*CHAPTER IV*
When I returned to the others, I found a wood fire crackling merrily,and preparations being made for a meal.
I am afraid that I did not contribute much to the conversation for sometime--I was thinking; but after we had finished eating, and were sittingsmoking with the comfortable feeling one has when healthily tired, I didmy share.
Carruthers gave me a message from my people: on no consideration was Ito try and find Mr. Smith, as any inquiries might be serious for him.Of course he had not been given any reasons for this; but I could see hewas curious, and I could not, and Mr. Neville would not, enlighten him.
It was a perfect night, and there was no sound, save the rippling of abrook, to mar the stillness, that is, when we were not talking. Littleby little I saw Mr. Neville and Carruthers growing more and more drowsy,and presently, with contented grunts, they rolled over and fell asleep.Piotr had already taken himself away from the fire and now lay, a darkmass, wrapped in his blanket.
We had asked many questions of him, but I do not remember receiving anyenlightening answers; he always appeared to be guarding his tongue, why,I did not understand.
There was one thing which Carruthers had told me that gave meconsiderable uneasiness; it was that my stepfather did not seem as wellas his wont. This upset me, for I had never known him anything butsplendidly well. I seemed to feel him near me in the night; perhaps atthat moment he was talking of us, who knows? The darkness made mestrangely fanciful, but presently I too was asleep.
The next morning I woke very early, and found that we had an addition toour party, a man, hump-backed, and rather evil looking.
Piotr explained that he had overtaken us at about midnight, and, as hewas tired, had asked permission to use our fire.
I spoke a few words to the fellow, telling him that he could have somefood if he liked, and then woke the others.
Our ablutions were performed in a small stream that gurgled andspluttered a few yards away; then, having had our breakfast, we oncemore started.
This time our order was reversed, the two men and the horse beingbehind; while we three tramped cheerfully on, glorying in the freshmorning air which had the effect of champagne upon our spirits.
Two or three miles from our halting place of the night, we came to apiece of road only some seven or eight feet wide.
On one side the ground sloped steeply up, covered with great masses ofrock and stones; on the other was a sheer drop of some hundreds of feetinto a thickly wooded valley.
Carruthers suddenly took it into his head that he was a mountain goat,and went springing madly down the path, disappearing in a few momentsround a curve.
Mr. Neville had just made some laughing remark about his being almostinclined to follow, when without any reason apparently, a stone camerushing down from above us.
We both sprang forward instinctively, and heard the rock strike thepath, then an appalling yell from behind us; we swung round. Piotr haddisappeared. The hunchback was cringing away from the abyss, and couldhardly summon sufficient strength to point with a trembling hand. Itwas enough, however, and we understood that our guide had gone over theedge; the suddenness of the accident made it the more appalling.
We lay flat on our stomachs and peered over; then I scrambled to myfeet.
"He's stuck there, some way down. Here you, run after the gentleman andget him back as quickly as possible; there is just a chance that we cansave your friend. Quick, man, quick!"
He darted off; and Mr. Neville ran to undo the rope which hung from thepack-saddle of the horse.
"Will it be long enough?" I said.
"I hope so, I judge him to be thirty to thirty-five feet down."
I took the free end of the rope, and made a slip noose. The one idea inmy head was that somehow I must save this man. He was as far as I couldsee jammed in an angle of rock, and held in position by the roots of asmall tree, which had found enough earth on the ledge to give it astunted existence.
I kept repeating to myself: "If only the tree holds, if only the treeholds." When the rope had been arranged satisfactorily I placed afolded rug on the edge of the precipice, to prevent the rock cutting,then turned to see if Carruthers was in sight.
Mr. Neville was standing over me, with a terribly drawn look on hisface.
"Victor, you can't go," he muttered.
I said nothing, only smiled; and Carruthers turned the corner at a run,followed closely by the hunch-back.
"Buck up, old man," he cried, throwing off his coat, "and I'll get himup in a jiffy."
"No, I'm going."
They looked at me, Mr. Neville very white, and Carruthers almostangrily.
"Don't talk rot, Splosh, of course I shall go."
"You will do nothing of the kind; he is my servant, my countryman, andI'm going. Quick, don't waste time talking, lay on to the rope, you andMr. Neville, while you," I said to the hunchback, "be ready to pull himover the edge."
