diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:05 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:12:05 -0700 |
| commit | 9cd27e2b5b11065f4e409a6ccbc9f3f95cd27326 (patch) | |
| tree | c955812ce9a747496cfb2ef9f2694b5aff96fc9a | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-0.txt | 7086 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-0.zip | bin | 0 -> 119613 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 375009 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-h/39185-h.htm | 6034 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 51154 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-h/images/img-120.jpg | bin | 0 -> 68144 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-h/images/img-208.jpg | bin | 0 -> 66552 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 39185-h/images/img-front.jpg | bin | 0 -> 60970 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-8.txt | 7115 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 119527 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-rst.zip | bin | 0 -> 359902 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-rst/39185-rst.rst | 6800 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-rst/images/img-120.jpg | bin | 0 -> 68144 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-rst/images/img-208.jpg | bin | 0 -> 66552 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-rst/images/img-cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 51154 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185-rst/images/img-front.jpg | bin | 0 -> 60970 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185.txt | 7115 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/39185.zip | bin | 0 -> 119512 bytes |
21 files changed, 34166 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/39185-0.txt b/39185-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1888fc --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7086 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Across the Cameroons, by Charles Gilson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Across the Cameroons + A Story of War and Adventure + +Author: Charles Gilson + +Release Date: March 17, 2012 [eBook #39185] +[Most recently updated: June 17, 2021] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +Produced by: Al Haines. + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS *** + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + +[Illustration: "DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!"] + + + + + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + A Story of War and Adventure + + + + BY + + CAPTAIN CHARLES GILSON + + Author of "A Motor-Scout in Flanders" &c. &c. + + + + _Illustrated by Arch. Webb_ + + + + BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + LONDON AND GLASGOW + 1916 + + + + _Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ + + + ———— + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I—Captain von Hardenberg + CHAPTER II—The Sunstone + CHAPTER III—Caught Red-handed + CHAPTER IV—False Evidence + CHAPTER V—The Eleventh Hour + CHAPTER VI—The Pursuit Begins + CHAPTER VII—Into the Bush + CHAPTER VIII—Danger Ahead + CHAPTER IX—The Captive + CHAPTER X—When All was Still + CHAPTER XI—A Shot from the Clouds + CHAPTER XII—The Mystery of the Running Man + CHAPTER XIII—The Black Dog + CHAPTER XIV—Buried Alive! + CHAPTER XV—The Valley of the Shadow + CHAPTER XVI—The Enemy in Sight + CHAPTER XVII—A Shot by Night + CHAPTER XVIII—A Dash for Liberty + CHAPTER XIX—War to the Knife + CHAPTER XX—Honour among Thieves + CHAPTER XXI—The Last Cartridge + CHAPTER XXII—The Conquest of a Colony + CHAPTER XXIII—Attacked + CHAPTER XXIV—The Caves + CHAPTER XXV—The Lock + CHAPTER XXVI—The White Madman + CHAPTER XXVII—The Black Dog Bites + CHAPTER XXVIII—A Race for Life + CHAPTER XXIX—The Temple + CHAPTER XXX—The Blood Spoor + CHAPTER XXXI—The Fox in View + CHAPTER XXXII—Between Two Fires + CHAPTER XXXIII—On the Brink of Eternity + CHAPTER XXXIV—The Sunstone Found + CHAPTER XXXV—A Brother + CHAPTER XXXVI—The Twelfth Hour + CHAPTER XXXVII—Too Late! + CHAPTER XXXVIII—Conclusion + + ———— + + + + Illustrations + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife that missed him by the +fraction of an inch + +The leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible, and glorious + + + + + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + + + +CHAPTER I—Captain von Hardenberg + + +Late on a September afternoon, in the year 1913, two boys returned to +Friar’s Court by way of the woods. Each carried a gun under his arm, +and a well-bred Irish water-spaniel followed close upon their heels. +They were of about the same age, though it would have been apparent, +even to the most casual observer, that they stood to one another in the +relation of master to man. + +The one, Henry Urquhart, home for his holidays from Eton, was the nephew +of Mr. Langton, the retired West African judge, who owned Friar’s Court. +The other was Jim Braid, the son of Mr. Langton’s head-gamekeeper, who +had already donned the corduroys and the moleskin waistcoat of his +father’s trade. Though to some extent a social gap divided them, a +friendship had already sprung up between these two which was destined to +ripen as the years went on, carrying both to the uttermost parts of the +world, through the forests of the Cameroons, across the inhospitable +hills west of the Cameroon Peak, even to the great plains of the Sahara. + +Harry was a boy of the open air. He was never happier than when on +horseback, or when he carried a shot-gun and a pocketful of cartridges. +As for Jim, he was no rider, but there were few boys of his age who +could hit a bolting rabbit or a rocketing pheasant with such surety of +aim. + +The Judge himself was much given to study, and was said to be a +recognized authority on the primitive races of Africa and the East. For +hours at a time he would shut himself up in the little bungalow he had +built in the woods, where, undisturbed, he could carry out his +researches. He was fond of his nephew, not the less so because Harry +was a boy well able to amuse himself; and where there were rabbits to be +shot and ditches to be jumped, young Urquhart was in his element. + +In Jim Braid, the schoolboy found one who had kindred tastes, who was a +better shot than himself, who could manage ferrets, and who, on one +occasion, had even had the privilege of assisting his father in the +capture of a poacher. Constant companionship engendered a friendship +which in time grew into feelings of mutual admiration. In the young +gamekeeper’s eyes Harry was all that a gentleman should be; whereas the +schoolboy knew that in Jim Braid he had found a companion after his +heart. + +The path they followed led them past the bungalow. As they drew near +they saw there was a light in the window, and within was Mr. Langton, a +tall, grey-haired man, who sat at his writing-desk, poring over his +books and papers. + +"My uncle works too hard," said Harry. "For the last week he has done +nothing else. Every morning he has left the house directly after +breakfast to come here. I think there’s something on his mind; he +seldom speaks at meals." + +"I suppose," said Braid, "in a big estate like this there must be a good +deal of business to be done?" + +"I don’t think that takes him much time," said the other. "He keeps his +accounts and his cashbox in the bungalow, it is true, but he is much +more interested in the ancient histories of India and Asia than in +Friar’s Court. He’s a member of the Royal Society, you know, and that’s +a very great honour." + +"He’s a fine gentleman!" said Braid, as if that clinched the matter once +and for all. + +They walked on in silence for some minutes, and presently came to the +drive. It was then that they heard the sound of the wheels of a +dog-cart driving towards the house. + +"That’s Captain von Hardenberg," said Braid. + +"I expect so," said the other. "His train must have been late. There’ll +be three of us to shoot to-morrow." + +Braid did not answer. Harry glanced at him quickly. + +"You don’t seem pleased," he said. + +"To tell the truth, sir," said Braid, after a brief pause, "I’m not. +Captain von Hardenberg and I don’t get on very well together." + +"How’s that?" + +Jim hesitated. + +"I hardly like to say, sir," said he, after a pause. + +"I don’t mind," said Harry. "To tell the truth, my cousin and I have +never been friends. I can’t think whatever possessed an aunt of mine to +marry a German—and a Prussian at that. He’s a military attaché, you +know, at the German Embassy in London." + +The dog-cart came into sight round a bend in the drive. They stepped +aside to let it pass. There was just sufficient light to enable them to +see clearly the features of the young man who was seated by the side of +the coachman. He was about twenty-three years of age, with a very dark +and somewhat sallow complexion, sharp, aquiline features, and piercing +eyes. Upon his upper lip was a small, black moustache. He wore a heavy +ulster, into the pockets of which his hands were thrust. + +"Well, sir," said Jim, when the dog-cart had passed, "we’ve had a good +time together, what with shooting and the ferrets, but I’m afraid it’s +all ended, now that the captain’s come." + +"Ended!" said Harry. "Why should it be ended?" + +"Because I can never be the same with that gentleman as I am with you. +Last time he was here he struck me." + +"Struck you! What for?" + +"There was a shooting-party at the Court," the young gamekeeper went on, +"and I was helping my father. A pheasant broke covert midway between +Captain von Hardenberg and another gentleman, and they both fired. Both +claimed the bird, and appealed to me. I knew the captain had fired +first and missed, and I told him so. He said nothing at the time, +though he got very red in the face. That evening he came up to me and +asked me what I meant by it. I said I had spoken the truth, and he told +me not to be insolent. I don’t know what I said to that, sir; but, at +any rate, he struck me. I clenched my fists, and as near as a touch did +I knock him down. I remembered in time that he was the Judge’s nephew, +the same as yourself, and I’d lose my place if I did it. So I just +jammed both my fists in my trousers pockets, and walked away, holding +myself in, as it were, and cursing my luck." + +"You did right, Jim," said the other, after a pause. "You deserve to be +congratulated." + +"It was pretty difficult," Braid added. "I could have knocked him into +a cocked hat, and near as a touch I did it." + +"Though he’s my cousin," said Harry, "I’m afraid he’s a bad lot. He’s +very unpopular in the diplomatic club in London to which he belongs. +When I went back to school last term I happened to travel in the same +carriage as two men who had known him well in Germany, and who talked +about him the whole way. It appears that he’s sowing his wild oats +right and left, that he’s always gambling and is already heavily in +debt." + +"I fancy," said Braid, "that a gamekeeper soon learns to know a rogue +when he sees one. You see, sir, we’re always after foxes or poachers or +weasels; and the first time as ever I set eyes on Captain von +Hardenberg, I said to myself: ’That man’s one of them that try to live +by their wits.’" + +"I think," said Harry, "we had better talk about something else. In +point of fact, Jim, I had no right to discuss my cousin at all. But I +was carried away by my feelings when you told me he had struck you." + +"I understand, sir," said the young gamekeeper, with a nod. + +"At all events, we must make the best of him. We’re to have him here +for a month." + +"As long as he doesn’t cross my path," said Jim Braid, "I’ll not meddle +with him." + +Soon after that they parted, Harry going towards the house, Jim taking +the path that led to his father’s cottage. + +In the hall Harry found his cousin, who had already taken off his hat +and overcoat, and was now seated before a roaring fire, with a cigarette +in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other. + +"Hallo!" said von Hardenberg, who spoke English perfectly. "Didn’t know +I was to have the pleasure of your company. Where’s my uncle?" + +"In the bungalow," said Harry. "During the last few days he’s been +extremely hard at work." + +"How do you like school?" asked the young Prussian. + +His manner was particularly domineering. With his sleek, black hair, +carefully parted in the middle, and his neatly trimmed moustache, he had +the appearance of a very superior person. Moreover, he did not attempt +to disguise the fact that he looked upon his schoolboy cousin barely +with toleration, if not with actual contempt. + +"I like it tremendously!" said Harry, brightening up at once. "I +suppose you know I got into the Cricket Eleven, and took four wickets +against Harrow?" + +He said this with frank, boyish enthusiasm. There was nothing boastful +about it. Von Hardenberg, raising his eyebrows, flicked some +cigarette-ash from his trousers. + +"_Himmel!_" he observed. "You don’t suppose I take the least interest +in what you do against Harrow. The whole of your nation appears to +think of nothing but play. As for us Germans, we have something better +to think of!" + +Harry looked at his cousin. For a moment a spirit of mischief rose +within him, and he had half a mind to ask whether von Hardenberg had +forgotten his gambling debts. However, he thought better of it, and +went upstairs to dress for dinner. + +The Judge came late from the bungalow, bursting into the dining-room as +his two nephews were seating themselves at the table, saying that he had +no time to change. + +"Boys," he cried, rubbing his hands together, "I’ve made the greatest +discovery of my life! I’ve hit upon a thing that will set the whole +world talking for a month! I’ve discovered the Sunstone! I’ve solved +its mystery! As you, Carl, would say, the whole thing’s _colossal_!" + +"The Sunstone!" cried Harry. "What is that?" + +"The Sunstone," said the Judge, "has been known to exist for centuries. +It is the key to the storehouse of one of the greatest treasures the +world contains. It has been in my possession for nine years, and not +till this evening did I dream that I possessed it." + +"Come!" cried Harry. "You must tell us all about it!" + + + + +CHAPTER II—The Sunstone + + +"Well," said the Judge, pushing aside the plate of soup which he had +hardly tasted, "I don’t know whether or not the story will interest you. +It ought to, because it’s romantic, and also melodramatic—that is to +say, it is concerned with death. It came into my possession nine years +ago, when I was presiding judge at Sierra Leone. I remember being +informed by the police that a native from the region of Lake Chad had +come into the country with several Arabs on his track. He had fled for +his life from the hills; he had gone as far south as the Congo, and had +then cut back on his tracks; and all this time, over thousands of miles +of almost impenetrable country, the Arabs—slave-traders by repute—had +clung to his heels like bloodhounds. In Sierra Leone he turned upon his +tormentors and killed two of them. He was brought before me on a charge +of murder, and I had no option but to sentence him to death. The day +before he was hanged he wished to see me, and I visited him in prison. +He gave into my hands a large, circular piece of jade, and I have kept +it ever since, always looking upon it merely as a curiosity and a +memento of a very unpleasant duty. Never for a moment did I dream it +was the Sunstone itself. + +"Now, before you can understand the whole story, you must know something +of Zoroaster. Zoroaster was the preacher, or prophet, who was +responsible for the most ancient religion in the world. He was the +first of the Magi, or the Wise Men of the East, and it was he who framed +the famous laws of the Medes and Persians. He is supposed to have lived +more than six thousand years before Christ. + +"The doctrine of Zoroaster is concerned with the worship of the sun; +hence the name of the Sunstone. This religion was adopted by the +Persians, who conquered Egypt, and thus spread their influence across +the Red Sea into Africa. To-day, among the hills that surround Lake +Chad, there exists a tribe of which little is known, except that they +are called the Maziris, and are believed still to follow the religion of +Zoroaster. + +"In the days when Zoroaster preached, it was the custom of his followers +and admirers to present the sage with jewels and precious stones. These +were first given as alms, to enable him to live; but, as his fame +extended, the treasure became so great that it far exceeded his needs. + +"One rumour has it that Zoroaster died in the Himalayas; another that +his body was embalmed in Egypt and conveyed by a party of Ethiopians +into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where it was buried in a cave +with all his treasure. + +"The Sunstone is referred to by many ancient Persian writers. I have +known of it for years as the key to the treasure of Zoroaster. As I +have said, it is a circular piece of jade, bright yellow in colour, and +of about the size of a saucer. On both sides of the stone various signs +and symbols have been cut. On one side, from the centre, nine radii +divide the circumference into nine equal arcs. In each arc is a +distinct cuneiform character, similar to those which have been found +upon the stone monuments of Persia and Arabia. + +"The Arabs are in many ways the most wonderful people in the world. +Their vitality as a race is amazing. For centuries—possibly for +thousands of years—they have terrorized northern and central Africa. +They were feared by the ancient Egyptians, who built walls around their +cities to protect them from the Bedouins—the ancestors of the men who +to-day lead their caravans to Erzerum, Zanzibar, and Timbuctoo. + +"So far as I can discover, the Maziris are an Arab tribe who have given +up their old nomad life. Somewhere in the Maziri country is a group of +caves which no European has ever entered. They are known as the ’Caves +of Zoroaster’, for it is here that the sage is supposed to have been +buried. The bones of Zoroaster, as well as the jewels, are said to lie +in a vault cut in the living rock; and the Sunstone is the key which +opens the entrance to that vault. The man, whom in my capacity as a +judge I was obliged to sentence to death, had no doubt stolen it, and +had been pursued across the continent by the Maziri chieftains, who +desired to recover the Sunstone. + +"There is the whole story. A week ago I came across a description of +the Sunstone in the writings of a Persian historian, and that +description led me to suspect that the very thing was in my own +possession. I followed up clue after clue, and this evening I put the +matter beyond all doubt." + +Mr. Langton’s two nephews had listened in breathless interest. Harry +was leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his chin upon a +hand. Von Hardenberg lay back in a chair, his arms folded, his dark +eyes fixed upon his uncle. + +"Then," said he, "you have but to get into these so-called ’Caves of +Zoroaster’ to possess yourself of the jewels?" + +The Judge smiled, and shook his head. + +"And to get into the caves," he answered, "is just the very thing that, +for the present, it is almost impossible for any European to do. The +Maziri are a wild and lawless tribe. They are indeed so bloodthirsty, +their country so mountainous, and their valleys so infertile, that +hitherto no one has ever interfered with their affairs. Like all the +Arabs, they are a nation of robbers and cut-throats, who lived in the +past by means of the slave-trade, and to-day exist by cattle-stealing +and robbery. The man who tries to enter the ’Caves of Zoroaster’ will +have his work cut out." + +"Will you let us see the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Certainly, my boy," said Mr. Langton. "I’ll take you both down to the +bungalow to-morrow morning, or—if you cannot wait till then—we can go +to-night." + +"Isn’t it rather risky," asked von Hardenberg, "to keep such a valuable +thing out of the house?" + +"The bungalow is always locked," said Mr. Langton, "and I keep the +Sunstone in a cabinet. Moreover, you must remember that nobody knows of +its value. No thief would ever dream of stealing it. It is, to all +appearances, only an inferior piece of jade." + +"But you have money there as well?" said von Hardenberg. + +"Not much," answered the Judge. "Since I do my accounts there it is +convenient to have my cashbox at hand. But it seldom contains more than +twenty pounds—the amount of money I require to pay the men employed on +the estate." + +"What an extraordinary thing," said Harry, still thinking of the +treasure of Zoroaster, "that it should have existed for all these years +and never have been plundered." + +"Not so extraordinary," said Mr. Langton, "when you know the Arabs. The +Maziris, as I have told you, are of Arab descent, though they are not +followers of the Prophet. The sun-worshippers are extremely devout. No +priest of Zoroaster would think of stealing the treasure; that would be +to plunge his soul into eternal punishment." + +"And no one else," asked von Hardenberg, "no Mohammedan or heathen, has +ever been able to enter the vault?" + +"Never," said Mr. Langton, "because the Sunstone is the secret. That is +why, when the Sunstone was stolen, they were so anxious to run the thief +to earth." + +Von Hardenberg knit his brows. He was silent for a moment, and appeared +to be thinking. + +"And you believe you have solved the mystery?" he asked. + +"I know I have," said the Judge. "If at this moment I suddenly found +myself in the Caves of Zoroaster, with the Sunstone in my hand, I could +gain access to the vault." + +Von Hardenberg bit his lip quickly, and then looked sharply at his +uncle. When he spoke, it was in the voice of a man who took little or +no interest in the subject under discussion. + +"I should rather like to see it," he remarked. + +Accordingly, as soon as dinner was finished, they put on their +overcoats, and conducted by the Judge, who carried a lantern, they +followed a path through the woods until they came to the bungalow. + +Mr. Langton unlocked the door and put the key into his pocket. Then he +lit an oil lamp, which presently burned up and illumined the room. They +found themselves in what to all intents and purposes was a library. The +four walls were stacked with books, but the overflow of these was so +great that many were piled upon chairs and in odd corners of the room. +In the centre of the floor-space was a large writing-desk, and near this +a cabinet with several drawers. Lying open on the writing-desk was a +fair-sized cash-box, in which several golden sovereigns glittered in the +light. + +"How careless, to be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "I had no business to +leave my cash-box open. The truth is, I was so excited about this +discovery that I forgot to put it away." + +"And where’s the Sunstone?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"I keep it here," said Mr. Langton. + +Going to the cabinet, and unlocking the third drawer from the top, he +took out a large stone and laid it on the table in the light of the +lamp. His two nephews, one on either side of him, leaned forward to +examine this extraordinary relic. + +On one side of the Sunstone were the cuneiform characters already +mentioned by the Judge. On the other was a great deal of writing in the +same primitive language, scratched upon the face of the jade, but so +faint as to be barely legible. + +"It was only with the greatest difficulty," observed the Judge, "that I +managed to decipher and translate this writing. It is in no known +language. Indeed, I would never have been able to make head or tail of +it had I not been a scholar of Sanskrit. This writing is nothing more +nor less than the definite instructions for using the Sunstone for the +purpose of entering the vaults of Zoroaster." + +"What does it say?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"You are told to begin with a certain character and take the others in a +circle ’in the way of the sun’—that is to say, from left to right, as +with the hands of a clock. Before the main vault is a large lock, which +works on the same principle as the modern Bramah lock—a very ancient +device. It consists of nine enormous wheels. The outside, or tyre, of +each of these wheels is adorned with hundreds of cuneiform characters, +all of them quite different. Each wheel must be turned until the +characters visible along a given line correspond with those upon the +Sunstone. Not otherwise can the vault be opened." + +There followed a silence of several moments. The Judge’s discovery +seemed so romantic and so astonishing that it was almost impossible to +believe it was true. After a while, it was von Hardenberg who spoke. + +"And now that you have made this discovery," he asked, "what do you +propose to do?" + +"I don’t know," said the Judge. "I have no desire to pillage a sacred +shrine. For the present I propose to keep the affair a secret whilst I +continue my researches. There are several points upon which the +historical world desires to be enlightened. Very little is known +concerning the life of Zoroaster." + +"But surely," exclaimed von Hardenberg, "you don’t intend to keep this +to yourself!" + +"When I have the whole facts of the case at my finger-tips," said the +Judge, "I will make the result of my investigations known to the +authorities of the British Museum." + +Soon after that they left the bungalow. Before they went to bed that +night von Hardenberg took his cousin aside and looked at him intently. + +"What do you make of it?" he asked. + +"Of the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Yes," said the other. "It seems to me, if the old gentleman wanted to, +he could make himself a millionaire." + +Harry laughed. + +"I don’t think Uncle Jack cares much about money," said he. "He looks +at the whole matter from a scientific point of view." + +"No doubt," exclaimed the Prussian. "No doubt. I dare say he does." + +And at that he turned and went slowly up the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER III—Caught Red-handed + + +Some hours after sunset, on the evening of the following day, Jim Braid +was stationed in the woods, on the look-out for poachers. His father, +John Braid, the head-gamekeeper, was also out that night, keeping watch +in a different part of the estate. A well-known gang of poachers had +been reported in the district, and, the week before, several shots had +been heard as late as twelve o’clock, for which the gamekeepers could +not account. + +The night was cold and foggy, and Jim wore the collar of his coat turned +up, and carried his gun under his arm, with his hands thrust deep into +his breeches pockets. + +He was moving along the edge of the coverts, which lay between Mr. +Langton’s bungalow and the house, when suddenly he became conscious of +footsteps approaching stealthily through the woods. Without a moment’s +thought he dropped flat upon his face, and lay close as a hare, +concealed in a clump of bracken. From this position he was able to see +the path by which the intruder approached; he could also command a view +of the windows of Friar’s Court, several of which were illumined. + +The dark figure of a man came from among the trees. Jim, taking his +whistle from his pocket, put it to his lips, and was about to sound the +alarm which would bring his father and the other keepers to the spot, +when he was arrested by the man’s singular appearance. + +This was no common poacher. He wore a heavy fur overcoat, and carried +in his hand—not a gun—but no more formidable a weapon than an +umbrella. On his head, tilted at an angle, was a white bowler hat. + +Jim Braid was in two minds what to do, and was even about to show +himself to the stranger and ask his business, when the front door of the +house opened, and he made out the figure of Captain von Hardenberg +silhouetted against the light in the hall. Jim had no particular desire +to eavesdrop. Still, as we know, he disliked and mistrusted the +Prussian; and, besides, the secretive manner in which the stranger was +careful to keep in the shadow of the trees had already aroused his +suspicions. + +When the man with the white hat saw von Hardenberg, he whistled softly, +and went forward a little towards him. They met a few yards from where +Jim Braid was hiding. The stranger at once held out a hand. Von +Hardenberg refused to take it. + +"I knew you’d come here," said he. "Can’t you leave me alone?" + +"You’re four months overdue, Captain von Hardenberg," answered the +other. "My interest is increasing day by day. You owe me nearly four +thousand pounds!" + +"Well, I can’t pay," said von Hardenberg. "And there’s an end of it." + +"Captain von Hardenberg," said the man, who spoke English with a strong +German accent. "I am sick of you. In a word, I have found you out. You +desire the services of a spy—one who has access to valuable +information—and you come to me, Peter Klein, even myself, who as the +butler of a cabinet minister have many opportunities of reading letters +and overhearing the consultations of those who are suppose to govern +these sleepy, fog-begotten islands. You are paid from Berlin, and you +are paid to pay me. And what do you do with the money? Gamble. In a +word, you play cards and lose money which by right is mine, which I—not +you—have earned. Then you beseech me to hold my tongue, promising me +that you will repay me with interest as soon as ever you have inherited +your uncle’s estates. This, I find, is a lie. Your uncle has another +nephew, just as likely to inherit his capital as you. You play with me. +But I hold you in the hollow of my hand. Remember, I have only to +report you to Berlin, and you are ruined, once and for all." + +Von Hardenberg was silent for some moments. Then he spoke in a quick, +jerky voice. + +"Look here," said he; "it’s no good. This very evening, knowing that +you were coming, I made a clean breast of it to my uncle. I told him +that I was four thousand pounds in debt to a money-lender, and that, if +I couldn’t pay, you would come down upon me. I suppose you don’t mind +that. I couldn’t tell him you were a Government spy disguised as a +butler in a private house. And what do you think he said?" + +"I have not the least idea," said the other. + +"He told me," said von Hardenberg, "that he would cut me off with a +shilling!" + +Mr. Peter Klein was heard to gasp. Thrusting his hat well back upon his +head, he threw out his hands and gesticulated wildly. + +"Then, you’re a thief!" he cried. "What it comes to is this: you have +embezzled Government money. I have given the Wilhelmstrasse valuable +information, and I have never received a penny." + +"Do what you like," answered von Hardenberg. "I cannot pay." + +"I’ll have you court-martialled!" the other cried. "The Wilhelmstrasse +will be on my side. You have made a fool of me." + +Von Hardenberg grasped the man by the wrist. + +"Listen here," said he. "Can you wait a week?" + +"Yes. I can. But why?" + +"Because I know how I can get hold of the money, though it will take +some getting. You had better go back to London. I promise to call at +your office within a few days, and then I shall have something to tell +you." + +Peter Klein turned the matter over in his mind. As long as there +remained a chance of getting his money he thought it worth while to take +it. For all his threats, he knew enough of the Secret Service +department in the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin to know that in a fight +against a Prussian military attaché he would stand but a poor chance. +However, he was cunning enough to point out to von Hardenberg that the +Wilhelmstrasse might think that the services of Peter Klein might +possibly be valuable in the future. Then, he went his way, walking +quickly through the woods in the direction of the railway station. As +for von Hardenberg, he returned to the house; and no sooner was he gone +than Jim Braid got to his feet. + +The young gamekeeper had been able to understand only a third of what +had been said, for they had lapsed from German into English, and back to +German again. But, that night—or, rather, early the following +morning—when he went to bed, he thought over the matter for some time, +and had half a mind to tell his father. However, in the end he came to +the conclusion that it was no business of his, and slept the sleep of +the just. + +The following afternoon he was engaged in driving into the ground a +series of hurdles to keep the cattle from the pheasant coverts, when he +was approached by Mr. Langton. + +"Hard at work, Jim?" asked the Judge. + +"Yes, sir," said Jim, touching his cap. "These are the old hurdles we +brought up from Boot’s Hollow." + +"That’s a useful weapon, anyhow," said the Judge, indicating the crowbar +with which Jim was working. + +"Yes, sir, it’s a handy tool, and sharp in the bargain." + +At that the Judge wished the boy "Good-night!" and went his way towards +the house. Hardly had he departed than Captain von Hardenberg brushed +his way through some thickets near at hand, and approached the young +gamekeeper. He must certainly have overheard the conversation that had +passed between Jim Braid and the Judge. + +"Braid," said he, "would you mind lending me that crowbar?" + +"I’ve finished with it to-night, sir," said Braid, "but I shall want it +to-morrow morning." + +"I’ll let you have it back by then," said the other. And taking the +unwieldy tool from Jim’s hands, he walked with it towards the house. + +No sooner was he out of sight, however, than he dropped down upon a knee +and looked furtively about him, as if to satisfy himself that he was not +observed. Then he thrust the crowbar down a rabbit-hole, the mouth of +which he covered over with several fronds of bracken. That done, he +walked quickly towards the house. + +That night, towards midnight, when everyone else in Friar’s Court was +sound asleep, Captain Carl von Hardenberg sat, fully dressed, at the +foot of his bed with a cigar between his lips. He had taken off his +dress-coat and put on an old Norfolk jacket. On his feet he wore long +gum-boots, into which he had tucked his trousers. He sat looking at the +clock, which was but dimly visible upon the mantelpiece through the +clouds of tobacco-smoke with which the room was filled. + +Presently the clock struck twelve, and at that von Hardenberg rose to +his feet and went on tiptoe to the door. Without a sound he passed out, +walked quickly down the passage, and descended the back stairs to the +kitchen. With nervous hands he opened the scullery door, and then +paused to listen. Hearing no sound, he stepped quickly into the yard. + +He walked rapidly past the lawns which lie between Friar’s Court and the +woods. Once inside the woods, he immediately sought out the path that +led straight to the bungalow. He had some difficulty in finding the +rabbit-hole in which he had hidden the crowbar, and only succeeded in +doing so with the aid of a lighted match. It was the flare of this +match that attracted Jim Braid, who was again on duty in this part of +the estate. + +Von Hardenberg, the crowbar in his hand, approached the bungalow. With +all his strength he drove the crowbar between the door and the jamb, and +with one wrench broke open the lock. + +In his uncle’s study he lit the oil lamp that stood upon the central +table. He was surprised to see that the Judge had again left his +cash-box on the desk. The cash-box, however, was not his business; he +was determined to possess himself of the Sunstone. + +He had provided himself with a bunch of skeleton keys. Those whose +business it is to employ Government spies are not infrequently provided +with such things. After several futile attempts he succeeded in opening +the third drawer in the cabinet. Then, with the precious stone in his +hand, he rushed to the lamp and examined the Sunstone in the light. + +"Now," he cried—he was so excited that he spoke aloud—"now for the +German Cameroons!" + +And scarcely had he said the words than he looked up, and there in the +doorway was Jim Braid, the gamekeeper’s son. + +"Hands up!" cried Braid, bringing his gun to his shoulder. + +Captain von Hardenberg looked about him like a hunted beast. + +"Don’t be a fool!" he exclaimed. "You know who I am!" + +"Yes, I do," said Braid; "and you’re up to no good. Hands up, I say!" + +Von Hardenberg held up his hands, and then tried to laugh it off. + +"You’re mad!" said he more quietly. "Surely you don’t imagine I’m a +thief?" + +"I’m not given much to imagining things," said Braid. "All I know is, +you broke in here by force." + +As he was speaking, before the last words had left his mouth, von +Hardenberg, with a quick and desperate action, had seized the gun by the +barrel. There followed a struggle, during which the gun went off. + +There was a loud report and a piercing cry, and Jim Braid fell forward +on his face. Even as he rolled over upon the ground, a black pool of +blood spread slowly across the floor. + +The Prussian went to the door and listened. He saw lights appear in the +windows of the house, and one or two were thrown open. Near at hand he +heard the strong voice of John Braid, the keeper, shouting to his son. +On the other side of the bungalow, an under-gamekeeper was hurrying to +the place. + +Von Hardenberg’s face was ashen white. His hands were shaking, his lips +moving with strange, convulsive jerks. + +He went quickly to the body of the unconscious boy, and, kneeling down, +felt Braid’s heart. + +"Thank Heaven," said he, "he is not killed." + +And then a new fear possessed him. If Jim Braid was not dead, he would +live to accuse von Hardenberg of the theft. The Prussian stood bolt +upright, his teeth fastened on his under lip. The voices without were +nearer to the house than before. He had not ten seconds in which to +act. + +Seizing the cash-box, he laid it on the ground and dealt it a shivering +blow with the crowbar. The lid flew open, and the contents—a score of +sovereigns—were scattered on the floor. These he gathered together and +thrust into the pockets of the unconscious boy. Then he took the +crowbar and closed Jim’s fingers about it. It was at that moment that +John Braid, the gamekeeper, burst into the room. + +"What’s this?" he cried. + +"I regret to tell you," said Captain von Hardenberg, "that your son is a +thief. I caught him red-handed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV—False Evidence + + +In less than a minute the bungalow was crowded. Close upon the +head-gamekeeper’s heels came one of his assistants, and after him Mr. +Langton himself and Harry, followed by several servants from the house. + +When John Braid heard von Hardenberg’s words, accusing his son of theft, +it was as if a blow had been struck him. He looked about him like a man +dazed, and then carried a hand across his eyes. Then, without a word, +he went down upon his knees at his son’s side and examined the wounded +boy. + +"He’s not dead," said he in a husky voice. "I can feel his heart +distinctly." + +It was at this moment that the Judge rushed into the room. His bare +feet were encased in bedroom slippers; he was dressed in a shirt and a +pair of trousers. + +"Whatever has happened?" he exclaimed. + +He repeated the question several times before anyone answered, and by +then the room was full. The chauffeur was sent back post-haste to the +stables, with orders to drive for a doctor. + +"How did it happen, John?" repeated Mr. Langton. + +But the gamekeeper shook his head. He had the look of a man who is not +completely master of his senses. + +The Judge regarded his nephew. + +"Carl," said he, "can you explain how this—accident occurred?" + +"Certainly!" said von Hardenberg, who now realized, that to save +himself, all his presence of mind was necessary. + +"Then," said the Judge, "be so good as to do so." + +"After my yesterday’s interview with you," von Hardenberg began, in +tones of complete assurance, "as you may imagine, I had several letters +to write, and to-night I did not think of getting into bed till nearly +twelve o’clock. Before I began to undress I went to the window and +opened it. As I did so I saw a man cross the lawn and enter the woods. +As his conduct was suspicious, I took him for a poacher. As quickly as +possible I left the house and walked in the direction I knew the man had +taken." + +"Why did not you wake any of us?" asked the Judge, who was in his own +element, and might have been examining a witness in the box. + +Von Hardenberg, however, did not appear to be the least alarmed. He +answered his uncle slowly, but without the slightest hesitation. + +"For the very simple reason," said he, "that I did not wish to make a +fool of myself. I half expected that the man would prove to be a +gamekeeper." + +"Then why did you follow him?" + +"For two reasons. First, because I wanted to satisfy myself as to who +he was, and, secondly, because a man who has just learnt he is to remain +a pauper for life does not, as a rule, feel inclined for sleep. I wanted +to go out into the air." + +"Well," asked the Judge, "and then what happened?" + +"I was unable to find the man in the woods, until I heard a noise in the +direction of the bungalow. To the bungalow, accordingly I went, as +quickly as I could. I got there in time to see him break open the door +with a crowbar. There is the crowbar in his hand." + +Everyone in the room caught his breath. Such an accusation against Jim +Braid was almost incomprehensible. The boy was believed to be perfectly +honest and trustworthy; and yet, as Captain von Hardenberg had said, +there was the crowbar in his hand. + +"And then?" prompted the judge. + +"And then," the Prussian continued, "I watched him enter the room. I +could see him through the window. He went straight to your desk, took +the cash-box, and burst it open with the crowbar. There is the box +lying on the floor. If you examine it, you will see that I speak the +truth." + +The judge picked up the box and looked at it. + +"You are prepared to swear to this?" he asked. + +"In a court of law," said the other—and never flinched. + +It was the Judge himself who emptied Jim’s pockets, and there sure +enough he found the sovereigns which had been taken from the cash-box. + +"I would never have believed it!" he exclaimed. "It’s terrible to think +that one of my own servants should have treated me thus!" + +It was then that Harry Urquhart spoke for the first time. He could not +stand by and see his old friend so basely accused and not offer a word +in his defence. + +"It’s a lie!" he cried, his indignation rising in a flood. "A base, +unmitigated lie! Uncle," he pleaded, "you don’t believe it, surely?" + +The Judge shook his head. + +"It would be very foolish for me," said he, "to give an opinion one way +or the other, before the boy has had a chance to speak in his own +defence. I must admit, however, that the evidence is very strong +against him." + +A hurdle was fetched, upon which a mattress was laid; and upon this the +wounded boy was carried to the house, which was nearer to the bungalow +than his father’s cottage. By a strange coincidence, it was one of the +very hurdles that Jim had been setting up that afternoon. + +The doctor, who lived at some distance, did not arrive for an hour. +After a short examination of the patient he was able to give a +satisfactory report. The gun had gone off at too close a range to allow +the shot to scatter, and only about a quarter of the pellets had entered +the boy’s side, the rest tearing a great hole in his coat and waistcoat. +The wound was large and gaping, but no artery was touched, and before +they reached the house, and Jim had been laid upon the bed in Harry’s +room, the patient had recovered consciousness. + +For all that, it was several days before the doctor would allow him to +see anyone. He was to be kept perfectly quiet, and not excited in any +way. During that time he was attended with the greatest care, not only +by the housekeeper and Harry Urquhart, but by Mr. Langton himself. + +At the end of a week, a naturally strong constitution, and the good +health resulting from a life that is lived in the open air, had done +their work, and Jim was allowed to get up. It was soon after that that +the Judge heard the case in his dining-room, where, seated at the head +of the table, pen in hand, he might have been back in his old place in +the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. + +Jim Braid—who, in very truth, was the prisoner in the dock—was seated +on a chair, facing the Judge. On either side of the table were those +whom Mr. Langton proposed to call as witnesses—namely, Captain von +Hardenberg, John Braid, and the under-gamekeeper. + +The face of the prisoner in the dock was white as a sheet. Harry +Urquhart stood behind his uncle’s chair, regarding his old friend with +commiseration in his eyes and a deep sympathy in his heart. + +Von Hardenberg’s evidence differed in no material points from what he +had said before. Indeed, he played his cards with almost fiendish +cunning. The circumstantial evidence was all against the boy. The +Judge had not yet discovered that the Sunstone was missing. There was +no doubt that both the door of the bungalow and the cash-box had been +broken open by the crowbar—moreover, the very crowbar which the Judge +himself had seen in Jim’s hands on the afternoon of the crime. Neither +John Braid nor any other gamekeeper could do anything but bear out the +testimony of von Hardenberg. When they entered the bungalow the boy’s +guilt had seemed manifest. + +In his own defence Jim could state as much of the truth as he knew. He +said that he had seen von Hardenberg break into the bungalow; he swore +that he had lent him the crowbar that very day. Asked why he supposed +the Judge’s nephew had become a burglar, he was unable to give an +answer. From his position he had not been able to see into the room; he +had not the slightest idea what von Hardenberg did immediately after +entering. + +All this the Judge flatly refused to believe. He protested that it was +ridiculous to suppose that a young man of von Hardenberg’s position +would rifle a cash-box, containing about twenty pounds. In Mr. +Langton’s opinion, the case was proved against the boy; he could not +doubt that he was guilty. He said that he would refrain from +prosecuting, since John Braid had served him faithfully for many years, +but he was unwilling any longer to employ Jim on the estate. + +When Mr. Langton had finished, John Braid asked for permission to speak, +and then turned upon his son with a savage fierceness that was terrible +to see. He disowned him; he was no longer a son of his. He pointed out +the benefits Jim had received at the hands of Mr. Langton, and swore +that he had never dreamed that such ingratitude was possible. As far as +he was concerned, he had done with his son, once and for all. He would +blot out his memory. Henceforward Jim could fend for himself. + +Still weak from his wounds, and with a far greater pain in his heart +than ever came from physical hurt, the boy rose to his feet and slowly +and in silence left the room. He went to his father’s cottage, and +there saw his mother, from whom he parted in tears. Then, shouldering +the few belongings he possessed, done up in a bundle that he proposed to +carry on the end of a stick, he went his way down the drive of Friar’s +Court. + +He had not gone far before he heard footsteps approaching, and, turning, +beheld Harry Urquhart, running forward in haste. The boy waited until +his friend had come up with him. He tried to speak, but found that +impossible. Something rose in his throat and choked his power of +utterance. + +"You believe in me?" said he at last. + +"I do," cried Harry, "and I always will! I know that you are innocent!" + +"Thank you for that, sir!" said Jim. "I can go my way with a lighter +heart." + +"Where are you going?" asked Harry. + +"I don’t know, sir, and I don’t think I care. Anywhere, so long as I +can get away from this place where I am suspected and despised!" + +"Have you any money?" asked Harry. + +Jim shook his head. + +"Here you are. Take this. It’s all I have." And Harry thrust into his +friend’s hand a five-pound note. + +Jim hesitated to take it; but in the end he did so, folding it carefully +and putting it into his waistcoat pocket. + +"God bless you, sir!" said he. + +"I’ll make it my life’s work," cried Harry, "to prove your innocence. +I’m confident I will succeed in the end. For the present, good-bye!" + +"Good-bye!" said the other. He dared not look young Urquhart in the +face, for his eyes were filling fast with tears. + +Then he went his way, throwing himself upon the mercy of the world, with +life before him to be started all anew. Under his own name, and with +his old surroundings, he was disinherited, disowned, and dishonoured. +He must find some new employment. He must endeavour to forget and to +live down the past. + +At the gate of the drive he came into the highroad, and, turning his +face towards London, set forward, walking as quickly as he could. + + + + +CHAPTER V—The Eleventh Hour + + +The following day Captain von Hardenberg left Friar’s Court. He had +more reasons than one to be anxious to return to London. + +The robbery and the outrage at the bungalow had sadly interrupted Mr. +Langton’s studies. Nearly a month elapsed before the Judge took up his +old researches, and then it was that for the first time he discovered +that the Sunstone was missing. Search where he might, he could find it +nowhere. The evidence was against Jim Braid, and there was no one to +speak up on his behalf, for by then Harry Urquhart had returned to +school. On the night Braid was wounded, only his coat pockets had been +emptied, and, since the whole of the money had been recovered, no +further search had been made. The Judge had little doubt in his mind +that, as well as the contents of the cash-box, the boy had stolen the +Sunstone, though poor Jim could have had no idea as to its value. + +Mr. Langton was determined to recover the relic at all costs. He spent +a great deal of money on advertisements, and gave a full description of +Braid to the police; but no trace of the boy could be found. It was not +until Christmas had come, and Harry Urquhart was again at Friar’s Court, +that the Judge told his nephew of his suspicions. + +And though Harry was sure of Braid’s innocence, he could not convince +the Judge. Mr. Langton’s mind was the mind of a lawyer; he based his +conclusions upon the testimony of facts, and never allowed his personal +opinions to influence him in the least. + +Though the police had failed to discover any trace of Braid, Harry was +determined to find him. Since he had now left school, he obtained +permission from his uncle to go to London. He felt perfectly certain +that Braid was somewhere in the great city where it is possible for a +man to hide himself from the eyes of the world, even to bury his +identity. + +In the meantime, Captain von Hardenberg had presented himself before +Peter Klein, the informer, and a long interview had taken place between +them. + +Peter listened to the whole story of the Sunstone, doubted it one +moment, believed it the next; and fingered the strange jade ornament, +first with reverence, and then almost with suspicion. He examined it +through a magnifying-glass, shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and +found it impossible to make up his mind. Von Hardenberg made no secret +of the fact that he was determined to undertake a journey through the +German colonial territory of the Cameroons to the Caves of Zoroaster, to +recover the jewels that were hidden in the vault. With the treasure +once in his possession, he swore that he would pay Klein, not only the +full amount that was due to him, but ten per cent of the total profits. + +Now, Peter Klein was a usurer—as well as a butler and a spy—one who +drove a hard bargain, who was relentless to his victims. He said that +he himself was tired of cities, that the suspicions of the British +police authorities had already been aroused in regard to his occupation, +and that therefore he also would like to travel. He would accompany von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, which was once called the White-Man’s +Grave; he would penetrate the bush to the Cameroon peaks, even to the +Caves of Zoroaster. But he would require more than ten per cent: they +would share and share alike. + +Von Hardenberg was in no position to refuse. This man had him in his +clutches. Klein knew well that the Prussian was ruined for life if ever +his conduct was made known to the departmental heads of the German +Secret Service. And, moreover, in a few days Klein had gained the whip +hand by enlisting in his services an Arab whom he found starving in the +vicinity of the docks. + +This man, though he was poor, in rags, and well-nigh perishing in the +cold, was learned in many things. Like all his race, he was a nomad—a +man who had roamed the world throughout his life, who had even been +all-powerful in his day. He had sold ivory in Zanzibar; he had stolen +cattle in the neighbourhood of Lake Chad, and driven his capture across +the great plains to the east; he had hunted for slaves in the Upper +Congo and the Aruwimi. Though he was starving, he boasted that he was a +sheik, and said that his name was Bayram. He said he had been to the +Cameroons River, and that he despised the Negro from Loango to Zanzibar. +He was confident that, provided he was rewarded, he could render +invaluable services to his employer. He had never before heard of the +Sunstone, but, from rumours he had heard, there was a treasure hidden +somewhere in the mist-shrouded mountains that guard Lake Chad to the +east. + +To return to Jim Braid. All these winter months he wandered the streets +of London. He found the greatest difficulty in getting work. He had no +trade but that of a gamekeeper, and such business was at a discount in +the midst of the great, seething city. He was out of work for some +weeks; then he obtained work in the docks; after which he was again +unemployed for nearly a month. By that time he had got to the end of +his money, and was obliged to pawn his clothes. He thanked Heaven when +the snow came; for, though the frost was severe, and his clothes in +rags, he saw employment in sweeping the pavements and the roads. + +Then the thaw followed, and he was starving again. One night he found +himself in Jermyn Street. He had had no food that day. A taxi-cab drew +up before a doorway, upon which was a brass plate bearing the name +"Peter Klein". + +Jim was conscious of the fact that he had heard the name before, he +could not remember where. Just then, starvation, ill-health, and the +misery in his heart had broken the boy completely; it was as if his +senses were numbed. All that interested him was the taxi, by the side +of which he remained, in the hope of earning a copper by opening the +door. Presently a manservant came from the house, carrying a box. Jim +volunteered to help him, and the man agreed. Together they put the box +upon the taxi-cab, and Jim noticed that it bore the same name, "Peter +Klein", and several steamship labels, upon each of which was written the +word "Old Calabar". Jim Braid saw these things like one who is +half-dazed, without understanding what they meant. + +There were several other boxes to be put on to the cab, and when the +work was finished, and the driver had strapped them securely together, +two men came from the house, followed by one who wore a turban, and +shivered from the cold. + +Jim’s attention was attracted by the native. He was very tall and thin. +He had a great black beard, and his eyes were like those of a bird of +prey. They were cruel, bloodshot, and passionate. + +One of the Europeans, who wore a fur coat, got into the cab. The other +paused with his foot upon the step and looked Jim Braid in the face. +Near by a street lamp flared and flickered, and in the light Jim +recognized the features of Captain von Hardenberg, the man who had been +his accuser. + +He stared at him in amazement. He had not the power to speak. He +thought, at first, that he, too, would be recognized. He did not know +that misfortune had so changed him that his own mother would not have +known him. He was thin and haggard-looking; his rags hung loosely upon +his gaunt form; his hair was so long that it extended over his ears. + +"Are you the man," said von Hardenberg in his old, insolent way, "who +helped to carry the boxes?" + +"Yes," said Jim, "I am." + +"There you are, then. There’s sixpence, and don’t spend it on drink." + +At that the Prussian jumped into the taxi, telling the driver to go to +Charing Cross. The Arab followed, closing the door, and a few seconds +later the taxi was driving down the street. + +Jim Braid stood on the pavement under the street lamp, regarding the +sixpence in his hand. He was starving; his bones ached from physical +exhaustion; his head throbbed in a kind of fever. He knew not where he +would sleep. This sixpence to him was wealth. + +For a moment he was tempted, but not for longer. With a quick, +spasmodic action he hurled the coin into the gutter, and walked away +quickly in the direction of the Haymarket. + +He knew not where he was going. The streets were crowded. People were +going to the theatre. Outside a fashionable restaurant a lady with a +gorgeous opera-cloak brushed against him, and uttered an exclamation of +disgust. He walked on more rapidly than before, and came presently to +Trafalgar Square, and before he knew where he was he found himself on +the Embankment. Slowly he walked up the steps towards the Hungerford +footbridge; and there, pausing, with his folded arms upon the rails, he +looked down into the water. + +At that moment the sound of footsteps attracted his attention. He +looked up into a face that he recognized at once. It was that of Harry +Urquhart, his only friend, the only person in the world who had believed +him innocent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI—The Pursuit Begins + + +"Jim!" cried Harry. + +So astonished was he that he reeled backward as though he had been +struck. + +"My poor, old friend," said Harry. "I have searched for you everywhere, +and had almost given up hope of finding you. I don’t know what led my +footsteps to the bridge." + +At that Jim Braid burst into tears. + +"It was the work of God," said he. + +Harry said nothing, but pressed Jim’s arm. At the bottom of +Northumberland Avenue he hailed a taxi, and the driver looked somewhat +astonished when this ragged pauper got into the cab and seated himself +at the side of his well-dressed companion. + +Harry had rooms in Davies Street, where he thrust Jim into an arm-chair +before the fire, upon which he heaped more coals. Braid, leaning +forward, held out his hands before the cheerful blaze. As Harry looked +at him, a great feeling of pity arose in his heart. The boy looked so +miserable and wretched that he appeared barely to cling to life. + +Harry would not allow him to speak, until he had eaten a meal. Braid +fell upon his food like a wolf. He had had absolutely nothing to eat +for two days. + +It is not wise to feed a starving man to repletion. But perhaps in +Braid’s case this made little or no difference, since the boy was on the +verge of double pneumonia. Within twenty-four hours he was in a raging +fever, and for days afterwards the doctor despaired of saving his life. +Starvation, cold, dirt, to say nothing of his wound, had done their +work; but a strong heart and youth pulled him through. + +It was nearly three months afterwards, when the spring was well +advanced, that one afternoon the two friends talked the whole matter +out. + +Harry looked at Jim Braid and smiled. + +"You’re a different fellow now," said he. "It was a near thing though. +One night the doctor gave you up. He actually left the house believing +you were dead." + +Jim tried to thank his benefactor, but his heart was too full to speak. + +"Come," said Harry, "tell me what has happened since you left Friar’s +Court." + +"There is nothing to tell," said the other. "I tramped to London, +sometimes sleeping in the open air, sometimes—when the weather was +bad—lodging at wayside inns. At first, I was glad to get here. In a +great city like this I felt I could not be recognized and pointed out as +a thief. Oh," he burst forth, "you know that I am innocent!" + +"I was always sure of it," said Harry. "I can’t think how my uncle can +believe you guilty." + +"Everything was against me," said Jim. "That man, to shield himself, +laid a trap for me from which I could not escape. Had I known why he +went to the bungalow that night, my story might have been believed." + +"I know why he went," said Harry. "I am sure of it. It was to steal +the Sunstone." + +"The Sunstone!" said Braid. "What’s that?" + +"It is a very valuable relic that originally came from Persia. No one +knows of its value but my uncle, von Hardenberg, and myself. There can +be no doubt that my cousin took it." + +Jim Braid sighed. + +"I could not prove my innocence," said he. + +"Jim, old friend," said Harry, "I promise you shall not remain under +this cloud for the rest of your life. I know my cousin to be guilty; I +will not rest until I have proved him to be so. He has the Sunstone in +his possession, and I intend to do my best to recover it!" + +"You will not succeed," said the other, shaking his head. + +"Why not?" + +"Because he left England weeks ago." + +"Left England!" echoed the other. + +"Yes. He went away with a man called Peter Klein and a native who wore +a turban. They took the boat train from Charing Cross. It was I who +carried their boxes on to the taxi. They were going to Old Calabar." + +"The West Coast!" cried Harry, jumping to his feet. + +Braid was as mystified as ever. Before he knew what was happening, +Harry had seized him by the shoulders, and was shaking him as a terrier +shakes a rat. + +"Don’t you see," cried Urquhart, "your innocence is practically proved +already. If they have not got the Sunstone, why should they want to go +to Africa? They are after the treasure of which the Sunstone is the +key. I don’t know who the native is, but he is probably some +interpreter or guide whom they have hired for the journey. Jim, when my +uncle hears of this, I promise you he will take a very different view of +the question." + +"Then," said Braid, "has this Sunstone got something to do with Africa?" + +"Everything!" exclaimed the other. "Here, in Europe, it is valueless; +but in certain caves which are situated upon the watershed on the +southern side of the Sahara, the thing is worth thousands of pounds. +To-morrow morning I will return to my uncle, to Friar’s Court, and tell +him what you have told me. I will ask him to allow me to follow von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, to keep upon his tracks, to run him to +ground and accuse him to his face. You will come with me. My uncle +will supply us with funds. He would be willing to spend his entire +fortune in order to recover the Sunstone." + +Harry was so excited that he could scarcely talk coherently. He paced +up and down the little sitting-room—three steps this way and three +steps that—and every now and again laid his hands upon Jim Braid and +shook him violently to emphasize his words. + +When Jim awoke the following morning, he was informed that Mr. Urquhart +had left early to go back to Friar’s Court. He had promised to return +the following day. In the meantime, Harry had given instructions that +his landlady was to look after his guest. If he wanted anything, he had +only to ring the bell. + +On the afternoon of the second day Harry returned to London. + +"My uncle," he explained, "is inclined to withdraw his verdict, though +he will not say openly that he has been guilty of a great injustice. In +any case he intends to do everything in his power to get the Sunstone +back. He has given me leave to fit out an expedition. Preparations, +however, will take some little time. I am to be supplied with letters +of introduction to several influential persons on the West Coast. He +even said he would come with us himself, were it not that his strength +is failing, and he feels he is getting old. Jim, there’s hope yet, my +lad. You and I together will see this matter through." + +Braid held out his hand. + +"I can’t thank you sufficiently, sir," said he, "for what you have done! +You have saved my life twice, and now you mean to save my reputation." + +"Don’t speak of it," said Harry. "You and I have a great task in front +of us; we must stick to each other through thick and thin. I am +impatient to be off." + +And he had more need of his patience than he thought; for, before they +could start upon their journey, war descended upon Europe like a +thunderbolt, finding England wholly unprepared. + +It was not so with the Germans. Peter Klein and birds of a like feather +had been employed for years in every country liable to prove hostile to +the Fatherland. Germany had for long intended war, and these +rascals—paid in proportion to the information they obtained—were +living by the score under the protection of the British flag, within +sound of Big Ben, in every colony, dependency, and dominion. Moreover, +it has since been proved that the great German Empire did not scruple to +employ even her consular and diplomatic servants either as spies +themselves or as agents for the purpose of engaging and rewarding +informers. + +Small wonder, when preparations had been so complete, that Germany had +the whip hand at the start, that Belgium, Poland, and Serbia were +overrun, and Paris herself saved only at the eleventh hour. + +During those early, anxious days, Harry Urquhart was in two minds what +to do. He was wishful to serve his country, and could without +difficulty have secured a commission within a few weeks of the +declaration of war. Braid was also willing to enlist. On talking the +matter out, however, with Mr. Langton, it was decided that the quest of +the Sunstone was as patriotic a cause as any man could wish for; since, +if von Hardenberg succeeded in reaching the Caves of Zoroaster, the +wealth that they contained would ultimately find its way to the +Fatherland. + +But, since there was fighting both in Togoland and the Cameroons, their +departure had to be postponed whilst Mr. Langton obtained permission +from the War Office authorities for his two protégés to visit the West +African scene of operations. All this took time; and it was not until +the beginning of October that young Urquhart and Jim Braid found +themselves sitting together in a first-class railway compartment on +their way to Southampton. + +A few hours afterwards, on a dark windy night, they were on board a ship +that rolled and pitched upon its way to Ushant. The Lizard light +flashed good-bye from England, and the dark sea, as they knew quite +well, contained hidden dangers in the shape of submarines and mines, but +the quest of the Sunstone had begun. + + + + +CHAPTER VII—Into the Bush + + +They experienced rough weather in the Bay of Biscay, where the ship +pitched and rolled in a confused sea, and the wind howled round +Finisterre, which was wrapped in an impenetrable fog. + +Two days afterwards they found the blue waters that bound the Morocco +coast, after which the heat became excessive. + +The ship was bound first for Sierra Leone, and thence to Old Calabar, +from which place they intended to strike inland through the bush, after +engaging the services of a party of Kru boys to act as carriers. + +On these still tropic seas, dazzling in the sunshine, there was no sign +of war, except an occasional torpedo-boat destroyer which flew past them +at a speed of thirty knots an hour. + +At Sierra Leone, Harry betook himself to a certain gentleman holding an +influential position in the Civil Service, to whom he had a letter of +introduction from his uncle, and who received the boy with courtesy and +kindness. It was from that Harry learned that the Germans had been +driven back in Togoland, and that active operations were in progress in +the valley of the Cameroon River. He himself had travelled far in the +interior; and in consequence he was able to give the boy invaluable +advice concerning the kit and equipment he would need to take with him +upon his expedition. He advised him to strike into the bush from Old +Calabar, where he could procure servants and guides; if he went to +Victoria he would find his hands tied by those in command of the +Expeditionary Force, who had no liking for civilians at the front. + +"All the same," he added, "I strongly advise you not to endeavour to +enter Maziriland." + +Harry smiled. + +"I am afraid, sir," said he, "I have no option. My duty takes me +there." + +"Of course," said the other, "I don’t know what this duty may be, but I +tell you frankly the country is by no means safe. All the natives are +in arms, some purchased by rum by the Germans, others loyal to us. In +the old days the Cameroon kings implored the British Government to take +the country under its protection. In their own words, they wanted +English laws. But the Government took no notice of them until it was +too late, until the Germans had forestalled us and taken possession of +the country, by buying over the chiefs. If you go into the bush, you +run into a thousand dangers: yellow fever, malaria, even starvation, and +the natives you encounter may sell you as prisoners to the Germans. Some +of them will do anything for drink." + +Harry explained that he was prepared to take the gravest risks, since +the object of his journey was of more than vital importance, and shortly +afterwards took his leave, returning to the ship. + +They had brought with them all they needed in the way of provisions, +clothing, arms and ammunition; and at Old Calabar they purchased a canoe +and engaged the services of six stalwart Kru boys. Harry’s idea was to +travel up-river, crossing the Cameroon frontier west of Bamenda, and +thence striking inland towards the mountains in northern German +territory, beyond which the Caves of Zoroaster were said to be. They +also interviewed an interpreter, a half-caste Spaniard from Fernando Po, +who assured them he could speak every native dialect of the Hinterland, +from Lagos to the Congo, as well as English and German. This proved to +be no exaggeration. Urquhart was assured that the man was indeed a +wonderful linguist, and, moreover, that he could be trusted implicitly +as a guide—the more so since he hated the Germans, who had destroyed +his ’factory’ to make room for a house for a Prussian Governor, who had +hoped to rule the West Coast native with the iron discipline of Potsdam. + +This man—who called himself "Fernando" after the place of his +birth—said that he would never venture across the Cameroons to +Maziriland unless his brother was engaged to come with him. + +He explained that this brother of his was younger and more agile than +himself. Before they became traders they had been hunters, in the old +days when the West Coast was practically unexplored, and they had worked +together hand-in-glove. + +Accordingly, it was agreed that both brothers should join the +expedition; and when they presented themselves before Harry Urquhart, +the young Englishman could hardly refrain from smiling at their personal +appearance. + +They were plainly half-castes, and, like most such, considered +themselves Europeans, though neither had ever set eyes upon the northern +continent. Though they were almost as black of skin as a Kru boy, they +wore large pith helmets, suits of white ducks and blue puttees, being +dressed to a button exactly the same. Both wore brown leather belts +from which depended revolver holsters and cartridge pouches. The one +was robust, wrinkled, broad of chest, and upright; the other, stooping, +tall, and abnormally thin. There was a business-like air about them +both that appealed to Harry; and this favourable impression was by no +means dispelled when the brothers, in quite tolerable English, raved +against the Germans, who, they swore, had bought the Cameroons with rum, +in order to manage the country to their own profit without regard to the +welfare of the natives. It was owing to the German occupation of the +Cameroons that Fernando and his brother—who went by the name of +Cortes—had been ruined by the State-aided German factories that had +sprung up as if by magic in the early ’nineties. Later, they had been +accused of inciting the natives to rebellion, heavily fined, and +banished from the country. + +This increase in numbers necessitated the purchase of a second canoe. +Before leaving Calabar they supplemented their commissariat with a new +supply of provisions; and, a few days after, it was a small but +well-equipped and dauntless expedition that set forth up-river in the +sweltering heat, making straight for the heart of the great West African +bush and the very stronghold of the enemy’s position. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII—Danger Ahead + + +Three weeks later they camped on the river bank not many miles from the +German frontier. The heat was terribly oppressive. Thousands of +insects droned about their ears. A thick mist hung upon the river like +a poison-cloud. They were in the very depths of the great White Man’s +Grave. + +Four days afterwards Fernando deemed it advisable to leave the river +valley, and unloading the canoes—which they hid in a mangrove +swamp—they began their journey through the bush. + +It would be tedious to describe in detail the long weeks that followed +or the hardships they had to undergo. One by one the Kru boys deserted +them, to find their own way back to the coast. But both Cortes and +Fernando proved loyal to the hilt, and eventually the party came out +from the jungle upon the high ground in the central part of the colony. + +The country here was savage, inhospitable, and bleak. There was little +vegetation save rank mountain grass and withered shrubs in sheltered +places. Day by day they advanced with the utmost caution, giving native +villages a wide berth and always on the look-out for an ambuscade. + +Fernando proved himself to be an excellent cook, whereas his younger +brother prided himself upon his skill as a runner. It was his custom on +the line of march to jump fallen trees and brooks. + +In these higher altitudes there was a plenitude of game, whereas in the +bush they had been near to starving, and one morning they were crossing +a spur of a great cloud-wrapped mountain when Cortes, who had been +walking about fifty yards in advance of Harry and Jim, dropped suddenly +upon his face, and motioned the two boys to do the same. They had no +idea as to what had happened, and suspected that the guide had sighted a +party of the enemy. + +Crawling on hands and knees, they drew level with the man. + +"Goat," said he, pointing towards the mountain. + +And there, sure enough, was a species of mountain goat with his great +horns branching from the crown of his shaggy head. + +"Come," said the man to Harry; "you shoot." + +They could not afford to let the beast escape. The flesh of all the +wild goats, though perhaps not so good as that of the wild sheep, is by +no means unwelcome when one must journey far from civilization in the +wilds of the African hills. + +Harry adjusted his sights to six hundred yards, and then, drawing in a +deep breath, took long and careful aim. Gently he pressed the trigger, +the rifle kicked, there came a sharp report, and the bullet sped upon +its way. On the instant the beast was seen galloping at breakneck speed +down what seemed an almost perpendicular cliff. + +"Missed!" cried Harry. + +"No," said Cortes. "He’s hit—he’s wounded. He will not go far." + +For a few minutes the members of the party held a hurried consultation. +Finally it was decided that Fernando should go on ahead with the camp +kit and cooking-utensils, whilst the younger brother accompanied Harry +and Jim in pursuit of the wounded goat. They agreed to meet at +nightfall at a place known to the brothers. + +It took them nearly an hour to scramble across the valley, to reach the +place where the animal had been wounded. There, as the guide had +predicted, there were drops of blood upon the stones. All that morning +they followed the spoor, and about two o’clock in the afternoon they +sighted the wounded beast, lying down in the open. + +He was still well out of range, and, unfortunately for them, on the +windward side. That meant they would have to make a detour of several +miles in order to come within range. + +For three hours they climbed round the wind, all the time being careful +not to show themselves, for the eyes of the wild goat are like those of +the eagle. With its wonderful eyesight, its still more wonderful sense +of smell, and its ability to travel at the pace of a galloping horse +across rugged cliffs and valleys, it is a prize that is not easily +gained. When they last saw the animal it was lying down in the same +place. They were then at right angles to the wind, about two miles up +the valley. + +From this point, on the advice of Cortes, they passed into another +valley to the west. Here there was no chance of being seen or winded by +the beast; and, since it was now possible to walk in an upright +position, they progressed more rapidly. + +When they had arrived at the spot which the guide judged was immediately +above the wounded animal they climbed stealthily up the hill. On the +crest-line they sought cover behind great boulders, which lay scattered +about in all directions as if they had been hurled down from the skies. +Lying on their faces, side by side, Harry with his field-glasses to his +eyes, they scanned the valley where they had left their quarry. + +Not a sign of it was to be seen. The thing had disappeared as +mysteriously as if it had been spirited away. + +"He’s gone!" said Harry, with a feeling of bitter disappointment. + +He was about to rise to his feet, but the half-caste held him down by +force. + +"Don’t get up;" he cried. "Lie still! There are men in the valley +yonder." + +"Men! Have you seen them?" + +"No, I have not seen them," said Cortes. "But the beast saw them, or +got their wind. Otherwise he would not have gone." + +"It’s von Hardenberg, perhaps!" said Harry, turning to Braid, the wish +being father to the thought. + +Both looked at their guide. + +"It is either the man you want," said the guide, "or else it is the +Germans." + +The wounded animal was now forgotten. They were face to face with the +reality of their situation. They had either overtaken von Hardenberg +and Peter Klein or else the Germans had received news of their having +reached the frontier. + +"We’ll have to cross the valley," said Harry, "to get back to camp." + +"That is the worst of it," said Cortes; "we must rejoin my brother. He +will be awaiting us." + +He had learnt his English on the Coast. He spoke the language well, but +with the strange, clipped words used by the natives themselves, though +the man was half a Spaniard. + +"How are we to get there?" asked Jim. + +The guide looked at the sun. + +"It is too late," said he, "to go by a roundabout way. We must walk +straight there. There are many things which cause me to believe that +danger is close at hand." + +"What else?" asked Harry, who already was conscious that his heart was +beating quickly. + +"Late last night I saw smoke on the mountains. This morning, before we +started, my brother thought he heard a shot, far in the distance. Also," +he added, "during the last three days we have seen very little game. +Something has scared them away." + +"Come," said Harry. "We waste time in words. As it is, we have barely +time to get back before nightfall." + +As he said this he rose to his feet, and the moment he did so there came +the double report of a rifle from far away in the hills, and a bullet +cut past him and buried itself in the ground, not fifteen paces from his +feet. + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX—The Captive + + +Harry was not slow to obey. He fell flat upon his face, whilst a second +bullet whistled over his head. + +"Come," said Cortes; "we must escape." + +As he uttered these words, he turned upon his heel and ran down the +hill, followed by the two boys. The man held himself in a crouching +position until he was well over the crest-line. Then he stopped and +waited for his companions. + +"Who is it?" asked Braid, already out of breath as much from excitement +as from running. + +"The Germans. They are on our track." + +"You are sure of that?" asked Harry. + +"Master," said Cortes, "it is not possible to mistake a German bullet. +In this part of the world only those natives carry rifles who are paid +by Kaiser Wilhelm." + +Indeed, for weeks already, they had been in the heart of the enemy’s +country. The elder guide was some miles away, and, since they could not +cross the valley, they would have to make a detour; which meant that +they could not possibly rejoin Fernando before nightfall. By then, for +all they knew, they might find him lying in his own blood, their +provisions and their reserve ammunition stolen. + +Harry looked at Cortes, who seemed to be thinking, standing at his full +height, his fingers playing with his chin. + +"We must not desert your brother," said the boy. + +"I am thinking," said the guide, "it will be easier for him to reach us +than for you and your friend to go to him. My brother and I are +hunters; we can pass through the bush in silence; we can travel amid the +rocks like snakes. I could cross that valley crawling on my face, and +the eye of an eagle would not see me. As for you, you are Englishmen; +you have not lived your lives in the mountains and the bush; you do not +understand these things." + +He said this with some scorn in his voice. There was something about +the man—despite his European clothes—that was fully in keeping with +the aspect of their surroundings, which were savage, relentless, and +cruel. He went on in a calm voice, speaking very slowly: + +"In this valley we are safe," said he. "I know the country well. +Yonder," and he pointed to the north, "there is a forest that lies upon +the hill-side like a mantle. I will guide you. It will take us about +two hours to get there. Then I will leave you. You will be quite safe; +for many of the trunks of the trees are hollow, and should the Germans +come, you can hide. I will go alone to my brother and bring him back +with me." + +They set forward without delay, sometimes climbing, sometimes walking, +on the mountain-side. About four o’clock in the afternoon they sighted +the forest of which the man had spoken. It opened out into a mangrove +swamp, thousands of feet below them, where the heat hung like a fog. + +Among the trees they found themselves in a kind of twilight. By then +the sun was setting; but as the daylight dwindled a great moon arose. +Cortes led them to a place, on the verge of a deep ravine, where there +was an old tree with a hollow trunk that looked as if it had been struck +by lightning. + +"You and your friend will remain here," said the man to Harry. "I will +be as quick as I can, but in any case I cannot be back until midnight. +If I do not return by then, you will know that I am dead; then—if you +are wise—you will go back to Calabar. If the Germans come, you will +hide." And he pointed to the hollow tree. + +Without another word he set forward on his way, gliding down the face of +the living rock like some gigantic lizard. + +The two boys found themselves in a place romantic but terrible. On +every side they were surrounded by the impenetrable hills. The trees of +the forest stood forth in the semi-darkness like great, ghostly giants. +Somewhere near at hand a mountain stream roared and thundered over the +rocks. The breeze brought to their nostrils the smell of the swamp +lower down the valley. The hollow tree stood on the edge of the bush. +A few yards away was the ravine, the bottom of which was wide and bare +and stony. + +Throughout the earlier part of the night they possessed their souls in +patience. It was stiflingly hot after the cool mountain air. + +Harry looked at his watch. It was midnight. There was no sign of the +brothers. + +Suddenly they heard a stone shifted from its place somewhere in the +forest to go rolling down into the ravine. Both stood motionless and +expectant. + +"I heard something," said Braid. + +"So did I," said Harry. + +Again a stone was moved, this time nearer than before. Something was +approaching through the bush. If this were an enemy they would have +small chance of escaping, for the side of the ravine was inaccessible; +it was like a precipice. + +They waited in suspense, and presently to the great gnarled roots of the +very tree by which they were standing, there crawled a dying, wounded +mountain goat. + +It died almost as it reached them. Indeed, it was almost a miracle that +the animal had lived as long as it had, for Harry’s bullet had +penetrated its chest. + +The long night passed in waiting, and still there was no sign of the +half-caste brothers. It was then that they fully realized for the first +time the extreme danger of their mission, that they were alone in the +heart of a country which was almost unexplored, cut off from their +friends and civilization, with no chance of succour and little of +returning in safety to the coast. + +"Jim," said Harry, and his voice was husky, "I wonder if we shall ever +get out of this alive." + +"I can’t say, sir," answered Braid; "but I’m sure of this: if we have to +die, we’ll make a fight of it, at least." + +It was then that a sound came to their ears that caused them to hold +their breath. It was a loud word of command in the German language, and +which, moreover, came from not far away. + +They lay down flat upon their faces. Screened by a clump of long grass, +they were able to look down into the ravine, where they beheld a company +of German native troops with whom were two or three European officers +and several German noncommissioned officers. The men marched well in +step, keeping their dressing and acting promptly and smartly at each +word of command. Except for their black skins and coarse negro features +they might have learned their drill on the parade-grounds of Potsdam and +Berlin. + +The two boys regarded them in consternation, mingled with amazement—due +to the fact that in the centre of the company was a European whose hands +were bound behind his back and around whose neck was a kind of halter. + +Jim Braid recognized this man at once. It was Peter Klein, the spy. + + + + +CHAPTER X—When All was Still + + +Among the native troops was a man who was not dressed in uniform, who +was tattooed from head to foot, and who wore upon his head an abundance +of coloured feathers. They learned afterwards that he was a medicine or +"fetish" man—and "fetish worship" is the curse of the Dark Continent, +from Ashanti to the Zambesi. The medicine-men, who profess to practise +witchcraft, are far more powerful than the majority of the native kings. +At their bidding innocent people are often put to death, which enables +them to use their powers for bribery and corruption. + +In the centre of the ravine, immediately below the place where the two +boys were hiding, the officer in command called a halt. When the men +had fallen out and released their packs from their shoulders, the +witch-doctor addressed them in an excited, high-pitched voice. Neither +Harry nor Braid could understand a word of what he said, but his +grimaces and gesticulations were so expressive that they could have no +doubt that he was performing some kind of religious ceremony. + +It was evident that the party intended to pitch their camp in the +ravine, for several men under the command of one of the non-commissioned +officers set about collecting wood with which to make a fire. + +The boys knew not what course to take. Their first inclination was to +take to their heels, seeking refuge in the forest. Then they remembered +that if they did this there would be small chance of their being found +by Cortes, who had promised to return to the ravine. As silently as +possible they crawled on hands and knees to the hollow tree, and hid +themselves in the trunk. + +There they remained for hour after hour. From that position they were +just able to see into the gorge. The party had split up into three +groups: the German officers sat alone; the European noncommissioned +officers formed a ring around a smaller fire; whereas the natives were +congregated around the fetish-man. + +Peter Klein sat like a figure of stone, a sentry with bayonet fixed +standing over him. His lips were bloodless, his eyes staring, his face +like that of a ghost. From time to time the Germans looked at him and +laughed. For all that, they repeatedly offered him food; but he refused +to eat, though now his hands had been unbound. + +After a while many of the men disposed themselves for sleep, lying down +upon the bare rocks about the embers of the fire. The officer in +command—a stout major with a bristling moustache—gave orders that the +prisoner’s hands should again be bound. Whereupon a sergeant propped +the prisoner up, with his back to the side of the ravine, making it +perfectly plain—even to the boys who could not understand the German +language—that, if he endeavoured to escape, they would not hesitate to +kill him. + +The sentry was not posted for the night on the side of the ravine on +which were the two boys, but on the other side, overlooking the valley +to the east. It was apparently from this direction that the Germans +seemed to fear for their safety. + +Harry thought the matter out. If the two brothers were alive, he could +not think why they had not returned. It was now past one o’clock, and +Cortes had said he would be back certainly before twelve. + +The night passed in the bush in solemn tranquillity, save for the +droning of myriads of insects from the mangrove swamp and the gurgling +sound of the river. Hour by hour the moon mounted in the skies above +the hill-tops, which were capped by mist. The two boys were squashed +together in the tree-trunk. Braid, it seemed, had gone to sleep in a +standing position. He was breathing heavily. + +Stealthily Harry left his hiding-place and dropped down upon hands and +knees. Cautiously he crept to the edge of the ravine and looked over. +To the boy’s surprise, he observed that not only the Germans and the +native soldiers, but also the sentry, were sound asleep. They lay in +huddled attitudes around the dying fires. + +With his back against the rock was Peter Klein. As Harry watched him +the man moved and heaved a sigh. Presently he groaned. + +Harry Urquhart was one who was quick to think. This man, Klein, was a +spy, one fit to be despised, and moreover a German, an enemy of his +country. And yet, for some reason or other, Klein was a prisoner in the +hands of his own countrymen. Von Hardenberg, perhaps, was not so far +away. These were questions that could possibly be answered by Peter +Klein himself, who might be disposed to speak in gratitude for his +deliverance. + +There was only one way in which the prisoner could be rescued. It was +not possible for Harry to descend the sides of the ravine, neither was +it possible for Klein, even had his hands and legs not been bound, to +climb up the cliffs. + +As stealthily as before, Urquhart crawled back into the wood, until he +came to a place where there was a long, rope-like creeper—one of those +vegetable parasites which are so common in the forests of the tropics. +To cut this near the roots and tear it from the tree to which it clung +so tenaciously was the work of not many minutes, and Harry was in +possession of what to all intents and purposes was a very useful rope. + +With this he repaired in haste to the edge of the ravine, where he tied +the end of it to the trunk of a tree. That done, hand over hand he let +himself down to the bottom. + +Stepping over the forms of the sleeping soldiers he approached the +captive, and with his jack-knife cut the bonds that bound Klein’s feet +and hands. + +"Now," he whispered in the man’s ear, "climb, and you are safe!" + +The spy was still so terrified and so weakened from exhaustion that it +was all he could do to walk. With faltering steps he stumbled towards +the dangling rope, and Harry feared that he would fall and wake the +sleeping Germans. + +Peter Klein took hold of the swinging creeper and did his best to climb. +Presently he looked round at Harry with an expression of despair upon +his face. + +"I can’t do it!" he groaned in broken English. + +"You must," said the boy. "Your life depends upon it. Once you get to +the top you are safe. They cannot follow you. They have no rope, and +will be obliged to go a long way round." + +These words had the desired effect upon the spy. Fear, on occasion, is +a great stimulant; it sometimes leads a man to perform prodigies of +strength that he could never accomplish in calmer moments. Hand over +hand the man scrambled to the top of the ravine, and there lay down, +panting and exhausted. + +Harry followed quickly. At the top he hauled up the creeper, and then +looked down again. + +The soldiers were still asleep. The commanding officer himself was +snoring like a pig. + +Shaking in all his limbs, Peter Klein rose to his feet and seized Harry +by the hand. + +"Heaven reward you!" he exclaimed. "You have saved my life, for I +verily believe those villains would have shot me." + + + + +CHAPTER XI—A Shot from the Clouds + + +It is a remarkable fact that all this time Jim Braid had been sound +asleep. Once inside the trunk of the hollow, shattered tree, he had +found himself unable to overcome a feeling of drowsiness which by +degrees completely got the better of him. Klein, on the other hand, had +apparently received such a shock to his nervous system that in spite of +his extreme exhaustion he found it impossible to sleep. Also he had a +dread of being left alone. He implored Harry, who had led him some way +back into the forest, to remain at his side till dawn. + +For the time being, they had nothing to fear from the German soldiers, +who were at the bottom of the ravine and unable to reach them. Still, +they could not continue their march, since without the guides they were +lost and would not know which way to go. But so long as they remained +where they were, there was always a chance that one, or both, of the +brothers would return. + +"Tell me," asked Urquhart, "how is it that I find you a prisoner in the +hands of those who should be your friends?" + +"It is a very simple story," said Peter Klein. "We left Dualla a few +weeks ago. The party consisted of Captain von Hardenberg, our guide—an +Arab sheikh—two native carriers, and myself. The Governor of Dualla +wished von Hardenberg to join the force which is to oppose the British. +Hardenberg was given an important command. But, since he had other +business to attend to—which he himself considered of greater +importance—in plain words, he deserted; and we endeavoured to penetrate +the bush. + +"For some days we journeyed without event. Then we discovered that we +were tracked, and were obliged to fly for our lives. + +"One night a shot was fired into our camp. And after that, day by day, +we were harassed and tormented, until two nights ago a raid was made +upon our bivouac. They came upon us from all sides at once. We were +outnumbered by twenty to one. No course lay open to us but flight. The +two natives went one way. They rushed into a large party of soldiers, +and there is every reason to believe they laid down their lives. Von +Hardenberg and the sheikh took to the hills, climbing the bare slope, +and I think they managed to escape. As for myself, I fled downhill with +a score of native soldiers at my heels. + +"All yesterday I was pursued. I fled for my life across interminable +valleys, across the hills, striving to reach the bush, where I knew I +would be safe. Sometimes I found myself buried in the gloom of forests; +at others I stood upon the edge of precipices so deep that the clouds +were at my feet. + +"Late last evening I was overtaken. They bound my hands behind my back +and scourged me with a whip. They gave me to understand they would +eventually put me to a traitor’s death; but they thought more of von +Hardenberg and Sheikh Bayram than they did of me. They were for ever +asking me which way he had gone—just as if I could tell them what I did +not know myself! When they brought me to the ravine, yonder, I was too +fatigued and too disturbed in mind to sleep. And then you saved me at +the eleventh hour. That is all my story." + +Harry was silent for some moments. + +"You have not told me," he said, "why you have come to this forsaken +part of the world, or why von Hardenberg—who is my cousin—deserted +from the Germans?" + +Klein lowered his eyes. It seemed he was not incapable of feeling +ashamed. + +"The Sunstone," said he, quite quietly. + +"My cousin has the Sunstone in his possession?" + +"I have seen it," answered Klein. "He carries it upon his person. He +never lets it out of his possession. He would not even let me touch it. +He has had a special pocket made for it in the inside of his coat, on +the left-hand side." + +"You must be frank with me," said Harry. + +"You saved my life," said the other. + +"Then listen to the true story of the Sunstone. You doubtless know that +my cousin stole it from my uncle, but you are perhaps ignorant of the +fact that, to cover his own guilt, he wrongfully accused one who was +innocent. I presume my cousin went to you and explained that, once he +got to Maziriland with the Sunstone in his possession, he had acquired +riches beyond all dreams. I suppose you agreed to go with him, to share +and share alike? I suppose, also, that, in spite of the fact that our +nations are at war, you consider the Sunstone of far greater importance +than your Fatherland?" + +"To my shame," said Peter Klein, "that is—or was—the truth. I sold my +honour for gold long ago. I would not say that in Europe, in London or +Berlin, but here we are in the very midst of death, and all things are +different—or perhaps, we see all things with very different eyes." + +"At least," said Harry, "you are honest now." + +"I am a coward," the man confessed. + +"You must see," Urquhart went on, "that you have no moral right to this +money, even should the treasure be discovered. However, I have not come +here to recover the treasure, so much as to prevent it from falling into +the hands of the enemies of my country. I am determined to capture the +Sunstone, be the risk and danger what it may be." + +Klein shook his head. + +"He will not part with it," said he. "He is a desperate man." + +"I will make him part with it," cried Harry, "once I run the rascal to +earth." + +"He is a desperate man," repeated the other. "He dare not return to +Germany. He would be court-martialled, and probably shot. He will not +part with the Sunstone at a lesser price than his life." + +"I am sorry for him," said Harry, "because he is doubly a traitor. When +the guest of the British nation he was to all intents and purposes a +spy; he swindled you; and now, in the midst of war, he proves himself a +traitor once again." + +Peter Klein was silent, his thin fingers playing nervously. The strain +of the past few days had seriously affected his health; he was suffering +from a kind of St. Vitus’s dance. He was never still for a moment. + +"It is strange," said he, "that you think so much of the Sunstone. Long +since I had forgotten all about it. I have now but one idea—to get +back to Europe, if I can. I dare not return to my home, which is in +Frankfort. I intend to end my days in Denmark." + +It was then that somewhere in the forest, near at hand, a twig broke. +Both sprang instantly to their feet. + +A dark figure came suddenly out of the thickets, and Urquhart, with his +finger upon the trigger of his revolver, was about to fire, when he was +arrested by a voice. + +"Is that you, Mr. Harry?" + +It was the voice of Jim Braid. + +"What is it, Jim?" + +Braid came forward in the darkness. The moon was now low in the +heavens. In the east, through the tree-tops, there was a steel-blue arc +of light, heralding the approach of day. It was as if even the abundant +vegetation of the jungle was itself awakening after sleep. When he was +quite close to Harry, Braid took him by the arm. + +"I have news for you," said he. "There’s an uproar in the ravine. The +Germans have discovered their prisoner has escaped." + +"Here he is," said Harry, making a motion of the hand towards Peter +Klein. + +"Here! How did he get here?" + +"There’s no time for explanations now," said Harry. + +"You’re right, sir," answered Jim. "We’re in danger if we stay!" + +"We would be in greater danger still," said the other, "if we +endeavoured to escape. After all, this is the last place they would +think of searching. It would never occur to them that the prisoner had +climbed up the side of the ravine." + +There was the strongest common sense in this. Indeed, a few minutes +later they had ample proof that Harry was perfectly right. Klein +remained behind, whilst the two boys crawled back to the edge of the +gorge and thence looked down into the bivouac. + +The daylight was growing apace. Step by step the dawn mounted in the +heavens, the shadows fled from the valleys, and the bush became alive +with the songs of thousands of birds. + +And then they witnessed a tragedy such as neither ever wished to see +again. The native sentry, who had fallen asleep upon his post, was led +with trembling knees and shaking lips before the major in command, who, +after a few savage questions, hurled at the man like scraps of meat to a +dog, sentenced him to be shot. And then and there the sentence was +carried out before their eyes. + +After that the major gathered his men together and divided them into two +parties, evidently with the idea of searching both ends of the ravine. +And now occurred one of the most strangely dramatic things of which we +have to tell. + +The commanding officer was giving final instructions to his officers and +sergeants. He stood upon a large boulder. His subordinates were +listening to his words with silent respect. He spoke in a husky, +guttural voice, from time to time shivering as if he suffered from +fever. Suddenly, he flung both hands above his head and uttered a +piercing cry. Simultaneously, there came the sharp report of a rifle +from beyond the ravine, and the German major fell forward on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XII—The Mystery of the Running Man + + +On the instant the greatest disorder prevailed. As at a stroke the iron +discipline of Potsdam vanished, and despite his uniform and training, +and the curses of the German non-commissioned officers, the Cameroon +native became the untutored savage once again. + +In the panic of the moment the native soldiers took to their heels, +evidently under the impression that they had been surprised by a British +force. And, as they ran, shots rang out repeatedly from somewhere in +the midst of the shrubbery that grew on the farther side of the gorge. + +There was no question that the invisible man who commanded the ravine +from his hiding-place upon the mountain-side was a marksman of repute. +He fired in haste at running figures, and more than once his bullets +found their mark. The German-trained soldiers vanished as by a +conjuring-trick, disappearing round an angle of the gorge. + +All this had happened in the space of a few seconds. Harry, taking his +field-glasses from their case, scanned the mountain that overtopped the +ravine, endeavouring to discover the form of the mysterious and terrible +marksman who had created such alarm. + +Nowhere was any living soul to be seen. The mountain-side was as silent +as the grave. In the forest itself, hundreds of birds welcomed the +dazzling sunlight with the gladness of their songs. + +"Who was it?" asked Jim. + +"It must have been Cortes or Fernando," answered Harry, "but I can see +no sign of them. I expect one or the other will show himself in a +minute." + +They waited for several minutes. At last Urquhart could bear the +suspense no longer. He lifted his hands to his mouth and let out a +long-drawn shout. + +His voice was echoed from the hills, which were now wrapped in clouds, +but no voice came back in answer. + +"I can’t understand it," he exclaimed. + +Braid admitted that the whole thing was something of a mystery, for +which he could offer no sort of explanation. + +And then, on a sudden, they saw a white-clad figure dashing over the +rocks. It was a man who came down from the mountain-side, fleet and +sure of foot. Upon his head he wore a turban. He was dressed in robes +of flowing white, and in his hand he carried a rifle. + +Harry directed his field-glasses upon this extraordinary figure. Beyond +the fact that he was a tall man with a great black beard, he could see +little or nothing, by reason of the prodigious pace at which the man was +travelling. One thing, however, was perfectly certain: that this +man—who apparently was the marksman who had so effectively scattered +the Germans—was not one of the half-caste guides. + +The running man came closer and closer, and the boys thought at first +that he was about to approach to within speaking distance of themselves. +But he turned off sharply to the left and disappeared in a belt of trees +almost as suddenly as he had come. + +They waited for some minutes, thinking that he would show up again; but +that was the last they saw of him for some days, and it was not until +then that they discovered who he was. He came and vanished like a +thunderbolt that spreads destruction in its path. His rifle had spoken +at dawn, and almost every shot had been the signal for the death of a +human being. He came, and killed, and vanished. He was a three-day +mystery of the wild hills of the German Cameroons. + +Throughout that morning they knew not what to do. They were without +guides; they had practically no provisions; and they had not the least +idea where they were or in which direction they should go. + +Soon after midday the two boys held a consultation, admitting Peter +Klein to their counsels. But the ex-spy was no help to them; he was +incapable of giving advice. They told him of the man they had seen that +morning, the white figure on the mountain-side, but he only gaped and +shook his head. It was as if the physical and moral strain he had +undergone had actually made him mad. + +Harry clung to hope as a drowning man lays hold upon a spar. He pointed +out that they were helpless without their guides, and argued that it was +wisest to remain where they were, in case either of the half-castes +should repair to their meeting-place and find them gone. + +That night they lit a fire in the forest, and seated around this they +roasted some bananas—or rather plantains—they had found growing in the +bush. After they had eaten these, Harry and Klein lay down to sleep, +Jim Braid consenting to keep watch during the earlier hours of the +night. + +When the moon had risen, and a mighty stillness reigned in the forest, +Jim Braid, who sat upon a boulder with his rifle upon his knees, heard +on a sudden a short cough immediately behind him. He turned quickly in +alarm. + +Both Harry and Klein were sound asleep, and, seated on the ground +immediately between them, calmly biting the end from a cheroot, was the +figure of Fernando. + +"You!" cried Braid, as soon as he could find his voice. + +"Even myself," said the half-bred Spaniard. "Had I been a German, I +could have killed all three of you." + +"You were as silent as a snake," said the other. + +The man chuckled. + +"Before I was a trader," said he, "I was a hunter of big game." + +It was then that Braid awakened Harry and told him the news. The boy +was heartily glad to see the guide, whom he had certainly believed to be +dead. + +"And your brother?" he asked. + +"My brother is safe," said the man. "You did wisely to remain here. You +could never have got back to Calabar. The country swarms with German +troops." + +"Then what are we to do?" asked Harry. + +"Go north," said Fernando. "Go north at every risk, to Maziriland. My +brother has already struck out across the mountains. He and I know of a +place where they will never find us. I have come here to take you +there. Cortes awaits us. We must start at once. There is no time to +lose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII—The Black Dog + + +After they had explained to Fernando how it had come about that Peter +Klein had joined their party, they set forward in a northerly direction, +guided by the half-caste. They passed through the forest and crossed a +wide valley. Thence they traversed a great ridge of hills, at the end +of which they came to a mountain-top. This they began to ascend. There +were many places so steep and stony that they were often obliged to go +on all fours, and Klein, who was both weak and nervous, stood in +constant danger of his life. + +Finally they gained the summit. The top of the mountain was shaped like +a bowl. It was evidently the crater of an extinct volcano. In one +place an enormous rock had a cleft in it like a sword-cut, and through +this Fernando led them. The cleft was so narrow that they were obliged +to walk sideways, like crabs. After a time the passage opened, and they +found themselves in a small arena in the centre of which a spring of +water bubbled to the surface. After the heat of the forest the air was +delightfully refreshing and cool. + +When they had drunk their fill the guide took them to a place where a +boulder as round as a football and about five times the size, lay upon +the ground. This he rolled away, not without difficulty, and underneath +it was a hole about three feet across, like one of those "blowholes" +which can be seen in some of the caves of Cornwall or South Wales. + +Fernando let himself down through the hole until he was hanging by his +hands; then he dropped, and they heard him alight upon the ground about +ten feet beneath. Braid followed next, and then Klein; Harry was the +last to descend into the darkness. + +Below, they found themselves in what was evidently a pocket in the side +of the crater, a great rent caused by some volcanic disturbance in +bygone times. The place was a kind of low and narrow gallery. The +moonlight was admitted through several cracks in the walls. + +At the farthermost end of the gallery a fire burnt, and at this a man +was seated, whom they found to be Cortes, the younger of the two guides. +When he saw them he rose to his feet without a word, walked deliberately +to the wall, and thrust his head into one of the fissures. + +The two boys watched him in amazement. The man—who, it will be +remembered, was extremely slim and agile—wriggled like a snake. +Gradually, it became manifest that he was squeezing himself through with +the greatest difficulty. First his head, then his shoulders, then his +body, and finally his legs and feet disappeared through the wall. + +"Where is he going?" asked Harry, turning to Fernando. + +"He has gone to replace the stone upon the hole through which we came. +My brother is no fool. Life in the bush has taught us many things." + +After a while the younger brother returned, squeezing himself again +through the narrow opening. When he came to the firelight there were +places upon his back and shoulders where his clothes had been torn, and +where the rents were stained with blood. He did not seem to mind these +wounds in the least, but laughed when Harry pointed them out. + +"Here," said Fernando, "we are safe, and here we must stay for some +days, until the Germans have left the district. They will never find +us; no one could ever find us." + +"We have food?" asked Harry. + +Cortes pointed to a corner where lay the dead body of an antelope. + +"I killed that this morning," said he. "Cooked, and in this cool +climate, it will keep for days. Besides, my brother and I can hunt upon +the mountain; but you and your two friends must remain here until the +Germans have left the district. Then we can continue our march towards +Maziriland." + +In his heart Harry Urquhart felt more than gratitude towards these +strange, gallant men. They were loyal, faithful, courageous, and full +of infinite resource. They seemed to love adventure for its own sake, +after the manner of the old Spanish explorers—the followers of +Columbus—whose blood ran in their veins. + +For three days the party remained in this singular hiding-place. Every +morning the brothers went out to hunt. Harry and Braid did not mind the +monotony of their temporary imprisonment, first, because they knew that +this was their only place of safety, and, secondly, because they were +glad enough of a few days’ rest after all the exertions and privations +they had undergone in the wilderness of the bush. + +At midnight on the third night, something that was well-nigh miraculous +occurred. All were asleep except Harry Urquhart, who was doing his turn +on watch. He was walking to and fro along the gallery, and had reached +a spot immediately underneath the hole which was covered by the stone, +when suddenly a great shaft of moonlight shot down into the cave. + +It was a moment before the boy realized what had happened—that the +stone had been rolled away. Before he had time to give the alarm, to +cry out, or bring his rifle to his shoulder, the stone was rolled back +again, and all was dim and silent as before. + +He ran to the fire and woke up his companions. All sprang to their +feet. In a few breathless words Harry told them what had happened. Jim +Braid seized a lighted brand from the fire, which was burning brightly, +and carried this to the end of the gallery. Sure enough the stone was +back in its place. + +"Are you sure," he asked, "you were not dreaming?" + +"I can swear to it," said Harry. + +"What’s that?" cried Braid, pointing to something white that lay upon +the floor. + +Harry Urquhart stooped, and to his amazement picked up a letter, written +in German, which was addressed to: + + "_Peter Klein, Coward_" + +Here was a greater mystery than ever. + +"This is apparently for you," said Harry, giving the letter to Klein. +The whole thing was amazing. + +Klein opened the envelope with shaking hands. Then he took it to the +other end of the gallery, and, kneeling down, read it by the light of +the fire. + +Presently he returned and handed the letter to Fernando, who had a fair +knowledge of the German language. + +"Read that," said he. "How did it come here?" The man was as white as +a ghost. + +The writer had evidently been at some pains to disguise his handwriting. +The letter was written in capital letters with a violet indelible +pencil. The message, when translated, was as follows:— + + "I have something of importance to say to you. Leave your + hiding-place at once and alone." + +"It is from von Hardenberg," said Klein. "He orders me to return to +him—at once." + +"Orders you! And you will go?" + +"I have no option. I dare not refuse." + +"Dare not!" + +At that a groan escaped from the man’s lips, and he threw out his hands +with a gesture of despair. + +"You do not understand," he cried. "In London that man was in my power, +but in this wild country I am at his mercy; for there is one with him +who is pitiless and terrible, who carries his crimes as a jester jangles +his bells." + +"Whom do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"I mean the Arab sheikh. That man is a demon. There is nothing he +would not do for money. There were times when I travelled with them +when I thought that they meant to kill me. When I fell asleep at the +camp-fire, I could see in my dreams the cruel, piercing eyes of the +sheikh fixed upon me; they were like coals of living fire. Fool that I +was to come here!" he broke out in despair. "Why did I not stay where I +was safe?" + +Fernando, turning to Harry, cut short the man’s whining words. + +"I must know the truth," said he. "How did that letter come here? Who +wrote it?" + +"It was written by my cousin," said Harry, "the man whom we follow; but +whether he himself brought it here or the rascal who serves him, I am +quite unable to say. At any rate," he added, with a smile, "your +hiding-place has been discovered." + +The half-caste returned to the fire, where he sat down, holding out his +hands to warm them. He remained thus for some time, seemingly deep in +thought; then he returned to Harry. + +"Just now," said he, "I heard mention of a sheikh. Is the man’s name by +any chance Bayram; for he is a devil, in truth." + +"That is the name of the man who is with von Hardenberg." + +"I did not know," said the other, and remained silent for a long time. + +"You did not know?" repeated Harry. + +"When I agreed to come with you I did not know that the Black Dog of the +Cameroons—as I and my brother call him—was to be our enemy. In all +the hills and plains and forests of this huge, amazing continent, from +the Sahara to Kilima-Njaro, from the Niger to the Nile, there is no man +more greatly to be feared than the Black Dog of the Cameroons. He knows +neither pity nor fear. There is hardly a valley in these mountains with +which he is not acquainted. Small wonder he discovered our +hiding-place! He is a foe who cannot be despised. Single-handed he +could keep an army of natives at bay. Almost every cartridge in his +bandolier, almost every bullet in the chamber of his rifle, means the +life’s blood of a human being. At one time he was the richest +slave-trader in Africa. But I heard the English hunted him down, and +that he was starving and penniless in London." + +"It was he!" cried Harry, turning sharply to Braid. "He was the man we +saw that morning on the mountain-side, who fired into the German bivouac +at dawn." + +"The sheikh was the man," said the guide. "You should have told me +before." + +"I blame myself," said Harry. "I know now that I can trust you and your +brother with even more than life." + +Fernando continued to speak in slow deliberate tones. + +"If we are to come out of this alive," said he, "you will do well to +take me into your counsels. Moreover, you must follow my advice. I and +the Black Dog have an old score to pay. For myself, I am determined to +be a debtor no longer." Then, without changing his voice, he turned +calmly to Peter Klein. "You must go back to von Hardenberg," said he. + +"No, no! not that!" Klein almost shrieked. + +Fernando smiled grimly. He might have been one of his own hard-hearted +ancestors, presiding at the Spanish Inquisition. + +"I fear to go!" cried Klein, his terror stamped on every feature. "They +will kill me! I know they will!" + +Fernando laughed aloud. + +"You will most certainly be killed," said he, "if you refuse to go. The +Black Dog has marked you for his own." + +At these words the spy fell down upon his knees at Harry Urquhart’s +feet. + +"Keep me with you!" he pleaded. "Give me your protection! It is to the +advantage of those men to kill me. They brought me here to do away with +my life. They do not intend that I shall live to claim my share of the +treasure, if they should ever find it." + +Harry, somewhat roughly, told the man to get to his feet. Klein was an +arrant coward. Harry felt little pity for the man; yet he could not +find it in his heart to support Fernando’s heartless verdict. + +"You have little right to demand our sympathy," said he. "You are an +enemy to my country and a spy; you are even a traitor to the rascals +whom formerly you were pleased to serve. You have merited the most +severe penalty which a state of war allows." + +He was about to go on, when the man, losing all control of himself, +seized him by both hands and begged him to be merciful. + +"I renounce everything!" he cried. "I admit my guilt, and ask you to +forgive me. I will give up all claim to a share in the treasure. I +swear to be faithful to you, if you will only get me out of this alive." + +"We do not think of the treasure," said Urquhart. "We are here to +establish the innocence of an injured man and to checkmate von +Hardenberg." + +"It was he who stole the Sunstone," uttered Klein. + +"I know that," said Harry. "That is why we have followed him. He may +have the Black Dog of the Cameroons to aid him, but we have these two +gallant fellows, who do not seem to know what it is to fear, to +hesitate, or to give up hope." + +He half turned, and with a motion of the hand indicated the two +brothers, who were seated side by side. + +Fernando slowly shook his head. + +"As you will," said he. "You have yet to learn that the Cameroons is no +place for clemency. I had a plan to trick the Black Dog. It was a +cruel plan perhaps. I meant to sacrifice this cur like a kid tied to a +stake to snare a tiger. However, let that pass. From to-night, I warn +you fairly, we will be even in greater danger than before. We have an +enemy to reckon with in the sheikh. At this very moment he waits on the +hill-side for his victim." Fernando pointed to Peter Klein. + +"He means to take my life!" cried Klein, who was now pacing to and fro, +wringing his hands like one demented. "The moment they saw I was likely +to be of no use to them, that I was a coward who could neither handle a +rifle nor do a long day’s march without fatigue, they schemed to do away +with me. And what a place for a crime, these unknown, savage hills! In +these parts a human life is of no more importance than that of a +mosquito." + +The man was overwrought, his nerves had been sadly shaken. He was on +the verge of lunacy with panic and alarm. + +And yet, what he said was obviously the truth. To von Hardenberg his +presence was worse than useless, a mere encumbrance on the line of +march. In all probability Fernando was right; the Black Dog waited on +the hill-side to fall upon the poor, blind fool whom avarice had led so +far from the land where he could spy and inform in safety. + +The two guides had listened to this dialogue with evident interest and +not a little amusement at the expense of Klein. It was Fernando who +again broke in upon their talk. + +"We will test the sheikh," said he. "We will soon find out his +intentions." + +At that he turned to his brother, and for some minutes the two spoke in +Spanish. After a while it was Cortes who approached Klein and touched +him on the arm. + +"Get out of your clothes," said he. "I intend to wear them." + +Peter Klein was glad enough of the chance of disguising his identity. +Cortes put on the tattered white ducks, torn in a score of places by the +thorn-trees in the bush, the pith helmet and the leather leggings, and +then returned to the fire. + +There, he loaded his revolver and the magazine of his Lee-Metford +carbine. That done, without a word to his brother, he squeezed himself +through the crack in the wall, and disappeared beyond it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV—Buried Alive! + + +They waited for many minutes in absolute silence. Peter Klein was +seated at the fire. There also was Fernando, who appeared to have +fallen asleep in a sitting position. As for the two boys, they remained +near the opening through which the man had passed, straining their ears +to catch the slightest sound without. + +Presently there came the sharp report of a shot. Then all was silent +again. + +Fernando immediately sprang to his feet and walked towards the boys. He +must have been sleeping lightly, or else feigning slumber. + +"My brother," said he, "is dead." + +"Dead!" + +Both Harry and Braid uttered the word in a single breath. + +"That," said the man, "was the rifle of the sheikh." + +"How do you know?" asked Harry. + +"For a very simple reason," said the other. "There were two reports, +therefore the shot was fired in this direction. If a man fires away +from you, you hear but one report, which is like the crack of a whip. +But if he fires toward you, you hear two reports, each one of which +resembles the ’pop’ of a cork. The shot was fired this way. The +trigger was pressed by the Black Dog, whose bullet seldom misses its +mark. Therefore, in all probability, my brother is gone." + +"And you speak of it so calmly!" uttered Braid. + +Fernando smiled. "With us who live on the Coast," said he, "death is an +easy matter. Sooner or later we all die; some by murder, some by +malaria, some by Black Jack, which is the most deadly fever in the +world. Our graves are in the bush. What does it matter whether or not +a bullet finds its mark?" + +The two boys were astonished. They could not understand this strange +man’s views of life and death. + +"And you have sacrificed your brother’s life," asked Harry, "merely to +prove that the Black Dog of the Cameroons intended to murder Klein?" + +Fernando shook his head. + +"I would have gone myself," he answered, "had that been possible. As it +is, I can live, at least, for revenge." + +The full significance of the thing burst upon Harry Urquhart. + +"A wasted life!" he cried. + +"Oh no!" said the man; "a life is never wasted—for the truth." + +After that they were silent; they remained standing close together by +the opening in the wall. Harry felt as if a heavy weight had been +placed upon his heart. + +Without, through the fissures in the wall, they could see the moonshine +and the stars. A soft wind which moaned across the desolate and rugged +heights was blowing upon the mountain. + +Presently they were startled by the sound of a voice—a voice that spoke +in a whisper. + +"I am wounded," said the voice, "I am wounded almost to death. Fernando, +my brother, hold out a hand to me, that I may speak to you before I +die." + +Harry was about to move to the opening, when the elder guide fiercely +thrust him back. + +"Do you suffer great pain?" asked Fernando, speaking tenderly, as he +approached the fissure on tiptoe. + +"Give me your hand," came the answer in a weak, breathless voice. + +Instead of a hand, suddenly Fernando thrust his rifle through the +opening and fired. The loud report echoed in the shallow vault. A +strong smell of cordite was driven to their nostrils. + +Without, there was a shriek. Harry rushed to the opening and looked +through. He saw a white figure flying in the moonlight like a ghost. +Fernando—the half-bred Spaniard—threw back his head and laughed the +laugh of a fiend. + +"What does all this mean?" cried Braid, turning fiercely upon the man. + +"That was no more my brother," said the guide, "than the dog-fox is +brother to the eagle. That man was the sheikh—the Black Dog himself." + +"It was your brother’s voice," said Harry. + +"Indeed!" said the man. "I should know my brother’s voice. I tell you +once again my brother is dead. The Black Dog slew him; and then, +recognizing the man he had killed, he guessed that I, too, was with you, +and he came here to kill me, imitating my brother’s voice, practising +the cunning which has made him feared from the Niger to the Congo. And +he has gone with a bullet in his chest." + +"You did not kill him?" asked Braid. + +"No. He fled, realizing that his trick had failed. But because he +killed my brother, Cortes, whom I love, I swear now by the saints that I +will avenge my brother’s death, that I will send the Black Dog to the +shades. Henceforward it is his rifle against mine, his treachery +against my wits; it is the fox against the serpent." + +All this time they had forgotten something of superlative importance. +When events of startling magnitude occur in such quick succession it +sometimes happens that the obvious is overlooked. And strange to +relate, it was Peter Klein—who hitherto had seemed quite incapable of +thinking for himself—who was the first to realize the exceeding gravity +of their situation. On a sudden he rushed at Fernando like a maniac, +and seized him by the arm. + +"You say," he cried, "you are sure your brother is dead?" + +The man bowed his head. + +"Then, if he is dead, by Heaven, we are buried alive!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV—The Valley of the Shadow + + +The truth came upon them all in the nature of a shock. They could not +think how it was that they had overlooked so simple a deduction, so +obvious a fact. + +Cortes, by reason of the extreme slimness of his form, was the only one +of their number who could manage to squeeze himself through the narrow +opening. The stone above the circular hole in the roof, or ceiling, +could not be moved from the inside. The hiding-place that they had +deemed so secure a refuge was nothing but a death-trap. + +Peter Klein turned in anger upon the guide. + +"So much for your wisdom," he cried, "so much for your oath!" + +The man’s eyes flashed. His hand went to the knife he carried in his +belt. One half of him was a savage, and the other half a Spaniard. + +"Do you think," said he, "that I thought my brother would be killed?" + +"So far as I can see," said Klein, "it is all the same to you." + +"There you prove yourself a fool," answered the other hotly. "You think +I do not love him because I do not weep like a woman and gnash my teeth. +Understand this—the heart of a Spaniard is like a deep pool, the +surface of which is still. We feel; we love. Also, I warn you again, +we can hate." + +The spy dared not face the man’s blazing eyes. + +"I warn you," Fernando went on, his voice rising as passion swayed him, +"if you hold me up to ridicule, you die. I am ready enough to admit +that my judgment was at fault—that I forgot that, without my brother, +we were unable to leave the cave—but to be put to scorn by such as you +is more than I will endure!" + +Peter Klein fell back before the fiery onslaught of the man’s words as +though he had been struck. The half-caste stood upright, every muscle +taut, his eyes ablaze, his clenched teeth showing in the blackness of +his long moustache. Then he hurled his knife upon the floor. + +"Why do I waste words upon such as you?" he cried, as if in anguish. +"You are not worthy of my anger!" + +"I cannot yet understand," said Harry. "If the sheikh is so formidable +an adversary, why did you send your brother into the night dressed in +Klein’s clothes?" + +"I spoke high words of the prowess of the Black Dog," said Fernando, +"but all the time I believed in my brother. Cortes was a fine shot, +second only to the sheikh himself. Moreover, he was agile, one of the +finest stalkers who ever lived. I knew, when I was sitting by the fire, +that we would soon hear a shot. You thought that I was sleeping, but I +was praying to the Holy Virgin that the first shot would be fired by my +brother, and that the Black Dog would lie in his own blood, his life +ended, the Book of Fate closed upon his evil deeds. When I heard the +double report, my heart sank within me. I knew that my brother had been +outwitted—that the victory lay with the sheikh." + +"And in the meantime," said Harry, "we are buried alive!" + +"The fault is mine," said the guide. "I should have asked my brother to +remove the stone at the entrance before he went, in case of any mishap. +I forgot to do so. I ask forgiveness." + +"There is nothing to forgive," said the boy. "In such a country as +this, encompassed upon every hand by death and dangers of all kinds, +there are a thousand things to think of. I would be the last to blame +you." + +"You are generous," said the man. "The English, with all their faults, +are the most generous race on earth; and because they are just, I honour +them. We have food and water to last for some days. We can but put our +trust in Providence." + +Of the days that followed it is unnecessary to tell in detail. In the +gallery, shut out from the outside world, from the pure air of the +mountains and the sunlight, existence was a living death. For all that, +it was wonderful for how long they retained their strength. Indeed, it +is a remarkable fact that a man can go for many days with little food, +if he has water to drink and is not asked to undergo great physical +exertion. But at last Peter Klein grew so weak, and the beating of his +heart so slow, that Harry feared he was dying. + +It was during these days that the boys came to love the wizened +half-caste in whose hands was their fate. Fernando’s courage knew no +bounds; it was as if his will-power was invincible. Never once did a +word of despair or hopelessness leave his lips. + +They longed for the open air, for freedom. Days and nights were all the +same to them, except that sometimes the sunshine, sometimes the +moonshine, invaded the depths of their prison through the great fissures +in the wall. As time went on it was difficult not to give up hope. + +At last, one night, Fernando rose to his feet and approached Harry, who +found it impossible to sleep. + +"My friend," said he, "the sands are running down, but I think that I +can save you." + +"How?" asked the other. + +"Look at me!" cried the man. "I am little better than a skeleton. I +think I can creep through the opening in the wall." + +Assisted by Braid, he crawled to the fissure, and there endeavoured to +pass through. It is true that he had wasted away terribly, but the +opening was very narrow, and his frame was larger than his brother’s. + +For an hour he struggled vainly. At last, he gave it up. + +"It is no good," said he. "I cannot do it. We are lost. Nothing +remains but death." + +They resigned themselves to their fate. They were far past all +complaint. Even Klein was silent; he no longer moaned and deplored his +unhappy lot. Even he had learnt to prepare himself for death. + +Three more days passed, and at the end of that time Fernando himself lay +upon the floor in a kind of faint. + +It was bitterly cold. They had no fire. They had burned all their +wood. Only a little water remained. The prospect before them was +horrible to contemplate. They were destined to be driven mad by thirst. + +For some time Harry walked backward and forward. Then fatigue overcame +him, and, lying down upon the floor, he immediately fell asleep. When +he awoke it was daylight. He went to the bucket of water to divide the +little that remained into four equal parts. To his astonishment, he +found that the bucket was empty. + +He uttered a loud exclamation, which brought Braid to his elbow. + +"What has happened?" asked Jim. + +"Our last drop of water," said Harry, "has been stolen." + +There was little doubt as to who was the thief. Neither Harry nor Jim +nor Fernando could have been capable of such treachery. Harry turned +fiercely upon Peter Klein. + +"Do you deny this?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Klein; "I do." + +They examined his pannikin and found that the inside was wet. There was +also a drop of water upon the floor by the place where he had been +sitting. Without a doubt, during the earlier part of the night, the man +had pretended to be asleep until the three others were buried in +slumber. Then he had stolen all that remained of their water. + +Fernando rose slowly to his feet, drew his long knife, and, tottering +from weakness, approached the German spy. + +"Death," said he, "is too good for you! But, weak as I am, you die!" + +Harry held out his hand. + +"Let him be," said he. "His cowardice will avail him little. He will +only live to see us go before him. He has done no more than prolong the +agony of his death!" + +The guide returned, growling like a dog, and sat down upon the floor. + +During that day hardly a word was spoken. They sat in silence, waiting +for the end. Towards afternoon a raging thirst began to consume them; +their blood grew hot in a kind of fever; their tongues clave to the +roofs of their mouths. + +And at nightfall they lay down to die. Fernando was now in a kind of +stupor. For an hour he never moved, but lay like one already dead. Both +Braid and Klein fell asleep, but Harry found sleep impossible. + +Knowing that the end was drawing near, he resolved to commend his soul +to the Almighty, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to pray. + +For some minutes he prayed silently, making his peace with God. When +his prayer was finished he felt happier. He sat for some time with his +hands clasped about his knees, looking upward at the round stone which +confined them in their prison. + +And as he looked the stone moved as if by magic, silently. Through the +round hole above, the light of the moon streamed down into the darkened +vault. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI—The Enemy in Sight + + +For some moments Harry Urquhart did not move. He sat like a graven +image, his eyes staring, his jaw dropped in amazement. Then the full +truth burst upon him in a flood. He sprang to his feet, uttering a loud +cry which immediately awoke both Braid and Peter Klein. + +"What is it?" cried Braid. "What has happened?" + +Harry seized his comrade by the shoulders and shook him violently. + +"Tell me, Jim, have I gone mad, or has a miracle happened? Look there!" + +Braid looked in the direction indicated, and saw, to his amazement, that +their prison doors were opened, that the stone had been rolled away from +the circular hole in the roof. + +By that time Fernando had got to his feet. He came swaying towards +them, and clutched hold of Jim’s arm for support. Perhaps the climate +of the Coast had weakened his constitution. At any rate, he was now far +weaker than the others—even than Klein. + +"We are saved!" he cried. "But beware of treachery. For all we know +the Black Dog may be hiding at the entrance." + +Harry cared nothing for that. A sense of freedom, a breath of mountain +air, were worth all the risk in the world. He scrambled up, caught hold +of the edge of the hole, and with great difficulty managed to pull +himself through, so that he stood in the light of the stars, amid the +mists that wrapped the mountain. + +At his feet lay a still, dark form. It was that of a human being, but +so motionless that the boy feared that it was that of a dead man. Going +down upon his knees, he turned the body over, so that the face was +uplifted to the moon; and at once he recognized the features of Cortes, +the younger guide, who had gone out to slay the sheikh. + +He spoke to the man, but received no answer. Then he rushed to a spring +that was near by and quenched his burning thirst. + +There he was joined by Jim Braid and Peter Klein. Both went down upon +their knees at the spring-side to drink their fill. + +After that they assisted the elder guide to escape from the terrible +prison in which they had spent so many days. They sprinkled water upon +the lips of the younger man, and at last he opened his eyes. + +"We thought you dead," said Harry. "Tell us what happened to you?" + +"I went my way, dressed in the clothes of that cur, to trick the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. Knowing the man with whom I had to deal, I was +cautious and on my guard. + +"I approached so silently that not even a lizard could have taken alarm. +Then I saw the man waiting for me on the mountain-side. He was dressed +in his white Arab robes; he was seated on a boulder, with his rifle on +his knees. + +"I considered what was best to do. I had intended to show up at a +distance, pretending that I was the German. Then I remembered that if +the sheikh fired I would assuredly be hit. In the end I decided to +creep upon him unawares, to snatch his rifle from his hands. With a man +like the Black Dog it is best to strike the first blow, and also to +strike hard. + +"How he saw me I cannot say. His eyes are like those of a lynx. But he +discovered me and fired, and I was wounded. The bullet pierced my +chest. For a moment I think I was unconscious, for when I opened my +eyes the sheikh himself was kneeling over me, looking into my face. He +recognized me, and called me by my name. + +"Without doubt he thought I was dying. Indeed, he left me to die. He +went his way up the mountain. Presently I heard a shot, and a little +after the Black Dog came past me, running as if for life. When he was +quite close to me I saw that there was blood upon his robes and that he +was running after the manner of one who suffers pain and is wounded. How +that happened I do not know. At the time I thought little about it. I +did not doubt that I myself stood at the door of death. + +"I fainted, and when I recovered consciousness I was consumed by a +terrible thirst. Fever raged in my bones. With great difficulty I +managed to drag myself to the side of a spring, where I drank great +draughts of water. After that I fell asleep; and for the next three +days I lay in that place, thinking that I was dying, frequently drinking +at the stream. I could not walk, for whenever I tried to rise to my +feet there was a pain in my chest like a red-hot sword, and I came near +to fainting. + +"One night I thought of my brother and my friends, and then it was that +I remembered that you were unable to escape from your prison. + +"Ever since then I have been struggling up the side of the mountain, +endeavouring to get to you to rescue you. Every minute I thought that I +was dying; sometimes I was so weak that I felt I could go no farther. +Yet every day I made a little progress. I followed the direction of the +stream. I drank the water, and ate wild berries, as well as the +provisions I carried with me. + +"I reached the stone; I remember rolling it away, and after that I +remember no more." + +The narration of this story was too much for the man’s strength. As he +said the last words he fell backward in a faint. + +For the rest of the night they camped in the open air, sleeping around a +fire. They remained upon the mountain-top for four days. The German +troops had evidently left the district, and though Harry and Jim hunted +in the valley, and succeeded in shooting some guinea-fowl, they saw no +signs of von Hardenberg and the sheikh, who had evidently pushed forward +on their way towards Maziriland and the Caves of Zoroaster. + +It is remarkable how quickly they were completely restored to health. +Food and water and the freshness of the mountain air lent their +assistance to Nature; and even Cortes, who had been so severely wounded, +rapidly regained his strength. Indeed the wound was already healed, and +all he required was nourishment and rest. + +When they were able to continue their journey, they decided to advance +with the greatest caution. A few miles farther on they would come to a +long valley, two hundred miles in length, which led directly towards the +frontier of Maziriland. Cortes knew of a path that ran along the +crest-line of the mountains, whence they would be able to survey the +surrounding country except such as was hidden by the density of the +bush. If they followed this there would be small chance of their being +taken by surprise, either by the Germans or von Hardenberg and the +sheikh. + +At first they marched by easy stages, in order not to overtax their +strength. This part of the mountain was inhabited by a great number of +rock-rabbits, many of which they were able to kill with sticks; and +these rabbits soon found their way into the cooking-pot. + +By degrees they made their daily marches longer. They were anxious to +overtake Captain von Hardenberg and the Black Dog, who were evidently +several miles in advance. Finally they marched by night, the guides +taking a direct route by the stars. + +Suddenly, one midnight, as they rounded a great spur of rock, they saw a +small light, dim and twinkling in the distance like a star, far below +them in the valley. + +"Look there!" cried Harry, pointing ahead. + +"Is it a camp-fire?" asked Braid, turning to the two guides, who stood +together. + +Both bowed their heads. + +"It is a camp-fire," said Fernando. "It is the camp-fire of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII—A Shot by Night + + +Towards morning the fire dwindled and went out. At daylight they could +see no sign of von Hardenberg and his companion. The entire valley +appeared deserted. In this part of the country there were no villages, +the valleys being too barren and infertile for agriculture. + +The next night the bivouac-fire was again visible, this time nearer than +before. On the third night they were not more than seven or eight miles +in rear of those whom they pursued. + +On these occasions they were careful that their own fire should not be +observed. They always lit it under the cover of large rocks or +boulders, screening it from the north. They had every reason to suppose +that the sheikh and his companion believed them dead. The Black Dog had +doubtless told his employer that their pursuers had been buried alive in +the crater of the old volcano. + +Every night they were careful to post a sentry, and, on one occasion, +when the first signs of dawn were visible in the east, Harry—who was on +watch—suddenly heard a sound, faint but very distinct, immediately +behind his back. + +He turned quickly, but could see nothing. He waited for some moments, +holding his breath, with his finger ready on the trigger of his +revolver. + +Nothing happened. The boy imagined that the sound had been caused by a +rock-rabbit or a mountain-rat, and was about to resume his former +position, when something descended upon him with a spring like that of a +tiger. + +In the nick of time he jumped aside. He saw a white figure rushing +violently through space. In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife +that missed him by the fraction of an inch, and the next moment he was +full length upon the ground, struggling in the arms of a powerful and +savage man. + +[Illustration: IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED +HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH] + +Locked together in a death-grip, they rolled over and over, first one on +top and then the other. There was a loud shout, which came from the +lips of Braid, and at that the two guides sprang to their feet and +hastened to Harry’s assistance. + +The struggle ended as suddenly as it had begun. One second, strong +fingers gripped Harry by the throat, and the next his adversary was +gone. He had vanished like a ghost; he had slipped away like an eel. + +Harry Urquhart sprang to his feet and listened. He heard a laugh—a +wild, fiendish laugh—far away in the night. Stooping, he picked up a +bare knife that was lying on the ground. + +"I wrenched this from his hand," said he, showing the knife to Fernando. + +The half-caste examined it in the firelight. It was a knife of Arab +design. + +"That," said he, "is the knife of the Black Dog." + +"Why did he not fire?" asked Harry. + +"Evidently because he did not wish to warn the Germans. That is a bad +sign; it means that the German troops are in the neighbourhood." + +The following night, when they scanned the valley, they could see no +sign of the camp-fire of von Hardenberg and the Arab. The sheikh, +having failed in his enterprise on the previous evening, was evidently +determined to exercise greater caution. Harry examined the valley with +his glasses, not only to the north but also to the west and to the east. +However, he could see no sign of their enemies. + +"I do not like the look of it," said Fernando. "So long as we knew +where the Black Dog was, we had the whip hand of him. We must be +prepared for the worst." + +"Surely," said Harry, "he will push on towards Maziriland?" + +"The shortest way is not always the quickest," answered the other. "As +likely as not he has gone back upon his tracks, and even now is encamped +somewhere behind us." + +That night they deemed it advisable to light no fire. Seated amid the +rocks on the crest-line of the hills, where the wind moaned and howled +from the west, they held a council of war. It was decided that, during +the march on the following day, the two guides should act as scouts, the +elder moving some distance in advance of the three Europeans, Cortes +following in rear. + +By the time the sun rose above the mountain-tops, they were well upon +their way. At mid-day they halted for a meal, and it was then that +Cortes came running to the bivouac. + +"Come here!" he cried. "I have seen them." + +They followed the man to the crest-line, crawling on hands and knees. +Only Peter Klein remained by the fire. Since they had escaped from the +crater of the volcano no one had spoken to the man. The guides showed +only too plainly that they despised him, and neither Harry nor Braid +were disposed to forgive the scoundrel for having stolen their last drop +of water. + +They came to a place where the valley-side dropped down in an almost +perpendicular cliff. Far below was a little grove of trees, around +which a stream meandered, its waters glistening in the sunshine. Beyond +the grove, on the other side of the valley, following a kind of +bridle-path that led to the north, were five men, one of whom was +dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"That is the sheikh," said Fernando. "He walks by the side of the +German." + +"And the other three?" asked Braid. + +"They are natives from the bush. The sheikh has doubtless enlisted +their services during the last three days. The natives dare not refuse +him labour. He was all-powerful when he was a slave-trader; fear of him +passed from village to village by word of mouth. On an expedition such +as this, he is doubly to be dreaded, because he has friends among the +Maziris themselves." + +"Then," cried Harry, "supposing he tells the tribe to rise against us?" + +"There is little fear of that," said Fernando. "He is hated by the +chiefs and head-men, who resent the authority he wields over many of the +people." + +"Then, what will he do when he draws near to the caves?" + +"He will rob by night," said Cortes. "Under cover of darkness he will +endeavour to secure the treasure." + +"My brother," said the elder man, laying a hand upon the other’s +shoulder, "tell me, how far away is Black Dog?" + +The man judged the distance with his eye. + +"Sixteen hundred yards," said he. + +"Nearly a mile," said the other. "I will try my luck. I have sworn an +oath by the saints." + +So saying, he lay down upon his face and loaded his rifle. Lifting the +back-sight, he took long and careful aim, and then pressed the trigger. +There came a sharp report, and the bullet sped across the valley. + +In the space of a few seconds the sheikh and his followers had vanished. +To hit a moving figure at that distance was a well-nigh impossible task, +but that the bullet had not been far from its mark was apparent from the +way in which the party had so suddenly disappeared. + +Von Hardenberg was moving up one side of the valley, Harry and his +companions on the other. It was therefore a race for the treasure. If +Harry reached the caves first, he would be unable to enter the vault, by +reason of the fact that the Sunstone was not in his possession. He +would have to lie in wait for the Black Dog and the German. + +For two days they saw nothing more of their rivals. There was water in +plenty in the district, and presently springs and streams became even +more numerous, and they entered into a country that was thickly wooded. +At the same time the mountains became more wild and rugged, and it was +soon impossible to make progress by way of the hills. + +They therefore descended into the valley, and entered a region of +scattered trees, which gradually became a forest, where they were shut +out from the sunlight and the light of the stars. There were no paths +in the forest, and they could seldom march more than eight miles a day +by reason of the tangled undergrowth through which they had to cut a +passage. + +When they came out of the forest they were in a land of rolling hills, +which, the guides told them, mounted to the summit of Maziriland. Their +first camp in this district was under the lee of a hill; and, since they +had seen nothing of either von Hardenberg or the German troops for +several days, they deemed it safe to light a fire. There was no +scarcity of fuel, and very soon a fire was blazing, the green wood +crackling and hissing in the flames. Over the fire a kettle was +suspended by a chain from three iron rods, and from the spout of this +kettle steam was issuing, when suddenly a shot was fired in the +distance, and a bullet drilled a hole through the kettle, so that the +water from within ran down into the fire, whence issued a little cloud +of steam. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII—A Dash for Liberty + + +As one man they rushed to their arms, and even as they did so a score of +shots rang out, and the whistling bullets cut the earth about their +feet. + +"The German troops!" cried Cortes. "We must gain the hill-top or we’re +lost!" + +Firing into the darkness as they ran, they ascended the hill with all +dispatch. At the top they found themselves subjected to a withering +fire, which poured down upon them from all directions. The night was +alive with the sharp reports of rifles. Sudden flashes of fire showed +up on every hand, like so many living tongues of flame. It was evident +the enemy was in force. + +For four hours the fight continued without a check. The roar of the +musketry continued; the hissing of the bullets was like heavy rain. And +all this time the German soldiers were working nearer and nearer, until +at last they formed a complete circle around the foot of the hill. + +They were then close enough for their voices to be audible, and now and +again, as a bullet found its mark, a shriek went up in the night. + +By then, not one of Harry’s party had been struck. This was partly due +to the boulders which lay upon the hill-top, and behind which it was +possible to obtain cover, and partly to the inferiority of the German +marksmanship. + +During a lull in the combat, a short respite from the strain of the +situation, Harry took counsel with the two guides and Jim. + +"It appears to me," he observed, "that if we wait till sunrise we are +lost. So far, we have managed to escape death only by reason of the +darkness." + +"Before the sun rises," said Fernando, "two courses lie open to us: we +must either fight our way through the enemy or commend our souls to +Heaven." + +"I was going to propose," said Harry, "that we gather together in a body +and endeavour to charge through the enemy." + +"And after that?" asked Braid. + +"After that we may either find some place more suitable for defence, or +else die in our tracks." + +"We can die fighting," said the younger guide. + +"Well, then," said Harry, "every minute counts. If we can get through +we may be able to cover some miles before dawn is upon us. We must hold +together, however. There will be no time to go back to look for one who +is lost." + +They now prepared themselves to make this last and desperate bid for +freedom. They played for the highest stakes, for liberty and life. They +could not advance, however, without acquainting Peter Klein of their +intention, and when the man was told of what they proposed to do he set +to shaking in his limbs. + +Harry was in no mood to humour him. He had long since lost all patience +with their uninvited guest. + +"You have two minutes," said he, "in which to choose. Either you come +with us, or stay here, or else you can go over to the enemy. It does +not matter very much to us which you decide to do." + +The man picked up his rifle. He tried to speak, and stuttered. He was +incoherent from fear, though it was his own countrymen who opposed them. +German and German-trained native troops were in the valley in about +equal numbers. + +"What am I to do?" he asked. + +"Remain at my side," said Harry. "Do not fire until I tell you to. We +are going to creep as near to the enemy as we can, and then charge +through together." + +Klein said nothing, but they heard the bolt of his rifle shake in his +hand. + +Then all five began to crawl down the hill, picking their way carefully +over the stones, advancing as stealthily as possible. + +The enemy’s fire had somewhat abated. Perhaps they also—true to the +traditions of the Prussian army—contemplated an assault. Instead of +the continuous rattle of musketry that had lasted for so long, only an +occasional shot resounded in the valley. + +Inch by inch, they drew nearer to the enemy’s position, and when not +twenty yards from the place where a German officer was shouting hoarse, +guttural words of command, Harry whispered to his followers to halt. He +desired to give them time to gain their breath, that the charge might be +as swift as it was sudden and unexpected. + +During the next few minutes it was as if each second dragged out into +eternity. At all events, the anxiety and excitement had the most +amazing effect upon Peter Klein, who was a coward from the day of his +birth. It drove him mad, and he became like some infuriated beast, a +bull in a bull-ring or a baited bear. + +Suddenly springing to his feet, before Harry had given the word of +command, he discharged the magazine of his rifle in the direction of his +own countrymen. Then, seizing the weapon by the muzzle, he dashed down +hill, swinging it round and round his head as a man uses a club. + +Harry and his three companions followed in the man’s wake, firing right +and left. Though it was dark, they were near enough to Klein to see +what happened. The man was as terrible in his madness as he had been +despicable in fear. Without a doubt, terror had overcome his senses. +Giving himself up for lost, he had been able to bear the suspense no +longer, and now rushed furiously, demented and panic-stricken, into what +looked like certain death. + +A German sergeant jumped out of the grass before him, and the butt of +Klein’s rifle crushed the man’s skull as though it were a nut. Another +man—a native—a second later was dropped to the ground, with a blow +that would have felled an ox. A third rushed upon the maniac, and so +tremendous was the stroke that sent him to his death that Klein’s rifle +broke at the small of the butt. + +Still the ex-spy was undefeated. With the steel barrel in one hand and +his revolver in the other, he went onward in the dark, filling the night +with an infinity of savage and appalling yells. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX—War to the Knife + + +Ten minutes later Peter Klein stopped dead, looking about him with wild, +staring eyes. The night was cold—for they were still at a great +altitude—and the breath was pumping from his nostrils as it does with a +horse. However, he was given little time to rest, for Harry, running +forward, seized him by the arm. + +"Get on!" cried the boy. "We’re not out of danger yet." + +On they went, racing for freedom, crossing hills and minor valleys, +passing beneath trees, and sometimes knee-deep in the water of forest +streams. + +For a time they heard the guttural voices of the Germans behind them. At +last these became inaudible in the distance. The soldiers were not able +to follow on their tracks, since they had no way of knowing which route +the fugitives had taken. + +At last Harry deemed it safe to call a halt. + +Klein, who was still running like one possessed, had to be stopped by +force. He would not desist from flight, until Jim Braid had tripped him +up. Harry, followed by Fernando, came upon them shortly afterwards. + +"See," cried Harry, pointing to the east, "there comes the dawn! In +half an hour it will be daylight." + +"Do you know where we are?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +"Yes," said the man. "We are towards the Maziri frontier. I recognize +the mountains on the sky-line. There is a good place near at hand where +we can hide, and where—even if we are discovered—we will be able to +hold our own for many days." + +"Let us go there," said Harry. "But where is your brother?" + +No one answered. They peered into the faces of one another. The +younger guide was missing. + +Fernando, the man who had sworn an oath to kill the Black Dog, lifted +his hands to his mouth and let out a long-drawn howl which was like that +of a jackal, and which carried far in the stillness of the morning. It +was a signal that his brother knew of old. Three times he repeated it, +and each time lifted a hand to his ear, and stood listening expectant. + +No answering cry came back. A death-like silence reigned over the +valleys and forests and the mountain-side. + +"He is lost?" asked Harry. + +"He may have taken the wrong direction in the darkness. He may have +been struck by a bullet. Who can tell? These things are in the hands +of God." + +"He may be somewhere near at hand," said Braid, hoping for the best. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"If Cortes is alive he is far away; otherwise he would have heard my +signal. At any rate we can do no good by waiting here. We must push +on; the day approaches. As I said, I know of a place where we shall be +safe." + +As the grey light extended from the mountain-tops to the valleys, +Fernando led them to a kind of ancient fort, constructed of great stone +boulders and surrounded by a deep ditch. In the parapet of this fort +there were loopholes through which to fire, and in the centre, well +screened from observation, was a small hut made of the branches of +trees. The redoubt stood on a sharp pinnacle of rock commanding a wide +stretch of country on every hand. It had doubtless been constructed +centuries before, when there was a more advanced stage of civilization +in the heart of Africa. Indeed, it is from this bygone civilization +that the Maziris themselves trace their origin. + +As the daylight increased they were able to take in their surroundings. +Many miles up the valley, it was just possible to see a little village, +which, Fernando assured them, was in Maziriland itself. Some distance +to the west was a great forest which extended as far as the eye could +reach. + +Harry looked around him in amazement. + +"But this place is almost impregnable," he cried. "Four resolute men +could hold it against hundreds." + +"Is there water here?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +The man pointed to a small spring which bubbled up to the surface near +the door of the hut. + +"I will tell you the story of this place," said he. "Years ago a party +of six Maziris sought refuge in this fort, which was built in the olden +times, when the Ancients crossed the deserts from the east. For eight +months those six men held the army of one of the Cameroon kings at bay. +They had laid in a great store of food. They made the defence even +stronger. Time and again they beat back the attack." + +"And in the end?" asked Jim. + +"In the end four of their number were killed, but the other two +escaped." + +"Escaped! How did they escape?" + +"You will not believe me, but it is true. They escaped +underground—like moles." + +"Underground!" cried the two boys, echoing the man’s words in their +astonishment. + +"Yes," said the guide. "All those months they had been digging a +tunnel. The hill is composed of a very soft kind of rock; and they had +brought spades and picks from Maziriland. Day and night they worked, +until at last the tunnel became a mile in length, extending from the +inside of the fort into the very heart of the forest." + +"Where is the entrance?" asked Harry. + +"It is here." + +The man led the way to the hut. The floor was covered with rushes, and +these he gathered together in his arms and piled in a great heap before +the doorway. Underneath was a circular piece of wood, like that which +is often found on the top of a well. Lifting this, Fernando pointed to +a flight of steps that led down into impenetrable darkness. + +"They went this way?" asked Harry. + +"Two escaped by way of the tunnel, whilst a third, who was already +dying, covered up the entrance with rushes. When their foes got in they +found only four men—dead. And they believed that they had been held at +bay during all those months by four men instead of six." + +"Does your brother know of this place?" + +"Yes; and if he is alive he will guess where we have gone. He will come +to us by way of the tunnel. If he is dead——" And Fernando shrugged +his shoulders. + +During that day and the next they saw nothing of the Germans; but +Fernando protested that it would not be safe to push on towards +Maziriland, since the enemy was certainly in the district. Also they +still hoped that Cortes would return. + +During these days they were not idle. Jim Braid was left behind in +charge of Peter Klein, who could not be trusted to hold his own in case +of sudden attack, whilst Harry and Fernando departed into the forest by +way of the tunnel. + +The long journey through the subterranean passage was one of the most +unpleasant experiences that Harry Urquhart ever had in his life. Not +only was the place pitch dark, but water had filtered through the walls +and lay here and there in pools upon the floor. These pools had grown +stagnant, and the air was humid, tainted with the foulest smells. + +At last, they came forth into the forest. There, for two days and one +night, they collected a great store of provisions. They dared not fire +their rifles, but there was no necessity to shoot. The forest abounded +in ground-nuts and various kinds of fruit. Also, Fernando knew where +the natives set their traps, and the two devoted their time to robbing +these, until finally they had sufficient supplies to last for several +days—rabbits, small hog-deer, and many kinds of birds. + +They were obliged to make three journeys to the fort with all the +provisions they had obtained, since it was not possible to carry a heavy +load through the narrow, stifling tunnel. + +On the third day they set to work cutting up the meat and drying it in +the sun. Sun-dried meat is uncommonly tough, but it has this +advantage—it will keep for many months. + +That evening they heard a shot far away in the distance. It was +followed by another, and yet a third, and towards midnight the whole +valley was alive with musketry. + +"What is it?" asked Harry of the guide. + +The man shrugged his shoulders. + +"I cannot say," said he. "Either my brother is pursued by the Germans, +or a fight is taking place between them and the Black Dog—in which case +I may be robbed of my revenge." + +They divided the night into three watches. Peter Klein, they knew, they +could not trust in any responsible position requiring strong nerves and +presence of mind. They set the man to the most menial tasks—chopping +wood, cooking, and repairing the ancient defences. + +All night the firing in the valley continued; by daybreak it was near at +hand. They could see the figures of the Germans racing across the +valley, advancing in extended order or else in small groups which at +that distance resembled families of mice. + +That afternoon a small reconnoitring-party of the enemy ascended the +hill upon which stood the fort. The defenders lay in hiding behind the +parapet, determined not to show themselves, not to disclose their +hiding-place, unless it was certain that the Germans intended to occupy +the hill-top. + +They waited till the eleventh hour. The enemy was not twenty paces from +the ditch when Fernando rose to his feet, and cried out in the German +language, ordering them to halt on peril of their lives. + +At the same time, he raised his rifle to his shoulder and sent a bullet +over their heads. As one man they turned and fled, racing towards the +forest, and were lost to sight. + +It was from that moment that the siege commenced. Their place of refuge +became a citadel encompassed on every hand by a hostile force. The +Germans gathered round them in companies, and day and night strove to +induce the garrison to surrender. It was trench warfare in the heart of +the African wild. + + + + +CHAPTER XX—Honour among Thieves + + +The Germans soon found that it was impracticable to attempt to capture +the fort by a direct frontal attack in daylight. The slope of the hill +was so steep that it was possible to ascend only by way of a path which +was covered by the rifles of the defenders. Apparently they had no +artillery at their disposal. + +At first they charged up this path after the manner in which they were +wont to hurl themselves upon the lines of trenches in Poland and in +Flanders. They were swept down like chaff. Owing to the narrowness of +the way they were obliged to advance upon the fort in single file, and +as each man appeared before the loopholes he paid the price of his +daring. + +After the first assault they resorted to tactics more likely to succeed. +They attacked twice by night. But, fortunately for the defence, the +nights were fine and starry, a full moon was up, and it was possible to +see the enemy long before he reached the walls of the fort. + +For all that, the greatest vigilance was necessary both by day and +night, to avoid being taken by surprise. One or other of the defenders +was always on guard. Even Peter Klein was of some use. Though he could +not be relied upon to act with courage or promptitude, his eyesight was +good enough, and he took his turn at sentry by day. Moreover, he was in +such abject terror of falling into the hands of his own people that +Harry suspected that the German authorities at Dualla had learnt +something of the Sunstone and von Hardenberg’s private mission to the +Cameroons. + +By night, when the fort might be rushed, they thought it best not to +leave their destiny in the hands of one who had failed them so +constantly. The only occasion on which Klein had covered himself with +credit was at a moment when fear had so possessed him that he lost all +sense of danger and became for the time being a raving madman. + +It would be wearisome to describe the details of the siege as it +continued day by day. There is no question that the defenders would +have held their own for many weeks had it not been that gradually a +calamity was drawing down upon them. They were running short of +ammunition. Their bandoliers were nearly empty. + +The Germans kept up a constant fire upon the fort, and the garrison, in +self-defence, was obliged to answer back. They calculated that, with +the greatest economy, they had cartridges sufficient to last them only +four days more. It was then that Klein, Harry, and the guide entered +the hut and held consultation together. Jim Braid was on sentry, +stationed on the parapet. The sun was setting in the west. + +It was Fernando who was the first to speak. + +"The situation is very plain," said he. "We can hold out until our +ammunition is exhausted, and then retire by way of the tunnel, still +hoping to reach the caves in advance of von Hardenberg, or we may retire +to-night. + +"Which do you advise?" asked Harry. + +"I suggest," said the guide, "that we go at once. We shall need +ammunition on our return journey to the coast. We have many miles to +traverse. Every moment we delay means a further expenditure of +ammunition. We have not a cartridge to spare." + +"Then," said Harry, "it is settled: we leave the fort this evening." + +It was then that there came a loud and sudden burst of firing from down +the valley, from the direction of the forest. All three sprang to their +feet. + +Braid, from the parapet, called loudly, and they hastened to his side. + +"Look there!" he cried. + +Turning their eyes in the direction indicated, they beheld a man running +as if for life towards the forest. In pursuit, some distance in his +rear, came a large party of Germans, shouting so loudly that their +voices were audible even at that great distance, and firing their rifles +as they ran. + +"Who is it?" cried Harry. + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "He is too far away." + +The firing continued until long after nightfall. It rolled through the +forest like a wave. It was not until ten o’clock that the night was +still. + +The four defenders gathered at the door of the hut. + +"You think it wiser to go?" said Harry + +Fernando bowed his head. + +"Come, then! Let each man load himself with such provisions as he can +carry. We should start at once. It is necessary for us to be far away +before morning." + +Harry Urquhart turned and was about to enter the hut, when he was +brought to an abrupt standstill. He stood motionless and gaping, unable +at first to believe the evidence of his own eyes. For there, in the +doorway, within the enclosure of the fort, stood the figure of a man—a +man who was dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"The Black Dog!" let out the guide, and brought his rifle to his +shoulder. + +"Peace," said the sheikh, lifting a hand. "Think before you fire." + +Fernando’s rifle was directed straight at the man’s heart. The Arab +never flinched. He stood like a statue, speaking in the slow, +deliberate tones of one who is in full possession of his senses. + +"If you fire," said he, "you slay one who has come to place his services +at your disposal. You are surrounded by a legion of foes. Every rifle +counts. I bring you aid." + +Slowly Fernando lowered his rifle; then he laughed. + +"We do not want your aid," said he. + +"There," answered Bayram, "you are wrong." + +"How so?" + +"Here you are imprisoned. You must fight to the end. There can be no +question of surrender." + +"We do not think of surrender," said the other. "We mean to escape by +the way you came. We mean to escape to-night." + +The Black Dog shook his head. + +"That will not be so easy," he made answer. "The Germans are receiving +reinforcements; another column is advancing from the south. The bush +swarms with their reconnoitring-parties and patrols. Moreover, guns are +approaching up the valley, and may be here at any moment. I speak the +truth. Remember, at some risk I have come here of my own accord." + +He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words with care; but his English +accent was singularly good. + +"You have not yet told us," said Harry Urquhart, "why you have come." + +"You are short of ammunition," answered the sheikh. + +"How do you know that?" + +"For five days I have listened to every shot." + +"You have not yet explained," said Harry. + +The Black Dog smiled, his white teeth showing in the midst of the +blackness of his beard. + +"I come with a proposal," said he, "under a flag of truce." + +"You have nothing to fear," cut in Fernando. "You speak of a truce. We +are men of honour." + +"Very well, then," said the sheikh, "my proposal—or rather the proposal +of him who sent me—is that your party and mine agree to come to terms. +You have run out of ammunition; we can supply you. Boxes of ammunition +can be conveyed without difficulty through the tunnel. Moreover, in +order to cover your retreat, I swear by Allah that I will lead the +Germans on a false scent across the mountains to the east." + +"And in exchange for these services?" asked Harry. + +The Black Dog paused, looking hard at Fernando. + +"In exchange for these services," he repeated, "you are to desist from +the pursuit, to allow my employer and myself to pass unmolested in +Maziriland." + +At this base suggestion, a feeling of such powerful indignation arose in +Harry Urquhart that for some moments he could not find his voice. When +he spoke at last, his voice trembled with passion. + +"You can go back to Captain von Hardenberg," said he, "and you can tell +him from me that he has often enough proved himself a rascal, but that I +never thought that he would sink to such perfidy as to offer us +ammunition to be used against his own countrymen in exchange for his own +safety. As for you, it is only because you came here of your own free +will that you are allowed to go away in safety. You took us evidently +both for cowards and fools. You know now, perhaps, that we are neither +one nor the other. But there is a limit to our patience, and I advise +you to leave by the way you came as quickly as you can." + +The Black Dog drew himself up to his full height, folded his arms, and +fixed upon Harry Urquhart his cruel bloodshot eyes. + +"These are high words," said he, "to one who has been the master of a +thousand slaves. You have asked for war to the knife, and you shall +have it. It is apparent from the way in which you speak that you know +little or nothing of the man with whom you have to deal. You shall see. +I shall prove to you that I am not one who uses empty words." + +At that he turned sharply on his heel, entered the hut, and was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI—The Last Cartridge + + +During the next four days the siege continued, and though their enemies +continued to increase in numbers, the Germans were fortunately still +without artillery, which would have battered the old fort to dust and +ashes in the space of half an hour. + +On each occasion when the Germans ventured to assault they were driven +back with considerable loss. Indeed, their dead lay so thick upon the +path upon the hill-side that those who followed after mounted on the +bodies of those who had gone before. + +On one occasion a company of native troops actually gained the parapet +of the fort. It was a dark night, and they had crept up the hill-side +unobserved. With a savage yell, and as one man, they hurled themselves +upon the ramparts. + +The majority were thrown back in disorder under a brisk fire from the +defence, but some half-dozen leapt the ditch and clambered over the +wall. Thereupon a brief hand-to-hand encounter ensued. It was an +affair of seconds, of fierce cries and groans and savage oaths, and in +the end the enclosure of the fort was free of the enemy—except for six +motionless forms that lay silent on the ground. + +Days passed, and still the defence held out. Indeed, they had actually +put off their retreat until too late, for one night they were brought +face to face with the unexpected fact that the Germans had discovered +the entrance to the tunnel. Fernando, who had passed almost to the +mouth of the tunnel, which lay in the midst of the bush, returned to the +fort with the news that a large party of German regular soldiers was +guarding their only line of retreat. Fernando had little doubt that the +Black Dog had found some means by which to betray them. + +The Germans apparently hesitated to advance through the tunnel itself, +since they were still in ignorance of the strength of the little +garrison; and in any case the narrowness and exceeding darkness of the +passage would make an advance an extremely costly affair, whereas +ultimate success was by no means assured. They could no longer be blind +to the fact that those in the fort were running short of ammunition, and +they could afford to play a waiting game. + +The situation of Harry Urquhart and his companions was not of the +pleasantest; indeed, they could no longer hope. Even Fernando, who had +so often proved himself a man of iron, could see no chance of their +deliverance. + +As a great storm drives up upon the wind, so this tragedy drew to a +close. Every round of ammunition—fired in self-defence—every mouthful +of food that was eaten, brought it a step nearer the end. They were +surrounded on every hand. Great numbers of the enemy had come from the +south; both German and native troops were in the district in battalions, +with transport and ammunition columns and machine-guns. + +By then it was manifest that the Germans could capture the fort whenever +they wished, provided they made the necessary sacrifice in lives—a +thing which, as a rule, it is not their custom to hesitate to do. They +had not yet, however, deployed their whole strength against the +garrison—a fact that Harry was not able to explain. + +The blow, which they had anticipated for days, fell upon a certain +morning, soon after daybreak, when the Germans, their whole force in the +valley, advanced in close formation upon the fort. + +At the same time a battery of artillery opened fire from the +neighbouring hills, and the immediate vicinity of the fort became a +pandemonium of dust and smoke and flying stones and masonry, whereas the +defenders were well-nigh deafened by the bursting of high-explosive +shells. + +In spite of this hurricane of lead and steel, time and again shots +sounded from the fort; but the great wave came on, overwhelming and +irresistible. One behind the other the ranks mounted the path. The +defenders kept up a withering fire, until the barrels of their rifles +were so hot they could not touch them. And still the enemy advanced. + +As the Germans gathered themselves together for a final charge, Harry, +Jim Braid, and the half-caste rushed together from the parapet to the +only box of ammunition that remained. The box lay open near the door of +the hut. Fernando was the first to reach it. + +He pulled up sharply, standing motionless and erect. Then he knelt down +and took out from the box the only cartridge that was there. + +"This is all that is left," said he. + +"No more?" cried Harry. + +"We have come to the end," said the guide. + +Jim Braid turned and addressed his companions. + +"Has no one any ammunition?" he asked, and in his voice was a note of +dire distress. + +Both shook their heads. Peter Klein was cowering in the hut. + +"This is all that remains," said Fernando. "It shall be put to +excellent use." + +So saying he slipped it into the chamber of his rifle and closed the +breech with a snap. + +Both Jim and Harry turned away their faces. In a few minutes they knew +that they must be prisoners in the enemy’s camp. Harry allowed his eyes +to travel over the parapet of the fort. He saw the German officers +reorganizing their scattered ranks in preparation for a final charge. + +And then, from a hill-top towards the south, there came a sound that was +like the bursting of a thunder-cloud. Something shrieked and hooted in +the air, and a great shell from a heavy gun burst in a flash of flame in +the midst of the German troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII—The Conquest of a Colony + + +Slowly the guide lowered his rifle. All eyes turned to the south, from +which direction had come the shell. For a moment, in the valley, in the +enclosure of the fort, there reigned a death-like silence—the silence +of suspense. The bombardment of the fort ceased as at a stroke. + +The calm voice of Fernando broke upon the stillness. + +"The British!" said he. "The soldiers from the Coast!" + +Hardly were the words from his lips than a great salvo of cannon +thundered in the valley, and went echoing far above the tree-tops of the +forests, over the ridges of the mountains, towards Maziriland. + +And once again, though the little fort was left in peace, the air was +alive with shells, which flew upon their way, shrieking and hooting as +if in savage glee. Shrapnel burst high overhead, with white puffs of +smoke, the bullets falling like hail into the ranks of the astonished +Germans. Segment-shells struck the rocks, breaking into fragments that +flew far and wide, inflicting the most terrible of wounds. + +The German troops, in good order, shepherded by their officers, retired +down the hill, to face this new and far more formidable danger. They +assembled on a long spur that jutted into the valley, which they deemed +the most suitable position whence to oppose the advance of the British. + +"Is this true?" cried Harry. "Is it, indeed, the English?" + +"Look!" cried Jim, pointing over the parapet. + +A long line of glittering bayonets appeared upon the sky-line, advancing +like a running wave upon a low-lying, sandy beach. They came forward +without checking, each man keeping his distance from his neighbour, as +though they did no more than execute some simple movements on parade. +They were in far more extended order than the Germans. + +Even as the khaki lines advanced, the Mauser rifles spoke from the +hills, and the white dust caused by the bullets flew at their feet. They +answered back in volleys, each one of which sounded like the "rip" of +tearing paper. The sunshine glittered on the steel of their bayonets, +their polished buttons, and the badges on their coats. + +Their manoeuvres were like clockwork. When one party advanced, another +fired; and thus the long lines of infantry were ever firing, ever +advancing upon the enemy’s position. + +A battle fought under such conditions—which are rare enough in these +days when the spade has become an even more important weapon than the +rifle—is one of the most magnificent and impressive sights it is +possible to see. One catches only glimpses, now and again, of fleeting, +crouching figures, running from rock to rock, from cover to cover, +appearing and disappearing like gnats in the light of the sun. And all +the time a great roar of musketry rises to the heavens—a kind of +interminable "crackling" sound, like that of green wood upon a fire, +only a thousand times greater in volume and more continuous. + +Above this the guns toll ceaselessly, shaking, as it seems, the very +ground itself with a series of sullen "thuds", filling the atmosphere +with great vibrations, drum-like echoes, and rolling clouds of smoke. + +Jim Braid and Harry Urquhart stood side by side upon the parapet of the +ancient, crumbling fort. As the gods of Olympus reviewed the struggles +of the Greeks and the Trojans, so those two looked down upon the wide +amphitheatre where the conflict was taking place, where men were +marching shoulder to shoulder into the very jaws of death. + +They could see both sides at once. They could see the Germans on the +ridge, firing rapidly into the advancing British troops; they could see +the British coming on and on, regardless of danger, heeding only the +words of command shouted from line to line. + +Far in rear, upon a hill-top, a heliograph blinked and flickered in the +sun. There was the officer in command. Thence, by means of his +signallers, he controlled the army at his feet, disposing his battalions +as a player moves his chessmen on a board. + +The two boys stood transfixed in bewilderment and admiration. + +"Oh," cried Jim, "what wouldn’t I give to be there!" + +His heart was with his own countrymen, the thin, khaki lines that were +driving straight forward with the tenacity of a pack of hounds that hold +the fox in view. + +From either side gun after gun spoke in quick succession, until it was +as if the world was only thunder and flashes of fire and clouds of +yellow smoke. As often as each gun was fired it was loaded and fired +again. The noise of the batteries was as persistent as the barking of a +chained, infuriated dog. + +And then from everywhere, from out of the grass, from behind the rocks, +from little undulations in the ground, arose thousands of small khaki +figures. + +Their ranks were undisturbed; they were even as the staves upon a sheet +of music. Line after line extended from one side of the valley to the +other, and, in the rear of all, the helio still blinked and glittered, +there where the brains of the machine were working the destruction of +prophets of "Frightfulness", champions of World Dominion. + +A bugle sounded in the air, its thin, piercing notes carrying far. Each +of the boys experienced a thrill of pride and exultation, a sensation of +sublime excitement, as the British lines answered the bugle with a +charge. + +Line after line, amid the thunder of the guns, swept up the ridge +towards the enemy, the bayonets flashing, the bugle speaking again and +again. + +And then came a cheer that rent the air—a British cheer—howbeit from +the throats of gallant Haussas—that drowned the musketry, that rose +superior even to the constant growling of the guns. + +Before that mad, headlong onslaught the enemy gave way. The Germans +were swamped, as a tide carries away a castle on the sands. As one man, +they broke and fled, panic-stricken and defeated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII—Attacked + + +As soon as they had collected their belongings and stores, they set +about to leave the fort, passing through the tunnel in single file, the +guide leading the way and Harry Urquhart bringing up the rear. + +By the time they entered the forest the afternoon was well advanced, the +sun sinking in the heavens. They hoped to reach the British camp that +night, but there was no question that darkness would overtake them long +before they could do so. + +There was little or nothing to fear. The soldiers had driven the +Germans from the district. To all intents and purposes the German +Cameroons was conquered, and the remnants of the enemy were returning in +hot haste towards the Spanish territory to the east. + +When Harry Urquhart and his three companions came forth from the +entrance to the tunnel they found a heap of hot, charred wood upon the +ground. There was no doubt that recently a fire had been burning, and +that the picket that guarded the tunnel had retreated only at the +eleventh hour. + +During the earlier part of the night they traversed the valley, marching +in a bee-line towards the bivouac fires of the British camp. They moved +forward in the following order—Fernando went first, some distance +behind him came Jim Braid and Peter Klein, and a greater distance in the +rear was Harry Urquhart. + +Harry had been walking for some time with his eyes fixed upon the +ground. He was wondering what the end of all this strange business was +to be. + +He knew that von Hardenberg had stolen the Sunstone, that he carried it +upon his person. It was Harry’s ambition, the very lodestone of his +life, to recover the Sunstone for his uncle. It was von Hardenberg’s +object to reach the Caves of Zoroaster, and possess himself of the +treasure. This was the man’s only aim, for which he had proved that he +was prepared to sacrifice his country and his honour. + +As he walked, Harry was thinking of these things, when, on a sudden, +there came a flash of fire, not ten paces to the right. He pulled up +with a jerk, and heard a bullet sing past his head like some evil spirit +in the darkness. Then there came a stinging sensation in the lobe of an +ear, and a moment later he felt the warm blood flowing down his neck. + +He saw a figure flying in the night, and with a loud cry took up the +pursuit. A few seconds later he had flung himself upon a man who +struggled in his grasp. On the instant each seized the other by the +throat, and in the moonlight Harry recognized that he had come to +death-grips with his cousin, Captain von Hardenberg himself. + +No sooner was he aware who his opponent was than he saw at once that +here was a chance to capture the Sunstone, and for that end he struggled +with the desperation that means more than strength. + +Placing one leg behind his adversary, and pressing with all his force +upon his chest, he endeavoured to throw von Hardenberg backward. And +even as he wrestled he felt the Sunstone, sewn in the lining of the +Prussian’s coat. + +Gradually von Hardenberg was forced backward, and then at last he fell, +coming heavily to the ground. In his fall he struck his head against a +rock, and after that he lay quite motionless and silent. + +Harry could hear the footsteps of approaching men. On one hand Jim +Braid and Fernando hastened to the boy’s assistance; on the other, the +Black Dog came forward with rapidity. + +As quick as thought Harry pulled out his pocketknife. He had but to rip +open von Hardenberg’s coat and the Sunstone was his, their journey was +at an end. + +A sharp cut with the knife, a hand that trembled with excitement thrust +through the opening, and Harry’s fingers closed upon the precious relic +he had come so many miles to gain. + +And, at that moment, a violent blow descended upon his head and +stretched him senseless on the ground. The Arab sheikh had come to the +assistance of his employer in the nick of time. His quick eyes had +taken in the situation at a glance. He had seen the Sunstone in the +hands of Harry Urquhart, and, lifting his rifle by the barrel, he had +brought down the butt upon the boy’s head. + +For him to snatch up the Sunstone was the work of an instant. And a +moment afterwards the Black Dog was flying in the night, carrying in his +arms the unconscious body of von Hardenberg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV—The Caves + + +Fernando, bringing his rifle to his shoulder, fired a shot at random in +the darkness. It was the last round they had. A laugh came back from +the distance. + +Without a word the guide put down his rifle on the ground and examined +the wounded boy. + +"He is stunned," said he. "He will recover presently." + +So saying he lifted Harry in his arms and carried him a distance of +about a hundred yards to a place where there was a small stream in the +valley. + +There he bathed the boy’s face and hands, washing the blood from the +wound in his ear. Presently Harry recovered consciousness, sat up, and +looked about him. + +"Where am I?" he asked. + +It took but a word to remind him of what had happened, and then he +remembered that he had held the Sunstone in his grasp. He looked up at +Jim and smiled. + +"I was so near to capturing it," said he. + +"We’ll get it yet, sir," answered Jim. "Just now I had the shock of my +life. I thought you had been killed." + +"I’m all right," answered Harry. "I feel dizzy; that’s all." + +In a little time he was able to continue on his way. The bullet wound +in his ear was nothing; it was scarcely painful. + +That night they camped in the mountains, intending to march at daybreak +towards the British camp. When the sun rose, however, they found to +their surprise that the whole column was already on the line of march, +moving towards the east in pursuit of the retreating enemy. + +When they reached the scene of the bivouac the camp-fires were still +burning, but no sign of life remained. + +The British column had vanished into the bush; and only a few +hospital-wagons were to be seen trundling slowly southward. + +In the centre of the deserted bivouac stood a tall solitary tree, and it +was under this that they rested throughout the heat of the day. +Fernando, who had been dozing, rose to his feet, stretched and yawned. +As he did so he caught sight of a star-shaped cut in the bark of the +tree, and on the instant it was as if the man had become transfigured. + +His eyes lit up, his lips smiled. Amazement, delight, and infinite +pleasure were stamped on every feature of his face. + +"What is it?" asked Harry, at a loss to explain the man’s behaviour. + +"Heaven be praised!" he cried. "My brother is still alive!" + +"Alive!" + +"Yes. Cortes blazed that tree, and the blaze is not one day old. Last +night he was here—in the midst of the British camp." + +"Are you sure of it?" asked Braid. + +"I know," Fernando answered with conviction. "In the days when we +hunted together we sometimes lost one another in the bush, and on such +occasions we blazed the trees along the tracks of bush elephants in just +such a manner as this." + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"There is no sign of Cortes here," he said. "He cannot have left with +the British?" + +"No," said Fernando. "He is hiding somewhere. Let me think, where +would he go. Both he and I know this district well." + +The man paused a moment, standing perfectly still. Then, on a sudden, +with an exclamation, he set off running towards the hills. + +He did not return until long after nightfall; and then it was with the +joyful news that he had found his brother, sound asleep—beside three +boxes of German ammunition. + +Without delay, guided by Fernando, the whole party set off in haste. +They found Cortes, sleeping heavily, in a little dried-up watercourse +well screened by trees. It was characteristic of Fernando that he had +not awakened his brother. + +Harry bent down and touched the sleeper on the shoulder. The man sat +up, rubbed his eyes, and then looked about him. The light of the moon +fell full upon his face. + +Harry grasped his hand and shook it warmly. + +"You escaped?" he cried. + +"Yes," said Cortes. "When we charged through the Germans, my foot +struck against a boulder and I fell upon my face. I think the fall did +some injury to my wound—the wound I had received from the Black Dog; +for, when I tried to run, I found myself unable to do so. + +"You were then some distance ahead of me," he continued. "I feared I +would be overtaken. For a moment I knew not what to do. Then I came to +a place where there was a great hole in the ground covered with bushes, +and there I hid, allowing the Germans to pass. + +"When they had gone, I got to my feet and tried to think matters out. I +knew where my brother would take you; I knew he would go to the old +fort. I might have rejoined you by way of the tunnel. I thought of +doing so, but in the end I decided to go in search of ammunition, of +which I thought you might possibly run short. British Government +ammunition would be no good, as—with the exception of one Express—we +have all got Mauser rifles. So three times I crept by night into the +German camp, and each time returned with a box of ammunition. I secured +also a haversack of revolver ammunition. Their sentries are sleepy +dogs." + +"You did splendidly!" cried Harry. "We are absolutely without a round." + +"I knew you were in the fort," Cortes went on, "and I guessed you would +go to the British camp. It was there that I blazed the tree whilst the +troops were marching away. I returned to the hills, because I was tired +and wished to sleep. If my brother found the blaze I knew he would +follow me here." + +The man smiled. He had every reason to be proud. + +After a while the younger guide spoke again. + +"The Black Dog still lives?" he asked. + +Fernando bowed his head. + +The following morning they began the final stage of their march towards +the frontier of Maziriland. The route led them along the crest-line of +the hills, and thence across a valley thick with undergrowth and jungle, +where the heat was tropical and humid. They were glad to reach high +ground once again, and set forward across the plateau beyond which the +Maziri mountains stood up like a line of thrones. + +These same mountains had been plainly visible from the old fort they had +held so gallantly against the Germans, and had even appeared quite near +at hand. But in these high altitudes the atmosphere was exceedingly +clear, and, besides, the mountains were of great height, dominating the +surrounding country far into the interior of the Cameroons. + +It took them in all six more days to reach the frontier, when once again +they found themselves in the midst of hidden dangers. + +They had no idea of what manner of reception they would receive from the +Maziris themselves; indeed, concerning this strange race very little is +known, either to anthropologists or explorers. + +It is generally supposed that the Maziris are a race that emigrated from +north-eastern Africa very early in the known history of the world. Their +features are aquiline, their lips thin, and the colour of their skin no +more than brown. Not only are they certainly not a Negroid race, but +they do not appear to have intermarried with the neighbouring Negro +tribes in the Cameroons. It is possible they are direct descendants of +the ancient Egyptians, though it must remain a mystery how they brought +to the wilds of Western Africa the religion and traditional customs of +the followers of Zoroaster. + +As soon as they had crossed the frontier, Cortes and Fernando guided the +party towards the west, in which direction were the caves. This also +was the most deserted part of the country, nearly all the Maziri +villages being towards the east, where the country was more fertile and +suitable for pasture. + +There is to be found in a certain part of Africa—far from the sites of +the famous cities of the Pharaohs—indisputable evidence of an extremely +ancient civilization. Even so far south as Mashonaland, are ruins of +towns which could only have been originally constructed by highly +civilized peoples. Ancient Egyptian history, the writings of the Greek +historian Herodotus, as well as the Old Testament itself, place it +beyond all doubt that the Egyptians, the Persians and Phoenicians spread +their learning and their influence far into the interior of what, until +only a few years ago, was the Dark Continent—unexplored, unmapped and +quite unknown. It can only be supposed that Maziriland was a relic of +the early civilization of the East, in much the same way as the +inhabitants of northern Spain are distantly related to the Irish. + +Before we enter this strange, mysterious country, it must be placed on +record that there befell a certain tragedy. In a word, Peter Klein, +having contracted a fever in the jungle, and, being much weakened in +constitution by the nerve-strain and the hardships he had undergone, +fell into a rapid decline—and died, as he had lived, pleading to be +spared. + +His companions buried him one evening among the rock-strewn, lonely +mountains, and he goes out of this story as he came into it—a poor, +mean object, a man of no account. + +As for our four adventurers, daylight the next morning found them once +more upon the hill-tops, shrouded in the mists. For fear of the Maziris +the guides led the party by a roundabout way, giving the valleys, and +even the lower mountain slopes, a wide berth; for there they were more +likely to fall in with parties of the inhabitants. + +On the next day, from the far south, there came a noise like thunder +that continued until the afternoon. Hour by hour the British guns spoke +in the distance. The Germans were being hounded from the Cameroons. + +Day by day, as they continued their journey, the firing was repeated, +growing fainter and more distant as they advanced. On the fifth day +after Klein’s death, they turned towards the north-west, and that +evening crossed a valley. Beyond was a grass-covered plateau where wild +asses grazed. The plateau dropped suddenly in a sheer wall of cliff, +and they were obliged to walk many miles to find a place where they +could descend. + +At length they reached a mountain-top. Immediately opposite was another +mountain, up which there was a path leading to a flight of steps. The +steps ended suddenly in a black, yawning hole in the mountain-side. So +far as the inhabitants were concerned the country appeared absolutely +deserted. It was a barren inhospitable waste. + +"Have we much farther to go?" asked Harry, turning to the elder guide. +"Tell me, in which direction are the caves?" + +"Yonder," said Fernando, pointing to the black hole in the mountain +slope. "Yonder are the Caves of Zoroaster. There lies the treasure +which the Black Dog and von Hardenberg have come all these thousands of +miles to gain." + +In single file, Cortes leading the way, they descended towards the +valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV—The Lock + + +The Caves of Zoroaster are one of the most remarkable examples of the +industry of the Ancients that are known to exist. As we have said, in +various parts of the world, especially in the continent of Asia, there +are many standing proofs of an advanced stage of civilization many +centuries before the Christian era. + +There are the catacombs in Upper Egypt—a labyrinth of subterranean +passages extending for miles; there are the Pyramids, the Great Wall of +China, the hanging gardens of Babylon—all of which are colossal and +eternal monuments of the labour, energy and genius of the past. + +The Caves of Zoroaster are perhaps as marvellous as any of these. +Indeed, it is much to be wondered at that they were not included in the +seven wonders of the ancient world. Time has not served to deface their +majestic beauty, to detract from the solemn magnificence of these great +vaults fashioned by human labour out of the living and everlasting rock. + +Soon after our travellers had caught their first glimpse of the entrance +to the caves, they decided to camp on the lower slopes of the mountain, +for it was already growing dark. It would take them several hours to +cross the valley, and they could not hope to accomplish the journey in +the darkness. They accordingly retired to a place where there was a +great hollow among the rocks, and here they deemed it safe to light a +fire and cook their evening meal. + +The following morning Harry awoke at daybreak. He was anxious to push +on without loss of time. There was no knowing where von Hardenberg and +the sheikh were. Perhaps they had already gained the caves. + +As soon as they had breakfasted, Harry and his party continued on their +way. The two boys, led by the guides, crossed the valley and then +ascended the mountain opposite by way of a bridle-path, worn smooth by +the feet of pilgrims. Throughout the ages, devout men had journeyed to +the caves from the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia—by way of the +caravan routes that extend in all directions across these arid wastes. + +The path grew steeper as they approached the entrance to the caves, and +presently they found themselves at the foot of a flight of steps. A +heavy mist still wrapped the mountain in a kind of shroud. The steps +ascended, one above the other, into the very heart of the mist which +completely obscured the entrance. + +These steps were like "Jacob’s Ladder", mounting, as it seemed, to the +very zenith of the heavens; and on either side of them, as far as Harry +could see, were ranged strange statues—of lions with eagles’ wings, of +men with the heads of foxes, and great dragons that lay crouching like +watch-dogs, guarding the treasure that lay beyond. All were graven in +the same rough mountain stone. + +For centuries the lightning had played upon the rocks about them, the +hail and the rain had lashed these mute, immobile sentinels, so that in +many cases they were broken and corroded like the gargoyles on a Norman +church. + +To mount that flight of nearly a thousand steps in the mists of morning, +between these weird and hideous images, was an experience that bordered +on the uncanny. On every hand a mighty stillness reigned in the heart +of the mountains. + +Indeed, it was as if this wild, forgotten country was some colossal +graveyard of the past, where the wisdom of the Medes and Persians lay +buried to the end of time, where the rugged mountain-tops stood forth +like tombstones, piercing the very clouds. + +At last they came to the entrance. The steps widened and they stood +upon a great stone terrace, level as a table-top, on the farther side of +which arose the side of the mountain, formidably smooth and +perpendicular, the moisture on its surface glistening in the sunlight +that struggled through the mist. It was like a wall of polished steel. + +The entrance to the caves was wide enough to allow four men to pass +abreast, and about ten feet in height. Black as Erebus it yawned in the +savage cliff. On either side, carved in stone, protruding from the +rock, were the figures of two enormous giants, armless, with great +beards that extended to their waists, and those huge conical helmets on +their heads which one has learnt to associate with the Persians, the +Assyrians, and the Medes. + +Fernando walked to the threshold of the entrance and then turned sharp +to Harry. + +"I am a Spaniard," said he, "and the Spanish are a superstitious +race—at least, that is how you would express it. Some speak of +superstition, others of prescience—or foreknowledge of coming events. +Call it what you like, I have the sense of a calamity impending. I am +quite sure of that." + +"How do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"It is like this," Fernando went on; "we have come to a tragedy. The +curtain is about to be raised." + +"Do you fear to enter the caves?" + +"No. But I will not go first. Lead, if you like, I am quite prepared +to follow." + +This was a new trait in the character of the half-caste. He had never +shown fear or hesitation before. + +Harry turned to Jim. + +"Come," said he, and led the way beneath the darkened archway. Cortes +and Fernando followed at their heels. + +But Harry Urquhart had not taken ten paces forward when he stood +transfixed in wonderment at the solemn magnificence and beauty of the +Caves of Zoroaster. + +The place was like a great cathedral. It was divided into three aisles +by two lines of pillars. These pillars were extraordinarily massive. +They had not been built up from the floor to the ceiling, but were part +of the living rock, joining the roof to the floor. In other words, the +aisles had been hollowed out by human labour, and the rounded pillars +left at regular intervals to support the immense weight above. + +The cave was lighted from above by several shafts that pierced the +mountain, and which threw convergent beams of light across the shadows. +Giving upon each of the side aisles were three doors constructed of +wood, but barred with iron and studded with scores of nails. Above +these doors, around three sides of the cave, was a kind of gallery, +connected with the roof by a series of smaller and more frequent +pillars. + +At the far end, upon an altar, a single oil-lamp was burning. Behind +the altar, and about twenty paces distant, was a wall of rock which +immediately attracted the attention of the boys. + +This rock was rough, as in its natural state, whereas elsewhere in the +cave—on the floor, the ceiling, and the pillars—the rock was so smooth +that it resembled masonry. Moreover, the aisles were of grey limestone; +but the rock behind the altar was of red granite, in which the quartz +and mica crystals glittered in the flickering light of the lamp. + +By the side of the granite rock was something which Harry Urquhart +recognized at once. On a single axis, supported at each end by grooves +cut in the pillars, were nine enormous wheels of bronze. On the +outside—or what would correspond to the "tyres"—of each of these +wheels, were hundreds of strange cuneiform characters. + +There was no doubt that beyond the red granite rock lay the vault which +contained the treasure, and these wheels composed the Bramah lock by +sole means of which the vault itself could be opened. + +But without the Sunstone the wheels were useless. On the obverse side +of the Sunstone was the explanation, or solution, of the riddle. + +Harry walked up to the great bronze wheels and turned them at random, +first this way and then that. Each revolved independently of the +others, and could be turned either backwards or forwards. + +From what his uncle had told him, he knew that each wheel must be turned +until the characters visible along a given line corresponded to those +upon the Sunstone. There could be no doubt as to where this line was, +for, across the wheels, at about the height of a man’s eyes, a bar of +gold extended. + +Whilst Harry and Jim were examining the wheels, Cortes was exploring the +side aisles beneath the gallery. Presently he came towards his +companions on tiptoe, with a finger raised to his lips. + +"Come here!" said he in a whisper, beckoning to Harry. + +Harry did so, and was conducted to one of the iron-bound doors, where +the guide motioned him to stoop down and listen. + +With his ear to the door, Urquhart could hear nothing for some seconds. +Then there came to his ears a sound that was unearthly. + +It was a low, continuous, moaning sound, like the howl of a dog in the +distance. It grew louder gradually until at last it was close at hand, +on the other side of the door. + +There was something in the vastness of the place, in its stillness and +its gloom, that was at once depressing and alarming. Harry Urquhart +felt that he was rapidly losing confidence in himself. The great flight +of steps without, the stone statues, the two carved giants at the +entrance, the shadowy vault of the cave, pierced by shafts of light, and +the solitary burning lamp—all these were mystical and weird. + +The boy was well able to face danger, to take his life in his hands, but +here he was confronted by what was suggestive of the supernatural. A +feeling of fear possessed him—he knew not why. He drew back, +shuddering, and turned quickly to the guide. + +"Someone is coming!" he whispered. + +At that moment there came a loud rapping on the other side of the door, +which shook and trembled under the blows of someone who seemed like a +maniac. They heard a bolt drawn sharply back. And then a voice let out +a kind of shriek that ended quite abruptly. As one man, they turned and +fled without shame or hesitation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI—The White Madman + + +They ran in all haste towards the entrance to the cave. The two guides +led the way. If the boys were alarmed, the men were even more so. + +The brothers had proved that they did not mind danger in the ordinary +acceptation of the term, but, in their thinking, in this place they +trespassed upon the precincts of the other world. + +Cortes was about to make his escape to the terrace outside the entrance, +when Harry called him back. + +"Here!" cried the boy. "This way!" + +In the semi-darkness he had caught sight of a narrow flight of stone +steps which led to the gallery above. He was not so frightened that he +had not a natural curiosity to see who approached on the other side of +the door. + +All this time a noise continued that echoed ceaselessly in the vastness +of the cave. It was a noise of bolts withdrawn, chains jangling, locks +unfastened, whilst a voice that was hardly human was continuously +uplifted in a long, plaintive moan. + +In the semi-darkness of the gallery the four trespassers knelt down, +hiding behind the pillars in such position that they could see into the +central aisle below. Their eyes were fixed upon the door whence issued +these strange, uncanny sounds. + +Presently the door opened, and there came forth into the light of the +lamp the most extraordinary apparition it had ever been the lot of any +one of them to see. + +It was a madman. Moreover, one who was terrible in his madness. He was +of a great age, for the hair of his beard and of his head was white as +snow. And yet he was very tall of stature, and had the appearance of a +man of colossal strength. + +He was clothed in rags—rags which hung together by mere threads, so +that his dark skin was visible upon his arms and back. The hair of his +head was so long that it reached to his waist, a great beard spread over +his chest. At his side he carried an enormous sword—a two-handed sword +such as was used by warriors in ancient days. In one hand he held a +staff. + +He came forward, singing a wild song that somehow was reminiscent of the +desert and the East. He approached the altar where burned the lamp, and +there flung himself upon the ground, tearing his hair, gnashing his +teeth, and actually foaming at the mouth. + +From time to time he lifted his voice in a howl, dismal and prolonged, +breaking off in his singing to beat himself upon the chest. It was all +terrible to behold. It was like a scene in some majestic Bedlam. This +white madman, the semi-darkness of the cave, the flickering light, the +enormous pillars—all seemed not of the world we know, but to belong +rather to one of the worlds of which we sometimes dream. + +Harry, turning to Fernando, whispered in his ear. + +"Who is this man?" said he. + +"He is Guardian of the Cave. He is said to be a hundred years of age. +He has lived here all his life." + +The old man rose to his feet and stretched forth his arms. Then, +lifting his voice, he uttered an endless string of words that were +incomprehensible to both boys. As far as Harry could make out, the man +either uttered some fearful curse or else he prayed in anguish. + +"What is he saying?" asked the boy. + +"I am not sure," answered Fernando; "I know little of the Maziri +language. I think he says that the Sunstone has been stolen these many +years, but this very day it will return. He says the vault will be +opened before nightfall. He says that he himself is about to die." + +"How does he pretend to know these things?" + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "These men have the wisdom of the +ancients, who could read the stars and knew of many things long since +forgotten. It is supposed by the Maziris themselves that by means of +fasting and penance and self-inflicted torture he has gained such +holiness that he can see into the future, that he can read from the Book +of Fate." + +They could not move their eyes from the Guardian of the Cave. He now +stood erect and motionless before the altar like one transfigured into a +kind of deity. There was little about him that suggested what we know +as human. + +He was straight of back, his bare arms folded upon his chest, his head a +little lowered. And the shafts of daylight from either side of the cave +converged upon the whiteness of his head, so that he was like a saint, +solemn and magnificent, surrounded by the all-pervading gloom. + +Suddenly he let out a shout that was half a shriek—louder than before; +and then they saw that his madness was not feigned. Like a wild beast +he hurled himself upon the wheels and set them all in motion, some +revolving one way, some the other. And even as the wheels were turning +he shook his fist at the entrance to the vault—the red granite rock at +the extremity of the cave. + +"Open!" he cried, in the strange Maziri language. "Open in the name of +Zoroaster!" + +Again and again, he cried to the vault to open, as though that which was +inanimate would heed his infuriated words. The spokes of the great +bronze wheels reflected the light from the lamp, but there came no +answer to the man’s cries but the echoes of his own voice in the dimness +of the cavern. + +Once again he flung himself upon the ground, and prayed in a loud voice +that the spirit of Zoroaster might descend and show him how to open the +vault. According to Fernando, he asked the gods to grant him one of two +favours—either that the secret of the Sunstone might be conveyed to him +then and there, or that the Sunstone itself might be returned to the +cave. + +And suddenly he stopped in the midst of his prayer, springing sharply to +his feet. For some seconds he stood quite motionless, in the attitude +of one who listens. + +Then he spoke slowly and distinctly and less loudly than before. + +"My prayer has been heard," said he. "Glory to Zoroaster!" + +At that he lifted a hand to an ear and turned his head towards the +entrance to the cave. + +Those in the gallery listened, too. Sure enough, footsteps were +approaching. + +A little after, the daylight at the entrance was obscured by a +figure—the figure of a tall and slender man dressed in the clothes of a +European. For a moment he stood quite motionless, shading his eyes with +a hand. + +It was apparent that, newly come from the daylight, the new-comer was +unable to see in the half-light of the cavern. Neither could he himself +be recognized by those in the gallery. + +Presently he came forward until he stood before the Guardian of the +Cave, and the light from the burning lamp fell full upon his face. + +Harry Urquhart caught his breath, and his hand went quickly to the +handle of his revolver, when he recognized von Hardenberg, who had come +to his journey’s end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII—The Black Dog Bites + + +For some moments the two men stood facing one another. Neither spoke +nor moved. + +As they stood thus, a third person entered, swiftly, silently, without +being seen either by von Hardenberg or the Guardian of the Cave. Those +in the gallery saw who it was: the man was the sheikh, the Black Dog of +the Cameroons. + +Of the scene that followed the watchers in the gallery were amazed and +horrified spectators. It seems that Captain von Hardenberg had not been +idle during the time the Sunstone had been in his possession; with +Teuton thoroughness and industry he had even learnt to speak in the +Maziri tongue. + +"Who are you?" said he to the old man, so strange and terrible to +behold. + +"I do not ask who you may be," answered the other, "because I know." + +Word by word, the following conversation was afterwards repeated to +Harry by Fernando. + +"You know!" cried von Hardenberg. "What do you know?" + +"I know that you are he who bears the Sunstone on your person. I order +you to deliver it up!" + +Von Hardenberg drew back a pace. The Black Dog was crouching like a +tiger behind one of the pillars, unseen by either of the speakers. + +"Who told you?" cried von Hardenberg. "Who told you I have the +Sunstone?" + +"These things," said the old man in a great, solemn voice, "these things +I know because I am one who holds converse with the gods. Me you cannot +deceive. A short time ago I was asleep, and in my sleep I dreamed a +dream—that the Sunstone had returned." + +"You are mad!" cried the Prussian in brutal derision. + +"Aye," said the man, "I am mad; but I am wiser than those who are sane. +Deliver up the Sunstone!" + +"By what right?" + +"By every right. I am the Guardian of the Cave. I have lived five +score years, and never once have I ventured beyond the entrance of the +Caves of Zoroaster. Come, deliver up the Sunstone." + +"And if I refuse?