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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f57f44 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text +*.htm text +*.html text +*.png binary +*.jpg binary +*.svg text +*.pdf binary +*.bmp binary +*.zip binary +*.midi binary +*.mp3 binary diff --git a/79229-0.txt b/79229-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2389e24 --- /dev/null +++ b/79229-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4816 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79229 *** + + + + +GARRAM THE HUNTER + + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG HUNTER STOOD MOTIONLESS BEFORE HIM LOOKING +INTO THE DISTANCE. TO FIGHT--AH, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD! BUT TO FLY +FROM ONE’S ENEMIES--IT SEEMED TOO HARD A THING TO ASK.] + + + + + GARRAM THE HUNTER + + _A BOY OF THE HILL TRIBES_ + + BY + HERBERT BEST + + ILLUSTRATED BY + ERICK BERRY + + [Illustration] + + PUBLISHED IN NEW YORK BY + THE JUNIOR LITERARY GUILD + IN THE YEAR 1930 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1930 + BY DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & COMPANY, INC. + ALL RIGHTS RESERVED + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT + THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS + GARDEN CITY, N. Y. + + FIRST EDITION + + + + + [Illustration] + + TO + JOHN DUGDALE BEST + + FROM E. B. AND + O. H. B. + + + + +[Illustration] + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. A HUNTER AND HIS DOG 3 + + II. GARRAM FINDS TROUBLE 15 + + III. THE CULPRIT 27 + + IV. THE RAINMAKER’S ADVICE 45 + + V. A JOURNEY TO COME 61 + + VI. THE CITY OF THE FULANI 67 + + VII. LAUGHTER MAKES FRIENDS AND FOES 81 + + VIII. THE EMIR’S COURT 91 + + IX. THE EMIR’S SECRET 99 + + X. THE ROYAL HUNT 119 + + XI. KON AS DETECTIVE 131 + + XII. GARRAM ACCUSED 145 + + XIII. MENUD “TROUBLES TROUBLE” 157 + + XIV. A NOVEL PUNISHMENT 175 + + XV. A PIGLET ACTS FOR GARRAM 189 + + XVI. A STORY OF STORIES 205 + + XVII. A GHOST LEOPARD 217 + + XVIII. THE ALARM DRUM 245 + + XIX. THE CHIEF RETURNS 265 + + XX. GARRAM EARNS SLEEP 281 + + XXI. MENUD, THE TRAITOR 289 + + XXII. THE HILLMEN TRIUMPH 309 + + XXIII. HOME AGAIN 321 + + + + +[Illustration] + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + THE YOUNG HUNTER STOOD MOTIONLESS + BEFORE HIM LOOKING INTO THE DISTANCE. + TO FIGHT--AH, THAT WOULD + HAVE BEEN GOOD! BUT TO FLY FROM + ONE’S ENEMIES--IT SEEMED TOO HARD + A THING TO ASK _Frontispiece_ + + PAGE + + DROVE THE KNIFE INTO THE KOB’S NECK 9 + + GARRAM SMUGGLED IT INTO A STABLE 151 + + BOULDER AFTER BOULDER, CRASHED DOWN 167 + + IT WAS LIKE A SNAKE, SWAYING 191 + + GARRAM WAS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HUT 233 + + + + +A HUNTER AND HIS DOG + +[Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER I + +A HUNTER AND HIS DOG + + +Garram stopped silently in midstride and listened. On each side the +narrow path beaten through the parched, straw-like grass by the feet of +different game animals, trees, gnarled and stunted by the annual forest +fires, hid all the view. Heat from the midday tropical sun beat down +into the breezeless African bush and made the perspiration run down the +silken black skin of the young hunter, down the uplifted foot as he +paused, leg raised in midstride, down the worn hollow of the path in +the red brick-like clay. + +He was bare except for a soft leather loincloth and the knife at his +waist, the quiver and hunting ax slung over his shoulder. Everything in +his clean-cut build, even his long thin muscles, seemed in an attitude +of attention as he turned his head first this way, then that, to locate +more accurately the sound he had just heard. + +As usual Garram hunted to-day far away from his father’s tribe in the +Hills. Deep in the country of the Plains, he was as a stranger liable +to be killed on sight if discovered. + +As Garram waited for the sound to be repeated, Kon, his dark brown, +smooth-coated hunting dog, also waited. In the same attitude of +strained attention, one foot raised, he suppressed with difficulty his +panting so that he might hear the better. Then clear through all the +mingled and various sounds of the hot jungle, the bursting of seed +pods, the chirping of insects, the rustle of dried leaves and twigs +stretching and twisting in the heat, came the faint but unmistakable +click of hoof on stone. + +[Illustration] + +Kon’s huge head swung round to the boy, awaiting orders. + +The young hunter’s right hand went up to the quiver over his left +shoulder, drew an arrow, and with a sweeping movement placed it across +the bow in readiness. Swift, almost too swift to follow, but the swing +of the arm and the pointing of the arrow had given the dog his orders. +As the arm had swung round to the right Kon plunged into the bush in +the direction indicated. + +Then began a method of hunting probably unique, invented after long +practice by the boy and his dog. Hidden from each other by the dense +bush, Garram began to move Kon cautiously toward the game by sound +signals. Where Kon and the boy had waited listening, a pool of scent +would hang on the hot, stagnant air. The buck, probably a male kob by +the sound, could not be got to approach this place. So, swiftly but +silently as ever, Garram sought another station. + +A hundred paces up the trail was a tree. Rather taller than the rest, +its boughs overhung the narrow clearing made by the game track. With +the ease of a forest monkey the boy swung himself up and lay, arrow on +bow, along a bough, waiting. Listening for occasional sounds made by +the buck’s horns striking against branches, or the rustle and crackle +of dry grass beneath his hoofs, Garram could follow the general line +taken by the grazing animal. With faint bird-like whistles he moved +the well-trained dog first to one side then the other, backward and +forward, but always edging the now suspicious quarry backward toward +the tree by the path. + +The hunt continued, Garram motionless, eyes half shut, every atom of +attention concentrated in his ears. The bush grew more still as the +terrible heat seemed to increase and bludgeon into silence even the +sound of the insects. But even so, sounds needed sorting from each +other, locating, and, above all, understanding. A lizard dropped from +a height with that flat flop which saves him from damage but makes +him sound like a much larger animal. Bent grass straightened in the +blazing heat. A snake rustled in some cool undergrowth. These sounds, +once understood, could be dismissed as not likely to disturb the game +or complicate the hunt. But to the left was a faint crackle of some +larger game moving along a dry reed bed. A faint whistle from Garram +ordered the dog around to that side. This would edge the kob away from +threatened complication. + +The little sweat bees of the bush were clustering in dozens and +hundreds in the corners of the boy’s mouth, the corners of his eyes, +anywhere where there was moisture. Garram was used to this. Moreover, +he was too intent even to notice them at the moment. He could picture +Kon, wriggling with eagerness, ears pricked, crawling from cover to +cover, almost flat bellied on the ground. The kob, he knew, would be +tossing his head in defiance of the unknown danger, reaching down +occasionally for a promising tuft of grass or leaf, but steadily moving +away from the suspicious sound made by Kon in his stalk, steadily +moving toward where Garram lay perched above the line of his sight, +above the range of his nose. + +[Illustration: Drove the knife into the kob’s neck] + +Then the kob emerged into the game trail. He sniffed for a moment and +got the full body scent left by Garram and Kon as they had stood +listening and waiting. With a snort the tawny yellow beast broke into +a swift but lumbering gallop, following the track that passed beneath +Garram’s tree. Now, from a slow painstaking stalk the hunt had reached +its phase of the last tearing split second of tense action. Thrusting +his bow and quiver swiftly among some boughs which would hold them, the +hunter prepared to launch himself flat upon the game. + +The beast was two lumbering strides away when the lithe black body +dropped through the leaves, straightening itself as it fell. By a +miracle it seemed to miss impalement on the needle-sharp lyre-shaped +horns, and Garram’s weight, as he fell astride the shoulders, drove the +point of his outstretched knife deep between the vertebræ of the heavy +neck! + +A blow instantly fatal. The great beast, killed in full gallop, thudded +upon the ground. The boy with one spring alighted unhurt and smiling in +the dust of the fall. For a moment he stood so, half sorry for his fine +opponent, then turned to the work on hand. + + + + +GARRAM FINDS TROUBLE + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER II + +GARRAM FINDS TROUBLE + + +Garram had first been attracted to hunting by the thrill of the risk, +by the pitting of skill against skill. He had now, for some time, given +up the noisy, ineffectual hunts of the other youths of the tribe, who +were led by that clumsy boaster, Menud. + +Solo hunts with their greater risks but greater gains had become +essential. Somehow, he knew he must prepare for the time when, on +the death of Warok, his father, he would be the next candidate for +chieftainship of the tribe of Hillmen. He would then be expected to +offer great feasts of oxen and much beer brewed from the native corn. +By exchanging with neighboring villages meat and skins from his game +Garram had accumulated a hidden store of brass rods and rolls of native +cloth, the currency of the country. + +The young hunter was at work even before Kon arrived. With the point +of his knife he slit the skin along chest and belly and up the inside +of each leg. Fine tawny skin, verging on white on the underside, soft +to the touch and in excellent condition. Had Kon been an ordinary +village dog he would have sprung upon the game or run around barking +in excitement. But careful training had made him as silent and +undemonstrative as his master. Noise has no place in serious hunting. + +The same careful training now showed in another way. As the huge dog +stood waiting, Garram held out a fold of the skin which he had been +working loose. + +As he worked at the skinning, deftly and with no waste movement, +Garram’s thought turned to the past, to those happenings which had made +him train Kon by contraries so that he seemed the most disobedient dog +in the village. He had trained him to come to heel when waved forward, +and to rush forward when called to heel. So now, as they worked, an +order to pull meant to let go, and “Let go” resulted in the dog’s +digging in his paws and pulling the hide away while Garram’s knife +eased it from the underlying tissue. + +“_Let go!_” Garram ordered and Kon caught hold and began to pull, +as the young hunter eased the skin loose with the knife point. Then +another whisper: “_Pull!_” and, the need for assistance over, the huge +jaws relaxed, and the dog sat back on his haunches again, waiting for +the next order. + +Twice before Garram had trained dogs in the ordinary way. The first +was, perhaps, stolen by a stranger but the second, adopted as a +stray and starving puppy, had almost reached Kon’s perfection of +understanding when Menud, relying on his clumsy strength and his +following of loutish village youths, had stepped in and appropriated +him. + +That was the last Garram had seen of his dog. Later he had been killed +by a chance arrow in one of those hunting parties of yapping curs and +still noisier half-grown men which Garram despised. + +The boy’s face took on the hard outline and fixed expression of a grown +man as, with recollection, anger rose within him. Some time surely +would come a day of reckoning for this and many other wrongs he had +endured at Menud’s hands. + +Meanwhile the skin had come clear and was spread out on the ground, +hair downward. The hunter was now occupied partly with knife, +partly with hunting ax, dismembering the joints in the manner of a +professional butcher. Kon, useless at this work, lay in the deeper +shade some paces away, having a noisy but a most enjoyable time with a +bone. + +After a night and a day spent over the drying fire, Garram wrapped the +meat, much reduced in weight and size, in the skin, and tied it with +long slivers of supple bark torn from near-by trees. Even then it was a +heavy load he carried in to a distant village, where he exposed it for +sale beneath a shady tree in the market place. + +Sale was slow and tedious. No native buys more meat than his personal +needs for the day, and Kon, though asleep most of the time, looked so +threatening on account of his huge size, that the meat was safe from a +thieving villager or half-starved cur. Garram woke up from time to time +just sufficiently to exchange a few words with his customers and effect +a sale. + +The chattering market was breaking up, and it was evening before the +meat was all gone. The proceeds were stowed securely in the worn +leather of Garram’s hunting bag. But the air was cooling now, and their +seemingly slow trot covered the ground with surprising speed on their +homeward journey. Refreshed by their long sleep they had reached the +spot halfway up the hillside where, in a cave, Garram had his cache of +riches, before the sun began to sink behind the Hills. + +Above them but out of sight was the cluster of huts which was the +principal village of the Hillmen. Here ruled Warok the Leopard, +Garram’s father. Far below them the gray granite hillside dipped into +the plain which stretched, far as the eye could see, toward the Great +River of the east. From the height where Garram and Kon strode, the +forest of the Plains looked like smooth-spread moss. Somewhere in this +the boy and dog had made their successful hunt, but already the Plains +lay in the shadow of the Hills, and nothing could be distinguished. + +Now something more urgent than the view suddenly gripped Garram’s +attention. Here a turned pebble, there a bent grass showed that someone +had approached his cave. Cautiously the boy skirted the bush which +hid the opening and entered. For perhaps a minute he remained out of +sight. As he reappeared Kon greeted him with a wagging tail, then, at +sight of the hunter’s face, was still. Someone, obviously no beast, had +robbed the hiding place of all its wealth. + +[Illustration] + +Garram stood thinking for a moment, balancing on one leg, the bare big +toe of the other scratching ruminatively at an instep. Frowning a +little, he rubbed one hand over his smooth-shaved head as if to aid +thought. + +“No one of our tribe would rob another of our tribe,” he informed Kon. +The dog, gravely regarding, seemed to agree. “Yet who is it we have +seen watching us from a distance? Several times. Who but Menud? Menud, +_always_ Menud!” + +After another visit to the cave to make sure that nothing remained, not +a copper rod, not a stitch of cloth, the two started again on the long +bare climb. + +Here and there was a tuft of moss-like vegetation in the hollow of the +rock. Less frequently a rod of green cactus forced its way up between +boulders from some hidden pocket of soil far below. The bare granite +was still hot from the all-day blaze, and the cooler evening breeze +seemed painfully long in coming. Garram, with set and angry face, +marched steadily upward. The dog was openly panting and lolling out his +tongue as he toiled up the long ascent. + +Then quickly Kon’s tongue was withdrawn, the panting ceased, and +nervously he began to sniff the air. At first Garram did not notice +his strange behavior. Kon was hanging back, sniffing uneasily, as +though some danger threatened from the front. Then, tail between legs, +he gallantly overcame his fear sufficiently to catch up with his young +master. + +Sickened by the loss of the profits of several years’ hard work, Garram +had put out his hand to pull Kon’s ears, wanting to feel the touch of a +sympathizer. But at the touch the dog, hackles up, pointed. They were +facing a small cave in the side of the hill. Garram stopped. + +Then, shifting the hunting ax from his shoulder, his face set with the +grim killing urge, the boy went in. + + + + +THE CULPRIT + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER III + +THE CULPRIT + + +The gray-bearded councilors waited, seated in a ring on the ancient +stone seats of the Hill of Assembly. Uncomfortable seats they were, +too, each made of two slabs of uncut rock, one piece serving as a back. +But so had the council of the tribal elders sat in the days before +their father’s fathers. Completely surrounding the stone seats of the +council was a thick ring of trees which crowned the bare flat-topped +hill, the sacred grove which no one might cut, and dedicated to the +tribal gods. On the east the treetops still showed, reddened by the +setting sun. + +On the hill opposite the Hill of Assembly clustered the hundreds of +round grass-thatched mushroom-like huts of the village of Warok, the +chief. It was the chief town of the Hillmen and well named Kwallak the +Stony. + +Warok sat now, spear planted by his side, on the western edge of the +ring of the elders, a gray-bearded warrior, scarred with ancient +wounds, wearing the universal leather loincloth, and with a leopard +skin slung like a cape from his shoulders. The elders were similarly +clad, but their capes were of goatskin or of the smaller buck. + +The speaker before them, his rapid gesticulations contrasting sharply +with the quiet dignity of the Assembly, drew near to the end of his +harangue. + +“Whilst daily these goats, which I have counted before you, were being +stolen, you, who are the chief, do nothing!” He paused to point an +insolently accusing finger at the old chief, his voice rising to an +ill-natured sneer as he continued: “But I, Sura, whom you will not +permit to sit in the Assembly, no doubt because of my riches, I, and +Menud my son, have discovered the thief whom you wished to hide.” + +Warok’s voice, low toned but authoritative, cut in: “I hide no +wrongdoers. I envy no man his riches, for I am too old to use them. +You do not sit in the Assembly both because you are not of the age and +because you are not of the true descent of the tribe. For such is the +law. Continue!” + +Sura, his thick lips thrust forward with malicious eagerness, his fat, +weak-legged body quivering with fear and hate, had scarcely been able +to hold back the climax of his speech. + +“This same law, then, which is so rigid that for all my wealth in +cattle and goats I may not sit in council, this same law will punish +your son with death!” Sura paused, almost happily, to deliver his +final blow. + +“The penalty for stealing is death?” + +Warok inclined his head in assent. + +“Good! Since the thief, as Menud my son can prove--the thief whom you +have protected but who must now die is--your son Garram!” + +The soft fat hand of the speaker made a gesture of slaying, and for a +moment there was silence. Then a scarred old warrior leaped to his feet. + +“No man should be accused behind his back. Moreover, I have known the +boy since he was a child. He is no thief!” + +But his voice was drowned by the clamor, for Sura, with his wealth, had +his own backing, and the voices of his supporters increased. Then at a +sign from the chief, the sound gradually lessened. + +“This is no matter of opinion. Not so do we do justice. O elder of the +people.” The quiet voice of Warok further calmed the Assembly. “But +having heard the charge, let us now hear the evidence. Let Menud speak.” + +Menud, a tall, gangling youth, large built but clumsy, came forward. +As with Sura, venom seemed to drive him where courage might have been +insufficient. Almost with insolence he halted in front of the chief, +and without greeting or preliminary he began. + +“The words of my father are true. Garram does not hunt with the people +of the tribe, nor in the tribal hunting grounds. Yet his foolish dog +is always well fed, and I have watched him bring meat to your house.” +The youth continued. “And if he does not hunt, whence comes this meat?” +Menud hesitated. “Meat does not grow on trees, and his goats are few. +So the meat was stolen!” + +Here and there a gray beard nodded in agreement. But the old warrior +who had first spoken in Garram’s defence had an objection. + +“All this you say, but you say it in the boy’s absence, when he cannot +deny. And how do we know your words are true? You have not seen the +theft, nor can you produce the meat which, you say, has been eaten.” +He paused. “Moreover, the stolen goats that Sura had counted are more +than two men and dogs could eat!” + +Menud waited, impatiently cropping the grass with prehensile toes, but +with an evil grin of satisfaction. The game was being played into his +hands. “I cannot watch each night to see a thief at work. But I have +seen him returning with the price of our stolen goats, which he has +sold in distant villages.” + +Menud reached down to fumble for a moment with the knots of a bundle +at his feet. Then spread the contents wide for the inspection of the +Assembly. “Behold the price of the goats he could not eat, and the +proof of his guilt!” + +A horrified murmur rose from the Assembly. This seemed the last +convincing proof of the crime of their chief’s son. A crime which had +been on so large a scale that it must indeed involve the old warrior +father as well. + +Here and there elders rose stiffly from their stone seats. Supporting +themselves on their staffs they came forward to inspect the bundle. +Brass and copper rods, rolls of webbing-like cloth, and other articles +which do duty for currency in a primitive country. + +“This is all?” questioned one expert, scraping a rod with appraising +thumbnail. For a moment Menud gulped and hesitated. + +“Yes, all that I could find, though perhaps Garram has more hidden.” + +One by one the old men, peering in the failing light, satisfied +themselves that these articles were what they seemed, and one by one, +silent, returned to their places. Of one race with Warok and Garram, +their sympathies were with the aristocratic, haughty old chief and the +independent young hunter, rather than with Sura and Menud, who seemed +alternately to bully and grovel. + +Among the Assembly Sura’s purchased influence began to wane beneath +a growing pity for the young hunter, and in the mind of one lame and +wizened ancient grew, slowly, a plan to help the boy. If others took +his meaning and followed his lead, then the boy might yet be saved. It +was worth trying. He rose awkwardly and spoke. + +“Sura has said that fifteen of my seventeen goats have been stolen. It +is false. I have lost no goats!” The well-meaning lie took a little +time to sink in, but, pleased with himself, the old one had sat down +again. He leaned forward and with the end of his staff administered a +broad hint, in the shape of a prod in the ribs to another ancient on +his left. With a vicious malediction upon the first ancient the second +rose to frame, if possible, a better lie. To claim an increase in his +herds, perhaps! But Warok intervened. + +“My thanks for your kindness,” his level voice was heard through the +gathering dusk. “But if he is guiltless my son will defend himself. If +guilty he shall not escape the penalty!” + +Then between the tree trunks in the dimming light the figure of a boy +was seen approaching. Garram must, somehow, have learned what was in +progress. Straight and unswerving he took his course to face his judges +and accusers. Straight to face his trial for a crime whose punishment +was death. + +Through the onlookers beyond the circle of elders he came, and a path +opened for him through the packed people. + +He came within the ring of elders. Then the silence was broken. + +“Seize him and bind him!” ordered Menud, and a group of those youths +who followed him hastened to obey. Garram had not hesitated in his +stride, but as they sprang forward an arrow appeared as if by magic on +his bow. Swiftly Menud and his followers leaped for safety behind the +seated elders. + +The young hunter now stood before the elders, swaying slightly as he +waited. At Garram’s back, teeth bared and mane bristling, Kon stood on +guard. A moment Garram waited, then his bow clattered to the ground +from his relaxed left hand, and with his right he strove to hold +together the gaping wounds in his side. + +Warok, in answer to his son’s question, detailed the charge. Something +of pride was in the old man’s voice as he spoke. Garram seemed +struggling with his weakness, and the silence grew tense. His words +must make certain his death for, surely, in the minds of the elders, +there could be no defence for this well-proved charge, and both friends +and enemies knew that he would speak the truth at any cost. + +But the young hunter, weak as he was, seemed to have no intention of +defending himself. + +“When Menud robbed my cave, these, then,” he pointed at the bundle +Menud had opened--“these are all that he says he found?” + +Voices out of the dusk confirmed. There was a movement of sympathy in +the packed, straining crowd. Guilty as he was, he had made no attempt +to deny his guilt. + +“Then may his house and the house of Sura be searched for that which +they have hidden and mean to steal. There is ten times that which has +been brought before you!” + +A murmured order from Warok dispatched a group of men to carry out the +search. + +It was now dark except for the vague light of a new moon. The voice +of the boy, cool and even, like that of his father, seemed small and +forlorn in the gloom. + +“As to where I hunt and how, that is no matter for the Assembly, though +none but a fool would hunt with Menud’s chattering band. As for the +rest, I have no skill in talk, being only a hunter.” + +Interest deepened. This seemed no confession of guilt. Nor yet a +defence. A measure of reassurance came to Warok and to those who knew +the boy best. + +“I bring you things which may be touched and seen, not words which may +lie. You may then touch, and see, and judge.” + +The quiet voice ceased. There was a rustle in the darkness, and heads +were turned toward a small red glow which wove in and out among the +trees. More spots of light came into sight, slowly tracing along the +path from the village to the assembly ground, growing larger as they +approached. Once more the crowd opened, this time to make way for a +party of men with smoldering grass torches and carrying handfuls of +bones and half-bleached skulls of goats. In the distance a group of +men struggled with some heavy and awkward load, grunting and cursing +with their effort. + +The foremost cast down his burden, opened out his grass torch and swung +it at arm’s length till it burst into a blaze. + +“By your son’s orders we bring these, O Chief. The cave was full of the +bones of goats--as if all the goats of the village had been slaughtered +for one feast.” The speaker held the blazing torch down so that the +onlookers might see, while more and more bones were thrown upon the +pile. + +“And behind---- Ah, here he is.” With something of the pride of a +showman the speaker turned. “The stealer of these goats, the eater of +this feast, whom your son Garram has killed single handed!” + +And with a thud ten staggering men let fall the body of a magnificent +leopard. + +More and more torches were fanned into a blaze, till even the outermost +spectators could make out the huge tawny shape with its black spots. +Guttural murmurs of amazement were heard. Never in the memory of +living man had such a great beast been seen, alive, trapped, or +dead. Kon, growling, shrank back against Garram, who, for the moment +forgetting his wounds, had sat down to enjoy the beginning of his +triumph. Then he spoke. + +[Illustration] + +“Menud sought the thief in the wrong cave. He should have sought higher +on the path, nearer the village. Though perhaps had he done so he +might have joined the goats!” With difficulty the young hunter kept the +ring of exultation out of his voice. + +Then, before people could recover from their amazement, there was +another interruption. The men sent to search the house of Sura and +Menud were returning. More torches flared as they cast down their +burdens, load after load of jangling brass and copper rods, neat +rolls of narrow cloth tightly wound to resist moisture. Words were +unnecessary. Garram’s defence and the proof of Menud’s intent to steal +lay in shining piles on the ground for all to see. + +Garram, supported weakly on one elbow, suddenly crumpled up and lay +still. Instantly Warok was at his side. Weak from the pain and loss of +blood from the wounds left by the leopard’s claws, Garram had fainted. +After a swift but practised examination of the wounds the chief spread +his own leopard-skin robe and placed the boy gently upon it, while Kon +stood worriedly by. + +Menud and his father had disappeared, but shouts of vengeance, upon the +two plotters rose fiercely out of the torchlit darkness. The old chief +turned angrily upon the crowd. + +“When the sun sank you would have had me kill my son. Now that you have +seen his deeds you would turn upon his accusers. Think you that he +needs your help for vengeance upon such rats as those?” + +Stooping down he gathered the still unconscious body in his powerful +arms. Carrying it as though it were a child, and followed by Kon, the +old chief passed proudly out of the Assembly. + +But Menud and Sura were still free to plot again. + + + + +THE RAINMAKER’S ADVICE + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER IV + +THE RAINMAKER’S ADVICE + + +Garram heard the tapping of a stick. It was approaching along the rocky +path which wound through the terraced fields of corn, toward the place +where he lay basking in the sun. Bare feet give no sound on rock, so +people of the Hills learn to recognize the tapping of the six-foot +walking sticks as easily as boot-wearing people recognize the sound of +a well-known footstep. + +“Salutations and many salutations!” The boy sprang up in greeting as, +rounding a boulder at the turn of the path, came the tall figure of his +ancient friend, the Rainmaker and Priest of the Tribal Cults. Proudly +Garram offered his new leopard skin as a seat for his visitor. Garram’s +wounds had healed with no trace of blood poisoning, but he was still +too weak to hunt, and was forced to sit about, idly convalescing. He +had been lying in the shade, watching Kon scratch for imaginary fleas, +listening to the songs of the women as they ground corn in the huts, +stretching out his brown arms and legs luxuriously in the morning +breeze, but getting more and more bored. + +“Increase in years and prosperity be thine!” he added as his welcome +visitor sat down and disposed his soft skins about him. + +The Rainmaker laid down his staff. “Peace and health!” the deep voice +replied. “And your strength?... Returning to you?... It is good, for +you will need it soon!” + +The appearance of the old Rainmaker was impressive. His high-bridged +nose was in contrast to the flatter noses of the rest of the tribe, +and his shining but uncut beard and hair, his six foot six of bone and +muscle hung round with soft tanned leather robes and mysterious bags +and charms, all added dignity to the seamed, impassive face on which +alone the years had left their mark. + +The young hunter and the old magician seemed to have something in +common. Though grown-ups were silent at his approach and children +ran howling to their mothers, Garram, when a small child, had stood +gravely considering the old Rainmaker; then, to the horror of the +other children, had crossed the market place to him, politely saluted +him, and asked why people feared him! This was many years ago, but the +Rainmaker and the young hunter, both aloof and uncommunicative, both +fearless and rather disdainful of the chattering village, had formed a +curious friendship which had lasted ever since. + +The old man began to fill his pipe from a leather tobacco wallet which +hung at his waist. At least two ounces of the coarse native tobacco +went into the shining black clay bowl with its ornate carvings. The +bowl was nearly four inches across and five deep, and it would have +taken twice the amount to fill it. But it was seldom smoked out. Garram +watched with interest as the old man busied himself with a collection +of small tongs, skewers, and knives made of soft iron and kept +especially for this purpose in the wallet. + +Behind them as they sat was the group of red-walled, grass-thatched +huts, built touching each other and inclosing a courtyard. This was +Garram’s home, and at a sign from the other he went in swiftly by the +narrow window-like door set high in one of the walls. In a moment he +returned with a small ember from the cooking fire, carefully shielding +it from the inflammable thatch as he climbed out again through the +circular doorway. + +With the bowl at the end of the three-foot-long mouthpiece resting on +the ground, the Rainmaker applied the glowing ember to a small stick. + +“Though the sky be clear,”--he squatted on the leopard skin and drew +carefully at the mouthpiece--“those who have wisdom can yet feel the +coming storm.” He made a motion for the young hunter to sit down and +listen. “But the fool will wait till Achin the God of Thunder rends +a tree before he says to himself, ‘See there is a storm!’” Reaching +out his hand he broke the glowing end of the stick carefully into the +exact center of the bowl. With a metal skewer he scraped the fluffy +white wood ash all around it, carefully covering all but the center, +where the charcoal glowed. A few tentative draws on the pipe, then, the +result appearing to his satisfaction, he wiped and replaced the odd +bunch of tools in the wallet. + +“What, then, is the meaning of my saying?” he asked. + +Garram remained silent. As a hunter he knew that talk scared the game. +The silent man sees and hears most. The Rainmaker had not come for +a chat but to say something of importance. Instead of replying, the +boy stretched out a leg and with bare toe invited Kon to come and be +scratched. The massive dog approached and with a bored sigh flopped +down and rolled over, his lips drawing back in a contented grin as +a skilful toe explored the sensitive part of the chest around the +shoulder. + +“Even though the sky be clear for you and for Warok your father,” the +deep voice resumed, “is there no sign of a coming storm?” + +Garram looked up swiftly as his friend seemed to be reading his +thoughts. + +“Uncle of my father, Yes! The signs are clear, but there is much that I +cannot understand.” + +The chief priest, in his turn, seemed to have lost all interest in the +subject. With all elaboration and care seemingly due to so important an +act he was tamping down his pipe where smoldering grains of tobacco had +forced up the neat white ring of the wood ash. + +The leopard skin beneath the two lay on a surface of thickly strewn +white sand, sand which had been brought painstakingly from a stream bed +two thousand feet below and spread like a soft carpet over the stones. +Garram was marking parallel lines in it with outstretched forefinger as +he brought to mind, one by one, the matters that had puzzled him. + +With a sweep of his hand he obliterated the marks and spoke. + +“Many things which are hidden to me are clear to you. And perhaps in +these matters there is no mystery. But why is Menud again the leader +of the young hunters of the tribe? Before my wounds made all things go +black before my eyes he had been shown guilty of stealing and perhaps +of plotting to have me killed. He was not worthy of punishment, though +many wished him punished. Why then is he thought worthy again to lead +the youths of the tribe--he who is a thief and worse?” + +The tall figure nodded. “Yes, that is without doubt one of the signs.” + +The boy made a long mark in the sand. + +“And Sura who shared in the blame of Menud his son--he has not been +cast out. He has even taken part in the Council of the Elders, sitting +on the Sacred Stones and speaking as if with authority--though only in +the absence of the chief, my father. Sura is not of the true descent, +being a runaway slave from the Plains. Why does my father permit these +acts?” + +The priest nodded. Garram made another mark in the sand. There was a +pause. The old man drew gently on his pipe. Then: + +“Are there no other signs that you see? Things that affect you less, +but the tribe perhaps more?” + +Garram hesitated for a moment. “O uncle of my father, that is all that +I see with clear sight. But beyond, matters which are no concern of +mine, since I have no authority in the tribe--and yet....” + +Garram had risen and was standing, hands clenched, more moved than when +he had been on trial for his life. A look of understanding crossed the +priest’s seamed and rugged face. + +“Why do we, the Hillmen, grow careless of our honor and safety?” The +boy’s dark eyes flashed as he spoke. “The elders follow Sura because +of his wealth, though he is not of our race. The young men follow +though he is clumsy as the wild boar and vain as the rock fowl. None +care for the good of the tribe. There are no young hunters fit to +become warriors. The cactus defence walls of the village are never +repaired and are full of gaps for lazy women to take short cuts. There +are no fire belts around the towns, so annual bush fires destroy many +villages. An enemy could, by fire, drive us forth to meet his waiting +spears.” + +Unused to making long speeches, the boy paused and scratched the calf +of his left leg with bare right toe. + +“And why, seeing this--and I have seen his face darken with anger as he +sees--does my father the chief do nothing?” He stopped, his brown chest +rising and falling under his excited breathing, and looked down into +the expressionless face of the smoker. + +Again the pipe called for attention. Again the tools were produced +and the glowing charcoal was moved slightly toward one side. Garram, +annoyed with himself for having said so much, fidgeted awkwardly from +foot to foot. + +“What would you have your father do?” The Rainmaker spoke quietly. “In +peace we Hillmen are as free to act foolishly as wisely. Only in time +of war do we place all power in the hands of the chief, punishing with +death all who disobey. If the people, soft and secure for many years, +fear no attack and neglect their defences, what then? The elders too,” +he continued, “are soft and forgetful of their duty. If Warok commands +that defences be repaired, the elders will stand between him and the +people, seeking to gain favor, saying, ‘See, we will not permit this +chief to oppress you, for you are free men!’” + +The old man paused, then added as if in careless afterthought: +“Moreover, the elders are well bribed by Sura with feasts and presents. +And Sura seeks to discredit the chief, your father, and seize the +chieftainship.” + +The early morning breeze was dropping, and the sun was getting +uncomfortably hot. Kon rose and sauntered toward the cooler shadow of a +doka tree near the path. But Garram waited. The old Rainmaker, the most +feared man of the tribe, was not one to speak without cause and point. +The boy felt the fierce eyes under the deep brows looking into him and +testing him. + +Whatever he sought, the priest seemed satisfied. Preliminaries were +over, and he came straight to the point of his visit. + +“There is a secret plot to murder Warok, your father. He will not +save himself by flight, for the gods made him without fear and +heedless of his enemies. He cannot defend himself except against the +straightforward attack, and Sura and his followers are more likely to +loose an arrow through the dusk or poison his food or water. But you +his son have it in your power to save him. You only.” + +The eyes of the young hunter lighted up, and his hand slid to the knife +at his belt. A half smile relaxed the grim face of the old man. “Nay, +not by that means. By one way only--flight! If you are beyond the +reach of the plotters they will not touch the chief your father. For +they will fear the day when you may return to the tribe a grown man, +living only to avenge him.” + +His message delivered, the gaunt Rainmaker turned again to his pipe. +With the greatest attention to detail he emptied out the charcoal, +scraped out some burned tobacco, and plugged the unburned dottel with +a stopper of grass. The young hunter stood motionless before him, +looking into the distance. His hand was still on his knife, but he was +swallowing the bitter medicine of his disappointment. To fight--ah, +that would have been good! But to fly from one’s enemies--it seemed too +hard a thing to ask! His chest rose and fell, and he had to gulp hard +to conceal his sorrow. The old man, face averted, cleaned his tools +twice over in the sand and polished them off on his bare sole with +quite unnecessary care before replacing them in the leather bag. + +At last the old Rainmaker rose to go. “Well? Your answer?” The deep +voice betrayed unintended sympathy at variance with the curt inquiry. + +The boy swallowed again. Then huskily, “I go!” + + + + +A JOURNEY TO COME + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER V + +A JOURNEY TO COME + + +Garram spent the rest of that day planning and preparing. If the safety +of his father required him to leave the village of Kwallak it would +debar him for the same reasons from those other villages of the Hills, +where Sura might have influence. As Garram planned, he prepared also +the famous poison of the Hill people, evaporating it in a piece of +broken pot over a slow fire till it was the color and consistency of +tar. There might be good reasons why he should leave the tribe but +there was no reason for him to hide like a hunted animal. + +One by one he examined his reed-shafted, unfeathered arrows, here +and there renewing the fine lashing which held the soft iron heads +in place. One by one he dipped them in the poison, laying them out +to dry. Like all the other hunters of the Hills, he used a poison +that was mainly strophanthus, and the faintest scratch with the arrow +treated with it would kill man or beast painlessly and faster than a +well-placed bullet. + +He squatted, working, on a rock in the shade of a large tree and +considered his possible plans. The people of the Plains to the east +were of the Fulani race, and the little Garram had heard of them did +not make either them or their country seem attractive. The tales he +had heard were from Hillmen, who, captured young by raiding parties, +had seen their parents wantonly butchered. Finally, when their captors +had considered them no longer worth guarding as slaves, some homing +instinct had made them drag their worn and broken bodies back to the +Hills. + +Arrows finished, the boy turned his attention to re-hafting his hunting +ax. Meanwhile he considered the country of the Fulani of the West. Of +these he knew little. They were, by their dress and appearance, of the +same race as the Fulani of the East. But for some reason they had left +the Hillmen alone, making no slave raids. Most thrilling about them +was the half-fabled story of their mighty walled city, Yelwa. To the +Hillmen, whose little round thatched huts clung like small clusters of +mushrooms to the steep hillsides, had come vague tales of a widespread +city, flat roofed, shadowed with ancient date palms, and encircled by +an incredible wall. + +With the completion of his preparations came decision. He gathered up +his weapons and for safety’s sake overturned the remnants of the poison +into the fire. If then he was to be denied adventure in the Hills he +would go to meet it in Yelwa itself--if the city really existed! + +Garram called to Kon and entered his father’s house. Just before dusk +he made his final preparations in the shape of an incredibly large +meal, a real traveler’s meal, designed to last him through a night of +hard going. + + + + +THE CITY OF THE FULANI + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VI + +THE CITY OF THE FULANI + + +Garram peered out from the treetop. Far away to the right and left +stretched the high red wall of the city, unbroken in its smooth surface +save for the single doorway from which poured a seemingly endless +stream of farmers, traders with their donkeys and headloads, and women +with earthenware jars going forth to draw water. + +The boy had arrived after midday of the previous day, having traveled +rapidly all night and morning. He had found no difficulty in +discovering the city, the fabulous city of Yelwa, for all tracks for at +least twenty miles around led directly toward it, converging upon each +other, widening when they met as streams meet to form rivers. + +In the rugged, thinly populated Hills he had neither seen nor imagined +anything like it, had heard of nothing to prepare him for the sight +of so many paths, such unbelievable streams of people. It was all so +terrifying in its strangeness. Not a rock nor a hill was in sight, only +level fields of corn and other crops stretching as far as he could see +from his treetop vantage point. And always his eyes and thoughts came +back to that towering city wall. Yesterday he had circled it, Kon at +his heels, until dark, seeking some less public way of entrance than +this city gate. Four gates in all he had found, one at each point of +the compass, but each choked with jostling crowds, and there was no +other opening. There was no crack or growing plant, either, to afford +him finger and toe hold up the high wall with its crenelated top. + +Under cover of the darkness last night he had made a closer +examination. Cautiously making his way to the edge of the dry moat, he +had carefully felt along between the poisoned stakes planted in the +bottom of it and with the assistance of Kon’s unwilling tail, hauled +himself up the other side. Then, flattening himself against the base +of the wall so that people on top might not easily see him in the dim +starlight, he worked round to the gateway, only to find it closed. This +he had expected, but all the same it was disappointing. + +So he had made his way back again to the uncultivated bush, had hunted +and killed, eaten and slept. And now he was again seeking an entrance +into the city of Yelwa as it poured forth its inhabitants by its +western gate. + +Garram climbed down again to where Kon was waiting for him, hidden in +the small brush at the foot of the tree. As it was early morning the +stream of people was emerging from the gates, but catching sight of +some travelers about to enter he fell in behind the crowd, dread of the +unknown giving him a sick feeling inside him and weakening his knees. + +He had never imagined how strange and trying the quarter of a mile to +the city gates could be. He had never heard any spoken language but +his own, and here people were chattering and exchanging salutations +in a tongue which seemed to him as meaningless as the calls of birds. +But, all the same, they seemed to understand it, though it was hard to +believe it wasn’t pretence. People looked curiously at him, for the men +all wore long robes and baggy trousers, and the women a long straight +cloth wrapped around beneath their arms and reaching nearly to the +feet. Half-admiringly a girl nudged another girl, and they both smiled +at him and pointed. But the boy grew hot under his dark skin and passed +his hand over his shaven head. All the other men and boys wore turbans +or round red hats, all crown, he noticed, and nowhere did he see such +a leather loincloth as he wore. + +Kon, however, seemed to be enjoying himself. Many yellow-colored dogs +passed him, but on seeing him snarled and made a wide detour. Here and +there he stepped aside to get a closer sniff at some strange scent of +donkey, horse, or human. + +By the time the slowly moving donkey train in front of him had reached +the gate Garram was glad to lift his glance from the roadway with +its deep-trodden sand. The gatehouse with a guard-room on each side +made a tunnel of shadow through which could be seen a long street of +flat-roofed houses, so unlike the round huts of the Hills that he +scarcely took them for dwelling places. It was dreadfully like a trap, +and it took all his will power to overcome his instinct to turn and +escape before it was too late. + +A man at arms on guard at the gateway took one swift glance at the +strange young hunter, then called back to someone in the gatehouse. +At the signal several others came out at a run, fixing on their +red-tasseled sword slings as they came. + +“A Hillman and his dog, though never before has one left the Hills!” +the sentry cried. + +“A terrible warrior indeed!” jeered one of those who had been called +from his morning meal. “But now that he has passed, permit that we +return, since you no longer require protection.” They turned back, +unslinging their cross-handled swords, unbuckling the fastenings on +their quilted armor. + +“By Shehu, they took it coolly.” The sentry stabbed idle patterns in +the sand with his spear point. “The unbeliever is young and comes +openly, as in peace. But my father has told me of how, in the old days, +when their hills were attacked they fought as lions, having no fear of +death, but killing as they sank wounded to their knees, killing still +as they dropped to one elbow, still stabbing as their eyes closed in +death.” Admiringly the young soldier followed Garram with his eyes +“Allah permit that I, a true believer and follower of the Prophet +Mohammed may some day fight as well as these unbelievers!” + +The young hunter, unconscious of these happenings behind him, had +plenty to bewilder him. The sandy road, hollowed out by many feet +and hoofs, narrowed between the houses, then opened wide into the +market square, set with shady trees. From the trading booths of mud +and thatch, from the groups of people who crouched over wares spread +on mats in the open, came a bewildering hubbub of many voices, crying +their goods, disputing prices, greeting each other, telling the news. + +To his nose came also the strong scents of the market, of spices and +strange foods, of the perfumes used by both men and women of these +gowned people, of the smoke of the small fires round the butchers’ +stalls where morsels of meat were grilled on slivers of stick. The boy +turned, half seeking a way out of this, when Kon created a diversion +which made retreat impossible. + +The mangy market curs, underfed, timorous, and cruel, had come up one +by one to inspect this unknown dog, who looked more like a young calf +than a canine. One by one they had ranged themselves beside Kon as +he followed a pace behind his young master. The hound, with majestic +dignity, was ignoring them when with a flash of yellow teeth a cur made +a slash at his hind quarters. But the teeth never met in Kon’s flesh, +and the yellow torrent of dogs, which as if by signal closed on Kon, +hurled themselves at empty air. For an instant Kon stood grinning where +his sideways leap had landed him--then---- + +Garram turned swiftly at first sound of the flurry, but only in time +to see the yellow pack in yelping flight across the market place. The +dogs managed to dodge the more solid things such as mud walls and +tree trunks, but that was all they dodged. Grave leather workers, +gesticulating butter sellers, and such, had no warning before yellow +bodies began sailing past their heads, emitting terrified yelps and +scrabbling confusedly with their paws at turbans, faces of those who +had knelt on the mats, bowls of milk, and anything else which might +give foothold and increase their speed of flight. + +What the curs could not go under they went through. Powdered tobacco +became mixed with sweetmeats, fluffy mounds of ginned cotton spread +like snow through the square, butter and milk shot high in the air +and descended like blessings on ungrateful heads. The first yellow +wave of curs crashed over and among people before there was time to +shake a stick at them. As traders sprang up from mat seats, adjusting +disheveled turbans, righting overturned calabashes, retrieving +scattered market produce, a second apparition sent them groveling +afresh, calling upon Allah and the Prophet. + +One terrified glimpse they got of something huge and black. It was Kon, +grinning but immensely determined, hurtling in pursuit. Behind him +Garram, who appeared a small fiend armed with all sorts of outlandish +weapons, and uttering strange calls, seemed to their astonished gaze +scarcely to touch the ground as he dodged, swerved, and leaped in +pursuit. + +All those men whom Islam deemed holy and whose names could be +remembered in a hurry were invoked as protectors in case Allah and +Mohammed should again prove insufficient. + +At the end of the market was a large flat-roofed building with an +outside stairway, the Mohammedan mosque, the Place of Prayer for the +Faithful of Islam. As the yelping, scurrying pack swept round the +corner of the building out of sight, Kon withdrew from the pursuit. +Garram, seeing this, turned in the act of leaping over some children +and a pile of corded firewood and alighted in a space between some +bowls of sweetmeats. He glanced around, seeking a way out of the +awkward situation. Kon, still grinning, and dancing almost on tiptoe, +came up, trying unsuccessfully to look apologetic. + +But hurrying after them came a stout and wrathful trader, turban askew, +his brown face almost black with anger. “In the name of Shehu, this +exceeds all!” he shouted and with raised spear rushed upon Kon. + +Garram could not understand the strange speech, but it was clear that +his dog was in danger. The trader’s spear flashed forward and down. +But with his left hand Garram had swung his keen hunting ax, cutting +the spearhead from the shaft. Like a spinning leaf the broad blade +flew, flashing from the shaft out into the air, and the lunge of the +angry merchant carried the headless spear shaft harmlessly past Kon’s +broad back. + +[Illustration] + +The man was still recovering his balance, gazing with wonder at the +wand he held, that had so short a moment before been a spear, then his +eyes fell upon the knife in the young hunter’s right hand. The blade +slid smoothly to the broad stomacher, was lost in the folds of the +loose gown and withdrawn with the swift dexterous twist that only comes +from much practice. Then Garram and Kon vanished round the corner of +the Mosque. + +Horror of death was on the broad face of the trader. His useless spear +fell to the ground. A large hand felt at where the gaping wound should +be, then astonishment and finally a broad grin spread across his face. + +“Shaitan and Iblus!” Amazement was in his voice. “To cut my trouser +string and make me think it was death!” Hastily he grabbed up the +trousers which had settled round his ankles and, though much impeded, +started in pursuit. + + + + +LAUGHTER MAKES FRIENDS AND FOES + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VII + +LAUGHTER MAKES FRIENDS AND FOES + + +The Emir, the chief of all the Fulani of the Western Plain, was not +pleased with the way things were going in Yelwa, his capital city. +But on a Friday he seldom was pleased. For, on his way to the mosque +on the Mohammedan day of prayer it was the custom for people to stop +him and to present petitions. Also, and it was this that annoyed him +most, it was tradition that he should grant many of these requests for +pardon of criminals, and that he should give alms on a large scale. +Both went against the grain, but especially the pardoning of criminals. +To sentence a man earlier in the week only to release him on a Friday, +seemed waste of time. Lately he had taken to giving sentences of +flogging, which could be all done and finished by the time the day of +pardons came around. Another solution had been to give sentence of +double the punishment he intended and then remit half. + +As he thought, a grim smile twisted one corner of his mouth. Amid the +plaudits of the richly robed court he paused for the purification +before entering the mosque. + +During the ceremony a gathering cloud grew and blackened on the hard +face of the aristocratic old Fulani. Not only the Ladan, in his call to +prayer, but the Liman--the Leader in Prayer--had deviated intentionally +from the traditional ritual. With his anger was mixed anxiety. These +religious men must feel they had strong backing so daringly to flout +the orthodoxy of which he and his great ancestors had been such staunch +upholders! + +The rows of white-robed worshipers made their final prayer, their +final prostration, and began to file out by the narrow doorway, out +of the dim coolness into the blinding heat of the sunlight. For a few +moments they stood, gathering up their staves and ablution bottles +while they gossiped. The Emir leaned heavily upon the shoulders of two +followers while a third placed the richly ornamented sandals on his +soft, almost ladylike feet. The Leader in Prayer, the Liman, was making +his salutations, and the Court Praiser had struck up “Great is the Son +of....” + +Garram at full speed rounded the corner. He tried to dodge the group at +the mosque door, but his speed was too great. He slipped, recovered, +throwing up a cloud of dust from the dry ground, slipped again, and +with bony elbows, hard head, harder ax, throwing stick and bow, +crashed full into the Leader of Prayer! + +That gentleman had stooped to put on his sandals. The impact sent him +spinning backward. To preserve his balance he grasped the Ladan and for +a brief moment they tottered forward and back as if indulging in an +undignified comic dance. An agony of suspense was on their faces. Then, +force of gravity having its way, stiff legged, feet stretched out in +front, gently they sat down side by side. + +Garram would have resumed his flight, but guards seized him, and people +looked toward the Emir, expecting a brief, angry order. In vain they +waited. + +The Emir was bent almost double--at first they thought in pain. Then +they saw that the hook-nosed, hawk-like face was twisted in honest +mirth. Twice he pointed a finger at the two astonished elders who were +sitting on the ground, arms round each other like loving twins. Twice +he tried to speak. Cruel the African native may be, but he loves a +joke. From one after another of the crowd snorts of laughter were +heard, then the whole group, old and young, were chuckling and hooting +with glee. + +It was perhaps unfortunate for the trader that it was at this juncture +he rounded the corner in pursuit: sometimes hopping, sometimes running, +as his trousers permitted, and snorting his indignation, his baggy +garments slipping, being caught, and slipping again as he stumbled +along. To complete the situation the trousers slipped once too often +and too far. The big man rocked once in his stride, then, thudding at +the feet of the Emir he came down in a cloud of dust. Hands at his +side, still grasping at the refractory pantaloons, feet behind him and +mouth wide open and gasping, he looked for all the world like a large +fish, just landed. + +Surprise at this second apparition had momentarily checked the +laughter. At this climax it started again like one choking sob. The +Emir, all dignity swept away, leaned crumpled up against the wall of +the mosque, making strange hooting noises. + +The guard needed no order to make them release their hold on Garram. +The feeling of the Emir and the people was too obvious to need putting +into words. Garram, too wise to draw attention to himself by bolting +again, sat down to await developments. Kon, tail wagging in applause, +was quite willing to wait, apparently hoping that someone would do some +more funny tricks. + +The Leader in Prayer and the Ladan gathered themselves together, +shaking the sand and dust from their robes. Bitterly the Liman +reproached his innocent subordinate, whom he seemed to blame for his +humiliation. Muttering curses beneath his breath which he dared not say +aloud he turned a baleful glance upon the unconscious Emir. + +“Allah will requite!” he stalked off muttering. “Allah will avenge the +wrong done to his servant!” + +Goshi, the stout trader, rose from before the Emir and made more proper +obeisance. “Pardon, O Great One! Pardon thy servant!” + +The usual frown had returned to the face of the Emir, and the trader +trembled. + +“Be not so impetuous the next time you hasten to pay your respects.” + +Goshi strove to stammer forth explanations, but the chief cut him short +with a wave of the hand. “But if your quarry is not in fact a thief, +caught in the act, you shall forgive him. Then will I forgive you.” + +Then turning to the guard the Emir raised his voice so that the +courtiers and assembled multitude might also hear. “This boy is sent of +Allah to reprove presumptuous Holy Men. And well has he done it! See +that he, aye, and even his dog, if so large a thing can be a dog, are +well lodged and fed in the palace.” + +The ever growing crowd let loose a burst of applause far different from +the usual acclamation. In the train of the Emir, Garram strove to talk +to a genial giant of a guard in sign language. Kon followed, his tail +broadcasting unmistakable opinion that this was a cheery city to live +in. + + + + +THE EMIR’S COURT + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE EMIR’S COURT + + +The Emir, splendid in jeweled robes of state, held court. The room +was filled with petty officers of the court, townspeople of Yelwa, +and smaller chiefs, and below the dais groveled the prisoner, loaded +with leg irons and manacles. The accused, now pale and trembling, bore +little resemblance to the cruel tyrant who, called forth by the Emir +to answer for his crimes, had replied by raising an army and attempting +war upon the Emir himself. + +Here in the court witness after witness was called, drawn from the +actual scene of the crime, and guilt of the accused was established +beyond dispute. Their tales of terrorism, exaction, and torture ended, +the prisoner, eyes fixed in dread anticipation upon the judge, his +Emir, awaited sentence. + +The stir of movement, of whispered comment, ceased throughout the bare, +cave-like hall. Judgment and sentence were about to be pronounced. +Raising one hand with its antique signet rings, the Emir enjoined +silence. “Since you, Governor of one of our provinces, saw fit to rise +in armed rebellion against us....” He was addressing the object in +chains, upon whom all eyes were fixed. + +All eyes except those of Garram. In the deserted side of the hall, +behind the Emir, a man, previously hidden behind a massive pillar, +moved swiftly forward to the cover of another pillar. A quick movement +of Kon’s huge head had drawn Garram’s attention to this. + +The voice of the Emir continued. “Since in this rebellion you tortured +free men, burned villages, stole....” The level voice was proceeding +with the summing up. + +Next to the Emir sat the Waziri, the Vizier, and the Emir’s first +officer of state. He was close enough to be visible from a corner of +the Emir’s eye, and in full view of the people, but Garram, watching, +saw that although neither head nor body of the Waziri moved, his left +hand slid behind him and made signs behind the cover of his robes. Such +signs could only be intended for that stealthily approaching figure. + +“All these are clearly shown by many men whose own eyes have beheld +them,” the voice continued. “Therefore the sentence is Death! Your head +shall be struck off in the market place at sunset time!” + +Garram’s keen and watchful eye saw the Waziri’s hand fall as if in +secret signal. There was a swift flash of steel as the hidden man +sprang into the open and flung himself upon the unsuspecting Emir, and +the point of the assassin’s knife tore into the back of the jeweled +robe. Then Kon’s great weight struck with full force, and knife and man +went thudding to the ground. + +There was a gasp of horror from the crowded room, another gasp as the +dog’s huge jaws closed menacingly around the attacker’s throat. + +The Emir gave no sign of fear, did not even pause in his judgment. +Coolly he continued with his directions to the executioner, and the +condemned rebel was removed, then, careless of the spreading stain of +blood upon his garments, the chief turned to the scene at his feet. +The time for the attack had been well chosen, when all attention was +upon the fate of the rebel, and but for Kon’s intervention the Emir’s +fate would have been certain. Now, with threatening clamor, guards and +courtiers rushed forward and surrounded the prostrate man. Kon, at a +word from Garram, released the figure and stalked back to his master’s +side. + +The prisoner, would-be assassin, was dragged by the mob to the front +of the dais, and in a moment his scarlet and gold uniform of the guard +hung in tatters from his shoulders, his face was twisted in pain. But +he faced the wrathful Emir unafraid, waiting his sentence of death or +torture. + +“So it is you, Ibrahim!” cried the Emir. “You, the son of my cousin, of +my own blood!” + +Ibrahim, lips set with pain, inclined his head in assent. The Emir’s +even tones deepened in anger. “Was then my gift of captaincy of the +guard such an insult that it must be wiped out in blood?” The proud and +angry face of the chief took on a look of sorrowful disdain. “If I have +ever wronged you, or yours, speak--and I will set you free!” + +The young man had returned haughty look for look, in spite of his pain. +Now something like shame came to the handsome face, and he bent his +head to hide it. + +“Speak, if you have words in excuse for your deed! If you have none the +penalty is----” + +“_Death!