I slipped my right foot into the noose.
"Now hold on, I'm going, I'll yell when you are to pull him up; let medown slowly."
I did not look at them again, until I had lowered myself over the edge,and then it was but a fleeting glance, just long enough to smile tothem, and notice their set mouths.
They lowered away slowly, almost too slowly for me, as it was a mostunpleasant rock to look at, and I did not care to glance down more thanwas absolutely necessary. It was also an unpleasant feeling to swing inthe air, with just a thin rope between you and eternity; however, littleby little I went down, keeping myself away from the cliff with my lefthand, and untied foot.
When I judged that the ledge must be near, I looked down. I was aboutsix feet from it; two minutes, and I was level. I yelled, and at oncemy descent was arrested.
The ledge was infernally narrow, and at first I did not see how tomanage. By cautiously edging along, however, I was enabled to standastride of Piotr's body, although one foot had perforce to rest upon thetree, which caused creaking sounds of a most discomforting nature. Iremoved my foot from the noose.
Piotr's legs hung down, dangling over space, I could see that one wasbroken; he was moaning faintly, and trying to move his arm. It was anextremely difficult business, getting the rope underneath him, but withpatience and a great deal of care it was done; and I drew it tight underhis arm-pits. It seemed then that nothing remained but to give them thesignal to hoist; but just as I was going to yell the thought flashedacross me that, if he struggled and threw up his arms, the rope mightslip, then it would be all up for both of us, for it was certain that,in falling, he would drag or knock me off the perch as well.
This required thought, as Mr. Neville so often reminded me; and Iwondered what could be done to fasten his arms down.
Beneath his embroidered waistcoat he was wearing the scarf or sash ofthe mountaineer. Down again I bent, and started to get it loose; anugly looking knife was still tucked into it, this, as I pulled, fellout, and went glistening down into the trees beneath. I rememberthinking it was lucky there was nobody there for it to fall on, and Ibelieve I grinned; but an extra crack from the tree made me seriousagain.
By dint of pulling, I got the sash unwound; and with it fastened hisarms as I desired, above the elbow, securely to his sides. He was safenow, but how was I to keep clear of his body as he rose? I looked up,Carruther's face was peering down at me.
"Are you all right, Splosh?"
"Yes, I'm all right. Wait half a minute, and then you can begin tohaul."
I heard what seemed like a number of voices talking, but avoided lookingup again; instead, I did the only thing which seemed to me possible; Iyelled, and felt the rope tighten, saw Piotr gradually assume a sittingposture. Then, while I still had the rope to assist me, I slipped over,and hung by my hands to the edge. It was only for a little time, for assoon as I saw our guide's body swing clear I pulled myself up again; itwas lucky I had gone in for gymnastics. I sat on the ledge sideways; itwas
the only way to sit, and beastly uncomfortable. By using thegreatest caution, I was enabled to pull a small flask, which I alwayscarried, from my pocket; a drink from this did me good as I had beenfeeling rather dizzy.
"Hullo! hullo! Splosh!"
I looked up again, there was a row of heads where only Carruthers' hadbeen before.
"Hullo!" I called back. "Is the rope ready?"
"It is coming down now, old chap; be careful."
The heads were still there, swarthy, wild looking faces peered down atme. I grinned, and shouted "Good day" in Rudarlian, and they laughed asthey answered me. Cheerful chaps, but where the devil had they comefrom?
The ascent was infinitely nicer than the descent, the face of the cliffappeared almost rosy and kind. I felt as brave as possible now, whereasbefore I had had my heart in my boots. Strong hands seized me on theedge; and in a moment I was up on the pathway again, with my companionseach shaking a hand, as though we had been parted for years.
I certainly was astonished to see the men who surrounded us; the bestthat could be said of them was that they were all smiling, but each manwas a walking arsenal. They were not the sort of men I should havechosen as companions for a pleasant Sunday afternoon.
"Friends of yours?" I said to Mr. Neville, and Carruthers roared.
"Not yet, but certainly I trust they will be; they came from goodnessknows where. By appearances they are brigands--not that I wish to judgethem harshly."
"Yes, by appearances they are, but how is Piotr?"