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"If you refuse," said the man, "you die!" + +Von Hardenberg looked about him with a quick, furtive glance. Softly +his hand crept to his belt, where he carried the holster of his +revolver. + +What happened next was the work of a few seconds. Those in the gallery +had no time to interfere. As for the sheikh, he evidently intended that +the tragedy should be played out to its end, to the falling of the +curtain. + +The old man, seeing von Hardenberg’s action, lifted his great two-handed +sword and flourished it on high. Then, with a spring like that of a +tiger, he hurled himself upon the Prussian. + +Three shots rang out in quick succession. There were three flashes of +fire, like jets of flame, and then three puffs of smoke. The cave was +filled with an echo that went on and on as if it would never cease. + +And when the smoke cleared, there was the old man lying upon his face +upon the floor, silent and still. A century had rolled above his head, +for a hundred years he had stood guardian of the Caves of Zoroaster—and +now his task was ended. + +Harry sprang to his feet, and would have fired then and there at von +Hardenberg had not Cortes held him down by force. + +"It was murder!" he whispered. + +"If you fire, we are lost," cried Cortes. "It is too dark to shoot +straight, and the Black Dog will escape us." + +Harry resumed his kneeling position and waited. + +A horrid silence reigned in the great, domed chamber. The scene was +more tragic, more fantastic than ever. The shafts of light from above +struck the body of the murdered man; the lamp still flickered before the +altar. Even yet, the echoes of the shots were murmuring in the deeper +recesses of the place. + +Captain von Hardenberg stood stock-still, his revolver in his hand, thin +wreaths of smoke issuing from the muzzle. From out of the heart of the +stillness there came a chuckle: the Black Dog was pleased to laugh. + +Murder was nothing to him. He had dealt for years in human lives. He +was implacable, relentless. And even at that same moment he himself +contemplated a greater crime, for the commission of which he was hiding +in the darkness like a snake, biding his time to strike. + +Captain von Hardenberg took two steps towards the body and turned it +over with his foot. + +"He is dead," said he in German. + +The old man, who had been so terrible in life by reason of his madness, +now looked sane and beautiful in death. The worn, agonized expression +had gone altogether from his features, which were now calm and wholly at +peace. With his white hair and ragged clothes, he was like one of the +patriarchs of old. + +Captain von Hardenberg was not himself. It was plain to see that it was +all that he could do to control within him a feeling that was akin to +terror. He looked about him with widely opened eyes—at the vast +pillars, at the darkened corners of the aisles, at the shafts of +sunlight that pierced the darkness like the blades of swords. + +With trembling hands he attempted to unbutton his coat. His nerves were +so shaken, and he in such feverish haste, that he could not at first +succeed. In the end, as if grown desperate, he took a knife from his +pocket, opened the largest blade, and cut off the buttons one by one. +Then he ripped open his waistcoat, and, a moment after, drew forth the +Sunstone and placed it on the altar by the side of the burning lamp. + +And next he did a strange thing indeed. He burst suddenly into loud +laughter—laughter that was hysterical, delirious. + +He had gone through so much; he had faced so many dangers; he had been +guilty of a score of crimes; he had lost everything—good name and +honour and position—in order to possess himself of the treasure that +lay beyond the red granite rock. + +And now that all this wealth was as good as his, he could do little else +but laugh, in a kind of wild delirium, whilst tear-drops in quick +succession coursed down his cheeks. + +After a while he mastered himself a little, but not completely. He went +to the nine wheels and turned them all ways in a fever of excitement. + +Then he remembered what he had to do. He studied the wheels and took +notice of the cuneiform writing on the "tyres". At that he returned for +the Sunstone and brought it to the Bramah lock. + +But, since it was too dark there to see the writing on the stone, he +took it back to the altar, and laid it down once more before the lamp. +Then he studied the character in the first segment, and, having +committed it to memory, he went back to the wheels. + +Slowly he turned the first wheel, noting each character as it appeared +above the golden bar. At last he appeared satisfied. The cuneiform +figure, or character, which lay immediately above the golden bar +corresponded to that upon the Sunstone. + +Then, in a like manner, he turned the second wheel. Always when he got +the wheel in the correct position he compared the two characters—that +upon the Sunstone and that upon the wheel—to make sure they were the +same. + +Finally, he came to the ninth wheel. His excitement was now so great +that those in the gallery could see that he was trembling violently in +every limb. + +He troubled no longer with the Sunstone. He turned the wheel very +slowly, with his eyes fixed upon the red granite rock. Presently there +was a "click" like the sound of the turning of an enormous lock. Captain +von Hardenberg held the wheel quite still. + +There came another "click" even louder than that which had gone before. +And then slowly, like some great living monster, the rock began to turn, +as if it revolved upon a pivot. + +It turned evenly, slowly, noiselessly, and, as it turned, the light from +the lamp caused the quartz and mica and felspar in the granite to +glisten like a thousand fire-flies on a summer’s evening. + +And then, in the moving rock itself, appeared a narrow archway about +four feet across; and when this was immediately opposite the altar there +was another "click" and the whole rock was still. + +Those in the gallery sprang to their feet and looked on with bated +breath. The thing was like a miracle. As for von Hardenberg, he gave +vent to a cry that was half a cheer and half a sob. Then, snatching the +lamp from the altar, he rushed through the archway into the darkness +beyond. + +From the gallery they could see the light grow smaller and fainter as +the Prussian descended a narrow flight of steps. Then the light went +out, and there came up from the vault beyond a faint cry of exultation. +Captain von Hardenberg had attained the treasure of Zoroaster. + +And it was at that cry that the Black Dog glided from his hiding-place. +Now that the lamp had gone, the cave was darker than before. But by the +light that came from above, and through the entrance, those in the +gallery could see his white robes as the man glided noiselessly across +the hall. + +He went straight to the altar, picked up the Sunstone, raised it to his +lips, and kissed it. For a moment he gazed at it, long and lovingly, +before he thrust it into a pocket. + +He moved on tiptoe towards the wheels. As he did so he passed through +one of the shafts of light, and his features were illumined. On his +face there was an expression that was diabolical. It was the face of a +beast of prey, a tiger that stalks its victims. His white robes +contrasted strangely with the swarthiness of his countenance. His eyes +were very bright and now looked yellow like those of a cat. + +When he reached the wheels, he let out a great shout that filled the +vastness of the cave. + +"Die!" he cried. "Die the death you merit!" + +At that he set the wheels in motion, and immediately the great granite +rock revolved again. And Captain Carl von Hardenberg was buried alive +in the midst of the treasure that was his. + +The sheikh passed rapidly down the centre aisle. Half-way to the +entrance he stopped, looked back, and shook his fist at the rock. + +"Lie there," he cried, "and rot! In my own good time I will return." + +Before the last word was from the man’s lips, Fernando had lifted his +rifle and fired. The bullet flattened itself against a pillar not three +inches from the Arab’s head. The Black Dog glanced up at the gallery +and then dashed out of the entrance, so swift and agile in his movements +that it would have been sheer folly to fire again. + +"You hit him?" cried Harry. + +"No," cried the man, with a sullen oath. "I missed. It was too dark to +see." + +"Too dark to see!" repeated Harry. "But he is gone! Make haste, or +he’ll escape!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII—A Race for Life + + +Fernando stood motionless, his rifle in his hand. He had been within an +ace of fulfilling his oath, and sending the Arab to the shades. + +"I would have hit him," he complained, "had the lamp not been taken +away." + +Meanwhile Cortes dashed down the steps, and crossed the central aisle to +the body of the murdered man. + +The madman lay quite still. A life of fasting, of penance and +privation, had closed in the heroic fulfilment of his duty. With his +last breath he had demanded of von Hardenberg to deliver up the +Sunstone; and there he was—a huddled, formless object, lying at the +foot of the altar. + +The first impulse of Harry Urquhart was to follow in pursuit of the +sheikh. With this intention he hastened to the terrace, whence he could +see nothing. The Black Dog had vanished into the white mists that +wrapped the mountain-side. By now he was no doubt at the bottom of the +great flight of steps on each side of which stood the strange, fantastic +statues. + +Harry, rifle in hand, was about to take up the chase, when he remembered +that somewhere beyond that impenetrable granite rock was von +Hardenberg—alone in the midst of the treasure. + +He returned to the cave, and went to the rock and listened. He could +hear nothing. Beyond, all was silent as the grave. + +"What can we do?" reiterated the boy, looking about him in bewilderment. + +Jim Braid went to the nine wheels and turned them at random, hoping that +by chance the vault would open. In a little while he desisted and +returned to Harry. + +"We must follow the sheikh," said he. "We must endeavour to recover the +Sunstone at every cost." + +"And leave _him_ here?" said Harry, with a motion of the hand towards +the granite rock. + +"We can do nothing," said Fernando. + +"I bear the rascal no goodwill," said Harry. "He deserves but little +pity. But this is terrible!" he added, and repeated the word again and +again. + +"Come," said Cortes, "we waste time in talking." + +As he spoke, he led the way from the cave, followed by the others. + +As they passed down the great flight of steps, Harry Urquhart turned and +looked back. The entrance to the caves was no longer visible. A great +cloud lay upon the mountain like a mantle. Near at hand, the strange +beasts carved in stone were quite conspicuous and plain, but gradually, +as they mounted one behind the other towards the terrace, they became +lost in the mist. They resembled an army of quaint, primeval animals +that were filing down from the clouds to inhabit the abodes of men. + +The elder guide, shading his eyes with a hand, scanned the mountains to +the north. Presently he let out a cry—a cry of exultation. + +"There!" he cried, pointing across the valley. + +Sure enough, far in the distance was a white speck that was moving +rapidly upon the mountainside, disappearing for a moment to appear +again, always bearing in the same direction—towards the north. + +Cortes turned to the others. + +"I can run," said he. "I was a tracker once by trade. I undertake to +keep upon his trail. Do you follow as quickly as you can." + +Fernando laid a hand upon his brother’s shoulder. + +"You will not kill him?" he said. + +"No. The man’s life is yours." + +With these words Cortes sped upon his way, springing from boulder to +boulder, supple in figure, agile despite his wound. He had spent much +of his life hunting wild game in the midst of unexplored, inhospitable +hills. He was quick of eye and sure of foot. + +Outrunning his companions, he went rapidly upon his way, and was soon +lost to sight. All that afternoon they followed in his tracks, and +towards evening they heard a shot, high up in the mountains, many miles +to the north. + +A grim smile passed across the face of the elder guide, who calmly +turned to Harry. + +"Yonder," said he, "is the sheikh." + +"It was he who fired?" asked Harry. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"That shot was fired by my brother," he answered. "I know the sound of +my brother’s rifle." + +"Where are we going?" asked Jim. + +The half-caste shrugged his shoulders. + +"The Black Dog chooses the way," said he. + +"He goes to his home?" asked Harry. + +"His home!" repeated Fernando. "Has the wild dog a home? Does the hare +burrow in the ground? The Black Dog sleeps where he finds himself. All +the world is his home. He may go into Nigeria; he may cut back to the +coast; he may pass through the mountains to the great Sahara Desert. +But, wherever he goes, Cortes will follow him; he will be followed to +the ends of the earth. And now and again Cortes will fire his rifle to +guide us on our way, to let us know that he still holds the Black Dog in +view." + +Throughout the days that followed, the mountains witnessed the almost +superhuman efforts of two men: Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog of the +Cameroons, and Cortes, the half-caste Spaniard of the Coast. + +The one fled from justice, clutching the Sunstone in his hand, and the +other followed, until miles grew into leagues, until they reached the +rolling grasslands to the west of Lake Chad, where cattle grazed in +herds. + +It was a struggle of Titans, a race for life or death between men who +were well versed in the craft of the hunter, who knew each bridle-path +and mountain-spring and solitary oasis between the bend of the Congo and +the Atlas Mountains. + +Day and night they raced onward, under the march of the southern stars. +And Cortes clung to the heels of Black Dog like a leech. As often as +the sheikh halted, he was obliged to push on again in greater haste. + +At nightfall, every evening, Cortes fired his rifle, and this enabled +his brother and the two boys to keep upon his track. The route taken by +the sheikh was not a straight one: the course he followed was in the +shape of the letter S. Harry and his party were often able to take +short cuts, completing one side of a triangle when the Arab and his +pursuer had accomplished the other two. Thus it was that upon the +twentieth day they came to the place where the younger guide was +encamped. + +"He is close ahead?" asked Fernando. + +Cortes pointed to the west. + +"He is in the valley yonder," said he. "To-night he sleeps in the +jungle that lies on the edge of the plateau." + +They were now in a part of the globe of which little is known. They had +left the cattle far behind them. This country is uninhabited except by +wild animals, and is visited only by the caravans that come south-east +from Timbuctoo. + +The Black Dog, with the Sunstone in his possession, still held his +course towards the north, setting forth across the illimitable, barren +waste. He journeyed for two days without halting. Then he crossed a +river, and, passing over a plateau, descended into the true desert, +where the sun blazed like a furnace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX—The Temple + + +On the skirting of the desert lay a small Arab village—a place of a few +dilapidated huts, accommodating not more than a score of inhabitants. +For the most part these were people sunk to the lowest depths of +poverty, living in a state of dirt unimaginable to those who are not +acquainted with the Arab. + +To this village came Harry and Braid and the elder guide. The headman +of the village came forward on their approach, followed by a few +children. + +Fernando, who had an intimate knowledge of Arabic, was able to act as +interpreter. The headman said the village had been rich in the +possession of two camels; but, late on the previous evening, an Arab had +come from the plateau who had purchased one of these camels. Early that +morning had come another man, a white man—as he said—who, having +purchased the other, had set forward without delay in the same direction +as the Arab. + +"Did the second man leave no message?" asked the guide. + +The villager replied that the "white man" had left word that those who +followed him were to wait in the village until he returned. He expected +to be back that night with news of great importance. + +Accordingly they halted for the afternoon, and, giving the villagers a +wide berth, camped upon the sand, lighting a fire, upon which they +cooked a meal. + +"And all this time," said Harry, "von Hardenberg lies buried alive, +starving to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"He cannot starve," said he. "I noticed he wore a haversack well filled +with provisions. And I have heard it said that inside the vault is +water; a small spring bubbles up in a great basin, forming a little +fountain." + +"You have seen it?" asked Harry. + +"No," said the man; "but I know what I say is true. And, even were +there no water in the cave, the Prussian carried a water-bottle." + +Harry Urquhart sighed. + +"All this is like a dream," he exclaimed. + +"The scoundrel deserves no better fate," said the guide, hard of heart +and pitiless where his enemies were concerned. + +At nightfall they lay down to sleep, Jim Braid remaining on sentry for +the earlier part of the night. They had small reason to trust the +people of the village, who were not incapable of murdering them in the +night for the sake of their possessions. + +At about ten o’clock Jim was alarmed by a peculiar grating sound quite +near to their camp. The moon had not yet risen, and, though he strained +his eyes in the direction from which the sound had come, he was able to +distinguish nothing. At last he rose to his feet and walked some little +distance from the fire. There he discovered a camel lying down upon the +ground, engaged in chewing a bundle of coarse hay. The camel had +appeared as if by magic. + +Jim returned to the fire, and there to his amazement found Cortes +sitting before the embers. + +"You have returned?" said he. + +"Yes, I have returned." + +"With news?" + +"Of the Black Dog. Yonder in the desert is an ancient temple or mosque. +It stands in an oasis where there are palm-trees, and around which +melons grow. For many years it has been deserted. The sheikh himself +is there." + +"We must awaken the others," said Braid. + +"There is plenty of time," said the man. "He will not move before +daybreak. The night is yet young. We will surround the oasis at +sunrise and take him alive. Fernando must fulfil the oath he has made +to the saints." + +Jim Braid had not such patience. With this news upon his mind he could +not stay idle while Harry and Fernando were asleep. Despite the advice +of Cortes, he awoke them both, and told them what had happened. + +"We must start at once!" cried Harry. + +"There is no haste," said Fernando, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But, +if you wish it, we will go." + +They packed up their camp equipment and provisions, and their reserve +ammunition, and these they loaded upon the camel. Then they set forward +on their way, following a caravan route, whilst a full moon, red as +blood, crept over the horizon and illumined the wasteland like a +lantern. + +In three hours they came to a place where a stone building, surrounded +by a dozen trees, stood forth against the moonlight. Near by a hyena +howled. + +"The sheikh is within," said Cortes. + +Drawing a little distance away, the four held consultation together. As +far as they could make out, there was but one entrance to the temple, +which was half in ruins. For all that, they thought it best to surround +the place, and it was finally agreed that Harry Urquhart should enter +the building, revolver in hand, whilst the other three guarded the walls +to prevent the Arab’s escape, should they have overlooked some other +means of exit. + +Leaving his rifle behind, with his revolver ready loaded in his hand, +Harry passed on tiptoe through the entrance and found himself in a +shallow, darkened chamber. + +Though there was no roof to the building, the adjacent palm-trees shut +out the light of the moon, and some seconds elapsed before the boy’s +eyes grew accustomed to the semi-darkness. + +As far as he could make out, he was surrounded by high walls. Scattered +here and there about the floor, upon which the sand of the desert lay +like a thick, luxurious carpet, were great cylindrical boulders, which, +in former times, had evidently composed the pillars that supported the +roof. In the shadow of these boulders it was quite dark, and each +shadow was large enough to conceal the form of a man. + +The boy decided to act with caution. With such an opponent as the +sheikh he knew he would be called upon to exercise not only promptitude +but cunning. It had not been without difficulty that he had managed to +persuade the guides to allow him to enter the temple. Fernando, who was +filled with a strong desire for vengeance, had wished for the honour for +himself. But Harry, as the leader of the expedition, would not give +way, agreeing that the moment he fired the elder guide should hasten to +his assistance. + +Ready to fire at a moment’s notice, Harry set about a systematic search +of the ruined temple. Starting from the entrance, he worked his way +around the walls, holding as much as possible to the shadows. He looked +behind each boulder, he searched each crevice that appeared large enough +to admit the body of a man. In the end he returned to the entrance. +The place was evidently deserted. + +His first thought was to leave the building, to tell Cortes that he had +been mistaken, that the sheikh was not there; but then he remembered how +seldom the judgment of either of the guides had been at fault, and, +assuring himself that he had overlooked some hiding-place, he began his +search anew. + +He came to a place where a clump of cactus was growing against the wall, +and here he discovered what he had not noticed before. Under the cactus +plant was a little archway, a kind of tunnel, large enough to admit a +man crawling on hands and knees. + +The boy was in two minds what to do. It was one thing to search from +boulder to boulder, ready to fire at a moment’s notice; it was another +to go head foremost on all-fours into what might prove to be a trap. If +the Arab was hiding on the other side of the wall, beyond the +cactus-bush—a stroke of the knife, and the matter would be ended. The +boy had need of all the courage he possessed. To go back to Jim and the +two guides would be to confess himself afraid. + +Taking a deep breath, like a man about to dive, he lay flat upon his +face, and as silently as possible worked his way forward through the +sand, which was still warm from the rays of the sun of the preceding +day. + +If there were many holes in the wall such as this, it was well three of +them had remained on guard without. Had all four entered the temple at +once, the sheikh, if he lay anywhere in hiding, had a sure way of +escape. Harry had no means of knowing whether the hole led to the +desert or to an inner room. + +On the other side of the wall it was quite dark. The boy looked +overhead, and was able to see that he was sheltered by a roof—a roof in +which there were great holes, through which he could see the stars. He +could do nothing as yet, until his eyes had grown accustomed to the +darkness. + +For some moments he lay still, his heart thumping against his ribs, +straining his ears to catch the slightest sound. From somewhere quite +near at hand, at first almost imperceptible but gradually growing +louder, came a low, soft, vibrating noise that seemed to proceed from +somewhere under the ground. + +Harry thought he had heard something like it before; he could not +remember where. It was like the droning of a monster bee, or the noise +of a kettle on the point of boiling over, or else the purring of a cat. + +How long the sound continued he was never able to say. It seemed to him +that he lay for an eternity, breathless, waiting for something to +happen, with the sound continuously in his ears. And then he became +aware of two great, yellow eyes, staring in the darkness, immobile, like +flaming lamps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX—The Blood Spoor + + +On the spur of the moment he snatched his revolver, levelled it, and +fired. + +There was a prolonged, piercing shriek, as a dark mass, blacker than the +shadows, sprang high into the air. + +Harry lay quite still; fear at last possessed him. The loud report of +his revolver was still singing in his ears; and, before silence reigned +again, it was as if the whole place, even the very walls, were possessed +of life. + +Dark shadows were moving everywhere. All about the boy were yellow, +staring eyes, that dilated and grew smaller in the darkness. And then +Harry became conscious of a fierce, growling sound. + +As far as he was able to make out, this proceeded from the largest pair +of eyes, immediately before him. And it was this that gave him the +first inkling as to the solution of the mystery: he had crept into a den +of savage beasts. + +The largest pair of eyes drew nearer, and suddenly dropped lower, almost +to the level of the ground. The brute was about to spring. + +There was a snarl. As quick as lightning Harry sprang aside. + +The great beast collided with the wall with such force that the roof—or +as much of it as remained—came down with a crash upon the ground, and +Harry found himself buried in a mass of debris and dust. + +He tried to move, but found he was unable to do so. A heavy beam lay +across his chest. With the exception of his head and shoulders he was +buried in the wreckage. + +As the dust cleared, the place became illumined by the moonshine. On +the sudden disappearance of the roof, the light from without had been +admitted to the darkened chamber. At once Harry was able to see quite +distinctly, and the sight that he beheld was sufficiently alarming to +shake the nerves of even the strongest man. + +Pinned to the ground, unable to move, he found himself in the midst of a +family of leopards. Quite near to him, also half buried in the +wreckage, lay the beast that he had shot—evidently the father of the +family. Six cubs, half-grown, growled and snarled on the other side of +the chamber, and in front of them, her white fangs gleaming in the +moonlight, was the mother leopard, fiercely guarding her young. + +It was she who had hurled herself at the wall, who had brought down the +roof, and who now snarled repeatedly at the boy. It was apparent that +the sudden collapse of the building had given the animal a fright. Twice +she made as if she would advance, and twice drew back towards her young. + +Harry was not able to fire again. The hand which held his revolver was +pinned down beneath the fallen beam. He could not move his eyes from +the leopard. At the same time, the brute feared to advance. + +A sharp jet of fire—it seemed not two paces from the boy’s face—a loud +report, and the leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible and +glorious, fighting the air with its fore feet as if in the throes of a +struggle with an invisible, all-powerful foe. + +[Illustration: THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, +AND GLORIOUS] + +Then the brute came down and lay quite still, shot through the brain by +a bullet from Jim Braid’s rifle. + +Quick upon Jim’s heels, through the narrow opening in the wall, came the +two guides, Cortes leading the way. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Jim. + +"No," said Harry. "I am not hurt. But get me out of this; I can’t +move." + +With quick hands they lifted the beams and rafters that pinned the boy +to the ground, and, a moment after, Harry was on his feet. + +The young leopards gathered together in a corner of the chamber. Then, +one after the other, they sprang over the ruined wall like cats, and +disappeared into the night. + +"The sheikh!" cried Fernando. "Where is he?" + +"I have not seen him," answered Harry. + +"He came here to-day," said Cortes, "and pitched his camp. Look here, +what’s that?" + +He pointed to the ground, where lay something that was white as snow. It +was a bone. + +The two boys drew back in horror. Fernando was undismayed. He calmly +picked up the bone and examined it in the moonlight. + +"This is the shin-bone of a camel," said he. "Moreover, of a camel that +was killed to-day. As my brother says, the Black Dog was here." + +"See this!" cried Cortes. "The ground is charred. It was here he lit +his fire." + +All four searched the chamber. Besides the shin-bone, they found other +evidence that could not be disputed: four hoofs and a piece of the +Arab’s white flowing robe. + +"Has the man been killed?" cried Jim. + +"It seems that that is so." + +"But the Sunstone!" Harry exclaimed. + +"This evidence," said Fernando, "is indisputable. The Black Dog came +here by day, pitched his camp, and lit his fire. When his fire burned +out he fell asleep. He had had no sleep for forty-eight hours, and must +have been exhausted. It was whilst he was asleep that the leopards +entered. It seems I have been robbed of my revenge." + +Harry looked at the man. + +"So you think," said he, "that the sheikh is dead?" + +Fernando pointed to the strip of the Arab’s clothes, and shrugged his +shoulders. "At all events," said he, "the camel he purchased in the +village fell a prey to the leopards." + +"But," exclaimed Harry, "how could the camel have got here. We were +obliged to crawl in on hand and knees." + +Fernando laughed. + +"The leopards slew the camel outside," said he. "They tore it to +pieces, which they dragged in here to play with. Have you never watched +a cat?" + +"Then," cried Harry, "the Sunstone has been lost!" + +"Have patience," said Fernando. "We may find it yet. We will get out +of this place and wait for dawn. When the daylight comes we will search +the ruins. There is no need as yet to despair." + +This advice was good. They went out together, leaving by way of the +little archway half-hidden by the cactus plant. On the sand of the +desert they lay down side by side, and, whilst one acted as sentry, the +others slept. + +As soon as the sun began to rise in the east, Fernando rose to his feet. + +"Come," said he, "we will search." + +They looked everywhere. Under the palm-trees, the sand was all +disturbed where the eight leopards had flung themselves upon the camel. +Around the trunk of one of the trees was a rope which had been gnawed in +half. In the inner chamber of the temple no further evidence was +forthcoming, and this was in part due to the fact that the ground was +covered with the wreckage of the roof. It was the younger guide who +discovered in the outer chamber a drop of blood upon the stones. + +The man evidently considered that he had found a clue of great +importance; but to the two boys it seemed quite obvious that this was +the blood of the camel that had been dragged piecemeal through the +narrow opening. + +"No," said Cortes, shaking his head. "These are small drops of blood. +It is possible the Black Dog is still alive." + +At that he turned upon his heel and set off at a jog-trot across the +plain. When he was a long way off, they saw him waving his arms +frantically, in the highest state of excitement. + +They ran to the place where he was, and found him pointing to the +ground. + +"Look there!" he cried. "I was right. The sheikh has escaped!" + +Sure enough, upon the soft sand was a line of footmarks, leading in the +direction of the plateau. Every now and again the trail was marked by a +small drop of blood. + +Harry asked for an explanation. + +"It is very simple," answered Cortes. "The leopards first attacked the +camel, which was tethered to a palm-tree outside the temple. The Black +Dog was awakened from his sleep and endeavoured to escape. As he fled +from the entrance he must have encountered a leopard. His cloak was +torn, but he escaped, bearing the marks of the leopard’s teeth or claws, +probably in his thigh. Wounded, he has gone back to the hills, knowing +that there lies his only chance of safety." + +The man was certain of his facts. Moreover, the evidence of the +foot-marks and the blood spoor was too strong to be denied. + +"Come!" cried Fernando. "He is as good as ours, unless he is only +slightly hurt." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI—The Fox in View + + +Before the heat of the day had arisen, Harry, Jim Braid, and the two +guides had covered many miles across the desert, leaving the Arab +village to their left. All this time it was easy to follow the track of +the sheikh. The Black Dog evidently suffered pain, and progressed only +with the greatest difficulty; for, as they went on, his footsteps became +more irregular, as though he staggered when he walked. + +Indeed, the whole thing was like the hunting of a wounded deer. It is a +well-known fact that all wounded animals take to higher ground, because +there they know they are more likely to be safe, since there are usually +hiding-places in the mountains—crannies in the rocks, and caves. And +besides, it is good to lay down one’s life a little nearer to the stars. + +The desert ended suddenly in a great expanse of scrub, bordering the +plateau, where the ground was stony, and where the foot-marks of the +sheikh were no longer visible. For some miles the two guides held the +track, until they came to a place where the fugitive had halted by the +side of a little stream. Here he had washed and bathed his wounds; he +had torn strips from his clothing, making bandages for himself. He had +gone down upon his knees at the side of the stream and had drunk the +fresh water from his hands. Then he had continued on his way, +invigorated and refreshed, making straight towards the Maziri mountains. + +Soon after that they were obliged to leave the camel to browse upon the +hill-side. The ground had become so steep and broken that the animal +could advance but slowly. They off-loaded the provisions and ammunition +and divided these equally among the party. + +Presently they climbed the lower slopes of the mountains, where the +country was much intersected by strips of forest and dried-up +watercourses, with here and there a patch of sand—a kind of offshoot of +the desert. There was no longer any trail to follow. + +The Black Dog had chosen his way with sagacity, walking upon stony +ground, where his sandals left no marks. For all that both Cortes and +Fernando were confident that they would overtake him. However, to make +the more sure of their victim, they decided to divide their forces, +Harry and the elder man going one way, and Jim and Cortes another. + +Late that afternoon, Harry and his companion had attained a great height +on the ridge of the mountains. Before them extended a great valley, and +it was on the other side of this that they beheld a white figure moving +rapidly from rock to rock, bearing steadily towards the east. + +The guide lifted his rifle and fired in the air. + +"That is to warn my brother," said he. "He will know the signal. This +time it is you and I who lead the chase." + +He set off running down the mountain-side, springing from boulder to +boulder. There was no foot-path, and the way was almost precipitous; +but the man, though not so sure of foot as his brother, was as agile as +a panther. In fact, it was as much as Harry could do to keep up with +him. The half-caste was all impatience to overtake the fugitive. + +The sheikh was no longer in sight, nor was there any sign of Jim and the +younger guide, when the sun sank beyond the mountains, and the shadows +of night crept into the valleys with the mists. For all that, Fernando +held upon his way until long after dark, until at last Harry was obliged +to call upon him to halt. The boy was utterly exhausted. Since daybreak +that morning they had travelled without a halt, and must have covered +nearly forty miles, over country that was rugged, wild, and pathless. + +The guide agreed to halt, but would permit no fire. Harry appeased his +appetite with some wild fruit he had procured on the margin of the +desert, and then lay down to sleep. In less than a minute he was buried +in the deepest slumber. + +It seemed to him he had not been sleeping for more than an hour when the +guide took him by the shoulder and shook him lightly. + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"It is still dark," said he. + +"The dawn comes," said the man, as if that clinched the matter once and +for all. + +"Have you not slept?" asked Harry. + +"Does the hound sleep," said Fernando, with a grim smile, "with the fox +in view? Remember, I have sworn to the saints." + +When they had eaten such of the desert fruit as remained over from the +previous day, they set forward on their journey, the guide leading as +before. + +They traversed valley after valley, the guide selecting the route, as it +seemed, by some kind of natural instinct similar to that which will lead +a cat to find its way across unknown country. Though during that +morning they saw nothing of the Arab, Fernando was certain that the +Black Dog was not many miles ahead. Every time they reached a hill-top, +he screened his eyes with a hand and examined the surrounding country +for signs of the fugitive, who, they were convinced, was making back to +the Caves of Zoroaster. + +They were returning to the hills of Maziriland by a route that lay far +to the south of that of their former journey. The mountains here were +not so high as those farther to the north. For all that, they were +exceedingly desolate and rugged. They were in a land where nothing +appeared to live. There were no villages; neither cattle nor sheep +grazed upon the lowlands. + +At midday the guide caught sight of the sheikh, still bearing towards +the south-east. His white robes were conspicuous at a distance. + +On the opposite side of the valley in which they found themselves, the +man was hurrying forward along a ledge that did not appear to be more +than a few feet across, that hung—as it were—between earth and sky. +Beneath this ledge, the smooth face of a precipice dropped sheer to the +depths of the valley; above, the same inaccessible cliff continued, +rising upward to the clouds. + +"If Cortes were only here," said the half-caste, "the task would be +easy; the Black Dog would be ours." + +"Where is your brother?" asked Harry. + +"I am inclined to think he is somewhere toward the north. For the last +three days the wind has been blowing from that direction. Had he been +to the south he must have heard the shot I fired, in which case he would +have caught us up." + +"Perhaps," said Harry, "he returns by the way we came." + +"It may be," said the guide. "Sooner or later, he will discover his +mistake. Then he will come south; but he and Braid will be many miles +in rear of us. If Cortes were with me now, I could capture the sheikh +before sunset." + +"How?" + +"You see where he is," said the guide, pointing across the valley. "He +walks on the brink of one precipice and at the foot of another. He can +turn neither to the right nor to the left. He must either go straight +on or else turn back. My brother can run faster than you or I. If he +were with us, I would send him down the valley in all haste, to ascend +the mountain-path in advance of the sheikh; whilst I would mount to the +path at this end of the valley. Thus the Black Dog would be caught +between us two." + +Harry looked at the great, yawning abyss that arose before them like a +mighty wall. The figure of Bayram was not more than two miles away. In +mid-valley was a stream that flowed through a narrow strip of grassland, +upon which it would be possible to run. + +"I may not be able to run as fast as your brother," said he, turning to +the guide, "but I think I can overtake the sheikh." + +Fernando laughed. + +"I think so too," said he. "As for me, though I can climb for many +hours, I am no runner on the flat. Do you, therefore, set forth upon +your way. At the foot of the valley you will see that the precipice +ends; a spur of rock juts out. If you reach that place before the +sheikh, you will be able to climb up to the path at the top of the +precipice. There you will lie in wait for him. I will follow in his +rear. He will be caught between two fires." + +As there was little time to lose, Harry was not slow to obey the man’s +injunctions. Side by side they climbed down into the valley, and there +they separated, Fernando going to the north, Harry Urquhart setting out +in the opposite direction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII—Between Two Fires + + +In less than an hour Harry drew level with the Arab. The progress of +the Black Dog was necessarily slow. In the first place, he still +suffered from his wound; in the second place, the path he followed was +in places so narrow as to be dangerous, and he was obliged to proceed +with the utmost caution. Harry, on the other hand, had been able to run +as fast as his legs could carry him by the side of the stream that +rushed down from the mountains. + +The boy paused for breath and looked about him. Though he and the +sheikh were making for the same point, in regard to which they were +level with one another, there was more than a mile between them. In +other words, that was the distance that separated the precipice from the +stream in mid-valley. Harry looked up and saw Fernando far in rear. He +had already gained the path at the top of the abyss, and was following +with all dispatch upon the heels of the fugitive. + +The Black Dog stopped. His small white figure seemed to be crouching. +Harry, with the aid of his field-glasses, tried to make out what the man +was doing. + +At that moment there came a quick, hissing sound within a fraction of an +inch of the boy’s ear, and a bullet buried itself deep in the ground not +fifteen yards away. + +Without a doubt, the sheikh now realized to the full the danger in which +he stood. He saw that he was rapidly being cut off from all means of +escape. There was nothing that could save him but his surety of aim, +and at that distance it was no easy matter to hit a mark several hundred +feet below him. + +When a rifle is fired downward from a great height, what is known as the +"trajectory", or flight, of the bullet is affected, and in consequence +the line of sight is not wholly accurate. This may have been sufficient +to account for the failure of the Arab’s shot; but in any case, to put a +bullet within an inch of the target at so great a range proved him a +marksman of the greatest skill. + +When he saw that he had missed he hurried on his way, hoping against +hope to reach the spur in advance of Harry Urquhart. + +The boy was determined that the fugitive should not escape. He cared +little or nothing for the life of Bayram, but at all costs he meant, if +possible, to recover the Sunstone. He was never able to forget that, +all this time, von Hardenberg was shut up alive in the silent vault, in +the very heart of the mountain. + +Running as if his life depended on his efforts, he dashed down the +valley. Three times the Black Dog fired, and each time the bullet flew +within a hand’s-breadth of its mark. + +On gaining the spur, Harry clambered to the southern side, where he was +out of sight of the fugitive, who was now too far away to fire. Slinging +his rifle across his shoulder, hand over hand the boy climbed up the +rocks, and at last gained the pathway which formed a little ledge, or +terrace, upon the face of the great abyss. + +He walked forward stealthily. On his right hand a rock arose, +inaccessible and smooth as a plate of steel, whilst on the left it +dropped sheer into the shadowy depths of the valley from which he had +come. Far below him, the stream that he had followed looked like a +little silver thread glittering in the sunlight. + +He knew that he must find some kind of cover. If he came face to face +with Black Dog on that narrow path he would have little chance of +living. A rifle in the sheikh’s hands, at a point-blank range, was more +an implement of execution than a weapon of defence; and, besides, the +Black Dog was known to be a man of prodigious strength. + +As the boy went upon his way he looked forward eagerly, hoping to find +some rock or boulder behind which he could hide and await the approach +of the Arab. But the path was bare, not only of vegetation, but of +stones and fragments of rock. It was as if some mighty hurricane had +swept the mountain-side, brushing all obstacles from the narrow ledge, +sweeping the place as clean as the pavement of a street. + +Presently the path turned a sharp angle. The cliff stood folded back in +the shape of the letter W. From the corner, Harry was able to see, not +only the other extremity of the W, but also the smaller salient which +formed the centre of the letter. It was then that the complete success +of their enterprise was made apparent. + +At the corner of the southern extremity was Harry, and at the northern +stood the guide, his rifle in his hand. Between them the face of the +precipice was folded back in two re-entrant angles. Everywhere the +abyss was smooth and perpendicular, both above and below the pathway. It +was possible to climb neither up nor down. Escape was beyond all +question. And midway between Harry Urquhart and the half-caste guide, +standing upright at the central angle, was Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog +of the Cameroons, like a great bird of prey perched above its eyrie. +Whatever the issue of this business was to be, it was certain that for +the present the fugitive was caught. + +Neither was it possible for him to conceal himself. If he turned back, +he was exposed to fire from the guide; if he went forward, he was +covered by the rifle of Harry. + +He stood motionless for some seconds, as if deliberating in his mind +what was best to do. Then, with a slow and measured step, he walked +towards the boy. + +Harry waited till the man had come within twenty yards of him; then he +raised his rifle to his shoulder and directed the sights full upon the +Arab’s heart. To his amazement, the Black Dog stood stock-still. + +Harry was about to press the trigger when, for two reasons, he desisted. +Firstly, the thing smacked of a cold-blooded murder, since the sheikh +had made no show of resistance; secondly, if he fired and killed the +man, his lifeless body would pitch headlong into the abyss. In that case +they might not be able to recover it, and thus the Sunstone would be +lost. + +Suddenly the sheikh raised his rifle above his head, and cried aloud to +the boy in English. + +"Fire," said he, "and kill me! I am at your mercy; my life is in your +hands. See here, this rifle—it has served me well for twenty years. It +is known from Lagos to Port Stanley, even as far south as the Kasai. +Behold, there goes my best and truest friend." + +At that he cast the weapon to the depths below. + +"You surrender?" cried Harry, coming forward. + +"I can do nothing else," replied the sheikh. "As you ran in the valley +I fired my last cartridge. Still, I am not yours so long as I am +alive." + +With these last words, he turned sharply and looked behind him, as if he +had heard something. There, sure enough, was Fernando, crawling on +hands and knees, his head and shoulders just appearing around the +central angle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII—On the Brink of Eternity + + +The Black Dog folded his arms, threw back his head, and laughed. + +The guide came wriggling like a snake, working himself forward upon his +elbows and his knees, almost flat upon his face, which was little raised +above the ground. His dark features were expressionless. Upon his +countenance was visible no sign of triumph, no elation at a victory that +was well within his grasp. As he came nearer and nearer his dark eyes +never moved from the stern face of the Arab sheikh. + +Then slowly he rose to his feet, bringing the butt of his rifle into the +hollow of his shoulder. + +"Bayram," said he in a deep voice, "make your peace with the Almighty +God, for you are about to die!" + +The Arab extended his arms in the direction of the east. Beyond the +mountains, on the far horizon, the sun was setting in a glow of crimson +glory. The great hills stood forth before the sunset like the thrones +of giants, their irregular, rugged outline a deep leaden colour where +they were not wrapped in gathering clouds. + +The Black Dog lifted his voice so that it carried far across the valley. + +"Without repentance," said he, "I go into the shades. I have sometimes +acted unwisely, for human flesh is weak, and man cannot have the wisdom +of Allah, whose prophet is Mohammed. But for such false steps as I have +taken I am ready to pay the price. Come, fire, and have done with it! +I do not fear to die." + +There was no question that Fernando was about to fire, when Harry cried +out in the nick of time. + +"The Sunstone!" he exclaimed. + +The sheikh turned to the boy and smiled, his white teeth showing in his +beard. Then he thrust a hand into a pocket and drew forth the Sunstone, +which he held to the light, so that the yellow jade caught the +reflection of the dying sun and looked like the most magnificent of +opals. + +"Here it is," said he. And then to the guide: "Will you take this in +exchange for a human life? I am ready to strike a bargain." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"Do as he bids you," pleaded Harry, who was not only anxious to recover +the Sunstone at every cost, but who had no liking for this business, +which was in the nature of a common execution. + +"I have sworn an oath," said the guide in measured tones. "The Black +Dog must die." + +With these words he approached, until he was quite near to the Arab. It +was no doubt his intention to shoot the man and then grasp his robes to +prevent his lifeless body from falling over the cliff. Be that as it +may, he failed in his enterprise, for the sheikh was possessed of the +supple activity of a tiger as well as the cunning of a wolf. + +Fernando raised his rifle. He was then not ten feet from the Arab. And +even as he pressed the trigger the Black Dog sprang upon him, striking +the barrel of the rifle upward, so that the shot flew high in the air. + +A second later the two men were locked together in a death-grip, each +struggling desperately for life. + +The sheikh was the stronger of the two, but he suffered from his wound. +Not only was he somewhat weakened by loss of blood, but his right leg, +the flesh of which had been torn by the leopard’s fangs, was stiff and +aching from the great fatigue of the journey across the mountains. + +Harry put down his rifle and came forward in all haste, his revolver in +his hand. He desired to give what help he could to the guide, but this +was no easy matter. + +The two men were like fighting cats. First one was on the top and then +the other. They rolled over and over so rapidly, and were so closely +interlocked, that it was almost impossible to tell which was the guide +and which the sheikh. Sometimes they struggled at the foot of the +cliff; at others they were on the very edge of the precipice, and both +seemed in imminent danger of falling into the depths. + +"Help!" let out Fernando in the voice of one who choked. "He fights +like a demon possessed!" + +Harry, in desperation, hurled his weight upon the two, and at once found +his strength of small avail. He was tossed hither and thither, and was +more than once in danger of being hurled over the edge. + +At last, not without difficulty, he disengaged himself, recognizing that +he did no further good than risk his life. He saw also that his +revolver was quite useless. He dared not fire, even at the closest +range. + +It was then that Fernando somehow managed to release the other’s hold, +and sprang sharply to his feet. The sheikh was on him again like a wild +cat, and had him by the throat. Putting forth the whole of his colossal +strength, the Black Dog forced the other backward. + +Nearer and nearer to the edge of the precipice the four feet shuffled, +until the guide actually tottered on the brink. + +Harry stood by—a helpless spectator, petrified with horror. The terror +of the situation had taken his breath away. It was as if he had lost +all power and all sensation of his limbs. Then, with a loud cry, +Fernando, hurled from the Black Dog’s powerful grasp, plunged feet +foremost over the cliff. + +And as he fell he grasped the air with frantic, clutching hands, in an +agony of brief despair. His left fist closed upon nothing, but his +right laid hold upon the long, flowing robes of his opponent. + +On the instant the Black Dog was jerked off his feet. He tried to save +himself by throwing his weight backward—a quick, spasmodic action that +proved that he retained his presence of mind to the end. He was too +late, however. His shoulder struck the tooth-like edge of the +precipice—and, in a flash, he was gone. + +Harry Urquhart felt the strength suddenly go from his knees. Unable any +longer to stand, he sank down into a sitting position on the narrow, +perilous path. His heart was beating like a hammer; for a moment he +thought that he would faint. + +He dared not look down into the abyss. It was all too horrible to think +of. He sat still and listened, while the sun sank beyond the mountains, +and darkness crept into the valley. A great silence reigned among the +hills that was like the silence of the tomb. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV—The Sunstone Found + + +More than an hour elapsed before Harry Urquhart had the power to move. +The whole tragedy had been far more terrible than any nightmare, and yet +he felt just like a little child that awakens suddenly in the night, to +find himself still confronted with those horrid possibilities that can +only occur in dreams. + +Night crept into the valley from the east. The glow in the heavens died +out, and one by one the stars appeared, and a great full moon, luminous +and white. The boy crept to the edge of the precipice and looked over. +He could see nothing; it was too dark to see. The whole valley was +still. + +This silence was fearful in itself. It seemed to Harry that he was the +only living thing in the world. There were no voices in the night; in +the valley there was no sound of bird or beast or human being. + +Harry rose to his feet, and, step by step, aided by the moonlight, +cautiously returned to the spur by way of which he had come. He was +still quite unnerved. He dared not go near the edge of the precipice; +as he advanced he clutched the mountain-side. When he came to the spur +he clambered down among the rocks in such haste that the perspiration +stood in beads upon his brow. And then a feeling of weakness overcame +him again; and, seating himself upon the ground, he endeavoured to think +matters out. + +He tried to realize the full significance of what had happened. Fernando +had fulfilled his oath: he had brought about the death of the Black Dog +of the Cameroons. But he himself had perished also, and the Sunstone +had been lost. And all had happened in the space of a few seconds, +about which it was terrifying even to think. + +Above all else, Harry Urquhart wanted someone to talk to; he wanted to +hear the sound of a human voice. He was still like a child awakened +from a nightmare. The loneliness of this great, howling wilderness was +crushing, overpowering. With his nerves overwrought, his courage +shaken, the eternal silence got the better of his feelings, and +suddenly, burying his face in his hands, he burst forth into tears. + +He knew not why he cried. His tears were not tears of sorrow. He cried +because he had passed through a great ordeal, because he had been face +to face with Death. And, in that sense, every teardrop was the word of +a prayer to the God who controls the destinies of men. + +Then, mastering his emotion, he rose to his feet and went on—he knew +not whither. After a time he came to a stream, and there he stopped, +wondering what to do. + +There was food in his haversack, but he felt no inclination to eat. He +went down on his knees, and drank deeply. The water was very cold. + +When he had quenched his thirst, which was like the thirst that +accompanies a fever, he felt refreshed. He even scorned himself for +having been so weak. It was then that he looked about him. + +He was shut in on all sides by the great inhospitable mountains. Above +was a clear sky, bespangled with a multitude of stars, in the midst of +which the full moon shone down into the valley. Then he saw another +star, solitary, large as a planet, lower than the others. It was a star +that seemed to shine from out of the heart of the mountains. + +It was some minutes before he realized what it was. Then the truth came +upon him as in a flash. It was not a star at all, but a camp-fire that +was burning on the hill-side. + +The thought that he was not alone in this desolate and silent region was +like the nectar of the gods to one who is faint and weary. The boy +cared not in the least who camped on the mountainside; he decided to +find out for himself. If they were savages, they could murder him; it +would matter little to him. If they were friendly, they might allow him +to warm himself by the side of the glowing embers. At any rate he would +hear some kind of human speech. + +It took him three hours to reach the fire, where he found two men, +seated facing one another. A cry of exultation escaped his lips when he +recognized Jim Braid and the younger guide. + +At once Cortes sprang to his feet as if alarmed. + +"Where is my brother?" he asked. + +Harry tried to speak, but was not able to do so. He sank down by the +side of the fire. + +"Some calamity has happened!" + +Harry bowed his head. + +"And the Black Dog?" asked Cortes. + +"He also is dead," said Harry, speaking for the first time. + +"Dead!" cried Cortes, without expression in his voice. + +"Yes," said Harry. "And the Sunstone is lost, and von Hardenberg will +starve to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Cortes seated himself once more upon the ground, extending his hands +towards the fire. There were no tears in his eyes; his voice was +without a tremor. + +"When you feel able to do so," said he, turning his face to Harry, "will +you please tell me what happened." + +Harry related the story from beginning to end. He told how Fernando and +himself had followed the sheikh across the mountains, and of how they +had run the man to earth upon a narrow ledge at the top of an enormous +cliff. He then described the struggle that had taken place, with its +grim and terrible conclusion. + +When the boy had finished speaking, Cortes looked up at the moon. + +"In four hours," said he, "it will be daylight. We can do nothing till +then. When the dawn comes we will search for the bodies." + +At that he lay down upon the ground, but it was evident he had no +intention of going to sleep. + +He had shown little or no emotion on hearing of his brother’s death. +There was black blood in his veins, and, with the more savage races, +death is a simple and everyday affair. For all that, there is no reason +to suppose that he did not feel the great loss he had sustained. + +A long time elapsed before Harry, too, was able to sleep. And, when at +last he did so, he was for ever struggling on the brink of an +unfathomable abyss, so that he was little rested when at daybreak he was +awakened by Cortes. + +Without waiting for food, they set out at once upon their way, passing +slowly down the hill-side. They soon reached the stream, and thence +turned to the south. It was Harry who led the way. When he judged that +they were parallel to the place where the tragedy had happened, they +crossed the stream and walked straight for the cliff. + +At the foot of the precipice was a kind of terrace, upon which grew +scattered trees, about the roots of one of which were boulders. Lying +on his back, across one of these rocks, they found the body of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. + +The two boys looked away whilst the guide examined the body, and then, +stooping, picked up something from the ground. Presently Cortes touched +Harry on the arm. + +The boy turned and set eyes upon the Sunstone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV—A Brother + + +Leaving the body of the wretched man where they found it, they continued +to search among the trees; but nowhere could they discover any trace of +the elder guide. + +"His body cannot be far away," said Harry. "They fell together." + +It was then that, at the sound of a faint cry from somewhere far above +them, all three looked up. And the sight they beheld was appalling. + +Hundreds of feet above the place where they stood, sheltered by a cranny +in the face of the cliff, there grew a gnarled and twisted shrub, a kind +of withered tree. In the midst of this, caught like a fish in a net, +was a man who, even as they watched him, moved, twisting like a thing in +pain. + +Cortes scanned the face of the cliff; but, look where he might, he could +discover no way by which it was possible to ascend to the place where +his brother was suspended in mid-air. + +Running back several yards, he regarded the precipice above the withered +tree. It was equally inaccessible from above. Then he raised his hands +to his mouth and cried out in a loud voice, calling upon his brother by +name. + +The answer came in a voice so weak that Cortes had to hold a hand to an +ear in order to catch the words. + +"I am in pain. My arm is broken. Can you not come to my assistance?" + +The younger brother looked about him in despair. + +"Can nothing be done?" asked Harry. + +"Let me think," said Cortes, and lifted a hand to his eyes. On a sudden +he cried out to his brother. "Can you hold out for two days?" he asked. + +"For two days!" came the answer. "It is too long." + +"You must!" cried the other. "Take the belt from your waist and bind +yourself to the tree. Then, when your strength is gone, you will not +fall." + +Whilst the elder man obeyed these injunctions, Harry turned to Cortes. + +"What do you intend to do?" he asked. + +"We have no rope," said the guide. "Fernando is at least fifty feet +from the path above, and there is no rope fifty feet in length nearer to +this place than Kano or Sokoto. However, there is—as you know—a +rope-like creeper that grows in the bush. I intend to go back as far as +the jungle." + +"Can you get there in time?" asked Braid, incredulously. + +"My wound is now healed," said the man, "my strength returned. I can +but do my best." + +Cortes looked up again at his brother. + +"Courage!" he cried. "In two days I return." + +So saying, he bounded off upon his way. As they watched him pass down +the valley, springing from rock to rock, it was apparent that he meant +to do all that was humanly possible to effect the salvation of his +brother. Even as they looked, his figure grew smaller in the distance, +and in a few minutes he was lost to view. + +To describe in detail the journey of the younger guide across the +mountains would be tedious. The thing can be summed up in a few words: +it was magnificent, heroic. Mile upon mile he covered without pausing +for breath. For the most part he kept to the valleys, where the +atmosphere was stifling and humid, crossing the mountains only when by +doing so he could cut off several miles. + +He had food with him, but he seldom stopped to eat. Now and again he +drank at a mountain stream, but seemed to grudge the time even for this. + +At sunset he was still bearing onward. He had cast aside the greater +part of his clothing, and the perspiration poured off him, and the veins +stood out upon his temples like knotted strands of cord. For all that, +he went on and on beneath the stars, whilst the moon marched in the +heavens. It was a race for the life of his brother. + +As Cortes hastened on his way, his thoughts continually went back to the +perilous situation in which he had left Fernando, and every thought was, +as it were, a spur to his endeavour. No sooner had he pictured in his +mind’s eye that struggling, writhing figure, hanging, as it were, +betwixt earth and sky, than he shot forward with renewed energy, +clenching both fists and teeth in his strong determination. + +At last, breathless, exhausted, he sighted the extremity of the great +West African bush. Through this, forcing his way among the thickets, so +that the sharp thorns tore his naked flesh, he was obliged to travel for +many miles before he found the right kind of creeping plant, and, +moreover, one long enough to suit his purpose. + +To cut this from the tree around which it was twined, and roll it into a +great coil which he suspended around his neck, was the work of not many +minutes; and then he set forth upon his return journey to the margin of +the desert. + +He was already much exhausted, and his load was very heavy. But hour by +hour he struggled onward, leaving the jungle far behind, mounting to +higher altitudes. Nightfall found him still upon his way. Repeatedly +he stumbled, and then, on a sudden, he fell full length upon the ground. + +He lay quite still for several seconds, then rose slowly to his knees, +lifting his eyes and hands towards the stars. For a moment he prayed +silently; and, seeming to gather courage from his prayer, he rose to his +feet and went on. + +Soon after midnight the sky became overcast. A high wind got up and +blew from the mountains, bitter cold after the tropic heat of the bush. +Then the skies opened and the rain came down in sheets. But Cortes +still held on, struggling towards his goal, fighting manfully against +his own failing strength. + +And in the meantime, throughout these two fearful days, Jim Braid and +Harry waited in suspense. They could do nothing to help the man who +hung, hour after hour, upon the brink of the other world. + +Acting on his brother’s advice, Fernando had undone the belt around his +waist, and with this had lashed himself to the stoutest branch of the +tree. Words fail to describe the torture he must have suffered; for, +not only did he endure great pain from his broken arm, but he was +tormented by a raging thirst. His cries for water were piteous to hear. + +They had no means of assisting him. They could do nothing but look on +in helplessness, praying for the return of the younger brother. On the +second night the rain came—in torrents, as it can only rain in the +tropics—and Fernando was able to moisten his parched lips by sucking +his drenched clothes. + +Wishing to get nearer to the poor fellow, in the hope that they might be +able to comfort him, at least with words, Harry and Jim Braid climbed +the spur and moved along the ledge at the top of the precipice until +they were immediately above the withered tree. There, lying down upon +their faces, they cried out to him to be of good courage, reminding him +that the dawn approached, that his brother would soon return. + +Daybreak is the hour when Life is nearest Death. It was shortly before +sunrise that Fernando himself gave up all hope, and called upon God to +take charge of his departing soul. He said that he was quite ready to +welcome Death; he desired nothing more than to have an end to his misery +and suspense. And, even as the words left his lips, the figure of his +brother was seen approaching along the ledge. + +At the feet of Harry Urquhart, Cortes sank, exhausted. The object of +his mission fulfilled, he lost consciousness and drifted into a faint. + +With all dispatch they uncoiled the long, snake-like creeper. Passing +one end over a jutting pinnacle of rock, they lowered the other towards +Fernando. It was more than long enough to reach the place where he lay. + +With great difficulty the poor fellow managed to untie his belt and make +fast the end of the creeper around his waist. And then they had to wait +a long time, until Cortes, who had recovered consciousness, was able to +assist the two boys in hauling up the rope. + +This was no easy matter, since they had neither a good foothold nor much +space upon the terrace. But in the end they succeeded, and the rescued +man lay panting on the ledge. He was immediately given water to drink; +and when he had drunk, a smile slowly overspread his face, and he looked +at the brother who had saved his life. But no word of gratitude ever +passed his lips; his thanks—far more eloquent than words—were in his +eyes. And the dark eyes of a half-caste are the most expressive and the +most beautiful in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI—The Twelfth Hour + + +Owing to the exhausted state of the two guides, the party could not set +forth upon their return journey to the Caves of Zoroaster until the +afternoon of the following day. + +The powers of endurance of both men had been taxed to the utmost—the +elder, by the terrible ordeal through which he had passed; the younger, +by his almost superhuman efforts. + +In spite of that, Harry Urquhart was all anxiety to be off. He had +often pictured to himself the agony of suspense that all this time von +Hardenberg was being called upon to bear. The boy wondered if the lamp +which the Prussian had taken with him into the vault still burned. If +so, it would shed its light upon the glittering treasure. If it had +gone out, the Prussian was buried in unutterable and eternal +darkness—eternal, since escape was beyond the bounds of possibility. +That, combined with the fearful silence that reigned in the place, with +hope dying in the prisoner’s heart as the days rolled slowly by, was +enough—as it seemed to Harry—to drive any man to madness. The boy +found it impossible to forgive his cousin, who had acted so basely from +the first; for all that, he was by no means heartless, and, in any case, +it was his duty to save a human life from so terrible an end. + +As soon as the guides professed themselves able to undertake the +journey, they set off towards the caves. It took them more than two +days to accomplish what the younger guide had done in under twelve +hours, and thence, striking due south-west, they approached the caves +from the opposite direction to that in which they had first entered +Maziriland. + +On this occasion they saw—though they did not come into actual contact +with—several of the Maziri peasants who were working in the cultivated +tracts of country that lay between the mountains and the bush. +Maziriland was very sparsely populated—the race verging on +extinction—and at least two-thirds of the inhabitants were congregated +in the chief town, where they carried on certain industries, their skill +in which they had inherited from the ancients. + +It approached the hour of daybreak when Harry Urquhart and his party +reached the foot of the great flight of steps that led to the entrance +to the caves, where stood the two carved giants. Harry had hurried +forward, closely followed by Braid. The two guides brought up the rear. + +In feverish excitement, three steps at a time, the boy dashed up the +steps between the weird, fantastic statues, and was about to enter the +cave when he remembered that he had no light, and that, since it was +night, the place would be unutterably dark. He had retraced his steps +some distance, with the object of getting some kind of torch, when he +was met by Fernando at the head of the long flight of steps. + +"A light!" he cried. "It is quite dark within." + +Fernando had foreseen this, and in mid-valley had broken a branch from a +cork-tree, which he had damped with rifle oil. This he now lighted and +gave to Harry, who was the first to enter the cave. + +Inside, everything was exactly as they had left it. It was manifest no +one had visited the place since the tragedy of some days before. The +body of the old man lay still at the foot of the altar. At the +farthermost end of the cave the granite wall remained as ever, immobile +and formidable. Harry Urquhart, taking the Sunstone from his pocket, +asked Jim to hold the torch, and himself went to the wheels and turned +them until the characters that showed above the golden bar corresponded +with those upon the Sunstone. + +When he came to the ninth wheel he was so excited that his hand was +shaking. And presently there came the sharp "clicking" sound that they +had heard before, and then the granite rock began slowly to revolve. + +The rock evidently turned upon a pivot. Its motion was like that of an +enormous water-wheel, except that, instead of revolving vertically, it +turned horizontally, the way of the sun. When the centre of the opening +was immediately opposite the altar there came a second "click", and the +rock remained quite still. + +Harry Urquhart, in breathless haste, snatched the torch from the hands +of his friend, and dashed like a madman to the entrance. + +He pulled up in the nick of time, noticing that he stood at the top of +an exceedingly steep and narrow flight of stairs. Had he gone on as +impetuously as he had started, he would have pitched head foremost down +the steps. + +He began to descend more cautiously. The steps were slippery from the +moisture that invaded the rock in which they had been cut. + +He had not descended more than three steps before he was brought to an +abrupt standstill. It was as if his heart ceased to beat. From far +below—so far away as to be quite faint, though unmistakable—there came +to his ears the report of a single shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII—Too Late! + + +The boy hastened down the narrow steps with all the speed he could, Jim +Braid following close upon his heels. The two guides had remained +above. Even yet, both regarded the place with superstitious awe. + +The steps led downward—as it seemed an interminable distance. At first +they were straight; then they were spiral; then they were straight again +and broader. At the bottom was the vault where, as rumour had it, the +great sage himself lay buried, where was gathered together the treasure +that had been given in offerings during his lifetime, thousands of years +before. + +At the foot of the steps, the two boys, side by side, stood spellbound. +The sight that they beheld was at once tragic and marvellous. + +The vault was a rectangular room about thirty feet long and twenty feet +wide. Against the wall facing the steps was a huge stone that resembled +a coffin, supported upon a pedestal, cylindrical in shape, and about six +feet in height. The coffin and the pedestal on which it stood resembled +in shape the letter T. At the foot of the pedestal was a large marble +basin, in the centre of which a small jet of water played like a +miniature fountain, uttering a never-ceasing bubbling noise that sounded +strange in the silence of the vault. + +The walls were of bare rock. On the ceiling was carved a number of +fantastic figures, similar to those that stood on either side of the +great stairway that led to the entrance of the caves. But the wonder of +the vault was on the floor, the whole of which was covered inches deep +in glittering, sparkling gems. There were sapphires, rubies, diamonds, +opals, and pearls. The former worshippers of Zoroaster had called upon +the treasure-houses of the ancient world to pay their tribute to the +genius of the teacher. They had visited the pearl-fisheries of the East +and the ruby-mines of Burma; they had brought gold from Ophir and +emeralds from the land of Punt. + +And in the midst of this dazzling treasure, half-buried in the gems he +had ventured so much to gain, lay Captain von Hardenberg, who, dying by +his own hand, had delivered up the life he had so abused. + +Full length upon his face, upon this brilliant, jewel-bespangled carpet, +was the man who had stolen the Sunstone, who had betrayed his country, +and who, in his own turn, had been betrayed by the very ruffian he +employed. A revolver, still smoking, was in his hand. Carl von +Hardenberg had placed himself at last beyond the reach of human law. + +It is easy to imagine the torment the man had suffered during the last +days of his ill-spent life. The lamp which he had carried with him from +the altar in the cave had long since burned out, and now stood upon the +coffin of Zoroaster. The mental agony he endured must have driven him +near to madness. The darkness, the utter hopelessness of his terrible +situation, the fearful stillness—accentuated rather than broken by the +never-ending bubbling of the fountain—had no doubt driven him to take +his own life in savage desperation. + +He had eaten all his food. He had had water in plenty to drink; but he +had no doubt given up all hope of ever being rescued. + +Both Harry and Jim uncovered their heads. They stood face to face with +the still form of one who had always been their enemy, who had been the +enemy of their country. Von Hardenberg stood now in the presence of his +Maker. + +They buried him at the foot of the great steps that led to the Caves of +Zoroaster; and there Harry Urquhart—who had a little thumb-nail Prayer +Book in his pocket—read the funeral service over the grave, whilst Jim +Braid and the two guides, who had served them so faithfully throughout +these long adventurous weeks, stood by in silent reverence. + +There was now nothing they could do but retrace their steps to the +Cameroons. They could not hope to take all the treasure with them, +since they had no means of carrying it over the mountains and through +the density of the bush. They had travelled thus far to see justice +done, to prevent infinite wealth from falling into the hands of the +enemies of England; and in this enterprise they had been +successful—that much in itself was a reward. None the less, there was +no reason why they should not take with them as many jewels as they +could carry, and accordingly, selecting many of the largest and most +valuable gems, they filled their haversacks and pockets. + +And then, ascending the stairs and using the Sunstone as a key, Harry +closed the vault so that no one—not even the Maziris themselves—could +open it. And there was something almost sacred—or at least +awe-inspiring—in the deed. For centuries the Shrine of Zoroaster had +remained unmolested. Except the successive guardians of the cave, no +human being had ever entered the vault and beheld the glittering +treasure. In bygone times these priceless jewels had been delivered up +in tribute to one of the world’s greatest teachers; and now, in one +sense, they were like flowers upon a grave. It was well that the +greater part of the treasure should remain where it had lain throughout +the ages; there was wealth enough for them in what they were able to +carry with them. + +With the return journey to the coast we are not concerned. The party +accomplished the march in fairly easy stages; and travelling southward, +for two excellent reasons, was a far more simple affair than advancing +towards the north: for, firstly, they were able to utilize the rivers +that flowed down from the mountains; and, secondly, the whole country +was now in possession of the British troops. The German Cameroons was +no more. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII—Conclusion + + +Exactly two months after the arrival of our adventurers at Dualla, Jim +Braid, cap in hand, approached his father’s cottage. + +It was about eight o’clock at night, and quite dark. He had come from +London that afternoon, and had walked from the station. Harry, who had +travelled with him, had been met by Mr. Langton’s dog-cart. But Jim +preferred to walk; he desired time to brace himself for the interview +which was to take place between himself and the father who had treated +him with such blind and harsh injustice. + +The cottage windows were illumined. Softly he opened the door and +looked in. His mother was seated by the fire. + +A moment later her arms were around his neck. With tears in her voice +she recalled the day when Jim had come to wish her good-bye. He was +then an outcast, one who was wrongly and falsely accused, who had been +turned loose in the world to roam the highways like a common tramp; and +since that day his mother had never doubted his innocence for a moment. + +The head-gamekeeper was one of the old school of parents. In his eyes, +no less than in the eyes of Mr. Langton, the evidence against his son +had been crushing. + +As young Braid held his mother in his arms, the door was opened, and +John Braid, the gamekeeper, dressed in corduroys, entered. When he saw +his son he lowered his head, after the manner of one ashamed. + +"My boy," said he, "I did you a great wrong. I ask your forgiveness, as +indeed I ask God’s." + +Jim found it difficult to speak. + +"The evidence was all against me," he stammered. + +"I know it was," said the gamekeeper; "but I might have known that my +son would never have done such a thing. How was I to guess?" he added, +throwing out his hands. "I knew nothing of this Sunstone, nor of German +knavery. I knew nothing of that. All I was told was that twenty pounds +had been stolen, and—as I have said—the evidence was against you, my +lad, and I believed you guilty. I repeat, I should have known better." + +"Father," said Jim, holding out his hand, "don’t let’s talk of it any +more. On my part it’s all forgotten, and there’s nothing to forgive." + +"God bless you, boy!" said John, lifting a hand to his black beard to +hide the emotion he was unable to control. + +"There’s something else," said he, after a pause; "I’m getting old." + +"You’re not sixty yet!" cried his wife. + +"That’s too old for a head-gamekeeper," answered Braid, thrusting his +thumbs into the armholes of his moleskin waistcoat. "A keeper should be +a young man and an active one. Lately I’ve had rheumatism, and I’m not +up to the night work. I told Mr. Langton this morning that I didn’t +think I was fit to carry on the work, and he’s given me a pension, +though I never asked for it nor thought of it." + +"You’ve given up your work!" exclaimed his wife. "You’re no longer +head-keeper at Friar’s Court!" + +"No," said the man. "I’m not." + +"Who’s got the place?" she asked. + +Braid made a motion of his hand towards his son. + +"Jim," said he—and smiled. + +There followed a silence, during which there came a sharp knock upon the +door, John Braid went to the door and opened it, and there entered Mr. +Langton, followed by Harry. + +The Judge held out his hand to Jim. + +"I’ve come to ask your pardon," said he. "We did you a great injury. +Harry has told me the whole story. He has told me of how he found you +in London, and of the terrible act you were about to commit when he +saved you at the eleventh hour." + +Jim had forgotten that fearful moment on the Hungerford Bridge. He now +lowered his face to conceal his shame. + +"I had forgotten that," he murmured in an undertone, as if to himself. + +"Do not think I blame you, my poor boy," said Mr. Langton. "I blame +only myself for having driven you to such a pass. You have not yet told +me that you forgive me, and I have come here chiefly for that." + +Jim stammered out a few half-coherent words, implying more by the tones +of his voice than by anything else that everything was forgotten. + +"And you have heard," Mr. Langton added, "that you are to be head-keeper +here?" + +"If you please, sir," said Jim, "I think my father can carry on till +after the war. I was thinking I should enlist." + +Mr. Langton again held out his hand, which young Braid took. + +"I was expecting that," said he. "I promise to keep the place open for +you, and to do all I can to help." + +A few moments afterwards, Mr. Langton and his nephew went out. Before a +roaring fire in the Judge’s study they seated themselves in comfortable +arm-chairs, and the Judge drew the Sunstone from his pocket. + +"I shall give it to the British Museum," said he. "I have no wish to +keep it any longer. I cannot look at it without realizing the terrible +tragedies that this small piece of jade has brought about." + +He was silent a while, playing with the Sunstone in his hand. + +"Your Arab," said he very quietly, "the Sheikh Bayram, done to death; +wretched, misguided Hardenberg buried alive in that dark and lonely +vault; and all the miles you traversed, all the adventures you passed +through, and the hardships you endured! It’s not worth it!" said he, +with a sigh. "Let the treasure lie where it is." + +For all his words, the subject seemed to fascinate him; for, after a +pause, he went back to it again. + +"By my calculations," said he, "this stone is from six to eight thousand +years old. I have known it for not quite ten years, and during that +time it has brought about the death of, at least, five men. If it could +only speak," said he, "of what tragedies could it tell—tragedies of the +ancient world, of the long-forgotten past?" + +With another sigh he got to his feet and stirred the fire into a blaze. + +"And now," said he, "though you have already served your country better +than anyone else will ever know, we can see what can be done in the way +of getting you a commission. In regard to a regiment, have you any +particular choice?" + +"Yes," said Harry at once, for he had already arranged the matter to his +satisfaction; "the Wessex Fusiliers." + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. + +START: FULL LICENSE + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the +person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph +1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when +you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and + most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no + restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it + under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this + eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the + United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where + you are located before using this eBook. + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format +other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain +Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +provided that: + +* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + +* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm + works. + +* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + +* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at +www.gutenberg.org + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without +widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular +state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. + +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: www.gutenberg.org + +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + diff --git a/39185-0.zip b/39185-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..94c9e69 --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-0.zip diff --git a/39185-h.zip b/39185-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..27ffa99 --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-h.zip diff --git a/39185-h/39185-h.htm b/39185-h/39185-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13d3f01 --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-h/39185-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6034 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg Book of Across the Cameroons, by Charles Gilson</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: center;} + +.italics { font-style: italic } +.no-italics { font-style: normal } + +.bold { font-weight: bold } +.no-bold { font-weight: normal } + +.small-caps { } /* Epub needs italics */ +.gesperrt { } /* Epub needs italics */ +.antiqua { font-style: italic } /* what else can we do ? */ +.monospaced { font-family: monospace } + +.smaller { font-size: smaller } +.larger { font-size: larger } + +.xx-small { font-size: xx-small } +.x-small { font-size: x-small } +.small { font-size: small } +.medium { font-size: medium } +.large { font-size: large } +.x-large { font-size: x-large } +.xx-large { font-size: xx-large } + +.text-transform-uppercase { text-transform: uppercase } +.text-transform-lowercase { text-transform: lowercase } +.text-transform-none { text-transform: none } + +.red { color: red } +.green { color: green } +.blue { color: blue } +.yellow { color: yellow } +.white { color: white } +.gray { color: gray } +.black { color: black } + +/* ALIGN */ + +.left { text-align: left } +.center { text-align: center } +.right { text-align: right } +.justify { text-align: justify } + +/* LINE HEIGHT */ + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +/* PAGINATION */ + +.title, .subtitle { page-break-after: avoid } + +.container, .title, .subtitle, #pg-header + { page-break-inside: avoid } + +/* SECTIONS */ + +p.pfirst, +p.center, +p.right, +div.center p, +div.right p, +p.noindent { text-indent: 0 } + +.boxed { border: 1px solid black; padding: 1em } +.topic, .note { margin: 5% 0; border: 1px solid black; padding: 1em } +div.section { clear: both } + +div.line-block { margin: 1.5em 0 } /* same leading as p */ +div.line-block.inner { margin: 0 0 0 10% } +div.line { margin-left: 20%; text-indent: -20%; } +.line-block.noindent div.line { margin-left: 0; text-indent: 0; } + +hr.docutils { margin: 1.5em 40%; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid black; } + +.vfill, .vspace { border: 0px solid white } + +.title { margin: 1.5em 0 } +.title.with-subtitle { margin-bottom: 0 } +.subtitle { margin: 1.5em 0 } + +/* header font style */ +/* http://dev.w3.org/csswg/css3-fonts/#propdef-font-size */ + +h2.title, p.subtitle.level-1 { font-size: 150%; margin-top: 4.5em; margin-bottom: 2em } +h3.title, p.subtitle.level-2 { font-size: 120%; margin-top: 2.25em; margin-bottom: 1.25em } +h4.title, p.subtitle.level-3 { font-size: 100%; margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; font-weight: bold; } +h5.title, p.subtitle.level-4 { font-size: 89%; margin-top: 1.87em; margin-bottom: 1.69em; font-style: italic; } +h6.title, p.subtitle.level-5 { font-size: 60%; margin-top: 3.5em; margin-bottom: 2.5em } + +/* title page */ + +h1.title, p.subtitle.level-1, +h2.title, p.subtitle.level-2 { text-align: center } + +#pg-header, +p.document-subtitle { margin: 0 0 5% 0 } + +/* PG header and footer */ +#pg-machine-header { } +#pg-produced-by { } + +li.toc-entry { list-style-type: none } +ul.open li, ol.open li { margin-bottom: 1.5em } + +p.attribution { margin-top: 0 } + +.example-rendered { + margin: 1em 5%; border: 1px dotted red; padding: 1em; background-color: #ffd } +.literal-block.example-source { + margin: 1em 5%; border: 1px dotted blue; padding: 1em; background-color: #eef } + +/* DROPCAPS */ + +/* BLOCKQUOTES */ + +blockquote { margin: 1.5em 10% } + +blockquote.epigraph { } + +blockquote.highlights { } + +div.local-contents { margin: 1.5em 10% } + +div.abstract { margin: 3em 10% } +div.caption { margin: 1.5em 10%; text-align: center; font-style: italic } +div.legend { margin: 1.5em 10% } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +a.toc-backref { + text-decoration: none ; + color: black } + +dl.docutils dd { + margin-bottom: 0.5em } + +div.figure { margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em } + +img { max-width: 100% } + +div.footer, div.header { + clear: both; + font-size: smaller } + +div.sidebar { + margin: 0 0 0.5em 1em ; + border: medium outset ; + padding: 1em ; + background-color: #ffffee ; + width: 40% ; + float: right ; + clear: right } + +div.sidebar p.rubric { + font-family: sans-serif ; + font-size: medium } + +ol.simple, ul.simple { margin: 1.5em 0 } + +ol.toc-list, ul.toc-list { padding-left: 0 } +ol ol.toc-list, ul ul.toc-list { padding-left: 5% } + +ol.arabic { + list-style: decimal } + +ol.loweralpha { + list-style: lower-alpha } + +ol.upperalpha { + list-style: upper-alpha } + +ol.lowerroman { + list-style: lower-roman } + +ol.upperroman { + list-style: upper-roman } + +p.credits { + font-style: italic ; + font-size: smaller } + +p.label { + white-space: nowrap } + +p.rubric { + font-weight: bold ; + font-size: larger ; + color: maroon ; + text-align: center } + +p.sidebar-title { + font-family: sans-serif ; + font-weight: bold ; + font-size: larger } + +p.sidebar-subtitle { + font-family: sans-serif ; + font-weight: bold } + +p.topic-title, p.admonition-title { + font-weight: bold } + +pre.address { + margin-bottom: 0 ; + margin-top: 0 ; + font: inherit } + +.literal-block, .doctest-block { + margin-left: 2em ; + margin-right: 2em; } + +span.classifier { + font-family: sans-serif ; + font-style: oblique } + +span.classifier-delimiter { + font-family: sans-serif ; + font-weight: bold } + +span.interpreted { + font-family: sans-serif } + +span.option { + white-space: nowrap } + +span.pre { + white-space: pre } + +span.problematic { + color: red } + +span.section-subtitle { + /* font-size relative to parent (h1..h6 element) */ + font-size: 100% } + +table { margin-top: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1.5em; border-spacing: 0 } +table.align-left, table.align-right { margin-top: 0 } + +table.table { border-collapse: collapse; } + +table.table.hrules-table thead { border: 1px solid black; border-width: 2px 0 0 } +table.table.hrules-table tbody { border: 1px solid black; border-width: 2px 0 } +table.table.hrules-rows tr { border: 1px solid black; border-width: 0 0 1px } +table.table.hrules-rows tr.last { border-width: 0 } +table.table.hrules-rows td, +table.table.hrules-rows th { padding: 1ex 1em; vertical-align: middle } + +table.table tr { border-width: 0 } +table.table td, +table.table th { padding: 0.5ex 1em } +table.table tr.first td { padding-top: 1ex } +table.table tr.last td { padding-bottom: 1ex } +table.table tr.first th { padding-top: 1ex } +table.table tr.last th { padding-bottom: 1ex } + + +table.citation { + border-left: solid 1px gray; + margin-left: 1px } + +table.docinfo { + margin: 3em 4em } + +table.docutils { } + +tr.footnote.footnote td, tr.footnote.footnote th { + padding: 0 0.5em 1.5em; +} + +table.docutils td, table.docutils th, +table.docinfo td, table.docinfo th { + padding: 0 0.5em; + vertical-align: top } + +table.docutils th.field-name, table.docinfo th.docinfo-name { + font-weight: bold ; + text-align: left ; + white-space: nowrap ; + padding-left: 0 } + +/* used to remove borders from tables and images */ +.borderless, table.borderless td, table.borderless th { + border: 0 } + +table.borderless td, table.borderless th { + /* Override padding for "table.docutils td" with "!important". + The right padding separates the table cells. */ + padding: 0 0.5em 0 0 } /* FIXME: was !important */ + +h1 tt.docutils, h2 tt.docutils, h3 tt.docutils, +h4 tt.docutils, h5 tt.docutils, h6 tt.docutils { + font-size: 100% } + +ul.auto-toc { + list-style-type: none } + +.small-caps { font-variant: small-caps } +.gesperrt { letter-spacing: 0.1em } + +/* ALIGN */ + +.align-left { clear: left; + float: left; + margin-right: 1em } + +.align-right { clear: right; + float: right; + margin-left: 1em } + +.align-center { margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto } + +div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } + +/* SECTIONS */ + +/* compact list items containing just one p */ +li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } + +.first { margin-top: 0 !important; + text-indent: 0 !important } +.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } + +span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } +img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } +span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } + +.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } + +/* PAGINATION */ + +.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } +.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } +.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } +.toc-pageref { float: right } + +</style> +</head> +<body> + +<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Across the Cameroons, by Charles Gilson</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Across the Cameroons<br /> +A Story of War and Adventure</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Charles Gilson</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 17, 2012 [eBook #39185]<br /> +[Most recently updated: June 17, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Al Haines.</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS ***</div> + +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 49%"> +<img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="" src="images/cover.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +Cover art</div> +<div class="legend"> +<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%"> +<span id="down-cried-the-guide-for-your-life"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="" src="images/img-front.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +"DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!"</div> +</div> + +<h1>ACROSS THE CAMEROONS</h1> + +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">A Story of War and Adventure</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">BY</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line">CAPTAIN CHARLES GILSON</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line">Author of "A Motor-Scout in Flanders" &c. &c.</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Illustrated by Arch. Webb</em></div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block medium noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">BLACKIE & SON LIMITED</div> +<div class="line">LONDON AND GLASGOW</div> +<div class="line">1916</div> +</div> +<div class="center line-block noindent outermost small"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><em class="italics">Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow</em></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +</div> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<div class="level-2 section"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title">CONTENTS</h2> +<div class="container contents"> +<ul class="compact simple toc-list"> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-i-captain-von-hardenberg" id="id2">CHAPTER I—Captain von Hardenberg</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-ii-the-sunstone" id="id3">CHAPTER II—The Sunstone</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-iii-caught-red-handed" id="id4">CHAPTER III—Caught Red-handed</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-iv-false-evidence" id="id5">CHAPTER IV—False Evidence</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-v-the-eleventh-hour" id="id6">CHAPTER V—The Eleventh Hour</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-vi-the-pursuit-begins" id="id7">CHAPTER VI—The Pursuit Begins</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-vii-into-the-bush" id="id8">CHAPTER VII—Into the Bush</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-viii-danger-ahead" id="id9">CHAPTER VIII—Danger Ahead</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-ix-the-captive" id="id10">CHAPTER IX—The Captive</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-x-when-all-was-still" id="id11">CHAPTER X—When All was Still</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xi-a-shot-from-the-clouds" id="id12">CHAPTER XI—A Shot from the Clouds</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xii-the-mystery-of-the-running-man" id="id13">CHAPTER XII—The Mystery of the Running Man</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xiii-the-black-dog" id="id14">CHAPTER XIII—The Black Dog</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xiv-buried-alive" id="id15">CHAPTER XIV—Buried Alive!</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xv-the-valley-of-the-shadow" id="id16">CHAPTER XV—The Valley of the Shadow</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xvi-the-enemy-in-sight" id="id17">CHAPTER XVI—The Enemy in Sight</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xvii-a-shot-by-night" id="id18">CHAPTER XVII—A Shot by Night</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xviii-a-dash-for-liberty" id="id19">CHAPTER XVIII—A Dash for Liberty</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xix-war-to-the-knife" id="id20">CHAPTER XIX—War to the Knife</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xx-honour-among-thieves" id="id21">CHAPTER XX—Honour among Thieves</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxi-the-last-cartridge" id="id22">CHAPTER XXI—The Last Cartridge</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxii-the-conquest-of-a-colony" id="id23">CHAPTER XXII—The Conquest of a Colony</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxiii-attacked" id="id24">CHAPTER XXIII—Attacked</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxiv-the-caves" id="id25">CHAPTER XXIV—The Caves</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxv-the-lock" id="id26">CHAPTER XXV—The Lock</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxvi-the-white-madman" id="id27">CHAPTER XXVI—The White Madman</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxvii-the-black-dog-bites" id="id28">CHAPTER XXVII—The Black Dog Bites</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxviii-a-race-for-life" id="id29">CHAPTER XXVIII—A Race for Life</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxix-the-temple" id="id30">CHAPTER XXIX—The Temple</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxx-the-blood-spoor" id="id31">CHAPTER XXX—The Blood Spoor</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxi-the-fox-in-view" id="id32">CHAPTER XXXI—The Fox in View</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxii-between-two-fires" id="id33">CHAPTER XXXII—Between Two Fires</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxiii-on-the-brink-of-eternity" id="id34">CHAPTER XXXIII—On the Brink of Eternity</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxiv-the-sunstone-found" id="id35">CHAPTER XXXIV—The Sunstone Found</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxv-a-brother" id="id36">CHAPTER XXXV—A Brother</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxvi-the-twelfth-hour" id="id37">CHAPTER XXXVI—The Twelfth Hour</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxvii-too-late" id="id38">CHAPTER XXXVII—Too Late!</a></p> +</li> +<li class="level-2 toc-entry"><p class="first pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#chapter-xxxviii-conclusion" id="id39">CHAPTER XXXVIII—Conclusion</a></p> +</li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<hr class="docutils" /> +<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">Illustrations</div> +</div> +<div class="left line-block medium outermost"> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#down-cried-the-guide-for-your-life">"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!"</a> . . . . . . <em class="italics">Frontispiece</em></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#in-the-moonlight-he-saw-the-flash-of-a-knife-that-missed-him-by-the-fraction-of-an-inch">In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife that missed him by the fraction of an inch</a></div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-leopard-rose-upon-its-hind-legs-rampant-terrible-and-glorious">The leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible, and glorious</a></div> +</div> +<div class="center large line-block noindent outermost"> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line"> </div> +<div class="line">ACROSS THE CAMEROONS</div> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-i-captain-von-hardenberg"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id2">CHAPTER I—Captain von Hardenberg</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Late on a September afternoon, in the year 1913, two boys returned to +Friar's Court by way of the woods. Each carried a gun under his arm, +and a well-bred Irish water-spaniel followed close upon their heels. +They were of about the same age, though it would have been apparent, +even to the most casual observer, that they stood to one another in the +relation of master to man.</p> +<p class="pnext">The one, Henry Urquhart, home for his holidays from Eton, was the +nephew of Mr. Langton, the retired West African judge, who owned +Friar's Court. The other was Jim Braid, the son of Mr. Langton's +head-gamekeeper, who had already donned the corduroys and the moleskin +waistcoat of his father's trade. Though to some extent a social gap +divided them, a friendship had already sprung up between these two +which was destined to ripen as the years went on, carrying both to the +uttermost parts of the world, through the forests of the Cameroons, +across the inhospitable hills west of the Cameroon Peak, even to the +great plains of the Sahara.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was a boy of the open air. He was never happier than when on +horseback, or when he carried a shot-gun and a pocketful of cartridges. +As for Jim, he was no rider, but there were few boys of his age who +could hit a bolting rabbit or a rocketing pheasant with such surety of +aim.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Judge himself was much given to study, and was said to be a +recognized authority on the primitive races of Africa and the East. +For hours at a time he would shut himself up in the little bungalow he +had built in the woods, where, undisturbed, he could carry out his +researches. He was fond of his nephew, not the less so because Harry +was a boy well able to amuse himself; and where there were rabbits to +be shot and ditches to be jumped, young Urquhart was in his element.</p> +<p class="pnext">In Jim Braid, the schoolboy found one who had kindred tastes, who was a +better shot than himself, who could manage ferrets, and who, on one +occasion, had even had the privilege of assisting his father in the +capture of a poacher. Constant companionship engendered a friendship +which in time grew into feelings of mutual admiration. In the young +gamekeeper's eyes Harry was all that a gentleman should be; whereas the +schoolboy knew that in Jim Braid he had found a companion after his +heart.</p> +<p class="pnext">The path they followed led them past the bungalow. As they drew near +they saw there was a light in the window, and within was Mr. Langton, a +tall, grey-haired man, who sat at his writing-desk, poring over his +books and papers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My uncle works too hard," said Harry. "For the last week he has done +nothing else. Every morning he has left the house directly after +breakfast to come here. I think there's something on his mind; he +seldom speaks at meals."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I suppose," said Braid, "in a big estate like this there must be a +good deal of business to be done?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't think that takes him much time," said the other. "He keeps +his accounts and his cashbox in the bungalow, it is true, but he is +much more interested in the ancient histories of India and Asia than in +Friar's Court. He's a member of the Royal Society, you know, and +that's a very great honour."</p> +<p class="pnext">"He's a fine gentleman!" said Braid, as if that clinched the matter +once and for all.</p> +<p class="pnext">They walked on in silence for some minutes, and presently came to the +drive. It was then that they heard the sound of the wheels of a +dog-cart driving towards the house.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's Captain von Hardenberg," said Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I expect so," said the other. "His train must have been late. +There'll be three of us to shoot to-morrow."</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid did not answer. Harry glanced at him quickly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You don't seem pleased," he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">"To tell the truth, sir," said Braid, after a brief pause, "I'm not. +Captain von Hardenberg and I don't get on very well together."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How's that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim hesitated.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I hardly like to say, sir," said he, after a pause.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't mind," said Harry. "To tell the truth, my cousin and I have +never been friends. I can't think whatever possessed an aunt of mine +to marry a German—and a Prussian at that. He's a military attaché, +you know, at the German Embassy in London."</p> +<p class="pnext">The dog-cart came into sight round a bend in the drive. They stepped +aside to let it pass. There was just sufficient light to enable them +to see clearly the features of the young man who was seated by the side +of the coachman. He was about twenty-three years of age, with a very +dark and somewhat sallow complexion, sharp, aquiline features, and +piercing eyes. Upon his upper lip was a small, black moustache. He +wore a heavy ulster, into the pockets of which his hands were thrust.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, sir," said Jim, when the dog-cart had passed, "we've had a good +time together, what with shooting and the ferrets, but I'm afraid it's +all ended, now that the captain's come."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ended!" said Harry. "Why should it be ended?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Because I can never be the same with that gentleman as I am with you. +Last time he was here he struck me."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Struck you! What for?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"There was a shooting-party at the Court," the young gamekeeper went +on, "and I was helping my father. A pheasant broke covert midway +between Captain von Hardenberg and another gentleman, and they both +fired. Both claimed the bird, and appealed to me. I knew the captain +had fired first and missed, and I told him so. He said nothing at the +time, though he got very red in the face. That evening he came up to +me and asked me what I meant by it. I said I had spoken the truth, and +he told me not to be insolent. I don't know what I said to that, sir; +but, at any rate, he struck me. I clenched my fists, and as near as a +touch did I knock him down. I remembered in time that he was the +Judge's nephew, the same as yourself, and I'd lose my place if I did +it. So I just jammed both my fists in my trousers pockets, and walked +away, holding myself in, as it were, and cursing my luck."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You did right, Jim," said the other, after a pause. "You deserve to +be congratulated."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was pretty difficult," Braid added. "I could have knocked him into +a cocked hat, and near as a touch I did it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Though he's my cousin," said Harry, "I'm afraid he's a bad lot. He's +very unpopular in the diplomatic club in London to which he belongs. +When I went back to school last term I happened to travel in the same +carriage as two men who had known him well in Germany, and who talked +about him the whole way. It appears that he's sowing his wild oats +right and left, that he's always gambling and is already heavily in +debt."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I fancy," said Braid, "that a gamekeeper soon learns to know a rogue +when he sees one. You see, sir, we're always after foxes or poachers +or weasels; and the first time as ever I set eyes on Captain von +Hardenberg, I said to myself: 'That man's one of them that try to live +by their wits.'"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think," said Harry, "we had better talk about something else. In +point of fact, Jim, I had no right to discuss my cousin at all. But I +was carried away by my feelings when you told me he had struck you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I understand, sir," said the young gamekeeper, with a nod.</p> +<p class="pnext">"At all events, we must make the best of him. We're to have him here +for a month."</p> +<p class="pnext">"As long as he doesn't cross my path," said Jim Braid, "I'll not meddle +with him."</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon after that they parted, Harry going towards the house, Jim taking +the path that led to his father's cottage.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the hall Harry found his cousin, who had already taken off his hat +and overcoat, and was now seated before a roaring fire, with a +cigarette in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hallo!" said von Hardenberg, who spoke English perfectly. "Didn't +know I was to have the pleasure of your company. Where's my uncle?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"In the bungalow," said Harry. "During the last few days he's been +extremely hard at work."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How do you like school?" asked the young Prussian.</p> +<p class="pnext">His manner was particularly domineering. With his sleek, black hair, +carefully parted in the middle, and his neatly trimmed moustache, he +had the appearance of a very superior person. Moreover, he did not +attempt to disguise the fact that he looked upon his schoolboy cousin +barely with toleration, if not with actual contempt.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I like it tremendously!" said Harry, brightening up at once. "I +suppose you know I got into the Cricket Eleven, and took four wickets +against Harrow?"</p> +<p class="pnext">He said this with frank, boyish enthusiasm. There was nothing boastful +about it. Von Hardenberg, raising his eyebrows, flicked some +cigarette-ash from his trousers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"<em class="italics">Himmel!</em>" he observed. "You don't suppose I take the least interest +in what you do against Harrow. The whole of your nation appears to +think of nothing but play. As for us Germans, we have something better +to think of!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked at his cousin. For a moment a spirit of mischief rose +within him, and he had half a mind to ask whether von Hardenberg had +forgotten his gambling debts. However, he thought better of it, and +went upstairs to dress for dinner.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Judge came late from the bungalow, bursting into the dining-room as +his two nephews were seating themselves at the table, saying that he +had no time to change.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Boys," he cried, rubbing his hands together, "I've made the greatest +discovery of my life! I've hit upon a thing that will set the whole +world talking for a month! I've discovered the Sunstone! I've solved +its mystery! As you, Carl, would say, the whole thing's <em class="italics">colossal</em>!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Sunstone!" cried Harry. "What is that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Sunstone," said the Judge, "has been known to exist for centuries. +It is the key to the storehouse of one of the greatest treasures the +world contains. It has been in my possession for nine years, and not +till this evening did I dream that I possessed it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come!" cried Harry. "You must tell us all about it!"</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ii-the-sunstone"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id3">CHAPTER II—The Sunstone</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">"Well," said the Judge, pushing aside the plate of soup which he had +hardly tasted, "I don't know whether or not the story will interest +you. It ought to, because it's romantic, and also melodramatic—that +is to say, it is concerned with death. It came into my possession nine +years ago, when I was presiding judge at Sierra Leone. I remember +being informed by the police that a native from the region of Lake Chad +had come into the country with several Arabs on his track. He had fled +for his life from the hills; he had gone as far south as the Congo, and +had then cut back on his tracks; and all this time, over thousands of +miles of almost impenetrable country, the Arabs—slave-traders by +repute—had clung to his heels like bloodhounds. In Sierra Leone he +turned upon his tormentors and killed two of them. He was brought +before me on a charge of murder, and I had no option but to sentence +him to death. The day before he was hanged he wished to see me, and I +visited him in prison. He gave into my hands a large, circular piece +of jade, and I have kept it ever since, always looking upon it merely +as a curiosity and a memento of a very unpleasant duty. Never for a +moment did I dream it was the Sunstone itself.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now, before you can understand the whole story, you must know +something of Zoroaster. Zoroaster was the preacher, or prophet, who +was responsible for the most ancient religion in the world. He was the +first of the Magi, or the Wise Men of the East, and it was he who +framed the famous laws of the Medes and Persians. He is supposed to +have lived more than six thousand years before Christ.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The doctrine of Zoroaster is concerned with the worship of the sun; +hence the name of the Sunstone. This religion was adopted by the +Persians, who conquered Egypt, and thus spread their influence across +the Red Sea into Africa. To-day, among the hills that surround Lake +Chad, there exists a tribe of which little is known, except that they +are called the Maziris, and are believed still to follow the religion +of Zoroaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">"In the days when Zoroaster preached, it was the custom of his +followers and admirers to present the sage with jewels and precious +stones. These were first given as alms, to enable him to live; but, as +his fame extended, the treasure became so great that it far exceeded +his needs.</p> +<p class="pnext">"One rumour has it that Zoroaster died in the Himalayas; another that +his body was embalmed in Egypt and conveyed by a party of Ethiopians +into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where it was buried in a +cave with all his treasure.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Sunstone is referred to by many ancient Persian writers. I have +known of it for years as the key to the treasure of Zoroaster. As I +have said, it is a circular piece of jade, bright yellow in colour, and +of about the size of a saucer. On both sides of the stone various +signs and symbols have been cut. On one side, from the centre, nine +radii divide the circumference into nine equal arcs. In each arc is a +distinct cuneiform character, similar to those which have been found +upon the stone monuments of Persia and Arabia.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Arabs are in many ways the most wonderful people in the world. +Their vitality as a race is amazing. For centuries—possibly for +thousands of years—they have terrorized northern and central Africa. +They were feared by the ancient Egyptians, who built walls around their +cities to protect them from the Bedouins—the ancestors of the men who +to-day lead their caravans to Erzerum, Zanzibar, and Timbuctoo.</p> +<p class="pnext">"So far as I can discover, the Maziris are an Arab tribe who have given +up their old nomad life. Somewhere in the Maziri country is a group of +caves which no European has ever entered. They are known as the 'Caves +of Zoroaster', for it is here that the sage is supposed to have been +buried. The bones of Zoroaster, as well as the jewels, are said to lie +in a vault cut in the living rock; and the Sunstone is the key which +opens the entrance to that vault. The man, whom in my capacity as a +judge I was obliged to sentence to death, had no doubt stolen it, and +had been pursued across the continent by the Maziri chieftains, who +desired to recover the Sunstone.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is the whole story. A week ago I came across a description of +the Sunstone in the writings of a Persian historian, and that +description led me to suspect that the very thing was in my own +possession. I followed up clue after clue, and this evening I put the +matter beyond all doubt."</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Langton's two nephews had listened in breathless interest. Harry +was leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his chin upon a +hand. Von Hardenberg lay back in a chair, his arms folded, his dark +eyes fixed upon his uncle.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then," said he, "you have but to get into these so-called 'Caves of +Zoroaster' to possess yourself of the jewels?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The Judge smiled, and shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And to get into the caves," he answered, "is just the very thing that, +for the present, it is almost impossible for any European to do. The +Maziri are a wild and lawless tribe. They are indeed so bloodthirsty, +their country so mountainous, and their valleys so infertile, that +hitherto no one has ever interfered with their affairs. Like all the +Arabs, they are a nation of robbers and cut-throats, who lived in the +past by means of the slave-trade, and to-day exist by cattle-stealing +and robbery. The man who tries to enter the 'Caves of Zoroaster' will +have his work cut out."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Will you let us see the Sunstone?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Certainly, my boy," said Mr. Langton. "I'll take you both down to the +bungalow to-morrow morning, or—if you cannot wait till then—we can go +to-night."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Isn't it rather risky," asked von Hardenberg, "to keep such a valuable +thing out of the house?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The bungalow is always locked," said Mr. Langton, "and I keep the +Sunstone in a cabinet. Moreover, you must remember that nobody knows +of its value. No thief would ever dream of stealing it. It is, to all +appearances, only an inferior piece of jade."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But you have money there as well?" said von Hardenberg.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not much," answered the Judge. "Since I do my accounts there it is +convenient to have my cashbox at hand. But it seldom contains more +than twenty pounds—the amount of money I require to pay the men +employed on the estate."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What an extraordinary thing," said Harry, still thinking of the +treasure of Zoroaster, "that it should have existed for all these years +and never have been plundered."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Not so extraordinary," said Mr. Langton, "when you know the Arabs. +The Maziris, as I have told you, are of Arab descent, though they are +not followers of the Prophet. The sun-worshippers are extremely +devout. No priest of Zoroaster would think of stealing the treasure; +that would be to plunge his soul into eternal punishment."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And no one else," asked von Hardenberg, "no Mohammedan or heathen, has +ever been able to enter the vault?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Never," said Mr. Langton, "because the Sunstone is the secret. That +is why, when the Sunstone was stolen, they were so anxious to run the +thief to earth."</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg knit his brows. He was silent for a moment, and +appeared to be thinking.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And you believe you have solved the mystery?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know I have," said the Judge. "If at this moment I suddenly found +myself in the Caves of Zoroaster, with the Sunstone in my hand, I could +gain access to the vault."</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg bit his lip quickly, and then looked sharply at his +uncle. When he spoke, it was in the voice of a man who took little or +no interest in the subject under discussion.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I should rather like to see it," he remarked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly, as soon as dinner was finished, they put on their +overcoats, and conducted by the Judge, who carried a lantern, they +followed a path through the woods until they came to the bungalow.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Langton unlocked the door and put the key into his pocket. Then he +lit an oil lamp, which presently burned up and illumined the room. +They found themselves in what to all intents and purposes was a +library. The four walls were stacked with books, but the overflow of +these was so great that many were piled upon chairs and in odd corners +of the room. In the centre of the floor-space was a large +writing-desk, and near this a cabinet with several drawers. Lying open +on the writing-desk was a fair-sized cash-box, in which several golden +sovereigns glittered in the light.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How careless, to be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "I had no business to +leave my cash-box open. The truth is, I was so excited about this +discovery that I forgot to put it away."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And where's the Sunstone?" asked von Hardenberg.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I keep it here," said Mr. Langton.</p> +<p class="pnext">Going to the cabinet, and unlocking the third drawer from the top, he +took out a large stone and laid it on the table in the light of the +lamp. His two nephews, one on either side of him, leaned forward to +examine this extraordinary relic.</p> +<p class="pnext">On one side of the Sunstone were the cuneiform characters already +mentioned by the Judge. On the other was a great deal of writing in +the same primitive language, scratched upon the face of the jade, but +so faint as to be barely legible.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was only with the greatest difficulty," observed the Judge, "that I +managed to decipher and translate this writing. It is in no known +language. Indeed, I would never have been able to make head or tail of +it had I not been a scholar of Sanskrit. This writing is nothing more +nor less than the definite instructions for using the Sunstone for the +purpose of entering the vaults of Zoroaster."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What does it say?" asked von Hardenberg.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You are told to begin with a certain character and take the others in +a circle 'in the way of the sun'—that is to say, from left to right, +as with the hands of a clock. Before the main vault is a large lock, +which works on the same principle as the modern Bramah lock—a very +ancient device. It consists of nine enormous wheels. The outside, or +tyre, of each of these wheels is adorned with hundreds of cuneiform +characters, all of them quite different. Each wheel must be turned +until the characters visible along a given line correspond with those +upon the Sunstone. Not otherwise can the vault be opened."</p> +<p class="pnext">There followed a silence of several moments. The Judge's discovery +seemed so romantic and so astonishing that it was almost impossible to +believe it was true. After a while, it was von Hardenberg who spoke.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And now that you have made this discovery," he asked, "what do you +propose to do?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't know," said the Judge. "I have no desire to pillage a sacred +shrine. For the present I propose to keep the affair a secret whilst I +continue my researches. There are several points upon which the +historical world desires to be enlightened. Very little is known +concerning the life of Zoroaster."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But surely," exclaimed von Hardenberg, "you don't intend to keep this +to yourself!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"When I have the whole facts of the case at my finger-tips," said the +Judge, "I will make the result of my investigations known to the +authorities of the British Museum."</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon after that they left the bungalow. Before they went to bed that +night von Hardenberg took his cousin aside and looked at him intently.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What do you make of it?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of the Sunstone?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said the other. "It seems to me, if the old gentleman wanted +to, he could make himself a millionaire."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't think Uncle Jack cares much about money," said he. "He looks +at the whole matter from a scientific point of view."</p> +<p class="pnext">"No doubt," exclaimed the Prussian. "No doubt. I dare say he does."</p> +<p class="pnext">And at that he turned and went slowly up the stairs.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iii-caught-red-handed"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id4">CHAPTER III—Caught Red-handed</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Some hours after sunset, on the evening of the following day, Jim Braid +was stationed in the woods, on the look-out for poachers. His father, +John Braid, the head-gamekeeper, was also out that night, keeping watch +in a different part of the estate. A well-known gang of poachers had +been reported in the district, and, the week before, several shots had +been heard as late as twelve o'clock, for which the gamekeepers could +not account.</p> +<p class="pnext">The night was cold and foggy, and Jim wore the collar of his coat +turned up, and carried his gun under his arm, with his hands thrust +deep into his breeches pockets.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was moving along the edge of the coverts, which lay between Mr. +Langton's bungalow and the house, when suddenly he became conscious of +footsteps approaching stealthily through the woods. Without a moment's +thought he dropped flat upon his face, and lay close as a hare, +concealed in a clump of bracken. From this position he was able to see +the path by which the intruder approached; he could also command a view +of the windows of Friar's Court, several of which were illumined.</p> +<p class="pnext">The dark figure of a man came from among the trees. Jim, taking his +whistle from his pocket, put it to his lips, and was about to sound the +alarm which would bring his father and the other keepers to the spot, +when he was arrested by the man's singular appearance.</p> +<p class="pnext">This was no common poacher. He wore a heavy fur overcoat, and carried +in his hand—not a gun—but no more formidable a weapon than an +umbrella. On his head, tilted at an angle, was a white bowler hat.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid was in two minds what to do, and was even about to show +himself to the stranger and ask his business, when the front door of +the house opened, and he made out the figure of Captain von Hardenberg +silhouetted against the light in the hall. Jim had no particular +desire to eavesdrop. Still, as we know, he disliked and mistrusted the +Prussian; and, besides, the secretive manner in which the stranger was +careful to keep in the shadow of the trees had already aroused his +suspicions.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the man with the white hat saw von Hardenberg, he whistled softly, +and went forward a little towards him. They met a few yards from where +Jim Braid was hiding. The stranger at once held out a hand. Von +Hardenberg refused to take it.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I knew you'd come here," said he. "Can't you leave me alone?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're four months overdue, Captain von Hardenberg," answered the +other. "My interest is increasing day by day. You owe me nearly four +thousand pounds!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, I can't pay," said von Hardenberg. "And there's an end of it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Captain von Hardenberg," said the man, who spoke English with a strong +German accent. "I am sick of you. In a word, I have found you out. +You desire the services of a spy—one who has access to valuable +information—and you come to me, Peter Klein, even myself, who as the +butler of a cabinet minister have many opportunities of reading letters +and overhearing the consultations of those who are suppose to govern +these sleepy, fog-begotten islands. You are paid from Berlin, and you +are paid to pay me. And what do you do with the money? Gamble. In a +word, you play cards and lose money which by right is mine, which +I—not you—have earned. Then you beseech me to hold my tongue, +promising me that you will repay me with interest as soon as ever you +have inherited your uncle's estates. This, I find, is a lie. Your +uncle has another nephew, just as likely to inherit his capital as you. +You play with me. But I hold you in the hollow of my hand. Remember, +I have only to report you to Berlin, and you are ruined, once and for +all."</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg was silent for some moments. Then he spoke in a quick, +jerky voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look here," said he; "it's no good. This very evening, knowing that +you were coming, I made a clean breast of it to my uncle. I told him +that I was four thousand pounds in debt to a money-lender, and that, if +I couldn't pay, you would come down upon me. I suppose you don't mind +that. I couldn't tell him you were a Government spy disguised as a +butler in a private house. And what do you think he said?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I have not the least idea," said the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He told me," said von Hardenberg, "that he would cut me off with a +shilling!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Peter Klein was heard to gasp. Thrusting his hat well back upon +his head, he threw out his hands and gesticulated wildly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then, you're a thief!" he cried. "What it comes to is this: you have +embezzled Government money. I have given the Wilhelmstrasse valuable +information, and I have never received a penny."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do what you like," answered von Hardenberg. "I cannot pay."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll have you court-martialled!" the other cried. "The Wilhelmstrasse +will be on my side. You have made a fool of me."</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg grasped the man by the wrist.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Listen here," said he. "Can you wait a week?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes. I can. But why?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Because I know how I can get hold of the money, though it will take +some getting. You had better go back to London. I promise to call at +your office within a few days, and then I shall have something to tell +you."</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein turned the matter over in his mind. As long as there +remained a chance of getting his money he thought it worth while to +take it. For all his threats, he knew enough of the Secret Service +department in the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin to know that in a fight +against a Prussian military attaché he would stand but a poor chance. +However, he was cunning enough to point out to von Hardenberg that the +Wilhelmstrasse might think that the services of Peter Klein might +possibly be valuable in the future. Then, he went his way, walking +quickly through the woods in the direction of the railway station. As +for von Hardenberg, he returned to the house; and no sooner was he gone +than Jim Braid got to his feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">The young gamekeeper had been able to understand only a third of what +had been said, for they had lapsed from German into English, and back +to German again. But, that night—or, rather, early the following +morning—when he went to bed, he thought over the matter for some time, +and had half a mind to tell his father. However, in the end he came to +the conclusion that it was no business of his, and slept the sleep of +the just.</p> +<p class="pnext">The following afternoon he was engaged in driving into the ground a +series of hurdles to keep the cattle from the pheasant coverts, when he +was approached by Mr. Langton.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hard at work, Jim?" asked the Judge.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir," said Jim, touching his cap. "These are the old hurdles we +brought up from Boot's Hollow."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's a useful weapon, anyhow," said the Judge, indicating the +crowbar with which Jim was working.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, sir, it's a handy tool, and sharp in the bargain."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that the Judge wished the boy "Good-night!" and went his way towards +the house. Hardly had he departed than Captain von Hardenberg brushed +his way through some thickets near at hand, and approached the young +gamekeeper. He must certainly have overheard the conversation that had +passed between Jim Braid and the Judge.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Braid," said he, "would you mind lending me that crowbar?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I've finished with it to-night, sir," said Braid, "but I shall want it +to-morrow morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll let you have it back by then," said the other. And taking the +unwieldy tool from Jim's hands, he walked with it towards the house.</p> +<p class="pnext">No sooner was he out of sight, however, than he dropped down upon a +knee and looked furtively about him, as if to satisfy himself that he +was not observed. Then he thrust the crowbar down a rabbit-hole, the +mouth of which he covered over with several fronds of bracken. That +done, he walked quickly towards the house.</p> +<p class="pnext">That night, towards midnight, when everyone else in Friar's Court was +sound asleep, Captain Carl von Hardenberg sat, fully dressed, at the +foot of his bed with a cigar between his lips. He had taken off his +dress-coat and put on an old Norfolk jacket. On his feet he wore long +gum-boots, into which he had tucked his trousers. He sat looking at +the clock, which was but dimly visible upon the mantelpiece through the +clouds of tobacco-smoke with which the room was filled.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently the clock struck twelve, and at that von Hardenberg rose to +his feet and went on tiptoe to the door. Without a sound he passed +out, walked quickly down the passage, and descended the back stairs to +the kitchen. With nervous hands he opened the scullery door, and then +paused to listen. Hearing no sound, he stepped quickly into the yard.</p> +<p class="pnext">He walked rapidly past the lawns which lie between Friar's Court and +the woods. Once inside the woods, he immediately sought out the path +that led straight to the bungalow. He had some difficulty in finding +the rabbit-hole in which he had hidden the crowbar, and only succeeded +in doing so with the aid of a lighted match. It was the flare of this +match that attracted Jim Braid, who was again on duty in this part of +the estate.</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg, the crowbar in his hand, approached the bungalow. With +all his strength he drove the crowbar between the door and the jamb, +and with one wrench broke open the lock.</p> +<p class="pnext">In his uncle's study he lit the oil lamp that stood upon the central +table. He was surprised to see that the Judge had again left his +cash-box on the desk. The cash-box, however, was not his business; he +was determined to possess himself of the Sunstone.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had provided himself with a bunch of skeleton keys. Those whose +business it is to employ Government spies are not infrequently provided +with such things. After several futile attempts he succeeded in +opening the third drawer in the cabinet. Then, with the precious stone +in his hand, he rushed to the lamp and examined the Sunstone in the +light.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now," he cried—he was so excited that he spoke aloud—"now for the +German Cameroons!"</p> +<p class="pnext">And scarcely had he said the words than he looked up, and there in the +doorway was Jim Braid, the gamekeeper's son.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Hands up!" cried Braid, bringing his gun to his shoulder.</p> +<p class="pnext">Captain von Hardenberg looked about him like a hunted beast.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't be a fool!" he exclaimed. "You know who I am!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, I do," said Braid; "and you're up to no good. Hands up, I say!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg held up his hands, and then tried to laugh it off.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're mad!" said he more quietly. "Surely you don't imagine I'm a +thief?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm not given much to imagining things," said Braid. "All I know is, +you broke in here by force."</p> +<p class="pnext">As he was speaking, before the last words had left his mouth, von +Hardenberg, with a quick and desperate action, had seized the gun by +the barrel. There followed a struggle, during which the gun went off.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a loud report and a piercing cry, and Jim Braid fell forward +on his face. Even as he rolled over upon the ground, a black pool of +blood spread slowly across the floor.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Prussian went to the door and listened. He saw lights appear in +the windows of the house, and one or two were thrown open. Near at +hand he heard the strong voice of John Braid, the keeper, shouting to +his son. On the other side of the bungalow, an under-gamekeeper was +hurrying to the place.</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg's face was ashen white. His hands were shaking, his +lips moving with strange, convulsive jerks.</p> +<p class="pnext">He went quickly to the body of the unconscious boy, and, kneeling down, +felt Braid's heart.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thank Heaven," said he, "he is not killed."</p> +<p class="pnext">And then a new fear possessed him. If Jim Braid was not dead, he would +live to accuse von Hardenberg of the theft. The Prussian stood bolt +upright, his teeth fastened on his under lip. The voices without were +nearer to the house than before. He had not ten seconds in which to +act.</p> +<p class="pnext">Seizing the cash-box, he laid it on the ground and dealt it a shivering +blow with the crowbar. The lid flew open, and the contents—a score of +sovereigns—were scattered on the floor. These he gathered together +and thrust into the pockets of the unconscious boy. Then he took the +crowbar and closed Jim's fingers about it. It was at that moment that +John Braid, the gamekeeper, burst into the room.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What's this?" he cried.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I regret to tell you," said Captain von Hardenberg, "that your son is +a thief. I caught him red-handed."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-iv-false-evidence"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id5">CHAPTER IV—False Evidence</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">In less than a minute the bungalow was crowded. Close upon the +head-gamekeeper's heels came one of his assistants, and after him Mr. +Langton himself and Harry, followed by several servants from the house.</p> +<p class="pnext">When John Braid heard von Hardenberg's words, accusing his son of +theft, it was as if a blow had been struck him. He looked about him +like a man dazed, and then carried a hand across his eyes. Then, +without a word, he went down upon his knees at his son's side and +examined the wounded boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He's not dead," said he in a husky voice. "I can feel his heart +distinctly."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was at this moment that the Judge rushed into the room. His bare +feet were encased in bedroom slippers; he was dressed in a shirt and a +pair of trousers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Whatever has happened?" he exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">He repeated the question several times before anyone answered, and by +then the room was full. The chauffeur was sent back post-haste to the +stables, with orders to drive for a doctor.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How did it happen, John?" repeated Mr. Langton.</p> +<p class="pnext">But the gamekeeper shook his head. He had the look of a man who is not +completely master of his senses.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Judge regarded his nephew.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Carl," said he, "can you explain how this—accident occurred?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Certainly!" said von Hardenberg, who now realized, that to save +himself, all his presence of mind was necessary.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then," said the Judge, "be so good as to do so."</p> +<p class="pnext">"After my yesterday's interview with you," von Hardenberg began, in +tones of complete assurance, "as you may imagine, I had several letters +to write, and to-night I did not think of getting into bed till nearly +twelve o'clock. Before I began to undress I went to the window and +opened it. As I did so I saw a man cross the lawn and enter the woods. +As his conduct was suspicious, I took him for a poacher. As quickly as +possible I left the house and walked in the direction I knew the man +had taken."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why did not you wake any of us?" asked the Judge, who was in his own +element, and might have been examining a witness in the box.</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg, however, did not appear to be the least alarmed. He +answered his uncle slowly, but without the slightest hesitation.</p> +<p class="pnext">"For the very simple reason," said he, "that I did not wish to make a +fool of myself. I half expected that the man would prove to be a +gamekeeper."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then why did you follow him?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"For two reasons. First, because I wanted to satisfy myself as to who +he was, and, secondly, because a man who has just learnt he is to +remain a pauper for life does not, as a rule, feel inclined for sleep. +I wanted to go out into the air."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well," asked the Judge, "and then what happened?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I was unable to find the man in the woods, until I heard a noise in +the direction of the bungalow. To the bungalow, accordingly I went, as +quickly as I could. I got there in time to see him break open the door +with a crowbar. There is the crowbar in his hand."</p> +<p class="pnext">Everyone in the room caught his breath. Such an accusation against Jim +Braid was almost incomprehensible. The boy was believed to be +perfectly honest and trustworthy; and yet, as Captain von Hardenberg +had said, there was the crowbar in his hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And then?" prompted the judge.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And then," the Prussian continued, "I watched him enter the room. I +could see him through the window. He went straight to your desk, took +the cash-box, and burst it open with the crowbar. There is the box +lying on the floor. If you examine it, you will see that I speak the +truth."</p> +<p class="pnext">The judge picked up the box and looked at it.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You are prepared to swear to this?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"In a court of law," said the other—and never flinched.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was the Judge himself who emptied Jim's pockets, and there sure +enough he found the sovereigns which had been taken from the cash-box.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I would never have believed it!" he exclaimed. "It's terrible to +think that one of my own servants should have treated me thus!"</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that Harry Urquhart spoke for the first time. He could not +stand by and see his old friend so basely accused and not offer a word +in his defence.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's a lie!" he cried, his indignation rising in a flood. "A base, +unmitigated lie! Uncle," he pleaded, "you don't believe it, surely?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The Judge shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It would be very foolish for me," said he, "to give an opinion one way +or the other, before the boy has had a chance to speak in his own +defence. I must admit, however, that the evidence is very strong +against him."</p> +<p class="pnext">A hurdle was fetched, upon which a mattress was laid; and upon this the +wounded boy was carried to the house, which was nearer to the bungalow +than his father's cottage. By a strange coincidence, it was one of the +very hurdles that Jim had been setting up that afternoon.</p> +<p class="pnext">The doctor, who lived at some distance, did not arrive for an hour. +After a short examination of the patient he was able to give a +satisfactory report. The gun had gone off at too close a range to +allow the shot to scatter, and only about a quarter of the pellets had +entered the boy's side, the rest tearing a great hole in his coat and +waistcoat. The wound was large and gaping, but no artery was touched, +and before they reached the house, and Jim had been laid upon the bed +in Harry's room, the patient had recovered consciousness.</p> +<p class="pnext">For all that, it was several days before the doctor would allow him to +see anyone. He was to be kept perfectly quiet, and not excited in any +way. During that time he was attended with the greatest care, not only +by the housekeeper and Harry Urquhart, but by Mr. Langton himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the end of a week, a naturally strong constitution, and the good +health resulting from a life that is lived in the open air, had done +their work, and Jim was allowed to get up. It was soon after that that +the Judge heard the case in his dining-room, where, seated at the head +of the table, pen in hand, he might have been back in his old place in +the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid—who, in very truth, was the prisoner in the dock—was seated +on a chair, facing the Judge. On either side of the table were those +whom Mr. Langton proposed to call as witnesses—namely, Captain von +Hardenberg, John Braid, and the under-gamekeeper.</p> +<p class="pnext">The face of the prisoner in the dock was white as a sheet. Harry +Urquhart stood behind his uncle's chair, regarding his old friend with +commiseration in his eyes and a deep sympathy in his heart.</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg's evidence differed in no material points from what he +had said before. Indeed, he played his cards with almost fiendish +cunning. The circumstantial evidence was all against the boy. The +Judge had not yet discovered that the Sunstone was missing. There was +no doubt that both the door of the bungalow and the cash-box had been +broken open by the crowbar—moreover, the very crowbar which the Judge +himself had seen in Jim's hands on the afternoon of the crime. Neither +John Braid nor any other gamekeeper could do anything but bear out the +testimony of von Hardenberg. When they entered the bungalow the boy's +guilt had seemed manifest.</p> +<p class="pnext">In his own defence Jim could state as much of the truth as he knew. He +said that he had seen von Hardenberg break into the bungalow; he swore +that he had lent him the crowbar that very day. Asked why he supposed +the Judge's nephew had become a burglar, he was unable to give an +answer. From his position he had not been able to see into the room; +he had not the slightest idea what von Hardenberg did immediately after +entering.</p> +<p class="pnext">All this the Judge flatly refused to believe. He protested that it was +ridiculous to suppose that a young man of von Hardenberg's position +would rifle a cash-box, containing about twenty pounds. In Mr. +Langton's opinion, the case was proved against the boy; he could not +doubt that he was guilty. He said that he would refrain from +prosecuting, since John Braid had served him faithfully for many years, +but he was unwilling any longer to employ Jim on the estate.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Mr. Langton had finished, John Braid asked for permission to +speak, and then turned upon his son with a savage fierceness that was +terrible to see. He disowned him; he was no longer a son of his. He +pointed out the benefits Jim had received at the hands of Mr. Langton, +and swore that he had never dreamed that such ingratitude was possible. +As far as he was concerned, he had done with his son, once and for all. +He would blot out his memory. Henceforward Jim could fend for himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">Still weak from his wounds, and with a far greater pain in his heart +than ever came from physical hurt, the boy rose to his feet and slowly +and in silence left the room. He went to his father's cottage, and +there saw his mother, from whom he parted in tears. Then, shouldering +the few belongings he possessed, done up in a bundle that he proposed +to carry on the end of a stick, he went his way down the drive of +Friar's Court.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had not gone far before he heard footsteps approaching, and, +turning, beheld Harry Urquhart, running forward in haste. The boy +waited until his friend had come up with him. He tried to speak, but +found that impossible. Something rose in his throat and choked his +power of utterance.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You believe in me?" said he at last.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I do," cried Harry, "and I always will! I know that you are innocent!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Thank you for that, sir!" said Jim. "I can go my way with a lighter +heart."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where are you going?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I don't know, sir, and I don't think I care. Anywhere, so long as I +can get away from this place where I am suspected and despised!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have you any money?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here you are. Take this. It's all I have." And Harry thrust into +his friend's hand a five-pound note.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim hesitated to take it; but in the end he did so, folding it +carefully and putting it into his waistcoat pocket.</p> +<p class="pnext">"God bless you, sir!" said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'll make it my life's work," cried Harry, "to prove your innocence. +I'm confident I will succeed in the end. For the present, good-bye!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Good-bye!" said the other. He dared not look young Urquhart in the +face, for his eyes were filling fast with tears.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he went his way, throwing himself upon the mercy of the world, +with life before him to be started all anew. Under his own name, and +with his old surroundings, he was disinherited, disowned, and +dishonoured. He must find some new employment. He must endeavour to +forget and to live down the past.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the gate of the drive he came into the highroad, and, turning his +face towards London, set forward, walking as quickly as he could.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-v-the-eleventh-hour"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id6">CHAPTER V—The Eleventh Hour</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The following day Captain von Hardenberg left Friar's Court. He had +more reasons than one to be anxious to return to London.</p> +<p class="pnext">The robbery and the outrage at the bungalow had sadly interrupted Mr. +Langton's studies. Nearly a month elapsed before the Judge took up his +old researches, and then it was that for the first time he discovered +that the Sunstone was missing. Search where he might, he could find it +nowhere. The evidence was against Jim Braid, and there was no one to +speak up on his behalf, for by then Harry Urquhart had returned to +school. On the night Braid was wounded, only his coat pockets had been +emptied, and, since the whole of the money had been recovered, no +further search had been made. The Judge had little doubt in his mind +that, as well as the contents of the cash-box, the boy had stolen the +Sunstone, though poor Jim could have had no idea as to its value.</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Langton was determined to recover the relic at all costs. He spent +a great deal of money on advertisements, and gave a full description of +Braid to the police; but no trace of the boy could be found. It was +not until Christmas had come, and Harry Urquhart was again at Friar's +Court, that the Judge told his nephew of his suspicions.</p> +<p class="pnext">And though Harry was sure of Braid's innocence, he could not convince +the Judge. Mr. Langton's mind was the mind of a lawyer; he based his +conclusions upon the testimony of facts, and never allowed his personal +opinions to influence him in the least.</p> +<p class="pnext">Though the police had failed to discover any trace of Braid, Harry was +determined to find him. Since he had now left school, he obtained +permission from his uncle to go to London. He felt perfectly certain +that Braid was somewhere in the great city where it is possible for a +man to hide himself from the eyes of the world, even to bury his +identity.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the meantime, Captain von Hardenberg had presented himself before +Peter Klein, the informer, and a long interview had taken place between +them.</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter listened to the whole story of the Sunstone, doubted it one +moment, believed it the next; and fingered the strange jade ornament, +first with reverence, and then almost with suspicion. He examined it +through a magnifying-glass, shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and +found it impossible to make up his mind. Von Hardenberg made no secret +of the fact that he was determined to undertake a journey through the +German colonial territory of the Cameroons to the Caves of Zoroaster, +to recover the jewels that were hidden in the vault. With the treasure +once in his possession, he swore that he would pay Klein, not only the +full amount that was due to him, but ten per cent of the total profits.</p> +<p class="pnext">Now, Peter Klein was a usurer—as well as a butler and a spy—one who +drove a hard bargain, who was relentless to his victims. He said that +he himself was tired of cities, that the suspicions of the British +police authorities had already been aroused in regard to his +occupation, and that therefore he also would like to travel. He would +accompany von Hardenberg to the West Coast, which was once called the +White-Man's Grave; he would penetrate the bush to the Cameroon peaks, +even to the Caves of Zoroaster. But he would require more than ten per +cent: they would share and share alike.</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg was in no position to refuse. This man had him in his +clutches. Klein knew well that the Prussian was ruined for life if +ever his conduct was made known to the departmental heads of the German +Secret Service. And, moreover, in a few days Klein had gained the whip +hand by enlisting in his services an Arab whom he found starving in the +vicinity of the docks.</p> +<p class="pnext">This man, though he was poor, in rags, and well-nigh perishing in the +cold, was learned in many things. Like all his race, he was a nomad—a +man who had roamed the world throughout his life, who had even been +all-powerful in his day. He had sold ivory in Zanzibar; he had stolen +cattle in the neighbourhood of Lake Chad, and driven his capture across +the great plains to the east; he had hunted for slaves in the Upper +Congo and the Aruwimi. Though he was starving, he boasted that he was +a sheik, and said that his name was Bayram. He said he had been to the +Cameroons River, and that he despised the Negro from Loango to +Zanzibar. He was confident that, provided he was rewarded, he could +render invaluable services to his employer. He had never before heard +of the Sunstone, but, from rumours he had heard, there was a treasure +hidden somewhere in the mist-shrouded mountains that guard Lake Chad to +the east.</p> +<p class="pnext">To return to Jim Braid. All these winter months he wandered the +streets of London. He found the greatest difficulty in getting work. +He had no trade but that of a gamekeeper, and such business was at a +discount in the midst of the great, seething city. He was out of work +for some weeks; then he obtained work in the docks; after which he was +again unemployed for nearly a month. By that time he had got to the +end of his money, and was obliged to pawn his clothes. He thanked +Heaven when the snow came; for, though the frost was severe, and his +clothes in rags, he saw employment in sweeping the pavements and the +roads.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then the thaw followed, and he was starving again. One night he found +himself in Jermyn Street. He had had no food that day. A taxi-cab +drew up before a doorway, upon which was a brass plate bearing the name +"Peter Klein".</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim was conscious of the fact that he had heard the name before, he +could not remember where. Just then, starvation, ill-health, and the +misery in his heart had broken the boy completely; it was as if his +senses were numbed. All that interested him was the taxi, by the side +of which he remained, in the hope of earning a copper by opening the +door. Presently a manservant came from the house, carrying a box. Jim +volunteered to help him, and the man agreed. Together they put the box +upon the taxi-cab, and Jim noticed that it bore the same name, "Peter +Klein", and several steamship labels, upon each of which was written +the word "Old Calabar". Jim Braid saw these things like one who is +half-dazed, without understanding what they meant.</p> +<p class="pnext">There were several other boxes to be put on to the cab, and when the +work was finished, and the driver had strapped them securely together, +two men came from the house, followed by one who wore a turban, and +shivered from the cold.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim's attention was attracted by the native. He was very tall and +thin. He had a great black beard, and his eyes were like those of a +bird of prey. They were cruel, bloodshot, and passionate.</p> +<p class="pnext">One of the Europeans, who wore a fur coat, got into the cab. The other +paused with his foot upon the step and looked Jim Braid in the face. +Near by a street lamp flared and flickered, and in the light Jim +recognized the features of Captain von Hardenberg, the man who had been +his accuser.</p> +<p class="pnext">He stared at him in amazement. He had not the power to speak. He +thought, at first, that he, too, would be recognized. He did not know +that misfortune had so changed him that his own mother would not have +known him. He was thin and haggard-looking; his rags hung loosely upon +his gaunt form; his hair was so long that it extended over his ears.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Are you the man," said von Hardenberg in his old, insolent way, "who +helped to carry the boxes?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said Jim, "I am."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There you are, then. There's sixpence, and don't spend it on drink."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that the Prussian jumped into the taxi, telling the driver to go to +Charing Cross. The Arab followed, closing the door, and a few seconds +later the taxi was driving down the street.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid stood on the pavement under the street lamp, regarding the +sixpence in his hand. He was starving; his bones ached from physical +exhaustion; his head throbbed in a kind of fever. He knew not where he +would sleep. This sixpence to him was wealth.</p> +<p class="pnext">For a moment he was tempted, but not for longer. With a quick, +spasmodic action he hurled the coin into the gutter, and walked away +quickly in the direction of the Haymarket.</p> +<p class="pnext">He knew not where he was going. The streets were crowded. People were +going to the theatre. Outside a fashionable restaurant a lady with a +gorgeous opera-cloak brushed against him, and uttered an exclamation of +disgust. He walked on more rapidly than before, and came presently to +Trafalgar Square, and before he knew where he was he found himself on +the Embankment. Slowly he walked up the steps towards the Hungerford +footbridge; and there, pausing, with his folded arms upon the rails, he +looked down into the water.</p> +<p class="pnext">At that moment the sound of footsteps attracted his attention. He +looked up into a face that he recognized at once. It was that of Harry +Urquhart, his only friend, the only person in the world who had +believed him innocent.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-vi-the-pursuit-begins"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id7">CHAPTER VI—The Pursuit Begins</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">"Jim!" cried Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">So astonished was he that he reeled backward as though he had been +struck.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My poor, old friend," said Harry. "I have searched for you +everywhere, and had almost given up hope of finding you. I don't know +what led my footsteps to the bridge."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that Jim Braid burst into tears.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was the work of God," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry said nothing, but pressed Jim's arm. At the bottom of +Northumberland Avenue he hailed a taxi, and the driver looked somewhat +astonished when this ragged pauper got into the cab and seated himself +at the side of his well-dressed companion.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry had rooms in Davies Street, where he thrust Jim into an arm-chair +before the fire, upon which he heaped more coals. Braid, leaning +forward, held out his hands before the cheerful blaze. As Harry looked +at him, a great feeling of pity arose in his heart. The boy looked so +miserable and wretched that he appeared barely to cling to life.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry would not allow him to speak, until he had eaten a meal. Braid +fell upon his food like a wolf. He had had absolutely nothing to eat +for two days.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is not wise to feed a starving man to repletion. But perhaps in +Braid's case this made little or no difference, since the boy was on +the verge of double pneumonia. Within twenty-four hours he was in a +raging fever, and for days afterwards the doctor despaired of saving +his life. Starvation, cold, dirt, to say nothing of his wound, had +done their work; but a strong heart and youth pulled him through.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was nearly three months afterwards, when the spring was well +advanced, that one afternoon the two friends talked the whole matter +out.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked at Jim Braid and smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're a different fellow now," said he. "It was a near thing though. +One night the doctor gave you up. He actually left the house believing +you were dead."</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim tried to thank his benefactor, but his heart was too full to speak.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said Harry, "tell me what has happened since you left Friar's +Court."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is nothing to tell," said the other. "I tramped to London, +sometimes sleeping in the open air, sometimes—when the weather was +bad—lodging at wayside inns. At first, I was glad to get here. In a +great city like this I felt I could not be recognized and pointed out +as a thief. Oh," he burst forth, "you know that I am innocent!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I was always sure of it," said Harry. "I can't think how my uncle can +believe you guilty."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Everything was against me," said Jim. "That man, to shield himself, +laid a trap for me from which I could not escape. Had I known why he +went to the bungalow that night, my story might have been believed."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know why he went," said Harry. "I am sure of it. It was to steal +the Sunstone."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Sunstone!" said Braid. "What's that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is a very valuable relic that originally came from Persia. No one +knows of its value but my uncle, von Hardenberg, and myself. There can +be no doubt that my cousin took it."</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid sighed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I could not prove my innocence," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Jim, old friend," said Harry, "I promise you shall not remain under +this cloud for the rest of your life. I know my cousin to be guilty; I +will not rest until I have proved him to be so. He has the Sunstone in +his possession, and I intend to do my best to recover it!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You will not succeed," said the other, shaking his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why not?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Because he left England weeks ago."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Left England!" echoed the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes. He went away with a man called Peter Klein and a native who wore +a turban. They took the boat train from Charing Cross. It was I who +carried their boxes on to the taxi. They were going to Old Calabar."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The West Coast!" cried Harry, jumping to his feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid was as mystified as ever. Before he knew what was happening, +Harry had seized him by the shoulders, and was shaking him as a terrier +shakes a rat.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't you see," cried Urquhart, "your innocence is practically proved +already. If they have not got the Sunstone, why should they want to go +to Africa? They are after the treasure of which the Sunstone is the +key. I don't know who the native is, but he is probably some +interpreter or guide whom they have hired for the journey. Jim, when +my uncle hears of this, I promise you he will take a very different +view of the question."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then," said Braid, "has this Sunstone got something to do with Africa?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Everything!" exclaimed the other. "Here, in Europe, it is valueless; +but in certain caves which are situated upon the watershed on the +southern side of the Sahara, the thing is worth thousands of pounds. +To-morrow morning I will return to my uncle, to Friar's Court, and tell +him what you have told me. I will ask him to allow me to follow von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, to keep upon his tracks, to run him to +ground and accuse him to his face. You will come with me. My uncle +will supply us with funds. He would be willing to spend his entire +fortune in order to recover the Sunstone."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was so excited that he could scarcely talk coherently. He paced +up and down the little sitting-room—three steps this way and three +steps that—and every now and again laid his hands upon Jim Braid and +shook him violently to emphasize his words.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Jim awoke the following morning, he was informed that Mr. Urquhart +had left early to go back to Friar's Court. He had promised to return +the following day. In the meantime, Harry had given instructions that +his landlady was to look after his guest. If he wanted anything, he +had only to ring the bell.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the afternoon of the second day Harry returned to London.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My uncle," he explained, "is inclined to withdraw his verdict, though +he will not say openly that he has been guilty of a great injustice. +In any case he intends to do everything in his power to get the +Sunstone back. He has given me leave to fit out an expedition. +Preparations, however, will take some little time. I am to be supplied +with letters of introduction to several influential persons on the West +Coast. He even said he would come with us himself, were it not that +his strength is failing, and he feels he is getting old. Jim, there's +hope yet, my lad. You and I together will see this matter through."</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid held out his hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't thank you sufficiently, sir," said he, "for what you have +done! You have saved my life twice, and now you mean to save my +reputation."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't speak of it," said Harry. "You and I have a great task in front +of us; we must stick to each other through thick and thin. I am +impatient to be off."</p> +<p class="pnext">And he had more need of his patience than he thought; for, before they +could start upon their journey, war descended upon Europe like a +thunderbolt, finding England wholly unprepared.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was not so with the Germans. Peter Klein and birds of a like +feather had been employed for years in every country liable to prove +hostile to the Fatherland. Germany had for long intended war, and +these rascals—paid in proportion to the information they +obtained—were living by the score under the protection of the British +flag, within sound of Big Ben, in every colony, dependency, and +dominion. Moreover, it has since been proved that the great German +Empire did not scruple to employ even her consular and diplomatic +servants either as spies themselves or as agents for the purpose of +engaging and rewarding informers.</p> +<p class="pnext">Small wonder, when preparations had been so complete, that Germany had +the whip hand at the start, that Belgium, Poland, and Serbia were +overrun, and Paris herself saved only at the eleventh hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">During those early, anxious days, Harry Urquhart was in two minds what +to do. He was wishful to serve his country, and could without +difficulty have secured a commission within a few weeks of the +declaration of war. Braid was also willing to enlist. On talking the +matter out, however, with Mr. Langton, it was decided that the quest of +the Sunstone was as patriotic a cause as any man could wish for; since, +if von Hardenberg succeeded in reaching the Caves of Zoroaster, the +wealth that they contained would ultimately find its way to the +Fatherland.</p> +<p class="pnext">But, since there was fighting both in Togoland and the Cameroons, their +departure had to be postponed whilst Mr. Langton obtained permission +from the War Office authorities for his two protégés to visit the West +African scene of operations. All this took time; and it was not until +the beginning of October that young Urquhart and Jim Braid found +themselves sitting together in a first-class railway compartment on +their way to Southampton.</p> +<p class="pnext">A few hours afterwards, on a dark windy night, they were on board a +ship that rolled and pitched upon its way to Ushant. The Lizard light +flashed good-bye from England, and the dark sea, as they knew quite +well, contained hidden dangers in the shape of submarines and mines, +but the quest of the Sunstone had begun.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-vii-into-the-bush"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id8">CHAPTER VII—Into the Bush</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">They experienced rough weather in the Bay of Biscay, where the ship +pitched and rolled in a confused sea, and the wind howled round +Finisterre, which was wrapped in an impenetrable fog.</p> +<p class="pnext">Two days afterwards they found the blue waters that bound the Morocco +coast, after which the heat became excessive.</p> +<p class="pnext">The ship was bound first for Sierra Leone, and thence to Old Calabar, +from which place they intended to strike inland through the bush, after +engaging the services of a party of Kru boys to act as carriers.</p> +<p class="pnext">On these still tropic seas, dazzling in the sunshine, there was no sign +of war, except an occasional torpedo-boat destroyer which flew past +them at a speed of thirty knots an hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">At Sierra Leone, Harry betook himself to a certain gentleman holding an +influential position in the Civil Service, to whom he had a letter of +introduction from his uncle, and who received the boy with courtesy and +kindness. It was from that Harry learned that the Germans had been +driven back in Togoland, and that active operations were in progress in +the valley of the Cameroon River. He himself had travelled far in the +interior; and in consequence he was able to give the boy invaluable +advice concerning the kit and equipment he would need to take with him +upon his expedition. He advised him to strike into the bush from Old +Calabar, where he could procure servants and guides; if he went to +Victoria he would find his hands tied by those in command of the +Expeditionary Force, who had no liking for civilians at the front.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All the same," he added, "I strongly advise you not to endeavour to +enter Maziriland."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am afraid, sir," said he, "I have no option. My duty takes me +there."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of course," said the other, "I don't know what this duty may be, but I +tell you frankly the country is by no means safe. All the natives are +in arms, some purchased by rum by the Germans, others loyal to us. In +the old days the Cameroon kings implored the British Government to take +the country under its protection. In their own words, they wanted +English laws. But the Government took no notice of them until it was +too late, until the Germans had forestalled us and taken possession of +the country, by buying over the chiefs. If you go into the bush, you +run into a thousand dangers: yellow fever, malaria, even starvation, +and the natives you encounter may sell you as prisoners to the Germans. +Some of them will do anything for drink."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry explained that he was prepared to take the gravest risks, since +the object of his journey was of more than vital importance, and +shortly afterwards took his leave, returning to the ship.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had brought with them all they needed in the way of provisions, +clothing, arms and ammunition; and at Old Calabar they purchased a +canoe and engaged the services of six stalwart Kru boys. Harry's idea +was to travel up-river, crossing the Cameroon frontier west of Bamenda, +and thence striking inland towards the mountains in northern German +territory, beyond which the Caves of Zoroaster were said to be. They +also interviewed an interpreter, a half-caste Spaniard from Fernando +Po, who assured them he could speak every native dialect of the +Hinterland, from Lagos to the Congo, as well as English and German. +This proved to be no exaggeration. Urquhart was assured that the man +was indeed a wonderful linguist, and, moreover, that he could be +trusted implicitly as a guide—the more so since he hated the Germans, +who had destroyed his 'factory' to make room for a house for a Prussian +Governor, who had hoped to rule the West Coast native with the iron +discipline of Potsdam.</p> +<p class="pnext">This man—who called himself "Fernando" after the place of his +birth—said that he would never venture across the Cameroons to +Maziriland unless his brother was engaged to come with him.</p> +<p class="pnext">He explained that this brother of his was younger and more agile than +himself. Before they became traders they had been hunters, in the old +days when the West Coast was practically unexplored, and they had +worked together hand-in-glove.</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly, it was agreed that both brothers should join the +expedition; and when they presented themselves before Harry Urquhart, +the young Englishman could hardly refrain from smiling at their +personal appearance.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were plainly half-castes, and, like most such, considered +themselves Europeans, though neither had ever set eyes upon the +northern continent. Though they were almost as black of skin as a Kru +boy, they wore large pith helmets, suits of white ducks and blue +puttees, being dressed to a button exactly the same. Both wore brown +leather belts from which depended revolver holsters and cartridge +pouches. The one was robust, wrinkled, broad of chest, and upright; +the other, stooping, tall, and abnormally thin. There was a +business-like air about them both that appealed to Harry; and this +favourable impression was by no means dispelled when the brothers, in +quite tolerable English, raved against the Germans, who, they swore, +had bought the Cameroons with rum, in order to manage the country to +their own profit without regard to the welfare of the natives. It was +owing to the German occupation of the Cameroons that Fernando and his +brother—who went by the name of Cortes—had been ruined by the +State-aided German factories that had sprung up as if by magic in the +early 'nineties. Later, they had been accused of inciting the natives +to rebellion, heavily fined, and banished from the country.</p> +<p class="pnext">This increase in numbers necessitated the purchase of a second canoe. +Before leaving Calabar they supplemented their commissariat with a new +supply of provisions; and, a few days after, it was a small but +well-equipped and dauntless expedition that set forth up-river in the +sweltering heat, making straight for the heart of the great West +African bush and the very stronghold of the enemy's position.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-viii-danger-ahead"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id9">CHAPTER VIII—Danger Ahead</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Three weeks later they camped on the river bank not many miles from the +German frontier. The heat was terribly oppressive. Thousands of +insects droned about their ears. A thick mist hung upon the river like +a poison-cloud. They were in the very depths of the great White Man's +Grave.