CHAPTER XXII
KIRKE AND DENHAM MEET
Ralph forgot every language but his native English in the desperateexcitement of the moment.
"Halloa! Ahoy!" he vociferated, without knowing what he called; but, tohis great astonishment, the reply was no Burmese "Ameh!" (mother) theuniversal exclamation among the natives of that country upon everyoccasion.
No, one figure started violently, turned sharply round, lifted a hand toshade its eyes, with a gesture strangely familiar, and an English voice,equally strange and equally familiar, responded, "Halloa! Ahoy!" to hiscry.
A great bustle was apparent, immediately, among the little party offishermen. Some ran off by the path which had brought them there,evidently under direction from the leader of the party; some busiedthemselves in launching a little canoe, which Ralph had not previouslydiscerned, being hid by overhanging bushes; and two men, putting off init, prepared to ferry it across to the island.
Well was it that Ralph had not attempted to swim across that stream.These were lusty fellows, but all their strength was needed to rowagainst it. The man who had answered Denham's call in English words, wasone of the two; and Ralph stared hard at him as the canoe drew near.
There was something familiar in the attitude and movements, but thehead was covered with a mass of curly black hair, while a forest of darkwhisker, beard, and moustache concealed the lower part of the face, andflowed over the hairy breast. The dress was made of the same material asthat of the natives,--a dark blue cloth, patterned with wavy blacklines; but it differed in shape, consisting of a pair of loose trousersgathered into a waistband, and confined there with a colouredhandkerchief, just such as young men in England tie over theircricketing flannels. A loose cotton jacket, open at the chest, andleaving the arms bare, was worn above this,--an outlandish costume, yetmanly, and not unbecoming. It was also of European fashion, clearlybetraying that its wearer was no native of that country.
"I never saw that fellow before," thought Ralph, "yet somehow I seem toknow him."
The canoe drew nearer, the rower looked back over his shoulder, uttereda loud cry, and, flinging down his oar, sprang to his feet with theexclamation--
"Good God! Denham! Is it possible?"
Recognition came in the same instant.
"Kirke!" cried Ralph.
Nearly a year had elapsed since the two had met, but Ralph, being two orthree years younger than Kirke, and of fairer complexion, had notaltered so much, neither had he been living so long in the wilds out ofreach of barber and other civilised influences.
Overjoyed on each side to meet with an Englishman, an accustomed face,they clasped each other's hands with eager greeting at the firstimpulse, forgetful of all ill-will, but Kirke drew back the next minuteand hung his head.
"It is good of you to take my hand, Denham," said he. "Can you forgiveme all I did and tried to do to you."
"I do not properly know what that was," said Ralph joyously. "I havenever understood why you did not like me, nor believed half the otherswanted to make out; but I am ever so glad to see you now."
"And you can forgive me?"
"Anything, everything, if you will only help me to get out of thisplace."
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, quite alone. I missed my party, and am lost. I have been wanderingin the jungle for many days, and was starving."
"And in _that_ state? A literal Baresarker costume."
"Even so."
"Come along, I can do something to remedy _that_, at anyrate."
He hurried Ralph into the canoe, spoke a few words to his companion, andbegan to pull back to the mainland with great energy.
Arrived upon the shore, he despatched one of the Burmans for assistance,and the man scuttled off, grinning with immense goodwill; while the restjabbered around the two strangers as they proceeded towards the village,where half the inhabitants were bustling about in eager hospitality.
Rice and fish were brought, plantains, pickled tea, cocoanuts and greenginger. Kirke mounted into his dwelling, and produced a garb similar tohis own; and offered cheroots, which however Ralph did not accept.
He devoured the food with the appetite of a growing boy who had nottasted food for twenty-four hours; and Kirke piled up the bowl fromwhich he ate whenever its contents shrank beneath the rim.
"Hold hard!" cried Ralph at last, "even I am gorged and can eat nomore."
"Then tell me how you came here, and all that you have done since I sawyou," said Kirke.
