*CHAPTER XXII.*
*MALTO.*
In the shade of the cell in which they had concealed themselves, thethree friends talked in whispers, while watching, through the grille,the doings of the new-comers.
Who were these people, and whom were they searching for? At first thewatchers took it for granted that they were themselves the objects oftheir search; but a few moments later they had doubts as to whether itwas so. If it was, Alondra was ready to 'take the bull by the horns'and show himself, quite believing that they would not dare to harm KingIvanta's son. Jack, however, was for waiting a while to see whathappened.
'You can do that at any time--when it is forced upon us,' he whispered.'They may not be looking for us at all; and we may learn something if wekeep quiet.'
The reasoning seemed good, and Alondra agreed, though somewhatunwillingly. He was angry and indignant at what had already occurred,and was becoming impatient at being compelled to play hide-and-seek inwhat he considered was an undignified fashion.
At the same time, he was curious, and, for one thing, was wondering whothese people could be who were hunting about. He had never seen thembefore. Not only were they strangers to him, but their dress was quitedifferent from that usually worn by Agrando's followers. Their costumeswere a very dark purple, and they were all big, powerful-looking men.Moreover, when they called out to one another they spoke in a strangelanguage, one that even Alondra did not understand.
And now a fresh development occurred. Into the midst of these strangersstrode three men in masks--men even bigger and taller than the rest.They seemed to speak angrily, as though rating the others for somethingthey had done wrongly. Then they issued some sharp, short word ofcommand, and the first-comers turned and marched out in perfect militaryorder, the masked men walking behind them.
In a minute or two they had all disappeared. Sounds followed as of theclosing and fastening of heavy doors, and the place was once more emptyand quiet.
'What does it all mean?' exclaimed Gerald perplexedly, addressingAlondra. 'What are all these strange comings and goings? Who werethose chaps who came in last, and why do they wear masks? It is allvery mysterious and extraordinary! It seems to me there must be a gooddeal more going on here than you have any idea of!'
'It seems so, indeed,' Alondra replied, in a tone which showed that hewas not less puzzled. 'I confess it is a mystery to me at present. ButI mean to get to the bottom of it if the thing is possible.'
'What do you think King Ivanta will say to it all when you tell him?'asked Jack. 'What do you suppose he will do? You will tell him, willyou not?'
'You may be sure I shall,' returned Alondra, 'and I think the sooner heknows the better. We must find some excuse for cutting short our visithere and getting back to Ivenia as quickly as possible,' he added withdecision.
'If you will take me with you to King Ivanta,' said a strange voicebehind them, 'I can tell him many more things which he ought toknow--which he ought to have known long ago!'
The three friends started and looked round. From somewhere in thedarkness, at the back of the cell, a figure now stepped forth, and stoodlooking at them with as much interest as they showed themselves.
He was a young fellow of scarcely more than twenty years of age perhaps,good-looking, well set up, and muscular in build. He was dressed likean official of Agrando's household; but Alondra detected at once that hewas not a native of the country.
'Who are you?' he asked, eying him curiously. 'And why have you beenhiding and listening to our talk?'
'Who I am doesn't matter just now,' returned the stranger quietly. 'Youneed not be afraid of me; you may trust me thoroughly. I am a friend,and you need a friend just now if you want to get out of this placewithout being captured by Kazzaro's myrmidons!'
'I am not afraid of them! You do not know who I am!' returned Alondraproudly.
'It does not matter to me who you are, any more than it matters to youwho I am,' was the cool answer. 'You would need to be some one verywonderful, or very clever, to get out of this place alive if Kazzaroknew you were here. If I help you to escape, will you promise to takeme to King Ivanta? He will thank you for doing so when he hears what Ihave to tell him, and I have little doubt will reward you handsomely.'
At this the three looked at each other and burst out laughing. Jack wasabout to tell the stranger that he was talking to the son of Ivanta,when a look from Alondra stopped him.
'I suppose you expect to be rewarded too,' said the young princeshrewdly. 'Well, I promise to take you to him; but if we do, and hegives you the reward you expect, it is only fair that we should shareit.'
'That you cannot do,' answered the stranger with a sigh. 'I know notwhether he will be able to give me what I am hoping for; but if heshould it is not anything that I can share, or that you would care tohave.'
'You are very mysterious, my friend!' Alondra commented. 'Why are youhiding in here?'
'Well, I came here upon a little errand of my own--one somewhat similarto that which brought you, I fancy, judging by what I heard you say--tolook about and find out what I could. As to who those people in purplewere, I will tell you that at another time. The fact is, my friends, Ihave no reason to love King Agrando, though I am an officer of hishousehold. He brought me here against my will from a distant country,and has forced me to be a sort of slave to him and to take part inthings that I loathe and detest. But that is not the worst; I have adeeper wrong to set right. I have long hoped that King Ivanta might payus a visit here so that I might appeal to him. But if you can take meto him it will be better still. Will you swear to do so if I lead yousafely out of this den?'
'You have my promise,' returned Alondra a little haughtily. 'There isno need for me to repeat it or to swear.'
The other looked at the young prince keenly, and then said, in asatisfied tone, 'Your face is honest to look at, and I will trust toyour promise. Follow me and I will get you a disguise.'
'A disguise!' exclaimed Alondra. 'What next?'
'It is necessary. We cannot get out without the chance of runningagainst some one.'
'We can get out the way we came,' Alondra asserted; but the strangershook his head.
'No,' he said decidedly. 'I saw you come in, and the door you camethrough is now locked and barred, and neither you nor I can open it.You must come my way, or I must give up the idea of befriending you andleave you to your own devices.'
'Very well,' Alondra assented, somewhat ungraciously. He was gettingrestive at the masterful manner of this stranger, who, after all, wasonly an under-official--or, as he himself had admitted, a kind of slave.'What is your name?' he added as an afterthought.
The stranger hesitated for a brief space, then said, 'You may call meMalto.'
With that he turned away, and began stepping down from one row of seatsto another, walking as if plunged deep in thought, and seemingly takingbut little further notice of his companions.
As for Gerald and Jack, they glanced at one another with perplexed andwondering looks. This cool, self-possessed young fellow had somehowimpressed them favourably, and they were inclined to like him. But theydid not in the least understand him; and, like Alondra, they werehalf-disposed to resent his assumption of so authoritative a manner.
'My stars!' muttered Jack, under his breath, to Gerald, 'I fancy hethinks we are some of the hangers-on amongst Mr Monck's suite!'
Meantime, the stranger had reached the floor of the place, and was nowleading the way towards one end of it, which was closed in by some huge,massive-looking gates. There was something grand yet repellent aboutthese gates. Upon them were carved two great heads as of some kind ofgiants, which frowned down upon them in forbidding ugliness.
Their leader turned to a small wicket gate at one side, and, taking akey from his pocket, opened it, waited for the three to pass inside,then closed it and locked it behind him. They were then in a darklobby. A moment later he open
ed another door, and they all passedthrough it.
Here the three looked round in wondering silence. They were in whatmight have been either an immense underground cavern or a largeenclosure roofed over. The light was dim, the air was oppressive, andthere was a foul odour, which to the visitors seemed sickly andnauseating.
Before them, at some little distance, there was a network of metal bars,which rose to a great height like an immense cage. It attracted theirattention at once to the exclusion of all other surroundings, for itseemed to be the source of the evil smell which had assailed theirnostrils.
Suddenly they were startled by a terrible scream. It was followed by acry as of some one in the extreme of fear and dread. At the same momenta face distorted by terror came into view behind the bars. It was onlyvisible for a moment, then melted again into the gloom beyond.