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R >> Randall Parrish >> Prisoners of Chance




"We knew nothing of your presence here, merely seeking a passage
through these mountains northward."

"But you killed the warriors of our nation; you have stricken the
people of the Sun."

"True, Daughter of the Sun; yet it was done only in self-defence. When
attacked we struck hard blows."

Her eyes glowed angrily, her face becoming cruelly hard.

"None of white blood may set foot in this valley and live. It is the
land of the Sun," she said haughtily. "None have ever before ventured
to do so, and found safe way back to their own. Are you French?"

[Illustration: "I am the Daughter of the Sun. These are my children,
given unto me by the great Sun-god. . . . None of white blood may set
foot in this valley and live."]

"Not all,--the lady and yonder cavalier are of French blood, I am a
hunter of the Ohio country, while he who crouches beyond also calls
himself American."

"I know nothing of your Ohio, nor what may be an American," she replied
with an impatient stamp of the foot, "but it is bad any among you
should prove French. What does the woman do here?"

In a few brief sentences I told our story, marking as I spoke that she
followed my words with care. As I concluded she merely gazed more
closely into Madame's upturned face, speaking as though communing with
herself.

"She has the appearance of a fair woman; we need no such here." She
raised her voice slightly, addressing me in cold reserve.

"Your story sounds well. True or false, it makes small odds. We
attacked your party, believing you French, whom the children of the Sun
have good reason to hate. You have cost us the lives of many warriors,
and the Sun calls for vengeance. Already has the tribe solemnly voted
your death by fire. Now mark me closely. 'Tis not often I interfere
in such affairs as this, nor do I now for any higher object than my own
gratification. The Daughter of the Sun is no angel, nor ambitious to
become one. I have looked on unmoved at the torture of the stake more
than once, so 'tis no weak sentimentality that leads me to try to avert
your fate. Nor am I sure I can, whatever my motive be. I possess no
power to overturn the united vote of these warriors--they are all
children of the Sun. I can think of but one method by which I can even
hope to encompass your escape from immediate torture. If by some
subterfuge I can delay action until day-dawn, I may be able to control
these savages. The children of the Sun do not light their fires in the
presence of their Father. There is but one possible way to that
end,--does yonder red-headed man comprehend the Spanish tongue?"

"He does not."

"That is bad," her brows contracting. "Still he must be used, as no
other among you will answer my purpose. Bid him advance to my side on
the platform; bid him pretend to hold converse with me, and, above all
else, have him attend my every gesture and obey. Will he do your
bidding?"

"I know not," I replied honestly. "He is of a bull-headed breed, yet I
may be able to drive into him a moment of sense."

"Do your part thoroughly, nor be too long about it. The chiefs grow
restless at our talk, and may yet take affairs into their own hands."

I turned doubtfully toward the Puritan, who was glaring up at the woman
from beneath his shaggy brows, much as he might have looked upon some
wild animal seen for the first time. I presume the fiery red drapery
caused him to deem her that veritable scarlet woman about whom he
prated so much. He appeared far from being a promising subject for my
overtures, especially as his great head must have ached still from
contact with the club, which had alone beaten him into sullen silence.
Yet she commanding the attempt was so desperately in earnest that I
determined to do my part.

"Watch carefully my words," I said sternly in English, "and bear in
mind the preservation of all our lives depends on the part you play.
The woman chief has made choice of you to help in winning mercy from
these savages. I know not why you are the one thus chosen, yet I
suspect that fiery crop of hair may have something to do with the
honor. The main point is, are you in a humor to do her bidding?"

"Nay!" he replied, gazing at me stubbornly.

"You refuse to assist in saving your own life, and the lives of your
comrades?"

"I touch not the accursed abominations of this place," he answered,
hoarse with anger, "nor will I have aught to do with yonder shameless
creature."

"Sirrah!" I cried, thoroughly aroused by his mulishness, "do you
deliberately choose to sacrifice the life of this lady to your
bull-headed fanaticism? Do you refuse to unbend your miserable
Connecticut sectarianism, your Puritan cant, although by so doing you
might keep your comrades from the horrors of the stake? If this is
what you mean, I denounce you as unworthy to be called a man, and I
name your loud protestations of religion no more than a hissing and a
byword before the ungodly you profess to despise. You are no better
than a Pharisee, full of loud-mouthed prayers and vain conceit of
righteousness, a false prophet, haggling over formalism when the
slightest sacrifice of what you hold the letter of the law would result
in the salvation of human life. You call yourself a Christian, a
follower of that Nazarene who died for sinners on the cross, deeming
yourself better than those who cling to other creed. You sneer at that
rosary in Madame's fingers, yet do you suppose it possible she would
not endeavor to pluck your life from the jaws of death if it lay in her
power? Ay! and never waste speech about abominations in the path."