</p> +<p class="pnext">Four days afterwards Fernando deemed it advisable to leave the river +valley, and unloading the canoes—which they hid in a mangrove +swamp—they began their journey through the bush.</p> +<p class="pnext">It would be tedious to describe in detail the long weeks that followed +or the hardships they had to undergo. One by one the Kru boys deserted +them, to find their own way back to the coast. But both Cortes and +Fernando proved loyal to the hilt, and eventually the party came out +from the jungle upon the high ground in the central part of the colony.</p> +<p class="pnext">The country here was savage, inhospitable, and bleak. There was little +vegetation save rank mountain grass and withered shrubs in sheltered +places. Day by day they advanced with the utmost caution, giving +native villages a wide berth and always on the look-out for an +ambuscade.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando proved himself to be an excellent cook, whereas his younger +brother prided himself upon his skill as a runner. It was his custom +on the line of march to jump fallen trees and brooks.</p> +<p class="pnext">In these higher altitudes there was a plenitude of game, whereas in the +bush they had been near to starving, and one morning they were crossing +a spur of a great cloud-wrapped mountain when Cortes, who had been +walking about fifty yards in advance of Harry and Jim, dropped suddenly +upon his face, and motioned the two boys to do the same. They had no +idea as to what had happened, and suspected that the guide had sighted +a party of the enemy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Crawling on hands and knees, they drew level with the man.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Goat," said he, pointing towards the mountain.</p> +<p class="pnext">And there, sure enough, was a species of mountain goat with his great +horns branching from the crown of his shaggy head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said the man to Harry; "you shoot."</p> +<p class="pnext">They could not afford to let the beast escape. The flesh of all the +wild goats, though perhaps not so good as that of the wild sheep, is by +no means unwelcome when one must journey far from civilization in the +wilds of the African hills.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry adjusted his sights to six hundred yards, and then, drawing in a +deep breath, took long and careful aim. Gently he pressed the trigger, +the rifle kicked, there came a sharp report, and the bullet sped upon +its way. On the instant the beast was seen galloping at breakneck +speed down what seemed an almost perpendicular cliff.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Missed!" cried Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said Cortes. "He's hit—he's wounded. He will not go far."</p> +<p class="pnext">For a few minutes the members of the party held a hurried consultation. +Finally it was decided that Fernando should go on ahead with the camp +kit and cooking-utensils, whilst the younger brother accompanied Harry +and Jim in pursuit of the wounded goat. They agreed to meet at +nightfall at a place known to the brothers.</p> +<p class="pnext">It took them nearly an hour to scramble across the valley, to reach the +place where the animal had been wounded. There, as the guide had +predicted, there were drops of blood upon the stones. All that morning +they followed the spoor, and about two o'clock in the afternoon they +sighted the wounded beast, lying down in the open.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was still well out of range, and, unfortunately for them, on the +windward side. That meant they would have to make a detour of several +miles in order to come within range.</p> +<p class="pnext">For three hours they climbed round the wind, all the time being careful +not to show themselves, for the eyes of the wild goat are like those of +the eagle. With its wonderful eyesight, its still more wonderful sense +of smell, and its ability to travel at the pace of a galloping horse +across rugged cliffs and valleys, it is a prize that is not easily +gained. When they last saw the animal it was lying down in the same +place. They were then at right angles to the wind, about two miles up +the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">From this point, on the advice of Cortes, they passed into another +valley to the west. Here there was no chance of being seen or winded +by the beast; and, since it was now possible to walk in an upright +position, they progressed more rapidly.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they had arrived at the spot which the guide judged was +immediately above the wounded animal they climbed stealthily up the +hill. On the crest-line they sought cover behind great boulders, which +lay scattered about in all directions as if they had been hurled down +from the skies. Lying on their faces, side by side, Harry with his +field-glasses to his eyes, they scanned the valley where they had left +their quarry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Not a sign of it was to be seen. The thing had disappeared as +mysteriously as if it had been spirited away.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He's gone!" said Harry, with a feeling of bitter disappointment.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was about to rise to his feet, but the half-caste held him down by +force.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Don't get up;" he cried. "Lie still! There are men in the valley +yonder."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Men! Have you seen them?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, I have not seen them," said Cortes. "But the beast saw them, or +got their wind. Otherwise he would not have gone."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It's von Hardenberg, perhaps!" said Harry, turning to Braid, the wish +being father to the thought.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both looked at their guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is either the man you want," said the guide, "or else it is the +Germans."</p> +<p class="pnext">The wounded animal was now forgotten. They were face to face with the +reality of their situation. They had either overtaken von Hardenberg +and Peter Klein or else the Germans had received news of their having +reached the frontier.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll have to cross the valley," said Harry, "to get back to camp."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That is the worst of it," said Cortes; "we must rejoin my brother. He +will be awaiting us."</p> +<p class="pnext">He had learnt his English on the Coast. He spoke the language well, +but with the strange, clipped words used by the natives themselves, +though the man was half a Spaniard.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How are we to get there?" asked Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">The guide looked at the sun.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is too late," said he, "to go by a roundabout way. We must walk +straight there. There are many things which cause me to believe that +danger is close at hand."</p> +<p class="pnext">"What else?" asked Harry, who already was conscious that his heart was +beating quickly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Late last night I saw smoke on the mountains. This morning, before we +started, my brother thought he heard a shot, far in the distance. +Also," he added, "during the last three days we have seen very little +game. Something has scared them away."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said Harry. "We waste time in words. As it is, we have barely +time to get back before nightfall."</p> +<p class="pnext">As he said this he rose to his feet, and the moment he did so there +came the double report of a rifle from far away in the hills, and a +bullet cut past him and buried itself in the ground, not fifteen paces +from his feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!"</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-ix-the-captive"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id10">CHAPTER IX—The Captive</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Harry was not slow to obey. He fell flat upon his face, whilst a +second bullet whistled over his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said Cortes; "we must escape."</p> +<p class="pnext">As he uttered these words, he turned upon his heel and ran down the +hill, followed by the two boys. The man held himself in a crouching +position until he was well over the crest-line. Then he stopped and +waited for his companions.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who is it?" asked Braid, already out of breath as much from excitement +as from running.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Germans. They are on our track."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You are sure of that?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Master," said Cortes, "it is not possible to mistake a German bullet. +In this part of the world only those natives carry rifles who are paid +by Kaiser Wilhelm."</p> +<p class="pnext">Indeed, for weeks already, they had been in the heart of the enemy's +country. The elder guide was some miles away, and, since they could +not cross the valley, they would have to make a detour; which meant +that they could not possibly rejoin Fernando before nightfall. By +then, for all they knew, they might find him lying in his own blood, +their provisions and their reserve ammunition stolen.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked at Cortes, who seemed to be thinking, standing at his full +height, his fingers playing with his chin.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must not desert your brother," said the boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am thinking," said the guide, "it will be easier for him to reach us +than for you and your friend to go to him. My brother and I are +hunters; we can pass through the bush in silence; we can travel amid +the rocks like snakes. I could cross that valley crawling on my face, +and the eye of an eagle would not see me. As for you, you are +Englishmen; you have not lived your lives in the mountains and the +bush; you do not understand these things."</p> +<p class="pnext">He said this with some scorn in his voice. There was something about +the man—despite his European clothes—that was fully in keeping with +the aspect of their surroundings, which were savage, relentless, and +cruel. He went on in a calm voice, speaking very slowly:</p> +<p class="pnext">"In this valley we are safe," said he. "I know the country well. +Yonder," and he pointed to the north, "there is a forest that lies upon +the hill-side like a mantle. I will guide you. It will take us about +two hours to get there. Then I will leave you. You will be quite +safe; for many of the trunks of the trees are hollow, and should the +Germans come, you can hide. I will go alone to my brother and bring +him back with me."</p> +<p class="pnext">They set forward without delay, sometimes climbing, sometimes walking, +on the mountain-side. About four o'clock in the afternoon they sighted +the forest of which the man had spoken. It opened out into a mangrove +swamp, thousands of feet below them, where the heat hung like a fog.</p> +<p class="pnext">Among the trees they found themselves in a kind of twilight. By then +the sun was setting; but as the daylight dwindled a great moon arose. +Cortes led them to a place, on the verge of a deep ravine, where there +was an old tree with a hollow trunk that looked as if it had been +struck by lightning.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You and your friend will remain here," said the man to Harry. "I will +be as quick as I can, but in any case I cannot be back until midnight. +If I do not return by then, you will know that I am dead; then—if you +are wise—you will go back to Calabar. If the Germans come, you will +hide." And he pointed to the hollow tree.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without another word he set forward on his way, gliding down the face +of the living rock like some gigantic lizard.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys found themselves in a place romantic but terrible. On +every side they were surrounded by the impenetrable hills. The trees +of the forest stood forth in the semi-darkness like great, ghostly +giants. Somewhere near at hand a mountain stream roared and thundered +over the rocks. The breeze brought to their nostrils the smell of the +swamp lower down the valley. The hollow tree stood on the edge of the +bush. A few yards away was the ravine, the bottom of which was wide +and bare and stony.</p> +<p class="pnext">Throughout the earlier part of the night they possessed their souls in +patience. It was stiflingly hot after the cool mountain air.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked at his watch. It was midnight. There was no sign of the +brothers.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly they heard a stone shifted from its place somewhere in the +forest to go rolling down into the ravine. Both stood motionless and +expectant.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I heard something," said Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"So did I," said Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Again a stone was moved, this time nearer than before. Something was +approaching through the bush. If this were an enemy they would have +small chance of escaping, for the side of the ravine was inaccessible; +it was like a precipice.</p> +<p class="pnext">They waited in suspense, and presently to the great gnarled roots of +the very tree by which they were standing, there crawled a dying, +wounded mountain goat.</p> +<p class="pnext">It died almost as it reached them. Indeed, it was almost a miracle +that the animal had lived as long as it had, for Harry's bullet had +penetrated its chest.</p> +<p class="pnext">The long night passed in waiting, and still there was no sign of the +half-caste brothers. It was then that they fully realized for the +first time the extreme danger of their mission, that they were alone in +the heart of a country which was almost unexplored, cut off from their +friends and civilization, with no chance of succour and little of +returning in safety to the coast.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Jim," said Harry, and his voice was husky, "I wonder if we shall ever +get out of this alive."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't say, sir," answered Braid; "but I'm sure of this: if we have +to die, we'll make a fight of it, at least."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that a sound came to their ears that caused them to hold +their breath. It was a loud word of command in the German language, +and which, moreover, came from not far away.</p> +<p class="pnext">They lay down flat upon their faces. Screened by a clump of long +grass, they were able to look down into the ravine, where they beheld a +company of German native troops with whom were two or three European +officers and several German noncommissioned officers. The men marched +well in step, keeping their dressing and acting promptly and smartly at +each word of command. Except for their black skins and coarse negro +features they might have learned their drill on the parade-grounds of +Potsdam and Berlin.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys regarded them in consternation, mingled with +amazement—due to the fact that in the centre of the company was a +European whose hands were bound behind his back and around whose neck +was a kind of halter.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid recognized this man at once. It was Peter Klein, the spy.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-x-when-all-was-still"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id11">CHAPTER X—When All was Still</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Among the native troops was a man who was not dressed in uniform, who +was tattooed from head to foot, and who wore upon his head an abundance +of coloured feathers. They learned afterwards that he was a medicine +or "fetish" man—and "fetish worship" is the curse of the Dark +Continent, from Ashanti to the Zambesi. The medicine-men, who profess +to practise witchcraft, are far more powerful than the majority of the +native kings. At their bidding innocent people are often put to death, +which enables them to use their powers for bribery and corruption.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the centre of the ravine, immediately below the place where the two +boys were hiding, the officer in command called a halt. When the men +had fallen out and released their packs from their shoulders, the +witch-doctor addressed them in an excited, high-pitched voice. Neither +Harry nor Braid could understand a word of what he said, but his +grimaces and gesticulations were so expressive that they could have no +doubt that he was performing some kind of religious ceremony.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was evident that the party intended to pitch their camp in the +ravine, for several men under the command of one of the +non-commissioned officers set about collecting wood with which to make +a fire.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boys knew not what course to take. Their first inclination was to +take to their heels, seeking refuge in the forest. Then they +remembered that if they did this there would be small chance of their +being found by Cortes, who had promised to return to the ravine. As +silently as possible they crawled on hands and knees to the hollow +tree, and hid themselves in the trunk.</p> +<p class="pnext">There they remained for hour after hour. From that position they were +just able to see into the gorge. The party had split up into three +groups: the German officers sat alone; the European noncommissioned +officers formed a ring around a smaller fire; whereas the natives were +congregated around the fetish-man.</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein sat like a figure of stone, a sentry with bayonet fixed +standing over him. His lips were bloodless, his eyes staring, his face +like that of a ghost. From time to time the Germans looked at him and +laughed. For all that, they repeatedly offered him food; but he +refused to eat, though now his hands had been unbound.</p> +<p class="pnext">After a while many of the men disposed themselves for sleep, lying down +upon the bare rocks about the embers of the fire. The officer in +command—a stout major with a bristling moustache—gave orders that the +prisoner's hands should again be bound. Whereupon a sergeant propped +the prisoner up, with his back to the side of the ravine, making it +perfectly plain—even to the boys who could not understand the German +language—that, if he endeavoured to escape, they would not hesitate to +kill him.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sentry was not posted for the night on the side of the ravine on +which were the two boys, but on the other side, overlooking the valley +to the east. It was apparently from this direction that the Germans +seemed to fear for their safety.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry thought the matter out. If the two brothers were alive, he could +not think why they had not returned. It was now past one o'clock, and +Cortes had said he would be back certainly before twelve.</p> +<p class="pnext">The night passed in the bush in solemn tranquillity, save for the +droning of myriads of insects from the mangrove swamp and the gurgling +sound of the river. Hour by hour the moon mounted in the skies above +the hill-tops, which were capped by mist. The two boys were squashed +together in the tree-trunk. Braid, it seemed, had gone to sleep in a +standing position. He was breathing heavily.</p> +<p class="pnext">Stealthily Harry left his hiding-place and dropped down upon hands and +knees. Cautiously he crept to the edge of the ravine and looked over. +To the boy's surprise, he observed that not only the Germans and the +native soldiers, but also the sentry, were sound asleep. They lay in +huddled attitudes around the dying fires.</p> +<p class="pnext">With his back against the rock was Peter Klein. As Harry watched him +the man moved and heaved a sigh. Presently he groaned.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart was one who was quick to think. This man, Klein, was a +spy, one fit to be despised, and moreover a German, an enemy of his +country. And yet, for some reason or other, Klein was a prisoner in +the hands of his own countrymen. Von Hardenberg, perhaps, was not so +far away. These were questions that could possibly be answered by +Peter Klein himself, who might be disposed to speak in gratitude for +his deliverance.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was only one way in which the prisoner could be rescued. It was +not possible for Harry to descend the sides of the ravine, neither was +it possible for Klein, even had his hands and legs not been bound, to +climb up the cliffs.</p> +<p class="pnext">As stealthily as before, Urquhart crawled back into the wood, until he +came to a place where there was a long, rope-like creeper—one of those +vegetable parasites which are so common in the forests of the tropics. +To cut this near the roots and tear it from the tree to which it clung +so tenaciously was the work of not many minutes, and Harry was in +possession of what to all intents and purposes was a very useful rope.</p> +<p class="pnext">With this he repaired in haste to the edge of the ravine, where he tied +the end of it to the trunk of a tree. That done, hand over hand he let +himself down to the bottom.</p> +<p class="pnext">Stepping over the forms of the sleeping soldiers he approached the +captive, and with his jack-knife cut the bonds that bound Klein's feet +and hands.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Now," he whispered in the man's ear, "climb, and you are safe!"</p> +<p class="pnext">The spy was still so terrified and so weakened from exhaustion that it +was all he could do to walk. With faltering steps he stumbled towards +the dangling rope, and Harry feared that he would fall and wake the +sleeping Germans.</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein took hold of the swinging creeper and did his best to +climb. Presently he looked round at Harry with an expression of +despair upon his face.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't do it!" he groaned in broken English.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You must," said the boy. "Your life depends upon it. Once you get to +the top you are safe. They cannot follow you. They have no rope, and +will be obliged to go a long way round."</p> +<p class="pnext">These words had the desired effect upon the spy. Fear, on occasion, is +a great stimulant; it sometimes leads a man to perform prodigies of +strength that he could never accomplish in calmer moments. Hand over +hand the man scrambled to the top of the ravine, and there lay down, +panting and exhausted.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry followed quickly. At the top he hauled up the creeper, and then +looked down again.</p> +<p class="pnext">The soldiers were still asleep. The commanding officer himself was +snoring like a pig.</p> +<p class="pnext">Shaking in all his limbs, Peter Klein rose to his feet and seized Harry +by the hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Heaven reward you!" he exclaimed. "You have saved my life, for I +verily believe those villains would have shot me."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xi-a-shot-from-the-clouds"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id12">CHAPTER XI—A Shot from the Clouds</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">It is a remarkable fact that all this time Jim Braid had been sound +asleep. Once inside the trunk of the hollow, shattered tree, he had +found himself unable to overcome a feeling of drowsiness which by +degrees completely got the better of him. Klein, on the other hand, +had apparently received such a shock to his nervous system that in +spite of his extreme exhaustion he found it impossible to sleep. Also +he had a dread of being left alone. He implored Harry, who had led him +some way back into the forest, to remain at his side till dawn.</p> +<p class="pnext">For the time being, they had nothing to fear from the German soldiers, +who were at the bottom of the ravine and unable to reach them. Still, +they could not continue their march, since without the guides they were +lost and would not know which way to go. But so long as they remained +where they were, there was always a chance that one, or both, of the +brothers would return.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Tell me," asked Urquhart, "how is it that I find you a prisoner in the +hands of those who should be your friends?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is a very simple story," said Peter Klein. "We left Dualla a few +weeks ago. The party consisted of Captain von Hardenberg, our +guide—an Arab sheikh—two native carriers, and myself. The Governor +of Dualla wished von Hardenberg to join the force which is to oppose +the British. Hardenberg was given an important command. But, since he +had other business to attend to—which he himself considered of greater +importance—in plain words, he deserted; and we endeavoured to +penetrate the bush.</p> +<p class="pnext">"For some days we journeyed without event. Then we discovered that we +were tracked, and were obliged to fly for our lives.</p> +<p class="pnext">"One night a shot was fired into our camp. And after that, day by day, +we were harassed and tormented, until two nights ago a raid was made +upon our bivouac. They came upon us from all sides at once. We were +outnumbered by twenty to one. No course lay open to us but flight. +The two natives went one way. They rushed into a large party of +soldiers, and there is every reason to believe they laid down their +lives. Von Hardenberg and the sheikh took to the hills, climbing the +bare slope, and I think they managed to escape. As for myself, I fled +downhill with a score of native soldiers at my heels.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All yesterday I was pursued. I fled for my life across interminable +valleys, across the hills, striving to reach the bush, where I knew I +would be safe. Sometimes I found myself buried in the gloom of +forests; at others I stood upon the edge of precipices so deep that the +clouds were at my feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Late last evening I was overtaken. They bound my hands behind my back +and scourged me with a whip. They gave me to understand they would +eventually put me to a traitor's death; but they thought more of von +Hardenberg and Sheikh Bayram than they did of me. They were for ever +asking me which way he had gone—just as if I could tell them what I +did not know myself! When they brought me to the ravine, yonder, I was +too fatigued and too disturbed in mind to sleep. And then you saved me +at the eleventh hour. That is all my story."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was silent for some moments.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have not told me," he said, "why you have come to this forsaken +part of the world, or why von Hardenberg—who is my cousin—deserted +from the Germans?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Klein lowered his eyes. It seemed he was not incapable of feeling +ashamed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Sunstone," said he, quite quietly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My cousin has the Sunstone in his possession?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I have seen it," answered Klein. "He carries it upon his person. He +never lets it out of his possession. He would not even let me touch +it. He has had a special pocket made for it in the inside of his coat, +on the left-hand side."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You must be frank with me," said Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You saved my life," said the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then listen to the true story of the Sunstone. You doubtless know +that my cousin stole it from my uncle, but you are perhaps ignorant of +the fact that, to cover his own guilt, he wrongfully accused one who +was innocent. I presume my cousin went to you and explained that, once +he got to Maziriland with the Sunstone in his possession, he had +acquired riches beyond all dreams. I suppose you agreed to go with +him, to share and share alike? I suppose, also, that, in spite of the +fact that our nations are at war, you consider the Sunstone of far +greater importance than your Fatherland?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"To my shame," said Peter Klein, "that is—or was—the truth. I sold +my honour for gold long ago. I would not say that in Europe, in London +or Berlin, but here we are in the very midst of death, and all things +are different—or perhaps, we see all things with very different eyes."</p> +<p class="pnext">"At least," said Harry, "you are honest now."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am a coward," the man confessed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You must see," Urquhart went on, "that you have no moral right to this +money, even should the treasure be discovered. However, I have not +come here to recover the treasure, so much as to prevent it from +falling into the hands of the enemies of my country. I am determined +to capture the Sunstone, be the risk and danger what it may be."</p> +<p class="pnext">Klein shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He will not part with it," said he. "He is a desperate man."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I will make him part with it," cried Harry, "once I run the rascal to +earth."</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is a desperate man," repeated the other. "He dare not return to +Germany. He would be court-martialled, and probably shot. He will not +part with the Sunstone at a lesser price than his life."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am sorry for him," said Harry, "because he is doubly a traitor. +When the guest of the British nation he was to all intents and purposes +a spy; he swindled you; and now, in the midst of war, he proves himself +a traitor once again."</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein was silent, his thin fingers playing nervously. The strain +of the past few days had seriously affected his health; he was +suffering from a kind of St. Vitus's dance. He was never still for a +moment.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is strange," said he, "that you think so much of the Sunstone. +Long since I had forgotten all about it. I have now but one idea—to +get back to Europe, if I can. I dare not return to my home, which is +in Frankfort. I intend to end my days in Denmark."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that somewhere in the forest, near at hand, a twig broke. +Both sprang instantly to their feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">A dark figure came suddenly out of the thickets, and Urquhart, with his +finger upon the trigger of his revolver, was about to fire, when he was +arrested by a voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is that you, Mr. Harry?"</p> +<p class="pnext">It was the voice of Jim Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it, Jim?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid came forward in the darkness. The moon was now low in the +heavens. In the east, through the tree-tops, there was a steel-blue +arc of light, heralding the approach of day. It was as if even the +abundant vegetation of the jungle was itself awakening after sleep. +When he was quite close to Harry, Braid took him by the arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I have news for you," said he. "There's an uproar in the ravine. The +Germans have discovered their prisoner has escaped."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here he is," said Harry, making a motion of the hand towards Peter +Klein.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here! How did he get here?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's no time for explanations now," said Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're right, sir," answered Jim. "We're in danger if we stay!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"We would be in greater danger still," said the other, "if we +endeavoured to escape. After all, this is the last place they would +think of searching. It would never occur to them that the prisoner had +climbed up the side of the ravine."</p> +<p class="pnext">There was the strongest common sense in this. Indeed, a few minutes +later they had ample proof that Harry was perfectly right. Klein +remained behind, whilst the two boys crawled back to the edge of the +gorge and thence looked down into the bivouac.</p> +<p class="pnext">The daylight was growing apace. Step by step the dawn mounted in the +heavens, the shadows fled from the valleys, and the bush became alive +with the songs of thousands of birds.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then they witnessed a tragedy such as neither ever wished to see +again. The native sentry, who had fallen asleep upon his post, was led +with trembling knees and shaking lips before the major in command, who, +after a few savage questions, hurled at the man like scraps of meat to +a dog, sentenced him to be shot. And then and there the sentence was +carried out before their eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">After that the major gathered his men together and divided them into +two parties, evidently with the idea of searching both ends of the +ravine. And now occurred one of the most strangely dramatic things of +which we have to tell.</p> +<p class="pnext">The commanding officer was giving final instructions to his officers +and sergeants. He stood upon a large boulder. His subordinates were +listening to his words with silent respect. He spoke in a husky, +guttural voice, from time to time shivering as if he suffered from +fever. Suddenly, he flung both hands above his head and uttered a +piercing cry. Simultaneously, there came the sharp report of a rifle +from beyond the ravine, and the German major fell forward on his face.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xii-the-mystery-of-the-running-man"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id13">CHAPTER XII—The Mystery of the Running Man</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">On the instant the greatest disorder prevailed. As at a stroke the +iron discipline of Potsdam vanished, and despite his uniform and +training, and the curses of the German non-commissioned officers, the +Cameroon native became the untutored savage once again.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the panic of the moment the native soldiers took to their heels, +evidently under the impression that they had been surprised by a +British force. And, as they ran, shots rang out repeatedly from +somewhere in the midst of the shrubbery that grew on the farther side +of the gorge.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was no question that the invisible man who commanded the ravine +from his hiding-place upon the mountain-side was a marksman of repute. +He fired in haste at running figures, and more than once his bullets +found their mark. The German-trained soldiers vanished as by a +conjuring-trick, disappearing round an angle of the gorge.</p> +<p class="pnext">All this had happened in the space of a few seconds. Harry, taking his +field-glasses from their case, scanned the mountain that overtopped the +ravine, endeavouring to discover the form of the mysterious and +terrible marksman who had created such alarm.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nowhere was any living soul to be seen. The mountain-side was as +silent as the grave. In the forest itself, hundreds of birds welcomed +the dazzling sunlight with the gladness of their songs.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who was it?" asked Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It must have been Cortes or Fernando," answered Harry, "but I can see +no sign of them. I expect one or the other will show himself in a +minute."</p> +<p class="pnext">They waited for several minutes. At last Urquhart could bear the +suspense no longer. He lifted his hands to his mouth and let out a +long-drawn shout.</p> +<p class="pnext">His voice was echoed from the hills, which were now wrapped in clouds, +but no voice came back in answer.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can't understand it," he exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid admitted that the whole thing was something of a mystery, for +which he could offer no sort of explanation.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then, on a sudden, they saw a white-clad figure dashing over the +rocks. It was a man who came down from the mountain-side, fleet and +sure of foot. Upon his head he wore a turban. He was dressed in robes +of flowing white, and in his hand he carried a rifle.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry directed his field-glasses upon this extraordinary figure. +Beyond the fact that he was a tall man with a great black beard, he +could see little or nothing, by reason of the prodigious pace at which +the man was travelling. One thing, however, was perfectly certain: +that this man—who apparently was the marksman who had so effectively +scattered the Germans—was not one of the half-caste guides.</p> +<p class="pnext">The running man came closer and closer, and the boys thought at first +that he was about to approach to within speaking distance of +themselves. But he turned off sharply to the left and disappeared in a +belt of trees almost as suddenly as he had come.</p> +<p class="pnext">They waited for some minutes, thinking that he would show up again; but +that was the last they saw of him for some days, and it was not until +then that they discovered who he was. He came and vanished like a +thunderbolt that spreads destruction in its path. His rifle had spoken +at dawn, and almost every shot had been the signal for the death of a +human being. He came, and killed, and vanished. He was a three-day +mystery of the wild hills of the German Cameroons.</p> +<p class="pnext">Throughout that morning they knew not what to do. They were without +guides; they had practically no provisions; and they had not the least +idea where they were or in which direction they should go.</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon after midday the two boys held a consultation, admitting Peter +Klein to their counsels. But the ex-spy was no help to them; he was +incapable of giving advice. They told him of the man they had seen +that morning, the white figure on the mountain-side, but he only gaped +and shook his head. It was as if the physical and moral strain he had +undergone had actually made him mad.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry clung to hope as a drowning man lays hold upon a spar. He +pointed out that they were helpless without their guides, and argued +that it was wisest to remain where they were, in case either of the +half-castes should repair to their meeting-place and find them gone.</p> +<p class="pnext">That night they lit a fire in the forest, and seated around this they +roasted some bananas—or rather plantains—they had found growing in +the bush. After they had eaten these, Harry and Klein lay down to +sleep, Jim Braid consenting to keep watch during the earlier hours of +the night.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the moon had risen, and a mighty stillness reigned in the forest, +Jim Braid, who sat upon a boulder with his rifle upon his knees, heard +on a sudden a short cough immediately behind him. He turned quickly in +alarm.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both Harry and Klein were sound asleep, and, seated on the ground +immediately between them, calmly biting the end from a cheroot, was the +figure of Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You!" cried Braid, as soon as he could find his voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Even myself," said the half-bred Spaniard. "Had I been a German, I +could have killed all three of you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You were as silent as a snake," said the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">The man chuckled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Before I was a trader," said he, "I was a hunter of big game."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that Braid awakened Harry and told him the news. The boy +was heartily glad to see the guide, whom he had certainly believed to +be dead.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And your brother?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My brother is safe," said the man. "You did wisely to remain here. +You could never have got back to Calabar. The country swarms with +German troops."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then what are we to do?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Go north," said Fernando. "Go north at every risk, to Maziriland. My +brother has already struck out across the mountains. He and I know of +a place where they will never find us. I have come here to take you +there. Cortes awaits us. We must start at once. There is no time to +lose."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiii-the-black-dog"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id14">CHAPTER XIII—The Black Dog</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">After they had explained to Fernando how it had come about that Peter +Klein had joined their party, they set forward in a northerly +direction, guided by the half-caste. They passed through the forest +and crossed a wide valley. Thence they traversed a great ridge of +hills, at the end of which they came to a mountain-top. This they +began to ascend. There were many places so steep and stony that they +were often obliged to go on all fours, and Klein, who was both weak and +nervous, stood in constant danger of his life.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finally they gained the summit. The top of the mountain was shaped +like a bowl. It was evidently the crater of an extinct volcano. In +one place an enormous rock had a cleft in it like a sword-cut, and +through this Fernando led them. The cleft was so narrow that they were +obliged to walk sideways, like crabs. After a time the passage opened, +and they found themselves in a small arena in the centre of which a +spring of water bubbled to the surface. After the heat of the forest +the air was delightfully refreshing and cool.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they had drunk their fill the guide took them to a place where a +boulder as round as a football and about five times the size, lay upon +the ground. This he rolled away, not without difficulty, and +underneath it was a hole about three feet across, like one of those +"blowholes" which can be seen in some of the caves of Cornwall or South +Wales.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando let himself down through the hole until he was hanging by his +hands; then he dropped, and they heard him alight upon the ground about +ten feet beneath. Braid followed next, and then Klein; Harry was the +last to descend into the darkness.</p> +<p class="pnext">Below, they found themselves in what was evidently a pocket in the side +of the crater, a great rent caused by some volcanic disturbance in +bygone times. The place was a kind of low and narrow gallery. The +moonlight was admitted through several cracks in the walls.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the farthermost end of the gallery a fire burnt, and at this a man +was seated, whom they found to be Cortes, the younger of the two +guides. When he saw them he rose to his feet without a word, walked +deliberately to the wall, and thrust his head into one of the fissures.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys watched him in amazement. The man—who, it will be +remembered, was extremely slim and agile—wriggled like a snake. +Gradually, it became manifest that he was squeezing himself through +with the greatest difficulty. First his head, then his shoulders, then +his body, and finally his legs and feet disappeared through the wall.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is he going?" asked Harry, turning to Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He has gone to replace the stone upon the hole through which we came. +My brother is no fool. Life in the bush has taught us many things."</p> +<p class="pnext">After a while the younger brother returned, squeezing himself again +through the narrow opening. When he came to the firelight there were +places upon his back and shoulders where his clothes had been torn, and +where the rents were stained with blood. He did not seem to mind these +wounds in the least, but laughed when Harry pointed them out.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here," said Fernando, "we are safe, and here we must stay for some +days, until the Germans have left the district. They will never find +us; no one could ever find us."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We have food?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes pointed to a corner where lay the dead body of an antelope.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I killed that this morning," said he. "Cooked, and in this cool +climate, it will keep for days. Besides, my brother and I can hunt +upon the mountain; but you and your two friends must remain here until +the Germans have left the district. Then we can continue our march +towards Maziriland."</p> +<p class="pnext">In his heart Harry Urquhart felt more than gratitude towards these +strange, gallant men. They were loyal, faithful, courageous, and full +of infinite resource. They seemed to love adventure for its own sake, +after the manner of the old Spanish explorers—the followers of +Columbus—whose blood ran in their veins.</p> +<p class="pnext">For three days the party remained in this singular hiding-place. Every +morning the brothers went out to hunt. Harry and Braid did not mind +the monotony of their temporary imprisonment, first, because they knew +that this was their only place of safety, and, secondly, because they +were glad enough of a few days' rest after all the exertions and +privations they had undergone in the wilderness of the bush.</p> +<p class="pnext">At midnight on the third night, something that was well-nigh miraculous +occurred. All were asleep except Harry Urquhart, who was doing his +turn on watch. He was walking to and fro along the gallery, and had +reached a spot immediately underneath the hole which was covered by the +stone, when suddenly a great shaft of moonlight shot down into the cave.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a moment before the boy realized what had happened—that the +stone had been rolled away. Before he had time to give the alarm, to +cry out, or bring his rifle to his shoulder, the stone was rolled back +again, and all was dim and silent as before.</p> +<p class="pnext">He ran to the fire and woke up his companions. All sprang to their +feet. In a few breathless words Harry told them what had happened. +Jim Braid seized a lighted brand from the fire, which was burning +brightly, and carried this to the end of the gallery. Sure enough the +stone was back in its place.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Are you sure," he asked, "you were not dreaming?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can swear to it," said Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What's that?" cried Braid, pointing to something white that lay upon +the floor.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart stooped, and to his amazement picked up a letter, +written in German, which was addressed to:</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<p class="pfirst">"<em class="italics">Peter Klein, Coward</em>"</p> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">Here was a greater mystery than ever.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This is apparently for you," said Harry, giving the letter to Klein. +The whole thing was amazing.</p> +<p class="pnext">Klein opened the envelope with shaking hands. Then he took it to the +other end of the gallery, and, kneeling down, read it by the light of +the fire.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently he returned and handed the letter to Fernando, who had a fair +knowledge of the German language.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Read that," said he. "How did it come here?" The man was as white as +a ghost.</p> +<p class="pnext">The writer had evidently been at some pains to disguise his +handwriting. The letter was written in capital letters with a violet +indelible pencil. The message, when translated, was as follows:—</p> +<blockquote> +<div> +<p class="pfirst">"I have something of importance to say to you. Leave your hiding-place +at once and alone."</p> +</div> +</blockquote> +<p class="pfirst">"It is from von Hardenberg," said Klein. "He orders me to return to +him—at once."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Orders you! And you will go?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I have no option. I dare not refuse."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Dare not!"</p> +<p class="pnext">At that a groan escaped from the man's lips, and he threw out his hands +with a gesture of despair.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You do not understand," he cried. "In London that man was in my +power, but in this wild country I am at his mercy; for there is one +with him who is pitiless and terrible, who carries his crimes as a +jester jangles his bells."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Whom do you mean?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I mean the Arab sheikh. That man is a demon. There is nothing he +would not do for money. There were times when I travelled with them +when I thought that they meant to kill me. When I fell asleep at the +camp-fire, I could see in my dreams the cruel, piercing eyes of the +sheikh fixed upon me; they were like coals of living fire. Fool that I +was to come here!" he broke out in despair. "Why did I not stay where +I was safe?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando, turning to Harry, cut short the man's whining words.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I must know the truth," said he. "How did that letter come here? Who +wrote it?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was written by my cousin," said Harry, "the man whom we follow; but +whether he himself brought it here or the rascal who serves him, I am +quite unable to say. At any rate," he added, with a smile, "your +hiding-place has been discovered."</p> +<p class="pnext">The half-caste returned to the fire, where he sat down, holding out his +hands to warm them. He remained thus for some time, seemingly deep in +thought; then he returned to Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Just now," said he, "I heard mention of a sheikh. Is the man's name +by any chance Bayram; for he is a devil, in truth."</p> +<p class="pnext">"That is the name of the man who is with von Hardenberg."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I did not know," said the other, and remained silent for a long time.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You did not know?" repeated Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"When I agreed to come with you I did not know that the Black Dog of +the Cameroons—as I and my brother call him—was to be our enemy. In +all the hills and plains and forests of this huge, amazing continent, +from the Sahara to Kilima-Njaro, from the Niger to the Nile, there is +no man more greatly to be feared than the Black Dog of the Cameroons. +He knows neither pity nor fear. There is hardly a valley in these +mountains with which he is not acquainted. Small wonder he discovered +our hiding-place! He is a foe who cannot be despised. Single-handed +he could keep an army of natives at bay. Almost every cartridge in his +bandolier, almost every bullet in the chamber of his rifle, means the +life's blood of a human being. At one time he was the richest +slave-trader in Africa. But I heard the English hunted him down, and +that he was starving and penniless in London."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was he!" cried Harry, turning sharply to Braid. "He was the man we +saw that morning on the mountain-side, who fired into the German +bivouac at dawn."</p> +<p class="pnext">"The sheikh was the man," said the guide. "You should have told me +before."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I blame myself," said Harry. "I know now that I can trust you and +your brother with even more than life."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando continued to speak in slow deliberate tones.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If we are to come out of this alive," said he, "you will do well to +take me into your counsels. Moreover, you must follow my advice. I +and the Black Dog have an old score to pay. For myself, I am +determined to be a debtor no longer." Then, without changing his +voice, he turned calmly to Peter Klein. "You must go back to von +Hardenberg," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No, no! not that!" Klein almost shrieked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando smiled grimly. He might have been one of his own hard-hearted +ancestors, presiding at the Spanish Inquisition.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I fear to go!" cried Klein, his terror stamped on every feature. +"They will kill me! I know they will!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando laughed aloud.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You will most certainly be killed," said he, "if you refuse to go. +The Black Dog has marked you for his own."</p> +<p class="pnext">At these words the spy fell down upon his knees at Harry Urquhart's +feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Keep me with you!" he pleaded. "Give me your protection! It is to +the advantage of those men to kill me. They brought me here to do away +with my life. They do not intend that I shall live to claim my share +of the treasure, if they should ever find it."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry, somewhat roughly, told the man to get to his feet. Klein was an +arrant coward. Harry felt little pity for the man; yet he could not +find it in his heart to support Fernando's heartless verdict.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have little right to demand our sympathy," said he. "You are an +enemy to my country and a spy; you are even a traitor to the rascals +whom formerly you were pleased to serve. You have merited the most +severe penalty which a state of war allows."</p> +<p class="pnext">He was about to go on, when the man, losing all control of himself, +seized him by both hands and begged him to be merciful.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I renounce everything!" he cried. "I admit my guilt, and ask you to +forgive me. I will give up all claim to a share in the treasure. I +swear to be faithful to you, if you will only get me out of this alive."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We do not think of the treasure," said Urquhart. "We are here to +establish the innocence of an injured man and to checkmate von +Hardenberg."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was he who stole the Sunstone," uttered Klein.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know that," said Harry. "That is why we have followed him. He may +have the Black Dog of the Cameroons to aid him, but we have these two +gallant fellows, who do not seem to know what it is to fear, to +hesitate, or to give up hope."</p> +<p class="pnext">He half turned, and with a motion of the hand indicated the two +brothers, who were seated side by side.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando slowly shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"As you will," said he. "You have yet to learn that the Cameroons is +no place for clemency. I had a plan to trick the Black Dog. It was a +cruel plan perhaps. I meant to sacrifice this cur like a kid tied to a +stake to snare a tiger. However, let that pass. From to-night, I warn +you fairly, we will be even in greater danger than before. We have an +enemy to reckon with in the sheikh. At this very moment he waits on +the hill-side for his victim." Fernando pointed to Peter Klein.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He means to take my life!" cried Klein, who was now pacing to and fro, +wringing his hands like one demented. "The moment they saw I was +likely to be of no use to them, that I was a coward who could neither +handle a rifle nor do a long day's march without fatigue, they schemed +to do away with me. And what a place for a crime, these unknown, +savage hills! In these parts a human life is of no more importance +than that of a mosquito."</p> +<p class="pnext">The man was overwrought, his nerves had been sadly shaken. He was on +the verge of lunacy with panic and alarm.</p> +<p class="pnext">And yet, what he said was obviously the truth. To von Hardenberg his +presence was worse than useless, a mere encumbrance on the line of +march. In all probability Fernando was right; the Black Dog waited on +the hill-side to fall upon the poor, blind fool whom avarice had led so +far from the land where he could spy and inform in safety.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two guides had listened to this dialogue with evident interest and +not a little amusement at the expense of Klein. It was Fernando who +again broke in upon their talk.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We will test the sheikh," said he. "We will soon find out his +intentions."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he turned to his brother, and for some minutes the two spoke in +Spanish. After a while it was Cortes who approached Klein and touched +him on the arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Get out of your clothes," said he. "I intend to wear them."</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein was glad enough of the chance of disguising his identity. +Cortes put on the tattered white ducks, torn in a score of places by +the thorn-trees in the bush, the pith helmet and the leather leggings, +and then returned to the fire.</p> +<p class="pnext">There, he loaded his revolver and the magazine of his Lee-Metford +carbine. That done, without a word to his brother, he squeezed himself +through the crack in the wall, and disappeared beyond it.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xiv-buried-alive"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id15">CHAPTER XIV—Buried Alive!</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">They waited for many minutes in absolute silence. Peter Klein was +seated at the fire. There also was Fernando, who appeared to have +fallen asleep in a sitting position. As for the two boys, they +remained near the opening through which the man had passed, straining +their ears to catch the slightest sound without.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently there came the sharp report of a shot. Then all was silent +again.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando immediately sprang to his feet and walked towards the boys. +He must have been sleeping lightly, or else feigning slumber.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My brother," said he, "is dead."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Dead!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Both Harry and Braid uttered the word in a single breath.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That," said the man, "was the rifle of the sheikh."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How do you know?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"For a very simple reason," said the other. "There were two reports, +therefore the shot was fired in this direction. If a man fires away +from you, you hear but one report, which is like the crack of a whip. +But if he fires toward you, you hear two reports, each one of which +resembles the 'pop' of a cork. The shot was fired this way. The +trigger was pressed by the Black Dog, whose bullet seldom misses its +mark. Therefore, in all probability, my brother is gone."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And you speak of it so calmly!" uttered Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando smiled. "With us who live on the Coast," said he, "death is +an easy matter. Sooner or later we all die; some by murder, some by +malaria, some by Black Jack, which is the most deadly fever in the +world. Our graves are in the bush. What does it matter whether or not +a bullet finds its mark?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys were astonished. They could not understand this strange +man's views of life and death.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And you have sacrificed your brother's life," asked Harry, "merely to +prove that the Black Dog of the Cameroons intended to murder Klein?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I would have gone myself," he answered, "had that been possible. As +it is, I can live, at least, for revenge."</p> +<p class="pnext">The full significance of the thing burst upon Harry Urquhart.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A wasted life!" he cried.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh no!" said the man; "a life is never wasted—for the truth."</p> +<p class="pnext">After that they were silent; they remained standing close together by +the opening in the wall. Harry felt as if a heavy weight had been +placed upon his heart.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without, through the fissures in the wall, they could see the moonshine +and the stars. A soft wind which moaned across the desolate and rugged +heights was blowing upon the mountain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently they were startled by the sound of a voice—a voice that +spoke in a whisper.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am wounded," said the voice, "I am wounded almost to death. +Fernando, my brother, hold out a hand to me, that I may speak to you +before I die."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was about to move to the opening, when the elder guide fiercely +thrust him back.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you suffer great pain?" asked Fernando, speaking tenderly, as he +approached the fissure on tiptoe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Give me your hand," came the answer in a weak, breathless voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">Instead of a hand, suddenly Fernando thrust his rifle through the +opening and fired. The loud report echoed in the shallow vault. A +strong smell of cordite was driven to their nostrils.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without, there was a shriek. Harry rushed to the opening and looked +through. He saw a white figure flying in the moonlight like a ghost. +Fernando—the half-bred Spaniard—threw back his head and laughed the +laugh of a fiend.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What does all this mean?" cried Braid, turning fiercely upon the man.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That was no more my brother," said the guide, "than the dog-fox is +brother to the eagle. That man was the sheikh—the Black Dog himself."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was your brother's voice," said Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Indeed!" said the man. "I should know my brother's voice. I tell you +once again my brother is dead. The Black Dog slew him; and then, +recognizing the man he had killed, he guessed that I, too, was with +you, and he came here to kill me, imitating my brother's voice, +practising the cunning which has made him feared from the Niger to the +Congo. And he has gone with a bullet in his chest."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You did not kill him?" asked Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No. He fled, realizing that his trick had failed. But because he +killed my brother, Cortes, whom I love, I swear now by the saints that +I will avenge my brother's death, that I will send the Black Dog to the +shades. Henceforward it is his rifle against mine, his treachery +against my wits; it is the fox against the serpent."</p> +<p class="pnext">All this time they had forgotten something of superlative importance. +When events of startling magnitude occur in such quick succession it +sometimes happens that the obvious is overlooked. And strange to +relate, it was Peter Klein—who hitherto had seemed quite incapable of +thinking for himself—who was the first to realize the exceeding +gravity of their situation. On a sudden he rushed at Fernando like a +maniac, and seized him by the arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You say," he cried, "you are sure your brother is dead?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The man bowed his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then, if he is dead, by Heaven, we are buried alive!"</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xv-the-valley-of-the-shadow"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id16">CHAPTER XV—The Valley of the Shadow</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The truth came upon them all in the nature of a shock. They could not +think how it was that they had overlooked so simple a deduction, so +obvious a fact.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes, by reason of the extreme slimness of his form, was the only one +of their number who could manage to squeeze himself through the narrow +opening. The stone above the circular hole in the roof, or ceiling, +could not be moved from the inside. The hiding-place that they had +deemed so secure a refuge was nothing but a death-trap.</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein turned in anger upon the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">"So much for your wisdom," he cried, "so much for your oath!"</p> +<p class="pnext">The man's eyes flashed. His hand went to the knife he carried in his +belt. One half of him was a savage, and the other half a Spaniard.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you think," said he, "that I thought my brother would be killed?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"So far as I can see," said Klein, "it is all the same to you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There you prove yourself a fool," answered the other hotly. "You +think I do not love him because I do not weep like a woman and gnash my +teeth. Understand this—the heart of a Spaniard is like a deep pool, +the surface of which is still. We feel; we love. Also, I warn you +again, we can hate."</p> +<p class="pnext">The spy dared not face the man's blazing eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I warn you," Fernando went on, his voice rising as passion swayed him, +"if you hold me up to ridicule, you die. I am ready enough to admit +that my judgment was at fault—that I forgot that, without my brother, +we were unable to leave the cave—but to be put to scorn by such as you +is more than I will endure!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Peter Klein fell back before the fiery onslaught of the man's words as +though he had been struck. The half-caste stood upright, every muscle +taut, his eyes ablaze, his clenched teeth showing in the blackness of +his long moustache. Then he hurled his knife upon the floor.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why do I waste words upon such as you?" he cried, as if in anguish. +"You are not worthy of my anger!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I cannot yet understand," said Harry. "If the sheikh is so formidable +an adversary, why did you send your brother into the night dressed in +Klein's clothes?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I spoke high words of the prowess of the Black Dog," said Fernando, +"but all the time I believed in my brother. Cortes was a fine shot, +second only to the sheikh himself. Moreover, he was agile, one of the +finest stalkers who ever lived. I knew, when I was sitting by the +fire, that we would soon hear a shot. You thought that I was sleeping, +but I was praying to the Holy Virgin that the first shot would be fired +by my brother, and that the Black Dog would lie in his own blood, his +life ended, the Book of Fate closed upon his evil deeds. When I heard +the double report, my heart sank within me. I knew that my brother had +been outwitted—that the victory lay with the sheikh."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And in the meantime," said Harry, "we are buried alive!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The fault is mine," said the guide. "I should have asked my brother +to remove the stone at the entrance before he went, in case of any +mishap. I forgot to do so. I ask forgiveness."</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is nothing to forgive," said the boy. "In such a country as +this, encompassed upon every hand by death and dangers of all kinds, +there are a thousand things to think of. I would be the last to blame +you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You are generous," said the man. "The English, with all their faults, +are the most generous race on earth; and because they are just, I +honour them. We have food and water to last for some days. We can but +put our trust in Providence."</p> +<p class="pnext">Of the days that followed it is unnecessary to tell in detail. In the +gallery, shut out from the outside world, from the pure air of the +mountains and the sunlight, existence was a living death. For all +that, it was wonderful for how long they retained their strength. +Indeed, it is a remarkable fact that a man can go for many days with +little food, if he has water to drink and is not asked to undergo great +physical exertion. But at last Peter Klein grew so weak, and the +beating of his heart so slow, that Harry feared he was dying.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was during these days that the boys came to love the wizened +half-caste in whose hands was their fate. Fernando's courage knew no +bounds; it was as if his will-power was invincible. Never once did a +word of despair or hopelessness leave his lips.</p> +<p class="pnext">They longed for the open air, for freedom. Days and nights were all +the same to them, except that sometimes the sunshine, sometimes the +moonshine, invaded the depths of their prison through the great +fissures in the wall. As time went on it was difficult not to give up +hope.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last, one night, Fernando rose to his feet and approached Harry, who +found it impossible to sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My friend," said he, "the sands are running down, but I think that I +can save you."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How?" asked the other.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look at me!" cried the man. "I am little better than a skeleton. I +think I can creep through the opening in the wall."</p> +<p class="pnext">Assisted by Braid, he crawled to the fissure, and there endeavoured to +pass through. It is true that he had wasted away terribly, but the +opening was very narrow, and his frame was larger than his brother's.</p> +<p class="pnext">For an hour he struggled vainly. At last, he gave it up.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is no good," said he. "I cannot do it. We are lost. Nothing +remains but death."</p> +<p class="pnext">They resigned themselves to their fate. They were far past all +complaint. Even Klein was silent; he no longer moaned and deplored his +unhappy lot. Even he had learnt to prepare himself for death.</p> +<p class="pnext">Three more days passed, and at the end of that time Fernando himself +lay upon the floor in a kind of faint.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was bitterly cold. They had no fire. They had burned all their +wood. Only a little water remained. The prospect before them was +horrible to contemplate. They were destined to be driven mad by thirst.</p> +<p class="pnext">For some time Harry walked backward and forward. Then fatigue overcame +him, and, lying down upon the floor, he immediately fell asleep. When +he awoke it was daylight. He went to the bucket of water to divide the +little that remained into four equal parts. To his astonishment, he +found that the bucket was empty.</p> +<p class="pnext">He uttered a loud exclamation, which brought Braid to his elbow.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What has happened?" asked Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Our last drop of water," said Harry, "has been stolen."</p> +<p class="pnext">There was little doubt as to who was the thief. Neither Harry nor Jim +nor Fernando could have been capable of such treachery. Harry turned +fiercely upon Peter Klein.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you deny this?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said Klein; "I do."</p> +<p class="pnext">They examined his pannikin and found that the inside was wet. There +was also a drop of water upon the floor by the place where he had been +sitting. Without a doubt, during the earlier part of the night, the +man had pretended to be asleep until the three others were buried in +slumber. Then he had stolen all that remained of their water.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando rose slowly to his feet, drew his long knife, and, tottering +from weakness, approached the German spy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Death," said he, "is too good for you! But, weak as I am, you die!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry held out his hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let him be," said he. "His cowardice will avail him little. He will +only live to see us go before him. He has done no more than prolong +the agony of his death!"</p> +<p class="pnext">The guide returned, growling like a dog, and sat down upon the floor.</p> +<p class="pnext">During that day hardly a word was spoken. They sat in silence, waiting +for the end. Towards afternoon a raging thirst began to consume them; +their blood grew hot in a kind of fever; their tongues clave to the +roofs of their mouths.</p> +<p class="pnext">And at nightfall they lay down to die. Fernando was now in a kind of +stupor. For an hour he never moved, but lay like one already dead. +Both Braid and Klein fell asleep, but Harry found sleep impossible.</p> +<p class="pnext">Knowing that the end was drawing near, he resolved to commend his soul +to the Almighty, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to pray.</p> +<p class="pnext">For some minutes he prayed silently, making his peace with God. When +his prayer was finished he felt happier. He sat for some time with his +hands clasped about his knees, looking upward at the round stone which +confined them in their prison.</p> +<p class="pnext">And as he looked the stone moved as if by magic, silently. Through the +round hole above, the light of the moon streamed down into the darkened +vault.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xvi-the-enemy-in-sight"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id17">CHAPTER XVI—The Enemy in Sight</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">For some moments Harry Urquhart did not move. He sat like a graven +image, his eyes staring, his jaw dropped in amazement. Then the full +truth burst upon him in a flood. He sprang to his feet, uttering a +loud cry which immediately awoke both Braid and Peter Klein.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it?" cried Braid. "What has happened?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry seized his comrade by the shoulders and shook him violently.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Tell me, Jim, have I gone mad, or has a miracle happened? Look there!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid looked in the direction indicated, and saw, to his amazement, +that their prison doors were opened, that the stone had been rolled +away from the circular hole in the roof.</p> +<p class="pnext">By that time Fernando had got to his feet. He came swaying towards +them, and clutched hold of Jim's arm for support. Perhaps the climate +of the Coast had weakened his constitution. At any rate, he was now +far weaker than the others—even than Klein.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We are saved!" he cried. "But beware of treachery. For all we know +the Black Dog may be hiding at the entrance."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry cared nothing for that. A sense of freedom, a breath of mountain +air, were worth all the risk in the world. He scrambled up, caught +hold of the edge of the hole, and with great difficulty managed to pull +himself through, so that he stood in the light of the stars, amid the +mists that wrapped the mountain.</p> +<p class="pnext">At his feet lay a still, dark form. It was that of a human being, but +so motionless that the boy feared that it was that of a dead man. +Going down upon his knees, he turned the body over, so that the face +was uplifted to the moon; and at once he recognized the features of +Cortes, the younger guide, who had gone out to slay the sheikh.</p> +<p class="pnext">He spoke to the man, but received no answer. Then he rushed to a +spring that was near by and quenched his burning thirst.</p> +<p class="pnext">There he was joined by Jim Braid and Peter Klein. Both went down upon +their knees at the spring-side to drink their fill.</p> +<p class="pnext">After that they assisted the elder guide to escape from the terrible +prison in which they had spent so many days. They sprinkled water upon +the lips of the younger man, and at last he opened his eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We thought you dead," said Harry. "Tell us what happened to you?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I went my way, dressed in the clothes of that cur, to trick the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. Knowing the man with whom I had to deal, I was +cautious and on my guard.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I approached so silently that not even a lizard could have taken +alarm. Then I saw the man waiting for me on the mountain-side. He was +dressed in his white Arab robes; he was seated on a boulder, with his +rifle on his knees.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I considered what was best to do. I had intended to show up at a +distance, pretending that I was the German. Then I remembered that if +the sheikh fired I would assuredly be hit. In the end I decided to +creep upon him unawares, to snatch his rifle from his hands. With a +man like the Black Dog it is best to strike the first blow, and also to +strike hard.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How he saw me I cannot say. His eyes are like those of a lynx. But +he discovered me and fired, and I was wounded. The bullet pierced my +chest. For a moment I think I was unconscious, for when I opened my +eyes the sheikh himself was kneeling over me, looking into my face. He +recognized me, and called me by my name.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Without doubt he thought I was dying. Indeed, he left me to die. He +went his way up the mountain. Presently I heard a shot, and a little +after the Black Dog came past me, running as if for life. When he was +quite close to me I saw that there was blood upon his robes and that he +was running after the manner of one who suffers pain and is wounded. +How that happened I do not know. At the time I thought little about +it. I did not doubt that I myself stood at the door of death.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I fainted, and when I recovered consciousness I was consumed by a +terrible thirst. Fever raged in my bones. With great difficulty I +managed to drag myself to the side of a spring, where I drank great +draughts of water. After that I fell asleep; and for the next three +days I lay in that place, thinking that I was dying, frequently +drinking at the stream. I could not walk, for whenever I tried to rise +to my feet there was a pain in my chest like a red-hot sword, and I +came near to fainting.</p> +<p class="pnext">"One night I thought of my brother and my friends, and then it was that +I remembered that you were unable to escape from your prison.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Ever since then I have been struggling up the side of the mountain, +endeavouring to get to you to rescue you. Every minute I thought that +I was dying; sometimes I was so weak that I felt I could go no farther. +Yet every day I made a little progress. I followed the direction of +the stream. I drank the water, and ate wild berries, as well as the +provisions I carried with me.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I reached the stone; I remember rolling it away, and after that I +remember no more."</p> +<p class="pnext">The narration of this story was too much for the man's strength. As he +said the last words he fell backward in a faint.</p> +<p class="pnext">For the rest of the night they camped in the open air, sleeping around +a fire. They remained upon the mountain-top for four days. The German +troops had evidently left the district, and though Harry and Jim hunted +in the valley, and succeeded in shooting some guinea-fowl, they saw no +signs of von Hardenberg and the sheikh, who had evidently pushed +forward on their way towards Maziriland and the Caves of Zoroaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is remarkable how quickly they were completely restored to health. +Food and water and the freshness of the mountain air lent their +assistance to Nature; and even Cortes, who had been so severely +wounded, rapidly regained his strength. Indeed the wound was already +healed, and all he required was nourishment and rest.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they were able to continue their journey, they decided to advance +with the greatest caution. A few miles farther on they would come to a +long valley, two hundred miles in length, which led directly towards +the frontier of Maziriland. Cortes knew of a path that ran along the +crest-line of the mountains, whence they would be able to survey the +surrounding country except such as was hidden by the density of the +bush. If they followed this there would be small chance of their being +taken by surprise, either by the Germans or von Hardenberg and the +sheikh.</p> +<p class="pnext">At first they marched by easy stages, in order not to overtax their +strength. This part of the mountain was inhabited by a great number of +rock-rabbits, many of which they were able to kill with sticks; and +these rabbits soon found their way into the cooking-pot.</p> +<p class="pnext">By degrees they made their daily marches longer. They were anxious to +overtake Captain von Hardenberg and the Black Dog, who were evidently +several miles in advance. Finally they marched by night, the guides +taking a direct route by the stars.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly, one midnight, as they rounded a great spur of rock, they saw +a small light, dim and twinkling in the distance like a star, far below +them in the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look there!" cried Harry, pointing ahead.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is it a camp-fire?" asked Braid, turning to the two guides, who stood +together.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both bowed their heads.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is a camp-fire," said Fernando. "It is the camp-fire of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xvii-a-shot-by-night"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id18">CHAPTER XVII—A Shot by Night</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Towards morning the fire dwindled and went out. At daylight they could +see no sign of von Hardenberg and his companion. The entire valley +appeared deserted. In this part of the country there were no villages, +the valleys being too barren and infertile for agriculture.</p> +<p class="pnext">The next night the bivouac-fire was again visible, this time nearer +than before. On the third night they were not more than seven or eight +miles in rear of those whom they pursued.</p> +<p class="pnext">On these occasions they were careful that their own fire should not be +observed. They always lit it under the cover of large rocks or +boulders, screening it from the north. They had every reason to +suppose that the sheikh and his companion believed them dead. The +Black Dog had doubtless told his employer that their pursuers had been +buried alive in the crater of the old volcano.</p> +<p class="pnext">Every night they were careful to post a sentry, and, on one occasion, +when the first signs of dawn were visible in the east, Harry—who was +on watch—suddenly heard a sound, faint but very distinct, immediately +behind his back.</p> +<p class="pnext">He turned quickly, but could see nothing. He waited for some moments, +holding his breath, with his finger ready on the trigger of his +revolver.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nothing happened. The boy imagined that the sound had been caused by a +rock-rabbit or a mountain-rat, and was about to resume his former +position, when something descended upon him with a spring like that of +a tiger.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the nick of time he jumped aside. He saw a white figure rushing +violently through space. In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife +that missed him by the fraction of an inch, and the next moment he was +full length upon the ground, struggling in the arms of a powerful and +savage man.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%"> +<span id="in-the-moonlight-he-saw-the-flash-of-a-knife-that-missed-him-by-the-fraction-of-an-inch"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="" src="images/img-120.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">Locked together in a death-grip, they rolled over and over, first one +on top and then the other. There was a loud shout, which came from the +lips of Braid, and at that the two guides sprang to their feet and +hastened to Harry's assistance.</p> +<p class="pnext">The struggle ended as suddenly as it had begun. One second, strong +fingers gripped Harry by the throat, and the next his adversary was +gone. He had vanished like a ghost; he had slipped away like an eel.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart sprang to his feet and listened. He heard a laugh—a +wild, fiendish laugh—far away in the night. Stooping, he picked up a +bare knife that was lying on the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I wrenched this from his hand," said he, showing the knife to Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">The half-caste examined it in the firelight. It was a knife of Arab +design.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That," said he, "is the knife of the Black Dog."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Why did he not fire?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Evidently because he did not wish to warn the Germans. That is a bad +sign; it means that the German troops are in the neighbourhood."</p> +<p class="pnext">The following night, when they scanned the valley, they could see no +sign of the camp-fire of von Hardenberg and the Arab. The sheikh, +having failed in his enterprise on the previous evening, was evidently +determined to exercise greater caution. Harry examined the valley with +his glasses, not only to the north but also to the west and to the +east. However, he could see no sign of their enemies.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I do not like the look of it," said Fernando. "So long as we knew +where the Black Dog was, we had the whip hand of him. We must be +prepared for the worst."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Surely," said Harry, "he will push on towards Maziriland?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"The shortest way is not always the quickest," answered the other. "As +likely as not he has gone back upon his tracks, and even now is +encamped somewhere behind us."</p> +<p class="pnext">That night they deemed it advisable to light no fire. Seated amid the +rocks on the crest-line of the hills, where the wind moaned and howled +from the west, they held a council of war. It was decided that, during +the march on the following day, the two guides should act as scouts, +the elder moving some distance in advance of the three Europeans, +Cortes following in rear.</p> +<p class="pnext">By the time the sun rose above the mountain-tops, they were well upon +their way. At mid-day they halted for a meal, and it was then that +Cortes came running to the bivouac.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come here!" he cried. "I have seen them."</p> +<p class="pnext">They followed the man to the crest-line, crawling on hands and knees. +Only Peter Klein remained by the fire. Since they had escaped from the +crater of the volcano no one had spoken to the man. The guides showed +only too plainly that they despised him, and neither Harry nor Braid +were disposed to forgive the scoundrel for having stolen their last +drop of water.</p> +<p class="pnext">They came to a place where the valley-side dropped down in an almost +perpendicular cliff. Far below was a little grove of trees, around +which a stream meandered, its waters glistening in the sunshine. +Beyond the grove, on the other side of the valley, following a kind of +bridle-path that led to the north, were five men, one of whom was +dressed in robes of flowing white.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That is the sheikh," said Fernando. "He walks by the side of the +German."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And the other three?" asked Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"They are natives from the bush. The sheikh has doubtless enlisted +their services during the last three days. The natives dare not refuse +him labour. He was all-powerful when he was a slave-trader; fear of +him passed from village to village by word of mouth. On an expedition +such as this, he is doubly to be dreaded, because he has friends among +the Maziris themselves."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then," cried Harry, "supposing he tells the tribe to rise against us?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is little fear of that," said Fernando. "He is hated by the +chiefs and head-men, who resent the authority he wields over many of +the people."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then, what will he do when he draws near to the caves?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"He will rob by night," said Cortes. "Under cover of darkness he will +endeavour to secure the treasure."</p> +<p class="pnext">"My brother," said the elder man, laying a hand upon the other's +shoulder, "tell me, how far away is Black Dog?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The man judged the distance with his eye.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Sixteen hundred yards," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Nearly a mile," said the other. "I will try my luck. I have sworn an +oath by the saints."</p> +<p class="pnext">So saying, he lay down upon his face and loaded his rifle. Lifting the +back-sight, he took long and careful aim, and then pressed the trigger. +There came a sharp report, and the bullet sped across the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the space of a few seconds the sheikh and his followers had +vanished. To hit a moving figure at that distance was a well-nigh +impossible task, but that the bullet had not been far from its mark was +apparent from the way in which the party had so suddenly disappeared.</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg was moving up one side of the valley, Harry and his +companions on the other. It was therefore a race for the treasure. If +Harry reached the caves first, he would be unable to enter the vault, +by reason of the fact that the Sunstone was not in his possession. He +would have to lie in wait for the Black Dog and the German.</p> +<p class="pnext">For two days they saw nothing more of their rivals. There was water in +plenty in the district, and presently springs and streams became even +more numerous, and they entered into a country that was thickly wooded. +At the same time the mountains became more wild and rugged, and it was +soon impossible to make progress by way of the hills.</p> +<p class="pnext">They therefore descended into the valley, and entered a region of +scattered trees, which gradually became a forest, where they were shut +out from the sunlight and the light of the stars. There were no paths +in the forest, and they could seldom march more than eight miles a day +by reason of the tangled undergrowth through which they had to cut a +passage.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they came out of the forest they were in a land of rolling hills, +which, the guides told them, mounted to the summit of Maziriland. +Their first camp in this district was under the lee of a hill; and, +since they had seen nothing of either von Hardenberg or the German +troops for several days, they deemed it safe to light a fire. There +was no scarcity of fuel, and very soon a fire was blazing, the green +wood crackling and hissing in the flames. Over the fire a kettle was +suspended by a chain from three iron rods, and from the spout of this +kettle steam was issuing, when suddenly a shot was fired in the +distance, and a bullet drilled a hole through the kettle, so that the +water from within ran down into the fire, whence issued a little cloud +of steam.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xviii-a-dash-for-liberty"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id19">CHAPTER XVIII—A Dash for Liberty</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">As one man they rushed to their arms, and even as they did so a score +of shots rang out, and the whistling bullets cut the earth about their +feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The German troops!" cried Cortes. "We must gain the hill-top or we're +lost!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Firing into the darkness as they ran, they ascended the hill with all +dispatch. At the top they found themselves subjected to a withering +fire, which poured down upon them from all directions. The night was +alive with the sharp reports of rifles. Sudden flashes of fire showed +up on every hand, like so many living tongues of flame. It was evident +the enemy was in force.</p> +<p class="pnext">For four hours the fight continued without a check. The roar of the +musketry continued; the hissing of the bullets was like heavy rain. +And all this time the German soldiers were working nearer and nearer, +until at last they formed a complete circle around the foot of the hill.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were then close enough for their voices to be audible, and now and +again, as a bullet found its mark, a shriek went up in the night.</p> +<p class="pnext">By then, not one of Harry's party had been struck. This was partly due +to the boulders which lay upon the hill-top, and behind which it was +possible to obtain cover, and partly to the inferiority of the German +marksmanship.</p> +<p class="pnext">During a lull in the combat, a short respite from the strain of the +situation, Harry took counsel with the two guides and Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It appears to me," he observed, "that if we wait till sunrise we are +lost. So far, we have managed to escape death only by reason of the +darkness."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Before the sun rises," said Fernando, "two courses lie open to us: we +must either fight our way through the enemy or commend our souls to +Heaven."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I was going to propose," said Harry, "that we gather together in a +body and endeavour to charge through the enemy."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And after that?" asked Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"After that we may either find some place more suitable for defence, or +else die in our tracks."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We can die fighting," said the younger guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Well, then," said Harry, "every minute counts. If we can get through +we may be able to cover some miles before dawn is upon us. We must +hold together, however. There will be no time to go back to look for +one who is lost."</p> +<p class="pnext">They now prepared themselves to make this last and desperate bid for +freedom. They played for the highest stakes, for liberty and life. +They could not advance, however, without acquainting Peter Klein of +their intention, and when the man was told of what they proposed to do +he set to shaking in his limbs.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was in no mood to humour him. He had long since lost all +patience with their uninvited guest.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have two minutes," said he, "in which to choose. Either you come +with us, or stay here, or else you can go over to the enemy. It does +not matter very much to us which you decide to do."</p> +<p class="pnext">The man picked up his rifle. He tried to speak, and stuttered. He was +incoherent from fear, though it was his own countrymen who opposed +them. German and German-trained native troops were in the valley in +about equal numbers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What am I to do?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Remain at my side," said Harry. "Do not fire until I tell you to. We +are going to creep as near to the enemy as we can, and then charge +through together."</p> +<p class="pnext">Klein said nothing, but they heard the bolt of his rifle shake in his +hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then all five began to crawl down the hill, picking their way carefully +over the stones, advancing as stealthily as possible.</p> +<p class="pnext">The enemy's fire had somewhat abated. Perhaps they also—true to the +traditions of the Prussian army—contemplated an assault. Instead of +the continuous rattle of musketry that had lasted for so long, only an +occasional shot resounded in the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">Inch by inch, they drew nearer to the enemy's position, and when not +twenty yards from the place where a German officer was shouting hoarse, +guttural words of command, Harry whispered to his followers to halt. +He desired to give them time to gain their breath, that the charge +might be as swift as it was sudden and unexpected.</p> +<p class="pnext">During the next few minutes it was as if each second dragged out into +eternity. At all events, the anxiety and excitement had the most +amazing effect upon Peter Klein, who was a coward from the day of his +birth. It drove him mad, and he became like some infuriated beast, a +bull in a bull-ring or a baited bear.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly springing to his feet, before Harry had given the word of +command, he discharged the magazine of his rifle in the direction of +his own countrymen. Then, seizing the weapon by the muzzle, he dashed +down hill, swinging it round and round his head as a man uses a club.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry and his three companions followed in the man's wake, firing right +and left. Though it was dark, they were near enough to Klein to see +what happened. The man was as terrible in his madness as he had been +despicable in fear. Without a doubt, terror had overcome his senses. +Giving himself up for lost, he had been able to bear the suspense no +longer, and now rushed furiously, demented and panic-stricken, into +what looked like certain death.</p> +<p class="pnext">A German sergeant jumped out of the grass before him, and the butt of +Klein's rifle crushed the man's skull as though it were a nut. Another +man—a native—a second later was dropped to the ground, with a blow +that would have felled an ox. A third rushed upon the maniac, and so +tremendous was the stroke that sent him to his death that Klein's rifle +broke at the small of the butt.</p> +<p class="pnext">Still the ex-spy was undefeated. With the steel barrel in one hand and +his revolver in the other, he went onward in the dark, filling the +night with an infinity of savage and appalling yells.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xix-war-to-the-knife"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id20">CHAPTER XIX—War to the Knife</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Ten minutes later Peter Klein stopped dead, looking about him with +wild, staring eyes. The night was cold—for they were still at a great +altitude—and the breath was pumping from his nostrils as it does with +a horse. However, he was given little time to rest, for Harry, running +forward, seized him by the arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Get on!" cried the boy. "We're not out of danger yet."</p> +<p class="pnext">On they went, racing for freedom, crossing hills and minor valleys, +passing beneath trees, and sometimes knee-deep in the water of forest +streams.</p> +<p class="pnext">For a time they heard the guttural voices of the Germans behind them. +At last these became inaudible in the distance. The soldiers were not +able to follow on their tracks, since they had no way of knowing which +route the fugitives had taken.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last Harry deemed it safe to call a halt.</p> +<p class="pnext">Klein, who was still running like one possessed, had to be stopped by +force. He would not desist from flight, until Jim Braid had tripped +him up. Harry, followed by Fernando, came upon them shortly afterwards.</p> +<p class="pnext">"See," cried Harry, pointing to the east, "there comes the dawn! In +half an hour it will be daylight."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you know where we are?" asked Braid, turning to the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said the man. "We are towards the Maziri frontier. I recognize +the mountains on the sky-line. There is a good place near at hand +where we can hide, and where—even if we are discovered—we will be +able to hold our own for many days."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let us go there," said Harry. "But where is your brother?"</p> +<p class="pnext">No one answered. They peered into the faces of one another. The +younger guide was missing.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando, the man who had sworn an oath to kill the Black Dog, lifted +his hands to his mouth and let out a long-drawn howl which was like +that of a jackal, and which carried far in the stillness of the +morning. It was a signal that his brother knew of old. Three times he +repeated it, and each time lifted a hand to his ear, and stood +listening expectant.</p> +<p class="pnext">No answering cry came back. A death-like silence reigned over the +valleys and forests and the mountain-side.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is lost?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He may have taken the wrong direction in the darkness. He may have +been struck by a bullet. Who can tell? These things are in the hands +of God."</p> +<p class="pnext">"He may be somewhere near at hand," said Braid, hoping for the best.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If Cortes is alive he is far away; otherwise he would have heard my +signal. At any rate we can do no good by waiting here. We must push +on; the day approaches. As I said, I know of a place where we shall be +safe."</p> +<p class="pnext">As the grey light extended from the mountain-tops to the valleys, +Fernando led them to a kind of ancient fort, constructed of great stone +boulders and surrounded by a deep ditch. In the parapet of this fort +there were loopholes through which to fire, and in the centre, well +screened from observation, was a small hut made of the branches of +trees. The redoubt stood on a sharp pinnacle of rock commanding a wide +stretch of country on every hand. It had doubtless been constructed +centuries before, when there was a more advanced stage of civilization +in the heart of Africa. Indeed, it is from this bygone civilization +that the Maziris themselves trace their origin.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the daylight increased they were able to take in their surroundings. +Many miles up the valley, it was just possible to see a little village, +which, Fernando assured them, was in Maziriland itself. Some distance +to the west was a great forest which extended as far as the eye could +reach.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked around him in amazement.</p> +<p class="pnext">"But this place is almost impregnable," he cried. "Four resolute men +could hold it against hundreds."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is there water here?" asked Braid, turning to the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">The man pointed to a small spring which bubbled up to the surface near +the door of the hut.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I will tell you the story of this place," said he. "Years ago a party +of six Maziris sought refuge in this fort, which was built in the olden +times, when the Ancients crossed the deserts from the east. For eight +months those six men held the army of one of the Cameroon kings at bay. +They had laid in a great store of food. They made the defence even +stronger. Time and again they beat back the attack."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And in the end?" asked Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"In the end four of their number were killed, but the other two +escaped."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Escaped! How did they escape?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You will not believe me, but it is true. They escaped +underground—like moles."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Underground!" cried the two boys, echoing the man's words in their +astonishment.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said the guide. "All those months they had been digging a +tunnel. The hill is composed of a very soft kind of rock; and they had +brought spades and picks from Maziriland. Day and night they worked, +until at last the tunnel became a mile in length, extending from the +inside of the fort into the very heart of the forest."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is the entrance?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is here."</p> +<p class="pnext">The man led the way to the hut. The floor was covered with rushes, and +these he gathered together in his arms and piled in a great heap before +the doorway. Underneath was a circular piece of wood, like that which +is often found on the top of a well. Lifting this, Fernando pointed to +a flight of steps that led down into impenetrable darkness.</p> +<p class="pnext">"They went this way?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Two escaped by way of the tunnel, whilst a third, who was already +dying, covered up the entrance with rushes. When their foes got in +they found only four men—dead. And they believed that they had been +held at bay during all those months by four men instead of six."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Does your brother know of this place?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes; and if he is alive he will guess where we have gone. He will +come to us by way of the tunnel. If he is dead——" And Fernando +shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p class="pnext">During that day and the next they saw nothing of the Germans; but +Fernando protested that it would not be safe to push on towards +Maziriland, since the enemy was certainly in the district. Also they +still hoped that Cortes would return.</p> +<p class="pnext">During these days they were not idle. Jim Braid was left behind in +charge of Peter Klein, who could not be trusted to hold his own in case +of sudden attack, whilst Harry and Fernando departed into the forest by +way of the tunnel.</p> +<p class="pnext">The long journey through the subterranean passage was one of the most +unpleasant experiences that Harry Urquhart ever had in his life. Not +only was the place pitch dark, but water had filtered through the walls +and lay here and there in pools upon the floor. These pools had grown +stagnant, and the air was humid, tainted with the foulest smells.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last, they came forth into the forest. There, for two days and one +night, they collected a great store of provisions. They dared not fire +their rifles, but there was no necessity to shoot. The forest abounded +in ground-nuts and various kinds of fruit. Also, Fernando knew where +the natives set their traps, and the two devoted their time to robbing +these, until finally they had sufficient supplies to last for several +days—rabbits, small hog-deer, and many kinds of birds.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were obliged to make three journeys to the fort with all the +provisions they had obtained, since it was not possible to carry a +heavy load through the narrow, stifling tunnel.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the third day they set to work cutting up the meat and drying it in +the sun. Sun-dried meat is uncommonly tough, but it has this +advantage—it will keep for many months.</p> +<p class="pnext">That evening they heard a shot far away in the distance. It was +followed by another, and yet a third, and towards midnight the whole +valley was alive with musketry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it?" asked Harry of the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">The man shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I cannot say," said he. "Either my brother is pursued by the Germans, +or a fight is taking place between them and the Black Dog—in which +case I may be robbed of my revenge."</p> +<p class="pnext">They divided the night into three watches. Peter Klein, they knew, +they could not trust in any responsible position requiring strong +nerves and presence of mind. They set the man to the most menial +tasks—chopping wood, cooking, and repairing the ancient defences.</p> +<p class="pnext">All night the firing in the valley continued; by daybreak it was near +at hand. They could see the figures of the Germans racing across the +valley, advancing in extended order or else in small groups which at +that distance resembled families of mice.</p> +<p class="pnext">That afternoon a small reconnoitring-party of the enemy ascended the +hill upon which stood the fort. The defenders lay in hiding behind the +parapet, determined not to show themselves, not to disclose their +hiding-place, unless it was certain that the Germans intended to occupy +the hill-top.</p> +<p class="pnext">They waited till the eleventh hour. The enemy was not twenty paces +from the ditch when Fernando rose to his feet, and cried out in the +German language, ordering them to halt on peril of their lives.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the same time, he raised his rifle to his shoulder and sent a bullet +over their heads. As one man they turned and fled, racing towards the +forest, and were lost to sight.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was from that moment that the siege commenced. Their place of +refuge became a citadel encompassed on every hand by a hostile force. +The Germans gathered round them in companies, and day and night strove +to induce the garrison to surrender. It was trench warfare in the +heart of the African wild.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xx-honour-among-thieves"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id21">CHAPTER XX—Honour among Thieves</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The Germans soon found that it was impracticable to attempt to capture +the fort by a direct frontal attack in daylight. The slope of the hill +was so steep that it was possible to ascend only by way of a path which +was covered by the rifles of the defenders. Apparently they had no +artillery at their disposal.</p> +<p class="pnext">At first they charged up this path after the manner in which they were +wont to hurl themselves upon the lines of trenches in Poland and in +Flanders. They were swept down like chaff. Owing to the narrowness of +the way they were obliged to advance upon the fort in single file, and +as each man appeared before the loopholes he paid the price of his +daring.</p> +<p class="pnext">After the first assault they resorted to tactics more likely to +succeed. They attacked twice by night. But, fortunately for the +defence, the nights were fine and starry, a full moon was up, and it +was possible to see the enemy long before he reached the walls of the +fort.</p> +<p class="pnext">For all that, the greatest vigilance was necessary both by day and +night, to avoid being taken by surprise. One or other of the defenders +was always on guard. Even Peter Klein was of some use. Though he +could not be relied upon to act with courage or promptitude, his +eyesight was good enough, and he took his turn at sentry by day. +Moreover, he was in such abject terror of falling into the hands of his +own people that Harry suspected that the German authorities at Dualla +had learnt something of the Sunstone and von Hardenberg's private +mission to the Cameroons.</p> +<p class="pnext">By night, when the fort might be rushed, they thought it best not to +leave their destiny in the hands of one who had failed them so +constantly. The only occasion on which Klein had covered himself with +credit was at a moment when fear had so possessed him that he lost all +sense of danger and became for the time being a raving madman.</p> +<p class="pnext">It would be wearisome to describe the details of the siege as it +continued day by day. There is no question that the defenders would +have held their own for many weeks had it not been that gradually a +calamity was drawing down upon them. They were running short of +ammunition. Their bandoliers were nearly empty.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Germans kept up a constant fire upon the fort, and the garrison, in +self-defence, was obliged to answer back. They calculated that, with +the greatest economy, they had cartridges sufficient to last them only +four days more. It was then that Klein, Harry, and the guide entered +the hut and held consultation together. Jim Braid was on sentry, +stationed on the parapet. The sun was setting in the west.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was Fernando who was the first to speak.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The situation is very plain," said he. "We can hold out until our +ammunition is exhausted, and then retire by way of the tunnel, still +hoping to reach the caves in advance of von Hardenberg, or we may +retire to-night.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Which do you advise?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I suggest," said the guide, "that we go at once. We shall need +ammunition on our return journey to the coast. We have many miles to +traverse. Every moment we delay means a further expenditure of +ammunition. We have not a cartridge to spare."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then," said Harry, "it is settled: we leave the fort this evening."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that there came a loud and sudden burst of firing from down +the valley, from the direction of the forest. All three sprang to +their feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid, from the parapet, called loudly, and they hastened to his side.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look there!" he cried.</p> +<p class="pnext">Turning their eyes in the direction indicated, they beheld a man +running as if for life towards the forest. In pursuit, some distance +in his rear, came a large party of Germans, shouting so loudly that +their voices were audible even at that great distance, and firing their +rifles as they ran.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who is it?" cried Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I cannot say," said the guide. "He is too far away."</p> +<p class="pnext">The firing continued until long after nightfall. It rolled through the +forest like a wave. It was not until ten o'clock that the night was +still.</p> +<p class="pnext">The four defenders gathered at the door of the hut.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You think it wiser to go?" said Harry</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando bowed his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come, then! Let each man load himself with such provisions as he can +carry. We should start at once. It is necessary for us to be far away +before morning."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart turned and was about to enter the hut, when he was +brought to an abrupt standstill. He stood motionless and gaping, +unable at first to believe the evidence of his own eyes. For there, in +the doorway, within the enclosure of the fort, stood the figure of a +man—a man who was dressed in robes of flowing white.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Black Dog!" let out the guide, and brought his rifle to his +shoulder.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Peace," said the sheikh, lifting a hand. "Think before you fire."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando's rifle was directed straight at the man's heart. The Arab +never flinched. He stood like a statue, speaking in the slow, +deliberate tones of one who is in full possession of his senses.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If you fire," said he, "you slay one who has come to place his +services at your disposal. You are surrounded by a legion of foes. +Every rifle counts. I bring you aid."</p> +<p class="pnext">Slowly Fernando lowered his rifle; then he laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We do not want your aid," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There," answered Bayram, "you are wrong."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How so?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here you are imprisoned. You must fight to the end. There can be no +question of surrender."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We do not think of surrender," said the other. "We mean to escape by +the way you came. We mean to escape to-night."</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That will not be so easy," he made answer. "The Germans are receiving +reinforcements; another column is advancing from the south. The bush +swarms with their reconnoitring-parties and patrols. Moreover, guns +are approaching up the valley, and may be here at any moment. I speak +the truth. Remember, at some risk I have come here of my own accord."</p> +<p class="pnext">He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words with care; but his English +accent was singularly good.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have not yet told us," said Harry Urquhart, "why you have come."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You are short of ammunition," answered the sheikh.</p> +<p class="pnext">"How do you know that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"For five days I have listened to every shot."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have not yet explained," said Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog smiled, his white teeth showing in the midst of the +blackness of his beard.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I come with a proposal," said he, "under a flag of truce."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have nothing to fear," cut in Fernando. "You speak of a truce. +We are men of honour."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Very well, then," said the sheikh, "my proposal—or rather the +proposal of him who sent me—is that your party and mine agree to come +to terms. You have run out of ammunition; we can supply you. Boxes of +ammunition can be conveyed without difficulty through the tunnel. +Moreover, in order to cover your retreat, I swear by Allah that I will +lead the Germans on a false scent across the mountains to the east."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And in exchange for these services?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog paused, looking hard at Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">"In exchange for these services," he repeated, "you are to desist from +the pursuit, to allow my employer and myself to pass unmolested in +Maziriland."</p> +<p class="pnext">At this base suggestion, a feeling of such powerful indignation arose +in Harry Urquhart that for some moments he could not find his voice. +When he spoke at last, his voice trembled with passion.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You can go back to Captain von Hardenberg," said he, "and you can tell +him from me that he has often enough proved himself a rascal, but that +I never thought that he would sink to such perfidy as to offer us +ammunition to be used against his own countrymen in exchange for his +own safety. As for you, it is only because you came here of your own +free will that you are allowed to go away in safety. You took us +evidently both for cowards and fools. You know now, perhaps, that we +are neither one nor the other. But there is a limit to our patience, +and I advise you to leave by the way you came as quickly as you can."</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog drew himself up to his full height, folded his arms, and +fixed upon Harry Urquhart his cruel bloodshot eyes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"These are high words," said he, "to one who has been the master of a +thousand slaves. You have asked for war to the knife, and you shall +have it. It is apparent from the way in which you speak that you know +little or nothing of the man with whom you have to deal. You shall +see. I shall prove to you that I am not one who uses empty words."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he turned sharply on his heel, entered the hut, and was gone.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxi-the-last-cartridge"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id22">CHAPTER XXI—The Last Cartridge</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">During the next four days the siege continued, and though their enemies +continued to increase in numbers, the Germans were fortunately still +without artillery, which would have battered the old fort to dust and +ashes in the space of half an hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">On each occasion when the Germans ventured to assault they were driven +back with considerable loss. Indeed, their dead lay so thick upon the +path upon the hill-side that those who followed after mounted on the +bodies of those who had gone before.</p> +<p class="pnext">On one occasion a company of native troops actually gained the parapet +of the fort. It was a dark night, and they had crept up the hill-side +unobserved. With a savage yell, and as one man, they hurled themselves +upon the ramparts.</p> +<p class="pnext">The majority were thrown back in disorder under a brisk fire from the +defence, but some half-dozen leapt the ditch and clambered over the +wall. Thereupon a brief hand-to-hand encounter ensued. It was an +affair of seconds, of fierce cries and groans and savage oaths, and in +the end the enclosure of the fort was free of the enemy—except for six +motionless forms that lay silent on the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">Days passed, and still the defence held out. Indeed, they had actually +put off their retreat until too late, for one night they were brought +face to face with the unexpected fact that the Germans had discovered +the entrance to the tunnel. Fernando, who had passed almost to the +mouth of the tunnel, which lay in the midst of the bush, returned to +the fort with the news that a large party of German regular soldiers +was guarding their only line of retreat. Fernando had little doubt +that the Black Dog had found some means by which to betray them.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Germans apparently hesitated to advance through the tunnel itself, +since they were still in ignorance of the strength of the little +garrison; and in any case the narrowness and exceeding darkness of the +passage would make an advance an extremely costly affair, whereas +ultimate success was by no means assured. They could no longer be +blind to the fact that those in the fort were running short of +ammunition, and they could afford to play a waiting game.</p> +<p class="pnext">The situation of Harry Urquhart and his companions was not of the +pleasantest; indeed, they could no longer hope. Even Fernando, who had +so often proved himself a man of iron, could see no chance of their +deliverance.</p> +<p class="pnext">As a great storm drives up upon the wind, so this tragedy drew to a +close. Every round of ammunition—fired in self-defence—every +mouthful of food that was eaten, brought it a step nearer the end. +They were surrounded on every hand. Great numbers of the enemy had +come from the south; both German and native troops were in the district +in battalions, with transport and ammunition columns and machine-guns.</p> +<p class="pnext">By then it was manifest that the Germans could capture the fort +whenever they wished, provided they made the necessary sacrifice in +lives—a thing which, as a rule, it is not their custom to hesitate to +do. They had not yet, however, deployed their whole strength against +the garrison—a fact that Harry was not able to explain.</p> +<p class="pnext">The blow, which they had anticipated for days, fell upon a certain +morning, soon after daybreak, when the Germans, their whole force in +the valley, advanced in close formation upon the fort.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the same time a battery of artillery opened fire from the +neighbouring hills, and the immediate vicinity of the fort became a +pandemonium of dust and smoke and flying stones and masonry, whereas +the defenders were well-nigh deafened by the bursting of high-explosive +shells.</p> +<p class="pnext">In spite of this hurricane of lead and steel, time and again shots +sounded from the fort; but the great wave came on, overwhelming and +irresistible. One behind the other the ranks mounted the path. The +defenders kept up a withering fire, until the barrels of their rifles +were so hot they could not touch them. And still the enemy advanced.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the Germans gathered themselves together for a final charge, Harry, +Jim Braid, and the half-caste rushed together from the parapet to the +only box of ammunition that remained. The box lay open near the door +of the hut. Fernando was the first to reach it.</p> +<p class="pnext">He pulled up sharply, standing motionless and erect. Then he knelt +down and took out from the box the only cartridge that was there.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This is all that is left," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No more?" cried Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We have come to the end," said the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid turned and addressed his companions.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Has no one any ammunition?" he asked, and in his voice was a note of +dire distress.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both shook their heads. Peter Klein was cowering in the hut.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This is all that remains," said Fernando. "It shall be put to +excellent use."</p> +<p class="pnext">So saying he slipped it into the chamber of his rifle and closed the +breech with a snap.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both Jim and Harry turned away their faces. In a few minutes they knew +that they must be prisoners in the enemy's camp. Harry allowed his +eyes to travel over the parapet of the fort. He saw the German +officers reorganizing their scattered ranks in preparation for a final +charge.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then, from a hill-top towards the south, there came a sound that +was like the bursting of a thunder-cloud. Something shrieked and +hooted in the air, and a great shell from a heavy gun burst in a flash +of flame in the midst of the German troops.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxii-the-conquest-of-a-colony"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id23">CHAPTER XXII—The Conquest of a Colony</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Slowly the guide lowered his rifle. All eyes turned to the south, from +which direction had come the shell. For a moment, in the valley, in +the enclosure of the fort, there reigned a death-like silence—the +silence of suspense. The bombardment of the fort ceased as at a stroke.</p> +<p class="pnext">The calm voice of Fernando broke upon the stillness.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The British!" said he. "The soldiers from the Coast!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Hardly were the words from his lips than a great salvo of cannon +thundered in the valley, and went echoing far above the tree-tops of +the forests, over the ridges of the mountains, towards Maziriland.</p> +<p class="pnext">And once again, though the little fort was left in peace, the air was +alive with shells, which flew upon their way, shrieking and hooting as +if in savage glee. Shrapnel burst high overhead, with white puffs of +smoke, the bullets falling like hail into the ranks of the astonished +Germans. Segment-shells struck the rocks, breaking into fragments that +flew far and wide, inflicting the most terrible of wounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">The German troops, in good order, shepherded by their officers, retired +down the hill, to face this new and far more formidable danger. They +assembled on a long spur that jutted into the valley, which they deemed +the most suitable position whence to oppose the advance of the British.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Is this true?" cried Harry. "Is it, indeed, the English?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look!" cried Jim, pointing over the parapet.</p> +<p class="pnext">A long line of glittering bayonets appeared upon the sky-line, +advancing like a running wave upon a low-lying, sandy beach. They came +forward without checking, each man keeping his distance from his +neighbour, as though they did no more than execute some simple +movements on parade. They were in far more extended order than the +Germans.</p> +<p class="pnext">Even as the khaki lines advanced, the Mauser rifles spoke from the +hills, and the white dust caused by the bullets flew at their feet. +They answered back in volleys, each one of which sounded like the "rip" +of tearing paper. The sunshine glittered on the steel of their +bayonets, their polished buttons, and the badges on their coats.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their manoeuvres were like clockwork. When one party advanced, another +fired; and thus the long lines of infantry were ever firing, ever +advancing upon the enemy's position.</p> +<p class="pnext">A battle fought under such conditions—which are rare enough in these +days when the spade has become an even more important weapon than the +rifle—is one of the most magnificent and impressive sights it is +possible to see. One catches only glimpses, now and again, of +fleeting, crouching figures, running from rock to rock, from cover to +cover, appearing and disappearing like gnats in the light of the sun. +And all the time a great roar of musketry rises to the heavens—a kind +of interminable "crackling" sound, like that of green wood upon a fire, +only a thousand times greater in volume and more continuous.</p> +<p class="pnext">Above this the guns toll ceaselessly, shaking, as it seems, the very +ground itself with a series of sullen "thuds", filling the atmosphere +with great vibrations, drum-like echoes, and rolling clouds of smoke.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid and Harry Urquhart stood side by side upon the parapet of the +ancient, crumbling fort. As the gods of Olympus reviewed the struggles +of the Greeks and the Trojans, so those two looked down upon the wide +amphitheatre where the conflict was taking place, where men were +marching shoulder to shoulder into the very jaws of death.</p> +<p class="pnext">They could see both sides at once. They could see the Germans on the +ridge, firing rapidly into the advancing British troops; they could see +the British coming on and on, regardless of danger, heeding only the +words of command shouted from line to line.</p> +<p class="pnext">Far in rear, upon a hill-top, a heliograph blinked and flickered in the +sun. There was the officer in command. Thence, by means of his +signallers, he controlled the army at his feet, disposing his +battalions as a player moves his chessmen on a board.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys stood transfixed in bewilderment and admiration.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Oh," cried Jim, "what wouldn't I give to be there!"</p> +<p class="pnext">His heart was with his own countrymen, the thin, khaki lines that were +driving straight forward with the tenacity of a pack of hounds that +hold the fox in view.</p> +<p class="pnext">From either side gun after gun spoke in quick succession, until it was +as if the world was only thunder and flashes of fire and clouds of +yellow smoke. As often as each gun was fired it was loaded and fired +again. The noise of the batteries was as persistent as the barking of +a chained, infuriated dog.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then from everywhere, from out of the grass, from behind the rocks, +from little undulations in the ground, arose thousands of small khaki +figures.</p> +<p class="pnext">Their ranks were undisturbed; they were even as the staves upon a sheet +of music. Line after line extended from one side of the valley to the +other, and, in the rear of all, the helio still blinked and glittered, +there where the brains of the machine were working the destruction of +prophets of "Frightfulness", champions of World Dominion.</p> +<p class="pnext">A bugle sounded in the air, its thin, piercing notes carrying far. +Each of the boys experienced a thrill of pride and exultation, a +sensation of sublime excitement, as the British lines answered the +bugle with a charge.</p> +<p class="pnext">Line after line, amid the thunder of the guns, swept up the ridge +towards the enemy, the bayonets flashing, the bugle speaking again and +again.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then came a cheer that rent the air—a British cheer—howbeit from +the throats of gallant Haussas—that drowned the musketry, that rose +superior even to the constant growling of the guns.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before that mad, headlong onslaught the enemy gave way. The Germans +were swamped, as a tide carries away a castle on the sands. As one +man, they broke and fled, panic-stricken and defeated.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxiii-attacked"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id24">CHAPTER XXIII—Attacked</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">As soon as they had collected their belongings and stores, they set +about to leave the fort, passing through the tunnel in single file, the +guide leading the way and Harry Urquhart bringing up the rear.</p> +<p class="pnext">By the time they entered the forest the afternoon was well advanced, +the sun sinking in the heavens. They hoped to reach the British camp +that night, but there was no question that darkness would overtake them +long before they could do so.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was little or nothing to fear. The soldiers had driven the +Germans from the district. To all intents and purposes the German +Cameroons was conquered, and the remnants of the enemy were returning +in hot haste towards the Spanish territory to the east.</p> +<p class="pnext">When Harry Urquhart and his three companions came forth from the +entrance to the tunnel they found a heap of hot, charred wood upon the +ground. There was no doubt that recently a fire had been burning, and +that the picket that guarded the tunnel had retreated only at the +eleventh hour.</p> +<p class="pnext">During the earlier part of the night they traversed the valley, +marching in a bee-line towards the bivouac fires of the British camp. +They moved forward in the following order—Fernando went first, some +distance behind him came Jim Braid and Peter Klein, and a greater +distance in the rear was Harry Urquhart.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry had been walking for some time with his eyes fixed upon the +ground. He was wondering what the end of all this strange business was +to be.</p> +<p class="pnext">He knew that von Hardenberg had stolen the Sunstone, that he carried it +upon his person. It was Harry's ambition, the very lodestone of his +life, to recover the Sunstone for his uncle. It was von Hardenberg's +object to reach the Caves of Zoroaster, and possess himself of the +treasure. This was the man's only aim, for which he had proved that he +was prepared to sacrifice his country and his honour.</p> +<p class="pnext">As he walked, Harry was thinking of these things, when, on a sudden, +there came a flash of fire, not ten paces to the right. He pulled up +with a jerk, and heard a bullet sing past his head like some evil +spirit in the darkness. Then there came a stinging sensation in the +lobe of an ear, and a moment later he felt the warm blood flowing down +his neck.</p> +<p class="pnext">He saw a figure flying in the night, and with a loud cry took up the +pursuit. A few seconds later he had flung himself upon a man who +struggled in his grasp. On the instant each seized the other by the +throat, and in the moonlight Harry recognized that he had come to +death-grips with his cousin, Captain von Hardenberg himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">No sooner was he aware who his opponent was than he saw at once that +here was a chance to capture the Sunstone, and for that end he +struggled with the desperation that means more than strength.</p> +<p class="pnext">Placing one leg behind his adversary, and pressing with all his force +upon his chest, he endeavoured to throw von Hardenberg backward. And +even as he wrestled he felt the Sunstone, sewn in the lining of the +Prussian's coat.</p> +<p class="pnext">Gradually von Hardenberg was forced backward, and then at last he fell, +coming heavily to the ground. In his fall he struck his head against a +rock, and after that he lay quite motionless and silent.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry could hear the footsteps of approaching men. On one hand Jim +Braid and Fernando hastened to the boy's assistance; on the other, the +Black Dog came forward with rapidity.</p> +<p class="pnext">As quick as thought Harry pulled out his pocketknife. He had but to +rip open von Hardenberg's coat and the Sunstone was his, their journey +was at an end.</p> +<p class="pnext">A sharp cut with the knife, a hand that trembled with excitement thrust +through the opening, and Harry's fingers closed upon the precious relic +he had come so many miles to gain.</p> +<p class="pnext">And, at that moment, a violent blow descended upon his head and +stretched him senseless on the ground. The Arab sheikh had come to the +assistance of his employer in the nick of time. His quick eyes had +taken in the situation at a glance. He had seen the Sunstone in the +hands of Harry Urquhart, and, lifting his rifle by the barrel, he had +brought down the butt upon the boy's head.</p> +<p class="pnext">For him to snatch up the Sunstone was the work of an instant. And a +moment afterwards the Black Dog was flying in the night, carrying in +his arms the unconscious body of von Hardenberg.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxiv-the-caves"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id25">CHAPTER XXIV—The Caves</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Fernando, bringing his rifle to his shoulder, fired a shot at random in +the darkness. It was the last round they had. A laugh came back from +the distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without a word the guide put down his rifle on the ground and examined +the wounded boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is stunned," said he. "He will recover presently."</p> +<p class="pnext">So saying he lifted Harry in his arms and carried him a distance of +about a hundred yards to a place where there was a small stream in the +valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">There he bathed the boy's face and hands, washing the blood from the +wound in his ear. Presently Harry recovered consciousness, sat up, and +looked about him.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where am I?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">It took but a word to remind him of what had happened, and then he +remembered that he had held the Sunstone in his grasp. He looked up at +Jim and smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I was so near to capturing it," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We'll get it yet, sir," answered Jim. "Just now I had the shock of my +life. I thought you had been killed."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I'm all right," answered Harry. "I feel dizzy; that's all."</p> +<p class="pnext">In a little time he was able to continue on his way. The bullet wound +in his ear was nothing; it was scarcely painful.</p> +<p class="pnext">That night they camped in the mountains, intending to march at daybreak +towards the British camp. When the sun rose, however, they found to +their surprise that the whole column was already on the line of march, +moving towards the east in pursuit of the retreating enemy.</p> +<p class="pnext">When they reached the scene of the bivouac the camp-fires were still +burning, but no sign of life remained.</p> +<p class="pnext">The British column had vanished into the bush; and only a few +hospital-wagons were to be seen trundling slowly southward.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the centre of the deserted bivouac stood a tall solitary tree, and +it was under this that they rested throughout the heat of the day. +Fernando, who had been dozing, rose to his feet, stretched and yawned. +As he did so he caught sight of a star-shaped cut in the bark of the +tree, and on the instant it was as if the man had become transfigured.</p> +<p class="pnext">His eyes lit up, his lips smiled. Amazement, delight, and infinite +pleasure were stamped on every feature of his face.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is it?" asked Harry, at a loss to explain the man's behaviour.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Heaven be praised!" he cried. "My brother is still alive!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Alive!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes. Cortes blazed that tree, and the blaze is not one day old. Last +night he was here—in the midst of the British camp."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Are you sure of it?" asked Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know," Fernando answered with conviction. "In the days when we +hunted together we sometimes lost one another in the bush, and on such +occasions we blazed the trees along the tracks of bush elephants in +just such a manner as this."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart looked about him.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is no sign of Cortes here," he said. "He cannot have left with +the British?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said Fernando. "He is hiding somewhere. Let me think, where +would he go. Both he and I know this district well."</p> +<p class="pnext">The man paused a moment, standing perfectly still. Then, on a sudden, +with an exclamation, he set off running towards the hills.</p> +<p class="pnext">He did not return until long after nightfall; and then it was with the +joyful news that he had found his brother, sound asleep—beside three +boxes of German ammunition.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without delay, guided by Fernando, the whole party set off in haste. +They found Cortes, sleeping heavily, in a little dried-up watercourse +well screened by trees. It was characteristic of Fernando that he had +not awakened his brother.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry bent down and touched the sleeper on the shoulder. The man sat +up, rubbed his eyes, and then looked about him. The light of the moon +fell full upon his face.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry grasped his hand and shook it warmly.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You escaped?" he cried.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said Cortes. "When we charged through the Germans, my foot +struck against a boulder and I fell upon my face. I think the fall did +some injury to my wound—the wound I had received from the Black Dog; +for, when I tried to run, I found myself unable to do so.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You were then some distance ahead of me," he continued. "I feared I +would be overtaken. For a moment I knew not what to do. Then I came +to a place where there was a great hole in the ground covered with +bushes, and there I hid, allowing the Germans to pass.</p> +<p class="pnext">"When they had gone, I got to my feet and tried to think matters out. +I knew where my brother would take you; I knew he would go to the old +fort. I might have rejoined you by way of the tunnel. I thought of +doing so, but in the end I decided to go in search of ammunition, of +which I thought you might possibly run short. British Government +ammunition would be no good, as—with the exception of one Express—we +have all got Mauser rifles. So three times I crept by night into the +German camp, and each time returned with a box of ammunition. I +secured also a haversack of revolver ammunition. Their sentries are +sleepy dogs."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You did splendidly!" cried Harry. "We are absolutely without a round."</p> +<p class="pnext">"I knew you were in the fort," Cortes went on, "and I guessed you would +go to the British camp. It was there that I blazed the tree whilst the +troops were marching away. I returned to the hills, because I was +tired and wished to sleep. If my brother found the blaze I knew he +would follow me here."</p> +<p class="pnext">The man smiled. He had every reason to be proud.</p> +<p class="pnext">After a while the younger guide spoke again.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Black Dog still lives?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando bowed his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">The following morning they began the final stage of their march towards +the frontier of Maziriland. The route led them along the crest-line of +the hills, and thence across a valley thick with undergrowth and +jungle, where the heat was tropical and humid. They were glad to reach +high ground once again, and set forward across the plateau beyond which +the Maziri mountains stood up like a line of thrones.</p> +<p class="pnext">These same mountains had been plainly visible from the old fort they +had held so gallantly against the Germans, and had even appeared quite +near at hand. But in these high altitudes the atmosphere was +exceedingly clear, and, besides, the mountains were of great height, +dominating the surrounding country far into the interior of the +Cameroons.</p> +<p class="pnext">It took them in all six more days to reach the frontier, when once +again they found themselves in the midst of hidden dangers.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had no idea of what manner of reception they would receive from +the Maziris themselves; indeed, concerning this strange race very +little is known, either to anthropologists or explorers.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is generally supposed that the Maziris are a race that emigrated +from north-eastern Africa very early in the known history of the world. +Their features are aquiline, their lips thin, and the colour of their +skin no more than brown. Not only are they certainly not a Negroid +race, but they do not appear to have intermarried with the neighbouring +Negro tribes in the Cameroons. It is possible they are direct +descendants of the ancient Egyptians, though it must remain a mystery +how they brought to the wilds of Western Africa the religion and +traditional customs of the followers of Zoroaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as they had crossed the frontier, Cortes and Fernando guided +the party towards the west, in which direction were the caves. This +also was the most deserted part of the country, nearly all the Maziri +villages being towards the east, where the country was more fertile and +suitable for pasture.</p> +<p class="pnext">There is to be found in a certain part of Africa—far from the sites of +the famous cities of the Pharaohs—indisputable evidence of an +extremely ancient civilization. Even so far south as Mashonaland, are +ruins of towns which could only have been originally constructed by +highly civilized peoples. Ancient Egyptian history, the writings of +the Greek historian Herodotus, as well as the Old Testament itself, +place it beyond all doubt that the Egyptians, the Persians and +Phoenicians spread their learning and their influence far into the +interior of what, until only a few years ago, was the Dark +Continent—unexplored, unmapped and quite unknown. It can only be +supposed that Maziriland was a relic of the early civilization of the +East, in much the same way as the inhabitants of northern Spain are +distantly related to the Irish.</p> +<p class="pnext">Before we enter this strange, mysterious country, it must be placed on +record that there befell a certain tragedy. In a word, Peter Klein, +having contracted a fever in the jungle, and, being much weakened in +constitution by the nerve-strain and the hardships he had undergone, +fell into a rapid decline—and died, as he had lived, pleading to be +spared.</p> +<p class="pnext">His companions buried him one evening among the rock-strewn, lonely +mountains, and he goes out of this story as he came into it—a poor, +mean object, a man of no account.</p> +<p class="pnext">As for our four adventurers, daylight the next morning found them once +more upon the hill-tops, shrouded in the mists. For fear of the +Maziris the guides led the party by a roundabout way, giving the +valleys, and even the lower mountain slopes, a wide berth; for there +they were more likely to fall in with parties of the inhabitants.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the next day, from the far south, there came a noise like thunder +that continued until the afternoon. Hour by hour the British guns +spoke in the distance. The Germans were being hounded from the +Cameroons.</p> +<p class="pnext">Day by day, as they continued their journey, the firing was repeated, +growing fainter and more distant as they advanced. On the fifth day +after Klein's death, they turned towards the north-west, and that +evening crossed a valley. Beyond was a grass-covered plateau where +wild asses grazed. The plateau dropped suddenly in a sheer wall of +cliff, and they were obliged to walk many miles to find a place where +they could descend.</p> +<p class="pnext">At length they reached a mountain-top. Immediately opposite was +another mountain, up which there was a path leading to a flight of +steps. The steps ended suddenly in a black, yawning hole in the +mountain-side. So far as the inhabitants were concerned the country +appeared absolutely deserted. It was a barren inhospitable waste.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have we much farther to go?" asked Harry, turning to the elder guide. +"Tell me, in which direction are the caves?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yonder," said Fernando, pointing to the black hole in the mountain +slope. "Yonder are the Caves of Zoroaster. There lies the treasure +which the Black Dog and von Hardenberg have come all these thousands of +miles to gain."</p> +<p class="pnext">In single file, Cortes leading the way, they descended towards the +valley.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxv-the-lock"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id26">CHAPTER XXV—The Lock</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The Caves of Zoroaster are one of the most remarkable examples of the +industry of the Ancients that are known to exist. As we have said, in +various parts of the world, especially in the continent of Asia, there +are many standing proofs of an advanced stage of civilization many +centuries before the Christian era.</p> +<p class="pnext">There are the catacombs in Upper Egypt—a labyrinth of subterranean +passages extending for miles; there are the Pyramids, the Great Wall of +China, the hanging gardens of Babylon—all of which are colossal and +eternal monuments of the labour, energy and genius of the past.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Caves of Zoroaster are perhaps as marvellous as any of these. +Indeed, it is much to be wondered at that they were not included in the +seven wonders of the ancient world. Time has not served to deface +their majestic beauty, to detract from the solemn magnificence of these +great vaults fashioned by human labour out of the living and +everlasting rock.</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon after our travellers had caught their first glimpse of the +entrance to the caves, they decided to camp on the lower slopes of the +mountain, for it was already growing dark. It would take them several +hours to cross the valley, and they could not hope to accomplish the +journey in the darkness. They accordingly retired to a place where +there was a great hollow among the rocks, and here they deemed it safe +to light a fire and cook their evening meal.</p> +<p class="pnext">The following morning Harry awoke at daybreak. He was anxious to push +on without loss of time. There was no knowing where von Hardenberg and +the sheikh were. Perhaps they had already gained the caves.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as they had breakfasted, Harry and his party continued on their +way. The two boys, led by the guides, crossed the valley and then +ascended the mountain opposite by way of a bridle-path, worn smooth by +the feet of pilgrims. Throughout the ages, devout men had journeyed to +the caves from the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia—by way of the +caravan routes that extend in all directions across these arid wastes.</p> +<p class="pnext">The path grew steeper as they approached the entrance to the caves, and +presently they found themselves at the foot of a flight of steps. A +heavy mist still wrapped the mountain in a kind of shroud. The steps +ascended, one above the other, into the very heart of the mist which +completely obscured the entrance.</p> +<p class="pnext">These steps were like "Jacob's Ladder", mounting, as it seemed, to the +very zenith of the heavens; and on either side of them, as far as Harry +could see, were ranged strange statues—of lions with eagles' wings, of +men with the heads of foxes, and great dragons that lay crouching like +watch-dogs, guarding the treasure that lay beyond. All were graven in +the same rough mountain stone.</p> +<p class="pnext">For centuries the lightning had played upon the rocks about them, the +hail and the rain had lashed these mute, immobile sentinels, so that in +many cases they were broken and corroded like the gargoyles on a Norman +church.</p> +<p class="pnext">To mount that flight of nearly a thousand steps in the mists of +morning, between these weird and hideous images, was an experience that +bordered on the uncanny. On every hand a mighty stillness reigned in +the heart of the mountains.</p> +<p class="pnext">Indeed, it was as if this wild, forgotten country was some colossal +graveyard of the past, where the wisdom of the Medes and Persians lay +buried to the end of time, where the rugged mountain-tops stood forth +like tombstones, piercing the very clouds.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last they came to the entrance. The steps widened and they stood +upon a great stone terrace, level as a table-top, on the farther side +of which arose the side of the mountain, formidably smooth and +perpendicular, the moisture on its surface glistening in the sunlight +that struggled through the mist. It was like a wall of polished steel.</p> +<p class="pnext">The entrance to the caves was wide enough to allow four men to pass +abreast, and about ten feet in height. Black as Erebus it yawned in +the savage cliff. On either side, carved in stone, protruding from the +rock, were the figures of two enormous giants, armless, with great +beards that extended to their waists, and those huge conical helmets on +their heads which one has learnt to associate with the Persians, the +Assyrians, and the Medes.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando walked to the threshold of the entrance and then turned sharp +to Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am a Spaniard," said he, "and the Spanish are a superstitious +race—at least, that is how you would express it. Some speak of +superstition, others of prescience—or foreknowledge of coming events. +Call it what you like, I have the sense of a calamity impending. I am +quite sure of that."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How do you mean?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is like this," Fernando went on; "we have come to a tragedy. The +curtain is about to be raised."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do you fear to enter the caves?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No. But I will not go first. Lead, if you like, I am quite prepared +to follow."</p> +<p class="pnext">This was a new trait in the character of the half-caste. He had never +shown fear or hesitation before.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry turned to Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said he, and led the way beneath the darkened archway. Cortes +and Fernando followed at their heels.</p> +<p class="pnext">But Harry Urquhart had not taken ten paces forward when he stood +transfixed in wonderment at the solemn magnificence and beauty of the +Caves of Zoroaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">The place was like a great cathedral. It was divided into three aisles +by two lines of pillars. These pillars were extraordinarily massive. +They had not been built up from the floor to the ceiling, but were part +of the living rock, joining the roof to the floor. In other words, the +aisles had been hollowed out by human labour, and the rounded pillars +left at regular intervals to support the immense weight above.</p> +<p class="pnext">The cave was lighted from above by several shafts that pierced the +mountain, and which threw convergent beams of light across the shadows. +Giving upon each of the side aisles were three doors constructed of +wood, but barred with iron and studded with scores of nails. Above +these doors, around three sides of the cave, was a kind of gallery, +connected with the roof by a series of smaller and more frequent +pillars.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the far end, upon an altar, a single oil-lamp was burning. Behind +the altar, and about twenty paces distant, was a wall of rock which +immediately attracted the attention of the boys.</p> +<p class="pnext">This rock was rough, as in its natural state, whereas elsewhere in the +cave—on the floor, the ceiling, and the pillars—the rock was so +smooth that it resembled masonry. Moreover, the aisles were of grey +limestone; but the rock behind the altar was of red granite, in which +the quartz and mica crystals glittered in the flickering light of the +lamp.</p> +<p class="pnext">By the side of the granite rock was something which Harry Urquhart +recognized at once. On a single axis, supported at each end by grooves +cut in the pillars, were nine enormous wheels of bronze. On the +outside—or what would correspond to the "tyres"—of each of these +wheels, were hundreds of strange cuneiform characters.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was no doubt that beyond the red granite rock lay the vault which +contained the treasure, and these wheels composed the Bramah lock by +sole means of which the vault itself could be opened.</p> +<p class="pnext">But without the Sunstone the wheels were useless. On the obverse side +of the Sunstone was the explanation, or solution, of the riddle.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry walked up to the great bronze wheels and turned them at random, +first this way and then that. Each revolved independently of the +others, and could be turned either backwards or forwards.</p> +<p class="pnext">From what his uncle had told him, he knew that each wheel must be +turned until the characters visible along a given line corresponded to +those upon the Sunstone. There could be no doubt as to where this line +was, for, across the wheels, at about the height of a man's eyes, a bar +of gold extended.</p> +<p class="pnext">Whilst Harry and Jim were examining the wheels, Cortes was exploring +the side aisles beneath the gallery. Presently he came towards his +companions on tiptoe, with a finger raised to his lips.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come here!" said he in a whisper, beckoning to Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry did so, and was conducted to one of the iron-bound doors, where +the guide motioned him to stoop down and listen.</p> +<p class="pnext">With his ear to the door, Urquhart could hear nothing for some seconds. +Then there came to his ears a sound that was unearthly.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a low, continuous, moaning sound, like the howl of a dog in the +distance. It grew louder gradually until at last it was close at hand, +on the other side of the door.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was something in the vastness of the place, in its stillness and +its gloom, that was at once depressing and alarming. Harry Urquhart +felt that he was rapidly losing confidence in himself. The great +flight of steps without, the stone statues, the two carved giants at +the entrance, the shadowy vault of the cave, pierced by shafts of +light, and the solitary burning lamp—all these were mystical and weird.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy was well able to face danger, to take his life in his hands, +but here he was confronted by what was suggestive of the supernatural. +A feeling of fear possessed him—he knew not why. He drew back, +shuddering, and turned quickly to the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Someone is coming!" he whispered.</p> +<p class="pnext">At that moment there came a loud rapping on the other side of the door, +which shook and trembled under the blows of someone who seemed like a +maniac. They heard a bolt drawn sharply back. And then a voice let +out a kind of shriek that ended quite abruptly. As one man, they +turned and fled without shame or hesitation.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxvi-the-white-madman"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id27">CHAPTER XXVI—The White Madman</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">They ran in all haste towards the entrance to the cave. The two guides +led the way. If the boys were alarmed, the men were even more so.</p> +<p class="pnext">The brothers had proved that they did not mind danger in the ordinary +acceptation of the term, but, in their thinking, in this place they +trespassed upon the precincts of the other world.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes was about to make his escape to the terrace outside the +entrance, when Harry called him back.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here!" cried the boy. "This way!"</p> +<p class="pnext">In the semi-darkness he had caught sight of a narrow flight of stone +steps which led to the gallery above. He was not so frightened that he +had not a natural curiosity to see who approached on the other side of +the door.</p> +<p class="pnext">All this time a noise continued that echoed ceaselessly in the vastness +of the cave. It was a noise of bolts withdrawn, chains jangling, locks +unfastened, whilst a voice that was hardly human was continuously +uplifted in a long, plaintive moan.</p> +<p class="pnext">In the semi-darkness of the gallery the four trespassers knelt down, +hiding behind the pillars in such position that they could see into the +central aisle below. Their eyes were fixed upon the door whence issued +these strange, uncanny sounds.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently the door opened, and there came forth into the light of the +lamp the most extraordinary apparition it had ever been the lot of any +one of them to see.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a madman. Moreover, one who was terrible in his madness. He +was of a great age, for the hair of his beard and of his head was white +as snow. And yet he was very tall of stature, and had the appearance +of a man of colossal strength.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was clothed in rags—rags which hung together by mere threads, so +that his dark skin was visible upon his arms and back. The hair of his +head was so long that it reached to his waist, a great beard spread +over his chest. At his side he carried an enormous sword—a two-handed +sword such as was used by warriors in ancient days. In one hand he +held a staff.</p> +<p class="pnext">He came forward, singing a wild song that somehow was reminiscent of +the desert and the East. He approached the altar where burned the +lamp, and there flung himself upon the ground, tearing his hair, +gnashing his teeth, and actually foaming at the mouth.</p> +<p class="pnext">From time to time he lifted his voice in a howl, dismal and prolonged, +breaking off in his singing to beat himself upon the chest. It was all +terrible to behold. It was like a scene in some majestic Bedlam. This +white madman, the semi-darkness of the cave, the flickering light, the +enormous pillars—all seemed not of the world we know, but to belong +rather to one of the worlds of which we sometimes dream.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry, turning to Fernando, whispered in his ear.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who is this man?" said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is Guardian of the Cave. He is said to be a hundred years of age. +He has lived here all his life."</p> +<p class="pnext">The old man rose to his feet and stretched forth his arms. Then, +lifting his voice, he uttered an endless string of words that were +incomprehensible to both boys. As far as Harry could make out, the man +either uttered some fearful curse or else he prayed in anguish.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What is he saying?" asked the boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am not sure," answered Fernando; "I know little of the Maziri +language. I think he says that the Sunstone has been stolen these many +years, but this very day it will return. He says the vault will be +opened before nightfall. He says that he himself is about to die."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How does he pretend to know these things?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I cannot say," said the guide. "These men have the wisdom of the +ancients, who could read the stars and knew of many things long since +forgotten. It is supposed by the Maziris themselves that by means of +fasting and penance and self-inflicted torture he has gained such +holiness that he can see into the future, that he can read from the +Book of Fate."</p> +<p class="pnext">They could not move their eyes from the Guardian of the Cave. He now +stood erect and motionless before the altar like one transfigured into +a kind of deity. There was little about him that suggested what we +know as human.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was straight of back, his bare arms folded upon his chest, his head +a little lowered. And the shafts of daylight from either side of the +cave converged upon the whiteness of his head, so that he was like a +saint, solemn and magnificent, surrounded by the all-pervading gloom.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly he let out a shout that was half a shriek—louder than before; +and then they saw that his madness was not feigned. Like a wild beast +he hurled himself upon the wheels and set them all in motion, some +revolving one way, some the other. And even as the wheels were turning +he shook his fist at the entrance to the vault—the red granite rock at +the extremity of the cave.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Open!" he cried, in the strange Maziri language. "Open in the name of +Zoroaster!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Again and again, he cried to the vault to open, as though that which +was inanimate would heed his infuriated words. The spokes of the great +bronze wheels reflected the light from the lamp, but there came no +answer to the man's cries but the echoes of his own voice in the +dimness of the cavern.</p> +<p class="pnext">Once again he flung himself upon the ground, and prayed in a loud voice +that the spirit of Zoroaster might descend and show him how to open the +vault. According to Fernando, he asked the gods to grant him one of +two favours—either that the secret of the Sunstone might be conveyed +to him then and there, or that the Sunstone itself might be returned to +the cave.</p> +<p class="pnext">And suddenly he stopped in the midst of his prayer, springing sharply +to his feet. For some seconds he stood quite motionless, in the +attitude of one who listens.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he spoke slowly and distinctly and less loudly than before.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My prayer has been heard," said he. "Glory to Zoroaster!"</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he lifted a hand to an ear and turned his head towards the +entrance to the cave.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those in the gallery listened, too. Sure enough, footsteps were +approaching.</p> +<p class="pnext">A little after, the daylight at the entrance was obscured by a +figure—the figure of a tall and slender man dressed in the clothes of +a European. For a moment he stood quite motionless, shading his eyes +with a hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was apparent that, newly come from the daylight, the new-comer was +unable to see in the half-light of the cavern. Neither could he +himself be recognized by those in the gallery.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently he came forward until he stood before the Guardian of the +Cave, and the light from the burning lamp fell full upon his face.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart caught his breath, and his hand went quickly to the +handle of his revolver, when he recognized von Hardenberg, who had come +to his journey's end.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxvii-the-black-dog-bites"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id28">CHAPTER XXVII—The Black Dog Bites</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">For some moments the two men stood facing one another. Neither spoke +nor moved.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they stood thus, a third person entered, swiftly, silently, without +being seen either by von Hardenberg or the Guardian of the Cave. Those +in the gallery saw who it was: the man was the sheikh, the Black Dog of +the Cameroons.</p> +<p class="pnext">Of the scene that followed the watchers in the gallery were amazed and +horrified spectators. It seems that Captain von Hardenberg had not +been idle during the time the Sunstone had been in his possession; with +Teuton thoroughness and industry he had even learnt to speak in the +Maziri tongue.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who are you?" said he to the old man, so strange and terrible to +behold.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I do not ask who you may be," answered the other, "because I know."</p> +<p class="pnext">Word by word, the following conversation was afterwards repeated to +Harry by Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You know!" cried von Hardenberg. "What do you know?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know that you are he who bears the Sunstone on your person. I order +you to deliver it up!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg drew back a pace. The Black Dog was crouching like a +tiger behind one of the pillars, unseen by either of the speakers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who told you?" cried von Hardenberg. "Who told you I have the +Sunstone?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"These things," said the old man in a great, solemn voice, "these +things I know because I am one who holds converse with the gods. Me +you cannot deceive. A short time ago I was asleep, and in my sleep I +dreamed a dream—that the Sunstone had returned."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You are mad!" cried the Prussian in brutal derision.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Aye," said the man, "I am mad; but I am wiser than those who are sane. +Deliver up the Sunstone!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"By what right?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"By every right. I am the Guardian of the Cave. I have lived five +score years, and never once have I ventured beyond the entrance of the +Caves of Zoroaster. Come, deliver up the Sunstone."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And if I refuse?" asked von Hardenberg.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If you refuse," said the man, "you die!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Von Hardenberg looked about him with a quick, furtive glance. Softly +his hand crept to his belt, where he carried the holster of his +revolver.</p> +<p class="pnext">What happened next was the work of a few seconds. Those in the gallery +had no time to interfere. As for the sheikh, he evidently intended +that the tragedy should be played out to its end, to the falling of the +curtain.</p> +<p class="pnext">The old man, seeing von Hardenberg's action, lifted his great +two-handed sword and flourished it on high. Then, with a spring like +that of a tiger, he hurled himself upon the Prussian.</p> +<p class="pnext">Three shots rang out in quick succession. There were three flashes of +fire, like jets of flame, and then three puffs of smoke. The cave was +filled with an echo that went on and on as if it would never cease.</p> +<p class="pnext">And when the smoke cleared, there was the old man lying upon his face +upon the floor, silent and still. A century had rolled above his head, +for a hundred years he had stood guardian of the Caves of +Zoroaster—and now his task was ended.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry sprang to his feet, and would have fired then and there at von +Hardenberg had not Cortes held him down by force.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was murder!" he whispered.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If you fire, we are lost," cried Cortes. "It is too dark to shoot +straight, and the Black Dog will escape us."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry resumed his kneeling position and waited.</p> +<p class="pnext">A horrid silence reigned in the great, domed chamber. The scene was +more tragic, more fantastic than ever. The shafts of light from above +struck the body of the murdered man; the lamp still flickered before +the altar. Even yet, the echoes of the shots were murmuring in the +deeper recesses of the place.</p> +<p class="pnext">Captain von Hardenberg stood stock-still, his revolver in his hand, +thin wreaths of smoke issuing from the muzzle. From out of the heart +of the stillness there came a chuckle: the Black Dog was pleased to +laugh.</p> +<p class="pnext">Murder was nothing to him. He had dealt for years in human lives. He +was implacable, relentless. And even at that same moment he himself +contemplated a greater crime, for the commission of which he was hiding +in the darkness like a snake, biding his time to strike.</p> +<p class="pnext">Captain von Hardenberg took two steps towards the body and turned it +over with his foot.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is dead," said he in German.</p> +<p class="pnext">The old man, who had been so terrible in life by reason of his madness, +now looked sane and beautiful in death. The worn, agonized expression +had gone altogether from his features, which were now calm and wholly +at peace. With his white hair and ragged clothes, he was like one of +the patriarchs of old.</p> +<p class="pnext">Captain von Hardenberg was not himself. It was plain to see that it +was all that he could do to control within him a feeling that was akin +to terror. He looked about him with widely opened eyes—at the vast +pillars, at the darkened corners of the aisles, at the shafts of +sunlight that pierced the darkness like the blades of swords.</p> +<p class="pnext">With trembling hands he attempted to unbutton his coat. His nerves +were so shaken, and he in such feverish haste, that he could not at +first succeed. In the end, as if grown desperate, he took a knife from +his pocket, opened the largest blade, and cut off the buttons one by +one. Then he ripped open his waistcoat, and, a moment after, drew +forth the Sunstone and placed it on the altar by the side of the +burning lamp.</p> +<p class="pnext">And next he did a strange thing indeed. He burst suddenly into loud +laughter—laughter that was hysterical, delirious.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had gone through so much; he had faced so many dangers; he had been +guilty of a score of crimes; he had lost everything—good name and +honour and position—in order to possess himself of the treasure that +lay beyond the red granite rock.</p> +<p class="pnext">And now that all this wealth was as good as his, he could do little +else but laugh, in a kind of wild delirium, whilst tear-drops in quick +succession coursed down his cheeks.</p> +<p class="pnext">After a while he mastered himself a little, but not completely. He +went to the nine wheels and turned them all ways in a fever of +excitement.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then he remembered what he had to do. He studied the wheels and took +notice of the cuneiform writing on the "tyres". At that he returned +for the Sunstone and brought it to the Bramah lock.</p> +<p class="pnext">But, since it was too dark there to see the writing on the stone, he +took it back to the altar, and laid it down once more before the lamp. +Then he studied the character in the first segment, and, having +committed it to memory, he went back to the wheels.</p> +<p class="pnext">Slowly he turned the first wheel, noting each character as it appeared +above the golden bar. At last he appeared satisfied. The cuneiform +figure, or character, which lay immediately above the golden bar +corresponded to that upon the Sunstone.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then, in a like manner, he turned the second wheel. Always when he got +the wheel in the correct position he compared the two characters—that +upon the Sunstone and that upon the wheel—to make sure they were the +same.</p> +<p class="pnext">Finally, he came to the ninth wheel. His excitement was now so great +that those in the gallery could see that he was trembling violently in +every limb.</p> +<p class="pnext">He troubled no longer with the Sunstone. He turned the wheel very +slowly, with his eyes fixed upon the red granite rock. Presently there +was a "click" like the sound of the turning of an enormous lock. +Captain von Hardenberg held the wheel quite still.</p> +<p class="pnext">There came another "click" even louder than that which had gone before. +And then slowly, like some great living monster, the rock began to +turn, as if it revolved upon a pivot.</p> +<p class="pnext">It turned evenly, slowly, noiselessly, and, as it turned, the light +from the lamp caused the quartz and mica and felspar in the granite to +glisten like a thousand fire-flies on a summer's evening.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then, in the moving rock itself, appeared a narrow archway about +four feet across; and when this was immediately opposite the altar +there was another "click" and the whole rock was still.</p> +<p class="pnext">Those in the gallery sprang to their feet and looked on with bated +breath. The thing was like a miracle. As for von Hardenberg, he gave +vent to a cry that was half a cheer and half a sob. Then, snatching +the lamp from the altar, he rushed through the archway into the +darkness beyond.</p> +<p class="pnext">From the gallery they could see the light grow smaller and fainter as +the Prussian descended a narrow flight of steps. Then the light went +out, and there came up from the vault beyond a faint cry of exultation. +Captain von Hardenberg had attained the treasure of Zoroaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">And it was at that cry that the Black Dog glided from his hiding-place. +Now that the lamp had gone, the cave was darker than before. But by +the light that came from above, and through the entrance, those in the +gallery could see his white robes as the man glided noiselessly across +the hall.</p> +<p class="pnext">He went straight to the altar, picked up the Sunstone, raised it to his +lips, and kissed it. For a moment he gazed at it, long and lovingly, +before he thrust it into a pocket.</p> +<p class="pnext">He moved on tiptoe towards the wheels. As he did so he passed through +one of the shafts of light, and his features were illumined. On his +face there was an expression that was diabolical. It was the face of a +beast of prey, a tiger that stalks its victims. His white robes +contrasted strangely with the swarthiness of his countenance. His eyes +were very bright and now looked yellow like those of a cat.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he reached the wheels, he let out a great shout that filled the +vastness of the cave.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Die!" he cried. "Die the death you merit!"</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he set the wheels in motion, and immediately the great granite +rock revolved again. And Captain Carl von Hardenberg was buried alive +in the midst of the treasure that was his.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sheikh passed rapidly down the centre aisle. Half-way to the +entrance he stopped, looked back, and shook his fist at the rock.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Lie there," he cried, "and rot! In my own good time I will return."</p> +<p class="pnext">Before the last word was from the man's lips, Fernando had lifted his +rifle and fired. The bullet flattened itself against a pillar not +three inches from the Arab's head. The Black Dog glanced up at the +gallery and then dashed out of the entrance, so swift and agile in his +movements that it would have been sheer folly to fire again.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You hit him?" cried Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," cried the man, with a sullen oath. "I missed. It was too dark +to see."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Too dark to see!" repeated Harry. "But he is gone! Make haste, or +he'll escape!"</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxviii-a-race-for-life"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id29">CHAPTER XXVIII—A Race for Life</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Fernando stood motionless, his rifle in his hand. He had been within +an ace of fulfilling his oath, and sending the Arab to the shades.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I would have hit him," he complained, "had the lamp not been taken +away."</p> +<p class="pnext">Meanwhile Cortes dashed down the steps, and crossed the central aisle +to the body of the murdered man.</p> +<p class="pnext">The madman lay quite still. A life of fasting, of penance and +privation, had closed in the heroic fulfilment of his duty. With his +last breath he had demanded of von Hardenberg to deliver up the +Sunstone; and there he was—a huddled, formless object, lying at the +foot of the altar.</p> +<p class="pnext">The first impulse of Harry Urquhart was to follow in pursuit of the +sheikh. With this intention he hastened to the terrace, whence he +could see nothing. The Black Dog had vanished into the white mists +that wrapped the mountain-side. By now he was no doubt at the bottom +of the great flight of steps on each side of which stood the strange, +fantastic statues.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry, rifle in hand, was about to take up the chase, when he +remembered that somewhere beyond that impenetrable granite rock was von +Hardenberg—alone in the midst of the treasure.</p> +<p class="pnext">He returned to the cave, and went to the rock and listened. He could +hear nothing. Beyond, all was silent as the grave.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What can we do?" reiterated the boy, looking about him in bewilderment.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid went to the nine wheels and turned them at random, hoping +that by chance the vault would open. In a little while he desisted and +returned to Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must follow the sheikh," said he. "We must endeavour to recover +the Sunstone at every cost."</p> +<p class="pnext">"And leave <em class="italics">him</em> here?" said Harry, with a motion of the hand towards +the granite rock.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We can do nothing," said Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I bear the rascal no goodwill," said Harry. "He deserves but little +pity. But this is terrible!" he added, and repeated the word again and +again.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said Cortes, "we waste time in talking."</p> +<p class="pnext">As he spoke, he led the way from the cave, followed by the others.</p> +<p class="pnext">As they passed down the great flight of steps, Harry Urquhart turned +and looked back. The entrance to the caves was no longer visible. A +great cloud lay upon the mountain like a mantle. Near at hand, the +strange beasts carved in stone were quite conspicuous and plain, but +gradually, as they mounted one behind the other towards the terrace, +they became lost in the mist. They resembled an army of quaint, +primeval animals that were filing down from the clouds to inhabit the +abodes of men.</p> +<p class="pnext">The elder guide, shading his eyes with a hand, scanned the mountains to +the north. Presently he let out a cry—a cry of exultation.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There!" he cried, pointing across the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">Sure enough, far in the distance was a white speck that was moving +rapidly upon the mountainside, disappearing for a moment to appear +again, always bearing in the same direction—towards the north.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes turned to the others.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can run," said he. "I was a tracker once by trade. I undertake to +keep upon his trail. Do you follow as quickly as you can."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando laid a hand upon his brother's shoulder.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You will not kill him?" he said.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No. The man's life is yours."</p> +<p class="pnext">With these words Cortes sped upon his way, springing from boulder to +boulder, supple in figure, agile despite his wound. He had spent much +of his life hunting wild game in the midst of unexplored, inhospitable +hills. He was quick of eye and sure of foot.</p> +<p class="pnext">Outrunning his companions, he went rapidly upon his way, and was soon +lost to sight. All that afternoon they followed in his tracks, and +towards evening they heard a shot, high up in the mountains, many miles +to the north.</p> +<p class="pnext">A grim smile passed across the face of the elder guide, who calmly +turned to Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yonder," said he, "is the sheikh."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It was he who fired?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That shot was fired by my brother," he answered. "I know the sound of +my brother's rifle."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where are we going?" asked Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">The half-caste shrugged his shoulders.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Black Dog chooses the way," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He goes to his home?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"His home!" repeated Fernando. "Has the wild dog a home? Does the +hare burrow in the ground? The Black Dog sleeps where he finds +himself. All the world is his home. He may go into Nigeria; he may +cut back to the coast; he may pass through the mountains to the great +Sahara Desert. But, wherever he goes, Cortes will follow him; he will +be followed to the ends of the earth. And now and again Cortes will +fire his rifle to guide us on our way, to let us know that he still +holds the Black Dog in view."</p> +<p class="pnext">Throughout the days that followed, the mountains witnessed the almost +superhuman efforts of two men: Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog of the +Cameroons, and Cortes, the half-caste Spaniard of the Coast.</p> +<p class="pnext">The one fled from justice, clutching the Sunstone in his hand, and the +other followed, until miles grew into leagues, until they reached the +rolling grasslands to the west of Lake Chad, where cattle grazed in +herds.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was a struggle of Titans, a race for life or death between men who +were well versed in the craft of the hunter, who knew each bridle-path +and mountain-spring and solitary oasis between the bend of the Congo +and the Atlas Mountains.</p> +<p class="pnext">Day and night they raced onward, under the march of the southern stars. +And Cortes clung to the heels of Black Dog like a leech. As often as +the sheikh halted, he was obliged to push on again in greater haste.</p> +<p class="pnext">At nightfall, every evening, Cortes fired his rifle, and this enabled +his brother and the two boys to keep upon his track. The route taken +by the sheikh was not a straight one: the course he followed was in the +shape of the letter S. Harry and his party were often able to take +short cuts, completing one side of a triangle when the Arab and his +pursuer had accomplished the other two. Thus it was that upon the +twentieth day they came to the place where the younger guide was +encamped.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is close ahead?" asked Fernando.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes pointed to the west.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He is in the valley yonder," said he. "To-night he sleeps in the +jungle that lies on the edge of the plateau."</p> +<p class="pnext">They were now in a part of the globe of which little is known. They +had left the cattle far behind them. This country is uninhabited +except by wild animals, and is visited only by the caravans that come +south-east from Timbuctoo.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog, with the Sunstone in his possession, still held his +course towards the north, setting forth across the illimitable, barren +waste. He journeyed for two days without halting. Then he crossed a +river, and, passing over a plateau, descended into the true desert, +where the sun blazed like a furnace.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxix-the-temple"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id30">CHAPTER XXIX—The Temple</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">On the skirting of the desert lay a small Arab village—a place of a +few dilapidated huts, accommodating not more than a score of +inhabitants. For the most part these were people sunk to the lowest +depths of poverty, living in a state of dirt unimaginable to those who +are not acquainted with the Arab.</p> +<p class="pnext">To this village came Harry and Braid and the elder guide. The headman +of the village came forward on their approach, followed by a few +children.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando, who had an intimate knowledge of Arabic, was able to act as +interpreter. The headman said the village had been rich in the +possession of two camels; but, late on the previous evening, an Arab +had come from the plateau who had purchased one of these camels. Early +that morning had come another man, a white man—as he said—who, having +purchased the other, had set forward without delay in the same +direction as the Arab.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Did the second man leave no message?" asked the guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">The villager replied that the "white man" had left word that those who +followed him were to wait in the village until he returned. He +expected to be back that night with news of great importance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Accordingly they halted for the afternoon, and, giving the villagers a +wide berth, camped upon the sand, lighting a fire, upon which they +cooked a meal.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And all this time," said Harry, "von Hardenberg lies buried alive, +starving to death in the Caves of Zoroaster."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He cannot starve," said he. "I noticed he wore a haversack well +filled with provisions. And I have heard it said that inside the vault +is water; a small spring bubbles up in a great basin, forming a little +fountain."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have seen it?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said the man; "but I know what I say is true. And, even were +there no water in the cave, the Prussian carried a water-bottle."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart sighed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"All this is like a dream," he exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The scoundrel deserves no better fate," said the guide, hard of heart +and pitiless where his enemies were concerned.</p> +<p class="pnext">At nightfall they lay down to sleep, Jim Braid remaining on sentry for +the earlier part of the night. They had small reason to trust the +people of the village, who were not incapable of murdering them in the +night for the sake of their possessions.</p> +<p class="pnext">At about ten o'clock Jim was alarmed by a peculiar grating sound quite +near to their camp. The moon had not yet risen, and, though he +strained his eyes in the direction from which the sound had come, he +was able to distinguish nothing. At last he rose to his feet and +walked some little distance from the fire. There he discovered a camel +lying down upon the ground, engaged in chewing a bundle of coarse hay. +The camel had appeared as if by magic.</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim returned to the fire, and there to his amazement found Cortes +sitting before the embers.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You have returned?" said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes, I have returned."</p> +<p class="pnext">"With news?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Of the Black Dog. Yonder in the desert is an ancient temple or +mosque. It stands in an oasis where there are palm-trees, and around +which melons grow. For many years it has been deserted. The sheikh +himself is there."</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must awaken the others," said Braid.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is plenty of time," said the man. "He will not move before +daybreak. The night is yet young. We will surround the oasis at +sunrise and take him alive. Fernando must fulfil the oath he has made +to the saints."</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim Braid had not such patience. With this news upon his mind he could +not stay idle while Harry and Fernando were asleep. Despite the advice +of Cortes, he awoke them both, and told them what had happened.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We must start at once!" cried Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There is no haste," said Fernando, with a shrug of his shoulders. +"But, if you wish it, we will go."</p> +<p class="pnext">They packed up their camp equipment and provisions, and their reserve +ammunition, and these they loaded upon the camel. Then they set +forward on their way, following a caravan route, whilst a full moon, +red as blood, crept over the horizon and illumined the wasteland like a +lantern.</p> +<p class="pnext">In three hours they came to a place where a stone building, surrounded +by a dozen trees, stood forth against the moonlight. Near by a hyena +howled.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The sheikh is within," said Cortes.</p> +<p class="pnext">Drawing a little distance away, the four held consultation together. +As far as they could make out, there was but one entrance to the +temple, which was half in ruins. For all that, they thought it best to +surround the place, and it was finally agreed that Harry Urquhart +should enter the building, revolver in hand, whilst the other three +guarded the walls to prevent the Arab's escape, should they have +overlooked some other means of exit.</p> +<p class="pnext">Leaving his rifle behind, with his revolver ready loaded in his hand, +Harry passed on tiptoe through the entrance and found himself in a +shallow, darkened chamber.</p> +<p class="pnext">Though there was no roof to the building, the adjacent palm-trees shut +out the light of the moon, and some seconds elapsed before the boy's +eyes grew accustomed to the semi-darkness.</p> +<p class="pnext">As far as he could make out, he was surrounded by high walls. +Scattered here and there about the floor, upon which the sand of the +desert lay like a thick, luxurious carpet, were great cylindrical +boulders, which, in former times, had evidently composed the pillars +that supported the roof. In the shadow of these boulders it was quite +dark, and each shadow was large enough to conceal the form of a man.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy decided to act with caution. With such an opponent as the +sheikh he knew he would be called upon to exercise not only promptitude +but cunning. It had not been without difficulty that he had managed to +persuade the guides to allow him to enter the temple. Fernando, who +was filled with a strong desire for vengeance, had wished for the +honour for himself. But Harry, as the leader of the expedition, would +not give way, agreeing that the moment he fired the elder guide should +hasten to his assistance.</p> +<p class="pnext">Ready to fire at a moment's notice, Harry set about a systematic search +of the ruined temple. Starting from the entrance, he worked his way +around the walls, holding as much as possible to the shadows. He +looked behind each boulder, he searched each crevice that appeared +large enough to admit the body of a man. In the end he returned to the +entrance. The place was evidently deserted.