_” With a ring of pride Ibrahim completed the Emir’s sentence. + +“Nay,” mocked the Emir. “Death is scarcely the word. But in the end +you may greet death as a mercy, and not as a punishment. But, guard, +remove the prisoner lest I pass sentence blinded by anger. Seven days +from to-day, at the door of the mosque of my ancestors, I will pass +sentence.” + +“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Assembly is +dismissed,” rang the voice of the court crier. + +As the crowd filed through the wide doorways in ever increasing hubbub +of talk the Emir turned to the Waziri. “See that an interpreter be sent +me. One that speaks the speech of this young hunter whose dog has saved +my life.” Then, contemptuous of the broadening red stain upon his robe +he passed through the small doorway leading to his private apartments. + + + + +THE EMIR’S SECRET + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER IX + +THE EMIR’S SECRET + + +The hunting camp was to be made about two days’ journey from the city +of Yelwa. Garram and Kon, unused to the leisurely travel of city men, +covered the distance in one day and found themselves on the camp site +with many hours to wait before the Emir arrived. + +It was just before nightfall when they reached the prearranged spot +and sat for a while watching a gang of laborers clearing grasses, +bushes, and tree stumps from a wide flat space on the bank of a small +lake. At nightfall the two went hunting, killed, ate, and slept, and +at dawn started for a fresh hunt, driving the game as close in to camp +as possible before killing it. When they arrived back at the camp site +the clearing that had been made the day before was being filled with +flat-roofed sun shelters made with boughs of trees. Grass-walled huts +had been run up and picketing places established for the horses which +were expected. + +[Illustration] + +In the center the laborers were erecting the Emir’s own hut. It +was larger than the others, more pretentious, with walls of three +thicknesses of grass matting and a thatched roof, beautifully thick and +even. The workers were busy trimming more boughs with heavy knives, +digging holes for timber uprights, tying and plaiting grasses. They +looked up from their work as Garram passed, glancing curiously at the +boy dressed in hides, and at his dog, so much larger than any they +had ever seen before. Enviously they stared after his load of freshly +killed meat which showed beneath the leaf coverings. They had come +from distant villages and had lived for more than two days on a little +half-cooked flour mixed with water, which they had brought with them. + +Garram had noted their scanty diet and guessed their hunger. Now, +dropping the heavy load from his head, he knelt down and undid the +twisted slivers of bark with which it was tied. Almost before he had +unrolled the meat, the workers, divining his intention, dropped their +work and commenced to blow up cooking fires from such wood as came to +hand. + +Garram made signs to the old village chief, and the old man detailed +off a band of boys to follow the hunter and Kon back into the bush +for the remainder of the kill. The young hunter returned to find +himself suddenly popular, and the popularity increased, along with +astonishment, when they discovered that he would take no money for the +food. Never before had they seen any one of Garram’s race, but they had +heard of the mysterious race of the Hillmen since they were children. +They were almost incredulous at his ability to go into the bush and +return with game as easily as a man picks a sheep from a sheep pen. +Why, it would have taken a hunter of the Plains a fortnight, at least a +week, to kill as much as Garram had brought to them in a single day! + +They offered him their small tobacco pipes, pressed upon him small +gifts of tobacco, and later in the day, when the women and children +arrived with fresh provisions, they urged upon him thick but harmless +beer and other delicacies. Twice more that morning Garram went hunting, +and under the stimulus of so much good meat the camp builders worked +at an amazing pace. By midday everything was finished, and all the +long, blazing afternoon the hunter and his new friends lay, half +asleep, in a shady shelter topping a grassy slope. A faint breeze, just +enough to eddy the tobacco smoke, came from the stretch of blue water +below. + +Kon, glad to be released from the grilling heat of the city, had +followed the children down to the lake and delightedly joined in their +play. He had figured as a riding horse, been taken down to drink and +to stand belly-deep among the water lilies. Then came a less peaceful +rôle, that of a hunted elephant. But as the heat grew he changed from +an elephant to a hippopotamus. But a hippo must submerge and dive +down to graze along the lake bottom, and the children, finding Kon +unsinkable, finally turned him into a good-natured canoe. + +Toward sunset Garram woke. The drums and horns of the Emir’s party +could be heard approaching. The villagers, collecting their tools, +went out to meet their chief and pay their respects, Garram and Kon +followed them. A wide track had been cleared through the bush, and +passing over a gentle rise the two stopped to watch the advancing +column which wound its way down a hill, crossed a small plain and came +on. + +A band of mounted men rode first, wearing the many-colored plumed +helmet and the quilted armor of the guards. In spite of two days +traveling, their wiry, thin little horses were prancing and sidling +along the wide cleared track, their low-hanging embroidered +saddle-cloths swinging to the movements. Following them came men on +foot, their ten-foot trumpets gleaming red in the setting sun. The deep +boom of the great instruments formed an undercurrent to the rattle of +accouterments and the patter of hoofs. Mounted guards and trumpeters +passed in a cloud of dust which turned golden on the evening air. Then +the wail of oboe-like reed instruments became audible. Lesser chiefs +and courtiers, each with running footmen and a few mounted attendants +preceded the mounted oboe players. + +Behind the musicians, closely surrounded by people chanting his +praises, covered by a brilliant crimson and gold umbrella ten feet +across, and fanned by other attendants, rode the Emir. Then more +guards followed, grooms, slaves, and the innumerable hangers-on, small +children, pouring along in a steady stream with the dust over all. + +Garram waited to see the last of the procession pass and turned back +toward camp. He heard the distant plaudits as the Emir reached his hut +and alighted, and moving swiftly along through the last of the setting +sun ran into a breathless messenger who gave Garram to understand, by +signs, that the Emir had sent for him. As they neared camp the change +was already apparent. Cooking fires were crackling gently outside grass +huts, men smoked and lounged and gossiped as they passed in and out, +and a bustle of busy preparations for the evening meal surrounded him. +The use of the sand-strewn square framed with logs, which had puzzled +him, now became clear. White-robed worshipers were already kneeling +there, pressing their foreheads to the sand, engaged in their evening +prayers. + +And then, as Garram and the messenger entered the Emir’s hut, all the +heat and bustle and confusion of the newly pitched camp died out behind +them. The hut which Garram had seen bare but a short time before was +now lined from roof to floor with embroidered hangings, heavy draperies +which shut out the dust, heat, and noise. The boy had no chance for +detailed inspection, for the guide immediately withdrew, and the Emir +turned to another man, only dimly seen in the darkness, and who seemed +to be an interpreter. + +“Oh, Garram, it is easier for a beggar to free himself of fleas than +for an emir to free himself of courtiers!” + +The voice from the darkness translated the Emir’s remark into the +speech of the Hills, and Garram inclined his head in reply. + +The Emir’s voice went on, and again the other voice interpreted: +“Praisers, beggars, singers, women, statesmen with their much talking, +cover a man with words, separating him from all manly acts, deafening +him with their clamor.” + +Again the hunter inclined his head, and the voice went on: “So now I +seek to escape. The guard will be told that I rest, being wearied with +travel, and this man”--the Emir waved to the voice--“will dress in +my clothes, lie on my couch, and feign sleep. But I, dressed in his +garments will meet you and the dog at the north side of the lake as +soon as dusk shall be fallen. Then will I gain freedom from talk and +shall hunt as I hunted long ago.” + +Garram had barely reached the meeting place before the Emir +arrived. The borrowed robes had served their purpose in taking him, +unrecognized, through the camp. Now, silently, he stripped to dark +blue loincloth and thrust the rolled up robe and trousers into a thick +bush. Garram found time to notice with admiration his tall form, soft +no doubt with city dwelling, but with none of the bulging muscles of +the professional strong man. His chest, as he breathed, showed almost +the elasticity of youth, his long lean flatness spoke of speed and +tirelessness, and his shoulders, but for his height, would have been +unduly broad. + +Then the young hunter’s attention turned to Kon. The dog, nose to +ground, had discovered something of interest. Garram, knowing they +wished bigger game, signaled to Kon by a faint whistle not to follow +bird tracks, and the dog’s ears swung back for an instant in answer to +the call. Now, as they moved forward following Kon, the light faded +quickly, and faint sounds became more and more distinct in the still +air. Only the _swish-swish_ of the Emir’s sandals seemed out of place. +He took them off and hung them on his quiver. + +“One must not stamp along like a buffalo!” he muttered. + +They swung along for what seemed hours, and as the faint moonlight +grew, the woods seemed almost more silent than in full darkness. Now +and then Garram bent to examine the tracks more closely. One was that +of a male _barawa_, apparently alone. The Emir whispered its name in +the Fulani tongue, and the boy, intent on the slot, nodded assent +without noticing the gleam of interest in the older man’s face at his +understanding. At last, after a mile or two of tracking, Kon paused and +looked up for instructions. The problem was a simple one. A fresher +track of a bigger animal had crossed the one they were following. Which +did the master want Kon to follow? A sign swung him off the old track +on to that of a hartebeeste. Soon the dog paused again. The Emir would +have run up, but Garram checked him. Kon was not asking advice this +time. Slowly, carefully, harking back so as to make certain, the finely +trained nose disentangled the interwoven tracks, and breaking into a +confident trot again Kon traced his beast clear of the tangle. + +Following the dog’s example the two humans moved with greater and +greater caution. Soon they were close behind their leader and slowed +to a silent, gliding walk. The scent was now strong and easy to +follow, Kon could afford to raise his head and moved forward at a slow +walk, scanning the bush ahead, again dropping his nose to the trail +to make sure. They had come to more open country, the thick scrubby +trees were fewer here, and bare ground, studded with tussocks of grass, +stretched between. + +Suddenly Kon halted. Shapes rising silvery gray from the moonlight +stood out in front of them. Heartebeestes! On both sides of them the +Emir and Garram could hear the herd moving and grazing. + +Swiftly the long war bow of the Emir rose and twanged. Garram slipped +an arrow from his muted hunting bow into a shape at his right, and the +animal fell as he stood. As it struggled to rise again Garram gave +it the final blow with his knife and turned quickly back to help his +fellow hunter. But the Emir and Kon had already disappeared. + +Garram took up the trail at a swift run. Now that the game had been +disturbed there was no virtue in extreme silence. Without pause he +sped along the faint tracks in the dim moonlight and had not gone far +before the crash of a wounded animal at bay came clearly through the +night. He arrived too late to assist. As he came upon the scene Kon +swung the animal by one hind leg. It made a half turn, then fell with +a thud, and the Emir threw his weight upon the noble head to cut the +throat. Cutting, he spoke the prescribed words, which make the meat +_halal_--or lawful food for followers of the Prophet. + +The Emir, excited and happy as a youth, produced flint and steel and +started a fire, while Garram and Kon did the skinning. With growing +amazement the Fulani watched the dog keep a steady pull on the hide as +the boy eased it away from the underlying tissue with his knife, Kon +following directions and pulling now to the right, now to the left. +Later, when Garram came to a joint and put down his knife, Kon walked +around to his side and passed him the hunting ax, which was used for +disjointing. + +“Allah! Do my eyes tell me truth?” cried the Emir, stirred from his +silent admiration. “Perhaps this great dog also mends your leather and +sweeps your hut! Give him the knife and let him finish the skinning, +you and I are only in the way!” + +Garram looked up from his work and grinned but did not reply. The +skinning over, he made long skewers of wood and, running them through +slices of the meat, planted them in the ashes of the now clear and +smokeless fire. + +The young hunter from the Hills, the Emir of proud and ancient lineage, +the huge mongrel dog were all equally hungry. + +“No sweetmeats of the palace ever tasted so good!” sighed the Emir as +he finished the meal. He lay back on his elbow, threw the last greasy +skewer into the fire, and sniffed the warm night air. Kon gnawed at +a huge bone for dessert. Garram watched the Fulani chief with silent +interest. + +“Garram, whom men call the Hunter, it is now three moons since you came +to the city and to my court. At first when people spake our speech you +did not understand. But now, even though you do not speak in return, +anger, amusement, satisfaction at the words of others show in your face +when you think no one is watching you. Garram the Stranger is no longer +a stranger, but understands our speech!” + +The boy did not reply, and the elder man went on. “Game that comes too +often to strange feeding grounds dies soon, eh? But you, who with this +monstrous hound saved my life, should have no fear of _me_.” + +The boy had been working with his knife at some morsels of fat still +clinging to the hide. He turned now on one elbow toward the Emir. +Thinking out his words in the strange Fulani tongue he answered slowly +and stiffly: “Most I understand, but little I speak. Talking is not so +useful as listening. If I spoke, people would know I also understand. +Then they would hide from me things that now they let me hear.” + +“And what things do you now hear?” The Emir sat up, his interest +increasing. + +“Of food, of trade, of crops of the fields, of children, and very often +of women--but sometimes, in dark places----” + +“Yes, yes, of what? Speak!” + +“Of how they will kill you, killing also your heir, the child who +cannot yet walk.” The hunter waved an explanatory hand in the red +firelight. “Therefore I listened, being angry at the thought of the +killing of a child. To kill a man is no great harm--though I do not +like the killing by a friend and from behind, as they would have done +to you had Kon not seen. But to kill the young, whether of animals or +of men, is to bring down the wrath of the God Nen--Fertility--and would +bring misfortune and blight to the crops. It is unlawful in our Hills +and should be so in your Plains!” + +Anger and amusement struggled for place in the Emir’s mind. He had +long suspected that Garram, unknown to those around him, had been +picking up the language and much valuable information. Trusting him as +perhaps the one really honest man in an intriguing court, the Emir +had planned this move to the hunting camp, and the secret midnight +hunt, simply for the purpose of getting word with him free from risk +of being heard by spies. Now Garram’s honest, unflattering views were +a trifle embarrassing. To the Emir it was no slight matter if an enemy +assassinated him! + +Prompted by questions, Garram explained his point. + +“Ibrahim was only a misguided fool,” he said. “A tool of the plotters. +The proof of the real plotters must, however, be established. They are +very cunning, but we shall track them down if you will leave it to me +and do as I say.” + +Several times the Emir had to swallow his wrath at the blunt simple +speech. The boy seemed more concerned with making the true situation +clear and with catching the criminals than with flattering the Emir +and concern for his safety. They sat long over the fire, and it was +Garram’s suggestions, moreover, that won his point. With a twinkle of +humor showing in his dark eyes the Emir summed up. “So--if I follow +your advice you will catch my enemies. But in payment you ask the +pardon of Ibrahim?” + +Garram, who had hated all these words, nodded in reply. + +“You are a bold youth to make terms with me thus. But so be it! Search +out the trails of the conspirators, and good hunting! But now we must +return, for dawn is nearly breaking. I will help you with the meat as +far as the place where my clothes are hidden. Thence you must carry it +yourself, for my hunting and my talk with you must remain unknown.” + + + + +THE ROYAL HUNT + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER X + +THE ROYAL HUNT + + +Next day occurred the royal hunt. Garram and Kon found the camp already +astir on their return with the meat. Without stopping for sleep they +joined the followers and the villagers who had built the camp and were +now going to act as beaters. For four hours they walked due south, +and then turning spread into a thin line to the west. Keeping their +position as well as they could by the sound of their neighbors’ shouts +and rattling of sticks against tree trunks, they began to beat up the +game to the northeast. + +For some time there was little to be seen. Here and there small hares, +which are always perquisites of beaters, were chased and yelled at, and +occasionally killed or caught by mongrel dogs. Then the bigger game, +content to be driven a short distance but now getting anxious, tried +to break back to their feeding grounds. A band of baboons, barking +furiously, used the thick branches of tall trees lining a stream as +cover and got safely away. A wild boar charged and overturned a beater +without doing him much damage, and a sow and four half-grown pigs +followed his lead to safety. Oribi and duiker, small buck not three +feet high, took cover in the grass till nearly trodden on, then dashed +forward and hid again, and kept repeating the process. Guinea fowl and +other game birds sounded warning calls and ran and flew in front of +the line of beaters. + +[Illustration] + +Gradually the heat of the day increased; gradually the concentration of +game in front of the beaters grew more dense. From time to time mounted +followers of the court would ride along the line of beaters, urging +forward part of the line, restraining those who were getting too far to +the front, so that the cordon should leave no gaps for escaping game. + +Garram, to whom the horse was an unknown animal, was thrilled by the +ease with which the courtiers swung their mounts as they followed at +an easy canter along the tortuous game tracks. The boy’s mouth opened +wide in admiration as he watched a feeble-looking courtier, whom +previously he had rather despised, sit his plunging pony unaware of the +movement. Orders delivered, the rider touched his horse’s flanks with +the shovel-like stirrups which served as spurs, shot stooping beneath a +low branch, and collecting the animal, flipped neatly across the narrow +stream. Garram let out a wild war-whoop in applause. + +The beaters had now come out into the open plain where the royal party +waited. Garram, followed by Kon, wriggled forward for a better view. +Worming their way up the water course, they searched for a spot where +they could hide from the keepers and be safe from the riders. A giant +kuka tree, ten feet across and hollow as a drum, seemed just made for +the purpose. By climbing up where the branches separated, it was +possible, after making sure the place was free of snakes, to drop down +inside. Numerous knot holes made excellent windows for watching the +fun, and it was like being in a loopholed tower. + +They had scarcely got into position, Kon licking Garram’s ear as he +was lowered to the ground, when part of the hunt came directly towards +them. It was the Emir on a glossy black stallion, but how different he +looked from last night! + +Now he was dressed as if for full court ceremonial, from his voluminous +turban to his high, decorated boots, brilliantly colored robes, and +trousers incrusted with embroidery. All these, it seemed to Garram, +must make free use of bow and spear impossible. Slowly the chief of the +Fulani walked his horse toward some cover on Garram’s left. From time +to time he rose in his stirrups for a better view. Then, almost at the +foot of the kuka tree, a magnificent boar broke cover, swinging to the +right, and the horse and rider broke into full gallop in pursuit. From +a glimpse of the long tushes as the animal broke, Garram was able to +mark it down as an old boar, liable to put up a stiff fight. Then all +he could see was its swift wallowing run as it streaked off into the +distance. He and Kon almost howled with disappointment. + +When at last the horse and rider caught up, the boar, with a swift +turn almost directly beneath the horse’s hoofs, jinked and swung back +on his tracks. This gave the quarry a fresh start, and there was hard +riding before the lost ground was made up. Whenever they all but closed +on the bristling beast, another swift turn put the hunters again at a +disadvantage. + +First one stirrup, then the other scraped ground as the well-schooled +pony flung himself to right and left, following with sharp turns the +wild hog. Gradually the zigzag course brought the chase nearer to the +watchers in the tree trunk, and Garram viewed with startled eyes the +turns and swings which seemed to leave the rider steady as a rock but +little by little decreased the boar’s lead. The flash of the Emir’s +black eyes above his beaky nose was now clearly seen, and the thunder +of the hoofs, the grunting of the hunted beast seemed scarcely a yard +from the tree. + +Then, in the middle of a swift turn, the rider rose in his stirrups to +loose an arrow from the longbow. It pierced the galloping quarters of +the quarry. + +Brought to bay, without pausing, the boar swung around and charged. A +quick slash at the forefeet of the pony, not three yards away--with +those gleaming tushes. Then the same tushes, red by then, would be +able to tear and tear against the soft, defenceless body pinned by the +fallen horse. + +But the vengeful teeth never drove home. + +Slender spear in hand the Emir leaned far out of the saddle to take the +shock when the spear should meet the charging boar. In that fraction of +a second he stiffened his arm, gripping with knees as if to crush the +ribs of his mount. Saddle and girths burst with the shock. The black +stallion was forced back on his haunches and, with dilated nostrils and +staring eyes, over on his flank. + +But the slender spear head, backed by its steel shaft had met the +shoulder of the boar, passed through, and down to the heart. + +As the dust cleared, man, horse, and boar were seen stretched on the +hoof-torn ground, motionless, almost touching. Horse and man rose and +shook themselves, but the boar lay dead. Courtiers galloped up, full +of solicitude and praise. The Emir glanced carefully over the black +stallion to assure himself that he was uninjured, then mounted bareback +and cantered off. + +Much more Garram saw that day. Including such bad shooting from +horseback as made him grateful for the protection of his tree. Nothing +after that equaled the impression made upon him by the Emir and his +glossy black stallion. Between those two was an understanding, a +combination such as the hunter and Kon had worked out together. + + * * * * * + +The next evening, on their journey back to Yelwa, the courtiers and +councilors received from the Emir gifts of robes of honor, musk +scented, in celebration of the hunting party. But on that robe given +to the Waziri was a special musk. Garram had searched long for the +certain bush cat from which it came. To the human nose it smelled much +as the others did; it would take a dog to tell the difference. + + + + +KON AS DETECTIVE + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XI + +KON AS DETECTIVE + + +The courtiers, clad in the robes of honor, were filling the audience +chamber with a buzz of conjecture. It was the morning after their +return to Yelwa, and the day appointed for the trial of the would-be +assassin. A change of plan had moved the place of trial from the door +of the mosque to the audience chamber where the attack had first taken +place. In chains the prisoner stood, pale and silent, clad still in the +garments of the red-robed guard. + +The Waziri, sitting on the right of the Emir’s vacant throne, signed +to the officer in charge of the prisoner to approach. “The man has not +been tortured?” Some hidden fear was reflected in the cautious whisper. +The soldier looked hard at the Waziri as he replied: + +“No.” + +“He has said nothing more?” The questioner’s hands were clasping and +unclasping under his robe. + +“Have no fear. Ibrahim is a soldier and no courtier.” Contempt was in +the voice. + +“Why should I fear--I? Have a care thou! It is not meet to insult the +Grand Vizier of the land.” The Waziri’s voice held hidden menace, but +the soldier had turned on his heel and left. + +Trumpets sounded from the inner chambers, announcing that the Emir was +on his way. Entering he received the acclamations of the Assembly and +made his formal acknowledgments. He took his seat upon the lion skin on +the dais and signed to the Waziri. A court crier announced the descent +of the Emir and the virtues of his ancestors, recited the boundaries of +the dominion to which he laid claim, then declared the court open. + +The prisoner, moving as if in a daze, was brought to the front of the +dais. Another crier announced the name of the prisoner, his descent, +and the crime with which he stood charged. + +“Son of my cousin,” the Emir’s voice came quietly to Ibrahim, “your +crime was seen by all men. But never have I knowingly wronged you or +your house. Why, then, did you attempt to kill me?” + +No word came from the man awaiting death. The Waziri could be seen +leaning forward, whispering urgently in the Emir’s ear. + +“O Ibrahim, torture would make you speak. But the Waziri counsels that +instead your tongue be torn out as punishment. In any event you must +die.” + +One look the condemned man threw toward the Waziri and made as if +to speak, then clenched his jaws and was silent. But that look the +watchful Emir had intercepted. Blank astonishment, succeeded by pitiful +reproach of a false friend was there, as clear as if the prisoner had +spoken. + +“But if you will tell all--your fellow plotters, your motive for the +crime”--oh, very persuasive was the Emir’s smooth voice--“then will +your death be swift and suited to your noble blood!” + +“Lord of our race, and head of our noble house,” neither fear nor +hesitation were in the clear young voice, “I did not fear to attempt +your life. Why should I now fear how you take mine?” + +Emir and prisoner confronted each other, each seemingly as hard and +fearless as the other, and power lay with the Emir. Dread tenseness +grew upon the Assembly. Just, but justly dreaded, had been all his +line. All expected some fiendish judgment of torture to be pronounced. + +“Since you will not betray your friends, even though your friends +betray you....” Slow, catlike, the words stalked, seemingly ready +to pounce: “Guard! Strike off the fetters!” Tools rang on the heavy +rivets, and manacles and leg irons clanged to the floor. + +Freed of his bonds, the prisoner straightened himself proudly before +the people. He turned a look almost of gratitude on the man he had +tried to kill. Whatever terrible form his death might take, he was to +be permitted to face it nobly, and not as a thief loaded with chains +lest he run or flinch from the executioner’s blade. + +A murmur of approval of the Emir’s gesture rose from the Assembly, then +ceased in puzzled apprehension. Guards with gleaming spears were moving +to cover each exit from the hall. + +“Fetters! Bring more fetters, for the prisoners will be many,” the +Emir’s command rang out, and guards hastened in search of manacles, leg +irons, chains, rope--anything that would serve the instant need. + +“Permit, Lord, that I aid the search for fetters, many.” Trembling, the +Waziri sought pretext to leave the court. + +“Nay, do not go!” The Emir laid a gentle restraining hand on his +sleeve. “We may need your loyal counsel.... Ha! Then since you will +not stay at my request, stay by my command! Guards, seize this false +Waziri!” + +Heavily, his brown face ashen gray with fright, the Waziri resisted, +but was overpowered. Surprise upon surprise had been unfolded, and +people gaped their wonderment. Swiftly another surprise followed. The +Emir’s voice rang again in command: “Ho! Hunter of the Hills, here +is the source of the conspiracy. Bring thou thy dog and trace me its +course!” + +Kon and Garram, who had been awaiting the signal, came to the foot +of the divan. The dog’s mouth almost dripped with eagerness as he +caught the scent of the Waziri’s robe of honor. Then, at a whispered +instruction from his master he quested among the Assembly. The first +man to be pointed out was a soldier of the guard. Before the blank +astonishment had faded from his face his comrades had pinioned him. + +“Bind him--and him--and him!” ordered the Emir, as Kon, searching +among courtiers, guards, and onlookers alike, marked down man after +man. So certainly and so surely, missing none, Kon identified the +conspirators. Fear and guilt showed upon some even before the dog +approached them. One man was caught too late. The slight delay had +sufficed for him to swallow poison. Kon pointed to him even as he +writhed in death upon the ground. + +Guilty terror was upon the conspirators. And upon all the Assembly +was a horror at the uncanny certainty of the procedure. The once +proud Waziri, now herded into line like a common prisoner, voiced the +feeling: “This thing is of Iblis, of Shaitan the Evil One himself!” the +terror-broken voice babbled. “The Devil alone can know all this!” + +Kon, his work finished, had made one last tour of the people to make +sure he had missed no one. Now with Garram he returned to the side of +the divan. + +Turning to the row of prisoners, the Emir glanced them over. The Waziri +twisted from the restraining hands of the guard and flung himself at +the Emir’s feet in supplication. “Have mercy, O Lord!” he cried. “It +is true, this crime with which you charge us. Even last night we met +together and sought afresh some means to kill you, since our first +attempt by the hand of Ibrahim had failed.” Flat upon the ground he +groveled, gray beard in the dust. “Death we do not fear. We will tell +you all. But, of your mercy, spare us only torture!” + +And from the other prisoners came the broken murmur: “Death, for we are +guilty, Lord. But spare us only torture!” + +At a sign the guard began to lead away the prisoners, readjusting +fetters and bonds as they went. Ibrahim, with a look of contempt at +the groveling Waziri, who had first persuaded him to attack the Emir +and had then left him to his fate, who had even suggested to the Emir +the tearing out of the prisoner’s tongue so that he should not reveal +his accomplices, turned to go. Death would be easy now! He looked with +gratitude on his royal kinsman. + +“Guard, leave that prisoner.” The Emir pointed at Ibrahim. “O would-be +assassin, you were only the arrow shot from the bow of this evil Waziri +who coveted my kingdom. Though he abandoned you and then would have +betrayed you, counseling the loss of your tongue for fear you might +confess his evil schemes when under torture, still you kept silence.” +From the folds of his robe the Emir produced the same jeweled dagger +with which Ibrahim had attacked him. With his own hand he returned it +to Ibrahim. + +Dazedly the prisoner took it. “Well would you have served the Waziri! +See that you serve me but half as well. You are free! Go in peace.” + +Since the removal of the prisoners the gates had been left unguarded. +More and yet more people were crowding into the Council Hall, excitedly +whispering inquiries. + +The Emir rose as if to depart, then turned back to address the dazed +and excited people. + +“My people, the sons of my father’s people, here is the end of an +intrigue which has been a hidden wound, draining the strength of our +country. When the knife struck between my shoulders I knew that +the Waziri had been looking, watching that direction from which the +attacker came. He neither warned me nor sought to stop the knife, but I +could not therefore say, ‘You sent the man to kill!’ Again the Waziri, +thinking he spoke to me in secret, advised that the tongue of Ibrahim +should be torn out, this to avert the risk that Ibrahim might speak as +death approached and so incriminate the Waziri himself. And so”--the +Emir drew Garram in honor to the seat vacated by the Waziri--“plotted +against by those near me I sought the aid of a true man, though a +stranger. It was this hunter who thought of the plan. I gave to the +Waziri a robe of honor specially scented, with a scent whereby the dog +might recognize all those with whom the Waziri came in contact. + +“It was late last evening when we returned from the hunt. In the fresh +air the scent of the robe would cling to no chance companions of the +robe. This morning the Waziri would be seated on the divan, apart from +the people. So those that the dog found with the taint of contact +would be those with whom the Waziri plotted overnight--as I knew he +would, making last minute plans before this day’s trial. Plans for +alibis, even for escape, should the confession of the prisoner Ibrahim +make this necessary. + +“The conspirators have all confessed, as you have heard. But this I +have told you, lest in your folly you should believe the last foolish +words of the Waziri, that this strange hunter and his still stranger +dog are in league with Shaitan the Evil One. Whereas the only miracle +is an honest man who is wise, and a wise dog who has a nose. + +“And Allah alone knows which is the scarcer, the more miraculous of +these two!” + + + + +GARRAM ACCUSED + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XII + +GARRAM ACCUSED + + +Garram’s face darkened with anger, but he made no reply to his +accusers. The scene was in the Emir’s audience hall, where he had been +called to answer the charge. A long, low room of the universal red mud, +supported on squat pillars, each of which had, at building, enclosed a +living slave, as was the custom of the country. Its mud floor had been +beaten and polished to the texture of black marble by the passing of +countless feet. The Emir himself reclined on a dais, the front of which +was ornamented with white cowrie shells in an intricate pattern. + +In front of the Emir and on his right stood the Liman and Ladan, +leaning on their black staves. On the left stood the young hunter, +striving to keep back his rising anger. + +The Liman had detailed his charge. That Garram was a _kafiri_--an +unbeliever, who said no prayers, made no protestation of his belief in +the One God whose Prophet is Mohammed, and never attended the mosque on +Fridays. That he spent his time with a dog, a thing unclean as declared +by the Law of Allah and the Prophet Mohammed. + +He had got as far as this when the Emir interrupted. “But being all +these things, he and his dog have saved me, the head of the State, from +death when others whom you would call true men, since they are true +believers, plotted my death!” + +“Saved you, but by witchcraft,” heatedly the Liman responded. + +The Emir smiled wearily. He had explained the method of detection to +the Assembly to avoid just such accusations, but in vain. People will +always believe what thrills them most, and probably he and Garram alone +of the whole State believed the story. + +“And Shaitan the Evil One, who showed the dog and boy, undoubtedly put +the crime into the minds of the poor plotters, in order that this boy +and dog, the servants of the Evil One, might by the detection of the +plot, be exalted among the true believers.” In spite of the presence of +the Emir, the speaker spat upon the ground to show his hatred of the +Evil One and his helpers. + +This was indeed distorted and fanatical reasoning, but the Emir looked +grave for a moment. The holy man was more learned in such matters than +he. The supposition, if true, put another interpretation upon the +facts. He looked doubtfully at Garram and Kon. But he was first of all +a man, and only second a Mohammedan. Gratitude prevailed over fear, +and he again took up the defence. + +“Have I priestly water in my veins instead of red blood! What you ask +is too hard--that I should abandon those who have helped me even to +saving my life and kingdom!” + +A vengeful glint appeared in the eyes of the Liman. Garram could see +his hands, clawlike as the talons of a bird of prey, clasping and +clutching upon his staff. “Why, then, when all true believers sleep, +does he depart, this son of the Evil One, to be absent all night? Where +does he go, engaged upon his wicked practices, returning only long +after the morning sun has risen?” He paused, and the look of surprise +on the Emir’s face told him this was news. With quick cunning he added, +“But Garram, an innocent man, will no doubt have told you all this.” + +Garram too looked surprised. He had kept in touch with the happenings +in his tribe by meeting the messenger from the Rainmaker once a month +at the foot of the Hills. But he had done so with caution, traveling by +night. This was the first news that his movements had been watched. + +The Emir spoke again in defence. “This no doubt is untrue, like all the +rest.” + +“It is the truth,” interrupted Garram. “I leave the city and return in +the morning. But what I do is not wrong and is no business but my own.” + +The Emir’s look was ominous. Coldly he dismissed the Liman and his +follower and turned to Garram, expecting an explanation. But none +was forthcoming. Garram, silent and always inclined to keep his own +counsel, was angered by the ease with which his friend the Emir had +been persuaded to suspect him. Further, it might incriminate Ibrahim +the Captain of the Guard, who since his restoration had, out of +gratitude, permitted the boy to pass the gates at night. + +The Emir, puzzled and so recently reminded how even so trusted a man +as the Waziri could turn against him, suspected some sort of treachery +in the unaccountable silence. For a while he waited. Then angrily but +sadly motioned Garram to withdraw. Flushed in the face and with a +feeling of guilt which he knew he did not deserve, the boy went. + +At a loss for a plan, he wandered aimlessly about the palace. Then +decided to go and consult his new friend, the Captain of the Guard. +Particularly on the matter of a pig, a small black pig, a most amusing +small black pig. But if these people thought so badly of a man not +being of their own religion, and of a dog for being ceremonially +impure, what would they think of his pig? For he knew that pigs were +still more impure than dogs, according to the Sharia, the Holy Law of +Islam. When Garram had first planned the catching of the plotters the +Emir had given him some money and with this he had purchased a gift of +flint and steel for the old Rainmaker. In return the magician had sent +him a present of a small pig, for he knew the boy’s taste for meat. + +But, unwilling to kill the cheery and playful little beast, Garram had +smuggled it into a disused stable which his exploring instinct had +discovered in a ramshackle corner of the far-flung palace. Now, as +he went his round of the city guard inquiring for Ibrahim, he began +to get more and more anxious. These fanatics would consider it a +sufficiently grave crime that he had brought the pig within the city. +Supposing they discovered it within the Emir’s own house? + +[Illustration: Garram smuggled it into a stable] + +“If just wandering at night is so grave a crime,” thought Garram, “what +would they make this look like?” + +Finding Ibrahim at length, Garram explained his needs. He was in +disgrace, he said, and wanted to get away where he could think out what +to do. + +“I would have your aid.” The tall black Captain of the Guard smiled at +the boy. “Cannot you accompany me?” continued Garram. + +Ibrahim both could and would. Garram’s talk of the bush had whetted +the young soldier’s appetite for hunting, and Garram’s fame promised +something special in that line. + +He had some small matter to attend to that night, Garram explained, so +they should wait until dawn. This too suited Ibrahim well. He would +have to ask permission to be absent from his duties, though this was a +mere matter of form. + + + + +MENUD “TROUBLES TROUBLE” + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIII + +MENUD “TROUBLES TROUBLE” + + +Late that night a small figure with a bundle on its back slung itself +with swift dexterity up the almost smooth ten-foot wall which encircled +the numerous buildings of the Liman’s house. A slight pause to +reconnoiter, and it dropped noiselessly down on the inside. Clinging +like a lizard, Garram, for it was he, worked his way up the wall +which formed an angle of the flat-roofed building in front of him. +There, hearing the soft thud of footsteps on the sandy road outside, he +flattened himself so that his outline should not show against the stars. + +Then from building to building he made his way, jumping the dizzy +gaps between them and landing with no more noise than the thump of a +leaping cat. Lost in the darkness for a time, presently he returned, +moving more easily without his burden. Outlined against the stars, he +danced exultingly along the ten-foot wall, then flung wide his arms and +dropped to the sandy road beneath. + + * * * * * + +Ibrahim had had no trouble in getting permission to be absent and at +dawn he and Garram met inside the eastern gate of the city. Early as it +was, quite a number of citizens, hoe on shoulder and drinking calabash +in hand, were waiting for the opening of the gates. It was still cold, +and the huddled shapes were standing silently, waiting with African +patience for such time as the guard would deign to open the doors. At +Ibrahim’s coming, however, beams were lifted out of sockets, chains +unhooked, and the great ports, wooden and hinged with leather, creaked +and groaned as they were folded back. + +Ibrahim and Garram had a long distance to go, so kept to the main road +for some time, where traveling was easiest and quickest. The farmers, +old and young, began to come out of their torpor as the sun gradually +warmed the chill air of morning. Exchanging salutations and wishes for +the day, little groups swung off the road into the fields, to clean and +burn the rubbish and do such light preliminary hoeing as can be done +before the rains soften the iron soil and allow proper tilling. + +Like a river being traced to its source, the wide shady road gradually +narrowed and became more choked with elephant grass. Presently it +became only a single-file track. + +This was the first time that the two had gone on an expedition +together, and they eyed each other’s arms with interest. Like hunters +all the world over, there was some disapproval in the glance. The +beautiful long war bow carried by the Fulani would drive an arrow +through all but the largest game and would give twice the range that +Garram’s stiff short bow would. But Garram noted how cumbersome its +length would be in the thick bush and marveled that its string should +be unprovided with that little tuft of cotton which silences the twang +of the release. + +Ibrahim also had the heavy war quiver which holds from fifty to a +hundred poisoned arrows. Excellent no doubt for battle, as were the +broad-bladed arrows called _pasa_ which he carried. These were mixed +with the more usual plain points called _isiko_. But Garram carried +less than a dozen arrows, and even those were divided between two +separate quivers so that, if some were lost or shot or broken, the +others would not have room to rattle or to warp out of shape. And in +hunting, game does not stand while one shoots arrow after arrow at it. +Large quiverfuls savored to Garram of military pose and conceit. + +As the road petered out into a bush track the two broke into a trot, +the light hunting axes and throwing sticks thumping on their shoulders, +their knives slapping against the leather loin cloth that each wore. +Kon, the serious occupation of the day not yet commenced, bounded +alongside them like a frolicsome calf. + +Near the city the ground had been of hard, sun-baked red clay with deep +sand in the hollows. Gradually the sand became less. The trees, too, +changed. Near the city generations of farmers had kept the ground clear +of grass and smaller trees, leaving only here and there one big shade +tree. Gradually the growth became smaller, stunted and gnarled by the +annual bush fires, and with impenetrable thickets of thorns and tall +elephant grass. Slowing down to a fast walk, mostly for Ibrahim, who, +though strong, had not the endurance of the boy from the Hills, they +continued to cover the ground until the sun was nearly overhead. + +After a pause for a drink from the stream which flowed at the base +of an isolated rocky hill, Garram signed that they should swing off +up the rock. As they scrambled up the steep way, Garram leaping and +balancing, Ibrahim using hands and knees, little black rock partridges +retreated with much bobbing of tails, and at the top a family of +baboons seemed inclined to resent their invasion, but finally, with +much barking, dropped over a ledge and went swinging heavily through +the trees to the plain below. + +Seated in the shade of a twisted tree which grew out of a cleft in the +bare rock, Garram outlined his story. Ibrahim sat silent, his bare toes +playing with a loop of the bowstring which hung from the end of his +bow. Garram’s eyes were fixed on a range of hills showing blue in the +eastern distance. + +“And so--if I go back to my Hills,” nodding in the direction of his +eyes, “perhaps Warok, my father, will die, and I also. But if I stay +there,” nodding his head backward in the direction of the now invisible +Fulani city, “I think I shall die too, for such seems to be the meaning +of that old man, the Liman, with his talk and his hate.” + +“You seek my counsel? Whether to go or to stay?” + +“Yes, I can weigh and judge the one matter, for I know the minds of +my people of the Hills. But the people of the Plains and of the city +are strange game in a strange country, whose customs I do not know and +whose track I cannot read.” + +Garram, his story told, lay at ease, running his finger up and down a +crack in the rock. A frown of perplexity appeared on Ibrahim’s face, +and his toes ceased playing with the bowstring. Presently he spoke: +“What you have done is of small account. Perhaps they might thrust you +out of the city, but no more. For many of the state, country dwellers, +are unbelievers, even as yourself, and it is no crime. It is not your +acts but the poison that the Liman may spread over them that is to be +feared.” + +There was a pause. A rock rabbit came round a ledge of rock, stopped to +consider them, and then fled, squawking alarm. + +“Had you told me of this before we left the city I could have sought +the opinion of others. Those skilled in words led me to attempt the +life of a friend of my father, the Emir. Words are a weapon in which I +have no skill. But let us hunt. And while we hunt I will think, and in +the end give you such counsel as I can.” + +Kon, very bored, had disappeared downhill. As if thought-reading, +he now reappeared, his coat dripping from a bath in the stream. His +vigorous shake filled the air with spray which, in the bright hot +sunlight, made a rainbow of mist. The dousing also brought Ibrahim and +Garram to their feet. As the latter, grinning, made a dive to pull +Kon’s tail, the dog went bounding down the eastern slope of the hill, +and the hunting party set off again. + +They killed an oribi which broke from its thick midday sun cover only +as they almost stepped on it, was transfixed by an arrow from the +Fulani’s powerful bow, cooked in slivers before a fire, and with Kon’s +noteworthy assistance, was almost completely consumed. + +Resuming their rapid travel toward the ever distant hills, they +watched them recede into the shimmering haze as if outdistancing them. +This was the worst part of the day, when everything more than a few +yards away from them danced in the heat, and in spite of the dryness, +streams of perspiration rolled down their shiny brown backs. + +No animals except humans face the blaze of the tropical afternoon. +Everything was silent except for the creak or rustle of an occasional +twig or leaf, twisted and tortured by the heat. Even Kon moved without +spring or bound, as if economizing his energy to the utmost. Ibrahim, +accustomed to the coolness of dwellings with six-foot thickness of +walls, suffered most, but Garram suffered too, for he was more used to +the freshness of the Hills than to this sweltering air. + +Then gradually the shimmering heat seemed to become less. What more +natural when the afternoon was drawing on, but what more difficult to +believe at the end of a hard afternoon? To the two hunters it seemed +almost too good to be true. + +In another half mile of travel the Hills were coming out of the blur +and seemed actually to be advancing to meet them. The pass, down which +Garram had come on his first visit to the city and at the foot of which +he had met the Rainmaker’s messenger each moon, now became clearly +visible. Kon’s level trot became more lively and occasionally he +snapped at a fly or stopped in his stride to investigate a scent. + +A gentle breeze, like a cooling drink, arose, and soon they were +traveling through the cool of the evening, chatting comfortably as they +went. Arriving at the foot of the Hills as dusk began to fall, they +discovered good water, made a meal on the remainder of the oribi, and +before night fell were all asleep. + +They started again before midnight, and the bare granite mountains +looked more impressive than ever by moonlight. But it was long after +dawn, and the sun had commenced to get hot, before they had their +first sight of the klipspringer, the quarry for which they had come so +far. In habits it is the West African equivalent to the chamois or the +Barbary sheep; consequently, it was not surprising that their first +sight of it was only of a head looking down at them from a ledge of +rock on the other side of a precipitous gorge and well out of bowshot. +Ibrahim, when it was pointed out to him, had to look hard before he +could see it. In this strange rocky country which was all ups and +downs, nothing seemed recognizable to him and all distances and sizes +were deceptive. + +[Illustration: Boulder after boulder crashed down] + +Ibrahim poked his tender feet with an exploring finger and swore gently +to himself as Garram dilated on the special importance of the animal. +Smaller than a native goat, and with a papery sort of hair that comes +out in tufts at the slightest touch, it was able, perhaps because of +the very stiff upright hoofs, to leap down from incredible heights and +to keep its footing on the steepest, smoothest rock. + +Garram badly wanted new bowstrings, and the hide of no other animal, +nor even catgut, can approach carefully twisted lengths of this skin +for smoothness and strength. Unfortunately the klipspringer only +frequents broken hillsides where the eddying breeze brings to it the +scent of possible pursuers from almost any direction. Hillsides too are +almost bare of cover to assist the stalker. + +Ibrahim swore again, but more audibly this time. He would willingly +leave the precious bowstrings to someone else and not hunt in land +that had been lifted up and left standing on edge. But the end of his +remarks was lost. Garram had been studying the hillside carefully and +had marked out what seemed a possible line of approach. Grumbling, but +more in amusement than ill humor, Ibrahim followed, feet and hands +fully occupied in keeping him from sliding down the jumble of broken +rocks into the valley beneath. + +Suddenly Ibrahim was swept off his feet by a sliding rock. Garram, with +a warning shout, leaped to a ledge under an overhanging cliff. Boulder +after boulder was crashing down from above them, leaping, bounding, and +shivering into fragments that disappeared over the cliff to explode +on the massive rocks below. Ibrahim, with two fractured ankles, lost +consciousness and lay limply across a heap of stones, his bow fallen +somewhere in the valley beneath. + +So swiftly had the attack come that Garram had been taken completely +by surprise. As if satisfied now, the stones seemed to stop rolling +down toward where the young Fulani lay moaning, but still poured in a +torrent over where Garram lay crouched. + + + + +A NOVEL PUNISHMENT + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIV + +A NOVEL PUNISHMENT + + +A voice, that of Menud, came mockingly from above! As the roar of +falling rocks lessened, the words became audible: + +“Oho, Garram the independent, Garram the skilled hunter, now is your +end! If you move or try even to rise high enough to put an arrow to +bow, a rock will split you, or pulp you as a lizard’s egg is smashed +when a house falls. Can you hear me, or are you too frightened to find +speech?” + +Garram chanced a swift glance over the top of his cover, but had barely +time to duck back again, to dodge a swiftly sliding rock. It would have +sliced off the top of his head as if it had been an egg. + +Then the voice began again. “While my friends keep you penned with +sliding rocks, while you tremble with fear, I will work round to this +spur which looks into your little home from the side. Then I will fill +you with arrows as one fills a target! Is not the plan good?” + +Garram trembled, but with powerless rage, not fear. Above and to +the side boulders started to slide and bang their way in increasing +numbers, making it impossible for him to get out. Below him there was +nothing but an almost straight drop into the steep valley. The little +cleft in the hillside, rather like an eye socket, had him penned in. +Only by bending down almost double did the brow of the socket save him +from hurtling rocks, and even so his back was bleeding from splinters +of the granite. + +There was a sound as of the snapping of fingers and the first arrow +struck the rock by the crouching boy. Even as it struck, Garram noticed +a possible means of escape. Risky to the limit of risk, but better than +certain death by poisoned arrows. It was a slight flaw in the rock-face +below him, just enough to allow finger and toe to wedge themselves in +and give him a chance to reach the bottom. + +Then, with almost a groan, he abandoned the one way back to life. In +his peril he had forgotten Ibrahim, lying there, unable to move. If the +Fulani got into the hands of Menud, he would probably pray for death +long before death took him! + +More arrows struck, shivering on the face of the rock. Then Garram +sprang suddenly to full height, one hand pulling at the end of an arrow +which stuck out of his side, the other vainly scrabbling at the rock. +With a scream he fell, wriggled and twisted till one arm lay over the +edge of the ledge and the body seemed ready to plunge down. A kick and +a twist seemed almost to push it off, then another brought it back +again, the hand still desperately grasping the protruding arrow shaft; +then, with a final squirm, it lay still. + +[Illustration] + +No more arrows fell, and presently the hail of rocks stopped roaring +down the face of the cliff. Menud sprang forth into the open and +clambered down the ledge. For a moment he stood, eyes fixed on the +motionless body. Picking up a small stone, he threw it with all his +force. It struck the twisted shape with a thud, but the body did not +twitch. + +“Good, so the rat is at last dead!” he cried, and signing to his +followers to approach, the overgrown loutish leader let himself down +over the socket of the ledge, cautiously moving forward. Digging +the motionless figure in the ribs with his toe, hand on knife as a +precaution, he then bent down to examine more closely the staring open +eyes of the flung-back head. + +Then of a sudden he felt a hand at his throat, and a poisoned arrow +head was within an inch of his eye. Menud flung up his arms in an +instinctive movement to release the hand at his neck, then froze at +the menace that faced him. A quiet voice remarked, “Not so hurriedly, +Menud! You should have waited longer, perhaps another forty years, to +have found me dead.” And Garram, with one hand disarming him, threw +knife and weapons clattering over the edge, keeping Menud’s bow only +long enough to cut loose the bowstring. And all the while the stump of +poisoned arrow was within an inch of his enemy’s eye. + +“And now you can order back your pack of imitation murderers while I +make _my_ arrangements!” + +Menud shivered. Terrible death was his alternative. With teeth and one +hand Garram tied the arms of his enemy behind him, the dread arrow +holding him in agonized fear. As they emerged from the shelter of the +ledge into the view of Menud’s followers, the latter looked for an +order from their leader. Then, realizing that something was amiss, they +charged down the slippery face of the rock only to pull up with a moan +of horror as they realized their position. + +Garram beckoned them to approach, and the party moved toward Ibrahim. +The grotesque angles of his twisted legs made the poor Fulani look +very terrible, but Garram had had the usual experiences with hunting +accidents, his own and others’, and knew that this was not serious. + +“A litter of boughs, and if it is not brought immediately you die!” +Menud’s followers did not need the confirmation of the order from +their leader, but scattered quickly; and before Garram had made +a preliminary examination of Ibrahim’s injuries, they were back, +breathless and scratched and still trimming the boughs with their +knives as they ran. + +The youths had obeyed Menud’s orders, since he had made himself by +sheer physical strength their leader, but his intolerable conceit and +folly made him no popular figure. As much out of friendship to Garram +as to save Menud, they now set about making what preparations they +could for the wounded Captain of the Guard, resetting the legs with +splints and a skilful padding of leaves tight bound with bowstrings. + +Then an awful thought struck Garram. Where was Kon? None knew. Since +the first fall of rock no one had seen him. He would not have run away, +so the hideous truth became clear. A rock must have swept him over the +precipice! Dragging the terrified Menud, Garram sought along the brink, +calling as he went. But there was no answer. + +The bulging face of the rock prevented the boy’s seeing into the valley +beneath, but there was no sign of the dog clinging to any of the sparse +tufts of bush and grass which clung here and there to crevices. And +there would have been no way of getting him up or down the almost sheer +face, even if he had thus been saved by a miracle. + +Garram’s grip on Menud’s throat tightened till he whined for mercy. +Gone was the almost mocking manner with which the young hunter had +faced his own and Ibrahim’s predicament. + +“One dog of mine you caused to die. If Kon too is dead--no, you +will not die--only your eyes--and nose--and ears will be taken from +you--with a clean knife, so that you will live many years to remember!” + +One party moved off, carrying Ibrahim slowly and carefully on the +improvised litter, a man on each side fanning the still unconscious +patient with boughs to keep off the plague of flies. Garram and Menud +and a search party sought a way down to the valley where Kon must lie. +Twice, with difficulty, they were forced to retrace their steps, +faced with the sheer drop in front of them. Then, as they tried again, +Garram’s face settled into grim and yet grimmer lines, a cold nose was +thrust into his hand from behind. + +It was the dog, who had found another way up. Kon, gashed by the +treetops into which he must have fallen, feet almost raw from his +scrabbling efforts to save himself as he slipped down and down the +precipice, but thrilled at his adventure and grinning his happiness at +being back again. + +The gentle hands of the young hunter searched anxiously for broken +bones or other hidden harm. But none could be found, and it was a +relieved and almost joyous party that hurried to overtake Ibrahim. + +All through that day and the next day they traveled almost without halt +or food, Kon seemingly recovered after a bath in the stream at the foot +of the hill. At noon the next day the surprising procession passed +through the gates and into the city of Yelwa, leaving Ibrahim in the +care of his relatives. + +The next evening the Captain of the Guard had recovered sufficiently +to be carried on a door to see a sight which Garram said might +amuse