"The spirit is of greater value than the body," he persisted doggedly.
"Yea, 'tis better the flesh perish miserably in the flame than
surrender up the soul unto the devil."

"That is no issue here; you seek to deceive yourself by false words. I
denounce you openly as a false follower, for if I read rightly the
language of Holy Writ, it was He whom you so delight to term Master who
gave his life freely for His friends. But you--you are all words, a
charnel-house of dead men's bones."

Had he been free I might have rued my hasty words, for his eyes were
hot with anger, and he strained fiercely at his bonds in effort to
break free. Yet I felt safe enough beyond the sweep of his great arm,
rejoicing that my tongue was sharp enough to penetrate so thick a hide,
and make the man squirm beneath his outer vestment of piety.

"You speak falsely," he bellowed, nearly beside himself. "Satan puts
those foul words upon your lips tempting me to do evil."

"Nay; the words are true," I went on, determined to drive him by
taunts. "They are neither foul nor false, and right glad I am to
discover your real character even at this eleventh hour. I make no
loud boasting of my religion, dinning it into the ears of all I meet as
if I were the only righteous man on earth, but I do thank God from the
depths of my heart I have never yet basely deserted a friend in time of
trouble. I did consider you a good comrade, but I know now you are
nothing but a whited sepulchre, a miserable hypocrite, a Judas
betraying his master with a kiss. Pah! go your way, you are unclean;
nor ever hope again for word of fellowship from lips of honest men. I
shall die having performed my duty to the extent of my knowledge, but
you as a dog, a traitor to your comrades, the betrayer of a woman in
time of peril."

"'Tis false, I say; I would yield life gladly to aid her."

"Zounds! that sounds good from such lips. Why, you have just refused
much less."

"Yonder is an emissary of the Evil One."

"Keep your cowardly excuses to yourself. Whatever the woman may be,
she offers us a chance for our lives, provided only you will perform
her will in sundry matters."

He hesitated, his uncertain eyes shifting from her face to mine.

"What does this scarlet priestess of Baal require that I do?" he
questioned sullenly.

"Good lack, 'tis little enough even to satisfy your conscience. Merely
that you stand beside her on the platform, pretending converse, marking
carefully her every signal, and obeying it."

"I play no idolatrous mummery with her."

"Then may the devil fly away with you," I retorted, so enraged by this
time I could scarcely refrain from grappling him with my hands. "I go
to tell Madame of the fool you are."

He gave vent to a deep groan, rolling his eyes as was his habit in time
of trial, yet never removing his gaze from that red figure, standing
motionless as a statue, impatiently awaiting his decision.

"In the name of the holy prophets of Israel!" he snorted desperately at
last. "'T is, indeed, a grievous trial like unto that which befell
Daniel in the den of the lions. If I go upon yonder sinful platform
before these hosts of Satan, it will be only as led by the Almighty,
and that I may wrestle mightily in prayer for the redemption of the
heathen."

"I care not, man, so you go. Pray loud as you please, yet give heed to
the signals of the woman if you value your own life or ours."

Odds! it was a picture to see the fellow start on his unwelcome
mission, slouching through the ranks of the surprised savages with as
hangdog a look on his mournful countenance as though he mounted the
gallows. It was with faint hope as to the result that I watched him
lumber onto the platform, doubting not he would perform some crazy
trick to offset any good he might endeavor. I could scarce restrain a
smile as the two actors faced each other, marking the look of
undisguised horror on his leathern face, and how he shrank back as her
hand extended to touch him. The wild, discordant cries of the grouped
savages ceased in wonderment at this unanticipated scene; even the
perpetual incantations of the priests died away, every eye gazing
curiously on the strange spectacle. The Puritan had appropriated one
of De Noyan's hats, broad of brim, and so ample of crown the high
peaked head of the worthy sectary was almost lost within its capacious
interior. No sooner, however, did he attain her side than the woman
grasped it in her white fingers, flinging it disdainfully upon the
floor, and, like a flash of unexpected color in the dancing light of
the fire, there blazed forth before us his flaming covering with a
brilliancy which startled even me. Saint Andrew! it was a glow to make
the eyes blink.