</p> +<p class="pnext">His first thought was to leave the building, to tell Cortes that he had +been mistaken, that the sheikh was not there; but then he remembered +how seldom the judgment of either of the guides had been at fault, and, +assuring himself that he had overlooked some hiding-place, he began his +search anew.</p> +<p class="pnext">He came to a place where a clump of cactus was growing against the +wall, and here he discovered what he had not noticed before. Under the +cactus plant was a little archway, a kind of tunnel, large enough to +admit a man crawling on hands and knees.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy was in two minds what to do. It was one thing to search from +boulder to boulder, ready to fire at a moment's notice; it was another +to go head foremost on all-fours into what might prove to be a trap. +If the Arab was hiding on the other side of the wall, beyond the +cactus-bush—a stroke of the knife, and the matter would be ended. The +boy had need of all the courage he possessed. To go back to Jim and +the two guides would be to confess himself afraid.</p> +<p class="pnext">Taking a deep breath, like a man about to dive, he lay flat upon his +face, and as silently as possible worked his way forward through the +sand, which was still warm from the rays of the sun of the preceding +day.</p> +<p class="pnext">If there were many holes in the wall such as this, it was well three of +them had remained on guard without. Had all four entered the temple at +once, the sheikh, if he lay anywhere in hiding, had a sure way of +escape. Harry had no means of knowing whether the hole led to the +desert or to an inner room.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the other side of the wall it was quite dark. The boy looked +overhead, and was able to see that he was sheltered by a roof—a roof +in which there were great holes, through which he could see the stars. +He could do nothing as yet, until his eyes had grown accustomed to the +darkness.</p> +<p class="pnext">For some moments he lay still, his heart thumping against his ribs, +straining his ears to catch the slightest sound. From somewhere quite +near at hand, at first almost imperceptible but gradually growing +louder, came a low, soft, vibrating noise that seemed to proceed from +somewhere under the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry thought he had heard something like it before; he could not +remember where. It was like the droning of a monster bee, or the noise +of a kettle on the point of boiling over, or else the purring of a cat.</p> +<p class="pnext">How long the sound continued he was never able to say. It seemed to +him that he lay for an eternity, breathless, waiting for something to +happen, with the sound continuously in his ears. And then he became +aware of two great, yellow eyes, staring in the darkness, immobile, +like flaming lamps.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxx-the-blood-spoor"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id31">CHAPTER XXX—The Blood Spoor</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">On the spur of the moment he snatched his revolver, levelled it, and +fired.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a prolonged, piercing shriek, as a dark mass, blacker than +the shadows, sprang high into the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry lay quite still; fear at last possessed him. The loud report of +his revolver was still singing in his ears; and, before silence reigned +again, it was as if the whole place, even the very walls, were +possessed of life.</p> +<p class="pnext">Dark shadows were moving everywhere. All about the boy were yellow, +staring eyes, that dilated and grew smaller in the darkness. And then +Harry became conscious of a fierce, growling sound.</p> +<p class="pnext">As far as he was able to make out, this proceeded from the largest pair +of eyes, immediately before him. And it was this that gave him the +first inkling as to the solution of the mystery: he had crept into a +den of savage beasts.</p> +<p class="pnext">The largest pair of eyes drew nearer, and suddenly dropped lower, +almost to the level of the ground. The brute was about to spring.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was a snarl. As quick as lightning Harry sprang aside.</p> +<p class="pnext">The great beast collided with the wall with such force that the +roof—or as much of it as remained—came down with a crash upon the +ground, and Harry found himself buried in a mass of debris and dust.</p> +<p class="pnext">He tried to move, but found he was unable to do so. A heavy beam lay +across his chest. With the exception of his head and shoulders he was +buried in the wreckage.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the dust cleared, the place became illumined by the moonshine. On +the sudden disappearance of the roof, the light from without had been +admitted to the darkened chamber. At once Harry was able to see quite +distinctly, and the sight that he beheld was sufficiently alarming to +shake the nerves of even the strongest man.</p> +<p class="pnext">Pinned to the ground, unable to move, he found himself in the midst of +a family of leopards. Quite near to him, also half buried in the +wreckage, lay the beast that he had shot—evidently the father of the +family. Six cubs, half-grown, growled and snarled on the other side of +the chamber, and in front of them, her white fangs gleaming in the +moonlight, was the mother leopard, fiercely guarding her young.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was she who had hurled herself at the wall, who had brought down the +roof, and who now snarled repeatedly at the boy. It was apparent that +the sudden collapse of the building had given the animal a fright. +Twice she made as if she would advance, and twice drew back towards her +young.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was not able to fire again. The hand which held his revolver was +pinned down beneath the fallen beam. He could not move his eyes from +the leopard. At the same time, the brute feared to advance.</p> +<p class="pnext">A sharp jet of fire—it seemed not two paces from the boy's face—a +loud report, and the leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible +and glorious, fighting the air with its fore feet as if in the throes +of a struggle with an invisible, all-powerful foe.</p> +<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure" style="width: 61%"> +<span id="the-leopard-rose-upon-its-hind-legs-rampant-terrible-and-glorious"></span><img style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="" src="images/img-208.jpg" /> +<div class="caption"> +THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, AND GLORIOUS</div> +</div> +<p class="pfirst">Then the brute came down and lay quite still, shot through the brain by +a bullet from Jim Braid's rifle.</p> +<p class="pnext">Quick upon Jim's heels, through the narrow opening in the wall, came +the two guides, Cortes leading the way.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Are you hurt?" asked Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said Harry. "I am not hurt. But get me out of this; I can't +move."</p> +<p class="pnext">With quick hands they lifted the beams and rafters that pinned the boy +to the ground, and, a moment after, Harry was on his feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">The young leopards gathered together in a corner of the chamber. Then, +one after the other, they sprang over the ruined wall like cats, and +disappeared into the night.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The sheikh!" cried Fernando. "Where is he?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"I have not seen him," answered Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He came here to-day," said Cortes, "and pitched his camp. Look here, +what's that?"</p> +<p class="pnext">He pointed to the ground, where lay something that was white as snow. +It was a bone.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys drew back in horror. Fernando was undismayed. He calmly +picked up the bone and examined it in the moonlight.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This is the shin-bone of a camel," said he. "Moreover, of a camel +that was killed to-day. As my brother says, the Black Dog was here."</p> +<p class="pnext">"See this!" cried Cortes. "The ground is charred. It was here he lit +his fire."</p> +<p class="pnext">All four searched the chamber. Besides the shin-bone, they found other +evidence that could not be disputed: four hoofs and a piece of the +Arab's white flowing robe.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Has the man been killed?" cried Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It seems that that is so."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But the Sunstone!" Harry exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"This evidence," said Fernando, "is indisputable. The Black Dog came +here by day, pitched his camp, and lit his fire. When his fire burned +out he fell asleep. He had had no sleep for forty-eight hours, and +must have been exhausted. It was whilst he was asleep that the +leopards entered. It seems I have been robbed of my revenge."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked at the man.</p> +<p class="pnext">"So you think," said he, "that the sheikh is dead?"</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando pointed to the strip of the Arab's clothes, and shrugged his +shoulders. "At all events," said he, "the camel he purchased in the +village fell a prey to the leopards."</p> +<p class="pnext">"But," exclaimed Harry, "how could the camel have got here. We were +obliged to crawl in on hand and knees."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The leopards slew the camel outside," said he. "They tore it to +pieces, which they dragged in here to play with. Have you never +watched a cat?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Then," cried Harry, "the Sunstone has been lost!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have patience," said Fernando. "We may find it yet. We will get out +of this place and wait for dawn. When the daylight comes we will +search the ruins. There is no need as yet to despair."</p> +<p class="pnext">This advice was good. They went out together, leaving by way of the +little archway half-hidden by the cactus plant. On the sand of the +desert they lay down side by side, and, whilst one acted as sentry, the +others slept.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as the sun began to rise in the east, Fernando rose to his feet.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come," said he, "we will search."</p> +<p class="pnext">They looked everywhere. Under the palm-trees, the sand was all +disturbed where the eight leopards had flung themselves upon the camel. +Around the trunk of one of the trees was a rope which had been gnawed +in half. In the inner chamber of the temple no further evidence was +forthcoming, and this was in part due to the fact that the ground was +covered with the wreckage of the roof. It was the younger guide who +discovered in the outer chamber a drop of blood upon the stones.</p> +<p class="pnext">The man evidently considered that he had found a clue of great +importance; but to the two boys it seemed quite obvious that this was +the blood of the camel that had been dragged piecemeal through the +narrow opening.</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said Cortes, shaking his head. "These are small drops of blood. +It is possible the Black Dog is still alive."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he turned upon his heel and set off at a jog-trot across the +plain. When he was a long way off, they saw him waving his arms +frantically, in the highest state of excitement.</p> +<p class="pnext">They ran to the place where he was, and found him pointing to the +ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Look there!" he cried. "I was right. The sheikh has escaped!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Sure enough, upon the soft sand was a line of footmarks, leading in the +direction of the plateau. Every now and again the trail was marked by +a small drop of blood.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry asked for an explanation.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is very simple," answered Cortes. "The leopards first attacked the +camel, which was tethered to a palm-tree outside the temple. The Black +Dog was awakened from his sleep and endeavoured to escape. As he fled +from the entrance he must have encountered a leopard. His cloak was +torn, but he escaped, bearing the marks of the leopard's teeth or +claws, probably in his thigh. Wounded, he has gone back to the hills, +knowing that there lies his only chance of safety."</p> +<p class="pnext">The man was certain of his facts. Moreover, the evidence of the +foot-marks and the blood spoor was too strong to be denied.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Come!" cried Fernando. "He is as good as ours, unless he is only +slightly hurt."</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxi-the-fox-in-view"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id32">CHAPTER XXXI—The Fox in View</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Before the heat of the day had arisen, Harry, Jim Braid, and the two +guides had covered many miles across the desert, leaving the Arab +village to their left. All this time it was easy to follow the track +of the sheikh. The Black Dog evidently suffered pain, and progressed +only with the greatest difficulty; for, as they went on, his footsteps +became more irregular, as though he staggered when he walked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Indeed, the whole thing was like the hunting of a wounded deer. It is +a well-known fact that all wounded animals take to higher ground, +because there they know they are more likely to be safe, since there +are usually hiding-places in the mountains—crannies in the rocks, and +caves. And besides, it is good to lay down one's life a little nearer +to the stars.</p> +<p class="pnext">The desert ended suddenly in a great expanse of scrub, bordering the +plateau, where the ground was stony, and where the foot-marks of the +sheikh were no longer visible. For some miles the two guides held the +track, until they came to a place where the fugitive had halted by the +side of a little stream. Here he had washed and bathed his wounds; he +had torn strips from his clothing, making bandages for himself. He had +gone down upon his knees at the side of the stream and had drunk the +fresh water from his hands. Then he had continued on his way, +invigorated and refreshed, making straight towards the Maziri mountains.</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon after that they were obliged to leave the camel to browse upon the +hill-side. The ground had become so steep and broken that the animal +could advance but slowly. They off-loaded the provisions and +ammunition and divided these equally among the party.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently they climbed the lower slopes of the mountains, where the +country was much intersected by strips of forest and dried-up +watercourses, with here and there a patch of sand—a kind of offshoot +of the desert. There was no longer any trail to follow.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog had chosen his way with sagacity, walking upon stony +ground, where his sandals left no marks. For all that both Cortes and +Fernando were confident that they would overtake him. However, to make +the more sure of their victim, they decided to divide their forces, +Harry and the elder man going one way, and Jim and Cortes another.</p> +<p class="pnext">Late that afternoon, Harry and his companion had attained a great +height on the ridge of the mountains. Before them extended a great +valley, and it was on the other side of this that they beheld a white +figure moving rapidly from rock to rock, bearing steadily towards the +east.</p> +<p class="pnext">The guide lifted his rifle and fired in the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That is to warn my brother," said he. "He will know the signal. This +time it is you and I who lead the chase."</p> +<p class="pnext">He set off running down the mountain-side, springing from boulder to +boulder. There was no foot-path, and the way was almost precipitous; +but the man, though not so sure of foot as his brother, was as agile as +a panther. In fact, it was as much as Harry could do to keep up with +him. The half-caste was all impatience to overtake the fugitive.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sheikh was no longer in sight, nor was there any sign of Jim and +the younger guide, when the sun sank beyond the mountains, and the +shadows of night crept into the valleys with the mists. For all that, +Fernando held upon his way until long after dark, until at last Harry +was obliged to call upon him to halt. The boy was utterly exhausted. +Since daybreak that morning they had travelled without a halt, and must +have covered nearly forty miles, over country that was rugged, wild, +and pathless.</p> +<p class="pnext">The guide agreed to halt, but would permit no fire. Harry appeased his +appetite with some wild fruit he had procured on the margin of the +desert, and then lay down to sleep. In less than a minute he was +buried in the deepest slumber.</p> +<p class="pnext">It seemed to him he had not been sleeping for more than an hour when +the guide took him by the shoulder and shook him lightly.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart looked about him.</p> +<p class="pnext">"It is still dark," said he.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The dawn comes," said the man, as if that clinched the matter once and +for all.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Have you not slept?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Does the hound sleep," said Fernando, with a grim smile, "with the fox +in view? Remember, I have sworn to the saints."</p> +<p class="pnext">When they had eaten such of the desert fruit as remained over from the +previous day, they set forward on their journey, the guide leading as +before.</p> +<p class="pnext">They traversed valley after valley, the guide selecting the route, as +it seemed, by some kind of natural instinct similar to that which will +lead a cat to find its way across unknown country. Though during that +morning they saw nothing of the Arab, Fernando was certain that the +Black Dog was not many miles ahead. Every time they reached a +hill-top, he screened his eyes with a hand and examined the surrounding +country for signs of the fugitive, who, they were convinced, was making +back to the Caves of Zoroaster.</p> +<p class="pnext">They were returning to the hills of Maziriland by a route that lay far +to the south of that of their former journey. The mountains here were +not so high as those farther to the north. For all that, they were +exceedingly desolate and rugged. They were in a land where nothing +appeared to live. There were no villages; neither cattle nor sheep +grazed upon the lowlands.</p> +<p class="pnext">At midday the guide caught sight of the sheikh, still bearing towards +the south-east. His white robes were conspicuous at a distance.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the opposite side of the valley in which they found themselves, the +man was hurrying forward along a ledge that did not appear to be more +than a few feet across, that hung—as it were—between earth and sky. +Beneath this ledge, the smooth face of a precipice dropped sheer to the +depths of the valley; above, the same inaccessible cliff continued, +rising upward to the clouds.</p> +<p class="pnext">"If Cortes were only here," said the half-caste, "the task would be +easy; the Black Dog would be ours."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is your brother?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am inclined to think he is somewhere toward the north. For the last +three days the wind has been blowing from that direction. Had he been +to the south he must have heard the shot I fired, in which case he +would have caught us up."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Perhaps," said Harry, "he returns by the way we came."</p> +<p class="pnext">"It may be," said the guide. "Sooner or later, he will discover his +mistake. Then he will come south; but he and Braid will be many miles +in rear of us. If Cortes were with me now, I could capture the sheikh +before sunset."</p> +<p class="pnext">"How?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"You see where he is," said the guide, pointing across the valley. "He +walks on the brink of one precipice and at the foot of another. He can +turn neither to the right nor to the left. He must either go straight +on or else turn back. My brother can run faster than you or I. If he +were with us, I would send him down the valley in all haste, to ascend +the mountain-path in advance of the sheikh; whilst I would mount to the +path at this end of the valley. Thus the Black Dog would be caught +between us two."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry looked at the great, yawning abyss that arose before them like a +mighty wall. The figure of Bayram was not more than two miles away. +In mid-valley was a stream that flowed through a narrow strip of +grassland, upon which it would be possible to run.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I may not be able to run as fast as your brother," said he, turning to +the guide, "but I think I can overtake the sheikh."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I think so too," said he. "As for me, though I can climb for many +hours, I am no runner on the flat. Do you, therefore, set forth upon +your way. At the foot of the valley you will see that the precipice +ends; a spur of rock juts out. If you reach that place before the +sheikh, you will be able to climb up to the path at the top of the +precipice. There you will lie in wait for him. I will follow in his +rear. He will be caught between two fires."</p> +<p class="pnext">As there was little time to lose, Harry was not slow to obey the man's +injunctions. Side by side they climbed down into the valley, and there +they separated, Fernando going to the north, Harry Urquhart setting out +in the opposite direction.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxii-between-two-fires"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id33">CHAPTER XXXII—Between Two Fires</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">In less than an hour Harry drew level with the Arab. The progress of +the Black Dog was necessarily slow. In the first place, he still +suffered from his wound; in the second place, the path he followed was +in places so narrow as to be dangerous, and he was obliged to proceed +with the utmost caution. Harry, on the other hand, had been able to +run as fast as his legs could carry him by the side of the stream that +rushed down from the mountains.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy paused for breath and looked about him. Though he and the +sheikh were making for the same point, in regard to which they were +level with one another, there was more than a mile between them. In +other words, that was the distance that separated the precipice from +the stream in mid-valley. Harry looked up and saw Fernando far in +rear. He had already gained the path at the top of the abyss, and was +following with all dispatch upon the heels of the fugitive.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog stopped. His small white figure seemed to be crouching. +Harry, with the aid of his field-glasses, tried to make out what the +man was doing.</p> +<p class="pnext">At that moment there came a quick, hissing sound within a fraction of +an inch of the boy's ear, and a bullet buried itself deep in the ground +not fifteen yards away.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without a doubt, the sheikh now realized to the full the danger in +which he stood. He saw that he was rapidly being cut off from all +means of escape. There was nothing that could save him but his surety +of aim, and at that distance it was no easy matter to hit a mark +several hundred feet below him.</p> +<p class="pnext">When a rifle is fired downward from a great height, what is known as +the "trajectory", or flight, of the bullet is affected, and in +consequence the line of sight is not wholly accurate. This may have +been sufficient to account for the failure of the Arab's shot; but in +any case, to put a bullet within an inch of the target at so great a +range proved him a marksman of the greatest skill.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he saw that he had missed he hurried on his way, hoping against +hope to reach the spur in advance of Harry Urquhart.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy was determined that the fugitive should not escape. He cared +little or nothing for the life of Bayram, but at all costs he meant, if +possible, to recover the Sunstone. He was never able to forget that, +all this time, von Hardenberg was shut up alive in the silent vault, in +the very heart of the mountain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Running as if his life depended on his efforts, he dashed down the +valley. Three times the Black Dog fired, and each time the bullet flew +within a hand's-breadth of its mark.</p> +<p class="pnext">On gaining the spur, Harry clambered to the southern side, where he was +out of sight of the fugitive, who was now too far away to fire. +Slinging his rifle across his shoulder, hand over hand the boy climbed +up the rocks, and at last gained the pathway which formed a little +ledge, or terrace, upon the face of the great abyss.</p> +<p class="pnext">He walked forward stealthily. On his right hand a rock arose, +inaccessible and smooth as a plate of steel, whilst on the left it +dropped sheer into the shadowy depths of the valley from which he had +come. Far below him, the stream that he had followed looked like a +little silver thread glittering in the sunlight.</p> +<p class="pnext">He knew that he must find some kind of cover. If he came face to face +with Black Dog on that narrow path he would have little chance of +living. A rifle in the sheikh's hands, at a point-blank range, was +more an implement of execution than a weapon of defence; and, besides, +the Black Dog was known to be a man of prodigious strength.</p> +<p class="pnext">As the boy went upon his way he looked forward eagerly, hoping to find +some rock or boulder behind which he could hide and await the approach +of the Arab. But the path was bare, not only of vegetation, but of +stones and fragments of rock. It was as if some mighty hurricane had +swept the mountain-side, brushing all obstacles from the narrow ledge, +sweeping the place as clean as the pavement of a street.</p> +<p class="pnext">Presently the path turned a sharp angle. The cliff stood folded back +in the shape of the letter W. From the corner, Harry was able to see, +not only the other extremity of the W, but also the smaller salient +which formed the centre of the letter. It was then that the complete +success of their enterprise was made apparent.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the corner of the southern extremity was Harry, and at the northern +stood the guide, his rifle in his hand. Between them the face of the +precipice was folded back in two re-entrant angles. Everywhere the +abyss was smooth and perpendicular, both above and below the pathway. +It was possible to climb neither up nor down. Escape was beyond all +question. And midway between Harry Urquhart and the half-caste guide, +standing upright at the central angle, was Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog +of the Cameroons, like a great bird of prey perched above its eyrie. +Whatever the issue of this business was to be, it was certain that for +the present the fugitive was caught.</p> +<p class="pnext">Neither was it possible for him to conceal himself. If he turned back, +he was exposed to fire from the guide; if he went forward, he was +covered by the rifle of Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">He stood motionless for some seconds, as if deliberating in his mind +what was best to do. Then, with a slow and measured step, he walked +towards the boy.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry waited till the man had come within twenty yards of him; then he +raised his rifle to his shoulder and directed the sights full upon the +Arab's heart. To his amazement, the Black Dog stood stock-still.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry was about to press the trigger when, for two reasons, he +desisted. Firstly, the thing smacked of a cold-blooded murder, since +the sheikh had made no show of resistance; secondly, if he fired and +killed the man, his lifeless body would pitch headlong into the abyss. +In that case they might not be able to recover it, and thus the +Sunstone would be lost.</p> +<p class="pnext">Suddenly the sheikh raised his rifle above his head, and cried aloud to +the boy in English.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Fire," said he, "and kill me! I am at your mercy; my life is in your +hands. See here, this rifle—it has served me well for twenty years. +It is known from Lagos to Port Stanley, even as far south as the Kasai. +Behold, there goes my best and truest friend."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he cast the weapon to the depths below.</p> +<p class="pnext">"You surrender?" cried Harry, coming forward.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I can do nothing else," replied the sheikh. "As you ran in the valley +I fired my last cartridge. Still, I am not yours so long as I am +alive."</p> +<p class="pnext">With these last words, he turned sharply and looked behind him, as if +he had heard something. There, sure enough, was Fernando, crawling on +hands and knees, his head and shoulders just appearing around the +central angle.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxiii-on-the-brink-of-eternity"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id34">CHAPTER XXXIII—On the Brink of Eternity</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The Black Dog folded his arms, threw back his head, and laughed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The guide came wriggling like a snake, working himself forward upon his +elbows and his knees, almost flat upon his face, which was little +raised above the ground. His dark features were expressionless. Upon +his countenance was visible no sign of triumph, no elation at a victory +that was well within his grasp. As he came nearer and nearer his dark +eyes never moved from the stern face of the Arab sheikh.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then slowly he rose to his feet, bringing the butt of his rifle into +the hollow of his shoulder.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Bayram," said he in a deep voice, "make your peace with the Almighty +God, for you are about to die!"</p> +<p class="pnext">The Arab extended his arms in the direction of the east. Beyond the +mountains, on the far horizon, the sun was setting in a glow of crimson +glory. The great hills stood forth before the sunset like the thrones +of giants, their irregular, rugged outline a deep leaden colour where +they were not wrapped in gathering clouds.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Black Dog lifted his voice so that it carried far across the valley.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Without repentance," said he, "I go into the shades. I have sometimes +acted unwisely, for human flesh is weak, and man cannot have the wisdom +of Allah, whose prophet is Mohammed. But for such false steps as I +have taken I am ready to pay the price. Come, fire, and have done with +it! I do not fear to die."</p> +<p class="pnext">There was no question that Fernando was about to fire, when Harry cried +out in the nick of time.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The Sunstone!" he exclaimed.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sheikh turned to the boy and smiled, his white teeth showing in his +beard. Then he thrust a hand into a pocket and drew forth the +Sunstone, which he held to the light, so that the yellow jade caught +the reflection of the dying sun and looked like the most magnificent of +opals.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Here it is," said he. And then to the guide: "Will you take this in +exchange for a human life? I am ready to strike a bargain."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando shook his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do as he bids you," pleaded Harry, who was not only anxious to recover +the Sunstone at every cost, but who had no liking for this business, +which was in the nature of a common execution.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I have sworn an oath," said the guide in measured tones. "The Black +Dog must die."</p> +<p class="pnext">With these words he approached, until he was quite near to the Arab. +It was no doubt his intention to shoot the man and then grasp his robes +to prevent his lifeless body from falling over the cliff. Be that as +it may, he failed in his enterprise, for the sheikh was possessed of +the supple activity of a tiger as well as the cunning of a wolf.</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando raised his rifle. He was then not ten feet from the Arab. +And even as he pressed the trigger the Black Dog sprang upon him, +striking the barrel of the rifle upward, so that the shot flew high in +the air.</p> +<p class="pnext">A second later the two men were locked together in a death-grip, each +struggling desperately for life.</p> +<p class="pnext">The sheikh was the stronger of the two, but he suffered from his wound. +Not only was he somewhat weakened by loss of blood, but his right leg, +the flesh of which had been torn by the leopard's fangs, was stiff and +aching from the great fatigue of the journey across the mountains.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry put down his rifle and came forward in all haste, his revolver in +his hand. He desired to give what help he could to the guide, but this +was no easy matter.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two men were like fighting cats. First one was on the top and then +the other. They rolled over and over so rapidly, and were so closely +interlocked, that it was almost impossible to tell which was the guide +and which the sheikh. Sometimes they struggled at the foot of the +cliff; at others they were on the very edge of the precipice, and both +seemed in imminent danger of falling into the depths.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Help!" let out Fernando in the voice of one who choked. "He fights +like a demon possessed!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry, in desperation, hurled his weight upon the two, and at once +found his strength of small avail. He was tossed hither and thither, +and was more than once in danger of being hurled over the edge.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last, not without difficulty, he disengaged himself, recognizing +that he did no further good than risk his life. He saw also that his +revolver was quite useless. He dared not fire, even at the closest +range.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that Fernando somehow managed to release the other's hold, +and sprang sharply to his feet. The sheikh was on him again like a +wild cat, and had him by the throat. Putting forth the whole of his +colossal strength, the Black Dog forced the other backward.</p> +<p class="pnext">Nearer and nearer to the edge of the precipice the four feet shuffled, +until the guide actually tottered on the brink.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry stood by—a helpless spectator, petrified with horror. The +terror of the situation had taken his breath away. It was as if he had +lost all power and all sensation of his limbs. Then, with a loud cry, +Fernando, hurled from the Black Dog's powerful grasp, plunged feet +foremost over the cliff.</p> +<p class="pnext">And as he fell he grasped the air with frantic, clutching hands, in an +agony of brief despair. His left fist closed upon nothing, but his +right laid hold upon the long, flowing robes of his opponent.</p> +<p class="pnext">On the instant the Black Dog was jerked off his feet. He tried to save +himself by throwing his weight backward—a quick, spasmodic action that +proved that he retained his presence of mind to the end. He was too +late, however. His shoulder struck the tooth-like edge of the +precipice—and, in a flash, he was gone.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart felt the strength suddenly go from his knees. Unable +any longer to stand, he sank down into a sitting position on the +narrow, perilous path. His heart was beating like a hammer; for a +moment he thought that he would faint.</p> +<p class="pnext">He dared not look down into the abyss. It was all too horrible to +think of. He sat still and listened, while the sun sank beyond the +mountains, and darkness crept into the valley. A great silence reigned +among the hills that was like the silence of the tomb.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxiv-the-sunstone-found"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id35">CHAPTER XXXIV—The Sunstone Found</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">More than an hour elapsed before Harry Urquhart had the power to move. +The whole tragedy had been far more terrible than any nightmare, and +yet he felt just like a little child that awakens suddenly in the +night, to find himself still confronted with those horrid possibilities +that can only occur in dreams.</p> +<p class="pnext">Night crept into the valley from the east. The glow in the heavens +died out, and one by one the stars appeared, and a great full moon, +luminous and white. The boy crept to the edge of the precipice and +looked over. He could see nothing; it was too dark to see. The whole +valley was still.</p> +<p class="pnext">This silence was fearful in itself. It seemed to Harry that he was the +only living thing in the world. There were no voices in the night; in +the valley there was no sound of bird or beast or human being.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry rose to his feet, and, step by step, aided by the moonlight, +cautiously returned to the spur by way of which he had come. He was +still quite unnerved. He dared not go near the edge of the precipice; +as he advanced he clutched the mountain-side. When he came to the spur +he clambered down among the rocks in such haste that the perspiration +stood in beads upon his brow. And then a feeling of weakness overcame +him again; and, seating himself upon the ground, he endeavoured to +think matters out.</p> +<p class="pnext">He tried to realize the full significance of what had happened. +Fernando had fulfilled his oath: he had brought about the death of the +Black Dog of the Cameroons. But he himself had perished also, and the +Sunstone had been lost. And all had happened in the space of a few +seconds, about which it was terrifying even to think.</p> +<p class="pnext">Above all else, Harry Urquhart wanted someone to talk to; he wanted to +hear the sound of a human voice. He was still like a child awakened +from a nightmare. The loneliness of this great, howling wilderness was +crushing, overpowering. With his nerves overwrought, his courage +shaken, the eternal silence got the better of his feelings, and +suddenly, burying his face in his hands, he burst forth into tears.</p> +<p class="pnext">He knew not why he cried. His tears were not tears of sorrow. He +cried because he had passed through a great ordeal, because he had been +face to face with Death. And, in that sense, every teardrop was the +word of a prayer to the God who controls the destinies of men.</p> +<p class="pnext">Then, mastering his emotion, he rose to his feet and went on—he knew +not whither. After a time he came to a stream, and there he stopped, +wondering what to do.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was food in his haversack, but he felt no inclination to eat. He +went down on his knees, and drank deeply. The water was very cold.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he had quenched his thirst, which was like the thirst that +accompanies a fever, he felt refreshed. He even scorned himself for +having been so weak. It was then that he looked about him.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was shut in on all sides by the great inhospitable mountains. Above +was a clear sky, bespangled with a multitude of stars, in the midst of +which the full moon shone down into the valley. Then he saw another +star, solitary, large as a planet, lower than the others. It was a +star that seemed to shine from out of the heart of the mountains.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was some minutes before he realized what it was. Then the truth +came upon him as in a flash. It was not a star at all, but a camp-fire +that was burning on the hill-side.</p> +<p class="pnext">The thought that he was not alone in this desolate and silent region +was like the nectar of the gods to one who is faint and weary. The boy +cared not in the least who camped on the mountainside; he decided to +find out for himself. If they were savages, they could murder him; it +would matter little to him. If they were friendly, they might allow +him to warm himself by the side of the glowing embers. At any rate he +would hear some kind of human speech.</p> +<p class="pnext">It took him three hours to reach the fire, where he found two men, +seated facing one another. A cry of exultation escaped his lips when +he recognized Jim Braid and the younger guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">At once Cortes sprang to his feet as if alarmed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Where is my brother?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry tried to speak, but was not able to do so. He sank down by the +side of the fire.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Some calamity has happened!"</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry bowed his head.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And the Black Dog?" asked Cortes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"He also is dead," said Harry, speaking for the first time.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Dead!" cried Cortes, without expression in his voice.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said Harry. "And the Sunstone is lost, and von Hardenberg will +starve to death in the Caves of Zoroaster."</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes seated himself once more upon the ground, extending his hands +towards the fire. There were no tears in his eyes; his voice was +without a tremor.</p> +<p class="pnext">"When you feel able to do so," said he, turning his face to Harry, +"will you please tell me what happened."</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry related the story from beginning to end. He told how Fernando +and himself had followed the sheikh across the mountains, and of how +they had run the man to earth upon a narrow ledge at the top of an +enormous cliff. He then described the struggle that had taken place, +with its grim and terrible conclusion.</p> +<p class="pnext">When the boy had finished speaking, Cortes looked up at the moon.</p> +<p class="pnext">"In four hours," said he, "it will be daylight. We can do nothing till +then. When the dawn comes we will search for the bodies."</p> +<p class="pnext">At that he lay down upon the ground, but it was evident he had no +intention of going to sleep.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had shown little or no emotion on hearing of his brother's death. +There was black blood in his veins, and, with the more savage races, +death is a simple and everyday affair. For all that, there is no +reason to suppose that he did not feel the great loss he had sustained.</p> +<p class="pnext">A long time elapsed before Harry, too, was able to sleep. And, when at +last he did so, he was for ever struggling on the brink of an +unfathomable abyss, so that he was little rested when at daybreak he +was awakened by Cortes.</p> +<p class="pnext">Without waiting for food, they set out at once upon their way, passing +slowly down the hill-side. They soon reached the stream, and thence +turned to the south. It was Harry who led the way. When he judged +that they were parallel to the place where the tragedy had happened, +they crossed the stream and walked straight for the cliff.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the foot of the precipice was a kind of terrace, upon which grew +scattered trees, about the roots of one of which were boulders. Lying +on his back, across one of these rocks, they found the body of the +Black Dog of the Cameroons.</p> +<p class="pnext">The two boys looked away whilst the guide examined the body, and then, +stooping, picked up something from the ground. Presently Cortes +touched Harry on the arm.</p> +<p class="pnext">The boy turned and set eyes upon the Sunstone.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxv-a-brother"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id36">CHAPTER XXXV—A Brother</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Leaving the body of the wretched man where they found it, they +continued to search among the trees; but nowhere could they discover +any trace of the elder guide.</p> +<p class="pnext">"His body cannot be far away," said Harry. "They fell together."</p> +<p class="pnext">It was then that, at the sound of a faint cry from somewhere far above +them, all three looked up. And the sight they beheld was appalling.</p> +<p class="pnext">Hundreds of feet above the place where they stood, sheltered by a +cranny in the face of the cliff, there grew a gnarled and twisted +shrub, a kind of withered tree. In the midst of this, caught like a +fish in a net, was a man who, even as they watched him, moved, twisting +like a thing in pain.</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes scanned the face of the cliff; but, look where he might, he +could discover no way by which it was possible to ascend to the place +where his brother was suspended in mid-air.</p> +<p class="pnext">Running back several yards, he regarded the precipice above the +withered tree. It was equally inaccessible from above. Then he raised +his hands to his mouth and cried out in a loud voice, calling upon his +brother by name.</p> +<p class="pnext">The answer came in a voice so weak that Cortes had to hold a hand to an +ear in order to catch the words.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I am in pain. My arm is broken. Can you not come to my assistance?"</p> +<p class="pnext">The younger brother looked about him in despair.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can nothing be done?" asked Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Let me think," said Cortes, and lifted a hand to his eyes. On a +sudden he cried out to his brother. "Can you hold out for two days?" +he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"For two days!" came the answer. "It is too long."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You must!" cried the other. "Take the belt from your waist and bind +yourself to the tree. Then, when your strength is gone, you will not +fall."</p> +<p class="pnext">Whilst the elder man obeyed these injunctions, Harry turned to Cortes.</p> +<p class="pnext">"What do you intend to do?" he asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">"We have no rope," said the guide. "Fernando is at least fifty feet +from the path above, and there is no rope fifty feet in length nearer +to this place than Kano or Sokoto. However, there is—as you know—a +rope-like creeper that grows in the bush. I intend to go back as far +as the jungle."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Can you get there in time?" asked Braid, incredulously.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My wound is now healed," said the man, "my strength returned. I can +but do my best."</p> +<p class="pnext">Cortes looked up again at his brother.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Courage!" he cried. "In two days I return."</p> +<p class="pnext">So saying, he bounded off upon his way. As they watched him pass down +the valley, springing from rock to rock, it was apparent that he meant +to do all that was humanly possible to effect the salvation of his +brother. Even as they looked, his figure grew smaller in the distance, +and in a few minutes he was lost to view.</p> +<p class="pnext">To describe in detail the journey of the younger guide across the +mountains would be tedious. The thing can be summed up in a few words: +it was magnificent, heroic. Mile upon mile he covered without pausing +for breath. For the most part he kept to the valleys, where the +atmosphere was stifling and humid, crossing the mountains only when by +doing so he could cut off several miles.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had food with him, but he seldom stopped to eat. Now and again he +drank at a mountain stream, but seemed to grudge the time even for this.</p> +<p class="pnext">At sunset he was still bearing onward. He had cast aside the greater +part of his clothing, and the perspiration poured off him, and the +veins stood out upon his temples like knotted strands of cord. For all +that, he went on and on beneath the stars, whilst the moon marched in +the heavens. It was a race for the life of his brother.</p> +<p class="pnext">As Cortes hastened on his way, his thoughts continually went back to +the perilous situation in which he had left Fernando, and every thought +was, as it were, a spur to his endeavour. No sooner had he pictured in +his mind's eye that struggling, writhing figure, hanging, as it were, +betwixt earth and sky, than he shot forward with renewed energy, +clenching both fists and teeth in his strong determination.</p> +<p class="pnext">At last, breathless, exhausted, he sighted the extremity of the great +West African bush. Through this, forcing his way among the thickets, +so that the sharp thorns tore his naked flesh, he was obliged to travel +for many miles before he found the right kind of creeping plant, and, +moreover, one long enough to suit his purpose.</p> +<p class="pnext">To cut this from the tree around which it was twined, and roll it into +a great coil which he suspended around his neck, was the work of not +many minutes; and then he set forth upon his return journey to the +margin of the desert.</p> +<p class="pnext">He was already much exhausted, and his load was very heavy. But hour +by hour he struggled onward, leaving the jungle far behind, mounting to +higher altitudes. Nightfall found him still upon his way. Repeatedly +he stumbled, and then, on a sudden, he fell full length upon the ground.</p> +<p class="pnext">He lay quite still for several seconds, then rose slowly to his knees, +lifting his eyes and hands towards the stars. For a moment he prayed +silently; and, seeming to gather courage from his prayer, he rose to +his feet and went on.</p> +<p class="pnext">Soon after midnight the sky became overcast. A high wind got up and +blew from the mountains, bitter cold after the tropic heat of the bush. +Then the skies opened and the rain came down in sheets. But Cortes +still held on, struggling towards his goal, fighting manfully against +his own failing strength.</p> +<p class="pnext">And in the meantime, throughout these two fearful days, Jim Braid and +Harry waited in suspense. They could do nothing to help the man who +hung, hour after hour, upon the brink of the other world.</p> +<p class="pnext">Acting on his brother's advice, Fernando had undone the belt around his +waist, and with this had lashed himself to the stoutest branch of the +tree. Words fail to describe the torture he must have suffered; for, +not only did he endure great pain from his broken arm, but he was +tormented by a raging thirst. His cries for water were piteous to hear.</p> +<p class="pnext">They had no means of assisting him. They could do nothing but look on +in helplessness, praying for the return of the younger brother. On the +second night the rain came—in torrents, as it can only rain in the +tropics—and Fernando was able to moisten his parched lips by sucking +his drenched clothes.</p> +<p class="pnext">Wishing to get nearer to the poor fellow, in the hope that they might +be able to comfort him, at least with words, Harry and Jim Braid +climbed the spur and moved along the ledge at the top of the precipice +until they were immediately above the withered tree. There, lying down +upon their faces, they cried out to him to be of good courage, +reminding him that the dawn approached, that his brother would soon +return.</p> +<p class="pnext">Daybreak is the hour when Life is nearest Death. It was shortly before +sunrise that Fernando himself gave up all hope, and called upon God to +take charge of his departing soul. He said that he was quite ready to +welcome Death; he desired nothing more than to have an end to his +misery and suspense. And, even as the words left his lips, the figure +of his brother was seen approaching along the ledge.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the feet of Harry Urquhart, Cortes sank, exhausted. The object of +his mission fulfilled, he lost consciousness and drifted into a faint.</p> +<p class="pnext">With all dispatch they uncoiled the long, snake-like creeper. Passing +one end over a jutting pinnacle of rock, they lowered the other towards +Fernando. It was more than long enough to reach the place where he lay.</p> +<p class="pnext">With great difficulty the poor fellow managed to untie his belt and +make fast the end of the creeper around his waist. And then they had +to wait a long time, until Cortes, who had recovered consciousness, was +able to assist the two boys in hauling up the rope.</p> +<p class="pnext">This was no easy matter, since they had neither a good foothold nor +much space upon the terrace. But in the end they succeeded, and the +rescued man lay panting on the ledge. He was immediately given water +to drink; and when he had drunk, a smile slowly overspread his face, +and he looked at the brother who had saved his life. But no word of +gratitude ever passed his lips; his thanks—far more eloquent than +words—were in his eyes. And the dark eyes of a half-caste are the +most expressive and the most beautiful in the world.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxvi-the-twelfth-hour"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id37">CHAPTER XXXVI—The Twelfth Hour</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Owing to the exhausted state of the two guides, the party could not set +forth upon their return journey to the Caves of Zoroaster until the +afternoon of the following day.</p> +<p class="pnext">The powers of endurance of both men had been taxed to the utmost—the +elder, by the terrible ordeal through which he had passed; the younger, +by his almost superhuman efforts.</p> +<p class="pnext">In spite of that, Harry Urquhart was all anxiety to be off. He had +often pictured to himself the agony of suspense that all this time von +Hardenberg was being called upon to bear. The boy wondered if the lamp +which the Prussian had taken with him into the vault still burned. If +so, it would shed its light upon the glittering treasure. If it had +gone out, the Prussian was buried in unutterable and eternal +darkness—eternal, since escape was beyond the bounds of possibility. +That, combined with the fearful silence that reigned in the place, with +hope dying in the prisoner's heart as the days rolled slowly by, was +enough—as it seemed to Harry—to drive any man to madness. The boy +found it impossible to forgive his cousin, who had acted so basely from +the first; for all that, he was by no means heartless, and, in any +case, it was his duty to save a human life from so terrible an end.</p> +<p class="pnext">As soon as the guides professed themselves able to undertake the +journey, they set off towards the caves. It took them more than two +days to accomplish what the younger guide had done in under twelve +hours, and thence, striking due south-west, they approached the caves +from the opposite direction to that in which they had first entered +Maziriland.</p> +<p class="pnext">On this occasion they saw—though they did not come into actual contact +with—several of the Maziri peasants who were working in the cultivated +tracts of country that lay between the mountains and the bush. +Maziriland was very sparsely populated—the race verging on +extinction—and at least two-thirds of the inhabitants were congregated +in the chief town, where they carried on certain industries, their +skill in which they had inherited from the ancients.</p> +<p class="pnext">It approached the hour of daybreak when Harry Urquhart and his party +reached the foot of the great flight of steps that led to the entrance +to the caves, where stood the two carved giants. Harry had hurried +forward, closely followed by Braid. The two guides brought up the rear.</p> +<p class="pnext">In feverish excitement, three steps at a time, the boy dashed up the +steps between the weird, fantastic statues, and was about to enter the +cave when he remembered that he had no light, and that, since it was +night, the place would be unutterably dark. He had retraced his steps +some distance, with the object of getting some kind of torch, when he +was met by Fernando at the head of the long flight of steps.</p> +<p class="pnext">"A light!" he cried. "It is quite dark within."</p> +<p class="pnext">Fernando had foreseen this, and in mid-valley had broken a branch from +a cork-tree, which he had damped with rifle oil. This he now lighted +and gave to Harry, who was the first to enter the cave.</p> +<p class="pnext">Inside, everything was exactly as they had left it. It was manifest no +one had visited the place since the tragedy of some days before. The +body of the old man lay still at the foot of the altar. At the +farthermost end of the cave the granite wall remained as ever, immobile +and formidable. Harry Urquhart, taking the Sunstone from his pocket, +asked Jim to hold the torch, and himself went to the wheels and turned +them until the characters that showed above the golden bar corresponded +with those upon the Sunstone.</p> +<p class="pnext">When he came to the ninth wheel he was so excited that his hand was +shaking. And presently there came the sharp "clicking" sound that they +had heard before, and then the granite rock began slowly to revolve.</p> +<p class="pnext">The rock evidently turned upon a pivot. Its motion was like that of an +enormous water-wheel, except that, instead of revolving vertically, it +turned horizontally, the way of the sun. When the centre of the +opening was immediately opposite the altar there came a second "click", +and the rock remained quite still.</p> +<p class="pnext">Harry Urquhart, in breathless haste, snatched the torch from the hands +of his friend, and dashed like a madman to the entrance.</p> +<p class="pnext">He pulled up in the nick of time, noticing that he stood at the top of +an exceedingly steep and narrow flight of stairs. Had he gone on as +impetuously as he had started, he would have pitched head foremost down +the steps.</p> +<p class="pnext">He began to descend more cautiously. The steps were slippery from the +moisture that invaded the rock in which they had been cut.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had not descended more than three steps before he was brought to an +abrupt standstill. It was as if his heart ceased to beat. From far +below—so far away as to be quite faint, though unmistakable—there +came to his ears the report of a single shot.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxvii-too-late"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id38">CHAPTER XXXVII—Too Late!</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">The boy hastened down the narrow steps with all the speed he could, Jim +Braid following close upon his heels. The two guides had remained +above. Even yet, both regarded the place with superstitious awe.</p> +<p class="pnext">The steps led downward—as it seemed an interminable distance. At +first they were straight; then they were spiral; then they were +straight again and broader. At the bottom was the vault where, as +rumour had it, the great sage himself lay buried, where was gathered +together the treasure that had been given in offerings during his +lifetime, thousands of years before.</p> +<p class="pnext">At the foot of the steps, the two boys, side by side, stood spellbound. +The sight that they beheld was at once tragic and marvellous.</p> +<p class="pnext">The vault was a rectangular room about thirty feet long and twenty feet +wide. Against the wall facing the steps was a huge stone that +resembled a coffin, supported upon a pedestal, cylindrical in shape, +and about six feet in height. The coffin and the pedestal on which it +stood resembled in shape the letter T. At the foot of the pedestal was +a large marble basin, in the centre of which a small jet of water +played like a miniature fountain, uttering a never-ceasing bubbling +noise that sounded strange in the silence of the vault.</p> +<p class="pnext">The walls were of bare rock. On the ceiling was carved a number of +fantastic figures, similar to those that stood on either side of the +great stairway that led to the entrance of the caves. But the wonder +of the vault was on the floor, the whole of which was covered inches +deep in glittering, sparkling gems. There were sapphires, rubies, +diamonds, opals, and pearls. The former worshippers of Zoroaster had +called upon the treasure-houses of the ancient world to pay their +tribute to the genius of the teacher. They had visited the +pearl-fisheries of the East and the ruby-mines of Burma; they had +brought gold from Ophir and emeralds from the land of Punt.</p> +<p class="pnext">And in the midst of this dazzling treasure, half-buried in the gems he +had ventured so much to gain, lay Captain von Hardenberg, who, dying by +his own hand, had delivered up the life he had so abused.</p> +<p class="pnext">Full length upon his face, upon this brilliant, jewel-bespangled +carpet, was the man who had stolen the Sunstone, who had betrayed his +country, and who, in his own turn, had been betrayed by the very +ruffian he employed. A revolver, still smoking, was in his hand. Carl +von Hardenberg had placed himself at last beyond the reach of human law.</p> +<p class="pnext">It is easy to imagine the torment the man had suffered during the last +days of his ill-spent life. The lamp which he had carried with him +from the altar in the cave had long since burned out, and now stood +upon the coffin of Zoroaster. The mental agony he endured must have +driven him near to madness. The darkness, the utter hopelessness of +his terrible situation, the fearful stillness—accentuated rather than +broken by the never-ending bubbling of the fountain—had no doubt +driven him to take his own life in savage desperation.</p> +<p class="pnext">He had eaten all his food. He had had water in plenty to drink; but he +had no doubt given up all hope of ever being rescued.</p> +<p class="pnext">Both Harry and Jim uncovered their heads. They stood face to face with +the still form of one who had always been their enemy, who had been the +enemy of their country. Von Hardenberg stood now in the presence of +his Maker.</p> +<p class="pnext">They buried him at the foot of the great steps that led to the Caves of +Zoroaster; and there Harry Urquhart—who had a little thumb-nail Prayer +Book in his pocket—read the funeral service over the grave, whilst Jim +Braid and the two guides, who had served them so faithfully throughout +these long adventurous weeks, stood by in silent reverence.</p> +<p class="pnext">There was now nothing they could do but retrace their steps to the +Cameroons. They could not hope to take all the treasure with them, +since they had no means of carrying it over the mountains and through +the density of the bush. They had travelled thus far to see justice +done, to prevent infinite wealth from falling into the hands of the +enemies of England; and in this enterprise they had been +successful—that much in itself was a reward. None the less, there was +no reason why they should not take with them as many jewels as they +could carry, and accordingly, selecting many of the largest and most +valuable gems, they filled their haversacks and pockets.</p> +<p class="pnext">And then, ascending the stairs and using the Sunstone as a key, Harry +closed the vault so that no one—not even the Maziris themselves—could +open it. And there was something almost sacred—or at least +awe-inspiring—in the deed. For centuries the Shrine of Zoroaster had +remained unmolested. Except the successive guardians of the cave, no +human being had ever entered the vault and beheld the glittering +treasure. In bygone times these priceless jewels had been delivered up +in tribute to one of the world's greatest teachers; and now, in one +sense, they were like flowers upon a grave. It was well that the +greater part of the treasure should remain where it had lain throughout +the ages; there was wealth enough for them in what they were able to +carry with them.</p> +<p class="pnext">With the return journey to the coast we are not concerned. The party +accomplished the march in fairly easy stages; and travelling southward, +for two excellent reasons, was a far more simple affair than advancing +towards the north: for, firstly, they were able to utilize the rivers +that flowed down from the mountains; and, secondly, the whole country +was now in possession of the British troops. The German Cameroons was +no more.</p> +</div> +<div class="level-2 section" id="chapter-xxxviii-conclusion"> +<h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><a class="toc-backref" href="#id39">CHAPTER XXXVIII—Conclusion</a></h2> +<p class="pfirst">Exactly two months after the arrival of our adventurers at Dualla, Jim +Braid, cap in hand, approached his father's cottage.</p> +<p class="pnext">It was about eight o'clock at night, and quite dark. He had come from +London that afternoon, and had walked from the station. Harry, who had +travelled with him, had been met by Mr. Langton's dog-cart. But Jim +preferred to walk; he desired time to brace himself for the interview +which was to take place between himself and the father who had treated +him with such blind and harsh injustice.</p> +<p class="pnext">The cottage windows were illumined. Softly he opened the door and +looked in. His mother was seated by the fire.</p> +<p class="pnext">A moment later her arms were around his neck. With tears in her voice +she recalled the day when Jim had come to wish her good-bye. He was +then an outcast, one who was wrongly and falsely accused, who had been +turned loose in the world to roam the highways like a common tramp; and +since that day his mother had never doubted his innocence for a moment.</p> +<p class="pnext">The head-gamekeeper was one of the old school of parents. In his eyes, +no less than in the eyes of Mr. Langton, the evidence against his son +had been crushing.</p> +<p class="pnext">As young Braid held his mother in his arms, the door was opened, and +John Braid, the gamekeeper, dressed in corduroys, entered. When he saw +his son he lowered his head, after the manner of one ashamed.</p> +<p class="pnext">"My boy," said he, "I did you a great wrong. I ask your forgiveness, +as indeed I ask God's."</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim found it difficult to speak.</p> +<p class="pnext">"The evidence was all against me," he stammered.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I know it was," said the gamekeeper; "but I might have known that my +son would never have done such a thing. How was I to guess?" he added, +throwing out his hands. "I knew nothing of this Sunstone, nor of +German knavery. I knew nothing of that. All I was told was that +twenty pounds had been stolen, and—as I have said—the evidence was +against you, my lad, and I believed you guilty. I repeat, I should +have known better."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Father," said Jim, holding out his hand, "don't let's talk of it any +more. On my part it's all forgotten, and there's nothing to forgive."</p> +<p class="pnext">"God bless you, boy!" said John, lifting a hand to his black beard to +hide the emotion he was unable to control.</p> +<p class="pnext">"There's something else," said he, after a pause; "I'm getting old."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You're not sixty yet!" cried his wife.</p> +<p class="pnext">"That's too old for a head-gamekeeper," answered Braid, thrusting his +thumbs into the armholes of his moleskin waistcoat. "A keeper should +be a young man and an active one. Lately I've had rheumatism, and I'm +not up to the night work. I told Mr. Langton this morning that I +didn't think I was fit to carry on the work, and he's given me a +pension, though I never asked for it nor thought of it."</p> +<p class="pnext">"You've given up your work!" exclaimed his wife. "You're no longer +head-keeper at Friar's Court!"</p> +<p class="pnext">"No," said the man. "I'm not."</p> +<p class="pnext">"Who's got the place?" she asked.</p> +<p class="pnext">Braid made a motion of his hand towards his son.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Jim," said he—and smiled.</p> +<p class="pnext">There followed a silence, during which there came a sharp knock upon +the door, John Braid went to the door and opened it, and there entered +Mr. Langton, followed by Harry.</p> +<p class="pnext">The Judge held out his hand to Jim.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I've come to ask your pardon," said he. "We did you a great injury. +Harry has told me the whole story. He has told me of how he found you +in London, and of the terrible act you were about to commit when he +saved you at the eleventh hour."</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim had forgotten that fearful moment on the Hungerford Bridge. He now +lowered his face to conceal his shame.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I had forgotten that," he murmured in an undertone, as if to himself.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Do not think I blame you, my poor boy," said Mr. Langton. "I blame +only myself for having driven you to such a pass. You have not yet +told me that you forgive me, and I have come here chiefly for that."</p> +<p class="pnext">Jim stammered out a few half-coherent words, implying more by the tones +of his voice than by anything else that everything was forgotten.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And you have heard," Mr. Langton added, "that you are to be +head-keeper here?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"If you please, sir," said Jim, "I think my father can carry on till +after the war. I was thinking I should enlist."</p> +<p class="pnext">Mr. Langton again held out his hand, which young Braid took.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I was expecting that," said he. "I promise to keep the place open for +you, and to do all I can to help."</p> +<p class="pnext">A few moments afterwards, Mr. Langton and his nephew went out. Before +a roaring fire in the Judge's study they seated themselves in +comfortable arm-chairs, and the Judge drew the Sunstone from his pocket.</p> +<p class="pnext">"I shall give it to the British Museum," said he. "I have no wish to +keep it any longer. I cannot look at it without realizing the terrible +tragedies that this small piece of jade has brought about."</p> +<p class="pnext">He was silent a while, playing with the Sunstone in his hand.</p> +<p class="pnext">"Your Arab," said he very quietly, "the Sheikh Bayram, done to death; +wretched, misguided Hardenberg buried alive in that dark and lonely +vault; and all the miles you traversed, all the adventures you passed +through, and the hardships you endured! It's not worth it!" said he, +with a sigh. "Let the treasure lie where it is."</p> +<p class="pnext">For all his words, the subject seemed to fascinate him; for, after a +pause, he went back to it again.</p> +<p class="pnext">"By my calculations," said he, "this stone is from six to eight +thousand years old. I have known it for not quite ten years, and +during that time it has brought about the death of, at least, five men. +If it could only speak," said he, "of what tragedies could it +tell—tragedies of the ancient world, of the long-forgotten past?"</p> +<p class="pnext">With another sigh he got to his feet and stirred the fire into a blaze.</p> +<p class="pnext">"And now," said he, "though you have already served your country better +than anyone else will ever know, we can see what can be done in the way +of getting you a commission. In regard to a regiment, have you any +particular choice?"</p> +<p class="pnext">"Yes," said Harry at once, for he had already arranged the matter to +his satisfaction; "the Wessex Fusiliers."</p> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ +concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, +and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following +the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use +of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for +copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very +easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation +of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project +Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may +do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected +by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark +license, especially commercial redistribution. +</div> + +<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br /> +<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br /> +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full +Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at +www.gutenberg.org/license. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or +destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your +possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a +Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound +by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person +or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this +agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the +Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection +of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual +works in the collection are in the public domain in the United +States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the +United States and you are located in the United States, we do not +claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, +displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as +all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope +that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting +free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ +works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the +Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily +comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the +same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when +you share it without charge with others. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are +in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, +check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this +agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, +distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any +other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no +representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any +country other than the United States. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work +on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: +</div> + +<blockquote> + <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most + other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions + whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms + of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online + at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you + are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws + of the country where you are located before using this eBook. + </div> +</blockquote> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is +derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not +contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the +copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in +the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are +redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply +either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or +obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ +trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any +additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works +posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the +beginning of this work. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg™ License. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including +any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access +to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format +other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official +version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website +(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense +to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means +of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain +Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the +full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +provided that: +</div> + +<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'> + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation.” + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ + works. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + </div> + + <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'> + • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works. + </div> +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of +the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set +forth in Section 3 below. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project +Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may +contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate +or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or +other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or +cannot be read by your equipment. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium +with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you +with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in +lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person +or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second +opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If +the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing +without further opportunities to fix the problem. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO +OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of +damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement +violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the +agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or +limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or +unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the +remaining provisions. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in +accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the +production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ +electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, +including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of +the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this +or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or +additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any +Defect you cause. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™ +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of +computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It +exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations +from people in all walks of life. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future +generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see +Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by +U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, +Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up +to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website +and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread +public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To +donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate +</div> + +<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'> +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project +Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be +freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and +distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of +volunteer support. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in +the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not +necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper +edition. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Most people start at our website which has the main PG search +facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. +</div> + +</div> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/39185-h/images/cover.jpg b/39185-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aba0302 --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/39185-h/images/img-120.jpg b/39185-h/images/img-120.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..331e62e --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-h/images/img-120.jpg diff --git a/39185-h/images/img-208.jpg b/39185-h/images/img-208.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd3b93e --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-h/images/img-208.jpg diff --git a/39185-h/images/img-front.jpg b/39185-h/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3d7d3d --- /dev/null +++ b/39185-h/images/img-front.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6b9c50 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #39185 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39185) diff --git a/old/39185-8.txt b/old/39185-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a535b79 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7115 @@ + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost +no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it +under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this +eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Title: Across the Cameroons + A Story of War and Adventure + +Author: Charles Gilson + +Release Date: March 17, 2012 [EBook #39185] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS*** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines. + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + +[Illustration: "DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!"] + + + + + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + A Story of War and Adventure + + + + BY + + CAPTAIN CHARLES GILSON + + Author of "A Motor-Scout in Flanders" &c. &c. + + + + _Illustrated by Arch. Webb_ + + + + BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + LONDON AND GLASGOW + 1916 + + + + _Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ + + + ---- + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I--Captain von Hardenberg + CHAPTER II--The Sunstone + CHAPTER III--Caught Red-handed + CHAPTER IV--False Evidence + CHAPTER V--The Eleventh Hour + CHAPTER VI--The Pursuit Begins + CHAPTER VII--Into the Bush + CHAPTER VIII--Danger Ahead + CHAPTER IX--The Captive + CHAPTER X--When All was Still + CHAPTER XI--A Shot from the Clouds + CHAPTER XII--The Mystery of the Running Man + CHAPTER XIII--The Black Dog + CHAPTER XIV--Buried Alive! + CHAPTER XV--The Valley of the Shadow + CHAPTER XVI--The Enemy in Sight + CHAPTER XVII--A Shot by Night + CHAPTER XVIII--A Dash for Liberty + CHAPTER XIX--War to the Knife + CHAPTER XX--Honour among Thieves + CHAPTER XXI--The Last Cartridge + CHAPTER XXII--The Conquest of a Colony + CHAPTER XXIII--Attacked + CHAPTER XXIV--The Caves + CHAPTER XXV--The Lock + CHAPTER XXVI--The White Madman + CHAPTER XXVII--The Black Dog Bites + CHAPTER XXVIII--A Race for Life + CHAPTER XXIX--The Temple + CHAPTER XXX--The Blood Spoor + CHAPTER XXXI--The Fox in View + CHAPTER XXXII--Between Two Fires + CHAPTER XXXIII--On the Brink of Eternity + CHAPTER XXXIV--The Sunstone Found + CHAPTER XXXV--A Brother + CHAPTER XXXVI--The Twelfth Hour + CHAPTER XXXVII--Too Late! + CHAPTER XXXVIII--Conclusion + + ---- + + + + Illustrations + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife that missed him by the +fraction of an inch + +The leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible, and glorious + + + + + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + + + +CHAPTER I--Captain von Hardenberg + + +Late on a September afternoon, in the year 1913, two boys returned to +Friar's Court by way of the woods. Each carried a gun under his arm, +and a well-bred Irish water-spaniel followed close upon their heels. +They were of about the same age, though it would have been apparent, +even to the most casual observer, that they stood to one another in the +relation of master to man. + +The one, Henry Urquhart, home for his holidays from Eton, was the nephew +of Mr. Langton, the retired West African judge, who owned Friar's Court. +The other was Jim Braid, the son of Mr. Langton's head-gamekeeper, who +had already donned the corduroys and the moleskin waistcoat of his +father's trade. Though to some extent a social gap divided them, a +friendship had already sprung up between these two which was destined to +ripen as the years went on, carrying both to the uttermost parts of the +world, through the forests of the Cameroons, across the inhospitable +hills west of the Cameroon Peak, even to the great plains of the Sahara. + +Harry was a boy of the open air. He was never happier than when on +horseback, or when he carried a shot-gun and a pocketful of cartridges. +As for Jim, he was no rider, but there were few boys of his age who +could hit a bolting rabbit or a rocketing pheasant with such surety of +aim. + +The Judge himself was much given to study, and was said to be a +recognized authority on the primitive races of Africa and the East. For +hours at a time he would shut himself up in the little bungalow he had +built in the woods, where, undisturbed, he could carry out his +researches. He was fond of his nephew, not the less so because Harry +was a boy well able to amuse himself; and where there were rabbits to be +shot and ditches to be jumped, young Urquhart was in his element. + +In Jim Braid, the schoolboy found one who had kindred tastes, who was a +better shot than himself, who could manage ferrets, and who, on one +occasion, had even had the privilege of assisting his father in the +capture of a poacher. Constant companionship engendered a friendship +which in time grew into feelings of mutual admiration. In the young +gamekeeper's eyes Harry was all that a gentleman should be; whereas the +schoolboy knew that in Jim Braid he had found a companion after his +heart. + +The path they followed led them past the bungalow. As they drew near +they saw there was a light in the window, and within was Mr. Langton, a +tall, grey-haired man, who sat at his writing-desk, poring over his +books and papers. + +"My uncle works too hard," said Harry. "For the last week he has done +nothing else. Every morning he has left the house directly after +breakfast to come here. I think there's something on his mind; he +seldom speaks at meals." + +"I suppose," said Braid, "in a big estate like this there must be a good +deal of business to be done?" + +"I don't think that takes him much time," said the other. "He keeps his +accounts and his cashbox in the bungalow, it is true, but he is much +more interested in the ancient histories of India and Asia than in +Friar's Court. He's a member of the Royal Society, you know, and that's +a very great honour." + +"He's a fine gentleman!" said Braid, as if that clinched the matter once +and for all. + +They walked on in silence for some minutes, and presently came to the +drive. It was then that they heard the sound of the wheels of a +dog-cart driving towards the house. + +"That's Captain von Hardenberg," said Braid. + +"I expect so," said the other. "His train must have been late. There'll +be three of us to shoot to-morrow." + +Braid did not answer. Harry glanced at him quickly. + +"You don't seem pleased," he said. + +"To tell the truth, sir," said Braid, after a brief pause, "I'm not. +Captain von Hardenberg and I don't get on very well together." + +"How's that?" + +Jim hesitated. + +"I hardly like to say, sir," said he, after a pause. + +"I don't mind," said Harry. "To tell the truth, my cousin and I have +never been friends. I can't think whatever possessed an aunt of mine to +marry a German--and a Prussian at that. He's a military attaché, you +know, at the German Embassy in London." + +The dog-cart came into sight round a bend in the drive. They stepped +aside to let it pass. There was just sufficient light to enable them to +see clearly the features of the young man who was seated by the side of +the coachman. He was about twenty-three years of age, with a very dark +and somewhat sallow complexion, sharp, aquiline features, and piercing +eyes. Upon his upper lip was a small, black moustache. He wore a heavy +ulster, into the pockets of which his hands were thrust. + +"Well, sir," said Jim, when the dog-cart had passed, "we've had a good +time together, what with shooting and the ferrets, but I'm afraid it's +all ended, now that the captain's come." + +"Ended!" said Harry. "Why should it be ended?" + +"Because I can never be the same with that gentleman as I am with you. +Last time he was here he struck me." + +"Struck you! What for?" + +"There was a shooting-party at the Court," the young gamekeeper went on, +"and I was helping my father. A pheasant broke covert midway between +Captain von Hardenberg and another gentleman, and they both fired. Both +claimed the bird, and appealed to me. I knew the captain had fired +first and missed, and I told him so. He said nothing at the time, +though he got very red in the face. That evening he came up to me and +asked me what I meant by it. I said I had spoken the truth, and he told +me not to be insolent. I don't know what I said to that, sir; but, at +any rate, he struck me. I clenched my fists, and as near as a touch did +I knock him down. I remembered in time that he was the Judge's nephew, +the same as yourself, and I'd lose my place if I did it. So I just +jammed both my fists in my trousers pockets, and walked away, holding +myself in, as it were, and cursing my luck." + +"You did right, Jim," said the other, after a pause. "You deserve to be +congratulated." + +"It was pretty difficult," Braid added. "I could have knocked him into +a cocked hat, and near as a touch I did it." + +"Though he's my cousin," said Harry, "I'm afraid he's a bad lot. He's +very unpopular in the diplomatic club in London to which he belongs. +When I went back to school last term I happened to travel in the same +carriage as two men who had known him well in Germany, and who talked +about him the whole way. It appears that he's sowing his wild oats +right and left, that he's always gambling and is already heavily in +debt." + +"I fancy," said Braid, "that a gamekeeper soon learns to know a rogue +when he sees one. You see, sir, we're always after foxes or poachers or +weasels; and the first time as ever I set eyes on Captain von +Hardenberg, I said to myself: 'That man's one of them that try to live +by their wits.'" + +"I think," said Harry, "we had better talk about something else. In +point of fact, Jim, I had no right to discuss my cousin at all. But I +was carried away by my feelings when you told me he had struck you." + +"I understand, sir," said the young gamekeeper, with a nod. + +"At all events, we must make the best of him. We're to have him here +for a month." + +"As long as he doesn't cross my path," said Jim Braid, "I'll not meddle +with him." + +Soon after that they parted, Harry going towards the house, Jim taking +the path that led to his father's cottage. + +In the hall Harry found his cousin, who had already taken off his hat +and overcoat, and was now seated before a roaring fire, with a cigarette +in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other. + +"Hallo!" said von Hardenberg, who spoke English perfectly. "Didn't know +I was to have the pleasure of your company. Where's my uncle?" + +"In the bungalow," said Harry. "During the last few days he's been +extremely hard at work." + +"How do you like school?" asked the young Prussian. + +His manner was particularly domineering. With his sleek, black hair, +carefully parted in the middle, and his neatly trimmed moustache, he had +the appearance of a very superior person. Moreover, he did not attempt +to disguise the fact that he looked upon his schoolboy cousin barely +with toleration, if not with actual contempt. + +"I like it tremendously!" said Harry, brightening up at once. "I +suppose you know I got into the Cricket Eleven, and took four wickets +against Harrow?" + +He said this with frank, boyish enthusiasm. There was nothing boastful +about it. Von Hardenberg, raising his eyebrows, flicked some +cigarette-ash from his trousers. + +"_Himmel!_" he observed. "You don't suppose I take the least interest +in what you do against Harrow. The whole of your nation appears to +think of nothing but play. As for us Germans, we have something better +to think of!" + +Harry looked at his cousin. For a moment a spirit of mischief rose +within him, and he had half a mind to ask whether von Hardenberg had +forgotten his gambling debts. However, he thought better of it, and +went upstairs to dress for dinner. + +The Judge came late from the bungalow, bursting into the dining-room as +his two nephews were seating themselves at the table, saying that he had +no time to change. + +"Boys," he cried, rubbing his hands together, "I've made the greatest +discovery of my life! I've hit upon a thing that will set the whole +world talking for a month! I've discovered the Sunstone! I've solved +its mystery! As you, Carl, would say, the whole thing's _colossal_!" + +"The Sunstone!" cried Harry. "What is that?" + +"The Sunstone," said the Judge, "has been known to exist for centuries. +It is the key to the storehouse of one of the greatest treasures the +world contains. It has been in my possession for nine years, and not +till this evening did I dream that I possessed it." + +"Come!" cried Harry. "You must tell us all about it!" + + + + +CHAPTER II--The Sunstone + + +"Well," said the Judge, pushing aside the plate of soup which he had +hardly tasted, "I don't know whether or not the story will interest you. +It ought to, because it's romantic, and also melodramatic--that is to +say, it is concerned with death. It came into my possession nine years +ago, when I was presiding judge at Sierra Leone. I remember being +informed by the police that a native from the region of Lake Chad had +come into the country with several Arabs on his track. He had fled for +his life from the hills; he had gone as far south as the Congo, and had +then cut back on his tracks; and all this time, over thousands of miles +of almost impenetrable country, the Arabs--slave-traders by repute--had +clung to his heels like bloodhounds. In Sierra Leone he turned upon his +tormentors and killed two of them. He was brought before me on a charge +of murder, and I had no option but to sentence him to death. The day +before he was hanged he wished to see me, and I visited him in prison. +He gave into my hands a large, circular piece of jade, and I have kept +it ever since, always looking upon it merely as a curiosity and a +memento of a very unpleasant duty. Never for a moment did I dream it +was the Sunstone itself. + +"Now, before you can understand the whole story, you must know something +of Zoroaster. Zoroaster was the preacher, or prophet, who was +responsible for the most ancient religion in the world. He was the +first of the Magi, or the Wise Men of the East, and it was he who framed +the famous laws of the Medes and Persians. He is supposed to have lived +more than six thousand years before Christ. + +"The doctrine of Zoroaster is concerned with the worship of the sun; +hence the name of the Sunstone. This religion was adopted by the +Persians, who conquered Egypt, and thus spread their influence across +the Red Sea into Africa. To-day, among the hills that surround Lake +Chad, there exists a tribe of which little is known, except that they +are called the Maziris, and are believed still to follow the religion of +Zoroaster. + +"In the days when Zoroaster preached, it was the custom of his followers +and admirers to present the sage with jewels and precious stones. These +were first given as alms, to enable him to live; but, as his fame +extended, the treasure became so great that it far exceeded his needs. + +"One rumour has it that Zoroaster died in the Himalayas; another that +his body was embalmed in Egypt and conveyed by a party of Ethiopians +into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where it was buried in a cave +with all his treasure. + +"The Sunstone is referred to by many ancient Persian writers. I have +known of it for years as the key to the treasure of Zoroaster. As I +have said, it is a circular piece of jade, bright yellow in colour, and +of about the size of a saucer. On both sides of the stone various signs +and symbols have been cut. On one side, from the centre, nine radii +divide the circumference into nine equal arcs. In each arc is a +distinct cuneiform character, similar to those which have been found +upon the stone monuments of Persia and Arabia. + +"The Arabs are in many ways the most wonderful people in the world. +Their vitality as a race is amazing. For centuries--possibly for +thousands of years--they have terrorized northern and central Africa. +They were feared by the ancient Egyptians, who built walls around their +cities to protect them from the Bedouins--the ancestors of the men who +to-day lead their caravans to Erzerum, Zanzibar, and Timbuctoo. + +"So far as I can discover, the Maziris are an Arab tribe who have given +up their old nomad life. Somewhere in the Maziri country is a group of +caves which no European has ever entered. They are known as the 'Caves +of Zoroaster', for it is here that the sage is supposed to have been +buried. The bones of Zoroaster, as well as the jewels, are said to lie +in a vault cut in the living rock; and the Sunstone is the key which +opens the entrance to that vault. The man, whom in my capacity as a +judge I was obliged to sentence to death, had no doubt stolen it, and +had been pursued across the continent by the Maziri chieftains, who +desired to recover the Sunstone. + +"There is the whole story. A week ago I came across a description of +the Sunstone in the writings of a Persian historian, and that +description led me to suspect that the very thing was in my own +possession. I followed up clue after clue, and this evening I put the +matter beyond all doubt." + +Mr. Langton's two nephews had listened in breathless interest. Harry +was leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his chin upon a +hand. Von Hardenberg lay back in a chair, his arms folded, his dark +eyes fixed upon his uncle. + +"Then," said he, "you have but to get into these so-called 'Caves of +Zoroaster' to possess yourself of the jewels?" + +The Judge smiled, and shook his head. + +"And to get into the caves," he answered, "is just the very thing that, +for the present, it is almost impossible for any European to do. The +Maziri are a wild and lawless tribe. They are indeed so bloodthirsty, +their country so mountainous, and their valleys so infertile, that +hitherto no one has ever interfered with their affairs. Like all the +Arabs, they are a nation of robbers and cut-throats, who lived in the +past by means of the slave-trade, and to-day exist by cattle-stealing +and robbery. The man who tries to enter the 'Caves of Zoroaster' will +have his work cut out." + +"Will you let us see the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Certainly, my boy," said Mr. Langton. "I'll take you both down to the +bungalow to-morrow morning, or--if you cannot wait till then--we can go +to-night." + +"Isn't it rather risky," asked von Hardenberg, "to keep such a valuable +thing out of the house?" + +"The bungalow is always locked," said Mr. Langton, "and I keep the +Sunstone in a cabinet. Moreover, you must remember that nobody knows of +its value. No thief would ever dream of stealing it. It is, to all +appearances, only an inferior piece of jade." + +"But you have money there as well?" said von Hardenberg. + +"Not much," answered the Judge. "Since I do my accounts there it is +convenient to have my cashbox at hand. But it seldom contains more than +twenty pounds--the amount of money I require to pay the men employed on +the estate." + +"What an extraordinary thing," said Harry, still thinking of the +treasure of Zoroaster, "that it should have existed for all these years +and never have been plundered." + +"Not so extraordinary," said Mr. Langton, "when you know the Arabs. The +Maziris, as I have told you, are of Arab descent, though they are not +followers of the Prophet. The sun-worshippers are extremely devout. No +priest of Zoroaster would think of stealing the treasure; that would be +to plunge his soul into eternal punishment." + +"And no one else," asked von Hardenberg, "no Mohammedan or heathen, has +ever been able to enter the vault?" + +"Never," said Mr. Langton, "because the Sunstone is the secret. That is +why, when the Sunstone was stolen, they were so anxious to run the thief +to earth." + +Von Hardenberg knit his brows. He was silent for a moment, and appeared +to be thinking. + +"And you believe you have solved the mystery?" he asked. + +"I know I have," said the Judge. "If at this moment I suddenly found +myself in the Caves of Zoroaster, with the Sunstone in my hand, I could +gain access to the vault." + +Von Hardenberg bit his lip quickly, and then looked sharply at his +uncle. When he spoke, it was in the voice of a man who took little or +no interest in the subject under discussion. + +"I should rather like to see it," he remarked. + +Accordingly, as soon as dinner was finished, they put on their +overcoats, and conducted by the Judge, who carried a lantern, they +followed a path through the woods until they came to the bungalow. + +Mr. Langton unlocked the door and put the key into his pocket. Then he +lit an oil lamp, which presently burned up and illumined the room. They +found themselves in what to all intents and purposes was a library. The +four walls were stacked with books, but the overflow of these was so +great that many were piled upon chairs and in odd corners of the room. +In the centre of the floor-space was a large writing-desk, and near this +a cabinet with several drawers. Lying open on the writing-desk was a +fair-sized cash-box, in which several golden sovereigns glittered in the +light. + +"How careless, to be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "I had no business to +leave my cash-box open. The truth is, I was so excited about this +discovery that I forgot to put it away." + +"And where's the Sunstone?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"I keep it here," said Mr. Langton. + +Going to the cabinet, and unlocking the third drawer from the top, he +took out a large stone and laid it on the table in the light of the +lamp. His two nephews, one on either side of him, leaned forward to +examine this extraordinary relic. + +On one side of the Sunstone were the cuneiform characters already +mentioned by the Judge. On the other was a great deal of writing in the +same primitive language, scratched upon the face of the jade, but so +faint as to be barely legible. + +"It was only with the greatest difficulty," observed the Judge, "that I +managed to decipher and translate this writing. It is in no known +language. Indeed, I would never have been able to make head or tail of +it had I not been a scholar of Sanskrit. This writing is nothing more +nor less than the definite instructions for using the Sunstone for the +purpose of entering the vaults of Zoroaster." + +"What does it say?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"You are told to begin with a certain character and take the others in a +circle 'in the way of the sun'--that is to say, from left to right, as +with the hands of a clock. Before the main vault is a large lock, which +works on the same principle as the modern Bramah lock--a very ancient +device. It consists of nine enormous wheels. The outside, or tyre, of +each of these wheels is adorned with hundreds of cuneiform characters, +all of them quite different. Each wheel must be turned until the +characters visible along a given line correspond with those upon the +Sunstone. Not otherwise can the vault be opened." + +There followed a silence of several moments. The Judge's discovery +seemed so romantic and so astonishing that it was almost impossible to +believe it was true. After a while, it was von Hardenberg who spoke. + +"And now that you have made this discovery," he asked, "what do you +propose to do?" + +"I don't know," said the Judge. "I have no desire to pillage a sacred +shrine. For the present I propose to keep the affair a secret whilst I +continue my researches. There are several points upon which the +historical world desires to be enlightened. Very little is known +concerning the life of Zoroaster." + +"But surely," exclaimed von Hardenberg, "you don't intend to keep this +to yourself!" + +"When I have the whole facts of the case at my finger-tips," said the +Judge, "I will make the result of my investigations known to the +authorities of the British Museum." + +Soon after that they left the bungalow. Before they went to bed that +night von Hardenberg took his cousin aside and looked at him intently. + +"What do you make of it?" he asked. + +"Of the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Yes," said the other. "It seems to me, if the old gentleman wanted to, +he could make himself a millionaire." + +Harry laughed. + +"I don't think Uncle Jack cares much about money," said he. "He looks +at the whole matter from a scientific point of view." + +"No doubt," exclaimed the Prussian. "No doubt. I dare say he does." + +And at that he turned and went slowly up the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER III--Caught Red-handed + + +Some hours after sunset, on the evening of the following day, Jim Braid +was stationed in the woods, on the look-out for poachers. His father, +John Braid, the head-gamekeeper, was also out that night, keeping watch +in a different part of the estate. A well-known gang of poachers had +been reported in the district, and, the week before, several shots had +been heard as late as twelve o'clock, for which the gamekeepers could +not account. + +The night was cold and foggy, and Jim wore the collar of his coat turned +up, and carried his gun under his arm, with his hands thrust deep into +his breeches pockets. + +He was moving along the edge of the coverts, which lay between Mr. +Langton's bungalow and the house, when suddenly he became conscious of +footsteps approaching stealthily through the woods. Without a moment's +thought he dropped flat upon his face, and lay close as a hare, +concealed in a clump of bracken. From this position he was able to see +the path by which the intruder approached; he could also command a view +of the windows of Friar's Court, several of which were illumined. + +The dark figure of a man came from among the trees. Jim, taking his +whistle from his pocket, put it to his lips, and was about to sound the +alarm which would bring his father and the other keepers to the spot, +when he was arrested by the man's singular appearance. + +This was no common poacher. He wore a heavy fur overcoat, and carried +in his hand--not a gun--but no more formidable a weapon than an +umbrella. On his head, tilted at an angle, was a white bowler hat. + +Jim Braid was in two minds what to do, and was even about to show +himself to the stranger and ask his business, when the front door of the +house opened, and he made out the figure of Captain von Hardenberg +silhouetted against the light in the hall. Jim had no particular desire +to eavesdrop. Still, as we know, he disliked and mistrusted the +Prussian; and, besides, the secretive manner in which the stranger was +careful to keep in the shadow of the trees had already aroused his +suspicions. + +When the man with the white hat saw von Hardenberg, he whistled softly, +and went forward a little towards him. They met a few yards from where +Jim Braid was hiding. The stranger at once held out a hand. Von +Hardenberg refused to take it. + +"I knew you'd come here," said he. "Can't you leave me alone?" + +"You're four months overdue, Captain von Hardenberg," answered the +other. "My interest is increasing day by day. You owe me nearly four +thousand pounds!" + +"Well, I can't pay," said von Hardenberg. "And there's an end of it." + +"Captain von Hardenberg," said the man, who spoke English with a strong +German accent. "I am sick of you. In a word, I have found you out. You +desire the services of a spy--one who has access to valuable +information--and you come to me, Peter Klein, even myself, who as the +butler of a cabinet minister have many opportunities of reading letters +and overhearing the consultations of those who are suppose to govern +these sleepy, fog-begotten islands. You are paid from Berlin, and you +are paid to pay me. And what do you do with the money? Gamble. In a +word, you play cards and lose money which by right is mine, which I--not +you--have earned. Then you beseech me to hold my tongue, promising me +that you will repay me with interest as soon as ever you have inherited +your uncle's estates. This, I find, is a lie. Your uncle has another +nephew, just as likely to inherit his capital as you. You play with me. +But I hold you in the hollow of my hand. Remember, I have only to +report you to Berlin, and you are ruined, once and for all." + +Von Hardenberg was silent for some moments. Then he spoke in a quick, +jerky voice. + +"Look here," said he; "it's no good. This very evening, knowing that +you were coming, I made a clean breast of it to my uncle. I told him +that I was four thousand pounds in debt to a money-lender, and that, if +I couldn't pay, you would come down upon me. I suppose you don't mind +that. I couldn't tell him you were a Government spy disguised as a +butler in a private house. And what do you think he said?" + +"I have not the least idea," said the other. + +"He told me," said von Hardenberg, "that he would cut me off with a +shilling!" + +Mr. Peter Klein was heard to gasp. Thrusting his hat well back upon his +head, he threw out his hands and gesticulated wildly. + +"Then, you're a thief!" he cried. "What it comes to is this: you have +embezzled Government money. I have given the Wilhelmstrasse valuable +information, and I have never received a penny." + +"Do what you like," answered von Hardenberg. "I cannot pay." + +"I'll have you court-martialled!" the other cried. "The Wilhelmstrasse +will be on my side. You have made a fool of me." + +Von Hardenberg grasped the man by the wrist. + +"Listen here," said he. "Can you wait a week?" + +"Yes. I can. But why?" + +"Because I know how I can get hold of the money, though it will take +some getting. You had better go back to London. I promise to call at +your office within a few days, and then I shall have something to tell +you." + +Peter Klein turned the matter over in his mind. As long as there +remained a chance of getting his money he thought it worth while to take +it. For all his threats, he knew enough of the Secret Service +department in the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin to know that in a fight +against a Prussian military attaché he would stand but a poor chance. +However, he was cunning enough to point out to von Hardenberg that the +Wilhelmstrasse might think that the services of Peter Klein might +possibly be valuable in the future. Then, he went his way, walking +quickly through the woods in the direction of the railway station. As +for von Hardenberg, he returned to the house; and no sooner was he gone +than Jim Braid got to his feet. + +The young gamekeeper had been able to understand only a third of what +had been said, for they had lapsed from German into English, and back to +German again. But, that night--or, rather, early the following +morning--when he went to bed, he thought over the matter for some time, +and had half a mind to tell his father. However, in the end he came to +the conclusion that it was no business of his, and slept the sleep of +the just. + +The following afternoon he was engaged in driving into the ground a +series of hurdles to keep the cattle from the pheasant coverts, when he +was approached by Mr. Langton. + +"Hard at work, Jim?" asked the Judge. + +"Yes, sir," said Jim, touching his cap. "These are the old hurdles we +brought up from Boot's Hollow." + +"That's a useful weapon, anyhow," said the Judge, indicating the crowbar +with which Jim was working. + +"Yes, sir, it's a handy tool, and sharp in the bargain." + +At that the Judge wished the boy "Good-night!" and went his way towards +the house. Hardly had he departed than Captain von Hardenberg brushed +his way through some thickets near at hand, and approached the young +gamekeeper. He must certainly have overheard the conversation that had +passed between Jim Braid and the Judge. + +"Braid," said he, "would you mind lending me that crowbar?" + +"I've finished with it to-night, sir," said Braid, "but I shall want it +to-morrow morning." + +"I'll let you have it back by then," said the other. And taking the +unwieldy tool from Jim's hands, he walked with it towards the house. + +No sooner was he out of sight, however, than he dropped down upon a knee +and looked furtively about him, as if to satisfy himself that he was not +observed. Then he thrust the crowbar down a rabbit-hole, the mouth of +which he covered over with several fronds of bracken. That done, he +walked quickly towards the house. + +That night, towards midnight, when everyone else in Friar's Court was +sound asleep, Captain Carl von Hardenberg sat, fully dressed, at the +foot of his bed with a cigar between his lips. He had taken off his +dress-coat and put on an old Norfolk jacket. On his feet he wore long +gum-boots, into which he had tucked his trousers. He sat looking at the +clock, which was but dimly visible upon the mantelpiece through the +clouds of tobacco-smoke with which the room was filled. + +Presently the clock struck twelve, and at that von Hardenberg rose to +his feet and went on tiptoe to the door. Without a sound he passed out, +walked quickly down the passage, and descended the back stairs to the +kitchen. With nervous hands he opened the scullery door, and then +paused to listen. Hearing no sound, he stepped quickly into the yard. + +He walked rapidly past the lawns which lie between Friar's Court and the +woods. Once inside the woods, he immediately sought out the path that +led straight to the bungalow. He had some difficulty in finding the +rabbit-hole in which he had hidden the crowbar, and only succeeded in +doing so with the aid of a lighted match. It was the flare of this +match that attracted Jim Braid, who was again on duty in this part of +the estate. + +Von Hardenberg, the crowbar in his hand, approached the bungalow. With +all his strength he drove the crowbar between the door and the jamb, and +with one wrench broke open the lock. + +In his uncle's study he lit the oil lamp that stood upon the central +table. He was surprised to see that the Judge had again left his +cash-box on the desk. The cash-box, however, was not his business; he +was determined to possess himself of the Sunstone. + +He had provided himself with a bunch of skeleton keys. Those whose +business it is to employ Government spies are not infrequently provided +with such things. After several futile attempts he succeeded in opening +the third drawer in the cabinet. Then, with the precious stone in his +hand, he rushed to the lamp and examined the Sunstone in the light. + +"Now," he cried--he was so excited that he spoke aloud--"now for the +German Cameroons!" + +And scarcely had he said the words than he looked up, and there in the +doorway was Jim Braid, the gamekeeper's son. + +"Hands up!" cried Braid, bringing his gun to his shoulder. + +Captain von Hardenberg looked about him like a hunted beast. + +"Don't be a fool!" he exclaimed. "You know who I am!" + +"Yes, I do," said Braid; "and you're up to no good. Hands up, I say!" + +Von Hardenberg held up his hands, and then tried to laugh it off. + +"You're mad!" said he more quietly. "Surely you don't imagine I'm a +thief?" + +"I'm not given much to imagining things," said Braid. "All I know is, +you broke in here by force." + +As he was speaking, before the last words had left his mouth, von +Hardenberg, with a quick and desperate action, had seized the gun by the +barrel. There followed a struggle, during which the gun went off. + +There was a loud report and a piercing cry, and Jim Braid fell forward +on his face. Even as he rolled over upon the ground, a black pool of +blood spread slowly across the floor. + +The Prussian went to the door and listened. He saw lights appear in the +windows of the house, and one or two were thrown open. Near at hand he +heard the strong voice of John Braid, the keeper, shouting to his son. +On the other side of the bungalow, an under-gamekeeper was hurrying to +the place. + +Von Hardenberg's face was ashen white. His hands were shaking, his lips +moving with strange, convulsive jerks. + +He went quickly to the body of the unconscious boy, and, kneeling down, +felt Braid's heart. + +"Thank Heaven," said he, "he is not killed." + +And then a new fear possessed him. If Jim Braid was not dead, he would +live to accuse von Hardenberg of the theft. The Prussian stood bolt +upright, his teeth fastened on his under lip. The voices without were +nearer to the house than before. He had not ten seconds in which to +act. + +Seizing the cash-box, he laid it on the ground and dealt it a shivering +blow with the crowbar. The lid flew open, and the contents--a score of +sovereigns--were scattered on the floor. These he gathered together and +thrust into the pockets of the unconscious boy. Then he took the +crowbar and closed Jim's fingers about it. It was at that moment that +John Braid, the gamekeeper, burst into the room. + +"What's this?" he cried. + +"I regret to tell you," said Captain von Hardenberg, "that your son is a +thief. I caught him red-handed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV--False Evidence + + +In less than a minute the bungalow was crowded. Close upon the +head-gamekeeper's heels came one of his assistants, and after him Mr. +Langton himself and Harry, followed by several servants from the house. + +When John Braid heard von Hardenberg's words, accusing his son of theft, +it was as if a blow had been struck him. He looked about him like a man +dazed, and then carried a hand across his eyes. Then, without a word, +he went down upon his knees at his son's side and examined the wounded +boy. + +"He's not dead," said he in a husky voice. "I can feel his heart +distinctly." + +It was at this moment that the Judge rushed into the room. His bare +feet were encased in bedroom slippers; he was dressed in a shirt and a +pair of trousers. + +"Whatever has happened?" he exclaimed. + +He repeated the question several times before anyone answered, and by +then the room was full. The chauffeur was sent back post-haste to the +stables, with orders to drive for a doctor. + +"How did it happen, John?" repeated Mr. Langton. + +But the gamekeeper shook his head. He had the look of a man who is not +completely master of his senses. + +The Judge regarded his nephew. + +"Carl," said he, "can you explain how this--accident occurred?" + +"Certainly!" said von Hardenberg, who now realized, that to save +himself, all his presence of mind was necessary. + +"Then," said the Judge, "be so good as to do so." + +"After my yesterday's interview with you," von Hardenberg began, in +tones of complete assurance, "as you may imagine, I had several letters +to write, and to-night I did not think of getting into bed till nearly +twelve o'clock. Before I began to undress I went to the window and +opened it. As I did so I saw a man cross the lawn and enter the woods. +As his conduct was suspicious, I took him for a poacher. As quickly as +possible I left the house and walked in the direction I knew the man had +taken." + +"Why did not you wake any of us?" asked the Judge, who was in his own +element, and might have been examining a witness in the box. + +Von Hardenberg, however, did not appear to be the least alarmed. He +answered his uncle slowly, but without the slightest hesitation. + +"For the very simple reason," said he, "that I did not wish to make a +fool of myself. I half expected that the man would prove to be a +gamekeeper." + +"Then why did you follow him?" + +"For two reasons. First, because I wanted to satisfy myself as to who +he was, and, secondly, because a man who has just learnt he is to remain +a pauper for life does not, as a rule, feel inclined for sleep. I wanted +to go out into the air." + +"Well," asked the Judge, "and then what happened?" + +"I was unable to find the man in the woods, until I heard a noise in the +direction of the bungalow. To the bungalow, accordingly I went, as +quickly as I could. I got there in time to see him break open the door +with a crowbar. There is the crowbar in his hand." + +Everyone in the room caught his breath. Such an accusation against Jim +Braid was almost incomprehensible. The boy was believed to be perfectly +honest and trustworthy; and yet, as Captain von Hardenberg had said, +there was the crowbar in his hand. + +"And then?" prompted the judge. + +"And then," the Prussian continued, "I watched him enter the room. I +could see him through the window. He went straight to your desk, took +the cash-box, and burst it open with the crowbar. There is the box +lying on the floor. If you examine it, you will see that I speak the +truth." + +The judge picked up the box and looked at it. + +"You are prepared to swear to this?" he asked. + +"In a court of law," said the other--and never flinched. + +It was the Judge himself who emptied Jim's pockets, and there sure +enough he found the sovereigns which had been taken from the cash-box. + +"I would never have believed it!" he exclaimed. "It's terrible to think +that one of my own servants should have treated me thus!" + +It was then that Harry Urquhart spoke for the first time. He could not +stand by and see his old friend so basely accused and not offer a word +in his defence. + +"It's a lie!" he cried, his indignation rising in a flood. "A base, +unmitigated lie! Uncle," he pleaded, "you don't believe it, surely?" + +The Judge shook his head. + +"It would be very foolish for me," said he, "to give an opinion one way +or the other, before the boy has had a chance to speak in his own +defence. I must admit, however, that the evidence is very strong +against him." + +A hurdle was fetched, upon which a mattress was laid; and upon this the +wounded boy was carried to the house, which was nearer to the bungalow +than his father's cottage. By a strange coincidence, it was one of the +very hurdles that Jim had been setting up that afternoon. + +The doctor, who lived at some distance, did not arrive for an hour. +After a short examination of the patient he was able to give a +satisfactory report. The gun had gone off at too close a range to allow +the shot to scatter, and only about a quarter of the pellets had entered +the boy's side, the rest tearing a great hole in his coat and waistcoat. +The wound was large and gaping, but no artery was touched, and before +they reached the house, and Jim had been laid upon the bed in Harry's +room, the patient had recovered consciousness. + +For all that, it was several days before the doctor would allow him to +see anyone. He was to be kept perfectly quiet, and not excited in any +way. During that time he was attended with the greatest care, not only +by the housekeeper and Harry Urquhart, but by Mr. Langton himself. + +At the end of a week, a naturally strong constitution, and the good +health resulting from a life that is lived in the open air, had done +their work, and Jim was allowed to get up. It was soon after that that +the Judge heard the case in his dining-room, where, seated at the head +of the table, pen in hand, he might have been back in his old place in +the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. + +Jim Braid--who, in very truth, was the prisoner in the dock--was seated +on a chair, facing the Judge. On either side of the table were those +whom Mr. Langton proposed to call as witnesses--namely, Captain von +Hardenberg, John Braid, and the under-gamekeeper. + +The face of the prisoner in the dock was white as a sheet. Harry +Urquhart stood behind his uncle's chair, regarding his old friend with +commiseration in his eyes and a deep sympathy in his heart. + +Von Hardenberg's evidence differed in no material points from what he +had said before. Indeed, he played his cards with almost fiendish +cunning. The circumstantial evidence was all against the boy. The +Judge had not yet discovered that the Sunstone was missing. There was +no doubt that both the door of the bungalow and the cash-box had been +broken open by the crowbar--moreover, the very crowbar which the Judge +himself had seen in Jim's hands on the afternoon of the crime. Neither +John Braid nor any other gamekeeper could do anything but bear out the +testimony of von Hardenberg. When they entered the bungalow the boy's +guilt had seemed manifest. + +In his own defence Jim could state as much of the truth as he knew. He +said that he had seen von Hardenberg break into the bungalow; he swore +that he had lent him the crowbar that very day. Asked why he supposed +the Judge's nephew had become a burglar, he was unable to give an +answer. From his position he had not been able to see into the room; he +had not the slightest idea what von Hardenberg did immediately after +entering. + +All this the Judge flatly refused to believe. He protested that it was +ridiculous to suppose that a young man of von Hardenberg's position +would rifle a cash-box, containing about twenty pounds. In Mr. +Langton's opinion, the case was proved against the boy; he could not +doubt that he was guilty. He said that he would refrain from +prosecuting, since John Braid had served him faithfully for many years, +but he was unwilling any longer to employ Jim on the estate. + +When Mr. Langton had finished, John Braid asked for permission to speak, +and then turned upon his son with a savage fierceness that was terrible +to see. He disowned him; he was no longer a son of his. He pointed out +the benefits Jim had received at the hands of Mr. Langton, and swore +that he had never dreamed that such ingratitude was possible. As far as +he was concerned, he had done with his son, once and for all. He would +blot out his memory. Henceforward Jim could fend for himself. + +Still weak from his wounds, and with a far greater pain in his heart +than ever came from physical hurt, the boy rose to his feet and slowly +and in silence left the room. He went to his father's cottage, and +there saw his mother, from whom he parted in tears. Then, shouldering +the few belongings he possessed, done up in a bundle that he proposed to +carry on the end of a stick, he went his way down the drive of Friar's +Court. + +He had not gone far before he heard footsteps approaching, and, turning, +beheld Harry Urquhart, running forward in haste. The boy waited until +his friend had come up with him. He tried to speak, but found that +impossible. Something rose in his throat and choked his power of +utterance. + +"You believe in me?" said he at last. + +"I do," cried Harry, "and I always will! I know that you are innocent!" + +"Thank you for that, sir!" said Jim. "I can go my way with a lighter +heart." + +"Where are you going?" asked Harry. + +"I don't know, sir, and I don't think I care. Anywhere, so long as I +can get away from this place where I am suspected and despised!" + +"Have you any money?" asked Harry. + +Jim shook his head. + +"Here you are. Take this. It's all I have." And Harry thrust into his +friend's hand a five-pound note. + +Jim hesitated to take it; but in the end he did so, folding it carefully +and putting it into his waistcoat pocket. + +"God bless you, sir!" said he. + +"I'll make it my life's work," cried Harry, "to prove your innocence. +I'm confident I will succeed in the end. For the present, good-bye!" + +"Good-bye!" said the other. He dared not look young Urquhart in the +face, for his eyes were filling fast with tears. + +Then he went his way, throwing himself upon the mercy of the world, with +life before him to be started all anew. Under his own name, and with +his old surroundings, he was disinherited, disowned, and dishonoured. +He must find some new employment. He must endeavour to forget and to +live down the past. + +At the gate of the drive he came into the highroad, and, turning his +face towards London, set forward, walking as quickly as he could. + + + + +CHAPTER V--The Eleventh Hour + + +The following day Captain von Hardenberg left Friar's Court. He had +more reasons than one to be anxious to return to London. + +The robbery and the outrage at the bungalow had sadly interrupted Mr. +Langton's studies. Nearly a month elapsed before the Judge took up his +old researches, and then it was that for the first time he discovered +that the Sunstone was missing. Search where he might, he could find it +nowhere. The evidence was against Jim Braid, and there was no one to +speak up on his behalf, for by then Harry Urquhart had returned to +school. On the night Braid was wounded, only his coat pockets had been +emptied, and, since the whole of the money had been recovered, no +further search had been made. The Judge had little doubt in his mind +that, as well as the contents of the cash-box, the boy had stolen the +Sunstone, though poor Jim could have had no idea as to its value. + +Mr. Langton was determined to recover the relic at all costs. He spent +a great deal of money on advertisements, and gave a full description of +Braid to the police; but no trace of the boy could be found. It was not +until Christmas had come, and Harry Urquhart was again at Friar's Court, +that the Judge told his nephew of his suspicions. + +And though Harry was sure of Braid's innocence, he could not convince +the Judge. Mr. Langton's mind was the mind of a lawyer; he based his +conclusions upon the testimony of facts, and never allowed his personal +opinions to influence him in the least. + +Though the police had failed to discover any trace of Braid, Harry was +determined to find him. Since he had now left school, he obtained +permission from his uncle to go to London. He felt perfectly certain +that Braid was somewhere in the great city where it is possible for a +man to hide himself from the eyes of the world, even to bury his +identity. + +In the meantime, Captain von Hardenberg had presented himself before +Peter Klein, the informer, and a long interview had taken place between +them. + +Peter listened to the whole story of the Sunstone, doubted it one +moment, believed it the next; and fingered the strange jade ornament, +first with reverence, and then almost with suspicion. He examined it +through a magnifying-glass, shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and +found it impossible to make up his mind. Von Hardenberg made no secret +of the fact that he was determined to undertake a journey through the +German colonial territory of the Cameroons to the Caves of Zoroaster, to +recover the jewels that were hidden in the vault. With the treasure +once in his possession, he swore that he would pay Klein, not only the +full amount that was due to him, but ten per cent of the total profits. + +Now, Peter Klein was a usurer--as well as a butler and a spy--one who +drove a hard bargain, who was relentless to his victims. He said that +he himself was tired of cities, that the suspicions of the British +police authorities had already been aroused in regard to his occupation, +and that therefore he also would like to travel. He would accompany von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, which was once called the White-Man's +Grave; he would penetrate the bush to the Cameroon peaks, even to the +Caves of Zoroaster. But he would require more than ten per cent: they +would share and share alike. + +Von Hardenberg was in no position to refuse. This man had him in his +clutches. Klein knew well that the Prussian was ruined for life if ever +his conduct was made known to the departmental heads of the German +Secret Service. And, moreover, in a few days Klein had gained the whip +hand by enlisting in his services an Arab whom he found starving in the +vicinity of the docks. + +This man, though he was poor, in rags, and well-nigh perishing in the +cold, was learned in many things. Like all his race, he was a nomad--a +man who had roamed the world throughout his life, who had even been +all-powerful in his day. He had sold ivory in Zanzibar; he had stolen +cattle in the neighbourhood of Lake Chad, and driven his capture across +the great plains to the east; he had hunted for slaves in the Upper +Congo and the Aruwimi. Though he was starving, he boasted that he was a +sheik, and said that his name was Bayram. He said he had been to the +Cameroons River, and that he despised the Negro from Loango to Zanzibar. +He was confident that, provided he was rewarded, he could render +invaluable services to his employer. He had never before heard of the +Sunstone, but, from rumours he had heard, there was a treasure hidden +somewhere in the mist-shrouded mountains that guard Lake Chad to the +east. + +To return to Jim Braid. All these winter months he wandered the streets +of London. He found the greatest difficulty in getting work. He had no +trade but that of a gamekeeper, and such business was at a discount in +the midst of the great, seething city. He was out of work for some +weeks; then he obtained work in the docks; after which he was again +unemployed for nearly a month. By that time he had got to the end of +his money, and was obliged to pawn his clothes. He thanked Heaven when +the snow came; for, though the frost was severe, and his clothes in +rags, he saw employment in sweeping the pavements and the roads. + +Then the thaw followed, and he was starving again. One night he found +himself in Jermyn Street. He had had no food that day. A taxi-cab drew +up before a doorway, upon which was a brass plate bearing the name +"Peter Klein". + +Jim was conscious of the fact that he had heard the name before, he +could not remember where. Just then, starvation, ill-health, and the +misery in his heart had broken the boy completely; it was as if his +senses were numbed. All that interested him was the taxi, by the side +of which he remained, in the hope of earning a copper by opening the +door. Presently a manservant came from the house, carrying a box. Jim +volunteered to help him, and the man agreed. Together they put the box +upon the taxi-cab, and Jim noticed that it bore the same name, "Peter +Klein", and several steamship labels, upon each of which was written the +word "Old Calabar". Jim Braid saw these things like one who is +half-dazed, without understanding what they meant. + +There were several other boxes to be put on to the cab, and when the +work was finished, and the driver had strapped them securely together, +two men came from the house, followed by one who wore a turban, and +shivered from the cold. + +Jim's attention was attracted by the native. He was very tall and thin. +He had a great black beard, and his eyes were like those of a bird of +prey. They were cruel, bloodshot, and passionate. + +One of the Europeans, who wore a fur coat, got into the cab. The other +paused with his foot upon the step and looked Jim Braid in the face. +Near by a street lamp flared and flickered, and in the light Jim +recognized the features of Captain von Hardenberg, the man who had been +his accuser. + +He stared at him in amazement. He had not the power to speak. He +thought, at first, that he, too, would be recognized. He did not know +that misfortune had so changed him that his own mother would not have +known him. He was thin and haggard-looking; his rags hung loosely upon +his gaunt form; his hair was so long that it extended over his ears. + +"Are you the man," said von Hardenberg in his old, insolent way, "who +helped to carry the boxes?" + +"Yes," said Jim, "I am." + +"There you are, then. There's sixpence, and don't spend it on drink." + +At that the Prussian jumped into the taxi, telling the driver to go to +Charing Cross. The Arab followed, closing the door, and a few seconds +later the taxi was driving down the street. + +Jim Braid stood on the pavement under the street lamp, regarding the +sixpence in his hand. He was starving; his bones ached from physical +exhaustion; his head throbbed in a kind of fever. He knew not where he +would sleep. This sixpence to him was wealth. + +For a moment he was tempted, but not for longer. With a quick, +spasmodic action he hurled the coin into the gutter, and walked away +quickly in the direction of the Haymarket. + +He knew not where he was going. The streets were crowded. People were +going to the theatre. Outside a fashionable restaurant a lady with a +gorgeous opera-cloak brushed against him, and uttered an exclamation of +disgust. He walked on more rapidly than before, and came presently to +Trafalgar Square, and before he knew where he was he found himself on +the Embankment. Slowly he walked up the steps towards the Hungerford +footbridge; and there, pausing, with his folded arms upon the rails, he +looked down into the water. + +At that moment the sound of footsteps attracted his attention. He +looked up into a face that he recognized at once. It was that of Harry +Urquhart, his only friend, the only person in the world who had believed +him innocent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--The Pursuit Begins + + +"Jim!" cried Harry. + +So astonished was he that he reeled backward as though he had been +struck. + +"My poor, old friend," said Harry. "I have searched for you everywhere, +and had almost given up hope of finding you. I don't know what led my +footsteps to the bridge." + +At that Jim Braid burst into tears. + +"It was the work of God," said he. + +Harry said nothing, but pressed Jim's arm. At the bottom of +Northumberland Avenue he hailed a taxi, and the driver looked somewhat +astonished when this ragged pauper got into the cab and seated himself +at the side of his well-dressed companion. + +Harry had rooms in Davies Street, where he thrust Jim into an arm-chair +before the fire, upon which he heaped more coals. Braid, leaning +forward, held out his hands before the cheerful blaze. As Harry looked +at him, a great feeling of pity arose in his heart. The boy looked so +miserable and wretched that he appeared barely to cling to life. + +Harry would not allow him to speak, until he had eaten a meal. Braid +fell upon his food like a wolf. He had had absolutely nothing to eat +for two days. + +It is not wise to feed a starving man to repletion. But perhaps in +Braid's case this made little or no difference, since the boy was on the +verge of double pneumonia. Within twenty-four hours he was in a raging +fever, and for days afterwards the doctor despaired of saving his life. +Starvation, cold, dirt, to say nothing of his wound, had done their +work; but a strong heart and youth pulled him through. + +It was nearly three months afterwards, when the spring was well +advanced, that one afternoon the two friends talked the whole matter +out. + +Harry looked at Jim Braid and smiled. + +"You're a different fellow now," said he. "It was a near thing though. +One night the doctor gave you up. He actually left the house believing +you were dead." + +Jim tried to thank his benefactor, but his heart was too full to speak. + +"Come," said Harry, "tell me what has happened since you left Friar's +Court." + +"There is nothing to tell," said the other. "I tramped to London, +sometimes sleeping in the open air, sometimes--when the weather was +bad--lodging at wayside inns. At first, I was glad to get here. In a +great city like this I felt I could not be recognized and pointed out as +a thief. Oh," he burst forth, "you know that I am innocent!" + +"I was always sure of it," said Harry. "I can't think how my uncle can +believe you guilty." + +"Everything was against me," said Jim. "That man, to shield himself, +laid a trap for me from which I could not escape. Had I known why he +went to the bungalow that night, my story might have been believed." + +"I know why he went," said Harry. "I am sure of it. It was to steal +the Sunstone." + +"The Sunstone!" said Braid. "What's that?" + +"It is a very valuable relic that originally came from Persia. No one +knows of its value but my uncle, von Hardenberg, and myself. There can +be no doubt that my cousin took it." + +Jim Braid sighed. + +"I could not prove my innocence," said he. + +"Jim, old friend," said Harry, "I promise you shall not remain under +this cloud for the rest of your life. I know my cousin to be guilty; I +will not rest until I have proved him to be so. He has the Sunstone in +his possession, and I intend to do my best to recover it!" + +"You will not succeed," said the other, shaking his head. + +"Why not?" + +"Because he left England weeks ago." + +"Left England!" echoed the other. + +"Yes. He went away with a man called Peter Klein and a native who wore +a turban. They took the boat train from Charing Cross. It was I who +carried their boxes on to the taxi. They were going to Old Calabar." + +"The West Coast!" cried Harry, jumping to his feet. + +Braid was as mystified as ever. Before he knew what was happening, +Harry had seized him by the shoulders, and was shaking him as a terrier +shakes a rat. + +"Don't you see," cried Urquhart, "your innocence is practically proved +already. If they have not got the Sunstone, why should they want to go +to Africa? They are after the treasure of which the Sunstone is the +key. I don't know who the native is, but he is probably some +interpreter or guide whom they have hired for the journey. Jim, when my +uncle hears of this, I promise you he will take a very different view of +the question." + +"Then," said Braid, "has this Sunstone got something to do with Africa?" + +"Everything!" exclaimed the other. "Here, in Europe, it is valueless; +but in certain caves which are situated upon the watershed on the +southern side of the Sahara, the thing is worth thousands of pounds. +To-morrow morning I will return to my uncle, to Friar's Court, and tell +him what you have told me. I will ask him to allow me to follow von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, to keep upon his tracks, to run him to +ground and accuse him to his face. You will come with me. My uncle +will supply us with funds. He would be willing to spend his entire +fortune in order to recover the Sunstone." + +Harry was so excited that he could scarcely talk coherently. He paced +up and down the little sitting-room--three steps this way and three +steps that--and every now and again laid his hands upon Jim Braid and +shook him violently to emphasize his words. + +When Jim awoke the following morning, he was informed that Mr. Urquhart +had left early to go back to Friar's Court. He had promised to return +the following day. In the meantime, Harry had given instructions that +his landlady was to look after his guest. If he wanted anything, he had +only to ring the bell. + +On the afternoon of the second day Harry returned to London. + +"My uncle," he explained, "is inclined to withdraw his verdict, though +he will not say openly that he has been guilty of a great injustice. In +any case he intends to do everything in his power to get the Sunstone +back. He has given me leave to fit out an expedition. Preparations, +however, will take some little time. I am to be supplied with letters +of introduction to several influential persons on the West Coast. He +even said he would come with us himself, were it not that his strength +is failing, and he feels he is getting old. Jim, there's hope yet, my +lad. You and I together will see this matter through." + +Braid held out his hand. + +"I can't thank you sufficiently, sir," said he, "for what you have done! +You have saved my life twice, and now you mean to save my reputation." + +"Don't speak of it," said Harry. "You and I have a great task in front +of us; we must stick to each other through thick and thin. I am +impatient to be off." + +And he had more need of his patience than he thought; for, before they +could start upon their journey, war descended upon Europe like a +thunderbolt, finding England wholly unprepared. + +It was not so with the Germans. Peter Klein and birds of a like feather +had been employed for years in every country liable to prove hostile to +the Fatherland. Germany had for long intended war, and these +rascals--paid in proportion to the information they obtained--were +living by the score under the protection of the British flag, within +sound of Big Ben, in every colony, dependency, and dominion. Moreover, +it has since been proved that the great German Empire did not scruple to +employ even her consular and diplomatic servants either as spies +themselves or as agents for the purpose of engaging and rewarding +informers. + +Small wonder, when preparations had been so complete, that Germany had +the whip hand at the start, that Belgium, Poland, and Serbia were +overrun, and Paris herself saved only at the eleventh hour. + +During those early, anxious days, Harry Urquhart was in two minds what +to do. He was wishful to serve his country, and could without +difficulty have secured a commission within a few weeks of the +declaration of war. Braid was also willing to enlist. On talking the +matter out, however, with Mr. Langton, it was decided that the quest of +the Sunstone was as patriotic a cause as any man could wish for; since, +if von Hardenberg succeeded in reaching the Caves of Zoroaster, the +wealth that they contained would ultimately find its way to the +Fatherland. + +But, since there was fighting both in Togoland and the Cameroons, their +departure had to be postponed whilst Mr. Langton obtained permission +from the War Office authorities for his two protégés to visit the West +African scene of operations. All this took time; and it was not until +the beginning of October that young Urquhart and Jim Braid found +themselves sitting together in a first-class railway compartment on +their way to Southampton. + +A few hours afterwards, on a dark windy night, they were on board a ship +that rolled and pitched upon its way to Ushant. The Lizard light +flashed good-bye from England, and the dark sea, as they knew quite +well, contained hidden dangers in the shape of submarines and mines, but +the quest of the Sunstone had begun. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--Into the Bush + + +They experienced rough weather in the Bay of Biscay, where the ship +pitched and rolled in a confused sea, and the wind howled round +Finisterre, which was wrapped in an impenetrable fog. + +Two days afterwards they found the blue waters that bound the Morocco +coast, after which the heat became excessive. + +The ship was bound first for Sierra Leone, and thence to Old Calabar, +from which place they intended to strike inland through the bush, after +engaging the services of a party of Kru boys to act as carriers. + +On these still tropic seas, dazzling in the sunshine, there was no sign +of war, except an occasional torpedo-boat destroyer which flew past them +at a speed of thirty knots an hour. + +At Sierra Leone, Harry betook himself to a certain gentleman holding an +influential position in the Civil Service, to whom he had a letter of +introduction from his uncle, and who received the boy with courtesy and +kindness. It was from that Harry learned that the Germans had been +driven back in Togoland, and that active operations were in progress in +the valley of the Cameroon River. He himself had travelled far in the +interior; and in consequence he was able to give the boy invaluable +advice concerning the kit and equipment he would need to take with him +upon his expedition. He advised him to strike into the bush from Old +Calabar, where he could procure servants and guides; if he went to +Victoria he would find his hands tied by those in command of the +Expeditionary Force, who had no liking for civilians at the front. + +"All the same," he added, "I strongly advise you not to endeavour to +enter Maziriland." + +Harry smiled. + +"I am afraid, sir," said he, "I have no option. My duty takes me +there." + +"Of course," said the other, "I don't know what this duty may be, but I +tell you frankly the country is by no means safe. All the natives are +in arms, some purchased by rum by the Germans, others loyal to us. In +the old days the Cameroon kings implored the British Government to take +the country under its protection. In their own words, they wanted +English laws. But the Government took no notice of them until it was +too late, until the Germans had forestalled us and taken possession of +the country, by buying over the chiefs. If you go into the bush, you +run into a thousand dangers: yellow fever, malaria, even starvation, and +the natives you encounter may sell you as prisoners to the Germans. Some +of them will do anything for drink." + +Harry explained that he was prepared to take the gravest risks, since +the object of his journey was of more than vital importance, and shortly +afterwards took his leave, returning to the ship. + +They had brought with them all they needed in the way of provisions, +clothing, arms and ammunition; and at Old Calabar they purchased a canoe +and engaged the services of six stalwart Kru boys. Harry's idea was to +travel up-river, crossing the Cameroon frontier west of Bamenda, and +thence striking inland towards the mountains in northern German +territory, beyond which the Caves of Zoroaster were said to be. They +also interviewed an interpreter, a half-caste Spaniard from Fernando Po, +who assured them he could speak every native dialect of the Hinterland, +from Lagos to the Congo, as well as English and German. This proved to +be no exaggeration. Urquhart was assured that the man was indeed a +wonderful linguist, and, moreover, that he could be trusted implicitly +as a guide--the more so since he hated the Germans, who had destroyed +his 'factory' to make room for a house for a Prussian Governor, who had +hoped to rule the West Coast native with the iron discipline of Potsdam. + +This man--who called himself "Fernando" after the place of his +birth--said that he would never venture across the Cameroons to +Maziriland unless his brother was engaged to come with him. + +He explained that this brother of his was younger and more agile than +himself. Before they became traders they had been hunters, in the old +days when the West Coast was practically unexplored, and they had worked +together hand-in-glove. + +Accordingly, it was agreed that both brothers should join the +expedition; and when they presented themselves before Harry Urquhart, +the young Englishman could hardly refrain from smiling at their personal +appearance. + +They were plainly half-castes, and, like most such, considered +themselves Europeans, though neither had ever set eyes upon the northern +continent. Though they were almost as black of skin as a Kru boy, they +wore large pith helmets, suits of white ducks and blue puttees, being +dressed to a button exactly the same. Both wore brown leather belts +from which depended revolver holsters and cartridge pouches. The one +was robust, wrinkled, broad of chest, and upright; the other, stooping, +tall, and abnormally thin. There was a business-like air about them +both that appealed to Harry; and this favourable impression was by no +means dispelled when the brothers, in quite tolerable English, raved +against the Germans, who, they swore, had bought the Cameroons with rum, +in order to manage the country to their own profit without regard to the +welfare of the natives. It was owing to the German occupation of the +Cameroons that Fernando and his brother--who went by the name of +Cortes--had been ruined by the State-aided German factories that had +sprung up as if by magic in the early 'nineties. Later, they had been +accused of inciting the natives to rebellion, heavily fined, and +banished from the country. + +This increase in numbers necessitated the purchase of a second canoe. +Before leaving Calabar they supplemented their commissariat with a new +supply of provisions; and, a few days after, it was a small but +well-equipped and dauntless expedition that set forth up-river in the +sweltering heat, making straight for the heart of the great West African +bush and the very stronghold of the enemy's position. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--Danger Ahead + + +Three weeks later they camped on the river bank not many miles from the +German frontier. The heat was terribly oppressive. Thousands of +insects droned about their ears. A thick mist hung upon the river like +a poison-cloud. They were in the very depths of the great White Man's +Grave. + +Four days afterwards Fernando deemed it advisable to leave the river +valley, and unloading the canoes--which they hid in a mangrove +swamp--they began their journey through the bush. + +It would be tedious to describe in detail the long weeks that followed +or the hardships they had to undergo. One by one the Kru boys deserted +them, to find their own way back to the coast. But both Cortes and +Fernando proved loyal to the hilt, and eventually the party came out +from the jungle upon the high ground in the central part of the colony. + +The country here was savage, inhospitable, and bleak. There was little +vegetation save rank mountain grass and withered shrubs in sheltered +places. Day by day they advanced with the utmost caution, giving native +villages a wide berth and always on the look-out for an ambuscade. + +Fernando proved himself to be an excellent cook, whereas his younger +brother prided himself upon his skill as a runner. It was his custom on +the line of march to jump fallen trees and brooks. + +In these higher altitudes there was a plenitude of game, whereas in the +bush they had been near to starving, and one morning they were crossing +a spur of a great cloud-wrapped mountain when Cortes, who had been +walking about fifty yards in advance of Harry and Jim, dropped suddenly +upon his face, and motioned the two boys to do the same. They had no +idea as to what had happened, and suspected that the guide had sighted a +party of the enemy. + +Crawling on hands and knees, they drew level with the man. + +"Goat," said he, pointing towards the mountain. + +And there, sure enough, was a species of mountain goat with his great +horns branching from the crown of his shaggy head. + +"Come," said the man to Harry; "you shoot." + +They could not afford to let the beast escape. The flesh of all the +wild goats, though perhaps not so good as that of the wild sheep, is by +no means unwelcome when one must journey far from civilization in the +wilds of the African hills. + +Harry adjusted his sights to six hundred yards, and then, drawing in a +deep breath, took long and careful aim. Gently he pressed the trigger, +the rifle kicked, there came a sharp report, and the bullet sped upon +its way. On the instant the beast was seen galloping at breakneck speed +down what seemed an almost perpendicular cliff. + +"Missed!" cried Harry. + +"No," said Cortes. "He's hit--he's wounded. He will not go far." + +For a few minutes the members of the party held a hurried consultation. +Finally it was decided that Fernando should go on ahead with the camp +kit and cooking-utensils, whilst the younger brother accompanied Harry +and Jim in pursuit of the wounded goat. They agreed to meet at +nightfall at a place known to the brothers. + +It took them nearly an hour to scramble across the valley, to reach the +place where the animal had been wounded. There, as the guide had +predicted, there were drops of blood upon the stones. All that morning +they followed the spoor, and about two o'clock in the afternoon they +sighted the wounded beast, lying down in the open. + +He was still well out of range, and, unfortunately for them, on the +windward side. That meant they would have to make a detour of several +miles in order to come within range. + +For three hours they climbed round the wind, all the time being careful +not to show themselves, for the eyes of the wild goat are like those of +the eagle. With its wonderful eyesight, its still more wonderful sense +of smell, and its ability to travel at the pace of a galloping horse +across rugged cliffs and valleys, it is a prize that is not easily +gained. When they last saw the animal it was lying down in the same +place. They were then at right angles to the wind, about two miles up +the valley. + +From this point, on the advice of Cortes, they passed into another +valley to the west. Here there was no chance of being seen or winded by +the beast; and, since it was now possible to walk in an upright +position, they progressed more rapidly. + +When they had arrived at the spot which the guide judged was immediately +above the wounded animal they climbed stealthily up the hill. On the +crest-line they sought cover behind great boulders, which lay scattered +about in all directions as if they had been hurled down from the skies. +Lying on their faces, side by side, Harry with his field-glasses to his +eyes, they scanned the valley where they had left their quarry. + +Not a sign of it was to be seen. The thing had disappeared as +mysteriously as if it had been spirited away. + +"He's gone!" said Harry, with a feeling of bitter disappointment. + +He was about to rise to his feet, but the half-caste held him down by +force. + +"Don't get up;" he cried. "Lie still! There are men in the valley +yonder." + +"Men! Have you seen them?" + +"No, I have not seen them," said Cortes. "But the beast saw them, or +got their wind. Otherwise he would not have gone." + +"It's von Hardenberg, perhaps!" said Harry, turning to Braid, the wish +being father to the thought. + +Both looked at their guide. + +"It is either the man you want," said the guide, "or else it is the +Germans." + +The wounded animal was now forgotten. They were face to face with the +reality of their situation. They had either overtaken von Hardenberg +and Peter Klein or else the Germans had received news of their having +reached the frontier. + +"We'll have to cross the valley," said Harry, "to get back to camp." + +"That is the worst of it," said Cortes; "we must rejoin my brother. He +will be awaiting us." + +He had learnt his English on the Coast. He spoke the language well, but +with the strange, clipped words used by the natives themselves, though +the man was half a Spaniard. + +"How are we to get there?" asked Jim. + +The guide looked at the sun. + +"It is too late," said he, "to go by a roundabout way. We must walk +straight there. There are many things which cause me to believe that +danger is close at hand." + +"What else?" asked Harry, who already was conscious that his heart was +beating quickly. + +"Late last night I saw smoke on the mountains. This morning, before we +started, my brother thought he heard a shot, far in the distance. Also," +he added, "during the last three days we have seen very little game. +Something has scared them away." + +"Come," said Harry. "We waste time in words. As it is, we have barely +time to get back before nightfall." + +As he said this he rose to his feet, and the moment he did so there came +the double report of a rifle from far away in the hills, and a bullet +cut past him and buried itself in the ground, not fifteen paces from his +feet. + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX--The Captive + + +Harry was not slow to obey. He fell flat upon his face, whilst a second +bullet whistled over his head. + +"Come," said Cortes; "we must escape." + +As he uttered these words, he turned upon his heel and ran down the +hill, followed by the two boys. The man held himself in a crouching +position until he was well over the crest-line. Then he stopped and +waited for his companions. + +"Who is it?" asked Braid, already out of breath as much from excitement +as from running. + +"The Germans. They are on our track." + +"You are sure of that?" asked Harry. + +"Master," said Cortes, "it is not possible to mistake a German bullet. +In this part of the world only those natives carry rifles who are paid +by Kaiser Wilhelm." + +Indeed, for weeks already, they had been in the heart of the enemy's +country. The elder guide was some miles away, and, since they could not +cross the valley, they would have to make a detour; which meant that +they could not possibly rejoin Fernando before nightfall. By then, for +all they knew, they might find him lying in his own blood, their +provisions and their reserve ammunition stolen. + +Harry looked at Cortes, who seemed to be thinking, standing at his full +height, his fingers playing with his chin. + +"We must not desert your brother," said the boy. + +"I am thinking," said the guide, "it will be easier for him to reach us +than for you and your friend to go to him. My brother and I are +hunters; we can pass through the bush in silence; we can travel amid the +rocks like snakes. I could cross that valley crawling on my face, and +the eye of an eagle would not see me. As for you, you are Englishmen; +you have not lived your lives in the mountains and the bush; you do not +understand these things." + +He said this with some scorn in his voice. There was something about +the man--despite his European clothes--that was fully in keeping with +the aspect of their surroundings, which were savage, relentless, and +cruel. He went on in a calm voice, speaking very slowly: + +"In this valley we are safe," said he. "I know the country well. +Yonder," and he pointed to the north, "there is a forest that lies upon +the hill-side like a mantle. I will guide you. It will take us about +two hours to get there. Then I will leave you. You will be quite safe; +for many of the trunks of the trees are hollow, and should the Germans +come, you can hide. I will go alone to my brother and bring him back +with me." + +They set forward without delay, sometimes climbing, sometimes walking, +on the mountain-side. About four o'clock in the afternoon they sighted +the forest of which the man had spoken. It opened out into a mangrove +swamp, thousands of feet below them, where the heat hung like a fog. + +Among the trees they found themselves in a kind of twilight. By then +the sun was setting; but as the daylight dwindled a great moon arose. +Cortes led them to a place, on the verge of a deep ravine, where there +was an old tree with a hollow trunk that looked as if it had been struck +by lightning. + +"You and your friend will remain here," said the man to Harry. "I will +be as quick as I can, but in any case I cannot be back until midnight. +If I do not return by then, you will know that I am dead; then--if you +are wise--you will go back to Calabar. If the Germans come, you will +hide." And he pointed to the hollow tree. + +Without another word he set forward on his way, gliding down the face of +the living rock like some gigantic lizard. + +The two boys found themselves in a place romantic but terrible. On +every side they were surrounded by the impenetrable hills. The trees of +the forest stood forth in the semi-darkness like great, ghostly giants. +Somewhere near at hand a mountain stream roared and thundered over the +rocks. The breeze brought to their nostrils the smell of the swamp +lower down the valley. The hollow tree stood on the edge of the bush. +A few yards away was the ravine, the bottom of which was wide and bare +and stony. + +Throughout the earlier part of the night they possessed their souls in +patience. It was stiflingly hot after the cool mountain air. + +Harry looked at his watch. It was midnight. There was no sign of the +brothers. + +Suddenly they heard a stone shifted from its place somewhere in the +forest to go rolling down into the ravine. Both stood motionless and +expectant. + +"I heard something," said Braid. + +"So did I," said Harry. + +Again a stone was moved, this time nearer than before. Something was +approaching through the bush. If this were an enemy they would have +small chance of escaping, for the side of the ravine was inaccessible; +it was like a precipice. + +They waited in suspense, and presently to the great gnarled roots of the +very tree by which they were standing, there crawled a dying, wounded +mountain goat. + +It died almost as it reached them. Indeed, it was almost a miracle that +the animal had lived as long as it had, for Harry's bullet had +penetrated its chest. + +The long night passed in waiting, and still there was no sign of the +half-caste brothers. It was then that they fully realized for the first +time the extreme danger of their mission, that they were alone in the +heart of a country which was almost unexplored, cut off from their +friends and civilization, with no chance of succour and little of +returning in safety to the coast. + +"Jim," said Harry, and his voice was husky, "I wonder if we shall ever +get out of this alive." + +"I can't say, sir," answered Braid; "but I'm sure of this: if we have to +die, we'll make a fight of it, at least." + +It was then that a sound came to their ears that caused them to hold +their breath. It was a loud word of command in the German language, and +which, moreover, came from not far away. + +They lay down flat upon their faces. Screened by a clump of long grass, +they were able to look down into the ravine, where they beheld a company +of German native troops with whom were two or three European officers +and several German noncommissioned officers. The men marched well in +step, keeping their dressing and acting promptly and smartly at each +word of command. Except for their black skins and coarse negro features +they might have learned their drill on the parade-grounds of Potsdam and +Berlin. + +The two boys regarded them in consternation, mingled with amazement--due +to the fact that in the centre of the company was a European whose hands +were bound behind his back and around whose neck was a kind of halter. + +Jim Braid recognized this man at once. It was Peter Klein, the spy. + + + + +CHAPTER X--When All was Still + + +Among the native troops was a man who was not dressed in uniform, who +was tattooed from head to foot, and who wore upon his head an abundance +of coloured feathers. They learned afterwards that he was a medicine or +"fetish" man--and "fetish worship" is the curse of the Dark Continent, +from Ashanti to the Zambesi. The medicine-men, who profess to practise +witchcraft, are far more powerful than the majority of the native kings. +At their bidding innocent people are often put to death, which enables +them to use their powers for bribery and corruption. + +In the centre of the ravine, immediately below the place where the two +boys were hiding, the officer in command called a halt. When the men +had fallen out and released their packs from their shoulders, the +witch-doctor addressed them in an excited, high-pitched voice. Neither +Harry nor Braid could understand a word of what he said, but his +grimaces and gesticulations were so expressive that they could have no +doubt that he was performing some kind of religious ceremony. + +It was evident that the party intended to pitch their camp in the +ravine, for several men under the command of one of the non-commissioned +officers set about collecting wood with which to make a fire. + +The boys knew not what course to take. Their first inclination was to +take to their heels, seeking refuge in the forest. Then they remembered +that if they did this there would be small chance of their being found +by Cortes, who had promised to return to the ravine. As silently as +possible they crawled on hands and knees to the hollow tree, and hid +themselves in the trunk. + +There they remained for hour after hour. From that position they were +just able to see into the gorge. The party had split up into three +groups: the German officers sat alone; the European noncommissioned +officers formed a ring around a smaller fire; whereas the natives were +congregated around the fetish-man. + +Peter Klein sat like a figure of stone, a sentry with bayonet fixed +standing over him. His lips were bloodless, his eyes staring, his face +like that of a ghost. From time to time the Germans looked at him and +laughed. For all that, they repeatedly offered him food; but he refused +to eat, though now his hands had been unbound. + +After a while many of the men disposed themselves for sleep, lying down +upon the bare rocks about the embers of the fire. The officer in +command--a stout major with a bristling moustache--gave orders that the +prisoner's hands should again be bound. Whereupon a sergeant propped +the prisoner up, with his back to the side of the ravine, making it +perfectly plain--even to the boys who could not understand the German +language--that, if he endeavoured to escape, they would not hesitate to +kill him. + +The sentry was not posted for the night on the side of the ravine on +which were the two boys, but on the other side, overlooking the valley +to the east. It was apparently from this direction that the Germans +seemed to fear for their safety. + +Harry thought the matter out. If the two brothers were alive, he could +not think why they had not returned. It was now past one o'clock, and +Cortes had said he would be back certainly before twelve. + +The night passed in the bush in solemn tranquillity, save for the +droning of myriads of insects from the mangrove swamp and the gurgling +sound of the river. Hour by hour the moon mounted in the skies above +the hill-tops, which were capped by mist. The two boys were squashed +together in the tree-trunk. Braid, it seemed, had gone to sleep in a +standing position. He was breathing heavily. + +Stealthily Harry left his hiding-place and dropped down upon hands and +knees. Cautiously he crept to the edge of the ravine and looked over. +To the boy's surprise, he observed that not only the Germans and the +native soldiers, but also the sentry, were sound asleep. They lay in +huddled attitudes around the dying fires. + +With his back against the rock was Peter Klein. As Harry watched him +the man moved and heaved a sigh. Presently he groaned. + +Harry Urquhart was one who was quick to think. This man, Klein, was a +spy, one fit to be despised, and moreover a German, an enemy of his +country. And yet, for some reason or other, Klein was a prisoner in the +hands of his own countrymen. Von Hardenberg, perhaps, was not so far +away. These were questions that could possibly be answered by Peter +Klein himself, who might be disposed to speak in gratitude for his +deliverance. + +There was only one way in which the prisoner could be rescued. It was +not possible for Harry to descend the sides of the ravine, neither was +it possible for Klein, even had his hands and legs not been bound, to +climb up the cliffs. + +As stealthily as before, Urquhart crawled back into the wood, until he +came to a place where there was a long, rope-like creeper--one of those +vegetable parasites which are so common in the forests of the tropics. +To cut this near the roots and tear it from the tree to which it clung +so tenaciously was the work of not many minutes, and Harry was in +possession of what to all intents and purposes was a very useful rope. + +With this he repaired in haste to the edge of the ravine, where he tied +the end of it to the trunk of a tree. That done, hand over hand he let +himself down to the bottom. + +Stepping over the forms of the sleeping soldiers he approached the +captive, and with his jack-knife cut the bonds that bound Klein's feet +and hands. + +"Now," he whispered in the man's ear, "climb, and you are safe!" + +The spy was still so terrified and so weakened from exhaustion that it +was all he could do to walk. With faltering steps he stumbled towards +the dangling rope, and Harry feared that he would fall and wake the +sleeping Germans. + +Peter Klein took hold of the swinging creeper and did his best to climb. +Presently he looked round at Harry with an expression of despair upon +his face. + +"I can't do it!" he groaned in broken English. + +"You must," said the boy. "Your life depends upon it. Once you get to +the top you are safe. They cannot follow you. They have no rope, and +will be obliged to go a long way round." + +These words had the desired effect upon the spy. Fear, on occasion, is +a great stimulant; it sometimes leads a man to perform prodigies of +strength that he could never accomplish in calmer moments. Hand over +hand the man scrambled to the top of the ravine, and there lay down, +panting and exhausted. + +Harry followed quickly. At the top he hauled up the creeper, and then +looked down again. + +The soldiers were still asleep. The commanding officer himself was +snoring like a pig. + +Shaking in all his limbs, Peter Klein rose to his feet and seized Harry +by the hand. + +"Heaven reward you!" he exclaimed. "You have saved my life, for I +verily believe those villains would have shot me." + + + + +CHAPTER XI--A Shot from the Clouds + + +It is a remarkable fact that all this time Jim Braid had been sound +asleep. Once inside the trunk of the hollow, shattered tree, he had +found himself unable to overcome a feeling of drowsiness which by +degrees completely got the better of him. Klein, on the other hand, had +apparently received such a shock to his nervous system chat in spite of +his extreme exhaustion he found it impossible to sleep. Also he had a +dread of being left alone. He implored Harry, who had led him some way +back into the forest, to remain at his side till dawn. + +For the time being, they had nothing to fear from the German soldiers, +who were at the bottom of the ravine and unable to reach them. Still, +they could not continue their march, since without the guides they were +lost and would not know which way to go. But so long as they remained +where they were, there was always a chance that one, or both, of the +brothers would return. + +"Tell me," asked Urquhart, "how is it that I find you a prisoner in the +hands of those who should be your friends?" + +"It is a very simple story," said Peter Klein. "We left Dualla a few +weeks ago. The party consisted of Captain von Hardenberg, our guide--an +Arab sheikh--two native carriers, and myself. The Governor of Dualla +wished von Hardenberg to join the force which is to oppose the British. +Hardenberg was given an important command. But, since he had other +business to attend to--which he himself considered of greater +importance--in plain words, he deserted; and we endeavoured to penetrate +the bush. + +"For some days we journeyed without event. Then we discovered that we +were tracked, and were obliged to fly for our lives. + +"One night a shot was fired into our camp. And after that, day by day, +we were harassed and tormented, until two nights ago a raid was made +upon our bivouac. They came upon us from all sides at once. We were +outnumbered by twenty to one. No course lay open to us but flight. The +two natives went one way. They rushed into a large party of soldiers, +and there is every reason to believe they laid down their lives. Von +Hardenberg and the sheikh took to the hills, climbing the bare slope, +and I think they managed to escape. As for myself, I fled downhill with +a score of native soldiers at my heels. + +"All yesterday I was pursued. I fled for my life across interminable +valleys, across the hills, striving to reach the bush, where I knew I +would be safe. Sometimes I found myself buried in the gloom of forests; +at others I stood upon the edge of precipices so deep that the clouds +were at my feet. + +"Late last evening I was overtaken. They bound my hands behind my back +and scourged me with a whip. They gave me to understand they would +eventually put me to a traitor's death; but they thought more of von +Hardenberg and Sheikh Bayram than they did of me. They were for ever +asking me which way he had gone--just as if I could tell them what I did +not know myself! When they brought me to the ravine, yonder, I was too +fatigued and too disturbed in mind to sleep. And then you saved me at +the eleventh hour. That is all my story." + +Harry was silent for some moments. + +"You have not told me," he said, "why you have come to this forsaken +part of the world, or why von Hardenberg--who is my cousin--deserted +from the Germans?" + +Klein lowered his eyes. It seemed he was not incapable of feeling +ashamed. + +"The Sunstone," said he, quite quietly. + +"My cousin has the Sunstone in his possession?" + +"I have seen it," answered Klein. "He carries it upon his person. He +never lets it out of his possession. He would not even let me touch it. +He has had a special pocket made for it in the inside of his coat, on +the left-hand side." + +"You must be frank with me," said Harry. + +"You saved my life," said the other. + +"Then listen to the true story of the Sunstone. You doubtless know that +my cousin stole it from my uncle, but you are perhaps ignorant of the +fact that, to cover his own guilt, he wrongfully accused one who was +innocent. I presume my cousin went to you and explained that, once he +got to Maziriland with the Sunstone in his possession, he had acquired +riches beyond all dreams. I suppose you agreed to go with him, to share +and share alike? I suppose, also, that, in spite of the fact that our +nations are at war, you consider the Sunstone of far greater importance +than your Fatherland?" + +"To my shame," said Peter Klein, "that is--or was--the truth. I sold my +honour for gold long ago. I would not say that in Europe, in London or +Berlin, but here we are in the very midst of death, and all things are +different--or perhaps, we see all things with very different eyes." + +"At least," said Harry, "you are honest now." + +"I am a coward," the man confessed. + +"You must see," Urquhart went on, "that you have no moral right to this +money, even should the treasure be discovered. However, I have not come +here to recover the treasure, so much as to prevent it from falling into +the hands of the enemies of my country. I am determined to capture the +Sunstone, be the risk and danger what it may be." + +Klein shook his head. + +"He will not part with it," said he. "He is a desperate man." + +"I will make him part with it," cried Harry, "once I run the rascal to +earth." + +"He is a desperate man," repeated the other. "He dare not return to +Germany. He would be court-martialled, and probably shot. He will not +part with the Sunstone at a lesser price than his life." + +"I am sorry for him," said Harry, "because he is doubly a traitor. When +the guest of the British nation he was to all intents and purposes a +spy; he swindled you; and now, in the midst of war, he proves himself a +traitor once again." + +Peter Klein was silent, his thin fingers playing nervously. The strain +of the past few days had seriously affected his health; he was suffering +from a kind of St. Vitus's dance. He was never still for a moment. + +"It is strange," said he, "that you think so much of the Sunstone. Long +since I had forgotten all about it. I have now but one idea--to get +back to Europe, if I can. I dare not return to my home, which is in +Frankfort. I intend to end my days in Denmark." + +It was then that somewhere in the forest, near at hand, a twig broke. +Both sprang instantly to their feet. + +A dark figure came suddenly out of the thickets, and Urquhart, with his +finger upon the trigger of his revolver, was about to fire, when he was +arrested by a voice. + +"Is that you, Mr. Harry?" + +It was the voice of Jim Braid. + +"What is it, Jim?" + +Braid came forward in the darkness. The moon was now low in the +heavens. In the east, through the tree-tops, there was a steel-blue arc +of light, heralding the approach of day. It was as if even the abundant +vegetation of the jungle was itself awakening after sleep. When he was +quite close to Harry, Braid took him by the arm. + +"I have news for you," said he. "There's an uproar in the ravine. The +Germans have discovered their prisoner has escaped." + +"Here he is," said Harry, making a motion of the hand towards Peter +Klein. + +"Here! How did he get here?" + +"There's no time for explanations now," said Harry. + +"You're right, sir," answered Jim. "We're in danger if we stay!" + +"We would be in greater danger still," said the other, "if we +endeavoured to escape. After all, this is the last place they would +think of searching. It would never occur to them that the prisoner had +climbed up the side of the ravine." + +There was the strongest common sense in this. Indeed, a few minutes +later they had ample proof that Harry was perfectly right. Klein +remained behind, whilst the two boys crawled back to the edge of the +gorge and thence looked down into the bivouac. + +The daylight was growing apace. Step by step the dawn mounted in the +heavens, the shadows fled from the valleys, and the bush became alive +with the songs of thousands of birds. + +And then they witnessed a tragedy such as neither ever wished to see +again. The native sentry, who had fallen asleep upon his post, was led +with trembling knees and shaking lips before the major in command, who, +after a few savage questions, hurled at the man like scraps of meat to a +dog, sentenced him to be shot. And then and there the sentence was +carried out before their eyes. + +After that the major gathered his men together and divided them into two +parties, evidently with the idea of searching both ends of the ravine. +And now occurred one of the most strangely dramatic things of which we +have to tell. + +The commanding officer was giving final instructions to his officers and +sergeants. He stood upon a large boulder. His subordinates were +listening to his words with silent respect. He spoke in a husky, +guttural voice, from time to time shivering as if he suffered from +fever. Suddenly, he flung both hands above his head and uttered a +piercing cry. Simultaneously, there came the sharp report of a rifle +from beyond the ravine, and the German major fell forward on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--The Mystery of the Running Man + + +On the instant the greatest disorder prevailed. As at a stroke the iron +discipline of Potsdam vanished, and despite his uniform and training, +and the curses of the German non-commissioned officers, the Cameroon +native became the untutored savage once again. + +In the panic of the moment the native soldiers took to their heels, +evidently under the impression that they had been surprised by a British +force. And, as they ran, shots rang out repeatedly from somewhere in +the midst of the shrubbery that grew on the farther side of the gorge. + +There was no question that the invisible man who commanded the ravine +from his hiding-place upon the mountain-side was a marksman of repute. +He fired in haste at running figures, and more than once his bullets +found their mark. The German-trained soldiers vanished as by a +conjuring-trick, disappearing round an angle of the gorge. + +All this had happened in the space of a few seconds. Harry, taking his +field-glasses from their case, scanned the mountain that overtopped the +ravine, endeavouring to discover the form of the mysterious and terrible +marksman who had created such alarm. + +Nowhere was any living soul to be seen. The mountain-side was as silent +as the grave. In the forest itself, hundreds of birds welcomed the +dazzling sunlight with the gladness of their songs. + +"Who was it?" asked Jim. + +"It must have been Cortes or Fernando," answered Harry, "but I can see +no sign of them. I expect one or the other will show himself in a +minute." + +They waited for several minutes. At last Urquhart could bear the +suspense no longer. He lifted his hands to his mouth and let out a +long-drawn shout. + +His voice was echoed from the hills, which were now wrapped in clouds, +but no voice came back in answer. + +"I can't understand it," he exclaimed. + +Braid admitted that the whole thing was something of a mystery, for +which he could offer no sort of explanation. + +And then, on a sudden, they saw a white-clad figure dashing over the +rocks. It was a man who came down from the mountain-side, fleet and +sure of foot. Upon his head he wore a turban. He was dressed in robes +of flowing white, and in his hand he carried a rifle. + +Harry directed his field-glasses upon this extraordinary figure. Beyond +the fact that he was a tall man with a great black beard, he could see +little or nothing, by reason of the prodigious pace at which the man was +travelling. One thing, however, was perfectly certain: that this +man--who apparently was the marksman who had so effectively scattered +the Germans--was not one of the half-caste guides. + +The running man came closer and closer, and the boys thought at first +that he was about to approach to within speaking distance of themselves. +But he turned off sharply to the left and disappeared in a belt of trees +almost as suddenly as he had come. + +They waited for some minutes, thinking that he would show up again; but +that was the last they saw of him for some days, and it was not until +then that they discovered who he was. He came and vanished like a +thunderbolt that spreads destruction in its path. His rifle had spoken +at dawn, and almost every shot had been the signal for the death of a +human being. He came, and killed, and vanished. He was a three-day +mystery of the wild hills of the German Cameroons. + +Throughout that morning they knew not what to do. They were without +guides; they had practically no provisions; and they had not the least +idea where they were or in which direction they should go. + +Soon after midday the two boys held a consultation, admitting Peter +Klein to their counsels. But the ex-spy was no help to them; he was +incapable of giving advice. They told him of the man they had seen that +morning, the white figure on the mountain-side, but he only gaped and +shook his head. It was as if the physical and moral strain he had +undergone had actually made him mad. + +Harry clung to hope as a drowning man lays hold upon a spar. He pointed +out that they were helpless without their guides, and argued that it was +wisest to remain where they were, in case either of the half-castes +should repair to their meeting-place and find them gone. + +That night they lit a fire in the forest, and seated around this they +roasted some bananas--or rather plantains--they had found growing in the +bush. After they had eaten these, Harry and Klein lay down to sleep, +Jim Braid consenting to keep watch during the earlier hours of the +night. + +When the moon had risen, and a mighty stillness reigned in the forest, +Jim Braid, who sat upon a boulder with his rifle upon his knees, heard +on a sudden a short cough immediately behind him. He turned quickly in +alarm. + +Both Harry and Klein were sound asleep, and, seated on the ground +immediately between them, calmly biting the end from a cheroot, was the +figure of Fernando. + +"You!" cried Braid, as soon as he could find his voice. + +"Even myself," said the half-bred Spaniard. "Had I been a German, I +could have killed all three of you." + +"You were as silent as a snake," said the other. + +The man chuckled. + +"Before I was a trader," said he, "I was a hunter of big game." + +It was then that Braid awakened Harry and told him the news. The boy +was heartily glad to see the guide, whom he had certainly believed to be +dead. + +"And your brother?" he asked. + +"My brother is safe," said the man. "You did wisely to remain here. You +could never have got back to Calabar. The country swarms with German +troops." + +"Then what are we to do?" asked Harry. + +"Go north," said Fernando. "Go north at every risk, to Maziriland. My +brother has already struck out across the mountains. He and I know of a +place where they will never find us. I have come here to take you +there. Cortes awaits us. We must start at once. There is no time to +lose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--The Black Dog + + +After they had explained to Fernando how it had come about that Peter +Klein had joined their party, they set forward in a northerly direction, +guided by the half-caste. They passed through the forest and crossed a +wide valley. Thence they traversed a great ridge of hills, at the end +of which they came to a mountain-top. This they began to ascend. There +were many places so steep and stony that they were often obliged to go +on all fours, and Klein, who was both weak and nervous, stood in +constant danger of his life. + +Finally they gained the summit. The top of the mountain was shaped like +a bowl. It was evidently the crater of an extinct volcano. In one +place an enormous rock had a cleft in it like a sword-cut, and through +this Fernando led them. The cleft was so narrow that they were obliged +to walk sideways, like crabs. After a time the passage opened, and they +found themselves in a small arena in the centre of which a spring of +water bubbled to the surface. After the heat of the forest the air was +delightfully refreshing and cool. + +When they had drunk their fill the guide took them to a place where a +boulder as round as a football and about five times the size, lay upon +the ground. This he rolled away, not without difficulty, and underneath +it was a hole about three feet across, like one of those "blowholes" +which can be seen in some of the caves of Cornwall or South Wales. + +Fernando let himself down through the hole until he was hanging by his +hands; then he dropped, and they heard him alight upon the ground about +ten feet beneath. Braid followed next, and then Klein; Harry was the +last to descend into the darkness. + +Below, they found themselves in what was evidently a pocket in the side +of the crater, a great rent caused by some volcanic disturbance in +bygone times. The place was a kind of low and narrow gallery. The +moonlight was admitted through several cracks in the walls. + +At the farthermost end of the gallery a fire burnt, and at this a man +was seated, whom they found to be Cortes, the younger of the two guides. +When he saw them he rose to his feet without a word, walked deliberately +to the wall, and thrust his head into one of the fissures. + +The two boys watched him in amazement. The man--who, it will be +remembered, was extremely slim and agile--wriggled like a snake. +Gradually, it became manifest that he was squeezing himself through with +the greatest difficulty. First his head, then his shoulders, then his +body, and finally his legs and feet disappeared through the wall. + +"Where is he going?" asked Harry, turning to Fernando. + +"He has gone to replace the stone upon the hole through which we came. +My brother is no fool. Life in the bush has taught us many things." + +After a while the younger brother returned, squeezing himself again +through the narrow opening. When he came to the firelight there were +places upon his back and shoulders where his clothes had been torn, and +where the rents were stained with blood. He did not seem to mind these +wounds in the least, but laughed when Harry pointed them out. + +"Here," said Fernando, "we are safe, and here we must stay for some +days, until the Germans have left the district. They will never find +us; no one could ever find us." + +"We have food?" asked Harry. + +Cortes pointed to a corner where lay the dead body of an antelope. + +"I killed that this morning," said he. "Cooked, and in this cool +climate, it will keep for days. Besides, my brother and I can hunt upon +the mountain; but you and your two friends must remain here until the +Germans have left the district. Then we can continue our march towards +Maziriland." + +In his heart Harry Urquhart felt more than gratitude towards these +strange, gallant men. They were loyal, faithful, courageous, and full +of infinite resource. They seemed to love adventure for its own sake, +after the manner of the old Spanish explorers--the followers of +Columbus--whose blood ran in their veins. + +For three days the party remained in this singular hiding-place. Every +morning the brothers went out to hunt. Harry and Braid did not mind the +monotony of their temporary imprisonment, first, because they knew that +this was their only place of safety, and, secondly, because they were +glad enough of a few days' rest after all the exertions and privations +they had undergone in the wilderness of the bush. + +At midnight on the third night, something that was well-nigh miraculous +occurred. All were asleep except Harry Urquhart, who was doing his turn +on watch. He was walking to and fro along the gallery, and had reached +a spot immediately underneath the hole which was covered by the stone, +when suddenly a great shaft of moonlight shot down into the cave. + +It was a moment before the boy realized what had happened--that the +stone had been rolled away. Before he had time to give the alarm, to +cry out, or bring his rifle to his shoulder, the stone was rolled back +again, and all was dim and silent as before. + +He ran to the fire and woke up his companions. All sprang to their +feet. In a few breathless words Harry told them what had happened. Jim +Braid seized a lighted brand from the fire, which was burning brightly, +and carried this to the end of the gallery. Sure enough the stone was +back in its place. + +"Are you sure," he asked, "you were not dreaming?" + +"I can swear to it," said Harry. + +"What's that?" cried Braid, pointing to something white that lay upon +the floor. + +Harry Urquhart stooped, and to his amazement picked up a letter, written +in German, which was addressed to: + + "_Peter Klein, Coward_" + +Here was a greater mystery than ever. + +"This is apparently for you," said Harry, giving the letter to Klein. +The whole thing was amazing. + +Klein opened the envelope with shaking hands. Then he took it to the +other end of the gallery, and, kneeling down, read it by the light of +the fire. + +Presently he returned and handed the letter to Fernando, who had a fair +knowledge of the German language. + +"Read that," said he. "How did it come here?" The man was as white as +a ghost. + +The writer had evidently been at some pains to disguise his handwriting. +The letter was written in capital letters with a violet indelible +pencil. The message, when translated, was as follows:-- + + "I have something of importance to say to you. Leave your + hiding-place at once and alone." + +"It is from von Hardenberg," said Klein. "He orders me to return to +him--at once." + +"Orders you! And you will go?" + +"I have no option. I dare not refuse." + +"Dare not!" + +At that a groan escaped from the man's lips, and he threw out his hands +with a gesture of despair. + +"You do not understand," he cried. "In London that man was in my power, +but in this wild country I am at his mercy; for there is one with him +who is pitiless and terrible, who carries his crimes as a jester jangles +his bells." + +"Whom do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"I mean the Arab sheikh. That man is a demon. There is nothing he +would not do for money. There were times when I travelled with them +when I thought that they meant to kill me. When I fell asleep at the +camp-fire, I could see in my dreams the cruel, piercing eyes of the +sheikh fixed upon me; they were like coals of living fire. Fool that I +was to come here!" he broke out in despair. "Why did I not stay where I +was safe?" + +Fernando, turning to Harry, cut short the man's whining words. + +"I must know the truth," said he. "How did that letter come here? Who +wrote it?" + +"It was written by my cousin," said Harry, "the man whom we follow; but +whether he himself brought it here or the rascal who serves him, I am +quite unable to say. At any rate," he added, with a smile, "your +hiding-place has been discovered." + +The half-caste returned to the fire, where he sat down, holding out his +hands to warm them. He remained thus for some time, seemingly deep in +thought; then he returned to Harry. + +"Just now," said he, "I heard mention of a sheikh. Is the man's name by +any chance Bayram; for he is a devil, in truth." + +"That is the name of the man who is with von Hardenberg." + +"I did not know," said the other, and remained silent for a long time. + +"You did not know?" repeated Harry. + +"When I agreed to come with you I did not know that the Black Dog of the +Cameroons--as I and my brother call him--was to be our enemy. In all +the hills and plains and forests of this huge, amazing continent, from +the Sahara to Kilima-Njaro, from the Niger to the Nile, there is no man +more greatly to be feared than the Black Dog of the Cameroons. He knows +neither pity nor fear. There is hardly a valley in these mountains with +which he is not acquainted. Small wonder he discovered our +hiding-place! He is a foe who cannot be despised. Single-handed he +could keep an army of natives at bay. Almost every cartridge in his +bandolier, almost every bullet in the chamber of his rifle, means the +life's blood of a human being. At one time he was the richest +slave-trader in Africa. But I heard the English hunted him down, and +that he was starving and penniless in London." + +"It was he!" cried Harry, turning sharply to Braid. "He was the man we +saw that morning on the mountain-side, who fired into the German bivouac +at dawn." + +"The sheikh was the man," said the guide. "You should have told me +before." + +"I blame myself," said Harry. "I know now that I can trust you and your +brother with even more than life." + +Fernando continued to speak in slow deliberate tones. + +"If we are to come out of this alive," said he, "you will do well to +take me into your counsels. Moreover, you must follow my advice. I and +the Black Dog have an old score to pay. For myself, I am determined to +be a debtor no longer." Then, without changing his voice, he turned +calmly to Peter Klein. "You must go back to von Hardenberg," said he. + +"No, no! not that!" Klein almost shrieked. + +Fernando smiled grimly. He might have been one of his own hard-hearted +ancestors, presiding at the Spanish Inquisition. + +"I fear to go!" cried Klein, his terror stamped on every feature. "They +will kill me! I know they will!" + +Fernando laughed aloud. + +"You will most certainly be killed," said he, "if you refuse to go. The +Black Dog has marked you for his own." + +At these words the spy fell down upon his knees at Harry Urquhart's +feet. + +"Keep me with you!" he pleaded. "Give me your protection! It is to the +advantage of those men to kill me. They brought me here to do away with +my life. They do not intend that I shall live to claim my share of the +treasure, if they should ever find it." + +Harry, somewhat roughly, told the man to get to his feet. Klein was an +arrant coward. Harry felt little pity for the man; yet he could not +find it in his heart to support Fernando's heartless verdict. + +"You have little right to demand our sympathy," said he. "You are an +enemy to my country and a spy; you are even a traitor to the rascals +whom formerly you were pleased to serve. You have merited the most +severe penalty which a state of war allows." + +He was about to go on, when the man, losing all control of himself, +seized him by both hands and begged him to be merciful. + +"I renounce everything!" he cried. "I admit my guilt, and ask you to +forgive me. I will give up all claim to a share in the treasure. I +swear to be faithful to you, if you will only get me out of this alive." + +"We do not think of the treasure," said Urquhart. "We are here to +establish the innocence of an injured man and to checkmate von +Hardenberg." + +"It was he who stole the Sunstone," uttered Klein. + +"I know that," said Harry. "That is why we have followed him. He may +have the Black Dog of the Cameroons to aid him, but we have these two +gallant fellows, who do not seem to know what it is to fear, to +hesitate, or to give up hope." + +He half turned, and with a motion of the hand indicated the two +brothers, who were seated side by side. + +Fernando slowly shook his head. + +"As you will," said he. "You have yet to learn that the Cameroons is no +place for clemency. I had a plan to trick the Black Dog. It was a +cruel plan perhaps. I meant to sacrifice this cur like a kid tied to a +stake to snare a tiger. However, let that pass. From to-night, I warn +you fairly, we will be even in greater danger than before. We have an +enemy to reckon with in the sheikh. At this very moment he waits on the +hill-side for his victim." Fernando pointed to Peter Klein. + +"He means to take my life!" cried Klein, who was now pacing to and fro, +wringing his hands like one demented. "The moment they saw I was likely +to be of no use to them, that I was a coward who could neither handle a +rifle nor do a long day's march without fatigue, they schemed to do away +with me. And what a place for a crime, these unknown, savage hills! In +these parts a human life is of no more importance than that of a +mosquito." + +The man was overwrought, his nerves had been sadly shaken. He was on +the verge of lunacy with panic and alarm. + +And yet, what he said was obviously the truth. To von Hardenberg his +presence was worse than useless, a mere encumbrance on the line of +march. In all probability Fernando was right; the Black Dog waited on +the hill-side to fall upon the poor, blind fool whom avarice had led so +far from the land where he could spy and inform in safety. + +The two guides had listened to this dialogue with evident interest and +not a little amusement at the expense of Klein. It was Fernando who +again broke in upon their talk. + +"We will test the sheikh," said he. "We will soon find out his +intentions." + +At that he turned to his brother, and for some minutes the two spoke in +Spanish. After a while it was Cortes who approached Klein and touched +him on the arm. + +"Get out of your clothes," said he. "I intend to wear them." + +Peter Klein was glad enough of the chance of disguising his identity. +Cortes put on the tattered white ducks, torn in a score of places by the +thorn-trees in the bush, the pith helmet and the leather leggings, and +then returned to the fire. + +There, he loaded his revolver and the magazine of his Lee-Metford +carbine. That done, without a word to his brother, he squeezed himself +through the crack in the wall, and disappeared beyond it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--Buried Alive! + + +They waited for many minutes in absolute silence. Peter Klein was +seated at the fire. There also was Fernando, who appeared to have +fallen asleep in a sitting position. As for the two boys, they remained +near the opening through which the man had passed, straining their ears +to catch the slightest sound without. + +Presently there came the sharp report of a shot. Then all was silent +again. + +Fernando immediately sprang to his feet and walked towards the boys. He +must have been sleeping lightly, or else feigning slumber. + +"My brother," said he, "is dead." + +"Dead!" + +Both Harry and Braid uttered the word in a single breath. + +"That," said the man, "was the rifle of the sheikh." + +"How do you know?" asked Harry. + +"For a very simple reason," said the other. "There were two reports, +therefore the shot was fired in this direction. If a man fires away +from you, you hear but one report, which is like the crack of a whip. +But if he fires toward you, you hear two reports, each one of which +resembles the 'pop' of a cork. The shot was fired this way. The +trigger was pressed by the Black Dog, whose bullet seldom misses its +mark. Therefore, in all probability, my brother is gone." + +"And you speak of it so calmly!" uttered Braid. + +Fernando smiled. "With us who live on the Coast," said he, "death is an +easy matter. Sooner or later we all die; some by murder, some by +malaria, some by Black Jack, which is the most deadly fever in the +world. Our graves are in the bush. What does it matter whether or not +a bullet finds its mark?" + +The two boys were astonished. They could not understand this strange +man's views of life and death. + +"And you have sacrificed your brother's life," asked Harry, "merely to +prove that the Black Dog of the Cameroons intended to murder Klein?" + +Fernando shook his head. + +"I would have gone myself," he answered, "had that been possible. As it +is, I can live, at least, for revenge." + +The full significance of the thing burst upon Harry Urquhart. + +"A wasted life!" he cried. + +"Oh no!" said the man; "a life is never wasted--for the truth." + +After that they were silent; they remained standing close together by +the opening in the wall. Harry felt as if a heavy weight had been +placed upon his heart. + +Without, through the fissures in the wall, they could see the moonshine +and the stars. A soft wind which moaned across the desolate and rugged +heights was blowing upon the mountain. + +Presently they were startled by the sound of a voice--a voice that spoke +in a whisper. + +"I am wounded," said the voice, "I am wounded almost to death. Fernando, +my brother, hold out a hand to me, that I may speak to you before I +die." + +Harry was about to move to the opening, when the elder guide fiercely +thrust him back. + +"Do you suffer great pain?" asked Fernando, speaking tenderly, as he +approached the fissure on tiptoe. + +"Give me your hand," came the answer in a weak, breathless voice. + +Instead of a hand, suddenly Fernando thrust his rifle through the +opening and fired. The loud report echoed in the shallow vault. A +strong smell of cordite was driven to their nostrils. + +Without, there was a shriek. Harry rushed to the opening and looked +through. He saw a white figure flying in the moonlight like a ghost. +Fernando--the half-bred Spaniard--threw back his head and laughed the +laugh of a fiend. + +"What does all this mean?" cried Braid, turning fiercely upon the man. + +"That was no more my brother," said the guide, "than the dog-fox is +brother to the eagle. That man was the sheikh--the Black Dog himself." + +"It was your brother's voice," said Harry. + +"Indeed!" said the man. "I should know my brother's voice. I tell you +once again my brother is dead. The Black Dog slew him; and then, +recognizing the man he had killed, he guessed that I, too, was with you, +and he came here to kill me, imitating my brother's voice, practising +the cunning which has made him feared from the Niger to the Congo. And +he has gone with a bullet in his chest." + +"You did not kill him?" asked Braid. + +"No. He fled, realizing that his trick had failed. But because he +killed my brother, Cortes, whom I love, I swear now by the saints that I +will avenge my brother's death, that I will send the Black Dog to the +shades. Henceforward it is his rifle against mine, his treachery +against my wits; it is the fox against the serpent." + +All this time they had forgotten something of superlative importance. +When events of startling magnitude occur in such quick succession it +sometimes happens that the obvious is overlooked. And strange to +relate, it was Peter Klein--who hitherto had seemed quite incapable of +thinking for himself--who was the first to realize the exceeding gravity +of their situation. On a sudden he rushed at Fernando like a maniac, +and seized him by the arm. + +"You say," he cried, "you are sure your brother is dead?" + +The man bowed his head. + +"Then, if he is dead, by Heaven, we are buried alive!