him. Garram had hired a dye pit for the day. The dye pit is a +cylinder-shaped hole in the ground, lined with native cement. Into this +hole clothes to be dyed are put to soak in a noxious smelling mixture +of rotting indigo. + +Round the mouth of this particular dye pit Kon was circling, barking +with glee at something within. Ibrahim, on being carried to the brink, +raised himself slightly to see what was going on, then lay back, the +better to give vent to the laughter which was choking him. For in the +pit, unarmed and unbound, stood Menud, gradually absorbing a richer and +ever more lasting stain of indigo. + +When he would have raised himself at one side of the pit, Kon circled +after him and met the upturned face and gripping fingers with pawings +and playful snaps of the powerful jaws, which caused Menud to drop +back each time with a juicy plop into the rich mixture below. This had +been going on all day, and with Kon on duty to see that the sentence +was carried out, continued till nightfall, much to the amusement of the +whole market, who came to jeer and to point. + +After a day’s soaking in the warm mush and a night’s drying to make the +dye more lasting, Menud was judged fit to proceed. The next day he, a +villain of the deepest dye, and his followers left the city for the +Hills again, Menud vowing vengeance as he went. + + + + +A PIGLET ACTS FOR GARRAM + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XV + +A PIGLET ACTS FOR GARRAM + + +The Liman wagged a skinny forefinger under the nose of Goshi, the stout +trader. “Since he brought us both to shame, it is we who should bring +this heretic Garram to account.” + +Goshi, made tolerant, perhaps, by his girth and his wealth, looked +round the dimly lighted room as if in search of an excuse and did not +seem to notice the wagging forefinger. The little earthenware saucer +with cotton wick and vegetable oil, which served as a flickering lamp, +occupied his attention for lack of anything more thrilling in the small +bare hut with its rough mud walls and its flat ceiling which barely +cleared his head as he stood. + +“It is for this purpose that I summoned you,” the harsh, weak voice +of the Liman continued; “for, though it is the duty of all good +Mohammedans of the city to punish such _kafurchi_ [heathenness]”--he +almost spat the word--“with death, yet the softness of this generation +is such that no longer can we stone infidels to death publicly or +convert them at the point of the sword.” + +[Illustration: It was like a snake, swaying] + +Goshi’s attention had been caught by the black shadows of the Liman’s +arm sawing up and down the wall. It was like a venomous snake swaying, +about to strike. The trader’s round face showed its disgust. If he +could have caught Garram in that headlong pursuit in the market +place, he would have given him, weapons or no weapons, a detailed +and most effective spanking. For the trader was as brave as he was fat. +But that was more than three months ago. His only feeling now was a +poignant regret that he had arrived a moment or so too late to witness +the Liman’s own discomfiture. He grunted vaguely in reply. + +The Liman’s cracked and excited voice went on. “We wait now only for +the Ladan and two friends who can be trusted. Then I will unfold my +plan. We must act quickly, for each moon sees Garram, this child of the +Devil, more firmly established with the people and in deeper favor with +the Emir himself.” + +Goshi looked at the matting covered door as if considering a way out. +The exhibition of hate made by the skinny old religious enthusiast was +not to his taste. But his dislike of underhand deals made him wait. If +he knew the plan, he might later be of assistance to the mischievous +young hunter, whom he had grown rather to admire. To free himself from +the obsession of that shadowy snake he took the lamp from the niche in +the wall and set it on the black polished floor. + +Then, with whispered greeting and sidelong glances the three remaining +conspirators entered. In this half-ruined hut, in the corner of the +Liman’s compound, they still appeared fearful of being overheard. + +As the Liman’s voice again sawed away in exhortation Goshi’s attention +wandered. He could have sworn he heard the flat roof of mud and timber +creak as if under a footstep. Then there was a small sound like the +leap of a heavy cat onto a neighboring roof. In a pause in the harangue +a faint scuffle outside came to his ears, and a muffled squeal which +puzzled him. Could there be a small pig, such as he had sometimes seen +in his travels, in this town? + +“Three days ago I spoke with the Emir himself concerning this same +Garram and his evil ways, his levity, and his lack of true belief in +Allah. The Emir was nearly persuaded by me. But when later this child +of the Devil went away, the Father of our People sent for me and +called me many evil names, saying I had driven away this boy who had +become to him as a son. Alas that the Father of our country should call +a heretic and unbeliever ‘Son’!” The vengeful bigot paused for effect. + +“And now that he has returned safe, and bringing with him Ibrahim, whom +he saved from death, not only people of the market place and common +people, but even courtiers and nobles of the land call a blessing on +him when he passes.” + +Goshi was still but vaguely attending, waiting for the time when the +real plot should be unfolded. The gentle thud as of a leaping cat was +approaching again. He could hear the roof give a faint creak. + +“Shaitan the Evil One,” the Liman was haranguing away, “Shaitan aids +Garram, the son of Shaitan, for does not the Devil always help his +own? Shaitan----” With a crash the roof opened and a small black +shape fell with a gentle bump among the conspirators, overturning and +extinguishing the lamp. Overhead a boy’s leg scrambled wildly for a +foothold in the hole in the roof, pulled itself up. A gentle thud told +that the owner of the leg had alighted safely on the ground outside the +hut. In the darkness Goshi grinned. He had recognized Garram’s foot +just as the light went out. But he alone had seen. + +The room was in plain panic. Something small but terrible was circling +the hut at an increasing pace, ever and anon encountering a pair of +thin religious shanks. Then the owners of the shanks, without time even +to commend themselves to Allah and his Prophet, sat down with a vigor +that persuaded the small piglet that this was their way of trying to +catch him. + +Terror of this unknown thing circling in the dark upon the ground +forced the Liman and his friends to their feet as rapidly as possible +after each fall. Goshi, who alone realized the situation, lay still +where he had fallen--as still as his rocking laughter would permit. + +Determined not to be caught by these people who seemed trying to sit +on him, the small pig increased his speed and the plotters had barely +time to scramble to their feet before being felled again. Breathless +invocations ceased, as no breath remained to the plotters. The only +sounds were Goshi’s demoniacal laughter out of the darkness and the +continual thud-thud of falling bodies. + +Goshi, after a short time, could not have risen. Weak with laughter he +groveled. First the feet of the piglet, passing over him, tickled him +in the ribs. Then, as the small beast put more into it to increase his +speed, the hoofs seemed to nudge him in the side, as if asking him to +share in the joke. There was a yell of terror as the conspirators found +what they took to be another and unexpected devil added to the first +one. But it was only the same small pig seeking variety by turning to +go round in the opposite direction. + +One of the men made a temporary escape by seeking to hang from a roof +beam. This had much to commend it. Unfortunately he let go again just +as another had been bowled over beneath him. The Liman, by the voice, +was the lower one, and feeling the weight of something still heavier +dropping from the sky and the darkness robbed him of what little of his +wits remained. Partly running, partly on all fours, he began to circle +the hut, terror lending him marvelous speed. + +His gasping yells sounded scarcely human to the other conspirators, and +this final addition to the pig’s solo procession turned an excellent +imitation madhouse into a realistic pandemonium. No longer were the +evil spirits content with cleanly felling them and permitting them to +rise again. Now when they fell, a second mass, even more terrifying, +would fall upon them, strike them evilly with thin, flail-like limbs, +and seem about to devour them as it gobbled wildly. It was only the +Liman striving to surmount obstructions in his path, whooping and +mewing as he sought breath and words for his feelings. + +[Illustration] + +Then, to the fat trader’s keen regret, the small black pig found the +doorway with its light matting cover and disappeared as suddenly as +he had come. To the trader’s ears came the sound of a scuffle, as +Garram, waiting outside the door for his pet, caught him and went +his way. Gradually the disturbance in the hut died down, till only +Goshi’s shaking sobs of laughter broke the silence. But even the best +conspirators need breath to conspire properly. The weakness of the +plotters, and their fear of the devil which they believed they had +invoked, made further mischief that night improbable. Goshi found his +way through the door which only darkness and blind terror had hidden +before. The four conspirators tried to get through it together, jammed, +but one by one followed him to the edge of the Liman’s compound, where +they parted. + +Goshi weakly zigzagged his way through the deserted market place, +pausing, from time to time, to the scandal of the lean scavenging +dogs, as hooting, snorting laughter caught him anew. “Wallahi! What an +event!” he leaned up against a stall and informed a cat and two dogs. +“How can I tell the story properly on the morrow when I heard only +sounds and could not see the faces of the pious as they played on the +ground with a piglet and to amuse it hung like bats from the roofing?” + +His voice, worn to a whisper with much laughing, had a determined ring +to it. “But justice shall be done to the story, though I perjure myself +and swear to blue flames of hell or bright moonlight through the roof. +Better the latter, since the Liman will have put the hell flames into +his own story.” + +He wove homeward through the night. + + + + +A STORY OF STORIES + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVI + +A STORY OF STORIES + + +The Liman timed his arrival carefully and entered the court as the +Emir dismissed the last of his public duties and was turning to such +lesser matters as might, according to custom, be laid before him. A few +requests, of no great importance, were dealt with, and then the Liman +limped forward and demanded attention. “Lord, is it permitted that +again I speak of this infidel, this Son of Shaitan, Garram the hunter?” + +Without waiting, he plunged into the detail of Garram’s crimes, that +he was an unbeliever, a consorter with dogs, and who knew what other +things unclean and held accursed in Islam. That he was sent by Shaitan +himself to harm the true faith and the true believers. + +Patiently the Emir listened, though he had heard all this before. Then +his attention deepened. The Liman was recounting his adventures of +the night before. Five true believers had, it appeared, merely been +speaking of Garram and Shaitan--whose name be accursed--when a devil +had been conjured up, or down, he did not seem certain which. With +a wealth of detail, including the flames which Goshi had foreseen, +he pictured the scene. The number of devils had increased in the +telling, though they still remained black. Black indeed, and very big +and terrifying. How they could all get into the room together was the +greatest mystery of all. But the three other plotters, present, by +arrangement, among the audience, were appealed to for corroboration on +one point and another and were unanimous in confirming the truth of the +Liman’s account. On some points they enlarged. + +A surprised and puzzled Emir tried by means of questions to find solid +ground in this fantastic story. The witnesses were men of considerable +religious standing, who would not, whatever their motives, conspire to +invent this adventure. Yet it was all very incredible. His bewilderment +was reflected in the faces of some of his courtiers. Though many +seemed laboring under some other emotion, breathing heavily, nudging +each other, even hiding their faces in their wide sleeves, while their +shoulders shook and heaved. + +With swirling phrases and much learned quotation from the Koran and +the Traditions, the Liman demanded the death of the heretic Garram, he +who was so clearly in league with the Powers of Evil. Death, without +alternative, was the punishment enjoined by the Sharia--the Holy Law +of Islam--and this not even the Emir himself had power to vary. + +Garram alone stood unmoved by the speech. His right hand, which had +swung to his knife hilt, was now gently scratching Kon’s ear. The +Liman’s harsh voice rose almost to a scream of hatred as he pressed the +charge. Then an interruption occurred in court. + +It was Goshi, who with puffed out cheeks was trying to make his way to +the doorway before laughter should overcome him. But with a gurgle and +a pop it burst forth. + +As one loose stone may start a hillside sliding, so his shout of +laughter let loose the pent-up mirth of those who had heard his version +of the Liman’s story and had been hugging the joke with ever increasing +strain. To be able to make devils and flames out of piglets and bumped +noses! Allah! What a salesman was lost in the Liman when he took to the +religious life! + +Angered by the disrespectful hubbub, the Emir enjoined silence. “A +madman comes to me with stories of devils, yea, devils, in this our +city of Yelwa. Then greater madmen laugh in my face in full court! +Fools!” he stormed. “What is the meaning of this? Say, before I have +you beaten by the guard!” + +Pushed forward by many hands, Goshi began to speak, his voice +quavering, his eyes damp with laughter. “Lord, what is my knowledge +compared with the wisdom of these holy men? But I was with them last +night when they planned the downfall of this young hunter. And indeed I +saw no devils and no flames. Their devil, perhaps, was the small piglet +with which they played. Their play was to me a surprise, but who was I +to know the customs of holy men?” The look of childlike innocence on +the stout trader’s face was the cause of some weakly silenced guffaws +among the crowd, and several figures made a bolt for the door. He +paused, as his voice was getting tremulous again, and Garram stepped +forward. + +“That piglet was mine, which unfortunately fell through the roof as I +was bringing it home. It did no harm, and without doubt thought they +wished to play.” Garram, his ingenuous explanation ended, stood, +scratching one leg with the other foot. + +“A piglet that wanted to play with the Liman, or a Liman that wanted +to play with a piglet?” The Emir’s look of anger gave way to one of +curiosity. He leaned forward as he spoke. “What talk is this? Do thou, +Goshi, tell me your story first; then perhaps will come some measure of +enlightenment!” + +Willingly Goshi took up his story. No market was dull where Goshi was, +and this was a story of stories. Certainly it lost nothing in the +telling. Again and yet again the guard had to quiet the court so that +the Emir might not miss a point. By the time the trader had described +how the feet of the scurrying pig had tickled his ribs each time it +passed him, twisting in laughter on the floor, the Liman and his +witnesses had slunk from the court. + +When he reached the description--purely imaginative, for it had been +too dark to see--of the expression on the holy faces, the thin shanks +waving in the air, as their owners were bowled over, picked themselves +up, and were bowled over again and again, noisy and uncontrolled +merriment drowned the rest of the story for anyone but the Emir. Which +was a pity, for probably his best bit was his picture of the man +hanging--according to Goshi--by his feet from the roofing, invoking, +“Shehu! Shehu!” in a thin batlike squeak before he let go his hold and +plunged headforemost into the Liman’s meager center section. + +The story at last ended (and with what wealth of embroidery!), the +Emir turned weakly to Garram. “Though the humiliation of those men was +well deserved, take heed! Only two men do as you have done safely, a +Waziri or a Wawa. Because of your wisdom I might make you my Waziri--my +Vizier--or for your jokes I might make you the Wawa--the Court Jester. +The one has power and the other license, so both are safe.” + +At the sound of the Emir’s voice silence fell again upon the Assembly. +“But,”--the Emir emphasized the word--“because of your jokes you cannot +be Vizier, and because of your wisdom you cannot be Jester. Now for +your services choose some requital, ask some gift that I may bestow, +some favor that I may grant!” + +Garram transferred his weight to the other leg and with the toe of the +disengaged foot scratched himself and sought for words. Then: “Freely +I came to your city of Yelwa, O Father of the Plainlands, and freely I +would return to my Hills with my dog, my weapons, and my new piglet.” +He had not the gift of words, and more scratching of his leg seemed +needed before he went on. Something in his manner made a hush fall upon +the people, who had begun to whisper comment. “Though no message has +come to me, all to-day I have known that I must go back to my Hills. +This I cannot explain, but I think it is my father who is in danger and +whose spirit is calling to mine.” + +“Boy in years and man in ways, I think I understand you.” The Emir’s +voice had in it sadness, disappointment, and Goshi and others nodded in +sympathy. Many would be sorry at his departure. “If your father is in +danger I would offer you armed men to assist, but I fear they would +only hinder.” Garram nodded in reply. “I would offer you rule over a +province if it would make you stay--but I know that it would not.” The +Emir rose to his full height to signify that the audience was ended. + +“If some day you need riches, armed force, or power, remember that I, +the Emir of the Plains, am your friend. Remember further that I am a +just man who would pay his debts to you for your many services. In the +name of Allah the Compassionate, the Merciful, the audience is ended. +Go in peace!” + + + + +A GHOST LEOPARD + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVII + +A GHOST LEOPARD + + +An hour after the audience had ended Garram was already on his way out +of the city of Yelwa by its eastern gate. Three months ago, or very +little more, he had entered by the same gate, warily, almost furtively, +into a strange and probably hostile town. Now people--more people than +he thought could have known him--pressed forward with farewells, with +food for him, and other small provision for the road. Some, and among +these was Goshi, wanted to present him with swords, slaves, and even +horses. If he had accepted, he would have had a small fortune, as +fortunes went in those parts. Reluctantly he thanked the people, but +returned their gifts, for hard travel, and he knew not what else, lay +in front of him, where such luxuries would be only encumbrances. + +Two things, however, he could not resist, and he now carried them over +his shoulder, his arms fully occupied with the struggling piglet. One +was a coat of finest chain mail, such as used to find their way across +the Sahara and may even have seen the fighting of the Crusades. It was +light, as armor goes, and the small interlaced steel rings rippled +almost like silk when the coat was worn. It had been handed down by +the Emir’s ancestors and was indeed a royal gift. The other present, +which Goshi had given, was a leaf-headed spear with long and slender +damascened iron shaft all made in one piece. Though designed for +mounted use, it was of such fine workmanship that it was little heavier +than a stout hill spear, and its balance in the hand was a delight. + +Kon careered wildly ahead as soon as they were outside the city walls. +Thrilled at the release from the tame life at court, he snuffled at +everything with a wriggling and inquiring nose, bounced back, and made +a playful snap at the corkscrew tail of the pig, then galloped off +ahead once more. But the boy traveled intent upon making good time, and +for once taking no notice of the things around him. Something from the +Hills, almost an audible voice, seemed to be calling. “Come!” it said. +“Come! Hasten!” + +Though starting late in the day and cumbered with the pig, Garram +reached the foot of the Hills before dark. There, as he had somehow +expected, a boy with a message from the Rainmaker was waiting for him. + +“The Rainmaker told me to meet you here and said you would be expecting +me.” Garram would have made inquiries, but hastily, so as not to +forget it, the small boy went on with his message: “The Rainmaker says, +‘Come! For Warok your father is lying in a hut bound and under guard. +The elders who listen to the evil counsel of Sura and Menud wish him +deposed from his chieftainship and, for their own safety, killed!’” + +Now Garram understood the feeling that he had had all the day, urging +him as if with a voice to leave the city and go to the Hills. For the +old Rainmaker had practised sending him messages in this mysterious +way, sometimes when they were sitting together, sometimes from a +different hut or even different village. Sometimes he even got messages +from the Rainmaker when hunting. It had been only an amusing game in +those days, with a thrill of mystery about it. Now the advantage of it +became obvious. + +“Where is Warok lying?” Garram asked. No great talker, his questions +were to the point and swift. + +“In his own hut, but guarded by Menud’s own followers. The friends of +your father dare not help him, for each is afraid to act without the +others, and they have no leader.” The messenger would have gone off +into a dramatic recital of events, but Garram had no time to waste. + +“With what crime have they charged my father, what injustice to the +tribe? For they dare not say they do this out of hatred.” Holding the +piglet under one arm, Garram was impatiently pricking the ground with +his spear point. + +The young messenger hesitated before replying. “O Garram the Hunter, do +not be angry at this which I tell you. But they say that you showed the +secret passes of the Hills to the Fulani whom we fear. And more--that +this you did by orders of Warok himself! Also they say that Menud and +his followers surprised you in the act and would have brought you back +for trial, but a large body of the enemy released you and captured +them, taking them even as far as the great city of the plains. And they +speak of the city, describing it in such manner that all may know their +story is true.” + +Garram writhed at the ease with which Menud the Talker with a few easy +lies had turned the tables on him. But that story did not account for +their being back in the Hills, nor for Menud being stained a deep and +indelible blue. Swift question elicited the simple explanation from the +messenger. + +“Menud the Wily, they say, escaped first and, staining himself blue, +came back as a returned spirit of the dead, so scaring the guard that +the escape of the rest of the band was easy.” + +Garram acknowledged the ingenuity of the lie with a grim smile. The +Rainmaker’s envoy went on: “And this we know must be true, for the +color is not yet off his skin, and all men seeing him must believe his +story.” + +Angrily Garram turned with the younger boy toward the Hills. As they +went, in as few words as possible he outlined the true story. Darkness +had been falling as they spoke, and as the night was moonless, there +should be little fear of their being seen by spies of Menud. For still +greater precaution they took a difficult path known only to Garram, and +avoided the main pass into the Hills. + +After an hour’s traveling their short but difficult route cut across +the main track. Garram showed the messenger his way. He himself would +take another short cut. “Take then this true account that I have told +you to the Rainmaker, that hearing he may know. Also, this small and +very light piglet you will take to him. For he will recognize it and +so know that the story like the piglet comes from me.” And with a grin +of relief, unseen in the darkness, the young hunter passed over his +awkward, kicking burden. + +The messenger would have protested. Carrying struggling pigs, even +small ones, along a dark and broken rocky path was not a habit of his. +But Garram sent him firmly upon his way. + +“Child! Idiot!” His voice sounded very stern to the younger boy. “The +Rainmaker will expect some sign from me to show that you have done his +bidding. Otherwise and without doubt he will beat you and say your tale +is a lie. This is the only token I will give you, so be content with +the pig that saves you a beating.” + +Grumbling, the messenger took his way. For a moment Garram stood +considering the short cut, then changed his mind. Probably he would +save time by the main route, which, though longer, was far easier. +Time was so important that the extra risk must be taken. Within a few +moments he was back on the main track, after a swift detour which cut +in, in front of the Rainmaker’s envoy. Garram thought of the awkward +burden he had so easily transferred and chuckled. Then he arranged his +weapons so that they would not rattle and gave himself up to swift and +silent travel. + +This extreme silence and Kon’s keen ears and nose lessened any risk +of capture. Several times they stepped swiftly from the path and +crouched while something, perhaps beast, perhaps man, passed within a +few yards of them on their windward side. These halts served also as +a well-earned rest. The two were moving at a swift lope, no easy task +over a dark rocky path and in that high mountain air which starves the +lungs. + +To Kon darkness mattered little. His nose kept him as fully informed +of his surroundings as his eyes could have done in daylight, and even +Garram picked out many scents on the still night air. The inhabitants +of the villages which he passed had long since gone to bed, so it was +too late for the sweet savor of the evening cooking, but the smoke +of wood fires from the huts drifted across the track here and there. +The aromatic taste in the smoke made from the brush wood of the Hills +was pleasantly distinct from the heavy acrid smoke of the city fires. +Garram wriggled his nose and snorted to get a stronger whiff of it. + +The feel of the rocks under foot, the bracing touch of the crisp +mountain air, the stillness of the barren Hills all gave him the thrill +of homecoming. Where the chill mist, which he could feel but could not +see, hung in the little fertile cups of valleys he could catch the +scent of dwarf cattle. Away in the distance, in front of him, he heard +the sawing note of a leopard busy on his night’s hunt. + +It was going to be no easy homecoming. With his enemies in power and +his father awaiting death at their hands, he was more likely to be +killed on sight than welcomed! The young hunter repressed his desire +to sing and turned his attention to producing some plan of action. + +Half the art of hunting is in laying plans. Plans not so detailed that +unexpected behavior of the game throws them out, but elastic plans +with alternatives to fit any possible move of the quarry. Garram, the +invisible ground slipping away behind him as he ran, tried over plan +after plan in his mind, rejecting one because it would take outside +assistance, and he preferred to play a lone-hand game; rejecting +another because it would take too long. For he felt that whatever he +did must be done before dawn if it were to be in time to rescue his +father, Warok. + +It was still early in the night when he arrived outside Kwallak, the +village where he had been born. He was still testing the plan he had +in mind by confronting it with all possible variations, when Kon, who +had been bounding ahead, slunk back as if for protection, tail down and +every bristle raised. As the hunter’s hand felt the dog’s raised mane +in the darkness, he stopped in his stride and listened. + +Only two things could make the dog behave like this: a lion in the +Plains or a leopard in the Hills. Garram almost shouted with joy as he +saw how this might fit into his plan. If he could kill it! And what a +glorious mad adventure to fight a leopard single handed in the dark! + +The faint breeze was from in front of them, and if this leopard +followed the path, as they usually do, it must almost bump into him. +Swiftly he made his preparations, slipping the chain mail over his +head, putting one arrow on his bow, and silently placing the quiver on +the ground. Kon backed farther and farther into the darkness as the +scent of the approaching beast strengthened. + +Then came the soft swish-swish of padded paws in front. Breathlessly +the boy waited until the sound was within five paces, swinging his head +to get the exact direction by sound; then loosed the arrow. + +In one swift movement he dropped the bow, set the butt of his new spear +against the ground, and clamped it there with his foot. With a coughing +roar, which told that the arrow had not missed, the leopard charged. +Square and low in the chest the inclined head of the spear met the +leaping body, raking upward into the heart as the weight of the animal +forced the butt more firmly into the rocky soil. + +Garram’s foot and left hand stayed only just long enough to present the +spear point at the leopard. Then he leaped aside and with his right +hand swung his hunting ax with a crash into the beast’s skull. + +The huge leopard kicked and lay dead, the ax torn from the hunter’s +hand still embedded in its brain. + +The young hunter extracted the spear, and after several jerks freed +the ax, which had bitten deeply into the skull. Either ax or spear +wound would have been immediately fatal without the other. The arrow +wound too was mortal, but poison often takes a minute or two to kill +outright. Carefully he made his examination, sliding quick fingers +over the warm silky body. Then, ever businesslike, set to work on the +skinning. For it was the skin he needed for his plan. + +The skinning finished, Kon, to his disgust, was ordered to remain +in the cover afforded by some thick bushes while Garram cautiously +reconnoitered the village. Careful inspection showed that, though +everywhere else the people seemed to have gone to sleep, a murmur of +talk still rose from the chiefs compound. The huts of Warok’s house +were built touching each other, and forming four sides of a rough +square. In the center of this square was the courtyard from which the +voices seemed to come. The only entrance was through a hut which faced +inward toward the maze of village streets. If the small messenger’s +story were true Warok must be a prisoner somewhere inside. In which +case the entrance hut would be well guarded. + +In daylight there would be no chance of getting in undetected. But by +night.... How about the wide-spreading doka tree which reached out its +branches well outside the compound? It was just the sort of weak point +in his defences which Menud might leave open. + +Silently the young hunter felt his way along the outer wall until +he reached the place where he remembered the boughs to hang lowest. +Then he leaped, once, twice, and even a third time, but still his +upstretched hands closed on nothing. For a moment dread seized him that +his plan might fail. Then, jumping farther to one side, his fingers +touched some leaves, and little by little he bent down first twigs, +then boughs, until he gripped something strong enough to support him as +he climbed. + +The leaves, green though they were, seemed to his anxious ears +to rustle and crackle like dried hide, and in spite of the most +painstaking caution twigs snapped in a way which he was certain must +arouse even a sleeping guard. But at last he reached the center of +the tree where the bare limbs could neither rustle nor snap, and hung +silently watching and listening. + +Below him lay the courtyard, with an isolated hut, usually used as a +granary, in the center. Before the door of the hut a large fire glowed, +and beyond this again were the guard, some lying wrapped in rough +cloth, others sitting and talking. From time to time one would rise +and pace up and down in front of the hut door, replenish the fire with +huge logs, or kick it into a warm blaze before sitting down again. + +Carefully Garram weighed the situation. A few well-directed arrows +might kill several of the guard, but this would only bring in others +whom he could hear in the entrance hut. Warok would be unable to +help, as he would undoubtedly be lying bound behind the closed and +fastened door. If the surprise attack failed, everyone would be on the +alert till dawn, and any further attempt at rescue would be hopeless. +Fantastic as it was, his first plan seemed the best, and without +further delay he started to put it into execution. + +First he carefully sought among the tangle of boughs, for the limb +which stretched out above the well-guarded hut. There was no bright +moonlit sky to reveal him but from time to time the watch fire threw a +dangerous glow upon the underside of the tree. Inch by inch Garram made +his way out along the bough, skilfully parting the leaves and twigs in +front of him, and slowly releasing them again behind him so that they +should not rustle. The guard had stopped talking, which, unless they +went to sleep, made silence more imperative than ever. Each time the +youth parted the leaves for a fresh examination of his position there +were still some sitting upright, or rising from time to time to tend +the fire. + +It seemed hours of strained caution before Garram found himself +directly above the hut with the guards beneath still unsuspecting. Then +came disappointment, for the thatched roof was too far below him! It +would be impossible to jump to the cracking straw without arousing the +men. To attempt any method of letting himself down gently by his bow +and bowstring would be useless, for between the cover of the leaves and +the shelter of the roof he would be hanging in the glow of the fire in +full view of the watchers. + +[Illustration: Garram was directly above the hut] + +For a moment all seemed useless, and the boy even considered his other +plan of a surprise attack on the guard. Then in a flash he had the +solution. With as much care as he had used before, he retraced his +way along the bough to where the thinner one joined it. Cutting and +laying aside twigs which barred his way, he wormed his way out again +toward the hut, still managing to keep a screen of leaves between +himself and the watchers in the courtyard. As he went the bough, as he +had hoped, began to bend ever so little under his weight, to lean down +toward the hut roof. + +It would not be sufficient to pass along the bough silently till it +bent so that he could step off, though this seemed difficult enough: he +must move so slowly that to any one who glanced that way the bough must +still appear stationary. This slow motion set up a strain that brought +the perspiration bursting from his skin, in spite of the coolness of +the night. Once, too, it nearly led to his being discovered. For a +wrist that had been bearing the weight of his body in the slow forward +movement for nearly a minute began to tremble and started a rustling +among the leaves. + +One of the guard rose to his feet, picked up a stone, and came and +stood under the young hunter, peering up into the dark mass of leaf. +No doubt he had hoped that it was a stray hen roosting there, as they +sometimes did, and that he might pass some of the long hours of the +night making and eating a chicken stew. Garram chuckled inwardly at the +mistake. Then nearly yelled. For the stone thrown experimentally to see +if it might bring anything down had glanced off a twig and spent its +remaining force on his elbow. + +There was no chance to rub it, he must make no move nor sound while the +man stood below. It was with extraordinary satisfaction that he heard +the man move slowly back to the fire. + +There was no further incident to hinder his scheme, and within a +quarter of an hour he was pressed flat along the roof, on the side +farthest from the guard and the watch fire. But the helpful bough now +became a nuisance. It must not be allowed to flip up into position +again, or it would bring the guard to see what had happened. Swiftly +he loosened his bowstring, joined it to the spare one that he always +carried, and attached it to the bough that he was gripping with his +elbow. Inch by inch he began to pay out the string, but the tremendous +pull exerted by the branch began to make the plan impossible. It was +almost certain to make a noise, cause him to slip on the roof and let +go, or some other catastrophe. Also time was getting very precious. +He thought a moment. The branch must not be allowed to flip back into +place. True. But why let it go back at all? In fact, why not tie it to +the peak of the conical roof? + +That was easy. Then came more trouble. The idea of cutting his way +in through the thatch of the roof had sounded simple. But to do it +silently he found he needed to sort out each straw-like grass stem +separately--working by touch only, since it was dark on the side away +from the fire--and then cut it and dispose of it by sticking it back +into the thatch somewhere else. + +At last even this labor was ended, and he was standing safely within +the hut, the unsuspecting guard separated from him by only a thin wall +and a few yards of space. + +For a moment he stood, uncertain what to do. How could he manage to +find his father in the darkness, and waken him without disturbing +the warriors outside? Then hope seemed to drain out by his feet, and +despondency which was almost a physical sickness swept over him. His +plan was near final success, so very near---- He checked a gasp of +dismay, for surely the hut was empty, surely no man could be here in +this silence? + +“Son!” came the faintest of mocking whispers. “Do not breathe so +loudly, or the guard who are outside will make base talk of me as an +old man who snores and grunts in his sleep!” + +Quickly Garram bent down with his knife and cut the cords that bound +the chief. Then, while he helped to restore the circulation in the +cramped arms and legs, whispered his plan of escape. Whispered with his +mouth to Warok’s ear, for the clear crackle of the fire and loud grunts +of the watch warned him how near they were. + +In a short while Warok was able to stand upright. With whispered +instructions the young hunter handed into his keeping the new spear, +his bow, arrow quiver, and even his trusted hunting ax. Then, keeping +only his long-bladed knife, he busied himself with the awkward bundle +of chain mail and newly flayed leopard skin. + + * * * * * + +A noise inside the hut caught the attention of the guard. It sounded +like the faint note of a leopard. It could not be a leopard, of course, +but it might be the old man making the call of his totem animal in his +dreams. People do dream of their totem animals, and it seemed quite +likely that the chief would have a disturbed night since he would be +killed on the morrow. So one of the watchers at the fire thought, and +got up to undo the door of the hut and make sure that everything was +all right with the prisoner and that he had not worked loose his bonds. +Fumblingly, standing in his own light, he undid the leather fastening +of the door and walked in. + +Then with a howl he leaped back. For the whole hut stank of leopard, +and there, following him out of the doorway, moved the leopard himself. + +Even in the dim firelight the animal looked huge and tremendously broad +in the shoulders. The rest of the guard awoke, as, with a howl of +dismay the first man loosed an arrow. + +At that range the arrow could not have missed. But there stood the +leopard with dropped head, insolently regarding him. Then, obviously +unharmed, stalked slowly and majestically toward the group of men +around the fire. + +There had been no time to stir the embers into a blaze, but even as +they retreated the guard fired again and again at such close ranges +that they could not miss. + +And in the firelight they saw the arrows strike the spotted flank only +to fall broken to the ground! + +Huddled for protection in the entrance hut of the compound they watched +the huge beast skirt the fire and move slowly toward them, arrows +bouncing off him as they struck. + +“God pity us! Warok is changed into his totem animal, the leopard,” a +scared and shaking voice gabbled. “O Warok, spare us! It is not we who +would have done you harm. Spare us! Spare us!” + +For a moment they stood, then turned to fly. Wild terror jammed them +struggling in the outer door of the entrance hut. Then with a crash the +walls each side gave way and released them. Far down the winding maze +of village streets went the stumbling hurrying fugitives, eager only to +get away. Over their shoulders they gasped, “Spare us! Only spare us!” +and each saw a leopard ready to spring. + +Garram, from under his chain mail and leopard skin, beckoned to the hut +door, and Warok came stiffly forth. Preceded by Garram, still on all +fours and covered with the yellow hide, he walked slowly out into the +village street. No one would touch them, no one would even willingly +set eyes on them. For it was well known that the mere sight of an angry +totem animal would kill. Outside the village the impatient Kon awaited +them. + + + + +THE ALARM DRUM + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE ALARM DRUM + + +As soon as they felt safe from pursuit, the tribesmen who had been +guarding Warok hastened to Sura and Menud with their story. An +incredible tale of a ghost leopard, or of Warok transforming himself +into a leopard, they poured out, panting and shaken, before the +incredulous Menud and his father. Interested but puzzled, neither +Sura nor Menud was quite convinced. But as one after the other of the +shaken guard arrived and told the same story, the obvious belief of the +eyewitnesses and the constant repetition of it gave proof. + +A hurried visit to the hut where Warok had been imprisoned showed +only a dying watch fire and no traces of the prisoner. Something of +the tale, Menud felt, must be true. Moreover, the unwillingness of +the guard to revisit the scene and their obvious terror showed better +than words that this was not a tale concocted to account for a release +obtained by bribery. + +Boaster, liar, and traitor as he was, Menud was supported in his +ambition by considerable ability as a plotter. Swiftly he weighed up +the situation. With Warok free the game was no longer entirely in his +hands. He knew only too well that the old chief had a considerable +following in the tribe whom he would now get together and organize. + +Menud felt that his next move must be to gather all his sympathizers +from as many villages as he could in the time at his disposal, and +have himself declared chief. Then, with this usurped authority in his +support he would have the tribal organization at his disposal. + +But, swiftly as his dispositions were made, they should have been +swifter. + +At dawn the old Rainmaker had already assembled a nucleus of Warok’s +followers. He had sent for these before Garram’s message had reached +him. They were a last desperate hope to free Warok by force of arms. +Fully armed and experienced warriors had come at the old man’s bidding +from every village of the tribe. In twos and threes, so as not to +attract too much attention, they had been converging on the village +since dawn. Outside the village they had been met and directed to the +Sacred Grove. + +Even after dawn more and still more men were climbing to the +flat-topped hill which was the meeting place of the great Council of +the People. The Sacred Grove seemed to swallow them up, singly and in +groups, and none outside could tell how many there were. + +Garram, no longer in his leopard skin and armor, had had a series of +thrilling escapes from Menud’s followers while searching the village +for the Rainmaker. At dawn he ran the old man to earth in the Sacred +Grove. Swiftly he told his tale, while the Rainmaker nodded approval. +“It is well done! But this I already knew. For even as you sought me in +the village, Warok, your father, has himself come and is here waiting.” + +“Then as soon as enough are assembled we shall attack the followers of +Sura and Menud and kill those two traitors?” Garram’s eagerness, in +spite of his twenty-four hours of strain and effort, made the old man +smile. + +“Not so. For that would be to give all honor to youth who have already +earned enough,” the Rainmaker soothed his impatience. “Now is the time +when old heads may make a plan instead of young arms striking.” + +Garram hopped on one foot in eagerness, and Kon strolled up in hope of +excitement. “The plan, then, O Great One, the plan, what is the plan?” + +“Is it not easier to snare the hare than to run after it with sticks? +Have patience a moment, and you will see the snare catch the hare. +Come, see!” + +Speaking together the two had moved farther into the grove. And Garram +saw. For two of Warok’s warriors with threatening spears were forcing +one of Menud’s followers to yield up his weapons. Silently and without +outcry, so that others might not be warned. In the broken country round +the village there was only one clear space where a force could easily +be assembled--the flat-topped hill on which grew the Sacred Grove. The +Rainmaker’s plan was indeed skilful. + +Warok’s followers had gathered first. Sura’s men came unprepared, in +little groups and singly in too small numbers to offer resistance. And +those who had come first had already been disarmed and could render no +help to later comers. + +The ring of trees, which was the Sacred Grove, crowned the hill and +masked it from people below. The barren slopes of the hill gave no +chance to anyone to escape unseen and carry the news back to the +village. As neat a little trap as could have been devised, and grim +smiles played upon the faces of the old warriors who followed the chief +as they noted the chagrined expressions of Menud’s followers, disarmed +and helpless. + +On the farther side of the stone circle Warok sat in his accustomed +place. Dressed in Garram’s shirt of mail, the new leopard skin thrown +loosely over the stone seat, and Garram’s steel-shafted spear planted +by his side, he was the center of an interested throng. At once the +hunter recognized the skill with which his father put even such +details as these to their most effective use. For such armor, rarest +of heirlooms even among the Fulani was unknown among the primitive +Hillmen. The rays of the rising sun rose over the encircling Sacred +Grove and struck down into the clearing, ruddy and glowing, upon the +motionless figure of the chief. All eyes turned to the flashing golden +figure, and a deep-toned murmur of awe boomed from the people. + +Then Menud and his father, with a handful of his followers, were seen +approaching. + +No attempt had been made to disarm them. Instead way was made for them, +so that even as they passed through the wood chatting and boasting, +they were unaware of the changed situation. With self-conscious dignity +they paced out from the cover of the trees into the clearing. Then +something of the truth flashed upon them. Jaws dropped upon unfinished +remarks, and there was a movement among the party as if to turn and +run. But already the guards had closed in behind them. In paralyzed +surprise they rendered up their arms. + +Then Warok spoke. “You have called a council. Behold, your men are +here! What will you say to them?” + +Silence fell. + +One by one the party that had come with Menud and Sura drifted away +and were lost in the crowd which stood behind the seats of the stone +circle. Elders one by one sought their appointed seats. Scowling their +useless anger, Menud and his father stood helpless, isolated in the +center of the ring. + +An elder rose in his place and spoke. “O Warok, and people of the +Hills, it is time that the voice of truth was heard. For many years men +have grumbled saying that you oppress them when you make them do the +things needed for the safety of the land. Sura has followed the trail +of discontent with gifts, preaching more discontent. Speaking against +you. Promising no work and many gifts if the discontented will make +him chief.” The father of Menud made as if to speak. “Do not protest, +O Sura, for there are surely a thousand men here who would know your +denial a lie.” + +“This I have known for many years,” answered Warok. “We all know that +after many years of peace people will say, ‘There will be no more war +in our days, why should we keep the defence hedges of cactus in repair? +Why should we train ourselves to defend our families? Why should we do +aught save gather wealth or eat and drink?’ Yet we, who bear scars of +many ancient battles against the slave-raiders from the east, know that +when they think to find us unprepared they will come again.” + +Menud spat disdainfully upon the ground. “If the chief fears the Fulani +raiders let him not think we are all cowards! Have I not myself killed +many and escaped from the very city of their Emir? Pah!” Again he spat +his feigned disgust. + +“Your story of your adventure at Yelwa is a lie, as all men will know +in due course. Moreover, it is not those Fulani who are our enemies, +but those of the east. As to your courage, have you ever shown it +except in words? And the raiders require more than words to drive them +off!” + +The situation was a difficult one. To Garram it seemed simple. With +the men who had tried to kill him here at his mercy, why did not Warok +dispatch them out of hand? All this talk seemed dangerous delay. But +the old man knew his trade. Summary execution of Menud and Sura might +be justice and would draw the sting of the conspirators for a time, but +in the end it might turn them into first-class martyrs for liberty and +lead to civil war in the tribe. + +“Bring in the followers of Menud,” directed the chief, “but bring them +one by one and let the others wait beyond earshot.” The chief’s bidding +was done. + +Now, with Menud helpless, his followers no longer feared to tell the +truth. The story soon came out: his attempt to murder Garram, even the +punishment of the dye pit, which till now had appeared in various forms +but never as punishment for treachery. Menud’s cowardly attack was not +to the liking of the brave and simple Hillmen. A roar of anger broke +from the throats of the crowd, from followers of Warok and Menud alike, +and they shook threatening arms at their recent leader. Twice the old +chief had to still the tumult as he sat watching the effect produced. +Little by little, doubtingly at first the followers of Sura and Menud +turned upon their leader and would follow Warok. His enemies were at +his mercy. + +Skilfully the old chief guided affairs. The last witness withdrew +beyond the circle of the elders and from the outermost ring, reaching +far beyond the Sacred Grove to Sura and Menud, standing scowling and +uneasy in the center, came silence and no movement. The sun was nearly +at midday; no breath of wind stirred the heavy leaves of the tall +enfolding trees. + +Strained and more strained grew the hush--the hush of waiting. + +Garram, like a true hunter, having played his part, was resting, +almost sleeping with eyes open in preparation for the next move. Kon, +stretched out, basked in the sun. Nothing of the old chief’s thoughts +or feeling could be guessed from his face. It seemed set, carved in +stone, but his keen old eyes lost nothing of what passed before them. + +Then a group of elders rose from their stone seats and spoke together +in whispers. The eldest, leaning on his staff, his shriveled skin lying +in folds upon his body, led the group before the chief. + +“Father of our tribe, ourselves, our families, and our villages are at +your service, to follow you in war and to hear your words in peace. +Ours is the blame that, forgetting that these two were runaway slaves +from the Plains, we believed their word as though they had been of the +tribe.” + +The old man paused and sought the eyes of his comrades as if in support +of what he was about to say. Grimly they nodded their assent. + +“We are not able to make conditions with you whose father was chief of +our fathers, but one thing we would beg.” + +Again the old man paused. Something of his intention seemed to be +divined by Menud and Sura, whose eyes searched vainly among the +assembly for sign of support. But anger was on the faces of the +followers they had once duped, and on the faces of Warok’s men, triumph. + +As the old one spoke a buzz of whispering carried his words out to the +farthest fringe of people beyond the grove. Now the hush of expectancy +caught and gripped anew the tight-packed throng. The ancient felt the +weight of the words that he was about to speak. Proudly his old frame +straightened, and his shriveled skin seemed for the moment to hang less +loosely on him. He turned from Warok and stretched out his arms to the +people. “Let our shame be healed by the death of these two, Sura and +Menud! Let their death be such that men, aye, even hardened warriors, +shall speak of it with terror and shuddering!” + +No whispers now. His old voice rose to a clear ringing summons which +carried to every man there. In answer the Hillman’s killing call rose +from a thousand warrior throats. Then, more dreadful still, for by +tribal custom the women only may torture, grew the eerie death wail +of the women. It was the answer. Gray and trembling, Sura and Menud +awaited their fate. + +Then, like a sea, the mob surged in to snatch its prey. With a shout +Warok, Garram, and a handful of old warriors sprang forward. Exile, +possibly death the chief had planned for the two, but not this. This +almost forgotten death by lingering public torture. Swiftly a ring of +armed men was flung between the mob and the groveling figures on the +ground. + +Then a small boy, dusty, gasping, almost falling with weariness, burst +somehow through the throng. At a stumbling run he came to Warok, then +spoke a hurried message. + +Garram, at a sign, ran up to receive a short order, and even as he +turned at a run toward the village, Warok, a glittering figure in his +chain mail, swung toward the people. + +The din was so great that at first his words could not penetrate. The +guard, though heavily reinforced was being pressed back and forth by +the unarmed mob, who, once Menud’s followers, now wanted his life. +Then, as those near the chief heard his news, the shouts began to +cease. Packed and jumbled the mob stood still, froze almost to hear and +catch the words. + +“O People of the Hills, we have been attacked from within the tribe +by these two traitors who writhe in fear before you, groveling on the +ground imploring mercy. Do not waste your time upon them! Even now word +has come that more worthy foes await us. The Fulani of the East, whom +we have not seen for a generation, have sacked, burned and ravished +our southern villages on the foothills, and seek a way into our Hills +themselves.” + +The old warrior chief waited for the news to be whispered out to the +edges of the crowd. But time was not being wasted. Already Garram had +been sent hurrying to sound the alarm drum in the village below. + +“Until we have met and hurled back the Fulani raiders we need not +trouble ourselves with this scum. Only by lies can they do harm, not by +their own strength! Now that you know the truth, what harm can they do? +Now let the women prepare the food to follow, while all true Hillmen +take only their weapons and cast these vermin of the Plains back from +the Hills of our ancestors. Now is not the time for talk. Let us travel +swiftly and strike hard! Brothers, we have had a generation of talk! +Let us now fight. Come!” + +Somewhere in the dense mass of people were Sura and Menud, but already +forgotten as the crowd ebbed and flowed through the encircling trees +crowding toward the southward leading track. + +And as they jostled came the steady rhythmical boom from the village +below. + +Deep, continuous, and ever louder, strange and unheard for a +generation, still none could mistake it, it was the wooden war drum +of their ancestors. Beaten only in case of tribal extremity, and then +only by order of the chief himself, it could be heard for ten miles in +any direction. In each village was a similar drum made of a hollowed +hardwood tree. Each village, as soon as it heard the deep note, would +transmit the message. + +And the deep tone varied as the tone of the Hill language varied, so +that words and sentences could be sent in the tone language itself. + +Every marching man could hear the call to arms. Then came the names +of the villages that the enemy had attacked. And like a stop between +each sentence came the two-toned word of their language meaning war. +War--young men gripped their spears with determination. War--grizzled, +hardened warriors dreamed awhile of their youth. War--again the drum +thundered out, and women hastened to soothe the children and prepare +food to send after their husbands and fathers. + + + + +THE CHIEF RETURNS + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE CHIEF RETURNS + + +It was midnight when the dusty band of travel-worn Hillmen led by Warok +arrived at the southern escarpment of the Hills. In front of them the +rock dropped away like a cliff overhanging a black sea. Nothing could +be seen of the plainland spread out into the distance far below them. +Nearer in, tucked under the precipice, but still far away, three spots +of light glowed red through the darkness. + +A wounded man, his arm bandaged with tree fiber and a padding of +leaves, came out from the surrounding night and in the strange-sounding +southern dialect told Warok his story. The glowing points were the +embers of the three villages which in a false sense of security the men +of the southern clans had built on the lower foothills. Forgetful of +old traditions, they had begun to farm in the Plains, and instead of +building defence works had improved and made easier the track from the +plain to the villages. + +The slave-raiding Fulani of the East must somehow have come to know +of this group of defenceless villages. Anger came into the speaker’s +voice as he reached this point of his narrative. “In the blackness +before dawn I woke, smelling fire. I lived on the side of the village +from which the breeze was coming, and, moreover, near the gate. But +even as I looked round, rising from sleep on one elbow, flames ate +the grass roof and lighted the hut. All my house, all my village +was ablaze, as I saw, leaping through the door. Somewhere out of the +flames my family called, and their moans came to me above the roar of +the fire. Three times I tried to reach them but could not, for blazing +roofs had fallen and blocked the way.” The voice sank to a dull note of +despair. Warok nodded assent. To an old warrior the surprise attack of +an enemy at dawn, setting fire to the village to bolt the inhabitants +panic-stricken and defenceless was no new story. + +“Then, with only the knife which I, like all men, keep in my belt when +sleeping, I stumbled from the flames which would have eaten me. The +gate was too far. But as I ran a house fell which had formed part of +the outer wall of the village. Also for a moment the wind, started by +the burning village, sucked the flames from the gap. So I escaped.” + +The old chief had let the survivor tell his own story so far. But he +wanted useful facts, not a story of personal adventure. “How many of +your village, and how many from the other two villages escaped?” he +asked. “And where are the attackers?” + +“Two men, and one girl child only have I met! The threshing ground and +flat space round the village were full of horsemen as I fled. Each +side of the gates they waited, spearing the men and old women, taking +captive the girls and young children.” He pointed to his bandaged arm +down which a trail of dried blood showed black in the starlight. “Even +as I ran, one thrust his spear through my arm, and other horsemen were +closing in on me as I reached the broken rocks. My knife....” + +But Warok was no longer listening. He called three names. Three +warriors came out of the darkness. Grasping one by the arm he spoke: +“Loka, friend of my youth and companion in many battles, take with you +Garram, my son, as tracker. Go softly past the force encamped round the +villages and bring me word of the Fulani force lying in reserve in the +Plains. Their camp should not be far away. Speedy news, not fighting, +is your first task. Go.” + +Led by Kon and Garram the warrior moved off into the darkness, calling +to him a handful of trusted men as he went. + +“You”--Warok gave the next man his direction--“will take more men, +for you will need to fight. I have seen small lights round the three +burning villages. These will be the camp fires of the Fulani who +reached the foothills, and you must find their strength. Drive in the +sentry posts and kill a little. But do not fight in the open against +them, for we have few men and the enemy are many and mounted. Keep near +the rocks where their horses cannot follow, and see that they do not +sleep!” A chuckle showed that the plan was to the taste of the gathered +Hillmen. There was a sound of movement in the darkness, a rattle of +quivers and weapons, and the small body of men moved off. + +Next, order was given that each chief should call the name of his +village. In spite of the darkness, the uneven ground, and the lack of +training due to long years of peace, the mob of armed men began to +form orderly groups. Simple though this organization was, it would make +it possible to handle the men in battle, working by plan, and not as a +blind and clumsy horde. + +Orderly groups, each under its village leader, marched swiftly into the +darkness to prepare the defence of the pass which led up from the towns +below. Soon Warok and a handful of elders were the only ones left on +the dark crag overlooking the burning villages. It was necessary for +him to remain in the one place so that messengers from any of the three +parties should know where to find him in the dim, starlit night. Down +in the foothills, around the burning villages, the Hillmen were already +reconnoitring the Fulani position. The Fulani could not be given open +battle, since their numbers far exceeded the whole of Warok’s force, +and the little group of fighting scouts would have been wiped out +before they could have made any impression. A sentry here and there had +been killed as he replenished the outer ring of fires. But immediately +he had been replaced, and the Fulani, secure in their numbers, had +gone on sleeping. A sentry more or less did not matter! + +Then, suddenly, as a Fulani guard strained his eyes to pierce the night +beyond his watch fire, with a hiss of steam the blaze and glowing +embers blackened. Earthenware water pots, thrown with unerring aim by +the Hillmen, landed in the fire and burst, scattering their contents, +and putting all in darkness. + +Rapidly, on all sides, the fires hissed and went dead. Even as the +sentry shouted the alarm and grasped his spear, the dark figures of the +Hillmen sprang upon him. One more murderer of old