The River of Darkness; Or, Under Africa Read online

  CHAPTER V.

  THE NIGHT ON THE ROOF.

  The tragic scene described at the close of the preceding chapter,following on the very heels of the outbreak, was a fearful shock to allwho saw it, and for an instant they could only stare at one another withmute, frightened faces.

  Colonel Carrington broke the spell. With drawn sword he made a dash forthe door, closely followed by the rest, but before they could cross theapartment a louder burst of firing came from the very courtyard, bulletswhistled through the windows, and then a scuffle began in the hall, andangry voices were heard. It was over in a moment; a cry of pain, a lowgroan, followed by the sound of bars dropped in their sockets, and theninto the room burst three Hindoo soldiers, grimy with blood and powder.

  "Sahib colonel," cried the foremost, "we are lost. The Arabs and Somalishave revolted. Hundreds of them surround the residency. Yonder in thehall lies a dead Somali. We have barred the doors, but they will soon bein."

  Even as he spoke the portals shook under a succession of thunderousblows.

  "The rear door," cried the colonel. "We may escape that way."

  "No, no; the building is surrounded," rejoined the Hindoo. "There is noescape."

  He was right. Shouts were heard on all sides, the blows on the doorsredoubled, and stray shots came in at the windows, both front and rear.

  Sir Arthur lay prostrate in his chair.

  "The roof! the roof!" he groaned. "We must take to the roof."

  "By Jove, he's right," cried the colonel. "It's our last hope. Blow outthe lights and come on, quick!"

  The lamps were out in a second, but a dim glare still shone into theroom from the torches outside. With an effort, Sir Arthur staggered tohis feet. Two of the soldiers assisted him, and then in great haste theyhurried through the hall to a rear room.

  The building was of one story, and from this apartment a ladder led toan open trap overhead.

  Sir Arthur was pushed up first, followed closely by the rest, and justas Momba brought up the rear and dragged the ladder after him, the greatresidency doors gave way with a crash, and a wild yell of triumph toldonly too plainly that the enemy had effected an entrance.

  Guy's quick eye observed a big flat stone lying near, a precautionarymeasure provided by some former governor, no doubt, and, calling onMomba to assist him, he dragged it over the trap.

  From below came a rush of footsteps and the sound of smashing furnitureas the Arabs hurried to and fro in search of their prey.

  "We are safe for the present," said the colonel; "they can't possiblyreach us, and they may not even discover where we are."

  The roof comprised the whole extent of the building, and was probablythirty feet square. It was surrounded by a stone parapet three feet inheight, and from this parapet the little band of fugitives witnessed ascene that none forgot to his dying day.

  North and west of the residency the town seemed to be in comparativequiet and darkness, for only stray lights were to be seen at intervals.But off to the south lay the fortifications, and here a sharp conflictwas waging.

  Through the darkness of the night the flash of every shot was seen, andall along the line blazed out three continuous sheets of flame as thebeleaguered garrison poured their fire into the attacking parties thatadvanced from both sides.

  "They can't hold out an hour," said Melton. "The foe are too strong forthem."

  A sharp cry from Captain Waller turned all eyes on the harbor, where thewater was illumined by twinkling lights and the flash of rifles. Themeaning of this was plain. The steamer had been attacked. No doubtthose innocent looking dhows had been filled with armed Arabs, waitingfor the signal, and now every escape was cut off. The firing was sharpand severe for a while, and then it gave way to loud cheers.

  The steamers had fallen into the hands of the enemy.

  "There goes the last hope," said the colonel; "and look, even thegarrison has succumbed."

  It was true. The firing had almost entirely ceased, and the few strayshots that still rang out were drowned in the vast roar that rose fromall parts of the town.

  The residency was cordoned by a surging mass of wretches, intoxicatedwith triumph, and fresh hordes came pouring in, riotous from theslaughter of the garrison.

  "Some cunning fiend has planned all this," muttered Colonel Carrington,"and planned it infernally well, too."

  "The Arab, Makar Makalo, is the ringleader, sir," said Melton, "but heis only acting for Rao Khan, the Emir of Harar, who has long desired theport of Zalia."

  "A swift retribution will come," replied the colonel, "but it will cometoo late to aid us."

  No person seemed inclined to talk. Sir Arthur sat up against theparapet in a sort of stupor, the three Hindoos were grouped on one side,and Momba mutely followed his master from point to point, as with Guyand the colonel he made the circuit of the housetop.

  And now for the first time it became evident that the presence of thefugitives on the roof was known. Thousands of Arabs and Somalissurrounded the building, their dark faces plainly seen in the glare ofthe torches, but no hostile demonstration was made. They appeared to bewaiting on something or someone. It was very evident that the wholepopulation of the town was in revolt. It was equally plain, too, thatthey had been prepared for this uprising, for it had apparently brokenout in all quarters of the town at once, and the expected signal had nodoubt been the approach of the Arabs from Berbera, for the vast numberof rifles used in the fight proved conclusively their arrival.

  Wonderful success had crowned their plans. Yesterday the garrison atBerbera had fallen to a man; and now Zaila was in their hands, and allthat remained of the British possessors was the miserable band offugitives on the residency roof.

  With bitter feelings Guy looked down on the sea of faces. He waswondering if he would ever see Calcutta or England again. But he hadbeen in bad predicaments before, and, hopeless as it now seemed,something might turn up to save them yet.

  Melton was inclined to think that the Arabs were only waiting fordaylight to make their attack, and yet they seemed to have no idea ofabandoning their position, but encircled the building with a sea oftorches, talking loudly and excitedly all the while.

  Once Guy ventured to peer down over the parapet, and to his surprise hesaw Arab guards at the residency door, sternly keeping back the crowd.Then he pulled aside the stone from the trap. All was dark and quietbeneath. The solution to this mystery was close at hand.

  Of a sudden a great hush fell on the vast crowd, the tumult died away toa low murmur, and from the outskirts came a strange sound, at first lowand indistinct, and then louder and more vivid, like the tinkling ofbells mingled with the trampling of hoofs.

  The Arabs and Somalis fell silently apart, leaving open a wide passagelike a swath cut through a field of standing corn that led straight tothe residency doors. Up this triumphal avenue trotted a dozen stalwartArabs bearing lighted torches, and directly behind came a giganticcamel, decorated with gorgeous trappings and hung with strings of silverbells. And on the camel's back, gazing haughtily around him, sat theArab, Makar Makalo.

  "Behold Makar Makalo, the new ruler of Zaila!" cried the heralds, andfrom the vast crowd burst one universal shout of satisfaction.