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV--The Valley of the Shadow + + +The truth came upon them all in the nature of a shock. They could not +think how it was that they had overlooked so simple a deduction, so +obvious a fact. + +Cortes, by reason of the extreme slimness of his form, was the only one +of their number who could manage to squeeze himself through the narrow +opening. The stone above the circular hole in the roof, or ceiling, +could not be moved from the inside. The hiding-place that they had +deemed so secure a refuge was nothing but a death-trap. + +Peter Klein turned in anger upon the guide. + +"So much for your wisdom," he cried, "so much for your oath!" + +The man's eyes flashed. His hand went to the knife he carried in his +belt. One half of him was a savage, and the other half a Spaniard. + +"Do you think," said he, "that I thought my brother would be killed?" + +"So far as I can see," said Klein, "it is all the same to you." + +"There you prove yourself a fool," answered the other hotly. "You think +I do not love him because I do not weep like a woman and gnash my teeth. +Understand this--the heart of a Spaniard is like a deep pool, the +surface of which is still. We feel; we love. Also, I warn you again, +we can hate." + +The spy dared not face the man's blazing eyes. + +"I warn you," Fernando went on, his voice rising as passion swayed him, +"if you hold me up to ridicule, you die. I am ready enough to admit +that my judgment was at fault--that I forgot that, without my brother, +we were unable to leave the cave--but to be put to scorn by such as you +is more than I will endure!" + +Peter Klein fell back before the fiery onslaught of the man's words as +though he had been struck. The half-caste stood upright, every muscle +taut, his eyes ablaze, his clenched teeth showing in the blackness of +his long moustache. Then he hurled his knife upon the floor. + +"Why do I waste words upon such as you?" he cried, as if in anguish. +"You are not worthy of my anger!" + +"I cannot yet understand," said Harry. "If the sheikh is so formidable +an adversary, why did you send your brother into the night dressed in +Klein's clothes?" + +"I spoke high words of the prowess of the Black Dog," said Fernando, +"but all the time I believed in my brother. Cortes was a fine shot, +second only to the sheikh himself. Moreover, he was agile, one of the +finest stalkers who ever lived. I knew, when I was sitting by the fire, +that we would soon hear a shot. You thought that I was sleeping, but I +was praying to the Holy Virgin that the first shot would be fired by my +brother, and that the Black Dog would lie in his own blood, his life +ended, the Book of Fate closed upon his evil deeds. When I heard the +double report, my heart sank within me. I knew that my brother had been +outwitted--that the victory lay with the sheikh." + +"And in the meantime," said Harry, "we are buried alive!" + +"The fault is mine," said the guide. "I should have asked my brother to +remove the stone at the entrance before he went, in case of any mishap. +I forgot to do so. I ask forgiveness." + +"There is nothing to forgive," said the boy. "In such a country as +this, encompassed upon every hand by death and dangers of all kinds, +there are a thousand things to think of. I would be the last to blame +you." + +"You are generous," said the man. "The English, with all their faults, +are the most generous race on earth; and because they are just, I honour +them. We have food and water to last for some days. We can but put our +trust in Providence." + +Of the days that followed it is unnecessary to tell in detail. In the +gallery, shut out from the outside world, from the pure air of the +mountains and the sunlight, existence was a living death. For all that, +it was wonderful for how long they retained their strength. Indeed, it +is a remarkable fact that a man can go for many days with little food, +if he has water to drink and is not asked to undergo great physical +exertion. But at last Peter Klein grew so weak, and the beating of his +heart so slow, that Harry feared he was dying. + +It was during these days that the boys came to love the wizened +half-caste in whose hands was their fate. Fernando's courage knew no +bounds; it was as if his will-power was invincible. Never once did a +word of despair or hopelessness leave his lips. + +They longed for the open air, for freedom. Days and nights were all the +same to them, except that sometimes the sunshine, sometimes the +moonshine, invaded the depths of their prison through the great fissures +in the wall. As time went on it was difficult not to give up hope. + +At last, one night, Fernando rose to his feet and approached Harry, who +found it impossible to sleep. + +"My friend," said he, "the sands are running down, but I think that I +can save you." + +"How?" asked the other. + +"Look at me!" cried the man. "I am little better than a skeleton. I +think I can creep through the opening in the wall." + +Assisted by Braid, he crawled to the fissure, and there endeavoured to +pass through. It is true that he had wasted away terribly, but the +opening was very narrow, and his frame was larger than his brother's. + +For an hour he struggled vainly. At last, he gave it up. + +"It is no good," said he. "I cannot do it. We are lost. Nothing +remains but death." + +They resigned themselves to their fate. They were far past all +complaint. Even Klein was silent; he no longer moaned and deplored his +unhappy lot. Even he had learnt to prepare himself for death. + +Three more days passed, and at the end of that time Fernando himself lay +upon the floor in a kind of faint. + +It was bitterly cold. They had no fire. They had burned all their +wood. Only a little water remained. The prospect before them was +horrible to contemplate. They were destined to be driven mad by thirst. + +For some time Harry walked backward and forward. Then fatigue overcame +him, and, lying down upon the floor, he immediately fell asleep. When +he awoke it was daylight. He went to the bucket of water to divide the +little that remained into four equal parts. To his astonishment, he +found that the bucket was empty. + +He uttered a loud exclamation, which brought Braid to his elbow. + +"What has happened?" asked Jim. + +"Our last drop of water," said Harry, "has been stolen." + +There was little doubt as to who was the thief. Neither Harry nor Jim +nor Fernando could have been capable of such treachery. Harry turned +fiercely upon Peter Klein. + +"Do you deny this?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Klein; "I do." + +They examined his pannikin and found that the inside was wet. There was +also a drop of water upon the floor by the place where he had been +sitting. Without a doubt, during the earlier part of the night, the man +had pretended to be asleep until the three others were buried in +slumber. Then he had stolen all that remained of their water. + +Fernando rose slowly to his feet, drew his long knife, and, tottering +from weakness, approached the German spy. + +"Death," said he, "is too good for you! But, weak as I am, you die!" + +Harry held out his hand. + +"Let him be," said he. "His cowardice will avail him little. He will +only live to see us go before him. He has done no more than prolong the +agony of his death!" + +The guide returned, growling like a dog, and sat down upon the floor. + +During that day hardly a word was spoken. They sat in silence, waiting +for the end. Towards afternoon a raging thirst began to consume them; +their blood grew hot in a kind of fever; their tongues clave to the +roofs of their mouths. + +And at nightfall they lay down to die. Fernando was now in a kind of +stupor. For an hour he never moved, but lay like one already dead. Both +Braid and Klein fell asleep, but Harry found sleep impossible. + +Knowing that the end was drawing near, he resolved to commend his soul +to the Almighty, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to pray. + +For some minutes he prayed silently, making his peace with God. When +his prayer was finished he felt happier. He sat for some time with his +hands clasped about his knees, looking upward at the round stone which +confined them in their prison. + +And as he looked the stone moved as if by magic, silently. Through the +round hole above, the light of the moon streamed down into the darkened +vault. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--The Enemy in Sight + + +For some moments Harry Urquhart did not move. He sat like a graven +image, his eyes staring, his jaw dropped in amazement. Then the full +truth burst upon him in a flood. He sprang to his feet, uttering a loud +cry which immediately awoke both Braid and Peter Klein. + +"What is it?" cried Braid. "What has happened?" + +Harry seized his comrade by the shoulders and shook him violently. + +"Tell me, Jim, have I gone mad, or has a miracle happened? Look there!" + +Braid looked in the direction indicated, and saw, to his amazement, that +their prison doors were opened, that the stone had been rolled away from +the circular hole in the roof. + +By that time Fernando had got to his feet. He came swaying towards +them, and clutched hold of Jim's arm for support. Perhaps the climate +of the Coast had weakened his constitution. At any rate, he was now far +weaker than the others--even than Klein. + +"We are saved!" he cried. "But beware of treachery. For all we know +the Black Dog may be hiding at the entrance." + +Harry cared nothing for that. A sense of freedom, a breath of mountain +air, were worth all the risk in the world. He scrambled up, caught hold +of the edge of the hole, and with great difficulty managed to pull +himself through, so that he stood in the light of the stars, amid the +mists that wrapped the mountain. + +At his feet lay a still, dark form. It was that of a human being, but +so motionless that the boy feared that it was that of a dead man. Going +down upon his knees, he turned the body over, so that the face was +uplifted to the moon; and at once he recognized the features of Cortes, +the younger guide, who had gone out to slay the sheikh. + +He spoke to the man, but received no answer. Then he rushed to a spring +that was near by and quenched his burning thirst. + +There he was joined by Jim Braid and Peter Klein. Both went down upon +their knees at the spring-side to drink their fill. + +After that they assisted the elder guide to escape from the terrible +prison in which they had spent so many days. They sprinkled water upon +the lips of the younger man, and at last he opened his eyes. + +"We thought you dead," said Harry. "Tell us what happened to you?" + +"I went my way, dressed in the clothes of that cur, to trick the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. Knowing the man with whom I had to deal, I was +cautious and on my guard. + +"I approached so silently that not even a lizard could have taken alarm. +Then I saw the man waiting for me on the mountain-side. He was dressed +in his white Arab robes; he was seated on a boulder, with his rifle on +his knees. + +"I considered what was best to do. I had intended to show up at a +distance, pretending that I was the German. Then I remembered that if +the sheikh fired I would assuredly be hit. In the end I decided to +creep upon him unawares, to snatch his rifle from his hands. With a man +like the Black Dog it is best to strike the first blow, and also to +strike hard. + +"How he saw me I cannot say. His eyes are like those of a lynx. But he +discovered me and fired, and I was wounded. The bullet pierced my +chest. For a moment I think I was unconscious, for when I opened my +eyes the sheikh himself was kneeling over me, looking into my face. He +recognized me, and called me by my name. + +"Without doubt he thought I was dying. Indeed, he left me to die. He +went his way up the mountain. Presently I heard a shot, and a little +after the Black Dog came past me, running as if for life. When he was +quite close to me I saw that there was blood upon his robes and that he +was running after the manner of one who suffers pain and is wounded. How +that happened I do not know. At the time I thought little about it. I +did not doubt that I myself stood at the door of death. + +"I fainted, and when I recovered consciousness I was consumed by a +terrible thirst. Fever raged in my bones. With great difficulty I +managed to drag myself to the side of a spring, where I drank great +draughts of water. After that I fell asleep; and for the next three +days I lay in that place, thinking that I was dying, frequently drinking +at the stream. I could not walk, for whenever I tried to rise to my +feet there was a pain in my chest like a red-hot sword, and I came near +to fainting. + +"One night I thought of my brother and my friends, and then it was that +I remembered that you were unable to escape from your prison. + +"Ever since then I have been struggling up the side of the mountain, +endeavouring to get to you to rescue you. Every minute I thought that I +was dying; sometimes I was so weak that I felt I could go no farther. +Yet every day I made a little progress. I followed the direction of the +stream. I drank the water, and ate wild berries, as well as the +provisions I carried with me. + +"I reached the stone; I remember rolling it away, and after that I +remember no more." + +The narration of this story was too much for the man's strength. As he +said the last words he fell backward in a faint. + +For the rest of the night they camped in the open air, sleeping around a +fire. They remained upon the mountain-top for four days. The German +troops had evidently left the district, and though Harry and Jim hunted +in the valley, and succeeded in shooting some guinea-fowl, they saw no +signs of von Hardenberg and the sheikh, who had evidently pushed forward +on their way towards Maziriland and the Caves of Zoroaster. + +It is remarkable how quickly they were completely restored to health. +Food and water and the freshness of the mountain air lent their +assistance to Nature; and even Cortes, who had been so severely wounded, +rapidly regained his strength. Indeed the wound was already healed, and +all he required was nourishment and rest. + +When they were able to continue their journey, they decided to advance +with the greatest caution. A few miles farther on they would come to a +long valley, two hundred miles in length, which led directly towards the +frontier of Maziriland. Cortes knew of a path that ran along the +crest-line of the mountains, whence they would be able to survey the +surrounding country except such as was hidden by the density of the +bush. If they followed this there would be small chance of their being +taken by surprise, either by the Germans or von Hardenberg and the +sheikh. + +At first they marched by easy stages, in order not to overtax their +strength. This part of the mountain was inhabited by a great number of +rock-rabbits, many of which they were able to kill with sticks; and +these rabbits soon found their way into the cooking-pot. + +By degrees they made their daily marches longer. They were anxious to +overtake Captain von Hardenberg and the Black Dog, who were evidently +several miles in advance. Finally they marched by night, the guides +taking a direct route by the stars. + +Suddenly, one midnight, as they rounded a great spur of rock, they saw a +small light, dim and twinkling in the distance like a star, far below +them in the valley. + +"Look there!" cried Harry, pointing ahead. + +"Is it a camp-fire?" asked Braid, turning to the two guides, who stood +together. + +Both bowed their heads. + +"It is a camp-fire," said Fernando. "It is the camp-fire of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--A Shot by Night + + +Towards morning the fire dwindled and went out. At daylight they could +see no sign of von Hardenberg and his companion. The entire valley +appeared deserted. In this part of the country there were no villages, +the valleys being too barren and infertile for agriculture. + +The next night the bivouac-fire was again visible, this time nearer than +before. On the third night they were not more than seven or eight miles +in rear of those whom they pursued. + +On these occasions they were careful that their own fire should not be +observed. They always lit it under the cover of large rocks or +boulders, screening it from the north. They had every reason to suppose +that the sheikh and his companion believed them dead. The Black Dog had +doubtless told his employer that their pursuers had been buried alive in +the crater of the old volcano. + +Every night they were careful to post a sentry, and, on one occasion, +when the first signs of dawn were visible in the east, Harry--who was on +watch--suddenly heard a sound, faint but very distinct, immediately +behind his back. + +He turned quickly, but could see nothing. He waited for some moments, +holding his breath, with his finger ready on the trigger of his +revolver. + +Nothing happened. The boy imagined that the sound had been caused by a +rock-rabbit or a mountain-rat, and was about to resume his former +position, when something descended upon him with a spring like that of a +tiger. + +In the nick of time he jumped aside. He saw a white figure rushing +violently through space. In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife +that missed him by the fraction of an inch, and the next moment he was +full length upon the ground, struggling in the arms of a powerful and +savage man. + +[Illustration: IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED +HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH] + +Locked together in a death-grip, they rolled over and over, first one on +top and then the other. There was a loud shout, which came from the +lips of Braid, and at that the two guides sprang to their feet and +hastened to Harry's assistance. + +The struggle ended as suddenly as it had begun. One second, strong +fingers gripped Harry by the throat, and the next his adversary was +gone. He had vanished like a ghost; he had slipped away like an eel. + +Harry Urquhart sprang to his feet and listened. He heard a laugh--a +wild, fiendish laugh--far away in the night. Stooping, he picked up a +bare knife that was lying on the ground. + +"I wrenched this from his hand," said he, showing the knife to Fernando. + +The half-caste examined it in the firelight. It was a knife of Arab +design. + +"That," said he, "is the knife of the Black Dog." + +"Why did he not fire?" asked Harry. + +"Evidently because he did not wish to warn the Germans. That is a bad +sign; it means that the German troops are in the neighbourhood." + +The following night, when they scanned the valley, they could see no +sign of the camp-fire of von Hardenberg and the Arab. The sheikh, +having failed in his enterprise on the previous evening, was evidently +determined to exercise greater caution. Harry examined the valley with +his glasses, not only to the north but also to the west and to the east. +However, he could see no sign of their enemies. + +"I do not like the look of it," said Fernando. "So long as we knew +where the Black Dog was, we had the whip hand of him. We must be +prepared for the worst." + +"Surely," said Harry, "he will push on towards Maziriland?" + +"The shortest way is not always the quickest," answered the other. "As +likely as not he has gone back upon his tracks, and even now is encamped +somewhere behind us." + +That night they deemed it advisable to light no fire. Seated amid the +rocks on the crest-line of the hills, where the wind moaned and howled +from the west, they held a council of war. It was decided that, during +the march on the following day, the two guides should act as scouts, the +elder moving some distance in advance of the three Europeans, Cortes +following in rear. + +By the time the sun rose above the mountain-tops, they were well upon +their way. At mid-day they halted for a meal, and it was then that +Cortes came running to the bivouac. + +"Come here!" he cried. "I have seen them." + +They followed the man to the crest-line, crawling on hands and knees. +Only Peter Klein remained by the fire. Since they had escaped from the +crater of the volcano no one had spoken to the man. The guides showed +only too plainly that they despised him, and neither Harry nor Braid +were disposed to forgive the scoundrel for having stolen their last drop +of water. + +They came to a place where the valley-side dropped down in an almost +perpendicular cliff. Far below was a little grove of trees, around +which a stream meandered, its waters glistening in the sunshine. Beyond +the grove, on the other side of the valley, following a kind of +bridle-path that led to the north, were five men, one of whom was +dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"That is the sheikh," said Fernando. "He walks by the side of the +German." + +"And the other three?" asked Braid. + +"They are natives from the bush. The sheikh has doubtless enlisted +their services during the last three days. The natives dare not refuse +him labour. He was all-powerful when he was a slave-trader; fear of him +passed from village to village by word of mouth. On an expedition such +as this, he is doubly to be dreaded, because he has friends among the +Maziris themselves." + +"Then," cried Harry, "supposing he tells the tribe to rise against us?" + +"There is little fear of that," said Fernando. "He is hated by the +chiefs and head-men, who resent the authority he wields over many of the +people." + +"Then, what will he do when he draws near to the caves?" + +"He will rob by night," said Cortes. "Under cover of darkness he will +endeavour to secure the treasure." + +"My brother," said the elder man, laying a hand upon the other's +shoulder, "tell me, how far away is Black Dog?" + +The man judged the distance with his eye. + +"Sixteen hundred yards," said he. + +"Nearly a mile," said the other. "I will try my luck. I have sworn an +oath by the saints." + +So saying, he lay down upon his face and loaded his rifle. Lifting the +back-sight, he took long and careful aim, and then pressed the trigger. +There came a sharp report, and the bullet sped across the valley. + +In the space of a few seconds the sheikh and his followers had vanished. +To hit a moving figure at that distance was a well-nigh impossible task, +but that the bullet had not been far from its mark was apparent from the +way in which the party had so suddenly disappeared. + +Von Hardenberg was moving up one side of the valley, Harry and his +companions on the other. It was therefore a race for the treasure. If +Harry reached the caves first, he would be unable to enter the vault, by +reason of the fact that the Sunstone was not in his possession. He +would have to lie in wait for the Black Dog and the German. + +For two days they saw nothing more of their rivals. There was water in +plenty in the district, and presently springs and streams became even +more numerous, and they entered into a country that was thickly wooded. +At the same time the mountains became more wild and rugged, and it was +soon impossible to make progress by way of the hills. + +They therefore descended into the valley, and entered a region of +scattered trees, which gradually became a forest, where they were shut +out from the sunlight and the light of the stars. There were no paths +in the forest, and they could seldom march more than eight miles a day +by reason of the tangled undergrowth through which they had to cut a +passage. + +When they came out of the forest they were in a land of rolling hills, +which, the guides told them, mounted to the summit of Maziriland. Their +first camp in this district was under the lee of a hill; and, since they +had seen nothing of either von Hardenberg or the German troops for +several days, they deemed it safe to light a fire. There was no +scarcity of fuel, and very soon a fire was blazing, the green wood +crackling and hissing in the flames. Over the fire a kettle was +suspended by a chain from three iron rods, and from the spout of this +kettle steam was issuing, when suddenly a shot was fired in the +distance, and a bullet drilled a hole through the kettle, so that the +water from within ran down into the fire, whence issued a little cloud +of steam. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--A Dash for Liberty + + +As one man they rushed to their arms, and even as they did so a score of +shots rang out, and the whistling bullets cut the earth about their +feet. + +"The German troops!" cried Cortes. "We must gain the hill-top or we're +lost!" + +Firing into the darkness as they ran, they ascended the hill with all +dispatch. At the top they found themselves subjected to a withering +fire, which poured down upon them from all directions. The night was +alive with the sharp reports of rifles. Sudden flashes of fire showed +up on every hand, like so many living tongues of flame. It was evident +the enemy was in force. + +For four hours the fight continued without a check. The roar of the +musketry continued; the hissing of the bullets was like heavy rain. And +all this time the German soldiers were working nearer and nearer, until +at last they formed a complete circle around the foot of the hill. + +They were then close enough for their voices to be audible, and now and +again, as a bullet found its mark, a shriek went up in the night. + +By then, not one of Harry's party had been struck. This was partly due +to the boulders which lay upon the hill-top, and behind which it was +possible to obtain cover, and partly to the inferiority of the German +marksmanship. + +During a lull in the combat, a short respite from the strain of the +situation, Harry took counsel with the two guides and Jim. + +"It appears to me," he observed, "that if we wait till sunrise we are +lost. So far, we have managed to escape death only by reason of the +darkness." + +"Before the sun rises," said Fernando, "two courses lie open to us: we +must either fight our way through the enemy or commend our souls to +Heaven." + +"I was going to propose," said Harry, "that we gather together in a body +and endeavour to charge through the enemy." + +"And after that?" asked Braid. + +"After that we may either find some place more suitable for defence, or +else die in our tracks." + +"We can die fighting," said the younger guide. + +"Well, then," said Harry, "every minute counts. If we can get through +we may be able to cover some miles before dawn is upon us. We must hold +together, however. There will be no time to go back to look for one who +is lost." + +They now prepared themselves to make this last and desperate bid for +freedom. They played for the highest stakes, for liberty and life. They +could not advance, however, without acquainting Peter Klein of their +intention, and when the man was told of what they proposed to do he set +to shaking in his limbs. + +Harry was in no mood to humour him. He had long since lost all patience +with their uninvited guest. + +"You have two minutes," said he, "in which to choose. Either you come +with us, or stay here, or else you can go over to the enemy. It does +not matter very much to us which you decide to do." + +The man picked up his rifle. He tried to speak, and stuttered. He was +incoherent from fear, though it was his own countrymen who opposed them. +German and German-trained native troops were in the valley in about +equal numbers. + +"What am I to do?" he asked. + +"Remain at my side," said Harry. "Do not fire until I tell you to. We +are going to creep as near to the enemy as we can, and then charge +through together." + +Klein said nothing, but they heard the bolt of his rifle shake in his +hand. + +Then all five began to crawl down the hill, picking their way carefully +over the stones, advancing as stealthily as possible. + +The enemy's fire had somewhat abated. Perhaps they also--true to the +traditions of the Prussian army--contemplated an assault. Instead of +the continuous rattle of musketry that had lasted for so long, only an +occasional shot resounded in the valley. + +Inch by inch, they drew nearer to the enemy's position, and when not +twenty yards from the place where a German officer was shouting hoarse, +guttural words of command, Harry whispered to his followers to halt. He +desired to give them time to gain their breath, that the charge might be +as swift as it was sudden and unexpected. + +During the next few minutes it was as if each second dragged out into +eternity. At all events, the anxiety and excitement had the most +amazing effect upon Peter Klein, who was a coward from the day of his +birth. It drove him mad, and he became like some infuriated beast, a +bull in a bull-ring or a baited bear. + +Suddenly springing to his feet, before Harry had given the word of +command, he discharged the magazine of his rifle in the direction of his +own countrymen. Then, seizing the weapon by the muzzle, he dashed down +hill, swinging it round and round his head as a man uses a club. + +Harry and his three companions followed in the man's wake, firing right +and left. Though it was dark, they were near enough to Klein to see +what happened. The man was as terrible in his madness as he had been +despicable in fear. Without a doubt, terror had overcome his senses. +Giving himself up for lost, he had been able to bear the suspense no +longer, and now rushed furiously, demented and panic-stricken, into what +looked like certain death. + +A German sergeant jumped out of the grass before him, and the butt of +Klein's rifle crushed the man's skull as though it were a nut. Another +man--a native--a second later was dropped to the ground, with a blow +that would have felled an ox. A third rushed upon the maniac, and so +tremendous was the stroke that sent him to his death that Klein's rifle +broke at the small of the butt. + +Still the ex-spy was undefeated. With the steel barrel in one hand and +his revolver in the other, he went onward in the dark, filling the night +with an infinity of savage and appalling yells. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--War to the Knife + + +Ten minutes later Peter Klein stopped dead, looking about him with wild, +staring eyes. The night was cold--for they were still at a great +altitude--and the breath was pumping from his nostrils as it does with a +horse. However, he was given little time to rest, for Harry, running +forward, seized him by the arm. + +"Get on!" cried the boy. "We're not out of danger yet." + +On they went, racing for freedom, crossing hills and minor valleys, +passing beneath trees, and sometimes knee-deep in the water of forest +streams. + +For a time they heard the guttural voices of the Germans behind them. At +last these became inaudible in the distance. The soldiers were not able +to follow on their tracks, since they had no way of knowing which route +the fugitives had taken. + +At last Harry deemed it safe to call a halt. + +Klein, who was still running like one possessed, had to be stopped by +force. He would not desist from flight, until Jim Braid had tripped him +up. Harry, followed by Fernando, came upon them shortly afterwards. + +"See," cried Harry, pointing to the east, "there comes the dawn! In +half an hour it will be daylight." + +"Do you know where we are?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +"Yes," said the man. "We are towards the Maziri frontier. I recognize +the mountains on the sky-line. There is a good place near at hand where +we can hide, and where--even if we are discovered--we will be able to +hold our own for many days." + +"Let us go there," said Harry. "But where is your brother?" + +No one answered. They peered into the faces of one another. The +younger guide was missing. + +Fernando, the man who had sworn an oath to kill the Black Dog, lifted +his hands to his mouth and let out a long-drawn howl which was like that +of a jackal, and which carried far in the stillness of the morning. It +was a signal that his brother knew of old. Three times he repeated it, +and each time lifted a hand to his ear, and stood listening expectant. + +No answering cry came back. A death-like silence reigned over the +valleys and forests and the mountain-side. + +"He is lost?" asked Harry. + +"He may have taken the wrong direction in the darkness. He may have +been struck by a bullet. Who can tell? These things are in the hands +of God." + +"He may be somewhere near at hand," said Braid, hoping for the best. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"If Cortes is alive he is far away; otherwise he would have heard my +signal. At any rate we can do no good by waiting here. We must push +on; the day approaches. As I said, I know of a place where we shall be +safe." + +As the grey light extended from the mountain-tops to the valleys, +Fernando led them to a kind of ancient fort, constructed of great stone +boulders and surrounded by a deep ditch. In the parapet of this fort +there were loopholes through which to fire, and in the centre, well +screened from observation, was a small hut made of the branches of +trees. The redoubt stood on a sharp pinnacle of rock commanding a wide +stretch of country on every hand. It had doubtless been constructed +centuries before, when there was a more advanced stage of civilization +in the heart of Africa. Indeed, it is from this bygone civilization +that the Maziris themselves trace their origin. + +As the daylight increased they were able to take in their surroundings. +Many miles up the valley, it was just possible to see a little village, +which, Fernando assured them, was in Maziriland itself. Some distance +to the west was a great forest which extended as far as the eye could +reach. + +Harry looked around him in amazement. + +"But this place is almost impregnable," he cried. "Four resolute men +could hold it against hundreds." + +"Is there water here?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +The man pointed to a small spring which bubbled up to the surface near +the door of the hut. + +"I will tell you the story of this place," said he. "Years ago a party +of six Maziris sought refuge in this fort, which was built in the olden +times, when the Ancients crossed the deserts from the east. For eight +months those six men held the army of one of the Cameroon kings at bay. +They had laid in a great store of food. They made the defence even +stronger. Time and again they beat back the attack." + +"And in the end?" asked Jim. + +"In the end four of their number were killed, but the other two +escaped." + +"Escaped! How did they escape?" + +"You will not believe me, but it is true. They escaped +underground--like moles." + +"Underground!" cried the two boys, echoing the man's words in their +astonishment. + +"Yes," said the guide. "All those months they had been digging a +tunnel. The hill is composed of a very soft kind of rock; and they had +brought spades and picks from Maziriland. Day and night they worked, +until at last the tunnel became a mile in length, extending from the +inside of the fort into the very heart of the forest." + +"Where is the entrance?" asked Harry. + +"It is here." + +The man led the way to the hut. The floor was covered with rushes, and +these he gathered together in his arms and piled in a great heap before +the doorway. Underneath was a circular piece of wood, like that which +is often found on the top of a well. Lifting this, Fernando pointed to +a flight of steps that led down into impenetrable darkness. + +"They went this way?" asked Harry. + +"Two escaped by way of the tunnel, whilst a third, who was already +dying, covered up the entrance with rushes. When their foes got in they +found only four men--dead. And they believed that they had been held at +bay during all those months by four men instead of six." + +"Does your brother know of this place?" + +"Yes; and if he is alive he will guess where we have gone. He will come +to us by way of the tunnel. If he is dead----" And Fernando shrugged +his shoulders. + +During that day and the next they saw nothing of the Germans; but +Fernando protested that it would not be safe to push on towards +Maziriland, since the enemy was certainly in the district. Also they +still hoped that Cortes would return. + +During these days they were not idle. Jim Braid was left behind in +charge of Peter Klein, who could not be trusted to hold his own in case +of sudden attack, whilst Harry and Fernando departed into the forest by +way of the tunnel. + +The long journey through the subterranean passage was one of the most +unpleasant experiences that Harry Urquhart ever had in his life. Not +only was the place pitch dark, but water had filtered through the walls +and lay here and there in pools upon the floor. These pools had grown +stagnant, and the air was humid, tainted with the foulest smells. + +At last, they came forth into the forest. There, for two days and one +night, they collected a great store of provisions. They dared not fire +their rifles, but there was no necessity to shoot. The forest abounded +in ground-nuts and various kinds of fruit. Also, Fernando knew where +the natives set their traps, and the two devoted their time to robbing +these, until finally they had sufficient supplies to last for several +days--rabbits, small hog-deer, and many kinds of birds. + +They were obliged to make three journeys to the fort with all the +provisions they had obtained, since it was not possible to carry a heavy +load through the narrow, stifling tunnel. + +On the third day they set to work cutting up the meat and drying it in +the sun. Sun-dried meat is uncommonly tough, but it has this +advantage--it will keep for many months. + +That evening they heard a shot far away in the distance. It was +followed by another, and yet a third, and towards midnight the whole +valley was alive with musketry. + +"What is it?" asked Harry of the guide. + +The man shrugged his shoulders. + +"I cannot say," said he. "Either my brother is pursued by the Germans, +or a fight is taking place between them and the Black Dog--in which case +I may be robbed of my revenge." + +They divided the night into three watches. Peter Klein, they knew, they +could not trust in any responsible position requiring strong nerves and +presence of mind. They set the man to the most menial tasks--chopping +wood, cooking, and repairing the ancient defences. + +All night the firing in the valley continued; by daybreak it was near at +hand. They could see the figures of the Germans racing across the +valley, advancing in extended order or else in small groups which at +that distance resembled families of mice. + +That afternoon a small reconnoitring-party of the enemy ascended the +hill upon which stood the fort. The defenders lay in hiding behind the +parapet, determined not to show themselves, not to disclose their +hiding-place, unless it was certain that the Germans intended to occupy +the hill-top. + +They waited till the eleventh hour. The enemy was not twenty paces from +the ditch when Fernando rose to his feet, and cried out in the German +language, ordering them to halt on peril of their lives. + +At the same time, he raised his rifle to his shoulder and sent a bullet +over their heads. As one man they turned and fled, racing towards the +forest, and were lost to sight. + +It was from that moment that the siege commenced. Their place of refuge +became a citadel encompassed on every hand by a hostile force. The +Germans gathered round them in companies, and day and night strove to +induce the garrison to surrender. It was trench warfare in the heart of +the African wild. + + + + +CHAPTER XX--Honour among Thieves + + +The Germans soon found that it was impracticable to attempt to capture +the fort by a direct frontal attack in daylight. The slope of the hill +was so steep that it was possible to ascend only by way of a path which +was covered by the rifles of the defenders. Apparently they had no +artillery at their disposal. + +At first they charged up this path after the manner in which they were +wont to hurl themselves upon the lines of trenches in Poland and in +Flanders. They were swept down like chaff. Owing to the narrowness of +the way they were obliged to advance upon the fort in single file, and +as each man appeared before the loopholes he paid the price of his +daring. + +After the first assault they resorted to tactics more likely to succeed. +They attacked twice by night. But, fortunately for the defence, the +nights were fine and starry, a full moon was up, and it was possible to +see the enemy long before he reached the walls of the fort. + +For all that, the greatest vigilance was necessary both by day and +night, to avoid being taken by surprise. One or other of the defenders +was always on guard. Even Peter Klein was of some use. Though he could +not be relied upon to act with courage or promptitude, his eyesight was +good enough, and he took his turn at sentry by day. Moreover, he was in +such abject terror of falling into the hands of his own people that +Harry suspected that the German authorities at Dualla had learnt +something of the Sunstone and von Hardenberg's private mission to the +Cameroons. + +By night, when the fort might be rushed, they thought it best not to +leave their destiny in the hands of one who had failed them so +constantly. The only occasion on which Klein had covered himself with +credit was at a moment when fear had so possessed him that he lost all +sense of danger and became for the time being a raving madman. + +It would be wearisome to describe the details of the siege as it +continued day by day. There is no question that the defenders would +have held their own for many weeks had it not been that gradually a +calamity was drawing down upon them. They were running short of +ammunition. Their bandoliers were nearly empty. + +The Germans kept up a constant fire upon the fort, and the garrison, in +self-defence, was obliged to answer back. They calculated that, with +the greatest economy, they had cartridges sufficient to last them only +four days more. It was then that Klein, Harry, and the guide entered +the hut and held consultation together. Jim Braid was on sentry, +stationed on the parapet. The sun was setting in the west. + +It was Fernando who was the first to speak. + +"The situation is very plain," said he. "We can hold out until our +ammunition is exhausted, and then retire by way of the tunnel, still +hoping to reach the caves in advance of von Hardenberg, or we may retire +to-night. + +"Which do you advise?" asked Harry. + +"I suggest," said the guide, "that we go at once. We shall need +ammunition on our return journey to the coast. We have many miles to +traverse. Every moment we delay means a further expenditure of +ammunition. We have not a cartridge to spare." + +"Then," said Harry, "it is settled: we leave the fort this evening." + +It was then that there came a loud and sudden burst of firing from down +the valley, from the direction of the forest. All three sprang to their +feet. + +Braid, from the parapet, called loudly, and they hastened to his side. + +"Look there!" he cried. + +Turning their eyes in the direction indicated, they beheld a man running +as if for life towards the forest. In pursuit, some distance in his +rear, came a large party of Germans, shouting so loudly that their +voices were audible even at that great distance, and firing their rifles +as they ran. + +"Who is it?" cried Harry. + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "He is too far away." + +The firing continued until long after nightfall. It rolled through the +forest like a wave. It was not until ten o'clock that the night was +still. + +The four defenders gathered at the door of the hut. + +"You think it wiser to go?" said Harry + +Fernando bowed his head. + +"Come, then! Let each man load himself with such provisions as he can +carry. We should start at once. It is necessary for us to be far away +before morning." + +Harry Urquhart turned and was about to enter the hut, when he was +brought to an abrupt standstill. He stood motionless and gaping, unable +at first to believe the evidence of his own eyes. For there, in the +doorway, within the enclosure of the fort, stood the figure of a man--a +man who was dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"The Black Dog!" let out the guide, and brought his rifle to his +shoulder. + +"Peace," said the sheikh, lifting a hand. "Think before you fire." + +Fernando's rifle was directed straight at the man's heart. The Arab +never flinched. He stood like a statue, speaking in the slow, +deliberate tones of one who is in full possession of his senses. + +"If you fire," said he, "you slay one who has come to place his services +at your disposal. You are surrounded by a legion of foes. Every rifle +counts. I bring you aid." + +Slowly Fernando lowered his rifle; then he laughed. + +"We do not want your aid," said he. + +"There," answered Bayram, "you are wrong." + +"How so?" + +"Here you are imprisoned. You must fight to the end. There can be no +question of surrender." + +"We do not think of surrender," said the other. "We mean to escape by +the way you came. We mean to escape to-night." + +The Black Dog shook his head. + +"That will not be so easy," he made answer. "The Germans are receiving +reinforcements; another column is advancing from the south. The bush +swarms with their reconnoitring-parties and patrols. Moreover, guns are +approaching up the valley, and may be here at any moment. I speak the +truth. Remember, at some risk I have come here of my own accord." + +He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words with care; but his English +accent was singularly good. + +"You have not yet told us," said Harry Urquhart, "why you have come." + +"You are short of ammunition," answered the sheikh. + +"How do you know that?" + +"For five days I have listened to every shot." + +"You have not yet explained," said Harry. + +The Black Dog smiled, his white teeth showing in the midst of the +blackness of his beard. + +"I come with a proposal," said he, "under a flag of truce." + +"You have nothing to fear," cut in Fernando. "You speak of a truce. We +are men of honour." + +"Very well, then," said the sheikh, "my proposal--or rather the proposal +of him who sent me--is that your party and mine agree to come to terms. +You have run out of ammunition; we can supply you. Boxes of ammunition +can be conveyed without difficulty through the tunnel. Moreover, in +order to cover your retreat, I swear by Allah that I will lead the +Germans on a false scent across the mountains to the east." + +"And in exchange for these services?" asked Harry. + +The Black Dog paused, looking hard at Fernando. + +"In exchange for these services," he repeated, "you are to desist from +the pursuit, to allow my employer and myself to pass unmolested in +Maziriland." + +At this base suggestion, a feeling of such powerful indignation arose in +Harry Urquhart that for some moments he could not find his voice. When +he spoke at last, his voice trembled with passion. + +"You can go back to Captain von Hardenberg," said he, "and you can tell +him from me that he has often enough proved himself a rascal, but that I +never thought that he would sink to such perfidy as to offer us +ammunition to be used against his own countrymen in exchange for his own +safety. As for you, it is only because you came here of your own free +will that you are allowed to go away in safety. You took us evidently +both for cowards and fools. You know now, perhaps, that we are neither +one nor the other. But there is a limit to our patience, and I advise +you to leave by the way you came as quickly as you can." + +The Black Dog drew himself up to his full height, folded his arms, and +fixed upon Harry Urquhart his cruel bloodshot eyes. + +"These are high words," said he, "to one who has been the master of a +thousand slaves. You have asked for war to the knife, and you shall +have it. It is apparent from the way in which you speak that you know +little or nothing of the man with whom you have to deal. You shall see. +I shall prove to you that I am not one who uses empty words." + +At that he turned sharply on his heel, entered the hut, and was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--The Last Cartridge + + +During the next four days the siege continued, and though their enemies +continued to increase in numbers, the Germans were fortunately still +without artillery, which would have battered the old fort to dust and +ashes in the space of half an hour. + +On each occasion when the Germans ventured to assault they were driven +back with considerable loss. Indeed, their dead lay so thick upon the +path upon the hill-side that those who followed after mounted on the +bodies of those who had gone before. + +On one occasion a company of native troops actually gained the parapet +of the fort. It was a dark night, and they had crept up the hill-side +unobserved. With a savage yell, and as one man, they hurled themselves +upon the ramparts. + +The majority were thrown back in disorder under a brisk fire from the +defence, but some half-dozen leapt the ditch and clambered over the +wall. Thereupon a brief hand-to-hand encounter ensued. It was an +affair of seconds, of fierce cries and groans and savage oaths, and in +the end the enclosure of the fort was free of the enemy--except for six +motionless forms that lay silent on the ground. + +Days passed, and still the defence held out. Indeed, they had actually +put off their retreat until too late, for one night they were brought +face to face with the unexpected fact that the Germans had discovered +the entrance to the tunnel. Fernando, who had passed almost to the +mouth of the tunnel, which lay in the midst of the bush, returned to the +fort with the news that a large party of German regular soldiers was +guarding their only line of retreat. Fernando had little doubt that the +Black Dog had found some means by which to betray them. + +The Germans apparently hesitated to advance through the tunnel itself, +since they were still in ignorance of the strength of the little +garrison; and in any case the narrowness and exceeding darkness of the +passage would make an advance an extremely costly affair, whereas +ultimate success was by no means assured. They could no longer be blind +to the fact that those in the fort were running short of ammunition, and +they could afford to play a waiting game. + +The situation of Harry Urquhart and his companions was not of the +pleasantest; indeed, they could no longer hope. Even Fernando, who had +so often proved himself a man of iron, could see no chance of their +deliverance. + +As a great storm drives up upon the wind, so this tragedy drew to a +close. Every round of ammunition--fired in self-defence--every mouthful +of food that was eaten, brought it a step nearer the end. They were +surrounded on every hand. Great numbers of the enemy had come from the +south; both German and native troops were in the district in battalions, +with transport and ammunition columns and machine-guns. + +By then it was manifest that the Germans could capture the fort whenever +they wished, provided they made the necessary sacrifice in lives--a +thing which, as a rule, it is not their custom to hesitate to do. They +had not yet, however, deployed their whole strength against the +garrison--a fact that Harry was not able to explain. + +The blow, which they had anticipated for days, fell upon a certain +morning, soon after daybreak, when the Germans, their whole force in the +valley, advanced in close formation upon the fort. + +At the same time a battery of artillery opened fire from the +neighbouring hills, and the immediate vicinity of the fort became a +pandemonium of dust and smoke and flying stones and masonry, whereas the +defenders were well-nigh deafened by the bursting of high-explosive +shells. + +In spite of this hurricane of lead and steel, time and again shots +sounded from the fort; but the great wave came on, overwhelming and +irresistible. One behind the other the ranks mounted the path. The +defenders kept up a withering fire, until the barrels of their rifles +were so hot they could not touch them. And still the enemy advanced. + +As the Germans gathered themselves together for a final charge, Harry, +Jim Braid, and the half-caste rushed together from the parapet to the +only box of ammunition that remained. The box lay open near the door of +the hut. Fernando was the first to reach it. + +He pulled up sharply, standing motionless and erect. Then he knelt down +and took out from the box the only cartridge that was there. + +"This is all that is left," said he. + +"No more?" cried Harry. + +"We have come to the end," said the guide. + +Jim Braid turned and addressed his companions. + +"Has no one any ammunition?" he asked, and in his voice was a note of +dire distress. + +Both shook their heads. Peter Klein was cowering in the hut. + +"This is all that remains," said Fernando. "It shall be put to +excellent use." + +So saying he slipped it into the chamber of his rifle and closed the +breech with a snap. + +Both Jim and Harry turned away their faces. In a few minutes they knew +that they must be prisoners in the enemy's camp. Harry allowed his eyes +to travel over the parapet of the fort. He saw the German officers +reorganizing their scattered ranks in preparation for a final charge. + +And then, from a hill-top towards the south, there came a sound that was +like the bursting of a thunder-cloud. Something shrieked and hooted in +the air, and a great shell from a heavy gun burst in a flash of flame in +the midst of the German troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--The Conquest of a Colony + + +Slowly the guide lowered his rifle. All eyes turned to the south, from +which direction had come the shell. For a moment, in the valley, in the +enclosure of the fort, there reigned a death-like silence--the silence +of suspense. The bombardment of the fort ceased as at a stroke. + +The calm voice of Fernando broke upon the stillness. + +"The British!" said he. "The soldiers from the Coast!" + +Hardly were the words from his lips than a great salvo of cannon +thundered in the valley, and went echoing far above the tree-tops of the +forests, over the ridges of the mountains, towards Maziriland. + +And once again, though the little fort was left in peace, the air was +alive with shells, which flew upon their way, shrieking and hooting as +if in savage glee. Shrapnel burst high overhead, with white puffs of +smoke, the bullets falling like hail into the ranks of the astonished +Germans. Segment-shells struck the rocks, breaking into fragments that +flew far and wide, inflicting the most terrible of wounds. + +The German troops, in good order, shepherded by their officers, retired +down the hill, to face this new and far more formidable danger. They +assembled on a long spur that jutted into the valley, which they deemed +the most suitable position whence to oppose the advance of the British. + +"Is this true?" cried Harry. "Is it, indeed, the English?" + +"Look!" cried Jim, pointing over the parapet. + +A long line of glittering bayonets appeared upon the sky-line, advancing +like a running wave upon a low-lying, sandy beach. They came forward +without checking, each man keeping his distance from his neighbour, as +though they did no more than execute some simple movements on parade. +They were in far more extended order than the Germans. + +Even as the khaki lines advanced, the Mauser rifles spoke from the +hills, and the white dust caused by the bullets flew at their feet. They +answered back in volleys, each one of which sounded like the "rip" of +tearing paper. The sunshine glittered on the steel of their bayonets, +their polished buttons, and the badges on their coats. + +Their manoeuvres were like clockwork. When one party advanced, another +fired; and thus the long lines of infantry were ever firing, ever +advancing upon the enemy's position. + +A battle fought under such conditions--which are rare enough in these +days when the spade has become an even more important weapon than the +rifle--is one of the most magnificent and impressive sights it is +possible to see. One catches only glimpses, now and again, of fleeting, +crouching figures, running from rock to rock, from cover to cover, +appearing and disappearing like gnats in the light of the sun. And all +the time a great roar of musketry rises to the heavens--a kind of +interminable "crackling" sound, like that of green wood upon a fire, +only a thousand times greater in volume and more continuous. + +Above this the guns toll ceaselessly, shaking, as it seems, the very +ground itself with a series of sullen "thuds", filling the atmosphere +with great vibrations, drum-like echoes, and rolling clouds of smoke. + +Jim Braid and Harry Urquhart stood side by side upon the parapet of the +ancient, crumbling fort. As the gods of Olympus reviewed the struggles +of the Greeks and the Trojans, so those two looked down upon the wide +amphitheatre where the conflict was taking place, where men were +marching shoulder to shoulder into the very jaws of death. + +They could see both sides at once. They could see the Germans on the +ridge, firing rapidly into the advancing British troops; they could see +the British coming on and on, regardless of danger, heeding only the +words of command shouted from line to line. + +Far in rear, upon a hill-top, a heliograph blinked and flickered in the +sun. There was the officer in command. Thence, by means of his +signallers, he controlled the army at his feet, disposing his battalions +as a player moves his chessmen on a board. + +The two boys stood transfixed in bewilderment and admiration. + +"Oh," cried Jim, "what wouldn't I give to be there!" + +His heart was with his own countrymen, the thin, khaki lines that were +driving straight forward with the tenacity of a pack of hounds that hold +the fox in view. + +From either side gun after gun spoke in quick succession, until it was +as if the world was only thunder and flashes of fire and clouds of +yellow smoke. As often as each gun was fired it was loaded and fired +again. The noise of the batteries was as persistent as the barking of a +chained, infuriated dog. + +And then from everywhere, from out of the grass, from behind the rocks, +from little undulations in the ground, arose thousands of small khaki +figures. + +Their ranks were undisturbed; they were even as the staves upon a sheet +of music. Line after line extended from one side of the valley to the +other, and, in the rear of all, the helio still blinked and glittered, +there where the brains of the machine were working the destruction of +prophets of "Frightfulness", champions of World Dominion. + +A bugle sounded in the air, its thin, piercing notes carrying far. Each +of the boys experienced a thrill of pride and exultation, a sensation of +sublime excitement, as the British lines answered the bugle with a +charge. + +Line after line, amid the thunder of the guns, swept up the ridge +towards the enemy, the bayonets flashing, the bugle speaking again and +again. + +And then came a cheer that rent the air--a British cheer--howbeit from +the throats of gallant Haussas--that drowned the musketry, that rose +superior even to the constant growling of the guns. + +Before that mad, headlong onslaught the enemy gave way. The Germans +were swamped, as a tide carries away a castle on the sands. As one man, +they broke and fled, panic-stricken and defeated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--Attacked + + +As soon as they had collected their belongings and stores, they set +about to leave the fort, passing through the tunnel in single file, the +guide leading the way and Harry Urquhart bringing up the rear. + +By the time they entered the forest the afternoon was well advanced, the +sun sinking in the heavens. They hoped to reach the British camp that +night, but there was no question that darkness would overtake them long +before they could do so. + +There was little or nothing to fear. The soldiers had driven the +Germans from the district. To all intents and purposes the German +Cameroons was conquered, and the remnants of the enemy were returning in +hot haste towards the Spanish territory to the east. + +When Harry Urquhart and his three companions came forth from the +entrance to the tunnel they found a heap of hot, charred wood upon the +ground. There was no doubt that recently a fire had been burning, and +that the picket that guarded the tunnel had retreated only at the +eleventh hour. + +During the earlier part of the night they traversed the valley, marching +in a bee-line towards the bivouac fires of the British camp. They moved +forward in the following order--Fernando went first, some distance +behind him came Jim Braid and Peter Klein, and a greater distance in the +rear was Harry Urquhart. + +Harry had been walking for some time with his eyes fixed upon the +ground. He was wondering what the end of all this strange business was +to be. + +He knew that von Hardenberg had stolen the Sunstone, that he carried it +upon his person. It was Harry's ambition, the very lodestone of his +life, to recover the Sunstone for his uncle. It was von Hardenberg's +object to reach the Caves of Zoroaster, and possess himself of the +treasure. This was the man's only aim, for which he had proved that he +was prepared to sacrifice his country and his honour. + +As he walked, Harry was thinking of these things, when, on a sudden, +there came a flash of fire, not ten paces to the right. He pulled up +with a jerk, and heard a bullet sing past his head like some evil spirit +in the darkness. Then there came a stinging sensation in the lobe of an +ear, and a moment later he felt the warm blood flowing down his neck. + +He saw a figure flying in the night, and with a loud cry took up the +pursuit. A few seconds later he had flung himself upon a man who +struggled in his grasp. On the instant each seized the other by the +throat, and in the moonlight Harry recognized that he had come to +death-grips with his cousin, Captain von Hardenberg himself. + +No sooner was he aware who his opponent was than he saw at once that +here was a chance to capture the Sunstone, and for that end he struggled +with the desperation that means more than strength. + +Placing one leg behind his adversary, and pressing with all his force +upon his chest, he endeavoured to throw von Hardenberg backward. And +even as he wrestled he felt the Sunstone, sewn in the lining of the +Prussian's coat. + +Gradually von Hardenberg was forced backward, and then at last he fell, +coming heavily to the ground. In his fall he struck his head against a +rock, and after that he lay quite motionless and silent. + +Harry could hear the footsteps of approaching men. On one hand Jim +Braid and Fernando hastened to the boy's assistance; on the other, the +Black Dog came forward with rapidity. + +As quick as thought Harry pulled out his pocketknife. He had but to rip +open von Hardenberg's coat and the Sunstone was his, their journey was +at an end. + +A sharp cut with the knife, a hand that trembled with excitement thrust +through the opening, and Harry's fingers closed upon the precious relic +he had come so many miles to gain. + +And, at that moment, a violent blow descended upon his head and +stretched him senseless on the ground. The Arab sheikh had come to the +assistance of his employer in the nick of time. His quick eyes had +taken in the situation at a glance. He had seen the Sunstone in the +hands of Harry Urquhart, and, lifting his rifle by the barrel, he had +brought down the butt upon the boy's head. + +For him to snatch up the Sunstone was the work of an instant. And a +moment afterwards the Black Dog was flying in the night, carrying in his +arms the unconscious body of von Hardenberg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--The Caves + + +Fernando, bringing his rifle to his shoulder, fired a shot at random in +the darkness. It was the last round they had. A laugh came back from +the distance. + +Without a word the guide put down his rifle on the ground and examined +the wounded boy. + +"He is stunned," said he. "He will recover presently." + +So saying he lifted Harry in his arms and carried him a distance of +about a hundred yards to a place where there was a small stream in the +valley. + +There he bathed the boy's face and hands, washing the blood from the +wound in his ear. Presently Harry recovered consciousness, sat up, and +looked about him. + +"Where am I?" he asked. + +It took but a word to remind him of what had happened, and then he +remembered that he had held the Sunstone in his grasp. He looked up at +Jim and smiled. + +"I was so near to capturing it," said he. + +"We'll get it yet, sir," answered Jim. "Just now I had the shock of my +life. I thought you had been killed." + +"I'm all right," answered Harry. "I feel dizzy; that's all." + +In a little time he was able to continue on his way. The bullet wound +in his ear was nothing; it was scarcely painful. + +That night they camped in the mountains, intending to march at daybreak +towards the British camp. When the sun rose, however, they found to +their surprise that the whole column was already on the line of march, +moving towards the east in pursuit of the retreating enemy. + +When they reached the scene of the bivouac the camp-fires were still +burning, but no sign of life remained. + +The British column had vanished into the bush; and only a few +hospital-wagons were to be seen trundling slowly southward. + +In the centre of the deserted bivouac stood a tall solitary tree, and it +was under this that they rested throughout the heat of the day. +Fernando, who had been dozing, rose to his feet, stretched and yawned. +As he did so he caught sight of a star-shaped cut in the bark of the +tree, and on the instant it was as if the man had become transfigured. + +His eyes lit up, his lips smiled. Amazement, delight, and infinite +pleasure were stamped on every feature of his face. + +"What is it?" asked Harry, at a loss to explain the man's behaviour. + +"Heaven be praised!" he cried. "My brother is still alive!" + +"Alive!" + +"Yes. Cortes blazed that tree, and the blaze is not one day old. Last +night he was here--in the midst of the British camp." + +"Are you sure of it?" asked Braid. + +"I know," Fernando answered with conviction. "In the days when we +hunted together we sometimes lost one another in the bush, and on such +occasions we blazed the trees along the tracks of bush elephants in just +such a manner as this." + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"There is no sign of Cortes here," he said. "He cannot have left with +the British?" + +"No," said Fernando. "He is hiding somewhere. Let me think, where +would he go. Both he and I know this district well." + +The man paused a moment, standing perfectly still. Then, on a sudden, +with an exclamation, he set off running towards the hills. + +He did not return until long after nightfall; and then it was with the +joyful news that he had found his brother, sound asleep--beside three +boxes of German ammunition. + +Without delay, guided by Fernando, the whole party set off in haste. +They found Cortes, sleeping heavily, in a little dried-up watercourse +well screened by trees. It was characteristic of Fernando that he had +not awakened his brother. + +Harry bent down and touched the sleeper on the shoulder. The man sat +up, rubbed his eyes, and then looked about him. The light of the moon +fell full upon his face. + +Harry grasped his hand and shook it warmly. + +"You escaped?" he cried. + +"Yes," said Cortes. "When we charged through the Germans, my foot +struck against a boulder and I fell upon my face. I think the fall did +some injury to my wound--the wound I had received from the Black Dog; +for, when I tried to run, I found myself unable to do so. + +"You were then some distance ahead of me," he continued. "I feared I +would be overtaken. For a moment I knew not what to do. Then I came to +a place where there was a great hole in the ground covered with bushes, +and there I hid, allowing the Germans to pass. + +"When they had gone, I got to my feet and tried to think matters out. I +knew where my brother would take you; I knew he would go to the old +fort. I might have rejoined you by way of the tunnel. I thought of +doing so, but in the end I decided to go in search of ammunition, of +which I thought you might possibly run short. British Government +ammunition would be no good, as--with the exception of one Express--we +have all got Mauser rifles. So three times I crept by night into the +German camp, and each time returned with a box of ammunition. I secured +also a haversack of revolver ammunition. Their sentries are sleepy +dogs." + +"You did splendidly!" cried Harry. "We are absolutely without a round." + +"I knew you were in the fort," Cortes went on, "and I guessed you would +go to the British camp. It was there that I blazed the tree whilst the +troops were marching away. I returned to the hills, because I was tired +and wished to sleep. If my brother found the blaze I knew he would +follow me here." + +The man smiled. He had every reason to be proud. + +After a while the younger guide spoke again. + +"The Black Dog still lives?" he asked. + +Fernando bowed his head. + +The following morning they began the final stage of their march towards +the frontier of Maziriland. The route led them along the crest-line of +the hills, and thence across a valley thick with undergrowth and jungle, +where the heat was tropical and humid. They were glad to reach high +ground once again, and set forward across the plateau beyond which the +Maziri mountains stood up like a line of thrones. + +These same mountains had been plainly visible from the old fort they had +held so gallantly against the Germans, and had even appeared quite near +at hand. But in these high altitudes the atmosphere was exceedingly +clear, and, besides, the mountains were of great height, dominating the +surrounding country far into the interior of the Cameroons. + +It took them in all six more days to reach the frontier, when once again +they found themselves in the midst of hidden dangers. + +They had no idea of what manner of reception they would receive from the +Maziris themselves; indeed, concerning this strange race very little is +known, either to anthropologists or explorers. + +It is generally supposed that the Maziris are a race that emigrated from +north-eastern Africa very early in the known history of the world. Their +features are aquiline, their lips thin, and the colour of their skin no +more than brown. Not only are they certainly not a Negroid race, but +they do not appear to have intermarried with the neighbouring Negro +tribes in the Cameroons. It is possible they are direct descendants of +the ancient Egyptians, though it must remain a mystery how they brought +to the wilds of Western Africa the religion and traditional customs of +the followers of Zoroaster. + +As soon as they had crossed the frontier, Cortes and Fernando guided the +party towards the west, in which direction were the caves. This also +was the most deserted part of the country, nearly all the Maziri +villages being towards the east, where the country was more fertile and +suitable for pasture. + +There is to be found in a certain part of Africa--far from the sites of +the famous cities of the Pharaohs--indisputable evidence of an extremely +ancient civilization. Even so far south as Mashonaland, are ruins of +towns which could only have been originally constructed by highly +civilized peoples. Ancient Egyptian history, the writings of the Greek +historian Herodotus, as well as the Old Testament itself, place it +beyond all doubt that the Egyptians, the Persians and Phoenicians spread +their learning and their influence far into the interior of what, until +only a few years ago, was the Dark Continent--unexplored, unmapped and +quite unknown. It can only be supposed that Maziriland was a relic of +the early civilization of the East, in much the same way as the +inhabitants of northern Spain are distantly related to the Irish. + +Before we enter this strange, mysterious country, it must be placed on +record that there befell a certain tragedy. In a word, Peter Klein, +having contracted a fever in the jungle, and, being much weakened in +constitution by the nerve-strain and the hardships he had undergone, +fell into a rapid decline--and died, as he had lived, pleading to be +spared. + +His companions buried him one evening among the rock-strewn, lonely +mountains, and he goes out of this story as he came into it--a poor, +mean object, a man of no account. + +As for our four adventurers, daylight the next morning found them once +more upon the hill-tops, shrouded in the mists. For fear of the Maziris +the guides led the party by a roundabout way, giving the valleys, and +even the lower mountain slopes, a wide berth; for there they were more +likely to fall in with parties of the inhabitants. + +On the next day, from the far south, there came a noise like thunder +that continued until the afternoon. Hour by hour the British guns spoke +in the distance. The Germans were being hounded from the Cameroons. + +Day by day, as they continued their journey, the firing was repeated, +growing fainter and more distant as they advanced. On the fifth day +after Klein's death, they turned towards the north-west, and that +evening crossed a valley. Beyond was a grass-covered plateau where wild +asses grazed. The plateau dropped suddenly in a sheer wall of cliff, +and they were obliged to walk many miles to find a place where they +could descend. + +At length they reached a mountain-top. Immediately opposite was another +mountain, up which there was a path leading to a flight of steps. The +steps ended suddenly in a black, yawning hole in the mountain-side. So +far as the inhabitants were concerned the country appeared absolutely +deserted. It was a barren inhospitable waste. + +"Have we much farther to go?" asked Harry, turning to the elder guide. +"Tell me, in which direction are the caves?" + +"Yonder," said Fernando, pointing to the black hole in the mountain +slope. "Yonder are the Caves of Zoroaster. There lies the treasure +which the Black Dog and von Hardenberg have come all these thousands of +miles to gain." + +In single file, Cortes leading the way, they descended towards the +valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--The Lock + + +The Caves of Zoroaster are one of the most remarkable examples of the +industry of the Ancients that are known to exist. As we have said, in +various parts of the world, especially in the continent of Asia, there +are many standing proofs of an advanced stage of civilization many +centuries before the Christian era. + +There are the catacombs in Upper Egypt--a labyrinth of subterranean +passages extending for miles; there are the Pyramids, the Great Wall of +China, the hanging gardens of Babylon--all of which are colossal and +eternal monuments of the labour, energy and genius of the past. + +The Caves of Zoroaster are perhaps as marvellous as any of these. +Indeed, it is much to be wondered at that they were not included in the +seven wonders of the ancient world. Time has not served to deface their +majestic beauty, to detract from the solemn magnificence of these great +vaults fashioned by human labour out of the living and everlasting rock. + +Soon after our travellers had caught their first glimpse of the entrance +to the caves, they decided to camp on the lower slopes of the mountain, +for it was already growing dark. It would take them several hours to +cross the valley, and they could not hope to accomplish the journey in +the darkness. They accordingly retired to a place where there was a +great hollow among the rocks, and here they deemed it safe to light a +fire and cook their evening meal. + +The following morning Harry awoke at daybreak. He was anxious to push +on without loss of time. There was no knowing where von Hardenberg and +the sheikh were. Perhaps they had already gained the caves. + +As soon as they had breakfasted, Harry and his party continued on their +way. The two boys, led by the guides, crossed the valley and then +ascended the mountain opposite by way of a bridle-path, worn smooth by +the feet of pilgrims. Throughout the ages, devout men had journeyed to +the caves from the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia--by way of the +caravan routes that extend in all directions across these arid wastes. + +The path grew steeper as they approached the entrance to the caves, and +presently they found themselves at the foot of a flight of steps. A +heavy mist still wrapped the mountain in a kind of shroud. The steps +ascended, one above the other, into the very heart of the mist which +completely obscured the entrance. + +These steps were like "Jacob's Ladder", mounting, as it seemed, to the +very zenith of the heavens; and on either side of them, as far as Harry +could see, were ranged strange statues--of lions with eagles' wings, of +men with the heads of foxes, and great dragons that lay crouching like +watch-dogs, guarding the treasure that lay beyond. All were graven in +the same rough mountain stone. + +For centuries the lightning had played upon the rocks about them, the +hail and the rain had lashed these mute, immobile sentinels, so that in +many cases they were broken and corroded like the gargoyles on a Norman +church. + +To mount that flight of nearly a thousand steps in the mists of morning, +between these weird and hideous images, was an experience that bordered +on the uncanny. On every hand a mighty stillness reigned in the heart +of the mountains. + +Indeed, it was as if this wild, forgotten country was some colossal +graveyard of the past, where the wisdom of the Medes and Persians lay +buried to the end of time, where the rugged mountain-tops stood forth +like tombstones, piercing the very clouds. + +At last they came to the entrance. The steps widened and they stood +upon a great stone terrace, level as a table-top, on the farther side of +which arose the side of the mountain, formidably smooth and +perpendicular, the moisture on its surface glistening in the sunlight +that struggled through the mist. It was like a wall of polished steel. + +The entrance to the caves was wide enough to allow four men to pass +abreast, and about ten feet in height. Black as Erebus it yawned in the +savage cliff. On either side, carved in stone, protruding from the +rock, were the figures of two enormous giants, armless, with great +beards that extended to their waists, and those huge conical helmets on +their heads which one has learnt to associate with the Persians, the +Assyrians, and the Medes. + +Fernando walked to the threshold of the entrance and then turned sharp +to Harry. + +"I am a Spaniard," said he, "and the Spanish are a superstitious +race--at least, that is how you would express it. Some speak of +superstition, others of prescience--or foreknowledge of coming events. +Call it what you like, I have the sense of a calamity impending. I am +quite sure of that." + +"How do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"It is like this," Fernando went on; "we have come to a tragedy. The +curtain is about to be raised." + +"Do you fear to enter the caves?" + +"No. But I will not go first. Lead, if you like, I am quite prepared +to follow." + +This was a new trait in the character of the half-caste. He had never +shown fear or hesitation before. + +Harry turned to Jim. + +"Come," said he, and led the way beneath the darkened archway. Cortes +and Fernando followed at their heels. + +But Harry Urquhart had not taken ten paces forward when he stood +transfixed in wonderment at the solemn magnificence and beauty of the +Caves of Zoroaster. + +The place was like a great cathedral. It was divided into three aisles +by two lines of pillars. These pillars were extraordinarily massive. +They had not been built up from the floor to the ceiling, but were part +of the living rock, joining the roof to the floor. In other words, the +aisles had been hollowed out by human labour, and the rounded pillars +left at regular intervals to support the immense weight above. + +The cave was lighted from above by several shafts that pierced the +mountain, and which threw convergent beams of light across the shadows. +Giving upon each of the side aisles were three doors constructed of +wood, but barred with iron and studded with scores of nails. Above +these doors, around three sides of the cave, was a kind of gallery, +connected with the roof by a series of smaller and more frequent +pillars. + +At the far end, upon an altar, a single oil-lamp was burning. Behind +the altar, and about twenty paces distant, was a wall of rock which +immediately attracted the attention of the boys. + +This rock was rough, as in its natural state, whereas elsewhere in the +cave--on the floor, the ceiling, and the pillars--the rock was so smooth +that it resembled masonry. Moreover, the aisles were of grey limestone; +but the rock behind the altar was of red granite, in which the quartz +and mica crystals glittered in the flickering light of the lamp. + +By the side of the granite rock was something which Harry Urquhart +recognized at once. On a single axis, supported at each end by grooves +cut in the pillars, were nine enormous wheels of bronze. On the +outside--or what would correspond to the "tyres"--of each of these +wheels, were hundreds of strange cuneiform characters. + +There was no doubt that beyond the red granite rock lay the vault which +contained the treasure, and these wheels composed the Bramah lock by +sole means of which the vault itself could be opened. + +But without the Sunstone the wheels were useless. On the obverse side +of the Sunstone was the explanation, or solution, of the riddle. + +Harry walked up to the great bronze wheels and turned them at random, +first this way and then that. Each revolved independently of the +others, and could be turned either backwards or forwards. + +From what his uncle had told him, he knew that each wheel must be turned +until the characters visible along a given line corresponded to those +upon the Sunstone. There could be no doubt as to where this line was, +for, across the wheels, at about the height of a man's eyes, a bar of +gold extended. + +Whilst Harry and Jim were examining the wheels, Cortes was exploring the +side aisles beneath the gallery. Presently he came towards his +companions on tiptoe, with a finger raised to his lips. + +"Come here!" said he in a whisper, beckoning to Harry. + +Harry did so, and was conducted to one of the iron-bound doors, where +the guide motioned him to stoop down and listen. + +With his ear to the door, Urquhart could hear nothing for some seconds. +Then there came to his ears a sound that was unearthly. + +It was a low, continuous, moaning sound, like the howl of a dog in the +distance. It grew louder gradually until at last it was close at hand, +on the other side of the door. + +There was something in the vastness of the place, in its stillness and +its gloom, that was at once depressing and alarming. Harry Urquhart +felt that he was rapidly losing confidence in himself. The great flight +of steps without, the stone statues, the two carved giants at the +entrance, the shadowy vault of the cave, pierced by shafts of light, and +the solitary burning lamp--all these were mystical and weird. + +The boy was well able to face danger, to take his life in his hands, but +here he was confronted by what was suggestive of the supernatural. A +feeling of fear possessed him--he knew not why. He drew back, +shuddering, and turned quickly to the guide. + +"Someone is coming!" he whispered. + +At that moment there came a loud rapping on the other side of the door, +which shook and trembled under the blows of someone who seemed like a +maniac. They heard a bolt drawn sharply back. And then a voice let out +a kind of shriek that ended quite abruptly. As one man, they turned and +fled without shame or hesitation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--The White Madman + + +They ran in all haste towards the entrance to the cave. The two guides +led the way. If the boys were alarmed, the men were even more so. + +The brothers had proved that they did not mind danger in the ordinary +acceptation of the term, but, in their thinking, in this place they +trespassed upon the precincts of the other world. + +Cortes was about to make his escape to the terrace outside the entrance, +when Harry called him back. + +"Here!" cried the boy. "This way!" + +In the semi-darkness he had caught sight of a narrow flight of stone +steps which led to the gallery above. He was not so frightened that he +had not a natural curiosity to see who approached on the other side of +the door. + +All this time a noise continued that echoed ceaselessly in the vastness +of the cave. It was a noise of bolts withdrawn, chains jangling, locks +unfastened, whilst a voice that was hardly human was continuously +uplifted in a long, plaintive moan. + +In the semi-darkness of the gallery the four trespassers knelt down, +hiding behind the pillars in such position that they could see into the +central aisle below. Their eyes were fixed upon the door whence issued +these strange, uncanny sounds. + +Presently the door opened, and there came forth into the light of the +lamp the most extraordinary apparition it had ever been the lot of any +one of them to see. + +It was a madman. Moreover, one who was terrible in his madness. He was +of a great age, for the hair of his beard and of his head was white as +snow. And yet he was very tall of stature, and had the appearance of a +man of colossal strength. + +He was clothed in rags--rags which hung together by mere threads, so +that his dark skin was visible upon his arms and back. The hair of his +head was so long that it reached to his waist, a great beard spread over +his chest. At his side he carried an enormous sword--a two-handed sword +such as was used by warriors in ancient days. In one hand he held a +staff. + +He came forward, singing a wild song that somehow was reminiscent of the +desert and the East. He approached the altar where burned the lamp, and +there flung himself upon the ground, tearing his hair, gnashing his +teeth, and actually foaming at the mouth. + +From time to time he lifted his voice in a howl, dismal and prolonged, +breaking off in his singing to beat himself upon the chest. It was all +terrible to behold. It was like a scene in some majestic Bedlam. This +white madman, the semi-darkness of the cave, the flickering light, the +enormous pillars--all seemed not of the world we know, but to belong +rather to one of the worlds of which we sometimes dream. + +Harry, turning to Fernando, whispered in his ear. + +"Who is this man?" said he. + +"He is Guardian of the Cave. He is said to be a hundred years of age. +He has lived here all his life." + +The old man rose to his feet and stretched forth his arms. Then, +lifting his voice, he uttered an endless string of words that were +incomprehensible to both boys. As far as Harry could make out, the man +either uttered some fearful curse or else he prayed in anguish. + +"What is he saying?" asked the boy. + +"I am not sure," answered Fernando; "I know little of the Maziri +language. I think he says that the Sunstone has been stolen these many +years, but this very day it will return. He says the vault will be +opened before nightfall. He says that he himself is about to die." + +"How does he pretend to know these things?" + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "These men have the wisdom of the +ancients, who could read the stars and knew of many things long since +forgotten. It is supposed by the Maziris themselves that by means of +fasting and penance and self-inflicted torture he has gained such +holiness that he can see into the future, that he can read from the Book +of Fate." + +They could not move their eyes from the Guardian of the Cave. He now +stood erect and motionless before the altar like one transfigured into a +kind of deity. There was little about him that suggested what we know +as human. + +He was straight of back, his bare arms folded upon his chest, his head a +little lowered. And the shafts of daylight from either side of the cave +converged upon the whiteness of his head, so that he was like a saint, +solemn and magnificent, surrounded by the all-pervading gloom. + +Suddenly he let out a shout that was half a shriek--louder than before; +and then they saw that his madness was not feigned. Like a wild beast +he hurled himself upon the wheels and set them all in motion, some +revolving one way, some the other. And even as the wheels were turning +he shook his fist at the entrance to the vault--the red granite rock at +the extremity of the cave. + +"Open!" he cried, in the strange Maziri language. "Open in the name of +Zoroaster!" + +Again and again, he cried to the vault to open, as though that which was +inanimate would heed his infuriated words. The spokes of the great +bronze wheels reflected the light from the lamp, but there came no +answer to the man's cries but the echoes of his own voice in the dimness +of the cavern. + +Once again he flung himself upon the ground, and prayed in a loud voice +that the spirit of Zoroaster might descend and show him how to open the +vault. According to Fernando, he asked the gods to grant him one of two +favours--either that the secret of the Sunstone might be conveyed to him +then and there, or that the Sunstone itself might be returned to the +cave. + +And suddenly he stopped in the midst of his prayer, springing sharply to +his feet. For some seconds he stood quite motionless, in the attitude +of one who listens. + +Then he spoke slowly and distinctly and less loudly than before. + +"My prayer has been heard," said he. "Glory to Zoroaster!" + +At that he lifted a hand to an ear and turned his head towards the +entrance to the cave. + +Those in the gallery listened, too. Sure enough, footsteps were +approaching. + +A little after, the daylight at the entrance was obscured by a +figure--the figure of a tall and slender man dressed in the clothes of a +European. For a moment he stood quite motionless, shading his eyes with +a hand. + +It was apparent that, newly come from the daylight, the new-comer was +unable to see in the half-light of the cavern. Neither could he himself +be recognized by those in the gallery. + +Presently he came forward until he stood before the Guardian of the +Cave, and the light from the burning lamp fell full upon his face. + +Harry Urquhart caught his breath, and his hand went quickly to the +handle of his revolver, when he recognized von Hardenberg, who had come +to his journey's end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--The Black Dog Bites + + +For some moments the two men stood facing one another. Neither spoke +nor moved. + +As they stood thus, a third person entered, swiftly, silently, without +being seen either by von Hardenberg or the Guardian of the Cave. Those +in the gallery saw who it was: the man was the sheikh, the Black Dog of +the Cameroons. + +Of the scene that followed the watchers in the gallery were amazed and +horrified spectators. It seems that Captain von Hardenberg had not been +idle during the time the Sunstone had been in his possession; with +Teuton thoroughness and industry he had even learnt to speak in the +Maziri tongue. + +"Who are you?" said he to the old man, so strange and terrible to +behold. + +"I do not ask who you may be," answered the other, "because I know." + +Word by word, the following conversation was afterwards repeated to +Harry by Fernando. + +"You know!" cried von Hardenberg. "What do you know?" + +"I know that you are he who bears the Sunstone on your person. I order +you to deliver it up!" + +Von Hardenberg drew back a pace. The Black Dog was crouching like a +tiger behind one of the pillars, unseen by either of the speakers. + +"Who told you?" cried von Hardenberg. "Who told you I have the +Sunstone?" + +"These things," said the old man in a great, solemn voice, "these things +I know because I am one who holds converse with the gods. Me you cannot +deceive. A short time ago I was asleep, and in my sleep I dreamed a +dream--that the Sunstone had returned." + +"You are mad!" cried the Prussian in brutal derision. + +"Aye," said the man, "I am mad; but I am wiser than those who are sane. +Deliver up the Sunstone!" + +"By what right?" + +"By every right. I am the Guardian of the Cave. I have lived five +score years, and never once have I ventured beyond the entrance of the +Caves of Zoroaster. Come, deliver up the Sunstone." + +"And if I refuse?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"If you refuse," said the man, "you die!" + +Von Hardenberg looked about him with a quick, furtive glance. Softly +his hand crept to his belt, where he carried the holster of his +revolver. + +What happened next was the work of a few seconds. Those in the gallery +had no time to interfere. As for the sheikh, he evidently intended that +the tragedy should be played out to its end, to the falling of the +curtain. + +The old man, seeing von Hardenberg's action, lifted his great two-handed +sword and flourished it on high. Then, with a spring like that of a +tiger, he hurled himself upon the Prussian. + +Three shots rang out in quick succession. There were three flashes of +fire, like jets of flame, and then three puffs of smoke. The cave was +filled with an echo that went on and on as if it would never cease. + +And when the smoke cleared, there was the old man lying upon his face +upon the floor, silent and still. A century had rolled above his head, +for a hundred years he had stood guardian of the Caves of Zoroaster--and +now his task was ended. + +Harry sprang to his feet, and would have fired then and there at von +Hardenberg had not Cortes held him down by force. + +"It was murder!" he whispered. + +"If you fire, we are lost," cried Cortes. "It is too dark to shoot +straight, and the Black Dog will escape us." + +Harry resumed his kneeling position and waited. + +A horrid silence reigned in the great, domed chamber. The scene was +more tragic, more fantastic than ever. The shafts of light from above +struck the body of the murdered man; the lamp still flickered before the +altar. Even yet, the echoes of the shots were murmuring in the deeper +recesses of the place. + +Captain von Hardenberg stood stock-still, his revolver in his hand, thin +wreaths of smoke issuing from the muzzle. From out of the heart of the +stillness there came a chuckle: the Black Dog was pleased to laugh. + +Murder was nothing to him. He had dealt for years in human lives. He +was implacable, relentless. And even at that same moment he himself +contemplated a greater crime, for the commission of which he was hiding +in the darkness like a snake, biding his time to strike. + +Captain von Hardenberg took two steps towards the body and turned it +over with his foot. + +"He is dead," said he in German. + +The old man, who had been so terrible in life by reason of his madness, +now looked sane and beautiful in death. The worn, agonized expression +had gone altogether from his features, which were now calm and wholly at +peace. With his white hair and ragged clothes, he was like one of the +patriarchs of old. + +Captain von Hardenberg was not himself. It was plain to see that it was +all that he could do to control within him a feeling that was akin to +terror. He looked about him with widely opened eyes--at the vast +pillars, at the darkened corners of the aisles, at the shafts of +sunlight that pierced the darkness like the blades of swords. + +With trembling hands he attempted to unbutton his coat. His nerves were +so shaken, and he in such feverish haste, that he could not at first +succeed. In the end, as if grown desperate, he took a knife from his +pocket, opened the largest blade, and cut off the buttons one by one. +Then he ripped open his waistcoat, and, a moment after, drew forth the +Sunstone and placed it on the altar by the side of the burning lamp. + +And next he did a strange thing indeed. He burst suddenly into loud +laughter--laughter that was hysterical, delirious. + +He had gone through so much; he had faced so many dangers; he had been +guilty of a score of crimes; he had lost everything--good name and +honour and position--in order to possess himself of the treasure that +lay beyond the red granite rock. + +And now that all this wealth was as good as his, he could do little else +but laugh, in a kind of wild delirium, whilst tear-drops in quick +succession coursed down his cheeks. + +After a while he mastered himself a little, but not completely. He went +to the nine wheels and turned them all ways in a fever of excitement. + +Then he remembered what he had to do. He studied the wheels and took +notice of the cuneiform writing on the "tyres". At that he returned for +the Sunstone and brought it to the Bramah lock. + +But, since it was too dark there to see the writing on the stone, he +took it back to the altar, and laid it down once more before the lamp. +Then he studied the character in the first segment, and, having +committed it to memory, he went back to the wheels. + +Slowly he turned the first wheel, noting each character as it appeared +above the golden bar. At last he appeared satisfied. The cuneiform +figure, or character, which lay immediately above the golden bar +corresponded to that upon the Sunstone. + +Then, in a like manner, he turned the second wheel. Always when he got +the wheel in the correct position he compared the two characters--that +upon the Sunstone and that upon the wheel--to make sure they were the +same. + +Finally, he came to the ninth wheel. His excitement was now so great +that those in the gallery could see that he was trembling violently in +every limb. + +He troubled no longer with the Sunstone. He turned the wheel very +slowly, with his eyes fixed upon the red granite rock. Presently there +was a "click" like the sound of the turning of an enormous lock. Captain +von Hardenberg held the wheel quite still. + +There came another "click" even louder than that which had gone before. +And then slowly, like some great living monster, the rock began to turn, +as if it revolved upon a pivot. + +It turned evenly, slowly, noiselessly, and, as it turned, the light from +the lamp caused the quartz and mica and felspar in the granite to +glisten like a thousand fire-flies on a summer's evening. + +And then, in the moving rock itself, appeared a narrow archway about +four feet across; and when this was immediately opposite the altar there +was another "click" and the whole rock was still. + +Those in the gallery sprang to their feet and looked on with bated +breath. The thing was like a miracle. As for von Hardenberg, he gave +vent to a cry that was half a cheer and half a sob. Then, snatching the +lamp from the altar, he rushed through the archway into the darkness +beyond. + +From the gallery they could see the light grow smaller and fainter as +the Prussian descended a narrow flight of steps. Then the light went +out, and there came up from the vault beyond a faint cry of exultation. +Captain von Hardenberg had attained the treasure of Zoroaster. + +And it was at that cry that the Black Dog glided from his hiding-place. +Now that the lamp had gone, the cave was darker than before. But by the +light that came from above, and through the entrance, those in the +gallery could see his white robes as the man glided noiselessly across +the hall. + +He went straight to the altar, picked up the Sunstone, raised it to his +lips, and kissed it. For a moment he gazed at it, long and lovingly, +before he thrust it into a pocket. + +He moved on tiptoe towards the wheels. As he did so he passed through +one of the shafts of light, and his features were illumined. On his +face there was an expression that was diabolical. It was the face of a +beast of prey, a tiger that stalks its victims. His white robes +contrasted strangely with the swarthiness of his countenance. His eyes +were very bright and now looked yellow like those of a cat. + +When he reached the wheels, he let out a great shout that filled the +vastness of the cave. + +"Die!" he cried. "Die the death you merit!" + +At that he set the wheels in motion, and immediately the great granite +rock revolved again. And Captain Carl von Hardenberg was buried alive +in the midst of the treasure that was his. + +The sheikh passed rapidly down the centre aisle. Half-way to the +entrance he stopped, looked back, and shook his fist at the rock. + +"Lie there," he cried, "and rot! In my own good time I will return." + +Before the last word was from the man's lips, Fernando had lifted his +rifle and fired. The bullet flattened itself against a pillar not three +inches from the Arab's head. The Black Dog glanced up at the gallery +and then dashed out of the entrance, so swift and agile in his movements +that it would have been sheer folly to fire again. + +"You hit him?" cried Harry. + +"No," cried the man, with a sullen oath. "I missed. It was too dark to +see." + +"Too dark to see!" repeated Harry. "But he is gone! Make haste, or +he'll escape!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII--A Race for Life + + +Fernando stood motionless, his rifle in his hand. He had been within an +ace of fulfilling his oath, and sending the Arab to the shades. + +"I would have hit him," he complained, "had the lamp not been taken +away." + +Meanwhile Cortes dashed down the steps, and crossed the central aisle to +the body of the murdered man. + +The madman lay quite still. A life of fasting, of penance and +privation, had closed in the heroic fulfilment of his duty. With his +last breath he had demanded of von Hardenberg to deliver up the +Sunstone; and there he was--a huddled, formless object, lying at the +foot of the altar. + +The first impulse of Harry Urquhart was to follow in pursuit of the +sheikh. With this intention he hastened to the terrace, whence he could +see nothing. The Black Dog had vanished into the white mists that +wrapped the mountain-side. By now he was no doubt at the bottom of the +great flight of steps on each side of which stood the strange, fantastic +statues. + +Harry, rifle in hand, was about to take up the chase, when he remembered +that somewhere beyond that impenetrable granite rock was von +Hardenberg--alone in the midst of the treasure. + +He returned to the cave, and went to the rock and listened. He could +hear nothing. Beyond, all was silent as the grave. + +"What can we do?" reiterated the boy, looking about him in bewilderment. + +Jim Braid went to the nine wheels and turned them at random, hoping that +by chance the vault would open. In a little while he desisted and +returned to Harry. + +"We must follow the sheikh," said he. "We must endeavour to recover the +Sunstone at every cost." + +"And leave _him_ here?" said Harry, with a motion of the hand towards +the granite rock. + +"We can do nothing," said Fernando. + +"I bear the rascal no goodwill," said Harry. "He deserves but little +pity. But this is terrible!" he added, and repeated the word again and +again. + +"Come," said Cortes, "we waste time in talking." + +As he spoke, he led the way from the cave, followed by the others. + +As they passed down the great flight of steps, Harry Urquhart turned and +looked back. The entrance to the caves was no longer visible. A great +cloud lay upon the mountain like a mantle. Near at hand, the strange +beasts carved in stone were quite conspicuous and plain, but gradually, +as they mounted one behind the other towards the terrace, they became +lost in the mist. They resembled an army of quaint, primeval animals +that were filing down from the clouds to inhabit the abodes of men. + +The elder guide, shading his eyes with a hand, scanned the mountains to +the north. Presently he let out a cry--a cry of exultation. + +"There!" he cried, pointing across the valley. + +Sure enough, far in the distance was a white speck that was moving +rapidly upon the mountainside, disappearing for a moment to appear +again, always bearing in the same direction--towards the north. + +Cortes turned to the others. + +"I can run," said he. "I was a tracker once by trade. I undertake to +keep upon his trail. Do you follow as quickly as you can." + +Fernando laid a hand upon his brother's shoulder. + +"You will not kill him?" he said. + +"No. The man's life is yours." + +With these words Cortes sped upon his way, springing from boulder to +boulder, supple in figure, agile despite his wound. He had spent much +of his life hunting wild game in the midst of unexplored, inhospitable +hills. He was quick of eye and sure of foot. + +Outrunning his companions, he went rapidly upon his way, and was soon +lost to sight. All that afternoon they followed in his tracks, and +towards evening they heard a shot, high up in the mountains, many miles +to the north. + +A grim smile passed across the face of the elder guide, who calmly +turned to Harry. + +"Yonder," said he, "is the sheikh." + +"It was he who fired?" asked Harry. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"That shot was fired by my brother," he answered. "I know the sound of +my brother's rifle." + +"Where are we going?" asked Jim. + +The half-caste shrugged his shoulders. + +"The Black Dog chooses the way," said he. + +"He goes to his home?" asked Harry. + +"His home!" repeated Fernando. "Has the wild dog a home? Does the hare +burrow in the ground? The Black Dog sleeps where he finds himself. All +the world is his home. He may go into Nigeria; he may cut back to the +coast; he may pass through the mountains to the great Sahara Desert. +But, wherever he goes, Cortes will follow him; he will be followed to +the ends of the earth. And now and again Cortes will fire his rifle to +guide us on our way, to let us know that he still holds the Black Dog in +view." + +Throughout the days that followed, the mountains witnessed the almost +superhuman efforts of two men: Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog of the +Cameroons, and Cortes, the half-caste Spaniard of the Coast. + +The one fled from justice, clutching the Sunstone in his hand, and the +other followed, until miles grew into leagues, until they reached the +rolling grasslands to the west of Lake Chad, where cattle grazed in +herds. + +It was a struggle of Titans, a race for life or death between men who +were well versed in the craft of the hunter, who knew each bridle-path +and mountain-spring and solitary oasis between the bend of the Congo and +the Atlas Mountains. + +Day and night they raced onward, under the march of the southern stars. +And Cortes clung to the heels of Black Dog like a leech. As often as +the sheikh halted, he was obliged to push on again in greater haste. + +At nightfall, every evening, Cortes fired his rifle, and this enabled +his brother and the two boys to keep upon his track. The route taken by +the sheikh was not a straight one: the course he followed was in the +shape of the letter S. Harry and his party were often able to take +short cuts, completing one side of a triangle when the Arab and his +pursuer had accomplished the other two. Thus it was that upon the +twentieth day they came to the place where the younger guide was +encamped. + +"He is close ahead?" asked Fernando. + +Cortes pointed to the west. + +"He is in the valley yonder," said he. "To-night he sleeps in the +jungle that lies on the edge of the plateau." + +They were now in a part of the globe of which little is known. They had +left the cattle far behind them. This country is uninhabited except by +wild animals, and is visited only by the caravans that come south-east +from Timbuctoo. + +The Black Dog, with the Sunstone in his possession, still held his +course towards the north, setting forth across the illimitable, barren +waste. He journeyed for two days without halting. Then he crossed a +river, and, passing over a plateau, descended into the true desert, +where the sun blazed like a furnace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX--The Temple + + +On the skirting of the desert lay a small Arab village--a place of a few +dilapidated huts, accommodating not more than a score of inhabitants. +For the most part these were people sunk to the lowest depths of +poverty, living in a state of dirt unimaginable to those who are not +acquainted with the Arab. + +To this village came Harry and Braid and the elder guide. The headman +of the village came forward on their approach, followed by a few +children. + +Fernando, who had an intimate knowledge of Arabic, was able to act as +interpreter. The headman said the village had been rich in the +possession of two camels; but, late on the previous evening, an Arab had +come from the plateau who had purchased one of these camels. Early that +morning had come another man, a white man--as he said--who, having +purchased the other, had set forward without delay in the same direction +as the Arab. + +"Did the second man leave no message?" asked the guide. + +The villager replied that the "white man" had left word that those who +followed him were to wait in the village until he returned. He expected +to be back that night with news of great importance. + +Accordingly they halted for the afternoon, and, giving the villagers a +wide berth, camped upon the sand, lighting a fire, upon which they +cooked a meal. + +"And all this time," said Harry, "von Hardenberg lies buried alive, +starving to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"He cannot starve," said he. "I noticed he wore a haversack well filled +with provisions. And I have heard it said that inside the vault is +water; a small spring bubbles up in a great basin, forming a little +fountain." + +"You have seen it?" asked Harry. + +"No," said the man; "but I know what I say is true. And, even were +there no water in the cave, the Prussian carried a water-bottle." + +Harry Urquhart sighed. + +"All this is like a dream," he exclaimed. + +"The scoundrel deserves no better fate," said the guide, hard of heart +and pitiless where his enemies were concerned. + +At nightfall they lay down to sleep, Jim Braid remaining on sentry for +the earlier part of the night. They had small reason to trust the +people of the village, who were not incapable of murdering them in the +night for the sake of their possessions. + +At about ten o'clock Jim was alarmed by a peculiar grating sound quite +near to their camp. The moon had not yet risen, and, though he strained +his eyes in the direction from which the sound had come, he was able to +distinguish nothing. At last he rose to his feet and walked some little +distance from the fire. There he discovered a camel lying down upon the +ground, engaged in chewing a bundle of coarse hay. The camel had +appeared as if by magic. + +Jim returned to the fire, and there to his amazement found Cortes +sitting before the embers. + +"You have returned?" said he. + +"Yes, I have returned." + +"With news?" + +"Of the Black Dog. Yonder in the desert is an ancient temple or mosque. +It stands in an oasis where there are palm-trees, and around which +melons grow. For many years it has been deserted. The sheikh himself +is there." + +"We must awaken the others," said Braid. + +"There is plenty of time," said the man. "He will not move before +daybreak. The night is yet young. We will surround the oasis at +sunrise and take him alive. Fernando must fulfil the oath he has made +to the saints." + +Jim Braid had not such patience. With this news upon his mind he could +not stay idle while Harry and Fernando were asleep. Despite the advice +of Cortes, he awoke them both, and told them what had happened. + +"We must start at once!" cried Harry. + +"There is no haste," said Fernando, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But, +if you wish it, we will go." + +They packed up their camp equipment and provisions, and their reserve +ammunition, and these they loaded upon the camel. Then they set forward +on their way, following a caravan route, whilst a full moon, red as +blood, crept over the horizon and illumined the wasteland like a +lantern. + +In three hours they came to a place where a stone building, surrounded +by a dozen trees, stood forth against the moonlight. Near by a hyena +howled. + +"The sheikh is within," said Cortes. + +Drawing a little distance away, the four held consultation together. As +far as they could make out, there was but one entrance to the temple, +which was half in ruins. For all that, they thought it best to surround +the place, and it was finally agreed that Harry Urquhart should enter +the building, revolver in hand, whilst the other three guarded the walls +to prevent the Arab's escape, should they have overlooked some other +means of exit. + +Leaving his rifle behind, with his revolver ready loaded in his hand, +Harry passed on tiptoe through the entrance and found himself in a +shallow, darkened chamber. + +Though there was no roof to the building, the adjacent palm-trees shut +out the light of the moon, and some seconds elapsed before the boy's +eyes grew accustomed to the semi-darkness. + +As far as he could make out, he was surrounded by high walls. Scattered +here and there about the floor, upon which the sand of the desert lay +like a thick, luxurious carpet, were great cylindrical boulders, which, +in former times, had evidently composed the pillars that supported the +roof. In the shadow of these boulders it was quite dark, and each +shadow was large enough to conceal the form of a man. + +The boy decided to act with caution. With such an opponent as the +sheikh he knew he would be called upon to exercise not only promptitude +but cunning. It had not been without difficulty that he had managed to +persuade the guides to allow him to enter the temple. Fernando, who was +filled with a strong desire for vengeance, had wished for the honour for +himself. But Harry, as the leader of the expedition, would not give +way, agreeing that the moment he fired the elder guide should hasten to +his assistance. + +Ready to fire at a moment's notice, Harry set about a systematic search +of the ruined temple. Starting from the entrance, he worked his way +around the walls, holding as much as possible to the shadows. He looked +behind each boulder, he searched each crevice that appeared large enough +to admit the body of a man. In the end he returned to the entrance. +The place was evidently deserted. + +His first thought was to leave the building, to tell Cortes that he had +been mistaken, that the sheikh was not there; but then he remembered how +seldom the judgment of either of the guides had been at fault, and, +assuring himself that he had overlooked some hiding-place, he began his +search anew. + +He came to a place where a clump of cactus was growing against the wall, +and here he discovered what he had not noticed before. Under the cactus +plant was a little archway, a kind of tunnel, large enough to admit a +man crawling on hands and knees. + +The boy was in two minds what to do. It was one thing to search from +boulder to boulder, ready to fire at a moment's notice; it was another +to go head foremost on all-fours into what might prove to be a trap. If +the Arab was hiding on the other side of the wall, beyond the +cactus-bush--a stroke of the knife, and the matter would be ended. The +boy had need of all the courage he possessed. To go back to Jim and the +two guides would be to confess himself afraid. + +Taking a deep breath, like a man about to dive, he lay flat upon his +face, and as silently as possible worked his way forward through the +sand, which was still warm from the rays of the sun of the preceding +day. + +If there were many holes in the wall such as this, it was well three of +them had remained on guard without. Had all four entered the temple at +once, the sheikh, if he lay anywhere in hiding, had a sure way of +escape. Harry had no means of knowing whether the hole led to the +desert or to an inner room. + +On the other side of the wall it was quite dark. The boy looked +overhead, and was able to see that he was sheltered by a roof--a roof in +which there were great holes, through which he could see the stars. He +could do nothing as yet, until his eyes had grown accustomed to the +darkness. + +For some moments he lay still, his heart thumping against his ribs, +straining his ears to catch the slightest sound. From somewhere quite +near at hand, at first almost imperceptible but gradually growing +louder, came a low, soft, vibrating noise that seemed to proceed from +somewhere under the ground. + +Harry thought he had heard something like it before; he could not +remember where. It was like the droning of a monster bee, or the noise +of a kettle on the point of boiling over, or else the purring of a cat. + +How long the sound continued he was never able to say. It seemed to him +that he lay for an eternity, breathless, waiting for something to +happen, with the sound continuously in his ears. And then he became +aware of two great, yellow eyes, staring in the darkness, immobile, like +flaming lamps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX--The Blood Spoor + + +On the spur of the moment he snatched his revolver, levelled it, and +fired. + +There was a prolonged, piercing shriek, as a dark mass, blacker than the +shadows, sprang high into the air. + +Harry lay quite still; fear at last possessed him. The loud report of +his revolver was still singing in his ears; and, before silence reigned +again, it was as if the whole place, even the very walls, were possessed +of life. + +Dark shadows were moving everywhere. All about the boy were yellow, +staring eyes, that dilated and grew smaller in the darkness. And then +Harry became conscious of a fierce, growling sound. + +As far as he was able to make out, this proceeded from the largest pair +of eyes, immediately before him. And it was this that gave him the +first inkling as to the solution of the mystery: he had crept into a den +of savage beasts. + +The largest pair of eyes drew nearer, and suddenly dropped lower, almost +to the level of the ground. The brute was about to spring. + +There was a snarl. As quick as lightning Harry sprang aside. + +The great beast collided with the wall with such force that the roof--or +as much of it as remained--came down with a crash upon the ground, and +Harry found himself buried in a mass of debris and dust. + +He tried to move, but found he was unable to do so. A heavy beam lay +across his chest. With the exception of his head and shoulders he was +buried in the wreckage. + +As the dust cleared, the place became illumined by the moonshine. On +the sudden disappearance of the roof, the light from without had been +admitted to the darkened chamber. At once Harry was able to see quite +distinctly, and the sight that he beheld was sufficiently alarming to +shake the nerves of even the strongest man. + +Pinned to the ground, unable to move, he found himself in the midst of a +family of leopards. Quite near to him, also half buried in the +wreckage, lay the beast that he had shot--evidently the father of the +family. Six cubs, half-grown, growled and snarled on the other side of +the chamber, and in front of them, her white fangs gleaming in the +moonlight, was the mother leopard, fiercely guarding her young. + +It was she who had hurled herself at the wall, who had brought down the +roof, and who now snarled repeatedly at the boy. It was apparent that +the sudden collapse of the building had given the animal a fright. Twice +she made as if she would advance, and twice drew back towards her young. + +Harry was not able to fire again. The hand which held his revolver was +pinned down beneath the fallen beam. He could not move his eyes from +the leopard. At the same time, the brute feared to advance. + +A sharp jet of fire--it seemed not two paces from the boy's face--a loud +report, and the leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible and +glorious, fighting the air with its fore feet as if in the throes of a +struggle with an invisible, all-powerful foe. + +[Illustration: THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, +AND GLORIOUS] + +Then the brute came down and lay quite still, shot through the brain by +a bullet from Jim Braid's rifle. + +Quick upon Jim's heels, through the narrow opening in the wall, came the +two guides, Cortes leading the way. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Jim. + +"No," said Harry. "I am not hurt. But get me out of this; I can't +move." + +With quick hands they lifted the beams and rafters that pinned the boy +to the ground, and, a moment after, Harry was on his feet. + +The young leopards gathered together in a corner of the chamber. Then, +one after the other, they sprang over the ruined wall like cats, and +disappeared into the night. + +"The sheikh!" cried Fernando. "Where is he?" + +"I have not seen him," answered Harry. + +"He came here to-day," said Cortes, "and pitched his camp. Look here, +what's that?" + +He pointed to the ground, where lay something that was white as snow. It +was a bone. + +The two boys drew back in horror. Fernando was undismayed. He calmly +picked up the bone and examined it in the moonlight. + +"This is the shin-bone of a camel," said he. "Moreover, of a camel that +was killed to-day. As my brother says, the Black Dog was here." + +"See this!" cried Cortes. "The ground is charred. It was here he lit +his fire." + +All four searched the chamber. Besides the shin-bone, they found other +evidence that could not be disputed: four hoofs and a piece of the +Arab's white flowing robe. + +"Has the man been killed?" cried Jim. + +"It seems that that is so." + +"But the Sunstone!" Harry exclaimed. + +"This evidence," said Fernando, "is indisputable. The Black Dog came +here by day, pitched his camp, and lit his fire. When his fire burned +out he fell asleep. He had had no sleep for forty-eight hours, and must +have been exhausted. It was whilst he was asleep that the leopards +entered. It seems I have been robbed of my revenge." + +Harry looked at the man. + +"So you think," said he, "that the sheikh is dead?" + +Fernando pointed to the strip of the Arab's clothes, and shrugged his +shoulders. "At all events," said he, "the camel he purchased in the +village fell a prey to the leopards." + +"But," exclaimed Harry, "how could the camel have got here. We were +obliged to crawl in on hand and knees." + +Fernando laughed. + +"The leopards slew the camel outside," said he. "They tore it to +pieces, which they dragged in here to play with. Have you never watched +a cat?" + +"Then," cried Harry, "the Sunstone has been lost!" + +"Have patience," said Fernando. "We may find it yet. We will get out +of this place and wait for dawn. When the daylight comes we will search +the ruins. There is no need as yet to despair." + +This advice was good. They went out together, leaving by way of the +little archway half-hidden by the cactus plant. On the sand of the +desert they lay down side by side, and, whilst one acted as sentry, the +others slept. + +As soon as the sun began to rise in the east, Fernando rose to his feet. + +"Come," said he, "we will search." + +They looked everywhere. Under the palm-trees, the sand was all +disturbed where the eight leopards had flung themselves upon the camel. +Around the trunk of one of the trees was a rope which had been gnawed in +half. In the inner chamber of the temple no further evidence was +forthcoming, and this was in part due to the fact that the ground was +covered with the wreckage of the roof. It was the younger guide who +discovered in the outer chamber a drop of blood upon the stones. + +The man evidently considered that he had found a clue of great +importance; but to the two boys it seemed quite obvious that this was +the blood of the camel that had been dragged piecemeal through the +narrow opening. + +"No," said Cortes, shaking his head. "These are small drops of blood. +It is possible the Black Dog is still alive." + +At that he turned upon his heel and set off at a jog-trot across the +plain. When he was a long way off, they saw him waving his arms +frantically, in the highest state of excitement. + +They ran to the place where he was, and found him pointing to the +ground. + +"Look there!" he cried. "I was right. The sheikh has escaped!" + +Sure enough, upon the soft sand was a line of footmarks, leading in the +direction of the plateau. Every now and again the trail was marked by a +small drop of blood. + +Harry asked for an explanation. + +"It is very simple," answered Cortes. "The leopards first attacked the +camel, which was tethered to a palm-tree outside the temple. The Black +Dog was awakened from his sleep and endeavoured to escape. As he fled +from the entrance he must have encountered a leopard. His cloak was +torn, but he escaped, bearing the marks of the leopard's teeth or claws, +probably in his thigh. Wounded, he has gone back to the hills, knowing +that there lies his only chance of safety." + +The man was certain of his facts. Moreover, the evidence of the +foot-marks and the blood spoor was too strong to be denied. + +"Come!" cried Fernando. "He is as good as ours, unless he is only +slightly hurt." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI--The Fox in View + + +Before the heat of the day had arisen, Harry, Jim Braid, and the two +guides had covered many miles across the desert, leaving the Arab +village to their left. All this time it was easy to follow the track of +the sheikh. The Black Dog evidently suffered pain, and progressed only +with the greatest difficulty; for, as they went on, his footsteps became +more irregular, as though he staggered when he walked. + +Indeed, the whole thing was like the hunting of a wounded deer. It is a +well-known fact that all wounded animals take to higher ground, because +there they know they are more likely to be safe, since there are usually +hiding-places in the mountains--crannies in the rocks, and caves. And +besides, it is good to lay down one's life a little nearer to the stars. + +The desert ended suddenly in a great expanse of scrub, bordering the +plateau, where the ground was stony, and where the foot-marks of the +sheikh were no longer visible. For some miles the two guides held the +track, until they came to a place where the fugitive had halted by the +side of a little stream. Here he had washed and bathed his wounds; he +had torn strips from his clothing, making bandages for himself. He had +gone down upon his knees at the side of the stream and had drunk the +fresh water from his hands. Then he had continued on his way, +invigorated and refreshed, making straight towards the Maziri mountains. + +Soon after that they were obliged to leave the camel to browse upon the +hill-side. The ground had become so steep and broken that the animal +could advance but slowly. They off-loaded the provisions and ammunition +and divided these equally among the party. + +Presently they climbed the lower slopes of the mountains, where the +country was much intersected by strips of forest and dried-up +watercourses, with here and there a patch of sand--a kind of offshoot of +the desert. There was no longer any trail to follow. + +The Black Dog had chosen his way with sagacity, walking upon stony +ground, where his sandals left no marks. For all that both Cortes and +Fernando were confident that they would overtake him. However, to make +the more sure of their victim, they decided to divide their forces, +Harry and the elder man going one way, and Jim and Cortes another. + +Late that afternoon, Harry and his companion had attained a great height +on the ridge of the mountains. Before them extended a great valley, and +it was on the other side of this that they beheld a white figure moving +rapidly from rock to rock, bearing steadily towards the east. + +The guide lifted his rifle and fired in the air. + +"That is to warn my brother," said he. "He will know the signal. This +time it is you and I who lead the chase." + +He set off running down the mountain-side, springing from boulder to +boulder. There was no foot-path, and the way was almost precipitous; +but the man, though not so sure of foot as his brother, was as agile as +a panther. In fact, it was as much as Harry could do to keep up with +him. The half-caste was all impatience to overtake the fugitive. + +The sheikh was no longer in sight, nor was there any sign of Jim and the +younger guide, when the sun sank beyond the mountains, and the shadows +of night crept into the valleys with the mists. For all that, Fernando +held upon his way until long after dark, until at last Harry was obliged +to call upon him to halt. The boy was utterly exhausted. Since daybreak +that morning they had travelled without a halt, and must have covered +nearly forty miles, over country that was rugged, wild, and pathless. + +The guide agreed to halt, but would permit no fire. Harry appeased his +appetite with some wild fruit he had procured on the margin of the +desert, and then lay down to sleep. In less than a minute he was buried +in the deepest slumber. + +It seemed to him he had not been sleeping for more than an hour when the +guide took him by the shoulder and shook him lightly. + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"It is still dark," said he. + +"The dawn comes," said the man, as if that clinched the matter once and +for all. + +"Have you not slept?" asked Harry. + +"Does the hound sleep," said Fernando, with a grim smile, "with the fox +in view? Remember, I have sworn to the saints." + +When they had eaten such of the desert fruit as remained over from the +previous day, they set forward on their journey, the guide leading as +before. + +They traversed valley after valley, the guide selecting the route, as it +seemed, by some kind of natural instinct similar to that which will lead +a cat to find its way across unknown country. Though during that +morning they saw nothing of the Arab, Fernando was certain that the +Black Dog was not many miles ahead. Every time they reached a hill-top, +he screened his eyes with a hand and examined the surrounding country +for signs of the fugitive, who, they were convinced, was making back to +the Caves of Zoroaster. + +They were returning to the hills of Maziriland by a route that lay far +to the south of that of their former journey. The mountains here were +not so high as those farther to the north. For all that, they were +exceedingly desolate and rugged. They were in a land where nothing +appeared to live. There were no villages; neither cattle nor sheep +grazed upon the lowlands. + +At midday the guide caught sight of the sheikh, still bearing towards +the south-east. His white robes were conspicuous at a distance. + +On the opposite side of the valley in which they found themselves, the +man was hurrying forward along a ledge that did not appear to be more +than a few feet across, that hung--as it were--between earth and sky. +Beneath this ledge, the smooth face of a precipice dropped sheer to the +depths of the valley; above, the same inaccessible cliff continued, +rising upward to the clouds. + +"If Cortes were only here," said the half-caste, "the task would be +easy; the Black Dog would be ours." + +"Where is your brother?" asked Harry. + +"I am inclined to think he is somewhere toward the north. For the last +three days the wind has been blowing from that direction. Had he been +to the south he must have heard the shot I fired, in which case he would +have caught us up." + +"Perhaps," said Harry, "he returns by the way we came." + +"It may be," said the guide. "Sooner or later, he will discover his +mistake. Then he will come south; but he and Braid will be many miles +in rear of us. If Cortes were with me now, I could capture the sheikh +before sunset." + +"How?" + +"You see where he is," said the guide, pointing across the valley. "He +walks on the brink of one precipice and at the foot of another. He can +turn neither to the right nor to the left. He must either go straight +on or else turn back. My brother can run faster than you or I. If he +were with us, I would send him down the valley in all haste, to ascend +the mountain-path in advance of the sheikh; whilst I would mount to the +path at this end of the valley. Thus the Black Dog would be caught +between us two." + +Harry looked at the great, yawning abyss that arose before them like a +mighty wall. The figure of Bayram was not more than two miles away. In +mid-valley was a stream that flowed through a narrow strip of grassland, +upon which it would be possible to run. + +"I may not be able to run as fast as your brother," said he, turning to +the guide, "but I think I can overtake the sheikh." + +Fernando laughed. + +"I think so too," said he. "As for me, though I can climb for many +hours, I am no runner on the flat. Do you, therefore, set forth upon +your way. At the foot of the valley you will see that the precipice +ends; a spur of rock juts out. If you reach that place before the +sheikh, you will be able to climb up to the path at the top of the +precipice. There you will lie in wait for him. I will follow in his +rear. He will be caught between two fires." + +As there was little time to lose, Harry was not slow to obey the man's +injunctions. Side by side they climbed down into the valley, and there +they separated, Fernando going to the north, Harry Urquhart setting out +in the opposite direction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII--Between Two Fires + + +In less than an hour Harry drew level with the Arab. The progress of +the Black Dog was necessarily slow. In the first place, he still +suffered from his wound; in the second place, the path he followed was +in places so narrow as to be dangerous, and he was obliged to proceed +with the utmost caution. Harry, on the other hand, had been able to run +as fast as his legs could carry him by the side of the stream that +rushed down from the mountains. + +The boy paused for breath and looked about him. Though he and the +sheikh were making for the same point, in regard to which they were +level with one another, there was more than a mile between them. In +other words, that was the distance that separated the precipice from the +stream in mid-valley. Harry looked up and saw Fernando far in rear. He +had already gained the path at the top of the abyss, and was following +with all dispatch upon the heels of the fugitive. + +The Black Dog stopped. His small white figure seemed to be crouching. +Harry, with the aid of his field-glasses, tried to make out what the man +was doing. + +At that moment there came a quick, hissing sound within a fraction of an +inch of the boy's ear, and a bullet buried itself deep in the ground not +fifteen yards away. + +Without a doubt, the sheikh now realized to the full the danger in which +he stood. He saw that he was rapidly being cut off from all means of +escape. There was nothing that could save him but his surety of aim, +and at that distance it was no easy matter to hit a mark several hundred +feet below him. + +When a rifle is fired downward from a great height, what is known as the +"trajectory", or flight, of the bullet is affected, and in consequence +the line of sight is not wholly accurate. This may have been sufficient +to account for the failure of the Arab's shot; but in any case, to put a +bullet within an inch of the target at so great a range proved him a +marksman of the greatest skill. + +When he saw that he had missed he hurried on his way, hoping against +hope to reach the spur in advance of Harry Urquhart. + +The boy was determined that the fugitive should not escape. He cared +little or nothing for the life of Bayram, but at all costs he meant, if +possible, to recover the Sunstone. He was never able to forget that, +all this time, von Hardenberg was shut up alive in the silent vault, in +the very heart of the mountain. + +Running as if his life depended on his efforts, he dashed down the +valley. Three times the Black Dog fired, and each time the bullet flew +within a hand's-breadth of its mark. + +On gaining the spur, Harry clambered to the southern side, where he was +out of sight of the fugitive, who was now too far away to fire. Slinging +his rifle across his shoulder, hand over hand the boy climbed up the +rocks, and at last gained the pathway which formed a little ledge, or +terrace, upon the face of the great abyss. + +He walked forward stealthily. On his right hand a rock arose, +inaccessible and smooth as a plate of steel, whilst on the left it +dropped sheer into the shadowy depths of the valley from which he had +come. Far below him, the stream that he had followed looked like a +little silver thread glittering in the sunlight. + +He knew that he must find some kind of cover. If he came face to face +with Black Dog on that narrow path he would have little chance of +living. A rifle in the sheikh's hands, at a point-blank range, was more +an implement of execution than a weapon of defence; and, besides, the +Black Dog was known to be a man of prodigious strength. + +As the boy went upon his way he looked forward eagerly, hoping to find +some rock or boulder behind which he could hide and await the approach +of the Arab. But the path was bare, not only of vegetation, but of +stones and fragments of rock. It was as if some mighty hurricane had +swept the mountain-side, brushing all obstacles from the narrow ledge, +sweeping the place as clean as the pavement of a street. + +Presently the path turned a sharp angle. The cliff stood folded back in +the shape of the letter W. From the corner, Harry was able to see, not +only the other extremity of the W, but also the smaller salient which +formed the centre of the letter. It was then that the complete success +of their enterprise was made apparent. + +At the corner of the southern extremity was Harry, and at the northern +stood the guide, his rifle in his hand. Between them the face of the +precipice was folded back in two re-entrant angles. Everywhere the +abyss was smooth and perpendicular, both above and below the pathway. It +was possible to climb neither up nor down. Escape was beyond all +question. And midway between Harry Urquhart and the half-caste guide, +standing upright at the central angle, was Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog +of the Cameroons, like a great bird of prey perched above its eyrie. +Whatever the issue of this business was to be, it was certain that for +the present the fugitive was caught. + +Neither was it possible for him to conceal himself. If he turned back, +he was exposed to fire from the guide; if he went forward, he was +covered by the rifle of Harry. + +He stood motionless for some seconds, as if deliberating in his mind +what was best to do. Then, with a slow and measured step, he walked +towards the boy. + +Harry waited till the man had come within twenty yards of him; then he +raised his rifle to his shoulder and directed the sights full upon the +Arab's heart. To his amazement, the Black Dog stood stock-still. + +Harry was about to press the trigger when, for two reasons, he desisted. +Firstly, the thing smacked of a cold-blooded murder, since the sheikh +had made no show of resistance; secondly, if he fired and killed the +man, his lifeless body would pitch headlong into the abyss. In that case +they might not be able to recover it, and thus the Sunstone would be +lost. + +Suddenly the sheikh raised his rifle above his head, and cried aloud to +the boy in English. + +"Fire," said he, "and kill me! I am at your mercy; my life is in your +hands. See here, this rifle--it has served me well for twenty years. It +is known from Lagos to Port Stanley, even as far south as the Kasai. +Behold, there goes my best and truest friend." + +At that he cast the weapon to the depths below. + +"You surrender?" cried Harry, coming forward. + +"I can do nothing else," replied the sheikh. "As you ran in the valley +I fired my last cartridge. Still, I am not yours so long as I am +alive." + +With these last words, he turned sharply and looked behind him, as if he +had heard something. There, sure enough, was Fernando, crawling on +hands and knees, his head and shoulders just appearing around the +central angle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII--On the Brink of Eternity + + +The Black Dog folded his arms, threw back his head, and laughed. + +The guide came wriggling like a snake, working himself forward upon his +elbows and his knees, almost flat upon his face, which was little raised +above the ground. His dark features were expressionless. Upon his +countenance was visible no sign of triumph, no elation at a victory that +was well within his grasp. As he came nearer and nearer his dark eyes +never moved from the stern face of the Arab sheikh. + +Then slowly he rose to his feet, bringing the butt of his rifle into the +hollow of his shoulder. + +"Bayram," said he in a deep voice, "make your peace with the Almighty +God, for you are about to die!" + +The Arab extended his arms in the direction of the east. Beyond the +mountains, on the far horizon, the sun was setting in a glow of crimson +glory. The great hills stood forth before the sunset like the thrones +of giants, their irregular, rugged outline a deep leaden colour where +they were not wrapped in gathering clouds. + +The Black Dog lifted his voice so that it carried far across the valley. + +"Without repentance," said he, "I go into the shades. I have sometimes +acted unwisely, for human flesh is weak, and man cannot have the wisdom +of Allah, whose prophet is Mohammed. But for such false steps as I have +taken I am ready to pay the price. Come, fire, and have done with it! +I do not fear to die." + +There was no question that Fernando was about to fire, when Harry cried +out in the nick of time. + +"The Sunstone!" he exclaimed. + +The sheikh turned to the boy and smiled, his white teeth showing in his +beard. Then he thrust a hand into a pocket and drew forth the Sunstone, +which he held to the light, so that the yellow jade caught the +reflection of the dying sun and looked like the most magnificent of +opals. + +"Here it is," said he. And then to the guide: "Will you take this in +exchange for a human life? I am ready to strike a bargain." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"Do as he bids you," pleaded Harry, who was not only anxious to recover +the Sunstone at every cost, but who had no liking for this business, +which was in the nature of a common execution. + +"I have sworn an oath," said the guide in measured tones. "The Black +Dog must die." + +With these words he approached, until he was quite near to the Arab. It +was no doubt his intention to shoot the man and then grasp his robes to +prevent his lifeless body from falling over the cliff. Be that as it +may, he failed in his enterprise, for the sheikh was possessed of the +supple activity of a tiger as well as the cunning of a wolf. + +Fernando raised his rifle. He was then not ten feet from the Arab. And +even as he pressed the trigger the Black Dog sprang upon him, striking +the barrel of the rifle upward, so that the shot flew high in the air. + +A second later the two men were locked together in a death-grip, each +struggling desperately for life. + +The sheikh was the stronger of the two, but he suffered from his wound. +Not only was he somewhat weakened by loss of blood, but his right leg, +the flesh of which had been torn by the leopard's fangs, was stiff and +aching from the great fatigue of the journey across the mountains. + +Harry put down his rifle and came forward in all haste, his revolver in +his hand. He desired to give what help he could to the guide, but this +was no easy matter. + +The two men were like fighting cats. First one was on the top and then +the other. They rolled over and over so rapidly, and were so closely +interlocked, that it was almost impossible to tell which was the guide +and which the sheikh. Sometimes they struggled at the foot of the +cliff; at others they were on the very edge of the precipice, and both +seemed in imminent danger of falling into the depths. + +"Help!" let out Fernando in the voice of one who choked. "He fights +like a demon possessed!" + +Harry, in desperation, hurled his weight upon the two, and at once found +his strength of small avail. He was tossed hither and thither, and was +more than once in danger of being hurled over the edge. + +At last, not without difficulty, he disengaged himself, recognizing that +he did no further good than risk his life. He saw also that his +revolver was quite useless. He dared not fire, even at the closest +range. + +It was then that Fernando somehow managed to release the other's hold, +and sprang sharply to his feet. The sheikh was on him again like a wild +cat, and had him by the throat. Putting forth the whole of his colossal +strength, the Black Dog forced the other backward. + +Nearer and nearer to the edge of the precipice the four feet shuffled, +until the guide actually tottered on the brink. + +Harry stood by--a helpless spectator, petrified with horror. The terror +of the situation had taken his breath away. It was as if he had lost +all power and all sensation of his limbs. Then, with a loud cry, +Fernando, hurled from the Black Dog's powerful grasp, plunged feet +foremost over the cliff. + +And as he fell he grasped the air with frantic, clutching hands, in an +agony of brief despair. His left fist closed upon nothing, but his +right laid hold upon the long, flowing robes of his opponent. + +On the instant the Black Dog was jerked off his feet. He tried to save +himself by throwing his weight backward--a quick, spasmodic action that +proved that he retained his presence of mind to the end. He was too +late, however. His shoulder struck the tooth-like edge of the +precipice--and, in a flash, he was gone. + +Harry Urquhart felt the strength suddenly go from his knees. Unable any +longer to stand, he sank down into a sitting position on the narrow, +perilous path. His heart was beating like a hammer; for a moment he +thought that he would faint. + +He dared not look down into the abyss. It was all too horrible to think +of. He sat still and listened, while the sun sank beyond the mountains, +and darkness crept into the valley. A great silence reigned among the +hills that was like the silence of the tomb. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV--The Sunstone Found + + +More than an hour elapsed before Harry Urquhart had the power to move. +The whole tragedy had been far more terrible than any nightmare, and yet +he felt just like a little child that awakens suddenly in the night, to +find himself still confronted with those horrid possibilities that can +only occur in dreams. + +Night crept into the valley from the east. The glow in the heavens died +out, and one by one the stars appeared, and a great full moon, luminous +and white. The boy crept to the edge of the precipice and looked over. +He could see nothing; it was too dark to see. The whole valley was +still. + +This silence was fearful in itself. It seemed to Harry that he was the +only living thing in the world. There were no voices in the night; in +the valley there was no sound of bird or beast or human being. + +Harry rose to his feet, and, step by step, aided by the moonlight, +cautiously returned to the spur by way of which he had come. He was +still quite unnerved. He dared not go near the edge of the precipice; +as he advanced he clutched the mountain-side. When he came to the spur +he clambered down among the rocks in such haste that the perspiration +stood in beads upon his brow. And then a feeling of weakness overcame +him again; and, seating himself upon the ground, he endeavoured to think +matters out. + +He tried to realize the full significance of what had happened. Fernando +had fulfilled his oath: he had brought about the death of the Black Dog +of the Cameroons. But he himself had perished also, and the Sunstone +had been lost. And all had happened in the space of a few seconds, +about which it was terrifying even to think. + +Above all else, Harry Urquhart wanted someone to talk to; he wanted to +hear the sound of a human voice. He was still like a child awakened +from a nightmare. The loneliness of this great, howling wilderness was +crushing, overpowering. With his nerves overwrought, his courage +shaken, the eternal silence got the better of his feelings, and +suddenly, burying his face in his hands, he burst forth into tears. + +He knew not why he cried. His tears were not tears of sorrow. He cried +because he had passed through a great ordeal, because he had been face +to face with Death. And, in that sense, every teardrop was the word of +a prayer to the God who controls the destinies of men. + +Then, mastering his emotion, he rose to his feet and went on--he knew +not whither. After a time he came to a stream, and there he stopped, +wondering what to do. + +There was food in his haversack, but he felt no inclination to eat. He +went down on his knees, and drank deeply. The water was very cold. + +When he had quenched his thirst, which was like the thirst that +accompanies a fever, he felt refreshed. He even scorned himself for +having been so weak. It was then that he looked about him. + +He was shut in on all sides by the great inhospitable mountains. Above +was a clear sky, bespangled with a multitude of stars, in the midst of +which the full moon shone down into the valley. Then he saw another +star, solitary, large as a planet, lower than the others. It was a star +that seemed to shine from out of the heart of the mountains. + +It was some minutes before he realized what it was. Then the truth came +upon him as in a flash. It was not a star at all, but a camp-fire that +was burning on the hill-side. + +The thought that he was not alone in this desolate and silent region was +like the nectar of the gods to one who is faint and weary. The boy +cared not in the least who camped on the mountainside; he decided to +find out for himself. If they were savages, they could murder him; it +would matter little to him. If they were friendly, they might allow him +to warm himself by the side of the glowing embers. At any rate he would +hear some kind of human speech. + +It took him three hours to reach the fire, where he found two men, +seated facing one another. A cry of exultation escaped his lips when he +recognized Jim Braid and the younger guide. + +At once Cortes sprang to his feet as if alarmed. + +"Where is my brother?" he asked. + +Harry tried to speak, but was not able to do so. He sank down by the +side of the fire. + +"Some calamity has happened!" + +Harry bowed his head. + +"And the Black Dog?" asked Cortes. + +"He also is dead," said Harry, speaking for the first time. + +"Dead!" cried Cortes, without expression in his voice. + +"Yes," said Harry. "And the Sunstone is lost, and von Hardenberg will +starve to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Cortes seated himself once more upon the ground, extending his hands +towards the fire. There were no tears in his eyes; his voice was +without a tremor. + +"When you feel able to do so," said he, turning his face to Harry, "will +you please tell me what happened." + +Harry related the story from beginning to end. He told how Fernando and +himself had followed the sheikh across the mountains, and of how they +had run the man to earth upon a narrow ledge at the top of an enormous +cliff. He then described the struggle that had taken place, with its +grim and terrible conclusion. + +When the boy had finished speaking, Cortes looked up at the moon. + +"In four hours," said he, "it will be daylight. We can do nothing till +then. When the dawn comes we will search for the bodies." + +At that he lay down upon the ground, but it was evident he had no +intention of going to sleep. + +He had shown little or no emotion on hearing of his brother's death. +There was black blood in his veins, and, with the more savage races, +death is a simple and everyday affair. For all that, there is no reason +to suppose that he did not feel the great loss he had sustained. + +A long time elapsed before Harry, too, was able to sleep. And, when at +last he did so, he was for ever struggling on the brink of an +unfathomable abyss, so that he was little rested when at daybreak he was +awakened by Cortes. + +Without waiting for food, they set out at once upon their way, passing +slowly down the hill-side. They soon reached the stream, and thence +turned to the south. It was Harry who led the way. When he judged that +they were parallel to the place where the tragedy had happened, they +crossed the stream and walked straight for the cliff. + +At the foot of the precipice was a kind of terrace, upon which grew +scattered trees, about the roots of one of which were boulders. Lying +on his back, across one of these rocks, they found the body of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. + +The two boys looked away whilst the guide examined the body, and then, +stooping, picked up something from the ground. Presently Cortes touched +Harry on the arm. + +The boy turned and set eyes upon the Sunstone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV--A Brother + + +Leaving the body of the wretched man where they found it, they continued +to search among the trees; but nowhere could they discover any trace of +the elder guide. + +"His body cannot be far away," said Harry. "They fell together." + +It was then that, at the sound of a faint cry from somewhere far above +them, all three looked up. And the sight they beheld was appalling. + +Hundreds of feet above the place where they stood, sheltered by a cranny +in the face of the cliff, there grew a gnarled and twisted shrub, a kind +of withered tree. In the midst of this, caught like a fish in a net, +was a man who, even as they watched him, moved, twisting like a thing in +pain. + +Cortes scanned the face of the cliff; but, look where he might, he could +discover no way by which it was possible to ascend to the place where +his brother was suspended in mid-air. + +Running back several yards, he regarded the precipice above the withered +tree. It was equally inaccessible from above. Then he raised his hands +to his mouth and cried out in a loud voice, calling upon his brother by +name. + +The answer came in a voice so weak that Cortes had to hold a hand to an +ear in order to catch the words. + +"I am in pain. My arm is broken. Can you not come to my assistance?" + +The younger brother looked about him in despair. + +"Can nothing be done?" asked Harry. + +"Let me think," said Cortes, and lifted a hand to his eyes. On a sudden +he cried out to his brother. "Can you hold out for two days?" he asked. + +"For two days!" came the answer. "It is too long." + +"You must!" cried the other. "Take the belt from your waist and bind +yourself to the tree. Then, when your strength is gone, you will not +fall." + +Whilst the elder man obeyed these injunctions, Harry turned to Cortes. + +"What do you intend to do?" he asked. + +"We have no rope," said the guide. "Fernando is at least fifty feet +from the path above, and there is no rope fifty feet in length nearer to +this place than Kano or Sokoto. However, there is--as you know--a +rope-like creeper that grows in the bush. I intend to go back as far as +the jungle." + +"Can you get there in time?" asked Braid, incredulously. + +"My wound is now healed," said the man, "my strength returned. I can +but do my best." + +Cortes looked up again at his brother. + +"Courage!" he cried. "In two days I return." + +So saying, he bounded off upon his way. As they watched him pass down +the valley, springing from rock to rock, it was apparent that he meant +to do all that was humanly possible to effect the salvation of his +brother. Even as they looked, his figure grew smaller in the distance, +and in a few minutes he was lost to view. + +To describe in detail the journey of the younger guide across the +mountains would be tedious. The thing can be summed up in a few words: +it was magnificent, heroic. Mile upon mile he covered without pausing +for breath. For the most part he kept to the valleys, where the +atmosphere was stifling and humid, crossing the mountains only when by +doing so he could cut off several miles. + +He had food with him, but he seldom stopped to eat. Now and again he +drank at a mountain stream, but seemed to grudge the time even for this. + +At sunset he was still bearing onward. He had cast aside the greater +part of his clothing, and the perspiration poured off him, and the veins +stood out upon his temples like knotted strands of cord. For all that, +he went on and on beneath the stars, whilst the moon marched in the +heavens. It was a race for the life of his brother. + +As Cortes hastened on his way, his thoughts continually went back to the +perilous situation in which he had left Fernando, and every thought was, +as it were, a spur to his endeavour. No sooner had he pictured in his +mind's eye that struggling, writhing figure, hanging, as it were, +betwixt earth and sky, than he shot forward with renewed energy, +clenching both fists and teeth in his strong determination. + +At last, breathless, exhausted, he sighted the extremity of the great +West African bush. Through this, forcing his way among the thickets, so +that the sharp thorns tore his naked flesh, he was obliged to travel for +many miles before he found the right kind of creeping plant, and, +moreover, one long enough to suit his purpose. + +To cut this from the tree around which it was twined, and roll it into a +great coil which he suspended around his neck, was the work of not many +minutes; and then he set forth upon his return journey to the margin of +the desert. + +He was already much exhausted, and his load was very heavy. But hour by +hour he struggled onward, leaving the jungle far behind, mounting to +higher altitudes. Nightfall found him still upon his way. Repeatedly +he stumbled, and then, on a sudden, he fell full length upon the ground. + +He lay quite still for several seconds, then rose slowly to his knees, +lifting his eyes and hands towards the stars. For a moment he prayed +silently; and, seeming to gather courage from his prayer, he rose to his +feet and went on. + +Soon after midnight the sky became overcast. A high wind got up and +blew from the mountains, bitter cold after the tropic heat of the bush. +Then the skies opened and the rain came down in sheets. But Cortes +still held on, struggling towards his goal, fighting manfully against +his own failing strength. + +And in the meantime, throughout these two fearful days, Jim Braid and +Harry waited in suspense. They could do nothing to help the man who +hung, hour after hour, upon the brink of the other world. + +Acting on his brother's advice, Fernando had undone the belt around his +waist, and with this had lashed himself to the stoutest branch of the +tree. Words fail to describe the torture he must have suffered; for, +not only did he endure great pain from his broken arm, but he was +tormented by a raging thirst. His cries for water were piteous to hear. + +They had no means of assisting him. They could do nothing but look on +in helplessness, praying for the return of the younger brother. On the +second night the rain came--in torrents, as it can only rain in the +tropics--and Fernando was able to moisten his parched lips by sucking +his drenched clothes. + +Wishing to get nearer to the poor fellow, in the hope that they might be +able to comfort him, at least with words, Harry and Jim Braid climbed +the spur and moved along the ledge at the top of the precipice until +they were immediately above the withered tree. There, lying down upon +their faces, they cried out to him to be of good courage, reminding him +that the dawn approached, that his brother would soon return. + +Daybreak is the hour when Life is nearest Death. It was shortly before +sunrise that Fernando himself gave up all hope, and called upon God to +take charge of his departing soul. He said that he was quite ready to +welcome Death; he desired nothing more than to have an end to his misery +and suspense. And, even as the words left his lips, the figure of his +brother was seen approaching along the ledge. + +At the feet of Harry Urquhart, Cortes sank, exhausted. The object of +his mission fulfilled, he lost consciousness and drifted into a faint. + +With all dispatch they uncoiled the long, snake-like creeper. Passing +one end over a jutting pinnacle of rock, they lowered the other towards +Fernando. It was more than long enough to reach the place where he lay. + +With great difficulty the poor fellow managed to untie his belt and make +fast the end of the creeper around his waist. And then they had to wait +a long time, until Cortes, who had recovered consciousness, was able to +assist the two boys in hauling up the rope. + +This was no easy matter, since they had neither a good foothold nor much +space upon the terrace. But in the end they succeeded, and the rescued +man lay panting on the ledge. He was immediately given water to drink; +and when he had drunk, a smile slowly overspread his face, and he looked +at the brother who had saved his life. But no word of gratitude ever +passed his lips; his thanks--far more eloquent than words--were in his +eyes. And the dark eyes of a half-caste are the most expressive and the +most beautiful in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI--The Twelfth Hour + + +Owing to the exhausted state of the two guides, the party could not set +forth upon their return journey to the Caves of Zoroaster until the +afternoon of the following day. + +The powers of endurance of both men had been taxed to the utmost--the +elder, by the terrible ordeal through which he had passed; the younger, +by his almost superhuman efforts. + +In spite of that, Harry Urquhart was all anxiety to be off. He had +often pictured to himself the agony of suspense that all this time von +Hardenberg was being called upon to bear. The boy wondered if the lamp +which the Prussian had taken with him into the vault still burned. If +so, it would shed its light upon the glittering treasure. If it had +gone out, the Prussian was buried in unutterable and eternal +darkness--eternal, since escape was beyond the bounds of possibility. +That, combined with the fearful silence that reigned in the place, with +hope dying in the prisoner's heart as the days rolled slowly by, was +enough--as it seemed to Harry--to drive any man to madness. The boy +found it impossible to forgive his cousin, who had acted so basely from +the first; for all that, he was by no means heartless, and, in any case, +it was his duty to save a human life from so terrible an end. + +As soon as the guides professed themselves able to undertake the +journey, they set off towards the caves. It took them more than two +days to accomplish what the younger guide had done in under twelve +hours, and thence, striking due south-west, they approached the caves +from the opposite direction to that in which they had first entered +Maziriland. + +On this occasion they saw--though they did not come into actual contact +with--several of the Maziri peasants who were working in the cultivated +tracts of country that lay between the mountains and the bush. +Maziriland was very sparsely populated--the race verging on +extinction--and at least two-thirds of the inhabitants were congregated +in the chief town, where they carried on certain industries, their skill +in which they had inherited from the ancients. + +It approached the hour of daybreak when Harry Urquhart and his party +reached the foot of the great flight of steps that led to the entrance +to the caves, where stood the two carved giants. Harry had hurried +forward, closely followed by Braid. The two guides brought up the rear. + +In feverish excitement, three steps at a time, the boy dashed up the +steps between the weird, fantastic statues, and was about to enter the +cave when he remembered that he had no light, and that, since it was +night, the place would be unutterably dark. He had retraced his steps +some distance, with the object of getting some kind of torch, when he +was met by Fernando at the head of the long flight of steps. + +"A light!" he cried. "It is quite dark within." + +Fernando had foreseen this, and in mid-valley had broken a branch from a +cork-tree, which he had damped with rifle oil. This he now lighted and +gave to Harry, who was the first to enter the cave. + +Inside, everything was exactly as they had left it. It was manifest no +one had visited the place since the tragedy of some days before. The +body of the old man lay still at the foot of the altar. At the +farthermost end of the cave the granite wall remained as ever, immobile +and formidable. Harry Urquhart, taking the Sunstone from his pocket, +asked Jim to hold the torch, and himself went to the wheels and turned +them until the characters that showed above the golden bar corresponded +with those upon the Sunstone. + +When he came to the ninth wheel he was so excited that his hand was +shaking. And presently there came the sharp "clicking" sound that they +had heard before, and then the granite rock began slowly to revolve. + +The rock evidently turned upon a pivot. Its motion was like that of an +enormous water-wheel, except that, instead of revolving vertically, it +turned horizontally, the way of the sun. When the centre of the opening +was immediately opposite the altar there came a second "click", and the +rock remained quite still. + +Harry Urquhart, in breathless haste, snatched the torch from the hands +of his friend, and dashed like a madman to the entrance. + +He pulled up in the nick of time, noticing that he stood at the top of +an exceedingly steep and narrow flight of stairs. Had he gone on as +impetuously as he had started, he would have pitched head foremost down +the steps. + +He began to descend more cautiously. The steps were slippery from the +moisture that invaded the rock in which they had been cut. + +He had not descended more than three steps before he was brought to an +abrupt standstill. It was as if his heart ceased to beat. From far +below--so far away as to be quite faint, though unmistakable--there came +to his ears the report of a single shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII--Too Late! + + +The boy hastened down the narrow steps with all the speed he could, Jim +Braid following close upon his heels. The two guides had remained +above. Even yet, both regarded the place with superstitious awe. + +The steps led downward--as it seemed an interminable distance. At first +they were straight; then they were spiral; then they were straight again +and broader. At the bottom was the vault where, as rumour had it, the +great sage himself lay buried, where was gathered together the treasure +that had been given in offerings during his lifetime, thousands of years +before. + +At the foot of the steps, the two boys, side by side, stood spellbound. +The sight that they beheld was at once tragic and marvellous. + +The vault was a rectangular room about thirty feet long and twenty feet +wide. Against the wall facing the steps was a huge stone that resembled +a coffin, supported upon a pedestal, cylindrical in shape, and about six +feet in height. The coffin and the pedestal on which it stood resembled +in shape the letter T. At the foot of the pedestal was a large marble +basin, in the centre of which a small jet of water played like a +miniature fountain, uttering a never-ceasing bubbling noise that sounded +strange in the silence of the vault. + +The walls were of bare rock. On the ceiling was carved a number of +fantastic figures, similar to those that stood on either side of the +great stairway that led to the entrance of the caves. But the wonder of +the vault was on the floor, the whole of which was covered inches deep +in glittering, sparkling gems. There were sapphires, rubies, diamonds, +opals, and pearls. The former worshippers of Zoroaster had called upon +the treasure-houses of the ancient world to pay their tribute to the +genius of the teacher. They had visited the pearl-fisheries of the East +and the ruby-mines of Burma; they had brought gold from Ophir and +emeralds from the land of Punt. + +And in the midst of this dazzling treasure, half-buried in the gems he +had ventured so much to gain, lay Captain von Hardenberg, who, dying by +his own hand, had delivered up the life he had so abused. + +Full length upon his face, upon this brilliant, jewel-bespangled carpet, +was the man who had stolen the Sunstone, who had betrayed his country, +and who, in his own turn, had been betrayed by the very ruffian he +employed. A revolver, still smoking, was in his hand. Carl von +Hardenberg had placed himself at last beyond the reach of human law. + +It is easy to imagine the torment the man had suffered during the last +days of his ill-spent life. The lamp which he had carried with him from +the altar in the cave had long since burned out, and now stood upon the +coffin of Zoroaster. The mental agony he endured must have driven him +near to madness. The darkness, the utter hopelessness of his terrible +situation, the fearful stillness--accentuated rather than broken by the +never-ending bubbling of the fountain--had no doubt driven him to take +his own life in savage desperation. + +He had eaten all his food. He had had water in plenty to drink; but he +had no doubt given up all hope of ever being rescued. + +Both Harry and Jim uncovered their heads. They stood face to face with +the still form of one who had always been their enemy, who had been the +enemy of their country. Von Hardenberg stood now in the presence of his +Maker. + +They buried him at the foot of the great steps that led to the Caves of +Zoroaster; and there Harry Urquhart--who had a little thumb-nail Prayer +Book in his pocket--read the funeral service over the grave, whilst Jim +Braid and the two guides, who had served them so faithfully throughout +these long adventurous weeks, stood by in silent reverence. + +There was now nothing they could do but retrace their steps to the +Cameroons. They could not hope to take all the treasure with them, +since they had no means of carrying it over the mountains and through +the density of the bush. They had travelled thus far to see justice +done, to prevent infinite wealth from falling into the hands of the +enemies of England; and in this enterprise they had been +successful--that much in itself was a reward. None the less, there was +no reason why they should not take with them as many jewels as they +could carry, and accordingly, selecting many of the largest and most +valuable gems, they filled their haversacks and pockets. + +And then, ascending the stairs and using the Sunstone as a key, Harry +closed the vault so that no one--not even the Maziris themselves--could +open it. And there was something almost sacred--or at least +awe-inspiring--in the deed. For centuries the Shrine of Zoroaster had +remained unmolested. Except the successive guardians of the cave, no +human being had ever entered the vault and beheld the glittering +treasure. In bygone times these priceless jewels had been delivered up +in tribute to one of the world's greatest teachers; and now, in one +sense, they were like flowers upon a grave. It was well that the +greater part of the treasure should remain where it had lain throughout +the ages; there was wealth enough for them in what they were able to +carry with them. + +With the return journey to the coast we are not concerned. The party +accomplished the march in fairly easy stages; and travelling southward, +for two excellent reasons, was a far more simple affair than advancing +towards the north: for, firstly, they were able to utilize the rivers +that flowed down from the mountains; and, secondly, the whole country +was now in possession of the British troops. The German Cameroons was +no more. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII--Conclusion + + +Exactly two months after the arrival of our adventurers at Dualla, Jim +Braid, cap in hand, approached his father's cottage. + +It was about eight o'clock at night, and quite dark. He had come from +London that afternoon, and had walked from the station. Harry, who had +travelled with him, had been met by Mr. Langton's dog-cart. But Jim +preferred to walk; he desired time to brace himself for the interview +which was to take place between himself and the father who had treated +him with such blind and harsh injustice. + +The cottage windows were illumined. Softly he opened the door and +looked in. His mother was seated by the fire. + +A moment later her arms were around his neck. With tears in her voice +she recalled the day when Jim had come to wish her good-bye. He was +then an outcast, one who was wrongly and falsely accused, who had been +turned loose in the world to roam the highways like a common tramp; and +since that day his mother had never doubted his innocence for a moment. + +The head-gamekeeper was one of the old school of parents. In his eyes, +no less than in the eyes of Mr. Langton, the evidence against his son +had been crushing. + +As young Braid held his mother in his arms, the door was opened, and +John Braid, the gamekeeper, dressed in corduroys, entered. When he saw +his son he lowered his head, after the manner of one ashamed. + +"My boy," said he, "I did you a great wrong. I ask your forgiveness, as +indeed I ask God's." + +Jim found it difficult to speak. + +"The evidence was all against me," he stammered. + +"I know it was," said the gamekeeper; "but I might have known that my +son would never have done such a thing. How was I to guess?" he added, +throwing out his hands. "I knew nothing of this Sunstone, nor of German +knavery. I knew nothing of that. All I was told was that twenty pounds +had been stolen, and--as I have said--the evidence was against you, my +lad, and I believed you guilty. I repeat, I should have known better." + +"Father," said Jim, holding out his hand, "don't let's talk of it any +more. On my part it's all forgotten, and there's nothing to forgive." + +"God bless you, boy!" said John, lifting a hand to his black beard to +hide the emotion he was unable to control. + +"There's something else," said he, after a pause; "I'm getting old." + +"You're not sixty yet!" cried his wife. + +"That's too old for a head-gamekeeper," answered Braid, thrusting his +thumbs into the armholes of his moleskin waistcoat. "A keeper should be +a young man and an active one. Lately I've had rheumatism, and I'm not +up to the night work. I told Mr. Langton this morning that I didn't +think I was fit to carry on the work, and he's given me a pension, +though I never asked for it nor thought of it." + +"You've given up your work!" exclaimed his wife. "You're no longer +head-keeper at Friar's Court!" + +"No," said the man. "I'm not." + +"Who's got the place?" she asked. + +Braid made a motion of his hand towards his son. + +"Jim," said he--and smiled. + +There followed a silence, during which there came a sharp knock upon the +door, John Braid went to the door and opened it, and there entered Mr. +Langton, followed by Harry. + +The Judge held out his hand to Jim. + +"I've come to ask your pardon," said he. "We did you a great injury. +Harry has told me the whole story. He has told me of how he found you +in London, and of the terrible act you were about to commit when he +saved you at the eleventh hour." + +Jim had forgotten that fearful moment on the Hungerford Bridge. He now +lowered his face to conceal his shame. + +"I had forgotten that," he murmured in an undertone, as if to himself. + +"Do not think I blame you, my poor boy," said Mr. Langton. "I blame +only myself for having driven you to such a pass. You have not yet told +me that you forgive me, and I have come here chiefly for that." + +Jim stammered out a few half-coherent words, implying more by the tones +of his voice than by anything else that everything was forgotten. + +"And you have heard," Mr. Langton added, "that you are to be head-keeper +here?" + +"If you please, sir," said Jim, "I think my father can carry on till +after the war. I was thinking I should enlist." + +Mr. Langton again held out his hand, which young Braid took. + +"I was expecting that," said he. "I promise to keep the place open for +you, and to do all I can to help." + +A few moments afterwards, Mr. Langton and his nephew went out. Before a +roaring fire in the Judge's study they seated themselves in comfortable +arm-chairs, and the Judge drew the Sunstone from his pocket. + +"I shall give it to the British Museum," said he. "I have no wish to +keep it any longer. I cannot look at it without realizing the terrible +tragedies that this small piece of jade has brought about." + +He was silent a while, playing with the Sunstone in his hand. + +"Your Arab," said he very quietly, "the Sheikh Bayram, done to death; +wretched, misguided Hardenberg buried alive in that dark and lonely +vault; and all the miles you traversed, all the adventures you passed +through, and the hardships you endured! It's not worth it!" said he, +with a sigh. "Let the treasure lie where it is." + +For all his words, the subject seemed to fascinate him; for, after a +pause, he went back to it again. + +"By my calculations," said he, "this stone is from six to eight thousand +years old. I have known it for not quite ten years, and during that +time it has brought about the death of, at least, five men. If it could +only speak," said he, "of what tragedies could it tell--tragedies of the +ancient world, of the long-forgotten past?" + +With another sigh he got to his feet and stirred the fire into a blaze. + +"And now," said he, "though you have already served your country better +than anyone else will ever know, we can see what can be done in the way +of getting you a commission. In regard to a regiment, have you any +particular choice?" + +"Yes," said Harry at once, for he had already arranged the matter to his +satisfaction; "the Wessex Fusiliers." + + + + + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS*** + + + + +A Word from Project Gutenberg + + +We will update this book if we find any errors. + +This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39185 + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the +Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a +registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, +unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything +for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may +use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative +works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and +printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public +domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, +especially commercial redistribution. + + + +The Full Project Gutenberg License + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) +electronic works + + +*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the +terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all +copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If +you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things +that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even +without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph +1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of +Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works +in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you +from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating +derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project +Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the +Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic +works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with +the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name +associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this +agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full +Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with +others. + +*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away + or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + +*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is +derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating +that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can +be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying +any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a +work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on +the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs +1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is +posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and +distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and +any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted +with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of +this work. + +*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project +Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a +part of this work or any other work associated with Project +Gutenberg(tm). + +*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg(tm) License. + +*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site +(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or +expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a +means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include +the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works +provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + + - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) + works. + + - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. + + +*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. + +*1.F.* + +*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. +Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the +medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but +not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription +errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a +defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. +YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, +BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN +PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND +ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR +ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES +EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. + +*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) + + +Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain +freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and +permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To +learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and +how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the +Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state +of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue +Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is +64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the +full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page +at http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where +we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside +the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways +including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, +please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic +works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless +a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks +in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/39185-8.zip b/old/39185-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0a2ce8e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-8.zip diff --git a/old/39185-rst.zip b/old/39185-rst.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8e034b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-rst.zip diff --git a/old/39185-rst/39185-rst.rst b/old/39185-rst/39185-rst.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba0ef9f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-rst/39185-rst.rst @@ -0,0 +1,6800 @@ +.. -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- + +.. meta:: + :PG.Id: 39185 + :PG.Title: Across the Cameroons + :PG.Released: 2012-03-17 + :PG.Rights: Public Domain + :PG.Producer: Al Haines + :DC.Creator: Charles Gilson + :MARCREL.ill: Arch. Webb + :DC.Title: Across the Cameroons + A Story of War and Adventure + :DC.Language: en + :DC.Created: 1916 + :coverpage: images/img-cover.jpg + +.. role:: small-caps + :class: small-caps + +==================== +ACROSS THE CAMEROONS +==================== + +.. pgheader:: + +.. + + | + | + | + | + +.. _`Cover art`: + +.. figure:: images/img-cover.jpg + :align: center + :alt: Cover art + + Cover art + + | + | + | + +.. _`"DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!"`: + +.. figure:: images/img-front.jpg + :align: center + :alt: "DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!" + + "DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!" + + +.. class:: center x-large + + | + | + | + | + | ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + +.. class:: center medium + + | A Story of War and Adventure + +.. class:: center small + + | + | + | + | BY + +.. class:: center medium + + | CAPTAIN CHARLES GILSON + +.. class:: center small + + | Author of "A Motor-Scout in Flanders" &c. &c. + + +.. class:: center medium + + | + | + | + | *Illustrated by Arch. Webb* + + +.. class:: center medium + + | + | + | + | BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + | LONDON AND GLASGOW + | 1916 + + + +.. class:: center small + + | + | + | + | *Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow* + | + +---- + +.. contents:: CONTENTS + :depth: 1 + :backlinks: entry + +---- + +.. class:: center large + + | + | + | + | Illustrations + +.. class:: left medium + + | `"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!"`_ . . . . . . *Frontispiece* + | + | `In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife that missed him by the fraction of an inch`_ + | + | `The leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible, and glorious`_ + +.. class:: center large + + | + | + | + | + | ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + +CHAPTER I--Captain von Hardenberg +================================= + +Late on a September afternoon, in the year 1913, two boys returned to +Friar's Court by way of the woods. Each carried a gun under his arm, +and a well-bred Irish water-spaniel followed close upon their heels. +They were of about the same age, though it would have been apparent, +even to the most casual observer, that they stood to one another in the +relation of master to man. + +The one, Henry Urquhart, home for his holidays from Eton, was the +nephew of Mr. Langton, the retired West African judge, who owned +Friar's Court. The other was Jim Braid, the son of Mr. Langton's +head-gamekeeper, who had already donned the corduroys and the moleskin +waistcoat of his father's trade. Though to some extent a social gap +divided them, a friendship had already sprung up between these two +which was destined to ripen as the years went on, carrying both to the +uttermost parts of the world, through the forests of the Cameroons, +across the inhospitable hills west of the Cameroon Peak, even to the +great plains of the Sahara. + +Harry was a boy of the open air. He was never happier than when on +horseback, or when he carried a shot-gun and a pocketful of cartridges. +As for Jim, he was no rider, but there were few boys of his age who +could hit a bolting rabbit or a rocketing pheasant with such surety of +aim. + +The Judge himself was much given to study, and was said to be a +recognized authority on the primitive races of Africa and the East. +For hours at a time he would shut himself up in the little bungalow he +had built in the woods, where, undisturbed, he could carry out his +researches. He was fond of his nephew, not the less so because Harry +was a boy well able to amuse himself; and where there were rabbits to +be shot and ditches to be jumped, young Urquhart was in his element. + +In Jim Braid, the schoolboy found one who had kindred tastes, who was a +better shot than himself, who could manage ferrets, and who, on one +occasion, had even had the privilege of assisting his father in the +capture of a poacher. Constant companionship engendered a friendship +which in time grew into feelings of mutual admiration. In the young +gamekeeper's eyes Harry was all that a gentleman should be; whereas the +schoolboy knew that in Jim Braid he had found a companion after his +heart. + +The path they followed led them past the bungalow. As they drew near +they saw there was a light in the window, and within was Mr. Langton, a +tall, grey-haired man, who sat at his writing-desk, poring over his +books and papers. + +"My uncle works too hard," said Harry. "For the last week he has done +nothing else. Every morning he has left the house directly after +breakfast to come here. I think there's something on his mind; he +seldom speaks at meals." + +"I suppose," said Braid, "in a big estate like this there must be a +good deal of business to be done?" + +"I don't think that takes him much time," said the other. "He keeps +his accounts and his cashbox in the bungalow, it is true, but he is +much more interested in the ancient histories of India and Asia than in +Friar's Court. He's a member of the Royal Society, you know, and +that's a very great honour." + +"He's a fine gentleman!" said Braid, as if that clinched the matter +once and for all. + +They walked on in silence for some minutes, and presently came to the +drive. It was then that they heard the sound of the wheels of a +dog-cart driving towards the house. + +"That's Captain von Hardenberg," said Braid. + +"I expect so," said the other. "His train must have been late. +There'll be three of us to shoot to-morrow." + +Braid did not answer. Harry glanced at him quickly. + +"You don't seem pleased," he said. + +"To tell the truth, sir," said Braid, after a brief pause, "I'm not. +Captain von Hardenberg and I don't get on very well together." + +"How's that?" + +Jim hesitated. + +"I hardly like to say, sir," said he, after a pause. + +"I don't mind," said Harry. "To tell the truth, my cousin and I have +never been friends. I can't think whatever possessed an aunt of mine +to marry a German--and a Prussian at that. He's a military attaché, +you know, at the German Embassy in London." + +The dog-cart came into sight round a bend in the drive. They stepped +aside to let it pass. There was just sufficient light to enable them +to see clearly the features of the young man who was seated by the side +of the coachman. He was about twenty-three years of age, with a very +dark and somewhat sallow complexion, sharp, aquiline features, and +piercing eyes. Upon his upper lip was a small, black moustache. He +wore a heavy ulster, into the pockets of which his hands were thrust. + +"Well, sir," said Jim, when the dog-cart had passed, "we've had a good +time together, what with shooting and the ferrets, but I'm afraid it's +all ended, now that the captain's come." + +"Ended!" said Harry. "Why should it be ended?" + +"Because I can never be the same with that gentleman as I am with you. +Last time he was here he struck me." + +"Struck you! What for?" + +"There was a shooting-party at the Court," the young gamekeeper went +on, "and I was helping my father. A pheasant broke covert midway +between Captain von Hardenberg and another gentleman, and they both +fired. Both claimed the bird, and appealed to me. I knew the captain +had fired first and missed, and I told him so. He said nothing at the +time, though he got very red in the face. That evening he came up to +me and asked me what I meant by it. I said I had spoken the truth, and +he told me not to be insolent. I don't know what I said to that, sir; +but, at any rate, he struck me. I clenched my fists, and as near as a +touch did I knock him down. I remembered in time that he was the +Judge's nephew, the same as yourself, and I'd lose my place if I did +it. So I just jammed both my fists in my trousers pockets, and walked +away, holding myself in, as it were, and cursing my luck." + +"You did right, Jim," said the other, after a pause. "You deserve to +be congratulated." + +"It was pretty difficult," Braid added. "I could have knocked him into +a cocked hat, and near as a touch I did it." + +"Though he's my cousin," said Harry, "I'm afraid he's a bad lot. He's +very unpopular in the diplomatic club in London to which he belongs. +When I went back to school last term I happened to travel in the same +carriage as two men who had known him well in Germany, and who talked +about him the whole way. It appears that he's sowing his wild oats +right and left, that he's always gambling and is already heavily in +debt." + +"I fancy," said Braid, "that a gamekeeper soon learns to know a rogue +when he sees one. You see, sir, we're always after foxes or poachers +or weasels; and the first time as ever I set eyes on Captain von +Hardenberg, I said to myself: 'That man's one of them that try to live +by their wits.'" + +"I think," said Harry, "we had better talk about something else. In +point of fact, Jim, I had no right to discuss my cousin at all. But I +was carried away by my feelings when you told me he had struck you." + +"I understand, sir," said the young gamekeeper, with a nod. + +"At all events, we must make the best of him. We're to have him here +for a month." + +"As long as he doesn't cross my path," said Jim Braid, "I'll not meddle +with him." + +Soon after that they parted, Harry going towards the house, Jim taking +the path that led to his father's cottage. + +In the hall Harry found his cousin, who had already taken off his hat +and overcoat, and was now seated before a roaring fire, with a +cigarette in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other. + +"Hallo!" said von Hardenberg, who spoke English perfectly. "Didn't +know I was to have the pleasure of your company. Where's my uncle?" + +"In the bungalow," said Harry. "During the last few days he's been +extremely hard at work." + +"How do you like school?" asked the young Prussian. + +His manner was particularly domineering. With his sleek, black hair, +carefully parted in the middle, and his neatly trimmed moustache, he +had the appearance of a very superior person. Moreover, he did not +attempt to disguise the fact that he looked upon his schoolboy cousin +barely with toleration, if not with actual contempt. + +"I like it tremendously!" said Harry, brightening up at once. "I +suppose you know I got into the Cricket Eleven, and took four wickets +against Harrow?" + +He said this with frank, boyish enthusiasm. There was nothing boastful +about it. Von Hardenberg, raising his eyebrows, flicked some +cigarette-ash from his trousers. + +"*Himmel!