men and women had +died. And not he alone, but the whole ring of sentries were stretched +as dead as the wet ashes of their watch fires. + +The sleeping army woke to the sound of the war howl of the Hillmen. +Half quenched cooking fires in the center of the camp were kicked +into a blaze, as men grasped their arms and hastily rallied to defend +themselves. Under cover of the night the long vengeful knives of the +Hillmen were pressed home to the hilt, withdrawn, and again and again +sought heart, lung, or stomach of those who had butchered their unarmed +kinsmen. + +Swiftly the small band of raiders came. Swiftly they withdrew to the +rocks and cover of darkness. The huge Fulani army, rallying in the name +of the Prophet, found only empty darkness filled with the taste of +fresh blood. + +Thrown in relief by the rekindled cooking fires, no longer protected by +the line of sentries and watch fires, the massed forces of the Fulani +formed a perfect target. Without warning an unseen cloud of arrows +poured in from nowhere, finding the massed ranks a target impossible to +miss. + +Here and there courageous groups of the Fulani charged on foot among +the rocks, trying to come to grips with the subtle stinging enemy. +Enraged by their losses and inability to make contact, they tried again +and again, until their commander, becoming anxious at their continuing +casualties, ordered them back. The raid had been beautifully executed, +and the massing of the panic-stricken Fulani in full glare of their +cook fires had been a gift from the gods to the skilled bowmen of the +Hills. The raiders had lost men, and here and there among the rocks a +wounded Hillman groaned as his friends carried him to safety. But for +every raider killed at least a score of Fulani lives had been taken in +exchange. + +Meanwhile news of the success of this raid that he had planned spread +up to Warok. The main body of warriors stationed at the head of the +pass clamored to leave their work and charge down upon the Fulani camp. +The elders, grouped with Warok on the peak, counseled him to immediate +action. Even Sura, so lately discomfited and in danger of death, joined +his voice to the others, counseling attack in full force. + +With only the support of the Rainmaker, Warok refused to pit +inexperienced warriors against five times their strength of trained +Fulani. “A dog may bring to bay and tire out a bull,” the old chief +explained, “but if he closes with the bull and tries to slay....” + +The elders nodded assent. The bull would win, of course. The strength +of the Fulani was like that of the bull compared with the force the +Hillmen could throw into the attack. But Sura had a scheme worthy +of his mean cunning. None but Sura, nicknamed the Snake, could have +devised a scheme so diabolically selfish, so murderous for others, so +safe for himself. He asked permission to put forward a plan. + +“In full daylight our men will see the numbers of the enemy and fear to +attack. But in this darkness they will not know the certain death to +which they go. And even now they are clamoring to attack. So--” with a +pointed pause--“none will blame you afterward!” + +Neither Warok nor the Rainmaker spoke his disgust. From the assembled +elders came a murmur of interest. Encouraged, Sura continued: “Once +they have closed with the enemy, all will be hand-to-hand fighting and +confusion from which neither our men nor the enemy will be able to +escape. Few of our men will be alive by morning, but the enemy will +fear us. So that when at dawn they see our women, dressed as warriors, +and carrying sticks to look like spears, crowning the heights above +them, they will be deceived by their fears and will retreat.” + +Little red spots began to gleam in the darkness, as the elders, stirred +by the skilful plan, drew harder on their huge tobacco pipes. Cynically +the Snake played his last card: “So we should be safe without risk to +ourselves. And the wives, the betrothed, the household goods, and the +farms of the young men of the tribe will become ours, since the dead +will no longer have need of them!” + +With silky voice of anger Warok broke in upon the applause. “Do you, +the elders of our people, counsel this plan?” Their answer left no +doubt. “O Warok, there is no other plan whereby we may live and the +Fulani be driven back!” + +“On one condition and one only I consent,” the soft voice insinuated: +“You and I, O Sura, will lead the attack, my wrist tied to yours. Our +only weapons will be short stabbing spears which have no edge to cut +the bond should one of us be slain before the other. Is not the plan +now perfect? Since we shall both be slain, there will be no dishonor!” + +The awed intake of breath sounded like the rustle of the dawn breeze +among the leaves. The elders did not doubt Warok’s reckless willingness +to put the amendment into practice. Nor did the Snake doubt, scrambling +to his feet as if for flight. “This is mad folly,” he blurted out. “Why +should a wise man die when fools can die for him?” + +“How shall a man who fears to fight give good counsel as to fighting?” +was the swift retort. “Go join the women and give them counsel as to +the cooking of food!” + +But the Snake had courage after his own fashion. There was the scrape +of a rough-surfaced native knife being drawn from the dry leather +sheath. There was the sound of a body leaping through the dark as Sura +would have flung himself upon the chief. But Warok’s light throwing +spear, impelled by his powerful shoulder muscles, met the assailant as +he leaped, pinning him through the chest as if he were a butterfly. The +old chief had not risen to throw, his back had not even left the rock +on which he leaned, and he must have judged his throw only by sound. +Yet the force of the blow had driven the spear head out through the +would-be murderer’s back, and the thrum of the vibrating spear shaft +sang out among the rocks. With a clatter the body of Sura spun round +and fell. + +None moved. All knew what had happened. The sounds had told all as well +as sight would have done. Then the voice of the Rainmaker rose out of +the darkness. “Sura would not fight for the tribe. But in the dark, as +you have heard, he would have murdered.” Deep toned, impersonal as of a +judge, his voice rolled on. “Death of such a one as this will not anger +the gods. No curse will fall. I bear witness!” The deep tones ended. +The Priest of the Tribe had spoken! + +Silence, dreaded silence grew in the darkness. In the belief of the +elders, the spirit of the freshly slain man was angrily walking around +them, seeking revenge. For this is what spirits are believed to do when +just made homeless by death. None dared speak or move, for fear of +being noticed. For the spirit would take a dreadful vengeance--would +kill perhaps the soul of the first man it caught, leaving the body +alive and unconscious of the terrible mutilation. + +Warok’s pipe gleamed cheerfully in the darkness, all the same. He had +not wanted to take life. Had indeed only taken it at the last moment, +in self-defence. Now he was quite willing that the silent vigil should +impress the object lesson on the elders. Spirits did not trouble him. + +The old chief had regained full control of the tribe again. Comfortably +he sat puffing his long pipe. As to the enemy, his plan had been +decided as soon as he had seen the situation. + + + + +GARRAM EARNS SLEEP + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XX + +GARRAM EARNS SLEEP + + +“Chief of our People, hear our report!” Loka, the leader of the scouts +sent to reconnoiter the war camp of the Fulani in the Plains strode +proudly into the silent group of elders. The gray light which heralds +the true dawn gave faint outline to objects seen in silhouette against +the sky, below, darkness seemed the more intense. + +With slapping of slung weapons on their bare backs and the rustle of +soft leather loincloths his scouts followed him. In the rear came Kon, +tail up, and Garram, still unwearied. In Garram’s arms a vague bundle. + +“Speak, then,” the chief commanded, “but tread not on the Snake at your +feet.” + +“Guh!” With a startled grunt the old warrior bent to investigate the +body of Sura still lying where it fell. Then, unimpressed, went on with +his report. + +“This is no ordinary raid such as we knew in our youth, O Warok. The +war camp is pitched barely at the foot of the Hills, and not the full +day’s journey away, as is usual. Many times we circled it, seeking to +see or hear some sign of the numbers.” + +The elders, stiff with their motionless vigil, drew nearer, reassured a +little, and interested in the account. + +“Never have I seen so large a camp nor so many sentries. An army of +sentries, not the sentries of an army merely!” + +“Their numbers must give them courage,” Warok pointed out--more to +himself than as an item of information. “Always they used to keep the +camp with its many unarmed straying camp followers a full day’s journey +from our hills. But have you no further knowledge? Nothing except of +the outside of the camp?” + +“I am no stalker by night, but a fighter by day.” The old warrior Loka +was nettled. “Moreover, so dark was the night that even Garram, your +son, who is noted as a stalker, was lost from our party when we arrived +at the camp and did not find us till we were about to return.” + +Garram was curled up on the ground against Kon’s huge form. Even in +the tropics a hilltop at dawn can be piercingly cold, and Kon was +pleasantly warm. Garram was snatching some of his previous night’s +arrears of rest and kept only as much awake as he felt conditions +required. The sound of his name brought him back to realities. + +“Yes, the words are true words,” Garram murmured sleepily. “Very big +camp but half empty. Half the men and horses must have gone to the +sack of the three villages.” He was nearly asleep before he had ended +his sentence and at once snuggled down again with the queer-shaped +bundle between himself and the dog. + +Prodded further, the young hunter woke long enough to tell some of his +story. He had been into the camp. Was it not the only way to find out? +Yes, he had found many empty picket lines. Someone seemed skeptical. +“Does a man stub his toe on a hardwood picketing peg and think it is a +cat?” Appreciative chuckles greeted his naïve but telling retort. + +Questions met him from all sides, and he tried to answer them. The +women and children captured from the Hill villages? People wanted to +inquire after the lost ones by name, but Warok intervened. + +“Dawn is nearly breaking, and time is short. Have you any further news +of fighting matters?” + +Garram roused himself and tried to think clearly. “The camp is big, and +half empty of both men and horses. There are several large tents of +cloth and leather. Three sentries had to die quietly before I could +obtain entrance. But there was nothing in the tents except useless pale +women of their own--Fulani--tribe. They slept among fine woven cloths, +but I did not wish to steal. Only this I took,” holding up a huddled +gray shape of fur, “for he is a monkey of the Hills and should not be a +slave to Plainsmen!” + +The leader of the scouts laughed. “A likely story! You were lost, +and no doubt your dog caught you the monkey among the rocks!” But +those near by, examining the monkey, fingered a golden chain and +jewel-encrusted collar on his neck. + +“Does a dog catch golden chains?” remarked an astonished onlooker. But +Garram was asleep again. + + + + +MENUD, THE TRAITOR + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXI + +MENUD, THE TRAITOR + + +Overnight the remainder of the army of the Hills had been ordered to +descend the pass and hide in the broken rocky country round the Fulani +camp in the foothills. + +Now, at first glint of dawn, Warok and the elders followed. Garram had +just time to hand the monkey over to a friend and slip in front of the +party with Kon. + +On the western side of the peak lay the path, if it might so be called, +which led down into the Plains. No more unlikely place could be found +for a track, for the peak seemed to drop in sheer precipice. But along +the face of the cliff stretched a diagonal fault in the rock, forming +a narrow ledge which sloped southward and downward to the level ground +around the burned villages. The sun had already begun to tint the +opposite side of the gorge, but the face of the precipice down which +the party marched in single file was still in the shadow of the crag +they had left. One by one the party seemed to drop out of sight into a +black, fathomless chasm. + +Unseen and unheard above them, Menud had stumbled across the body +of his father Sura. A casual glance showed that life was extinct. +Then, quickly but cautiously, he made his way to the edge of the +precipice and, leaning over, swore vengeance on the party moving +through the darkness below. Revenge would be easy. Just a matter of +pushing a few rocks crashing down upon the path beneath. The death +of the unsuspecting Warok and Garram, of Kon and all the elders was +a certainty. No skill, no courage could save them, for there was no +way off the path, which was bounded by a precipice that rose on one +side, and on the other dropped sheer several hundred feet into a +boulder-strewn chasm. + +Then Menud changed his mind! + +Mean cunning replaced anger upon his face. His father was dead and no +longer of use to him. Why should he waste time avenging his death? +A more paying plan occurred to him. The ambitious plotter drew back +from the edge and followed Warok’s party down the path. As he went he +planned, his mouth twisted into a yellow-toothed, triumphant grin. +For if he could find his way into the Fulani camp, show them this +secret way up into the Hills--and it was the only pass into the Hills +from the south--their numbers should give them easy victory over the +Hillmen. Then, since no Fulani would wish to be left as chief over the +conquered Hillmen in these strange and barren Hills, who would suit +them better than himself, Menud? For he would have shown his loyalty to +his new friends by betraying to them his own tribe! + +Even as he walked and ran, the traitor saw himself the trusted agent of +the Fulani, exacting tribute from the Hillmen, collecting their sons, +and especially daughters, as slaves to be sent to the Fulani. What a +full revenge! What tortures, what ignominy could he inflict on those +whom he hated, with the support of the Fulani horsemen! + +Stirred by his plan, Menud had been making better time down the path +than he had expected. At a bend he almost bumped into the party of +Garram and Warok, for the elders, more for dignity than because of +weakness, were traveling slowly. Menud did not want to meet them. He +planned to wait unseen behind them on the path, and then slip around +them unseen as soon as the narrow way opened out near the Fulani camp. + +As the rocky track swung round the face of a buttress-like projection +of the cliff face, Garram began to realize the wisdom of Warok in +moving the force down overnight. From where they were now hiding in +the rocky foothills they could be thrown into attack like water from a +bursting dam. But men moving to attack down this narrow path would have +been like water dripping from a leaky pot--an easy matter for the enemy +to deal with. Here, round the buttress-like projection, the ledge of +rock along which the track led ceased in a vertical drop into the black +shadowy depths beneath. At this point the path was carried on by a +rickety, fantastic-looking bridge. Timbers, weathered silver gray with +time, and long since bare of bark, had been wedged into crannies in the +cliff face. On these twisted and uneven supports, which looked barely +able to carry their own weight, had been laid smaller boughs, rounded +and gnarled as all hilltop timber is. With its worn and frail-looking +supports, its loose decking rolling underfoot and showing the black +depths beneath, it was a writhing nightmare scaffolding rather than a +bridge. + +Unconcernedly the Hillmen balanced their way across it, talking as they +went. They were well used to these weirdly skilled pieces of primitive +engineering done with a chisel-shaped ax as the only tool. There were +several more of these same bridges, on this same path, built like +birds’ nests to the face of the precipice. Following the ledge in the +vertical western side of the crag, the path led downward and southward +to the foothills where lay the burned villages and the Fulani force. +The foot of the crag hid the actual camp till Warok and his party had +drawn clear of the pass. + +Expecting to meet the main force of Hillmen guarding the mouth of the +pass, the young hunter was surprised to find no one there. Accustomed +to using his brain when hunting, Garram now tried to apply it to this +new game of warfare. Why was the place left undefended? + +At a sign from Warok the party swung off wide to the right. Then left, +left, in a wide circle with the Fulani camp for a centre. To Garram it +was very like skirting game at a distance so as to approach it from +down wind. That gave him the clue. With a hop of excitement he made a +grab at Kon’s waving tail, as if to bring the news to his attention. It +wasn’t the wind, but the sun; not scent, but sight, which the cunning +Warok was planning to use as ally. The warriors had been swung round to +the west of the camp so as to attack the Fulani with the low blinding +morning sun directly behind them! With the sun behind him, a skilled +fighter could catch as many as four out of five enemy arrows harmlessly +on his shield. And with the dazzling tropical light low in front, the +enemy would be able to ward off practically nothing, neither arrows nor +spears, nor even slow-moving battle axes. + +The hunter almost danced with excitement at his father’s tactics. And +what nerve it must take to leave the pass unguarded rather than weaken +his striking force and by overmuch caution court defeat. Then, below +him, in the shallow green cup where lay the black spots of the charred +villages, sounded the tinkle of the Fulani war cymbal. Men, more +men than he had ever seen before, were moving hurriedly about, like +uncountable water beetles on a mossy green pool. Gradually they formed +into groups, like patterns on the green background. They were moving +into battle order, in regular ranks--a method unknown to the wild Hill +fighter. + +Meanwhile the leaders of the Hill villages had been called up to +receive orders. Quickly they returned, each man to his command. Morning +light had shown Warok the absence of horses in the Fulani camp. They +must have sent them back to the plains under cover of darkness. A +detail, but it had made necessary a last minute change of plans, of +which the village leaders had to be informed. + +Now all was ready. Warok gave a signal; a series of soft sweet notes on +the little Hill whistle made of horn. Immediately it was repeated by +the whistles of the leaders of villages. Then the bare gray rock of the +unchanging Hills appeared transformed into a black torrent. The hidden +warriors had sprung from their hidings and, leaping from rock to rock, +poured swiftly from the encircling heights. + +Hastily Garram charged after them. + +It was the rush of an undrilled horde in all its furious force. +Without reducing this force, the organization by villages had made it +controllable. As the rush carried the line forward, converging upon the +enemy, the whistles blew again, ordering back the rear ranks who would +have crowded among the men in front and jammed them too tight for full +use of bow and spear. In silence the Hillmen reached the level ground +and swept forward. And still the attention of the Fulani was directed +toward the west, away from the attack, toward the pass into the Hills. +Shouting of orders rose clearly from the camp, but still the packed and +motionless ranks of the Fulani faced away from the charging Hillmen. + +Now they were noticed, and the enemy turned hastily to meet the +threatened danger. Now they were within bowshot. Men stood and fired, +then ran forward a few paces, fitting another arrow to the bow, halted, +and loosed another shaft. + +Garram, who had brought along four quiverfuls of arrows, was loosing +two swift shots for every one fired by the less skilled bowmen on each +side of him. The clack of bowstring on hard leather wrist guard and the +twang of the strings rose in continuous rattle and hum. It seemed only +a moment since the young hunter was firing vaguely in the direction +of the massed enemy at full bowshot range. But already he had thrown +away one empty quiver and was now near enough to choose and hit his +individual enemy. + +Then, with a yell, the Fulani charged to meet them, their ranks +thinning with falling men as they came. + +A hunter is always unwilling to abandon the bow, and Garram might have +used an ax instead of his last arrow, so close was the range. That man +fell, but another enemy was already in the gap. The boy threw up his +bow to parry a cleaving sword cut. It was only just in time, and even +so the keen edge sliced a patch of skin from his bare shoulder. + +With a yell of pain and fury he swung his ax in return, and then felt +it nearly pulled out of his hand as his adversary fell, the edge firmly +embedded in his skull. He jerked the ax free just in time to strike at +another enemy. A misplaced blow this, the handle striking harmlessly +on the Fulani’s shoulder and nearly jerking itself free from Garram’s +grip. The long knife of a Hillman on his left saved him that time. + +The front rank, with Garram in it, was now deep in the enemy’s lines. +All formation had gone. Now was the time when men, wounded, thrown +down, and rising again, lost all sense of direction and fought +friend as well as foe. But this Warok, with hard-won experience +of hand-to-hand fighting, had foreseen and provided for. From the +throat of every village leader came the battle cry, “The sun on your +backs--and on!” Quickly the slogan spread, and gave the steady aim of +veterans to the dashing ardor of these young warriors. The deep yell +panted from laboring lungs as the Hillmen again turned a solid front +against the hated enemy. + +Dry grass became slippery beneath his struggling feet. A body writhing +in death agony on the ground tripped him. But Garram struggled upright +again in the sweating, hacking, cursing struggle. + +Troops pressed backwards offer less resistance than those pressing +forward. Balance on the feet, morale, everything enters into it. Each +army, pushed forward by the chest and shoulders of their slipping, +tripping rear ranks, pressed harder and harder against the opposing +ranks. Ribs could be heard to snap where the struggling, thrusting +pressure was greatest. Few who fell could rise again; there was no room +to strike a blow. Where a hand could be freed for an instant, a knife +would be pressed home, and a dying man would be carried upright in the +packed and swaying crush, until he could be turned under those cruel +struggling feet. Over the heads of the front ranks where friend and +foe were mixed, poisoned arrows were being exchanged by the rear-rank +men. Since each side was engaged along the whole of its front, flanking +movements were impossible. + +Garram had no idea of what was happening except just around him. The +pressure and heat became a cruel, impossible nightmare. The rank smell +of human blood made him sick and giddy. The quilted cotton armor of +his enemies began to provoke him to absurd anger. It was so difficult +to force a knife through the thick padding. Then he found a method of +reaching round and placing the point of the knife under the ribs at +the side. Once placed and pointing inward, the pressure of the swaying +crowd would force the blade through anything. + +With unspeakable relief Garram felt the pressure slackening, felt +himself being carried forward as the enemy began to give ground. Then +suddenly the fighting changed. He found himself charging past small +groups of four or five mixed friends and enemies hotly engaged in a +kind of human dog fight. Suddenly he was the center of a similar dog +fight, knife back on his hip again, swinging the hunting ax. As he +fought, more assistance would pour up, some of the enemy fall, the +remainder melt away. Then on to the next isolated struggle. “Backs to +the sun--and on!” + +Stung by wounds he fought like a seasoned warrior and no boy. The +advance reached the black ruins of the villages. Fighting opened out +more and more. The enemy seemed to have disappeared, though here and +there skirmishing was going on. Arrows and quiver were broken and his +bow gone, or he could have done great execution in this open fighting. + +A group of corpses lay at the gate of the village. He was passing them +as no matter for comment at a time like this when something about them +caught his attention. Disgust and anger shook him. For they were the +unarmed villagers--women as well as men--killed by the Fulani in their +surprise raid upon the peaceful sleeping hamlet. Killed, and--he was +nearly sick at the sight--mutilated--horribly. Something like madness +seized him. With a yell he sprang at a group of tall Fulani soldiers. +Three spears were thrust out to meet him. He ducked, swerved, and was +in with the knife.... A sword flashed out, and would have transfixed +him when, still in the gleaming chain mail, Warok charged in with a +roar. + +The old chief had done his best to stay behind and direct the battle, +but his instinct for the fight was too strong. Dropping all weapons +save his favorite ax, he had sprung into the battle. Never noted for +playing for safety, with a chuckle at the thought of the chain mail, he +had made no attempt to guard himself or parry. With both hands he swung +his ax, swung again and again, and four men had dropped. The handle, +wet and slippery, twisted from his grasp. A spear point slid past his +face as he sidestepped. He was in and under the spear and had his last +adversary in his arms. But the man he grasped was already slipping +to the ground. Garram’s knife had been just a shade faster. The old +chief stood back with a grin of appreciation. A neat stroke that for +a boy! Garram would have grinned back, but a look of surprise came to +the father’s face, for the boy swayed unsteadily on his feet. Swayed, +recovered himself, then sank, wounded and unconscious, to the ground. + +Rapidly but carefully the warrior carried the sagging body into the +cover of the burned-out village. The sound of stealthy footsteps +brought him round with a snarl to defend himself. A huge black form +nearly bowled him over. It was Kon, who had been squeezed away from his +master in the first stages of the fight and had now found him again. +With the fussy assistance of the anxious animal Warok checked the boy’s +heart and breathing, each seeming to find reassurance in his own way. +The boy lived. + +Then, as Kon snuffled inquiringly at ear, mouth, and eyes, the old +chief grasped the situation. The boy had had no sleep, almost no rest +or food or water for more than two days and nights. Two days and nights +of strain and effort such as few grown men could have borne. Then on +top of this the boy--for he was only a boy in years--had been put to +the terrible ordeal of a long, sternly fought battle. The sight of the +murdered villagers must have drawn from him his last remaining strength +in that fierce final effort. And body and mind had at last rebelled, +and he had fallen asleep as he stood! + +For there was no doubt about it, he was peacefully sleeping! Here +among the shouts and smells of battle! + +The father reassured himself by a further examination of skull, +ribs, and limbs. Nothing was broken, nothing amiss except for a few +easily healed wounds. Leaving some weapons by his side for use when +Garram awoke, the old chief posted Kon as huge calf-like nurse and +all-sufficient guard. Then Warok ran toward the sounds of the receding +battle. + + + + +THE HILLMEN TRIUMPH + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE HILLMEN TRIUMPH + + +The plain was strewn with the terrible harvest of battle, over which, +in the clear morning sky, wheeled and wheeled countless vultures, +waiting, waiting.... Some, with flapping of wings and clumsy hopping, +had alighted. Some, with bald repulsive necks and heads stretched +forward, were already tugging with cruel beaks at something hidden by +their clumsily flapping wings. + +Warok saw nothing of this, only the absence of fighting, which had +moved around to the west while he was attending to Garram. The foot of +the spur must now be hiding the battle. He ran, and as he ran, thought. +Why had the enemy retreated in that direction, which led only to the +pass up into the Hills? Why had they not fallen back toward their +reënforcements in the Plains? There could be only one explanation: a +traitor must have shown them the pass! + +Then, of a sudden, he understood much that had puzzled him. The Fulani +leader must have started to take his troops up the pass to the west +while on the east the Hillmen were waiting for the rising sun to help +their attack. Once the Fulani force were spread in a thin line along +the narrow path up the pass, the leader in front of them would be quite +unable to keep touch with what was happening in the rear. + +Which also accounted for the ease of the Hillmen’s victory over their +much more numerous and better armed opponents. The enemy rear guard +alone had been engaged! The main body of the Fulani must by now be +nearly at the top of the pass, protected by the unscalable cliff face +from the Hillmen in the foothills below. A warrior chief, his honest +mind had not counted on treachery. That had been the weak point in his +plan. As he rounded the foot on the spur he saw that his conjecture was +right. At the mouth of the pass confused fighting still went on. The +remains of the Fulani rear guard were covering the entrance of the last +of their main body into the rocky path, and once safely in the pass +they should be able to hold it against any number of Hillmen, for there +were many points in the path that only one man at a time could pass. + +Warok saw that the head of the twisting black line of the enemy had +climbed almost to the top of the pass. There was no other way up into +the hills for many miles on either side. The Hill forces were caught in +the foothills, helpless to stem the tide of the Fulani advance. The old +chief groaned aloud, for nothing now lay between the cruel enemy and +the peaceful Hill villages where women and children would be working +and playing in the morning sun. + +Others had grasped the situation. Old warriors, frantic at their +helplessness to defend their villages, blamed Warok to his face for +leaving the pass undefended. Still others, less privileged by their +age and honors, gathered in futile, scowling groups, muttering to each +other the things they dared not say to the old chief’s face. And all, +mixing threats with entreaties, demanded of him a miracle, that he +should find some means of stopping the enemy’s advance upon the Hill +villages. Cold and hard, Warok stood before his judges. He was scarcely +aware of them, of their many words. With all his will he was trying to +tear from his mind some plan to retrieve the disaster. + +“Gather all warriors! Cease this talk!” his stern command stilled the +babble. “Re-arm swiftly from the dead and wounded.” His glance sought +a man among the mob. “You, Loka, will re-form the force under its +village leaders and lead it with all swiftness to attack the camp of +the Fulani in the plains below.” Murmurs began to arise, questions. + +“O Warok, I have never feared battle, but what is the use of attacking +the Fulani in the plains when by then the other force of Fulani will be +killing and capturing our wives and children in the Hills?” + +“None doubts your courage, O Loka. If you cannot capture the camp, at +least set fire to it. If even this is too much for you, then make smoke +fires in the bush near the camp and defend these fires with your lives. +For on the smoke will hang the safety of your homes, your wives, your +children!” + +“But how will revenge benefit us?” Loka was puzzled. “And why this +child’s play with fires and smoke?” + +“O fool,” Warok thundered, “are not the women and horses of the Fulani +to them as your women and cattle are to you?” The old chief grew angry +at the delay in what must be done at once if at all. “If the Fulani on +the hill see the smoke as of their camp being attacked and burned, will +they not turn again to defend it, leaving our villages till later?” + +Warok knew how utterly his people could be relied upon to carry out +the idea once it was planted in their thick skulls. To attempt to lay +down the details of their task would only arouse the resentment of this +federation of independent--very independent--Hill villages. Without +further words he drove them on their way. + +Meanwhile, till smoke rose from the Fulani camp in the plain, time was +on the old warrior’s hands. Turning toward the pass again, he grinned +and spun his ax sparkling in the air. With a rallying shout he led a +wedge into the small rear guard, cutting them off from the mouth of +the pass. Then, leaving his followers to deal with the little isolated +group, he plunged up the pass, ax in hand, his chain mail twinkling +in the sun. At the first bend he came across the tail of the enemy’s +force. Two men he sent crashing down the precipice and had sprung like +a human leopard on the third before he could turn to defend himself. +Uneventfully but steadily Warok ate into the tail of the column, man by +man falling to his ax or being sent hurtling down to the depths below. + +At a bend in the path he halted with a shout of surprise. The Fulani +had not reached the head of the pass yet. Something seemed to be +holding up the head of the column, far away in the distance. Even +as he looked, the cause of the obstruction became clear. One of the +scaffold-like bridges had been set on fire in front of the advancing +Fulani! As he watched, it fell smoking and blazing out of sight into +the chasm below. Whether accident or design had set fire to the bridge, +the result was the same. There was now no way for the Fulani, or anyone +else, to reach the hilltop by this path. They must retreat by the way +they had come! + +But why let them retreat? Where the old chief was standing was just +such another bridge as the one which had been destroyed in front of the +Fulani. If he could destroy this behind them, the huge force would +be caught helpless on the path, unable to advance or retire. And even +now the force was turning back. For some brief moments--the best in +his warrior life--the old chief held the narrow pass against the enemy +while behind him his followers loosened the timbers of the bridge. On +his right the unclimbable cliff face, on his left a precipice, beneath +his feet the bridge which his followers were even now destroying. + +At a warning shout from behind, he sprang back across the loosened +timbers. Before the stupefied enemy could cross, beams, timbers and +decking were lifted shoulder high by willing Hillmen, then hurled +crashing to the depths. The enemy was in the trap, and the trap was +closed! + +A giant scraping noise was heard. Then a crash. A boulder had dropped +down the bare rock from above and burst on the rocky path. Warok and +his followers moved swiftly back from their penned-in enemy. Rock +dropped from a height explodes almost like a shell as it lands. As the +Hillmen made their way back to the foot of the path opening upon the +foothills they threw glance after glance back over their shoulders and +shuddered. The path behind them and the chasm beneath were filled with +the booming and crashing of giant boulders hurled from above. In this +inferno, spread thinly along the rocky path which was cut off at both +ends, the Fulani army cowered against the cliff face and awaited death. + +Above them the old Rainmaker had not been idle. Debarred from battle +because of his age and his priesthood, it was he who had thought of +destroying the bridge in front of the Fulani advance. Now he had +summoned all the women of the tribe. The bounding crashing boulders +which thudded down the hillside upon the helpless enemy beneath had +more mercy in them than had the hearts of the women who launched them. +Frantically they labored. With poles, ropes, and bare bleeding hands +they urged more and more massive missiles over the edge of the crag. +The simple Hillmen had no mercy for these murdering and torturing +slave-raiders, and even small children toddled to the edge of the crag +and let loose handfuls of ineffective pebbles upon the enemy beneath. + + + + +HOME AGAIN + + + + +[Illustration] + +CHAPTER XXIII + +HOME AGAIN + + +It was evening time. The red glow of the setting sun still tinted the +tops of the Sacred Grove round the Place of Assembly where the Hill +people were gathered. + +One by one the leaders of each part of the operations told the story +of the happenings of that day. A simple tale, giving the names of the +men who had died in defence of the Hills. For such had been the custom +long ago. The greatest numbers had died in the assault on the camp in +the Plains. Outnumbered by the better armed Fulani, the attackers had +had no thought but to capture the camp by the quickest way--direct +assault--before the Fulani still in the pass could march upon the +peaceful Hill villages. + +To those that had carried out the assault and to the relatives of all +those who had died was alotted the plunder of the camp: horses, tents, +rich clothing. The women found in the camp, pale soft beauties of the +harem, were now huddled together, frightened but unharmed, in the midst +of the Assembly. + +The Rainmaker would accept nothing of the plunder. “For me I risked +nothing, and wish no profit. If it is for sacrifice to the gods that +you press these things upon me, are there not within the tribes +sufficient riches lacking owner? For Sura and his son Menud are no +more!” + +There were murmurs of surprise. The death of the father was known, but +that of Menud? + +“While the bridge was burning and I was loosening further timbers to +make its fall certain, the Chief of the Fulani came to the other side. +Dressed in gorgeous robes, his banner carried behind him, he approached +and made as if he would attempt to cross.” The Priest and Rainmaker +paused. Telling his story he tasted again the dramatic moment. “A man +with him, dressed in skins, like one of our own people, and not in +robes and quilted armor like the enemy, spoke with him. The chief did +not understand, and he whom I now saw was Menud made signs, as one +acting as guide, that they should turn back.” + +The old priest turned sadly to the people. “And this I think is true, +that Menud was the traitor guide who betrayed the pass to the enemy. +But the chief thought him another kind of traitor, who had led them +into a trap. At a sign from him, a huge slave, bow-legged, like a +baboon, with arms and chest strong as four men’s, lifted Menud.” He +paused awhile. + +“I think in that embrace his back was broken. The huge slave took +him easily by one leg, as one would lift a chicken, and he did not +struggle. For a time he held him thus, hanging by one leg, at arm’s +length, over the precipice. Then the chief spoke, and the slave dropped +him thudding into the depths. There was no cry.” + +With the slow understanding of utter weariness the Hillmen were +digesting this news when an interruption occurred. All heads turned as +a Fulani, surrounded by a small guard, made his way through the crowd +and halted before Warok. Unarmed, surrounded by a guard of villagers +from the western part of the Hills, the man bowed in smiling good-humor +and uttered words of greeting in his unknown tongue. + +At a sign the guard told their strange tale: “Before the sun struck +over our hills into the valley beneath our village, we saw an army, +greater than we have ever seen before, mustered in the Plains below. +What could we do?” The wizened ancient dropped his arms to his side in +a gesture of helplessness. “All our fighting men had already gone to +give battle with the rest of the tribe against the Fulani of the East. +And these were Fulani of the West, who have never been our enemies. But +at least this we could do: We sought for bows and such other weapons +as were left, I and the other elders, then went out among the rocks to +watch. There we came upon this man, alone and unarmed, following the +path to our village. We would have killed him, but he pointed onward, +as one having business. Moreover, he showed no fear! Instead we brought +him here. But also we bring the news of the army from the west waiting +in the Plains below our village!” + +The stranger waited. He looked around him. Then his glance fell upon +the huddled group of Fulani women captured from the raiders. Again he +spoke a few words, looking hopefully at Warok. None understood him. He +looked around as if in search of someone whom he could not see. Then +the stranger had an idea. Shifting his weight to one foot, he slid the +sandal off the other and with big toe scratched the calf of the other +leg. Then, with make-believe bow, he gently scratched the middle of +his back, looking tensely into the distance the while. The dumb show +met with instant response. Calls for “Garram! Ho, Garram!” rose from +dozens of throats. For he had depicted Garram to the life. Garram +puzzled and thoughtfully scratching a leg. Garram watching distant game +and planning his approach, gently massaging his shoulder blades with +the end of his bow as he thinks, since flies settle on a hunter’s back +as soon as he stands stationary. + +The young hunter had long gone to sleep again, and it was no easy +matter waking him as he lay, curled against Kon. The dog in fact came +across to greet his old friend some time before Garram was properly +awake. It was Ibrahim, Captain of the Guard, whom Garram had once saved +from death and possibly torture. Whom he had later saved from Menud’s +treacherous attack. Gladly the two greeted each other, while the dog’s +tail wagged as hearty a welcome. + +Then all was easy going. Ibrahim came as an envoy sent by the Emir of +the West to seek alliance. “News has come of an army of the Fulani of +the East, who wish to cross your hills and attack us in the Plains of +the West. My master the Emir offers you the aid of his army to assist +in repelling them. Not this alone he offers, but lifelong alliance +between his people and your people of the Hills!” + +[Illustration: GARRAM] + +Puzzled at the silent reception of his message and the expression of +his audience Ibrahim paused. Then resumed: “If you think that you have +no need of aid, know then, that the army from the East is bigger than +any before known. As big as all your tribe, and as big as all the army +sent by my master. This much is known with certainty. And if you fear +the army sent by my master, know then that for your greater assurance +the Emir offers to place his men under the sole command of one of your +young men known as Garram the Hunter. For he is well known to my master +the Emir. Well known and well trusted!” + +Again the envoy paused, and, while his message was being interpreted, +gazed curiously around him. Then: “What, then, is your answer, for even +now the enemy may be approaching?” + +“The enemy was, but is no more,” Warok’s quiet voice replied. “Tell him +all.” + +Garram explained to Ibrahim. Swiftly, however, for he still ached for +sleep. The wonder of the Captain of the Guard grew. Grew beyond all +expression. It could be no jest and was obviously no lie. Silently he +listened and marveled, and marveling he forced himself to believe the +incredible story. + +Then he bowed to the Assembly. “Only, then, remains the offer of +friendship and alliance which my master the Emir makes you. Also the +offer of many and noble gifts which he will doubtless send you in +thanks for the service you have rendered us and in honor of your noble +deeds. Permit that I give you greetings and return to my army!” + +“You have promised the assistance of the army you have brought. Will +you still lend this aid?” Warok’s eyes twinkled as he spoke. + +Wonderingly Ibrahim assented. + +“Good! Then let your army remove these women of the Fulani. They cannot +cook--this much is already known. And none wants them for wife, since +they are of the pale brownness of the Plains which we deem ugly. If +your master the Emir will send them back to their own tribe we shall +hold his debt fully discharged. For the Hills are for the Hillmen, and +we do not want this weak stock.” + +Kon and Garram escorted Ibrahim as far as Kwallak and would have had +him stay. But the Captain of the Guard was not his own master till +his duties were performed. With reluctance they made their farewells, +the dark shadows of homegoing villagers passing them as they stood. +“O Ibrahim, now that you have come once, come yet again and again. +For there are klipspringer in the Hills which you have yet to shoot, +and rock rabbits that lurk in fortresses stronger than even the walls +of Yelwa. Come back again. Come to the Hills!” “Surely I will come, +O Garram!” Only three days since they had parted at Yelwa, but even +so the Captain of the Guard found the parting hard. “But see that you +come back to Yelwa, or life at the Court will become insupportable. For +three days has the Emir sat with the dread frown on his face, declaring +there is no honest man left in his kingdom now that you have gone. I +alone am in favor because jestingly I suggested that Kon would make him +a good Waziri, being grave and silent and something of a glutton!” Kon, +hearing his name, looked up as if in protest at the charge of gluttony, +and the two laughed. + +“Some day I will surely come, Ibrahim. But first I want my Hills. My +Hills--and--euyyah!” Garram’s white teeth snapped together after a +luxurious double yawn--“sleep! Go in peace!” + +“In peace, then,” Ibrahim responded. + +An hour later Warok and the Rainmaker returned that way to the village. +Pacing in grave silence they nearly fell upon Kon. Stooping they lifted +something between them. “Have a care, old warrior, do not wake him,” +the priest’s booming voice tried to whisper. “He has earned his sleep. +Let us carry him to your fireside, where we may talk and smoke!” + +“None has schemed more skilfully in this affair than Garram, my son, +unless it be you, O caller of rains and sunshine.” + +The Rainmaker shook his head. + +The old chief resumed: “Even so, none has worked harder or fought +harder than this boy. And surely none will sleep harder to-night! There +is no fear of waking him.” + +Carefully the chief and the Priest of the Tribe carried the light body +between them. Kon padded round on anxious, silent paws. Up the rocky +path to where cooking fires gleamed in welcoming doorways. Where food, +sleep, and comfort were waiting. + + +THE END + + + + +TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: + + + Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. + + Perceived typographical errors have been corrected. + + Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. + + Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79229 *** diff --git a/79229-h/79229-h.htm b/79229-h/79229-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f90b31a --- /dev/null +++ b/79229-h/79229-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6707 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Garram the hunter | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +td {padding-left: 0.5em;} +.tdl {text-align: left; text-indent: -1.5em;} +.tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: bottom;} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + +.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;} +.ph3 {text-align: center; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;} + +div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} +div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} + +.xxlarge {font-size: 175%;} +.xlarge {font-size: 150%;} +.large {font-size: 125%;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} + +.x-ebookmaker .hide {display: none; visibility: hidden;} + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 17.5%; + margin-right: 17.5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + +.x-ebookmaker .transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + padding: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79229 ***</div> + + +<div class="figcenter hide"><img src="images/coversmall.jpg" width="450" alt=""></div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/map.jpg" alt="map"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h1>GARRAM THE HUNTER</h1> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_0"></span> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" width="450" height="421" alt=""> +<figcaption> +<p class="caption">THE YOUNG HUNTER STOOD MOTIONLESS BEFORE HIM +LOOKING INTO THE DISTANCE. TO FIGHT—AH, THAT +WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD! BUT TO FLY FROM ONE’S +ENEMIES—IT SEEMED TOO HARD A THING TO ASK.</p> +</figcaption> +</figure> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/title-page.jpg" alt="title page"></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="titlepage"> +<p><span class="xlarge">GARRAM THE HUNTER</span></p> + +<p><span class="large"><i>A BOY OF THE HILL TRIBES</i></span></p> + +<p>BY<br> +<span class="large">HERBERT BEST</span></p> + +<p>ILLUSTRATED BY<br> +ERICK BERRY</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/title-page-illo.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>PUBLISHED IN NEW YORK BY<br> +<span class="large">THE JUNIOR LITERARY GUILD</span><br> +IN THE YEAR 1930</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center">COPYRIGHT, 1930<br> +BY DOUBLEDAY, DORAN & COMPANY, INC.<br> +ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br> +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT<br> +THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS<br> +GARDEN CITY, N. Y.<br> +<br> +FIRST EDITION</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/dedication.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p class="center">TO<br> +<span class="large">JOHN DUGDALE BEST</span><br> +<br> +FROM E. B. AND<br> +O. H. B.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[vii]</span></p> + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-100.jpg" alt=""></div> + + +<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> + +<nav data-epub-type="toc"> +<table> +<tr><td class="tdr"><span class="allsmcap">CHAPTER</span></td><td class="tdr" colspan="2"> <span class="allsmcap">PAGE</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">I.</td><td> A HUNTER AND HIS DOG</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_3"> 3</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">II.</td><td> GARRAM FINDS TROUBLE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_15"> 15</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">III.</td><td> THE CULPRIT</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_27"> 27</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IV.</td><td> THE RAINMAKER’S ADVICE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_45"> 45</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">V.</td><td> A JOURNEY TO COME</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61"> 61</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VI.</td><td> THE CITY OF THE FULANI</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_67"> 67</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VII.</td><td> LAUGHTER MAKES FRIENDS AND FOES</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81"> 81</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">VIII.</td><td> THE EMIR’S COURT</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_91"> 91</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">IX.</td><td> THE EMIR’S SECRET</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_99"> 99</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">X.</td><td> THE ROYAL HUNT</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_119"> 119</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[viii]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XI.</td><td> KON AS DETECTIVE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_131"> 131</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XII.</td><td> GARRAM ACCUSED</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_145"> 145</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIII.</td><td> MENUD “TROUBLES TROUBLE”</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_157"> 157</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIV.</td><td> A NOVEL PUNISHMENT</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175"> 175</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XV.</td><td> A PIGLET ACTS FOR GARRAM</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_189"> 189</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVI.</td><td> A STORY OF STORIES</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_205"> 205</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVII.</td><td> A GHOST LEOPARD</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_217"> 217</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XVIII.</td><td> THE ALARM DRUM</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_245"> 245</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XIX.</td><td> THE CHIEF RETURNS</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_265"> 265</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XX.</td><td> GARRAM EARNS SLEEP</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_281"> 281</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXI.</td><td> MENUD, THE TRAITOR</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_289"> 289</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXII.</td><td> THE HILLMEN TRIUMPH</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_309"> 309</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr">XXIII.</td><td> HOME AGAIN</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_321"> 321</a></td></tr> +</table> +</nav> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[ix]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illustrations.jpg" alt=""></div> + + +<h2 class="nobreak">ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +</div> + +<nav data-epub-type="loi"> +<table> +<tr><td class="tdl">THE YOUNG HUNTER STOOD MOTIONLESS<br> + BEFORE HIM LOOKING INTO THE DISTANCE.<br> + TO FIGHT—AH, THAT WOULD<br> + HAVE BEEN GOOD! BUT TO FLY FROM<br> + ONE’S ENEMIES—IT SEEMED TOO HARD<br> + A THING TO ASK</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_0"> <i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr" colspan="2"><span class="allsmcap">PAGE</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">DROVE THE KNIFE INTO THE KOB’S NECK</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9"> 9</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">GARRAM SMUGGLED IT INTO A STABLE</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_151"> 151</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">BOULDER AFTER BOULDER, CRASHED DOWN</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_167"> 167</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">IT WAS LIKE A SNAKE, SWAYING</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_191"> 191</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdl">GARRAM WAS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HUT</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_233"> 233</a></td></tr> +</table> +</nav> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span> + + +<p class="ph3">A HUNTER AND HIS DOG</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-005.jpg" alt=""></div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br> +<small>A HUNTER AND HIS DOG</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">G</span><small>ARRAM</small> stopped silently in midstride and +listened. On each side the narrow path beaten +through the parched, straw-like grass by the +feet of different game animals, trees, gnarled +and stunted by the annual forest fires, hid all +the view. Heat from the midday tropical sun +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span>beat down into the breezeless African bush +and made the perspiration run down the silken +black skin of the young hunter, down the uplifted +foot as he paused, leg raised in midstride, +down the worn hollow of the path in the red +brick-like clay.</p> + +<p>He was bare except for a soft leather loincloth +and the knife at his waist, the quiver and +hunting ax slung over his shoulder. Everything +in his clean-cut build, even his long thin muscles, +seemed in an attitude of attention as he turned +his head first this way, then that, to locate more +accurately the sound he had just heard.</p> + +<p>As usual Garram hunted to-day far away from +his father’s tribe in the Hills. Deep in the country +of the Plains, he was as a stranger liable to +be killed on sight if discovered.</p> + +<p>As Garram waited for the sound to be repeated, +Kon, his dark brown, smooth-coated +hunting dog, also waited. In the same attitude +of strained attention, one foot raised, he suppressed +with difficulty his panting so that he +might hear the better. Then clear through all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span>mingled and various sounds of the hot jungle, the +bursting of seed pods, the chirping of insects, +the rustle of dried leaves and twigs stretching and +twisting in the heat, came the faint but unmistakable +click of hoof on stone.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-005.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>Kon’s huge head swung round to the boy, +awaiting orders.</p> + +<p>The young hunter’s right hand went up to the +quiver over his left shoulder, drew an arrow, +and with a sweeping movement placed it across +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span>the bow in readiness. Swift, almost too swift +to follow, but the swing of the arm and the +pointing of the arrow had given the dog his +orders. As the arm had swung round to the +right Kon plunged into the bush in the direction +indicated.</p> + +<p>Then began a method of hunting probably +unique, invented after long practice by the boy +and his dog. Hidden from each other by the +dense bush, Garram began to move Kon cautiously +toward the game by sound signals. Where +Kon and the boy had waited listening, a pool of +scent would hang on the hot, stagnant air. The +buck, probably a male kob by the sound, could +not be got to approach this place. So, swiftly +but silently as ever, Garram sought another +station.</p> + +<p>A hundred paces up the trail was a tree. +Rather taller than the rest, its boughs overhung +the narrow clearing made by the game track. +With the ease of a forest monkey the boy swung +himself up and lay, arrow on bow, along a bough, +waiting. Listening for occasional sounds made +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span>by the buck’s horns striking against branches, +or the rustle and crackle of dry grass beneath +his hoofs, Garram could follow the general line +taken by the grazing animal. With faint bird-like +whistles he moved the well-trained dog +first to one side then the other, backward and +forward, but always edging the now suspicious +quarry backward toward the tree by the path.</p> + +<p>The hunt continued, Garram motionless, eyes +half shut, every atom of attention concentrated +in his ears. The bush grew more still as the terrible +heat seemed to increase and bludgeon into +silence even the sound of the insects. But even +so, sounds needed sorting from each other, locating, +and, above all, understanding. A lizard +dropped from a height with that flat flop which +saves him from damage but makes him sound +like a much larger animal. Bent grass straightened +in the blazing heat. A snake rustled in +some cool undergrowth. These sounds, once +understood, could be dismissed as not likely to +disturb the game or complicate the hunt. But +to the left was a faint crackle of some larger +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span>game moving along a dry reed bed. A faint +whistle from Garram ordered the dog around to +that side. This would edge the kob away from +threatened complication.</p> + +<p>The little sweat bees of the bush were clustering +in dozens and hundreds in the corners of the +boy’s mouth, the corners of his eyes, anywhere +where there was moisture. Garram was used to +this. Moreover, he was too intent even to notice +them at the moment. He could picture Kon, +wriggling with eagerness, ears pricked, crawling +from cover to cover, almost flat bellied on the +ground. The kob, he knew, would be tossing his +head in defiance of the unknown danger, reaching +down occasionally for a promising tuft of +grass or leaf, but steadily moving away from the +suspicious sound made by Kon in his stalk, steadily +moving toward where Garram lay perched +above the line of his sight, above the range of his +nose.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9-10]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> + <img src="images/i-009.jpg" width="450" height="640" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p class="caption">Drove the knife into the kob’s neck</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Then the kob emerged into the game trail. +He sniffed for a moment and got the full body +scent left by Garram and Kon as they had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> +stood listening and waiting. With a snort the +tawny yellow beast broke into a swift but lumbering +gallop, following the track that passed +beneath Garram’s tree. Now, from a slow painstaking +stalk the hunt had reached its phase of +the last tearing split second of tense action. +Thrusting his bow and quiver swiftly among +some boughs which would hold them, the hunter +prepared to launch himself flat upon the game.</p> + +<p>The beast was two lumbering strides away +when the lithe black body dropped through the +leaves, straightening itself as it fell. By a miracle +it seemed to miss impalement on the needle-sharp +lyre-shaped horns, and Garram’s weight, +as he fell astride the shoulders, drove the point +of his outstretched knife deep between the vertebræ +of the heavy neck!</p> + +<p>A blow instantly fatal. The great beast, killed +in full gallop, thudded upon the ground. The boy +with one spring alighted unhurt and smiling in +the dust of the fall. For a moment he stood so, +half sorry for his fine opponent, then turned to +the work on hand.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> + +<p class="ph3">GARRAM FINDS TROUBLE</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br> +<small>GARRAM FINDS TROUBLE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">G</span><small>ARRAM</small> had first been attracted to hunting +by the thrill of the risk, by the pitting of skill +against skill. He had now, for some time, given +up the noisy, ineffectual hunts of the other +youths of the tribe, who were led by that clumsy +boaster, Menud.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span>Solo hunts with their greater risks but greater +gains had become essential. Somehow, he knew +he must prepare for the time when, on the death +of Warok, his father, he would be the next candidate +for chieftainship of the tribe of Hillmen. +He would then be expected to offer great feasts +of oxen and much beer brewed from the native +corn. By exchanging with neighboring villages +meat and skins from his game Garram had accumulated +a hidden store of brass rods and rolls +of native cloth, the currency of the country.