"I will look at him, if you will tell these fellows to get out of theway."
I told the men that we would attend to Piotr, but that they must give usroom, and fetch wood for a litter. They obeyed like lambs. Three wentto seek young trees for the purpose I had named, the others stood roundin silence, save one, who came forward and offered his services; he was,I understood, the bone-setter of the gang. Mr. Neville accepted hisoffer and set to work. After an examination lasting some little time,he said:
"It is marvellous, he has only broken a leg, and has a slightconcussion; bruised as well, of course, but not another bone broken."
"What luck! Can you set his leg between you?"
"I hope so, and before he regains his senses."
By the time the men had returned with the trees, it was done: the brokenlimb had been set, and carefully bandaged in splints. A litter wasformed with the trees and sashes of some of the men and rugs thrown overthat. Upon this clever piece of work the injured man was placedcarefully, and a little brandy forced down his throat.
Then evidently a difficulty arose. The fellows began to converse amongthemselves with many glances at us, shrugging of shoulders, andexpressive gestures of the hands.
There was one who was apparently the leader, and upon his face was anexpression of the utmost perplexity. He kept staring first at thelitter then at me, then at my companions and then at the litter. Itdawned upon me that their camp might be near, but that they were anxiousto avoid showing us the way; on the other hand, they could not captureus as they had evidently intended, since we had befriended their chief.I appreciated their dilemma and laughed, beckoned to the fellow, andtogether we walked a few paces away from the others.
"You are troubled," I said. "Now which is it to be, are you going totake us with you as enemies, or shall we part in a friendly way? For,of course, my friends and I fully realise that the chief of a party suchas yours does not take the position of guide, unless he has some goodreason for it."
He saw that I was smiling, so he too grinned.
"Excellency, for your age you are as clear-sighted as an eagle."
"I assure you, my friend, I felt like one a few minutes ago; but tellme, was I right in my surmise about your state of mind?"
"Your Excellency was right. We could never, however, part as enemies;and if we let you go before our chief regains his senses----" heshrugged his shoulders in a most expressive way.
"H'm! but we cannot remain here, can we? And you evidently would notcare to take us with you as friends; of course, to these gentlemen andmyself, the word friend means that we should never betray anything wemight happen to learn. I might suggest, too, that men blindfolded wouldsee nothing if led to some place carefully."
A gleam of satisfaction lit up his face.
"And would your Excellencies submit to that? It would be only for a fewminutes."
"Oh yes, and I can answer for my friends."
I was desirous of following up this little adventure, for these men wereno doubt almost driven to brigandage; and, if their demands could besatisfied, they might become useful allies and good citizens. I wasalready planning for the future.
We walked back to the others, and I informed them of what had beenarranged. Carruthers treated it as a huge joke. He knew but a fewwords of Rudarlian, and proceeded to use them vigorously as we followedthe litter.
We continued our course down the path, which after a little swerved intoless close proximity to the valley below. Although still high up in themountain, we were beginning to be able to distinguish the naturalfeatures of the panoramic landscape more clearly.
What struck us most was the absence of human habitations, for the valleylooked as though it would be fertile, being well watered.
I questioned the man whom I was walking beside.
"Ah, your Excellency, it is strange to you, but has a differentsignificance to us; we to whom that land yielded a livelihood have beendriven to other ways of making one. Our harvests--good or bad, as thegood God decided--were taken from us in payment of taxes, which were sogreat that even the whole year's profit would not pay them. So--whatwould you? I, myself, worked ten years on the land my father andgrandfather had owned. But every year the burden grew greater; and, ason the last occasion I could not pay the collector, he drove off myanimals, such as they were, and would have taken me to prison only Istuck my knife into him and fled."
He told me this quite calmly. He had most probably killed thecollector, but it evidently struck him as a justifiable deed, and in myheart of hearts I could not altogether blame him. It gave me an inklingof what the treatment of peasants was like, under the rule of this manwho starved his soldiers and squandered their pay on courtesans.
A little farther on, we were informed that the time had come for them toblindfold us; and there being no opposition they proceeded to do so.With our eyes covered we were led forward again for a while, and thenthe climb began. Our hands were placed in niches, or our feet guided tosome rock or projection, as, without mishap or inconvenience, weclambered up and up, until once more our feet were on a pathway.Another longish walk, a sharp turn, and then we were halted, and thebandages which prevented our seeing taken away.