The sudden effect of this disclosure upon the thronging warriors was
beyond words of mine. There followed a hush so painful in intensity I
could distinguish the quick throbbing of my own heart. I saw the woman
point at the fellow, giving eager utterance to a single word, her eyes
sweeping the faces below. Then came an irregular rush forward,
inarticulate cries pierced the air, war weapons were dashed clanging
upon the earthen floor, while numerous torches, grasped from off the
sacred altar, were waved aloft by excited hands, all serving to form as
demoniacal a scene as was ever witnessed this side of hell.

The full truth flashed across my mind--our comrade had in that moment
been changed from a helpless, beaten prisoner into an object of
superstitious worship. By the magic of a word, the alchemy of a
thought, he had become to these superstitious savages a mysterious
visitant from the Sun, and for once, at least, he might fervently bless
Nature, who had bestowed upon him so rich a coloring of hair. Whether
or not the fellow comprehended the meaning of that uproar, of those
wildly dancing figures in his front, I could never determine; but,
before the woman could in any way interfere, the sectary plumped down
upon his knees, and, with head bent so low that every separate hair
caught the reflection of the ruddy flames, began pouring forth a
petition in sturdy English, and with a volume of voice that shook the
whole interior. It was not such a bad play, I take it, although he was
desperately in earnest. Very plainly he compared his worshipping
auditory to certain scriptural characters, in a way that would not have
proven flattering to them could they have interpreted his language.

"Oh, Lord God!" he roared, rolling his eyes upward and interjecting
many a deep groan after each sentence. "Infinite Jehovah, for some
just reason of Thy own, Thou hast seen fit to lead Thy most humble
servant into this den of iniquity. Thou hast placed me in the fiery
furnace of tribulation, it may be in the test of that faith which was
delivered unto the saints, yet will I not bow down in the tents of the
idolaters, nor profane Thy Holy Name by the worship of their false
gods. Here in the midst of the ravening lions I uplift my eyes unto
Jerusalem, and my lips unto the throne of grace, beseeching Thee to
give unto me the salvation of these heathen, even as brands plucked
from the burning. Quench the fire on this altar of Baal, O Lord, by
the outpouring of Thy Spirit, and give unto this people a manifestation
of Thy mighty power, redeeming them from their manifold sins. Yea,
Lord, give ear unto the words of my petition, and as of old times thou
didst send a message of fire unto Thy prophet Elijah, so come down even
now to visit these unbelieving and mocking hearts with the terror of
Thy just wrath. Make bare Thy arm of infinite power that this
abomination of heathendom may be purged of its vain idolatry, and that
Thy Israel may triumph over the hosts of the sinful. Even as Thou
didst scatter the forces of the Egyptians in the waters of the Red Sea,
even so, O Lord, visit now Thy wrath upon those who mock Thee and
degrade Thy image. Save us from the snare of this scarlet woman, this
proud harlot of Babylon, and forgive Thy servant for thus seeming to
obey her will. Thou knowest, O Lord, that it is only that I may the
better serve Thee, and thus overcome the wiles of the Wicked One. Give
unto me in this hour the strength of Samson that I may overturn the
pillars of this temple of abominations, even though we all perish in
its destruction. Yea, visit us with power and righteousness, and
scatter Thy enemies over the face of the earth. O Lord! I am as
nothing, a mere worm of the dust: smite me if Thou wilt, yet I but
wrestle with Thee in prayer that through me the heathen may be brought
low, and led to see the error of their way."

There was no halting him, yet even as he continued to pour forth
fervent supplication, the warriors drew back from the dense circle
pressing against the platform, taking solemn counsel together. Then
the old war-chief advanced to the centre, pointing maliciously toward
De Noyan and myself. I observed the Queen wave her hand in a gesture
of apparent carelessness, and before I could clearly conjecture the
full meaning of it, strong hands clutched us, and, in spite of
struggles, we were dragged roughly back toward the shrouded entrance of
the lodge. There was no shouting, no din of any kind to disturb the
devotions of the Puritan, who prayed on with closed eyes and a vigor of
utterance making mock of all other sound. Silently as they moved, it
was nevertheless plain to be read in the grim, savage faces closing
about us, that we were being driven forth to no scene of pleasure.
Harshly did their gripping hands hustle us forward. The heavy mat
shading the entrance was flung aside, and like the unexpected flight of
an arrow, into the black gloom of the lodge, weirdly lighting up the
wild faces, streamed the clear, white light of the dawn. Far off upon
the highest summit of the yellow cliff there already rested the first
rosy reflection of the rising sun. One shout rang discordant from the
surprised throats of our captors; the brutal hands released their
grasp, and De Noyan and myself sank back helpless upon the ground.