</p> + +<p>The young hunter was at work even before +Kon arrived. With the point of his knife he slit +the skin along chest and belly and up the inside +of each leg. Fine tawny skin, verging on white +on the underside, soft to the touch and in excellent +condition. Had Kon been an ordinary +village dog he would have sprung upon the game +or run around barking in excitement. But careful +training had made him as silent and undemonstrative +as his master. Noise has no place +in serious hunting.</p> + +<p>The same careful training now showed in another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span>way. As the huge dog stood waiting, Garram +held out a fold of the skin which he had +been working loose.</p> + +<p>As he worked at the skinning, deftly and with +no waste movement, Garram’s thought turned +to the past, to those happenings which had made +him train Kon by contraries so that he seemed +the most disobedient dog in the village. He had +trained him to come to heel when waved forward, +and to rush forward when called to heel. +So now, as they worked, an order to pull meant +to let go, and “Let go” resulted in the dog’s +digging in his paws and pulling the hide away +while Garram’s knife eased it from the underlying +tissue.</p> + +<p>“<i>Let go!</i>” Garram ordered and Kon caught +hold and began to pull, as the young hunter +eased the skin loose with the knife point. Then +another whisper: “<i>Pull!</i>” and, the need for assistance +over, the huge jaws relaxed, and the +dog sat back on his haunches again, waiting for +the next order.</p> + +<p>Twice before Garram had trained dogs in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>ordinary way. The first was, perhaps, stolen by +a stranger but the second, adopted as a stray +and starving puppy, had almost reached Kon’s +perfection of understanding when Menud, relying +on his clumsy strength and his following of +loutish village youths, had stepped in and appropriated +him.</p> + +<p>That was the last Garram had seen of his dog. +Later he had been killed by a chance arrow in +one of those hunting parties of yapping curs +and still noisier half-grown men which Garram +despised.</p> + +<p>The boy’s face took on the hard outline and +fixed expression of a grown man as, with recollection, +anger rose within him. Some time surely +would come a day of reckoning for this and +many other wrongs he had endured at Menud’s +hands.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the skin had come clear and was +spread out on the ground, hair downward. The +hunter was now occupied partly with knife, +partly with hunting ax, dismembering the joints +in the manner of a professional butcher. Kon, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span>useless at this work, lay in the deeper shade some +paces away, having a noisy but a most enjoyable +time with a bone.</p> + +<p>After a night and a day spent over the drying +fire, Garram wrapped the meat, much reduced in +weight and size, in the skin, and tied it with +long slivers of supple bark torn from near-by +trees. Even then it was a heavy load he carried +in to a distant village, where he exposed it for +sale beneath a shady tree in the market place.</p> + +<p>Sale was slow and tedious. No native buys +more meat than his personal needs for the day, +and Kon, though asleep most of the time, +looked so threatening on account of his huge +size, that the meat was safe from a thieving villager +or half-starved cur. Garram woke up from +time to time just sufficiently to exchange a few +words with his customers and effect a sale.</p> + +<p>The chattering market was breaking up, and +it was evening before the meat was all gone. +The proceeds were stowed securely in the worn +leather of Garram’s hunting bag. But the air +was cooling now, and their seemingly slow trot +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span>covered the ground with surprising speed on +their homeward journey. Refreshed by their +long sleep they had reached the spot halfway +up the hillside where, in a cave, Garram had +his cache of riches, before the sun began to sink +behind the Hills.</p> + +<p>Above them but out of sight was the cluster +of huts which was the principal village of the +Hillmen. Here ruled Warok the Leopard, Garram’s +father. Far below them the gray granite +hillside dipped into the plain which stretched, +far as the eye could see, toward the Great River +of the east. From the height where Garram and +Kon strode, the forest of the Plains looked like +smooth-spread moss. Somewhere in this the boy +and dog had made their successful hunt, but +already the Plains lay in the shadow of the +Hills, and nothing could be distinguished.</p> + +<p>Now something more urgent than the view +suddenly gripped Garram’s attention. Here a +turned pebble, there a bent grass showed that +someone had approached his cave. Cautiously +the boy skirted the bush which hid the opening +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>and entered. For perhaps a minute he remained +out of sight. As he reappeared Kon greeted him +with a wagging tail, then, at sight of the hunter’s +face, was still. Someone, obviously no beast, +had robbed the hiding place of all its wealth.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-021.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>Garram stood thinking for a moment, balancing +on one leg, the bare big toe of the other +scratching ruminatively at an instep. Frowning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span>a little, he rubbed one hand over his smooth-shaved +head as if to aid thought.</p> + +<p>“No one of our tribe would rob another of our +tribe,” he informed Kon. The dog, gravely regarding, +seemed to agree. “Yet who is it we have +seen watching us from a distance? Several times. +Who but Menud? Menud, <i>always</i> Menud!”</p> + +<p>After another visit to the cave to make sure +that nothing remained, not a copper rod, not a +stitch of cloth, the two started again on the long +bare climb.</p> + +<p>Here and there was a tuft of moss-like vegetation +in the hollow of the rock. Less frequently a +rod of green cactus forced its way up between +boulders from some hidden pocket of soil far +below. The bare granite was still hot from the +all-day blaze, and the cooler evening breeze +seemed painfully long in coming. Garram, with +set and angry face, marched steadily upward. +The dog was openly panting and lolling out his +tongue as he toiled up the long ascent.</p> + +<p>Then quickly Kon’s tongue was withdrawn, +the panting ceased, and nervously he began to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span>sniff the air. At first Garram did not notice his +strange behavior. Kon was hanging back, sniffing +uneasily, as though some danger threatened +from the front. Then, tail between legs, he gallantly +overcame his fear sufficiently to catch +up with his young master.</p> + +<p>Sickened by the loss of the profits of several +years’ hard work, Garram had put out his hand +to pull Kon’s ears, wanting to feel the touch of +a sympathizer. But at the touch the dog, +hackles up, pointed. They were facing a small +cave in the side of the hill. Garram stopped.</p> + +<p>Then, shifting the hunting ax from his shoulder, +his face set with the grim killing urge, the +boy went in.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE CULPRIT</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br> +<small>THE CULPRIT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> gray-bearded councilors waited, seated +in a ring on the ancient stone seats of the Hill +of Assembly. Uncomfortable seats they were, +too, each made of two slabs of uncut rock, one +piece serving as a back. But so had the council +of the tribal elders sat in the days before their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>father’s fathers. Completely surrounding the +stone seats of the council was a thick ring of +trees which crowned the bare flat-topped hill, +the sacred grove which no one might cut, and +dedicated to the tribal gods. On the east the treetops +still showed, reddened by the setting sun.</p> + +<p>On the hill opposite the Hill of Assembly clustered +the hundreds of round grass-thatched +mushroom-like huts of the village of Warok, +the chief. It was the chief town of the Hillmen +and well named Kwallak the Stony.</p> + +<p>Warok sat now, spear planted by his side, on +the western edge of the ring of the elders, a +gray-bearded warrior, scarred with ancient +wounds, wearing the universal leather loincloth, +and with a leopard skin slung like a cape from +his shoulders. The elders were similarly clad, but +their capes were of goatskin or of the smaller +buck.</p> + +<p>The speaker before them, his rapid gesticulations +contrasting sharply with the quiet dignity +of the Assembly, drew near to the end of his +harangue.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span>“Whilst daily these goats, which I have +counted before you, were being stolen, you, +who are the chief, do nothing!” He paused to +point an insolently accusing finger at the old +chief, his voice rising to an ill-natured sneer as +he continued: “But I, Sura, whom you will not +permit to sit in the Assembly, no doubt because +of my riches, I, and Menud my son, have discovered +the thief whom you wished to hide.”</p> + +<p>Warok’s voice, low toned but authoritative, +cut in: “I hide no wrongdoers. I envy no man +his riches, for I am too old to use them. You do +not sit in the Assembly both because you are not +of the age and because you are not of the true +descent of the tribe. For such is the law. Continue!”</p> + +<p>Sura, his thick lips thrust forward with malicious +eagerness, his fat, weak-legged body +quivering with fear and hate, had scarcely been +able to hold back the climax of his speech.</p> + +<p>“This same law, then, which is so rigid that +for all my wealth in cattle and goats I may not +sit in council, this same law will punish your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span>son with death!” Sura paused, almost happily, +to deliver his final blow.</p> + +<p>“The penalty for stealing is death?”</p> + +<p>Warok inclined his head in assent.</p> + +<p>“Good! Since the thief, as Menud my son can +prove—the thief whom you have protected but +who must now die is—your son Garram!”</p> + +<p>The soft fat hand of the speaker made a gesture +of slaying, and for a moment there was +silence. Then a scarred old warrior leaped to +his feet.</p> + +<p>“No man should be accused behind his back. +Moreover, I have known the boy since he was a +child. He is no thief!”</p> + +<p>But his voice was drowned by the clamor, for +Sura, with his wealth, had his own backing, and +the voices of his supporters increased. Then at a +sign from the chief, the sound gradually lessened.</p> + +<p>“This is no matter of opinion. Not so do we do +justice. O elder of the people.” The quiet voice +of Warok further calmed the Assembly. “But +having heard the charge, let us now hear the +evidence. Let Menud speak.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>Menud, a tall, gangling youth, large built but +clumsy, came forward. As with Sura, venom +seemed to drive him where courage might have +been insufficient. Almost with insolence he +halted in front of the chief, and without greeting +or preliminary he began.</p> + +<p>“The words of my father are true. Garram +does not hunt with the people of the tribe, nor +in the tribal hunting grounds. Yet his foolish dog +is always well fed, and I have watched him +bring meat to your house.” The youth continued. +“And if he does not hunt, whence comes +this meat?” Menud hesitated. “Meat does not +grow on trees, and his goats are few. So the meat +was stolen!”</p> + +<p>Here and there a gray beard nodded in agreement. +But the old warrior who had first spoken +in Garram’s defence had an objection.</p> + +<p>“All this you say, but you say it in the boy’s +absence, when he cannot deny. And how do we +know your words are true? You have not seen +the theft, nor can you produce the meat which, +you say, has been eaten.” He paused. “Moreover, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span>the stolen goats that Sura had counted are +more than two men and dogs could eat!”</p> + +<p>Menud waited, impatiently cropping the grass +with prehensile toes, but with an evil grin of +satisfaction. The game was being played into +his hands. “I cannot watch each night to see a +thief at work. But I have seen him returning with +the price of our stolen goats, which he has sold +in distant villages.”</p> + +<p>Menud reached down to fumble for a moment +with the knots of a bundle at his feet. Then +spread the contents wide for the inspection of +the Assembly. “Behold the price of the goats he +could not eat, and the proof of his guilt!”</p> + +<p>A horrified murmur rose from the Assembly. +This seemed the last convincing proof of the +crime of their chief’s son. A crime which had +been on so large a scale that it must indeed +involve the old warrior father as well.</p> + +<p>Here and there elders rose stiffly from their +stone seats. Supporting themselves on their +staffs they came forward to inspect the bundle. +Brass and copper rods, rolls of webbing-like +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span>cloth, and other articles which do duty for +currency in a primitive country.</p> + +<p>“This is all?” questioned one expert, scraping +a rod with appraising thumbnail. For a moment +Menud gulped and hesitated.</p> + +<p>“Yes, all that I could find, though perhaps +Garram has more hidden.”</p> + +<p>One by one the old men, peering in the failing +light, satisfied themselves that these articles were +what they seemed, and one by one, silent, returned +to their places. Of one race with Warok and +Garram, their sympathies were with the aristocratic, +haughty old chief and the independent +young hunter, rather than with Sura and Menud, +who seemed alternately to bully and grovel.</p> + +<p>Among the Assembly Sura’s purchased influence +began to wane beneath a growing pity +for the young hunter, and in the mind of one +lame and wizened ancient grew, slowly, a plan +to help the boy. If others took his meaning and +followed his lead, then the boy might yet be +saved. It was worth trying. He rose awkwardly +and spoke.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span>“Sura has said that fifteen of my seventeen +goats have been stolen. It is false. I have lost +no goats!” The well-meaning lie took a little +time to sink in, but, pleased with himself, the +old one had sat down again. He leaned forward +and with the end of his staff administered a +broad hint, in the shape of a prod in the ribs +to another ancient on his left. With a vicious +malediction upon the first ancient the second +rose to frame, if possible, a better lie. To claim +an increase in his herds, perhaps! But Warok +intervened.</p> + +<p>“My thanks for your kindness,” his level voice +was heard through the gathering dusk. “But if +he is guiltless my son will defend himself. If +guilty he shall not escape the penalty!”</p> + +<p>Then between the tree trunks in the dimming +light the figure of a boy was seen approaching. +Garram must, somehow, have learned what was +in progress. Straight and unswerving he took his +course to face his judges and accusers. Straight +to face his trial for a crime whose punishment +was death.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span>Through the onlookers beyond the circle of +elders he came, and a path opened for him +through the packed people.</p> + +<p>He came within the ring of elders. Then the +silence was broken.</p> + +<p>“Seize him and bind him!” ordered Menud, +and a group of those youths who followed him +hastened to obey. Garram had not hesitated in +his stride, but as they sprang forward an arrow +appeared as if by magic on his bow. Swiftly +Menud and his followers leaped for safety behind +the seated elders.</p> + +<p>The young hunter now stood before the elders, +swaying slightly as he waited. At Garram’s back, +teeth bared and mane bristling, Kon stood on +guard. A moment Garram waited, then his bow +clattered to the ground from his relaxed left +hand, and with his right he strove to hold together +the gaping wounds in his side.</p> + +<p>Warok, in answer to his son’s question, detailed +the charge. Something of pride was in the +old man’s voice as he spoke. Garram seemed +struggling with his weakness, and the silence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>grew tense. His words must make certain his +death for, surely, in the minds of the elders, +there could be no defence for this well-proved +charge, and both friends and enemies knew that +he would speak the truth at any cost.</p> + +<p>But the young hunter, weak as he was, seemed +to have no intention of defending himself.</p> + +<p>“When Menud robbed my cave, these, then,” +he pointed at the bundle Menud had opened—“these +are all that he says he found?”</p> + +<p>Voices out of the dusk confirmed. There was a +movement of sympathy in the packed, straining +crowd. Guilty as he was, he had made no attempt +to deny his guilt.</p> + +<p>“Then may his house and the house of +Sura be searched for that which they have +hidden and mean to steal. There is ten +times that which has been brought before +you!”</p> + +<p>A murmured order from Warok dispatched a +group of men to carry out the search.</p> + +<p>It was now dark except for the vague light of a +new moon. The voice of the boy, cool and even, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span>like that of his father, seemed small and forlorn +in the gloom.</p> + +<p>“As to where I hunt and how, that is no matter +for the Assembly, though none but a fool would +hunt with Menud’s chattering band. As for the +rest, I have no skill in talk, being only a hunter.”</p> + +<p>Interest deepened. This seemed no confession +of guilt. Nor yet a defence. A measure of reassurance +came to Warok and to those who +knew the boy best.</p> + +<p>“I bring you things which may be touched +and seen, not words which may lie. You may +then touch, and see, and judge.”</p> + +<p>The quiet voice ceased. There was a rustle +in the darkness, and heads were turned toward +a small red glow which wove in and out among +the trees. More spots of light came into sight, +slowly tracing along the path from the village +to the assembly ground, growing larger as they +approached. Once more the crowd opened, this +time to make way for a party of men with +smoldering grass torches and carrying handfuls +of bones and half-bleached skulls of goats. In +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span>the distance a group of men struggled with +some heavy and awkward load, grunting and +cursing with their effort.</p> + +<p>The foremost cast down his burden, opened +out his grass torch and swung it at arm’s length +till it burst into a blaze.</p> + +<p>“By your son’s orders we bring these, O Chief. +The cave was full of the bones of goats—as if +all the goats of the village had been slaughtered +for one feast.” The speaker held the blazing torch +down so that the onlookers might see, while +more and more bones were thrown upon the pile.</p> + +<p>“And behind—— Ah, here he is.” With something +of the pride of a showman the speaker +turned. “The stealer of these goats, the eater of +this feast, whom your son Garram has killed +single handed!”</p> + +<p>And with a thud ten staggering men let fall +the body of a magnificent leopard.</p> + +<p>More and more torches were fanned into a +blaze, till even the outermost spectators could +make out the huge tawny shape with its black +spots. Guttural murmurs of amazement were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span>heard. Never in the memory of living man had +such a great beast been seen, alive, trapped, or +dead. Kon, growling, shrank back against Garram, +who, for the moment forgetting his wounds, +had sat down to enjoy the beginning of his +triumph. Then he spoke.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-039.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>“Menud sought the thief in the wrong cave. +He should have sought higher on the path, nearer +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span>the village. Though perhaps had he done so +he might have joined the goats!” With difficulty +the young hunter kept the ring of exultation +out of his voice.</p> + +<p>Then, before people could recover from their +amazement, there was another interruption. +The men sent to search the house of Sura and +Menud were returning. More torches flared as +they cast down their burdens, load after load +of jangling brass and copper rods, neat rolls of +narrow cloth tightly wound to resist moisture. +Words were unnecessary. Garram’s defence and +the proof of Menud’s intent to steal lay in shining +piles on the ground for all to see.</p> + +<p>Garram, supported weakly on one elbow, suddenly +crumpled up and lay still. Instantly +Warok was at his side. Weak from the pain and +loss of blood from the wounds left by the leopard’s +claws, Garram had fainted. After a swift +but practised examination of the wounds the +chief spread his own leopard-skin robe and +placed the boy gently upon it, while Kon stood +worriedly by.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>Menud and his father had disappeared, but +shouts of vengeance, upon the two plotters rose +fiercely out of the torchlit darkness. The old +chief turned angrily upon the crowd.</p> + +<p>“When the sun sank you would have had me +kill my son. Now that you have seen his deeds +you would turn upon his accusers. Think you +that he needs your help for vengeance upon such +rats as those?”</p> + +<p>Stooping down he gathered the still unconscious +body in his powerful arms. Carrying it as though +it were a child, and followed by Kon, the old +chief passed proudly out of the Assembly.</p> + +<p>But Menud and Sura were still free to plot +again.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span></p> + +<p class="ph3">THE RAINMAKER’S ADVICE</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br> +<small>THE RAINMAKER’S ADVICE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">G</span><small>ARRAM</small> heard the tapping of a stick. It was +approaching along the rocky path which wound +through the terraced fields of corn, toward the +place where he lay basking in the sun. Bare +feet give no sound on rock, so people of the +Hills learn to recognize the tapping of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span>six-foot walking sticks as easily as boot-wearing +people recognize the sound of a well-known +footstep.</p> + +<p>“Salutations and many salutations!” The boy +sprang up in greeting as, rounding a boulder at +the turn of the path, came the tall figure of his +ancient friend, the Rainmaker and Priest of the +Tribal Cults. Proudly Garram offered his new +leopard skin as a seat for his visitor. Garram’s +wounds had healed with no trace of blood poisoning, +but he was still too weak to hunt, and was +forced to sit about, idly convalescing. He had +been lying in the shade, watching Kon scratch +for imaginary fleas, listening to the songs of the +women as they ground corn in the huts, stretching +out his brown arms and legs luxuriously in +the morning breeze, but getting more and more +bored.</p> + +<p>“Increase in years and prosperity be thine!” +he added as his welcome visitor sat down and disposed +his soft skins about him.</p> + +<p>The Rainmaker laid down his staff. “Peace +and health!” the deep voice replied. “And your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span>strength?... Returning to you?... It is good, +for you will need it soon!”</p> + +<p>The appearance of the old Rainmaker was impressive. +His high-bridged nose was in contrast +to the flatter noses of the rest of the tribe, and his +shining but uncut beard and hair, his six foot six +of bone and muscle hung round with soft tanned +leather robes and mysterious bags and charms, +all added dignity to the seamed, impassive face +on which alone the years had left their mark.</p> + +<p>The young hunter and the old magician seemed +to have something in common. Though grown-ups +were silent at his approach and children ran +howling to their mothers, Garram, when a small +child, had stood gravely considering the old +Rainmaker; then, to the horror of the other children, +had crossed the market place to him, +politely saluted him, and asked why people +feared him! This was many years ago, but the +Rainmaker and the young hunter, both aloof and +uncommunicative, both fearless and rather disdainful +of the chattering village, had formed a +curious friendship which had lasted ever since.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span>The old man began to fill his pipe from a +leather tobacco wallet which hung at his waist. +At least two ounces of the coarse native tobacco +went into the shining black clay bowl with its +ornate carvings. The bowl was nearly four inches +across and five deep, and it would have taken +twice the amount to fill it. But it was seldom +smoked out. Garram watched with interest as +the old man busied himself with a collection of +small tongs, skewers, and knives made of soft +iron and kept especially for this purpose in the +wallet.</p> + +<p>Behind them as they sat was the group of red-walled, +grass-thatched huts, built touching each +other and inclosing a courtyard. This was Garram’s +home, and at a sign from the other he went +in swiftly by the narrow window-like door set +high in one of the walls. In a moment he returned +with a small ember from the cooking fire, carefully +shielding it from the inflammable thatch +as he climbed out again through the circular +doorway.</p> + +<p>With the bowl at the end of the three-foot-long +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span>mouthpiece resting on the ground, the Rainmaker +applied the glowing ember to a small +stick.</p> + +<p>“Though the sky be clear,”—he squatted +on the leopard skin and drew carefully at the +mouthpiece—“those who have wisdom can yet +feel the coming storm.” He made a motion for the +young hunter to sit down and listen. “But the +fool will wait till Achin the God of Thunder rends +a tree before he says to himself, ‘See there is a +storm!’” Reaching out his hand he broke the +glowing end of the stick carefully into the exact +center of the bowl. With a metal skewer he +scraped the fluffy white wood ash all around it, +carefully covering all but the center, where the +charcoal glowed. A few tentative draws on the +pipe, then, the result appearing to his satisfaction, +he wiped and replaced the odd bunch of +tools in the wallet.</p> + +<p>“What, then, is the meaning of my saying?” +he asked.</p> + +<p>Garram remained silent. As a hunter he knew +that talk scared the game. The silent man sees +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span>and hears most. The Rainmaker had not come +for a chat but to say something of importance. +Instead of replying, the boy stretched out a leg +and with bare toe invited Kon to come and be +scratched. The massive dog approached and with +a bored sigh flopped down and rolled over, his +lips drawing back in a contented grin as a skilful +toe explored the sensitive part of the chest +around the shoulder.</p> + +<p>“Even though the sky be clear for you and for +Warok your father,” the deep voice resumed, “is +there no sign of a coming storm?”</p> + +<p>Garram looked up swiftly as his friend seemed +to be reading his thoughts.</p> + +<p>“Uncle of my father, Yes! The signs are clear, +but there is much that I cannot understand.”</p> + +<p>The chief priest, in his turn, seemed to have +lost all interest in the subject. With all elaboration +and care seemingly due to so important an +act he was tamping down his pipe where smoldering +grains of tobacco had forced up the neat +white ring of the wood ash.</p> + +<p>The leopard skin beneath the two lay on a surface +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span>of thickly strewn white sand, sand which had +been brought painstakingly from a stream bed +two thousand feet below and spread like a soft +carpet over the stones. Garram was marking +parallel lines in it with outstretched forefinger +as he brought to mind, one by one, the matters +that had puzzled him.</p> + +<p>With a sweep of his hand he obliterated the +marks and spoke.</p> + +<p>“Many things which are hidden to me are +clear to you. And perhaps in these matters there +is no mystery. But why is Menud again the +leader of the young hunters of the tribe? Before +my wounds made all things go black before my +eyes he had been shown guilty of stealing and +perhaps of plotting to have me killed. He was +not worthy of punishment, though many wished +him punished. Why then is he thought worthy +again to lead the youths of the tribe—he who +is a thief and worse?”</p> + +<p>The tall figure nodded. “Yes, that is without +doubt one of the signs.”</p> + +<p>The boy made a long mark in the sand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span>“And Sura who shared in the blame of Menud +his son—he has not been cast out. He has even +taken part in the Council of the Elders, sitting +on the Sacred Stones and speaking as if with +authority—though only in the absence of the +chief, my father. Sura is not of the true descent, +being a runaway slave from the Plains. Why does +my father permit these acts?”</p> + +<p>The priest nodded. Garram made another +mark in the sand. There was a pause. The old +man drew gently on his pipe. Then:</p> + +<p>“Are there no other signs that you see? Things +that affect you less, but the tribe perhaps +more?”</p> + +<p>Garram hesitated for a moment. “O uncle +of my father, that is all that I see with clear +sight. But beyond, matters which are no concern +of mine, since I have no authority in the tribe—and +yet....”</p> + +<p>Garram had risen and was standing, hands +clenched, more moved than when he had been +on trial for his life. A look of understanding +crossed the priest’s seamed and rugged face.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>“Why do we, the Hillmen, grow careless of +our honor and safety?” The boy’s dark eyes +flashed as he spoke. “The elders follow Sura because +of his wealth, though he is not of our race. +The young men follow though he is clumsy as +the wild boar and vain as the rock fowl. None +care for the good of the tribe. There are no young +hunters fit to become warriors. The cactus defence +walls of the village are never repaired and +are full of gaps for lazy women to take short cuts. +There are no fire belts around the towns, so +annual bush fires destroy many villages. An +enemy could, by fire, drive us forth to meet his +waiting spears.”</p> + +<p>Unused to making long speeches, the boy +paused and scratched the calf of his left leg with +bare right toe.</p> + +<p>“And why, seeing this—and I have seen his +face darken with anger as he sees—does my +father the chief do nothing?” He stopped, his +brown chest rising and falling under his excited +breathing, and looked down into the expressionless +face of the smoker.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>Again the pipe called for attention. Again the +tools were produced and the glowing charcoal +was moved slightly toward one side. Garram, annoyed +with himself for having said so much, +fidgeted awkwardly from foot to foot.</p> + +<p>“What would you have your father do?” The +Rainmaker spoke quietly. “In peace we Hillmen +are as free to act foolishly as wisely. Only in time +of war do we place all power in the hands of the +chief, punishing with death all who disobey. If +the people, soft and secure for many years, fear +no attack and neglect their defences, what then? +The elders too,” he continued, “are soft and forgetful +of their duty. If Warok commands that +defences be repaired, the elders will stand between +him and the people, seeking to gain favor, saying, +‘See, we will not permit this chief to oppress you, +for you are free men!’”</p> + +<p>The old man paused, then added as if in careless +afterthought: “Moreover, the elders are well +bribed by Sura with feasts and presents. And +Sura seeks to discredit the chief, your father, and +seize the chieftainship.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span>The early morning breeze was dropping, and +the sun was getting uncomfortably hot. Kon rose +and sauntered toward the cooler shadow of a +doka tree near the path. But Garram waited. +The old Rainmaker, the most feared man of the +tribe, was not one to speak without cause and +point. The boy felt the fierce eyes under the deep +brows looking into him and testing him.</p> + +<p>Whatever he sought, the priest seemed satisfied. +Preliminaries were over, and he came +straight to the point of his visit.</p> + +<p>“There is a secret plot to murder Warok, your +father. He will not save himself by flight, for +the gods made him without fear and heedless of +his enemies. He cannot defend himself except +against the straightforward attack, and Sura and +his followers are more likely to loose an arrow +through the dusk or poison his food or water. +But you his son have it in your power to save +him. You only.”</p> + +<p>The eyes of the young hunter lighted up, and +his hand slid to the knife at his belt. A half smile +relaxed the grim face of the old man. “Nay, not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span>by that means. By one way only—flight! If you +are beyond the reach of the plotters they will not +touch the chief your father. For they will fear +the day when you may return to the tribe a grown +man, living only to avenge him.”</p> + +<p>His message delivered, the gaunt Rainmaker +turned again to his pipe. With the greatest attention +to detail he emptied out the charcoal, +scraped out some burned tobacco, and plugged +the unburned dottel with a stopper of grass. The +young hunter stood motionless before him, looking +into the distance. His hand was still on his +knife, but he was swallowing the bitter medicine +of his disappointment. To fight—ah, that would +have been good! But to fly from one’s enemies—it +seemed too hard a thing to ask! His chest +rose and fell, and he had to gulp hard to conceal +his sorrow. The old man, face averted, cleaned +his tools twice over in the sand and polished +them off on his bare sole with quite unnecessary +care before replacing them in the leather +bag.</p> + +<p>At last the old Rainmaker rose to go. “Well? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>Your answer?” The deep voice betrayed unintended +sympathy at variance with the curt inquiry.</p> + +<p>The boy swallowed again. Then huskily, “I +go!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> + +<p class="ph3">A JOURNEY TO COME</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br> +<small>A JOURNEY TO COME</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">G</span><small>ARRAM</small> spent the rest of that day planning +and preparing. If the safety of his father required +him to leave the village of Kwallak it would debar +him for the same reasons from those other villages +of the Hills, where Sura might have influence. +As Garram planned, he prepared also +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span>the famous poison of the Hill people, evaporating +it in a piece of broken pot over a slow fire till it +was the color and consistency of tar. There +might be good reasons why he should leave the +tribe but there was no reason for him to hide +like a hunted animal.</p> + +<p>One by one he examined his reed-shafted, unfeathered +arrows, here and there renewing the +fine lashing which held the soft iron heads in place. +One by one he dipped them in the poison, laying +them out to dry. Like all the other hunters of +the Hills, he used a poison that was mainly +strophanthus, and the faintest scratch with +the arrow treated with it would kill man or +beast painlessly and faster than a well-placed +bullet.</p> + +<p>He squatted, working, on a rock in the shade +of a large tree and considered his possible plans. +The people of the Plains to the east were of the +Fulani race, and the little Garram had heard of +them did not make either them or their country +seem attractive. The tales he had heard were +from Hillmen, who, captured young by raiding +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span>parties, had seen their parents wantonly butchered. +Finally, when their captors had considered +them no longer worth guarding as slaves, some +homing instinct had made them drag their worn +and broken bodies back to the Hills.</p> + +<p>Arrows finished, the boy turned his attention +to re-hafting his hunting ax. Meanwhile he considered +the country of the Fulani of the West. +Of these he knew little. They were, by their +dress and appearance, of the same race as the +Fulani of the East. But for some reason they had +left the Hillmen alone, making no slave raids. +Most thrilling about them was the half-fabled +story of their mighty walled city, Yelwa. To the +Hillmen, whose little round thatched huts clung +like small clusters of mushrooms to the steep +hillsides, had come vague tales of a widespread +city, flat roofed, shadowed with ancient date +palms, and encircled by an incredible wall.</p> + +<p>With the completion of his preparations came +decision. He gathered up his weapons and for +safety’s sake overturned the remnants of the poison +into the fire. If then he was to be denied adventure +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>in the Hills he would go to meet it in +Yelwa itself—if the city really existed!</p> + +<p>Garram called to Kon and entered his father’s +house. Just before dusk he made his final preparations +in the shape of an incredibly large meal, a +real traveler’s meal, designed to last him through +a night of hard going.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE CITY OF THE FULANI</p> + +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br> +<small>THE CITY OF THE FULANI</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">G</span><small>ARRAM</small> peered out from the treetop. Far +away to the right and left stretched the high red +wall of the city, unbroken in its smooth surface +save for the single doorway from which poured a +seemingly endless stream of farmers, traders +with their donkeys and headloads, and women +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span>with earthenware jars going forth to draw water.</p> + +<p>The boy had arrived after midday of the previous +day, having traveled rapidly all night and +morning. He had found no difficulty in discovering +the city, the fabulous city of Yelwa, for all +tracks for at least twenty miles around led directly +toward it, converging upon each other, +widening when they met as streams meet to form +rivers.</p> + +<p>In the rugged, thinly populated Hills he had +neither seen nor imagined anything like it, had +heard of nothing to prepare him for the sight of +so many paths, such unbelievable streams of +people. It was all so terrifying in its strangeness. +Not a rock nor a hill was in sight, only level fields +of corn and other crops stretching as far as he +could see from his treetop vantage point. And +always his eyes and thoughts came back to that +towering city wall. Yesterday he had circled it, +Kon at his heels, until dark, seeking some less +public way of entrance than this city gate. Four +gates in all he had found, one at each point of the +compass, but each choked with jostling crowds, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>and there was no other opening. There was no +crack or growing plant, either, to afford him +finger and toe hold up the high wall with its +crenelated top.</p> + +<p>Under cover of the darkness last night he had +made a closer examination. Cautiously making +his way to the edge of the dry moat, he had carefully +felt along between the poisoned stakes +planted in the bottom of it and with the assistance +of Kon’s unwilling tail, hauled himself up +the other side. Then, flattening himself against +the base of the wall so that people on top might +not easily see him in the dim starlight, he worked +round to the gateway, only to find it closed. +This he had expected, but all the same it was +disappointing.</p> + +<p>So he had made his way back again to the uncultivated +bush, had hunted and killed, eaten and +slept. And now he was again seeking an entrance +into the city of Yelwa as it poured forth its inhabitants +by its western gate.</p> + +<p>Garram climbed down again to where Kon +was waiting for him, hidden in the small brush +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>at the foot of the tree. As it was early morning the +stream of people was emerging from the gates, +but catching sight of some travelers about to +enter he fell in behind the crowd, dread of the +unknown giving him a sick feeling inside him and +weakening his knees.</p> + +<p>He had never imagined how strange and trying +the quarter of a mile to the city gates could be. +He had never heard any spoken language but his +own, and here people were chattering and exchanging +salutations in a tongue which seemed +to him as meaningless as the calls of birds. But, +all the same, they seemed to understand it, +though it was hard to believe it wasn’t pretence. +People looked curiously at him, for the men all +wore long robes and baggy trousers, and the +women a long straight cloth wrapped around +beneath their arms and reaching nearly to the +feet. Half-admiringly a girl nudged another +girl, and they both smiled at him and pointed. +But the boy grew hot under his dark skin and +passed his hand over his shaven head. All the +other men and boys wore turbans or round red +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span>hats, all crown, he noticed, and nowhere did he +see such a leather loincloth as he wore.</p> + +<p>Kon, however, seemed to be enjoying himself. +Many yellow-colored dogs passed him, but on +seeing him snarled and made a wide detour. +Here and there he stepped aside to get a closer +sniff at some strange scent of donkey, horse, or +human.</p> + +<p>By the time the slowly moving donkey train +in front of him had reached the gate Garram was +glad to lift his glance from the roadway with its +deep-trodden sand. The gatehouse with a guard-room +on each side made a tunnel of shadow +through which could be seen a long street of +flat-roofed houses, so unlike the round huts of +the Hills that he scarcely took them for dwelling +places. It was dreadfully like a trap, and it took +all his will power to overcome his instinct to turn +and escape before it was too late.</p> + +<p>A man at arms on guard at the gateway took +one swift glance at the strange young hunter, +then called back to someone in the gatehouse. +At the signal several others came out at a run, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>fixing on their red-tasseled sword slings as they +came.</p> + +<p>“A Hillman and his dog, though never before +has one left the Hills!” the sentry cried.</p> + +<p>“A terrible warrior indeed!” jeered one of +those who had been called from his morning +meal. “But now that he has passed, permit that +we return, since you no longer require protection.” +They turned back, unslinging their cross-handled +swords, unbuckling the fastenings on +their quilted armor.</p> + +<p>“By Shehu, they took it coolly.” The sentry +stabbed idle patterns in the sand with his spear +point. “The unbeliever is young and comes +openly, as in peace. But my father has told me of +how, in the old days, when their hills were attacked +they fought as lions, having no fear of +death, but killing as they sank wounded to their +knees, killing still as they dropped to one elbow, +still stabbing as their eyes closed in death.” +Admiringly the young soldier followed Garram +with his eyes “Allah permit that I, a true believer +and follower of the Prophet Mohammed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span>may some day fight as well as these unbelievers!”</p> + +<p>The young hunter, unconscious of these happenings +behind him, had plenty to bewilder him. +The sandy road, hollowed out by many feet and +hoofs, narrowed between the houses, then opened +wide into the market square, set with shady +trees. From the trading booths of mud and +thatch, from the groups of people who crouched +over wares spread on mats in the open, came a +bewildering hubbub of many voices, crying their +goods, disputing prices, greeting each other, telling +the news.</p> + +<p>To his nose came also the strong scents of the +market, of spices and strange foods, of the perfumes +used by both men and women of these +gowned people, of the smoke of the small fires +round the butchers’ stalls where morsels of meat +were grilled on slivers of stick. The boy turned, +half seeking a way out of this, when Kon created +a diversion which made retreat impossible.</p> + +<p>The mangy market curs, underfed, timorous, +and cruel, had come up one by one to inspect +this unknown dog, who looked more like a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span>young calf than a canine. One by one they had +ranged themselves beside Kon as he followed a +pace behind his young master. The hound, with +majestic dignity, was ignoring them when with a +flash of yellow teeth a cur made a slash at his hind +quarters. But the teeth never met in Kon’s flesh, +and the yellow torrent of dogs, which as if by +signal closed on Kon, hurled themselves at empty +air. For an instant Kon stood grinning where his +sideways leap had landed him—then——</p> + +<p>Garram turned swiftly at first sound of the +flurry, but only in time to see the yellow pack in +yelping flight across the market place. The dogs +managed to dodge the more solid things such as +mud walls and tree trunks, but that was all they +dodged. Grave leather workers, gesticulating +butter sellers, and such, had no warning before +yellow bodies began sailing past their heads, +emitting terrified yelps and scrabbling confusedly +with their paws at turbans, faces of those who +had knelt on the mats, bowls of milk, and anything +else which might give foothold and increase +their speed of flight.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span>What the curs could not go under they went +through. Powdered tobacco became mixed with +sweetmeats, fluffy mounds of ginned cotton +spread like snow through the square, butter and +milk shot high in the air and descended like +blessings on ungrateful heads. The first yellow +wave of curs crashed over and among people +before there was time to shake a stick at them. +As traders sprang up from mat seats, adjusting +disheveled turbans, righting overturned calabashes, +retrieving scattered market produce, a +second apparition sent them groveling afresh, +calling upon Allah and the Prophet.</p> + +<p>One terrified glimpse they got of something +huge and black. It was Kon, grinning but immensely +determined, hurtling in pursuit. Behind +him Garram, who appeared a small fiend armed +with all sorts of outlandish weapons, and uttering +strange calls, seemed to their astonished gaze +scarcely to touch the ground as he dodged, +swerved, and leaped in pursuit.</p> + +<p>All those men whom Islam deemed holy and +whose names could be remembered in a hurry +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>were invoked as protectors in case Allah and Mohammed +should again prove insufficient.</p> + +<p>At the end of the market was a large flat-roofed +building with an outside stairway, the +Mohammedan mosque, the Place of Prayer for +the Faithful of Islam. As the yelping, scurrying +pack swept round the corner of the building +out of sight, Kon withdrew from the pursuit. +Garram, seeing this, turned in the act of leaping +over some children and a pile of corded firewood +and alighted in a space between some bowls of +sweetmeats. He glanced around, seeking a way +out of the awkward situation. Kon, still grinning, +and dancing almost on tiptoe, came up, trying +unsuccessfully to look apologetic.</p> + +<p>But hurrying after them came a stout and +wrathful trader, turban askew, his brown face +almost black with anger. “In the name of Shehu, +this exceeds all!” he shouted and with raised +spear rushed upon Kon.</p> + +<p>Garram could not understand the strange +speech, but it was clear that his dog was in danger. +The trader’s spear flashed forward and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>down. But with his left hand Garram had swung +his keen hunting ax, cutting the spearhead from +the shaft. Like a spinning leaf the broad blade +flew, flashing from the shaft out into the air, and +the lunge of the angry merchant carried the headless +spear shaft harmlessly past Kon’s broad +back.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-077.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>The man was still recovering his balance, gazing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span>with wonder at the wand he held, that had +so short a moment before been a spear, then his +eyes fell upon the knife in the young hunter’s +right hand. The blade slid smoothly to the broad +stomacher, was lost in the folds of the loose gown +and withdrawn with the swift dexterous twist +that only comes from much practice. Then Garram +and Kon vanished round the corner of the +Mosque.</p> + +<p>Horror of death was on the broad face of the +trader. His useless spear fell to the ground. A +large hand felt at where the gaping wound +should be, then astonishment and finally a +broad grin spread across his face.</p> + +<p>“Shaitan and Iblus!” Amazement was in his +voice. “To cut my trouser string and make me +think it was death!” Hastily he grabbed up the +trousers which had settled round his ankles and, +though much impeded, started in pursuit.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> + +<p class="ph3">LAUGHTER MAKES FRIENDS AND FOES</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br> +<small>LAUGHTER MAKES FRIENDS AND FOES</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> Emir, the chief of all the Fulani of the +Western Plain, was not pleased with the way +things were going in Yelwa, his capital city. But +on a Friday he seldom was pleased. For, on his +way to the mosque on the Mohammedan day of +prayer it was the custom for people to stop him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>and to present petitions. Also, and it was this +that annoyed him most, it was tradition that he +should grant many of these requests for pardon +of criminals, and that he should give alms on a +large scale. Both went against the grain, but +especially the pardoning of criminals. To sentence +a man earlier in the week only to release +him on a Friday, seemed waste of time. Lately +he had taken to giving sentences of flogging, +which could be all done and finished by the time +the day of pardons came around. Another +solution had been to give sentence of double +the punishment he intended and then remit +half.</p> + +<p>As he thought, a grim smile twisted one corner +of his mouth. Amid the plaudits of the richly +robed court he paused for the purification before +entering the mosque.</p> + +<p>During the ceremony a gathering cloud grew +and blackened on the hard face of the aristocratic +old Fulani. Not only the Ladan, in his call to +prayer, but the Liman—the Leader in Prayer—had +deviated intentionally from the traditional +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span>ritual. With his anger was mixed anxiety. These +religious men must feel they had strong backing +so daringly to flout the orthodoxy of which he +and his great ancestors had been such staunch +upholders!</p> + +<p>The rows of white-robed worshipers made +their final prayer, their final prostration, and began +to file out by the narrow doorway, out of +the dim coolness into the blinding heat of the +sunlight. For a few moments they stood, gathering +up their staves and ablution bottles while +they gossiped. The Emir leaned heavily upon the +shoulders of two followers while a third placed +the richly ornamented sandals on his soft, +almost ladylike feet. The Leader in Prayer, the +Liman, was making his salutations, and the +Court Praiser had struck up “Great is the +Son of....”</p> + +<p>Garram at full speed rounded the corner. He +tried to dodge the group at the mosque door, but +his speed was too great. He slipped, recovered, +throwing up a cloud of dust from the dry ground, +slipped again, and with bony elbows, hard head, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span>harder ax, throwing stick and bow, crashed full +into the Leader of Prayer!</p> + +<p>That gentleman had stooped to put on his +sandals. The impact sent him spinning backward. +To preserve his balance he grasped the +Ladan and for a brief moment they tottered +forward and back as if indulging in an undignified +comic dance. An agony of suspense was on their +faces. Then, force of gravity having its way, +stiff legged, feet stretched out in front, gently +they sat down side by side.</p> + +<p>Garram would have resumed his flight, but +guards seized him, and people looked toward the +Emir, expecting a brief, angry order. In vain they +waited.</p> + +<p>The Emir was bent almost double—at first +they thought in pain. Then they saw that the +hook-nosed, hawk-like face was twisted in honest +mirth. Twice he pointed a finger at the two +astonished elders who were sitting on the ground, +arms round each other like loving twins. Twice +he tried to speak. Cruel the African native may +be, but he loves a joke. From one after another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span>of the crowd snorts of laughter were heard, then +the whole group, old and young, were chuckling +and hooting with glee.</p> + +<p>It was perhaps unfortunate for the trader +that it was at this juncture he rounded the corner +in pursuit: sometimes hopping, sometimes +running, as his trousers permitted, and snorting +his indignation, his baggy garments slipping, +being caught, and slipping again as he stumbled +along. To complete the situation the trousers +slipped once too often and too far. The big man +rocked once in his stride, then, thudding at the +feet of the Emir he came down in a cloud of +dust. Hands at his side, still grasping at the refractory +pantaloons, feet behind him and mouth +wide open and gasping, he looked for all the +world like a large fish, just landed.</p> + +<p>Surprise at this second apparition had momentarily +checked the laughter. At this climax +it started again like one choking sob. The Emir, +all dignity swept away, leaned crumpled up +against the wall of the mosque, making strange +hooting noises.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span>The guard needed no order to make them release +their hold on Garram. The feeling of the +Emir and the people was too obvious to need +putting into words. Garram, too wise to draw +attention to himself by bolting again, sat down +to await developments. Kon, tail wagging in applause, +was quite willing to wait, apparently +hoping that someone would do some more funny +tricks.</p> + +<p>The Leader in Prayer and the Ladan gathered +themselves together, shaking the sand and dust +from their robes. Bitterly the Liman reproached +his innocent subordinate, whom he seemed to +blame for his humiliation. Muttering curses +beneath his breath which he dared not say aloud +he turned a baleful glance upon the unconscious +Emir.</p> + +<p>“Allah will requite!” he stalked off muttering. +“Allah will avenge the wrong done to his +servant!”</p> + +<p>Goshi, the stout trader, rose from before the +Emir and made more proper obeisance. “Pardon, +O Great One! Pardon thy servant!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span>The usual frown had returned to the face of +the Emir, and the trader trembled.</p> + +<p>“Be not so impetuous the next time you +hasten to pay your respects.”</p> + +<p>Goshi strove to stammer forth explanations, +but the chief cut him short with a wave of the +hand. “But if your quarry is not in fact a thief, +caught in the act, you shall forgive him. Then will +I forgive you.”</p> + +<p>Then turning to the guard the Emir raised +his voice so that the courtiers and assembled +multitude might also hear. “This boy is sent of +Allah to reprove presumptuous Holy Men. And +well has he done it! See that he, aye, and even +his dog, if so large a thing can be a dog, are well +lodged and fed in the palace.”</p> + +<p>The ever growing crowd let loose a burst of +applause far different from the usual acclamation. +In the train of the Emir, Garram strove to talk +to a genial giant of a guard in sign language. +Kon followed, his tail broadcasting unmistakable +opinion that this was a cheery city to live in.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE EMIR’S COURT</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br> +<small>THE EMIR’S COURT</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> Emir, splendid in jeweled robes of state, +held court. The room was filled with petty +officers of the court, townspeople of Yelwa, and +smaller chiefs, and below the dais groveled the +prisoner, loaded with leg irons and manacles. +The accused, now pale and trembling, bore little +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>resemblance to the cruel tyrant who, called +forth by the Emir to answer for his crimes, had +replied by raising an army and attempting war +upon the Emir himself.</p> + +<p>Here in the court witness after witness was +called, drawn from the actual scene of the crime, +and guilt of the accused was established beyond +dispute. Their tales of terrorism, exaction, and +torture ended, the prisoner, eyes fixed in dread +anticipation upon the judge, his Emir, awaited +sentence.</p> + +<p>The stir of movement, of whispered comment, +ceased throughout the bare, cave-like hall. Judgment +and sentence were about to be pronounced. +Raising one hand with its antique signet rings, +the Emir enjoined silence. “Since you, Governor +of one of our provinces, saw fit to rise in armed +rebellion against us....” He was addressing the +object in chains, upon whom all eyes were fixed.</p> + +<p>All eyes except those of Garram. In the +deserted side of the hall, behind the Emir, a +man, previously hidden behind a massive pillar, +moved swiftly forward to the cover of another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span>pillar. A quick movement of Kon’s huge head +had drawn Garram’s attention to this.</p> + +<p>The voice of the Emir continued. “Since in this +rebellion you tortured free men, burned villages, +stole....” The level voice was proceeding with +the summing up.</p> + +<p>Next to the Emir sat the Waziri, the Vizier, +and the Emir’s first officer of state. He was close +enough to be visible from a corner of the Emir’s +eye, and in full view of the people, but Garram, +watching, saw that although neither head nor +body of the Waziri moved, his left hand slid +behind him and made signs behind the cover of +his robes. Such signs could only be intended for +that stealthily approaching figure.</p> + +<p>“All these are clearly shown by many men +whose own eyes have beheld them,” the voice +continued. “Therefore the sentence is Death! +Your head shall be struck off in the market +place at sunset time!”</p> + +<p>Garram’s keen and watchful eye saw the +Waziri’s hand fall as if in secret signal. There was +a swift flash of steel as the hidden man sprang +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span>into the open and flung himself upon the unsuspecting +Emir, and the point of the assassin’s +knife tore into the back of the jeweled robe. +Then Kon’s great weight struck with full +force, and knife and man went thudding to +the ground.</p> + +<p>There was a gasp of horror from the crowded +room, another gasp as the dog’s huge jaws closed +menacingly around the attacker’s throat.</p> + +<p>The Emir gave no sign of fear, did not even +pause in his judgment. Coolly he continued with +his directions to the executioner, and the condemned +rebel was removed, then, careless of +the spreading stain of blood upon his garments, +the chief turned to the scene at his feet. The time +for the attack had been well chosen, when all +attention was upon the fate of the rebel, and but +for Kon’s intervention the Emir’s fate would +have been certain. Now, with threatening +clamor, guards and courtiers rushed forward and +surrounded the prostrate man. Kon, at a word +from Garram, released the figure and stalked +back to his master’s side.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span>The prisoner, would-be assassin, was dragged +by the mob to the front of the dais, and in a +moment his scarlet and gold uniform of the guard +hung in tatters from his shoulders, his face was +twisted in pain. But he faced the wrathful Emir +unafraid, waiting his sentence of death or torture.</p> + +<p>“So it is you, Ibrahim!” cried the Emir. “You, +the son of my cousin, of my own blood!”</p> + +<p>Ibrahim, lips set with pain, inclined his head +in assent. The Emir’s even tones deepened in +anger. “Was then my gift of captaincy of the +guard such an insult that it must be wiped out in +blood?” The proud and angry face of the chief +took on a look of sorrowful disdain. “If I have +ever wronged you, or yours, speak—and I will +set you free!”</p> + +<p>The young man had returned haughty look +for look, in spite of his pain. Now something like +shame came to the handsome face, and he bent +his head to hide it.</p> + +<p>“Speak, if you have words in excuse for your +deed! If you have none the penalty is——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span>“<i>Death!</i>” With a ring of pride Ibrahim completed +the Emir’s sentence.</p> + +<p>“Nay,” mocked the Emir. “Death is scarcely +the word. But in the end you may greet death as +a mercy, and not as a punishment. But, guard, +remove the prisoner lest I pass sentence blinded +by anger. Seven days from to-day, at the door +of the mosque of my ancestors, I will pass sentence.”</p> + +<p>“In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, +the Merciful, the Assembly is dismissed,” rang +the voice of the court crier.</p> + +<p>As the crowd filed through the wide doorways +in ever increasing hubbub of talk the Emir +turned to the Waziri. “See that an interpreter +be sent me. One that speaks the speech of this +young hunter whose dog has saved my life.” +Then, contemptuous of the broadening red +stain upon his robe he passed through the small +doorway leading to his private apartments.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> +<p class="ph3">THE EMIR’S SECRET</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br> +<small>THE EMIR’S SECRET</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> hunting camp was to be made about two +days’ journey from the city of Yelwa. Garram +and Kon, unused to the leisurely travel of city +men, covered the distance in one day and found +themselves on the camp site with many hours to +wait before the Emir arrived.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span>It was just before nightfall when they reached +the prearranged spot and sat for a while watching +a gang of laborers clearing grasses, bushes, +and tree stumps from a wide flat space on the +bank of a small lake. At nightfall the two went +hunting, killed, ate, and slept, and at dawn +started for a fresh hunt, driving the game as +close in to camp as possible before killing it. +When they arrived back at the camp site the +clearing that had been made the day before was +being filled with flat-roofed sun shelters made +with boughs of trees. Grass-walled huts had been +run up and picketing places established for the +horses which were expected.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-100.