I stood absolutely amazed, blinking my eyes to find out whether I wasreally awake or dreaming, for we were in a place that no one could everhave dreamed existed. It was like an enormous cup scooped out of themountain, and its sides must have been a couple of hundred feet high.The diameter of the cup seemed over a mile; a more perfect hiding-placeit would have been impossible to conceive. There was one part coveredwith fine trees, another splendid pasture, upon which were numerouscattle and sheep, while a small stream wandered across the whole lengthof the place, providing a good water supply. On our right stood somefifteen wooden houses, substantially built, with patches of vegetablegardens in front of each.
This much I took in with my first bewildered glance.
"Well, I'm damned!" said Carruthers.
"So am I!" said I.
"In fact we all are!" said Mr. Neville sagely.
The litter had by now been carried down through the narrow fissurethrough which we had entered, and a host of people came running from thehouses and fields; people of all ages and both sexes. They surroundedus with looks far from amiable, until the nominal leader explained ourpresence to their satisfaction, and incidentally to ours. I had a busytime, for I believe they would all have embraced me. One did, but asshe turned out to be the betrothe
d wife of Piotr, she was forgiven; shewas a dashed fine looking girl too, so very attractive that Carruthersgrumbled, and murmured that he had wanted to save Piotr himself.
For some days they feasted and made much of us; nor was it dull, forCarruthers, as usual, had to try to teach the male portion of thecommunity how to play games. This was a source of continual delight tohim; and, as Mr. Neville was chiefly engaged in looking after Piotr, Iamused myself by enticing all and sundry into conversation. I say"amused," but it really was not amusement to listen to some of the talesof brutality of the tax gatherers with which these people had put up,before breaking away to the free life they then led.
Upon the day before the one upon which we had decided to leave,Carruthers got up what he was pleased to call "Athletic Sports." It wasa great success, and some very fine performances took place; it wasastonishing, too, how these men took to the idea, and allowed themselvesto be bullied by Carruthers and myself, who acted as "Officials." Theevent which was afterwards voted the greatest success was the obstaclerace for women; in this Carruthers had surpassed himself in theingenuity of the obstacles. Every one, both performers and onlookers,was simply helpless with laughter before the end of the race, which waswon by a fine old woman of over sixty.
Mr. Neville was attending Piotr, who sat propped up at one of thewindows.
Piotr's reception of me was rather funny. He was so deadly ashamed ofhis motive in coming to us as guide, especially so, when I chaffed himabout the path he had expected us to follow, by air. However, Iunderstood that in him I had a friend, who would sacrifice his life forme should occasion arise.
We had numerous conversations about Rudarlia, and I found that he was aman of ideals, as well as being professionally a brigand; what is more,I believed him when he told me that he had only taken to it when therewas no other way open.
Mr. Neville had asked him whether he would give up his present career,if the laws were readjusted.
"Give us fair taxation, and justice, and we will serve God and the Kinguntil the end," had been his response.
"Ivan?" I asked.
"I said a 'King,'" was the stern reply. "One who puts his countrybefore such things as his mistresses; Ivan is no king, he is a vile,grasping tyrant."
"Are there many who think as you do?"
"I never knew or heard of a man who wouldn't rejoice at news of hisdeath."
Decidedly the King was not beloved.
We started early the next morning, and were almost sorry to go. We hadlearned to like these simple-hearted, fierce people; and they seemed toreciprocate the feeling.
Piotr broke a coin in two, and presented me with one-half.
"If you are in Rudarlia, and need me, send me that piece; if I am aliveI will come to you."
I put it carefully away, thanking him for the promise. As a partinggift, I made him accept my revolver. His eyes glistened at the sight ofit; but he swore that it should only be used in self-defence, and I knewthat he would keep his word.
Our eyes were left unbandaged as we made our way out of the place: wehad given our word not to divulge the secret.
The second in command acted as our guide, and before long we were out ofthe mountains, and proceeding along the small, winding paths by which wemade our way to the main road from Melanov to Karena. Once we were uponthat we made better progress; and soon came to a small village calledViritz, where we halted, for it was at this place that our guide was toturn back.
