by Jules Verne
CHAPTER XVI.
A MAGICIAN.
On finding that Cousin Benedict did not return to his quarters at theproper hour, Mrs. Weldon began to feel uneasy. She could not imaginewhat had become of him; his tin box with its contents were safe in hishut, and even if a chance of escape had been offered him, she knew thatnothing would have induced him voluntarily to abandon his treasures.She enlisted the services of Halima, and spent the remainder of the dayin searching for him, until at last she felt herself driven to theconviction that he must have been confined by the orders of Alvezhimself; for what reason she could not divine, as Benedict hadundoubtedly been included in the number of prisoners to be delivered toMr. Weldon for the stipulated ransom.
But the rage of the trader when he heard of the escape of the captivewas an ample proof that he had had no hand in his disappearance. Arigorous search was instituted in every direction, which resulted inthe discovery of the mole-track. Here beyond a question was the passagethrough which the fly-catcher had found his way.
"Idiot! fool! rascal!" muttered Alvez, full of rage at the prospect oflosing a portion of the redemption-money; "if ever I get hold of him,he shall pay dearly for this freak."
The opening was at once blocked up, the woods were scoured all roundfor a considerable distance, but no trace of Benedict was to be found.Mrs. Weldon was bitterly grieved and much overcome, but she had noalternative except to resign herself as best she could to the loss ofher unfortunate relation; there was a tinge of bitterness in heranxiety, for she could not help being irritated at the recklessnesswith which he had withdrawn himself from the reach of her protection.
Meanwhile the weather for the time of year underwent a very unusualchange. Although the rainy season is ordinarily reckoned to terminateabout the end of April, the sky had suddenly become overcast in themiddle of June, rain had recommenced falling, and the downpour had beenso heavy and continuous that all the ground was thoroughly sodden. ToMrs. Weldon personally this incessant rainfall brought no otherinconvenience beyond depriving her of her daily exercise, but to thenatives in general it was a very serious calamity.
The ripening crops in the low-lying districts were completely flooded,and the inhabitants feared that they would be reduced to the greatestextremities; all agricultural pursuits had come to a standstill, andneither the queen nor her ministers could devise any expedient to avertor mitigate the misfortune. They resolved at last to have recourse tothe magicians, not those who are called in request to heal diseases orto procure good luck, but to the _mganga_, sorcerers of a superiororder, who are credited with the faculty of invoking or dispelling rain.
But it was all to no purpose. It was in vain that the _mganga_monotoned their incantations, flourished their rattles, jingled theirbells, and exhibited their amulets; it was equally without avail thatthey rolled up their balls of dirt and spat in the faces of all thecourtiers: the pitiless rain continued to descend, and the maligninfluences that were ruling the clouds refused to be propitiated.
The prospect seemed to become more and more hopeless, when the reportwas brought to Moena that there was a most wonderful _mganga_ residentin the north of Angola. He had never been seen in this part of thecountry, but fame declared him to be a magician of the very highestorder. Application, without delay, should be made to him; he surelywould be able to stay the rain.
Early in the morning of the 25th a great tinkling of bells announcedthe magician's arrival at Kazonnde. The natives poured out to meet himon his way to the _chitoka_, their minds being already predisposed inhis favour by a moderation of the downpour, and by sundry indicationsof a coming change of wind.
The ordinary practice of the professors of the magical art is toperambulate the villages in parties of three or four, accompanied by aconsiderable number of acolytes and assistants. In this case the_mganga_ came entirely alone. He was a pure negro of most imposingstature, more than six feet high, and broad in proportion. All over hischest was a fantastic pattern traced in pipe-clay, the lower portion ofhis body being covered with a flowing skirt of woven grass, so longthat it made a train. Round his neck hung a string of birds' skulls,upon his head he wore a leathern helmet ornamented with pearls andplumes, and about his waist was a copper girdle, to which was attachedbells that tinkled like the harness of a Spanish mule. The onlyinstrument indicating his art was a basket he carried made of acalabash containing shells, amulets, little wooden idols and otherfetishes, together with what was more important than all, a largenumber of those balls of dung, without which no African ceremony ofdivination could ever be complete.
One peculiarity was soon discovered by the crowd; the _mganga_ wasdumb, and could utter only one low, guttural sound, which was quiteunintelligible; this was a circumstance, however, that seemed only toaugment their faith in his powers.
With a stately strut that brought all his tinkling paraphernalia intofull play, the magician proceeded to make the circuit of themarket-place. The natives followed in a troop behind, endeavouring,like monkeys, to imitate his every movement. He turned into the mainthoroughfare, and began to make his way direct to the royal residence,whence, as soon as the queen heard of his approach, she advanced tomeet him. On seeing her, the _mganga_ bowed to the very dust; then,rearing himself to his full height, he pointed aloft, and by thesignificance of his animated gestures indicated that, although thefleeting clouds were now going to the west, they would soon returneastwards with a rotatory motion irresistibly strong.
The entire crowd joined in. _Page_ 441.]