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>In the center the laborers were erecting the +Emir’s own hut. It was larger than the others, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span>more pretentious, with walls of three thicknesses +of grass matting and a thatched roof, +beautifully thick and even. The workers were +busy trimming more boughs with heavy knives, +digging holes for timber uprights, tying and +plaiting grasses. They looked up from their +work as Garram passed, glancing curiously at +the boy dressed in hides, and at his dog, so much +larger than any they had ever seen before. +Enviously they stared after his load of freshly +killed meat which showed beneath the leaf +coverings. They had come from distant villages +and had lived for more than two days on a little +half-cooked flour mixed with water, which they +had brought with them.</p> + +<p>Garram had noted their scanty diet and +guessed their hunger. Now, dropping the heavy +load from his head, he knelt down and undid the +twisted slivers of bark with which it was tied. +Almost before he had unrolled the meat, the +workers, divining his intention, dropped their +work and commenced to blow up cooking fires +from such wood as came to hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span>Garram made signs to the old village chief, +and the old man detailed off a band of boys to +follow the hunter and Kon back into the bush +for the remainder of the kill. The young hunter +returned to find himself suddenly popular, and +the popularity increased, along with astonishment, +when they discovered that he would take +no money for the food. Never before had they +seen any one of Garram’s race, but they had +heard of the mysterious race of the Hillmen since +they were children. They were almost incredulous +at his ability to go into the bush and return +with game as easily as a man picks a sheep from +a sheep pen. Why, it would have taken a hunter +of the Plains a fortnight, at least a week, to kill +as much as Garram had brought to them in a +single day!</p> + +<p>They offered him their small tobacco pipes, +pressed upon him small gifts of tobacco, and +later in the day, when the women and children +arrived with fresh provisions, they urged upon +him thick but harmless beer and other delicacies. +Twice more that morning Garram went hunting, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span>and under the stimulus of so much good meat +the camp builders worked at an amazing pace. +By midday everything was finished, and all the +long, blazing afternoon the hunter and his new +friends lay, half asleep, in a shady shelter topping +a grassy slope. A faint breeze, just enough to +eddy the tobacco smoke, came from the stretch +of blue water below.</p> + +<p>Kon, glad to be released from the grilling heat +of the city, had followed the children down to the +lake and delightedly joined in their play. He +had figured as a riding horse, been taken down +to drink and to stand belly-deep among the +water lilies. Then came a less peaceful rôle, that +of a hunted elephant. But as the heat grew he +changed from an elephant to a hippopotamus. +But a hippo must submerge and dive down to +graze along the lake bottom, and the children, +finding Kon unsinkable, finally turned him into +a good-natured canoe.</p> + +<p>Toward sunset Garram woke. The drums and +horns of the Emir’s party could be heard approaching. +The villagers, collecting their tools, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span>went out to meet their chief and pay their +respects, Garram and Kon followed them. A +wide track had been cleared through the bush, +and passing over a gentle rise the two stopped +to watch the advancing column which wound +its way down a hill, crossed a small plain and +came on.</p> + +<p>A band of mounted men rode first, wearing the +many-colored plumed helmet and the quilted +armor of the guards. In spite of two days +traveling, their wiry, thin little horses were +prancing and sidling along the wide cleared +track, their low-hanging embroidered saddle-cloths +swinging to the movements. Following +them came men on foot, their ten-foot trumpets +gleaming red in the setting sun. The deep boom +of the great instruments formed an undercurrent +to the rattle of accouterments and the +patter of hoofs. Mounted guards and trumpeters +passed in a cloud of dust which turned golden +on the evening air. Then the wail of oboe-like +reed instruments became audible. Lesser chiefs +and courtiers, each with running footmen and a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span>few mounted attendants preceded the mounted +oboe players.</p> + +<p>Behind the musicians, closely surrounded by +people chanting his praises, covered by a brilliant +crimson and gold umbrella ten feet across, +and fanned by other attendants, rode the Emir. +Then more guards followed, grooms, slaves, and +the innumerable hangers-on, small children, +pouring along in a steady stream with the dust +over all.</p> + +<p>Garram waited to see the last of the procession +pass and turned back toward camp. He heard +the distant plaudits as the Emir reached his hut +and alighted, and moving swiftly along through +the last of the setting sun ran into a breathless +messenger who gave Garram to understand, by +signs, that the Emir had sent for him. As they +neared camp the change was already apparent. +Cooking fires were crackling gently outside +grass huts, men smoked and lounged and gossiped +as they passed in and out, and a bustle of +busy preparations for the evening meal surrounded +him. The use of the sand-strewn square +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>framed with logs, which had puzzled him, now +became clear. White-robed worshipers were +already kneeling there, pressing their foreheads +to the sand, engaged in their evening prayers.</p> + +<p>And then, as Garram and the messenger +entered the Emir’s hut, all the heat and bustle +and confusion of the newly pitched camp died +out behind them. The hut which Garram had +seen bare but a short time before was now lined +from roof to floor with embroidered hangings, +heavy draperies which shut out the dust, heat, +and noise. The boy had no chance for detailed +inspection, for the guide immediately withdrew, +and the Emir turned to another man, only dimly +seen in the darkness, and who seemed to be an +interpreter.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Garram, it is easier for a beggar to free +himself of fleas than for an emir to free himself of +courtiers!”</p> + +<p>The voice from the darkness translated the +Emir’s remark into the speech of the Hills, and +Garram inclined his head in reply.</p> + +<p>The Emir’s voice went on, and again the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span>other voice interpreted: “Praisers, beggars, +singers, women, statesmen with their much talking, +cover a man with words, separating him +from all manly acts, deafening him with their +clamor.”</p> + +<p>Again the hunter inclined his head, and the +voice went on: “So now I seek to escape. The +guard will be told that I rest, being wearied with +travel, and this man”—the Emir waved to +the voice—“will dress in my clothes, lie on my +couch, and feign sleep. But I, dressed in his +garments will meet you and the dog at the +north side of the lake as soon as dusk shall be +fallen. Then will I gain freedom from talk and +shall hunt as I hunted long ago.”</p> + +<p>Garram had barely reached the meeting place +before the Emir arrived. The borrowed robes +had served their purpose in taking him, unrecognized, +through the camp. Now, silently, he +stripped to dark blue loincloth and thrust the +rolled up robe and trousers into a thick bush. +Garram found time to notice with admiration +his tall form, soft no doubt with city dwelling, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span>but with none of the bulging muscles of the professional +strong man. His chest, as he breathed, +showed almost the elasticity of youth, his long +lean flatness spoke of speed and tirelessness, +and his shoulders, but for his height, would have +been unduly broad.</p> + +<p>Then the young hunter’s attention turned to +Kon. The dog, nose to ground, had discovered +something of interest. Garram, knowing they +wished bigger game, signaled to Kon by a faint +whistle not to follow bird tracks, and the dog’s +ears swung back for an instant in answer to the +call. Now, as they moved forward following Kon, +the light faded quickly, and faint sounds became +more and more distinct in the still air. Only the +<i>swish-swish</i> of the Emir’s sandals seemed out of +place. He took them off and hung them on his +quiver.</p> + +<p>“One must not stamp along like a buffalo!” +he muttered.</p> + +<p>They swung along for what seemed hours, +and as the faint moonlight grew, the woods +seemed almost more silent than in full darkness. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span>Now and then Garram bent to examine the +tracks more closely. One was that of a male +<i>barawa</i>, apparently alone. The Emir whispered +its name in the Fulani tongue, and the boy, +intent on the slot, nodded assent without noticing +the gleam of interest in the older man’s face +at his understanding. At last, after a mile or two +of tracking, Kon paused and looked up for +instructions. The problem was a simple one. +A fresher track of a bigger animal had crossed +the one they were following. Which did the master +want Kon to follow? A sign swung him off +the old track on to that of a hartebeeste. Soon +the dog paused again. The Emir would have +run up, but Garram checked him. Kon was not +asking advice this time. Slowly, carefully, harking +back so as to make certain, the finely trained +nose disentangled the interwoven tracks, and +breaking into a confident trot again Kon traced +his beast clear of the tangle.</p> + +<p>Following the dog’s example the two humans +moved with greater and greater caution. Soon +they were close behind their leader and slowed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span>to a silent, gliding walk. The scent was now +strong and easy to follow, Kon could afford to +raise his head and moved forward at a slow walk, +scanning the bush ahead, again dropping his +nose to the trail to make sure. They had come to +more open country, the thick scrubby trees +were fewer here, and bare ground, studded with +tussocks of grass, stretched between.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Kon halted. Shapes rising silvery +gray from the moonlight stood out in front of +them. Heartebeestes! On both sides of them the +Emir and Garram could hear the herd moving +and grazing.</p> + +<p>Swiftly the long war bow of the Emir rose +and twanged. Garram slipped an arrow from his +muted hunting bow into a shape at his right, +and the animal fell as he stood. As it struggled +to rise again Garram gave it the final blow with +his knife and turned quickly back to help his +fellow hunter. But the Emir and Kon had already +disappeared.</p> + +<p>Garram took up the trail at a swift run. Now +that the game had been disturbed there was no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>virtue in extreme silence. Without pause he +sped along the faint tracks in the dim moonlight +and had not gone far before the crash of a +wounded animal at bay came clearly through the +night. He arrived too late to assist. As he +came upon the scene Kon swung the animal by +one hind leg. It made a half turn, then fell with +a thud, and the Emir threw his weight upon the +noble head to cut the throat. Cutting, he spoke +the prescribed words, which make the meat +<i>halal</i>—or lawful food for followers of the Prophet.</p> + +<p>The Emir, excited and happy as a youth, +produced flint and steel and started a fire, while +Garram and Kon did the skinning. With growing +amazement the Fulani watched the dog keep +a steady pull on the hide as the boy eased it +away from the underlying tissue with his knife, +Kon following directions and pulling now to the +right, now to the left. Later, when Garram came +to a joint and put down his knife, Kon walked +around to his side and passed him the hunting +ax, which was used for disjointing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span>“Allah! Do my eyes tell me truth?” cried the +Emir, stirred from his silent admiration. “Perhaps +this great dog also mends your leather and +sweeps your hut! Give him the knife and let him +finish the skinning, you and I are only in the +way!”</p> + +<p>Garram looked up from his work and grinned +but did not reply. The skinning over, he made +long skewers of wood and, running them through +slices of the meat, planted them in the ashes of +the now clear and smokeless fire.</p> + +<p>The young hunter from the Hills, the Emir +of proud and ancient lineage, the huge mongrel +dog were all equally hungry.</p> + +<p>“No sweetmeats of the palace ever tasted so +good!” sighed the Emir as he finished the meal. +He lay back on his elbow, threw the last greasy +skewer into the fire, and sniffed the warm night +air. Kon gnawed at a huge bone for dessert. +Garram watched the Fulani chief with silent +interest.</p> + +<p>“Garram, whom men call the Hunter, it is +now three moons since you came to the city and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>to my court. At first when people spake our +speech you did not understand. But now, even +though you do not speak in return, anger, amusement, +satisfaction at the words of others show +in your face when you think no one is watching +you. Garram the Stranger is no longer a stranger, +but understands our speech!”</p> + +<p>The boy did not reply, and the elder man went +on. “Game that comes too often to strange feeding +grounds dies soon, eh? But you, who with this +monstrous hound saved my life, should have no +fear of <i>me</i>.”</p> + +<p>The boy had been working with his knife at +some morsels of fat still clinging to the hide. +He turned now on one elbow toward the Emir. +Thinking out his words in the strange Fulani +tongue he answered slowly and stiffly: “Most I +understand, but little I speak. Talking is not so +useful as listening. If I spoke, people would know +I also understand. Then they would hide from +me things that now they let me hear.”</p> + +<p>“And what things do you now hear?” The +Emir sat up, his interest increasing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span>“Of food, of trade, of crops of the fields, of +children, and very often of women—but sometimes, +in dark places——”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, of what? Speak!”</p> + +<p>“Of how they will kill you, killing also your +heir, the child who cannot yet walk.” The hunter +waved an explanatory hand in the red firelight. +“Therefore I listened, being angry at the +thought of the killing of a child. To kill a man is +no great harm—though I do not like the killing +by a friend and from behind, as they would have +done to you had Kon not seen. But to kill the +young, whether of animals or of men, is to bring +down the wrath of the God Nen—Fertility—and +would bring misfortune and blight to the +crops. It is unlawful in our Hills and should be so +in your Plains!”</p> + +<p>Anger and amusement struggled for place in +the Emir’s mind. He had long suspected that +Garram, unknown to those around him, had been +picking up the language and much valuable information. +Trusting him as perhaps the one +really honest man in an intriguing court, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span>Emir had planned this move to the hunting +camp, and the secret midnight hunt, simply for +the purpose of getting word with him free from +risk of being heard by spies. Now Garram’s honest, +unflattering views were a trifle embarrassing. +To the Emir it was no slight matter if an enemy +assassinated him!</p> + +<p>Prompted by questions, Garram explained his +point.</p> + +<p>“Ibrahim was only a misguided fool,” he said. +“A tool of the plotters. The proof of the real +plotters must, however, be established. They +are very cunning, but we shall track them down +if you will leave it to me and do as I say.”</p> + +<p>Several times the Emir had to swallow his +wrath at the blunt simple speech. The boy +seemed more concerned with making the true +situation clear and with catching the criminals +than with flattering the Emir and concern for his +safety. They sat long over the fire, and it was +Garram’s suggestions, moreover, that won his +point. With a twinkle of humor showing in his +dark eyes the Emir summed up. “So—if I follow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span>your advice you will catch my enemies. But in +payment you ask the pardon of Ibrahim?”</p> + +<p>Garram, who had hated all these words, nodded +in reply.</p> + +<p>“You are a bold youth to make terms with +me thus. But so be it! Search out the trails of the +conspirators, and good hunting! But now we +must return, for dawn is nearly breaking. I will +help you with the meat as far as the place where +my clothes are hidden. Thence you must carry +it yourself, for my hunting and my talk with +you must remain unknown.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE ROYAL HUNT</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br> +<small>THE ROYAL HUNT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">N</span><small>EXT</small> day occurred the royal hunt. Garram +and Kon found the camp already astir on their +return with the meat. Without stopping for +sleep they joined the followers and the villagers +who had built the camp and were now going to +act as beaters. For four hours they walked due +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span>south, and then turning spread into a thin line +to the west. Keeping their position as well as +they could by the sound of their neighbors’ +shouts and rattling of sticks against tree trunks, +they began to beat up the game to the northeast.</p> + +<p>For some time there was little to be seen. +Here and there small hares, which are always +perquisites of beaters, were chased and yelled at, +and occasionally killed or caught by mongrel +dogs. Then the bigger game, content to be driven +a short distance but now getting anxious, tried to +break back to their feeding grounds. A band of +baboons, barking furiously, used the thick +branches of tall trees lining a stream as cover +and got safely away. A wild boar charged and +overturned a beater without doing him much +damage, and a sow and four half-grown pigs +followed his lead to safety. Oribi and duiker, +small buck not three feet high, took cover in the +grass till nearly trodden on, then dashed forward +and hid again, and kept repeating the process. +Guinea fowl and other game birds sounded warning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span>calls and ran and flew in front of the line of +beaters.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-121.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>Gradually the heat of the day increased; +gradually the concentration of game in front +of the beaters grew more dense. From time to +time mounted followers of the court would ride +along the line of beaters, urging forward part of +the line, restraining those who were getting too +far to the front, so that the cordon should leave +no gaps for escaping game.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span>Garram, to whom the horse was an unknown +animal, was thrilled by the ease with which the +courtiers swung their mounts as they followed +at an easy canter along the tortuous game tracks. +The boy’s mouth opened wide in admiration as +he watched a feeble-looking courtier, whom +previously he had rather despised, sit his plunging +pony unaware of the movement. Orders delivered, +the rider touched his horse’s flanks with +the shovel-like stirrups which served as spurs, +shot stooping beneath a low branch, and collecting +the animal, flipped neatly across the narrow +stream. Garram let out a wild war-whoop in +applause.</p> + +<p>The beaters had now come out into the open +plain where the royal party waited. Garram, +followed by Kon, wriggled forward for a better +view. Worming their way up the water course, +they searched for a spot where they could hide +from the keepers and be safe from the riders. A +giant kuka tree, ten feet across and hollow as a +drum, seemed just made for the purpose. By +climbing up where the branches separated, it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span>was possible, after making sure the place was +free of snakes, to drop down inside. Numerous +knot holes made excellent windows for watching +the fun, and it was like being in a loopholed +tower.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely got into position, Kon licking +Garram’s ear as he was lowered to the ground, +when part of the hunt came directly towards +them. It was the Emir on a glossy black stallion, +but how different he looked from last night!</p> + +<p>Now he was dressed as if for full court ceremonial, +from his voluminous turban to his high, +decorated boots, brilliantly colored robes, and +trousers incrusted with embroidery. All these, it +seemed to Garram, must make free use of bow +and spear impossible. Slowly the chief of the +Fulani walked his horse toward some cover +on Garram’s left. From time to time he rose in +his stirrups for a better view. Then, almost at +the foot of the kuka tree, a magnificent boar +broke cover, swinging to the right, and the +horse and rider broke into full gallop in pursuit. +From a glimpse of the long tushes as the animal +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span>broke, Garram was able to mark it down as an +old boar, liable to put up a stiff fight. Then all +he could see was its swift wallowing run as it +streaked off into the distance. He and Kon +almost howled with disappointment.</p> + +<p>When at last the horse and rider caught up, +the boar, with a swift turn almost directly beneath +the horse’s hoofs, jinked and swung back +on his tracks. This gave the quarry a fresh start, +and there was hard riding before the lost ground +was made up. Whenever they all but closed on +the bristling beast, another swift turn put the +hunters again at a disadvantage.</p> + +<p>First one stirrup, then the other scraped +ground as the well-schooled pony flung himself +to right and left, following with sharp turns the +wild hog. Gradually the zigzag course brought +the chase nearer to the watchers in the tree +trunk, and Garram viewed with startled eyes +the turns and swings which seemed to leave +the rider steady as a rock but little by little decreased +the boar’s lead. The flash of the Emir’s +black eyes above his beaky nose was now clearly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>seen, and the thunder of the hoofs, the grunting +of the hunted beast seemed scarcely a yard from +the tree.</p> + +<p>Then, in the middle of a swift turn, the rider +rose in his stirrups to loose an arrow from the +longbow. It pierced the galloping quarters of the +quarry.</p> + +<p>Brought to bay, without pausing, the boar +swung around and charged. A quick slash at the +forefeet of the pony, not three yards away—with +those gleaming tushes. Then the same +tushes, red by then, would be able to tear and +tear against the soft, defenceless body pinned +by the fallen horse.</p> + +<p>But the vengeful teeth never drove home.</p> + +<p>Slender spear in hand the Emir leaned far out +of the saddle to take the shock when the spear +should meet the charging boar. In that fraction +of a second he stiffened his arm, gripping with +knees as if to crush the ribs of his mount. Saddle +and girths burst with the shock. The black stallion +was forced back on his haunches and, with +dilated nostrils and staring eyes, over on his flank.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span>But the slender spear head, backed by its steel +shaft had met the shoulder of the boar, passed +through, and down to the heart.</p> + +<p>As the dust cleared, man, horse, and boar +were seen stretched on the hoof-torn ground, +motionless, almost touching. Horse and man +rose and shook themselves, but the boar lay +dead. Courtiers galloped up, full of solicitude and +praise. The Emir glanced carefully over the +black stallion to assure himself that he was uninjured, +then mounted bareback and cantered off.</p> + +<p>Much more Garram saw that day. Including +such bad shooting from horseback as made him +grateful for the protection of his tree. Nothing +after that equaled the impression made upon +him by the Emir and his glossy black stallion. +Between those two was an understanding, a +combination such as the hunter and Kon had +worked out together.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The next evening, on their journey back to +Yelwa, the courtiers and councilors received +from the Emir gifts of robes of honor, musk +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span>scented, in celebration of the hunting party. +But on that robe given to the Waziri was a +special musk. Garram had searched long for the +certain bush cat from which it came. To the +human nose it smelled much as the others did; it +would take a dog to tell the difference.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> +<p class="ph3">KON AS DETECTIVE</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br> +<small>KON AS DETECTIVE</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> courtiers, clad in the robes of honor, were +filling the audience chamber with a buzz of +conjecture. It was the morning after their return +to Yelwa, and the day appointed for the trial +of the would-be assassin. A change of plan had +moved the place of trial from the door of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>mosque to the audience chamber where the attack +had first taken place. In chains the prisoner +stood, pale and silent, clad still in the garments +of the red-robed guard.</p> + +<p>The Waziri, sitting on the right of the Emir’s +vacant throne, signed to the officer in charge of +the prisoner to approach. “The man has not +been tortured?” Some hidden fear was reflected +in the cautious whisper. The soldier looked hard +at the Waziri as he replied:</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“He has said nothing more?” The questioner’s +hands were clasping and unclasping under his +robe.</p> + +<p>“Have no fear. Ibrahim is a soldier and no +courtier.” Contempt was in the voice.</p> + +<p>“Why should I fear—I? Have a care thou! +It is not meet to insult the Grand Vizier of the +land.” The Waziri’s voice held hidden menace, +but the soldier had turned on his heel and left.</p> + +<p>Trumpets sounded from the inner chambers, +announcing that the Emir was on his way. +Entering he received the acclamations of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span>Assembly and made his formal acknowledgments. +He took his seat upon the lion skin on the +dais and signed to the Waziri. A court crier announced +the descent of the Emir and the virtues +of his ancestors, recited the boundaries of the +dominion to which he laid claim, then declared +the court open.</p> + +<p>The prisoner, moving as if in a daze, was +brought to the front of the dais. Another crier +announced the name of the prisoner, his descent, +and the crime with which he stood charged.</p> + +<p>“Son of my cousin,” the Emir’s voice came +quietly to Ibrahim, “your crime was seen by all +men. But never have I knowingly wronged +you or your house. Why, then, did you attempt +to kill me?”</p> + +<p>No word came from the man awaiting death. +The Waziri could be seen leaning forward, +whispering urgently in the Emir’s ear.</p> + +<p>“O Ibrahim, torture would make you speak. +But the Waziri counsels that instead your tongue +be torn out as punishment. In any event you +must die.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span>One look the condemned man threw toward +the Waziri and made as if to speak, then clenched +his jaws and was silent. But that look the watchful +Emir had intercepted. Blank astonishment, +succeeded by pitiful reproach of a false friend +was there, as clear as if the prisoner had spoken.</p> + +<p>“But if you will tell all—your fellow plotters, +your motive for the crime”—oh, very persuasive +was the Emir’s smooth voice—“then will your +death be swift and suited to your noble blood!”</p> + +<p>“Lord of our race, and head of our noble +house,” neither fear nor hesitation were in the +clear young voice, “I did not fear to attempt +your life. Why should I now fear how you take +mine?”</p> + +<p>Emir and prisoner confronted each other, each +seemingly as hard and fearless as the other, +and power lay with the Emir. Dread tenseness +grew upon the Assembly. Just, but justly dreaded, +had been all his line. All expected some fiendish +judgment of torture to be pronounced.</p> + +<p>“Since you will not betray your friends, even +though your friends betray you....” Slow, catlike, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span>the words stalked, seemingly ready to +pounce: “Guard! Strike off the fetters!” Tools +rang on the heavy rivets, and manacles and leg +irons clanged to the floor.</p> + +<p>Freed of his bonds, the prisoner straightened +himself proudly before the people. He turned a +look almost of gratitude on the man he had +tried to kill. Whatever terrible form his death +might take, he was to be permitted to face it +nobly, and not as a thief loaded with chains lest +he run or flinch from the executioner’s blade.</p> + +<p>A murmur of approval of the Emir’s gesture +rose from the Assembly, then ceased in puzzled +apprehension. Guards with gleaming spears +were moving to cover each exit from the hall.</p> + +<p>“Fetters! Bring more fetters, for the prisoners +will be many,” the Emir’s command rang out, +and guards hastened in search of manacles, +leg irons, chains, rope—anything that would +serve the instant need.</p> + +<p>“Permit, Lord, that I aid the search for fetters, +many.” Trembling, the Waziri sought pretext +to leave the court.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span>“Nay, do not go!” The Emir laid a gentle +restraining hand on his sleeve. “We may need +your loyal counsel.... Ha! Then since you will +not stay at my request, stay by my command! +Guards, seize this false Waziri!”</p> + +<p>Heavily, his brown face ashen gray with +fright, the Waziri resisted, but was overpowered. +Surprise upon surprise had been unfolded, +and people gaped their wonderment. Swiftly +another surprise followed. The Emir’s voice +rang again in command: “Ho! Hunter of the +Hills, here is the source of the conspiracy. Bring +thou thy dog and trace me its course!”</p> + +<p>Kon and Garram, who had been awaiting the +signal, came to the foot of the divan. The dog’s +mouth almost dripped with eagerness as he +caught the scent of the Waziri’s robe of honor. +Then, at a whispered instruction from his master +he quested among the Assembly. The first man +to be pointed out was a soldier of the guard. +Before the blank astonishment had faded from +his face his comrades had pinioned him.</p> + +<p>“Bind him—and him—and him!” ordered the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span>Emir, as Kon, searching among courtiers, guards, +and onlookers alike, marked down man after +man. So certainly and so surely, missing none, +Kon identified the conspirators. Fear and guilt +showed upon some even before the dog approached +them. One man was caught too late. +The slight delay had sufficed for him to swallow +poison. Kon pointed to him even as he writhed +in death upon the ground.</p> + +<p>Guilty terror was upon the conspirators. +And upon all the Assembly was a horror at the +uncanny certainty of the procedure. The once +proud Waziri, now herded into line like a common +prisoner, voiced the feeling: “This thing is +of Iblis, of Shaitan the Evil One himself!” the +terror-broken voice babbled. “The Devil alone +can know all this!”</p> + +<p>Kon, his work finished, had made one last tour +of the people to make sure he had missed no one. +Now with Garram he returned to the side of the +divan.</p> + +<p>Turning to the row of prisoners, the Emir +glanced them over. The Waziri twisted from the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span>restraining hands of the guard and flung himself +at the Emir’s feet in supplication. “Have mercy, +O Lord!” he cried. “It is true, this crime with +which you charge us. Even last night we met +together and sought afresh some means to kill +you, since our first attempt by the hand of +Ibrahim had failed.” Flat upon the ground he +groveled, gray beard in the dust. “Death we do +not fear. We will tell you all. But, of your mercy, +spare us only torture!”</p> + +<p>And from the other prisoners came the broken +murmur: “Death, for we are guilty, Lord. But +spare us only torture!”</p> + +<p>At a sign the guard began to lead away the +prisoners, readjusting fetters and bonds as they +went. Ibrahim, with a look of contempt at the +groveling Waziri, who had first persuaded him +to attack the Emir and had then left him to his +fate, who had even suggested to the Emir the +tearing out of the prisoner’s tongue so that he +should not reveal his accomplices, turned to go. +Death would be easy now! He looked with gratitude +on his royal kinsman.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>“Guard, leave that prisoner.” The Emir +pointed at Ibrahim. “O would-be assassin, you +were only the arrow shot from the bow of this evil +Waziri who coveted my kingdom. Though he +abandoned you and then would have betrayed +you, counseling the loss of your tongue for fear +you might confess his evil schemes when under +torture, still you kept silence.” From the folds +of his robe the Emir produced the same jeweled +dagger with which Ibrahim had attacked him. +With his own hand he returned it to Ibrahim.</p> + +<p>Dazedly the prisoner took it. “Well would +you have served the Waziri! See that you serve +me but half as well. You are free! Go in peace.”</p> + +<p>Since the removal of the prisoners the gates had +been left unguarded. More and yet more people +were crowding into the Council Hall, excitedly +whispering inquiries.</p> + +<p>The Emir rose as if to depart, then turned +back to address the dazed and excited people.</p> + +<p>“My people, the sons of my father’s people, +here is the end of an intrigue which has been +a hidden wound, draining the strength of our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span>country. When the knife struck between my +shoulders I knew that the Waziri had been +looking, watching that direction from which the +attacker came. He neither warned me nor sought +to stop the knife, but I could not therefore say, +‘You sent the man to kill!’ Again the Waziri, +thinking he spoke to me in secret, advised that +the tongue of Ibrahim should be torn out, this to +avert the risk that Ibrahim might speak as death +approached and so incriminate the Waziri himself. +And so”—the Emir drew Garram in honor +to the seat vacated by the Waziri—“plotted +against by those near me I sought the aid of a +true man, though a stranger. It was this hunter +who thought of the plan. I gave to the Waziri a +robe of honor specially scented, with a scent +whereby the dog might recognize all those with +whom the Waziri came in contact.</p> + +<p>“It was late last evening when we returned +from the hunt. In the fresh air the scent of the +robe would cling to no chance companions of +the robe. This morning the Waziri would be +seated on the divan, apart from the people. So +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span>those that the dog found with the taint of contact +would be those with whom the Waziri +plotted overnight—as I knew he would, making +last minute plans before this day’s trial. Plans +for alibis, even for escape, should the confession +of the prisoner Ibrahim make this necessary.</p> + +<p>“The conspirators have all confessed, as you +have heard. But this I have told you, lest in +your folly you should believe the last foolish +words of the Waziri, that this strange hunter +and his still stranger dog are in league with +Shaitan the Evil One. Whereas the only miracle is +an honest man who is wise, and a wise dog who +has a nose.</p> + +<p>“And Allah alone knows which is the scarcer, +the more miraculous of these two!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> + +<p class="ph3">GARRAM ACCUSED</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br> +<small>GARRAM ACCUSED</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">G</span><small>ARRAM’S</small> face darkened with anger, but he +made no reply to his accusers. The scene was in +the Emir’s audience hall, where he had been +called to answer the charge. A long, low room +of the universal red mud, supported on squat +pillars, each of which had, at building, enclosed a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span>living slave, as was the custom of the country. Its +mud floor had been beaten and polished to the +texture of black marble by the passing of countless +feet. The Emir himself reclined on a dais, +the front of which was ornamented with white +cowrie shells in an intricate pattern.</p> + +<p>In front of the Emir and on his right stood the +Liman and Ladan, leaning on their black staves. +On the left stood the young hunter, striving to +keep back his rising anger.</p> + +<p>The Liman had detailed his charge. That Garram +was a <i>kafiri</i>—an unbeliever, who said no +prayers, made no protestation of his belief in the +One God whose Prophet is Mohammed, and +never attended the mosque on Fridays. That +he spent his time with a dog, a thing unclean as +declared by the Law of Allah and the Prophet +Mohammed.</p> + +<p>He had got as far as this when the Emir interrupted. +“But being all these things, he and his +dog have saved me, the head of the State, from +death when others whom you would call true men, +since they are true believers, plotted my death!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span>“Saved you, but by witchcraft,” heatedly the +Liman responded.</p> + +<p>The Emir smiled wearily. He had explained +the method of detection to the Assembly to avoid +just such accusations, but in vain. People +will always believe what thrills them most, and +probably he and Garram alone of the whole +State believed the story.</p> + +<p>“And Shaitan the Evil One, who showed the +dog and boy, undoubtedly put the crime into +the minds of the poor plotters, in order that this +boy and dog, the servants of the Evil One, might +by the detection of the plot, be exalted among +the true believers.” In spite of the presence of +the Emir, the speaker spat upon the ground to +show his hatred of the Evil One and his helpers.</p> + +<p>This was indeed distorted and fanatical reasoning, +but the Emir looked grave for a moment. +The holy man was more learned in such matters +than he. The supposition, if true, put another +interpretation upon the facts. He looked doubtfully +at Garram and Kon. But he was first of +all a man, and only second a Mohammedan. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span>Gratitude prevailed over fear, and he again took +up the defence.</p> + +<p>“Have I priestly water in my veins instead +of red blood! What you ask is too hard—that I +should abandon those who have helped me even +to saving my life and kingdom!”</p> + +<p>A vengeful glint appeared in the eyes of the +Liman. Garram could see his hands, clawlike as +the talons of a bird of prey, clasping and clutching +upon his staff. “Why, then, when all true +believers sleep, does he depart, this son of the +Evil One, to be absent all night? Where does he +go, engaged upon his wicked practices, returning +only long after the morning sun has risen?” He +paused, and the look of surprise on the Emir’s +face told him this was news. With quick cunning +he added, “But Garram, an innocent man, +will no doubt have told you all this.”</p> + +<p>Garram too looked surprised. He had kept in +touch with the happenings in his tribe by meeting +the messenger from the Rainmaker once a +month at the foot of the Hills. But he had done +so with caution, traveling by night. This was the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span>first news that his movements had been watched.</p> + +<p>The Emir spoke again in defence. “This no +doubt is untrue, like all the rest.”</p> + +<p>“It is the truth,” interrupted Garram. “I leave +the city and return in the morning. But what +I do is not wrong and is no business but my own.”</p> + +<p>The Emir’s look was ominous. Coldly he dismissed +the Liman and his follower and turned to +Garram, expecting an explanation. But none +was forthcoming. Garram, silent and always inclined +to keep his own counsel, was angered by +the ease with which his friend the Emir had been +persuaded to suspect him. Further, it might +incriminate Ibrahim the Captain of the Guard, +who since his restoration had, out of gratitude, +permitted the boy to pass the gates at night.</p> + +<p>The Emir, puzzled and so recently reminded +how even so trusted a man as the Waziri could turn +against him, suspected some sort of treachery in +the unaccountable silence. For a while he waited. +Then angrily but sadly motioned Garram to withdraw. +Flushed in the face and with a feeling of guilt +which he knew he did not deserve, the boy went.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span>At a loss for a plan, he wandered aimlessly +about the palace. Then decided to go and consult +his new friend, the Captain of the Guard. Particularly +on the matter of a pig, a small black pig, +a most amusing small black pig. But if these +people thought so badly of a man not being +of their own religion, and of a dog for being +ceremonially impure, what would they think of +his pig? For he knew that pigs were still more impure +than dogs, according to the Sharia, the Holy +Law of Islam. When Garram had first planned +the catching of the plotters the Emir had given +him some money and with this he had purchased +a gift of flint and steel for the old Rainmaker. +In return the magician had sent him a present of +a small pig, for he knew the boy’s taste for meat.</p> + +<p>But, unwilling to kill the cheery and playful +little beast, Garram had smuggled it into a disused +stable which his exploring instinct had discovered +in a ramshackle corner of the far-flung +palace. Now, as he went his round of the city +guard inquiring for Ibrahim, he began to get +more and more anxious. These fanatics would +consider it a sufficiently grave crime that he had +brought the pig within the city. Supposing they +discovered it within the Emir’s own house?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151-152]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/i-151.jpg" width="450" height="590" alt=""> +<figcaption> +<p class="caption">Garram smuggled it into a stable</p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span>“If just wandering at night is so grave a +crime,” thought Garram, “what would they +make this look like?”</p> + +<p>Finding Ibrahim at length, Garram explained +his needs. He was in disgrace, he said, and wanted +to get away where he could think out what to do.</p> + +<p>“I would have your aid.” The tall black Captain +of the Guard smiled at the boy. “Cannot +you accompany me?” continued Garram.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim both could and would. Garram’s talk +of the bush had whetted the young soldier’s +appetite for hunting, and Garram’s fame promised +something special in that line.</p> + +<p>He had some small matter to attend to that +night, Garram explained, so they should wait +until dawn. This too suited Ibrahim well. He +would have to ask permission to be absent from +his duties, though this was a mere matter of form.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> + +<p class="ph3">MENUD “TROUBLES TROUBLE”</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIII<br> +<small>MENUD “TROUBLES TROUBLE”</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">L</span><small>ATE</small> that night a small figure with a bundle +on its back slung itself with swift dexterity up +the almost smooth ten-foot wall which encircled +the numerous buildings of the Liman’s house. +A slight pause to reconnoiter, and it dropped +noiselessly down on the inside. Clinging like a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span>lizard, Garram, for it was he, worked his way up +the wall which formed an angle of the flat-roofed +building in front of him. There, hearing +the soft thud of footsteps on the sandy road +outside, he flattened himself so that his outline +should not show against the stars.</p> + +<p>Then from building to building he made his +way, jumping the dizzy gaps between them and +landing with no more noise than the thump of +a leaping cat. Lost in the darkness for a time, +presently he returned, moving more easily +without his burden. Outlined against the stars, +he danced exultingly along the ten-foot wall, then +flung wide his arms and dropped to the sandy +road beneath.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Ibrahim had had no trouble in getting permission +to be absent and at dawn he and Garram +met inside the eastern gate of the city. Early as +it was, quite a number of citizens, hoe on +shoulder and drinking calabash in hand, were +waiting for the opening of the gates. It was still +cold, and the huddled shapes were standing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span>silently, waiting with African patience for such +time as the guard would deign to open the doors. +At Ibrahim’s coming, however, beams were lifted +out of sockets, chains unhooked, and the great +ports, wooden and hinged with leather, creaked +and groaned as they were folded back.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim and Garram had a long distance to go, +so kept to the main road for some time, where +traveling was easiest and quickest. The farmers, +old and young, began to come out of their +torpor as the sun gradually warmed the chill +air of morning. Exchanging salutations and +wishes for the day, little groups swung off the +road into the fields, to clean and burn the rubbish +and do such light preliminary hoeing as can be +done before the rains soften the iron soil and allow +proper tilling.</p> + +<p>Like a river being traced to its source, the +wide shady road gradually narrowed and became +more choked with elephant grass. Presently it +became only a single-file track.</p> + +<p>This was the first time that the two had gone +on an expedition together, and they eyed each +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span>other’s arms with interest. Like hunters all the +world over, there was some disapproval in the +glance. The beautiful long war bow carried by +the Fulani would drive an arrow through all but +the largest game and would give twice the range +that Garram’s stiff short bow would. But Garram +noted how cumbersome its length would be +in the thick bush and marveled that its string +should be unprovided with that little tuft of +cotton which silences the twang of the release.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim also had the heavy war quiver which +holds from fifty to a hundred poisoned arrows. +Excellent no doubt for battle, as were the broad-bladed +arrows called <i>pasa</i> which he carried. +These were mixed with the more usual plain +points called <i>isiko</i>. But Garram carried less +than a dozen arrows, and even those were divided +between two separate quivers so that, if some +were lost or shot or broken, the others would +not have room to rattle or to warp out of shape. +And in hunting, game does not stand while one +shoots arrow after arrow at it. Large quiverfuls +savored to Garram of military pose and conceit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span>As the road petered out into a bush track +the two broke into a trot, the light hunting axes +and throwing sticks thumping on their shoulders, +their knives slapping against the leather loin +cloth that each wore. Kon, the serious occupation +of the day not yet commenced, bounded alongside +them like a frolicsome calf.</p> + +<p>Near the city the ground had been of hard, +sun-baked red clay with deep sand in the hollows. +Gradually the sand became less. The trees, too, +changed. Near the city generations of farmers +had kept the ground clear of grass and smaller +trees, leaving only here and there one big shade +tree. Gradually the growth became smaller, +stunted and gnarled by the annual bush fires, +and with impenetrable thickets of thorns and tall +elephant grass. Slowing down to a fast walk, +mostly for Ibrahim, who, though strong, had +not the endurance of the boy from the Hills, +they continued to cover the ground until the sun +was nearly overhead.</p> + +<p>After a pause for a drink from the stream +which flowed at the base of an isolated rocky +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span>hill, Garram signed that they should swing off +up the rock. As they scrambled up the steep way, +Garram leaping and balancing, Ibrahim using +hands and knees, little black rock partridges retreated +with much bobbing of tails, and at the +top a family of baboons seemed inclined to resent +their invasion, but finally, with much barking, +dropped over a ledge and went swinging heavily +through the trees to the plain below.</p> + +<p>Seated in the shade of a twisted tree which +grew out of a cleft in the bare rock, Garram +outlined his story. Ibrahim sat silent, his bare +toes playing with a loop of the bowstring which +hung from the end of his bow. Garram’s eyes +were fixed on a range of hills showing blue in the +eastern distance.</p> + +<p>“And so—if I go back to my Hills,” nodding +in the direction of his eyes, “perhaps Warok, my +father, will die, and I also. But if I stay there,” +nodding his head backward in the direction of the +now invisible Fulani city, “I think I shall die +too, for such seems to be the meaning of that old +man, the Liman, with his talk and his hate.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span>“You seek my counsel? Whether to go or to +stay?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I can weigh and judge the one matter, +for I know the minds of my people of the Hills. +But the people of the Plains and of the city are +strange game in a strange country, whose customs +I do not know and whose track I cannot +read.”</p> + +<p>Garram, his story told, lay at ease, running his +finger up and down a crack in the rock. A frown +of perplexity appeared on Ibrahim’s face, and his +toes ceased playing with the bowstring. Presently +he spoke: “What you have done is of small account. +Perhaps they might thrust you out of the +city, but no more. For many of the state, country +dwellers, are unbelievers, even as yourself, +and it is no crime. It is not your acts but the +poison that the Liman may spread over them +that is to be feared.”</p> + +<p>There was a pause. A rock rabbit came round +a ledge of rock, stopped to consider them, and +then fled, squawking alarm.</p> + +<p>“Had you told me of this before we left the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span>city I could have sought the opinion of others. +Those skilled in words led me to attempt the +life of a friend of my father, the Emir. Words are +a weapon in which I have no skill. But let us +hunt. And while we hunt I will think, and in the +end give you such counsel as I can.”</p> + +<p>Kon, very bored, had disappeared downhill. As +if thought-reading, he now reappeared, his coat +dripping from a bath in the stream. His vigorous +shake filled the air with spray which, in the +bright hot sunlight, made a rainbow of mist. +The dousing also brought Ibrahim and Garram +to their feet. As the latter, grinning, made a +dive to pull Kon’s tail, the dog went bounding +down the eastern slope of the hill, and the hunting +party set off again.</p> + +<p>They killed an oribi which broke from its +thick midday sun cover only as they almost +stepped on it, was transfixed by an arrow from +the Fulani’s powerful bow, cooked in slivers +before a fire, and with Kon’s noteworthy assistance, +was almost completely consumed.</p> + +<p>Resuming their rapid travel toward the ever +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span>distant hills, they watched them recede into the +shimmering haze as if outdistancing them. This +was the worst part of the day, when everything +more than a few yards away from them danced +in the heat, and in spite of the dryness, streams +of perspiration rolled down their shiny brown +backs.</p> + +<p>No animals except humans face the blaze of +the tropical afternoon. Everything was silent +except for the creak or rustle of an occasional +twig or leaf, twisted and tortured by the heat. +Even Kon moved without spring or bound, as if +economizing his energy to the utmost. Ibrahim, +accustomed to the coolness of dwellings with six-foot +thickness of walls, suffered most, but Garram +suffered too, for he was more used to the +freshness of the Hills than to this sweltering air.</p> + +<p>Then gradually the shimmering heat seemed to +become less. What more natural when the afternoon +was drawing on, but what more difficult to +believe at the end of a hard afternoon? To the +two hunters it seemed almost too good to be true.</p> + +<p>In another half mile of travel the Hills were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span>coming out of the blur and seemed actually to +be advancing to meet them. The pass, down +which Garram had come on his first visit to the +city and at the foot of which he had met the +Rainmaker’s messenger each moon, now became +clearly visible. Kon’s level trot became more +lively and occasionally he snapped at a fly or +stopped in his stride to investigate a scent.</p> + +<p>A gentle breeze, like a cooling drink, arose, +and soon they were traveling through the cool +of the evening, chatting comfortably as they +went. Arriving at the foot of the Hills as dusk +began to fall, they discovered good water, made +a meal on the remainder of the oribi, and before +night fell were all asleep.</p> + +<p>They started again before midnight, and the +bare granite mountains looked more impressive +than ever by moonlight. But it was long after +dawn, and the sun had commenced to get hot, +before they had their first sight of the klipspringer, +the quarry for which they had come so +far. In habits it is the West African equivalent +to the chamois or the Barbary sheep; consequently, +it was not surprising that their first +sight of it was only of a head looking down at +them from a ledge of rock on the other side of +a precipitous gorge and well out of bowshot. +Ibrahim, when it was pointed out to him, had to +look hard before he could see it. In this strange +rocky country which was all ups and downs, +nothing seemed recognizable to him and all distances +and sizes were deceptive.</p> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167-168]</span> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/i-167.jpg" width="450" height="581" alt=""> +<figcaption> +<p class="caption">Boulder after boulder crashed down</p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span>Ibrahim poked his tender feet with an exploring +finger and swore gently to himself as Garram +dilated on the special importance of the animal. +Smaller than a native goat, and with a papery +sort of hair that comes out in tufts at the slightest +touch, it was able, perhaps because of the very +stiff upright hoofs, to leap down from incredible +heights and to keep its footing on the steepest, +smoothest rock.</p> + +<p>Garram badly wanted new bowstrings, and +the hide of no other animal, nor even catgut, can +approach carefully twisted lengths of this skin +for smoothness and strength. Unfortunately the +klipspringer only frequents broken hillsides +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span>where the eddying breeze brings to it the scent +of possible pursuers from almost any direction. +Hillsides too are almost bare of cover to assist +the stalker.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim swore again, but more audibly this +time. He would willingly leave the precious +bowstrings to someone else and not hunt in land +that had been lifted up and left standing on edge. +But the end of his remarks was lost. Garram +had been studying the hillside carefully and had +marked out what seemed a possible line of approach. +Grumbling, but more in amusement +than ill humor, Ibrahim followed, feet and +hands fully occupied in keeping him from sliding +down the jumble of broken rocks into the valley +beneath.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ibrahim was swept off his feet by a +sliding rock. Garram, with a warning shout, +leaped to a ledge under an overhanging cliff. +Boulder after boulder was crashing down from +above them, leaping, bounding, and shivering +into fragments that disappeared over the cliff +to explode on the massive rocks below. Ibrahim, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span>with two fractured ankles, lost consciousness +and lay limply across a heap of stones, his bow +fallen somewhere in the valley beneath.</p> + +<p>So swiftly had the attack come that Garram +had been taken completely by surprise. As if +satisfied now, the stones seemed to stop rolling +down toward where the young Fulani lay moaning, +but still poured in a torrent over where +Garram lay crouched.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> + +<p class="ph3">A NOVEL PUNISHMENT</p> +</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIV<br> +<small>A NOVEL PUNISHMENT</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">A</span> <small>VOICE</small>, that of Menud, came mockingly +from above! As the roar of falling rocks lessened, +the words became audible:</p> + +<p>“Oho, Garram the independent, Garram the +skilled hunter, now is your end! If you move or +try even to rise high enough to put an arrow to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span>bow, a rock will split you, or pulp you as a +lizard’s egg is smashed when a house falls. Can +you hear me, or are you too frightened to find +speech?”</p> + +<p>Garram chanced a swift glance over the top of +his cover, but had barely time to duck back +again, to dodge a swiftly sliding rock. It would +have sliced off the top of his head as if it had +been an egg.</p> + +<p>Then the voice began again. “While my +friends keep you penned with sliding rocks, while +you tremble with fear, I will work round to this +spur which looks into your little home from the +side. Then I will fill you with arrows as one fills +a target! Is not the plan good?”</p> + +<p>Garram trembled, but with powerless rage, +not fear. Above and to the side boulders started +to slide and bang their way in increasing numbers, +making it impossible for him to get out. +Below him there was nothing but an almost +straight drop into the steep valley. The little +cleft in the hillside, rather like an eye socket, +had him penned in. Only by bending down +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span>almost double did the brow of the socket save +him from hurtling rocks, and even so his back +was bleeding from splinters of the granite.</p> + +<p>There was a sound as of the snapping of fingers +and the first arrow struck the rock by the crouching +boy. Even as it struck, Garram noticed a +possible means of escape. Risky to the limit of +risk, but better than certain death by poisoned +arrows. It was a slight flaw in the rock-face below +him, just enough to allow finger and toe to +wedge themselves in and give him a chance to +reach the bottom.</p> + +<p>Then, with almost a groan, he abandoned the +one way back to life. In his peril he had forgotten +Ibrahim, lying there, unable to move. If the +Fulani got into the hands of Menud, he would +probably pray for death long before death took +him!</p> + +<p>More arrows struck, shivering on the face of +the rock. Then Garram sprang suddenly to full +height, one hand pulling at the end of an arrow +which stuck out of his side, the other vainly +scrabbling at the rock. With a scream he fell, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span>wriggled and twisted till one arm lay over the +edge of the ledge and the body seemed ready to +plunge down. A kick and a twist seemed almost +to push it off, then another brought it back +again, the hand still desperately grasping the +protruding arrow shaft; then, with a final +squirm, it lay still.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-178.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>No more arrows fell, and presently the hail of +rocks stopped roaring down the face of the cliff. +Menud sprang forth into the open and clambered +down the ledge. For a moment he stood, +eyes fixed on the motionless body. Picking up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span>a small stone, he threw it with all his force. It +struck the twisted shape with a thud, but the +body did not twitch.</p> + +<p>“Good, so the rat is at last dead!” he cried, +and signing to his followers to approach, the +overgrown loutish leader let himself down over +the socket of the ledge, cautiously moving forward. +Digging the motionless figure in the ribs +with his toe, hand on knife as a precaution, he +then bent down to examine more closely the +staring open eyes of the flung-back head.</p> + +<p>Then of a sudden he felt a hand at his throat, +and a poisoned arrow head was within an inch +of his eye. Menud flung up his arms in an instinctive +movement to release the hand at his +neck, then froze at the menace that faced him. +A quiet voice remarked, “Not so hurriedly, +Menud! You should have waited longer, perhaps +another forty years, to have found me +dead.” And Garram, with one hand disarming +him, threw knife and weapons clattering over the +edge, keeping Menud’s bow only long enough to +cut loose the bowstring. And all the while the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span>stump of poisoned arrow was within an inch of +his enemy’s eye.</p> + +<p>“And now you can order back your pack of +imitation murderers while I make <i>my</i> arrangements!”</p> + +<p>Menud shivered. Terrible death was his alternative. +With teeth and one hand Garram tied the +arms of his enemy behind him, the dread arrow +holding him in agonized fear. As they emerged +from the shelter of the ledge into the view of +Menud’s followers, the latter looked for an order +from their leader. Then, realizing that something +was amiss, they charged down the slippery +face of the rock only to pull up with a moan of +horror as they realized their position.</p> + +<p>Garram beckoned them to approach, and the +party moved toward Ibrahim. The grotesque +angles of his twisted legs made the poor Fulani +look very terrible, but Garram had had the usual +experiences with hunting accidents, his own and +others’, and knew that this was not serious.</p> + +<p>“A litter of boughs, and if it is not brought +immediately you die!” Menud’s followers did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span>not need the confirmation of the order from their +leader, but scattered quickly; and before Garram +had made a preliminary examination of Ibrahim’s +injuries, they were back, breathless and +scratched and still trimming the boughs with +their knives as they ran.</p> + +<p>The youths had obeyed Menud’s orders, since +he had made himself by sheer physical strength +their leader, but his intolerable conceit and +folly made him no popular figure. As much out +of friendship to Garram as to save Menud, they +now set about making what preparations they +could for the wounded Captain of the Guard, +resetting the legs with splints and a skilful +padding of leaves tight bound with bowstrings.