CHAPTER XXV

A VISITANT FROM THE SUN

As by magic the uproar of the infuriated savages died away. Gazing up
from where I lay, my eyes beheld every face turned outward, every eye
fastened upon that distant wall of rock. Suddenly a strange cry arose,
each throat giving utterance to the same sound as if in trained
obedience to some recognized signal, and immediately every Indian lay
prostrate, his face in the dust. Gazing toward the spot they had
watched so intently, I could perceive how the rose tints of the early
sun flecked the upper extremity of the precipitous rock with spots of
color, checkers of red and gold, while just below its lofty crest,
seemingly touching the deep blue of the morning sky, hardly more than
dim specks against the dull background of gray rock, appeared several
moving black figures, and I could distinguish a series of flashes as if
they waved blazing torches in welcome to the King of Day.

"_Sacre_! 'tis an uncanny sight," muttered my companion uneasily.
"Have yonder foul priests been given wings whereby they mount the very
rock in their devil worship?"

"Hardly that," I returned tersely. "There will be a footpath leading
to the spot either from above or below."

"True, perchance; yet 'tis not from above. Of that I am certain, as
the crest of the rock overhangs; you may perceive the deep shadow of it
even from here."

Before I could distinguish clearly the peculiarity pointed out, the
woman chief came forth through the open entrance, appearing more fair
and white of skin than ever in the clear light of the dawn. Scarcely
glancing toward either the prostrate tribesmen or those distant
signalling priests, she advanced directly toward where we lay helpless
in our bonds. There was a flush upon her cheeks, a light of animation
in her eyes, yet she stood looking down upon me much as she might have
viewed an insensate stone.

"Senor," she said coldly, still speaking the Spanish tongue, "it did
please my humor but now to play a small trick upon these innocent
children of nature, knowing their faith and tribal customs. For the
time being I won, and it is you who benefit. You, and these others,
are for the present delivered from that torture to which you were
condemned: the rising of yonder Sun has saved you; 'tis the law of the
Natchez. Nay, thank me not," as I sought to express my words of
gratitude. "I told you before it was not from any desire to show
mercy, but for a purpose of my own. Yet if you would continue to
profit through my strange whim--and surely I have seldom been thus
swayed to action--then it will be well to give heed unto my words. I
bid you proceed at once to that second hut yonder, nor dare venture
forth again until I send. The children of the Sun bow now to the
commands of their ancient faith, yet are of temper hard to control."

"You fear they may yet demand us in sacrifice?"

"Not to-day, unless you do that which shall arouse their passions
beyond my power of restraint. While the sun dominates the sky your
lives are preserved from violence, but if you would live longer it must
be through careful guarding of speech and action. I promise nothing
beyond the present day. But now," she bent over, severing my bonds
with a flint blade, "go; do exactly as I bade you, and no longer bandy
words with me."

"But the lady within the lodge?" I ventured anxiously, as I struggled
to my feet, standing erect before her.

"She bides elsewhere."

"It will be hard for her alone--"

"What is all that to you, sirrah?" she interrupted haughtily.
"According to the tale told, you are not her husband. He who might
have right to question separation has made no complaint."

"He does not comprehend your speech. For that reason he remains dumb."

"Mean you it is he who inspires your objection?" she asked scornfully.

"No; yet I doubt not 'tis in his heart even as upon my lips."

She turned aside, an incredulous smile curling her lips, looking
curiously down upon him, and their eyes met. She stooped swiftly,
severing the thongs of grass binding his arms, and with her own hands
assisted him to rise.

"A fair and noble gallant," she said softly, reluctantly turning back
from him to me. "Not of hard, stern visage like yours, but with the
bearing of a gentleman, the smile of a courtier. Pish! he will not
miss her over-much, or else I read not rightly the challenge of his
eyes. But come, hunter, I bade you go in haste, nor is it well for any
one to wait my bidding twice."

"'T is no more than just we should be told the destiny of our
companions," I persisted, determined not to desert them thus. "May not
both the Puritan and the woman abide with us?"