*" he observed. "You don't suppose I take the least interest +in what you do against Harrow. The whole of your nation appears to +think of nothing but play. As for us Germans, we have something better +to think of!" + +Harry looked at his cousin. For a moment a spirit of mischief rose +within him, and he had half a mind to ask whether von Hardenberg had +forgotten his gambling debts. However, he thought better of it, and +went upstairs to dress for dinner. + +The Judge came late from the bungalow, bursting into the dining-room as +his two nephews were seating themselves at the table, saying that he +had no time to change. + +"Boys," he cried, rubbing his hands together, "I've made the greatest +discovery of my life! I've hit upon a thing that will set the whole +world talking for a month! I've discovered the Sunstone! I've solved +its mystery! As you, Carl, would say, the whole thing's *colossal*!" + +"The Sunstone!" cried Harry. "What is that?" + +"The Sunstone," said the Judge, "has been known to exist for centuries. +It is the key to the storehouse of one of the greatest treasures the +world contains. It has been in my possession for nine years, and not +till this evening did I dream that I possessed it." + +"Come!" cried Harry. "You must tell us all about it!" + + + + +CHAPTER II--The Sunstone +======================== + +"Well," said the Judge, pushing aside the plate of soup which he had +hardly tasted, "I don't know whether or not the story will interest +you. It ought to, because it's romantic, and also melodramatic--that +is to say, it is concerned with death. It came into my possession nine +years ago, when I was presiding judge at Sierra Leone. I remember +being informed by the police that a native from the region of Lake Chad +had come into the country with several Arabs on his track. He had fled +for his life from the hills; he had gone as far south as the Congo, and +had then cut back on his tracks; and all this time, over thousands of +miles of almost impenetrable country, the Arabs--slave-traders by +repute--had clung to his heels like bloodhounds. In Sierra Leone he +turned upon his tormentors and killed two of them. He was brought +before me on a charge of murder, and I had no option but to sentence +him to death. The day before he was hanged he wished to see me, and I +visited him in prison. He gave into my hands a large, circular piece +of jade, and I have kept it ever since, always looking upon it merely +as a curiosity and a memento of a very unpleasant duty. Never for a +moment did I dream it was the Sunstone itself. + +"Now, before you can understand the whole story, you must know +something of Zoroaster. Zoroaster was the preacher, or prophet, who +was responsible for the most ancient religion in the world. He was the +first of the Magi, or the Wise Men of the East, and it was he who +framed the famous laws of the Medes and Persians. He is supposed to +have lived more than six thousand years before Christ. + +"The doctrine of Zoroaster is concerned with the worship of the sun; +hence the name of the Sunstone. This religion was adopted by the +Persians, who conquered Egypt, and thus spread their influence across +the Red Sea into Africa. To-day, among the hills that surround Lake +Chad, there exists a tribe of which little is known, except that they +are called the Maziris, and are believed still to follow the religion +of Zoroaster. + +"In the days when Zoroaster preached, it was the custom of his +followers and admirers to present the sage with jewels and precious +stones. These were first given as alms, to enable him to live; but, as +his fame extended, the treasure became so great that it far exceeded +his needs. + +"One rumour has it that Zoroaster died in the Himalayas; another that +his body was embalmed in Egypt and conveyed by a party of Ethiopians +into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where it was buried in a +cave with all his treasure. + +"The Sunstone is referred to by many ancient Persian writers. I have +known of it for years as the key to the treasure of Zoroaster. As I +have said, it is a circular piece of jade, bright yellow in colour, and +of about the size of a saucer. On both sides of the stone various +signs and symbols have been cut. On one side, from the centre, nine +radii divide the circumference into nine equal arcs. In each arc is a +distinct cuneiform character, similar to those which have been found +upon the stone monuments of Persia and Arabia. + +"The Arabs are in many ways the most wonderful people in the world. +Their vitality as a race is amazing. For centuries--possibly for +thousands of years--they have terrorized northern and central Africa. +They were feared by the ancient Egyptians, who built walls around their +cities to protect them from the Bedouins--the ancestors of the men who +to-day lead their caravans to Erzerum, Zanzibar, and Timbuctoo. + +"So far as I can discover, the Maziris are an Arab tribe who have given +up their old nomad life. Somewhere in the Maziri country is a group of +caves which no European has ever entered. They are known as the 'Caves +of Zoroaster', for it is here that the sage is supposed to have been +buried. The bones of Zoroaster, as well as the jewels, are said to lie +in a vault cut in the living rock; and the Sunstone is the key which +opens the entrance to that vault. The man, whom in my capacity as a +judge I was obliged to sentence to death, had no doubt stolen it, and +had been pursued across the continent by the Maziri chieftains, who +desired to recover the Sunstone. + +"There is the whole story. A week ago I came across a description of +the Sunstone in the writings of a Persian historian, and that +description led me to suspect that the very thing was in my own +possession. I followed up clue after clue, and this evening I put the +matter beyond all doubt." + +Mr. Langton's two nephews had listened in breathless interest. Harry +was leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his chin upon a +hand. Von Hardenberg lay back in a chair, his arms folded, his dark +eyes fixed upon his uncle. + +"Then," said he, "you have but to get into these so-called 'Caves of +Zoroaster' to possess yourself of the jewels?" + +The Judge smiled, and shook his head. + +"And to get into the caves," he answered, "is just the very thing that, +for the present, it is almost impossible for any European to do. The +Maziri are a wild and lawless tribe. They are indeed so bloodthirsty, +their country so mountainous, and their valleys so infertile, that +hitherto no one has ever interfered with their affairs. Like all the +Arabs, they are a nation of robbers and cut-throats, who lived in the +past by means of the slave-trade, and to-day exist by cattle-stealing +and robbery. The man who tries to enter the 'Caves of Zoroaster' will +have his work cut out." + +"Will you let us see the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Certainly, my boy," said Mr. Langton. "I'll take you both down to the +bungalow to-morrow morning, or--if you cannot wait till then--we can go +to-night." + +"Isn't it rather risky," asked von Hardenberg, "to keep such a valuable +thing out of the house?" + +"The bungalow is always locked," said Mr. Langton, "and I keep the +Sunstone in a cabinet. Moreover, you must remember that nobody knows +of its value. No thief would ever dream of stealing it. It is, to all +appearances, only an inferior piece of jade." + +"But you have money there as well?" said von Hardenberg. + +"Not much," answered the Judge. "Since I do my accounts there it is +convenient to have my cashbox at hand. But it seldom contains more +than twenty pounds--the amount of money I require to pay the men +employed on the estate." + +"What an extraordinary thing," said Harry, still thinking of the +treasure of Zoroaster, "that it should have existed for all these years +and never have been plundered." + +"Not so extraordinary," said Mr. Langton, "when you know the Arabs. +The Maziris, as I have told you, are of Arab descent, though they are +not followers of the Prophet. The sun-worshippers are extremely +devout. No priest of Zoroaster would think of stealing the treasure; +that would be to plunge his soul into eternal punishment." + +"And no one else," asked von Hardenberg, "no Mohammedan or heathen, has +ever been able to enter the vault?" + +"Never," said Mr. Langton, "because the Sunstone is the secret. That +is why, when the Sunstone was stolen, they were so anxious to run the +thief to earth." + +Von Hardenberg knit his brows. He was silent for a moment, and +appeared to be thinking. + +"And you believe you have solved the mystery?" he asked. + +"I know I have," said the Judge. "If at this moment I suddenly found +myself in the Caves of Zoroaster, with the Sunstone in my hand, I could +gain access to the vault." + +Von Hardenberg bit his lip quickly, and then looked sharply at his +uncle. When he spoke, it was in the voice of a man who took little or +no interest in the subject under discussion. + +"I should rather like to see it," he remarked. + +Accordingly, as soon as dinner was finished, they put on their +overcoats, and conducted by the Judge, who carried a lantern, they +followed a path through the woods until they came to the bungalow. + +Mr. Langton unlocked the door and put the key into his pocket. Then he +lit an oil lamp, which presently burned up and illumined the room. +They found themselves in what to all intents and purposes was a +library. The four walls were stacked with books, but the overflow of +these was so great that many were piled upon chairs and in odd corners +of the room. In the centre of the floor-space was a large +writing-desk, and near this a cabinet with several drawers. Lying open +on the writing-desk was a fair-sized cash-box, in which several golden +sovereigns glittered in the light. + +"How careless, to be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "I had no business to +leave my cash-box open. The truth is, I was so excited about this +discovery that I forgot to put it away." + +"And where's the Sunstone?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"I keep it here," said Mr. Langton. + +Going to the cabinet, and unlocking the third drawer from the top, he +took out a large stone and laid it on the table in the light of the +lamp. His two nephews, one on either side of him, leaned forward to +examine this extraordinary relic. + +On one side of the Sunstone were the cuneiform characters already +mentioned by the Judge. On the other was a great deal of writing in +the same primitive language, scratched upon the face of the jade, but +so faint as to be barely legible. + +"It was only with the greatest difficulty," observed the Judge, "that I +managed to decipher and translate this writing. It is in no known +language. Indeed, I would never have been able to make head or tail of +it had I not been a scholar of Sanskrit. This writing is nothing more +nor less than the definite instructions for using the Sunstone for the +purpose of entering the vaults of Zoroaster." + +"What does it say?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"You are told to begin with a certain character and take the others in +a circle 'in the way of the sun'--that is to say, from left to right, +as with the hands of a clock. Before the main vault is a large lock, +which works on the same principle as the modern Bramah lock--a very +ancient device. It consists of nine enormous wheels. The outside, or +tyre, of each of these wheels is adorned with hundreds of cuneiform +characters, all of them quite different. Each wheel must be turned +until the characters visible along a given line correspond with those +upon the Sunstone. Not otherwise can the vault be opened." + +There followed a silence of several moments. The Judge's discovery +seemed so romantic and so astonishing that it was almost impossible to +believe it was true. After a while, it was von Hardenberg who spoke. + +"And now that you have made this discovery," he asked, "what do you +propose to do?" + +"I don't know," said the Judge. "I have no desire to pillage a sacred +shrine. For the present I propose to keep the affair a secret whilst I +continue my researches. There are several points upon which the +historical world desires to be enlightened. Very little is known +concerning the life of Zoroaster." + +"But surely," exclaimed von Hardenberg, "you don't intend to keep this +to yourself!" + +"When I have the whole facts of the case at my finger-tips," said the +Judge, "I will make the result of my investigations known to the +authorities of the British Museum." + +Soon after that they left the bungalow. Before they went to bed that +night von Hardenberg took his cousin aside and looked at him intently. + +"What do you make of it?" he asked. + +"Of the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Yes," said the other. "It seems to me, if the old gentleman wanted +to, he could make himself a millionaire." + +Harry laughed. + +"I don't think Uncle Jack cares much about money," said he. "He looks +at the whole matter from a scientific point of view." + +"No doubt," exclaimed the Prussian. "No doubt. I dare say he does." + +And at that he turned and went slowly up the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER III--Caught Red-handed +============================== + +Some hours after sunset, on the evening of the following day, Jim Braid +was stationed in the woods, on the look-out for poachers. His father, +John Braid, the head-gamekeeper, was also out that night, keeping watch +in a different part of the estate. A well-known gang of poachers had +been reported in the district, and, the week before, several shots had +been heard as late as twelve o'clock, for which the gamekeepers could +not account. + +The night was cold and foggy, and Jim wore the collar of his coat +turned up, and carried his gun under his arm, with his hands thrust +deep into his breeches pockets. + +He was moving along the edge of the coverts, which lay between Mr. +Langton's bungalow and the house, when suddenly he became conscious of +footsteps approaching stealthily through the woods. Without a moment's +thought he dropped flat upon his face, and lay close as a hare, +concealed in a clump of bracken. From this position he was able to see +the path by which the intruder approached; he could also command a view +of the windows of Friar's Court, several of which were illumined. + +The dark figure of a man came from among the trees. Jim, taking his +whistle from his pocket, put it to his lips, and was about to sound the +alarm which would bring his father and the other keepers to the spot, +when he was arrested by the man's singular appearance. + +This was no common poacher. He wore a heavy fur overcoat, and carried +in his hand--not a gun--but no more formidable a weapon than an +umbrella. On his head, tilted at an angle, was a white bowler hat. + +Jim Braid was in two minds what to do, and was even about to show +himself to the stranger and ask his business, when the front door of +the house opened, and he made out the figure of Captain von Hardenberg +silhouetted against the light in the hall. Jim had no particular +desire to eavesdrop. Still, as we know, he disliked and mistrusted the +Prussian; and, besides, the secretive manner in which the stranger was +careful to keep in the shadow of the trees had already aroused his +suspicions. + +When the man with the white hat saw von Hardenberg, he whistled softly, +and went forward a little towards him. They met a few yards from where +Jim Braid was hiding. The stranger at once held out a hand. Von +Hardenberg refused to take it. + +"I knew you'd come here," said he. "Can't you leave me alone?" + +"You're four months overdue, Captain von Hardenberg," answered the +other. "My interest is increasing day by day. You owe me nearly four +thousand pounds!" + +"Well, I can't pay," said von Hardenberg. "And there's an end of it." + +"Captain von Hardenberg," said the man, who spoke English with a strong +German accent. "I am sick of you. In a word, I have found you out. +You desire the services of a spy--one who has access to valuable +information--and you come to me, Peter Klein, even myself, who as the +butler of a cabinet minister have many opportunities of reading letters +and overhearing the consultations of those who are suppose to govern +these sleepy, fog-begotten islands. You are paid from Berlin, and you +are paid to pay me. And what do you do with the money? Gamble. In a +word, you play cards and lose money which by right is mine, which +I--not you--have earned. Then you beseech me to hold my tongue, +promising me that you will repay me with interest as soon as ever you +have inherited your uncle's estates. This, I find, is a lie. Your +uncle has another nephew, just as likely to inherit his capital as you. +You play with me. But I hold you in the hollow of my hand. Remember, +I have only to report you to Berlin, and you are ruined, once and for +all." + +Von Hardenberg was silent for some moments. Then he spoke in a quick, +jerky voice. + +"Look here," said he; "it's no good. This very evening, knowing that +you were coming, I made a clean breast of it to my uncle. I told him +that I was four thousand pounds in debt to a money-lender, and that, if +I couldn't pay, you would come down upon me. I suppose you don't mind +that. I couldn't tell him you were a Government spy disguised as a +butler in a private house. And what do you think he said?" + +"I have not the least idea," said the other. + +"He told me," said von Hardenberg, "that he would cut me off with a +shilling!" + +Mr. Peter Klein was heard to gasp. Thrusting his hat well back upon +his head, he threw out his hands and gesticulated wildly. + +"Then, you're a thief!" he cried. "What it comes to is this: you have +embezzled Government money. I have given the Wilhelmstrasse valuable +information, and I have never received a penny." + +"Do what you like," answered von Hardenberg. "I cannot pay." + +"I'll have you court-martialled!" the other cried. "The Wilhelmstrasse +will be on my side. You have made a fool of me." + +Von Hardenberg grasped the man by the wrist. + +"Listen here," said he. "Can you wait a week?" + +"Yes. I can. But why?" + +"Because I know how I can get hold of the money, though it will take +some getting. You had better go back to London. I promise to call at +your office within a few days, and then I shall have something to tell +you." + +Peter Klein turned the matter over in his mind. As long as there +remained a chance of getting his money he thought it worth while to +take it. For all his threats, he knew enough of the Secret Service +department in the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin to know that in a fight +against a Prussian military attaché he would stand but a poor chance. +However, he was cunning enough to point out to von Hardenberg that the +Wilhelmstrasse might think that the services of Peter Klein might +possibly be valuable in the future. Then, he went his way, walking +quickly through the woods in the direction of the railway station. As +for von Hardenberg, he returned to the house; and no sooner was he gone +than Jim Braid got to his feet. + +The young gamekeeper had been able to understand only a third of what +had been said, for they had lapsed from German into English, and back +to German again. But, that night--or, rather, early the following +morning--when he went to bed, he thought over the matter for some time, +and had half a mind to tell his father. However, in the end he came to +the conclusion that it was no business of his, and slept the sleep of +the just. + +The following afternoon he was engaged in driving into the ground a +series of hurdles to keep the cattle from the pheasant coverts, when he +was approached by Mr. Langton. + +"Hard at work, Jim?" asked the Judge. + +"Yes, sir," said Jim, touching his cap. "These are the old hurdles we +brought up from Boot's Hollow." + +"That's a useful weapon, anyhow," said the Judge, indicating the +crowbar with which Jim was working. + +"Yes, sir, it's a handy tool, and sharp in the bargain." + +At that the Judge wished the boy "Good-night!" and went his way towards +the house. Hardly had he departed than Captain von Hardenberg brushed +his way through some thickets near at hand, and approached the young +gamekeeper. He must certainly have overheard the conversation that had +passed between Jim Braid and the Judge. + +"Braid," said he, "would you mind lending me that crowbar?" + +"I've finished with it to-night, sir," said Braid, "but I shall want it +to-morrow morning." + +"I'll let you have it back by then," said the other. And taking the +unwieldy tool from Jim's hands, he walked with it towards the house. + +No sooner was he out of sight, however, than he dropped down upon a +knee and looked furtively about him, as if to satisfy himself that he +was not observed. Then he thrust the crowbar down a rabbit-hole, the +mouth of which he covered over with several fronds of bracken. That +done, he walked quickly towards the house. + +That night, towards midnight, when everyone else in Friar's Court was +sound asleep, Captain Carl von Hardenberg sat, fully dressed, at the +foot of his bed with a cigar between his lips. He had taken off his +dress-coat and put on an old Norfolk jacket. On his feet he wore long +gum-boots, into which he had tucked his trousers. He sat looking at +the clock, which was but dimly visible upon the mantelpiece through the +clouds of tobacco-smoke with which the room was filled. + +Presently the clock struck twelve, and at that von Hardenberg rose to +his feet and went on tiptoe to the door. Without a sound he passed +out, walked quickly down the passage, and descended the back stairs to +the kitchen. With nervous hands he opened the scullery door, and then +paused to listen. Hearing no sound, he stepped quickly into the yard. + +He walked rapidly past the lawns which lie between Friar's Court and +the woods. Once inside the woods, he immediately sought out the path +that led straight to the bungalow. He had some difficulty in finding +the rabbit-hole in which he had hidden the crowbar, and only succeeded +in doing so with the aid of a lighted match. It was the flare of this +match that attracted Jim Braid, who was again on duty in this part of +the estate. + +Von Hardenberg, the crowbar in his hand, approached the bungalow. With +all his strength he drove the crowbar between the door and the jamb, +and with one wrench broke open the lock. + +In his uncle's study he lit the oil lamp that stood upon the central +table. He was surprised to see that the Judge had again left his +cash-box on the desk. The cash-box, however, was not his business; he +was determined to possess himself of the Sunstone. + +He had provided himself with a bunch of skeleton keys. Those whose +business it is to employ Government spies are not infrequently provided +with such things. After several futile attempts he succeeded in +opening the third drawer in the cabinet. Then, with the precious stone +in his hand, he rushed to the lamp and examined the Sunstone in the +light. + +"Now," he cried--he was so excited that he spoke aloud--"now for the +German Cameroons!" + +And scarcely had he said the words than he looked up, and there in the +doorway was Jim Braid, the gamekeeper's son. + +"Hands up!" cried Braid, bringing his gun to his shoulder. + +Captain von Hardenberg looked about him like a hunted beast. + +"Don't be a fool!" he exclaimed. "You know who I am!" + +"Yes, I do," said Braid; "and you're up to no good. Hands up, I say!" + +Von Hardenberg held up his hands, and then tried to laugh it off. + +"You're mad!" said he more quietly. "Surely you don't imagine I'm a +thief?" + +"I'm not given much to imagining things," said Braid. "All I know is, +you broke in here by force." + +As he was speaking, before the last words had left his mouth, von +Hardenberg, with a quick and desperate action, had seized the gun by +the barrel. There followed a struggle, during which the gun went off. + +There was a loud report and a piercing cry, and Jim Braid fell forward +on his face. Even as he rolled over upon the ground, a black pool of +blood spread slowly across the floor. + +The Prussian went to the door and listened. He saw lights appear in +the windows of the house, and one or two were thrown open. Near at +hand he heard the strong voice of John Braid, the keeper, shouting to +his son. On the other side of the bungalow, an under-gamekeeper was +hurrying to the place. + +Von Hardenberg's face was ashen white. His hands were shaking, his +lips moving with strange, convulsive jerks. + +He went quickly to the body of the unconscious boy, and, kneeling down, +felt Braid's heart. + +"Thank Heaven," said he, "he is not killed." + +And then a new fear possessed him. If Jim Braid was not dead, he would +live to accuse von Hardenberg of the theft. The Prussian stood bolt +upright, his teeth fastened on his under lip. The voices without were +nearer to the house than before. He had not ten seconds in which to +act. + +Seizing the cash-box, he laid it on the ground and dealt it a shivering +blow with the crowbar. The lid flew open, and the contents--a score of +sovereigns--were scattered on the floor. These he gathered together +and thrust into the pockets of the unconscious boy. Then he took the +crowbar and closed Jim's fingers about it. It was at that moment that +John Braid, the gamekeeper, burst into the room. + +"What's this?" he cried. + +"I regret to tell you," said Captain von Hardenberg, "that your son is +a thief. I caught him red-handed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV--False Evidence +========================== + +In less than a minute the bungalow was crowded. Close upon the +head-gamekeeper's heels came one of his assistants, and after him Mr. +Langton himself and Harry, followed by several servants from the house. + +When John Braid heard von Hardenberg's words, accusing his son of +theft, it was as if a blow had been struck him. He looked about him +like a man dazed, and then carried a hand across his eyes. Then, +without a word, he went down upon his knees at his son's side and +examined the wounded boy. + +"He's not dead," said he in a husky voice. "I can feel his heart +distinctly." + +It was at this moment that the Judge rushed into the room. His bare +feet were encased in bedroom slippers; he was dressed in a shirt and a +pair of trousers. + +"Whatever has happened?" he exclaimed. + +He repeated the question several times before anyone answered, and by +then the room was full. The chauffeur was sent back post-haste to the +stables, with orders to drive for a doctor. + +"How did it happen, John?" repeated Mr. Langton. + +But the gamekeeper shook his head. He had the look of a man who is not +completely master of his senses. + +The Judge regarded his nephew. + +"Carl," said he, "can you explain how this--accident occurred?" + +"Certainly!" said von Hardenberg, who now realized, that to save +himself, all his presence of mind was necessary. + +"Then," said the Judge, "be so good as to do so." + +"After my yesterday's interview with you," von Hardenberg began, in +tones of complete assurance, "as you may imagine, I had several letters +to write, and to-night I did not think of getting into bed till nearly +twelve o'clock. Before I began to undress I went to the window and +opened it. As I did so I saw a man cross the lawn and enter the woods. +As his conduct was suspicious, I took him for a poacher. As quickly as +possible I left the house and walked in the direction I knew the man +had taken." + +"Why did not you wake any of us?" asked the Judge, who was in his own +element, and might have been examining a witness in the box. + +Von Hardenberg, however, did not appear to be the least alarmed. He +answered his uncle slowly, but without the slightest hesitation. + +"For the very simple reason," said he, "that I did not wish to make a +fool of myself. I half expected that the man would prove to be a +gamekeeper." + +"Then why did you follow him?" + +"For two reasons. First, because I wanted to satisfy myself as to who +he was, and, secondly, because a man who has just learnt he is to +remain a pauper for life does not, as a rule, feel inclined for sleep. +I wanted to go out into the air." + +"Well," asked the Judge, "and then what happened?" + +"I was unable to find the man in the woods, until I heard a noise in +the direction of the bungalow. To the bungalow, accordingly I went, as +quickly as I could. I got there in time to see him break open the door +with a crowbar. There is the crowbar in his hand." + +Everyone in the room caught his breath. Such an accusation against Jim +Braid was almost incomprehensible. The boy was believed to be +perfectly honest and trustworthy; and yet, as Captain von Hardenberg +had said, there was the crowbar in his hand. + +"And then?" prompted the judge. + +"And then," the Prussian continued, "I watched him enter the room. I +could see him through the window. He went straight to your desk, took +the cash-box, and burst it open with the crowbar. There is the box +lying on the floor. If you examine it, you will see that I speak the +truth." + +The judge picked up the box and looked at it. + +"You are prepared to swear to this?" he asked. + +"In a court of law," said the other--and never flinched. + +It was the Judge himself who emptied Jim's pockets, and there sure +enough he found the sovereigns which had been taken from the cash-box. + +"I would never have believed it!" he exclaimed. "It's terrible to +think that one of my own servants should have treated me thus!" + +It was then that Harry Urquhart spoke for the first time. He could not +stand by and see his old friend so basely accused and not offer a word +in his defence. + +"It's a lie!" he cried, his indignation rising in a flood. "A base, +unmitigated lie! Uncle," he pleaded, "you don't believe it, surely?" + +The Judge shook his head. + +"It would be very foolish for me," said he, "to give an opinion one way +or the other, before the boy has had a chance to speak in his own +defence. I must admit, however, that the evidence is very strong +against him." + +A hurdle was fetched, upon which a mattress was laid; and upon this the +wounded boy was carried to the house, which was nearer to the bungalow +than his father's cottage. By a strange coincidence, it was one of the +very hurdles that Jim had been setting up that afternoon. + +The doctor, who lived at some distance, did not arrive for an hour. +After a short examination of the patient he was able to give a +satisfactory report. The gun had gone off at too close a range to +allow the shot to scatter, and only about a quarter of the pellets had +entered the boy's side, the rest tearing a great hole in his coat and +waistcoat. The wound was large and gaping, but no artery was touched, +and before they reached the house, and Jim had been laid upon the bed +in Harry's room, the patient had recovered consciousness. + +For all that, it was several days before the doctor would allow him to +see anyone. He was to be kept perfectly quiet, and not excited in any +way. During that time he was attended with the greatest care, not only +by the housekeeper and Harry Urquhart, but by Mr. Langton himself. + +At the end of a week, a naturally strong constitution, and the good +health resulting from a life that is lived in the open air, had done +their work, and Jim was allowed to get up. It was soon after that that +the Judge heard the case in his dining-room, where, seated at the head +of the table, pen in hand, he might have been back in his old place in +the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. + +Jim Braid--who, in very truth, was the prisoner in the dock--was seated +on a chair, facing the Judge. On either side of the table were those +whom Mr. Langton proposed to call as witnesses--namely, Captain von +Hardenberg, John Braid, and the under-gamekeeper. + +The face of the prisoner in the dock was white as a sheet. Harry +Urquhart stood behind his uncle's chair, regarding his old friend with +commiseration in his eyes and a deep sympathy in his heart. + +Von Hardenberg's evidence differed in no material points from what he +had said before. Indeed, he played his cards with almost fiendish +cunning. The circumstantial evidence was all against the boy. The +Judge had not yet discovered that the Sunstone was missing. There was +no doubt that both the door of the bungalow and the cash-box had been +broken open by the crowbar--moreover, the very crowbar which the Judge +himself had seen in Jim's hands on the afternoon of the crime. Neither +John Braid nor any other gamekeeper could do anything but bear out the +testimony of von Hardenberg. When they entered the bungalow the boy's +guilt had seemed manifest. + +In his own defence Jim could state as much of the truth as he knew. He +said that he had seen von Hardenberg break into the bungalow; he swore +that he had lent him the crowbar that very day. Asked why he supposed +the Judge's nephew had become a burglar, he was unable to give an +answer. From his position he had not been able to see into the room; +he had not the slightest idea what von Hardenberg did immediately after +entering. + +All this the Judge flatly refused to believe. He protested that it was +ridiculous to suppose that a young man of von Hardenberg's position +would rifle a cash-box, containing about twenty pounds. In Mr. +Langton's opinion, the case was proved against the boy; he could not +doubt that he was guilty. He said that he would refrain from +prosecuting, since John Braid had served him faithfully for many years, +but he was unwilling any longer to employ Jim on the estate. + +When Mr. Langton had finished, John Braid asked for permission to +speak, and then turned upon his son with a savage fierceness that was +terrible to see. He disowned him; he was no longer a son of his. He +pointed out the benefits Jim had received at the hands of Mr. Langton, +and swore that he had never dreamed that such ingratitude was possible. +As far as he was concerned, he had done with his son, once and for all. +He would blot out his memory. Henceforward Jim could fend for himself. + +Still weak from his wounds, and with a far greater pain in his heart +than ever came from physical hurt, the boy rose to his feet and slowly +and in silence left the room. He went to his father's cottage, and +there saw his mother, from whom he parted in tears. Then, shouldering +the few belongings he possessed, done up in a bundle that he proposed +to carry on the end of a stick, he went his way down the drive of +Friar's Court. + +He had not gone far before he heard footsteps approaching, and, +turning, beheld Harry Urquhart, running forward in haste. The boy +waited until his friend had come up with him. He tried to speak, but +found that impossible. Something rose in his throat and choked his +power of utterance. + +"You believe in me?" said he at last. + +"I do," cried Harry, "and I always will! I know that you are innocent!" + +"Thank you for that, sir!" said Jim. "I can go my way with a lighter +heart." + +"Where are you going?" asked Harry. + +"I don't know, sir, and I don't think I care. Anywhere, so long as I +can get away from this place where I am suspected and despised!" + +"Have you any money?" asked Harry. + +Jim shook his head. + +"Here you are. Take this. It's all I have." And Harry thrust into +his friend's hand a five-pound note. + +Jim hesitated to take it; but in the end he did so, folding it +carefully and putting it into his waistcoat pocket. + +"God bless you, sir!" said he. + +"I'll make it my life's work," cried Harry, "to prove your innocence. +I'm confident I will succeed in the end. For the present, good-bye!" + +"Good-bye!" said the other. He dared not look young Urquhart in the +face, for his eyes were filling fast with tears. + +Then he went his way, throwing himself upon the mercy of the world, +with life before him to be started all anew. Under his own name, and +with his old surroundings, he was disinherited, disowned, and +dishonoured. He must find some new employment. He must endeavour to +forget and to live down the past. + +At the gate of the drive he came into the highroad, and, turning his +face towards London, set forward, walking as quickly as he could. + + + + +CHAPTER V--The Eleventh Hour +============================ + +The following day Captain von Hardenberg left Friar's Court. He had +more reasons than one to be anxious to return to London. + +The robbery and the outrage at the bungalow had sadly interrupted Mr. +Langton's studies. Nearly a month elapsed before the Judge took up his +old researches, and then it was that for the first time he discovered +that the Sunstone was missing. Search where he might, he could find it +nowhere. The evidence was against Jim Braid, and there was no one to +speak up on his behalf, for by then Harry Urquhart had returned to +school. On the night Braid was wounded, only his coat pockets had been +emptied, and, since the whole of the money had been recovered, no +further search had been made. The Judge had little doubt in his mind +that, as well as the contents of the cash-box, the boy had stolen the +Sunstone, though poor Jim could have had no idea as to its value. + +Mr. Langton was determined to recover the relic at all costs. He spent +a great deal of money on advertisements, and gave a full description of +Braid to the police; but no trace of the boy could be found. It was +not until Christmas had come, and Harry Urquhart was again at Friar's +Court, that the Judge told his nephew of his suspicions. + +And though Harry was sure of Braid's innocence, he could not convince +the Judge. Mr. Langton's mind was the mind of a lawyer; he based his +conclusions upon the testimony of facts, and never allowed his personal +opinions to influence him in the least. + +Though the police had failed to discover any trace of Braid, Harry was +determined to find him. Since he had now left school, he obtained +permission from his uncle to go to London. He felt perfectly certain +that Braid was somewhere in the great city where it is possible for a +man to hide himself from the eyes of the world, even to bury his +identity. + +In the meantime, Captain von Hardenberg had presented himself before +Peter Klein, the informer, and a long interview had taken place between +them. + +Peter listened to the whole story of the Sunstone, doubted it one +moment, believed it the next; and fingered the strange jade ornament, +first with reverence, and then almost with suspicion. He examined it +through a magnifying-glass, shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and +found it impossible to make up his mind. Von Hardenberg made no secret +of the fact that he was determined to undertake a journey through the +German colonial territory of the Cameroons to the Caves of Zoroaster, +to recover the jewels that were hidden in the vault. With the treasure +once in his possession, he swore that he would pay Klein, not only the +full amount that was due to him, but ten per cent of the total profits. + +Now, Peter Klein was a usurer--as well as a butler and a spy--one who +drove a hard bargain, who was relentless to his victims. He said that +he himself was tired of cities, that the suspicions of the British +police authorities had already been aroused in regard to his +occupation, and that therefore he also would like to travel. He would +accompany von Hardenberg to the West Coast, which was once called the +White-Man's Grave; he would penetrate the bush to the Cameroon peaks, +even to the Caves of Zoroaster. But he would require more than ten per +cent: they would share and share alike. + +Von Hardenberg was in no position to refuse. This man had him in his +clutches. Klein knew well that the Prussian was ruined for life if +ever his conduct was made known to the departmental heads of the German +Secret Service. And, moreover, in a few days Klein had gained the whip +hand by enlisting in his services an Arab whom he found starving in the +vicinity of the docks. + +This man, though he was poor, in rags, and well-nigh perishing in the +cold, was learned in many things. Like all his race, he was a nomad--a +man who had roamed the world throughout his life, who had even been +all-powerful in his day. He had sold ivory in Zanzibar; he had stolen +cattle in the neighbourhood of Lake Chad, and driven his capture across +the great plains to the east; he had hunted for slaves in the Upper +Congo and the Aruwimi. Though he was starving, he boasted that he was +a sheik, and said that his name was Bayram. He said he had been to the +Cameroons River, and that he despised the Negro from Loango to +Zanzibar. He was confident that, provided he was rewarded, he could +render invaluable services to his employer. He had never before heard +of the Sunstone, but, from rumours he had heard, there was a treasure +hidden somewhere in the mist-shrouded mountains that guard Lake Chad to +the east. + +To return to Jim Braid. All these winter months he wandered the +streets of London. He found the greatest difficulty in getting work. +He had no trade but that of a gamekeeper, and such business was at a +discount in the midst of the great, seething city. He was out of work +for some weeks; then he obtained work in the docks; after which he was +again unemployed for nearly a month. By that time he had got to the +end of his money, and was obliged to pawn his clothes. He thanked +Heaven when the snow came; for, though the frost was severe, and his +clothes in rags, he saw employment in sweeping the pavements and the +roads. + +Then the thaw followed, and he was starving again. One night he found +himself in Jermyn Street. He had had no food that day. A taxi-cab +drew up before a doorway, upon which was a brass plate bearing the name +"Peter Klein". + +Jim was conscious of the fact that he had heard the name before, he +could not remember where. Just then, starvation, ill-health, and the +misery in his heart had broken the boy completely; it was as if his +senses were numbed. All that interested him was the taxi, by the side +of which he remained, in the hope of earning a copper by opening the +door. Presently a manservant came from the house, carrying a box. Jim +volunteered to help him, and the man agreed. Together they put the box +upon the taxi-cab, and Jim noticed that it bore the same name, "Peter +Klein", and several steamship labels, upon each of which was written +the word "Old Calabar". Jim Braid saw these things like one who is +half-dazed, without understanding what they meant. + +There were several other boxes to be put on to the cab, and when the +work was finished, and the driver had strapped them securely together, +two men came from the house, followed by one who wore a turban, and +shivered from the cold. + +Jim's attention was attracted by the native. He was very tall and +thin. He had a great black beard, and his eyes were like those of a +bird of prey. They were cruel, bloodshot, and passionate. + +One of the Europeans, who wore a fur coat, got into the cab. The other +paused with his foot upon the step and looked Jim Braid in the face. +Near by a street lamp flared and flickered, and in the light Jim +recognized the features of Captain von Hardenberg, the man who had been +his accuser. + +He stared at him in amazement. He had not the power to speak. He +thought, at first, that he, too, would be recognized. He did not know +that misfortune had so changed him that his own mother would not have +known him. He was thin and haggard-looking; his rags hung loosely upon +his gaunt form; his hair was so long that it extended over his ears. + +"Are you the man," said von Hardenberg in his old, insolent way, "who +helped to carry the boxes?" + +"Yes," said Jim, "I am." + +"There you are, then. There's sixpence, and don't spend it on drink." + +At that the Prussian jumped into the taxi, telling the driver to go to +Charing Cross. The Arab followed, closing the door, and a few seconds +later the taxi was driving down the street. + +Jim Braid stood on the pavement under the street lamp, regarding the +sixpence in his hand. He was starving; his bones ached from physical +exhaustion; his head throbbed in a kind of fever. He knew not where he +would sleep. This sixpence to him was wealth. + +For a moment he was tempted, but not for longer. With a quick, +spasmodic action he hurled the coin into the gutter, and walked away +quickly in the direction of the Haymarket. + +He knew not where he was going. The streets were crowded. People were +going to the theatre. Outside a fashionable restaurant a lady with a +gorgeous opera-cloak brushed against him, and uttered an exclamation of +disgust. He walked on more rapidly than before, and came presently to +Trafalgar Square, and before he knew where he was he found himself on +the Embankment. Slowly he walked up the steps towards the Hungerford +footbridge; and there, pausing, with his folded arms upon the rails, he +looked down into the water. + +At that moment the sound of footsteps attracted his attention. He +looked up into a face that he recognized at once. It was that of Harry +Urquhart, his only friend, the only person in the world who had +believed him innocent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--The Pursuit Begins +============================== + +"Jim!" cried Harry. + +So astonished was he that he reeled backward as though he had been +struck. + +"My poor, old friend," said Harry. "I have searched for you +everywhere, and had almost given up hope of finding you. I don't know +what led my footsteps to the bridge." + +At that Jim Braid burst into tears. + +"It was the work of God," said he. + +Harry said nothing, but pressed Jim's arm. At the bottom of +Northumberland Avenue he hailed a taxi, and the driver looked somewhat +astonished when this ragged pauper got into the cab and seated himself +at the side of his well-dressed companion. + +Harry had rooms in Davies Street, where he thrust Jim into an arm-chair +before the fire, upon which he heaped more coals. Braid, leaning +forward, held out his hands before the cheerful blaze. As Harry looked +at him, a great feeling of pity arose in his heart. The boy looked so +miserable and wretched that he appeared barely to cling to life. + +Harry would not allow him to speak, until he had eaten a meal. Braid +fell upon his food like a wolf. He had had absolutely nothing to eat +for two days. + +It is not wise to feed a starving man to repletion. But perhaps in +Braid's case this made little or no difference, since the boy was on +the verge of double pneumonia. Within twenty-four hours he was in a +raging fever, and for days afterwards the doctor despaired of saving +his life. Starvation, cold, dirt, to say nothing of his wound, had +done their work; but a strong heart and youth pulled him through. + +It was nearly three months afterwards, when the spring was well +advanced, that one afternoon the two friends talked the whole matter +out. + +Harry looked at Jim Braid and smiled. + +"You're a different fellow now," said he. "It was a near thing though. +One night the doctor gave you up. He actually left the house believing +you were dead." + +Jim tried to thank his benefactor, but his heart was too full to speak. + +"Come," said Harry, "tell me what has happened since you left Friar's +Court." + +"There is nothing to tell," said the other. "I tramped to London, +sometimes sleeping in the open air, sometimes--when the weather was +bad--lodging at wayside inns. At first, I was glad to get here. In a +great city like this I felt I could not be recognized and pointed out +as a thief. Oh," he burst forth, "you know that I am innocent!" + +"I was always sure of it," said Harry. "I can't think how my uncle can +believe you guilty." + +"Everything was against me," said Jim. "That man, to shield himself, +laid a trap for me from which I could not escape. Had I known why he +went to the bungalow that night, my story might have been believed." + +"I know why he went," said Harry. "I am sure of it. It was to steal +the Sunstone." + +"The Sunstone!" said Braid. "What's that?" + +"It is a very valuable relic that originally came from Persia. No one +knows of its value but my uncle, von Hardenberg, and myself. There can +be no doubt that my cousin took it." + +Jim Braid sighed. + +"I could not prove my innocence," said he. + +"Jim, old friend," said Harry, "I promise you shall not remain under +this cloud for the rest of your life. I know my cousin to be guilty; I +will not rest until I have proved him to be so. He has the Sunstone in +his possession, and I intend to do my best to recover it!" + +"You will not succeed," said the other, shaking his head. + +"Why not?" + +"Because he left England weeks ago." + +"Left England!" echoed the other. + +"Yes. He went away with a man called Peter Klein and a native who wore +a turban. They took the boat train from Charing Cross. It was I who +carried their boxes on to the taxi. They were going to Old Calabar." + +"The West Coast!" cried Harry, jumping to his feet. + +Braid was as mystified as ever. Before he knew what was happening, +Harry had seized him by the shoulders, and was shaking him as a terrier +shakes a rat. + +"Don't you see," cried Urquhart, "your innocence is practically proved +already. If they have not got the Sunstone, why should they want to go +to Africa? They are after the treasure of which the Sunstone is the +key. I don't know who the native is, but he is probably some +interpreter or guide whom they have hired for the journey. Jim, when +my uncle hears of this, I promise you he will take a very different +view of the question." + +"Then," said Braid, "has this Sunstone got something to do with Africa?" + +"Everything!" exclaimed the other. "Here, in Europe, it is valueless; +but in certain caves which are situated upon the watershed on the +southern side of the Sahara, the thing is worth thousands of pounds. +To-morrow morning I will return to my uncle, to Friar's Court, and tell +him what you have told me. I will ask him to allow me to follow von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, to keep upon his tracks, to run him to +ground and accuse him to his face. You will come with me. My uncle +will supply us with funds. He would be willing to spend his entire +fortune in order to recover the Sunstone." + +Harry was so excited that he could scarcely talk coherently. He paced +up and down the little sitting-room--three steps this way and three +steps that--and every now and again laid his hands upon Jim Braid and +shook him violently to emphasize his words. + +When Jim awoke the following morning, he was informed that Mr. Urquhart +had left early to go back to Friar's Court. He had promised to return +the following day. In the meantime, Harry had given instructions that +his landlady was to look after his guest. If he wanted anything, he +had only to ring the bell. + +On the afternoon of the second day Harry returned to London. + +"My uncle," he explained, "is inclined to withdraw his verdict, though +he will not say openly that he has been guilty of a great injustice. +In any case he intends to do everything in his power to get the +Sunstone back. He has given me leave to fit out an expedition. +Preparations, however, will take some little time. I am to be supplied +with letters of introduction to several influential persons on the West +Coast. He even said he would come with us himself, were it not that +his strength is failing, and he feels he is getting old. Jim, there's +hope yet, my lad. You and I together will see this matter through." + +Braid held out his hand. + +"I can't thank you sufficiently, sir," said he, "for what you have +done! You have saved my life twice, and now you mean to save my +reputation." + +"Don't speak of it," said Harry. "You and I have a great task in front +of us; we must stick to each other through thick and thin. I am +impatient to be off." + +And he had more need of his patience than he thought; for, before they +could start upon their journey, war descended upon Europe like a +thunderbolt, finding England wholly unprepared. + +It was not so with the Germans. Peter Klein and birds of a like +feather had been employed for years in every country liable to prove +hostile to the Fatherland. Germany had for long intended war, and +these rascals--paid in proportion to the information they +obtained--were living by the score under the protection of the British +flag, within sound of Big Ben, in every colony, dependency, and +dominion. Moreover, it has since been proved that the great German +Empire did not scruple to employ even her consular and diplomatic +servants either as spies themselves or as agents for the purpose of +engaging and rewarding informers. + +Small wonder, when preparations had been so complete, that Germany had +the whip hand at the start, that Belgium, Poland, and Serbia were +overrun, and Paris herself saved only at the eleventh hour. + +During those early, anxious days, Harry Urquhart was in two minds what +to do. He was wishful to serve his country, and could without +difficulty have secured a commission within a few weeks of the +declaration of war. Braid was also willing to enlist. On talking the +matter out, however, with Mr. Langton, it was decided that the quest of +the Sunstone was as patriotic a cause as any man could wish for; since, +if von Hardenberg succeeded in reaching the Caves of Zoroaster, the +wealth that they contained would ultimately find its way to the +Fatherland. + +But, since there was fighting both in Togoland and the Cameroons, their +departure had to be postponed whilst Mr. Langton obtained permission +from the War Office authorities for his two protégés to visit the West +African scene of operations. All this took time; and it was not until +the beginning of October that young Urquhart and Jim Braid found +themselves sitting together in a first-class railway compartment on +their way to Southampton. + +A few hours afterwards, on a dark windy night, they were on board a +ship that rolled and pitched upon its way to Ushant. The Lizard light +flashed good-bye from England, and the dark sea, as they knew quite +well, contained hidden dangers in the shape of submarines and mines, +but the quest of the Sunstone had begun. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--Into the Bush +========================== + +They experienced rough weather in the Bay of Biscay, where the ship +pitched and rolled in a confused sea, and the wind howled round +Finisterre, which was wrapped in an impenetrable fog. + +Two days afterwards they found the blue waters that bound the Morocco +coast, after which the heat became excessive. + +The ship was bound first for Sierra Leone, and thence to Old Calabar, +from which place they intended to strike inland through the bush, after +engaging the services of a party of Kru boys to act as carriers. + +On these still tropic seas, dazzling in the sunshine, there was no sign +of war, except an occasional torpedo-boat destroyer which flew past +them at a speed of thirty knots an hour. + +At Sierra Leone, Harry betook himself to a certain gentleman holding an +influential position in the Civil Service, to whom he had a letter of +introduction from his uncle, and who received the boy with courtesy and +kindness. It was from that Harry learned that the Germans had been +driven back in Togoland, and that active operations were in progress in +the valley of the Cameroon River. He himself had travelled far in the +interior; and in consequence he was able to give the boy invaluable +advice concerning the kit and equipment he would need to take with him +upon his expedition. He advised him to strike into the bush from Old +Calabar, where he could procure servants and guides; if he went to +Victoria he would find his hands tied by those in command of the +Expeditionary Force, who had no liking for civilians at the front. + +"All the same," he added, "I strongly advise you not to endeavour to +enter Maziriland." + +Harry smiled. + +"I am afraid, sir," said he, "I have no option. My duty takes me +there." + +"Of course," said the other, "I don't know what this duty may be, but I +tell you frankly the country is by no means safe. All the natives are +in arms, some purchased by rum by the Germans, others loyal to us. In +the old days the Cameroon kings implored the British Government to take +the country under its protection. In their own words, they wanted +English laws. But the Government took no notice of them until it was +too late, until the Germans had forestalled us and taken possession of +the country, by buying over the chiefs. If you go into the bush, you +run into a thousand dangers: yellow fever, malaria, even starvation, +and the natives you encounter may sell you as prisoners to the Germans. +Some of them will do anything for drink." + +Harry explained that he was prepared to take the gravest risks, since +the object of his journey was of more than vital importance, and +shortly afterwards took his leave, returning to the ship. + +They had brought with them all they needed in the way of provisions, +clothing, arms and ammunition; and at Old Calabar they purchased a +canoe and engaged the services of six stalwart Kru boys. Harry's idea +was to travel up-river, crossing the Cameroon frontier west of Bamenda, +and thence striking inland towards the mountains in northern German +territory, beyond which the Caves of Zoroaster were said to be. They +also interviewed an interpreter, a half-caste Spaniard from Fernando +Po, who assured them he could speak every native dialect of the +Hinterland, from Lagos to the Congo, as well as English and German. +This proved to be no exaggeration. Urquhart was assured that the man +was indeed a wonderful linguist, and, moreover, that he could be +trusted implicitly as a guide--the more so since he hated the Germans, +who had destroyed his 'factory' to make room for a house for a Prussian +Governor, who had hoped to rule the West Coast native with the iron +discipline of Potsdam. + +This man--who called himself "Fernando" after the place of his +birth--said that he would never venture across the Cameroons to +Maziriland unless his brother was engaged to come with him. + +He explained that this brother of his was younger and more agile than +himself. Before they became traders they had been hunters, in the old +days when the West Coast was practically unexplored, and they had +worked together hand-in-glove. + +Accordingly, it was agreed that both brothers should join the +expedition; and when they presented themselves before Harry Urquhart, +the young Englishman could hardly refrain from smiling at their +personal appearance. + +They were plainly half-castes, and, like most such, considered +themselves Europeans, though neither had ever set eyes upon the +northern continent. Though they were almost as black of skin as a Kru +boy, they wore large pith helmets, suits of white ducks and blue +puttees, being dressed to a button exactly the same. Both wore brown +leather belts from which depended revolver holsters and cartridge +pouches. The one was robust, wrinkled, broad of chest, and upright; +the other, stooping, tall, and abnormally thin. There was a +business-like air about them both that appealed to Harry; and this +favourable impression was by no means dispelled when the brothers, in +quite tolerable English, raved against the Germans, who, they swore, +had bought the Cameroons with rum, in order to manage the country to +their own profit without regard to the welfare of the natives. It was +owing to the German occupation of the Cameroons that Fernando and his +brother--who went by the name of Cortes--had been ruined by the +State-aided German factories that had sprung up as if by magic in the +early 'nineties. Later, they had been accused of inciting the natives +to rebellion, heavily fined, and banished from the country. + +This increase in numbers necessitated the purchase of a second canoe. +Before leaving Calabar they supplemented their commissariat with a new +supply of provisions; and, a few days after, it was a small but +well-equipped and dauntless expedition that set forth up-river in the +sweltering heat, making straight for the heart of the great West +African bush and the very stronghold of the enemy's position. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--Danger Ahead +========================== + +Three weeks later they camped on the river bank not many miles from the +German frontier. The heat was terribly oppressive. Thousands of +insects droned about their ears. A thick mist hung upon the river like +a poison-cloud. They were in the very depths of the great White Man's +Grave. + +Four days afterwards Fernando deemed it advisable to leave the river +valley, and unloading the canoes--which they hid in a mangrove +swamp--they began their journey through the bush. + +It would be tedious to describe in detail the long weeks that followed +or the hardships they had to undergo. One by one the Kru boys deserted +them, to find their own way back to the coast. But both Cortes and +Fernando proved loyal to the hilt, and eventually the party came out +from the jungle upon the high ground in the central part of the colony. + +The country here was savage, inhospitable, and bleak. There was little +vegetation save rank mountain grass and withered shrubs in sheltered +places. Day by day they advanced with the utmost caution, giving +native villages a wide berth and always on the look-out for an +ambuscade. + +Fernando proved himself to be an excellent cook, whereas his younger +brother prided himself upon his skill as a runner. It was his custom +on the line of march to jump fallen trees and brooks. + +In these higher altitudes there was a plenitude of game, whereas in the +bush they had been near to starving, and one morning they were crossing +a spur of a great cloud-wrapped mountain when Cortes, who had been +walking about fifty yards in advance of Harry and Jim, dropped suddenly +upon his face, and motioned the two boys to do the same. They had no +idea as to what had happened, and suspected that the guide had sighted +a party of the enemy. + +Crawling on hands and knees, they drew level with the man. + +"Goat," said he, pointing towards the mountain. + +And there, sure enough, was a species of mountain goat with his great +horns branching from the crown of his shaggy head. + +"Come," said the man to Harry; "you shoot." + +They could not afford to let the beast escape. The flesh of all the +wild goats, though perhaps not so good as that of the wild sheep, is by +no means unwelcome when one must journey far from civilization in the +wilds of the African hills. + +Harry adjusted his sights to six hundred yards, and then, drawing in a +deep breath, took long and careful aim. Gently he pressed the trigger, +the rifle kicked, there came a sharp report, and the bullet sped upon +its way. On the instant the beast was seen galloping at breakneck +speed down what seemed an almost perpendicular cliff. + +"Missed!" cried Harry. + +"No," said Cortes. "He's hit--he's wounded. He will not go far." + +For a few minutes the members of the party held a hurried consultation. +Finally it was decided that Fernando should go on ahead with the camp +kit and cooking-utensils, whilst the younger brother accompanied Harry +and Jim in pursuit of the wounded goat. They agreed to meet at +nightfall at a place known to the brothers. + +It took them nearly an hour to scramble across the valley, to reach the +place where the animal had been wounded. There, as the guide had +predicted, there were drops of blood upon the stones. All that morning +they followed the spoor, and about two o'clock in the afternoon they +sighted the wounded beast, lying down in the open. + +He was still well out of range, and, unfortunately for them, on the +windward side. That meant they would have to make a detour of several +miles in order to come within range. + +For three hours they climbed round the wind, all the time being careful +not to show themselves, for the eyes of the wild goat are like those of +the eagle. With its wonderful eyesight, its still more wonderful sense +of smell, and its ability to travel at the pace of a galloping horse +across rugged cliffs and valleys, it is a prize that is not easily +gained. When they last saw the animal it was lying down in the same +place. They were then at right angles to the wind, about two miles up +the valley. + +From this point, on the advice of Cortes, they passed into another +valley to the west. Here there was no chance of being seen or winded +by the beast; and, since it was now possible to walk in an upright +position, they progressed more rapidly. + +When they had arrived at the spot which the guide judged was +immediately above the wounded animal they climbed stealthily up the +hill. On the crest-line they sought cover behind great boulders, which +lay scattered about in all directions as if they had been hurled down +from the skies. Lying on their faces, side by side, Harry with his +field-glasses to his eyes, they scanned the valley where they had left +their quarry. + +Not a sign of it was to be seen. The thing had disappeared as +mysteriously as if it had been spirited away. + +"He's gone!" said Harry, with a feeling of bitter disappointment. + +He was about to rise to his feet, but the half-caste held him down by +force. + +"Don't get up;" he cried. "Lie still! There are men in the valley +yonder." + +"Men! Have you seen them?" + +"No, I have not seen them," said Cortes. "But the beast saw them, or +got their wind. Otherwise he would not have gone." + +"It's von Hardenberg, perhaps!" said Harry, turning to Braid, the wish +being father to the thought. + +Both looked at their guide. + +"It is either the man you want," said the guide, "or else it is the +Germans." + +The wounded animal was now forgotten. They were face to face with the +reality of their situation. They had either overtaken von Hardenberg +and Peter Klein or else the Germans had received news of their having +reached the frontier. + +"We'll have to cross the valley," said Harry, "to get back to camp." + +"That is the worst of it," said Cortes; "we must rejoin my brother. He +will be awaiting us." + +He had learnt his English on the Coast. He spoke the language well, +but with the strange, clipped words used by the natives themselves, +though the man was half a Spaniard. + +"How are we to get there?" asked Jim. + +The guide looked at the sun. + +"It is too late," said he, "to go by a roundabout way. We must walk +straight there. There are many things which cause me to believe that +danger is close at hand." + +"What else?" asked Harry, who already was conscious that his heart was +beating quickly. + +"Late last night I saw smoke on the mountains. This morning, before we +started, my brother thought he heard a shot, far in the distance. +Also," he added, "during the last three days we have seen very little +game. Something has scared them away." + +"Come," said Harry. "We waste time in words. As it is, we have barely +time to get back before nightfall." + +As he said this he rose to his feet, and the moment he did so there +came the double report of a rifle from far away in the hills, and a +bullet cut past him and buried itself in the ground, not fifteen paces +from his feet. + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX--The Captive +======================= + +Harry was not slow to obey. He fell flat upon his face, whilst a +second bullet whistled over his head. + +"Come," said Cortes; "we must escape." + +As he uttered these words, he turned upon his heel and ran down the +hill, followed by the two boys. The man held himself in a crouching +position until he was well over the crest-line. Then he stopped and +waited for his companions. + +"Who is it?" asked Braid, already out of breath as much from excitement +as from running. + +"The Germans. They are on our track." + +"You are sure of that?" asked Harry. + +"Master," said Cortes, "it is not possible to mistake a German bullet. +In this part of the world only those natives carry rifles who are paid +by Kaiser Wilhelm." + +Indeed, for weeks already, they had been in the heart of the enemy's +country. The elder guide was some miles away, and, since they could +not cross the valley, they would have to make a detour; which meant +that they could not possibly rejoin Fernando before nightfall. By +then, for all they knew, they might find him lying in his own blood, +their provisions and their reserve ammunition stolen. + +Harry looked at Cortes, who seemed to be thinking, standing at his full +height, his fingers playing with his chin. + +"We must not desert your brother," said the boy. + +"I am thinking," said the guide, "it will be easier for him to reach us +than for you and your friend to go to him. My brother and I are +hunters; we can pass through the bush in silence; we can travel amid +the rocks like snakes. I could cross that valley crawling on my face, +and the eye of an eagle would not see me. As for you, you are +Englishmen; you have not lived your lives in the mountains and the +bush; you do not understand these things." + +He said this with some scorn in his voice. There was something about +the man--despite his European clothes--that was fully in keeping with +the aspect of their surroundings, which were savage, relentless, and +cruel. He went on in a calm voice, speaking very slowly: + +"In this valley we are safe," said he. "I know the country well. +Yonder," and he pointed to the north, "there is a forest that lies upon +the hill-side like a mantle. I will guide you. It will take us about +two hours to get there. Then I will leave you. You will be quite +safe; for many of the trunks of the trees are hollow, and should the +Germans come, you can hide. I will go alone to my brother and bring +him back with me." + +They set forward without delay, sometimes climbing, sometimes walking, +on the mountain-side. About four o'clock in the afternoon they sighted +the forest of which the man had spoken. It opened out into a mangrove +swamp, thousands of feet below them, where the heat hung like a fog. + +Among the trees they found themselves in a kind of twilight. By then +the sun was setting; but as the daylight dwindled a great moon arose. +Cortes led them to a place, on the verge of a deep ravine, where there +was an old tree with a hollow trunk that looked as if it had been +struck by lightning. + +"You and your friend will remain here," said the man to Harry. "I will +be as quick as I can, but in any case I cannot be back until midnight. +If I do not return by then, you will know that I am dead; then--if you +are wise--you will go back to Calabar. If the Germans come, you will +hide." And he pointed to the hollow tree. + +Without another word he set forward on his way, gliding down the face +of the living rock like some gigantic lizard. + +The two boys found themselves in a place romantic but terrible. On +every side they were surrounded by the impenetrable hills. The trees +of the forest stood forth in the semi-darkness like great, ghostly +giants. Somewhere near at hand a mountain stream roared and thundered +over the rocks. The breeze brought to their nostrils the smell of the +swamp lower down the valley. The hollow tree stood on the edge of the +bush. A few yards away was the ravine, the bottom of which was wide +and bare and stony. + +Throughout the earlier part of the night they possessed their souls in +patience. It was stiflingly hot after the cool mountain air. + +Harry looked at his watch. It was midnight. There was no sign of the +brothers. + +Suddenly they heard a stone shifted from its place somewhere in the +forest to go rolling down into the ravine. Both stood motionless and +expectant. + +"I heard something," said Braid. + +"So did I," said Harry. + +Again a stone was moved, this time nearer than before. Something was +approaching through the bush. If this were an enemy they would have +small chance of escaping, for the side of the ravine was inaccessible; +it was like a precipice. + +They waited in suspense, and presently to the great gnarled roots of +the very tree by which they were standing, there crawled a dying, +wounded mountain goat. + +It died almost as it reached them. Indeed, it was almost a miracle +that the animal had lived as long as it had, for Harry's bullet had +penetrated its chest. + +The long night passed in waiting, and still there was no sign of the +half-caste brothers. It was then that they fully realized for the +first time the extreme danger of their mission, that they were alone in +the heart of a country which was almost unexplored, cut off from their +friends and civilization, with no chance of succour and little of +returning in safety to the coast. + +"Jim," said Harry, and his voice was husky, "I wonder if we shall ever +get out of this alive." + +"I can't say, sir," answered Braid; "but I'm sure of this: if we have +to die, we'll make a fight of it, at least." + +It was then that a sound came to their ears that caused them to hold +their breath. It was a loud word of command in the German language, +and which, moreover, came from not far away. + +They lay down flat upon their faces. Screened by a clump of long +grass, they were able to look down into the ravine, where they beheld a +company of German native troops with whom were two or three European +officers and several German noncommissioned officers. The men marched +well in step, keeping their dressing and acting promptly and smartly at +each word of command. Except for their black skins and coarse negro +features they might have learned their drill on the parade-grounds of +Potsdam and Berlin. + +The two boys regarded them in consternation, mingled with +amazement--due to the fact that in the centre of the company was a +European whose hands were bound behind his back and around whose neck +was a kind of halter. + +Jim Braid recognized this man at once. It was Peter Klein, the spy. + + + + +CHAPTER X--When All was Still +============================= + +Among the native troops was a man who was not dressed in uniform, who +was tattooed from head to foot, and who wore upon his head an abundance +of coloured feathers. They learned afterwards that he was a medicine +or "fetish" man--and "fetish worship" is the curse of the Dark +Continent, from Ashanti to the Zambesi. The medicine-men, who profess +to practise witchcraft, are far more powerful than the majority of the +native kings. At their bidding innocent people are often put to death, +which enables them to use their powers for bribery and corruption. + +In the centre of the ravine, immediately below the place where the two +boys were hiding, the officer in command called a halt. When the men +had fallen out and released their packs from their shoulders, the +witch-doctor addressed them in an excited, high-pitched voice. Neither +Harry nor Braid could understand a word of what he said, but his +grimaces and gesticulations were so expressive that they could have no +doubt that he was performing some kind of religious ceremony. + +It was evident that the party intended to pitch their camp in the +ravine, for several men under the command of one of the +non-commissioned officers set about collecting wood with which to make +a fire. + +The boys knew not what course to take. Their first inclination was to +take to their heels, seeking refuge in the forest. Then they +remembered that if they did this there would be small chance of their +being found by Cortes, who had promised to return to the ravine. As +silently as possible they crawled on hands and knees to the hollow +tree, and hid themselves in the trunk. + +There they remained for hour after hour. From that position they were +just able to see into the gorge. The party had split up into three +groups: the German officers sat alone; the European noncommissioned +officers formed a ring around a smaller fire; whereas the natives were +congregated around the fetish-man. + +Peter Klein sat like a figure of stone, a sentry with bayonet fixed +standing over him. His lips were bloodless, his eyes staring, his face +like that of a ghost. From time to time the Germans looked at him and +laughed. For all that, they repeatedly offered him food; but he +refused to eat, though now his hands had been unbound. + +After a while many of the men disposed themselves for sleep, lying down +upon the bare rocks about the embers of the fire. The officer in +command--a stout major with a bristling moustache--gave orders that the +prisoner's hands should again be bound. Whereupon a sergeant propped +the prisoner up, with his back to the side of the ravine, making it +perfectly plain--even to the boys who could not understand the German +language--that, if he endeavoured to escape, they would not hesitate to +kill him. + +The sentry was not posted for the night on the side of the ravine on +which were the two boys, but on the other side, overlooking the valley +to the east. It was apparently from this direction that the Germans +seemed to fear for their safety. + +Harry thought the matter out. If the two brothers were alive, he could +not think why they had not returned. It was now past one o'clock, and +Cortes had said he would be back certainly before twelve. + +The night passed in the bush in solemn tranquillity, save for the +droning of myriads of insects from the mangrove swamp and the gurgling +sound of the river. Hour by hour the moon mounted in the skies above +the hill-tops, which were capped by mist. The two boys were squashed +together in the tree-trunk. Braid, it seemed, had gone to sleep in a +standing position. He was breathing heavily. + +Stealthily Harry left his hiding-place and dropped down upon hands and +knees. Cautiously he crept to the edge of the ravine and looked over. +To the boy's surprise, he observed that not only the Germans and the +native soldiers, but also the sentry, were sound asleep. They lay in +huddled attitudes around the dying fires. + +With his back against the rock was Peter Klein. As Harry watched him +the man moved and heaved a sigh. Presently he groaned. + +Harry Urquhart was one who was quick to think. This man, Klein, was a +spy, one fit to be despised, and moreover a German, an enemy of his +country. And yet, for some reason or other, Klein was a prisoner in +the hands of his own countrymen. Von Hardenberg, perhaps, was not so +far away. These were questions that could possibly be answered by +Peter Klein himself, who might be disposed to speak in gratitude for +his deliverance. + +There was only one way in which the prisoner could be rescued. It was +not possible for Harry to descend the sides of the ravine, neither was +it possible for Klein, even had his hands and legs not been bound, to +climb up the cliffs. + +As stealthily as before, Urquhart crawled back into the wood, until he +came to a place where there was a long, rope-like creeper--one of those +vegetable parasites which are so common in the forests of the tropics. +To cut this near the roots and tear it from the tree to which it clung +so tenaciously was the work of not many minutes, and Harry was in +possession of what to all intents and purposes was a very useful rope. + +With this he repaired in haste to the edge of the ravine, where he tied +the end of it to the trunk of a tree. That done, hand over hand he let +himself down to the bottom. + +Stepping over the forms of the sleeping soldiers he approached the +captive, and with his jack-knife cut the bonds that bound Klein's feet +and hands. + +"Now," he whispered in the man's ear, "climb, and you are safe!" + +The spy was still so terrified and so weakened from exhaustion that it +was all he could do to walk. With faltering steps he stumbled towards +the dangling rope, and Harry feared that he would fall and wake the +sleeping Germans. + +Peter Klein took hold of the swinging creeper and did his best to +climb. Presently he looked round at Harry with an expression of +despair upon his face. + +"I can't do it!" he groaned in broken English. + +"You must," said the boy. "Your life depends upon it. Once you get to +the top you are safe. They cannot follow you. They have no rope, and +will be obliged to go a long way round." + +These words had the desired effect upon the spy. Fear, on occasion, is +a great stimulant; it sometimes leads a man to perform prodigies of +strength that he could never accomplish in calmer moments. Hand over +hand the man scrambled to the top of the ravine, and there lay down, +panting and exhausted. + +Harry followed quickly. At the top he hauled up the creeper, and then +looked down again. + +The soldiers were still asleep. The commanding officer himself was +snoring like a pig. + +Shaking in all his limbs, Peter Klein rose to his feet and seized Harry +by the hand. + +"Heaven reward you!" he exclaimed. "You have saved my life, for I +verily believe those villains would have shot me." + + + + +CHAPTER XI--A Shot from the Clouds +================================== + +It is a remarkable fact that all this time Jim Braid had been sound +asleep. Once inside the trunk of the hollow, shattered tree, he had +found himself unable to overcome a feeling of drowsiness which by +degrees completely got the better of him. Klein, on the other hand, +had apparently received such a shock to his nervous system chat in +spite of his extreme exhaustion he found it impossible to sleep. Also +he had a dread of being left alone. He implored Harry, who had led him +some way back into the forest, to remain at his side till dawn. + +For the time being, they had nothing to fear from the German soldiers, +who were at the bottom of the ravine and unable to reach them. Still, +they could not continue their march, since without the guides they were +lost and would not know which way to go. But so long as they remained +where they were, there was always a chance that one, or both, of the +brothers would return. + +"Tell me," asked Urquhart, "how is it that I find you a prisoner in the +hands of those who should be your friends?" + +"It is a very simple story," said Peter Klein. "We left Dualla a few +weeks ago. The party consisted of Captain von Hardenberg, our +guide--an Arab sheikh--two native carriers, and myself. The Governor +of Dualla wished von Hardenberg to join the force which is to oppose +the British. Hardenberg was given an important command. But, since he +had other business to attend to--which he himself considered of greater +importance--in plain words, he deserted; and we endeavoured to +penetrate the bush. + +"For some days we journeyed without event. Then we discovered that we +were tracked, and were obliged to fly for our lives. + +"One night a shot was fired into our camp. And after that, day by day, +we were harassed and tormented, until two nights ago a raid was made +upon our bivouac. They came upon us from all sides at once. We were +outnumbered by twenty to one. No course lay open to us but flight. +The two natives went one way. They rushed into a large party of +soldiers, and there is every reason to believe they laid down their +lives. Von Hardenberg and the sheikh took to the hills, climbing the +bare slope, and I think they managed to escape. As for myself, I fled +downhill with a score of native soldiers at my heels. + +"All yesterday I was pursued. I fled for my life across interminable +valleys, across the hills, striving to reach the bush, where I knew I +would be safe. Sometimes I found myself buried in the gloom of +forests; at others I stood upon the edge of precipices so deep that the +clouds were at my feet. + +"Late last evening I was overtaken. They bound my hands behind my back +and scourged me with a whip. They gave me to understand they would +eventually put me to a traitor's death; but they thought more of von +Hardenberg and Sheikh Bayram than they did of me. They were for ever +asking me which way he had gone--just as if I could tell them what I +did not know myself! When they brought me to the ravine, yonder, I was +too fatigued and too disturbed in mind to sleep. And then you saved me +at the eleventh hour. That is all my story." + +Harry was silent for some moments. + +"You have not told me," he said, "why you have come to this forsaken +part of the world, or why von Hardenberg--who is my cousin--deserted +from the Germans?" + +Klein lowered his eyes. It seemed he was not incapable of feeling +ashamed. + +"The Sunstone," said he, quite quietly. + +"My cousin has the Sunstone in his possession?" + +"I have seen it," answered Klein. "He carries it upon his person. He +never lets it out of his possession. He would not even let me touch +it. He has had a special pocket made for it in the inside of his coat, +on the left-hand side." + +"You must be frank with me," said Harry. + +"You saved my life," said the other. + +"Then listen to the true story of the Sunstone. You doubtless know +that my cousin stole it from my uncle, but you are perhaps ignorant of +the fact that, to cover his own guilt, he wrongfully accused one who +was innocent. I presume my cousin went to you and explained that, once +he got to Maziriland with the Sunstone in his possession, he had +acquired riches beyond all dreams. I suppose you agreed to go with +him, to share and share alike? I suppose, also, that, in spite of the +fact that our nations are at war, you consider the Sunstone of far +greater importance than your Fatherland?" + +"To my shame," said Peter Klein, "that is--or was--the truth. I sold +my honour for gold long ago. I would not say that in Europe, in London +or Berlin, but here we are in the very midst of death, and all things +are different--or perhaps, we see all things with very different eyes." + +"At least," said Harry, "you are honest now." + +"I am a coward," the man confessed. + +"You must see," Urquhart went on, "that you have no moral right to this +money, even should the treasure be discovered. However, I have not +come here to recover the treasure, so much as to prevent it from +falling into the hands of the enemies of my country. I am determined +to capture the Sunstone, be the risk and danger what it may be." + +Klein shook his head. + +"He will not part with it," said he. "He is a desperate man." + +"I will make him part with it," cried Harry, "once I run the rascal to +earth." + +"He is a desperate man," repeated the other. "He dare not return to +Germany. He would be court-martialled, and probably shot. He will not +part with the Sunstone at a lesser price than his life." + +"I am sorry for him," said Harry, "because he is doubly a traitor. +When the guest of the British nation he was to all intents and purposes +a spy; he swindled you; and now, in the midst of war, he proves himself +a traitor once again." + +Peter Klein was silent, his thin fingers playing nervously. The strain +of the past few days had seriously affected his health; he was +suffering from a kind of St. Vitus's dance. He was never still for a +moment. + +"It is strange," said he, "that you think so much of the Sunstone. +Long since I had forgotten all about it. I have now but one idea--to +get back to Europe, if I can. I dare not return to my home, which is +in Frankfort. I intend to end my days in Denmark." + +It was then that somewhere in the forest, near at hand, a twig broke. +Both sprang instantly to their feet. + +A dark figure came suddenly out of the thickets, and Urquhart, with his +finger upon the trigger of his revolver, was about to fire, when he was +arrested by a voice. + +"Is that you, Mr. Harry?" + +It was the voice of Jim Braid. + +"What is it, Jim?" + +Braid came forward in the darkness. The moon was now low in the +heavens. In the east, through the tree-tops, there was a steel-blue +arc of light, heralding the approach of day. It was as if even the +abundant vegetation of the jungle was itself awakening after sleep. +When he was quite close to Harry, Braid took him by the arm. + +"I have news for you," said he. "There's an uproar in the ravine. The +Germans have discovered their prisoner has escaped." + +"Here he is," said Harry, making a motion of the hand towards Peter +Klein. + +"Here! How did he get here?" + +"There's no time for explanations now," said Harry. + +"You're right, sir," answered Jim. "We're in danger if we stay!" + +"We would be in greater danger still," said the other, "if we +endeavoured to escape. After all, this is the last place they would +think of searching. It would never occur to them that the prisoner had +climbed up the side of the ravine." + +There was the strongest common sense in this. Indeed, a few minutes +later they had ample proof that Harry was perfectly right. Klein +remained behind, whilst the two boys crawled back to the edge of the +gorge and thence looked down into the bivouac. + +The daylight was growing apace. Step by step the dawn mounted in the +heavens, the shadows fled from the valleys, and the bush became alive +with the songs of thousands of birds. + +And then they witnessed a tragedy such as neither ever wished to see +again. The native sentry, who had fallen asleep upon his post, was led +with trembling knees and shaking lips before the major in command, who, +after a few savage questions, hurled at the man like scraps of meat to +a dog, sentenced him to be shot. And then and there the sentence was +carried out before their eyes. + +After that the major gathered his men together and divided them into +two parties, evidently with the idea of searching both ends of the +ravine. And now occurred one of the most strangely dramatic things of +which we have to tell. + +The commanding officer was giving final instructions to his officers +and sergeants. He stood upon a large boulder. His subordinates were +listening to his words with silent respect. He spoke in a husky, +guttural voice, from time to time shivering as if he suffered from +fever. Suddenly, he flung both hands above his head and uttered a +piercing cry. Simultaneously, there came the sharp report of a rifle +from beyond the ravine, and the German major fell forward on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--The Mystery of the Running Man +=========================================== + +On the instant the greatest disorder prevailed. As at a stroke the +iron discipline of Potsdam vanished, and despite his uniform and +training, and the curses of the German non-commissioned officers, the +Cameroon native became the untutored savage once again. + +In the panic of the moment the native soldiers took to their heels, +evidently under the impression that they had been surprised by a +British force. And, as they ran, shots rang out repeatedly from +somewhere in the midst of the shrubbery that grew on the farther side +of the gorge. + +There was no question that the invisible man who commanded the ravine +from his hiding-place upon the mountain-side was a marksman of repute. +He fired in haste at running figures, and more than once his bullets +found their mark. The German-trained soldiers vanished as by a +conjuring-trick, disappearing round an angle of the gorge. + +All this had happened in the space of a few seconds. Harry, taking his +field-glasses from their case, scanned the mountain that overtopped the +ravine, endeavouring to discover the form of the mysterious and +terrible marksman who had created such alarm. + +Nowhere was any living soul to be seen. The mountain-side was as +silent as the grave. In the forest itself, hundreds of birds welcomed +the dazzling sunlight with the gladness of their songs. + +"Who was it?" asked Jim. + +"It must have been Cortes or Fernando," answered Harry, "but I can see +no sign of them. I expect one or the other will show himself in a +minute." + +They waited for several minutes. At last Urquhart could bear the +suspense no longer. He lifted his hands to his mouth and let out a +long-drawn shout. + +His voice was echoed from the hills, which were now wrapped in clouds, +but no voice came back in answer. + +"I can't understand it," he exclaimed. + +Braid admitted that the whole thing was something of a mystery, for +which he could offer no sort of explanation. + +And then, on a sudden, they saw a white-clad figure dashing over the +rocks. It was a man who came down from the mountain-side, fleet and +sure of foot. Upon his head he wore a turban. He was dressed in robes +of flowing white, and in his hand he carried a rifle. + +Harry directed his field-glasses upon this extraordinary figure. +Beyond the fact that he was a tall man with a great black beard, he +could see little or nothing, by reason of the prodigious pace at which +the man was travelling. One thing, however, was perfectly certain: +that this man--who apparently was the marksman who had so effectively +scattered the Germans--was not one of the half-caste guides. + +The running man came closer and closer, and the boys thought at first +that he was about to approach to within speaking distance of +themselves. But he turned off sharply to the left and disappeared in a +belt of trees almost as suddenly as he had come. + +They waited for some minutes, thinking that he would show up again; but +that was the last they saw of him for some days, and it was not until +then that they discovered who he was. He came and vanished like a +thunderbolt that spreads destruction in its path. His rifle had spoken +at dawn, and almost every shot had been the signal for the death of a +human being. He came, and killed, and vanished. He was a three-day +mystery of the wild hills of the German Cameroons. + +Throughout that morning they knew not what to do. They were without +guides; they had practically no provisions; and they had not the least +idea where they were or in which direction they should go. + +Soon after midday the two boys held a consultation, admitting Peter +Klein to their counsels. But the ex-spy was no help to them; he was +incapable of giving advice. They told him of the man they had seen +that morning, the white figure on the mountain-side, but he only gaped +and shook his head. It was as if the physical and moral strain he had +undergone had actually made him mad. + +Harry clung to hope as a drowning man lays hold upon a spar. He +pointed out that they were helpless without their guides, and argued +that it was wisest to remain where they were, in case either of the +half-castes should repair to their meeting-place and find them gone. + +That night they lit a fire in the forest, and seated around this they +roasted some bananas--or rather plantains--they had found growing in +the bush. After they had eaten these, Harry and Klein lay down to +sleep, Jim Braid consenting to keep watch during the earlier hours of +the night. + +When the moon had risen, and a mighty stillness reigned in the forest, +Jim Braid, who sat upon a boulder with his rifle upon his knees, heard +on a sudden a short cough immediately behind him. He turned quickly in +alarm. + +Both Harry and Klein were sound asleep, and, seated on the ground +immediately between them, calmly biting the end from a cheroot, was the +figure of Fernando. + +"You!" cried Braid, as soon as he could find his voice. + +"Even myself," said the half-bred Spaniard. "Had I been a German, I +could have killed all three of you." + +"You were as silent as a snake," said the other. + +The man chuckled. + +"Before I was a trader," said he, "I was a hunter of big game." + +It was then that Braid awakened Harry and told him the news. The boy +was heartily glad to see the guide, whom he had certainly believed to +be dead. + +"And your brother?" he asked. + +"My brother is safe," said the man. "You did wisely to remain here. +You could never have got back to Calabar. The country swarms with +German troops." + +"Then what are we to do?" asked Harry. + +"Go north," said Fernando. "Go north at every risk, to Maziriland. My +brother has already struck out across the mountains. He and I know of +a place where they will never find us. I have come here to take you +there. Cortes awaits us. We must start at once. There is no time to +lose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--The Black Dog +=========================== + +After they had explained to Fernando how it had come about that Peter +Klein had joined their party, they set forward in a northerly +direction, guided by the half-caste. They passed through the forest +and crossed a wide valley. Thence they traversed a great ridge of +hills, at the end of which they came to a mountain-top. This they +began to ascend. There were many places so steep and stony that they +were often obliged to go on all fours, and Klein, who was both weak and +nervous, stood in constant danger of his life. + +Finally they gained the summit. The top of the mountain was shaped +like a bowl. It was evidently the crater of an extinct volcano. In +one place an enormous rock had a cleft in it like a sword-cut, and +through this Fernando led them. The cleft was so narrow that they were +obliged to walk sideways, like crabs. After a time the passage opened, +and they found themselves in a small arena in the centre of which a +spring of water bubbled to the surface. After the heat of the forest +the air was delightfully refreshing and cool. + +When they had drunk their fill the guide took them to a place where a +boulder as round as a football and about five times the size, lay upon +the ground. This he rolled away, not without difficulty, and +underneath it was a hole about three feet across, like one of those +"blowholes" which can be seen in some of the caves of Cornwall or South +Wales. + +Fernando let himself down through the hole until he was hanging by his +hands; then he dropped, and they heard him alight upon the ground about +ten feet beneath. Braid followed next, and then Klein; Harry was the +last to descend into the darkness. + +Below, they found themselves in what was evidently a pocket in the side +of the crater, a great rent caused by some volcanic disturbance in +bygone times. The place was a kind of low and narrow gallery. The +moonlight was admitted through several cracks in the walls. + +At the farthermost end of the gallery a fire burnt, and at this a man +was seated, whom they found to be Cortes, the younger of the two +guides. When he saw them he rose to his feet without a word, walked +deliberately to the wall, and thrust his head into one of the fissures. + +The two boys watched him in amazement. The man--who, it will be +remembered, was extremely slim and agile--wriggled like a snake. +Gradually, it became manifest that he was squeezing himself through +with the greatest difficulty. First his head, then his shoulders, then +his body, and finally his legs and feet disappeared through the wall. + +"Where is he going?" asked Harry, turning to Fernando. + +"He has gone to replace the stone upon the hole through which we came. +My brother is no fool. Life in the bush has taught us many things." + +After a while the younger brother returned, squeezing himself again +through the narrow opening. When he came to the firelight there were +places upon his back and shoulders where his clothes had been torn, and +where the rents were stained with blood. He did not seem to mind these +wounds in the least, but laughed when Harry pointed them out. + +"Here," said Fernando, "we are safe, and here we must stay for some +days, until the Germans have left the district. They will never find +us; no one could ever find us." + +"We have food?" asked Harry. + +Cortes pointed to a corner where lay the dead body of an antelope. + +"I killed that this morning," said he. "Cooked, and in this cool +climate, it will keep for days. Besides, my brother and I can hunt +upon the mountain; but you and your two friends must remain here until +the Germans have left the district. Then we can continue our march +towards Maziriland." + +In his heart Harry Urquhart felt more than gratitude towards these +strange, gallant men. They were loyal, faithful, courageous, and full +of infinite resource. They seemed to love adventure for its own sake, +after the manner of the old Spanish explorers--the followers of +Columbus--whose blood ran in their veins. + +For three days the party remained in this singular hiding-place. Every +morning the brothers went out to hunt. Harry and Braid did not mind +the monotony of their temporary imprisonment, first, because they knew +that this was their only place of safety, and, secondly, because they +were glad enough of a few days' rest after all the exertions and +privations they had undergone in the wilderness of the bush. + +At midnight on the third night, something that was well-nigh miraculous +occurred. All were asleep except Harry Urquhart, who was doing his +turn on watch. He was walking to and fro along the gallery, and had +reached a spot immediately underneath the hole which was covered by the +stone, when suddenly a great shaft of moonlight shot down into the cave. + +It was a moment before the boy realized what had happened--that the +stone had been rolled away. Before he had time to give the alarm, to +cry out, or bring his rifle to his shoulder, the stone was rolled back +again, and all was dim and silent as before. + +He ran to the fire and woke up his companions. All sprang to their +feet. In a few breathless words Harry told them what had happened. +Jim Braid seized a lighted brand from the fire, which was burning +brightly, and carried this to the end of the gallery. Sure enough the +stone was back in its place. + +"Are you sure," he asked, "you were not dreaming?" + +"I can swear to it," said Harry. + +"What's that?" cried Braid, pointing to something white that lay upon +the floor. + +Harry Urquhart stooped, and to his amazement picked up a letter, +written in German, which was addressed to: + + "*Peter Klein, Coward*" + + +Here was a greater mystery than ever. + +"This is apparently for you," said Harry, giving the letter to Klein. +The whole thing was amazing. + +Klein opened the envelope with shaking hands. Then he took it to the +other end of the gallery, and, kneeling down, read it by the light of +the fire. + +Presently he returned and handed the letter to Fernando, who had a fair +knowledge of the German language. + +"Read that," said he. "How did it come here?" The man was as white as +a ghost. + +The writer had evidently been at some pains to disguise his +handwriting. The letter was written in capital letters with a violet +indelible pencil. The message, when translated, was as follows:-- + + + "I have something of importance to say to you. Leave your hiding-place + at once and alone." + + +"It is from von Hardenberg," said Klein. "He orders me to return to +him--at once." + +"Orders you! And you will go?" + +"I have no option. I dare not refuse." + +"Dare not!" + +At that a groan escaped from the man's lips, and he threw out his hands +with a gesture of despair. + +"You do not understand," he cried. "In London that man was in my +power, but in this wild country I am at his mercy; for there is one +with him who is pitiless and terrible, who carries his crimes as a +jester jangles his bells." + +"Whom do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"I mean the Arab sheikh. That man is a demon. There is nothing he +would not do for money. There were times when I travelled with them +when I thought that they meant to kill me. When I fell asleep at the +camp-fire, I could see in my dreams the cruel, piercing eyes of the +sheikh fixed upon me; they were like coals of living fire. Fool that I +was to come here!" he broke out in despair. "Why did I not stay where +I was safe?" + +Fernando, turning to Harry, cut short the man's whining words. + +"I must know the truth," said he. "How did that letter come here? Who +wrote it?" + +"It was written by my cousin," said Harry, "the man whom we follow; but +whether he himself brought it here or the rascal who serves him, I am +quite unable to say. At any rate," he added, with a smile, "your +hiding-place has been discovered." + +The half-caste returned to the fire, where he sat down, holding out his +hands to warm them. He remained thus for some time, seemingly deep in +thought; then he returned to Harry. + +"Just now," said he, "I heard mention of a sheikh. Is the man's name +by any chance Bayram; for he is a devil, in truth." + +"That is the name of the man who is with von Hardenberg." + +"I did not know," said the other, and remained silent for a long time. + +"You did not know?" repeated Harry. + +"When I agreed to come with you I did not know that the Black Dog of +the Cameroons--as I and my brother call him--was to be our enemy. In +all the hills and plains and forests of this huge, amazing continent, +from the Sahara to Kilima-Njaro, from the Niger to the Nile, there is +no man more greatly to be feared than the Black Dog of the Cameroons. +He knows neither pity nor fear. There is hardly a valley in these +mountains with which he is not acquainted. Small wonder he discovered +our hiding-place! He is a foe who cannot be despised. Single-handed +he could keep an army of natives at bay. Almost every cartridge in his +bandolier, almost every bullet in the chamber of his rifle, means the +life's blood of a human being. At one time he was the richest +slave-trader in Africa. But I heard the English hunted him down, and +that he was starving and penniless in London." + +"It was he!" cried Harry, turning sharply to Braid. "He was the man we +saw that morning on the mountain-side, who fired into the German +bivouac at dawn." + +"The sheikh was the man," said the guide. "You should have told me +before." + +"I blame myself," said Harry. "I know now that I can trust you and +your brother with even more than life." + +Fernando continued to speak in slow deliberate tones. + +"If we are to come out of this alive," said he, "you will do well to +take me into your counsels. Moreover, you must follow my advice. I +and the Black Dog have an old score to pay. For myself, I am +determined to be a debtor no longer." Then, without changing his +voice, he turned calmly to Peter Klein. "You must go back to von +Hardenberg," said he. + +"No, no! not that!" Klein almost shrieked. + +Fernando smiled grimly. He might have been one of his own hard-hearted +ancestors, presiding at the Spanish Inquisition. + +"I fear to go!" cried Klein, his terror stamped on every feature. +"They will kill me! I know they will!" + +Fernando laughed aloud. + +"You will most certainly be killed," said he, "if you refuse to go. +The Black Dog has marked you for his own." + +At these words the spy fell down upon his knees at Harry Urquhart's +feet. + +"Keep me with you!" he pleaded. "Give me your protection! It is to +the advantage of those men to kill me. They brought me here to do away +with my life. They do not intend that I shall live to claim my share +of the treasure, if they should ever find it." + +Harry, somewhat roughly, told the man to get to his feet. Klein was an +arrant coward. Harry felt little pity for the man; yet he could not +find it in his heart to support Fernando's heartless verdict. + +"You have little right to demand our sympathy," said he. "You are an +enemy to my country and a spy; you are even a traitor to the rascals +whom formerly you were pleased to serve. You have merited the most +severe penalty which a state of war allows." + +He was about to go on, when the man, losing all control of himself, +seized him by both hands and begged him to be merciful. + +"I renounce everything!" he cried. "I admit my guilt, and ask you to +forgive me. I will give up all claim to a share in the treasure. I +swear to be faithful to you, if you will only get me out of this alive." + +"We do not think of the treasure," said Urquhart. "We are here to +establish the innocence of an injured man and to checkmate von +Hardenberg." + +"It was he who stole the Sunstone," uttered Klein. + +"I know that," said Harry. "That is why we have followed him. He may +have the Black Dog of the Cameroons to aid him, but we have these two +gallant fellows, who do not seem to know what it is to fear, to +hesitate, or to give up hope." + +He half turned, and with a motion of the hand indicated the two +brothers, who were seated side by side. + +Fernando slowly shook his head. + +"As you will," said he. "You have yet to learn that the Cameroons is +no place for clemency. I had a plan to trick the Black Dog. It was a +cruel plan perhaps. I meant to sacrifice this cur like a kid tied to a +stake to snare a tiger. However, let that pass. From to-night, I warn +you fairly, we will be even in greater danger than before. We have an +enemy to reckon with in the sheikh. At this very moment he waits on +the hill-side for his victim." Fernando pointed to Peter Klein. + +"He means to take my life!" cried Klein, who was now pacing to and fro, +wringing his hands like one demented. "The moment they saw I was +likely to be of no use to them, that I was a coward who could neither +handle a rifle nor do a long day's march without fatigue, they schemed +to do away with me. And what a place for a crime, these unknown, +savage hills! In these parts a human life is of no more importance +than that of a mosquito." + +The man was overwrought, his nerves had been sadly shaken. He was on +the verge of lunacy with panic and alarm. + +And yet, what he said was obviously the truth. To von Hardenberg his +presence was worse than useless, a mere encumbrance on the line of +march. In all probability Fernando was right; the Black Dog waited on +the hill-side to fall upon the poor, blind fool whom avarice had led so +far from the land where he could spy and inform in safety. + +The two guides had listened to this dialogue with evident interest and +not a little amusement at the expense of Klein. It was Fernando who +again broke in upon their talk. + +"We will test the sheikh," said he. "We will soon find out his +intentions." + +At that he turned to his brother, and for some minutes the two spoke in +Spanish. After a while it was Cortes who approached Klein and touched +him on the arm. + +"Get out of your clothes," said he. "I intend to wear them." + +Peter Klein was glad enough of the chance of disguising his identity. +Cortes put on the tattered white ducks, torn in a score of places by +the thorn-trees in the bush, the pith helmet and the leather leggings, +and then returned to the fire. + +There, he loaded his revolver and the magazine of his Lee-Metford +carbine. That done, without a word to his brother, he squeezed himself +through the crack in the wall, and disappeared beyond it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--Buried Alive! +========================== + +They waited for many minutes in absolute silence. Peter Klein was +seated at the fire. There also was Fernando, who appeared to have +fallen asleep in a sitting position. As for the two boys, they +remained near the opening through which the man had passed, straining +their ears to catch the slightest sound without. + +Presently there came the sharp report of a shot. Then all was silent +again. + +Fernando immediately sprang to his feet and walked towards the boys. +He must have been sleeping lightly, or else feigning slumber. + +"My brother," said he, "is dead." + +"Dead!" + +Both Harry and Braid uttered the word in a single breath. + +"That," said the man, "was the rifle of the sheikh." + +"How do you know?" asked Harry. + +"For a very simple reason," said the other. "There were two reports, +therefore the shot was fired in this direction. If a man fires away +from you, you hear but one report, which is like the crack of a whip. +But if he fires toward you, you hear two reports, each one of which +resembles the 'pop' of a cork. The shot was fired this way. The +trigger was pressed by the Black Dog, whose bullet seldom misses its +mark. Therefore, in all probability, my brother is gone." + +"And you speak of it so calmly!" uttered Braid. + +Fernando smiled. "With us who live on the Coast," said he, "death is +an easy matter. Sooner or later we all die; some by murder, some by +malaria, some by Black Jack, which is the most deadly fever in the +world. Our graves are in the bush. What does it matter whether or not +a bullet finds its mark?" + +The two boys were astonished. They could not understand this strange +man's views of life and death. + +"And you have sacrificed your brother's life," asked Harry, "merely to +prove that the Black Dog of the Cameroons intended to murder Klein?" + +Fernando shook his head. + +"I would have gone myself," he answered, "had that been possible. As +it is, I can live, at least, for revenge." + +The full significance of the thing burst upon Harry Urquhart. + +"A wasted life!" he cried. + +"Oh no!" said the man; "a life is never wasted--for the truth." + +After that they were silent; they remained standing close together by +the opening in the wall. Harry felt as if a heavy weight had been +placed upon his heart. + +Without, through the fissures in the wall, they could see the moonshine +and the stars. A soft wind which moaned across the desolate and rugged +heights was blowing upon the mountain. + +Presently they were startled by the sound of a voice--a voice that +spoke in a whisper. + +"I am wounded," said the voice, "I am wounded almost to death. +Fernando, my brother, hold out a hand to me, that I may speak to you +before I die." + +Harry was about to move to the opening, when the elder guide fiercely +thrust him back. + +"Do you suffer great pain?" asked Fernando, speaking tenderly, as he +approached the fissure on tiptoe. + +"Give me your hand," came the answer in a weak, breathless voice. + +Instead of a hand, suddenly Fernando thrust his rifle through the +opening and fired. The loud report echoed in the shallow vault. A +strong smell of cordite was driven to their nostrils. + +Without, there was a shriek. Harry rushed to the opening and looked +through. He saw a white figure flying in the moonlight like a ghost. +Fernando--the half-bred Spaniard--threw back his head and laughed the +laugh of a fiend. + +"What does all this mean?" cried Braid, turning fiercely upon the man. + +"That was no more my brother," said the guide, "than the dog-fox is +brother to the eagle. That man was the sheikh--the Black Dog himself." + +"It was your brother's voice," said Harry. + +"Indeed!" said the man. "I should know my brother's voice. I tell you +once again my brother is dead. The Black Dog slew him; and then, +recognizing the man he had killed, he guessed that I, too, was with +you, and he came here to kill me, imitating my brother's voice, +practising the cunning which has made him feared from the Niger to the +Congo. And he has gone with a bullet in his chest." + +"You did not kill him?" asked Braid. + +"No. He fled, realizing that his trick had failed. But because he +killed my brother, Cortes, whom I love, I swear now by the saints that +I will avenge my brother's death, that I will send the Black Dog to the +shades. Henceforward it is his rifle against mine, his treachery +against my wits; it is the fox against the serpent." + +All this time they had forgotten something of superlative importance. +When events of startling magnitude occur in such quick succession it +sometimes happens that the obvious is overlooked. And strange to +relate, it was Peter Klein--who hitherto had seemed quite incapable of +thinking for himself--who was the first to realize the exceeding +gravity of their situation. On a sudden he rushed at Fernando like a +maniac, and seized him by the arm. + +"You say," he cried, "you are sure your brother is dead?" + +The man bowed his head. + +"Then, if he is dead, by Heaven, we are buried alive!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV--The Valley of the Shadow +==================================== + +The truth came upon them all in the nature of a shock. They could not +think how it was that they had overlooked so simple a deduction, so +obvious a fact. + +Cortes, by reason of the extreme slimness of his form, was the only one +of their number who could manage to squeeze himself through the narrow +opening. The stone above the circular hole in the roof, or ceiling, +could not be moved from the inside. The hiding-place that they had +deemed so secure a refuge was nothing but a death-trap. + +Peter Klein turned in anger upon the guide. + +"So much for your wisdom," he cried, "so much for your oath!" + +The man's eyes flashed. His hand went to the knife he carried in his +belt. One half of him was a savage, and the other half a Spaniard. + +"Do you think," said he, "that I thought my brother would be killed?" + +"So far as I can see," said Klein, "it is all the same to you." + +"There you prove yourself a fool," answered the other hotly. "You +think I do not love him because I do not weep like a woman and gnash my +teeth. Understand this--the heart of a Spaniard is like a deep pool, +the surface of which is still. We feel; we love. Also, I warn you +again, we can hate." + +The spy dared not face the man's blazing eyes. + +"I warn you," Fernando went on, his voice rising as passion swayed him, +"if you hold me up to ridicule, you die. I am ready enough to admit +that my judgment was at fault--that I forgot that, without my brother, +we were unable to leave the cave--but to be put to scorn by such as you +is more than I will endure!" + +Peter Klein fell back before the fiery onslaught of the man's words as +though he had been struck. The half-caste stood upright, every muscle +taut, his eyes ablaze, his clenched teeth showing in the blackness of +his long moustache. Then he hurled his knife upon the floor. + +"Why do I waste words upon such as you?" he cried, as if in anguish. +"You are not worthy of my anger!" + +"I cannot yet understand," said Harry. "If the sheikh is so formidable +an adversary, why did you send your brother into the night dressed in +Klein's clothes?" + +"I spoke high words of the prowess of the Black Dog," said Fernando, +"but all the time I believed in my brother. Cortes was a fine shot, +second only to the sheikh himself. Moreover, he was agile, one of the +finest stalkers who ever lived. I knew, when I was sitting by the +fire, that we would soon hear a shot. You thought that I was sleeping, +but I was praying to the Holy Virgin that the first shot would be fired +by my brother, and that the Black Dog would lie in his own blood, his +life ended, the Book of Fate closed upon his evil deeds. When I heard +the double report, my heart sank within me. I knew that my brother had +been outwitted--that the victory lay with the sheikh." + +"And in the meantime," said Harry, "we are buried alive!" + +"The fault is mine," said the guide. "I should have asked my brother +to remove the stone at the entrance before he went, in case of any +mishap. I forgot to do so. I ask forgiveness." + +"There is nothing to forgive," said the boy. "In such a country as +this, encompassed upon every hand by death and dangers of all kinds, +there are a thousand things to think of. I would be the last to blame +you." + +"You are generous," said the man. "The English, with all their faults, +are the most generous race on earth; and because they are just, I +honour them. We have food and water to last for some days. We can but +put our trust in Providence." + +Of the days that followed it is unnecessary to tell in detail. In the +gallery, shut out from the outside world, from the pure air of the +mountains and the sunlight, existence was a living death. For all +that, it was wonderful for how long they retained their strength. +Indeed, it is a remarkable fact that a man can go for many days with +little food, if he has water to drink and is not asked to undergo great +physical exertion. But at last Peter Klein grew so weak, and the +beating of his heart so slow, that Harry feared he was dying. + +It was during these days that the boys came to love the wizened +half-caste in whose hands was their fate. Fernando's courage knew no +bounds; it was as if his will-power was invincible. Never once did a +word of despair or hopelessness leave his lips. + +They longed for the open air, for freedom. Days and nights were all +the same to them, except that sometimes the sunshine, sometimes the +moonshine, invaded the depths of their prison through the great +fissures in the wall. As time went on it was difficult not to give up +hope. + +At last, one night, Fernando rose to his feet and approached Harry, who +found it impossible to sleep. + +"My friend," said he, "the sands are running down, but I think that I +can save you." + +"How?" asked the other. + +"Look at me!" cried the man. "I am little better than a skeleton. I +think I can creep through the opening in the wall." + +Assisted by Braid, he crawled to the fissure, and there endeavoured to +pass through. It is true that he had wasted away terribly, but the +opening was very narrow, and his frame was larger than his brother's. + +For an hour he struggled vainly. At last, he gave it up. + +"It is no good," said he. "I cannot do it. We are lost. Nothing +remains but death." + +They resigned themselves to their fate. They were far past all +complaint. Even Klein was silent; he no longer moaned and deplored his +unhappy lot. Even he had learnt to prepare himself for death. + +Three more days passed, and at the end of that time Fernando himself +lay upon the floor in a kind of faint. + +It was bitterly cold. They had no fire. They had burned all their +wood. Only a little water remained. The prospect before them was +horrible to contemplate. They were destined to be driven mad by thirst. + +For some time Harry walked backward and forward. Then fatigue overcame +him, and, lying down upon the floor, he immediately fell asleep. When +he awoke it was daylight. He went to the bucket of water to divide the +little that remained into four equal parts. To his astonishment, he +found that the bucket was empty. + +He uttered a loud exclamation, which brought Braid to his elbow. + +"What has happened?" asked Jim. + +"Our last drop of water," said Harry, "has been stolen." + +There was little doubt as to who was the thief. Neither Harry nor Jim +nor Fernando could have been capable of such treachery. Harry turned +fiercely upon Peter Klein. + +"Do you deny this?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Klein; "I do." + +They examined his pannikin and found that the inside was wet. There +was also a drop of water upon the floor by the place where he had been +sitting. Without a doubt, during the earlier part of the night, the +man had pretended to be asleep until the three others were buried in +slumber. Then he had stolen all that remained of their water. + +Fernando rose slowly to his feet, drew his long knife, and, tottering +from weakness, approached the German spy. + +"Death," said he, "is too good for you! But, weak as I am, you die!" + +Harry held out his hand. + +"Let him be," said he. "His cowardice will avail him little. He will +only live to see us go before him. He has done no more than prolong +the agony of his death!" + +The guide returned, growling like a dog, and sat down upon the floor. + +During that day hardly a word was spoken. They sat in silence, waiting +for the end. Towards afternoon a raging thirst began to consume them; +their blood grew hot in a kind of fever; their tongues clave to the +roofs of their mouths. + +And at nightfall they lay down to die. Fernando was now in a kind of +stupor. For an hour he never moved, but lay like one already dead. +Both Braid and Klein fell asleep, but Harry found sleep impossible. + +Knowing that the end was drawing near, he resolved to commend his soul +to the Almighty, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to pray. + +For some minutes he prayed silently, making his peace with God. When +his prayer was finished he felt happier. He sat for some time with his +hands clasped about his knees, looking upward at the round stone which +confined them in their prison. + +And as he looked the stone moved as if by magic, silently. Through the +round hole above, the light of the moon streamed down into the darkened +vault. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--The Enemy in Sight +=============================== + +For some moments Harry Urquhart did not move. He sat like a graven +image, his eyes staring, his jaw dropped in amazement. Then the full +truth burst upon him in a flood. He sprang to his feet, uttering a +loud cry which immediately awoke both Braid and Peter Klein. + +"What is it?" cried Braid. "What has happened?" + +Harry seized his comrade by the shoulders and shook him violently. + +"Tell me, Jim, have I gone mad, or has a miracle happened? Look there!" + +Braid looked in the direction indicated, and saw, to his amazement, +that their prison doors were opened, that the stone had been rolled +away from the circular hole in the roof. + +By that time Fernando had got to his feet. He came swaying towards +them, and clutched hold of Jim's arm for support. Perhaps the climate +of the Coast had weakened his constitution. At any rate, he was now +far weaker than the others--even than Klein. + +"We are saved!" he cried. "But beware of treachery. For all we know +the Black Dog may be hiding at the entrance." + +Harry cared nothing for that. A sense of freedom, a breath of mountain +air, were worth all the risk in the world. He scrambled up, caught +hold of the edge of the hole, and with great difficulty managed to pull +himself through, so that he stood in the light of the stars, amid the +mists that wrapped the mountain. + +At his feet lay a still, dark form. It was that of a human being, but +so motionless that the boy feared that it was that of a dead man. +Going down upon his knees, he turned the body over, so that the face +was uplifted to the moon; and at once he recognized the features of +Cortes, the younger guide, who had gone out to slay the sheikh. + +He spoke to the man, but received no answer. Then he rushed to a +spring that was near by and quenched his burning thirst. + +There he was joined by Jim Braid and Peter Klein. Both went down upon +their knees at the spring-side to drink their fill. + +After that they assisted the elder guide to escape from the terrible +prison in which they had spent so many days. They sprinkled water upon +the lips of the younger man, and at last he opened his eyes. + +"We thought you dead," said Harry. "Tell us what happened to you?" + +"I went my way, dressed in the clothes of that cur, to trick the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. Knowing the man with whom I had to deal, I was +cautious and on my guard. + +"I approached so silently that not even a lizard could have taken +alarm. Then I saw the man waiting for me on the mountain-side. He was +dressed in his white Arab robes; he was seated on a boulder, with his +rifle on his knees. + +"I considered what was best to do. I had intended to show up at a +distance, pretending that I was the German. Then I remembered that if +the sheikh fired I would assuredly be hit. In the end I decided to +creep upon him unawares, to snatch his rifle from his hands. With a +man like the Black Dog it is best to strike the first blow, and also to +strike hard. + +"How he saw me I cannot say. His eyes are like those of a lynx. But +he discovered me and fired, and I was wounded. The bullet pierced my +chest. For a moment I think I was unconscious, for when I opened my +eyes the sheikh himself was kneeling over me, looking into my face. He +recognized me, and called me by my name. + +"Without doubt he thought I was dying. Indeed, he left me to die. He +went his way up the mountain. Presently I heard a shot, and a little +after the Black Dog came past me, running as if for life. When he was +quite close to me I saw that there was blood upon his robes and that he +was running after the manner of one who suffers pain and is wounded. +How that happened I do not know. At the time I thought little about +it. I did not doubt that I myself stood at the door of death. + +"I fainted, and when I recovered consciousness I was consumed by a +terrible thirst. Fever raged in my bones. With great difficulty I +managed to drag myself to the side of a spring, where I drank great +draughts of water. After that I fell asleep; and for the next three +days I lay in that place, thinking that I was dying, frequently +drinking at the stream. I could not walk, for whenever I tried to rise +to my feet there was a pain in my chest like a red-hot sword, and I +came near to fainting. + +"One night I thought of my brother and my friends, and then it was that +I remembered that you were unable to escape from your prison. + +"Ever since then I have been struggling up the side of the mountain, +endeavouring to get to you to rescue you. Every minute I thought that +I was dying; sometimes I was so weak that I felt I could go no farther. +Yet every day I made a little progress. I followed the direction of +the stream. I drank the water, and ate wild berries, as well as the +provisions I carried with me. + +"I reached the stone; I remember rolling it away, and after that I +remember no more." + +The narration of this story was too much for the man's strength. As he +said the last words he fell backward in a faint. + +For the rest of the night they camped in the open air, sleeping around +a fire. They remained upon the mountain-top for four days. The German +troops had evidently left the district, and though Harry and Jim hunted +in the valley, and succeeded in shooting some guinea-fowl, they saw no +signs of von Hardenberg and the sheikh, who had evidently pushed +forward on their way towards Maziriland and the Caves of Zoroaster. + +It is remarkable how quickly they were completely restored to health. +Food and water and the freshness of the mountain air lent their +assistance to Nature; and even Cortes, who had been so severely +wounded, rapidly regained his strength. Indeed the wound was already +healed, and all he required was nourishment and rest. + +When they were able to continue their journey, they decided to advance +with the greatest caution. A few miles farther on they would come to a +long valley, two hundred miles in length, which led directly towards +the frontier of Maziriland. Cortes knew of a path that ran along the +crest-line of the mountains, whence they would be able to survey the +surrounding country except such as was hidden by the density of the +bush. If they followed this there would be small chance of their being +taken by surprise, either by the Germans or von Hardenberg and the +sheikh. + +At first they marched by easy stages, in order not to overtax their +strength. This part of the mountain was inhabited by a great number of +rock-rabbits, many of which they were able to kill with sticks; and +these rabbits soon found their way into the cooking-pot. + +By degrees they made their daily marches longer. They were anxious to +overtake Captain von Hardenberg and the Black Dog, who were evidently +several miles in advance. Finally they marched by night, the guides +taking a direct route by the stars. + +Suddenly, one midnight, as they rounded a great spur of rock, they saw +a small light, dim and twinkling in the distance like a star, far below +them in the valley. + +"Look there!" cried Harry, pointing ahead. + +"Is it a camp-fire?" asked Braid, turning to the two guides, who stood +together. + +Both bowed their heads. + +"It is a camp-fire," said Fernando. "It is the camp-fire of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--A Shot by Night +============================= + +Towards morning the fire dwindled and went out. At daylight they could +see no sign of von Hardenberg and his companion. The entire valley +appeared deserted. In this part of the country there were no villages, +the valleys being too barren and infertile for agriculture. + +The next night the bivouac-fire was again visible, this time nearer +than before. On the third night they were not more than seven or eight +miles in rear of those whom they pursued. + +On these occasions they were careful that their own fire should not be +observed. They always lit it under the cover of large rocks or +boulders, screening it from the north. They had every reason to +suppose that the sheikh and his companion believed them dead. The +Black Dog had doubtless told his employer that their pursuers had been +buried alive in the crater of the old volcano. + +Every night they were careful to post a sentry, and, on one occasion, +when the first signs of dawn were visible in the east, Harry--who was +on watch--suddenly heard a sound, faint but very distinct, immediately +behind his back. + +He turned quickly, but could see nothing. He waited for some moments, +holding his breath, with his finger ready on the trigger of his +revolver. + +Nothing happened. The boy imagined that the sound had been caused by a +rock-rabbit or a mountain-rat, and was about to resume his former +position, when something descended upon him with a spring like that of +a tiger. + +In the nick of time he jumped aside. He saw a white figure rushing +violently through space. In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife +that missed him by the fraction of an inch, and the next moment he was +full length upon the ground, struggling in the arms of a powerful and +savage man. + +.. _`IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH`: + +.. figure:: images/img-120.jpg + :align: center + :alt: IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH + + IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH + +Locked together in a death-grip, they rolled over and over, first one +on top and then the other. There was a loud shout, which came from the +lips of Braid, and at that the two guides sprang to their feet and +hastened to Harry's assistance. + +The struggle ended as suddenly as it had begun. One second, strong +fingers gripped Harry by the throat, and the next his adversary was +gone. He had vanished like a ghost; he had slipped away like an eel. + +Harry Urquhart sprang to his feet and listened. He heard a laugh--a +wild, fiendish laugh--far away in the night. Stooping, he picked up a +bare knife that was lying on the ground. + +"I wrenched this from his hand," said he, showing the knife to Fernando. + +The half-caste examined it in the firelight. It was a knife of Arab +design. + +"That," said he, "is the knife of the Black Dog." + +"Why did he not fire?" asked Harry. + +"Evidently because he did not wish to warn the Germans. That is a bad +sign; it means that the German troops are in the neighbourhood." + +The following night, when they scanned the valley, they could see no +sign of the camp-fire of von Hardenberg and the Arab. The sheikh, +having failed in his enterprise on the previous evening, was evidently +determined to exercise greater caution. Harry examined the valley with +his glasses, not only to the north but also to the west and to the +east. However, he could see no sign of their enemies. + +"I do not like the look of it," said Fernando. "So long as we knew +where the Black Dog was, we had the whip hand of him. We must be +prepared for the worst." + +"Surely," said Harry, "he will push on towards Maziriland?" + +"The shortest way is not always the quickest," answered the other. "As +likely as not he has gone back upon his tracks, and even now is +encamped somewhere behind us." + +That night they deemed it advisable to light no fire. Seated amid the +rocks on the crest-line of the hills, where the wind moaned and howled +from the west, they held a council of war. It was decided that, during +the march on the following day, the two guides should act as scouts, +the elder moving some distance in advance of the three Europeans, +Cortes following in rear. + +By the time the sun rose above the mountain-tops, they were well upon +their way. At mid-day they halted for a meal, and it was then that +Cortes came running to the bivouac. + +"Come here!" he cried. "I have seen them." + +They followed the man to the crest-line, crawling on hands and knees. +Only Peter Klein remained by the fire. Since they had escaped from the +crater of the volcano no one had spoken to the man. The guides showed +only too plainly that they despised him, and neither Harry nor Braid +were disposed to forgive the scoundrel for having stolen their last +drop of water. + +They came to a place where the valley-side dropped down in an almost +perpendicular cliff. Far below was a little grove of trees, around +which a stream meandered, its waters glistening in the sunshine. +Beyond the grove, on the other side of the valley, following a kind of +bridle-path that led to the north, were five men, one of whom was +dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"That is the sheikh," said Fernando. "He walks by the side of the +German." + +"And the other three?" asked Braid. + +"They are natives from the bush. The sheikh has doubtless enlisted +their services during the last three days. The natives dare not refuse +him labour. He was all-powerful when he was a slave-trader; fear of +him passed from village to village by word of mouth. On an expedition +such as this, he is doubly to be dreaded, because he has friends among +the Maziris themselves." + +"Then," cried Harry, "supposing he tells the tribe to rise against us?" + +"There is little fear of that," said Fernando. "He is hated by the +chiefs and head-men, who resent the authority he wields over many of +the people." + +"Then, what will he do when he draws near to the caves?" + +"He will rob by night," said Cortes. "Under cover of darkness he will +endeavour to secure the treasure." + +"My brother," said the elder man, laying a hand upon the other's +shoulder, "tell me, how far away is Black Dog?" + +The man judged the distance with his eye. + +"Sixteen hundred yards," said he. + +"Nearly a mile," said the other. "I will try my luck. I have sworn an +oath by the saints." + +So saying, he lay down upon his face and loaded his rifle. Lifting the +back-sight, he took long and careful aim, and then pressed the trigger. +There came a sharp report, and the bullet sped across the valley. + +In the space of a few seconds the sheikh and his followers had +vanished. To hit a moving figure at that distance was a well-nigh +impossible task, but that the bullet had not been far from its mark was +apparent from the way in which the party had so suddenly disappeared. + +Von Hardenberg was moving up one side of the valley, Harry and his +companions on the other. It was therefore a race for the treasure. If +Harry reached the caves first, he would be unable to enter the vault, +by reason of the fact that the Sunstone was not in his possession. He +would have to lie in wait for the Black Dog and the German. + +For two days they saw nothing more of their rivals. There was water in +plenty in the district, and presently springs and streams became even +more numerous, and they entered into a country that was thickly wooded. +At the same time the mountains became more wild and rugged, and it was +soon impossible to make progress by way of the hills. + +They therefore descended into the valley, and entered a region of +scattered trees, which gradually became a forest, where they were shut +out from the sunlight and the light of the stars. There were no paths +in the forest, and they could seldom march more than eight miles a day +by reason of the tangled undergrowth through which they had to cut a +passage. + +When they came out of the forest they were in a land of rolling hills, +which, the guides told them, mounted to the summit of Maziriland. +Their first camp in this district was under the lee of a hill; and, +since they had seen nothing of either von Hardenberg or the German +troops for several days, they deemed it safe to light a fire. There +was no scarcity of fuel, and very soon a fire was blazing, the green +wood crackling and hissing in the flames. Over the fire a kettle was +suspended by a chain from three iron rods, and from the spout of this +kettle steam was issuing, when suddenly a shot was fired in the +distance, and a bullet drilled a hole through the kettle, so that the +water from within ran down into the fire, whence issued a little cloud +of steam. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--A Dash for Liberty +================================= + +As one man they rushed to their arms, and even as they did so a score +of shots rang out, and the whistling bullets cut the earth about their +feet. + +"The German troops!" cried Cortes. "We must gain the hill-top or we're +lost!" + +Firing into the darkness as they ran, they ascended the hill with all +dispatch. At the top they found themselves subjected to a withering +fire, which poured down upon them from all directions. The night was +alive with the sharp reports of rifles. Sudden flashes of fire showed +up on every hand, like so many living tongues of flame. It was evident +the enemy was in force. + +For four hours the fight continued without a check. The roar of the +musketry continued; the hissing of the bullets was like heavy rain. +And all this time the German soldiers were working nearer and nearer, +until at last they formed a complete circle around the foot of the hill. + +They were then close enough for their voices to be audible, and now and +again, as a bullet found its mark, a shriek went up in the night. + +By then, not one of Harry's party had been struck. This was partly due +to the boulders which lay upon the hill-top, and behind which it was +possible to obtain cover, and partly to the inferiority of the German +marksmanship. + +During a lull in the combat, a short respite from the strain of the +situation, Harry took counsel with the two guides and Jim. + +"It appears to me," he observed, "that if we wait till sunrise we are +lost. So far, we have managed to escape death only by reason of the +darkness." + +"Before the sun rises," said Fernando, "two courses lie open to us: we +must either fight our way through the enemy or commend our souls to +Heaven." + +"I was going to propose," said Harry, "that we gather together in a +body and endeavour to charge through the enemy." + +"And after that?" asked Braid. + +"After that we may either find some place more suitable for defence, or +else die in our tracks." + +"We can die fighting," said the younger guide. + +"Well, then," said Harry, "every minute counts. If we can get through +we may be able to cover some miles before dawn is upon us. We must +hold together, however. There will be no time to go back to look for +one who is lost." + +They now prepared themselves to make this last and desperate bid for +freedom. They played for the highest stakes, for liberty and life. +They could not advance, however, without acquainting Peter Klein of +their intention, and when the man was told of what they proposed to do +he set to shaking in his limbs. + +Harry was in no mood to humour him. He had long since lost all +patience with their uninvited guest. + +"You have two minutes," said he, "in which to choose. Either you come +with us, or stay here, or else you can go over to the enemy. It does +not matter very much to us which you decide to do." + +The man picked up his rifle. He tried to speak, and stuttered. He was +incoherent from fear, though it was his own countrymen who opposed +them. German and German-trained native troops were in the valley in +about equal numbers. + +"What am I to do?" he asked. + +"Remain at my side," said Harry. "Do not fire until I tell you to. We +are going to creep as near to the enemy as we can, and then charge +through together." + +Klein said nothing, but they heard the bolt of his rifle shake in his +hand. + +Then all five began to crawl down the hill, picking their way carefully +over the stones, advancing as stealthily as possible. + +The enemy's fire had somewhat abated. Perhaps they also--true to the +traditions of the Prussian army--contemplated an assault. Instead of +the continuous rattle of musketry that had lasted for so long, only an +occasional shot resounded in the valley. + +Inch by inch, they drew nearer to the enemy's position, and when not +twenty yards from the place where a German officer was shouting hoarse, +guttural words of command, Harry whispered to his followers to halt. +He desired to give them time to gain their breath, that the charge +might be as swift as it was sudden and unexpected. + +During the next few minutes it was as if each second dragged out into +eternity. At all events, the anxiety and excitement had the most +amazing effect upon Peter Klein, who was a coward from the day of his +birth. It drove him mad, and he became like some infuriated beast, a +bull in a bull-ring or a baited bear. + +Suddenly springing to his feet, before Harry had given the word of +command, he discharged the magazine of his rifle in the direction of +his own countrymen. Then, seizing the weapon by the muzzle, he dashed +down hill, swinging it round and round his head as a man uses a club. + +Harry and his three companions followed in the man's wake, firing right +and left. Though it was dark, they were near enough to Klein to see +what happened. The man was as terrible in his madness as he had been +despicable in fear. Without a doubt, terror had overcome his senses. +Giving himself up for lost, he had been able to bear the suspense no +longer, and now rushed furiously, demented and panic-stricken, into +what looked like certain death. + +A German sergeant jumped out of the grass before him, and the butt of +Klein's rifle crushed the man's skull as though it were a nut. Another +man--a native--a second later was dropped to the ground, with a blow +that would have felled an ox. A third rushed upon the maniac, and so +tremendous was the stroke that sent him to his death that Klein's rifle +broke at the small of the butt. + +Still the ex-spy was undefeated. With the steel barrel in one hand and +his revolver in the other, he went onward in the dark, filling the +night with an infinity of savage and appalling yells. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--War to the Knife +============================= + +Ten minutes later Peter Klein stopped dead, looking about him with +wild, staring eyes. The night was cold--for they were still at a great +altitude--and the breath was pumping from his nostrils as it does with +a horse. However, he was given little time to rest, for Harry, running +forward, seized him by the arm. + +"Get on!" cried the boy. "We're not out of danger yet." + +On they went, racing for freedom, crossing hills and minor valleys, +passing beneath trees, and sometimes knee-deep in the water of forest +streams. + +For a time they heard the guttural voices of the Germans behind them. +At last these became inaudible in the distance. The soldiers were not +able to follow on their tracks, since they had no way of knowing which +route the fugitives had taken. + +At last Harry deemed it safe to call a halt. + +Klein, who was still running like one possessed, had to be stopped by +force. He would not desist from flight, until Jim Braid had tripped +him up. Harry, followed by Fernando, came upon them shortly afterwards. + +"See," cried Harry, pointing to the east, "there comes the dawn! In +half an hour it will be daylight." + +"Do you know where we are?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +"Yes," said the man. "We are towards the Maziri frontier. I recognize +the mountains on the sky-line. There is a good place near at hand +where we can hide, and where--even if we are discovered--we will be +able to hold our own for many days." + +"Let us go there," said Harry. "But where is your brother?" + +No one answered. They peered into the faces of one another. The +younger guide was missing. + +Fernando, the man who had sworn an oath to kill the Black Dog, lifted +his hands to his mouth and let out a long-drawn howl which was like +that of a jackal, and which carried far in the stillness of the +morning. It was a signal that his brother knew of old. Three times he +repeated it, and each time lifted a hand to his ear, and stood +listening expectant. + +No answering cry came back. A death-like silence reigned over the +valleys and forests and the mountain-side. + +"He is lost?" asked Harry. + +"He may have taken the wrong direction in the darkness. He may have +been struck by a bullet. Who can tell? These things are in the hands +of God." + +"He may be somewhere near at hand," said Braid, hoping for the best. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"If Cortes is alive he is far away; otherwise he would have heard my +signal. At any rate we can do no good by waiting here. We must push +on; the day approaches. As I said, I know of a place where we shall be +safe." + +As the grey light extended from the mountain-tops to the valleys, +Fernando led them to a kind of ancient fort, constructed of great stone +boulders and surrounded by a deep ditch. In the parapet of this fort +there were loopholes through which to fire, and in the centre, well +screened from observation, was a small hut made of the branches of +trees. The redoubt stood on a sharp pinnacle of rock commanding a wide +stretch of country on every hand. It had doubtless been constructed +centuries before, when there was a more advanced stage of civilization +in the heart of Africa. Indeed, it is from this bygone civilization +that the Maziris themselves trace their origin. + +As the daylight increased they were able to take in their surroundings. +Many miles up the valley, it was just possible to see a little village, +which, Fernando assured them, was in Maziriland itself. Some distance +to the west was a great forest which extended as far as the eye could +reach. + +Harry looked around him in amazement. + +"But this place is almost impregnable," he cried. "Four resolute men +could hold it against hundreds." + +"Is there water here?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +The man pointed to a small spring which bubbled up to the surface near +the door of the hut. + +"I will tell you the story of this place," said he. "Years ago a party +of six Maziris sought refuge in this fort, which was built in the olden +times, when the Ancients crossed the deserts from the east. For eight +months those six men held the army of one of the Cameroon kings at bay. +They had laid in a great store of food. They made the defence even +stronger. Time and again they beat back the attack." + +"And in the end?" asked Jim. + +"In the end four of their number were killed, but the other two +escaped." + +"Escaped! How did they escape?" + +"You will not believe me, but it is true. They escaped +underground--like moles." + +"Underground!" cried the two boys, echoing the man's words in their +astonishment. + +"Yes," said the guide. "All those months they had been digging a +tunnel. The hill is composed of a very soft kind of rock; and they had +brought spades and picks from Maziriland. Day and night they worked, +until at last the tunnel became a mile in length, extending from the +inside of the fort into the very heart of the forest." + +"Where is the entrance?" asked Harry. + +"It is here." + +The man led the way to the hut. The floor was covered with rushes, and +these he gathered together in his arms and piled in a great heap before +the doorway. Underneath was a circular piece of wood, like that which +is often found on the top of a well. Lifting this, Fernando pointed to +a flight of steps that led down into impenetrable darkness. + +"They went this way?" asked Harry. + +"Two escaped by way of the tunnel, whilst a third, who was already +dying, covered up the entrance with rushes. When their foes got in +they found only four men--dead. And they believed that they had been +held at bay during all those months by four men instead of six." + +"Does your brother know of this place?" + +"Yes; and if he is alive he will guess where we have gone. He will +come to us by way of the tunnel. If he is dead----" And Fernando +shrugged his shoulders. + +During that day and the next they saw nothing of the Germans; but +Fernando protested that it would not be safe to push on towards +Maziriland, since the enemy was certainly in the district. Also they +still hoped that Cortes would return. + +During these days they were not idle. Jim Braid was left behind in +charge of Peter Klein, who could not be trusted to hold his own in case +of sudden attack, whilst Harry and Fernando departed into the forest by +way of the tunnel. + +The long journey through the subterranean passage was one of the most +unpleasant experiences that Harry Urquhart ever had in his life. Not +only was the place pitch dark, but water had filtered through the walls +and lay here and there in pools upon the floor. These pools had grown +stagnant, and the air was humid, tainted with the foulest smells. + +At last, they came forth into the forest. There, for two days and one +night, they collected a great store of provisions. They dared not fire +their rifles, but there was no necessity to shoot. The forest abounded +in ground-nuts and various kinds of fruit. Also, Fernando knew where +the natives set their traps, and the two devoted their time to robbing +these, until finally they had sufficient supplies to last for several +days--rabbits, small hog-deer, and many kinds of birds. + +They were obliged to make three journeys to the fort with all the +provisions they had obtained, since it was not possible to carry a +heavy load through the narrow, stifling tunnel. + +On the third day they set to work cutting up the meat and drying it in +the sun. Sun-dried meat is uncommonly tough, but it has this +advantage--it will keep for many months. + +That evening they heard a shot far away in the distance. It was +followed by another, and yet a third, and towards midnight the whole +valley was alive with musketry. + +"What is it?" asked Harry of the guide. + +The man shrugged his shoulders. + +"I cannot say," said he. "Either my brother is pursued by the Germans, +or a fight is taking place between them and the Black Dog--in which +case I may be robbed of my revenge." + +They divided the night into three watches. Peter Klein, they knew, +they could not trust in any responsible position requiring strong +nerves and presence of mind. They set the man to the most menial +tasks--chopping wood, cooking, and repairing the ancient defences. + +All night the firing in the valley continued; by daybreak it was near +at hand. They could see the figures of the Germans racing across the +valley, advancing in extended order or else in small groups which at +that distance resembled families of mice. + +That afternoon a small reconnoitring-party of the enemy ascended the +hill upon which stood the fort. The defenders lay in hiding behind the +parapet, determined not to show themselves, not to disclose their +hiding-place, unless it was certain that the Germans intended to occupy +the hill-top. + +They waited till the eleventh hour. The enemy was not twenty paces +from the ditch when Fernando rose to his feet, and cried out in the +German language, ordering them to halt on peril of their lives. + +At the same time, he raised his rifle to his shoulder and sent a bullet +over their heads. As one man they turned and fled, racing towards the +forest, and were lost to sight. + +It was from that moment that the siege commenced. Their place of +refuge became a citadel encompassed on every hand by a hostile force. +The Germans gathered round them in companies, and day and night strove +to induce the garrison to surrender. It was trench warfare in the +heart of the African wild. + + + + +CHAPTER XX--Honour among Thieves +================================ + +The Germans soon found that it was impracticable to attempt to capture +the fort by a direct frontal attack in daylight. The slope of the hill +was so steep that it was possible to ascend only by way of a path which +was covered by the rifles of the defenders. Apparently they had no +artillery at their disposal. + +At first they charged up this path after the manner in which they were +wont to hurl themselves upon the lines of trenches in Poland and in +Flanders. They were swept down like chaff. Owing to the narrowness of +the way they were obliged to advance upon the fort in single file, and +as each man appeared before the loopholes he paid the price of his +daring. + +After the first assault they resorted to tactics more likely to +succeed. They attacked twice by night. But, fortunately for the +defence, the nights were fine and starry, a full moon was up, and it +was possible to see the enemy long before he reached the walls of the +fort. + +For all that, the greatest vigilance was necessary both by day and +night, to avoid being taken by surprise. One or other of the defenders +was always on guard. Even Peter Klein was of some use. Though he +could not be relied upon to act with courage or promptitude, his +eyesight was good enough, and he took his turn at sentry by day. +Moreover, he was in such abject terror of falling into the hands of his +own people that Harry suspected that the German authorities at Dualla +had learnt something of the Sunstone and von Hardenberg's private +mission to the Cameroons. + +By night, when the fort might be rushed, they thought it best not to +leave their destiny in the hands of one who had failed them so +constantly. The only occasion on which Klein had covered himself with +credit was at a moment when fear had so possessed him that he lost all +sense of danger and became for the time being a raving madman. + +It would be wearisome to describe the details of the siege as it +continued day by day. There is no question that the defenders would +have held their own for many weeks had it not been that gradually a +calamity was drawing down upon them. They were running short of +ammunition. Their bandoliers were nearly empty. + +The Germans kept up a constant fire upon the fort, and the garrison, in +self-defence, was obliged to answer back. They calculated that, with +the greatest economy, they had cartridges sufficient to last them only +four days more. It was then that Klein, Harry, and the guide entered +the hut and held consultation together. Jim Braid was on sentry, +stationed on the parapet. The sun was setting in the west. + +It was Fernando who was the first to speak. + +"The situation is very plain," said he. "We can hold out until our +ammunition is exhausted, and then retire by way of the tunnel, still +hoping to reach the caves in advance of von Hardenberg, or we may +retire to-night. + +"Which do you advise?" asked Harry. + +"I suggest," said the guide, "that we go at once. We shall need +ammunition on our return journey to the coast. We have many miles to +traverse. Every moment we delay means a further expenditure of +ammunition. We have not a cartridge to spare." + +"Then," said Harry, "it is settled: we leave the fort this evening." + +It was then that there came a loud and sudden burst of firing from down +the valley, from the direction of the forest. All three sprang to +their feet. + +Braid, from the parapet, called loudly, and they hastened to his side. + +"Look there!" he cried. + +Turning their eyes in the direction indicated, they beheld a man +running as if for life towards the forest. In pursuit, some distance +in his rear, came a large party of Germans, shouting so loudly that +their voices were audible even at that great distance, and firing their +rifles as they ran. + +"Who is it?" cried Harry. + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "He is too far away." + +The firing continued until long after nightfall. It rolled through the +forest like a wave. It was not until ten o'clock that the night was +still. + +The four defenders gathered at the door of the hut. + +"You think it wiser to go?" said Harry + +Fernando bowed his head. + +"Come, then! Let each man load himself with such provisions as he can +carry. We should start at once. It is necessary for us to be far away +before morning." + +Harry Urquhart turned and was about to enter the hut, when he was +brought to an abrupt standstill. He stood motionless and gaping, +unable at first to believe the evidence of his own eyes. For there, in +the doorway, within the enclosure of the fort, stood the figure of a +man--a man who was dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"The Black Dog!" let out the guide, and brought his rifle to his +shoulder. + +"Peace," said the sheikh, lifting a hand. "Think before you fire." + +Fernando's rifle was directed straight at the man's heart. The Arab +never flinched. He stood like a statue, speaking in the slow, +deliberate tones of one who is in full possession of his senses. + +"If you fire," said he, "you slay one who has come to place his +services at your disposal. You are surrounded by a legion of foes. +Every rifle counts. I bring you aid." + +Slowly Fernando lowered his rifle; then he laughed. + +"We do not want your aid," said he. + +"There," answered Bayram, "you are wrong." + +"How so?" + +"Here you are imprisoned. You must fight to the end. There can be no +question of surrender." + +"We do not think of surrender," said the other. "We mean to escape by +the way you came. We mean to escape to-night." + +The Black Dog shook his head. + +"That will not be so easy," he made answer. "The Germans are receiving +reinforcements; another column is advancing from the south. The bush +swarms with their reconnoitring-parties and patrols. Moreover, guns +are approaching up the valley, and may be here at any moment. I speak +the truth. Remember, at some risk I have come here of my own accord." + +He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words with care; but his English +accent was singularly good. + +"You have not yet told us," said Harry Urquhart, "why you have come." + +"You are short of ammunition," answered the sheikh. + +"How do you know that?" + +"For five days I have listened to every shot." + +"You have not yet explained," said Harry. + +The Black Dog smiled, his white teeth showing in the midst of the +blackness of his beard. + +"I come with a proposal," said he, "under a flag of truce." + +"You have nothing to fear," cut in Fernando. "You speak of a truce. +We are men of honour." + +"Very well, then," said the sheikh, "my proposal--or rather the +proposal of him who sent me--is that your party and mine agree to come +to terms. You have run out of ammunition; we can supply you. Boxes of +ammunition can be conveyed without difficulty through the tunnel. +Moreover, in order to cover your retreat, I swear by Allah that I will +lead the Germans on a false scent across the mountains to the east." + +"And in exchange for these services?" asked Harry. + +The Black Dog paused, looking hard at Fernando. + +"In exchange for these services," he repeated, "you are to desist from +the pursuit, to allow my employer and myself to pass unmolested in +Maziriland." + +At this base suggestion, a feeling of such powerful indignation arose +in Harry Urquhart that for some moments he could not find his voice. +When he spoke at last, his voice trembled with passion. + +"You can go back to Captain von Hardenberg," said he, "and you can tell +him from me that he has often enough proved himself a rascal, but that +I never thought that he would sink to such perfidy as to offer us +ammunition to be used against his own countrymen in exchange for his +own safety. As for you, it is only because you came here of your own +free will that you are allowed to go away in safety. You took us +evidently both for cowards and fools. You know now, perhaps, that we +are neither one nor the other. But there is a limit to our patience, +and I advise you to leave by the way you came as quickly as you can." + +The Black Dog drew himself up to his full height, folded his arms, and +fixed upon Harry Urquhart his cruel bloodshot eyes. + +"These are high words," said he, "to one who has been the master of a +thousand slaves. You have asked for war to the knife, and you shall +have it. It is apparent from the way in which you speak that you know +little or nothing of the man with whom you have to deal. You shall +see. I shall prove to you that I am not one who uses empty words." + +At that he turned sharply on his heel, entered the hut, and was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--The Last Cartridge +=============================== + +During the next four days the siege continued, and though their enemies +continued to increase in numbers, the Germans were fortunately still +without artillery, which would have battered the old fort to dust and +ashes in the space of half an hour. + +On each occasion when the Germans ventured to assault they were driven +back with considerable loss. Indeed, their dead lay so thick upon the +path upon the hill-side that those who followed after mounted on the +bodies of those who had gone before. + +On one occasion a company of native troops actually gained the parapet +of the fort. It was a dark night, and they had crept up the hill-side +unobserved. With a savage yell, and as one man, they hurled themselves +upon the ramparts. + +The majority were thrown back in disorder under a brisk fire from the +defence, but some half-dozen leapt the ditch and clambered over the +wall. Thereupon a brief hand-to-hand encounter ensued. It was an +affair of seconds, of fierce cries and groans and savage oaths, and in +the end the enclosure of the fort was free of the enemy--except for six +motionless forms that lay silent on the ground. + +Days passed, and still the defence held out. Indeed, they had actually +put off their retreat until too late, for one night they were brought +face to face with the unexpected fact that the Germans had discovered +the entrance to the tunnel. Fernando, who had passed almost to the +mouth of the tunnel, which lay in the midst of the bush, returned to +the fort with the news that a large party of German regular soldiers +was guarding their only line of retreat. Fernando had little doubt +that the Black Dog had found some means by which to betray them. + +The Germans apparently hesitated to advance through the tunnel itself, +since they were still in ignorance of the strength of the little +garrison; and in any case the narrowness and exceeding darkness of the +passage would make an advance an extremely costly affair, whereas +ultimate success was by no means assured. They could no longer be +blind to the fact that those in the fort were running short of +ammunition, and they could afford to play a waiting game. + +The situation of Harry Urquhart and his companions was not of the +pleasantest; indeed, they could no longer hope. Even Fernando, who had +so often proved himself a man of iron, could see no chance of their +deliverance. + +As a great storm drives up upon the wind, so this tragedy drew to a +close. Every round of ammunition--fired in self-defence--every +mouthful of food that was eaten, brought it a step nearer the end. +They were surrounded on every hand. Great numbers of the enemy had +come from the south; both German and native troops were in the district +in battalions, with transport and ammunition columns and machine-guns. + +By then it was manifest that the Germans could capture the fort +whenever they wished, provided they made the necessary sacrifice in +lives--a thing which, as a rule, it is not their custom to hesitate to +do. They had not yet, however, deployed their whole strength against +the garrison--a fact that Harry was not able to explain. + +The blow, which they had anticipated for days, fell upon a certain +morning, soon after daybreak, when the Germans, their whole force in +the valley, advanced in close formation upon the fort. + +At the same time a battery of artillery opened fire from the +neighbouring hills, and the immediate vicinity of the fort became a +pandemonium of dust and smoke and flying stones and masonry, whereas +the defenders were well-nigh deafened by the bursting of high-explosive +shells. + +In spite of this hurricane of lead and steel, time and again shots +sounded from the fort; but the great wave came on, overwhelming and +irresistible. One behind the other the ranks mounted the path. The +defenders kept up a withering fire, until the barrels of their rifles +were so hot they could not touch them. And still the enemy advanced. + +As the Germans gathered themselves together for a final charge, Harry, +Jim Braid, and the half-caste rushed together from the parapet to the +only box of ammunition that remained. The box lay open near the door +of the hut. Fernando was the first to reach it. + +He pulled up sharply, standing motionless and erect. Then he knelt +down and took out from the box the only cartridge that was there. + +"This is all that is left," said he. + +"No more?" cried Harry. + +"We have come to the end," said the guide. + +Jim Braid turned and addressed his companions. + +"Has no one any ammunition?" he asked, and in his voice was a note of +dire distress. + +Both shook their heads. Peter Klein was cowering in the hut. + +"This is all that remains," said Fernando. "It shall be put to +excellent use." + +So saying he slipped it into the chamber of his rifle and closed the +breech with a snap. + +Both Jim and Harry turned away their faces. In a few minutes they knew +that they must be prisoners in the enemy's camp. Harry allowed his +eyes to travel over the parapet of the fort. He saw the German +officers reorganizing their scattered ranks in preparation for a final +charge. + +And then, from a hill-top towards the south, there came a sound that +was like the bursting of a thunder-cloud. Something shrieked and +hooted in the air, and a great shell from a heavy gun burst in a flash +of flame in the midst of the German troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--The Conquest of a Colony +====================================== + +Slowly the guide lowered his rifle. All eyes turned to the south, from +which direction had come the shell. For a moment, in the valley, in +the enclosure of the fort, there reigned a death-like silence--the +silence of suspense. The bombardment of the fort ceased as at a stroke. + +The calm voice of Fernando broke upon the stillness. + +"The British!" said he. "The soldiers from the Coast!" + +Hardly were the words from his lips than a great salvo of cannon +thundered in the valley, and went echoing far above the tree-tops of +the forests, over the ridges of the mountains, towards Maziriland. + +And once again, though the little fort was left in peace, the air was +alive with shells, which flew upon their way, shrieking and hooting as +if in savage glee. Shrapnel burst high overhead, with white puffs of +smoke, the bullets falling like hail into the ranks of the astonished +Germans. Segment-shells struck the rocks, breaking into fragments that +flew far and wide, inflicting the most terrible of wounds. + +The German troops, in good order, shepherded by their officers, retired +down the hill, to face this new and far more formidable danger. They +assembled on a long spur that jutted into the valley, which they deemed +the most suitable position whence to oppose the advance of the British. + +"Is this true?" cried Harry. "Is it, indeed, the English?" + +"Look!" cried Jim, pointing over the parapet. + +A long line of glittering bayonets appeared upon the sky-line, +advancing like a running wave upon a low-lying, sandy beach. They came +forward without checking, each man keeping his distance from his +neighbour, as though they did no more than execute some simple +movements on parade. They were in far more extended order than the +Germans. + +Even as the khaki lines advanced, the Mauser rifles spoke from the +hills, and the white dust caused by the bullets flew at their feet. +They answered back in volleys, each one of which sounded like the "rip" +of tearing paper. The sunshine glittered on the steel of their +bayonets, their polished buttons, and the badges on their coats. + +Their manoeuvres were like clockwork. When one party advanced, another +fired; and thus the long lines of infantry were ever firing, ever +advancing upon the enemy's position. + +A battle fought under such conditions--which are rare enough in these +days when the spade has become an even more important weapon than the +rifle--is one of the most magnificent and impressive sights it is +possible to see. One catches only glimpses, now and again, of +fleeting, crouching figures, running from rock to rock, from cover to +cover, appearing and disappearing like gnats in the light of the sun. +And all the time a great roar of musketry rises to the heavens--a kind +of interminable "crackling" sound, like that of green wood upon a fire, +only a thousand times greater in volume and more continuous. + +Above this the guns toll ceaselessly, shaking, as it seems, the very +ground itself with a series of sullen "thuds", filling the atmosphere +with great vibrations, drum-like echoes, and rolling clouds of smoke. + +Jim Braid and Harry Urquhart stood side by side upon the parapet of the +ancient, crumbling fort. As the gods of Olympus reviewed the struggles +of the Greeks and the Trojans, so those two looked down upon the wide +amphitheatre where the conflict was taking place, where men were +marching shoulder to shoulder into the very jaws of death. + +They could see both sides at once. They could see the Germans on the +ridge, firing rapidly into the advancing British troops; they could see +the British coming on and on, regardless of danger, heeding only the +words of command shouted from line to line. + +Far in rear, upon a hill-top, a heliograph blinked and flickered in the +sun. There was the officer in command. Thence, by means of his +signallers, he controlled the army at his feet, disposing his +battalions as a player moves his chessmen on a board. + +The two boys stood transfixed in bewilderment and admiration. + +"Oh," cried Jim, "what wouldn't I give to be there!" + +His heart was with his own countrymen, the thin, khaki lines that were +driving straight forward with the tenacity of a pack of hounds that +hold the fox in view. + +From either side gun after gun spoke in quick succession, until it was +as if the world was only thunder and flashes of fire and clouds of +yellow smoke. As often as each gun was fired it was loaded and fired +again. The noise of the batteries was as persistent as the barking of +a chained, infuriated dog. + +And then from everywhere, from out of the grass, from behind the rocks, +from little undulations in the ground, arose thousands of small khaki +figures. + +Their ranks were undisturbed; they were even as the staves upon a sheet +of music. Line after line extended from one side of the valley to the +other, and, in the rear of all, the helio still blinked and glittered, +there where the brains of the machine were working the destruction of +prophets of "Frightfulness", champions of World Dominion. + +A bugle sounded in the air, its thin, piercing notes carrying far. +Each of the boys experienced a thrill of pride and exultation, a +sensation of sublime excitement, as the British lines answered the +bugle with a charge. + +Line after line, amid the thunder of the guns, swept up the ridge +towards the enemy, the bayonets flashing, the bugle speaking again and +again. + +And then came a cheer that rent the air--a British cheer--howbeit from +the throats of gallant Haussas--that drowned the musketry, that rose +superior even to the constant growling of the guns. + +Before that mad, headlong onslaught the enemy gave way. The Germans +were swamped, as a tide carries away a castle on the sands. As one +man, they broke and fled, panic-stricken and defeated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--Attacked +======================= + +As soon as they had collected their belongings and stores, they set +about to leave the fort, passing through the tunnel in single file, the +guide leading the way and Harry Urquhart bringing up the rear. + +By the time they entered the forest the afternoon was well advanced, +the sun sinking in the heavens. They hoped to reach the British camp +that night, but there was no question that darkness would overtake them +long before they could do so. + +There was little or nothing to fear. The soldiers had driven the +Germans from the district. To all intents and purposes the German +Cameroons was conquered, and the remnants of the enemy were returning +in hot haste towards the Spanish territory to the east. + +When Harry Urquhart and his three companions came forth from the +entrance to the tunnel they found a heap of hot, charred wood upon the +ground. There was no doubt that recently a fire had been burning, and +that the picket that guarded the tunnel had retreated only at the +eleventh hour. + +During the earlier part of the night they traversed the valley, +marching in a bee-line towards the bivouac fires of the British camp. +They moved forward in the following order--Fernando went first, some +distance behind him came Jim Braid and Peter Klein, and a greater +distance in the rear was Harry Urquhart. + +Harry had been walking for some time with his eyes fixed upon the +ground. He was wondering what the end of all this strange business was +to be. + +He knew that von Hardenberg had stolen the Sunstone, that he carried it +upon his person. It was Harry's ambition, the very lodestone of his +life, to recover the Sunstone for his uncle. It was von Hardenberg's +object to reach the Caves of Zoroaster, and possess himself of the +treasure. This was the man's only aim, for which he had proved that he +was prepared to sacrifice his country and his honour. + +As he walked, Harry was thinking of these things, when, on a sudden, +there came a flash of fire, not ten paces to the right. He pulled up +with a jerk, and heard a bullet sing past his head like some evil +spirit in the darkness. Then there came a stinging sensation in the +lobe of an ear, and a moment later he felt the warm blood flowing down +his neck. + +He saw a figure flying in the night, and with a loud cry took up the +pursuit. A few seconds later he had flung himself upon a man who +struggled in his grasp. On the instant each seized the other by the +throat, and in the moonlight Harry recognized that he had come to +death-grips with his cousin, Captain von Hardenberg himself. + +No sooner was he aware who his opponent was than he saw at once that +here was a chance to capture the Sunstone, and for that end he +struggled with the desperation that means more than strength. + +Placing one leg behind his adversary, and pressing with all his force +upon his chest, he endeavoured to throw von Hardenberg backward. And +even as he wrestled he felt the Sunstone, sewn in the lining of the +Prussian's coat. + +Gradually von Hardenberg was forced backward, and then at last he fell, +coming heavily to the ground. In his fall he struck his head against a +rock, and after that he lay quite motionless and silent. + +Harry could hear the footsteps of approaching men. On one hand Jim +Braid and Fernando hastened to the boy's assistance; on the other, the +Black Dog came forward with rapidity. + +As quick as thought Harry pulled out his pocketknife. He had but to +rip open von Hardenberg's coat and the Sunstone was his, their journey +was at an end. + +A sharp cut with the knife, a hand that trembled with excitement thrust +through the opening, and Harry's fingers closed upon the precious relic +he had come so many miles to gain. + +And, at that moment, a violent blow descended upon his head and +stretched him senseless on the ground. The Arab sheikh had come to the +assistance of his employer in the nick of time. His quick eyes had +taken in the situation at a glance. He had seen the Sunstone in the +hands of Harry Urquhart, and, lifting his rifle by the barrel, he had +brought down the butt upon the boy's head. + +For him to snatch up the Sunstone was the work of an instant. And a +moment afterwards the Black Dog was flying in the night, carrying in +his arms the unconscious body of von Hardenberg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--The Caves +======================= + +Fernando, bringing his rifle to his shoulder, fired a shot at random in +the darkness. It was the last round they had. A laugh came back from +the distance. + +Without a word the guide put down his rifle on the ground and examined +the wounded boy. + +"He is stunned," said he. "He will recover presently." + +So saying he lifted Harry in his arms and carried him a distance of +about a hundred yards to a place where there was a small stream in the +valley. + +There he bathed the boy's face and hands, washing the blood from the +wound in his ear. Presently Harry recovered consciousness, sat up, and +looked about him. + +"Where am I?" he asked. + +It took but a word to remind him of what had happened, and then he +remembered that he had held the Sunstone in his grasp. He looked up at +Jim and smiled. + +"I was so near to capturing it," said he. + +"We'll get it yet, sir," answered Jim. "Just now I had the shock of my +life. I thought you had been killed." + +"I'm all right," answered Harry. "I feel dizzy; that's all." + +In a little time he was able to continue on his way. The bullet wound +in his ear was nothing; it was scarcely painful. + +That night they camped in the mountains, intending to march at daybreak +towards the British camp. When the sun rose, however, they found to +their surprise that the whole column was already on the line of march, +moving towards the east in pursuit of the retreating enemy. + +When they reached the scene of the bivouac the camp-fires were still +burning, but no sign of life remained. + +The British column had vanished into the bush; and only a few +hospital-wagons were to be seen trundling slowly southward. + +In the centre of the deserted bivouac stood a tall solitary tree, and +it was under this that they rested throughout the heat of the day. +Fernando, who had been dozing, rose to his feet, stretched and yawned. +As he did so he caught sight of a star-shaped cut in the bark of the +tree, and on the instant it was as if the man had become transfigured. + +His eyes lit up, his lips smiled. Amazement, delight, and infinite +pleasure were stamped on every feature of his face. + +"What is it?" asked Harry, at a loss to explain the man's behaviour. + +"Heaven be praised!" he cried. "My brother is still alive!" + +"Alive!" + +"Yes. Cortes blazed that tree, and the blaze is not one day old. Last +night he was here--in the midst of the British camp." + +"Are you sure of it?" asked Braid. + +"I know," Fernando answered with conviction. "In the days when we +hunted together we sometimes lost one another in the bush, and on such +occasions we blazed the trees along the tracks of bush elephants in +just such a manner as this." + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"There is no sign of Cortes here," he said. "He cannot have left with +the British?" + +"No," said Fernando. "He is hiding somewhere. Let me think, where +would he go. Both he and I know this district well." + +The man paused a moment, standing perfectly still. Then, on a sudden, +with an exclamation, he set off running towards the hills. + +He did not return until long after nightfall; and then it was with the +joyful news that he had found his brother, sound asleep--beside three +boxes of German ammunition. + +Without delay, guided by Fernando, the whole party set off in haste. +They found Cortes, sleeping heavily, in a little dried-up watercourse +well screened by trees. It was characteristic of Fernando that he had +not awakened his brother. + +Harry bent down and touched the sleeper on the shoulder. The man sat +up, rubbed his eyes, and then looked about him. The light of the moon +fell full upon his face. + +Harry grasped his hand and shook it warmly. + +"You escaped?" he cried. + +"Yes," said Cortes. "When we charged through the Germans, my foot +struck against a boulder and I fell upon my face. I think the fall did +some injury to my wound--the wound I had received from the Black Dog; +for, when I tried to run, I found myself unable to do so. + +"You were then some distance ahead of me," he continued. "I feared I +would be overtaken. For a moment I knew not what to do. Then I came +to a place where there was a great hole in the ground covered with +bushes, and there I hid, allowing the Germans to pass. + +"When they had gone, I got to my feet and tried to think matters out. +I knew where my brother would take you; I knew he would go to the old +fort. I might have rejoined you by way of the tunnel. I thought of +doing so, but in the end I decided to go in search of ammunition, of +which I thought you might possibly run short. British Government +ammunition would be no good, as--with the exception of one Express--we +have all got Mauser rifles. So three times I crept by night into the +German camp, and each time returned with a box of ammunition. I +secured also a haversack of revolver ammunition. Their sentries are +sleepy dogs." + +"You did splendidly!" cried Harry. "We are absolutely without a round." + +"I knew you were in the fort," Cortes went on, "and I guessed you would +go to the British camp. It was there that I blazed the tree whilst the +troops were marching away. I returned to the hills, because I was +tired and wished to sleep. If my brother found the blaze I knew he +would follow me here." + +The man smiled. He had every reason to be proud. + +After a while the younger guide spoke again. + +"The Black Dog still lives?" he asked. + +Fernando bowed his head. + +The following morning they began the final stage of their march towards +the frontier of Maziriland. The route led them along the crest-line of +the hills, and thence across a valley thick with undergrowth and +jungle, where the heat was tropical and humid. They were glad to reach +high ground once again, and set forward across the plateau beyond which +the Maziri mountains stood up like a line of thrones. + +These same mountains had been plainly visible from the old fort they +had held so gallantly against the Germans, and had even appeared quite +near at hand. But in these high altitudes the atmosphere was +exceedingly clear, and, besides, the mountains were of great height, +dominating the surrounding country far into the interior of the +Cameroons. + +It took them in all six more days to reach the frontier, when once +again they found themselves in the midst of hidden dangers. + +They had no idea of what manner of reception they would receive from +the Maziris themselves; indeed, concerning this strange race very +little is known, either to anthropologists or explorers. + +It is generally supposed that the Maziris are a race that emigrated +from north-eastern Africa very early in the known history of the world. +Their features are aquiline, their lips thin, and the colour of their +skin no more than brown. Not only are they certainly not a Negroid +race, but they do not appear to have intermarried with the neighbouring +Negro tribes in the Cameroons. It is possible they are direct +descendants of the ancient Egyptians, though it must remain a mystery +how they brought to the wilds of Western Africa the religion and +traditional customs of the followers of Zoroaster. + +As soon as they had crossed the frontier, Cortes and Fernando guided +the party towards the west, in which direction were the caves. This +also was the most deserted part of the country, nearly all the Maziri +villages being towards the east, where the country was more fertile and +suitable for pasture. + +There is to be found in a certain part of Africa--far from the sites of +the famous cities of the Pharaohs--indisputable evidence of an +extremely ancient civilization. Even so far south as Mashonaland, are +ruins of towns which could only have been originally constructed by +highly civilized peoples. Ancient Egyptian history, the writings of +the Greek historian Herodotus, as well as the Old Testament itself, +place it beyond all doubt that the Egyptians, the Persians and +Phoenicians spread their learning and their influence far into the +interior of what, until only a few years ago, was the Dark +Continent--unexplored, unmapped and quite unknown. It can only be +supposed that Maziriland was a relic of the early civilization of the +East, in much the same way as the inhabitants of northern Spain are +distantly related to the Irish. + +Before we enter this strange, mysterious country, it must be placed on +record that there befell a certain tragedy. In a word, Peter Klein, +having contracted a fever in the jungle, and, being much weakened in +constitution by the nerve-strain and the hardships he had undergone, +fell into a rapid decline--and died, as he had lived, pleading to be +spared. + +His companions buried him one evening among the rock-strewn, lonely +mountains, and he goes out of this story as he came into it--a poor, +mean object, a man of no account. + +As for our four adventurers, daylight the next morning found them once +more upon the hill-tops, shrouded in the mists. For fear of the +Maziris the guides led the party by a roundabout way, giving the +valleys, and even the lower mountain slopes, a wide berth; for there +they were more likely to fall in with parties of the inhabitants. + +On the next day, from the far south, there came a noise like thunder +that continued until the afternoon. Hour by hour the British guns +spoke in the distance. The Germans were being hounded from the +Cameroons. + +Day by day, as they continued their journey, the firing was repeated, +growing fainter and more distant as they advanced. On the fifth day +after Klein's death, they turned towards the north-west, and that +evening crossed a valley. Beyond was a grass-covered plateau where +wild asses grazed. The plateau dropped suddenly in a sheer wall of +cliff, and they were obliged to walk many miles to find a place where +they could descend. + +At length they reached a mountain-top. Immediately opposite was +another mountain, up which there was a path leading to a flight of +steps. The steps ended suddenly in a black, yawning hole in the +mountain-side. So far as the inhabitants were concerned the country +appeared absolutely deserted. It was a barren inhospitable waste. + +"Have we much farther to go?" asked Harry, turning to the elder guide. +"Tell me, in which direction are the caves?" + +"Yonder," said Fernando, pointing to the black hole in the mountain +slope. "Yonder are the Caves of Zoroaster. There lies the treasure +which the Black Dog and von Hardenberg have come all these thousands of +miles to gain." + +In single file, Cortes leading the way, they descended towards the +valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--The Lock +===================== + +The Caves of Zoroaster are one of the most remarkable examples of the +industry of the Ancients that are known to exist. As we have said, in +various parts of the world, especially in the continent of Asia, there +are many standing proofs of an advanced stage of civilization many +centuries before the Christian era. + +There are the catacombs in Upper Egypt--a labyrinth of subterranean +passages extending for miles; there are the Pyramids, the Great Wall of +China, the hanging gardens of Babylon--all of which are colossal and +eternal monuments of the labour, energy and genius of the past. + +The Caves of Zoroaster are perhaps as marvellous as any of these. +Indeed, it is much to be wondered at that they were not included in the +seven wonders of the ancient world. Time has not served to deface +their majestic beauty, to detract from the solemn magnificence of these +great vaults fashioned by human labour out of the living and +everlasting rock. + +Soon after our travellers had caught their first glimpse of the +entrance to the caves, they decided to camp on the lower slopes of the +mountain, for it was already growing dark. It would take them several +hours to cross the valley, and they could not hope to accomplish the +journey in the darkness. They accordingly retired to a place where +there was a great hollow among the rocks, and here they deemed it safe +to light a fire and cook their evening meal. + +The following morning Harry awoke at daybreak. He was anxious to push +on without loss of time. There was no knowing where von Hardenberg and +the sheikh were. Perhaps they had already gained the caves. + +As soon as they had breakfasted, Harry and his party continued on their +way. The two boys, led by the guides, crossed the valley and then +ascended the mountain opposite by way of a bridle-path, worn smooth by +the feet of pilgrims. Throughout the ages, devout men had journeyed to +the caves from the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia--by way of the +caravan routes that extend in all directions across these arid wastes. + +The path grew steeper as they approached the entrance to the caves, and +presently they found themselves at the foot of a flight of steps. A +heavy mist still wrapped the mountain in a kind of shroud. The steps +ascended, one above the other, into the very heart of the mist which +completely obscured the entrance. + +These steps were like "Jacob's Ladder", mounting, as it seemed, to the +very zenith of the heavens; and on either side of them, as far as Harry +could see, were ranged strange statues--of lions with eagles' wings, of +men with the heads of foxes, and great dragons that lay crouching like +watch-dogs, guarding the treasure that lay beyond. All were graven in +the same rough mountain stone. + +For centuries the lightning had played upon the rocks about them, the +hail and the rain had lashed these mute, immobile sentinels, so that in +many cases they were broken and corroded like the gargoyles on a Norman +church. + +To mount that flight of nearly a thousand steps in the mists of +morning, between these weird and hideous images, was an experience that +bordered on the uncanny. On every hand a mighty stillness reigned in +the heart of the mountains. + +Indeed, it was as if this wild, forgotten country was some colossal +graveyard of the past, where the wisdom of the Medes and Persians lay +buried to the end of time, where the rugged mountain-tops stood forth +like tombstones, piercing the very clouds. + +At last they came to the entrance. The steps widened and they stood +upon a great stone terrace, level as a table-top, on the farther side +of which arose the side of the mountain, formidably smooth and +perpendicular, the moisture on its surface glistening in the sunlight +that struggled through the mist. It was like a wall of polished steel. + +The entrance to the caves was wide enough to allow four men to pass +abreast, and about ten feet in height. Black as Erebus it yawned in +the savage cliff. On either side, carved in stone, protruding from the +rock, were the figures of two enormous giants, armless, with great +beards that extended to their waists, and those huge conical helmets on +their heads which one has learnt to associate with the Persians, the +Assyrians, and the Medes. + +Fernando walked to the threshold of the entrance and then turned sharp +to Harry. + +"I am a Spaniard," said he, "and the Spanish are a superstitious +race--at least, that is how you would express it. Some speak of +superstition, others of prescience--or foreknowledge of coming events. +Call it what you like, I have the sense of a calamity impending. I am +quite sure of that." + +"How do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"It is like this," Fernando went on; "we have come to a tragedy. The +curtain is about to be raised." + +"Do you fear to enter the caves?" + +"No. But I will not go first. Lead, if you like, I am quite prepared +to follow." + +This was a new trait in the character of the half-caste. He had never +shown fear or hesitation before. + +Harry turned to Jim. + +"Come," said he, and led the way beneath the darkened archway. Cortes +and Fernando followed at their heels. + +But Harry Urquhart had not taken ten paces forward when he stood +transfixed in wonderment at the solemn magnificence and beauty of the +Caves of Zoroaster. + +The place was like a great cathedral. It was divided into three aisles +by two lines of pillars. These pillars were extraordinarily massive. +They had not been built up from the floor to the ceiling, but were part +of the living rock, joining the roof to the floor. In other words, the +aisles had been hollowed out by human labour, and the rounded pillars +left at regular intervals to support the immense weight above. + +The cave was lighted from above by several shafts that pierced the +mountain, and which threw convergent beams of light across the shadows. +Giving upon each of the side aisles were three doors constructed of +wood, but barred with iron and studded with scores of nails. Above +these doors, around three sides of the cave, was a kind of gallery, +connected with the roof by a series of smaller and more frequent +pillars. + +At the far end, upon an altar, a single oil-lamp was burning. Behind +the altar, and about twenty paces distant, was a wall of rock which +immediately attracted the attention of the boys. + +This rock was rough, as in its natural state, whereas elsewhere in the +cave--on the floor, the ceiling, and the pillars--the rock was so +smooth that it resembled masonry. Moreover, the aisles were of grey +limestone; but the rock behind the altar was of red granite, in which +the quartz and mica crystals glittered in the flickering light of the +lamp. + +By the side of the granite rock was something which Harry Urquhart +recognized at once. On a single axis, supported at each end by grooves +cut in the pillars, were nine enormous wheels of bronze. On the +outside--or what would correspond to the "tyres"--of each of these +wheels, were hundreds of strange cuneiform characters. + +There was no doubt that beyond the red granite rock lay the vault which +contained the treasure, and these wheels composed the Bramah lock by +sole means of which the vault itself could be opened. + +But without the Sunstone the wheels were useless. On the obverse side +of the Sunstone was the explanation, or solution, of the riddle. + +Harry walked up to the great bronze wheels and turned them at random, +first this way and then that. Each revolved independently of the +others, and could be turned either backwards or forwards. + +From what his uncle had told him, he knew that each wheel must be +turned until the characters visible along a given line corresponded to +those upon the Sunstone. There could be no doubt as to where this line +was, for, across the wheels, at about the height of a man's eyes, a bar +of gold extended. + +Whilst Harry and Jim were examining the wheels, Cortes was exploring +the side aisles beneath the gallery. Presently he came towards his +companions on tiptoe, with a finger raised to his lips. + +"Come here!" said he in a whisper, beckoning to Harry. + +Harry did so, and was conducted to one of the iron-bound doors, where +the guide motioned him to stoop down and listen. + +With his ear to the door, Urquhart could hear nothing for some seconds. +Then there came to his ears a sound that was unearthly. + +It was a low, continuous, moaning sound, like the howl of a dog in the +distance. It grew louder gradually until at last it was close at hand, +on the other side of the door. + +There was something in the vastness of the place, in its stillness and +its gloom, that was at once depressing and alarming. Harry Urquhart +felt that he was rapidly losing confidence in himself. The great +flight of steps without, the stone statues, the two carved giants at +the entrance, the shadowy vault of the cave, pierced by shafts of +light, and the solitary burning lamp--all these were mystical and weird. + +The boy was well able to face danger, to take his life in his hands, +but here he was confronted by what was suggestive of the supernatural. +A feeling of fear possessed him--he knew not why. He drew back, +shuddering, and turned quickly to the guide. + +"Someone is coming!" he whispered. + +At that moment there came a loud rapping on the other side of the door, +which shook and trembled under the blows of someone who seemed like a +maniac. They heard a bolt drawn sharply back. And then a voice let +out a kind of shriek that ended quite abruptly. As one man, they +turned and fled without shame or hesitation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--The White Madman +============================== + +They ran in all haste towards the entrance to the cave. The two guides +led the way. If the boys were alarmed, the men were even more so. + +The brothers had proved that they did not mind danger in the ordinary +acceptation of the term, but, in their thinking, in this place they +trespassed upon the precincts of the other world. + +Cortes was about to make his escape to the terrace outside the +entrance, when Harry called him back. + +"Here!" cried the boy. "This way!" + +In the semi-darkness he had caught sight of a narrow flight of stone +steps which led to the gallery above. He was not so frightened that he +had not a natural curiosity to see who approached on the other side of +the door. + +All this time a noise continued that echoed ceaselessly in the vastness +of the cave. It was a noise of bolts withdrawn, chains jangling, locks +unfastened, whilst a voice that was hardly human was continuously +uplifted in a long, plaintive moan. + +In the semi-darkness of the gallery the four trespassers knelt down, +hiding behind the pillars in such position that they could see into the +central aisle below. Their eyes were fixed upon the door whence issued +these strange, uncanny sounds. + +Presently the door opened, and there came forth into the light of the +lamp the most extraordinary apparition it had ever been the lot of any +one of them to see. + +It was a madman. Moreover, one who was terrible in his madness. He +was of a great age, for the hair of his beard and of his head was white +as snow. And yet he was very tall of stature, and had the appearance +of a man of colossal strength. + +He was clothed in rags--rags which hung together by mere threads, so +that his dark skin was visible upon his arms and back. The hair of his +head was so long that it reached to his waist, a great beard spread +over his chest. At his side he carried an enormous sword--a two-handed +sword such as was used by warriors in ancient days. In one hand he +held a staff. + +He came forward, singing a wild song that somehow was reminiscent of +the desert and the East. He approached the altar where burned the +lamp, and there flung himself upon the ground, tearing his hair, +gnashing his teeth, and actually foaming at the mouth. + +From time to time he lifted his voice in a howl, dismal and prolonged, +breaking off in his singing to beat himself upon the chest. It was all +terrible to behold. It was like a scene in some majestic Bedlam. This +white madman, the semi-darkness of the cave, the flickering light, the +enormous pillars--all seemed not of the world we know, but to belong +rather to one of the worlds of which we sometimes dream. + +Harry, turning to Fernando, whispered in his ear. + +"Who is this man?" said he. + +"He is Guardian of the Cave. He is said to be a hundred years of age. +He has lived here all his life." + +The old man rose to his feet and stretched forth his arms. Then, +lifting his voice, he uttered an endless string of words that were +incomprehensible to both boys. As far as Harry could make out, the man +either uttered some fearful curse or else he prayed in anguish. + +"What is he saying?" asked the boy. + +"I am not sure," answered Fernando; "I know little of the Maziri +language. I think he says that the Sunstone has been stolen these many +years, but this very day it will return. He says the vault will be +opened before nightfall. He says that he himself is about to die." + +"How does he pretend to know these things?" + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "These men have the wisdom of the +ancients, who could read the stars and knew of many things long since +forgotten. It is supposed by the Maziris themselves that by means of +fasting and penance and self-inflicted torture he has gained such +holiness that he can see into the future, that he can read from the +Book of Fate." + +They could not move their eyes from the Guardian of the Cave. He now +stood erect and motionless before the altar like one transfigured into +a kind of deity. There was little about him that suggested what we +know as human. + +He was straight of back, his bare arms folded upon his chest, his head +a little lowered. And the shafts of daylight from either side of the +cave converged upon the whiteness of his head, so that he was like a +saint, solemn and magnificent, surrounded by the all-pervading gloom. + +Suddenly he let out a shout that was half a shriek--louder than before; +and then they saw that his madness was not feigned. Like a wild beast +he hurled himself upon the wheels and set them all in motion, some +revolving one way, some the other. And even as the wheels were turning +he shook his fist at the entrance to the vault--the red granite rock at +the extremity of the cave. + +"Open!" he cried, in the strange Maziri language. "Open in the name of +Zoroaster!" + +Again and again, he cried to the vault to open, as though that which +was inanimate would heed his infuriated words. The spokes of the great +bronze wheels reflected the light from the lamp, but there came no +answer to the man's cries but the echoes of his own voice in the +dimness of the cavern. + +Once again he flung himself upon the ground, and prayed in a loud voice +that the spirit of Zoroaster might descend and show him how to open the +vault. According to Fernando, he asked the gods to grant him one of +two favours--either that the secret of the Sunstone might be conveyed +to him then and there, or that the Sunstone itself might be returned to +the cave. + +And suddenly he stopped in the midst of his prayer, springing sharply +to his feet. For some seconds he stood quite motionless, in the +attitude of one who listens. + +Then he spoke slowly and distinctly and less loudly than before. + +"My prayer has been heard," said he. "Glory to Zoroaster!" + +At that he lifted a hand to an ear and turned his head towards the +entrance to the cave. + +Those in the gallery listened, too. Sure enough, footsteps were +approaching. + +A little after, the daylight at the entrance was obscured by a +figure--the figure of a tall and slender man dressed in the clothes of +a European. For a moment he stood quite motionless, shading his eyes +with a hand. + +It was apparent that, newly come from the daylight, the new-comer was +unable to see in the half-light of the cavern. Neither could he +himself be recognized by those in the gallery. + +Presently he came forward until he stood before the Guardian of the +Cave, and the light from the burning lamp fell full upon his face. + +Harry Urquhart caught his breath, and his hand went quickly to the +handle of his revolver, when he recognized von Hardenberg, who had come +to his journey's end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--The Black Dog Bites +================================== + +For some moments the two men stood facing one another. Neither spoke +nor moved. + +As they stood thus, a third person entered, swiftly, silently, without +being seen either by von Hardenberg or the Guardian of the Cave. Those +in the gallery saw who it was: the man was the sheikh, the Black Dog of +the Cameroons. + +Of the scene that followed the watchers in the gallery were amazed and +horrified spectators. It seems that Captain von Hardenberg had not +been idle during the time the Sunstone had been in his possession; with +Teuton thoroughness and industry he had even learnt to speak in the +Maziri tongue. + +"Who are you?" said he to the old man, so strange and terrible to +behold. + +"I do not ask who you may be," answered the other, "because I know." + +Word by word, the following conversation was afterwards repeated to +Harry by Fernando. + +"You know!" cried von Hardenberg. "What do you know?" + +"I know that you are he who bears the Sunstone on your person. I order +you to deliver it up!" + +Von Hardenberg drew back a pace. The Black Dog was crouching like a +tiger behind one of the pillars, unseen by either of the speakers. + +"Who told you?" cried von Hardenberg. "Who told you I have the +Sunstone?" + +"These things," said the old man in a great, solemn voice, "these +things I know because I am one who holds converse with the gods. Me +you cannot deceive. A short time ago I was asleep, and in my sleep I +dreamed a dream--that the Sunstone had returned." + +"You are mad!" cried the Prussian in brutal derision. + +"Aye," said the man, "I am mad; but I am wiser than those who are sane. +Deliver up the Sunstone!" + +"By what right?" + +"By every right. I am the Guardian of the Cave. I have lived five +score years, and never once have I ventured beyond the entrance of the +Caves of Zoroaster. Come, deliver up the Sunstone." + +"And if I refuse?