</p> + +<p>Then an awful thought struck Garram. Where +was Kon? None knew. Since the first fall of rock +no one had seen him. He would not have run +away, so the hideous truth became clear. A rock +must have swept him over the precipice! Dragging +the terrified Menud, Garram sought along +the brink, calling as he went. But there was +no answer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span>The bulging face of the rock prevented the +boy’s seeing into the valley beneath, but there +was no sign of the dog clinging to any of the +sparse tufts of bush and grass which clung here +and there to crevices. And there would have +been no way of getting him up or down the +almost sheer face, even if he had thus been saved +by a miracle.</p> + +<p>Garram’s grip on Menud’s throat tightened +till he whined for mercy. Gone was the almost +mocking manner with which the young hunter +had faced his own and Ibrahim’s predicament.</p> + +<p>“One dog of mine you caused to die. If Kon too +is dead—no, you will not die—only your eyes—and +nose—and ears will be taken from you—with +a clean knife, so that you will live many +years to remember!”</p> + +<p>One party moved off, carrying Ibrahim slowly +and carefully on the improvised litter, a man on +each side fanning the still unconscious patient +with boughs to keep off the plague of flies. +Garram and Menud and a search party sought a +way down to the valley where Kon must lie. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span>Twice, with difficulty, they were forced to retrace +their steps, faced with the sheer drop in +front of them. Then, as they tried again, Garram’s +face settled into grim and yet grimmer +lines, a cold nose was thrust into his hand from +behind.</p> + +<p>It was the dog, who had found another way +up. Kon, gashed by the treetops into which he +must have fallen, feet almost raw from his +scrabbling efforts to save himself as he slipped +down and down the precipice, but thrilled at his +adventure and grinning his happiness at being +back again.</p> + +<p>The gentle hands of the young hunter searched +anxiously for broken bones or other hidden +harm. But none could be found, and it was a +relieved and almost joyous party that hurried +to overtake Ibrahim.</p> + +<p>All through that day and the next day they +traveled almost without halt or food, Kon seemingly +recovered after a bath in the stream at +the foot of the hill. At noon the next day the +surprising procession passed through the gates +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span>and into the city of Yelwa, leaving Ibrahim in +the care of his relatives.</p> + +<p>The next evening the Captain of the Guard had +recovered sufficiently to be carried on a door to +see a sight which Garram said might amuse him. +Garram had hired a dye pit for the day. The dye +pit is a cylinder-shaped hole in the ground, lined +with native cement. Into this hole clothes to be +dyed are put to soak in a noxious smelling mixture +of rotting indigo.</p> + +<p>Round the mouth of this particular dye pit +Kon was circling, barking with glee at something +within. Ibrahim, on being carried to the brink, +raised himself slightly to see what was going on, +then lay back, the better to give vent to the +laughter which was choking him. For in the pit, +unarmed and unbound, stood Menud, gradually +absorbing a richer and ever more lasting stain of +indigo.</p> + +<p>When he would have raised himself at one +side of the pit, Kon circled after him and met the +upturned face and gripping fingers with pawings +and playful snaps of the powerful jaws, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span>caused Menud to drop back each time with a +juicy plop into the rich mixture below. This had +been going on all day, and with Kon on duty to +see that the sentence was carried out, continued +till nightfall, much to the amusement of the +whole market, who came to jeer and to point.</p> + +<p>After a day’s soaking in the warm mush and a +night’s drying to make the dye more lasting, +Menud was judged fit to proceed. The next day +he, a villain of the deepest dye, and his followers +left the city for the Hills again, Menud vowing +vengeance as he went.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span> +<p class="ph3">A PIGLET ACTS FOR GARRAM</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XV<br> +<small>A PIGLET ACTS FOR GARRAM</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> Liman wagged a skinny forefinger under +the nose of Goshi, the stout trader. “Since he +brought us both to shame, it is we who should +bring this heretic Garram to account.”</p> + +<p>Goshi, made tolerant, perhaps, by his girth and +his wealth, looked round the dimly lighted room +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span>as if in search of an excuse and did not seem to +notice the wagging forefinger. The little earthenware +saucer with cotton wick and vegetable oil, +which served as a flickering lamp, occupied his +attention for lack of anything more thrilling +in the small bare hut with its rough mud walls +and its flat ceiling which barely cleared his head +as he stood.</p> + +<p>“It is for this purpose that I summoned you,” +the harsh, weak voice of the Liman continued; +“for, though it is the duty of all good Mohammedans +of the city to punish such <i>kafurchi</i> +[heathenness]”—he almost spat the word—“with +death, yet the softness of this generation +is such that no longer can we stone infidels to +death publicly or convert them at the point of +the sword.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191-192]</span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/i-191.jpg" width="450" height="592" alt=""> +<figcaption> +<p class="caption">It was like a snake, swaying</p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[193]</span>Goshi’s attention had been caught by the +black shadows of the Liman’s arm sawing up and +down the wall. It was like a venomous snake +swaying, about to strike. The trader’s round +face showed its disgust. If he could have caught +Garram in that headlong pursuit in the market +place, he would have given him, weapons or no +weapons, a detailed and most effective spanking. +For the trader was as brave as he was fat. But +that was more than three months ago. His only +feeling now was a poignant regret that he had +arrived a moment or so too late to witness the +Liman’s own discomfiture. He grunted vaguely +in reply.</p> + +<p>The Liman’s cracked and excited voice went +on. “We wait now only for the Ladan and two +friends who can be trusted. Then I will unfold +my plan. We must act quickly, for each moon +sees Garram, this child of the Devil, more firmly +established with the people and in deeper favor +with the Emir himself.”</p> + +<p>Goshi looked at the matting covered door +as if considering a way out. The exhibition of +hate made by the skinny old religious enthusiast +was not to his taste. But his dislike of underhand +deals made him wait. If he knew the plan, he +might later be of assistance to the mischievous +young hunter, whom he had grown rather to +admire. To free himself from the obsession of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[194]</span>that shadowy snake he took the lamp from the +niche in the wall and set it on the black polished +floor.</p> + +<p>Then, with whispered greeting and sidelong +glances the three remaining conspirators entered. +In this half-ruined hut, in the corner of the +Liman’s compound, they still appeared fearful +of being overheard.</p> + +<p>As the Liman’s voice again sawed away in +exhortation Goshi’s attention wandered. He +could have sworn he heard the flat roof of mud +and timber creak as if under a footstep. Then +there was a small sound like the leap of a heavy +cat onto a neighboring roof. In a pause in the +harangue a faint scuffle outside came to his +ears, and a muffled squeal which puzzled him. +Could there be a small pig, such as he had sometimes +seen in his travels, in this town?</p> + +<p>“Three days ago I spoke with the Emir himself +concerning this same Garram and his evil +ways, his levity, and his lack of true belief in +Allah. The Emir was nearly persuaded by me. +But when later this child of the Devil went +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[195]</span>away, the Father of our People sent for me +and called me many evil names, saying I had +driven away this boy who had become to him +as a son. Alas that the Father of our country +should call a heretic and unbeliever ‘Son’!” +The vengeful bigot paused for effect.</p> + +<p>“And now that he has returned safe, and +bringing with him Ibrahim, whom he saved from +death, not only people of the market place and +common people, but even courtiers and nobles +of the land call a blessing on him when he +passes.”</p> + +<p>Goshi was still but vaguely attending, waiting +for the time when the real plot should be unfolded. +The gentle thud as of a leaping cat was +approaching again. He could hear the roof give +a faint creak.</p> + +<p>“Shaitan the Evil One,” the Liman was +haranguing away, “Shaitan aids Garram, the +son of Shaitan, for does not the Devil always help +his own? Shaitan——” With a crash the roof +opened and a small black shape fell with a gentle +bump among the conspirators, overturning and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[196]</span>extinguishing the lamp. Overhead a boy’s leg +scrambled wildly for a foothold in the hole in the +roof, pulled itself up. A gentle thud told that the +owner of the leg had alighted safely on the +ground outside the hut. In the darkness Goshi +grinned. He had recognized Garram’s foot just +as the light went out. But he alone had seen.</p> + +<p>The room was in plain panic. Something small +but terrible was circling the hut at an increasing +pace, ever and anon encountering a pair of thin +religious shanks. Then the owners of the shanks, +without time even to commend themselves +to Allah and his Prophet, sat down with a vigor +that persuaded the small piglet that this was +their way of trying to catch him.</p> + +<p>Terror of this unknown thing circling in the +dark upon the ground forced the Liman and his +friends to their feet as rapidly as possible after +each fall. Goshi, who alone realized the situation, +lay still where he had fallen—as still as his rocking +laughter would permit.</p> + +<p>Determined not to be caught by these people +who seemed trying to sit on him, the small pig +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[197]</span>increased his speed and the plotters had barely +time to scramble to their feet before being +felled again. Breathless invocations ceased, as +no breath remained to the plotters. The only +sounds were Goshi’s demoniacal laughter out of +the darkness and the continual thud-thud of +falling bodies.</p> + +<p>Goshi, after a short time, could not have risen. +Weak with laughter he groveled. First the feet +of the piglet, passing over him, tickled him in +the ribs. Then, as the small beast put more into +it to increase his speed, the hoofs seemed to +nudge him in the side, as if asking him to share +in the joke. There was a yell of terror as the +conspirators found what they took to be another +and unexpected devil added to the first one. +But it was only the same small pig seeking +variety by turning to go round in the opposite +direction.</p> + +<p>One of the men made a temporary escape by +seeking to hang from a roof beam. This had +much to commend it. Unfortunately he let go +again just as another had been bowled over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[198]</span>beneath him. The Liman, by the voice, was the +lower one, and feeling the weight of something +still heavier dropping from the sky and the darkness +robbed him of what little of his wits remained. +Partly running, partly on all fours, he +began to circle the hut, terror lending him marvelous +speed.</p> + +<p>His gasping yells sounded scarcely human to +the other conspirators, and this final addition to +the pig’s solo procession turned an excellent +imitation madhouse into a realistic pandemonium. +No longer were the evil spirits content with +cleanly felling them and permitting them to rise +again. Now when they fell, a second mass, even +more terrifying, would fall upon them, strike +them evilly with thin, flail-like limbs, and seem +about to devour them as it gobbled wildly. It +was only the Liman striving to surmount obstructions +in his path, whooping and mewing as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[199]</span>he sought breath and words for his feelings.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-199.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p>Then, to the fat trader’s keen regret, the small +black pig found the doorway with its light matting +cover and disappeared as suddenly as he +had come. To the trader’s ears came the sound of +a scuffle, as Garram, waiting outside the door for +his pet, caught him and went his way. Gradually +the disturbance in the hut died down, till only +Goshi’s shaking sobs of laughter broke the +silence. But even the best conspirators need +breath to conspire properly. The weakness of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[200]</span>the plotters, and their fear of the devil which +they believed they had invoked, made further +mischief that night improbable. Goshi found his +way through the door which only darkness and +blind terror had hidden before. The four conspirators +tried to get through it together, +jammed, but one by one followed him to the +edge of the Liman’s compound, where they +parted.</p> + +<p>Goshi weakly zigzagged his way through the +deserted market place, pausing, from time to +time, to the scandal of the lean scavenging dogs, +as hooting, snorting laughter caught him anew. +“Wallahi! What an event!” he leaned up against +a stall and informed a cat and two dogs. “How +can I tell the story properly on the morrow when +I heard only sounds and could not see the faces +of the pious as they played on the ground with a +piglet and to amuse it hung like bats from the +roofing?”</p> + +<p>His voice, worn to a whisper with much laughing, +had a determined ring to it. “But justice +shall be done to the story, though I perjure myself +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[201]</span>and swear to blue flames of hell or bright +moonlight through the roof. Better the latter, +since the Liman will have put the hell flames into +his own story.”</p> + +<p>He wove homeward through the night.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[202]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[203]</span> + +<p class="ph3">A STORY OF STORIES</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[204]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[205]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-205.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVI<br> +<small>A STORY OF STORIES</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> Liman timed his arrival carefully and +entered the court as the Emir dismissed the last +of his public duties and was turning to such +lesser matters as might, according to custom, be +laid before him. A few requests, of no great +importance, were dealt with, and then the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[206]</span>Liman limped forward and demanded attention. +“Lord, is it permitted that again I speak of +this infidel, this Son of Shaitan, Garram the +hunter?”</p> + +<p>Without waiting, he plunged into the detail of +Garram’s crimes, that he was an unbeliever, a +consorter with dogs, and who knew what other +things unclean and held accursed in Islam. That +he was sent by Shaitan himself to harm the true +faith and the true believers.</p> + +<p>Patiently the Emir listened, though he had +heard all this before. Then his attention deepened. +The Liman was recounting his adventures of the +night before. Five true believers had, it appeared, +merely been speaking of Garram and Shaitan—whose +name be accursed—when a devil had been +conjured up, or down, he did not seem certain +which. With a wealth of detail, including the +flames which Goshi had foreseen, he pictured the +scene. The number of devils had increased in the +telling, though they still remained black. Black +indeed, and very big and terrifying. How they +could all get into the room together was the greatest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[207]</span>mystery of all. But the three other plotters, +present, by arrangement, among the audience, +were appealed to for corroboration on one point +and another and were unanimous in confirming +the truth of the Liman’s account. On some points +they enlarged.</p> + +<p>A surprised and puzzled Emir tried by means +of questions to find solid ground in this fantastic +story. The witnesses were men of considerable +religious standing, who would not, whatever their +motives, conspire to invent this adventure. Yet +it was all very incredible. His bewilderment was +reflected in the faces of some of his courtiers. +Though many seemed laboring under some other +emotion, breathing heavily, nudging each other, +even hiding their faces in their wide sleeves, while +their shoulders shook and heaved.</p> + +<p>With swirling phrases and much learned quotation +from the Koran and the Traditions, the +Liman demanded the death of the heretic Garram, +he who was so clearly in league with the +Powers of Evil. Death, without alternative, was +the punishment enjoined by the Sharia—the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[208]</span>Holy Law of Islam—and this not even the Emir +himself had power to vary.</p> + +<p>Garram alone stood unmoved by the speech. +His right hand, which had swung to his knife +hilt, was now gently scratching Kon’s ear. The +Liman’s harsh voice rose almost to a scream of +hatred as he pressed the charge. Then an interruption +occurred in court.</p> + +<p>It was Goshi, who with puffed out cheeks was +trying to make his way to the doorway before +laughter should overcome him. But with a gurgle +and a pop it burst forth.</p> + +<p>As one loose stone may start a hillside sliding, +so his shout of laughter let loose the pent-up +mirth of those who had heard his version of the +Liman’s story and had been hugging the joke +with ever increasing strain. To be able to make +devils and flames out of piglets and bumped +noses! Allah! What a salesman was lost in the +Liman when he took to the religious life!</p> + +<p>Angered by the disrespectful hubbub, the Emir +enjoined silence. “A madman comes to me with +stories of devils, yea, devils, in this our city of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[209]</span>Yelwa. Then greater madmen laugh in my face in +full court! Fools!” he stormed. “What is the +meaning of this? Say, before I have you beaten +by the guard!”</p> + +<p>Pushed forward by many hands, Goshi began +to speak, his voice quavering, his eyes damp with +laughter. “Lord, what is my knowledge compared +with the wisdom of these holy men? But +I was with them last night when they planned the +downfall of this young hunter. And indeed I saw +no devils and no flames. Their devil, perhaps, +was the small piglet with which they played. +Their play was to me a surprise, but who was I +to know the customs of holy men?” The look of +childlike innocence on the stout trader’s face +was the cause of some weakly silenced guffaws +among the crowd, and several figures made a bolt +for the door. He paused, as his voice was getting +tremulous again, and Garram stepped forward.</p> + +<p>“That piglet was mine, which unfortunately +fell through the roof as I was bringing it home. +It did no harm, and without doubt thought they +wished to play.” Garram, his ingenuous explanation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[210]</span>ended, stood, scratching one leg with the +other foot.</p> + +<p>“A piglet that wanted to play with the Liman, +or a Liman that wanted to play with a piglet?” +The Emir’s look of anger gave way to one of +curiosity. He leaned forward as he spoke. “What +talk is this? Do thou, Goshi, tell me your story +first; then perhaps will come some measure of +enlightenment!”</p> + +<p>Willingly Goshi took up his story. No market +was dull where Goshi was, and this was a story of +stories. Certainly it lost nothing in the telling. +Again and yet again the guard had to quiet the +court so that the Emir might not miss a point. +By the time the trader had described how the +feet of the scurrying pig had tickled his ribs each +time it passed him, twisting in laughter on the +floor, the Liman and his witnesses had slunk +from the court.</p> + +<p>When he reached the description—purely +imaginative, for it had been too dark to see—of +the expression on the holy faces, the thin shanks +waving in the air, as their owners were bowled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[211]</span>over, picked themselves up, and were bowled +over again and again, noisy and uncontrolled +merriment drowned the rest of the story for anyone +but the Emir. Which was a pity, for probably +his best bit was his picture of the man hanging—according +to Goshi—by his feet from the roofing, +invoking, “Shehu! Shehu!” in a thin batlike +squeak before he let go his hold and plunged +headforemost into the Liman’s meager center +section.</p> + +<p>The story at last ended (and with what wealth +of embroidery!), the Emir turned weakly to +Garram. “Though the humiliation of those men +was well deserved, take heed! Only two men do as +you have done safely, a Waziri or a Wawa. Because +of your wisdom I might make you my +Waziri—my Vizier—or for your jokes I might +make you the Wawa—the Court Jester. The one +has power and the other license, so both are safe.”</p> + +<p>At the sound of the Emir’s voice silence fell +again upon the Assembly. “But,”—the Emir +emphasized the word—“because of your jokes +you cannot be Vizier, and because of your wisdom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[212]</span>you cannot be Jester. Now for your services +choose some requital, ask some gift that I may +bestow, some favor that I may grant!”</p> + +<p>Garram transferred his weight to the other leg +and with the toe of the disengaged foot scratched +himself and sought for words. Then: “Freely I +came to your city of Yelwa, O Father of the +Plainlands, and freely I would return to my +Hills with my dog, my weapons, and my new +piglet.” He had not the gift of words, and more +scratching of his leg seemed needed before he +went on. Something in his manner made a hush +fall upon the people, who had begun to whisper +comment. “Though no message has come to +me, all to-day I have known that I must go back +to my Hills. This I cannot explain, but I think +it is my father who is in danger and whose spirit +is calling to mine.”</p> + +<p>“Boy in years and man in ways, I think I +understand you.” The Emir’s voice had in it +sadness, disappointment, and Goshi and others +nodded in sympathy. Many would be sorry at +his departure. “If your father is in danger I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[213]</span>would offer you armed men to assist, but I fear +they would only hinder.” Garram nodded in reply. +“I would offer you rule over a province if it +would make you stay—but I know that it would +not.” The Emir rose to his full height to signify +that the audience was ended.</p> + +<p>“If some day you need riches, armed force, +or power, remember that I, the Emir of the +Plains, am your friend. Remember further that I +am a just man who would pay his debts to you +for your many services. In the name of Allah the +Compassionate, the Merciful, the audience is +ended. Go in peace!”</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[214]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[215]</span> + +<p class="ph3">A GHOST LEOPARD</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[216]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[217]</span> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVII<br> +<small>A GHOST LEOPARD</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="xxlarge">A</span><small>N HOUR</small> after the audience had ended Garram +was already on his way out of the city of +Yelwa by its eastern gate. Three months ago, or +very little more, he had entered by the same gate, +warily, almost furtively, into a strange and probably +hostile town. Now people—more people +than he thought could have known him—pressed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[218]</span>forward with farewells, with food for him, and +other small provision for the road. Some, and +among these was Goshi, wanted to present him +with swords, slaves, and even horses. If he had +accepted, he would have had a small fortune, as +fortunes went in those parts. Reluctantly he +thanked the people, but returned their gifts, for +hard travel, and he knew not what else, lay in +front of him, where such luxuries would be only +encumbrances.</p> + +<p>Two things, however, he could not resist, and +he now carried them over his shoulder, his arms +fully occupied with the struggling piglet. One +was a coat of finest chain mail, such as used to +find their way across the Sahara and may even +have seen the fighting of the Crusades. It was +light, as armor goes, and the small interlaced +steel rings rippled almost like silk when the coat +was worn. It had been handed down by the +Emir’s ancestors and was indeed a royal gift. +The other present, which Goshi had given, was a +leaf-headed spear with long and slender damascened +iron shaft all made in one piece. Though +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[219]</span>designed for mounted use, it was of such fine +workmanship that it was little heavier than a +stout hill spear, and its balance in the hand was a +delight.</p> + +<p>Kon careered wildly ahead as soon as they +were outside the city walls. Thrilled at the release +from the tame life at court, he snuffled at everything +with a wriggling and inquiring nose, +bounced back, and made a playful snap at the +corkscrew tail of the pig, then galloped off ahead +once more. But the boy traveled intent upon +making good time, and for once taking no notice +of the things around him. Something from the +Hills, almost an audible voice, seemed to be calling. +“Come!” it said. “Come! Hasten!”</p> + +<p>Though starting late in the day and cumbered +with the pig, Garram reached the foot of the +Hills before dark. There, as he had somehow expected, +a boy with a message from the Rainmaker +was waiting for him.</p> + +<p>“The Rainmaker told me to meet you here +and said you would be expecting me.” Garram +would have made inquiries, but hastily, so as not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[220]</span>to forget it, the small boy went on with his message: +“The Rainmaker says, ‘Come! For Warok +your father is lying in a hut bound and under +guard. The elders who listen to the evil counsel +of Sura and Menud wish him deposed from his +chieftainship and, for their own safety, killed!’”</p> + +<p>Now Garram understood the feeling that he +had had all the day, urging him as if with a voice +to leave the city and go to the Hills. For the old +Rainmaker had practised sending him messages +in this mysterious way, sometimes when they +were sitting together, sometimes from a different +hut or even different village. Sometimes he even +got messages from the Rainmaker when hunting. +It had been only an amusing game in those days, +with a thrill of mystery about it. Now the advantage +of it became obvious.</p> + +<p>“Where is Warok lying?” Garram asked. No +great talker, his questions were to the point and +swift.</p> + +<p>“In his own hut, but guarded by Menud’s own +followers. The friends of your father dare not +help him, for each is afraid to act without the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[221]</span>others, and they have no leader.” The messenger +would have gone off into a dramatic recital of +events, but Garram had no time to waste.</p> + +<p>“With what crime have they charged my father, +what injustice to the tribe? For they dare not +say they do this out of hatred.” Holding the piglet +under one arm, Garram was impatiently +pricking the ground with his spear point.</p> + +<p>The young messenger hesitated before replying. +“O Garram the Hunter, do not be angry at +this which I tell you. But they say that you +showed the secret passes of the Hills to the Fulani +whom we fear. And more—that this you did by +orders of Warok himself! Also they say that +Menud and his followers surprised you in the act +and would have brought you back for trial, but a +large body of the enemy released you and captured +them, taking them even as far as the great +city of the plains. And they speak of the city, +describing it in such manner that all may know +their story is true.”</p> + +<p>Garram writhed at the ease with which Menud +the Talker with a few easy lies had turned the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[222]</span>tables on him. But that story did not account for +their being back in the Hills, nor for Menud being +stained a deep and indelible blue. Swift question +elicited the simple explanation from the messenger.</p> + +<p>“Menud the Wily, they say, escaped first and, +staining himself blue, came back as a returned +spirit of the dead, so scaring the guard that the +escape of the rest of the band was easy.”</p> + +<p>Garram acknowledged the ingenuity of the lie +with a grim smile. The Rainmaker’s envoy went +on: “And this we know must be true, for the +color is not yet off his skin, and all men seeing +him must believe his story.”</p> + +<p>Angrily Garram turned with the younger boy +toward the Hills. As they went, in as few words as +possible he outlined the true story. Darkness +had been falling as they spoke, and as the night +was moonless, there should be little fear of their +being seen by spies of Menud. For still greater +precaution they took a difficult path known only +to Garram, and avoided the main pass into +the Hills.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[223]</span>After an hour’s traveling their short but +difficult route cut across the main track. Garram +showed the messenger his way. He himself would +take another short cut. “Take then this true +account that I have told you to the Rainmaker, +that hearing he may know. Also, this small and +very light piglet you will take to him. For he +will recognize it and so know that the story like +the piglet comes from me.” And with a grin of +relief, unseen in the darkness, the young hunter +passed over his awkward, kicking burden.</p> + +<p>The messenger would have protested. Carrying +struggling pigs, even small ones, along a dark +and broken rocky path was not a habit of his. +But Garram sent him firmly upon his way.</p> + +<p>“Child! Idiot!” His voice sounded very stern +to the younger boy. “The Rainmaker will expect +some sign from me to show that you have done +his bidding. Otherwise and without doubt he will +beat you and say your tale is a lie. This is the +only token I will give you, so be content with the +pig that saves you a beating.”</p> + +<p>Grumbling, the messenger took his way. For +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[224]</span>a moment Garram stood considering the short +cut, then changed his mind. Probably he would +save time by the main route, which, though +longer, was far easier. Time was so important +that the extra risk must be taken. Within a few +moments he was back on the main track, after a +swift detour which cut in, in front of the Rainmaker’s +envoy. Garram thought of the awkward +burden he had so easily transferred and chuckled. +Then he arranged his weapons so that they +would not rattle and gave himself up to swift and +silent travel.</p> + +<p>This extreme silence and Kon’s keen ears and +nose lessened any risk of capture. Several times +they stepped swiftly from the path and crouched +while something, perhaps beast, perhaps man, +passed within a few yards of them on their windward +side. These halts served also as a well-earned +rest. The two were moving at a swift lope, +no easy task over a dark rocky path and in that +high mountain air which starves the lungs.</p> + +<p>To Kon darkness mattered little. His nose +kept him as fully informed of his surroundings as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[225]</span>his eyes could have done in daylight, and even +Garram picked out many scents on the still +night air. The inhabitants of the villages which he +passed had long since gone to bed, so it was too +late for the sweet savor of the evening cooking, +but the smoke of wood fires from the huts drifted +across the track here and there. The aromatic +taste in the smoke made from the brush wood of +the Hills was pleasantly distinct from the heavy +acrid smoke of the city fires. Garram wriggled his +nose and snorted to get a stronger whiff of it.</p> + +<p>The feel of the rocks under foot, the bracing +touch of the crisp mountain air, the stillness of +the barren Hills all gave him the thrill of homecoming. +Where the chill mist, which he could feel +but could not see, hung in the little fertile cups +of valleys he could catch the scent of dwarf cattle. +Away in the distance, in front of him, he heard the +sawing note of a leopard busy on his night’s hunt.</p> + +<p>It was going to be no easy homecoming. With +his enemies in power and his father awaiting +death at their hands, he was more likely to be +killed on sight than welcomed! The young hunter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[226]</span>repressed his desire to sing and turned his attention +to producing some plan of action.</p> + +<p>Half the art of hunting is in laying plans. +Plans not so detailed that unexpected behavior +of the game throws them out, but elastic plans +with alternatives to fit any possible move of the +quarry. Garram, the invisible ground slipping +away behind him as he ran, tried over plan after +plan in his mind, rejecting one because it would +take outside assistance, and he preferred to play +a lone-hand game; rejecting another because it +would take too long. For he felt that whatever +he did must be done before dawn if it were to be +in time to rescue his father, Warok.</p> + +<p>It was still early in the night when he arrived +outside Kwallak, the village where he had been +born. He was still testing the plan he had in +mind by confronting it with all possible variations, +when Kon, who had been bounding ahead, +slunk back as if for protection, tail down and +every bristle raised. As the hunter’s hand felt the +dog’s raised mane in the darkness, he stopped in +his stride and listened.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[227]</span>Only two things could make the dog behave +like this: a lion in the Plains or a leopard in the +Hills. Garram almost shouted with joy as he +saw how this might fit into his plan. If he could +kill it! And what a glorious mad adventure to +fight a leopard single handed in the dark!</p> + +<p>The faint breeze was from in front of them, and +if this leopard followed the path, as they usually +do, it must almost bump into him. Swiftly he +made his preparations, slipping the chain mail +over his head, putting one arrow on his bow, and +silently placing the quiver on the ground. Kon +backed farther and farther into the darkness as +the scent of the approaching beast strengthened.</p> + +<p>Then came the soft swish-swish of padded paws +in front. Breathlessly the boy waited until the +sound was within five paces, swinging his head +to get the exact direction by sound; then loosed +the arrow.</p> + +<p>In one swift movement he dropped the bow, +set the butt of his new spear against the ground, +and clamped it there with his foot. With a coughing +roar, which told that the arrow had not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[228]</span>missed, the leopard charged. Square and low in +the chest the inclined head of the spear met the +leaping body, raking upward into the heart as the +weight of the animal forced the butt more firmly +into the rocky soil.</p> + +<p>Garram’s foot and left hand stayed only just +long enough to present the spear point at the +leopard. Then he leaped aside and with his right +hand swung his hunting ax with a crash into the +beast’s skull.</p> + +<p>The huge leopard kicked and lay dead, the ax +torn from the hunter’s hand still embedded in its +brain.</p> + +<p>The young hunter extracted the spear, and +after several jerks freed the ax, which had bitten +deeply into the skull. Either ax or spear wound +would have been immediately fatal without the +other. The arrow wound too was mortal, but +poison often takes a minute or two to kill outright. +Carefully he made his examination, sliding +quick fingers over the warm silky body. Then, +ever businesslike, set to work on the skinning. +For it was the skin he needed for his plan.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[229]</span>The skinning finished, Kon, to his disgust, was +ordered to remain in the cover afforded by some +thick bushes while Garram cautiously reconnoitered +the village. Careful inspection showed +that, though everywhere else the people seemed +to have gone to sleep, a murmur of talk still rose +from the chiefs compound. The huts of Warok’s +house were built touching each other, and forming +four sides of a rough square. In the center of +this square was the courtyard from which the +voices seemed to come. The only entrance was +through a hut which faced inward toward the +maze of village streets. If the small messenger’s +story were true Warok must be a prisoner somewhere +inside. In which case the entrance hut +would be well guarded.</p> + +<p>In daylight there would be no chance of getting +in undetected. But by night.... How about +the wide-spreading doka tree which reached out +its branches well outside the compound? It was +just the sort of weak point in his defences which +Menud might leave open.</p> + +<p>Silently the young hunter felt his way along the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[230]</span>outer wall until he reached the place where he remembered +the boughs to hang lowest. Then he +leaped, once, twice, and even a third time, but +still his upstretched hands closed on nothing. +For a moment dread seized him that his plan +might fail. Then, jumping farther to one side, his +fingers touched some leaves, and little by little +he bent down first twigs, then boughs, until +he gripped something strong enough to support +him as he climbed.</p> + +<p>The leaves, green though they were, seemed to +his anxious ears to rustle and crackle like dried +hide, and in spite of the most painstaking caution +twigs snapped in a way which he was certain +must arouse even a sleeping guard. But at last he +reached the center of the tree where the bare +limbs could neither rustle nor snap, and hung +silently watching and listening.</p> + +<p>Below him lay the courtyard, with an isolated +hut, usually used as a granary, in the center. +Before the door of the hut a large fire glowed, and +beyond this again were the guard, some lying +wrapped in rough cloth, others sitting and talking. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[231]</span>From time to time one would rise and pace +up and down in front of the hut door, replenish +the fire with huge logs, or kick it into a warm +blaze before sitting down again.</p> + +<p>Carefully Garram weighed the situation. A +few well-directed arrows might kill several of +the guard, but this would only bring in others +whom he could hear in the entrance hut. Warok +would be unable to help, as he would undoubtedly +be lying bound behind the closed and fastened +door. If the surprise attack failed, everyone +would be on the alert till dawn, and any further +attempt at rescue would be hopeless. Fantastic +as it was, his first plan seemed the best, and without +further delay he started to put it into execution.</p> + +<p>First he carefully sought among the tangle of +boughs, for the limb which stretched out above +the well-guarded hut. There was no bright moonlit +sky to reveal him but from time to time the +watch fire threw a dangerous glow upon the underside +of the tree. Inch by inch Garram made +his way out along the bough, skilfully parting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[232]</span>the leaves and twigs in front of him, and slowly +releasing them again behind him so that they +should not rustle. The guard had stopped talking, +which, unless they went to sleep, made +silence more imperative than ever. Each time +the youth parted the leaves for a fresh examination +of his position there were still some sitting +upright, or rising from time to time to tend the fire.</p> + +<p>It seemed hours of strained caution before +Garram found himself directly above the hut +with the guards beneath still unsuspecting. +Then came disappointment, for the thatched +roof was too far below him! It would be impossible +to jump to the cracking straw without arousing +the men. To attempt any method of letting +himself down gently by his bow and bowstring +would be useless, for between the cover of the +leaves and the shelter of the roof he would be +hanging in the glow of the fire in full view of the +watchers.</p> + +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[233-234]</span> +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/i-233.jpg" width="450" height="591" alt=""> +<figcaption> +<p class="caption">Garram was directly above the hut</p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[235]</span>For a moment all seemed useless, and the boy +even considered his other plan of a surprise +attack on the guard. Then in a flash he had the +solution. With as much care as he had used +before, he retraced his way along the bough to +where the thinner one joined it. Cutting and +laying aside twigs which barred his way, he +wormed his way out again toward the hut, still +managing to keep a screen of leaves between +himself and the watchers in the courtyard. As he +went the bough, as he had hoped, began to bend +ever so little under his weight, to lean down toward +the hut roof.</p> + +<p>It would not be sufficient to pass along the +bough silently till it bent so that he could step +off, though this seemed difficult enough: he +must move so slowly that to any one who +glanced that way the bough must still appear +stationary. This slow motion set up a strain +that brought the perspiration bursting from his +skin, in spite of the coolness of the night. Once, +too, it nearly led to his being discovered. For a +wrist that had been bearing the weight of his +body in the slow forward movement for nearly a +minute began to tremble and started a rustling +among the leaves.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[236]</span>One of the guard rose to his feet, picked up a +stone, and came and stood under the young +hunter, peering up into the dark mass of leaf. +No doubt he had hoped that it was a stray hen +roosting there, as they sometimes did, and that +he might pass some of the long hours of the night +making and eating a chicken stew. Garram +chuckled inwardly at the mistake. Then nearly +yelled. For the stone thrown experimentally to +see if it might bring anything down had glanced +off a twig and spent its remaining force on his +elbow.</p> + +<p>There was no chance to rub it, he must make +no move nor sound while the man stood below. +It was with extraordinary satisfaction that he +heard the man move slowly back to the fire.</p> + +<p>There was no further incident to hinder his +scheme, and within a quarter of an hour he was +pressed flat along the roof, on the side farthest +from the guard and the watch fire. But the helpful +bough now became a nuisance. It must not be +allowed to flip up into position again, or it would +bring the guard to see what had happened. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[237]</span>Swiftly he loosened his bowstring, joined it to +the spare one that he always carried, and attached +it to the bough that he was gripping with +his elbow. Inch by inch he began to pay out the +string, but the tremendous pull exerted by the +branch began to make the plan impossible. It was +almost certain to make a noise, cause him to slip +on the roof and let go, or some other catastrophe. +Also time was getting very precious. He thought +a moment. The branch must not be allowed +to flip back into place. True. But why let it go +back at all? In fact, why not tie it to the peak of +the conical roof?</p> + +<p>That was easy. Then came more trouble. The +idea of cutting his way in through the thatch +of the roof had sounded simple. But to do it +silently he found he needed to sort out each +straw-like grass stem separately—working by +touch only, since it was dark on the side away +from the fire—and then cut it and dispose of it by +sticking it back into the thatch somewhere else.</p> + +<p>At last even this labor was ended, and he was +standing safely within the hut, the unsuspecting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[238]</span>guard separated from him by only a thin wall +and a few yards of space.</p> + +<p>For a moment he stood, uncertain what to do. +How could he manage to find his father in the +darkness, and waken him without disturbing the +warriors outside? Then hope seemed to drain out +by his feet, and despondency which was almost a +physical sickness swept over him. His plan was +near final success, so very near—— He checked +a gasp of dismay, for surely the hut was empty, +surely no man could be here in this silence?</p> + +<p>“Son!” came the faintest of mocking whispers. +“Do not breathe so loudly, or the guard who are +outside will make base talk of me as an old man +who snores and grunts in his sleep!”</p> + +<p>Quickly Garram bent down with his knife and +cut the cords that bound the chief. Then, while +he helped to restore the circulation in the cramped +arms and legs, whispered his plan of escape. +Whispered with his mouth to Warok’s ear, for +the clear crackle of the fire and loud grunts of +the watch warned him how near they were.</p> + +<p>In a short while Warok was able to stand upright. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[239]</span>With whispered instructions the young +hunter handed into his keeping the new spear, +his bow, arrow quiver, and even his trusted +hunting ax. Then, keeping only his long-bladed +knife, he busied himself with the awkward +bundle of chain mail and newly flayed leopard +skin.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>A noise inside the hut caught the attention of +the guard. It sounded like the faint note of a +leopard. It could not be a leopard, of course, but +it might be the old man making the call of his +totem animal in his dreams. People do dream of +their totem animals, and it seemed quite likely +that the chief would have a disturbed night +since he would be killed on the morrow. So one +of the watchers at the fire thought, and got up +to undo the door of the hut and make sure that +everything was all right with the prisoner and +that he had not worked loose his bonds. Fumblingly, +standing in his own light, he undid the +leather fastening of the door and walked in.</p> + +<p>Then with a howl he leaped back. For the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[240]</span>whole hut stank of leopard, and there, following +him out of the doorway, moved the leopard himself.</p> + +<p>Even in the dim firelight the animal looked +huge and tremendously broad in the shoulders. +The rest of the guard awoke, as, with a howl of +dismay the first man loosed an arrow.</p> + +<p>At that range the arrow could not have missed. +But there stood the leopard with dropped head, +insolently regarding him. Then, obviously unharmed, +stalked slowly and majestically toward +the group of men around the fire.</p> + +<p>There had been no time to stir the embers into +a blaze, but even as they retreated the guard +fired again and again at such close ranges that +they could not miss.</p> + +<p>And in the firelight they saw the arrows strike +the spotted flank only to fall broken to the +ground!</p> + +<p>Huddled for protection in the entrance hut +of the compound they watched the huge beast +skirt the fire and move slowly toward them, arrows +bouncing off him as they struck.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[241]</span>“God pity us! Warok is changed into his totem +animal, the leopard,” a scared and shaking voice +gabbled. “O Warok, spare us! It is not we who +would have done you harm. Spare us! Spare us!”</p> + +<p>For a moment they stood, then turned to fly. +Wild terror jammed them struggling in the outer +door of the entrance hut. Then with a crash the +walls each side gave way and released them. Far +down the winding maze of village streets went +the stumbling hurrying fugitives, eager only to +get away. Over their shoulders they gasped, +“Spare us! Only spare us!” and each saw a leopard +ready to spring.</p> + +<p>Garram, from under his chain mail and leopard +skin, beckoned to the hut door, and Warok came +stiffly forth. Preceded by Garram, still on all +fours and covered with the yellow hide, he walked +slowly out into the village street. No one would +touch them, no one would even willingly set eyes +on them. For it was well known that the mere +sight of an angry totem animal would kill. +Outside the village the impatient Kon awaited +them.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[242]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[243]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE ALARM DRUM</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[244]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[245]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XVIII<br> +<small>THE ALARM DRUM</small></h2> +</div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">A</span><small>S SOON</small> as they felt safe from pursuit, the +tribesmen who had been guarding Warok hastened +to Sura and Menud with their story. An +incredible tale of a ghost leopard, or of Warok +transforming himself into a leopard, they poured +out, panting and shaken, before the incredulous +Menud and his father. Interested but puzzled, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[246]</span>neither Sura nor Menud was quite convinced. +But as one after the other of the shaken guard +arrived and told the same story, the obvious belief +of the eyewitnesses and the constant repetition +of it gave proof.</p> + +<p>A hurried visit to the hut where Warok had +been imprisoned showed only a dying watch fire +and no traces of the prisoner. Something of the +tale, Menud felt, must be true. Moreover, the +unwillingness of the guard to revisit the scene +and their obvious terror showed better than +words that this was not a tale concocted to account +for a release obtained by bribery.</p> + +<p>Boaster, liar, and traitor as he was, Menud +was supported in his ambition by considerable +ability as a plotter. Swiftly he weighed up the +situation. With Warok free the game was no +longer entirely in his hands. He knew only too +well that the old chief had a considerable following +in the tribe whom he would now get together +and organize.</p> + +<p>Menud felt that his next move must be to +gather all his sympathizers from as many villages +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[247]</span>as he could in the time at his disposal, +and have himself declared chief. Then, with this +usurped authority in his support he would have +the tribal organization at his disposal.</p> + +<p>But, swiftly as his dispositions were made, +they should have been swifter.</p> + +<p>At dawn the old Rainmaker had already assembled +a nucleus of Warok’s followers. He had +sent for these before Garram’s message had +reached him. They were a last desperate hope to +free Warok by force of arms. Fully armed and +experienced warriors had come at the old man’s +bidding from every village of the tribe. In twos +and threes, so as not to attract too much attention, +they had been converging on the village +since dawn. Outside the village they had been +met and directed to the Sacred Grove.</p> + +<p>Even after dawn more and still more men were +climbing to the flat-topped hill which was the +meeting place of the great Council of the People. +The Sacred Grove seemed to swallow them up, +singly and in groups, and none outside could +tell how many there were.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[248]</span>Garram, no longer in his leopard skin and +armor, had had a series of thrilling escapes from +Menud’s followers while searching the village +for the Rainmaker. At dawn he ran the old man +to earth in the Sacred Grove. Swiftly he told his +tale, while the Rainmaker nodded approval. “It +is well done! But this I already knew. For even as +you sought me in the village, Warok, your father, +has himself come and is here waiting.”</p> + +<p>“Then as soon as enough are assembled we +shall attack the followers of Sura and Menud +and kill those two traitors?” Garram’s eagerness, +in spite of his twenty-four hours of strain and +effort, made the old man smile.</p> + +<p>“Not so. For that would be to give all honor +to youth who have already earned enough,” +the Rainmaker soothed his impatience. “Now +is the time when old heads may make a plan +instead of young arms striking.”</p> + +<p>Garram hopped on one foot in eagerness, and +Kon strolled up in hope of excitement. “The +plan, then, O Great One, the plan, what is the +plan?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[249]</span>“Is it not easier to snare the hare than to run +after it with sticks? Have patience a moment, +and you will see the snare catch the hare. Come, +see!”</p> + +<p>Speaking together the two had moved farther +into the grove. And Garram saw. For two of +Warok’s warriors with threatening spears were +forcing one of Menud’s followers to yield up his +weapons. Silently and without outcry, so that +others might not be warned. In the broken country +round the village there was only one clear +space where a force could easily be assembled—the +flat-topped hill on which grew the Sacred +Grove. The Rainmaker’s plan was indeed skilful.</p> + +<p>Warok’s followers had gathered first. Sura’s +men came unprepared, in little groups and singly +in too small numbers to offer resistance. And +those who had come first had already been disarmed +and could render no help to later comers.</p> + +<p>The ring of trees, which was the Sacred Grove, +crowned the hill and masked it from people below. +The barren slopes of the hill gave no chance +to anyone to escape unseen and carry the news +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[250]</span>back to the village. As neat a little trap as could +have been devised, and grim smiles played upon +the faces of the old warriors who followed the +chief as they noted the chagrined expressions of +Menud’s followers, disarmed and helpless.</p> + +<p>On the farther side of the stone circle Warok +sat in his accustomed place. Dressed in Garram’s +shirt of mail, the new leopard skin thrown loosely +over the stone seat, and Garram’s steel-shafted +spear planted by his side, he was the center of +an interested throng. At once the hunter recognized +the skill with which his father put even +such details as these to their most effective use. +For such armor, rarest of heirlooms even among +the Fulani was unknown among the primitive +Hillmen. The rays of the rising sun rose over the +encircling Sacred Grove and struck down into the +clearing, ruddy and glowing, upon the motionless +figure of the chief. All eyes turned to the +flashing golden figure, and a deep-toned murmur +of awe boomed from the people.</p> + +<p>Then Menud and his father, with a handful of +his followers, were seen approaching.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[251]</span>No attempt had been made to disarm them. +Instead way was made for them, so that even +as they passed through the wood chatting and +boasting, they were unaware of the changed +situation. With self-conscious dignity they paced +out from the cover of the trees into the clearing. +Then something of the truth flashed upon them. +Jaws dropped upon unfinished remarks, and +there was a movement among the party as if to +turn and run. But already the guards had closed +in behind them. In paralyzed surprise they rendered +up their arms.</p> + +<p>Then Warok spoke. “You have called a +council. Behold, your men are here! What will +you say to them?”</p> + +<p>Silence fell.</p> + +<p>One by one the party that had come with +Menud and Sura drifted away and were lost +in the crowd which stood behind the seats of the +stone circle. Elders one by one sought their appointed +seats. Scowling their useless anger, +Menud and his father stood helpless, isolated +in the center of the ring.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[252]</span>An elder rose in his place and spoke. “O +Warok, and people of the Hills, it is time that +the voice of truth was heard. For many years +men have grumbled saying that you oppress +them when you make them do the things needed +for the safety of the land. Sura has followed the +trail of discontent with gifts, preaching more discontent. +Speaking against you. Promising no +work and many gifts if the discontented will +make him chief.” The father of Menud made as +if to speak. “Do not protest, O Sura, for there +are surely a thousand men here who would know +your denial a lie.”</p> + +<p>“This I have known for many years,” answered +Warok. “We all know that after many +years of peace people will say, ‘There will be +no more war in our days, why should we keep +the defence hedges of cactus in repair? Why +should we train ourselves to defend our families? +Why should we do aught save gather wealth +or eat and drink?’ Yet we, who bear scars +of many ancient battles against the slave-raiders +from the east, know that when they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[253]</span>think to find us unprepared they will come +again.”</p> + +<p>Menud spat disdainfully upon the ground. +“If the chief fears the Fulani raiders let him not +think we are all cowards! Have I not myself killed +many and escaped from the very city of their +Emir? Pah!” Again he spat his feigned disgust.</p> + +<p>“Your story of your adventure at Yelwa is a +lie, as all men will know in due course. Moreover, +it is not those Fulani who are our enemies, but +those of the east. As to your courage, have you +ever shown it except in words? And the raiders +require more than words to drive them off!”</p> + +<p>The situation was a difficult one. To Garram +it seemed simple. With the men who had tried +to kill him here at his mercy, why did not Warok +dispatch them out of hand? All this talk seemed +dangerous delay. But the old man knew his +trade. Summary execution of Menud and Sura +might be justice and would draw the sting of +the conspirators for a time, but in the end it +might turn them into first-class martyrs for +liberty and lead to civil war in the tribe.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[254]</span>“Bring in the followers of Menud,” directed +the chief, “but bring them one by one and let +the others wait beyond earshot.” The chief’s +bidding was done.</p> + +<p>Now, with Menud helpless, his followers no +longer feared to tell the truth. The story soon +came out: his attempt to murder Garram, even +the punishment of the dye pit, which till now +had appeared in various forms but never as +punishment for treachery. Menud’s cowardly +attack was not to the liking of the brave and +simple Hillmen. A roar of anger broke from the +throats of the crowd, from followers of Warok +and Menud alike, and they shook threatening +arms at their recent leader. Twice the old chief +had to still the tumult as he sat watching the +effect produced. Little by little, doubtingly at +first the followers of Sura and Menud turned +upon their leader and would follow Warok. His +enemies were at his mercy.</p> + +<p>Skilfully the old chief guided affairs. The last +witness withdrew beyond the circle of the elders +and from the outermost ring, reaching far beyond +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[255]</span>the Sacred Grove to Sura and Menud, standing +scowling and uneasy in the center, came silence +and no movement. The sun was nearly at midday; +no breath of wind stirred the heavy leaves +of the tall enfolding trees.</p> + +<p>Strained and more strained grew the hush—the +hush of waiting.</p> + +<p>Garram, like a true hunter, having played his +part, was resting, almost sleeping with eyes open +in preparation for the next move. Kon, stretched +out, basked in the sun. Nothing of the old chief’s +thoughts or feeling could be guessed from his +face. It seemed set, carved in stone, but his keen +old eyes lost nothing of what passed before them.</p> + +<p>Then a group of elders rose from their stone +seats and spoke together in whispers. The eldest, +leaning on his staff, his shriveled skin lying in +folds upon his body, led the group before the +chief.</p> + +<p>“Father of our tribe, ourselves, our families, +and our villages are at your service, to follow +you in war and to hear your words in peace. +Ours is the blame that, forgetting that these two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[256]</span>were runaway slaves from the Plains, we believed +their word as though they had been of the tribe.”</p> + +<p>The old man paused and sought the eyes of +his comrades as if in support of what he +was about to say. Grimly they nodded their +assent.</p> + +<p>“We are not able to make conditions with you +whose father was chief of our fathers, but one +thing we would beg.”</p> + +<p>Again the old man paused. Something of his +intention seemed to be divined by Menud and +Sura, whose eyes searched vainly among the +assembly for sign of support. But anger was on +the faces of the followers they had once duped, +and on the faces of Warok’s men, triumph.</p> + +<p>As the old one spoke a buzz of whispering carried +his words out to the farthest fringe of people +beyond the grove. Now the hush of expectancy +caught and gripped anew the tight-packed +throng. The ancient felt the weight of the words +that he was about to speak. Proudly his old +frame straightened, and his shriveled skin +seemed for the moment to hang less loosely on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[257]</span>him. He turned from Warok and stretched out +his arms to the people. “Let our shame be healed +by the death of these two, Sura and Menud! +Let their death be such that men, aye, even +hardened warriors, shall speak of it with terror +and shuddering!”</p> + +<p>No whispers now. His old voice rose to a clear +ringing summons which carried to every man +there. In answer the Hillman’s killing call rose +from a thousand warrior throats. Then, more +dreadful still, for by tribal custom the women +only may torture, grew the eerie death wail of +the women. It was the answer. Gray and +trembling, Sura and Menud awaited their +fate.</p> + +<p>Then, like a sea, the mob surged in to snatch +its prey. With a shout Warok, Garram, and a +handful of old warriors sprang forward. Exile, +possibly death the chief had planned for the two, +but not this. This almost forgotten death by +lingering public torture. Swiftly a ring of armed +men was flung between the mob and the groveling +figures on the ground.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[258]</span>Then a small boy, dusty, gasping, almost falling +with weariness, burst somehow through the +throng. At a stumbling run he came to Warok, +then spoke a hurried message.</p> + +<p>Garram, at a sign, ran up to receive a short +order, and even as he turned at a run toward the +village, Warok, a glittering figure in his chain +mail, swung toward the people.