We made many purchases there, however, and fairly loaded up the horse;the things we bought were to be divided among the men and women we hadjust left. With many assurances of goodwill on both sides we parted,our guide setting his face towards the mountains while we turned intothe inn for a meal.
It was only after a good deal of trouble that we secured a cart to takeus and our small belongings towards Karena; but once the difficulty wasovercome we started gaily forward again. As usual, we entered into adiscussion of military affairs, and it struck us all that, from Melanov,there would be no great obstacle in forcing a way through to thecapital, unless the fortifications of that city were very strong. That,of course, we did not know; nor did the driver of our cart, a surlybrute, who had neither civility nor good looks to recommend him.
We dismissed the cart at Yuhban, a somewhat larger village, where we haddetermined to spend the night, under the vain illusion that we shouldsleep.
Alas, from the moment that we entered that wretched building wesuffered! And so it was until we left in the early morning, afterpaying a bill which would not have disgraced the _Ritz_ in London.
I made a mental note to the effect that when I returned to Rudarlia as asaviour, in which role I had cast myself, the first, or one of the firstimprovements I should inaugurate, would be the burning down of all suchinns, from one end of the country to the other. I believe that mycompanions would have wanted to burn the innkeepers as well.
From this village of fleas and worse, we escaped by a small motor-buswhich connected it with Karena, and allowed the driver to recommend the_Carlton_ as the best, and most up-to-date of the Karenian hotels. Wewere agreeably surprised to find that he had not misled us; it was quitea credit to Rudarlia, with every convenience and comfort that could bedesired, as well as excellent cooking. I will confess that I do enjoy agood dinner.
We engaged a suite on the first floor; and from that time were lookedupon with favour by the staff, in spite of our scanty baggage.
We spent two or three days in going round, sightseeing; but we soonsettled down to study the conditions under which the people lived.Daily we took long walks or drives into the country, and nightly we satin cafes, entering into conversation with anyone and every one, always,however, finding the same fierce resentment against the King and hisCourt. There was a current of unrest among them all, dull mutteringswhich betokened an approaching storm; and it seemed to me that only aleader was needed to raise the whole country, but always that cursed_cul-de-sac_: who to put in Ivan's place? We had a glimpse of him oneday, as we were returning to our hotel: a fat, bibulous-looking man,with great coarse lips, and crafty eyes.
Not a voice was raised as he drove through the great gates of hispalace, although there were many people present. His escort, who werethe only smart soldiers we had seen, looked as though disgusted withtheir work of guarding him. Soon afterwards came another carriage inwhich a woman was sitting, both young and beautiful.
I asked a gentleman who was near me who she was.
"I do not know, I have never seen that one before; if she's new, it willmean fresh taxation, I suppose."
"Why? I am afraid I don't quite understand; who is she?"
"Some French girl most probably; whenever a new one appears, the taxesgo up; some one must pay for the jewels for the King's mistress."
"Good God! can it really be so?" I asked, feigning surprise, for I wasdesirous of obtaining more information.
"The good God has deserted Rudarlia, monsieur, only the devil reignshere now. But you are a stranger evidently, or you would not besurprised. We Rudarlians have experienced it before, but----" he lookedat me quickly for a moment, lifted his hat and passed on.
"Is your blood on the boil?" asked Mr. Neville, smiling.
I did not answer, it was coming home to me so strongly that somethingmust be done; there would be bloodshed, insurrection, and red revolutionbefore long, if the present state of things continued. From the ashes,what would arise?
No state can stand an upheaval such as I pictured, without for manyyears feeling the effect of it, more especially a race like theRudarlians, who are conservative by nature.
What I could not understand was, how the nobles allowed it. Surelythere must be among them fine, strong men, capable of grasping the reinsand stopping the headlong rush to destruction; and then crept in theword, jealousy.
Jealousy, that accursed thing, which has wrecked so many ideas, andbrought misery to so many individuals. That would account for it.Hating the present monarch, hating equally the
heir, they would none ofthem combine to alter matters, for fear that one of them should beexalted over the others.
Since then I have discovered that I misjudged them.
Victor Victorious Page 4
