down the streetthe tower of the Emir's palace was visible, outlined faintly against thepale-gray sky.

  As they stepped from the shadows upon the open roadway, an Arab stalkedfrom a doorway opposite, and without troubling himself to come neareraddressed Canaris in a strange tongue.

  Guy's heart seemed to leap into his throat as he nervously handled therevolver that stuck in his belt.

  Canaris coolly replied in a low voice. The Arab evinced no intention ofcoming any nearer, and in an instant more the fugitives had plunged intothe gloom of another cross street.

  On all sides now were rude abodes, some of sandstone, others of clay,and at some places even tents were to be seen. Laughter and loud talkingcame from open windows. Two or three fierce looking Somali warriorsstalked past in dignified silence, and an Arab sheik, wrapped closely inhis garment, looked at them cautiously as he hurried by.

  Melton now walked with difficulty. His wound had broken out afresh andwas bleeding. The weight of the rifle was too much for him, and he wascompelled to abandon it in the road.

  "A little farther now," said Canaris encouragingly, "and we shall besafe."

  Melton tried to walk faster, leaning on Guy's arm, but at last, with amoan of pain, he sank to the ground.

  "Go on, leave me; save yourselves," he whispered feebly, as they bentover him and tried to lift him to his feet.

  "One more effort, my dear Melton," implored Guy in an agony, "only onemore effort and we shall be safe. We can carry you if you can't walk."

  "No," he gasped. "Go at once. You can escape. I would only keep you backand cause your capture; better one than three."

  Guy threw an appealing glance at Canaris. The Greek's features wereimmovable. He calmly waited the result of Guy's pleading.

  "My brave fellow," said Chutney, in a husky voice, kneeling down andclasping Melton's hand, "I refuse to accept your sacrifice. I shallremain here with you and we will meet our fate together. Canaris, saveyourself while there is yet time. I will not desert my friend."

  The Greek paused irresolutely. The convulsive workings of his faceshowed the struggle going on in his mind. Suddenly Melton rose on oneelbow and cried excitedly:

  "Go, go, I tell you."

  Guy shook his head. "No," he said decidedly. "I shall remain."

  "You are throwing your lives away," said Melton bitterly. "Here, help meup. I will make another effort."

  In an instant Guy and Canaris had gladly pulled him to his feet, and offthey went again as rapidly as possible. All was quiet around them. Adeep silence, broken only by the occasional low of a cow, had enwrappedthe town. So far their escape had remained undiscovered.

  "Ah, here we are," said Canaris joyfully, turning down a dark, dirtypassage, so narrow that the three could barely walk abreast. "In threeminutes we shall reach the wall."

  Three minutes is not a long time, but it is long enough for many thingsto happen. They had traversed half the length of the street when Guy,moved by one of those sudden, unexplainable impulses, turned his head.

  Ten yards behind, crawling with soft and stealthy tread, was a grim,half naked Somali. How long he had been following in their track it wasimpossible to tell. But there he was, a stern Nemesis, the moonlightshining on spear and shield, and glowing on the dark, villainousfeatures.

  Guy and Canaris wheeled round and stood with drawn
revolvers. The Somaliclutched his spear and drew up his shield. The silence remainedunbroken.

  One single cry and a mad horde would rush forth like bees from a hive.The Somali made one step backward, then another, and then, opening hismouth, he gave a yell that was caught up in horrible echoes till thestreet fairly rang.

  "Malediction!" cried Canaris, in uncontrollable fury, "that's your lastshout," and, taking quick aim, he pulled his revolver on the shoutingSomali.

  A stunning report, a hollow groan, and down came the savage all in aheap, while the heavy shield bounded with a clatter over the stones.