Her eyes flashed in uncontrolled anger, her lips giving vent to a low,
cruel laugh.

"I tell you no, and understand once for all my word is law. You are
not standing before a French court to haggle over trifles, and dispute
about your rights. Bah! you have no rights; you live from day to day
merely by my whim. The red-headed man tarries where he is as long as
it remains my pleasure; while as to yon dainty creature, she shall meet
no harm. Forsooth, it will not greatly hurt her to be beyond your
sight for a space."

"Does she bide with you?"

"If I so will it, yes; if not, no. Who are you, hunter, to dare
question Naladi after she bids you cease?" she exclaimed, her cheeks
crimsoning. "Now go; go ere I am tempted to show you I possess power
to enforce my will. Another word, and you will long regret it."

She was a tigress now, her eyes burning into mine with the fierceness
of a wild animal scenting blood. It would have been sheer madness to
attempt more, with those scowling, savage faces lowering at us from
every side, their possessors only too eager to spring forward in cruel
obedience to a gesture of their Queen. A single word from her red lips
would, in spite of all superstition, cause them to rend us limb from
limb, so I bade De Noyan follow me, feeling relief when once beyond her
sight in the cool depths of the sheltering hut.

"Well, Master Benteen," remarked my comrade easily, finding a soft
bearskin upon which to rest his aching limbs, "this is an odd company
among whom you have piloted us; one not altogether appealing to my
taste in its masculine elements. Yet, damme, but you possess rare
advantage over the rest of us in holding converse with these people,
while I must remain dumb as an oyster, save for a glance of the eye.
Perhaps, now that we have time for it, you will kindly explain the
meaning of all this mummery with which we passed the night, for, by all
the gods of Rome, it was weird enough to turn my hair gray, yet I
understood neither word nor deed. How came that grim preacher to
attain such honor, taking position beside their peerless Queen?"

His idiotic lightness of speech and manner jarred unpleasantly upon my
humor. I was heavy-hearted from what had passed, retaining little
confidence in the future, yet I told him the story as best I could,
trusting the recital might serve to sober him, so we could counsel
together regarding our plans.

"_Pardieu_! 'twas rather a pretty trick of the lady," he exclaimed
laughingly, as I ended the tale. "She would do honor to a more
pretentious court with her wit as well as beauty. What did you call
the title she bore?"

"'Daughter of the Sun' was the name given in the altar-house yonder;
later she made use of the word Naladi."

"Ay! that was it. 'T is a name fitting her well to my taste, and I
boast of some experience with the sex. _Sacre_! I trust not to have
seen the last of so fair a vision as this Queen Naladi."

He was twirling his moustache, such a look of complacency upon his
features I could only stare at him in bewildered surprise.

"You appear reconciled to our situation with marvellous good grace," I
managed to say at last, in a tone which made no attempt to conceal my
disgust at his coxcombry. "For myself I can see very little to hope
for."

"Tut, tut, man," stretching himself negligently into a posture of
greater ease, "an old soldier learns to take things as they come,
without complaint; to extract sweets from every flower. Surely here is
a rare rose we have uncovered blooming in the wilderness; nor am I
blind to its beauty, or unmindful of my privileges. Besides, lad, what
is there greatly to worry about? We are preserved, you tell me, from
torture; food will undoubtedly be supplied in plenty, while the lady is
surely fair enough to promise pleasant companionship in exile--provided
I ever learn to have private speech with her. What was the tongue?"

"We conversed in Spanish."

"I thought as much; there were certain familiar words. But, as I said,
why complain of fate, with all these blessings showered upon us.
_Pardieu_! it would prove us ungrateful wretches. Surely 'tis better
than the tender mercy of O'Reilly, ay, or the hardship and starvation
of the trail."

"You have forgotten your wife."

"Forgotten? _Sacre_! I should say not, Master Benteen; nor is that
likely to occur. Yet what cause have I to worry regarding her present
comfort. Did you not say that the Queen pledged her safety and good
care? What more could I accomplish for her than that, even were we
back in New Orleans, beneath French protection? Saint Denis! you are
of a complaining breed, inclined to act as conscience for your betters.
True, there are some few things I greatly miss, that would minister to
comfort. I was ever careful in my toilet, and choice as to my wines in
town; still, if these savages have not lost my soaps and brushes, I
will strive to exist even here, and be content until a way opens toward
that which is better."

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