All at once, to the surprise of the beholders, he stooped and took thehand of the mighty sovereign of Kazonnde.
The courtiers hurried forward to check the unprecedented breach ofetiquette, but the foremost was driven back with so staggering a blowthat the others deemed it prudent to retire.
The queen herself appeared not to take the least offence at thefamiliarity; she bestowed a hideous grimace, which was meant for asmile, upon her illustrious visitor, who, still keeping his hold uponher hand, started off walking at a rapid pace, the crowd following inthe rear. He directed his steps towards the residence of Alvez, andfinding the door closed, applied his strong shoulder to it with sucheffect, that it fell bodily to the ground, and the passive sovereignstood within the limits of the enclosure. The trader was about tosummon his slaves and soldiers to repel the unceremonious invasion ofhis premises, but on beholding the queen all stepped back withrespectful reverence.
Before Alvez had time to ask the sovereign to what cause he wasindebted for the honour of her visit, the magician had cleared a widespace around him, and had once again commenced his performances.Brandishing his arms wildly he pointed to the clouds as though he werearresting them in their course; he inflated his huge cheeks and blewwith all his strength, as if resolved to disperse the heavy masses, andthen stretching himself to his full height, he appeared to clutch themin his giant grasp.
Deeply impressed, the superstitious Moena was half beside herself withexcitement; she uttered loud cries and involuntarily began herself toimitate every one of the _mganga's_ gestures. The entire crowd joinedin, and very soon the low guttural note of the sorcerer was lost,totally drowned in the turmoil of howls, shrieks, and discordant songs.
To the chagrin, however, both of the queen and her subjects, there wasnot the slightest intimation that the clouds above were going to permita rift by which the rays of the tropical sun could find a passage. Onthe contrary, the tokens of improvement in the weather, which had beenobserved in the early morning, had all disappeared, the atmosphere wasdarker than ever, and heavy storm-drops began to patter down.
A reaction was beginning to take place in the enthusiasm of the crowd.After all, then, it would seem that this famous _mganga_ from whom somuch had been expected, had no power above the rest. Disappointmentevery moment grew more keen, and soon there was a positive display ofirritation. The natives pressed around him with closed fists andthreatening gestures. A frown gathered on Moena's face, and her lipsopened with muttered words clear enoug
h to make the magician understandthat his ears were in jeopardy. His position was evidently becomingcritical.
An unexpected incident suddenly altered the aspect of affairs.
The _mganga_ was quite tall enough to see over the heads of the crowd,and all at once pausing in the midst of his incantations, he pointed toa distant corner of the enclosure. All eyes were instantly turned inthat direction. Mrs. Weldon and Jack had just come out of their hut,and catching sight of them, the _mganga_ stood with his left handpointing towards them and his right upstretched towards the heavens.
Intuitively the multitude comprehended his meaning. Here was theexplanation of the mystery. It was this white woman with her child thathad been the cause of all their misery, it was owing to them that theclouds had poured down this desolating rain. With yells of execrationthe whole mob made a dash towards the unfortunate lady who, pale withfright and rigid as a statue, stood clasping her boy to her side. The_mganga_, however, anticipated them. Having pushed his way through theinfuriated throng, he seized the child and held him high in the air, asthough about to hurl him to the ground, a peace-offering to theoffended gods.
"Here they are, captain! both of them!!"]
Mrs. Weldon gave a piercing shriek, and fell senseless to the earth.
Lifting her up, and making a sign to the queen that all would now beright, the _mganga_ retreated carrying both mother and child throughthe crowd, who retreated before him and made an open passage.
Alvez now felt that it was time to interfere. Already one of hisprisoners had eluded his vigilance, and was he now to see two morecarried off before his eyes? was he to lose the whole of the expectedransom? no, rather would he see Kazonnde destroyed by a deluge, thanresign his chance of securing so good a prize. Darting forwards heattempted to obstruct the magician's progress; but public opinion wasagainst him; at a sign from the queen, he was seized by the guards, andhe was aware well enough of what would be the immediate consequence ofresistance. He deemed it prudent to desist from his obstruction, but inhis heart he bitterly cursed the stupid credulity of the natives forsupposing that the blood of the white woman or the child could avail toput an end to the disasters they were suffering.
Making the natives understand that they were not to follow him, themagician carried off his burden as easily as a lion would carry acouple of kids. The lady was still unconscious, and Jack was all butparalyzed with fright. Once free of the enclosure the _mganga_ crossedthe town, entered the forest, and after a march of three miles, duringwhich he did not slacken his pace for a moment, reached the bank of ariver which was flowing towards the north.
Here in the cavity of a rock, concealed by drooping foliage, a canoewas moored, covered with a kind of thatched roof; on this the magiciandeposited his burden, and sending the light craft into mid-stream witha vigorous kick, exclaimed in a cheery voice,--
"Here they are, captain! both of them! Mrs. Weldon and Master Jack,both! We will be off now! I hope those idiots of Kazonnde will haveplenty more rain yet! Off we go!"