</p> + +<p>The din was so great that at first his words +could not penetrate. The guard, though heavily +reinforced was being pressed back and forth by +the unarmed mob, who, once Menud’s followers, +now wanted his life. Then, as those near the +chief heard his news, the shouts began to cease. +Packed and jumbled the mob stood still, froze +almost to hear and catch the words.</p> + +<p>“O People of the Hills, we have been attacked +from within the tribe by these two traitors who +writhe in fear before you, groveling on the ground +imploring mercy. Do not waste your time upon +them! Even now word has come that more +worthy foes await us. The Fulani of the East, +whom we have not seen for a generation, have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[259]</span>sacked, burned and ravished our southern villages +on the foothills, and seek a way into our Hills +themselves.”</p> + +<p>The old warrior chief waited for the news to +be whispered out to the edges of the crowd. But +time was not being wasted. Already Garram +had been sent hurrying to sound the alarm drum +in the village below.</p> + +<p>“Until we have met and hurled back the +Fulani raiders we need not trouble ourselves +with this scum. Only by lies can they do harm, +not by their own strength! Now that you know +the truth, what harm can they do? Now let the +women prepare the food to follow, while all true +Hillmen take only their weapons and cast these +vermin of the Plains back from the Hills of our +ancestors. Now is not the time for talk. Let us +travel swiftly and strike hard! Brothers, we +have had a generation of talk! Let us now fight. +Come!”</p> + +<p>Somewhere in the dense mass of people were +Sura and Menud, but already forgotten as the +crowd ebbed and flowed through the encircling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[260]</span>trees crowding toward the southward leading +track.</p> + +<p>And as they jostled came the steady rhythmical +boom from the village below.</p> + +<p>Deep, continuous, and ever louder, strange +and unheard for a generation, still none could +mistake it, it was the wooden war drum of their +ancestors. Beaten only in case of tribal extremity, +and then only by order of the chief himself, it +could be heard for ten miles in any direction. In +each village was a similar drum made of a +hollowed hardwood tree. Each village, as soon as +it heard the deep note, would transmit the message.</p> + +<p>And the deep tone varied as the tone of the +Hill language varied, so that words and sentences +could be sent in the tone language itself.</p> + +<p>Every marching man could hear the call to +arms. Then came the names of the villages that +the enemy had attacked. And like a stop between +each sentence came the two-toned word +of their language meaning war. War—young men +gripped their spears with determination. War—grizzled, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[261]</span>hardened warriors dreamed awhile of +their youth. War—again the drum thundered +out, and women hastened to soothe the children +and prepare food to send after their husbands +and fathers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[262]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[263]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE CHIEF RETURNS</p> + +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[264]</span></p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[265]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XIX<br> +<small>THE CHIEF RETURNS</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="xxlarge">I</span><small>T WAS</small> midnight when the dusty band of +travel-worn Hillmen led by Warok arrived at the +southern escarpment of the Hills. In front of +them the rock dropped away like a cliff overhanging +a black sea. Nothing could be seen of the +plainland spread out into the distance far below +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[266]</span>them. Nearer in, tucked under the precipice, +but still far away, three spots of light glowed red +through the darkness.</p> + +<p>A wounded man, his arm bandaged with tree +fiber and a padding of leaves, came out from the +surrounding night and in the strange-sounding +southern dialect told Warok his story. The glowing +points were the embers of the three villages +which in a false sense of security the men of the +southern clans had built on the lower foothills. +Forgetful of old traditions, they had begun to +farm in the Plains, and instead of building defence +works had improved and made easier the +track from the plain to the villages.</p> + +<p>The slave-raiding Fulani of the East must +somehow have come to know of this group of +defenceless villages. Anger came into the speaker’s +voice as he reached this point of his narrative. +“In the blackness before dawn I woke, smelling +fire. I lived on the side of the village from +which the breeze was coming, and, moreover, +near the gate. But even as I looked round, rising +from sleep on one elbow, flames ate the grass +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[267]</span>roof and lighted the hut. All my house, all my +village was ablaze, as I saw, leaping through the +door. Somewhere out of the flames my family +called, and their moans came to me above the +roar of the fire. Three times I tried to reach +them but could not, for blazing roofs had fallen +and blocked the way.” The voice sank to a dull +note of despair. Warok nodded assent. To an old +warrior the surprise attack of an enemy at dawn, +setting fire to the village to bolt the inhabitants +panic-stricken and defenceless was no new story.</p> + +<p>“Then, with only the knife which I, like all +men, keep in my belt when sleeping, I stumbled +from the flames which would have eaten me. The +gate was too far. But as I ran a house fell which +had formed part of the outer wall of the village. +Also for a moment the wind, started by the burning +village, sucked the flames from the gap. So +I escaped.”</p> + +<p>The old chief had let the survivor tell his own +story so far. But he wanted useful facts, not a +story of personal adventure. “How many of your +village, and how many from the other two villages +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[268]</span>escaped?” he asked. “And where are the +attackers?”</p> + +<p>“Two men, and one girl child only have I met! +The threshing ground and flat space round the +village were full of horsemen as I fled. Each side +of the gates they waited, spearing the men and +old women, taking captive the girls and young +children.” He pointed to his bandaged arm down +which a trail of dried blood showed black in the +starlight. “Even as I ran, one thrust his spear +through my arm, and other horsemen were +closing in on me as I reached the broken rocks. +My knife....”</p> + +<p>But Warok was no longer listening. He called +three names. Three warriors came out of the +darkness. Grasping one by the arm he spoke: +“Loka, friend of my youth and companion in +many battles, take with you Garram, my son, as +tracker. Go softly past the force encamped round +the villages and bring me word of the Fulani +force lying in reserve in the Plains. Their camp +should not be far away. Speedy news, not fighting, +is your first task. Go.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[269]</span>Led by Kon and Garram the warrior moved +off into the darkness, calling to him a handful of +trusted men as he went.</p> + +<p>“You”—Warok gave the next man his direction—“will +take more men, for you will need to +fight. I have seen small lights round the three +burning villages. These will be the camp fires +of the Fulani who reached the foothills, and you +must find their strength. Drive in the sentry +posts and kill a little. But do not fight in the +open against them, for we have few men and +the enemy are many and mounted. Keep near +the rocks where their horses cannot follow, +and see that they do not sleep!” A chuckle +showed that the plan was to the taste of the +gathered Hillmen. There was a sound of movement +in the darkness, a rattle of quivers and +weapons, and the small body of men moved +off.</p> + +<p>Next, order was given that each chief should +call the name of his village. In spite of the darkness, +the uneven ground, and the lack of training +due to long years of peace, the mob of armed men +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[270]</span>began to form orderly groups. Simple though +this organization was, it would make it possible +to handle the men in battle, working by plan, and +not as a blind and clumsy horde.</p> + +<p>Orderly groups, each under its village leader, +marched swiftly into the darkness to prepare +the defence of the pass which led up from the +towns below. Soon Warok and a handful of +elders were the only ones left on the dark crag +overlooking the burning villages. It was necessary +for him to remain in the one place so that messengers +from any of the three parties should +know where to find him in the dim, starlit night. +Down in the foothills, around the burning +villages, the Hillmen were already reconnoitring +the Fulani position. The Fulani could not be +given open battle, since their numbers far exceeded +the whole of Warok’s force, and the little +group of fighting scouts would have been wiped +out before they could have made any impression. +A sentry here and there had been killed as he replenished +the outer ring of fires. But immediately +he had been replaced, and the Fulani, secure in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[271]</span>their numbers, had gone on sleeping. A sentry +more or less did not matter!</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, as a Fulani guard strained +his eyes to pierce the night beyond his watch +fire, with a hiss of steam the blaze and glowing +embers blackened. Earthenware water pots, +thrown with unerring aim by the Hillmen, landed +in the fire and burst, scattering their contents, +and putting all in darkness.</p> + +<p>Rapidly, on all sides, the fires hissed and went +dead. Even as the sentry shouted the alarm and +grasped his spear, the dark figures of the Hillmen +sprang upon him. One more murderer of old +men and women had died. And not he alone, but +the whole ring of sentries were stretched as dead +as the wet ashes of their watch fires.</p> + +<p>The sleeping army woke to the sound of the +war howl of the Hillmen. Half quenched cooking +fires in the center of the camp were kicked into a +blaze, as men grasped their arms and hastily +rallied to defend themselves. Under cover of the +night the long vengeful knives of the Hillmen +were pressed home to the hilt, withdrawn, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[272]</span>again and again sought heart, lung, or stomach of +those who had butchered their unarmed kinsmen.</p> + +<p>Swiftly the small band of raiders came. Swiftly +they withdrew to the rocks and cover of darkness. +The huge Fulani army, rallying in the name +of the Prophet, found only empty darkness +filled with the taste of fresh blood.</p> + +<p>Thrown in relief by the rekindled cooking fires, +no longer protected by the line of sentries and +watch fires, the massed forces of the Fulani +formed a perfect target. Without warning an +unseen cloud of arrows poured in from nowhere, +finding the massed ranks a target impossible to +miss.</p> + +<p>Here and there courageous groups of the Fulani +charged on foot among the rocks, trying to come +to grips with the subtle stinging enemy. Enraged +by their losses and inability to make contact, +they tried again and again, until their commander, +becoming anxious at their continuing +casualties, ordered them back. The raid had been +beautifully executed, and the massing of the +panic-stricken Fulani in full glare of their cook +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[273]</span>fires had been a gift from the gods to the skilled +bowmen of the Hills. The raiders had lost men, +and here and there among the rocks a wounded +Hillman groaned as his friends carried him to +safety. But for every raider killed at least a score +of Fulani lives had been taken in exchange.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile news of the success of this raid that +he had planned spread up to Warok. The main +body of warriors stationed at the head of the +pass clamored to leave their work and charge +down upon the Fulani camp. The elders, grouped +with Warok on the peak, counseled him to immediate +action. Even Sura, so lately discomfited +and in danger of death, joined his voice to the +others, counseling attack in full force.</p> + +<p>With only the support of the Rainmaker, +Warok refused to pit inexperienced warriors +against five times their strength of trained Fulani. +“A dog may bring to bay and tire out a bull,” +the old chief explained, “but if he closes with the +bull and tries to slay....”</p> + +<p>The elders nodded assent. The bull would win, +of course. The strength of the Fulani was like +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[274]</span>that of the bull compared with the force the +Hillmen could throw into the attack. But Sura +had a scheme worthy of his mean cunning. None +but Sura, nicknamed the Snake, could have devised +a scheme so diabolically selfish, so murderous +for others, so safe for himself. He asked +permission to put forward a plan.</p> + +<p>“In full daylight our men will see the numbers +of the enemy and fear to attack. But in this darkness +they will not know the certain death to +which they go. And even now they are clamoring +to attack. So—” with a pointed pause—“none +will blame you afterward!”</p> + +<p>Neither Warok nor the Rainmaker spoke his +disgust. From the assembled elders came a murmur +of interest. Encouraged, Sura continued: +“Once they have closed with the enemy, all will +be hand-to-hand fighting and confusion from +which neither our men nor the enemy will be +able to escape. Few of our men will be alive by +morning, but the enemy will fear us. So that +when at dawn they see our women, dressed as +warriors, and carrying sticks to look like spears, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[275]</span>crowning the heights above them, they will be +deceived by their fears and will retreat.”</p> + +<p>Little red spots began to gleam in the darkness, +as the elders, stirred by the skilful plan, drew +harder on their huge tobacco pipes. Cynically +the Snake played his last card: “So we should be +safe without risk to ourselves. And the wives, +the betrothed, the household goods, and the farms +of the young men of the tribe will become ours, +since the dead will no longer have need of them!”</p> + +<p>With silky voice of anger Warok broke in upon +the applause. “Do you, the elders of our people, +counsel this plan?” Their answer left no doubt. +“O Warok, there is no other plan whereby we +may live and the Fulani be driven back!”</p> + +<p>“On one condition and one only I consent,” +the soft voice insinuated: “You and I, O Sura, +will lead the attack, my wrist tied to yours. Our +only weapons will be short stabbing spears +which have no edge to cut the bond should one of +us be slain before the other. Is not the plan now +perfect? Since we shall both be slain, there will +be no dishonor!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[276]</span>The awed intake of breath sounded like the +rustle of the dawn breeze among the leaves. The +elders did not doubt Warok’s reckless willingness +to put the amendment into practice. Nor +did the Snake doubt, scrambling to his feet as if +for flight. “This is mad folly,” he blurted out. +“Why should a wise man die when fools can die +for him?”</p> + +<p>“How shall a man who fears to fight give good +counsel as to fighting?” was the swift retort. “Go +join the women and give them counsel as to the +cooking of food!”</p> + +<p>But the Snake had courage after his own fashion. +There was the scrape of a rough-surfaced +native knife being drawn from the dry leather +sheath. There was the sound of a body leaping +through the dark as Sura would have flung himself +upon the chief. But Warok’s light throwing +spear, impelled by his powerful shoulder muscles, +met the assailant as he leaped, pinning him +through the chest as if he were a butterfly. The +old chief had not risen to throw, his back had not +even left the rock on which he leaned, and he must +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[277]</span>have judged his throw only by sound. Yet the +force of the blow had driven the spear head out +through the would-be murderer’s back, and the +thrum of the vibrating spear shaft sang out +among the rocks. With a clatter the body of +Sura spun round and fell.</p> + +<p>None moved. All knew what had happened. +The sounds had told all as well as sight would +have done. Then the voice of the Rainmaker rose +out of the darkness. “Sura would not fight for +the tribe. But in the dark, as you have heard, he +would have murdered.” Deep toned, impersonal +as of a judge, his voice rolled on. “Death of such +a one as this will not anger the gods. No curse +will fall. I bear witness!” The deep tones ended. +The Priest of the Tribe had spoken!</p> + +<p>Silence, dreaded silence grew in the darkness. +In the belief of the elders, the spirit of the freshly +slain man was angrily walking around them, +seeking revenge. For this is what spirits are believed +to do when just made homeless by death. +None dared speak or move, for fear of being +noticed. For the spirit would take a dreadful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[278]</span>vengeance—would kill perhaps the soul of the +first man it caught, leaving the body alive and +unconscious of the terrible mutilation.</p> + +<p>Warok’s pipe gleamed cheerfully in the darkness, +all the same. He had not wanted to take +life. Had indeed only taken it at the last moment, +in self-defence. Now he was quite willing that +the silent vigil should impress the object lesson on +the elders. Spirits did not trouble him.</p> + +<p>The old chief had regained full control of the +tribe again. Comfortably he sat puffing his long +pipe. As to the enemy, his plan had been decided +as soon as he had seen the situation.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[279]</span> + + +<p class="ph3">GARRAM EARNS SLEEP</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[280]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[281]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XX<br> +<small>GARRAM EARNS SLEEP</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="xxlarge">“C</span><small>HIEF</small> of our People, hear our report!” Loka, +the leader of the scouts sent to reconnoiter the +war camp of the Fulani in the Plains strode +proudly into the silent group of elders. The gray +light which heralds the true dawn gave faint +outline to objects seen in silhouette against the +sky, below, darkness seemed the more intense.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[282]</span>With slapping of slung weapons on their bare +backs and the rustle of soft leather loincloths his +scouts followed him. In the rear came Kon, tail +up, and Garram, still unwearied. In Garram’s +arms a vague bundle.</p> + +<p>“Speak, then,” the chief commanded, “but +tread not on the Snake at your feet.”</p> + +<p>“Guh!” With a startled grunt the old warrior +bent to investigate the body of Sura still lying +where it fell. Then, unimpressed, went on with +his report.</p> + +<p>“This is no ordinary raid such as we knew in +our youth, O Warok. The war camp is pitched +barely at the foot of the Hills, and not the full +day’s journey away, as is usual. Many times we +circled it, seeking to see or hear some sign of the +numbers.”</p> + +<p>The elders, stiff with their motionless vigil, +drew nearer, reassured a little, and interested in +the account.</p> + +<p>“Never have I seen so large a camp nor so +many sentries. An army of sentries, not the sentries +of an army merely!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[283]</span>“Their numbers must give them courage,” +Warok pointed out—more to himself than as an +item of information. “Always they used to keep +the camp with its many unarmed straying camp +followers a full day’s journey from our hills. +But have you no further knowledge? Nothing +except of the outside of the camp?”</p> + +<p>“I am no stalker by night, but a fighter by +day.” The old warrior Loka was nettled. “Moreover, +so dark was the night that even Garram, +your son, who is noted as a stalker, was lost from +our party when we arrived at the camp and did +not find us till we were about to return.”</p> + +<p>Garram was curled up on the ground against +Kon’s huge form. Even in the tropics a hilltop at +dawn can be piercingly cold, and Kon was pleasantly +warm. Garram was snatching some of his +previous night’s arrears of rest and kept only as +much awake as he felt conditions required. The +sound of his name brought him back to realities.</p> + +<p>“Yes, the words are true words,” Garram murmured +sleepily. “Very big camp but half empty. +Half the men and horses must have gone to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[284]</span>sack of the three villages.” He was nearly asleep +before he had ended his sentence and at once +snuggled down again with the queer-shaped +bundle between himself and the dog.</p> + +<p>Prodded further, the young hunter woke long +enough to tell some of his story. He had been +into the camp. Was it not the only way to find +out? Yes, he had found many empty picket lines. +Someone seemed skeptical. “Does a man stub +his toe on a hardwood picketing peg and think +it is a cat?” Appreciative chuckles greeted his +naïve but telling retort.</p> + +<p>Questions met him from all sides, and he tried +to answer them. The women and children captured +from the Hill villages? People wanted to +inquire after the lost ones by name, but Warok +intervened.</p> + +<p>“Dawn is nearly breaking, and time is short. +Have you any further news of fighting matters?”</p> + +<p>Garram roused himself and tried to think +clearly. “The camp is big, and half empty of +both men and horses. There are several large +tents of cloth and leather. Three sentries had to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[285]</span>die quietly before I could obtain entrance. But +there was nothing in the tents except useless +pale women of their own—Fulani—tribe. They +slept among fine woven cloths, but I did not +wish to steal. Only this I took,” holding up a +huddled gray shape of fur, “for he is a monkey +of the Hills and should not be a slave to Plainsmen!”</p> + +<p>The leader of the scouts laughed. “A likely +story! You were lost, and no doubt your dog +caught you the monkey among the rocks!” But +those near by, examining the monkey, fingered a +golden chain and jewel-encrusted collar on his +neck.</p> + +<p>“Does a dog catch golden chains?” remarked +an astonished onlooker. But Garram was asleep +again.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[286]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[287]</span> + +<p class="ph3">MENUD, THE TRAITOR</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[288]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[289]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXI<br> +<small>MENUD, THE TRAITOR</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="xxlarge">O</span><small>VERNIGHT</small> the remainder of the army of the +Hills had been ordered to descend the pass and +hide in the broken rocky country round the +Fulani camp in the foothills.</p> + +<p>Now, at first glint of dawn, Warok and the +elders followed. Garram had just time to hand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[290]</span>the monkey over to a friend and slip in front of +the party with Kon.</p> + +<p>On the western side of the peak lay the path, +if it might so be called, which led down into the +Plains. No more unlikely place could be found +for a track, for the peak seemed to drop in sheer +precipice. But along the face of the cliff stretched +a diagonal fault in the rock, forming a narrow +ledge which sloped southward and downward to +the level ground around the burned villages. The +sun had already begun to tint the opposite side +of the gorge, but the face of the precipice down +which the party marched in single file was still +in the shadow of the crag they had left. One by +one the party seemed to drop out of sight into +a black, fathomless chasm.</p> + +<p>Unseen and unheard above them, Menud had +stumbled across the body of his father Sura. A +casual glance showed that life was extinct. Then, +quickly but cautiously, he made his way to the +edge of the precipice and, leaning over, swore +vengeance on the party moving through the +darkness below. Revenge would be easy. Just a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[291]</span>matter of pushing a few rocks crashing down +upon the path beneath. The death of the unsuspecting +Warok and Garram, of Kon and all +the elders was a certainty. No skill, no courage +could save them, for there was no way off the +path, which was bounded by a precipice that +rose on one side, and on the other dropped sheer +several hundred feet into a boulder-strewn +chasm.</p> + +<p>Then Menud changed his mind!</p> + +<p>Mean cunning replaced anger upon his face. +His father was dead and no longer of use to him. +Why should he waste time avenging his death? +A more paying plan occurred to him. The ambitious +plotter drew back from the edge and followed +Warok’s party down the path. As he went +he planned, his mouth twisted into a yellow-toothed, +triumphant grin. For if he could find +his way into the Fulani camp, show them this +secret way up into the Hills—and it was the +only pass into the Hills from the south—their +numbers should give them easy victory over +the Hillmen. Then, since no Fulani would wish +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[292]</span>to be left as chief over the conquered Hillmen +in these strange and barren Hills, who would +suit them better than himself, Menud? For he +would have shown his loyalty to his new friends +by betraying to them his own tribe!</p> + +<p>Even as he walked and ran, the traitor saw +himself the trusted agent of the Fulani, exacting +tribute from the Hillmen, collecting their sons, +and especially daughters, as slaves to be sent to +the Fulani. What a full revenge! What tortures, +what ignominy could he inflict on those whom he +hated, with the support of the Fulani horsemen!</p> + +<p>Stirred by his plan, Menud had been making +better time down the path than he had expected. +At a bend he almost bumped into the party of +Garram and Warok, for the elders, more for +dignity than because of weakness, were traveling +slowly. Menud did not want to meet them. He +planned to wait unseen behind them on the +path, and then slip around them unseen as soon +as the narrow way opened out near the Fulani +camp.</p> + +<p>As the rocky track swung round the face of a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[293]</span>buttress-like projection of the cliff face, Garram +began to realize the wisdom of Warok in moving +the force down overnight. From where they were +now hiding in the rocky foothills they could be +thrown into attack like water from a bursting +dam. But men moving to attack down this narrow +path would have been like water dripping +from a leaky pot—an easy matter for the enemy +to deal with. Here, round the buttress-like projection, +the ledge of rock along which the track +led ceased in a vertical drop into the black shadowy +depths beneath. At this point the path was +carried on by a rickety, fantastic-looking bridge. +Timbers, weathered silver gray with time, and +long since bare of bark, had been wedged into +crannies in the cliff face. On these twisted and +uneven supports, which looked barely able to +carry their own weight, had been laid smaller +boughs, rounded and gnarled as all hilltop timber +is. With its worn and frail-looking supports, its +loose decking rolling underfoot and showing the +black depths beneath, it was a writhing nightmare +scaffolding rather than a bridge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[294]</span>Unconcernedly the Hillmen balanced their +way across it, talking as they went. They were +well used to these weirdly skilled pieces of primitive +engineering done with a chisel-shaped ax +as the only tool. There were several more of these +same bridges, on this same path, built like birds’ +nests to the face of the precipice. Following the +ledge in the vertical western side of the crag, the +path led downward and southward to the foothills +where lay the burned villages and the Fulani +force. The foot of the crag hid the actual camp till +Warok and his party had drawn clear of the pass.</p> + +<p>Expecting to meet the main force of Hillmen +guarding the mouth of the pass, the young hunter +was surprised to find no one there. Accustomed +to using his brain when hunting, Garram now +tried to apply it to this new game of warfare. +Why was the place left undefended?</p> + +<p>At a sign from Warok the party swung off +wide to the right. Then left, left, in a wide circle +with the Fulani camp for a centre. To Garram it +was very like skirting game at a distance so as to +approach it from down wind. That gave him the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[295]</span>clue. With a hop of excitement he made a grab +at Kon’s waving tail, as if to bring the news to +his attention. It wasn’t the wind, but the sun; +not scent, but sight, which the cunning Warok +was planning to use as ally. The warriors had +been swung round to the west of the camp so as +to attack the Fulani with the low blinding morning +sun directly behind them! With the sun behind +him, a skilled fighter could catch as many +as four out of five enemy arrows harmlessly on +his shield. And with the dazzling tropical light +low in front, the enemy would be able to ward +off practically nothing, neither arrows nor +spears, nor even slow-moving battle axes.</p> + +<p>The hunter almost danced with excitement at +his father’s tactics. And what nerve it must take +to leave the pass unguarded rather than weaken +his striking force and by overmuch caution court +defeat. Then, below him, in the shallow green +cup where lay the black spots of the charred +villages, sounded the tinkle of the Fulani war +cymbal. Men, more men than he had ever seen +before, were moving hurriedly about, like uncountable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[296]</span>water beetles on a mossy green pool. +Gradually they formed into groups, like patterns +on the green background. They were moving into +battle order, in regular ranks—a method unknown +to the wild Hill fighter.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the leaders of the Hill villages had +been called up to receive orders. Quickly they +returned, each man to his command. Morning +light had shown Warok the absence of horses in +the Fulani camp. They must have sent them +back to the plains under cover of darkness. A +detail, but it had made necessary a last minute +change of plans, of which the village leaders had +to be informed.</p> + +<p>Now all was ready. Warok gave a signal; a +series of soft sweet notes on the little Hill +whistle made of horn. Immediately it was repeated +by the whistles of the leaders of villages. +Then the bare gray rock of the unchanging Hills +appeared transformed into a black torrent. The +hidden warriors had sprung from their hidings +and, leaping from rock to rock, poured swiftly +from the encircling heights.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[297]</span>Hastily Garram charged after them.</p> + +<p>It was the rush of an undrilled horde in all its +furious force. Without reducing this force, the +organization by villages had made it controllable. +As the rush carried the line forward, converging +upon the enemy, the whistles blew again, +ordering back the rear ranks who would have +crowded among the men in front and jammed +them too tight for full use of bow and spear. +In silence the Hillmen reached the level ground +and swept forward. And still the attention of the +Fulani was directed toward the west, away from +the attack, toward the pass into the Hills. +Shouting of orders rose clearly from the camp, +but still the packed and motionless ranks of the +Fulani faced away from the charging Hillmen.</p> + +<p>Now they were noticed, and the enemy turned +hastily to meet the threatened danger. Now they +were within bowshot. Men stood and fired, then +ran forward a few paces, fitting another arrow +to the bow, halted, and loosed another shaft.</p> + +<p>Garram, who had brought along four quiverfuls +of arrows, was loosing two swift shots for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[298]</span>every one fired by the less skilled bowmen on +each side of him. The clack of bowstring on hard +leather wrist guard and the twang of the strings +rose in continuous rattle and hum. It seemed +only a moment since the young hunter was firing +vaguely in the direction of the massed enemy at +full bowshot range. But already he had thrown +away one empty quiver and was now near enough +to choose and hit his individual enemy.</p> + +<p>Then, with a yell, the Fulani charged to meet +them, their ranks thinning with falling men as +they came.</p> + +<p>A hunter is always unwilling to abandon the +bow, and Garram might have used an ax instead +of his last arrow, so close was the range. That +man fell, but another enemy was already in the +gap. The boy threw up his bow to parry a cleaving +sword cut. It was only just in time, and even +so the keen edge sliced a patch of skin from his +bare shoulder.</p> + +<p>With a yell of pain and fury he swung his ax in +return, and then felt it nearly pulled out of his +hand as his adversary fell, the edge firmly embedded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[299]</span>in his skull. He jerked the ax free just in +time to strike at another enemy. A misplaced +blow this, the handle striking harmlessly on the +Fulani’s shoulder and nearly jerking itself free +from Garram’s grip. The long knife of a Hillman +on his left saved him that time.</p> + +<p>The front rank, with Garram in it, was now +deep in the enemy’s lines. All formation had gone. +Now was the time when men, wounded, thrown +down, and rising again, lost all sense of direction +and fought friend as well as foe. But this Warok, +with hard-won experience of hand-to-hand fighting, +had foreseen and provided for. From the +throat of every village leader came the battle +cry, “The sun on your backs—and on!” Quickly +the slogan spread, and gave the steady aim of +veterans to the dashing ardor of these young warriors. +The deep yell panted from laboring lungs +as the Hillmen again turned a solid front against +the hated enemy.</p> + +<p>Dry grass became slippery beneath his struggling +feet. A body writhing in death agony on the +ground tripped him. But Garram struggled upright +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[300]</span>again in the sweating, hacking, cursing +struggle.</p> + +<p>Troops pressed backwards offer less resistance +than those pressing forward. Balance on the feet, +morale, everything enters into it. Each army, +pushed forward by the chest and shoulders of +their slipping, tripping rear ranks, pressed harder +and harder against the opposing ranks. Ribs +could be heard to snap where the struggling, +thrusting pressure was greatest. Few who fell +could rise again; there was no room to strike a +blow. Where a hand could be freed for an instant, +a knife would be pressed home, and a dying man +would be carried upright in the packed and swaying +crush, until he could be turned under those +cruel struggling feet. Over the heads of the front +ranks where friend and foe were mixed, poisoned +arrows were being exchanged by the rear-rank +men. Since each side was engaged along the whole +of its front, flanking movements were impossible.</p> + +<p>Garram had no idea of what was happening +except just around him. The pressure and heat +became a cruel, impossible nightmare. The rank +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[301]</span>smell of human blood made him sick and giddy. +The quilted cotton armor of his enemies began to +provoke him to absurd anger. It was so difficult +to force a knife through the thick padding. Then +he found a method of reaching round and placing +the point of the knife under the ribs at the side. +Once placed and pointing inward, the pressure +of the swaying crowd would force the blade +through anything.</p> + +<p>With unspeakable relief Garram felt the pressure +slackening, felt himself being carried forward +as the enemy began to give ground. Then +suddenly the fighting changed. He found himself +charging past small groups of four or five mixed +friends and enemies hotly engaged in a kind of +human dog fight. Suddenly he was the center of +a similar dog fight, knife back on his hip again, +swinging the hunting ax. As he fought, more +assistance would pour up, some of the enemy +fall, the remainder melt away. Then on to the +next isolated struggle. “Backs to the sun—and +on!”</p> + +<p>Stung by wounds he fought like a seasoned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[302]</span>warrior and no boy. The advance reached the +black ruins of the villages. Fighting opened out +more and more. The enemy seemed to have disappeared, +though here and there skirmishing +was going on. Arrows and quiver were broken +and his bow gone, or he could have done great +execution in this open fighting.</p> + +<p>A group of corpses lay at the gate of the village. +He was passing them as no matter for comment +at a time like this when something about them +caught his attention. Disgust and anger shook +him. For they were the unarmed villagers—women +as well as men—killed by the Fulani +in their surprise raid upon the peaceful sleeping +hamlet. Killed, and—he was nearly sick at the +sight—mutilated—horribly. Something like madness +seized him. With a yell he sprang at a group +of tall Fulani soldiers. Three spears were thrust +out to meet him. He ducked, swerved, and was in +with the knife.... A sword flashed out, and +would have transfixed him when, still in the +gleaming chain mail, Warok charged in with a +roar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[303]</span>The old chief had done his best to stay behind +and direct the battle, but his instinct for the +fight was too strong. Dropping all weapons save +his favorite ax, he had sprung into the battle. +Never noted for playing for safety, with a chuckle +at the thought of the chain mail, he had made no +attempt to guard himself or parry. With both +hands he swung his ax, swung again and again, +and four men had dropped. The handle, wet and +slippery, twisted from his grasp. A spear point +slid past his face as he sidestepped. He was in +and under the spear and had his last adversary +in his arms. But the man he grasped was already +slipping to the ground. Garram’s knife had been +just a shade faster. The old chief stood back with +a grin of appreciation. A neat stroke that for a +boy! Garram would have grinned back, but a look +of surprise came to the father’s face, for the boy +swayed unsteadily on his feet. Swayed, recovered +himself, then sank, wounded and unconscious, to +the ground.</p> + +<p>Rapidly but carefully the warrior carried the +sagging body into the cover of the burned-out +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[304]</span>village. The sound of stealthy footsteps brought +him round with a snarl to defend himself. A +huge black form nearly bowled him over. It +was Kon, who had been squeezed away from his +master in the first stages of the fight and had +now found him again. With the fussy assistance +of the anxious animal Warok checked the boy’s +heart and breathing, each seeming to find reassurance +in his own way. The boy lived.</p> + +<p>Then, as Kon snuffled inquiringly at ear, +mouth, and eyes, the old chief grasped the situation. +The boy had had no sleep, almost no rest or +food or water for more than two days and nights. +Two days and nights of strain and effort such as +few grown men could have borne. Then on top +of this the boy—for he was only a boy in years—had +been put to the terrible ordeal of a long, +sternly fought battle. The sight of the murdered +villagers must have drawn from him his last remaining +strength in that fierce final effort. And +body and mind had at last rebelled, and he had +fallen asleep as he stood!</p> + +<p>For there was no doubt about it, he was peacefully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[305]</span>sleeping! Here among the shouts and smells +of battle!</p> + +<p>The father reassured himself by a further +examination of skull, ribs, and limbs. Nothing +was broken, nothing amiss except for a few +easily healed wounds. Leaving some weapons by +his side for use when Garram awoke, the old +chief posted Kon as huge calf-like nurse and +all-sufficient guard. Then Warok ran toward the +sounds of the receding battle.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[306]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[307]</span> + +<p class="ph3">THE HILLMEN TRIUMPH</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[308]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[309]</span> + + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXII<br> +<small>THE HILLMEN TRIUMPH</small></h2> +</div> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<p><span class="xxlarge">T</span><small>HE</small> plain was strewn with the terrible harvest +of battle, over which, in the clear morning +sky, wheeled and wheeled countless vultures, +waiting, waiting.... Some, with flapping of +wings and clumsy hopping, had alighted. Some, +with bald repulsive necks and heads stretched +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[310]</span>forward, were already tugging with cruel beaks +at something hidden by their clumsily flapping +wings.</p> + +<p>Warok saw nothing of this, only the absence of +fighting, which had moved around to the west +while he was attending to Garram. The foot of +the spur must now be hiding the battle. He ran, +and as he ran, thought. Why had the enemy retreated +in that direction, which led only to the +pass up into the Hills? Why had they not fallen +back toward their reënforcements in the Plains? +There could be only one explanation: a traitor +must have shown them the pass!</p> + +<p>Then, of a sudden, he understood much that +had puzzled him. The Fulani leader must have +started to take his troops up the pass to the +west while on the east the Hillmen were waiting +for the rising sun to help their attack. Once the +Fulani force were spread in a thin line along the +narrow path up the pass, the leader in front of +them would be quite unable to keep touch with +what was happening in the rear.</p> + +<p>Which also accounted for the ease of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[311]</span>Hillmen’s victory over their much more numerous +and better armed opponents. The enemy +rear guard alone had been engaged! The main +body of the Fulani must by now be nearly at the +top of the pass, protected by the unscalable cliff +face from the Hillmen in the foothills below. +A warrior chief, his honest mind had not counted +on treachery. That had been the weak point in +his plan. As he rounded the foot on the spur he +saw that his conjecture was right. At the mouth +of the pass confused fighting still went on. The +remains of the Fulani rear guard were covering +the entrance of the last of their main body into +the rocky path, and once safely in the pass they +should be able to hold it against any number of +Hillmen, for there were many points in the path +that only one man at a time could pass.</p> + +<p>Warok saw that the head of the twisting black +line of the enemy had climbed almost to the top +of the pass. There was no other way up into the +hills for many miles on either side. The Hill +forces were caught in the foothills, helpless to +stem the tide of the Fulani advance. The old +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[312]</span>chief groaned aloud, for nothing now lay between +the cruel enemy and the peaceful Hill villages +where women and children would be working +and playing in the morning sun.</p> + +<p>Others had grasped the situation. Old warriors, +frantic at their helplessness to defend their villages, +blamed Warok to his face for leaving the +pass undefended. Still others, less privileged by +their age and honors, gathered in futile, scowling +groups, muttering to each other the things they +dared not say to the old chief’s face. And all, +mixing threats with entreaties, demanded of +him a miracle, that he should find some means +of stopping the enemy’s advance upon the Hill +villages. Cold and hard, Warok stood before +his judges. He was scarcely aware of them, of +their many words. With all his will he was trying +to tear from his mind some plan to retrieve +the disaster.</p> + +<p>“Gather all warriors! Cease this talk!” his +stern command stilled the babble. “Re-arm +swiftly from the dead and wounded.” His glance +sought a man among the mob. “You, Loka, will +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[313]</span>re-form the force under its village leaders and +lead it with all swiftness to attack the camp of +the Fulani in the plains below.” Murmurs began +to arise, questions.</p> + +<p>“O Warok, I have never feared battle, but +what is the use of attacking the Fulani in the +plains when by then the other force of Fulani +will be killing and capturing our wives and +children in the Hills?”</p> + +<p>“None doubts your courage, O Loka. If you +cannot capture the camp, at least set fire to it. +If even this is too much for you, then make smoke +fires in the bush near the camp and defend these +fires with your lives. For on the smoke will hang +the safety of your homes, your wives, your +children!”</p> + +<p>“But how will revenge benefit us?” Loka was +puzzled. “And why this child’s play with fires +and smoke?”</p> + +<p>“O fool,” Warok thundered, “are not the +women and horses of the Fulani to them as your +women and cattle are to you?” The old chief +grew angry at the delay in what must be done at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[314]</span>once if at all. “If the Fulani on the hill see the +smoke as of their camp being attacked and +burned, will they not turn again to defend it, +leaving our villages till later?”</p> + +<p>Warok knew how utterly his people could be +relied upon to carry out the idea once it was +planted in their thick skulls. To attempt to lay +down the details of their task would only arouse +the resentment of this federation of independent—very +independent—Hill villages. Without further +words he drove them on their way.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, till smoke rose from the Fulani +camp in the plain, time was on the old warrior’s +hands. Turning toward the pass again, he grinned +and spun his ax sparkling in the air. With a +rallying shout he led a wedge into the small rear +guard, cutting them off from the mouth of the +pass. Then, leaving his followers to deal with +the little isolated group, he plunged up the pass, +ax in hand, his chain mail twinkling in the sun. +At the first bend he came across the tail of the +enemy’s force. Two men he sent crashing down +the precipice and had sprung like a human leopard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[315]</span>on the third before he could turn to defend +himself. Uneventfully but steadily Warok ate +into the tail of the column, man by man falling +to his ax or being sent hurtling down to the +depths below.</p> + +<p>At a bend in the path he halted with a shout +of surprise. The Fulani had not reached the head +of the pass yet. Something seemed to be holding +up the head of the column, far away in the +distance. Even as he looked, the cause of the +obstruction became clear. One of the scaffold-like +bridges had been set on fire in front of the +advancing Fulani! As he watched, it fell smoking +and blazing out of sight into the chasm below. +Whether accident or design had set fire to the +bridge, the result was the same. There was now +no way for the Fulani, or anyone else, to reach +the hilltop by this path. They must retreat by +the way they had come!</p> + +<p>But why let them retreat? Where the old chief +was standing was just such another bridge as the +one which had been destroyed in front of the +Fulani. If he could destroy this behind them, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[316]</span>the huge force would be caught helpless on the +path, unable to advance or retire. And even +now the force was turning back. For some brief +moments—the best in his warrior life—the old +chief held the narrow pass against the enemy +while behind him his followers loosened the +timbers of the bridge. On his right the unclimbable +cliff face, on his left a precipice, beneath his +feet the bridge which his followers were even +now destroying.</p> + +<p>At a warning shout from behind, he sprang +back across the loosened timbers. Before the +stupefied enemy could cross, beams, timbers +and decking were lifted shoulder high by willing +Hillmen, then hurled crashing to the depths. +The enemy was in the trap, and the trap was +closed!</p> + +<p>A giant scraping noise was heard. Then a +crash. A boulder had dropped down the bare +rock from above and burst on the rocky path. +Warok and his followers moved swiftly back +from their penned-in enemy. Rock dropped +from a height explodes almost like a shell as it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[317]</span>lands. As the Hillmen made their way back to the +foot of the path opening upon the foothills +they threw glance after glance back over their +shoulders and shuddered. The path behind them +and the chasm beneath were filled with the booming +and crashing of giant boulders hurled from +above. In this inferno, spread thinly along the +rocky path which was cut off at both ends, the +Fulani army cowered against the cliff face and +awaited death.</p> + +<p>Above them the old Rainmaker had not been +idle. Debarred from battle because of his age +and his priesthood, it was he who had thought of +destroying the bridge in front of the Fulani advance. +Now he had summoned all the women of +the tribe. The bounding crashing boulders +which thudded down the hillside upon the helpless +enemy beneath had more mercy in them than +had the hearts of the women who launched them. +Frantically they labored. With poles, ropes, and +bare bleeding hands they urged more and more +massive missiles over the edge of the crag. The +simple Hillmen had no mercy for these murdering +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[318]</span>and torturing slave-raiders, and even small +children toddled to the edge of the crag and let +loose handfuls of ineffective pebbles upon the +enemy beneath.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[319]</span> + +<p class="ph3">HOME AGAIN</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[320]</span></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[321]</span> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-321.jpg" alt=""></div> + +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XXIII<br> +<small>HOME AGAIN</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p><span class="xxlarge">I</span><small>T WAS</small> evening time. The red glow of the setting +sun still tinted the tops of the Sacred Grove +round the Place of Assembly where the Hill +people were gathered.</p> + +<p>One by one the leaders of each part of the +operations told the story of the happenings of +that day. A simple tale, giving the names of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[322]</span>men who had died in defence of the Hills. For +such had been the custom long ago. The greatest +numbers had died in the assault on the camp in +the Plains. Outnumbered by the better armed +Fulani, the attackers had had no thought but to +capture the camp by the quickest way—direct +assault—before the Fulani still in the pass could +march upon the peaceful Hill villages.</p> + +<p>To those that had carried out the assault and +to the relatives of all those who had died was +alotted the plunder of the camp: horses, tents, +rich clothing. The women found in the camp, +pale soft beauties of the harem, were now +huddled together, frightened but unharmed, in +the midst of the Assembly.</p> + +<p>The Rainmaker would accept nothing of the +plunder. “For me I risked nothing, and wish no +profit. If it is for sacrifice to the gods that you +press these things upon me, are there not within +the tribes sufficient riches lacking owner? For +Sura and his son Menud are no more!”</p> + +<p>There were murmurs of surprise. The death +of the father was known, but that of Menud?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[323]</span>“While the bridge was burning and I was +loosening further timbers to make its fall certain, +the Chief of the Fulani came to the other +side. Dressed in gorgeous robes, his banner carried +behind him, he approached and made as if +he would attempt to cross.” The Priest and +Rainmaker paused. Telling his story he tasted +again the dramatic moment. “A man with him, +dressed in skins, like one of our own people, and +not in robes and quilted armor like the enemy, +spoke with him. The chief did not understand, +and he whom I now saw was Menud made signs, +as one acting as guide, that they should turn +back.”</p> + +<p>The old priest turned sadly to the people. +“And this I think is true, that Menud was the +traitor guide who betrayed the pass to the enemy. +But the chief thought him another kind of +traitor, who had led them into a trap. At a sign +from him, a huge slave, bow-legged, like a +baboon, with arms and chest strong as four +men’s, lifted Menud.” He paused awhile.</p> + +<p>“I think in that embrace his back was broken. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[324]</span>The huge slave took him easily by one leg, +as one would lift a chicken, and he did not +struggle. For a time he held him thus, hanging by +one leg, at arm’s length, over the precipice. +Then the chief spoke, and the slave dropped him +thudding into the depths. There was no cry.”</p> + +<p>With the slow understanding of utter weariness +the Hillmen were digesting this news when +an interruption occurred. All heads turned as a +Fulani, surrounded by a small guard, made his +way through the crowd and halted before Warok. +Unarmed, surrounded by a guard of villagers +from the western part of the Hills, the man +bowed in smiling good-humor and uttered words +of greeting in his unknown tongue.</p> + +<p>At a sign the guard told their strange tale: +“Before the sun struck over our hills into the +valley beneath our village, we saw an army, +greater than we have ever seen before, mustered +in the Plains below. What could we do?” The +wizened ancient dropped his arms to his side in a +gesture of helplessness. “All our fighting men +had already gone to give battle with the rest of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[325]</span>the tribe against the Fulani of the East. And +these were Fulani of the West, who have never +been our enemies. But at least this we could do: +We sought for bows and such other weapons as +were left, I and the other elders, then went out +among the rocks to watch. There we came upon +this man, alone and unarmed, following the path +to our village. We would have killed him, but he +pointed onward, as one having business. Moreover, +he showed no fear! Instead we brought +him here. But also we bring the news of the army +from the west waiting in the Plains below our +village!”</p> + +<p>The stranger waited. He looked around him. +Then his glance fell upon the huddled group of +Fulani women captured from the raiders. Again +he spoke a few words, looking hopefully at +Warok. None understood him. He looked around +as if in search of someone whom he could not see. +Then the stranger had an idea. Shifting his +weight to one foot, he slid the sandal off the +other and with big toe scratched the calf of the +other leg. Then, with make-believe bow, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[326]</span>gently scratched the middle of his back, looking +tensely into the distance the while. The dumb +show met with instant response. Calls for “Garram! +Ho, Garram!” rose from dozens of throats. +For he had depicted Garram to the life. Garram +puzzled and thoughtfully scratching a leg. Garram +watching distant game and planning his +approach, gently massaging his shoulder blades +with the end of his bow as he thinks, since flies +settle on a hunter’s back as soon as he stands +stationary.</p> + +<p>The young hunter had long gone to sleep +again, and it was no easy matter waking him as +he lay, curled against Kon. The dog in fact came +across to greet his old friend some time before +Garram was properly awake. It was Ibrahim, +Captain of the Guard, whom Garram had once +saved from death and possibly torture. Whom +he had later saved from Menud’s treacherous +attack. Gladly the two greeted each other, while +the dog’s tail wagged as hearty a welcome.</p> + +<p>Then all was easy going. Ibrahim came as an +envoy sent by the Emir of the West to seek +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[327]</span>alliance. “News has come of an army of the +Fulani of the East, who wish to cross your +hills and attack us in the Plains of the West. +My master the Emir offers you the aid of his +army to assist in repelling them. Not this alone +he offers, but lifelong alliance between his +people and your people of the Hills!”</p> + +<figure class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/i-327.jpg" width="400" height="373" alt=""> +<figcaption> +<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">Garram</span></p> +</figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Puzzled at the silent reception of his message +and the expression of his audience Ibrahim +paused. Then resumed: “If you think that you +have no need of aid, know then, that the army +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[328]</span>from the East is bigger than any before known. +As big as all your tribe, and as big as all the +army sent by my master. This much is known +with certainty. And if you fear the army sent +by my master, know then that for your greater +assurance the Emir offers to place his men under +the sole command of one of your young men +known as Garram the Hunter. For he is well +known to my master the Emir. Well known and +well trusted!”</p> + +<p>Again the envoy paused, and, while his message +was being interpreted, gazed curiously +around him. Then: “What, then, is your answer, +for even now the enemy may be approaching?”</p> + +<p>“The enemy was, but is no more,” Warok’s +quiet voice replied. “Tell him all.”</p> + +<p>Garram explained to Ibrahim. Swiftly, however, +for he still ached for sleep. The wonder of +the Captain of the Guard grew. Grew beyond +all expression. It could be no jest and was obviously +no lie. Silently he listened and marveled, +and marveling he forced himself to believe the +incredible story.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[329]</span>Then he bowed to the Assembly. “Only, then, +remains the offer of friendship and alliance which +my master the Emir makes you. Also the offer of +many and noble gifts which he will doubtless +send you in thanks for the service you have +rendered us and in honor of your noble deeds. +Permit that I give you greetings and return to +my army!”</p> + +<p>“You have promised the assistance of the +army you have brought. Will you still lend this +aid?” Warok’s eyes twinkled as he spoke.</p> + +<p>Wonderingly Ibrahim assented.</p> + +<p>“Good! Then let your army remove these +women of the Fulani. They cannot cook—this +much is already known. And none wants them +for wife, since they are of the pale brownness of +the Plains which we deem ugly. If your master +the Emir will send them back to their own tribe +we shall hold his debt fully discharged. For the +Hills are for the Hillmen, and we do not want +this weak stock.”</p> + +<p>Kon and Garram escorted Ibrahim as far as +Kwallak and would have had him stay. But +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[330]</span>the Captain of the Guard was not his own +master till his duties were performed. With reluctance +they made their farewells, the dark +shadows of homegoing villagers passing them +as they stood. “O Ibrahim, now that you have +come once, come yet again and again. For there +are klipspringer in the Hills which you have yet +to shoot, and rock rabbits that lurk in fortresses +stronger than even the walls of Yelwa. Come +back again. Come to the Hills!” “Surely I will +come, O Garram!” Only three days since they +had parted at Yelwa, but even so the Captain +of the Guard found the parting hard. “But see +that you come back to Yelwa, or life at the +Court will become insupportable. For three +days has the Emir sat with the dread frown on his +face, declaring there is no honest man left in his +kingdom now that you have gone. I alone am in +favor because jestingly I suggested that Kon +would make him a good Waziri, being grave and +silent and something of a glutton!” Kon, hearing +his name, looked up as if in protest at the charge +of gluttony, and the two laughed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[331]</span>“Some day I will surely come, Ibrahim. But +first I want my Hills. My Hills—and—euyyah!” +Garram’s white teeth snapped together after a +luxurious double yawn—“sleep! Go in peace!”</p> + +<p>“In peace, then,” Ibrahim responded.</p> + +<p>An hour later Warok and the Rainmaker returned +that way to the village. Pacing in grave +silence they nearly fell upon Kon. Stooping they +lifted something between them. “Have a care, +old warrior, do not wake him,” the priest’s +booming voice tried to whisper. “He has earned +his sleep. Let us carry him to your fireside, where +we may talk and smoke!”</p> + +<p>“None has schemed more skilfully in this affair +than Garram, my son, unless it be you, O +caller of rains and sunshine.”</p> + +<p>The Rainmaker shook his head.</p> + +<p>The old chief resumed: “Even so, none has +worked harder or fought harder than this boy. +And surely none will sleep harder to-night! +There is no fear of waking him.”</p> + +<p>Carefully the chief and the Priest of the Tribe +carried the light body between them. Kon padded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[332]</span>round on anxious, silent paws. Up the rocky +path to where cooking fires gleamed in welcoming +doorways. Where food, sleep, and comfort +were waiting.</p> + +<p class="center">THE END</p> + + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> +<div class="transnote"> +<p class="ph1">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> + +<p>Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.</p> + +<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> + +<p>Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.</p> +</div></div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79229 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/79229-h/images/cover.jpg b/79229-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ebf8469 --- /dev/null +++ b/79229-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/79229-h/images/coversmall.jpg b/79229-h/images/coversmall.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01b4df9 --- /dev/null +++ b/79229-h/images/coversmall.jpg diff --git a/79229-h/images/dedication.jpg b/79229-h/images/dedication.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 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