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"If you refuse," said the man, "you die!" + +Von Hardenberg looked about him with a quick, furtive glance. Softly +his hand crept to his belt, where he carried the holster of his +revolver. + +What happened next was the work of a few seconds. Those in the gallery +had no time to interfere. As for the sheikh, he evidently intended +that the tragedy should be played out to its end, to the falling of the +curtain. + +The old man, seeing von Hardenberg's action, lifted his great +two-handed sword and flourished it on high. Then, with a spring like +that of a tiger, he hurled himself upon the Prussian. + +Three shots rang out in quick succession. There were three flashes of +fire, like jets of flame, and then three puffs of smoke. The cave was +filled with an echo that went on and on as if it would never cease. + +And when the smoke cleared, there was the old man lying upon his face +upon the floor, silent and still. A century had rolled above his head, +for a hundred years he had stood guardian of the Caves of +Zoroaster--and now his task was ended. + +Harry sprang to his feet, and would have fired then and there at von +Hardenberg had not Cortes held him down by force. + +"It was murder!" he whispered. + +"If you fire, we are lost," cried Cortes. "It is too dark to shoot +straight, and the Black Dog will escape us." + +Harry resumed his kneeling position and waited. + +A horrid silence reigned in the great, domed chamber. The scene was +more tragic, more fantastic than ever. The shafts of light from above +struck the body of the murdered man; the lamp still flickered before +the altar. Even yet, the echoes of the shots were murmuring in the +deeper recesses of the place. + +Captain von Hardenberg stood stock-still, his revolver in his hand, +thin wreaths of smoke issuing from the muzzle. From out of the heart +of the stillness there came a chuckle: the Black Dog was pleased to +laugh. + +Murder was nothing to him. He had dealt for years in human lives. He +was implacable, relentless. And even at that same moment he himself +contemplated a greater crime, for the commission of which he was hiding +in the darkness like a snake, biding his time to strike. + +Captain von Hardenberg took two steps towards the body and turned it +over with his foot. + +"He is dead," said he in German. + +The old man, who had been so terrible in life by reason of his madness, +now looked sane and beautiful in death. The worn, agonized expression +had gone altogether from his features, which were now calm and wholly +at peace. With his white hair and ragged clothes, he was like one of +the patriarchs of old. + +Captain von Hardenberg was not himself. It was plain to see that it +was all that he could do to control within him a feeling that was akin +to terror. He looked about him with widely opened eyes--at the vast +pillars, at the darkened corners of the aisles, at the shafts of +sunlight that pierced the darkness like the blades of swords. + +With trembling hands he attempted to unbutton his coat. His nerves +were so shaken, and he in such feverish haste, that he could not at +first succeed. In the end, as if grown desperate, he took a knife from +his pocket, opened the largest blade, and cut off the buttons one by +one. Then he ripped open his waistcoat, and, a moment after, drew +forth the Sunstone and placed it on the altar by the side of the +burning lamp. + +And next he did a strange thing indeed. He burst suddenly into loud +laughter--laughter that was hysterical, delirious. + +He had gone through so much; he had faced so many dangers; he had been +guilty of a score of crimes; he had lost everything--good name and +honour and position--in order to possess himself of the treasure that +lay beyond the red granite rock. + +And now that all this wealth was as good as his, he could do little +else but laugh, in a kind of wild delirium, whilst tear-drops in quick +succession coursed down his cheeks. + +After a while he mastered himself a little, but not completely. He +went to the nine wheels and turned them all ways in a fever of +excitement. + +Then he remembered what he had to do. He studied the wheels and took +notice of the cuneiform writing on the "tyres". At that he returned +for the Sunstone and brought it to the Bramah lock. + +But, since it was too dark there to see the writing on the stone, he +took it back to the altar, and laid it down once more before the lamp. +Then he studied the character in the first segment, and, having +committed it to memory, he went back to the wheels. + +Slowly he turned the first wheel, noting each character as it appeared +above the golden bar. At last he appeared satisfied. The cuneiform +figure, or character, which lay immediately above the golden bar +corresponded to that upon the Sunstone. + +Then, in a like manner, he turned the second wheel. Always when he got +the wheel in the correct position he compared the two characters--that +upon the Sunstone and that upon the wheel--to make sure they were the +same. + +Finally, he came to the ninth wheel. His excitement was now so great +that those in the gallery could see that he was trembling violently in +every limb. + +He troubled no longer with the Sunstone. He turned the wheel very +slowly, with his eyes fixed upon the red granite rock. Presently there +was a "click" like the sound of the turning of an enormous lock. +Captain von Hardenberg held the wheel quite still. + +There came another "click" even louder than that which had gone before. +And then slowly, like some great living monster, the rock began to +turn, as if it revolved upon a pivot. + +It turned evenly, slowly, noiselessly, and, as it turned, the light +from the lamp caused the quartz and mica and felspar in the granite to +glisten like a thousand fire-flies on a summer's evening. + +And then, in the moving rock itself, appeared a narrow archway about +four feet across; and when this was immediately opposite the altar +there was another "click" and the whole rock was still. + +Those in the gallery sprang to their feet and looked on with bated +breath. The thing was like a miracle. As for von Hardenberg, he gave +vent to a cry that was half a cheer and half a sob. Then, snatching +the lamp from the altar, he rushed through the archway into the +darkness beyond. + +From the gallery they could see the light grow smaller and fainter as +the Prussian descended a narrow flight of steps. Then the light went +out, and there came up from the vault beyond a faint cry of exultation. +Captain von Hardenberg had attained the treasure of Zoroaster. + +And it was at that cry that the Black Dog glided from his hiding-place. +Now that the lamp had gone, the cave was darker than before. But by +the light that came from above, and through the entrance, those in the +gallery could see his white robes as the man glided noiselessly across +the hall. + +He went straight to the altar, picked up the Sunstone, raised it to his +lips, and kissed it. For a moment he gazed at it, long and lovingly, +before he thrust it into a pocket. + +He moved on tiptoe towards the wheels. As he did so he passed through +one of the shafts of light, and his features were illumined. On his +face there was an expression that was diabolical. It was the face of a +beast of prey, a tiger that stalks its victims. His white robes +contrasted strangely with the swarthiness of his countenance. His eyes +were very bright and now looked yellow like those of a cat. + +When he reached the wheels, he let out a great shout that filled the +vastness of the cave. + +"Die!" he cried. "Die the death you merit!" + +At that he set the wheels in motion, and immediately the great granite +rock revolved again. And Captain Carl von Hardenberg was buried alive +in the midst of the treasure that was his. + +The sheikh passed rapidly down the centre aisle. Half-way to the +entrance he stopped, looked back, and shook his fist at the rock. + +"Lie there," he cried, "and rot! In my own good time I will return." + +Before the last word was from the man's lips, Fernando had lifted his +rifle and fired. The bullet flattened itself against a pillar not +three inches from the Arab's head. The Black Dog glanced up at the +gallery and then dashed out of the entrance, so swift and agile in his +movements that it would have been sheer folly to fire again. + +"You hit him?" cried Harry. + +"No," cried the man, with a sullen oath. "I missed. It was too dark +to see." + +"Too dark to see!" repeated Harry. "But he is gone! Make haste, or +he'll escape!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII--A Race for Life +=============================== + +Fernando stood motionless, his rifle in his hand. He had been within +an ace of fulfilling his oath, and sending the Arab to the shades. + +"I would have hit him," he complained, "had the lamp not been taken +away." + +Meanwhile Cortes dashed down the steps, and crossed the central aisle +to the body of the murdered man. + +The madman lay quite still. A life of fasting, of penance and +privation, had closed in the heroic fulfilment of his duty. With his +last breath he had demanded of von Hardenberg to deliver up the +Sunstone; and there he was--a huddled, formless object, lying at the +foot of the altar. + +The first impulse of Harry Urquhart was to follow in pursuit of the +sheikh. With this intention he hastened to the terrace, whence he +could see nothing. The Black Dog had vanished into the white mists +that wrapped the mountain-side. By now he was no doubt at the bottom +of the great flight of steps on each side of which stood the strange, +fantastic statues. + +Harry, rifle in hand, was about to take up the chase, when he +remembered that somewhere beyond that impenetrable granite rock was von +Hardenberg--alone in the midst of the treasure. + +He returned to the cave, and went to the rock and listened. He could +hear nothing. Beyond, all was silent as the grave. + +"What can we do?" reiterated the boy, looking about him in bewilderment. + +Jim Braid went to the nine wheels and turned them at random, hoping +that by chance the vault would open. In a little while he desisted and +returned to Harry. + +"We must follow the sheikh," said he. "We must endeavour to recover +the Sunstone at every cost." + +"And leave *him* here?" said Harry, with a motion of the hand towards +the granite rock. + +"We can do nothing," said Fernando. + +"I bear the rascal no goodwill," said Harry. "He deserves but little +pity. But this is terrible!" he added, and repeated the word again and +again. + +"Come," said Cortes, "we waste time in talking." + +As he spoke, he led the way from the cave, followed by the others. + +As they passed down the great flight of steps, Harry Urquhart turned +and looked back. The entrance to the caves was no longer visible. A +great cloud lay upon the mountain like a mantle. Near at hand, the +strange beasts carved in stone were quite conspicuous and plain, but +gradually, as they mounted one behind the other towards the terrace, +they became lost in the mist. They resembled an army of quaint, +primeval animals that were filing down from the clouds to inhabit the +abodes of men. + +The elder guide, shading his eyes with a hand, scanned the mountains to +the north. Presently he let out a cry--a cry of exultation. + +"There!" he cried, pointing across the valley. + +Sure enough, far in the distance was a white speck that was moving +rapidly upon the mountainside, disappearing for a moment to appear +again, always bearing in the same direction--towards the north. + +Cortes turned to the others. + +"I can run," said he. "I was a tracker once by trade. I undertake to +keep upon his trail. Do you follow as quickly as you can." + +Fernando laid a hand upon his brother's shoulder. + +"You will not kill him?" he said. + +"No. The man's life is yours." + +With these words Cortes sped upon his way, springing from boulder to +boulder, supple in figure, agile despite his wound. He had spent much +of his life hunting wild game in the midst of unexplored, inhospitable +hills. He was quick of eye and sure of foot. + +Outrunning his companions, he went rapidly upon his way, and was soon +lost to sight. All that afternoon they followed in his tracks, and +towards evening they heard a shot, high up in the mountains, many miles +to the north. + +A grim smile passed across the face of the elder guide, who calmly +turned to Harry. + +"Yonder," said he, "is the sheikh." + +"It was he who fired?" asked Harry. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"That shot was fired by my brother," he answered. "I know the sound of +my brother's rifle." + +"Where are we going?" asked Jim. + +The half-caste shrugged his shoulders. + +"The Black Dog chooses the way," said he. + +"He goes to his home?" asked Harry. + +"His home!" repeated Fernando. "Has the wild dog a home? Does the +hare burrow in the ground? The Black Dog sleeps where he finds +himself. All the world is his home. He may go into Nigeria; he may +cut back to the coast; he may pass through the mountains to the great +Sahara Desert. But, wherever he goes, Cortes will follow him; he will +be followed to the ends of the earth. And now and again Cortes will +fire his rifle to guide us on our way, to let us know that he still +holds the Black Dog in view." + +Throughout the days that followed, the mountains witnessed the almost +superhuman efforts of two men: Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog of the +Cameroons, and Cortes, the half-caste Spaniard of the Coast. + +The one fled from justice, clutching the Sunstone in his hand, and the +other followed, until miles grew into leagues, until they reached the +rolling grasslands to the west of Lake Chad, where cattle grazed in +herds. + +It was a struggle of Titans, a race for life or death between men who +were well versed in the craft of the hunter, who knew each bridle-path +and mountain-spring and solitary oasis between the bend of the Congo +and the Atlas Mountains. + +Day and night they raced onward, under the march of the southern stars. +And Cortes clung to the heels of Black Dog like a leech. As often as +the sheikh halted, he was obliged to push on again in greater haste. + +At nightfall, every evening, Cortes fired his rifle, and this enabled +his brother and the two boys to keep upon his track. The route taken +by the sheikh was not a straight one: the course he followed was in the +shape of the letter S. Harry and his party were often able to take +short cuts, completing one side of a triangle when the Arab and his +pursuer had accomplished the other two. Thus it was that upon the +twentieth day they came to the place where the younger guide was +encamped. + +"He is close ahead?" asked Fernando. + +Cortes pointed to the west. + +"He is in the valley yonder," said he. "To-night he sleeps in the +jungle that lies on the edge of the plateau." + +They were now in a part of the globe of which little is known. They +had left the cattle far behind them. This country is uninhabited +except by wild animals, and is visited only by the caravans that come +south-east from Timbuctoo. + +The Black Dog, with the Sunstone in his possession, still held his +course towards the north, setting forth across the illimitable, barren +waste. He journeyed for two days without halting. Then he crossed a +river, and, passing over a plateau, descended into the true desert, +where the sun blazed like a furnace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX--The Temple +======================== + +On the skirting of the desert lay a small Arab village--a place of a +few dilapidated huts, accommodating not more than a score of +inhabitants. For the most part these were people sunk to the lowest +depths of poverty, living in a state of dirt unimaginable to those who +are not acquainted with the Arab. + +To this village came Harry and Braid and the elder guide. The headman +of the village came forward on their approach, followed by a few +children. + +Fernando, who had an intimate knowledge of Arabic, was able to act as +interpreter. The headman said the village had been rich in the +possession of two camels; but, late on the previous evening, an Arab +had come from the plateau who had purchased one of these camels. Early +that morning had come another man, a white man--as he said--who, having +purchased the other, had set forward without delay in the same +direction as the Arab. + +"Did the second man leave no message?" asked the guide. + +The villager replied that the "white man" had left word that those who +followed him were to wait in the village until he returned. He +expected to be back that night with news of great importance. + +Accordingly they halted for the afternoon, and, giving the villagers a +wide berth, camped upon the sand, lighting a fire, upon which they +cooked a meal. + +"And all this time," said Harry, "von Hardenberg lies buried alive, +starving to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"He cannot starve," said he. "I noticed he wore a haversack well +filled with provisions. And I have heard it said that inside the vault +is water; a small spring bubbles up in a great basin, forming a little +fountain." + +"You have seen it?" asked Harry. + +"No," said the man; "but I know what I say is true. And, even were +there no water in the cave, the Prussian carried a water-bottle." + +Harry Urquhart sighed. + +"All this is like a dream," he exclaimed. + +"The scoundrel deserves no better fate," said the guide, hard of heart +and pitiless where his enemies were concerned. + +At nightfall they lay down to sleep, Jim Braid remaining on sentry for +the earlier part of the night. They had small reason to trust the +people of the village, who were not incapable of murdering them in the +night for the sake of their possessions. + +At about ten o'clock Jim was alarmed by a peculiar grating sound quite +near to their camp. The moon had not yet risen, and, though he +strained his eyes in the direction from which the sound had come, he +was able to distinguish nothing. At last he rose to his feet and +walked some little distance from the fire. There he discovered a camel +lying down upon the ground, engaged in chewing a bundle of coarse hay. +The camel had appeared as if by magic. + +Jim returned to the fire, and there to his amazement found Cortes +sitting before the embers. + +"You have returned?" said he. + +"Yes, I have returned." + +"With news?" + +"Of the Black Dog. Yonder in the desert is an ancient temple or +mosque. It stands in an oasis where there are palm-trees, and around +which melons grow. For many years it has been deserted. The sheikh +himself is there." + +"We must awaken the others," said Braid. + +"There is plenty of time," said the man. "He will not move before +daybreak. The night is yet young. We will surround the oasis at +sunrise and take him alive. Fernando must fulfil the oath he has made +to the saints." + +Jim Braid had not such patience. With this news upon his mind he could +not stay idle while Harry and Fernando were asleep. Despite the advice +of Cortes, he awoke them both, and told them what had happened. + +"We must start at once!" cried Harry. + +"There is no haste," said Fernando, with a shrug of his shoulders. +"But, if you wish it, we will go." + +They packed up their camp equipment and provisions, and their reserve +ammunition, and these they loaded upon the camel. Then they set +forward on their way, following a caravan route, whilst a full moon, +red as blood, crept over the horizon and illumined the wasteland like a +lantern. + +In three hours they came to a place where a stone building, surrounded +by a dozen trees, stood forth against the moonlight. Near by a hyena +howled. + +"The sheikh is within," said Cortes. + +Drawing a little distance away, the four held consultation together. +As far as they could make out, there was but one entrance to the +temple, which was half in ruins. For all that, they thought it best to +surround the place, and it was finally agreed that Harry Urquhart +should enter the building, revolver in hand, whilst the other three +guarded the walls to prevent the Arab's escape, should they have +overlooked some other means of exit. + +Leaving his rifle behind, with his revolver ready loaded in his hand, +Harry passed on tiptoe through the entrance and found himself in a +shallow, darkened chamber. + +Though there was no roof to the building, the adjacent palm-trees shut +out the light of the moon, and some seconds elapsed before the boy's +eyes grew accustomed to the semi-darkness. + +As far as he could make out, he was surrounded by high walls. +Scattered here and there about the floor, upon which the sand of the +desert lay like a thick, luxurious carpet, were great cylindrical +boulders, which, in former times, had evidently composed the pillars +that supported the roof. In the shadow of these boulders it was quite +dark, and each shadow was large enough to conceal the form of a man. + +The boy decided to act with caution. With such an opponent as the +sheikh he knew he would be called upon to exercise not only promptitude +but cunning. It had not been without difficulty that he had managed to +persuade the guides to allow him to enter the temple. Fernando, who +was filled with a strong desire for vengeance, had wished for the +honour for himself. But Harry, as the leader of the expedition, would +not give way, agreeing that the moment he fired the elder guide should +hasten to his assistance. + +Ready to fire at a moment's notice, Harry set about a systematic search +of the ruined temple. Starting from the entrance, he worked his way +around the walls, holding as much as possible to the shadows. He +looked behind each boulder, he searched each crevice that appeared +large enough to admit the body of a man. In the end he returned to the +entrance. The place was evidently deserted. + +His first thought was to leave the building, to tell Cortes that he had +been mistaken, that the sheikh was not there; but then he remembered +how seldom the judgment of either of the guides had been at fault, and, +assuring himself that he had overlooked some hiding-place, he began his +search anew. + +He came to a place where a clump of cactus was growing against the +wall, and here he discovered what he had not noticed before. Under the +cactus plant was a little archway, a kind of tunnel, large enough to +admit a man crawling on hands and knees. + +The boy was in two minds what to do. It was one thing to search from +boulder to boulder, ready to fire at a moment's notice; it was another +to go head foremost on all-fours into what might prove to be a trap. +If the Arab was hiding on the other side of the wall, beyond the +cactus-bush--a stroke of the knife, and the matter would be ended. The +boy had need of all the courage he possessed. To go back to Jim and +the two guides would be to confess himself afraid. + +Taking a deep breath, like a man about to dive, he lay flat upon his +face, and as silently as possible worked his way forward through the +sand, which was still warm from the rays of the sun of the preceding +day. + +If there were many holes in the wall such as this, it was well three of +them had remained on guard without. Had all four entered the temple at +once, the sheikh, if he lay anywhere in hiding, had a sure way of +escape. Harry had no means of knowing whether the hole led to the +desert or to an inner room. + +On the other side of the wall it was quite dark. The boy looked +overhead, and was able to see that he was sheltered by a roof--a roof +in which there were great holes, through which he could see the stars. +He could do nothing as yet, until his eyes had grown accustomed to the +darkness. + +For some moments he lay still, his heart thumping against his ribs, +straining his ears to catch the slightest sound. From somewhere quite +near at hand, at first almost imperceptible but gradually growing +louder, came a low, soft, vibrating noise that seemed to proceed from +somewhere under the ground. + +Harry thought he had heard something like it before; he could not +remember where. It was like the droning of a monster bee, or the noise +of a kettle on the point of boiling over, or else the purring of a cat. + +How long the sound continued he was never able to say. It seemed to +him that he lay for an eternity, breathless, waiting for something to +happen, with the sound continuously in his ears. And then he became +aware of two great, yellow eyes, staring in the darkness, immobile, +like flaming lamps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX--The Blood Spoor +============================ + +On the spur of the moment he snatched his revolver, levelled it, and +fired. + +There was a prolonged, piercing shriek, as a dark mass, blacker than +the shadows, sprang high into the air. + +Harry lay quite still; fear at last possessed him. The loud report of +his revolver was still singing in his ears; and, before silence reigned +again, it was as if the whole place, even the very walls, were +possessed of life. + +Dark shadows were moving everywhere. All about the boy were yellow, +staring eyes, that dilated and grew smaller in the darkness. And then +Harry became conscious of a fierce, growling sound. + +As far as he was able to make out, this proceeded from the largest pair +of eyes, immediately before him. And it was this that gave him the +first inkling as to the solution of the mystery: he had crept into a +den of savage beasts. + +The largest pair of eyes drew nearer, and suddenly dropped lower, +almost to the level of the ground. The brute was about to spring. + +There was a snarl. As quick as lightning Harry sprang aside. + +The great beast collided with the wall with such force that the +roof--or as much of it as remained--came down with a crash upon the +ground, and Harry found himself buried in a mass of debris and dust. + +He tried to move, but found he was unable to do so. A heavy beam lay +across his chest. With the exception of his head and shoulders he was +buried in the wreckage. + +As the dust cleared, the place became illumined by the moonshine. On +the sudden disappearance of the roof, the light from without had been +admitted to the darkened chamber. At once Harry was able to see quite +distinctly, and the sight that he beheld was sufficiently alarming to +shake the nerves of even the strongest man. + +Pinned to the ground, unable to move, he found himself in the midst of +a family of leopards. Quite near to him, also half buried in the +wreckage, lay the beast that he had shot--evidently the father of the +family. Six cubs, half-grown, growled and snarled on the other side of +the chamber, and in front of them, her white fangs gleaming in the +moonlight, was the mother leopard, fiercely guarding her young. + +It was she who had hurled herself at the wall, who had brought down the +roof, and who now snarled repeatedly at the boy. It was apparent that +the sudden collapse of the building had given the animal a fright. +Twice she made as if she would advance, and twice drew back towards her +young. + +Harry was not able to fire again. The hand which held his revolver was +pinned down beneath the fallen beam. He could not move his eyes from +the leopard. At the same time, the brute feared to advance. + +A sharp jet of fire--it seemed not two paces from the boy's face--a +loud report, and the leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible +and glorious, fighting the air with its fore feet as if in the throes +of a struggle with an invisible, all-powerful foe. + +.. _`THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, AND GLORIOUS`: + +.. figure:: images/img-208.jpg + :align: center + :alt: THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, AND GLORIOUS + + THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, AND GLORIOUS + +Then the brute came down and lay quite still, shot through the brain by +a bullet from Jim Braid's rifle. + +Quick upon Jim's heels, through the narrow opening in the wall, came +the two guides, Cortes leading the way. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Jim. + +"No," said Harry. "I am not hurt. But get me out of this; I can't +move." + +With quick hands they lifted the beams and rafters that pinned the boy +to the ground, and, a moment after, Harry was on his feet. + +The young leopards gathered together in a corner of the chamber. Then, +one after the other, they sprang over the ruined wall like cats, and +disappeared into the night. + +"The sheikh!" cried Fernando. "Where is he?" + +"I have not seen him," answered Harry. + +"He came here to-day," said Cortes, "and pitched his camp. Look here, +what's that?" + +He pointed to the ground, where lay something that was white as snow. +It was a bone. + +The two boys drew back in horror. Fernando was undismayed. He calmly +picked up the bone and examined it in the moonlight. + +"This is the shin-bone of a camel," said he. "Moreover, of a camel +that was killed to-day. As my brother says, the Black Dog was here." + +"See this!" cried Cortes. "The ground is charred. It was here he lit +his fire." + +All four searched the chamber. Besides the shin-bone, they found other +evidence that could not be disputed: four hoofs and a piece of the +Arab's white flowing robe. + +"Has the man been killed?" cried Jim. + +"It seems that that is so." + +"But the Sunstone!" Harry exclaimed. + +"This evidence," said Fernando, "is indisputable. The Black Dog came +here by day, pitched his camp, and lit his fire. When his fire burned +out he fell asleep. He had had no sleep for forty-eight hours, and +must have been exhausted. It was whilst he was asleep that the +leopards entered. It seems I have been robbed of my revenge." + +Harry looked at the man. + +"So you think," said he, "that the sheikh is dead?" + +Fernando pointed to the strip of the Arab's clothes, and shrugged his +shoulders. "At all events," said he, "the camel he purchased in the +village fell a prey to the leopards." + +"But," exclaimed Harry, "how could the camel have got here. We were +obliged to crawl in on hand and knees." + +Fernando laughed. + +"The leopards slew the camel outside," said he. "They tore it to +pieces, which they dragged in here to play with. Have you never +watched a cat?" + +"Then," cried Harry, "the Sunstone has been lost!" + +"Have patience," said Fernando. "We may find it yet. We will get out +of this place and wait for dawn. When the daylight comes we will +search the ruins. There is no need as yet to despair." + +This advice was good. They went out together, leaving by way of the +little archway half-hidden by the cactus plant. On the sand of the +desert they lay down side by side, and, whilst one acted as sentry, the +others slept. + +As soon as the sun began to rise in the east, Fernando rose to his feet. + +"Come," said he, "we will search." + +They looked everywhere. Under the palm-trees, the sand was all +disturbed where the eight leopards had flung themselves upon the camel. +Around the trunk of one of the trees was a rope which had been gnawed +in half. In the inner chamber of the temple no further evidence was +forthcoming, and this was in part due to the fact that the ground was +covered with the wreckage of the roof. It was the younger guide who +discovered in the outer chamber a drop of blood upon the stones. + +The man evidently considered that he had found a clue of great +importance; but to the two boys it seemed quite obvious that this was +the blood of the camel that had been dragged piecemeal through the +narrow opening. + +"No," said Cortes, shaking his head. "These are small drops of blood. +It is possible the Black Dog is still alive." + +At that he turned upon his heel and set off at a jog-trot across the +plain. When he was a long way off, they saw him waving his arms +frantically, in the highest state of excitement. + +They ran to the place where he was, and found him pointing to the +ground. + +"Look there!" he cried. "I was right. The sheikh has escaped!" + +Sure enough, upon the soft sand was a line of footmarks, leading in the +direction of the plateau. Every now and again the trail was marked by +a small drop of blood. + +Harry asked for an explanation. + +"It is very simple," answered Cortes. "The leopards first attacked the +camel, which was tethered to a palm-tree outside the temple. The Black +Dog was awakened from his sleep and endeavoured to escape. As he fled +from the entrance he must have encountered a leopard. His cloak was +torn, but he escaped, bearing the marks of the leopard's teeth or +claws, probably in his thigh. Wounded, he has gone back to the hills, +knowing that there lies his only chance of safety." + +The man was certain of his facts. Moreover, the evidence of the +foot-marks and the blood spoor was too strong to be denied. + +"Come!" cried Fernando. "He is as good as ours, unless he is only +slightly hurt." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI--The Fox in View +============================= + +Before the heat of the day had arisen, Harry, Jim Braid, and the two +guides had covered many miles across the desert, leaving the Arab +village to their left. All this time it was easy to follow the track +of the sheikh. The Black Dog evidently suffered pain, and progressed +only with the greatest difficulty; for, as they went on, his footsteps +became more irregular, as though he staggered when he walked. + +Indeed, the whole thing was like the hunting of a wounded deer. It is +a well-known fact that all wounded animals take to higher ground, +because there they know they are more likely to be safe, since there +are usually hiding-places in the mountains--crannies in the rocks, and +caves. And besides, it is good to lay down one's life a little nearer +to the stars. + +The desert ended suddenly in a great expanse of scrub, bordering the +plateau, where the ground was stony, and where the foot-marks of the +sheikh were no longer visible. For some miles the two guides held the +track, until they came to a place where the fugitive had halted by the +side of a little stream. Here he had washed and bathed his wounds; he +had torn strips from his clothing, making bandages for himself. He had +gone down upon his knees at the side of the stream and had drunk the +fresh water from his hands. Then he had continued on his way, +invigorated and refreshed, making straight towards the Maziri mountains. + +Soon after that they were obliged to leave the camel to browse upon the +hill-side. The ground had become so steep and broken that the animal +could advance but slowly. They off-loaded the provisions and +ammunition and divided these equally among the party. + +Presently they climbed the lower slopes of the mountains, where the +country was much intersected by strips of forest and dried-up +watercourses, with here and there a patch of sand--a kind of offshoot +of the desert. There was no longer any trail to follow. + +The Black Dog had chosen his way with sagacity, walking upon stony +ground, where his sandals left no marks. For all that both Cortes and +Fernando were confident that they would overtake him. However, to make +the more sure of their victim, they decided to divide their forces, +Harry and the elder man going one way, and Jim and Cortes another. + +Late that afternoon, Harry and his companion had attained a great +height on the ridge of the mountains. Before them extended a great +valley, and it was on the other side of this that they beheld a white +figure moving rapidly from rock to rock, bearing steadily towards the +east. + +The guide lifted his rifle and fired in the air. + +"That is to warn my brother," said he. "He will know the signal. This +time it is you and I who lead the chase." + +He set off running down the mountain-side, springing from boulder to +boulder. There was no foot-path, and the way was almost precipitous; +but the man, though not so sure of foot as his brother, was as agile as +a panther. In fact, it was as much as Harry could do to keep up with +him. The half-caste was all impatience to overtake the fugitive. + +The sheikh was no longer in sight, nor was there any sign of Jim and +the younger guide, when the sun sank beyond the mountains, and the +shadows of night crept into the valleys with the mists. For all that, +Fernando held upon his way until long after dark, until at last Harry +was obliged to call upon him to halt. The boy was utterly exhausted. +Since daybreak that morning they had travelled without a halt, and must +have covered nearly forty miles, over country that was rugged, wild, +and pathless. + +The guide agreed to halt, but would permit no fire. Harry appeased his +appetite with some wild fruit he had procured on the margin of the +desert, and then lay down to sleep. In less than a minute he was +buried in the deepest slumber. + +It seemed to him he had not been sleeping for more than an hour when +the guide took him by the shoulder and shook him lightly. + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"It is still dark," said he. + +"The dawn comes," said the man, as if that clinched the matter once and +for all. + +"Have you not slept?" asked Harry. + +"Does the hound sleep," said Fernando, with a grim smile, "with the fox +in view? Remember, I have sworn to the saints." + +When they had eaten such of the desert fruit as remained over from the +previous day, they set forward on their journey, the guide leading as +before. + +They traversed valley after valley, the guide selecting the route, as +it seemed, by some kind of natural instinct similar to that which will +lead a cat to find its way across unknown country. Though during that +morning they saw nothing of the Arab, Fernando was certain that the +Black Dog was not many miles ahead. Every time they reached a +hill-top, he screened his eyes with a hand and examined the surrounding +country for signs of the fugitive, who, they were convinced, was making +back to the Caves of Zoroaster. + +They were returning to the hills of Maziriland by a route that lay far +to the south of that of their former journey. The mountains here were +not so high as those farther to the north. For all that, they were +exceedingly desolate and rugged. They were in a land where nothing +appeared to live. There were no villages; neither cattle nor sheep +grazed upon the lowlands. + +At midday the guide caught sight of the sheikh, still bearing towards +the south-east. His white robes were conspicuous at a distance. + +On the opposite side of the valley in which they found themselves, the +man was hurrying forward along a ledge that did not appear to be more +than a few feet across, that hung--as it were--between earth and sky. +Beneath this ledge, the smooth face of a precipice dropped sheer to the +depths of the valley; above, the same inaccessible cliff continued, +rising upward to the clouds. + +"If Cortes were only here," said the half-caste, "the task would be +easy; the Black Dog would be ours." + +"Where is your brother?" asked Harry. + +"I am inclined to think he is somewhere toward the north. For the last +three days the wind has been blowing from that direction. Had he been +to the south he must have heard the shot I fired, in which case he +would have caught us up." + +"Perhaps," said Harry, "he returns by the way we came." + +"It may be," said the guide. "Sooner or later, he will discover his +mistake. Then he will come south; but he and Braid will be many miles +in rear of us. If Cortes were with me now, I could capture the sheikh +before sunset." + +"How?" + +"You see where he is," said the guide, pointing across the valley. "He +walks on the brink of one precipice and at the foot of another. He can +turn neither to the right nor to the left. He must either go straight +on or else turn back. My brother can run faster than you or I. If he +were with us, I would send him down the valley in all haste, to ascend +the mountain-path in advance of the sheikh; whilst I would mount to the +path at this end of the valley. Thus the Black Dog would be caught +between us two." + +Harry looked at the great, yawning abyss that arose before them like a +mighty wall. The figure of Bayram was not more than two miles away. +In mid-valley was a stream that flowed through a narrow strip of +grassland, upon which it would be possible to run. + +"I may not be able to run as fast as your brother," said he, turning to +the guide, "but I think I can overtake the sheikh." + +Fernando laughed. + +"I think so too," said he. "As for me, though I can climb for many +hours, I am no runner on the flat. Do you, therefore, set forth upon +your way. At the foot of the valley you will see that the precipice +ends; a spur of rock juts out. If you reach that place before the +sheikh, you will be able to climb up to the path at the top of the +precipice. There you will lie in wait for him. I will follow in his +rear. He will be caught between two fires." + +As there was little time to lose, Harry was not slow to obey the man's +injunctions. Side by side they climbed down into the valley, and there +they separated, Fernando going to the north, Harry Urquhart setting out +in the opposite direction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII--Between Two Fires +================================ + +In less than an hour Harry drew level with the Arab. The progress of +the Black Dog was necessarily slow. In the first place, he still +suffered from his wound; in the second place, the path he followed was +in places so narrow as to be dangerous, and he was obliged to proceed +with the utmost caution. Harry, on the other hand, had been able to +run as fast as his legs could carry him by the side of the stream that +rushed down from the mountains. + +The boy paused for breath and looked about him. Though he and the +sheikh were making for the same point, in regard to which they were +level with one another, there was more than a mile between them. In +other words, that was the distance that separated the precipice from +the stream in mid-valley. Harry looked up and saw Fernando far in +rear. He had already gained the path at the top of the abyss, and was +following with all dispatch upon the heels of the fugitive. + +The Black Dog stopped. His small white figure seemed to be crouching. +Harry, with the aid of his field-glasses, tried to make out what the +man was doing. + +At that moment there came a quick, hissing sound within a fraction of +an inch of the boy's ear, and a bullet buried itself deep in the ground +not fifteen yards away. + +Without a doubt, the sheikh now realized to the full the danger in +which he stood. He saw that he was rapidly being cut off from all +means of escape. There was nothing that could save him but his surety +of aim, and at that distance it was no easy matter to hit a mark +several hundred feet below him. + +When a rifle is fired downward from a great height, what is known as +the "trajectory", or flight, of the bullet is affected, and in +consequence the line of sight is not wholly accurate. This may have +been sufficient to account for the failure of the Arab's shot; but in +any case, to put a bullet within an inch of the target at so great a +range proved him a marksman of the greatest skill. + +When he saw that he had missed he hurried on his way, hoping against +hope to reach the spur in advance of Harry Urquhart. + +The boy was determined that the fugitive should not escape. He cared +little or nothing for the life of Bayram, but at all costs he meant, if +possible, to recover the Sunstone. He was never able to forget that, +all this time, von Hardenberg was shut up alive in the silent vault, in +the very heart of the mountain. + +Running as if his life depended on his efforts, he dashed down the +valley. Three times the Black Dog fired, and each time the bullet flew +within a hand's-breadth of its mark. + +On gaining the spur, Harry clambered to the southern side, where he was +out of sight of the fugitive, who was now too far away to fire. +Slinging his rifle across his shoulder, hand over hand the boy climbed +up the rocks, and at last gained the pathway which formed a little +ledge, or terrace, upon the face of the great abyss. + +He walked forward stealthily. On his right hand a rock arose, +inaccessible and smooth as a plate of steel, whilst on the left it +dropped sheer into the shadowy depths of the valley from which he had +come. Far below him, the stream that he had followed looked like a +little silver thread glittering in the sunlight. + +He knew that he must find some kind of cover. If he came face to face +with Black Dog on that narrow path he would have little chance of +living. A rifle in the sheikh's hands, at a point-blank range, was +more an implement of execution than a weapon of defence; and, besides, +the Black Dog was known to be a man of prodigious strength. + +As the boy went upon his way he looked forward eagerly, hoping to find +some rock or boulder behind which he could hide and await the approach +of the Arab. But the path was bare, not only of vegetation, but of +stones and fragments of rock. It was as if some mighty hurricane had +swept the mountain-side, brushing all obstacles from the narrow ledge, +sweeping the place as clean as the pavement of a street. + +Presently the path turned a sharp angle. The cliff stood folded back +in the shape of the letter W. From the corner, Harry was able to see, +not only the other extremity of the W, but also the smaller salient +which formed the centre of the letter. It was then that the complete +success of their enterprise was made apparent. + +At the corner of the southern extremity was Harry, and at the northern +stood the guide, his rifle in his hand. Between them the face of the +precipice was folded back in two re-entrant angles. Everywhere the +abyss was smooth and perpendicular, both above and below the pathway. +It was possible to climb neither up nor down. Escape was beyond all +question. And midway between Harry Urquhart and the half-caste guide, +standing upright at the central angle, was Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog +of the Cameroons, like a great bird of prey perched above its eyrie. +Whatever the issue of this business was to be, it was certain that for +the present the fugitive was caught. + +Neither was it possible for him to conceal himself. If he turned back, +he was exposed to fire from the guide; if he went forward, he was +covered by the rifle of Harry. + +He stood motionless for some seconds, as if deliberating in his mind +what was best to do. Then, with a slow and measured step, he walked +towards the boy. + +Harry waited till the man had come within twenty yards of him; then he +raised his rifle to his shoulder and directed the sights full upon the +Arab's heart. To his amazement, the Black Dog stood stock-still. + +Harry was about to press the trigger when, for two reasons, he +desisted. Firstly, the thing smacked of a cold-blooded murder, since +the sheikh had made no show of resistance; secondly, if he fired and +killed the man, his lifeless body would pitch headlong into the abyss. +In that case they might not be able to recover it, and thus the +Sunstone would be lost. + +Suddenly the sheikh raised his rifle above his head, and cried aloud to +the boy in English. + +"Fire," said he, "and kill me! I am at your mercy; my life is in your +hands. See here, this rifle--it has served me well for twenty years. +It is known from Lagos to Port Stanley, even as far south as the Kasai. +Behold, there goes my best and truest friend." + +At that he cast the weapon to the depths below. + +"You surrender?" cried Harry, coming forward. + +"I can do nothing else," replied the sheikh. "As you ran in the valley +I fired my last cartridge. Still, I am not yours so long as I am +alive." + +With these last words, he turned sharply and looked behind him, as if +he had heard something. There, sure enough, was Fernando, crawling on +hands and knees, his head and shoulders just appearing around the +central angle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII--On the Brink of Eternity +======================================== + +The Black Dog folded his arms, threw back his head, and laughed. + +The guide came wriggling like a snake, working himself forward upon his +elbows and his knees, almost flat upon his face, which was little +raised above the ground. His dark features were expressionless. Upon +his countenance was visible no sign of triumph, no elation at a victory +that was well within his grasp. As he came nearer and nearer his dark +eyes never moved from the stern face of the Arab sheikh. + +Then slowly he rose to his feet, bringing the butt of his rifle into +the hollow of his shoulder. + +"Bayram," said he in a deep voice, "make your peace with the Almighty +God, for you are about to die!" + +The Arab extended his arms in the direction of the east. Beyond the +mountains, on the far horizon, the sun was setting in a glow of crimson +glory. The great hills stood forth before the sunset like the thrones +of giants, their irregular, rugged outline a deep leaden colour where +they were not wrapped in gathering clouds. + +The Black Dog lifted his voice so that it carried far across the valley. + +"Without repentance," said he, "I go into the shades. I have sometimes +acted unwisely, for human flesh is weak, and man cannot have the wisdom +of Allah, whose prophet is Mohammed. But for such false steps as I +have taken I am ready to pay the price. Come, fire, and have done with +it! I do not fear to die." + +There was no question that Fernando was about to fire, when Harry cried +out in the nick of time. + +"The Sunstone!" he exclaimed. + +The sheikh turned to the boy and smiled, his white teeth showing in his +beard. Then he thrust a hand into a pocket and drew forth the +Sunstone, which he held to the light, so that the yellow jade caught +the reflection of the dying sun and looked like the most magnificent of +opals. + +"Here it is," said he. And then to the guide: "Will you take this in +exchange for a human life? I am ready to strike a bargain." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"Do as he bids you," pleaded Harry, who was not only anxious to recover +the Sunstone at every cost, but who had no liking for this business, +which was in the nature of a common execution. + +"I have sworn an oath," said the guide in measured tones. "The Black +Dog must die." + +With these words he approached, until he was quite near to the Arab. +It was no doubt his intention to shoot the man and then grasp his robes +to prevent his lifeless body from falling over the cliff. Be that as +it may, he failed in his enterprise, for the sheikh was possessed of +the supple activity of a tiger as well as the cunning of a wolf. + +Fernando raised his rifle. He was then not ten feet from the Arab. +And even as he pressed the trigger the Black Dog sprang upon him, +striking the barrel of the rifle upward, so that the shot flew high in +the air. + +A second later the two men were locked together in a death-grip, each +struggling desperately for life. + +The sheikh was the stronger of the two, but he suffered from his wound. +Not only was he somewhat weakened by loss of blood, but his right leg, +the flesh of which had been torn by the leopard's fangs, was stiff and +aching from the great fatigue of the journey across the mountains. + +Harry put down his rifle and came forward in all haste, his revolver in +his hand. He desired to give what help he could to the guide, but this +was no easy matter. + +The two men were like fighting cats. First one was on the top and then +the other. They rolled over and over so rapidly, and were so closely +interlocked, that it was almost impossible to tell which was the guide +and which the sheikh. Sometimes they struggled at the foot of the +cliff; at others they were on the very edge of the precipice, and both +seemed in imminent danger of falling into the depths. + +"Help!" let out Fernando in the voice of one who choked. "He fights +like a demon possessed!" + +Harry, in desperation, hurled his weight upon the two, and at once +found his strength of small avail. He was tossed hither and thither, +and was more than once in danger of being hurled over the edge. + +At last, not without difficulty, he disengaged himself, recognizing +that he did no further good than risk his life. He saw also that his +revolver was quite useless. He dared not fire, even at the closest +range. + +It was then that Fernando somehow managed to release the other's hold, +and sprang sharply to his feet. The sheikh was on him again like a +wild cat, and had him by the throat. Putting forth the whole of his +colossal strength, the Black Dog forced the other backward. + +Nearer and nearer to the edge of the precipice the four feet shuffled, +until the guide actually tottered on the brink. + +Harry stood by--a helpless spectator, petrified with horror. The +terror of the situation had taken his breath away. It was as if he had +lost all power and all sensation of his limbs. Then, with a loud cry, +Fernando, hurled from the Black Dog's powerful grasp, plunged feet +foremost over the cliff. + +And as he fell he grasped the air with frantic, clutching hands, in an +agony of brief despair. His left fist closed upon nothing, but his +right laid hold upon the long, flowing robes of his opponent. + +On the instant the Black Dog was jerked off his feet. He tried to save +himself by throwing his weight backward--a quick, spasmodic action that +proved that he retained his presence of mind to the end. He was too +late, however. His shoulder struck the tooth-like edge of the +precipice--and, in a flash, he was gone. + +Harry Urquhart felt the strength suddenly go from his knees. Unable +any longer to stand, he sank down into a sitting position on the +narrow, perilous path. His heart was beating like a hammer; for a +moment he thought that he would faint. + +He dared not look down into the abyss. It was all too horrible to +think of. He sat still and listened, while the sun sank beyond the +mountains, and darkness crept into the valley. A great silence reigned +among the hills that was like the silence of the tomb. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV--The Sunstone Found +================================= + +More than an hour elapsed before Harry Urquhart had the power to move. +The whole tragedy had been far more terrible than any nightmare, and +yet he felt just like a little child that awakens suddenly in the +night, to find himself still confronted with those horrid possibilities +that can only occur in dreams. + +Night crept into the valley from the east. The glow in the heavens +died out, and one by one the stars appeared, and a great full moon, +luminous and white. The boy crept to the edge of the precipice and +looked over. He could see nothing; it was too dark to see. The whole +valley was still. + +This silence was fearful in itself. It seemed to Harry that he was the +only living thing in the world. There were no voices in the night; in +the valley there was no sound of bird or beast or human being. + +Harry rose to his feet, and, step by step, aided by the moonlight, +cautiously returned to the spur by way of which he had come. He was +still quite unnerved. He dared not go near the edge of the precipice; +as he advanced he clutched the mountain-side. When he came to the spur +he clambered down among the rocks in such haste that the perspiration +stood in beads upon his brow. And then a feeling of weakness overcame +him again; and, seating himself upon the ground, he endeavoured to +think matters out. + +He tried to realize the full significance of what had happened. +Fernando had fulfilled his oath: he had brought about the death of the +Black Dog of the Cameroons. But he himself had perished also, and the +Sunstone had been lost. And all had happened in the space of a few +seconds, about which it was terrifying even to think. + +Above all else, Harry Urquhart wanted someone to talk to; he wanted to +hear the sound of a human voice. He was still like a child awakened +from a nightmare. The loneliness of this great, howling wilderness was +crushing, overpowering. With his nerves overwrought, his courage +shaken, the eternal silence got the better of his feelings, and +suddenly, burying his face in his hands, he burst forth into tears. + +He knew not why he cried. His tears were not tears of sorrow. He +cried because he had passed through a great ordeal, because he had been +face to face with Death. And, in that sense, every teardrop was the +word of a prayer to the God who controls the destinies of men. + +Then, mastering his emotion, he rose to his feet and went on--he knew +not whither. After a time he came to a stream, and there he stopped, +wondering what to do. + +There was food in his haversack, but he felt no inclination to eat. He +went down on his knees, and drank deeply. The water was very cold. + +When he had quenched his thirst, which was like the thirst that +accompanies a fever, he felt refreshed. He even scorned himself for +having been so weak. It was then that he looked about him. + +He was shut in on all sides by the great inhospitable mountains. Above +was a clear sky, bespangled with a multitude of stars, in the midst of +which the full moon shone down into the valley. Then he saw another +star, solitary, large as a planet, lower than the others. It was a +star that seemed to shine from out of the heart of the mountains. + +It was some minutes before he realized what it was. Then the truth +came upon him as in a flash. It was not a star at all, but a camp-fire +that was burning on the hill-side. + +The thought that he was not alone in this desolate and silent region +was like the nectar of the gods to one who is faint and weary. The boy +cared not in the least who camped on the mountainside; he decided to +find out for himself. If they were savages, they could murder him; it +would matter little to him. If they were friendly, they might allow +him to warm himself by the side of the glowing embers. At any rate he +would hear some kind of human speech. + +It took him three hours to reach the fire, where he found two men, +seated facing one another. A cry of exultation escaped his lips when +he recognized Jim Braid and the younger guide. + +At once Cortes sprang to his feet as if alarmed. + +"Where is my brother?" he asked. + +Harry tried to speak, but was not able to do so. He sank down by the +side of the fire. + +"Some calamity has happened!" + +Harry bowed his head. + +"And the Black Dog?" asked Cortes. + +"He also is dead," said Harry, speaking for the first time. + +"Dead!" cried Cortes, without expression in his voice. + +"Yes," said Harry. "And the Sunstone is lost, and von Hardenberg will +starve to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Cortes seated himself once more upon the ground, extending his hands +towards the fire. There were no tears in his eyes; his voice was +without a tremor. + +"When you feel able to do so," said he, turning his face to Harry, +"will you please tell me what happened." + +Harry related the story from beginning to end. He told how Fernando +and himself had followed the sheikh across the mountains, and of how +they had run the man to earth upon a narrow ledge at the top of an +enormous cliff. He then described the struggle that had taken place, +with its grim and terrible conclusion. + +When the boy had finished speaking, Cortes looked up at the moon. + +"In four hours," said he, "it will be daylight. We can do nothing till +then. When the dawn comes we will search for the bodies." + +At that he lay down upon the ground, but it was evident he had no +intention of going to sleep. + +He had shown little or no emotion on hearing of his brother's death. +There was black blood in his veins, and, with the more savage races, +death is a simple and everyday affair. For all that, there is no +reason to suppose that he did not feel the great loss he had sustained. + +A long time elapsed before Harry, too, was able to sleep. And, when at +last he did so, he was for ever struggling on the brink of an +unfathomable abyss, so that he was little rested when at daybreak he +was awakened by Cortes. + +Without waiting for food, they set out at once upon their way, passing +slowly down the hill-side. They soon reached the stream, and thence +turned to the south. It was Harry who led the way. When he judged +that they were parallel to the place where the tragedy had happened, +they crossed the stream and walked straight for the cliff. + +At the foot of the precipice was a kind of terrace, upon which grew +scattered trees, about the roots of one of which were boulders. Lying +on his back, across one of these rocks, they found the body of the +Black Dog of the Cameroons. + +The two boys looked away whilst the guide examined the body, and then, +stooping, picked up something from the ground. Presently Cortes +touched Harry on the arm. + +The boy turned and set eyes upon the Sunstone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV--A Brother +======================= + +Leaving the body of the wretched man where they found it, they +continued to search among the trees; but nowhere could they discover +any trace of the elder guide. + +"His body cannot be far away," said Harry. "They fell together." + +It was then that, at the sound of a faint cry from somewhere far above +them, all three looked up. And the sight they beheld was appalling. + +Hundreds of feet above the place where they stood, sheltered by a +cranny in the face of the cliff, there grew a gnarled and twisted +shrub, a kind of withered tree. In the midst of this, caught like a +fish in a net, was a man who, even as they watched him, moved, twisting +like a thing in pain. + +Cortes scanned the face of the cliff; but, look where he might, he +could discover no way by which it was possible to ascend to the place +where his brother was suspended in mid-air. + +Running back several yards, he regarded the precipice above the +withered tree. It was equally inaccessible from above. Then he raised +his hands to his mouth and cried out in a loud voice, calling upon his +brother by name. + +The answer came in a voice so weak that Cortes had to hold a hand to an +ear in order to catch the words. + +"I am in pain. My arm is broken. Can you not come to my assistance?" + +The younger brother looked about him in despair. + +"Can nothing be done?" asked Harry. + +"Let me think," said Cortes, and lifted a hand to his eyes. On a +sudden he cried out to his brother. "Can you hold out for two days?" +he asked. + +"For two days!" came the answer. "It is too long." + +"You must!" cried the other. "Take the belt from your waist and bind +yourself to the tree. Then, when your strength is gone, you will not +fall." + +Whilst the elder man obeyed these injunctions, Harry turned to Cortes. + +"What do you intend to do?" he asked. + +"We have no rope," said the guide. "Fernando is at least fifty feet +from the path above, and there is no rope fifty feet in length nearer +to this place than Kano or Sokoto. However, there is--as you know--a +rope-like creeper that grows in the bush. I intend to go back as far +as the jungle." + +"Can you get there in time?" asked Braid, incredulously. + +"My wound is now healed," said the man, "my strength returned. I can +but do my best." + +Cortes looked up again at his brother. + +"Courage!" he cried. "In two days I return." + +So saying, he bounded off upon his way. As they watched him pass down +the valley, springing from rock to rock, it was apparent that he meant +to do all that was humanly possible to effect the salvation of his +brother. Even as they looked, his figure grew smaller in the distance, +and in a few minutes he was lost to view. + +To describe in detail the journey of the younger guide across the +mountains would be tedious. The thing can be summed up in a few words: +it was magnificent, heroic. Mile upon mile he covered without pausing +for breath. For the most part he kept to the valleys, where the +atmosphere was stifling and humid, crossing the mountains only when by +doing so he could cut off several miles. + +He had food with him, but he seldom stopped to eat. Now and again he +drank at a mountain stream, but seemed to grudge the time even for this. + +At sunset he was still bearing onward. He had cast aside the greater +part of his clothing, and the perspiration poured off him, and the +veins stood out upon his temples like knotted strands of cord. For all +that, he went on and on beneath the stars, whilst the moon marched in +the heavens. It was a race for the life of his brother. + +As Cortes hastened on his way, his thoughts continually went back to +the perilous situation in which he had left Fernando, and every thought +was, as it were, a spur to his endeavour. No sooner had he pictured in +his mind's eye that struggling, writhing figure, hanging, as it were, +betwixt earth and sky, than he shot forward with renewed energy, +clenching both fists and teeth in his strong determination. + +At last, breathless, exhausted, he sighted the extremity of the great +West African bush. Through this, forcing his way among the thickets, +so that the sharp thorns tore his naked flesh, he was obliged to travel +for many miles before he found the right kind of creeping plant, and, +moreover, one long enough to suit his purpose. + +To cut this from the tree around which it was twined, and roll it into +a great coil which he suspended around his neck, was the work of not +many minutes; and then he set forth upon his return journey to the +margin of the desert. + +He was already much exhausted, and his load was very heavy. But hour +by hour he struggled onward, leaving the jungle far behind, mounting to +higher altitudes. Nightfall found him still upon his way. Repeatedly +he stumbled, and then, on a sudden, he fell full length upon the ground. + +He lay quite still for several seconds, then rose slowly to his knees, +lifting his eyes and hands towards the stars. For a moment he prayed +silently; and, seeming to gather courage from his prayer, he rose to +his feet and went on. + +Soon after midnight the sky became overcast. A high wind got up and +blew from the mountains, bitter cold after the tropic heat of the bush. +Then the skies opened and the rain came down in sheets. But Cortes +still held on, struggling towards his goal, fighting manfully against +his own failing strength. + +And in the meantime, throughout these two fearful days, Jim Braid and +Harry waited in suspense. They could do nothing to help the man who +hung, hour after hour, upon the brink of the other world. + +Acting on his brother's advice, Fernando had undone the belt around his +waist, and with this had lashed himself to the stoutest branch of the +tree. Words fail to describe the torture he must have suffered; for, +not only did he endure great pain from his broken arm, but he was +tormented by a raging thirst. His cries for water were piteous to hear. + +They had no means of assisting him. They could do nothing but look on +in helplessness, praying for the return of the younger brother. On the +second night the rain came--in torrents, as it can only rain in the +tropics--and Fernando was able to moisten his parched lips by sucking +his drenched clothes. + +Wishing to get nearer to the poor fellow, in the hope that they might +be able to comfort him, at least with words, Harry and Jim Braid +climbed the spur and moved along the ledge at the top of the precipice +until they were immediately above the withered tree. There, lying down +upon their faces, they cried out to him to be of good courage, +reminding him that the dawn approached, that his brother would soon +return. + +Daybreak is the hour when Life is nearest Death. It was shortly before +sunrise that Fernando himself gave up all hope, and called upon God to +take charge of his departing soul. He said that he was quite ready to +welcome Death; he desired nothing more than to have an end to his +misery and suspense. And, even as the words left his lips, the figure +of his brother was seen approaching along the ledge. + +At the feet of Harry Urquhart, Cortes sank, exhausted. The object of +his mission fulfilled, he lost consciousness and drifted into a faint. + +With all dispatch they uncoiled the long, snake-like creeper. Passing +one end over a jutting pinnacle of rock, they lowered the other towards +Fernando. It was more than long enough to reach the place where he lay. + +With great difficulty the poor fellow managed to untie his belt and +make fast the end of the creeper around his waist. And then they had +to wait a long time, until Cortes, who had recovered consciousness, was +able to assist the two boys in hauling up the rope. + +This was no easy matter, since they had neither a good foothold nor +much space upon the terrace. But in the end they succeeded, and the +rescued man lay panting on the ledge. He was immediately given water +to drink; and when he had drunk, a smile slowly overspread his face, +and he looked at the brother who had saved his life. But no word of +gratitude ever passed his lips; his thanks--far more eloquent than +words--were in his eyes. And the dark eyes of a half-caste are the +most expressive and the most beautiful in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI--The Twelfth Hour +=============================== + +Owing to the exhausted state of the two guides, the party could not set +forth upon their return journey to the Caves of Zoroaster until the +afternoon of the following day. + +The powers of endurance of both men had been taxed to the utmost--the +elder, by the terrible ordeal through which he had passed; the younger, +by his almost superhuman efforts. + +In spite of that, Harry Urquhart was all anxiety to be off. He had +often pictured to himself the agony of suspense that all this time von +Hardenberg was being called upon to bear. The boy wondered if the lamp +which the Prussian had taken with him into the vault still burned. If +so, it would shed its light upon the glittering treasure. If it had +gone out, the Prussian was buried in unutterable and eternal +darkness--eternal, since escape was beyond the bounds of possibility. +That, combined with the fearful silence that reigned in the place, with +hope dying in the prisoner's heart as the days rolled slowly by, was +enough--as it seemed to Harry--to drive any man to madness. The boy +found it impossible to forgive his cousin, who had acted so basely from +the first; for all that, he was by no means heartless, and, in any +case, it was his duty to save a human life from so terrible an end. + +As soon as the guides professed themselves able to undertake the +journey, they set off towards the caves. It took them more than two +days to accomplish what the younger guide had done in under twelve +hours, and thence, striking due south-west, they approached the caves +from the opposite direction to that in which they had first entered +Maziriland. + +On this occasion they saw--though they did not come into actual contact +with--several of the Maziri peasants who were working in the cultivated +tracts of country that lay between the mountains and the bush. +Maziriland was very sparsely populated--the race verging on +extinction--and at least two-thirds of the inhabitants were congregated +in the chief town, where they carried on certain industries, their +skill in which they had inherited from the ancients. + +It approached the hour of daybreak when Harry Urquhart and his party +reached the foot of the great flight of steps that led to the entrance +to the caves, where stood the two carved giants. Harry had hurried +forward, closely followed by Braid. The two guides brought up the rear. + +In feverish excitement, three steps at a time, the boy dashed up the +steps between the weird, fantastic statues, and was about to enter the +cave when he remembered that he had no light, and that, since it was +night, the place would be unutterably dark. He had retraced his steps +some distance, with the object of getting some kind of torch, when he +was met by Fernando at the head of the long flight of steps. + +"A light!" he cried. "It is quite dark within." + +Fernando had foreseen this, and in mid-valley had broken a branch from +a cork-tree, which he had damped with rifle oil. This he now lighted +and gave to Harry, who was the first to enter the cave. + +Inside, everything was exactly as they had left it. It was manifest no +one had visited the place since the tragedy of some days before. The +body of the old man lay still at the foot of the altar. At the +farthermost end of the cave the granite wall remained as ever, immobile +and formidable. Harry Urquhart, taking the Sunstone from his pocket, +asked Jim to hold the torch, and himself went to the wheels and turned +them until the characters that showed above the golden bar corresponded +with those upon the Sunstone. + +When he came to the ninth wheel he was so excited that his hand was +shaking. And presently there came the sharp "clicking" sound that they +had heard before, and then the granite rock began slowly to revolve. + +The rock evidently turned upon a pivot. Its motion was like that of an +enormous water-wheel, except that, instead of revolving vertically, it +turned horizontally, the way of the sun. When the centre of the +opening was immediately opposite the altar there came a second "click", +and the rock remained quite still. + +Harry Urquhart, in breathless haste, snatched the torch from the hands +of his friend, and dashed like a madman to the entrance. + +He pulled up in the nick of time, noticing that he stood at the top of +an exceedingly steep and narrow flight of stairs. Had he gone on as +impetuously as he had started, he would have pitched head foremost down +the steps. + +He began to descend more cautiously. The steps were slippery from the +moisture that invaded the rock in which they had been cut. + +He had not descended more than three steps before he was brought to an +abrupt standstill. It was as if his heart ceased to beat. From far +below--so far away as to be quite faint, though unmistakable--there +came to his ears the report of a single shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII--Too Late! +========================= + +The boy hastened down the narrow steps with all the speed he could, Jim +Braid following close upon his heels. The two guides had remained +above. Even yet, both regarded the place with superstitious awe. + +The steps led downward--as it seemed an interminable distance. At +first they were straight; then they were spiral; then they were +straight again and broader. At the bottom was the vault where, as +rumour had it, the great sage himself lay buried, where was gathered +together the treasure that had been given in offerings during his +lifetime, thousands of years before. + +At the foot of the steps, the two boys, side by side, stood spellbound. +The sight that they beheld was at once tragic and marvellous. + +The vault was a rectangular room about thirty feet long and twenty feet +wide. Against the wall facing the steps was a huge stone that +resembled a coffin, supported upon a pedestal, cylindrical in shape, +and about six feet in height. The coffin and the pedestal on which it +stood resembled in shape the letter T. At the foot of the pedestal was +a large marble basin, in the centre of which a small jet of water +played like a miniature fountain, uttering a never-ceasing bubbling +noise that sounded strange in the silence of the vault. + +The walls were of bare rock. On the ceiling was carved a number of +fantastic figures, similar to those that stood on either side of the +great stairway that led to the entrance of the caves. But the wonder +of the vault was on the floor, the whole of which was covered inches +deep in glittering, sparkling gems. There were sapphires, rubies, +diamonds, opals, and pearls. The former worshippers of Zoroaster had +called upon the treasure-houses of the ancient world to pay their +tribute to the genius of the teacher. They had visited the +pearl-fisheries of the East and the ruby-mines of Burma; they had +brought gold from Ophir and emeralds from the land of Punt. + +And in the midst of this dazzling treasure, half-buried in the gems he +had ventured so much to gain, lay Captain von Hardenberg, who, dying by +his own hand, had delivered up the life he had so abused. + +Full length upon his face, upon this brilliant, jewel-bespangled +carpet, was the man who had stolen the Sunstone, who had betrayed his +country, and who, in his own turn, had been betrayed by the very +ruffian he employed. A revolver, still smoking, was in his hand. Carl +von Hardenberg had placed himself at last beyond the reach of human law. + +It is easy to imagine the torment the man had suffered during the last +days of his ill-spent life. The lamp which he had carried with him +from the altar in the cave had long since burned out, and now stood +upon the coffin of Zoroaster. The mental agony he endured must have +driven him near to madness. The darkness, the utter hopelessness of +his terrible situation, the fearful stillness--accentuated rather than +broken by the never-ending bubbling of the fountain--had no doubt +driven him to take his own life in savage desperation. + +He had eaten all his food. He had had water in plenty to drink; but he +had no doubt given up all hope of ever being rescued. + +Both Harry and Jim uncovered their heads. They stood face to face with +the still form of one who had always been their enemy, who had been the +enemy of their country. Von Hardenberg stood now in the presence of +his Maker. + +They buried him at the foot of the great steps that led to the Caves of +Zoroaster; and there Harry Urquhart--who had a little thumb-nail Prayer +Book in his pocket--read the funeral service over the grave, whilst Jim +Braid and the two guides, who had served them so faithfully throughout +these long adventurous weeks, stood by in silent reverence. + +There was now nothing they could do but retrace their steps to the +Cameroons. They could not hope to take all the treasure with them, +since they had no means of carrying it over the mountains and through +the density of the bush. They had travelled thus far to see justice +done, to prevent infinite wealth from falling into the hands of the +enemies of England; and in this enterprise they had been +successful--that much in itself was a reward. None the less, there was +no reason why they should not take with them as many jewels as they +could carry, and accordingly, selecting many of the largest and most +valuable gems, they filled their haversacks and pockets. + +And then, ascending the stairs and using the Sunstone as a key, Harry +closed the vault so that no one--not even the Maziris themselves--could +open it. And there was something almost sacred--or at least +awe-inspiring--in the deed. For centuries the Shrine of Zoroaster had +remained unmolested. Except the successive guardians of the cave, no +human being had ever entered the vault and beheld the glittering +treasure. In bygone times these priceless jewels had been delivered up +in tribute to one of the world's greatest teachers; and now, in one +sense, they were like flowers upon a grave. It was well that the +greater part of the treasure should remain where it had lain throughout +the ages; there was wealth enough for them in what they were able to +carry with them. + +With the return journey to the coast we are not concerned. The party +accomplished the march in fairly easy stages; and travelling southward, +for two excellent reasons, was a far more simple affair than advancing +towards the north: for, firstly, they were able to utilize the rivers +that flowed down from the mountains; and, secondly, the whole country +was now in possession of the British troops. The German Cameroons was +no more. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII--Conclusion +=========================== + +Exactly two months after the arrival of our adventurers at Dualla, Jim +Braid, cap in hand, approached his father's cottage. + +It was about eight o'clock at night, and quite dark. He had come from +London that afternoon, and had walked from the station. Harry, who had +travelled with him, had been met by Mr. Langton's dog-cart. But Jim +preferred to walk; he desired time to brace himself for the interview +which was to take place between himself and the father who had treated +him with such blind and harsh injustice. + +The cottage windows were illumined. Softly he opened the door and +looked in. His mother was seated by the fire. + +A moment later her arms were around his neck. With tears in her voice +she recalled the day when Jim had come to wish her good-bye. He was +then an outcast, one who was wrongly and falsely accused, who had been +turned loose in the world to roam the highways like a common tramp; and +since that day his mother had never doubted his innocence for a moment. + +The head-gamekeeper was one of the old school of parents. In his eyes, +no less than in the eyes of Mr. Langton, the evidence against his son +had been crushing. + +As young Braid held his mother in his arms, the door was opened, and +John Braid, the gamekeeper, dressed in corduroys, entered. When he saw +his son he lowered his head, after the manner of one ashamed. + +"My boy," said he, "I did you a great wrong. I ask your forgiveness, +as indeed I ask God's." + +Jim found it difficult to speak. + +"The evidence was all against me," he stammered. + +"I know it was," said the gamekeeper; "but I might have known that my +son would never have done such a thing. How was I to guess?" he added, +throwing out his hands. "I knew nothing of this Sunstone, nor of +German knavery. I knew nothing of that. All I was told was that +twenty pounds had been stolen, and--as I have said--the evidence was +against you, my lad, and I believed you guilty. I repeat, I should +have known better." + +"Father," said Jim, holding out his hand, "don't let's talk of it any +more. On my part it's all forgotten, and there's nothing to forgive." + +"God bless you, boy!" said John, lifting a hand to his black beard to +hide the emotion he was unable to control. + +"There's something else," said he, after a pause; "I'm getting old." + +"You're not sixty yet!" cried his wife. + +"That's too old for a head-gamekeeper," answered Braid, thrusting his +thumbs into the armholes of his moleskin waistcoat. "A keeper should +be a young man and an active one. Lately I've had rheumatism, and I'm +not up to the night work. I told Mr. Langton this morning that I +didn't think I was fit to carry on the work, and he's given me a +pension, though I never asked for it nor thought of it." + +"You've given up your work!" exclaimed his wife. "You're no longer +head-keeper at Friar's Court!" + +"No," said the man. "I'm not." + +"Who's got the place?" she asked. + +Braid made a motion of his hand towards his son. + +"Jim," said he--and smiled. + +There followed a silence, during which there came a sharp knock upon +the door, John Braid went to the door and opened it, and there entered +Mr. Langton, followed by Harry. + +The Judge held out his hand to Jim. + +"I've come to ask your pardon," said he. "We did you a great injury. +Harry has told me the whole story. He has told me of how he found you +in London, and of the terrible act you were about to commit when he +saved you at the eleventh hour." + +Jim had forgotten that fearful moment on the Hungerford Bridge. He now +lowered his face to conceal his shame. + +"I had forgotten that," he murmured in an undertone, as if to himself. + +"Do not think I blame you, my poor boy," said Mr. Langton. "I blame +only myself for having driven you to such a pass. You have not yet +told me that you forgive me, and I have come here chiefly for that." + +Jim stammered out a few half-coherent words, implying more by the tones +of his voice than by anything else that everything was forgotten. + +"And you have heard," Mr. Langton added, "that you are to be +head-keeper here?" + +"If you please, sir," said Jim, "I think my father can carry on till +after the war. I was thinking I should enlist." + +Mr. Langton again held out his hand, which young Braid took. + +"I was expecting that," said he. "I promise to keep the place open for +you, and to do all I can to help." + +A few moments afterwards, Mr. Langton and his nephew went out. Before +a roaring fire in the Judge's study they seated themselves in +comfortable arm-chairs, and the Judge drew the Sunstone from his pocket. + +"I shall give it to the British Museum," said he. "I have no wish to +keep it any longer. I cannot look at it without realizing the terrible +tragedies that this small piece of jade has brought about." + +He was silent a while, playing with the Sunstone in his hand. + +"Your Arab," said he very quietly, "the Sheikh Bayram, done to death; +wretched, misguided Hardenberg buried alive in that dark and lonely +vault; and all the miles you traversed, all the adventures you passed +through, and the hardships you endured! It's not worth it!" said he, +with a sigh. "Let the treasure lie where it is." + +For all his words, the subject seemed to fascinate him; for, after a +pause, he went back to it again. + +"By my calculations," said he, "this stone is from six to eight +thousand years old. I have known it for not quite ten years, and +during that time it has brought about the death of, at least, five men. +If it could only speak," said he, "of what tragedies could it +tell--tragedies of the ancient world, of the long-forgotten past?" + +With another sigh he got to his feet and stirred the fire into a blaze. + +"And now," said he, "though you have already served your country better +than anyone else will ever know, we can see what can be done in the way +of getting you a commission. In regard to a regiment, have you any +particular choice?" + +"Yes," said Harry at once, for he had already arranged the matter to +his satisfaction; "the Wessex Fusiliers." + + | + | + | + | + | + +.. pgfooter:: diff --git a/old/39185-rst/images/img-120.jpg b/old/39185-rst/images/img-120.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..331e62e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-rst/images/img-120.jpg diff --git a/old/39185-rst/images/img-208.jpg b/old/39185-rst/images/img-208.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd3b93e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-rst/images/img-208.jpg diff --git a/old/39185-rst/images/img-cover.jpg b/old/39185-rst/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aba0302 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-rst/images/img-cover.jpg diff --git a/old/39185-rst/images/img-front.jpg b/old/39185-rst/images/img-front.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e3d7d3d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185-rst/images/img-front.jpg diff --git a/old/39185.txt b/old/39185.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b42c594 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7115 @@ + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost +no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it +under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this +eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Title: Across the Cameroons + A Story of War and Adventure + +Author: Charles Gilson + +Release Date: March 17, 2012 [EBook #39185] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS*** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines. + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + +[Illustration: "DOWN," CRIED THE GUIDE, "FOR YOUR LIFE!"] + + + + + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + A Story of War and Adventure + + + + BY + + CAPTAIN CHARLES GILSON + + Author of "A Motor-Scout in Flanders" &c. &c. + + + + _Illustrated by Arch. Webb_ + + + + BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + LONDON AND GLASGOW + 1916 + + + + _Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ + + + ---- + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER I--Captain von Hardenberg + CHAPTER II--The Sunstone + CHAPTER III--Caught Red-handed + CHAPTER IV--False Evidence + CHAPTER V--The Eleventh Hour + CHAPTER VI--The Pursuit Begins + CHAPTER VII--Into the Bush + CHAPTER VIII--Danger Ahead + CHAPTER IX--The Captive + CHAPTER X--When All was Still + CHAPTER XI--A Shot from the Clouds + CHAPTER XII--The Mystery of the Running Man + CHAPTER XIII--The Black Dog + CHAPTER XIV--Buried Alive! + CHAPTER XV--The Valley of the Shadow + CHAPTER XVI--The Enemy in Sight + CHAPTER XVII--A Shot by Night + CHAPTER XVIII--A Dash for Liberty + CHAPTER XIX--War to the Knife + CHAPTER XX--Honour among Thieves + CHAPTER XXI--The Last Cartridge + CHAPTER XXII--The Conquest of a Colony + CHAPTER XXIII--Attacked + CHAPTER XXIV--The Caves + CHAPTER XXV--The Lock + CHAPTER XXVI--The White Madman + CHAPTER XXVII--The Black Dog Bites + CHAPTER XXVIII--A Race for Life + CHAPTER XXIX--The Temple + CHAPTER XXX--The Blood Spoor + CHAPTER XXXI--The Fox in View + CHAPTER XXXII--Between Two Fires + CHAPTER XXXIII--On the Brink of Eternity + CHAPTER XXXIV--The Sunstone Found + CHAPTER XXXV--A Brother + CHAPTER XXXVI--The Twelfth Hour + CHAPTER XXXVII--Too Late! + CHAPTER XXXVIII--Conclusion + + ---- + + + + Illustrations + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife that missed him by the +fraction of an inch + +The leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible, and glorious + + + + + ACROSS THE CAMEROONS + + + + +CHAPTER I--Captain von Hardenberg + + +Late on a September afternoon, in the year 1913, two boys returned to +Friar's Court by way of the woods. Each carried a gun under his arm, +and a well-bred Irish water-spaniel followed close upon their heels. +They were of about the same age, though it would have been apparent, +even to the most casual observer, that they stood to one another in the +relation of master to man. + +The one, Henry Urquhart, home for his holidays from Eton, was the nephew +of Mr. Langton, the retired West African judge, who owned Friar's Court. +The other was Jim Braid, the son of Mr. Langton's head-gamekeeper, who +had already donned the corduroys and the moleskin waistcoat of his +father's trade. Though to some extent a social gap divided them, a +friendship had already sprung up between these two which was destined to +ripen as the years went on, carrying both to the uttermost parts of the +world, through the forests of the Cameroons, across the inhospitable +hills west of the Cameroon Peak, even to the great plains of the Sahara. + +Harry was a boy of the open air. He was never happier than when on +horseback, or when he carried a shot-gun and a pocketful of cartridges. +As for Jim, he was no rider, but there were few boys of his age who +could hit a bolting rabbit or a rocketing pheasant with such surety of +aim. + +The Judge himself was much given to study, and was said to be a +recognized authority on the primitive races of Africa and the East. For +hours at a time he would shut himself up in the little bungalow he had +built in the woods, where, undisturbed, he could carry out his +researches. He was fond of his nephew, not the less so because Harry +was a boy well able to amuse himself; and where there were rabbits to be +shot and ditches to be jumped, young Urquhart was in his element. + +In Jim Braid, the schoolboy found one who had kindred tastes, who was a +better shot than himself, who could manage ferrets, and who, on one +occasion, had even had the privilege of assisting his father in the +capture of a poacher. Constant companionship engendered a friendship +which in time grew into feelings of mutual admiration. In the young +gamekeeper's eyes Harry was all that a gentleman should be; whereas the +schoolboy knew that in Jim Braid he had found a companion after his +heart. + +The path they followed led them past the bungalow. As they drew near +they saw there was a light in the window, and within was Mr. Langton, a +tall, grey-haired man, who sat at his writing-desk, poring over his +books and papers. + +"My uncle works too hard," said Harry. "For the last week he has done +nothing else. Every morning he has left the house directly after +breakfast to come here. I think there's something on his mind; he +seldom speaks at meals." + +"I suppose," said Braid, "in a big estate like this there must be a good +deal of business to be done?" + +"I don't think that takes him much time," said the other. "He keeps his +accounts and his cashbox in the bungalow, it is true, but he is much +more interested in the ancient histories of India and Asia than in +Friar's Court. He's a member of the Royal Society, you know, and that's +a very great honour." + +"He's a fine gentleman!" said Braid, as if that clinched the matter once +and for all. + +They walked on in silence for some minutes, and presently came to the +drive. It was then that they heard the sound of the wheels of a +dog-cart driving towards the house. + +"That's Captain von Hardenberg," said Braid. + +"I expect so," said the other. "His train must have been late. There'll +be three of us to shoot to-morrow." + +Braid did not answer. Harry glanced at him quickly. + +"You don't seem pleased," he said. + +"To tell the truth, sir," said Braid, after a brief pause, "I'm not. +Captain von Hardenberg and I don't get on very well together." + +"How's that?" + +Jim hesitated. + +"I hardly like to say, sir," said he, after a pause. + +"I don't mind," said Harry. "To tell the truth, my cousin and I have +never been friends. I can't think whatever possessed an aunt of mine to +marry a German--and a Prussian at that. He's a military attache, you +know, at the German Embassy in London." + +The dog-cart came into sight round a bend in the drive. They stepped +aside to let it pass. There was just sufficient light to enable them to +see clearly the features of the young man who was seated by the side of +the coachman. He was about twenty-three years of age, with a very dark +and somewhat sallow complexion, sharp, aquiline features, and piercing +eyes. Upon his upper lip was a small, black moustache. He wore a heavy +ulster, into the pockets of which his hands were thrust. + +"Well, sir," said Jim, when the dog-cart had passed, "we've had a good +time together, what with shooting and the ferrets, but I'm afraid it's +all ended, now that the captain's come." + +"Ended!" said Harry. "Why should it be ended?" + +"Because I can never be the same with that gentleman as I am with you. +Last time he was here he struck me." + +"Struck you! What for?" + +"There was a shooting-party at the Court," the young gamekeeper went on, +"and I was helping my father. A pheasant broke covert midway between +Captain von Hardenberg and another gentleman, and they both fired. Both +claimed the bird, and appealed to me. I knew the captain had fired +first and missed, and I told him so. He said nothing at the time, +though he got very red in the face. That evening he came up to me and +asked me what I meant by it. I said I had spoken the truth, and he told +me not to be insolent. I don't know what I said to that, sir; but, at +any rate, he struck me. I clenched my fists, and as near as a touch did +I knock him down. I remembered in time that he was the Judge's nephew, +the same as yourself, and I'd lose my place if I did it. So I just +jammed both my fists in my trousers pockets, and walked away, holding +myself in, as it were, and cursing my luck." + +"You did right, Jim," said the other, after a pause. "You deserve to be +congratulated." + +"It was pretty difficult," Braid added. "I could have knocked him into +a cocked hat, and near as a touch I did it." + +"Though he's my cousin," said Harry, "I'm afraid he's a bad lot. He's +very unpopular in the diplomatic club in London to which he belongs. +When I went back to school last term I happened to travel in the same +carriage as two men who had known him well in Germany, and who talked +about him the whole way. It appears that he's sowing his wild oats +right and left, that he's always gambling and is already heavily in +debt." + +"I fancy," said Braid, "that a gamekeeper soon learns to know a rogue +when he sees one. You see, sir, we're always after foxes or poachers or +weasels; and the first time as ever I set eyes on Captain von +Hardenberg, I said to myself: 'That man's one of them that try to live +by their wits.'" + +"I think," said Harry, "we had better talk about something else. In +point of fact, Jim, I had no right to discuss my cousin at all. But I +was carried away by my feelings when you told me he had struck you." + +"I understand, sir," said the young gamekeeper, with a nod. + +"At all events, we must make the best of him. We're to have him here +for a month." + +"As long as he doesn't cross my path," said Jim Braid, "I'll not meddle +with him." + +Soon after that they parted, Harry going towards the house, Jim taking +the path that led to his father's cottage. + +In the hall Harry found his cousin, who had already taken off his hat +and overcoat, and was now seated before a roaring fire, with a cigarette +in one hand and an empty wine glass in the other. + +"Hallo!" said von Hardenberg, who spoke English perfectly. "Didn't know +I was to have the pleasure of your company. Where's my uncle?" + +"In the bungalow," said Harry. "During the last few days he's been +extremely hard at work." + +"How do you like school?" asked the young Prussian. + +His manner was particularly domineering. With his sleek, black hair, +carefully parted in the middle, and his neatly trimmed moustache, he had +the appearance of a very superior person. Moreover, he did not attempt +to disguise the fact that he looked upon his schoolboy cousin barely +with toleration, if not with actual contempt. + +"I like it tremendously!" said Harry, brightening up at once. "I +suppose you know I got into the Cricket Eleven, and took four wickets +against Harrow?" + +He said this with frank, boyish enthusiasm. There was nothing boastful +about it. Von Hardenberg, raising his eyebrows, flicked some +cigarette-ash from his trousers. + +"_Himmel!_" he observed. "You don't suppose I take the least interest +in what you do against Harrow. The whole of your nation appears to +think of nothing but play. As for us Germans, we have something better +to think of!" + +Harry looked at his cousin. For a moment a spirit of mischief rose +within him, and he had half a mind to ask whether von Hardenberg had +forgotten his gambling debts. However, he thought better of it, and +went upstairs to dress for dinner. + +The Judge came late from the bungalow, bursting into the dining-room as +his two nephews were seating themselves at the table, saying that he had +no time to change. + +"Boys," he cried, rubbing his hands together, "I've made the greatest +discovery of my life! I've hit upon a thing that will set the whole +world talking for a month! I've discovered the Sunstone! I've solved +its mystery! As you, Carl, would say, the whole thing's _colossal_!" + +"The Sunstone!" cried Harry. "What is that?" + +"The Sunstone," said the Judge, "has been known to exist for centuries. +It is the key to the storehouse of one of the greatest treasures the +world contains. It has been in my possession for nine years, and not +till this evening did I dream that I possessed it." + +"Come!" cried Harry. "You must tell us all about it!" + + + + +CHAPTER II--The Sunstone + + +"Well," said the Judge, pushing aside the plate of soup which he had +hardly tasted, "I don't know whether or not the story will interest you. +It ought to, because it's romantic, and also melodramatic--that is to +say, it is concerned with death. It came into my possession nine years +ago, when I was presiding judge at Sierra Leone. I remember being +informed by the police that a native from the region of Lake Chad had +come into the country with several Arabs on his track. He had fled for +his life from the hills; he had gone as far south as the Congo, and had +then cut back on his tracks; and all this time, over thousands of miles +of almost impenetrable country, the Arabs--slave-traders by repute--had +clung to his heels like bloodhounds. In Sierra Leone he turned upon his +tormentors and killed two of them. He was brought before me on a charge +of murder, and I had no option but to sentence him to death. The day +before he was hanged he wished to see me, and I visited him in prison. +He gave into my hands a large, circular piece of jade, and I have kept +it ever since, always looking upon it merely as a curiosity and a +memento of a very unpleasant duty. Never for a moment did I dream it +was the Sunstone itself. + +"Now, before you can understand the whole story, you must know something +of Zoroaster. Zoroaster was the preacher, or prophet, who was +responsible for the most ancient religion in the world. He was the +first of the Magi, or the Wise Men of the East, and it was he who framed +the famous laws of the Medes and Persians. He is supposed to have lived +more than six thousand years before Christ. + +"The doctrine of Zoroaster is concerned with the worship of the sun; +hence the name of the Sunstone. This religion was adopted by the +Persians, who conquered Egypt, and thus spread their influence across +the Red Sea into Africa. To-day, among the hills that surround Lake +Chad, there exists a tribe of which little is known, except that they +are called the Maziris, and are believed still to follow the religion of +Zoroaster. + +"In the days when Zoroaster preached, it was the custom of his followers +and admirers to present the sage with jewels and precious stones. These +were first given as alms, to enable him to live; but, as his fame +extended, the treasure became so great that it far exceeded his needs. + +"One rumour has it that Zoroaster died in the Himalayas; another that +his body was embalmed in Egypt and conveyed by a party of Ethiopians +into the very heart of the Dark Continent, where it was buried in a cave +with all his treasure. + +"The Sunstone is referred to by many ancient Persian writers. I have +known of it for years as the key to the treasure of Zoroaster. As I +have said, it is a circular piece of jade, bright yellow in colour, and +of about the size of a saucer. On both sides of the stone various signs +and symbols have been cut. On one side, from the centre, nine radii +divide the circumference into nine equal arcs. In each arc is a +distinct cuneiform character, similar to those which have been found +upon the stone monuments of Persia and Arabia. + +"The Arabs are in many ways the most wonderful people in the world. +Their vitality as a race is amazing. For centuries--possibly for +thousands of years--they have terrorized northern and central Africa. +They were feared by the ancient Egyptians, who built walls around their +cities to protect them from the Bedouins--the ancestors of the men who +to-day lead their caravans to Erzerum, Zanzibar, and Timbuctoo. + +"So far as I can discover, the Maziris are an Arab tribe who have given +up their old nomad life. Somewhere in the Maziri country is a group of +caves which no European has ever entered. They are known as the 'Caves +of Zoroaster', for it is here that the sage is supposed to have been +buried. The bones of Zoroaster, as well as the jewels, are said to lie +in a vault cut in the living rock; and the Sunstone is the key which +opens the entrance to that vault. The man, whom in my capacity as a +judge I was obliged to sentence to death, had no doubt stolen it, and +had been pursued across the continent by the Maziri chieftains, who +desired to recover the Sunstone. + +"There is the whole story. A week ago I came across a description of +the Sunstone in the writings of a Persian historian, and that +description led me to suspect that the very thing was in my own +possession. I followed up clue after clue, and this evening I put the +matter beyond all doubt." + +Mr. Langton's two nephews had listened in breathless interest. Harry +was leaning forward with his elbows on the table and his chin upon a +hand. Von Hardenberg lay back in a chair, his arms folded, his dark +eyes fixed upon his uncle. + +"Then," said he, "you have but to get into these so-called 'Caves of +Zoroaster' to possess yourself of the jewels?" + +The Judge smiled, and shook his head. + +"And to get into the caves," he answered, "is just the very thing that, +for the present, it is almost impossible for any European to do. The +Maziri are a wild and lawless tribe. They are indeed so bloodthirsty, +their country so mountainous, and their valleys so infertile, that +hitherto no one has ever interfered with their affairs. Like all the +Arabs, they are a nation of robbers and cut-throats, who lived in the +past by means of the slave-trade, and to-day exist by cattle-stealing +and robbery. The man who tries to enter the 'Caves of Zoroaster' will +have his work cut out." + +"Will you let us see the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Certainly, my boy," said Mr. Langton. "I'll take you both down to the +bungalow to-morrow morning, or--if you cannot wait till then--we can go +to-night." + +"Isn't it rather risky," asked von Hardenberg, "to keep such a valuable +thing out of the house?" + +"The bungalow is always locked," said Mr. Langton, "and I keep the +Sunstone in a cabinet. Moreover, you must remember that nobody knows of +its value. No thief would ever dream of stealing it. It is, to all +appearances, only an inferior piece of jade." + +"But you have money there as well?" said von Hardenberg. + +"Not much," answered the Judge. "Since I do my accounts there it is +convenient to have my cashbox at hand. But it seldom contains more than +twenty pounds--the amount of money I require to pay the men employed on +the estate." + +"What an extraordinary thing," said Harry, still thinking of the +treasure of Zoroaster, "that it should have existed for all these years +and never have been plundered." + +"Not so extraordinary," said Mr. Langton, "when you know the Arabs. The +Maziris, as I have told you, are of Arab descent, though they are not +followers of the Prophet. The sun-worshippers are extremely devout. No +priest of Zoroaster would think of stealing the treasure; that would be +to plunge his soul into eternal punishment." + +"And no one else," asked von Hardenberg, "no Mohammedan or heathen, has +ever been able to enter the vault?" + +"Never," said Mr. Langton, "because the Sunstone is the secret. That is +why, when the Sunstone was stolen, they were so anxious to run the thief +to earth." + +Von Hardenberg knit his brows. He was silent for a moment, and appeared +to be thinking. + +"And you believe you have solved the mystery?" he asked. + +"I know I have," said the Judge. "If at this moment I suddenly found +myself in the Caves of Zoroaster, with the Sunstone in my hand, I could +gain access to the vault." + +Von Hardenberg bit his lip quickly, and then looked sharply at his +uncle. When he spoke, it was in the voice of a man who took little or +no interest in the subject under discussion. + +"I should rather like to see it," he remarked. + +Accordingly, as soon as dinner was finished, they put on their +overcoats, and conducted by the Judge, who carried a lantern, they +followed a path through the woods until they came to the bungalow. + +Mr. Langton unlocked the door and put the key into his pocket. Then he +lit an oil lamp, which presently burned up and illumined the room. They +found themselves in what to all intents and purposes was a library. The +four walls were stacked with books, but the overflow of these was so +great that many were piled upon chairs and in odd corners of the room. +In the centre of the floor-space was a large writing-desk, and near this +a cabinet with several drawers. Lying open on the writing-desk was a +fair-sized cash-box, in which several golden sovereigns glittered in the +light. + +"How careless, to be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "I had no business to +leave my cash-box open. The truth is, I was so excited about this +discovery that I forgot to put it away." + +"And where's the Sunstone?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"I keep it here," said Mr. Langton. + +Going to the cabinet, and unlocking the third drawer from the top, he +took out a large stone and laid it on the table in the light of the +lamp. His two nephews, one on either side of him, leaned forward to +examine this extraordinary relic. + +On one side of the Sunstone were the cuneiform characters already +mentioned by the Judge. On the other was a great deal of writing in the +same primitive language, scratched upon the face of the jade, but so +faint as to be barely legible. + +"It was only with the greatest difficulty," observed the Judge, "that I +managed to decipher and translate this writing. It is in no known +language. Indeed, I would never have been able to make head or tail of +it had I not been a scholar of Sanskrit. This writing is nothing more +nor less than the definite instructions for using the Sunstone for the +purpose of entering the vaults of Zoroaster." + +"What does it say?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"You are told to begin with a certain character and take the others in a +circle 'in the way of the sun'--that is to say, from left to right, as +with the hands of a clock. Before the main vault is a large lock, which +works on the same principle as the modern Bramah lock--a very ancient +device. It consists of nine enormous wheels. The outside, or tyre, of +each of these wheels is adorned with hundreds of cuneiform characters, +all of them quite different. Each wheel must be turned until the +characters visible along a given line correspond with those upon the +Sunstone. Not otherwise can the vault be opened." + +There followed a silence of several moments. The Judge's discovery +seemed so romantic and so astonishing that it was almost impossible to +believe it was true. After a while, it was von Hardenberg who spoke. + +"And now that you have made this discovery," he asked, "what do you +propose to do?" + +"I don't know," said the Judge. "I have no desire to pillage a sacred +shrine. For the present I propose to keep the affair a secret whilst I +continue my researches. There are several points upon which the +historical world desires to be enlightened. Very little is known +concerning the life of Zoroaster." + +"But surely," exclaimed von Hardenberg, "you don't intend to keep this +to yourself!" + +"When I have the whole facts of the case at my finger-tips," said the +Judge, "I will make the result of my investigations known to the +authorities of the British Museum." + +Soon after that they left the bungalow. Before they went to bed that +night von Hardenberg took his cousin aside and looked at him intently. + +"What do you make of it?" he asked. + +"Of the Sunstone?" asked Harry. + +"Yes," said the other. "It seems to me, if the old gentleman wanted to, +he could make himself a millionaire." + +Harry laughed. + +"I don't think Uncle Jack cares much about money," said he. "He looks +at the whole matter from a scientific point of view." + +"No doubt," exclaimed the Prussian. "No doubt. I dare say he does." + +And at that he turned and went slowly up the stairs. + + + + +CHAPTER III--Caught Red-handed + + +Some hours after sunset, on the evening of the following day, Jim Braid +was stationed in the woods, on the look-out for poachers. His father, +John Braid, the head-gamekeeper, was also out that night, keeping watch +in a different part of the estate. A well-known gang of poachers had +been reported in the district, and, the week before, several shots had +been heard as late as twelve o'clock, for which the gamekeepers could +not account. + +The night was cold and foggy, and Jim wore the collar of his coat turned +up, and carried his gun under his arm, with his hands thrust deep into +his breeches pockets. + +He was moving along the edge of the coverts, which lay between Mr. +Langton's bungalow and the house, when suddenly he became conscious of +footsteps approaching stealthily through the woods. Without a moment's +thought he dropped flat upon his face, and lay close as a hare, +concealed in a clump of bracken. From this position he was able to see +the path by which the intruder approached; he could also command a view +of the windows of Friar's Court, several of which were illumined. + +The dark figure of a man came from among the trees. Jim, taking his +whistle from his pocket, put it to his lips, and was about to sound the +alarm which would bring his father and the other keepers to the spot, +when he was arrested by the man's singular appearance. + +This was no common poacher. He wore a heavy fur overcoat, and carried +in his hand--not a gun--but no more formidable a weapon than an +umbrella. On his head, tilted at an angle, was a white bowler hat. + +Jim Braid was in two minds what to do, and was even about to show +himself to the stranger and ask his business, when the front door of the +house opened, and he made out the figure of Captain von Hardenberg +silhouetted against the light in the hall. Jim had no particular desire +to eavesdrop. Still, as we know, he disliked and mistrusted the +Prussian; and, besides, the secretive manner in which the stranger was +careful to keep in the shadow of the trees had already aroused his +suspicions. + +When the man with the white hat saw von Hardenberg, he whistled softly, +and went forward a little towards him. They met a few yards from where +Jim Braid was hiding. The stranger at once held out a hand. Von +Hardenberg refused to take it. + +"I knew you'd come here," said he. "Can't you leave me alone?" + +"You're four months overdue, Captain von Hardenberg," answered the +other. "My interest is increasing day by day. You owe me nearly four +thousand pounds!" + +"Well, I can't pay," said von Hardenberg. "And there's an end of it." + +"Captain von Hardenberg," said the man, who spoke English with a strong +German accent. "I am sick of you. In a word, I have found you out. You +desire the services of a spy--one who has access to valuable +information--and you come to me, Peter Klein, even myself, who as the +butler of a cabinet minister have many opportunities of reading letters +and overhearing the consultations of those who are suppose to govern +these sleepy, fog-begotten islands. You are paid from Berlin, and you +are paid to pay me. And what do you do with the money? Gamble. In a +word, you play cards and lose money which by right is mine, which I--not +you--have earned. Then you beseech me to hold my tongue, promising me +that you will repay me with interest as soon as ever you have inherited +your uncle's estates. This, I find, is a lie. Your uncle has another +nephew, just as likely to inherit his capital as you. You play with me. +But I hold you in the hollow of my hand. Remember, I have only to +report you to Berlin, and you are ruined, once and for all." + +Von Hardenberg was silent for some moments. Then he spoke in a quick, +jerky voice. + +"Look here," said he; "it's no good. This very evening, knowing that +you were coming, I made a clean breast of it to my uncle. I told him +that I was four thousand pounds in debt to a money-lender, and that, if +I couldn't pay, you would come down upon me. I suppose you don't mind +that. I couldn't tell him you were a Government spy disguised as a +butler in a private house. And what do you think he said?" + +"I have not the least idea," said the other. + +"He told me," said von Hardenberg, "that he would cut me off with a +shilling!" + +Mr. Peter Klein was heard to gasp. Thrusting his hat well back upon his +head, he threw out his hands and gesticulated wildly. + +"Then, you're a thief!" he cried. "What it comes to is this: you have +embezzled Government money. I have given the Wilhelmstrasse valuable +information, and I have never received a penny." + +"Do what you like," answered von Hardenberg. "I cannot pay." + +"I'll have you court-martialled!" the other cried. "The Wilhelmstrasse +will be on my side. You have made a fool of me." + +Von Hardenberg grasped the man by the wrist. + +"Listen here," said he. "Can you wait a week?" + +"Yes. I can. But why?" + +"Because I know how I can get hold of the money, though it will take +some getting. You had better go back to London. I promise to call at +your office within a few days, and then I shall have something to tell +you." + +Peter Klein turned the matter over in his mind. As long as there +remained a chance of getting his money he thought it worth while to take +it. For all his threats, he knew enough of the Secret Service +department in the Wilhelmstrasse in Berlin to know that in a fight +against a Prussian military attache he would stand but a poor chance. +However, he was cunning enough to point out to von Hardenberg that the +Wilhelmstrasse might think that the services of Peter Klein might +possibly be valuable in the future. Then, he went his way, walking +quickly through the woods in the direction of the railway station. As +for von Hardenberg, he returned to the house; and no sooner was he gone +than Jim Braid got to his feet. + +The young gamekeeper had been able to understand only a third of what +had been said, for they had lapsed from German into English, and back to +German again. But, that night--or, rather, early the following +morning--when he went to bed, he thought over the matter for some time, +and had half a mind to tell his father. However, in the end he came to +the conclusion that it was no business of his, and slept the sleep of +the just. + +The following afternoon he was engaged in driving into the ground a +series of hurdles to keep the cattle from the pheasant coverts, when he +was approached by Mr. Langton. + +"Hard at work, Jim?" asked the Judge. + +"Yes, sir," said Jim, touching his cap. "These are the old hurdles we +brought up from Boot's Hollow." + +"That's a useful weapon, anyhow," said the Judge, indicating the crowbar +with which Jim was working. + +"Yes, sir, it's a handy tool, and sharp in the bargain." + +At that the Judge wished the boy "Good-night!" and went his way towards +the house. Hardly had he departed than Captain von Hardenberg brushed +his way through some thickets near at hand, and approached the young +gamekeeper. He must certainly have overheard the conversation that had +passed between Jim Braid and the Judge. + +"Braid," said he, "would you mind lending me that crowbar?" + +"I've finished with it to-night, sir," said Braid, "but I shall want it +to-morrow morning." + +"I'll let you have it back by then," said the other. And taking the +unwieldy tool from Jim's hands, he walked with it towards the house. + +No sooner was he out of sight, however, than he dropped down upon a knee +and looked furtively about him, as if to satisfy himself that he was not +observed. Then he thrust the crowbar down a rabbit-hole, the mouth of +which he covered over with several fronds of bracken. That done, he +walked quickly towards the house. + +That night, towards midnight, when everyone else in Friar's Court was +sound asleep, Captain Carl von Hardenberg sat, fully dressed, at the +foot of his bed with a cigar between his lips. He had taken off his +dress-coat and put on an old Norfolk jacket. On his feet he wore long +gum-boots, into which he had tucked his trousers. He sat looking at the +clock, which was but dimly visible upon the mantelpiece through the +clouds of tobacco-smoke with which the room was filled. + +Presently the clock struck twelve, and at that von Hardenberg rose to +his feet and went on tiptoe to the door. Without a sound he passed out, +walked quickly down the passage, and descended the back stairs to the +kitchen. With nervous hands he opened the scullery door, and then +paused to listen. Hearing no sound, he stepped quickly into the yard. + +He walked rapidly past the lawns which lie between Friar's Court and the +woods. Once inside the woods, he immediately sought out the path that +led straight to the bungalow. He had some difficulty in finding the +rabbit-hole in which he had hidden the crowbar, and only succeeded in +doing so with the aid of a lighted match. It was the flare of this +match that attracted Jim Braid, who was again on duty in this part of +the estate. + +Von Hardenberg, the crowbar in his hand, approached the bungalow. With +all his strength he drove the crowbar between the door and the jamb, and +with one wrench broke open the lock. + +In his uncle's study he lit the oil lamp that stood upon the central +table. He was surprised to see that the Judge had again left his +cash-box on the desk. The cash-box, however, was not his business; he +was determined to possess himself of the Sunstone. + +He had provided himself with a bunch of skeleton keys. Those whose +business it is to employ Government spies are not infrequently provided +with such things. After several futile attempts he succeeded in opening +the third drawer in the cabinet. Then, with the precious stone in his +hand, he rushed to the lamp and examined the Sunstone in the light. + +"Now," he cried--he was so excited that he spoke aloud--"now for the +German Cameroons!" + +And scarcely had he said the words than he looked up, and there in the +doorway was Jim Braid, the gamekeeper's son. + +"Hands up!" cried Braid, bringing his gun to his shoulder. + +Captain von Hardenberg looked about him like a hunted beast. + +"Don't be a fool!" he exclaimed. "You know who I am!" + +"Yes, I do," said Braid; "and you're up to no good. Hands up, I say!" + +Von Hardenberg held up his hands, and then tried to laugh it off. + +"You're mad!" said he more quietly. "Surely you don't imagine I'm a +thief?" + +"I'm not given much to imagining things," said Braid. "All I know is, +you broke in here by force." + +As he was speaking, before the last words had left his mouth, von +Hardenberg, with a quick and desperate action, had seized the gun by the +barrel. There followed a struggle, during which the gun went off. + +There was a loud report and a piercing cry, and Jim Braid fell forward +on his face. Even as he rolled over upon the ground, a black pool of +blood spread slowly across the floor. + +The Prussian went to the door and listened. He saw lights appear in the +windows of the house, and one or two were thrown open. Near at hand he +heard the strong voice of John Braid, the keeper, shouting to his son. +On the other side of the bungalow, an under-gamekeeper was hurrying to +the place. + +Von Hardenberg's face was ashen white. His hands were shaking, his lips +moving with strange, convulsive jerks. + +He went quickly to the body of the unconscious boy, and, kneeling down, +felt Braid's heart. + +"Thank Heaven," said he, "he is not killed." + +And then a new fear possessed him. If Jim Braid was not dead, he would +live to accuse von Hardenberg of the theft. The Prussian stood bolt +upright, his teeth fastened on his under lip. The voices without were +nearer to the house than before. He had not ten seconds in which to +act. + +Seizing the cash-box, he laid it on the ground and dealt it a shivering +blow with the crowbar. The lid flew open, and the contents--a score of +sovereigns--were scattered on the floor. These he gathered together and +thrust into the pockets of the unconscious boy. Then he took the +crowbar and closed Jim's fingers about it. It was at that moment that +John Braid, the gamekeeper, burst into the room. + +"What's this?" he cried. + +"I regret to tell you," said Captain von Hardenberg, "that your son is a +thief. I caught him red-handed." + + + + +CHAPTER IV--False Evidence + + +In less than a minute the bungalow was crowded. Close upon the +head-gamekeeper's heels came one of his assistants, and after him Mr. +Langton himself and Harry, followed by several servants from the house. + +When John Braid heard von Hardenberg's words, accusing his son of theft, +it was as if a blow had been struck him. He looked about him like a man +dazed, and then carried a hand across his eyes. Then, without a word, +he went down upon his knees at his son's side and examined the wounded +boy. + +"He's not dead," said he in a husky voice. "I can feel his heart +distinctly." + +It was at this moment that the Judge rushed into the room. His bare +feet were encased in bedroom slippers; he was dressed in a shirt and a +pair of trousers. + +"Whatever has happened?" he exclaimed. + +He repeated the question several times before anyone answered, and by +then the room was full. The chauffeur was sent back post-haste to the +stables, with orders to drive for a doctor. + +"How did it happen, John?" repeated Mr. Langton. + +But the gamekeeper shook his head. He had the look of a man who is not +completely master of his senses. + +The Judge regarded his nephew. + +"Carl," said he, "can you explain how this--accident occurred?" + +"Certainly!" said von Hardenberg, who now realized, that to save +himself, all his presence of mind was necessary. + +"Then," said the Judge, "be so good as to do so." + +"After my yesterday's interview with you," von Hardenberg began, in +tones of complete assurance, "as you may imagine, I had several letters +to write, and to-night I did not think of getting into bed till nearly +twelve o'clock. Before I began to undress I went to the window and +opened it. As I did so I saw a man cross the lawn and enter the woods. +As his conduct was suspicious, I took him for a poacher. As quickly as +possible I left the house and walked in the direction I knew the man had +taken." + +"Why did not you wake any of us?" asked the Judge, who was in his own +element, and might have been examining a witness in the box. + +Von Hardenberg, however, did not appear to be the least alarmed. He +answered his uncle slowly, but without the slightest hesitation. + +"For the very simple reason," said he, "that I did not wish to make a +fool of myself. I half expected that the man would prove to be a +gamekeeper." + +"Then why did you follow him?" + +"For two reasons. First, because I wanted to satisfy myself as to who +he was, and, secondly, because a man who has just learnt he is to remain +a pauper for life does not, as a rule, feel inclined for sleep. I wanted +to go out into the air." + +"Well," asked the Judge, "and then what happened?" + +"I was unable to find the man in the woods, until I heard a noise in the +direction of the bungalow. To the bungalow, accordingly I went, as +quickly as I could. I got there in time to see him break open the door +with a crowbar. There is the crowbar in his hand." + +Everyone in the room caught his breath. Such an accusation against Jim +Braid was almost incomprehensible. The boy was believed to be perfectly +honest and trustworthy; and yet, as Captain von Hardenberg had said, +there was the crowbar in his hand. + +"And then?" prompted the judge. + +"And then," the Prussian continued, "I watched him enter the room. I +could see him through the window. He went straight to your desk, took +the cash-box, and burst it open with the crowbar. There is the box +lying on the floor. If you examine it, you will see that I speak the +truth." + +The judge picked up the box and looked at it. + +"You are prepared to swear to this?" he asked. + +"In a court of law," said the other--and never flinched. + +It was the Judge himself who emptied Jim's pockets, and there sure +enough he found the sovereigns which had been taken from the cash-box. + +"I would never have believed it!" he exclaimed. "It's terrible to think +that one of my own servants should have treated me thus!" + +It was then that Harry Urquhart spoke for the first time. He could not +stand by and see his old friend so basely accused and not offer a word +in his defence. + +"It's a lie!" he cried, his indignation rising in a flood. "A base, +unmitigated lie! Uncle," he pleaded, "you don't believe it, surely?" + +The Judge shook his head. + +"It would be very foolish for me," said he, "to give an opinion one way +or the other, before the boy has had a chance to speak in his own +defence. I must admit, however, that the evidence is very strong +against him." + +A hurdle was fetched, upon which a mattress was laid; and upon this the +wounded boy was carried to the house, which was nearer to the bungalow +than his father's cottage. By a strange coincidence, it was one of the +very hurdles that Jim had been setting up that afternoon. + +The doctor, who lived at some distance, did not arrive for an hour. +After a short examination of the patient he was able to give a +satisfactory report. The gun had gone off at too close a range to allow +the shot to scatter, and only about a quarter of the pellets had entered +the boy's side, the rest tearing a great hole in his coat and waistcoat. +The wound was large and gaping, but no artery was touched, and before +they reached the house, and Jim had been laid upon the bed in Harry's +room, the patient had recovered consciousness. + +For all that, it was several days before the doctor would allow him to +see anyone. He was to be kept perfectly quiet, and not excited in any +way. During that time he was attended with the greatest care, not only +by the housekeeper and Harry Urquhart, but by Mr. Langton himself. + +At the end of a week, a naturally strong constitution, and the good +health resulting from a life that is lived in the open air, had done +their work, and Jim was allowed to get up. It was soon after that that +the Judge heard the case in his dining-room, where, seated at the head +of the table, pen in hand, he might have been back in his old place in +the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. + +Jim Braid--who, in very truth, was the prisoner in the dock--was seated +on a chair, facing the Judge. On either side of the table were those +whom Mr. Langton proposed to call as witnesses--namely, Captain von +Hardenberg, John Braid, and the under-gamekeeper. + +The face of the prisoner in the dock was white as a sheet. Harry +Urquhart stood behind his uncle's chair, regarding his old friend with +commiseration in his eyes and a deep sympathy in his heart. + +Von Hardenberg's evidence differed in no material points from what he +had said before. Indeed, he played his cards with almost fiendish +cunning. The circumstantial evidence was all against the boy. The +Judge had not yet discovered that the Sunstone was missing. There was +no doubt that both the door of the bungalow and the cash-box had been +broken open by the crowbar--moreover, the very crowbar which the Judge +himself had seen in Jim's hands on the afternoon of the crime. Neither +John Braid nor any other gamekeeper could do anything but bear out the +testimony of von Hardenberg. When they entered the bungalow the boy's +guilt had seemed manifest. + +In his own defence Jim could state as much of the truth as he knew. He +said that he had seen von Hardenberg break into the bungalow; he swore +that he had lent him the crowbar that very day. Asked why he supposed +the Judge's nephew had become a burglar, he was unable to give an +answer. From his position he had not been able to see into the room; he +had not the slightest idea what von Hardenberg did immediately after +entering. + +All this the Judge flatly refused to believe. He protested that it was +ridiculous to suppose that a young man of von Hardenberg's position +would rifle a cash-box, containing about twenty pounds. In Mr. +Langton's opinion, the case was proved against the boy; he could not +doubt that he was guilty. He said that he would refrain from +prosecuting, since John Braid had served him faithfully for many years, +but he was unwilling any longer to employ Jim on the estate. + +When Mr. Langton had finished, John Braid asked for permission to speak, +and then turned upon his son with a savage fierceness that was terrible +to see. He disowned him; he was no longer a son of his. He pointed out +the benefits Jim had received at the hands of Mr. Langton, and swore +that he had never dreamed that such ingratitude was possible. As far as +he was concerned, he had done with his son, once and for all. He would +blot out his memory. Henceforward Jim could fend for himself. + +Still weak from his wounds, and with a far greater pain in his heart +than ever came from physical hurt, the boy rose to his feet and slowly +and in silence left the room. He went to his father's cottage, and +there saw his mother, from whom he parted in tears. Then, shouldering +the few belongings he possessed, done up in a bundle that he proposed to +carry on the end of a stick, he went his way down the drive of Friar's +Court. + +He had not gone far before he heard footsteps approaching, and, turning, +beheld Harry Urquhart, running forward in haste. The boy waited until +his friend had come up with him. He tried to speak, but found that +impossible. Something rose in his throat and choked his power of +utterance. + +"You believe in me?" said he at last. + +"I do," cried Harry, "and I always will! I know that you are innocent!" + +"Thank you for that, sir!" said Jim. "I can go my way with a lighter +heart." + +"Where are you going?" asked Harry. + +"I don't know, sir, and I don't think I care. Anywhere, so long as I +can get away from this place where I am suspected and despised!" + +"Have you any money?" asked Harry. + +Jim shook his head. + +"Here you are. Take this. It's all I have." And Harry thrust into his +friend's hand a five-pound note. + +Jim hesitated to take it; but in the end he did so, folding it carefully +and putting it into his waistcoat pocket. + +"God bless you, sir!" said he. + +"I'll make it my life's work," cried Harry, "to prove your innocence. +I'm confident I will succeed in the end. For the present, good-bye!" + +"Good-bye!" said the other. He dared not look young Urquhart in the +face, for his eyes were filling fast with tears. + +Then he went his way, throwing himself upon the mercy of the world, with +life before him to be started all anew. Under his own name, and with +his old surroundings, he was disinherited, disowned, and dishonoured. +He must find some new employment. He must endeavour to forget and to +live down the past. + +At the gate of the drive he came into the highroad, and, turning his +face towards London, set forward, walking as quickly as he could. + + + + +CHAPTER V--The Eleventh Hour + + +The following day Captain von Hardenberg left Friar's Court. He had +more reasons than one to be anxious to return to London. + +The robbery and the outrage at the bungalow had sadly interrupted Mr. +Langton's studies. Nearly a month elapsed before the Judge took up his +old researches, and then it was that for the first time he discovered +that the Sunstone was missing. Search where he might, he could find it +nowhere. The evidence was against Jim Braid, and there was no one to +speak up on his behalf, for by then Harry Urquhart had returned to +school. On the night Braid was wounded, only his coat pockets had been +emptied, and, since the whole of the money had been recovered, no +further search had been made. The Judge had little doubt in his mind +that, as well as the contents of the cash-box, the boy had stolen the +Sunstone, though poor Jim could have had no idea as to its value. + +Mr. Langton was determined to recover the relic at all costs. He spent +a great deal of money on advertisements, and gave a full description of +Braid to the police; but no trace of the boy could be found. It was not +until Christmas had come, and Harry Urquhart was again at Friar's Court, +that the Judge told his nephew of his suspicions. + +And though Harry was sure of Braid's innocence, he could not convince +the Judge. Mr. Langton's mind was the mind of a lawyer; he based his +conclusions upon the testimony of facts, and never allowed his personal +opinions to influence him in the least. + +Though the police had failed to discover any trace of Braid, Harry was +determined to find him. Since he had now left school, he obtained +permission from his uncle to go to London. He felt perfectly certain +that Braid was somewhere in the great city where it is possible for a +man to hide himself from the eyes of the world, even to bury his +identity. + +In the meantime, Captain von Hardenberg had presented himself before +Peter Klein, the informer, and a long interview had taken place between +them. + +Peter listened to the whole story of the Sunstone, doubted it one +moment, believed it the next; and fingered the strange jade ornament, +first with reverence, and then almost with suspicion. He examined it +through a magnifying-glass, shook his head, shrugged his shoulders, and +found it impossible to make up his mind. Von Hardenberg made no secret +of the fact that he was determined to undertake a journey through the +German colonial territory of the Cameroons to the Caves of Zoroaster, to +recover the jewels that were hidden in the vault. With the treasure +once in his possession, he swore that he would pay Klein, not only the +full amount that was due to him, but ten per cent of the total profits. + +Now, Peter Klein was a usurer--as well as a butler and a spy--one who +drove a hard bargain, who was relentless to his victims. He said that +he himself was tired of cities, that the suspicions of the British +police authorities had already been aroused in regard to his occupation, +and that therefore he also would like to travel. He would accompany von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, which was once called the White-Man's +Grave; he would penetrate the bush to the Cameroon peaks, even to the +Caves of Zoroaster. But he would require more than ten per cent: they +would share and share alike. + +Von Hardenberg was in no position to refuse. This man had him in his +clutches. Klein knew well that the Prussian was ruined for life if ever +his conduct was made known to the departmental heads of the German +Secret Service. And, moreover, in a few days Klein had gained the whip +hand by enlisting in his services an Arab whom he found starving in the +vicinity of the docks. + +This man, though he was poor, in rags, and well-nigh perishing in the +cold, was learned in many things. Like all his race, he was a nomad--a +man who had roamed the world throughout his life, who had even been +all-powerful in his day. He had sold ivory in Zanzibar; he had stolen +cattle in the neighbourhood of Lake Chad, and driven his capture across +the great plains to the east; he had hunted for slaves in the Upper +Congo and the Aruwimi. Though he was starving, he boasted that he was a +sheik, and said that his name was Bayram. He said he had been to the +Cameroons River, and that he despised the Negro from Loango to Zanzibar. +He was confident that, provided he was rewarded, he could render +invaluable services to his employer. He had never before heard of the +Sunstone, but, from rumours he had heard, there was a treasure hidden +somewhere in the mist-shrouded mountains that guard Lake Chad to the +east. + +To return to Jim Braid. All these winter months he wandered the streets +of London. He found the greatest difficulty in getting work. He had no +trade but that of a gamekeeper, and such business was at a discount in +the midst of the great, seething city. He was out of work for some +weeks; then he obtained work in the docks; after which he was again +unemployed for nearly a month. By that time he had got to the end of +his money, and was obliged to pawn his clothes. He thanked Heaven when +the snow came; for, though the frost was severe, and his clothes in +rags, he saw employment in sweeping the pavements and the roads. + +Then the thaw followed, and he was starving again. One night he found +himself in Jermyn Street. He had had no food that day. A taxi-cab drew +up before a doorway, upon which was a brass plate bearing the name +"Peter Klein". + +Jim was conscious of the fact that he had heard the name before, he +could not remember where. Just then, starvation, ill-health, and the +misery in his heart had broken the boy completely; it was as if his +senses were numbed. All that interested him was the taxi, by the side +of which he remained, in the hope of earning a copper by opening the +door. Presently a manservant came from the house, carrying a box. Jim +volunteered to help him, and the man agreed. Together they put the box +upon the taxi-cab, and Jim noticed that it bore the same name, "Peter +Klein", and several steamship labels, upon each of which was written the +word "Old Calabar". Jim Braid saw these things like one who is +half-dazed, without understanding what they meant. + +There were several other boxes to be put on to the cab, and when the +work was finished, and the driver had strapped them securely together, +two men came from the house, followed by one who wore a turban, and +shivered from the cold. + +Jim's attention was attracted by the native. He was very tall and thin. +He had a great black beard, and his eyes were like those of a bird of +prey. They were cruel, bloodshot, and passionate. + +One of the Europeans, who wore a fur coat, got into the cab. The other +paused with his foot upon the step and looked Jim Braid in the face. +Near by a street lamp flared and flickered, and in the light Jim +recognized the features of Captain von Hardenberg, the man who had been +his accuser. + +He stared at him in amazement. He had not the power to speak. He +thought, at first, that he, too, would be recognized. He did not know +that misfortune had so changed him that his own mother would not have +known him. He was thin and haggard-looking; his rags hung loosely upon +his gaunt form; his hair was so long that it extended over his ears. + +"Are you the man," said von Hardenberg in his old, insolent way, "who +helped to carry the boxes?" + +"Yes," said Jim, "I am." + +"There you are, then. There's sixpence, and don't spend it on drink." + +At that the Prussian jumped into the taxi, telling the driver to go to +Charing Cross. The Arab followed, closing the door, and a few seconds +later the taxi was driving down the street. + +Jim Braid stood on the pavement under the street lamp, regarding the +sixpence in his hand. He was starving; his bones ached from physical +exhaustion; his head throbbed in a kind of fever. He knew not where he +would sleep. This sixpence to him was wealth. + +For a moment he was tempted, but not for longer. With a quick, +spasmodic action he hurled the coin into the gutter, and walked away +quickly in the direction of the Haymarket. + +He knew not where he was going. The streets were crowded. People were +going to the theatre. Outside a fashionable restaurant a lady with a +gorgeous opera-cloak brushed against him, and uttered an exclamation of +disgust. He walked on more rapidly than before, and came presently to +Trafalgar Square, and before he knew where he was he found himself on +the Embankment. Slowly he walked up the steps towards the Hungerford +footbridge; and there, pausing, with his folded arms upon the rails, he +looked down into the water. + +At that moment the sound of footsteps attracted his attention. He +looked up into a face that he recognized at once. It was that of Harry +Urquhart, his only friend, the only person in the world who had believed +him innocent. + + + + +CHAPTER VI--The Pursuit Begins + + +"Jim!" cried Harry. + +So astonished was he that he reeled backward as though he had been +struck. + +"My poor, old friend," said Harry. "I have searched for you everywhere, +and had almost given up hope of finding you. I don't know what led my +footsteps to the bridge." + +At that Jim Braid burst into tears. + +"It was the work of God," said he. + +Harry said nothing, but pressed Jim's arm. At the bottom of +Northumberland Avenue he hailed a taxi, and the driver looked somewhat +astonished when this ragged pauper got into the cab and seated himself +at the side of his well-dressed companion. + +Harry had rooms in Davies Street, where he thrust Jim into an arm-chair +before the fire, upon which he heaped more coals. Braid, leaning +forward, held out his hands before the cheerful blaze. As Harry looked +at him, a great feeling of pity arose in his heart. The boy looked so +miserable and wretched that he appeared barely to cling to life. + +Harry would not allow him to speak, until he had eaten a meal. Braid +fell upon his food like a wolf. He had had absolutely nothing to eat +for two days. + +It is not wise to feed a starving man to repletion. But perhaps in +Braid's case this made little or no difference, since the boy was on the +verge of double pneumonia. Within twenty-four hours he was in a raging +fever, and for days afterwards the doctor despaired of saving his life. +Starvation, cold, dirt, to say nothing of his wound, had done their +work; but a strong heart and youth pulled him through. + +It was nearly three months afterwards, when the spring was well +advanced, that one afternoon the two friends talked the whole matter +out. + +Harry looked at Jim Braid and smiled. + +"You're a different fellow now," said he. "It was a near thing though. +One night the doctor gave you up. He actually left the house believing +you were dead." + +Jim tried to thank his benefactor, but his heart was too full to speak. + +"Come," said Harry, "tell me what has happened since you left Friar's +Court." + +"There is nothing to tell," said the other. "I tramped to London, +sometimes sleeping in the open air, sometimes--when the weather was +bad--lodging at wayside inns. At first, I was glad to get here. In a +great city like this I felt I could not be recognized and pointed out as +a thief. Oh," he burst forth, "you know that I am innocent!" + +"I was always sure of it," said Harry. "I can't think how my uncle can +believe you guilty." + +"Everything was against me," said Jim. "That man, to shield himself, +laid a trap for me from which I could not escape. Had I known why he +went to the bungalow that night, my story might have been believed." + +"I know why he went," said Harry. "I am sure of it. It was to steal +the Sunstone." + +"The Sunstone!" said Braid. "What's that?" + +"It is a very valuable relic that originally came from Persia. No one +knows of its value but my uncle, von Hardenberg, and myself. There can +be no doubt that my cousin took it." + +Jim Braid sighed. + +"I could not prove my innocence," said he. + +"Jim, old friend," said Harry, "I promise you shall not remain under +this cloud for the rest of your life. I know my cousin to be guilty; I +will not rest until I have proved him to be so. He has the Sunstone in +his possession, and I intend to do my best to recover it!" + +"You will not succeed," said the other, shaking his head. + +"Why not?" + +"Because he left England weeks ago." + +"Left England!" echoed the other. + +"Yes. He went away with a man called Peter Klein and a native who wore +a turban. They took the boat train from Charing Cross. It was I who +carried their boxes on to the taxi. They were going to Old Calabar." + +"The West Coast!" cried Harry, jumping to his feet. + +Braid was as mystified as ever. Before he knew what was happening, +Harry had seized him by the shoulders, and was shaking him as a terrier +shakes a rat. + +"Don't you see," cried Urquhart, "your innocence is practically proved +already. If they have not got the Sunstone, why should they want to go +to Africa? They are after the treasure of which the Sunstone is the +key. I don't know who the native is, but he is probably some +interpreter or guide whom they have hired for the journey. Jim, when my +uncle hears of this, I promise you he will take a very different view of +the question." + +"Then," said Braid, "has this Sunstone got something to do with Africa?" + +"Everything!" exclaimed the other. "Here, in Europe, it is valueless; +but in certain caves which are situated upon the watershed on the +southern side of the Sahara, the thing is worth thousands of pounds. +To-morrow morning I will return to my uncle, to Friar's Court, and tell +him what you have told me. I will ask him to allow me to follow von +Hardenberg to the West Coast, to keep upon his tracks, to run him to +ground and accuse him to his face. You will come with me. My uncle +will supply us with funds. He would be willing to spend his entire +fortune in order to recover the Sunstone." + +Harry was so excited that he could scarcely talk coherently. He paced +up and down the little sitting-room--three steps this way and three +steps that--and every now and again laid his hands upon Jim Braid and +shook him violently to emphasize his words. + +When Jim awoke the following morning, he was informed that Mr. Urquhart +had left early to go back to Friar's Court. He had promised to return +the following day. In the meantime, Harry had given instructions that +his landlady was to look after his guest. If he wanted anything, he had +only to ring the bell. + +On the afternoon of the second day Harry returned to London. + +"My uncle," he explained, "is inclined to withdraw his verdict, though +he will not say openly that he has been guilty of a great injustice. In +any case he intends to do everything in his power to get the Sunstone +back. He has given me leave to fit out an expedition. Preparations, +however, will take some little time. I am to be supplied with letters +of introduction to several influential persons on the West Coast. He +even said he would come with us himself, were it not that his strength +is failing, and he feels he is getting old. Jim, there's hope yet, my +lad. You and I together will see this matter through." + +Braid held out his hand. + +"I can't thank you sufficiently, sir," said he, "for what you have done! +You have saved my life twice, and now you mean to save my reputation." + +"Don't speak of it," said Harry. "You and I have a great task in front +of us; we must stick to each other through thick and thin. I am +impatient to be off." + +And he had more need of his patience than he thought; for, before they +could start upon their journey, war descended upon Europe like a +thunderbolt, finding England wholly unprepared. + +It was not so with the Germans. Peter Klein and birds of a like feather +had been employed for years in every country liable to prove hostile to +the Fatherland. Germany had for long intended war, and these +rascals--paid in proportion to the information they obtained--were +living by the score under the protection of the British flag, within +sound of Big Ben, in every colony, dependency, and dominion. Moreover, +it has since been proved that the great German Empire did not scruple to +employ even her consular and diplomatic servants either as spies +themselves or as agents for the purpose of engaging and rewarding +informers. + +Small wonder, when preparations had been so complete, that Germany had +the whip hand at the start, that Belgium, Poland, and Serbia were +overrun, and Paris herself saved only at the eleventh hour. + +During those early, anxious days, Harry Urquhart was in two minds what +to do. He was wishful to serve his country, and could without +difficulty have secured a commission within a few weeks of the +declaration of war. Braid was also willing to enlist. On talking the +matter out, however, with Mr. Langton, it was decided that the quest of +the Sunstone was as patriotic a cause as any man could wish for; since, +if von Hardenberg succeeded in reaching the Caves of Zoroaster, the +wealth that they contained would ultimately find its way to the +Fatherland. + +But, since there was fighting both in Togoland and the Cameroons, their +departure had to be postponed whilst Mr. Langton obtained permission +from the War Office authorities for his two proteges to visit the West +African scene of operations. All this took time; and it was not until +the beginning of October that young Urquhart and Jim Braid found +themselves sitting together in a first-class railway compartment on +their way to Southampton. + +A few hours afterwards, on a dark windy night, they were on board a ship +that rolled and pitched upon its way to Ushant. The Lizard light +flashed good-bye from England, and the dark sea, as they knew quite +well, contained hidden dangers in the shape of submarines and mines, but +the quest of the Sunstone had begun. + + + + +CHAPTER VII--Into the Bush + + +They experienced rough weather in the Bay of Biscay, where the ship +pitched and rolled in a confused sea, and the wind howled round +Finisterre, which was wrapped in an impenetrable fog. + +Two days afterwards they found the blue waters that bound the Morocco +coast, after which the heat became excessive. + +The ship was bound first for Sierra Leone, and thence to Old Calabar, +from which place they intended to strike inland through the bush, after +engaging the services of a party of Kru boys to act as carriers. + +On these still tropic seas, dazzling in the sunshine, there was no sign +of war, except an occasional torpedo-boat destroyer which flew past them +at a speed of thirty knots an hour. + +At Sierra Leone, Harry betook himself to a certain gentleman holding an +influential position in the Civil Service, to whom he had a letter of +introduction from his uncle, and who received the boy with courtesy and +kindness. It was from that Harry learned that the Germans had been +driven back in Togoland, and that active operations were in progress in +the valley of the Cameroon River. He himself had travelled far in the +interior; and in consequence he was able to give the boy invaluable +advice concerning the kit and equipment he would need to take with him +upon his expedition. He advised him to strike into the bush from Old +Calabar, where he could procure servants and guides; if he went to +Victoria he would find his hands tied by those in command of the +Expeditionary Force, who had no liking for civilians at the front. + +"All the same," he added, "I strongly advise you not to endeavour to +enter Maziriland." + +Harry smiled. + +"I am afraid, sir," said he, "I have no option. My duty takes me +there." + +"Of course," said the other, "I don't know what this duty may be, but I +tell you frankly the country is by no means safe. All the natives are +in arms, some purchased by rum by the Germans, others loyal to us. In +the old days the Cameroon kings implored the British Government to take +the country under its protection. In their own words, they wanted +English laws. But the Government took no notice of them until it was +too late, until the Germans had forestalled us and taken possession of +the country, by buying over the chiefs. If you go into the bush, you +run into a thousand dangers: yellow fever, malaria, even starvation, and +the natives you encounter may sell you as prisoners to the Germans. Some +of them will do anything for drink." + +Harry explained that he was prepared to take the gravest risks, since +the object of his journey was of more than vital importance, and shortly +afterwards took his leave, returning to the ship. + +They had brought with them all they needed in the way of provisions, +clothing, arms and ammunition; and at Old Calabar they purchased a canoe +and engaged the services of six stalwart Kru boys. Harry's idea was to +travel up-river, crossing the Cameroon frontier west of Bamenda, and +thence striking inland towards the mountains in northern German +territory, beyond which the Caves of Zoroaster were said to be. They +also interviewed an interpreter, a half-caste Spaniard from Fernando Po, +who assured them he could speak every native dialect of the Hinterland, +from Lagos to the Congo, as well as English and German. This proved to +be no exaggeration. Urquhart was assured that the man was indeed a +wonderful linguist, and, moreover, that he could be trusted implicitly +as a guide--the more so since he hated the Germans, who had destroyed +his 'factory' to make room for a house for a Prussian Governor, who had +hoped to rule the West Coast native with the iron discipline of Potsdam. + +This man--who called himself "Fernando" after the place of his +birth--said that he would never venture across the Cameroons to +Maziriland unless his brother was engaged to come with him. + +He explained that this brother of his was younger and more agile than +himself. Before they became traders they had been hunters, in the old +days when the West Coast was practically unexplored, and they had worked +together hand-in-glove. + +Accordingly, it was agreed that both brothers should join the +expedition; and when they presented themselves before Harry Urquhart, +the young Englishman could hardly refrain from smiling at their personal +appearance. + +They were plainly half-castes, and, like most such, considered +themselves Europeans, though neither had ever set eyes upon the northern +continent. Though they were almost as black of skin as a Kru boy, they +wore large pith helmets, suits of white ducks and blue puttees, being +dressed to a button exactly the same. Both wore brown leather belts +from which depended revolver holsters and cartridge pouches. The one +was robust, wrinkled, broad of chest, and upright; the other, stooping, +tall, and abnormally thin. There was a business-like air about them +both that appealed to Harry; and this favourable impression was by no +means dispelled when the brothers, in quite tolerable English, raved +against the Germans, who, they swore, had bought the Cameroons with rum, +in order to manage the country to their own profit without regard to the +welfare of the natives. It was owing to the German occupation of the +Cameroons that Fernando and his brother--who went by the name of +Cortes--had been ruined by the State-aided German factories that had +sprung up as if by magic in the early 'nineties. Later, they had been +accused of inciting the natives to rebellion, heavily fined, and +banished from the country. + +This increase in numbers necessitated the purchase of a second canoe. +Before leaving Calabar they supplemented their commissariat with a new +supply of provisions; and, a few days after, it was a small but +well-equipped and dauntless expedition that set forth up-river in the +sweltering heat, making straight for the heart of the great West African +bush and the very stronghold of the enemy's position. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII--Danger Ahead + + +Three weeks later they camped on the river bank not many miles from the +German frontier. The heat was terribly oppressive. Thousands of +insects droned about their ears. A thick mist hung upon the river like +a poison-cloud. They were in the very depths of the great White Man's +Grave. + +Four days afterwards Fernando deemed it advisable to leave the river +valley, and unloading the canoes--which they hid in a mangrove +swamp--they began their journey through the bush. + +It would be tedious to describe in detail the long weeks that followed +or the hardships they had to undergo. One by one the Kru boys deserted +them, to find their own way back to the coast. But both Cortes and +Fernando proved loyal to the hilt, and eventually the party came out +from the jungle upon the high ground in the central part of the colony. + +The country here was savage, inhospitable, and bleak. There was little +vegetation save rank mountain grass and withered shrubs in sheltered +places. Day by day they advanced with the utmost caution, giving native +villages a wide berth and always on the look-out for an ambuscade. + +Fernando proved himself to be an excellent cook, whereas his younger +brother prided himself upon his skill as a runner. It was his custom on +the line of march to jump fallen trees and brooks. + +In these higher altitudes there was a plenitude of game, whereas in the +bush they had been near to starving, and one morning they were crossing +a spur of a great cloud-wrapped mountain when Cortes, who had been +walking about fifty yards in advance of Harry and Jim, dropped suddenly +upon his face, and motioned the two boys to do the same. They had no +idea as to what had happened, and suspected that the guide had sighted a +party of the enemy. + +Crawling on hands and knees, they drew level with the man. + +"Goat," said he, pointing towards the mountain. + +And there, sure enough, was a species of mountain goat with his great +horns branching from the crown of his shaggy head. + +"Come," said the man to Harry; "you shoot." + +They could not afford to let the beast escape. The flesh of all the +wild goats, though perhaps not so good as that of the wild sheep, is by +no means unwelcome when one must journey far from civilization in the +wilds of the African hills. + +Harry adjusted his sights to six hundred yards, and then, drawing in a +deep breath, took long and careful aim. Gently he pressed the trigger, +the rifle kicked, there came a sharp report, and the bullet sped upon +its way. On the instant the beast was seen galloping at breakneck speed +down what seemed an almost perpendicular cliff. + +"Missed!" cried Harry. + +"No," said Cortes. "He's hit--he's wounded. He will not go far." + +For a few minutes the members of the party held a hurried consultation. +Finally it was decided that Fernando should go on ahead with the camp +kit and cooking-utensils, whilst the younger brother accompanied Harry +and Jim in pursuit of the wounded goat. They agreed to meet at +nightfall at a place known to the brothers. + +It took them nearly an hour to scramble across the valley, to reach the +place where the animal had been wounded. There, as the guide had +predicted, there were drops of blood upon the stones. All that morning +they followed the spoor, and about two o'clock in the afternoon they +sighted the wounded beast, lying down in the open. + +He was still well out of range, and, unfortunately for them, on the +windward side. That meant they would have to make a detour of several +miles in order to come within range. + +For three hours they climbed round the wind, all the time being careful +not to show themselves, for the eyes of the wild goat are like those of +the eagle. With its wonderful eyesight, its still more wonderful sense +of smell, and its ability to travel at the pace of a galloping horse +across rugged cliffs and valleys, it is a prize that is not easily +gained. When they last saw the animal it was lying down in the same +place. They were then at right angles to the wind, about two miles up +the valley. + +From this point, on the advice of Cortes, they passed into another +valley to the west. Here there was no chance of being seen or winded by +the beast; and, since it was now possible to walk in an upright +position, they progressed more rapidly. + +When they had arrived at the spot which the guide judged was immediately +above the wounded animal they climbed stealthily up the hill. On the +crest-line they sought cover behind great boulders, which lay scattered +about in all directions as if they had been hurled down from the skies. +Lying on their faces, side by side, Harry with his field-glasses to his +eyes, they scanned the valley where they had left their quarry. + +Not a sign of it was to be seen. The thing had disappeared as +mysteriously as if it had been spirited away. + +"He's gone!" said Harry, with a feeling of bitter disappointment. + +He was about to rise to his feet, but the half-caste held him down by +force. + +"Don't get up;" he cried. "Lie still! There are men in the valley +yonder." + +"Men! Have you seen them?" + +"No, I have not seen them," said Cortes. "But the beast saw them, or +got their wind. Otherwise he would not have gone." + +"It's von Hardenberg, perhaps!" said Harry, turning to Braid, the wish +being father to the thought. + +Both looked at their guide. + +"It is either the man you want," said the guide, "or else it is the +Germans." + +The wounded animal was now forgotten. They were face to face with the +reality of their situation. They had either overtaken von Hardenberg +and Peter Klein or else the Germans had received news of their having +reached the frontier. + +"We'll have to cross the valley," said Harry, "to get back to camp." + +"That is the worst of it," said Cortes; "we must rejoin my brother. He +will be awaiting us." + +He had learnt his English on the Coast. He spoke the language well, but +with the strange, clipped words used by the natives themselves, though +the man was half a Spaniard. + +"How are we to get there?" asked Jim. + +The guide looked at the sun. + +"It is too late," said he, "to go by a roundabout way. We must walk +straight there. There are many things which cause me to believe that +danger is close at hand." + +"What else?" asked Harry, who already was conscious that his heart was +beating quickly. + +"Late last night I saw smoke on the mountains. This morning, before we +started, my brother thought he heard a shot, far in the distance. Also," +he added, "during the last three days we have seen very little game. +Something has scared them away." + +"Come," said Harry. "We waste time in words. As it is, we have barely +time to get back before nightfall." + +As he said this he rose to his feet, and the moment he did so there came +the double report of a rifle from far away in the hills, and a bullet +cut past him and buried itself in the ground, not fifteen paces from his +feet. + +"Down," cried the guide, "for your life!" + + + + +CHAPTER IX--The Captive + + +Harry was not slow to obey. He fell flat upon his face, whilst a second +bullet whistled over his head. + +"Come," said Cortes; "we must escape." + +As he uttered these words, he turned upon his heel and ran down the +hill, followed by the two boys. The man held himself in a crouching +position until he was well over the crest-line. Then he stopped and +waited for his companions. + +"Who is it?" asked Braid, already out of breath as much from excitement +as from running. + +"The Germans. They are on our track." + +"You are sure of that?" asked Harry. + +"Master," said Cortes, "it is not possible to mistake a German bullet. +In this part of the world only those natives carry rifles who are paid +by Kaiser Wilhelm." + +Indeed, for weeks already, they had been in the heart of the enemy's +country. The elder guide was some miles away, and, since they could not +cross the valley, they would have to make a detour; which meant that +they could not possibly rejoin Fernando before nightfall. By then, for +all they knew, they might find him lying in his own blood, their +provisions and their reserve ammunition stolen. + +Harry looked at Cortes, who seemed to be thinking, standing at his full +height, his fingers playing with his chin. + +"We must not desert your brother," said the boy. + +"I am thinking," said the guide, "it will be easier for him to reach us +than for you and your friend to go to him. My brother and I are +hunters; we can pass through the bush in silence; we can travel amid the +rocks like snakes. I could cross that valley crawling on my face, and +the eye of an eagle would not see me. As for you, you are Englishmen; +you have not lived your lives in the mountains and the bush; you do not +understand these things." + +He said this with some scorn in his voice. There was something about +the man--despite his European clothes--that was fully in keeping with +the aspect of their surroundings, which were savage, relentless, and +cruel. He went on in a calm voice, speaking very slowly: + +"In this valley we are safe," said he. "I know the country well. +Yonder," and he pointed to the north, "there is a forest that lies upon +the hill-side like a mantle. I will guide you. It will take us about +two hours to get there. Then I will leave you. You will be quite safe; +for many of the trunks of the trees are hollow, and should the Germans +come, you can hide. I will go alone to my brother and bring him back +with me." + +They set forward without delay, sometimes climbing, sometimes walking, +on the mountain-side. About four o'clock in the afternoon they sighted +the forest of which the man had spoken. It opened out into a mangrove +swamp, thousands of feet below them, where the heat hung like a fog. + +Among the trees they found themselves in a kind of twilight. By then +the sun was setting; but as the daylight dwindled a great moon arose. +Cortes led them to a place, on the verge of a deep ravine, where there +was an old tree with a hollow trunk that looked as if it had been struck +by lightning. + +"You and your friend will remain here," said the man to Harry. "I will +be as quick as I can, but in any case I cannot be back until midnight. +If I do not return by then, you will know that I am dead; then--if you +are wise--you will go back to Calabar. If the Germans come, you will +hide." And he pointed to the hollow tree. + +Without another word he set forward on his way, gliding down the face of +the living rock like some gigantic lizard. + +The two boys found themselves in a place romantic but terrible. On +every side they were surrounded by the impenetrable hills. The trees of +the forest stood forth in the semi-darkness like great, ghostly giants. +Somewhere near at hand a mountain stream roared and thundered over the +rocks. The breeze brought to their nostrils the smell of the swamp +lower down the valley. The hollow tree stood on the edge of the bush. +A few yards away was the ravine, the bottom of which was wide and bare +and stony. + +Throughout the earlier part of the night they possessed their souls in +patience. It was stiflingly hot after the cool mountain air. + +Harry looked at his watch. It was midnight. There was no sign of the +brothers. + +Suddenly they heard a stone shifted from its place somewhere in the +forest to go rolling down into the ravine. Both stood motionless and +expectant. + +"I heard something," said Braid. + +"So did I," said Harry. + +Again a stone was moved, this time nearer than before. Something was +approaching through the bush. If this were an enemy they would have +small chance of escaping, for the side of the ravine was inaccessible; +it was like a precipice. + +They waited in suspense, and presently to the great gnarled roots of the +very tree by which they were standing, there crawled a dying, wounded +mountain goat. + +It died almost as it reached them. Indeed, it was almost a miracle that +the animal had lived as long as it had, for Harry's bullet had +penetrated its chest. + +The long night passed in waiting, and still there was no sign of the +half-caste brothers. It was then that they fully realized for the first +time the extreme danger of their mission, that they were alone in the +heart of a country which was almost unexplored, cut off from their +friends and civilization, with no chance of succour and little of +returning in safety to the coast. + +"Jim," said Harry, and his voice was husky, "I wonder if we shall ever +get out of this alive." + +"I can't say, sir," answered Braid; "but I'm sure of this: if we have to +die, we'll make a fight of it, at least." + +It was then that a sound came to their ears that caused them to hold +their breath. It was a loud word of command in the German language, and +which, moreover, came from not far away. + +They lay down flat upon their faces. Screened by a clump of long grass, +they were able to look down into the ravine, where they beheld a company +of German native troops with whom were two or three European officers +and several German noncommissioned officers. The men marched well in +step, keeping their dressing and acting promptly and smartly at each +word of command. Except for their black skins and coarse negro features +they might have learned their drill on the parade-grounds of Potsdam and +Berlin. + +The two boys regarded them in consternation, mingled with amazement--due +to the fact that in the centre of the company was a European whose hands +were bound behind his back and around whose neck was a kind of halter. + +Jim Braid recognized this man at once. It was Peter Klein, the spy. + + + + +CHAPTER X--When All was Still + + +Among the native troops was a man who was not dressed in uniform, who +was tattooed from head to foot, and who wore upon his head an abundance +of coloured feathers. They learned afterwards that he was a medicine or +"fetish" man--and "fetish worship" is the curse of the Dark Continent, +from Ashanti to the Zambesi. The medicine-men, who profess to practise +witchcraft, are far more powerful than the majority of the native kings. +At their bidding innocent people are often put to death, which enables +them to use their powers for bribery and corruption. + +In the centre of the ravine, immediately below the place where the two +boys were hiding, the officer in command called a halt. When the men +had fallen out and released their packs from their shoulders, the +witch-doctor addressed them in an excited, high-pitched voice. Neither +Harry nor Braid could understand a word of what he said, but his +grimaces and gesticulations were so expressive that they could have no +doubt that he was performing some kind of religious ceremony. + +It was evident that the party intended to pitch their camp in the +ravine, for several men under the command of one of the non-commissioned +officers set about collecting wood with which to make a fire. + +The boys knew not what course to take. Their first inclination was to +take to their heels, seeking refuge in the forest. Then they remembered +that if they did this there would be small chance of their being found +by Cortes, who had promised to return to the ravine. As silently as +possible they crawled on hands and knees to the hollow tree, and hid +themselves in the trunk. + +There they remained for hour after hour. From that position they were +just able to see into the gorge. The party had split up into three +groups: the German officers sat alone; the European noncommissioned +officers formed a ring around a smaller fire; whereas the natives were +congregated around the fetish-man. + +Peter Klein sat like a figure of stone, a sentry with bayonet fixed +standing over him. His lips were bloodless, his eyes staring, his face +like that of a ghost. From time to time the Germans looked at him and +laughed. For all that, they repeatedly offered him food; but he refused +to eat, though now his hands had been unbound. + +After a while many of the men disposed themselves for sleep, lying down +upon the bare rocks about the embers of the fire. The officer in +command--a stout major with a bristling moustache--gave orders that the +prisoner's hands should again be bound. Whereupon a sergeant propped +the prisoner up, with his back to the side of the ravine, making it +perfectly plain--even to the boys who could not understand the German +language--that, if he endeavoured to escape, they would not hesitate to +kill him. + +The sentry was not posted for the night on the side of the ravine on +which were the two boys, but on the other side, overlooking the valley +to the east. It was apparently from this direction that the Germans +seemed to fear for their safety. + +Harry thought the matter out. If the two brothers were alive, he could +not think why they had not returned. It was now past one o'clock, and +Cortes had said he would be back certainly before twelve. + +The night passed in the bush in solemn tranquillity, save for the +droning of myriads of insects from the mangrove swamp and the gurgling +sound of the river. Hour by hour the moon mounted in the skies above +the hill-tops, which were capped by mist. The two boys were squashed +together in the tree-trunk. Braid, it seemed, had gone to sleep in a +standing position. He was breathing heavily. + +Stealthily Harry left his hiding-place and dropped down upon hands and +knees. Cautiously he crept to the edge of the ravine and looked over. +To the boy's surprise, he observed that not only the Germans and the +native soldiers, but also the sentry, were sound asleep. They lay in +huddled attitudes around the dying fires. + +With his back against the rock was Peter Klein. As Harry watched him +the man moved and heaved a sigh. Presently he groaned. + +Harry Urquhart was one who was quick to think. This man, Klein, was a +spy, one fit to be despised, and moreover a German, an enemy of his +country. And yet, for some reason or other, Klein was a prisoner in the +hands of his own countrymen. Von Hardenberg, perhaps, was not so far +away. These were questions that could possibly be answered by Peter +Klein himself, who might be disposed to speak in gratitude for his +deliverance. + +There was only one way in which the prisoner could be rescued. It was +not possible for Harry to descend the sides of the ravine, neither was +it possible for Klein, even had his hands and legs not been bound, to +climb up the cliffs. + +As stealthily as before, Urquhart crawled back into the wood, until he +came to a place where there was a long, rope-like creeper--one of those +vegetable parasites which are so common in the forests of the tropics. +To cut this near the roots and tear it from the tree to which it clung +so tenaciously was the work of not many minutes, and Harry was in +possession of what to all intents and purposes was a very useful rope. + +With this he repaired in haste to the edge of the ravine, where he tied +the end of it to the trunk of a tree. That done, hand over hand he let +himself down to the bottom. + +Stepping over the forms of the sleeping soldiers he approached the +captive, and with his jack-knife cut the bonds that bound Klein's feet +and hands. + +"Now," he whispered in the man's ear, "climb, and you are safe!" + +The spy was still so terrified and so weakened from exhaustion that it +was all he could do to walk. With faltering steps he stumbled towards +the dangling rope, and Harry feared that he would fall and wake the +sleeping Germans. + +Peter Klein took hold of the swinging creeper and did his best to climb. +Presently he looked round at Harry with an expression of despair upon +his face. + +"I can't do it!" he groaned in broken English. + +"You must," said the boy. "Your life depends upon it. Once you get to +the top you are safe. They cannot follow you. They have no rope, and +will be obliged to go a long way round." + +These words had the desired effect upon the spy. Fear, on occasion, is +a great stimulant; it sometimes leads a man to perform prodigies of +strength that he could never accomplish in calmer moments. Hand over +hand the man scrambled to the top of the ravine, and there lay down, +panting and exhausted. + +Harry followed quickly. At the top he hauled up the creeper, and then +looked down again. + +The soldiers were still asleep. The commanding officer himself was +snoring like a pig. + +Shaking in all his limbs, Peter Klein rose to his feet and seized Harry +by the hand. + +"Heaven reward you!" he exclaimed. "You have saved my life, for I +verily believe those villains would have shot me." + + + + +CHAPTER XI--A Shot from the Clouds + + +It is a remarkable fact that all this time Jim Braid had been sound +asleep. Once inside the trunk of the hollow, shattered tree, he had +found himself unable to overcome a feeling of drowsiness which by +degrees completely got the better of him. Klein, on the other hand, had +apparently received such a shock to his nervous system chat in spite of +his extreme exhaustion he found it impossible to sleep. Also he had a +dread of being left alone. He implored Harry, who had led him some way +back into the forest, to remain at his side till dawn. + +For the time being, they had nothing to fear from the German soldiers, +who were at the bottom of the ravine and unable to reach them. Still, +they could not continue their march, since without the guides they were +lost and would not know which way to go. But so long as they remained +where they were, there was always a chance that one, or both, of the +brothers would return. + +"Tell me," asked Urquhart, "how is it that I find you a prisoner in the +hands of those who should be your friends?" + +"It is a very simple story," said Peter Klein. "We left Dualla a few +weeks ago. The party consisted of Captain von Hardenberg, our guide--an +Arab sheikh--two native carriers, and myself. The Governor of Dualla +wished von Hardenberg to join the force which is to oppose the British. +Hardenberg was given an important command. But, since he had other +business to attend to--which he himself considered of greater +importance--in plain words, he deserted; and we endeavoured to penetrate +the bush. + +"For some days we journeyed without event. Then we discovered that we +were tracked, and were obliged to fly for our lives. + +"One night a shot was fired into our camp. And after that, day by day, +we were harassed and tormented, until two nights ago a raid was made +upon our bivouac. They came upon us from all sides at once. We were +outnumbered by twenty to one. No course lay open to us but flight. The +two natives went one way. They rushed into a large party of soldiers, +and there is every reason to believe they laid down their lives. Von +Hardenberg and the sheikh took to the hills, climbing the bare slope, +and I think they managed to escape. As for myself, I fled downhill with +a score of native soldiers at my heels. + +"All yesterday I was pursued. I fled for my life across interminable +valleys, across the hills, striving to reach the bush, where I knew I +would be safe. Sometimes I found myself buried in the gloom of forests; +at others I stood upon the edge of precipices so deep that the clouds +were at my feet. + +"Late last evening I was overtaken. They bound my hands behind my back +and scourged me with a whip. They gave me to understand they would +eventually put me to a traitor's death; but they thought more of von +Hardenberg and Sheikh Bayram than they did of me. They were for ever +asking me which way he had gone--just as if I could tell them what I did +not know myself! When they brought me to the ravine, yonder, I was too +fatigued and too disturbed in mind to sleep. And then you saved me at +the eleventh hour. That is all my story." + +Harry was silent for some moments. + +"You have not told me," he said, "why you have come to this forsaken +part of the world, or why von Hardenberg--who is my cousin--deserted +from the Germans?" + +Klein lowered his eyes. It seemed he was not incapable of feeling +ashamed. + +"The Sunstone," said he, quite quietly. + +"My cousin has the Sunstone in his possession?" + +"I have seen it," answered Klein. "He carries it upon his person. He +never lets it out of his possession. He would not even let me touch it. +He has had a special pocket made for it in the inside of his coat, on +the left-hand side." + +"You must be frank with me," said Harry. + +"You saved my life," said the other. + +"Then listen to the true story of the Sunstone. You doubtless know that +my cousin stole it from my uncle, but you are perhaps ignorant of the +fact that, to cover his own guilt, he wrongfully accused one who was +innocent. I presume my cousin went to you and explained that, once he +got to Maziriland with the Sunstone in his possession, he had acquired +riches beyond all dreams. I suppose you agreed to go with him, to share +and share alike? I suppose, also, that, in spite of the fact that our +nations are at war, you consider the Sunstone of far greater importance +than your Fatherland?" + +"To my shame," said Peter Klein, "that is--or was--the truth. I sold my +honour for gold long ago. I would not say that in Europe, in London or +Berlin, but here we are in the very midst of death, and all things are +different--or perhaps, we see all things with very different eyes." + +"At least," said Harry, "you are honest now." + +"I am a coward," the man confessed. + +"You must see," Urquhart went on, "that you have no moral right to this +money, even should the treasure be discovered. However, I have not come +here to recover the treasure, so much as to prevent it from falling into +the hands of the enemies of my country. I am determined to capture the +Sunstone, be the risk and danger what it may be." + +Klein shook his head. + +"He will not part with it," said he. "He is a desperate man." + +"I will make him part with it," cried Harry, "once I run the rascal to +earth." + +"He is a desperate man," repeated the other. "He dare not return to +Germany. He would be court-martialled, and probably shot. He will not +part with the Sunstone at a lesser price than his life." + +"I am sorry for him," said Harry, "because he is doubly a traitor. When +the guest of the British nation he was to all intents and purposes a +spy; he swindled you; and now, in the midst of war, he proves himself a +traitor once again." + +Peter Klein was silent, his thin fingers playing nervously. The strain +of the past few days had seriously affected his health; he was suffering +from a kind of St. Vitus's dance. He was never still for a moment. + +"It is strange," said he, "that you think so much of the Sunstone. Long +since I had forgotten all about it. I have now but one idea--to get +back to Europe, if I can. I dare not return to my home, which is in +Frankfort. I intend to end my days in Denmark." + +It was then that somewhere in the forest, near at hand, a twig broke. +Both sprang instantly to their feet. + +A dark figure came suddenly out of the thickets, and Urquhart, with his +finger upon the trigger of his revolver, was about to fire, when he was +arrested by a voice. + +"Is that you, Mr. Harry?" + +It was the voice of Jim Braid. + +"What is it, Jim?" + +Braid came forward in the darkness. The moon was now low in the +heavens. In the east, through the tree-tops, there was a steel-blue arc +of light, heralding the approach of day. It was as if even the abundant +vegetation of the jungle was itself awakening after sleep. When he was +quite close to Harry, Braid took him by the arm. + +"I have news for you," said he. "There's an uproar in the ravine. The +Germans have discovered their prisoner has escaped." + +"Here he is," said Harry, making a motion of the hand towards Peter +Klein. + +"Here! How did he get here?" + +"There's no time for explanations now," said Harry. + +"You're right, sir," answered Jim. "We're in danger if we stay!" + +"We would be in greater danger still," said the other, "if we +endeavoured to escape. After all, this is the last place they would +think of searching. It would never occur to them that the prisoner had +climbed up the side of the ravine." + +There was the strongest common sense in this. Indeed, a few minutes +later they had ample proof that Harry was perfectly right. Klein +remained behind, whilst the two boys crawled back to the edge of the +gorge and thence looked down into the bivouac. + +The daylight was growing apace. Step by step the dawn mounted in the +heavens, the shadows fled from the valleys, and the bush became alive +with the songs of thousands of birds. + +And then they witnessed a tragedy such as neither ever wished to see +again. The native sentry, who had fallen asleep upon his post, was led +with trembling knees and shaking lips before the major in command, who, +after a few savage questions, hurled at the man like scraps of meat to a +dog, sentenced him to be shot. And then and there the sentence was +carried out before their eyes. + +After that the major gathered his men together and divided them into two +parties, evidently with the idea of searching both ends of the ravine. +And now occurred one of the most strangely dramatic things of which we +have to tell. + +The commanding officer was giving final instructions to his officers and +sergeants. He stood upon a large boulder. His subordinates were +listening to his words with silent respect. He spoke in a husky, +guttural voice, from time to time shivering as if he suffered from +fever. Suddenly, he flung both hands above his head and uttered a +piercing cry. Simultaneously, there came the sharp report of a rifle +from beyond the ravine, and the German major fell forward on his face. + + + + +CHAPTER XII--The Mystery of the Running Man + + +On the instant the greatest disorder prevailed. As at a stroke the iron +discipline of Potsdam vanished, and despite his uniform and training, +and the curses of the German non-commissioned officers, the Cameroon +native became the untutored savage once again. + +In the panic of the moment the native soldiers took to their heels, +evidently under the impression that they had been surprised by a British +force. And, as they ran, shots rang out repeatedly from somewhere in +the midst of the shrubbery that grew on the farther side of the gorge. + +There was no question that the invisible man who commanded the ravine +from his hiding-place upon the mountain-side was a marksman of repute. +He fired in haste at running figures, and more than once his bullets +found their mark. The German-trained soldiers vanished as by a +conjuring-trick, disappearing round an angle of the gorge. + +All this had happened in the space of a few seconds. Harry, taking his +field-glasses from their case, scanned the mountain that overtopped the +ravine, endeavouring to discover the form of the mysterious and terrible +marksman who had created such alarm. + +Nowhere was any living soul to be seen. The mountain-side was as silent +as the grave. In the forest itself, hundreds of birds welcomed the +dazzling sunlight with the gladness of their songs. + +"Who was it?" asked Jim. + +"It must have been Cortes or Fernando," answered Harry, "but I can see +no sign of them. I expect one or the other will show himself in a +minute." + +They waited for several minutes. At last Urquhart could bear the +suspense no longer. He lifted his hands to his mouth and let out a +long-drawn shout. + +His voice was echoed from the hills, which were now wrapped in clouds, +but no voice came back in answer. + +"I can't understand it," he exclaimed. + +Braid admitted that the whole thing was something of a mystery, for +which he could offer no sort of explanation. + +And then, on a sudden, they saw a white-clad figure dashing over the +rocks. It was a man who came down from the mountain-side, fleet and +sure of foot. Upon his head he wore a turban. He was dressed in robes +of flowing white, and in his hand he carried a rifle. + +Harry directed his field-glasses upon this extraordinary figure. Beyond +the fact that he was a tall man with a great black beard, he could see +little or nothing, by reason of the prodigious pace at which the man was +travelling. One thing, however, was perfectly certain: that this +man--who apparently was the marksman who had so effectively scattered +the Germans--was not one of the half-caste guides. + +The running man came closer and closer, and the boys thought at first +that he was about to approach to within speaking distance of themselves. +But he turned off sharply to the left and disappeared in a belt of trees +almost as suddenly as he had come. + +They waited for some minutes, thinking that he would show up again; but +that was the last they saw of him for some days, and it was not until +then that they discovered who he was. He came and vanished like a +thunderbolt that spreads destruction in its path. His rifle had spoken +at dawn, and almost every shot had been the signal for the death of a +human being. He came, and killed, and vanished. He was a three-day +mystery of the wild hills of the German Cameroons. + +Throughout that morning they knew not what to do. They were without +guides; they had practically no provisions; and they had not the least +idea where they were or in which direction they should go. + +Soon after midday the two boys held a consultation, admitting Peter +Klein to their counsels. But the ex-spy was no help to them; he was +incapable of giving advice. They told him of the man they had seen that +morning, the white figure on the mountain-side, but he only gaped and +shook his head. It was as if the physical and moral strain he had +undergone had actually made him mad. + +Harry clung to hope as a drowning man lays hold upon a spar. He pointed +out that they were helpless without their guides, and argued that it was +wisest to remain where they were, in case either of the half-castes +should repair to their meeting-place and find them gone. + +That night they lit a fire in the forest, and seated around this they +roasted some bananas--or rather plantains--they had found growing in the +bush. After they had eaten these, Harry and Klein lay down to sleep, +Jim Braid consenting to keep watch during the earlier hours of the +night. + +When the moon had risen, and a mighty stillness reigned in the forest, +Jim Braid, who sat upon a boulder with his rifle upon his knees, heard +on a sudden a short cough immediately behind him. He turned quickly in +alarm. + +Both Harry and Klein were sound asleep, and, seated on the ground +immediately between them, calmly biting the end from a cheroot, was the +figure of Fernando. + +"You!" cried Braid, as soon as he could find his voice. + +"Even myself," said the half-bred Spaniard. "Had I been a German, I +could have killed all three of you." + +"You were as silent as a snake," said the other. + +The man chuckled. + +"Before I was a trader," said he, "I was a hunter of big game." + +It was then that Braid awakened Harry and told him the news. The boy +was heartily glad to see the guide, whom he had certainly believed to be +dead. + +"And your brother?" he asked. + +"My brother is safe," said the man. "You did wisely to remain here. You +could never have got back to Calabar. The country swarms with German +troops." + +"Then what are we to do?" asked Harry. + +"Go north," said Fernando. "Go north at every risk, to Maziriland. My +brother has already struck out across the mountains. He and I know of a +place where they will never find us. I have come here to take you +there. Cortes awaits us. We must start at once. There is no time to +lose." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII--The Black Dog + + +After they had explained to Fernando how it had come about that Peter +Klein had joined their party, they set forward in a northerly direction, +guided by the half-caste. They passed through the forest and crossed a +wide valley. Thence they traversed a great ridge of hills, at the end +of which they came to a mountain-top. This they began to ascend. There +were many places so steep and stony that they were often obliged to go +on all fours, and Klein, who was both weak and nervous, stood in +constant danger of his life. + +Finally they gained the summit. The top of the mountain was shaped like +a bowl. It was evidently the crater of an extinct volcano. In one +place an enormous rock had a cleft in it like a sword-cut, and through +this Fernando led them. The cleft was so narrow that they were obliged +to walk sideways, like crabs. After a time the passage opened, and they +found themselves in a small arena in the centre of which a spring of +water bubbled to the surface. After the heat of the forest the air was +delightfully refreshing and cool. + +When they had drunk their fill the guide took them to a place where a +boulder as round as a football and about five times the size, lay upon +the ground. This he rolled away, not without difficulty, and underneath +it was a hole about three feet across, like one of those "blowholes" +which can be seen in some of the caves of Cornwall or South Wales. + +Fernando let himself down through the hole until he was hanging by his +hands; then he dropped, and they heard him alight upon the ground about +ten feet beneath. Braid followed next, and then Klein; Harry was the +last to descend into the darkness. + +Below, they found themselves in what was evidently a pocket in the side +of the crater, a great rent caused by some volcanic disturbance in +bygone times. The place was a kind of low and narrow gallery. The +moonlight was admitted through several cracks in the walls. + +At the farthermost end of the gallery a fire burnt, and at this a man +was seated, whom they found to be Cortes, the younger of the two guides. +When he saw them he rose to his feet without a word, walked deliberately +to the wall, and thrust his head into one of the fissures. + +The two boys watched him in amazement. The man--who, it will be +remembered, was extremely slim and agile--wriggled like a snake. +Gradually, it became manifest that he was squeezing himself through with +the greatest difficulty. First his head, then his shoulders, then his +body, and finally his legs and feet disappeared through the wall. + +"Where is he going?" asked Harry, turning to Fernando. + +"He has gone to replace the stone upon the hole through which we came. +My brother is no fool. Life in the bush has taught us many things." + +After a while the younger brother returned, squeezing himself again +through the narrow opening. When he came to the firelight there were +places upon his back and shoulders where his clothes had been torn, and +where the rents were stained with blood. He did not seem to mind these +wounds in the least, but laughed when Harry pointed them out. + +"Here," said Fernando, "we are safe, and here we must stay for some +days, until the Germans have left the district. They will never find +us; no one could ever find us." + +"We have food?" asked Harry. + +Cortes pointed to a corner where lay the dead body of an antelope. + +"I killed that this morning," said he. "Cooked, and in this cool +climate, it will keep for days. Besides, my brother and I can hunt upon +the mountain; but you and your two friends must remain here until the +Germans have left the district. Then we can continue our march towards +Maziriland." + +In his heart Harry Urquhart felt more than gratitude towards these +strange, gallant men. They were loyal, faithful, courageous, and full +of infinite resource. They seemed to love adventure for its own sake, +after the manner of the old Spanish explorers--the followers of +Columbus--whose blood ran in their veins. + +For three days the party remained in this singular hiding-place. Every +morning the brothers went out to hunt. Harry and Braid did not mind the +monotony of their temporary imprisonment, first, because they knew that +this was their only place of safety, and, secondly, because they were +glad enough of a few days' rest after all the exertions and privations +they had undergone in the wilderness of the bush. + +At midnight on the third night, something that was well-nigh miraculous +occurred. All were asleep except Harry Urquhart, who was doing his turn +on watch. He was walking to and fro along the gallery, and had reached +a spot immediately underneath the hole which was covered by the stone, +when suddenly a great shaft of moonlight shot down into the cave. + +It was a moment before the boy realized what had happened--that the +stone had been rolled away. Before he had time to give the alarm, to +cry out, or bring his rifle to his shoulder, the stone was rolled back +again, and all was dim and silent as before. + +He ran to the fire and woke up his companions. All sprang to their +feet. In a few breathless words Harry told them what had happened. Jim +Braid seized a lighted brand from the fire, which was burning brightly, +and carried this to the end of the gallery. Sure enough the stone was +back in its place. + +"Are you sure," he asked, "you were not dreaming?" + +"I can swear to it," said Harry. + +"What's that?" cried Braid, pointing to something white that lay upon +the floor. + +Harry Urquhart stooped, and to his amazement picked up a letter, written +in German, which was addressed to: + + "_Peter Klein, Coward_" + +Here was a greater mystery than ever. + +"This is apparently for you," said Harry, giving the letter to Klein. +The whole thing was amazing. + +Klein opened the envelope with shaking hands. Then he took it to the +other end of the gallery, and, kneeling down, read it by the light of +the fire. + +Presently he returned and handed the letter to Fernando, who had a fair +knowledge of the German language. + +"Read that," said he. "How did it come here?" The man was as white as +a ghost. + +The writer had evidently been at some pains to disguise his handwriting. +The letter was written in capital letters with a violet indelible +pencil. The message, when translated, was as follows:-- + + "I have something of importance to say to you. Leave your + hiding-place at once and alone." + +"It is from von Hardenberg," said Klein. "He orders me to return to +him--at once." + +"Orders you! And you will go?" + +"I have no option. I dare not refuse." + +"Dare not!" + +At that a groan escaped from the man's lips, and he threw out his hands +with a gesture of despair. + +"You do not understand," he cried. "In London that man was in my power, +but in this wild country I am at his mercy; for there is one with him +who is pitiless and terrible, who carries his crimes as a jester jangles +his bells." + +"Whom do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"I mean the Arab sheikh. That man is a demon. There is nothing he +would not do for money. There were times when I travelled with them +when I thought that they meant to kill me. When I fell asleep at the +camp-fire, I could see in my dreams the cruel, piercing eyes of the +sheikh fixed upon me; they were like coals of living fire. Fool that I +was to come here!" he broke out in despair. "Why did I not stay where I +was safe?" + +Fernando, turning to Harry, cut short the man's whining words. + +"I must know the truth," said he. "How did that letter come here? Who +wrote it?" + +"It was written by my cousin," said Harry, "the man whom we follow; but +whether he himself brought it here or the rascal who serves him, I am +quite unable to say. At any rate," he added, with a smile, "your +hiding-place has been discovered." + +The half-caste returned to the fire, where he sat down, holding out his +hands to warm them. He remained thus for some time, seemingly deep in +thought; then he returned to Harry. + +"Just now," said he, "I heard mention of a sheikh. Is the man's name by +any chance Bayram; for he is a devil, in truth." + +"That is the name of the man who is with von Hardenberg." + +"I did not know," said the other, and remained silent for a long time. + +"You did not know?" repeated Harry. + +"When I agreed to come with you I did not know that the Black Dog of the +Cameroons--as I and my brother call him--was to be our enemy. In all +the hills and plains and forests of this huge, amazing continent, from +the Sahara to Kilima-Njaro, from the Niger to the Nile, there is no man +more greatly to be feared than the Black Dog of the Cameroons. He knows +neither pity nor fear. There is hardly a valley in these mountains with +which he is not acquainted. Small wonder he discovered our +hiding-place! He is a foe who cannot be despised. Single-handed he +could keep an army of natives at bay. Almost every cartridge in his +bandolier, almost every bullet in the chamber of his rifle, means the +life's blood of a human being. At one time he was the richest +slave-trader in Africa. But I heard the English hunted him down, and +that he was starving and penniless in London." + +"It was he!" cried Harry, turning sharply to Braid. "He was the man we +saw that morning on the mountain-side, who fired into the German bivouac +at dawn." + +"The sheikh was the man," said the guide. "You should have told me +before." + +"I blame myself," said Harry. "I know now that I can trust you and your +brother with even more than life." + +Fernando continued to speak in slow deliberate tones. + +"If we are to come out of this alive," said he, "you will do well to +take me into your counsels. Moreover, you must follow my advice. I and +the Black Dog have an old score to pay. For myself, I am determined to +be a debtor no longer." Then, without changing his voice, he turned +calmly to Peter Klein. "You must go back to von Hardenberg," said he. + +"No, no! not that!" Klein almost shrieked. + +Fernando smiled grimly. He might have been one of his own hard-hearted +ancestors, presiding at the Spanish Inquisition. + +"I fear to go!" cried Klein, his terror stamped on every feature. "They +will kill me! I know they will!" + +Fernando laughed aloud. + +"You will most certainly be killed," said he, "if you refuse to go. The +Black Dog has marked you for his own." + +At these words the spy fell down upon his knees at Harry Urquhart's +feet. + +"Keep me with you!" he pleaded. "Give me your protection! It is to the +advantage of those men to kill me. They brought me here to do away with +my life. They do not intend that I shall live to claim my share of the +treasure, if they should ever find it." + +Harry, somewhat roughly, told the man to get to his feet. Klein was an +arrant coward. Harry felt little pity for the man; yet he could not +find it in his heart to support Fernando's heartless verdict. + +"You have little right to demand our sympathy," said he. "You are an +enemy to my country and a spy; you are even a traitor to the rascals +whom formerly you were pleased to serve. You have merited the most +severe penalty which a state of war allows." + +He was about to go on, when the man, losing all control of himself, +seized him by both hands and begged him to be merciful. + +"I renounce everything!" he cried. "I admit my guilt, and ask you to +forgive me. I will give up all claim to a share in the treasure. I +swear to be faithful to you, if you will only get me out of this alive." + +"We do not think of the treasure," said Urquhart. "We are here to +establish the innocence of an injured man and to checkmate von +Hardenberg." + +"It was he who stole the Sunstone," uttered Klein. + +"I know that," said Harry. "That is why we have followed him. He may +have the Black Dog of the Cameroons to aid him, but we have these two +gallant fellows, who do not seem to know what it is to fear, to +hesitate, or to give up hope." + +He half turned, and with a motion of the hand indicated the two +brothers, who were seated side by side. + +Fernando slowly shook his head. + +"As you will," said he. "You have yet to learn that the Cameroons is no +place for clemency. I had a plan to trick the Black Dog. It was a +cruel plan perhaps. I meant to sacrifice this cur like a kid tied to a +stake to snare a tiger. However, let that pass. From to-night, I warn +you fairly, we will be even in greater danger than before. We have an +enemy to reckon with in the sheikh. At this very moment he waits on the +hill-side for his victim." Fernando pointed to Peter Klein. + +"He means to take my life!" cried Klein, who was now pacing to and fro, +wringing his hands like one demented. "The moment they saw I was likely +to be of no use to them, that I was a coward who could neither handle a +rifle nor do a long day's march without fatigue, they schemed to do away +with me. And what a place for a crime, these unknown, savage hills! In +these parts a human life is of no more importance than that of a +mosquito." + +The man was overwrought, his nerves had been sadly shaken. He was on +the verge of lunacy with panic and alarm. + +And yet, what he said was obviously the truth. To von Hardenberg his +presence was worse than useless, a mere encumbrance on the line of +march. In all probability Fernando was right; the Black Dog waited on +the hill-side to fall upon the poor, blind fool whom avarice had led so +far from the land where he could spy and inform in safety. + +The two guides had listened to this dialogue with evident interest and +not a little amusement at the expense of Klein. It was Fernando who +again broke in upon their talk. + +"We will test the sheikh," said he. "We will soon find out his +intentions." + +At that he turned to his brother, and for some minutes the two spoke in +Spanish. After a while it was Cortes who approached Klein and touched +him on the arm. + +"Get out of your clothes," said he. "I intend to wear them." + +Peter Klein was glad enough of the chance of disguising his identity. +Cortes put on the tattered white ducks, torn in a score of places by the +thorn-trees in the bush, the pith helmet and the leather leggings, and +then returned to the fire. + +There, he loaded his revolver and the magazine of his Lee-Metford +carbine. That done, without a word to his brother, he squeezed himself +through the crack in the wall, and disappeared beyond it. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV--Buried Alive! + + +They waited for many minutes in absolute silence. Peter Klein was +seated at the fire. There also was Fernando, who appeared to have +fallen asleep in a sitting position. As for the two boys, they remained +near the opening through which the man had passed, straining their ears +to catch the slightest sound without. + +Presently there came the sharp report of a shot. Then all was silent +again. + +Fernando immediately sprang to his feet and walked towards the boys. He +must have been sleeping lightly, or else feigning slumber. + +"My brother," said he, "is dead." + +"Dead!" + +Both Harry and Braid uttered the word in a single breath. + +"That," said the man, "was the rifle of the sheikh." + +"How do you know?" asked Harry. + +"For a very simple reason," said the other. "There were two reports, +therefore the shot was fired in this direction. If a man fires away +from you, you hear but one report, which is like the crack of a whip. +But if he fires toward you, you hear two reports, each one of which +resembles the 'pop' of a cork. The shot was fired this way. The +trigger was pressed by the Black Dog, whose bullet seldom misses its +mark. Therefore, in all probability, my brother is gone." + +"And you speak of it so calmly!" uttered Braid. + +Fernando smiled. "With us who live on the Coast," said he, "death is an +easy matter. Sooner or later we all die; some by murder, some by +malaria, some by Black Jack, which is the most deadly fever in the +world. Our graves are in the bush. What does it matter whether or not +a bullet finds its mark?" + +The two boys were astonished. They could not understand this strange +man's views of life and death. + +"And you have sacrificed your brother's life," asked Harry, "merely to +prove that the Black Dog of the Cameroons intended to murder Klein?" + +Fernando shook his head. + +"I would have gone myself," he answered, "had that been possible. As it +is, I can live, at least, for revenge." + +The full significance of the thing burst upon Harry Urquhart. + +"A wasted life!" he cried. + +"Oh no!" said the man; "a life is never wasted--for the truth." + +After that they were silent; they remained standing close together by +the opening in the wall. Harry felt as if a heavy weight had been +placed upon his heart. + +Without, through the fissures in the wall, they could see the moonshine +and the stars. A soft wind which moaned across the desolate and rugged +heights was blowing upon the mountain. + +Presently they were startled by the sound of a voice--a voice that spoke +in a whisper. + +"I am wounded," said the voice, "I am wounded almost to death. Fernando, +my brother, hold out a hand to me, that I may speak to you before I +die." + +Harry was about to move to the opening, when the elder guide fiercely +thrust him back. + +"Do you suffer great pain?" asked Fernando, speaking tenderly, as he +approached the fissure on tiptoe. + +"Give me your hand," came the answer in a weak, breathless voice. + +Instead of a hand, suddenly Fernando thrust his rifle through the +opening and fired. The loud report echoed in the shallow vault. A +strong smell of cordite was driven to their nostrils. + +Without, there was a shriek. Harry rushed to the opening and looked +through. He saw a white figure flying in the moonlight like a ghost. +Fernando--the half-bred Spaniard--threw back his head and laughed the +laugh of a fiend. + +"What does all this mean?" cried Braid, turning fiercely upon the man. + +"That was no more my brother," said the guide, "than the dog-fox is +brother to the eagle. That man was the sheikh--the Black Dog himself." + +"It was your brother's voice," said Harry. + +"Indeed!" said the man. "I should know my brother's voice. I tell you +once again my brother is dead. The Black Dog slew him; and then, +recognizing the man he had killed, he guessed that I, too, was with you, +and he came here to kill me, imitating my brother's voice, practising +the cunning which has made him feared from the Niger to the Congo. And +he has gone with a bullet in his chest." + +"You did not kill him?" asked Braid. + +"No. He fled, realizing that his trick had failed. But because he +killed my brother, Cortes, whom I love, I swear now by the saints that I +will avenge my brother's death, that I will send the Black Dog to the +shades. Henceforward it is his rifle against mine, his treachery +against my wits; it is the fox against the serpent." + +All this time they had forgotten something of superlative importance. +When events of startling magnitude occur in such quick succession it +sometimes happens that the obvious is overlooked. And strange to +relate, it was Peter Klein--who hitherto had seemed quite incapable of +thinking for himself--who was the first to realize the exceeding gravity +of their situation. On a sudden he rushed at Fernando like a maniac, +and seized him by the arm. + +"You say," he cried, "you are sure your brother is dead?" + +The man bowed his head. + +"Then, if he is dead, by Heaven, we are buried alive!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV--The Valley of the Shadow + + +The truth came upon them all in the nature of a shock. They could not +think how it was that they had overlooked so simple a deduction, so +obvious a fact. + +Cortes, by reason of the extreme slimness of his form, was the only one +of their number who could manage to squeeze himself through the narrow +opening. The stone above the circular hole in the roof, or ceiling, +could not be moved from the inside. The hiding-place that they had +deemed so secure a refuge was nothing but a death-trap. + +Peter Klein turned in anger upon the guide. + +"So much for your wisdom," he cried, "so much for your oath!" + +The man's eyes flashed. His hand went to the knife he carried in his +belt. One half of him was a savage, and the other half a Spaniard. + +"Do you think," said he, "that I thought my brother would be killed?" + +"So far as I can see," said Klein, "it is all the same to you." + +"There you prove yourself a fool," answered the other hotly. "You think +I do not love him because I do not weep like a woman and gnash my teeth. +Understand this--the heart of a Spaniard is like a deep pool, the +surface of which is still. We feel; we love. Also, I warn you again, +we can hate." + +The spy dared not face the man's blazing eyes. + +"I warn you," Fernando went on, his voice rising as passion swayed him, +"if you hold me up to ridicule, you die. I am ready enough to admit +that my judgment was at fault--that I forgot that, without my brother, +we were unable to leave the cave--but to be put to scorn by such as you +is more than I will endure!" + +Peter Klein fell back before the fiery onslaught of the man's words as +though he had been struck. The half-caste stood upright, every muscle +taut, his eyes ablaze, his clenched teeth showing in the blackness of +his long moustache. Then he hurled his knife upon the floor. + +"Why do I waste words upon such as you?" he cried, as if in anguish. +"You are not worthy of my anger!" + +"I cannot yet understand," said Harry. "If the sheikh is so formidable +an adversary, why did you send your brother into the night dressed in +Klein's clothes?" + +"I spoke high words of the prowess of the Black Dog," said Fernando, +"but all the time I believed in my brother. Cortes was a fine shot, +second only to the sheikh himself. Moreover, he was agile, one of the +finest stalkers who ever lived. I knew, when I was sitting by the fire, +that we would soon hear a shot. You thought that I was sleeping, but I +was praying to the Holy Virgin that the first shot would be fired by my +brother, and that the Black Dog would lie in his own blood, his life +ended, the Book of Fate closed upon his evil deeds. When I heard the +double report, my heart sank within me. I knew that my brother had been +outwitted--that the victory lay with the sheikh." + +"And in the meantime," said Harry, "we are buried alive!" + +"The fault is mine," said the guide. "I should have asked my brother to +remove the stone at the entrance before he went, in case of any mishap. +I forgot to do so. I ask forgiveness." + +"There is nothing to forgive," said the boy. "In such a country as +this, encompassed upon every hand by death and dangers of all kinds, +there are a thousand things to think of. I would be the last to blame +you." + +"You are generous," said the man. "The English, with all their faults, +are the most generous race on earth; and because they are just, I honour +them. We have food and water to last for some days. We can but put our +trust in Providence." + +Of the days that followed it is unnecessary to tell in detail. In the +gallery, shut out from the outside world, from the pure air of the +mountains and the sunlight, existence was a living death. For all that, +it was wonderful for how long they retained their strength. Indeed, it +is a remarkable fact that a man can go for many days with little food, +if he has water to drink and is not asked to undergo great physical +exertion. But at last Peter Klein grew so weak, and the beating of his +heart so slow, that Harry feared he was dying. + +It was during these days that the boys came to love the wizened +half-caste in whose hands was their fate. Fernando's courage knew no +bounds; it was as if his will-power was invincible. Never once did a +word of despair or hopelessness leave his lips. + +They longed for the open air, for freedom. Days and nights were all the +same to them, except that sometimes the sunshine, sometimes the +moonshine, invaded the depths of their prison through the great fissures +in the wall. As time went on it was difficult not to give up hope. + +At last, one night, Fernando rose to his feet and approached Harry, who +found it impossible to sleep. + +"My friend," said he, "the sands are running down, but I think that I +can save you." + +"How?" asked the other. + +"Look at me!" cried the man. "I am little better than a skeleton. I +think I can creep through the opening in the wall." + +Assisted by Braid, he crawled to the fissure, and there endeavoured to +pass through. It is true that he had wasted away terribly, but the +opening was very narrow, and his frame was larger than his brother's. + +For an hour he struggled vainly. At last, he gave it up. + +"It is no good," said he. "I cannot do it. We are lost. Nothing +remains but death." + +They resigned themselves to their fate. They were far past all +complaint. Even Klein was silent; he no longer moaned and deplored his +unhappy lot. Even he had learnt to prepare himself for death. + +Three more days passed, and at the end of that time Fernando himself lay +upon the floor in a kind of faint. + +It was bitterly cold. They had no fire. They had burned all their +wood. Only a little water remained. The prospect before them was +horrible to contemplate. They were destined to be driven mad by thirst. + +For some time Harry walked backward and forward. Then fatigue overcame +him, and, lying down upon the floor, he immediately fell asleep. When +he awoke it was daylight. He went to the bucket of water to divide the +little that remained into four equal parts. To his astonishment, he +found that the bucket was empty. + +He uttered a loud exclamation, which brought Braid to his elbow. + +"What has happened?" asked Jim. + +"Our last drop of water," said Harry, "has been stolen." + +There was little doubt as to who was the thief. Neither Harry nor Jim +nor Fernando could have been capable of such treachery. Harry turned +fiercely upon Peter Klein. + +"Do you deny this?" he asked. + +"Yes," said Klein; "I do." + +They examined his pannikin and found that the inside was wet. There was +also a drop of water upon the floor by the place where he had been +sitting. Without a doubt, during the earlier part of the night, the man +had pretended to be asleep until the three others were buried in +slumber. Then he had stolen all that remained of their water. + +Fernando rose slowly to his feet, drew his long knife, and, tottering +from weakness, approached the German spy. + +"Death," said he, "is too good for you! But, weak as I am, you die!" + +Harry held out his hand. + +"Let him be," said he. "His cowardice will avail him little. He will +only live to see us go before him. He has done no more than prolong the +agony of his death!" + +The guide returned, growling like a dog, and sat down upon the floor. + +During that day hardly a word was spoken. They sat in silence, waiting +for the end. Towards afternoon a raging thirst began to consume them; +their blood grew hot in a kind of fever; their tongues clave to the +roofs of their mouths. + +And at nightfall they lay down to die. Fernando was now in a kind of +stupor. For an hour he never moved, but lay like one already dead. Both +Braid and Klein fell asleep, but Harry found sleep impossible. + +Knowing that the end was drawing near, he resolved to commend his soul +to the Almighty, and, burying his face in his hands, he began to pray. + +For some minutes he prayed silently, making his peace with God. When +his prayer was finished he felt happier. He sat for some time with his +hands clasped about his knees, looking upward at the round stone which +confined them in their prison. + +And as he looked the stone moved as if by magic, silently. Through the +round hole above, the light of the moon streamed down into the darkened +vault. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI--The Enemy in Sight + + +For some moments Harry Urquhart did not move. He sat like a graven +image, his eyes staring, his jaw dropped in amazement. Then the full +truth burst upon him in a flood. He sprang to his feet, uttering a loud +cry which immediately awoke both Braid and Peter Klein. + +"What is it?" cried Braid. "What has happened?" + +Harry seized his comrade by the shoulders and shook him violently. + +"Tell me, Jim, have I gone mad, or has a miracle happened? Look there!" + +Braid looked in the direction indicated, and saw, to his amazement, that +their prison doors were opened, that the stone had been rolled away from +the circular hole in the roof. + +By that time Fernando had got to his feet. He came swaying towards +them, and clutched hold of Jim's arm for support. Perhaps the climate +of the Coast had weakened his constitution. At any rate, he was now far +weaker than the others--even than Klein. + +"We are saved!" he cried. "But beware of treachery. For all we know +the Black Dog may be hiding at the entrance." + +Harry cared nothing for that. A sense of freedom, a breath of mountain +air, were worth all the risk in the world. He scrambled up, caught hold +of the edge of the hole, and with great difficulty managed to pull +himself through, so that he stood in the light of the stars, amid the +mists that wrapped the mountain. + +At his feet lay a still, dark form. It was that of a human being, but +so motionless that the boy feared that it was that of a dead man. Going +down upon his knees, he turned the body over, so that the face was +uplifted to the moon; and at once he recognized the features of Cortes, +the younger guide, who had gone out to slay the sheikh. + +He spoke to the man, but received no answer. Then he rushed to a spring +that was near by and quenched his burning thirst. + +There he was joined by Jim Braid and Peter Klein. Both went down upon +their knees at the spring-side to drink their fill. + +After that they assisted the elder guide to escape from the terrible +prison in which they had spent so many days. They sprinkled water upon +the lips of the younger man, and at last he opened his eyes. + +"We thought you dead," said Harry. "Tell us what happened to you?" + +"I went my way, dressed in the clothes of that cur, to trick the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. Knowing the man with whom I had to deal, I was +cautious and on my guard. + +"I approached so silently that not even a lizard could have taken alarm. +Then I saw the man waiting for me on the mountain-side. He was dressed +in his white Arab robes; he was seated on a boulder, with his rifle on +his knees. + +"I considered what was best to do. I had intended to show up at a +distance, pretending that I was the German. Then I remembered that if +the sheikh fired I would assuredly be hit. In the end I decided to +creep upon him unawares, to snatch his rifle from his hands. With a man +like the Black Dog it is best to strike the first blow, and also to +strike hard. + +"How he saw me I cannot say. His eyes are like those of a lynx. But he +discovered me and fired, and I was wounded. The bullet pierced my +chest. For a moment I think I was unconscious, for when I opened my +eyes the sheikh himself was kneeling over me, looking into my face. He +recognized me, and called me by my name. + +"Without doubt he thought I was dying. Indeed, he left me to die. He +went his way up the mountain. Presently I heard a shot, and a little +after the Black Dog came past me, running as if for life. When he was +quite close to me I saw that there was blood upon his robes and that he +was running after the manner of one who suffers pain and is wounded. How +that happened I do not know. At the time I thought little about it. I +did not doubt that I myself stood at the door of death. + +"I fainted, and when I recovered consciousness I was consumed by a +terrible thirst. Fever raged in my bones. With great difficulty I +managed to drag myself to the side of a spring, where I drank great +draughts of water. After that I fell asleep; and for the next three +days I lay in that place, thinking that I was dying, frequently drinking +at the stream. I could not walk, for whenever I tried to rise to my +feet there was a pain in my chest like a red-hot sword, and I came near +to fainting. + +"One night I thought of my brother and my friends, and then it was that +I remembered that you were unable to escape from your prison. + +"Ever since then I have been struggling up the side of the mountain, +endeavouring to get to you to rescue you. Every minute I thought that I +was dying; sometimes I was so weak that I felt I could go no farther. +Yet every day I made a little progress. I followed the direction of the +stream. I drank the water, and ate wild berries, as well as the +provisions I carried with me. + +"I reached the stone; I remember rolling it away, and after that I +remember no more." + +The narration of this story was too much for the man's strength. As he +said the last words he fell backward in a faint. + +For the rest of the night they camped in the open air, sleeping around a +fire. They remained upon the mountain-top for four days. The German +troops had evidently left the district, and though Harry and Jim hunted +in the valley, and succeeded in shooting some guinea-fowl, they saw no +signs of von Hardenberg and the sheikh, who had evidently pushed forward +on their way towards Maziriland and the Caves of Zoroaster. + +It is remarkable how quickly they were completely restored to health. +Food and water and the freshness of the mountain air lent their +assistance to Nature; and even Cortes, who had been so severely wounded, +rapidly regained his strength. Indeed the wound was already healed, and +all he required was nourishment and rest. + +When they were able to continue their journey, they decided to advance +with the greatest caution. A few miles farther on they would come to a +long valley, two hundred miles in length, which led directly towards the +frontier of Maziriland. Cortes knew of a path that ran along the +crest-line of the mountains, whence they would be able to survey the +surrounding country except such as was hidden by the density of the +bush. If they followed this there would be small chance of their being +taken by surprise, either by the Germans or von Hardenberg and the +sheikh. + +At first they marched by easy stages, in order not to overtax their +strength. This part of the mountain was inhabited by a great number of +rock-rabbits, many of which they were able to kill with sticks; and +these rabbits soon found their way into the cooking-pot. + +By degrees they made their daily marches longer. They were anxious to +overtake Captain von Hardenberg and the Black Dog, who were evidently +several miles in advance. Finally they marched by night, the guides +taking a direct route by the stars. + +Suddenly, one midnight, as they rounded a great spur of rock, they saw a +small light, dim and twinkling in the distance like a star, far below +them in the valley. + +"Look there!" cried Harry, pointing ahead. + +"Is it a camp-fire?" asked Braid, turning to the two guides, who stood +together. + +Both bowed their heads. + +"It is a camp-fire," said Fernando. "It is the camp-fire of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII--A Shot by Night + + +Towards morning the fire dwindled and went out. At daylight they could +see no sign of von Hardenberg and his companion. The entire valley +appeared deserted. In this part of the country there were no villages, +the valleys being too barren and infertile for agriculture. + +The next night the bivouac-fire was again visible, this time nearer than +before. On the third night they were not more than seven or eight miles +in rear of those whom they pursued. + +On these occasions they were careful that their own fire should not be +observed. They always lit it under the cover of large rocks or +boulders, screening it from the north. They had every reason to suppose +that the sheikh and his companion believed them dead. The Black Dog had +doubtless told his employer that their pursuers had been buried alive in +the crater of the old volcano. + +Every night they were careful to post a sentry, and, on one occasion, +when the first signs of dawn were visible in the east, Harry--who was on +watch--suddenly heard a sound, faint but very distinct, immediately +behind his back. + +He turned quickly, but could see nothing. He waited for some moments, +holding his breath, with his finger ready on the trigger of his +revolver. + +Nothing happened. The boy imagined that the sound had been caused by a +rock-rabbit or a mountain-rat, and was about to resume his former +position, when something descended upon him with a spring like that of a +tiger. + +In the nick of time he jumped aside. He saw a white figure rushing +violently through space. In the moonlight he saw the flash of a knife +that missed him by the fraction of an inch, and the next moment he was +full length upon the ground, struggling in the arms of a powerful and +savage man. + +[Illustration: IN THE MOONLIGHT HE SAW THE FLASH OF A KNIFE THAT MISSED +HIM BY THE FRACTION OF AN INCH] + +Locked together in a death-grip, they rolled over and over, first one on +top and then the other. There was a loud shout, which came from the +lips of Braid, and at that the two guides sprang to their feet and +hastened to Harry's assistance. + +The struggle ended as suddenly as it had begun. One second, strong +fingers gripped Harry by the throat, and the next his adversary was +gone. He had vanished like a ghost; he had slipped away like an eel. + +Harry Urquhart sprang to his feet and listened. He heard a laugh--a +wild, fiendish laugh--far away in the night. Stooping, he picked up a +bare knife that was lying on the ground. + +"I wrenched this from his hand," said he, showing the knife to Fernando. + +The half-caste examined it in the firelight. It was a knife of Arab +design. + +"That," said he, "is the knife of the Black Dog." + +"Why did he not fire?" asked Harry. + +"Evidently because he did not wish to warn the Germans. That is a bad +sign; it means that the German troops are in the neighbourhood." + +The following night, when they scanned the valley, they could see no +sign of the camp-fire of von Hardenberg and the Arab. The sheikh, +having failed in his enterprise on the previous evening, was evidently +determined to exercise greater caution. Harry examined the valley with +his glasses, not only to the north but also to the west and to the east. +However, he could see no sign of their enemies. + +"I do not like the look of it," said Fernando. "So long as we knew +where the Black Dog was, we had the whip hand of him. We must be +prepared for the worst." + +"Surely," said Harry, "he will push on towards Maziriland?" + +"The shortest way is not always the quickest," answered the other. "As +likely as not he has gone back upon his tracks, and even now is encamped +somewhere behind us." + +That night they deemed it advisable to light no fire. Seated amid the +rocks on the crest-line of the hills, where the wind moaned and howled +from the west, they held a council of war. It was decided that, during +the march on the following day, the two guides should act as scouts, the +elder moving some distance in advance of the three Europeans, Cortes +following in rear. + +By the time the sun rose above the mountain-tops, they were well upon +their way. At mid-day they halted for a meal, and it was then that +Cortes came running to the bivouac. + +"Come here!" he cried. "I have seen them." + +They followed the man to the crest-line, crawling on hands and knees. +Only Peter Klein remained by the fire. Since they had escaped from the +crater of the volcano no one had spoken to the man. The guides showed +only too plainly that they despised him, and neither Harry nor Braid +were disposed to forgive the scoundrel for having stolen their last drop +of water. + +They came to a place where the valley-side dropped down in an almost +perpendicular cliff. Far below was a little grove of trees, around +which a stream meandered, its waters glistening in the sunshine. Beyond +the grove, on the other side of the valley, following a kind of +bridle-path that led to the north, were five men, one of whom was +dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"That is the sheikh," said Fernando. "He walks by the side of the +German." + +"And the other three?" asked Braid. + +"They are natives from the bush. The sheikh has doubtless enlisted +their services during the last three days. The natives dare not refuse +him labour. He was all-powerful when he was a slave-trader; fear of him +passed from village to village by word of mouth. On an expedition such +as this, he is doubly to be dreaded, because he has friends among the +Maziris themselves." + +"Then," cried Harry, "supposing he tells the tribe to rise against us?" + +"There is little fear of that," said Fernando. "He is hated by the +chiefs and head-men, who resent the authority he wields over many of the +people." + +"Then, what will he do when he draws near to the caves?" + +"He will rob by night," said Cortes. "Under cover of darkness he will +endeavour to secure the treasure." + +"My brother," said the elder man, laying a hand upon the other's +shoulder, "tell me, how far away is Black Dog?" + +The man judged the distance with his eye. + +"Sixteen hundred yards," said he. + +"Nearly a mile," said the other. "I will try my luck. I have sworn an +oath by the saints." + +So saying, he lay down upon his face and loaded his rifle. Lifting the +back-sight, he took long and careful aim, and then pressed the trigger. +There came a sharp report, and the bullet sped across the valley. + +In the space of a few seconds the sheikh and his followers had vanished. +To hit a moving figure at that distance was a well-nigh impossible task, +but that the bullet had not been far from its mark was apparent from the +way in which the party had so suddenly disappeared. + +Von Hardenberg was moving up one side of the valley, Harry and his +companions on the other. It was therefore a race for the treasure. If +Harry reached the caves first, he would be unable to enter the vault, by +reason of the fact that the Sunstone was not in his possession. He +would have to lie in wait for the Black Dog and the German. + +For two days they saw nothing more of their rivals. There was water in +plenty in the district, and presently springs and streams became even +more numerous, and they entered into a country that was thickly wooded. +At the same time the mountains became more wild and rugged, and it was +soon impossible to make progress by way of the hills. + +They therefore descended into the valley, and entered a region of +scattered trees, which gradually became a forest, where they were shut +out from the sunlight and the light of the stars. There were no paths +in the forest, and they could seldom march more than eight miles a day +by reason of the tangled undergrowth through which they had to cut a +passage. + +When they came out of the forest they were in a land of rolling hills, +which, the guides told them, mounted to the summit of Maziriland. Their +first camp in this district was under the lee of a hill; and, since they +had seen nothing of either von Hardenberg or the German troops for +several days, they deemed it safe to light a fire. There was no +scarcity of fuel, and very soon a fire was blazing, the green wood +crackling and hissing in the flames. Over the fire a kettle was +suspended by a chain from three iron rods, and from the spout of this +kettle steam was issuing, when suddenly a shot was fired in the +distance, and a bullet drilled a hole through the kettle, so that the +water from within ran down into the fire, whence issued a little cloud +of steam. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII--A Dash for Liberty + + +As one man they rushed to their arms, and even as they did so a score of +shots rang out, and the whistling bullets cut the earth about their +feet. + +"The German troops!" cried Cortes. "We must gain the hill-top or we're +lost!" + +Firing into the darkness as they ran, they ascended the hill with all +dispatch. At the top they found themselves subjected to a withering +fire, which poured down upon them from all directions. The night was +alive with the sharp reports of rifles. Sudden flashes of fire showed +up on every hand, like so many living tongues of flame. It was evident +the enemy was in force. + +For four hours the fight continued without a check. The roar of the +musketry continued; the hissing of the bullets was like heavy rain. And +all this time the German soldiers were working nearer and nearer, until +at last they formed a complete circle around the foot of the hill. + +They were then close enough for their voices to be audible, and now and +again, as a bullet found its mark, a shriek went up in the night. + +By then, not one of Harry's party had been struck. This was partly due +to the boulders which lay upon the hill-top, and behind which it was +possible to obtain cover, and partly to the inferiority of the German +marksmanship. + +During a lull in the combat, a short respite from the strain of the +situation, Harry took counsel with the two guides and Jim. + +"It appears to me," he observed, "that if we wait till sunrise we are +lost. So far, we have managed to escape death only by reason of the +darkness." + +"Before the sun rises," said Fernando, "two courses lie open to us: we +must either fight our way through the enemy or commend our souls to +Heaven." + +"I was going to propose," said Harry, "that we gather together in a body +and endeavour to charge through the enemy." + +"And after that?" asked Braid. + +"After that we may either find some place more suitable for defence, or +else die in our tracks." + +"We can die fighting," said the younger guide. + +"Well, then," said Harry, "every minute counts. If we can get through +we may be able to cover some miles before dawn is upon us. We must hold +together, however. There will be no time to go back to look for one who +is lost." + +They now prepared themselves to make this last and desperate bid for +freedom. They played for the highest stakes, for liberty and life. They +could not advance, however, without acquainting Peter Klein of their +intention, and when the man was told of what they proposed to do he set +to shaking in his limbs. + +Harry was in no mood to humour him. He had long since lost all patience +with their uninvited guest. + +"You have two minutes," said he, "in which to choose. Either you come +with us, or stay here, or else you can go over to the enemy. It does +not matter very much to us which you decide to do." + +The man picked up his rifle. He tried to speak, and stuttered. He was +incoherent from fear, though it was his own countrymen who opposed them. +German and German-trained native troops were in the valley in about +equal numbers. + +"What am I to do?" he asked. + +"Remain at my side," said Harry. "Do not fire until I tell you to. We +are going to creep as near to the enemy as we can, and then charge +through together." + +Klein said nothing, but they heard the bolt of his rifle shake in his +hand. + +Then all five began to crawl down the hill, picking their way carefully +over the stones, advancing as stealthily as possible. + +The enemy's fire had somewhat abated. Perhaps they also--true to the +traditions of the Prussian army--contemplated an assault. Instead of +the continuous rattle of musketry that had lasted for so long, only an +occasional shot resounded in the valley. + +Inch by inch, they drew nearer to the enemy's position, and when not +twenty yards from the place where a German officer was shouting hoarse, +guttural words of command, Harry whispered to his followers to halt. He +desired to give them time to gain their breath, that the charge might be +as swift as it was sudden and unexpected. + +During the next few minutes it was as if each second dragged out into +eternity. At all events, the anxiety and excitement had the most +amazing effect upon Peter Klein, who was a coward from the day of his +birth. It drove him mad, and he became like some infuriated beast, a +bull in a bull-ring or a baited bear. + +Suddenly springing to his feet, before Harry had given the word of +command, he discharged the magazine of his rifle in the direction of his +own countrymen. Then, seizing the weapon by the muzzle, he dashed down +hill, swinging it round and round his head as a man uses a club. + +Harry and his three companions followed in the man's wake, firing right +and left. Though it was dark, they were near enough to Klein to see +what happened. The man was as terrible in his madness as he had been +despicable in fear. Without a doubt, terror had overcome his senses. +Giving himself up for lost, he had been able to bear the suspense no +longer, and now rushed furiously, demented and panic-stricken, into what +looked like certain death. + +A German sergeant jumped out of the grass before him, and the butt of +Klein's rifle crushed the man's skull as though it were a nut. Another +man--a native--a second later was dropped to the ground, with a blow +that would have felled an ox. A third rushed upon the maniac, and so +tremendous was the stroke that sent him to his death that Klein's rifle +broke at the small of the butt. + +Still the ex-spy was undefeated. With the steel barrel in one hand and +his revolver in the other, he went onward in the dark, filling the night +with an infinity of savage and appalling yells. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX--War to the Knife + + +Ten minutes later Peter Klein stopped dead, looking about him with wild, +staring eyes. The night was cold--for they were still at a great +altitude--and the breath was pumping from his nostrils as it does with a +horse. However, he was given little time to rest, for Harry, running +forward, seized him by the arm. + +"Get on!" cried the boy. "We're not out of danger yet." + +On they went, racing for freedom, crossing hills and minor valleys, +passing beneath trees, and sometimes knee-deep in the water of forest +streams. + +For a time they heard the guttural voices of the Germans behind them. At +last these became inaudible in the distance. The soldiers were not able +to follow on their tracks, since they had no way of knowing which route +the fugitives had taken. + +At last Harry deemed it safe to call a halt. + +Klein, who was still running like one possessed, had to be stopped by +force. He would not desist from flight, until Jim Braid had tripped him +up. Harry, followed by Fernando, came upon them shortly afterwards. + +"See," cried Harry, pointing to the east, "there comes the dawn! In +half an hour it will be daylight." + +"Do you know where we are?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +"Yes," said the man. "We are towards the Maziri frontier. I recognize +the mountains on the sky-line. There is a good place near at hand where +we can hide, and where--even if we are discovered--we will be able to +hold our own for many days." + +"Let us go there," said Harry. "But where is your brother?" + +No one answered. They peered into the faces of one another. The +younger guide was missing. + +Fernando, the man who had sworn an oath to kill the Black Dog, lifted +his hands to his mouth and let out a long-drawn howl which was like that +of a jackal, and which carried far in the stillness of the morning. It +was a signal that his brother knew of old. Three times he repeated it, +and each time lifted a hand to his ear, and stood listening expectant. + +No answering cry came back. A death-like silence reigned over the +valleys and forests and the mountain-side. + +"He is lost?" asked Harry. + +"He may have taken the wrong direction in the darkness. He may have +been struck by a bullet. Who can tell? These things are in the hands +of God." + +"He may be somewhere near at hand," said Braid, hoping for the best. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"If Cortes is alive he is far away; otherwise he would have heard my +signal. At any rate we can do no good by waiting here. We must push +on; the day approaches. As I said, I know of a place where we shall be +safe." + +As the grey light extended from the mountain-tops to the valleys, +Fernando led them to a kind of ancient fort, constructed of great stone +boulders and surrounded by a deep ditch. In the parapet of this fort +there were loopholes through which to fire, and in the centre, well +screened from observation, was a small hut made of the branches of +trees. The redoubt stood on a sharp pinnacle of rock commanding a wide +stretch of country on every hand. It had doubtless been constructed +centuries before, when there was a more advanced stage of civilization +in the heart of Africa. Indeed, it is from this bygone civilization +that the Maziris themselves trace their origin. + +As the daylight increased they were able to take in their surroundings. +Many miles up the valley, it was just possible to see a little village, +which, Fernando assured them, was in Maziriland itself. Some distance +to the west was a great forest which extended as far as the eye could +reach. + +Harry looked around him in amazement. + +"But this place is almost impregnable," he cried. "Four resolute men +could hold it against hundreds." + +"Is there water here?" asked Braid, turning to the guide. + +The man pointed to a small spring which bubbled up to the surface near +the door of the hut. + +"I will tell you the story of this place," said he. "Years ago a party +of six Maziris sought refuge in this fort, which was built in the olden +times, when the Ancients crossed the deserts from the east. For eight +months those six men held the army of one of the Cameroon kings at bay. +They had laid in a great store of food. They made the defence even +stronger. Time and again they beat back the attack." + +"And in the end?" asked Jim. + +"In the end four of their number were killed, but the other two +escaped." + +"Escaped! How did they escape?" + +"You will not believe me, but it is true. They escaped +underground--like moles." + +"Underground!" cried the two boys, echoing the man's words in their +astonishment. + +"Yes," said the guide. "All those months they had been digging a +tunnel. The hill is composed of a very soft kind of rock; and they had +brought spades and picks from Maziriland. Day and night they worked, +until at last the tunnel became a mile in length, extending from the +inside of the fort into the very heart of the forest." + +"Where is the entrance?" asked Harry. + +"It is here." + +The man led the way to the hut. The floor was covered with rushes, and +these he gathered together in his arms and piled in a great heap before +the doorway. Underneath was a circular piece of wood, like that which +is often found on the top of a well. Lifting this, Fernando pointed to +a flight of steps that led down into impenetrable darkness. + +"They went this way?" asked Harry. + +"Two escaped by way of the tunnel, whilst a third, who was already +dying, covered up the entrance with rushes. When their foes got in they +found only four men--dead. And they believed that they had been held at +bay during all those months by four men instead of six." + +"Does your brother know of this place?" + +"Yes; and if he is alive he will guess where we have gone. He will come +to us by way of the tunnel. If he is dead----" And Fernando shrugged +his shoulders. + +During that day and the next they saw nothing of the Germans; but +Fernando protested that it would not be safe to push on towards +Maziriland, since the enemy was certainly in the district. Also they +still hoped that Cortes would return. + +During these days they were not idle. Jim Braid was left behind in +charge of Peter Klein, who could not be trusted to hold his own in case +of sudden attack, whilst Harry and Fernando departed into the forest by +way of the tunnel. + +The long journey through the subterranean passage was one of the most +unpleasant experiences that Harry Urquhart ever had in his life. Not +only was the place pitch dark, but water had filtered through the walls +and lay here and there in pools upon the floor. These pools had grown +stagnant, and the air was humid, tainted with the foulest smells. + +At last, they came forth into the forest. There, for two days and one +night, they collected a great store of provisions. They dared not fire +their rifles, but there was no necessity to shoot. The forest abounded +in ground-nuts and various kinds of fruit. Also, Fernando knew where +the natives set their traps, and the two devoted their time to robbing +these, until finally they had sufficient supplies to last for several +days--rabbits, small hog-deer, and many kinds of birds. + +They were obliged to make three journeys to the fort with all the +provisions they had obtained, since it was not possible to carry a heavy +load through the narrow, stifling tunnel. + +On the third day they set to work cutting up the meat and drying it in +the sun. Sun-dried meat is uncommonly tough, but it has this +advantage--it will keep for many months. + +That evening they heard a shot far away in the distance. It was +followed by another, and yet a third, and towards midnight the whole +valley was alive with musketry. + +"What is it?" asked Harry of the guide. + +The man shrugged his shoulders. + +"I cannot say," said he. "Either my brother is pursued by the Germans, +or a fight is taking place between them and the Black Dog--in which case +I may be robbed of my revenge." + +They divided the night into three watches. Peter Klein, they knew, they +could not trust in any responsible position requiring strong nerves and +presence of mind. They set the man to the most menial tasks--chopping +wood, cooking, and repairing the ancient defences. + +All night the firing in the valley continued; by daybreak it was near at +hand. They could see the figures of the Germans racing across the +valley, advancing in extended order or else in small groups which at +that distance resembled families of mice. + +That afternoon a small reconnoitring-party of the enemy ascended the +hill upon which stood the fort. The defenders lay in hiding behind the +parapet, determined not to show themselves, not to disclose their +hiding-place, unless it was certain that the Germans intended to occupy +the hill-top. + +They waited till the eleventh hour. The enemy was not twenty paces from +the ditch when Fernando rose to his feet, and cried out in the German +language, ordering them to halt on peril of their lives. + +At the same time, he raised his rifle to his shoulder and sent a bullet +over their heads. As one man they turned and fled, racing towards the +forest, and were lost to sight. + +It was from that moment that the siege commenced. Their place of refuge +became a citadel encompassed on every hand by a hostile force. The +Germans gathered round them in companies, and day and night strove to +induce the garrison to surrender. It was trench warfare in the heart of +the African wild. + + + + +CHAPTER XX--Honour among Thieves + + +The Germans soon found that it was impracticable to attempt to capture +the fort by a direct frontal attack in daylight. The slope of the hill +was so steep that it was possible to ascend only by way of a path which +was covered by the rifles of the defenders. Apparently they had no +artillery at their disposal. + +At first they charged up this path after the manner in which they were +wont to hurl themselves upon the lines of trenches in Poland and in +Flanders. They were swept down like chaff. Owing to the narrowness of +the way they were obliged to advance upon the fort in single file, and +as each man appeared before the loopholes he paid the price of his +daring. + +After the first assault they resorted to tactics more likely to succeed. +They attacked twice by night. But, fortunately for the defence, the +nights were fine and starry, a full moon was up, and it was possible to +see the enemy long before he reached the walls of the fort. + +For all that, the greatest vigilance was necessary both by day and +night, to avoid being taken by surprise. One or other of the defenders +was always on guard. Even Peter Klein was of some use. Though he could +not be relied upon to act with courage or promptitude, his eyesight was +good enough, and he took his turn at sentry by day. Moreover, he was in +such abject terror of falling into the hands of his own people that +Harry suspected that the German authorities at Dualla had learnt +something of the Sunstone and von Hardenberg's private mission to the +Cameroons. + +By night, when the fort might be rushed, they thought it best not to +leave their destiny in the hands of one who had failed them so +constantly. The only occasion on which Klein had covered himself with +credit was at a moment when fear had so possessed him that he lost all +sense of danger and became for the time being a raving madman. + +It would be wearisome to describe the details of the siege as it +continued day by day. There is no question that the defenders would +have held their own for many weeks had it not been that gradually a +calamity was drawing down upon them. They were running short of +ammunition. Their bandoliers were nearly empty. + +The Germans kept up a constant fire upon the fort, and the garrison, in +self-defence, was obliged to answer back. They calculated that, with +the greatest economy, they had cartridges sufficient to last them only +four days more. It was then that Klein, Harry, and the guide entered +the hut and held consultation together. Jim Braid was on sentry, +stationed on the parapet. The sun was setting in the west. + +It was Fernando who was the first to speak. + +"The situation is very plain," said he. "We can hold out until our +ammunition is exhausted, and then retire by way of the tunnel, still +hoping to reach the caves in advance of von Hardenberg, or we may retire +to-night. + +"Which do you advise?" asked Harry. + +"I suggest," said the guide, "that we go at once. We shall need +ammunition on our return journey to the coast. We have many miles to +traverse. Every moment we delay means a further expenditure of +ammunition. We have not a cartridge to spare." + +"Then," said Harry, "it is settled: we leave the fort this evening." + +It was then that there came a loud and sudden burst of firing from down +the valley, from the direction of the forest. All three sprang to their +feet. + +Braid, from the parapet, called loudly, and they hastened to his side. + +"Look there!" he cried. + +Turning their eyes in the direction indicated, they beheld a man running +as if for life towards the forest. In pursuit, some distance in his +rear, came a large party of Germans, shouting so loudly that their +voices were audible even at that great distance, and firing their rifles +as they ran. + +"Who is it?" cried Harry. + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "He is too far away." + +The firing continued until long after nightfall. It rolled through the +forest like a wave. It was not until ten o'clock that the night was +still. + +The four defenders gathered at the door of the hut. + +"You think it wiser to go?" said Harry + +Fernando bowed his head. + +"Come, then! Let each man load himself with such provisions as he can +carry. We should start at once. It is necessary for us to be far away +before morning." + +Harry Urquhart turned and was about to enter the hut, when he was +brought to an abrupt standstill. He stood motionless and gaping, unable +at first to believe the evidence of his own eyes. For there, in the +doorway, within the enclosure of the fort, stood the figure of a man--a +man who was dressed in robes of flowing white. + +"The Black Dog!" let out the guide, and brought his rifle to his +shoulder. + +"Peace," said the sheikh, lifting a hand. "Think before you fire." + +Fernando's rifle was directed straight at the man's heart. The Arab +never flinched. He stood like a statue, speaking in the slow, +deliberate tones of one who is in full possession of his senses. + +"If you fire," said he, "you slay one who has come to place his services +at your disposal. You are surrounded by a legion of foes. Every rifle +counts. I bring you aid." + +Slowly Fernando lowered his rifle; then he laughed. + +"We do not want your aid," said he. + +"There," answered Bayram, "you are wrong." + +"How so?" + +"Here you are imprisoned. You must fight to the end. There can be no +question of surrender." + +"We do not think of surrender," said the other. "We mean to escape by +the way you came. We mean to escape to-night." + +The Black Dog shook his head. + +"That will not be so easy," he made answer. "The Germans are receiving +reinforcements; another column is advancing from the south. The bush +swarms with their reconnoitring-parties and patrols. Moreover, guns are +approaching up the valley, and may be here at any moment. I speak the +truth. Remember, at some risk I have come here of my own accord." + +He spoke slowly, as if choosing his words with care; but his English +accent was singularly good. + +"You have not yet told us," said Harry Urquhart, "why you have come." + +"You are short of ammunition," answered the sheikh. + +"How do you know that?" + +"For five days I have listened to every shot." + +"You have not yet explained," said Harry. + +The Black Dog smiled, his white teeth showing in the midst of the +blackness of his beard. + +"I come with a proposal," said he, "under a flag of truce." + +"You have nothing to fear," cut in Fernando. "You speak of a truce. We +are men of honour." + +"Very well, then," said the sheikh, "my proposal--or rather the proposal +of him who sent me--is that your party and mine agree to come to terms. +You have run out of ammunition; we can supply you. Boxes of ammunition +can be conveyed without difficulty through the tunnel. Moreover, in +order to cover your retreat, I swear by Allah that I will lead the +Germans on a false scent across the mountains to the east." + +"And in exchange for these services?" asked Harry. + +The Black Dog paused, looking hard at Fernando. + +"In exchange for these services," he repeated, "you are to desist from +the pursuit, to allow my employer and myself to pass unmolested in +Maziriland." + +At this base suggestion, a feeling of such powerful indignation arose in +Harry Urquhart that for some moments he could not find his voice. When +he spoke at last, his voice trembled with passion. + +"You can go back to Captain von Hardenberg," said he, "and you can tell +him from me that he has often enough proved himself a rascal, but that I +never thought that he would sink to such perfidy as to offer us +ammunition to be used against his own countrymen in exchange for his own +safety. As for you, it is only because you came here of your own free +will that you are allowed to go away in safety. You took us evidently +both for cowards and fools. You know now, perhaps, that we are neither +one nor the other. But there is a limit to our patience, and I advise +you to leave by the way you came as quickly as you can." + +The Black Dog drew himself up to his full height, folded his arms, and +fixed upon Harry Urquhart his cruel bloodshot eyes. + +"These are high words," said he, "to one who has been the master of a +thousand slaves. You have asked for war to the knife, and you shall +have it. It is apparent from the way in which you speak that you know +little or nothing of the man with whom you have to deal. You shall see. +I shall prove to you that I am not one who uses empty words." + +At that he turned sharply on his heel, entered the hut, and was gone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI--The Last Cartridge + + +During the next four days the siege continued, and though their enemies +continued to increase in numbers, the Germans were fortunately still +without artillery, which would have battered the old fort to dust and +ashes in the space of half an hour. + +On each occasion when the Germans ventured to assault they were driven +back with considerable loss. Indeed, their dead lay so thick upon the +path upon the hill-side that those who followed after mounted on the +bodies of those who had gone before. + +On one occasion a company of native troops actually gained the parapet +of the fort. It was a dark night, and they had crept up the hill-side +unobserved. With a savage yell, and as one man, they hurled themselves +upon the ramparts. + +The majority were thrown back in disorder under a brisk fire from the +defence, but some half-dozen leapt the ditch and clambered over the +wall. Thereupon a brief hand-to-hand encounter ensued. It was an +affair of seconds, of fierce cries and groans and savage oaths, and in +the end the enclosure of the fort was free of the enemy--except for six +motionless forms that lay silent on the ground. + +Days passed, and still the defence held out. Indeed, they had actually +put off their retreat until too late, for one night they were brought +face to face with the unexpected fact that the Germans had discovered +the entrance to the tunnel. Fernando, who had passed almost to the +mouth of the tunnel, which lay in the midst of the bush, returned to the +fort with the news that a large party of German regular soldiers was +guarding their only line of retreat. Fernando had little doubt that the +Black Dog had found some means by which to betray them. + +The Germans apparently hesitated to advance through the tunnel itself, +since they were still in ignorance of the strength of the little +garrison; and in any case the narrowness and exceeding darkness of the +passage would make an advance an extremely costly affair, whereas +ultimate success was by no means assured. They could no longer be blind +to the fact that those in the fort were running short of ammunition, and +they could afford to play a waiting game. + +The situation of Harry Urquhart and his companions was not of the +pleasantest; indeed, they could no longer hope. Even Fernando, who had +so often proved himself a man of iron, could see no chance of their +deliverance. + +As a great storm drives up upon the wind, so this tragedy drew to a +close. Every round of ammunition--fired in self-defence--every mouthful +of food that was eaten, brought it a step nearer the end. They were +surrounded on every hand. Great numbers of the enemy had come from the +south; both German and native troops were in the district in battalions, +with transport and ammunition columns and machine-guns. + +By then it was manifest that the Germans could capture the fort whenever +they wished, provided they made the necessary sacrifice in lives--a +thing which, as a rule, it is not their custom to hesitate to do. They +had not yet, however, deployed their whole strength against the +garrison--a fact that Harry was not able to explain. + +The blow, which they had anticipated for days, fell upon a certain +morning, soon after daybreak, when the Germans, their whole force in the +valley, advanced in close formation upon the fort. + +At the same time a battery of artillery opened fire from the +neighbouring hills, and the immediate vicinity of the fort became a +pandemonium of dust and smoke and flying stones and masonry, whereas the +defenders were well-nigh deafened by the bursting of high-explosive +shells. + +In spite of this hurricane of lead and steel, time and again shots +sounded from the fort; but the great wave came on, overwhelming and +irresistible. One behind the other the ranks mounted the path. The +defenders kept up a withering fire, until the barrels of their rifles +were so hot they could not touch them. And still the enemy advanced. + +As the Germans gathered themselves together for a final charge, Harry, +Jim Braid, and the half-caste rushed together from the parapet to the +only box of ammunition that remained. The box lay open near the door of +the hut. Fernando was the first to reach it. + +He pulled up sharply, standing motionless and erect. Then he knelt down +and took out from the box the only cartridge that was there. + +"This is all that is left," said he. + +"No more?" cried Harry. + +"We have come to the end," said the guide. + +Jim Braid turned and addressed his companions. + +"Has no one any ammunition?" he asked, and in his voice was a note of +dire distress. + +Both shook their heads. Peter Klein was cowering in the hut. + +"This is all that remains," said Fernando. "It shall be put to +excellent use." + +So saying he slipped it into the chamber of his rifle and closed the +breech with a snap. + +Both Jim and Harry turned away their faces. In a few minutes they knew +that they must be prisoners in the enemy's camp. Harry allowed his eyes +to travel over the parapet of the fort. He saw the German officers +reorganizing their scattered ranks in preparation for a final charge. + +And then, from a hill-top towards the south, there came a sound that was +like the bursting of a thunder-cloud. Something shrieked and hooted in +the air, and a great shell from a heavy gun burst in a flash of flame in +the midst of the German troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII--The Conquest of a Colony + + +Slowly the guide lowered his rifle. All eyes turned to the south, from +which direction had come the shell. For a moment, in the valley, in the +enclosure of the fort, there reigned a death-like silence--the silence +of suspense. The bombardment of the fort ceased as at a stroke. + +The calm voice of Fernando broke upon the stillness. + +"The British!" said he. "The soldiers from the Coast!" + +Hardly were the words from his lips than a great salvo of cannon +thundered in the valley, and went echoing far above the tree-tops of the +forests, over the ridges of the mountains, towards Maziriland. + +And once again, though the little fort was left in peace, the air was +alive with shells, which flew upon their way, shrieking and hooting as +if in savage glee. Shrapnel burst high overhead, with white puffs of +smoke, the bullets falling like hail into the ranks of the astonished +Germans. Segment-shells struck the rocks, breaking into fragments that +flew far and wide, inflicting the most terrible of wounds. + +The German troops, in good order, shepherded by their officers, retired +down the hill, to face this new and far more formidable danger. They +assembled on a long spur that jutted into the valley, which they deemed +the most suitable position whence to oppose the advance of the British. + +"Is this true?" cried Harry. "Is it, indeed, the English?" + +"Look!" cried Jim, pointing over the parapet. + +A long line of glittering bayonets appeared upon the sky-line, advancing +like a running wave upon a low-lying, sandy beach. They came forward +without checking, each man keeping his distance from his neighbour, as +though they did no more than execute some simple movements on parade. +They were in far more extended order than the Germans. + +Even as the khaki lines advanced, the Mauser rifles spoke from the +hills, and the white dust caused by the bullets flew at their feet. They +answered back in volleys, each one of which sounded like the "rip" of +tearing paper. The sunshine glittered on the steel of their bayonets, +their polished buttons, and the badges on their coats. + +Their manoeuvres were like clockwork. When one party advanced, another +fired; and thus the long lines of infantry were ever firing, ever +advancing upon the enemy's position. + +A battle fought under such conditions--which are rare enough in these +days when the spade has become an even more important weapon than the +rifle--is one of the most magnificent and impressive sights it is +possible to see. One catches only glimpses, now and again, of fleeting, +crouching figures, running from rock to rock, from cover to cover, +appearing and disappearing like gnats in the light of the sun. And all +the time a great roar of musketry rises to the heavens--a kind of +interminable "crackling" sound, like that of green wood upon a fire, +only a thousand times greater in volume and more continuous. + +Above this the guns toll ceaselessly, shaking, as it seems, the very +ground itself with a series of sullen "thuds", filling the atmosphere +with great vibrations, drum-like echoes, and rolling clouds of smoke. + +Jim Braid and Harry Urquhart stood side by side upon the parapet of the +ancient, crumbling fort. As the gods of Olympus reviewed the struggles +of the Greeks and the Trojans, so those two looked down upon the wide +amphitheatre where the conflict was taking place, where men were +marching shoulder to shoulder into the very jaws of death. + +They could see both sides at once. They could see the Germans on the +ridge, firing rapidly into the advancing British troops; they could see +the British coming on and on, regardless of danger, heeding only the +words of command shouted from line to line. + +Far in rear, upon a hill-top, a heliograph blinked and flickered in the +sun. There was the officer in command. Thence, by means of his +signallers, he controlled the army at his feet, disposing his battalions +as a player moves his chessmen on a board. + +The two boys stood transfixed in bewilderment and admiration. + +"Oh," cried Jim, "what wouldn't I give to be there!" + +His heart was with his own countrymen, the thin, khaki lines that were +driving straight forward with the tenacity of a pack of hounds that hold +the fox in view. + +From either side gun after gun spoke in quick succession, until it was +as if the world was only thunder and flashes of fire and clouds of +yellow smoke. As often as each gun was fired it was loaded and fired +again. The noise of the batteries was as persistent as the barking of a +chained, infuriated dog. + +And then from everywhere, from out of the grass, from behind the rocks, +from little undulations in the ground, arose thousands of small khaki +figures. + +Their ranks were undisturbed; they were even as the staves upon a sheet +of music. Line after line extended from one side of the valley to the +other, and, in the rear of all, the helio still blinked and glittered, +there where the brains of the machine were working the destruction of +prophets of "Frightfulness", champions of World Dominion. + +A bugle sounded in the air, its thin, piercing notes carrying far. Each +of the boys experienced a thrill of pride and exultation, a sensation of +sublime excitement, as the British lines answered the bugle with a +charge. + +Line after line, amid the thunder of the guns, swept up the ridge +towards the enemy, the bayonets flashing, the bugle speaking again and +again. + +And then came a cheer that rent the air--a British cheer--howbeit from +the throats of gallant Haussas--that drowned the musketry, that rose +superior even to the constant growling of the guns. + +Before that mad, headlong onslaught the enemy gave way. The Germans +were swamped, as a tide carries away a castle on the sands. As one man, +they broke and fled, panic-stricken and defeated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII--Attacked + + +As soon as they had collected their belongings and stores, they set +about to leave the fort, passing through the tunnel in single file, the +guide leading the way and Harry Urquhart bringing up the rear. + +By the time they entered the forest the afternoon was well advanced, the +sun sinking in the heavens. They hoped to reach the British camp that +night, but there was no question that darkness would overtake them long +before they could do so. + +There was little or nothing to fear. The soldiers had driven the +Germans from the district. To all intents and purposes the German +Cameroons was conquered, and the remnants of the enemy were returning in +hot haste towards the Spanish territory to the east. + +When Harry Urquhart and his three companions came forth from the +entrance to the tunnel they found a heap of hot, charred wood upon the +ground. There was no doubt that recently a fire had been burning, and +that the picket that guarded the tunnel had retreated only at the +eleventh hour. + +During the earlier part of the night they traversed the valley, marching +in a bee-line towards the bivouac fires of the British camp. They moved +forward in the following order--Fernando went first, some distance +behind him came Jim Braid and Peter Klein, and a greater distance in the +rear was Harry Urquhart. + +Harry had been walking for some time with his eyes fixed upon the +ground. He was wondering what the end of all this strange business was +to be. + +He knew that von Hardenberg had stolen the Sunstone, that he carried it +upon his person. It was Harry's ambition, the very lodestone of his +life, to recover the Sunstone for his uncle. It was von Hardenberg's +object to reach the Caves of Zoroaster, and possess himself of the +treasure. This was the man's only aim, for which he had proved that he +was prepared to sacrifice his country and his honour. + +As he walked, Harry was thinking of these things, when, on a sudden, +there came a flash of fire, not ten paces to the right. He pulled up +with a jerk, and heard a bullet sing past his head like some evil spirit +in the darkness. Then there came a stinging sensation in the lobe of an +ear, and a moment later he felt the warm blood flowing down his neck. + +He saw a figure flying in the night, and with a loud cry took up the +pursuit. A few seconds later he had flung himself upon a man who +struggled in his grasp. On the instant each seized the other by the +throat, and in the moonlight Harry recognized that he had come to +death-grips with his cousin, Captain von Hardenberg himself. + +No sooner was he aware who his opponent was than he saw at once that +here was a chance to capture the Sunstone, and for that end he struggled +with the desperation that means more than strength. + +Placing one leg behind his adversary, and pressing with all his force +upon his chest, he endeavoured to throw von Hardenberg backward. And +even as he wrestled he felt the Sunstone, sewn in the lining of the +Prussian's coat. + +Gradually von Hardenberg was forced backward, and then at last he fell, +coming heavily to the ground. In his fall he struck his head against a +rock, and after that he lay quite motionless and silent. + +Harry could hear the footsteps of approaching men. On one hand Jim +Braid and Fernando hastened to the boy's assistance; on the other, the +Black Dog came forward with rapidity. + +As quick as thought Harry pulled out his pocketknife. He had but to rip +open von Hardenberg's coat and the Sunstone was his, their journey was +at an end. + +A sharp cut with the knife, a hand that trembled with excitement thrust +through the opening, and Harry's fingers closed upon the precious relic +he had come so many miles to gain. + +And, at that moment, a violent blow descended upon his head and +stretched him senseless on the ground. The Arab sheikh had come to the +assistance of his employer in the nick of time. His quick eyes had +taken in the situation at a glance. He had seen the Sunstone in the +hands of Harry Urquhart, and, lifting his rifle by the barrel, he had +brought down the butt upon the boy's head. + +For him to snatch up the Sunstone was the work of an instant. And a +moment afterwards the Black Dog was flying in the night, carrying in his +arms the unconscious body of von Hardenberg. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV--The Caves + + +Fernando, bringing his rifle to his shoulder, fired a shot at random in +the darkness. It was the last round they had. A laugh came back from +the distance. + +Without a word the guide put down his rifle on the ground and examined +the wounded boy. + +"He is stunned," said he. "He will recover presently." + +So saying he lifted Harry in his arms and carried him a distance of +about a hundred yards to a place where there was a small stream in the +valley. + +There he bathed the boy's face and hands, washing the blood from the +wound in his ear. Presently Harry recovered consciousness, sat up, and +looked about him. + +"Where am I?" he asked. + +It took but a word to remind him of what had happened, and then he +remembered that he had held the Sunstone in his grasp. He looked up at +Jim and smiled. + +"I was so near to capturing it," said he. + +"We'll get it yet, sir," answered Jim. "Just now I had the shock of my +life. I thought you had been killed." + +"I'm all right," answered Harry. "I feel dizzy; that's all." + +In a little time he was able to continue on his way. The bullet wound +in his ear was nothing; it was scarcely painful. + +That night they camped in the mountains, intending to march at daybreak +towards the British camp. When the sun rose, however, they found to +their surprise that the whole column was already on the line of march, +moving towards the east in pursuit of the retreating enemy. + +When they reached the scene of the bivouac the camp-fires were still +burning, but no sign of life remained. + +The British column had vanished into the bush; and only a few +hospital-wagons were to be seen trundling slowly southward. + +In the centre of the deserted bivouac stood a tall solitary tree, and it +was under this that they rested throughout the heat of the day. +Fernando, who had been dozing, rose to his feet, stretched and yawned. +As he did so he caught sight of a star-shaped cut in the bark of the +tree, and on the instant it was as if the man had become transfigured. + +His eyes lit up, his lips smiled. Amazement, delight, and infinite +pleasure were stamped on every feature of his face. + +"What is it?" asked Harry, at a loss to explain the man's behaviour. + +"Heaven be praised!" he cried. "My brother is still alive!" + +"Alive!" + +"Yes. Cortes blazed that tree, and the blaze is not one day old. Last +night he was here--in the midst of the British camp." + +"Are you sure of it?" asked Braid. + +"I know," Fernando answered with conviction. "In the days when we +hunted together we sometimes lost one another in the bush, and on such +occasions we blazed the trees along the tracks of bush elephants in just +such a manner as this." + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"There is no sign of Cortes here," he said. "He cannot have left with +the British?" + +"No," said Fernando. "He is hiding somewhere. Let me think, where +would he go. Both he and I know this district well." + +The man paused a moment, standing perfectly still. Then, on a sudden, +with an exclamation, he set off running towards the hills. + +He did not return until long after nightfall; and then it was with the +joyful news that he had found his brother, sound asleep--beside three +boxes of German ammunition. + +Without delay, guided by Fernando, the whole party set off in haste. +They found Cortes, sleeping heavily, in a little dried-up watercourse +well screened by trees. It was characteristic of Fernando that he had +not awakened his brother. + +Harry bent down and touched the sleeper on the shoulder. The man sat +up, rubbed his eyes, and then looked about him. The light of the moon +fell full upon his face. + +Harry grasped his hand and shook it warmly. + +"You escaped?" he cried. + +"Yes," said Cortes. "When we charged through the Germans, my foot +struck against a boulder and I fell upon my face. I think the fall did +some injury to my wound--the wound I had received from the Black Dog; +for, when I tried to run, I found myself unable to do so. + +"You were then some distance ahead of me," he continued. "I feared I +would be overtaken. For a moment I knew not what to do. Then I came to +a place where there was a great hole in the ground covered with bushes, +and there I hid, allowing the Germans to pass. + +"When they had gone, I got to my feet and tried to think matters out. I +knew where my brother would take you; I knew he would go to the old +fort. I might have rejoined you by way of the tunnel. I thought of +doing so, but in the end I decided to go in search of ammunition, of +which I thought you might possibly run short. British Government +ammunition would be no good, as--with the exception of one Express--we +have all got Mauser rifles. So three times I crept by night into the +German camp, and each time returned with a box of ammunition. I secured +also a haversack of revolver ammunition. Their sentries are sleepy +dogs." + +"You did splendidly!" cried Harry. "We are absolutely without a round." + +"I knew you were in the fort," Cortes went on, "and I guessed you would +go to the British camp. It was there that I blazed the tree whilst the +troops were marching away. I returned to the hills, because I was tired +and wished to sleep. If my brother found the blaze I knew he would +follow me here." + +The man smiled. He had every reason to be proud. + +After a while the younger guide spoke again. + +"The Black Dog still lives?" he asked. + +Fernando bowed his head. + +The following morning they began the final stage of their march towards +the frontier of Maziriland. The route led them along the crest-line of +the hills, and thence across a valley thick with undergrowth and jungle, +where the heat was tropical and humid. They were glad to reach high +ground once again, and set forward across the plateau beyond which the +Maziri mountains stood up like a line of thrones. + +These same mountains had been plainly visible from the old fort they had +held so gallantly against the Germans, and had even appeared quite near +at hand. But in these high altitudes the atmosphere was exceedingly +clear, and, besides, the mountains were of great height, dominating the +surrounding country far into the interior of the Cameroons. + +It took them in all six more days to reach the frontier, when once again +they found themselves in the midst of hidden dangers. + +They had no idea of what manner of reception they would receive from the +Maziris themselves; indeed, concerning this strange race very little is +known, either to anthropologists or explorers. + +It is generally supposed that the Maziris are a race that emigrated from +north-eastern Africa very early in the known history of the world. Their +features are aquiline, their lips thin, and the colour of their skin no +more than brown. Not only are they certainly not a Negroid race, but +they do not appear to have intermarried with the neighbouring Negro +tribes in the Cameroons. It is possible they are direct descendants of +the ancient Egyptians, though it must remain a mystery how they brought +to the wilds of Western Africa the religion and traditional customs of +the followers of Zoroaster. + +As soon as they had crossed the frontier, Cortes and Fernando guided the +party towards the west, in which direction were the caves. This also +was the most deserted part of the country, nearly all the Maziri +villages being towards the east, where the country was more fertile and +suitable for pasture. + +There is to be found in a certain part of Africa--far from the sites of +the famous cities of the Pharaohs--indisputable evidence of an extremely +ancient civilization. Even so far south as Mashonaland, are ruins of +towns which could only have been originally constructed by highly +civilized peoples. Ancient Egyptian history, the writings of the Greek +historian Herodotus, as well as the Old Testament itself, place it +beyond all doubt that the Egyptians, the Persians and Phoenicians spread +their learning and their influence far into the interior of what, until +only a few years ago, was the Dark Continent--unexplored, unmapped and +quite unknown. It can only be supposed that Maziriland was a relic of +the early civilization of the East, in much the same way as the +inhabitants of northern Spain are distantly related to the Irish. + +Before we enter this strange, mysterious country, it must be placed on +record that there befell a certain tragedy. In a word, Peter Klein, +having contracted a fever in the jungle, and, being much weakened in +constitution by the nerve-strain and the hardships he had undergone, +fell into a rapid decline--and died, as he had lived, pleading to be +spared. + +His companions buried him one evening among the rock-strewn, lonely +mountains, and he goes out of this story as he came into it--a poor, +mean object, a man of no account. + +As for our four adventurers, daylight the next morning found them once +more upon the hill-tops, shrouded in the mists. For fear of the Maziris +the guides led the party by a roundabout way, giving the valleys, and +even the lower mountain slopes, a wide berth; for there they were more +likely to fall in with parties of the inhabitants. + +On the next day, from the far south, there came a noise like thunder +that continued until the afternoon. Hour by hour the British guns spoke +in the distance. The Germans were being hounded from the Cameroons. + +Day by day, as they continued their journey, the firing was repeated, +growing fainter and more distant as they advanced. On the fifth day +after Klein's death, they turned towards the north-west, and that +evening crossed a valley. Beyond was a grass-covered plateau where wild +asses grazed. The plateau dropped suddenly in a sheer wall of cliff, +and they were obliged to walk many miles to find a place where they +could descend. + +At length they reached a mountain-top. Immediately opposite was another +mountain, up which there was a path leading to a flight of steps. The +steps ended suddenly in a black, yawning hole in the mountain-side. So +far as the inhabitants were concerned the country appeared absolutely +deserted. It was a barren inhospitable waste. + +"Have we much farther to go?" asked Harry, turning to the elder guide. +"Tell me, in which direction are the caves?" + +"Yonder," said Fernando, pointing to the black hole in the mountain +slope. "Yonder are the Caves of Zoroaster. There lies the treasure +which the Black Dog and von Hardenberg have come all these thousands of +miles to gain." + +In single file, Cortes leading the way, they descended towards the +valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV--The Lock + + +The Caves of Zoroaster are one of the most remarkable examples of the +industry of the Ancients that are known to exist. As we have said, in +various parts of the world, especially in the continent of Asia, there +are many standing proofs of an advanced stage of civilization many +centuries before the Christian era. + +There are the catacombs in Upper Egypt--a labyrinth of subterranean +passages extending for miles; there are the Pyramids, the Great Wall of +China, the hanging gardens of Babylon--all of which are colossal and +eternal monuments of the labour, energy and genius of the past. + +The Caves of Zoroaster are perhaps as marvellous as any of these. +Indeed, it is much to be wondered at that they were not included in the +seven wonders of the ancient world. Time has not served to deface their +majestic beauty, to detract from the solemn magnificence of these great +vaults fashioned by human labour out of the living and everlasting rock. + +Soon after our travellers had caught their first glimpse of the entrance +to the caves, they decided to camp on the lower slopes of the mountain, +for it was already growing dark. It would take them several hours to +cross the valley, and they could not hope to accomplish the journey in +the darkness. They accordingly retired to a place where there was a +great hollow among the rocks, and here they deemed it safe to light a +fire and cook their evening meal. + +The following morning Harry awoke at daybreak. He was anxious to push +on without loss of time. There was no knowing where von Hardenberg and +the sheikh were. Perhaps they had already gained the caves. + +As soon as they had breakfasted, Harry and his party continued on their +way. The two boys, led by the guides, crossed the valley and then +ascended the mountain opposite by way of a bridle-path, worn smooth by +the feet of pilgrims. Throughout the ages, devout men had journeyed to +the caves from the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia--by way of the +caravan routes that extend in all directions across these arid wastes. + +The path grew steeper as they approached the entrance to the caves, and +presently they found themselves at the foot of a flight of steps. A +heavy mist still wrapped the mountain in a kind of shroud. The steps +ascended, one above the other, into the very heart of the mist which +completely obscured the entrance. + +These steps were like "Jacob's Ladder", mounting, as it seemed, to the +very zenith of the heavens; and on either side of them, as far as Harry +could see, were ranged strange statues--of lions with eagles' wings, of +men with the heads of foxes, and great dragons that lay crouching like +watch-dogs, guarding the treasure that lay beyond. All were graven in +the same rough mountain stone. + +For centuries the lightning had played upon the rocks about them, the +hail and the rain had lashed these mute, immobile sentinels, so that in +many cases they were broken and corroded like the gargoyles on a Norman +church. + +To mount that flight of nearly a thousand steps in the mists of morning, +between these weird and hideous images, was an experience that bordered +on the uncanny. On every hand a mighty stillness reigned in the heart +of the mountains. + +Indeed, it was as if this wild, forgotten country was some colossal +graveyard of the past, where the wisdom of the Medes and Persians lay +buried to the end of time, where the rugged mountain-tops stood forth +like tombstones, piercing the very clouds. + +At last they came to the entrance. The steps widened and they stood +upon a great stone terrace, level as a table-top, on the farther side of +which arose the side of the mountain, formidably smooth and +perpendicular, the moisture on its surface glistening in the sunlight +that struggled through the mist. It was like a wall of polished steel. + +The entrance to the caves was wide enough to allow four men to pass +abreast, and about ten feet in height. Black as Erebus it yawned in the +savage cliff. On either side, carved in stone, protruding from the +rock, were the figures of two enormous giants, armless, with great +beards that extended to their waists, and those huge conical helmets on +their heads which one has learnt to associate with the Persians, the +Assyrians, and the Medes. + +Fernando walked to the threshold of the entrance and then turned sharp +to Harry. + +"I am a Spaniard," said he, "and the Spanish are a superstitious +race--at least, that is how you would express it. Some speak of +superstition, others of prescience--or foreknowledge of coming events. +Call it what you like, I have the sense of a calamity impending. I am +quite sure of that." + +"How do you mean?" asked Harry. + +"It is like this," Fernando went on; "we have come to a tragedy. The +curtain is about to be raised." + +"Do you fear to enter the caves?" + +"No. But I will not go first. Lead, if you like, I am quite prepared +to follow." + +This was a new trait in the character of the half-caste. He had never +shown fear or hesitation before. + +Harry turned to Jim. + +"Come," said he, and led the way beneath the darkened archway. Cortes +and Fernando followed at their heels. + +But Harry Urquhart had not taken ten paces forward when he stood +transfixed in wonderment at the solemn magnificence and beauty of the +Caves of Zoroaster. + +The place was like a great cathedral. It was divided into three aisles +by two lines of pillars. These pillars were extraordinarily massive. +They had not been built up from the floor to the ceiling, but were part +of the living rock, joining the roof to the floor. In other words, the +aisles had been hollowed out by human labour, and the rounded pillars +left at regular intervals to support the immense weight above. + +The cave was lighted from above by several shafts that pierced the +mountain, and which threw convergent beams of light across the shadows. +Giving upon each of the side aisles were three doors constructed of +wood, but barred with iron and studded with scores of nails. Above +these doors, around three sides of the cave, was a kind of gallery, +connected with the roof by a series of smaller and more frequent +pillars. + +At the far end, upon an altar, a single oil-lamp was burning. Behind +the altar, and about twenty paces distant, was a wall of rock which +immediately attracted the attention of the boys. + +This rock was rough, as in its natural state, whereas elsewhere in the +cave--on the floor, the ceiling, and the pillars--the rock was so smooth +that it resembled masonry. Moreover, the aisles were of grey limestone; +but the rock behind the altar was of red granite, in which the quartz +and mica crystals glittered in the flickering light of the lamp. + +By the side of the granite rock was something which Harry Urquhart +recognized at once. On a single axis, supported at each end by grooves +cut in the pillars, were nine enormous wheels of bronze. On the +outside--or what would correspond to the "tyres"--of each of these +wheels, were hundreds of strange cuneiform characters. + +There was no doubt that beyond the red granite rock lay the vault which +contained the treasure, and these wheels composed the Bramah lock by +sole means of which the vault itself could be opened. + +But without the Sunstone the wheels were useless. On the obverse side +of the Sunstone was the explanation, or solution, of the riddle. + +Harry walked up to the great bronze wheels and turned them at random, +first this way and then that. Each revolved independently of the +others, and could be turned either backwards or forwards. + +From what his uncle had told him, he knew that each wheel must be turned +until the characters visible along a given line corresponded to those +upon the Sunstone. There could be no doubt as to where this line was, +for, across the wheels, at about the height of a man's eyes, a bar of +gold extended. + +Whilst Harry and Jim were examining the wheels, Cortes was exploring the +side aisles beneath the gallery. Presently he came towards his +companions on tiptoe, with a finger raised to his lips. + +"Come here!" said he in a whisper, beckoning to Harry. + +Harry did so, and was conducted to one of the iron-bound doors, where +the guide motioned him to stoop down and listen. + +With his ear to the door, Urquhart could hear nothing for some seconds. +Then there came to his ears a sound that was unearthly. + +It was a low, continuous, moaning sound, like the howl of a dog in the +distance. It grew louder gradually until at last it was close at hand, +on the other side of the door. + +There was something in the vastness of the place, in its stillness and +its gloom, that was at once depressing and alarming. Harry Urquhart +felt that he was rapidly losing confidence in himself. The great flight +of steps without, the stone statues, the two carved giants at the +entrance, the shadowy vault of the cave, pierced by shafts of light, and +the solitary burning lamp--all these were mystical and weird. + +The boy was well able to face danger, to take his life in his hands, but +here he was confronted by what was suggestive of the supernatural. A +feeling of fear possessed him--he knew not why. He drew back, +shuddering, and turned quickly to the guide. + +"Someone is coming!" he whispered. + +At that moment there came a loud rapping on the other side of the door, +which shook and trembled under the blows of someone who seemed like a +maniac. They heard a bolt drawn sharply back. And then a voice let out +a kind of shriek that ended quite abruptly. As one man, they turned and +fled without shame or hesitation. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI--The White Madman + + +They ran in all haste towards the entrance to the cave. The two guides +led the way. If the boys were alarmed, the men were even more so. + +The brothers had proved that they did not mind danger in the ordinary +acceptation of the term, but, in their thinking, in this place they +trespassed upon the precincts of the other world. + +Cortes was about to make his escape to the terrace outside the entrance, +when Harry called him back. + +"Here!" cried the boy. "This way!" + +In the semi-darkness he had caught sight of a narrow flight of stone +steps which led to the gallery above. He was not so frightened that he +had not a natural curiosity to see who approached on the other side of +the door. + +All this time a noise continued that echoed ceaselessly in the vastness +of the cave. It was a noise of bolts withdrawn, chains jangling, locks +unfastened, whilst a voice that was hardly human was continuously +uplifted in a long, plaintive moan. + +In the semi-darkness of the gallery the four trespassers knelt down, +hiding behind the pillars in such position that they could see into the +central aisle below. Their eyes were fixed upon the door whence issued +these strange, uncanny sounds. + +Presently the door opened, and there came forth into the light of the +lamp the most extraordinary apparition it had ever been the lot of any +one of them to see. + +It was a madman. Moreover, one who was terrible in his madness. He was +of a great age, for the hair of his beard and of his head was white as +snow. And yet he was very tall of stature, and had the appearance of a +man of colossal strength. + +He was clothed in rags--rags which hung together by mere threads, so +that his dark skin was visible upon his arms and back. The hair of his +head was so long that it reached to his waist, a great beard spread over +his chest. At his side he carried an enormous sword--a two-handed sword +such as was used by warriors in ancient days. In one hand he held a +staff. + +He came forward, singing a wild song that somehow was reminiscent of the +desert and the East. He approached the altar where burned the lamp, and +there flung himself upon the ground, tearing his hair, gnashing his +teeth, and actually foaming at the mouth. + +From time to time he lifted his voice in a howl, dismal and prolonged, +breaking off in his singing to beat himself upon the chest. It was all +terrible to behold. It was like a scene in some majestic Bedlam. This +white madman, the semi-darkness of the cave, the flickering light, the +enormous pillars--all seemed not of the world we know, but to belong +rather to one of the worlds of which we sometimes dream. + +Harry, turning to Fernando, whispered in his ear. + +"Who is this man?" said he. + +"He is Guardian of the Cave. He is said to be a hundred years of age. +He has lived here all his life." + +The old man rose to his feet and stretched forth his arms. Then, +lifting his voice, he uttered an endless string of words that were +incomprehensible to both boys. As far as Harry could make out, the man +either uttered some fearful curse or else he prayed in anguish. + +"What is he saying?" asked the boy. + +"I am not sure," answered Fernando; "I know little of the Maziri +language. I think he says that the Sunstone has been stolen these many +years, but this very day it will return. He says the vault will be +opened before nightfall. He says that he himself is about to die." + +"How does he pretend to know these things?" + +"I cannot say," said the guide. "These men have the wisdom of the +ancients, who could read the stars and knew of many things long since +forgotten. It is supposed by the Maziris themselves that by means of +fasting and penance and self-inflicted torture he has gained such +holiness that he can see into the future, that he can read from the Book +of Fate." + +They could not move their eyes from the Guardian of the Cave. He now +stood erect and motionless before the altar like one transfigured into a +kind of deity. There was little about him that suggested what we know +as human. + +He was straight of back, his bare arms folded upon his chest, his head a +little lowered. And the shafts of daylight from either side of the cave +converged upon the whiteness of his head, so that he was like a saint, +solemn and magnificent, surrounded by the all-pervading gloom. + +Suddenly he let out a shout that was half a shriek--louder than before; +and then they saw that his madness was not feigned. Like a wild beast +he hurled himself upon the wheels and set them all in motion, some +revolving one way, some the other. And even as the wheels were turning +he shook his fist at the entrance to the vault--the red granite rock at +the extremity of the cave. + +"Open!" he cried, in the strange Maziri language. "Open in the name of +Zoroaster!" + +Again and again, he cried to the vault to open, as though that which was +inanimate would heed his infuriated words. The spokes of the great +bronze wheels reflected the light from the lamp, but there came no +answer to the man's cries but the echoes of his own voice in the dimness +of the cavern. + +Once again he flung himself upon the ground, and prayed in a loud voice +that the spirit of Zoroaster might descend and show him how to open the +vault. According to Fernando, he asked the gods to grant him one of two +favours--either that the secret of the Sunstone might be conveyed to him +then and there, or that the Sunstone itself might be returned to the +cave. + +And suddenly he stopped in the midst of his prayer, springing sharply to +his feet. For some seconds he stood quite motionless, in the attitude +of one who listens. + +Then he spoke slowly and distinctly and less loudly than before. + +"My prayer has been heard," said he. "Glory to Zoroaster!" + +At that he lifted a hand to an ear and turned his head towards the +entrance to the cave. + +Those in the gallery listened, too. Sure enough, footsteps were +approaching. + +A little after, the daylight at the entrance was obscured by a +figure--the figure of a tall and slender man dressed in the clothes of a +European. For a moment he stood quite motionless, shading his eyes with +a hand. + +It was apparent that, newly come from the daylight, the new-comer was +unable to see in the half-light of the cavern. Neither could he himself +be recognized by those in the gallery. + +Presently he came forward until he stood before the Guardian of the +Cave, and the light from the burning lamp fell full upon his face. + +Harry Urquhart caught his breath, and his hand went quickly to the +handle of his revolver, when he recognized von Hardenberg, who had come +to his journey's end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII--The Black Dog Bites + + +For some moments the two men stood facing one another. Neither spoke +nor moved. + +As they stood thus, a third person entered, swiftly, silently, without +being seen either by von Hardenberg or the Guardian of the Cave. Those +in the gallery saw who it was: the man was the sheikh, the Black Dog of +the Cameroons. + +Of the scene that followed the watchers in the gallery were amazed and +horrified spectators. It seems that Captain von Hardenberg had not been +idle during the time the Sunstone had been in his possession; with +Teuton thoroughness and industry he had even learnt to speak in the +Maziri tongue. + +"Who are you?" said he to the old man, so strange and terrible to +behold. + +"I do not ask who you may be," answered the other, "because I know." + +Word by word, the following conversation was afterwards repeated to +Harry by Fernando. + +"You know!" cried von Hardenberg. "What do you know?" + +"I know that you are he who bears the Sunstone on your person. I order +you to deliver it up!" + +Von Hardenberg drew back a pace. The Black Dog was crouching like a +tiger behind one of the pillars, unseen by either of the speakers. + +"Who told you?" cried von Hardenberg. "Who told you I have the +Sunstone?" + +"These things," said the old man in a great, solemn voice, "these things +I know because I am one who holds converse with the gods. Me you cannot +deceive. A short time ago I was asleep, and in my sleep I dreamed a +dream--that the Sunstone had returned." + +"You are mad!" cried the Prussian in brutal derision. + +"Aye," said the man, "I am mad; but I am wiser than those who are sane. +Deliver up the Sunstone!" + +"By what right?" + +"By every right. I am the Guardian of the Cave. I have lived five +score years, and never once have I ventured beyond the entrance of the +Caves of Zoroaster. Come, deliver up the Sunstone." + +"And if I refuse?" asked von Hardenberg. + +"If you refuse," said the man, "you die!" + +Von Hardenberg looked about him with a quick, furtive glance. Softly +his hand crept to his belt, where he carried the holster of his +revolver. + +What happened next was the work of a few seconds. Those in the gallery +had no time to interfere. As for the sheikh, he evidently intended that +the tragedy should be played out to its end, to the falling of the +curtain. + +The old man, seeing von Hardenberg's action, lifted his great two-handed +sword and flourished it on high. Then, with a spring like that of a +tiger, he hurled himself upon the Prussian. + +Three shots rang out in quick succession. There were three flashes of +fire, like jets of flame, and then three puffs of smoke. The cave was +filled with an echo that went on and on as if it would never cease. + +And when the smoke cleared, there was the old man lying upon his face +upon the floor, silent and still. A century had rolled above his head, +for a hundred years he had stood guardian of the Caves of Zoroaster--and +now his task was ended. + +Harry sprang to his feet, and would have fired then and there at von +Hardenberg had not Cortes held him down by force. + +"It was murder!" he whispered. + +"If you fire, we are lost," cried Cortes. "It is too dark to shoot +straight, and the Black Dog will escape us." + +Harry resumed his kneeling position and waited. + +A horrid silence reigned in the great, domed chamber. The scene was +more tragic, more fantastic than ever. The shafts of light from above +struck the body of the murdered man; the lamp still flickered before the +altar. Even yet, the echoes of the shots were murmuring in the deeper +recesses of the place. + +Captain von Hardenberg stood stock-still, his revolver in his hand, thin +wreaths of smoke issuing from the muzzle. From out of the heart of the +stillness there came a chuckle: the Black Dog was pleased to laugh. + +Murder was nothing to him. He had dealt for years in human lives. He +was implacable, relentless. And even at that same moment he himself +contemplated a greater crime, for the commission of which he was hiding +in the darkness like a snake, biding his time to strike. + +Captain von Hardenberg took two steps towards the body and turned it +over with his foot. + +"He is dead," said he in German. + +The old man, who had been so terrible in life by reason of his madness, +now looked sane and beautiful in death. The worn, agonized expression +had gone altogether from his features, which were now calm and wholly at +peace. With his white hair and ragged clothes, he was like one of the +patriarchs of old. + +Captain von Hardenberg was not himself. It was plain to see that it was +all that he could do to control within him a feeling that was akin to +terror. He looked about him with widely opened eyes--at the vast +pillars, at the darkened corners of the aisles, at the shafts of +sunlight that pierced the darkness like the blades of swords. + +With trembling hands he attempted to unbutton his coat. His nerves were +so shaken, and he in such feverish haste, that he could not at first +succeed. In the end, as if grown desperate, he took a knife from his +pocket, opened the largest blade, and cut off the buttons one by one. +Then he ripped open his waistcoat, and, a moment after, drew forth the +Sunstone and placed it on the altar by the side of the burning lamp. + +And next he did a strange thing indeed. He burst suddenly into loud +laughter--laughter that was hysterical, delirious. + +He had gone through so much; he had faced so many dangers; he had been +guilty of a score of crimes; he had lost everything--good name and +honour and position--in order to possess himself of the treasure that +lay beyond the red granite rock. + +And now that all this wealth was as good as his, he could do little else +but laugh, in a kind of wild delirium, whilst tear-drops in quick +succession coursed down his cheeks. + +After a while he mastered himself a little, but not completely. He went +to the nine wheels and turned them all ways in a fever of excitement. + +Then he remembered what he had to do. He studied the wheels and took +notice of the cuneiform writing on the "tyres". At that he returned for +the Sunstone and brought it to the Bramah lock. + +But, since it was too dark there to see the writing on the stone, he +took it back to the altar, and laid it down once more before the lamp. +Then he studied the character in the first segment, and, having +committed it to memory, he went back to the wheels. + +Slowly he turned the first wheel, noting each character as it appeared +above the golden bar. At last he appeared satisfied. The cuneiform +figure, or character, which lay immediately above the golden bar +corresponded to that upon the Sunstone. + +Then, in a like manner, he turned the second wheel. Always when he got +the wheel in the correct position he compared the two characters--that +upon the Sunstone and that upon the wheel--to make sure they were the +same. + +Finally, he came to the ninth wheel. His excitement was now so great +that those in the gallery could see that he was trembling violently in +every limb. + +He troubled no longer with the Sunstone. He turned the wheel very +slowly, with his eyes fixed upon the red granite rock. Presently there +was a "click" like the sound of the turning of an enormous lock. Captain +von Hardenberg held the wheel quite still. + +There came another "click" even louder than that which had gone before. +And then slowly, like some great living monster, the rock began to turn, +as if it revolved upon a pivot. + +It turned evenly, slowly, noiselessly, and, as it turned, the light from +the lamp caused the quartz and mica and felspar in the granite to +glisten like a thousand fire-flies on a summer's evening. + +And then, in the moving rock itself, appeared a narrow archway about +four feet across; and when this was immediately opposite the altar there +was another "click" and the whole rock was still. + +Those in the gallery sprang to their feet and looked on with bated +breath. The thing was like a miracle. As for von Hardenberg, he gave +vent to a cry that was half a cheer and half a sob. Then, snatching the +lamp from the altar, he rushed through the archway into the darkness +beyond. + +From the gallery they could see the light grow smaller and fainter as +the Prussian descended a narrow flight of steps. Then the light went +out, and there came up from the vault beyond a faint cry of exultation. +Captain von Hardenberg had attained the treasure of Zoroaster. + +And it was at that cry that the Black Dog glided from his hiding-place. +Now that the lamp had gone, the cave was darker than before. But by the +light that came from above, and through the entrance, those in the +gallery could see his white robes as the man glided noiselessly across +the hall. + +He went straight to the altar, picked up the Sunstone, raised it to his +lips, and kissed it. For a moment he gazed at it, long and lovingly, +before he thrust it into a pocket. + +He moved on tiptoe towards the wheels. As he did so he passed through +one of the shafts of light, and his features were illumined. On his +face there was an expression that was diabolical. It was the face of a +beast of prey, a tiger that stalks its victims. His white robes +contrasted strangely with the swarthiness of his countenance. His eyes +were very bright and now looked yellow like those of a cat. + +When he reached the wheels, he let out a great shout that filled the +vastness of the cave. + +"Die!" he cried. "Die the death you merit!" + +At that he set the wheels in motion, and immediately the great granite +rock revolved again. And Captain Carl von Hardenberg was buried alive +in the midst of the treasure that was his. + +The sheikh passed rapidly down the centre aisle. Half-way to the +entrance he stopped, looked back, and shook his fist at the rock. + +"Lie there," he cried, "and rot! In my own good time I will return." + +Before the last word was from the man's lips, Fernando had lifted his +rifle and fired. The bullet flattened itself against a pillar not three +inches from the Arab's head. The Black Dog glanced up at the gallery +and then dashed out of the entrance, so swift and agile in his movements +that it would have been sheer folly to fire again. + +"You hit him?" cried Harry. + +"No," cried the man, with a sullen oath. "I missed. It was too dark to +see." + +"Too dark to see!" repeated Harry. "But he is gone! Make haste, or +he'll escape!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII--A Race for Life + + +Fernando stood motionless, his rifle in his hand. He had been within an +ace of fulfilling his oath, and sending the Arab to the shades. + +"I would have hit him," he complained, "had the lamp not been taken +away." + +Meanwhile Cortes dashed down the steps, and crossed the central aisle to +the body of the murdered man. + +The madman lay quite still. A life of fasting, of penance and +privation, had closed in the heroic fulfilment of his duty. With his +last breath he had demanded of von Hardenberg to deliver up the +Sunstone; and there he was--a huddled, formless object, lying at the +foot of the altar. + +The first impulse of Harry Urquhart was to follow in pursuit of the +sheikh. With this intention he hastened to the terrace, whence he could +see nothing. The Black Dog had vanished into the white mists that +wrapped the mountain-side. By now he was no doubt at the bottom of the +great flight of steps on each side of which stood the strange, fantastic +statues. + +Harry, rifle in hand, was about to take up the chase, when he remembered +that somewhere beyond that impenetrable granite rock was von +Hardenberg--alone in the midst of the treasure. + +He returned to the cave, and went to the rock and listened. He could +hear nothing. Beyond, all was silent as the grave. + +"What can we do?" reiterated the boy, looking about him in bewilderment. + +Jim Braid went to the nine wheels and turned them at random, hoping that +by chance the vault would open. In a little while he desisted and +returned to Harry. + +"We must follow the sheikh," said he. "We must endeavour to recover the +Sunstone at every cost." + +"And leave _him_ here?" said Harry, with a motion of the hand towards +the granite rock. + +"We can do nothing," said Fernando. + +"I bear the rascal no goodwill," said Harry. "He deserves but little +pity. But this is terrible!" he added, and repeated the word again and +again. + +"Come," said Cortes, "we waste time in talking." + +As he spoke, he led the way from the cave, followed by the others. + +As they passed down the great flight of steps, Harry Urquhart turned and +looked back. The entrance to the caves was no longer visible. A great +cloud lay upon the mountain like a mantle. Near at hand, the strange +beasts carved in stone were quite conspicuous and plain, but gradually, +as they mounted one behind the other towards the terrace, they became +lost in the mist. They resembled an army of quaint, primeval animals +that were filing down from the clouds to inhabit the abodes of men. + +The elder guide, shading his eyes with a hand, scanned the mountains to +the north. Presently he let out a cry--a cry of exultation. + +"There!" he cried, pointing across the valley. + +Sure enough, far in the distance was a white speck that was moving +rapidly upon the mountainside, disappearing for a moment to appear +again, always bearing in the same direction--towards the north. + +Cortes turned to the others. + +"I can run," said he. "I was a tracker once by trade. I undertake to +keep upon his trail. Do you follow as quickly as you can." + +Fernando laid a hand upon his brother's shoulder. + +"You will not kill him?" he said. + +"No. The man's life is yours." + +With these words Cortes sped upon his way, springing from boulder to +boulder, supple in figure, agile despite his wound. He had spent much +of his life hunting wild game in the midst of unexplored, inhospitable +hills. He was quick of eye and sure of foot. + +Outrunning his companions, he went rapidly upon his way, and was soon +lost to sight. All that afternoon they followed in his tracks, and +towards evening they heard a shot, high up in the mountains, many miles +to the north. + +A grim smile passed across the face of the elder guide, who calmly +turned to Harry. + +"Yonder," said he, "is the sheikh." + +"It was he who fired?" asked Harry. + +Fernando shook his head. + +"That shot was fired by my brother," he answered. "I know the sound of +my brother's rifle." + +"Where are we going?" asked Jim. + +The half-caste shrugged his shoulders. + +"The Black Dog chooses the way," said he. + +"He goes to his home?" asked Harry. + +"His home!" repeated Fernando. "Has the wild dog a home? Does the hare +burrow in the ground? The Black Dog sleeps where he finds himself. All +the world is his home. He may go into Nigeria; he may cut back to the +coast; he may pass through the mountains to the great Sahara Desert. +But, wherever he goes, Cortes will follow him; he will be followed to +the ends of the earth. And now and again Cortes will fire his rifle to +guide us on our way, to let us know that he still holds the Black Dog in +view." + +Throughout the days that followed, the mountains witnessed the almost +superhuman efforts of two men: Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog of the +Cameroons, and Cortes, the half-caste Spaniard of the Coast. + +The one fled from justice, clutching the Sunstone in his hand, and the +other followed, until miles grew into leagues, until they reached the +rolling grasslands to the west of Lake Chad, where cattle grazed in +herds. + +It was a struggle of Titans, a race for life or death between men who +were well versed in the craft of the hunter, who knew each bridle-path +and mountain-spring and solitary oasis between the bend of the Congo and +the Atlas Mountains. + +Day and night they raced onward, under the march of the southern stars. +And Cortes clung to the heels of Black Dog like a leech. As often as +the sheikh halted, he was obliged to push on again in greater haste. + +At nightfall, every evening, Cortes fired his rifle, and this enabled +his brother and the two boys to keep upon his track. The route taken by +the sheikh was not a straight one: the course he followed was in the +shape of the letter S. Harry and his party were often able to take +short cuts, completing one side of a triangle when the Arab and his +pursuer had accomplished the other two. Thus it was that upon the +twentieth day they came to the place where the younger guide was +encamped. + +"He is close ahead?" asked Fernando. + +Cortes pointed to the west. + +"He is in the valley yonder," said he. "To-night he sleeps in the +jungle that lies on the edge of the plateau." + +They were now in a part of the globe of which little is known. They had +left the cattle far behind them. This country is uninhabited except by +wild animals, and is visited only by the caravans that come south-east +from Timbuctoo. + +The Black Dog, with the Sunstone in his possession, still held his +course towards the north, setting forth across the illimitable, barren +waste. He journeyed for two days without halting. Then he crossed a +river, and, passing over a plateau, descended into the true desert, +where the sun blazed like a furnace. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX--The Temple + + +On the skirting of the desert lay a small Arab village--a place of a few +dilapidated huts, accommodating not more than a score of inhabitants. +For the most part these were people sunk to the lowest depths of +poverty, living in a state of dirt unimaginable to those who are not +acquainted with the Arab. + +To this village came Harry and Braid and the elder guide. The headman +of the village came forward on their approach, followed by a few +children. + +Fernando, who had an intimate knowledge of Arabic, was able to act as +interpreter. The headman said the village had been rich in the +possession of two camels; but, late on the previous evening, an Arab had +come from the plateau who had purchased one of these camels. Early that +morning had come another man, a white man--as he said--who, having +purchased the other, had set forward without delay in the same direction +as the Arab. + +"Did the second man leave no message?" asked the guide. + +The villager replied that the "white man" had left word that those who +followed him were to wait in the village until he returned. He expected +to be back that night with news of great importance. + +Accordingly they halted for the afternoon, and, giving the villagers a +wide berth, camped upon the sand, lighting a fire, upon which they +cooked a meal. + +"And all this time," said Harry, "von Hardenberg lies buried alive, +starving to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"He cannot starve," said he. "I noticed he wore a haversack well filled +with provisions. And I have heard it said that inside the vault is +water; a small spring bubbles up in a great basin, forming a little +fountain." + +"You have seen it?" asked Harry. + +"No," said the man; "but I know what I say is true. And, even were +there no water in the cave, the Prussian carried a water-bottle." + +Harry Urquhart sighed. + +"All this is like a dream," he exclaimed. + +"The scoundrel deserves no better fate," said the guide, hard of heart +and pitiless where his enemies were concerned. + +At nightfall they lay down to sleep, Jim Braid remaining on sentry for +the earlier part of the night. They had small reason to trust the +people of the village, who were not incapable of murdering them in the +night for the sake of their possessions. + +At about ten o'clock Jim was alarmed by a peculiar grating sound quite +near to their camp. The moon had not yet risen, and, though he strained +his eyes in the direction from which the sound had come, he was able to +distinguish nothing. At last he rose to his feet and walked some little +distance from the fire. There he discovered a camel lying down upon the +ground, engaged in chewing a bundle of coarse hay. The camel had +appeared as if by magic. + +Jim returned to the fire, and there to his amazement found Cortes +sitting before the embers. + +"You have returned?" said he. + +"Yes, I have returned." + +"With news?" + +"Of the Black Dog. Yonder in the desert is an ancient temple or mosque. +It stands in an oasis where there are palm-trees, and around which +melons grow. For many years it has been deserted. The sheikh himself +is there." + +"We must awaken the others," said Braid. + +"There is plenty of time," said the man. "He will not move before +daybreak. The night is yet young. We will surround the oasis at +sunrise and take him alive. Fernando must fulfil the oath he has made +to the saints." + +Jim Braid had not such patience. With this news upon his mind he could +not stay idle while Harry and Fernando were asleep. Despite the advice +of Cortes, he awoke them both, and told them what had happened. + +"We must start at once!" cried Harry. + +"There is no haste," said Fernando, with a shrug of his shoulders. "But, +if you wish it, we will go." + +They packed up their camp equipment and provisions, and their reserve +ammunition, and these they loaded upon the camel. Then they set forward +on their way, following a caravan route, whilst a full moon, red as +blood, crept over the horizon and illumined the wasteland like a +lantern. + +In three hours they came to a place where a stone building, surrounded +by a dozen trees, stood forth against the moonlight. Near by a hyena +howled. + +"The sheikh is within," said Cortes. + +Drawing a little distance away, the four held consultation together. As +far as they could make out, there was but one entrance to the temple, +which was half in ruins. For all that, they thought it best to surround +the place, and it was finally agreed that Harry Urquhart should enter +the building, revolver in hand, whilst the other three guarded the walls +to prevent the Arab's escape, should they have overlooked some other +means of exit. + +Leaving his rifle behind, with his revolver ready loaded in his hand, +Harry passed on tiptoe through the entrance and found himself in a +shallow, darkened chamber. + +Though there was no roof to the building, the adjacent palm-trees shut +out the light of the moon, and some seconds elapsed before the boy's +eyes grew accustomed to the semi-darkness. + +As far as he could make out, he was surrounded by high walls. Scattered +here and there about the floor, upon which the sand of the desert lay +like a thick, luxurious carpet, were great cylindrical boulders, which, +in former times, had evidently composed the pillars that supported the +roof. In the shadow of these boulders it was quite dark, and each +shadow was large enough to conceal the form of a man. + +The boy decided to act with caution. With such an opponent as the +sheikh he knew he would be called upon to exercise not only promptitude +but cunning. It had not been without difficulty that he had managed to +persuade the guides to allow him to enter the temple. Fernando, who was +filled with a strong desire for vengeance, had wished for the honour for +himself. But Harry, as the leader of the expedition, would not give +way, agreeing that the moment he fired the elder guide should hasten to +his assistance. + +Ready to fire at a moment's notice, Harry set about a systematic search +of the ruined temple. Starting from the entrance, he worked his way +around the walls, holding as much as possible to the shadows. He looked +behind each boulder, he searched each crevice that appeared large enough +to admit the body of a man. In the end he returned to the entrance. +The place was evidently deserted. + +His first thought was to leave the building, to tell Cortes that he had +been mistaken, that the sheikh was not there; but then he remembered how +seldom the judgment of either of the guides had been at fault, and, +assuring himself that he had overlooked some hiding-place, he began his +search anew. + +He came to a place where a clump of cactus was growing against the wall, +and here he discovered what he had not noticed before. Under the cactus +plant was a little archway, a kind of tunnel, large enough to admit a +man crawling on hands and knees. + +The boy was in two minds what to do. It was one thing to search from +boulder to boulder, ready to fire at a moment's notice; it was another +to go head foremost on all-fours into what might prove to be a trap. If +the Arab was hiding on the other side of the wall, beyond the +cactus-bush--a stroke of the knife, and the matter would be ended. The +boy had need of all the courage he possessed. To go back to Jim and the +two guides would be to confess himself afraid. + +Taking a deep breath, like a man about to dive, he lay flat upon his +face, and as silently as possible worked his way forward through the +sand, which was still warm from the rays of the sun of the preceding +day. + +If there were many holes in the wall such as this, it was well three of +them had remained on guard without. Had all four entered the temple at +once, the sheikh, if he lay anywhere in hiding, had a sure way of +escape. Harry had no means of knowing whether the hole led to the +desert or to an inner room. + +On the other side of the wall it was quite dark. The boy looked +overhead, and was able to see that he was sheltered by a roof--a roof in +which there were great holes, through which he could see the stars. He +could do nothing as yet, until his eyes had grown accustomed to the +darkness. + +For some moments he lay still, his heart thumping against his ribs, +straining his ears to catch the slightest sound. From somewhere quite +near at hand, at first almost imperceptible but gradually growing +louder, came a low, soft, vibrating noise that seemed to proceed from +somewhere under the ground. + +Harry thought he had heard something like it before; he could not +remember where. It was like the droning of a monster bee, or the noise +of a kettle on the point of boiling over, or else the purring of a cat. + +How long the sound continued he was never able to say. It seemed to him +that he lay for an eternity, breathless, waiting for something to +happen, with the sound continuously in his ears. And then he became +aware of two great, yellow eyes, staring in the darkness, immobile, like +flaming lamps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX--The Blood Spoor + + +On the spur of the moment he snatched his revolver, levelled it, and +fired. + +There was a prolonged, piercing shriek, as a dark mass, blacker than the +shadows, sprang high into the air. + +Harry lay quite still; fear at last possessed him. The loud report of +his revolver was still singing in his ears; and, before silence reigned +again, it was as if the whole place, even the very walls, were possessed +of life. + +Dark shadows were moving everywhere. All about the boy were yellow, +staring eyes, that dilated and grew smaller in the darkness. And then +Harry became conscious of a fierce, growling sound. + +As far as he was able to make out, this proceeded from the largest pair +of eyes, immediately before him. And it was this that gave him the +first inkling as to the solution of the mystery: he had crept into a den +of savage beasts. + +The largest pair of eyes drew nearer, and suddenly dropped lower, almost +to the level of the ground. The brute was about to spring. + +There was a snarl. As quick as lightning Harry sprang aside. + +The great beast collided with the wall with such force that the roof--or +as much of it as remained--came down with a crash upon the ground, and +Harry found himself buried in a mass of debris and dust. + +He tried to move, but found he was unable to do so. A heavy beam lay +across his chest. With the exception of his head and shoulders he was +buried in the wreckage. + +As the dust cleared, the place became illumined by the moonshine. On +the sudden disappearance of the roof, the light from without had been +admitted to the darkened chamber. At once Harry was able to see quite +distinctly, and the sight that he beheld was sufficiently alarming to +shake the nerves of even the strongest man. + +Pinned to the ground, unable to move, he found himself in the midst of a +family of leopards. Quite near to him, also half buried in the +wreckage, lay the beast that he had shot--evidently the father of the +family. Six cubs, half-grown, growled and snarled on the other side of +the chamber, and in front of them, her white fangs gleaming in the +moonlight, was the mother leopard, fiercely guarding her young. + +It was she who had hurled herself at the wall, who had brought down the +roof, and who now snarled repeatedly at the boy. It was apparent that +the sudden collapse of the building had given the animal a fright. Twice +she made as if she would advance, and twice drew back towards her young. + +Harry was not able to fire again. The hand which held his revolver was +pinned down beneath the fallen beam. He could not move his eyes from +the leopard. At the same time, the brute feared to advance. + +A sharp jet of fire--it seemed not two paces from the boy's face--a loud +report, and the leopard rose upon its hind legs, rampant, terrible and +glorious, fighting the air with its fore feet as if in the throes of a +struggle with an invisible, all-powerful foe. + +[Illustration: THE LEOPARD ROSE UPON ITS HIND LEGS, RAMPANT, TERRIBLE, +AND GLORIOUS] + +Then the brute came down and lay quite still, shot through the brain by +a bullet from Jim Braid's rifle. + +Quick upon Jim's heels, through the narrow opening in the wall, came the +two guides, Cortes leading the way. + +"Are you hurt?" asked Jim. + +"No," said Harry. "I am not hurt. But get me out of this; I can't +move." + +With quick hands they lifted the beams and rafters that pinned the boy +to the ground, and, a moment after, Harry was on his feet. + +The young leopards gathered together in a corner of the chamber. Then, +one after the other, they sprang over the ruined wall like cats, and +disappeared into the night. + +"The sheikh!" cried Fernando. "Where is he?" + +"I have not seen him," answered Harry. + +"He came here to-day," said Cortes, "and pitched his camp. Look here, +what's that?" + +He pointed to the ground, where lay something that was white as snow. It +was a bone. + +The two boys drew back in horror. Fernando was undismayed. He calmly +picked up the bone and examined it in the moonlight. + +"This is the shin-bone of a camel," said he. "Moreover, of a camel that +was killed to-day. As my brother says, the Black Dog was here." + +"See this!" cried Cortes. "The ground is charred. It was here he lit +his fire." + +All four searched the chamber. Besides the shin-bone, they found other +evidence that could not be disputed: four hoofs and a piece of the +Arab's white flowing robe. + +"Has the man been killed?" cried Jim. + +"It seems that that is so." + +"But the Sunstone!" Harry exclaimed. + +"This evidence," said Fernando, "is indisputable. The Black Dog came +here by day, pitched his camp, and lit his fire. When his fire burned +out he fell asleep. He had had no sleep for forty-eight hours, and must +have been exhausted. It was whilst he was asleep that the leopards +entered. It seems I have been robbed of my revenge." + +Harry looked at the man. + +"So you think," said he, "that the sheikh is dead?" + +Fernando pointed to the strip of the Arab's clothes, and shrugged his +shoulders. "At all events," said he, "the camel he purchased in the +village fell a prey to the leopards." + +"But," exclaimed Harry, "how could the camel have got here. We were +obliged to crawl in on hand and knees." + +Fernando laughed. + +"The leopards slew the camel outside," said he. "They tore it to +pieces, which they dragged in here to play with. Have you never watched +a cat?" + +"Then," cried Harry, "the Sunstone has been lost!" + +"Have patience," said Fernando. "We may find it yet. We will get out +of this place and wait for dawn. When the daylight comes we will search +the ruins. There is no need as yet to despair." + +This advice was good. They went out together, leaving by way of the +little archway half-hidden by the cactus plant. On the sand of the +desert they lay down side by side, and, whilst one acted as sentry, the +others slept. + +As soon as the sun began to rise in the east, Fernando rose to his feet. + +"Come," said he, "we will search." + +They looked everywhere. Under the palm-trees, the sand was all +disturbed where the eight leopards had flung themselves upon the camel. +Around the trunk of one of the trees was a rope which had been gnawed in +half. In the inner chamber of the temple no further evidence was +forthcoming, and this was in part due to the fact that the ground was +covered with the wreckage of the roof. It was the younger guide who +discovered in the outer chamber a drop of blood upon the stones. + +The man evidently considered that he had found a clue of great +importance; but to the two boys it seemed quite obvious that this was +the blood of the camel that had been dragged piecemeal through the +narrow opening. + +"No," said Cortes, shaking his head. "These are small drops of blood. +It is possible the Black Dog is still alive." + +At that he turned upon his heel and set off at a jog-trot across the +plain. When he was a long way off, they saw him waving his arms +frantically, in the highest state of excitement. + +They ran to the place where he was, and found him pointing to the +ground. + +"Look there!" he cried. "I was right. The sheikh has escaped!" + +Sure enough, upon the soft sand was a line of footmarks, leading in the +direction of the plateau. Every now and again the trail was marked by a +small drop of blood. + +Harry asked for an explanation. + +"It is very simple," answered Cortes. "The leopards first attacked the +camel, which was tethered to a palm-tree outside the temple. The Black +Dog was awakened from his sleep and endeavoured to escape. As he fled +from the entrance he must have encountered a leopard. His cloak was +torn, but he escaped, bearing the marks of the leopard's teeth or claws, +probably in his thigh. Wounded, he has gone back to the hills, knowing +that there lies his only chance of safety." + +The man was certain of his facts. Moreover, the evidence of the +foot-marks and the blood spoor was too strong to be denied. + +"Come!" cried Fernando. "He is as good as ours, unless he is only +slightly hurt." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI--The Fox in View + + +Before the heat of the day had arisen, Harry, Jim Braid, and the two +guides had covered many miles across the desert, leaving the Arab +village to their left. All this time it was easy to follow the track of +the sheikh. The Black Dog evidently suffered pain, and progressed only +with the greatest difficulty; for, as they went on, his footsteps became +more irregular, as though he staggered when he walked. + +Indeed, the whole thing was like the hunting of a wounded deer. It is a +well-known fact that all wounded animals take to higher ground, because +there they know they are more likely to be safe, since there are usually +hiding-places in the mountains--crannies in the rocks, and caves. And +besides, it is good to lay down one's life a little nearer to the stars. + +The desert ended suddenly in a great expanse of scrub, bordering the +plateau, where the ground was stony, and where the foot-marks of the +sheikh were no longer visible. For some miles the two guides held the +track, until they came to a place where the fugitive had halted by the +side of a little stream. Here he had washed and bathed his wounds; he +had torn strips from his clothing, making bandages for himself. He had +gone down upon his knees at the side of the stream and had drunk the +fresh water from his hands. Then he had continued on his way, +invigorated and refreshed, making straight towards the Maziri mountains. + +Soon after that they were obliged to leave the camel to browse upon the +hill-side. The ground had become so steep and broken that the animal +could advance but slowly. They off-loaded the provisions and ammunition +and divided these equally among the party. + +Presently they climbed the lower slopes of the mountains, where the +country was much intersected by strips of forest and dried-up +watercourses, with here and there a patch of sand--a kind of offshoot of +the desert. There was no longer any trail to follow. + +The Black Dog had chosen his way with sagacity, walking upon stony +ground, where his sandals left no marks. For all that both Cortes and +Fernando were confident that they would overtake him. However, to make +the more sure of their victim, they decided to divide their forces, +Harry and the elder man going one way, and Jim and Cortes another. + +Late that afternoon, Harry and his companion had attained a great height +on the ridge of the mountains. Before them extended a great valley, and +it was on the other side of this that they beheld a white figure moving +rapidly from rock to rock, bearing steadily towards the east. + +The guide lifted his rifle and fired in the air. + +"That is to warn my brother," said he. "He will know the signal. This +time it is you and I who lead the chase." + +He set off running down the mountain-side, springing from boulder to +boulder. There was no foot-path, and the way was almost precipitous; +but the man, though not so sure of foot as his brother, was as agile as +a panther. In fact, it was as much as Harry could do to keep up with +him. The half-caste was all impatience to overtake the fugitive. + +The sheikh was no longer in sight, nor was there any sign of Jim and the +younger guide, when the sun sank beyond the mountains, and the shadows +of night crept into the valleys with the mists. For all that, Fernando +held upon his way until long after dark, until at last Harry was obliged +to call upon him to halt. The boy was utterly exhausted. Since daybreak +that morning they had travelled without a halt, and must have covered +nearly forty miles, over country that was rugged, wild, and pathless. + +The guide agreed to halt, but would permit no fire. Harry appeased his +appetite with some wild fruit he had procured on the margin of the +desert, and then lay down to sleep. In less than a minute he was buried +in the deepest slumber. + +It seemed to him he had not been sleeping for more than an hour when the +guide took him by the shoulder and shook him lightly. + +Harry Urquhart looked about him. + +"It is still dark," said he. + +"The dawn comes," said the man, as if that clinched the matter once and +for all. + +"Have you not slept?" asked Harry. + +"Does the hound sleep," said Fernando, with a grim smile, "with the fox +in view? Remember, I have sworn to the saints." + +When they had eaten such of the desert fruit as remained over from the +previous day, they set forward on their journey, the guide leading as +before. + +They traversed valley after valley, the guide selecting the route, as it +seemed, by some kind of natural instinct similar to that which will lead +a cat to find its way across unknown country. Though during that +morning they saw nothing of the Arab, Fernando was certain that the +Black Dog was not many miles ahead. Every time they reached a hill-top, +he screened his eyes with a hand and examined the surrounding country +for signs of the fugitive, who, they were convinced, was making back to +the Caves of Zoroaster. + +They were returning to the hills of Maziriland by a route that lay far +to the south of that of their former journey. The mountains here were +not so high as those farther to the north. For all that, they were +exceedingly desolate and rugged. They were in a land where nothing +appeared to live. There were no villages; neither cattle nor sheep +grazed upon the lowlands. + +At midday the guide caught sight of the sheikh, still bearing towards +the south-east. His white robes were conspicuous at a distance. + +On the opposite side of the valley in which they found themselves, the +man was hurrying forward along a ledge that did not appear to be more +than a few feet across, that hung--as it were--between earth and sky. +Beneath this ledge, the smooth face of a precipice dropped sheer to the +depths of the valley; above, the same inaccessible cliff continued, +rising upward to the clouds. + +"If Cortes were only here," said the half-caste, "the task would be +easy; the Black Dog would be ours." + +"Where is your brother?" asked Harry. + +"I am inclined to think he is somewhere toward the north. For the last +three days the wind has been blowing from that direction. Had he been +to the south he must have heard the shot I fired, in which case he would +have caught us up." + +"Perhaps," said Harry, "he returns by the way we came." + +"It may be," said the guide. "Sooner or later, he will discover his +mistake. Then he will come south; but he and Braid will be many miles +in rear of us. If Cortes were with me now, I could capture the sheikh +before sunset." + +"How?" + +"You see where he is," said the guide, pointing across the valley. "He +walks on the brink of one precipice and at the foot of another. He can +turn neither to the right nor to the left. He must either go straight +on or else turn back. My brother can run faster than you or I. If he +were with us, I would send him down the valley in all haste, to ascend +the mountain-path in advance of the sheikh; whilst I would mount to the +path at this end of the valley. Thus the Black Dog would be caught +between us two." + +Harry looked at the great, yawning abyss that arose before them like a +mighty wall. The figure of Bayram was not more than two miles away. In +mid-valley was a stream that flowed through a narrow strip of grassland, +upon which it would be possible to run. + +"I may not be able to run as fast as your brother," said he, turning to +the guide, "but I think I can overtake the sheikh." + +Fernando laughed. + +"I think so too," said he. "As for me, though I can climb for many +hours, I am no runner on the flat. Do you, therefore, set forth upon +your way. At the foot of the valley you will see that the precipice +ends; a spur of rock juts out. If you reach that place before the +sheikh, you will be able to climb up to the path at the top of the +precipice. There you will lie in wait for him. I will follow in his +rear. He will be caught between two fires." + +As there was little time to lose, Harry was not slow to obey the man's +injunctions. Side by side they climbed down into the valley, and there +they separated, Fernando going to the north, Harry Urquhart setting out +in the opposite direction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII--Between Two Fires + + +In less than an hour Harry drew level with the Arab. The progress of +the Black Dog was necessarily slow. In the first place, he still +suffered from his wound; in the second place, the path he followed was +in places so narrow as to be dangerous, and he was obliged to proceed +with the utmost caution. Harry, on the other hand, had been able to run +as fast as his legs could carry him by the side of the stream that +rushed down from the mountains. + +The boy paused for breath and looked about him. Though he and the +sheikh were making for the same point, in regard to which they were +level with one another, there was more than a mile between them. In +other words, that was the distance that separated the precipice from the +stream in mid-valley. Harry looked up and saw Fernando far in rear. He +had already gained the path at the top of the abyss, and was following +with all dispatch upon the heels of the fugitive. + +The Black Dog stopped. His small white figure seemed to be crouching. +Harry, with the aid of his field-glasses, tried to make out what the man +was doing. + +At that moment there came a quick, hissing sound within a fraction of an +inch of the boy's ear, and a bullet buried itself deep in the ground not +fifteen yards away. + +Without a doubt, the sheikh now realized to the full the danger in which +he stood. He saw that he was rapidly being cut off from all means of +escape. There was nothing that could save him but his surety of aim, +and at that distance it was no easy matter to hit a mark several hundred +feet below him. + +When a rifle is fired downward from a great height, what is known as the +"trajectory", or flight, of the bullet is affected, and in consequence +the line of sight is not wholly accurate. This may have been sufficient +to account for the failure of the Arab's shot; but in any case, to put a +bullet within an inch of the target at so great a range proved him a +marksman of the greatest skill. + +When he saw that he had missed he hurried on his way, hoping against +hope to reach the spur in advance of Harry Urquhart. + +The boy was determined that the fugitive should not escape. He cared +little or nothing for the life of Bayram, but at all costs he meant, if +possible, to recover the Sunstone. He was never able to forget that, +all this time, von Hardenberg was shut up alive in the silent vault, in +the very heart of the mountain. + +Running as if his life depended on his efforts, he dashed down the +valley. Three times the Black Dog fired, and each time the bullet flew +within a hand's-breadth of its mark. + +On gaining the spur, Harry clambered to the southern side, where he was +out of sight of the fugitive, who was now too far away to fire. Slinging +his rifle across his shoulder, hand over hand the boy climbed up the +rocks, and at last gained the pathway which formed a little ledge, or +terrace, upon the face of the great abyss. + +He walked forward stealthily. On his right hand a rock arose, +inaccessible and smooth as a plate of steel, whilst on the left it +dropped sheer into the shadowy depths of the valley from which he had +come. Far below him, the stream that he had followed looked like a +little silver thread glittering in the sunlight. + +He knew that he must find some kind of cover. If he came face to face +with Black Dog on that narrow path he would have little chance of +living. A rifle in the sheikh's hands, at a point-blank range, was more +an implement of execution than a weapon of defence; and, besides, the +Black Dog was known to be a man of prodigious strength. + +As the boy went upon his way he looked forward eagerly, hoping to find +some rock or boulder behind which he could hide and await the approach +of the Arab. But the path was bare, not only of vegetation, but of +stones and fragments of rock. It was as if some mighty hurricane had +swept the mountain-side, brushing all obstacles from the narrow ledge, +sweeping the place as clean as the pavement of a street. + +Presently the path turned a sharp angle. The cliff stood folded back in +the shape of the letter W. From the corner, Harry was able to see, not +only the other extremity of the W, but also the smaller salient which +formed the centre of the letter. It was then that the complete success +of their enterprise was made apparent. + +At the corner of the southern extremity was Harry, and at the northern +stood the guide, his rifle in his hand. Between them the face of the +precipice was folded back in two re-entrant angles. Everywhere the +abyss was smooth and perpendicular, both above and below the pathway. It +was possible to climb neither up nor down. Escape was beyond all +question. And midway between Harry Urquhart and the half-caste guide, +standing upright at the central angle, was Sheikh Bayram, the Black Dog +of the Cameroons, like a great bird of prey perched above its eyrie. +Whatever the issue of this business was to be, it was certain that for +the present the fugitive was caught. + +Neither was it possible for him to conceal himself. If he turned back, +he was exposed to fire from the guide; if he went forward, he was +covered by the rifle of Harry. + +He stood motionless for some seconds, as if deliberating in his mind +what was best to do. Then, with a slow and measured step, he walked +towards the boy. + +Harry waited till the man had come within twenty yards of him; then he +raised his rifle to his shoulder and directed the sights full upon the +Arab's heart. To his amazement, the Black Dog stood stock-still. + +Harry was about to press the trigger when, for two reasons, he desisted. +Firstly, the thing smacked of a cold-blooded murder, since the sheikh +had made no show of resistance; secondly, if he fired and killed the +man, his lifeless body would pitch headlong into the abyss. In that case +they might not be able to recover it, and thus the Sunstone would be +lost. + +Suddenly the sheikh raised his rifle above his head, and cried aloud to +the boy in English. + +"Fire," said he, "and kill me! I am at your mercy; my life is in your +hands. See here, this rifle--it has served me well for twenty years. It +is known from Lagos to Port Stanley, even as far south as the Kasai. +Behold, there goes my best and truest friend." + +At that he cast the weapon to the depths below. + +"You surrender?" cried Harry, coming forward. + +"I can do nothing else," replied the sheikh. "As you ran in the valley +I fired my last cartridge. Still, I am not yours so long as I am +alive." + +With these last words, he turned sharply and looked behind him, as if he +had heard something. There, sure enough, was Fernando, crawling on +hands and knees, his head and shoulders just appearing around the +central angle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII--On the Brink of Eternity + + +The Black Dog folded his arms, threw back his head, and laughed. + +The guide came wriggling like a snake, working himself forward upon his +elbows and his knees, almost flat upon his face, which was little raised +above the ground. His dark features were expressionless. Upon his +countenance was visible no sign of triumph, no elation at a victory that +was well within his grasp. As he came nearer and nearer his dark eyes +never moved from the stern face of the Arab sheikh. + +Then slowly he rose to his feet, bringing the butt of his rifle into the +hollow of his shoulder. + +"Bayram," said he in a deep voice, "make your peace with the Almighty +God, for you are about to die!" + +The Arab extended his arms in the direction of the east. Beyond the +mountains, on the far horizon, the sun was setting in a glow of crimson +glory. The great hills stood forth before the sunset like the thrones +of giants, their irregular, rugged outline a deep leaden colour where +they were not wrapped in gathering clouds. + +The Black Dog lifted his voice so that it carried far across the valley. + +"Without repentance," said he, "I go into the shades. I have sometimes +acted unwisely, for human flesh is weak, and man cannot have the wisdom +of Allah, whose prophet is Mohammed. But for such false steps as I have +taken I am ready to pay the price. Come, fire, and have done with it! +I do not fear to die." + +There was no question that Fernando was about to fire, when Harry cried +out in the nick of time. + +"The Sunstone!" he exclaimed. + +The sheikh turned to the boy and smiled, his white teeth showing in his +beard. Then he thrust a hand into a pocket and drew forth the Sunstone, +which he held to the light, so that the yellow jade caught the +reflection of the dying sun and looked like the most magnificent of +opals. + +"Here it is," said he. And then to the guide: "Will you take this in +exchange for a human life? I am ready to strike a bargain." + +Fernando shook his head. + +"Do as he bids you," pleaded Harry, who was not only anxious to recover +the Sunstone at every cost, but who had no liking for this business, +which was in the nature of a common execution. + +"I have sworn an oath," said the guide in measured tones. "The Black +Dog must die." + +With these words he approached, until he was quite near to the Arab. It +was no doubt his intention to shoot the man and then grasp his robes to +prevent his lifeless body from falling over the cliff. Be that as it +may, he failed in his enterprise, for the sheikh was possessed of the +supple activity of a tiger as well as the cunning of a wolf. + +Fernando raised his rifle. He was then not ten feet from the Arab. And +even as he pressed the trigger the Black Dog sprang upon him, striking +the barrel of the rifle upward, so that the shot flew high in the air. + +A second later the two men were locked together in a death-grip, each +struggling desperately for life. + +The sheikh was the stronger of the two, but he suffered from his wound. +Not only was he somewhat weakened by loss of blood, but his right leg, +the flesh of which had been torn by the leopard's fangs, was stiff and +aching from the great fatigue of the journey across the mountains. + +Harry put down his rifle and came forward in all haste, his revolver in +his hand. He desired to give what help he could to the guide, but this +was no easy matter. + +The two men were like fighting cats. First one was on the top and then +the other. They rolled over and over so rapidly, and were so closely +interlocked, that it was almost impossible to tell which was the guide +and which the sheikh. Sometimes they struggled at the foot of the +cliff; at others they were on the very edge of the precipice, and both +seemed in imminent danger of falling into the depths. + +"Help!" let out Fernando in the voice of one who choked. "He fights +like a demon possessed!" + +Harry, in desperation, hurled his weight upon the two, and at once found +his strength of small avail. He was tossed hither and thither, and was +more than once in danger of being hurled over the edge. + +At last, not without difficulty, he disengaged himself, recognizing that +he did no further good than risk his life. He saw also that his +revolver was quite useless. He dared not fire, even at the closest +range. + +It was then that Fernando somehow managed to release the other's hold, +and sprang sharply to his feet. The sheikh was on him again like a wild +cat, and had him by the throat. Putting forth the whole of his colossal +strength, the Black Dog forced the other backward. + +Nearer and nearer to the edge of the precipice the four feet shuffled, +until the guide actually tottered on the brink. + +Harry stood by--a helpless spectator, petrified with horror. The terror +of the situation had taken his breath away. It was as if he had lost +all power and all sensation of his limbs. Then, with a loud cry, +Fernando, hurled from the Black Dog's powerful grasp, plunged feet +foremost over the cliff. + +And as he fell he grasped the air with frantic, clutching hands, in an +agony of brief despair. His left fist closed upon nothing, but his +right laid hold upon the long, flowing robes of his opponent. + +On the instant the Black Dog was jerked off his feet. He tried to save +himself by throwing his weight backward--a quick, spasmodic action that +proved that he retained his presence of mind to the end. He was too +late, however. His shoulder struck the tooth-like edge of the +precipice--and, in a flash, he was gone. + +Harry Urquhart felt the strength suddenly go from his knees. Unable any +longer to stand, he sank down into a sitting position on the narrow, +perilous path. His heart was beating like a hammer; for a moment he +thought that he would faint. + +He dared not look down into the abyss. It was all too horrible to think +of. He sat still and listened, while the sun sank beyond the mountains, +and darkness crept into the valley. A great silence reigned among the +hills that was like the silence of the tomb. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV--The Sunstone Found + + +More than an hour elapsed before Harry Urquhart had the power to move. +The whole tragedy had been far more terrible than any nightmare, and yet +he felt just like a little child that awakens suddenly in the night, to +find himself still confronted with those horrid possibilities that can +only occur in dreams. + +Night crept into the valley from the east. The glow in the heavens died +out, and one by one the stars appeared, and a great full moon, luminous +and white. The boy crept to the edge of the precipice and looked over. +He could see nothing; it was too dark to see. The whole valley was +still. + +This silence was fearful in itself. It seemed to Harry that he was the +only living thing in the world. There were no voices in the night; in +the valley there was no sound of bird or beast or human being. + +Harry rose to his feet, and, step by step, aided by the moonlight, +cautiously returned to the spur by way of which he had come. He was +still quite unnerved. He dared not go near the edge of the precipice; +as he advanced he clutched the mountain-side. When he came to the spur +he clambered down among the rocks in such haste that the perspiration +stood in beads upon his brow. And then a feeling of weakness overcame +him again; and, seating himself upon the ground, he endeavoured to think +matters out. + +He tried to realize the full significance of what had happened. Fernando +had fulfilled his oath: he had brought about the death of the Black Dog +of the Cameroons. But he himself had perished also, and the Sunstone +had been lost. And all had happened in the space of a few seconds, +about which it was terrifying even to think. + +Above all else, Harry Urquhart wanted someone to talk to; he wanted to +hear the sound of a human voice. He was still like a child awakened +from a nightmare. The loneliness of this great, howling wilderness was +crushing, overpowering. With his nerves overwrought, his courage +shaken, the eternal silence got the better of his feelings, and +suddenly, burying his face in his hands, he burst forth into tears. + +He knew not why he cried. His tears were not tears of sorrow. He cried +because he had passed through a great ordeal, because he had been face +to face with Death. And, in that sense, every teardrop was the word of +a prayer to the God who controls the destinies of men. + +Then, mastering his emotion, he rose to his feet and went on--he knew +not whither. After a time he came to a stream, and there he stopped, +wondering what to do. + +There was food in his haversack, but he felt no inclination to eat. He +went down on his knees, and drank deeply. The water was very cold. + +When he had quenched his thirst, which was like the thirst that +accompanies a fever, he felt refreshed. He even scorned himself for +having been so weak. It was then that he looked about him. + +He was shut in on all sides by the great inhospitable mountains. Above +was a clear sky, bespangled with a multitude of stars, in the midst of +which the full moon shone down into the valley. Then he saw another +star, solitary, large as a planet, lower than the others. It was a star +that seemed to shine from out of the heart of the mountains. + +It was some minutes before he realized what it was. Then the truth came +upon him as in a flash. It was not a star at all, but a camp-fire that +was burning on the hill-side. + +The thought that he was not alone in this desolate and silent region was +like the nectar of the gods to one who is faint and weary. The boy +cared not in the least who camped on the mountainside; he decided to +find out for himself. If they were savages, they could murder him; it +would matter little to him. If they were friendly, they might allow him +to warm himself by the side of the glowing embers. At any rate he would +hear some kind of human speech. + +It took him three hours to reach the fire, where he found two men, +seated facing one another. A cry of exultation escaped his lips when he +recognized Jim Braid and the younger guide. + +At once Cortes sprang to his feet as if alarmed. + +"Where is my brother?" he asked. + +Harry tried to speak, but was not able to do so. He sank down by the +side of the fire. + +"Some calamity has happened!" + +Harry bowed his head. + +"And the Black Dog?" asked Cortes. + +"He also is dead," said Harry, speaking for the first time. + +"Dead!" cried Cortes, without expression in his voice. + +"Yes," said Harry. "And the Sunstone is lost, and von Hardenberg will +starve to death in the Caves of Zoroaster." + +Cortes seated himself once more upon the ground, extending his hands +towards the fire. There were no tears in his eyes; his voice was +without a tremor. + +"When you feel able to do so," said he, turning his face to Harry, "will +you please tell me what happened." + +Harry related the story from beginning to end. He told how Fernando and +himself had followed the sheikh across the mountains, and of how they +had run the man to earth upon a narrow ledge at the top of an enormous +cliff. He then described the struggle that had taken place, with its +grim and terrible conclusion. + +When the boy had finished speaking, Cortes looked up at the moon. + +"In four hours," said he, "it will be daylight. We can do nothing till +then. When the dawn comes we will search for the bodies." + +At that he lay down upon the ground, but it was evident he had no +intention of going to sleep. + +He had shown little or no emotion on hearing of his brother's death. +There was black blood in his veins, and, with the more savage races, +death is a simple and everyday affair. For all that, there is no reason +to suppose that he did not feel the great loss he had sustained. + +A long time elapsed before Harry, too, was able to sleep. And, when at +last he did so, he was for ever struggling on the brink of an +unfathomable abyss, so that he was little rested when at daybreak he was +awakened by Cortes. + +Without waiting for food, they set out at once upon their way, passing +slowly down the hill-side. They soon reached the stream, and thence +turned to the south. It was Harry who led the way. When he judged that +they were parallel to the place where the tragedy had happened, they +crossed the stream and walked straight for the cliff. + +At the foot of the precipice was a kind of terrace, upon which grew +scattered trees, about the roots of one of which were boulders. Lying +on his back, across one of these rocks, they found the body of the Black +Dog of the Cameroons. + +The two boys looked away whilst the guide examined the body, and then, +stooping, picked up something from the ground. Presently Cortes touched +Harry on the arm. + +The boy turned and set eyes upon the Sunstone. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV--A Brother + + +Leaving the body of the wretched man where they found it, they continued +to search among the trees; but nowhere could they discover any trace of +the elder guide. + +"His body cannot be far away," said Harry. "They fell together." + +It was then that, at the sound of a faint cry from somewhere far above +them, all three looked up. And the sight they beheld was appalling. + +Hundreds of feet above the place where they stood, sheltered by a cranny +in the face of the cliff, there grew a gnarled and twisted shrub, a kind +of withered tree. In the midst of this, caught like a fish in a net, +was a man who, even as they watched him, moved, twisting like a thing in +pain. + +Cortes scanned the face of the cliff; but, look where he might, he could +discover no way by which it was possible to ascend to the place where +his brother was suspended in mid-air. + +Running back several yards, he regarded the precipice above the withered +tree. It was equally inaccessible from above. Then he raised his hands +to his mouth and cried out in a loud voice, calling upon his brother by +name. + +The answer came in a voice so weak that Cortes had to hold a hand to an +ear in order to catch the words. + +"I am in pain. My arm is broken. Can you not come to my assistance?" + +The younger brother looked about him in despair. + +"Can nothing be done?" asked Harry. + +"Let me think," said Cortes, and lifted a hand to his eyes. On a sudden +he cried out to his brother. "Can you hold out for two days?" he asked. + +"For two days!" came the answer. "It is too long." + +"You must!" cried the other. "Take the belt from your waist and bind +yourself to the tree. Then, when your strength is gone, you will not +fall." + +Whilst the elder man obeyed these injunctions, Harry turned to Cortes. + +"What do you intend to do?" he asked. + +"We have no rope," said the guide. "Fernando is at least fifty feet +from the path above, and there is no rope fifty feet in length nearer to +this place than Kano or Sokoto. However, there is--as you know--a +rope-like creeper that grows in the bush. I intend to go back as far as +the jungle." + +"Can you get there in time?" asked Braid, incredulously. + +"My wound is now healed," said the man, "my strength returned. I can +but do my best." + +Cortes looked up again at his brother. + +"Courage!" he cried. "In two days I return." + +So saying, he bounded off upon his way. As they watched him pass down +the valley, springing from rock to rock, it was apparent that he meant +to do all that was humanly possible to effect the salvation of his +brother. Even as they looked, his figure grew smaller in the distance, +and in a few minutes he was lost to view. + +To describe in detail the journey of the younger guide across the +mountains would be tedious. The thing can be summed up in a few words: +it was magnificent, heroic. Mile upon mile he covered without pausing +for breath. For the most part he kept to the valleys, where the +atmosphere was stifling and humid, crossing the mountains only when by +doing so he could cut off several miles. + +He had food with him, but he seldom stopped to eat. Now and again he +drank at a mountain stream, but seemed to grudge the time even for this. + +At sunset he was still bearing onward. He had cast aside the greater +part of his clothing, and the perspiration poured off him, and the veins +stood out upon his temples like knotted strands of cord. For all that, +he went on and on beneath the stars, whilst the moon marched in the +heavens. It was a race for the life of his brother. + +As Cortes hastened on his way, his thoughts continually went back to the +perilous situation in which he had left Fernando, and every thought was, +as it were, a spur to his endeavour. No sooner had he pictured in his +mind's eye that struggling, writhing figure, hanging, as it were, +betwixt earth and sky, than he shot forward with renewed energy, +clenching both fists and teeth in his strong determination. + +At last, breathless, exhausted, he sighted the extremity of the great +West African bush. Through this, forcing his way among the thickets, so +that the sharp thorns tore his naked flesh, he was obliged to travel for +many miles before he found the right kind of creeping plant, and, +moreover, one long enough to suit his purpose. + +To cut this from the tree around which it was twined, and roll it into a +great coil which he suspended around his neck, was the work of not many +minutes; and then he set forth upon his return journey to the margin of +the desert. + +He was already much exhausted, and his load was very heavy. But hour by +hour he struggled onward, leaving the jungle far behind, mounting to +higher altitudes. Nightfall found him still upon his way. Repeatedly +he stumbled, and then, on a sudden, he fell full length upon the ground. + +He lay quite still for several seconds, then rose slowly to his knees, +lifting his eyes and hands towards the stars. For a moment he prayed +silently; and, seeming to gather courage from his prayer, he rose to his +feet and went on. + +Soon after midnight the sky became overcast. A high wind got up and +blew from the mountains, bitter cold after the tropic heat of the bush. +Then the skies opened and the rain came down in sheets. But Cortes +still held on, struggling towards his goal, fighting manfully against +his own failing strength. + +And in the meantime, throughout these two fearful days, Jim Braid and +Harry waited in suspense. They could do nothing to help the man who +hung, hour after hour, upon the brink of the other world. + +Acting on his brother's advice, Fernando had undone the belt around his +waist, and with this had lashed himself to the stoutest branch of the +tree. Words fail to describe the torture he must have suffered; for, +not only did he endure great pain from his broken arm, but he was +tormented by a raging thirst. His cries for water were piteous to hear. + +They had no means of assisting him. They could do nothing but look on +in helplessness, praying for the return of the younger brother. On the +second night the rain came--in torrents, as it can only rain in the +tropics--and Fernando was able to moisten his parched lips by sucking +his drenched clothes. + +Wishing to get nearer to the poor fellow, in the hope that they might be +able to comfort him, at least with words, Harry and Jim Braid climbed +the spur and moved along the ledge at the top of the precipice until +they were immediately above the withered tree. There, lying down upon +their faces, they cried out to him to be of good courage, reminding him +that the dawn approached, that his brother would soon return. + +Daybreak is the hour when Life is nearest Death. It was shortly before +sunrise that Fernando himself gave up all hope, and called upon God to +take charge of his departing soul. He said that he was quite ready to +welcome Death; he desired nothing more than to have an end to his misery +and suspense. And, even as the words left his lips, the figure of his +brother was seen approaching along the ledge. + +At the feet of Harry Urquhart, Cortes sank, exhausted. The object of +his mission fulfilled, he lost consciousness and drifted into a faint. + +With all dispatch they uncoiled the long, snake-like creeper. Passing +one end over a jutting pinnacle of rock, they lowered the other towards +Fernando. It was more than long enough to reach the place where he lay. + +With great difficulty the poor fellow managed to untie his belt and make +fast the end of the creeper around his waist. And then they had to wait +a long time, until Cortes, who had recovered consciousness, was able to +assist the two boys in hauling up the rope. + +This was no easy matter, since they had neither a good foothold nor much +space upon the terrace. But in the end they succeeded, and the rescued +man lay panting on the ledge. He was immediately given water to drink; +and when he had drunk, a smile slowly overspread his face, and he looked +at the brother who had saved his life. But no word of gratitude ever +passed his lips; his thanks--far more eloquent than words--were in his +eyes. And the dark eyes of a half-caste are the most expressive and the +most beautiful in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI--The Twelfth Hour + + +Owing to the exhausted state of the two guides, the party could not set +forth upon their return journey to the Caves of Zoroaster until the +afternoon of the following day. + +The powers of endurance of both men had been taxed to the utmost--the +elder, by the terrible ordeal through which he had passed; the younger, +by his almost superhuman efforts. + +In spite of that, Harry Urquhart was all anxiety to be off. He had +often pictured to himself the agony of suspense that all this time von +Hardenberg was being called upon to bear. The boy wondered if the lamp +which the Prussian had taken with him into the vault still burned. If +so, it would shed its light upon the glittering treasure. If it had +gone out, the Prussian was buried in unutterable and eternal +darkness--eternal, since escape was beyond the bounds of possibility. +That, combined with the fearful silence that reigned in the place, with +hope dying in the prisoner's heart as the days rolled slowly by, was +enough--as it seemed to Harry--to drive any man to madness. The boy +found it impossible to forgive his cousin, who had acted so basely from +the first; for all that, he was by no means heartless, and, in any case, +it was his duty to save a human life from so terrible an end. + +As soon as the guides professed themselves able to undertake the +journey, they set off towards the caves. It took them more than two +days to accomplish what the younger guide had done in under twelve +hours, and thence, striking due south-west, they approached the caves +from the opposite direction to that in which they had first entered +Maziriland. + +On this occasion they saw--though they did not come into actual contact +with--several of the Maziri peasants who were working in the cultivated +tracts of country that lay between the mountains and the bush. +Maziriland was very sparsely populated--the race verging on +extinction--and at least two-thirds of the inhabitants were congregated +in the chief town, where they carried on certain industries, their skill +in which they had inherited from the ancients. + +It approached the hour of daybreak when Harry Urquhart and his party +reached the foot of the great flight of steps that led to the entrance +to the caves, where stood the two carved giants. Harry had hurried +forward, closely followed by Braid. The two guides brought up the rear. + +In feverish excitement, three steps at a time, the boy dashed up the +steps between the weird, fantastic statues, and was about to enter the +cave when he remembered that he had no light, and that, since it was +night, the place would be unutterably dark. He had retraced his steps +some distance, with the object of getting some kind of torch, when he +was met by Fernando at the head of the long flight of steps. + +"A light!" he cried. "It is quite dark within." + +Fernando had foreseen this, and in mid-valley had broken a branch from a +cork-tree, which he had damped with rifle oil. This he now lighted and +gave to Harry, who was the first to enter the cave. + +Inside, everything was exactly as they had left it. It was manifest no +one had visited the place since the tragedy of some days before. The +body of the old man lay still at the foot of the altar. At the +farthermost end of the cave the granite wall remained as ever, immobile +and formidable. Harry Urquhart, taking the Sunstone from his pocket, +asked Jim to hold the torch, and himself went to the wheels and turned +them until the characters that showed above the golden bar corresponded +with those upon the Sunstone. + +When he came to the ninth wheel he was so excited that his hand was +shaking. And presently there came the sharp "clicking" sound that they +had heard before, and then the granite rock began slowly to revolve. + +The rock evidently turned upon a pivot. Its motion was like that of an +enormous water-wheel, except that, instead of revolving vertically, it +turned horizontally, the way of the sun. When the centre of the opening +was immediately opposite the altar there came a second "click", and the +rock remained quite still. + +Harry Urquhart, in breathless haste, snatched the torch from the hands +of his friend, and dashed like a madman to the entrance. + +He pulled up in the nick of time, noticing that he stood at the top of +an exceedingly steep and narrow flight of stairs. Had he gone on as +impetuously as he had started, he would have pitched head foremost down +the steps. + +He began to descend more cautiously. The steps were slippery from the +moisture that invaded the rock in which they had been cut. + +He had not descended more than three steps before he was brought to an +abrupt standstill. It was as if his heart ceased to beat. From far +below--so far away as to be quite faint, though unmistakable--there came +to his ears the report of a single shot. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII--Too Late! + + +The boy hastened down the narrow steps with all the speed he could, Jim +Braid following close upon his heels. The two guides had remained +above. Even yet, both regarded the place with superstitious awe. + +The steps led downward--as it seemed an interminable distance. At first +they were straight; then they were spiral; then they were straight again +and broader. At the bottom was the vault where, as rumour had it, the +great sage himself lay buried, where was gathered together the treasure +that had been given in offerings during his lifetime, thousands of years +before. + +At the foot of the steps, the two boys, side by side, stood spellbound. +The sight that they beheld was at once tragic and marvellous. + +The vault was a rectangular room about thirty feet long and twenty feet +wide. Against the wall facing the steps was a huge stone that resembled +a coffin, supported upon a pedestal, cylindrical in shape, and about six +feet in height. The coffin and the pedestal on which it stood resembled +in shape the letter T. At the foot of the pedestal was a large marble +basin, in the centre of which a small jet of water played like a +miniature fountain, uttering a never-ceasing bubbling noise that sounded +strange in the silence of the vault. + +The walls were of bare rock. On the ceiling was carved a number of +fantastic figures, similar to those that stood on either side of the +great stairway that led to the entrance of the caves. But the wonder of +the vault was on the floor, the whole of which was covered inches deep +in glittering, sparkling gems. There were sapphires, rubies, diamonds, +opals, and pearls. The former worshippers of Zoroaster had called upon +the treasure-houses of the ancient world to pay their tribute to the +genius of the teacher. They had visited the pearl-fisheries of the East +and the ruby-mines of Burma; they had brought gold from Ophir and +emeralds from the land of Punt. + +And in the midst of this dazzling treasure, half-buried in the gems he +had ventured so much to gain, lay Captain von Hardenberg, who, dying by +his own hand, had delivered up the life he had so abused. + +Full length upon his face, upon this brilliant, jewel-bespangled carpet, +was the man who had stolen the Sunstone, who had betrayed his country, +and who, in his own turn, had been betrayed by the very ruffian he +employed. A revolver, still smoking, was in his hand. Carl von +Hardenberg had placed himself at last beyond the reach of human law. + +It is easy to imagine the torment the man had suffered during the last +days of his ill-spent life. The lamp which he had carried with him from +the altar in the cave had long since burned out, and now stood upon the +coffin of Zoroaster. The mental agony he endured must have driven him +near to madness. The darkness, the utter hopelessness of his terrible +situation, the fearful stillness--accentuated rather than broken by the +never-ending bubbling of the fountain--had no doubt driven him to take +his own life in savage desperation. + +He had eaten all his food. He had had water in plenty to drink; but he +had no doubt given up all hope of ever being rescued. + +Both Harry and Jim uncovered their heads. They stood face to face with +the still form of one who had always been their enemy, who had been the +enemy of their country. Von Hardenberg stood now in the presence of his +Maker. + +They buried him at the foot of the great steps that led to the Caves of +Zoroaster; and there Harry Urquhart--who had a little thumb-nail Prayer +Book in his pocket--read the funeral service over the grave, whilst Jim +Braid and the two guides, who had served them so faithfully throughout +these long adventurous weeks, stood by in silent reverence. + +There was now nothing they could do but retrace their steps to the +Cameroons. They could not hope to take all the treasure with them, +since they had no means of carrying it over the mountains and through +the density of the bush. They had travelled thus far to see justice +done, to prevent infinite wealth from falling into the hands of the +enemies of England; and in this enterprise they had been +successful--that much in itself was a reward. None the less, there was +no reason why they should not take with them as many jewels as they +could carry, and accordingly, selecting many of the largest and most +valuable gems, they filled their haversacks and pockets. + +And then, ascending the stairs and using the Sunstone as a key, Harry +closed the vault so that no one--not even the Maziris themselves--could +open it. And there was something almost sacred--or at least +awe-inspiring--in the deed. For centuries the Shrine of Zoroaster had +remained unmolested. Except the successive guardians of the cave, no +human being had ever entered the vault and beheld the glittering +treasure. In bygone times these priceless jewels had been delivered up +in tribute to one of the world's greatest teachers; and now, in one +sense, they were like flowers upon a grave. It was well that the +greater part of the treasure should remain where it had lain throughout +the ages; there was wealth enough for them in what they were able to +carry with them. + +With the return journey to the coast we are not concerned. The party +accomplished the march in fairly easy stages; and travelling southward, +for two excellent reasons, was a far more simple affair than advancing +towards the north: for, firstly, they were able to utilize the rivers +that flowed down from the mountains; and, secondly, the whole country +was now in possession of the British troops. The German Cameroons was +no more. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII--Conclusion + + +Exactly two months after the arrival of our adventurers at Dualla, Jim +Braid, cap in hand, approached his father's cottage. + +It was about eight o'clock at night, and quite dark. He had come from +London that afternoon, and had walked from the station. Harry, who had +travelled with him, had been met by Mr. Langton's dog-cart. But Jim +preferred to walk; he desired time to brace himself for the interview +which was to take place between himself and the father who had treated +him with such blind and harsh injustice. + +The cottage windows were illumined. Softly he opened the door and +looked in. His mother was seated by the fire. + +A moment later her arms were around his neck. With tears in her voice +she recalled the day when Jim had come to wish her good-bye. He was +then an outcast, one who was wrongly and falsely accused, who had been +turned loose in the world to roam the highways like a common tramp; and +since that day his mother had never doubted his innocence for a moment. + +The head-gamekeeper was one of the old school of parents. In his eyes, +no less than in the eyes of Mr. Langton, the evidence against his son +had been crushing. + +As young Braid held his mother in his arms, the door was opened, and +John Braid, the gamekeeper, dressed in corduroys, entered. When he saw +his son he lowered his head, after the manner of one ashamed. + +"My boy," said he, "I did you a great wrong. I ask your forgiveness, as +indeed I ask God's." + +Jim found it difficult to speak. + +"The evidence was all against me," he stammered. + +"I know it was," said the gamekeeper; "but I might have known that my +son would never have done such a thing. How was I to guess?" he added, +throwing out his hands. "I knew nothing of this Sunstone, nor of German +knavery. I knew nothing of that. All I was told was that twenty pounds +had been stolen, and--as I have said--the evidence was against you, my +lad, and I believed you guilty. I repeat, I should have known better." + +"Father," said Jim, holding out his hand, "don't let's talk of it any +more. On my part it's all forgotten, and there's nothing to forgive." + +"God bless you, boy!" said John, lifting a hand to his black beard to +hide the emotion he was unable to control. + +"There's something else," said he, after a pause; "I'm getting old." + +"You're not sixty yet!" cried his wife. + +"That's too old for a head-gamekeeper," answered Braid, thrusting his +thumbs into the armholes of his moleskin waistcoat. "A keeper should be +a young man and an active one. Lately I've had rheumatism, and I'm not +up to the night work. I told Mr. Langton this morning that I didn't +think I was fit to carry on the work, and he's given me a pension, +though I never asked for it nor thought of it." + +"You've given up your work!" exclaimed his wife. "You're no longer +head-keeper at Friar's Court!" + +"No," said the man. "I'm not." + +"Who's got the place?" she asked. + +Braid made a motion of his hand towards his son. + +"Jim," said he--and smiled. + +There followed a silence, during which there came a sharp knock upon the +door, John Braid went to the door and opened it, and there entered Mr. +Langton, followed by Harry. + +The Judge held out his hand to Jim. + +"I've come to ask your pardon," said he. "We did you a great injury. +Harry has told me the whole story. He has told me of how he found you +in London, and of the terrible act you were about to commit when he +saved you at the eleventh hour." + +Jim had forgotten that fearful moment on the Hungerford Bridge. He now +lowered his face to conceal his shame. + +"I had forgotten that," he murmured in an undertone, as if to himself. + +"Do not think I blame you, my poor boy," said Mr. Langton. "I blame +only myself for having driven you to such a pass. You have not yet told +me that you forgive me, and I have come here chiefly for that." + +Jim stammered out a few half-coherent words, implying more by the tones +of his voice than by anything else that everything was forgotten. + +"And you have heard," Mr. Langton added, "that you are to be head-keeper +here?" + +"If you please, sir," said Jim, "I think my father can carry on till +after the war. I was thinking I should enlist." + +Mr. Langton again held out his hand, which young Braid took. + +"I was expecting that," said he. "I promise to keep the place open for +you, and to do all I can to help." + +A few moments afterwards, Mr. Langton and his nephew went out. Before a +roaring fire in the Judge's study they seated themselves in comfortable +arm-chairs, and the Judge drew the Sunstone from his pocket. + +"I shall give it to the British Museum," said he. "I have no wish to +keep it any longer. I cannot look at it without realizing the terrible +tragedies that this small piece of jade has brought about." + +He was silent a while, playing with the Sunstone in his hand. + +"Your Arab," said he very quietly, "the Sheikh Bayram, done to death; +wretched, misguided Hardenberg buried alive in that dark and lonely +vault; and all the miles you traversed, all the adventures you passed +through, and the hardships you endured! It's not worth it!" said he, +with a sigh. "Let the treasure lie where it is." + +For all his words, the subject seemed to fascinate him; for, after a +pause, he went back to it again. + +"By my calculations," said he, "this stone is from six to eight thousand +years old. I have known it for not quite ten years, and during that +time it has brought about the death of, at least, five men. If it could +only speak," said he, "of what tragedies could it tell--tragedies of the +ancient world, of the long-forgotten past?" + +With another sigh he got to his feet and stirred the fire into a blaze. + +"And now," said he, "though you have already served your country better +than anyone else will ever know, we can see what can be done in the way +of getting you a commission. In regard to a regiment, have you any +particular choice?" + +"Yes," said Harry at once, for he had already arranged the matter to his +satisfaction; "the Wessex Fusiliers." + + + + + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ACROSS THE CAMEROONS*** + + + + +A Word from Project Gutenberg + + +We will update this book if we find any errors. + +This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39185 + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the +General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and +distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works to protect the +Project Gutenberg(tm) concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a +registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, +unless you receive specific permission. If you do not charge anything +for copies of this eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may +use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative +works, reports, performances and research. They may be modified and +printed and given away - you may do practically _anything_ with public +domain eBooks. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, +especially commercial redistribution. + + + +The Full Project Gutenberg License + + +_Please read this before you distribute or use this work._ + +To protect the Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or +any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg(tm) License available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license. + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use & Redistributing Project Gutenberg(tm) +electronic works + + +*1.A.* By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg(tm) +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the +terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all +copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in your possession. If +you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +*1.B.* "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things +that you can do with most Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works even +without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph +1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +*1.C.* The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the +Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of +Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works. Nearly all the individual works +in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you +from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating +derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project +Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the +Project Gutenberg(tm) mission of promoting free access to electronic +works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg(tm) works in compliance with +the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg(tm) name +associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this +agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full +Project Gutenberg(tm) License when you share it without charge with +others. + +*1.D.* The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg(tm) work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +*1.E.* Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +*1.E.1.* The following sentence, with active links to, or other +immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License must appear +prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work (any work +on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, +performed, viewed, copied or distributed: + + This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away + or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License + included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org + +*1.E.2.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is +derived from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating +that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can +be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying +any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a +work with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on +the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs +1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +*1.E.3.* If an individual Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic work is +posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and +distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and +any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms +will be linked to the Project Gutenberg(tm) License for all works posted +with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of +this work. + +*1.E.4.* Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project +Gutenberg(tm) License terms from this work, or any files containing a +part of this work or any other work associated with Project +Gutenberg(tm). + +*1.E.5.* Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg(tm) License. + +*1.E.6.* You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg(tm) work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg(tm) web site +(http://www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or +expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a +means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include +the full Project Gutenberg(tm) License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +*1.E.7.* Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg(tm) works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +*1.E.8.* You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works +provided that + + - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg(tm) works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed + to the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark, but he has + agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid + within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are + legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty + payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project + Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in + Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg + Literary Archive Foundation." + + - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg(tm) + License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all + copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue + all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) + works. + + - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of + any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of + receipt of the work. + + - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) works. + + +*1.E.9.* If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic work or group of works on different terms than +are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing +from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg(tm) trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3. below. + +*1.F.* + +*1.F.1.* Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection. +Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, and the +medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Defects," such as, but +not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription +errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a +defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +*1.F.2.* LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg(tm) trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg(tm) electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. +YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, +BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN +PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND +ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR +ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES +EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. + +*1.F.3.* LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +*1.F.4.* Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS,' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +*1.F.5.* Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +*1.F.6.* INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg(tm) +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg(tm) work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg(tm) + + +Project Gutenberg(tm) is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg(tm)'s +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg(tm) collection will remain +freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and +permanent future for Project Gutenberg(tm) and future generations. To +learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and +how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the +Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org . + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state +of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue +Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification number is +64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf . Contributions to the +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the +full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. +S. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at 809 +North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official page +at http://www.pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation + + +Project Gutenberg(tm) depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where +we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND +DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state +visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any +statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside +the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways +including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, +please visit: http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg(tm) electronic +works. + + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg(tm) +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg(tm) eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg(tm) eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. unless +a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks +in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's eBook +number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected _editions_ of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +_Versions_ based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg(tm), +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/39185.zip b/old/39185.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..54a8238 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/39185.zip |