"As to all that I have been doing, that would be a long tale to tell,"replied Ralph; "but, shortly put, I have been going about the countrywith Mr. Gilchrist, getting plants for Mr. Herford--orchids chiefly. Wehave not only got the things bodily to send home, but made drawings,whenever we could, of anything rare or special. About a fortnight ago wefell in with some wild elephants in a lonely place, and, in escapingfrom an old bull that had been turned out of the herd, as we fancied, Igot separated from the rest of them, and met with a family party oftigers--papa, mamma, and offspring. I had to cut my lucky again; and,somehow, between the two adventures, lost my way, and could not find anyof the fellows I was with. After roaming about, up hill and down dale,till I found that I was really befogged in the wilderness, it seemed thebest thing I could do was to follow down the first water-course I couldfind, in hopes of coming somewhere in time. So I managed to knock up agimcrack sort of a kind of raft, that served my turn as well as abetter, till the rapids here broke it all to smithereens, and landed meyonder; where I must have died if you had not picked me off."
"I should think you had about enough of rafts by this time," said Kirkesadly.
"I have not had enough of friends in need," replied Ralph.
"You are a real good fellow, Denham," said the other, reaching out hishand to him. "I have wanted this long time to tell you how sorry I amfor all that took place in the poor old _Pelican_, and to ask yourforgiveness for my conduct to you. I was a bad messmate, a bad man inevery way; but I see things differently now, and would do anything Iknew of to redeem the past, if only I could see how. I did cut thatrope, in a fit of mad jealousy, and repented of it as soon as it wasdone. I have suffered much from remorse since."
"That you repented as soon as you had done it, showed that you were notwholly bad at heart," said Ralph. "Don't say any more to me about it,Kirke. If you have made your peace with God, there is no need for me topreach, you know. Let us be friends in the future."
The two young men shook hands heartily, and Kirke felt happier than hehad hoped ever to be again. He took Denham into the hut where he lived,and found him a mat to lie upon, the most luxurious bed upon which Ralphhad stretched himself for many days. He was soon wrapped in the sweetestof slumbers thereon.
Sleep lasted till far into the next day, for he was quite worn out, andhis quarters were fairly comfortable. When he awoke, he found Kirkewatching him with grave earnest eyes, which brightened into a smile inresponse to Ralph's joyous greeting.
A good wash was Denham's first demand that morning; and when he had thusrefreshed himself, he was indued into a suit of light garments such asKirke wore, of European fashion, though constructed from native cloth;and then attacked the cold breakfast awaiting him.
"It is ever so good of you to provide me like this, Kirke," said he. "Afellow must have been reduced as low as I was to appreciate properly thecomfort of being 'clothed and in one's right mind.' But how you come tobe living here like this, is a mystery to me."
"You need have no scruples," replied Kirke. "My people at home arewell-to-do folks, and I always had plenty of money. I had it in a beltthat I always wore, and this helped me to get off from Moulmein, for itwas chiefly in gold, and the Burmese understand English gold. I havesome shots in the locker yet, for living is cheap in these wilds, and Ihave been ill, so have not wanted a great deal. I made up my mind tostay here till the rice harvest is gathered, for it might then bepossible to get a passage to Rangoon, when they take it to market there.Once in Rangoon, I can alwa
ys get supplies from home again; and, indeed,have a couple of English banknotes that will take me along for a time.Don't have any scruples as to having a little from me. You are safe tofall in with your people again in Rangoon, or the Herford's branch therewould advance to you, even if you do not believe that I owe to you adebt that money will never replace."
"You are very generous," said Ralph, "and I am thankful to meet withanyone who both can and will help me. I know that I should be able torepay you in Rangoon, if we ever reach that place; so, meantime, thankyou kindly. How long do you reckon it will be before the harvest will beready?"
"Well, the rice is growing ripe. Look there, they have stuck up thosebeautiful erections all about lately."
In effect, there were three or four stages, fixed about fifteen feetabove the ground, in different places. Each of these erections was of asize to accommodate a squatting Burman, smoking happily, with a bowl ofrice and a jar of water by his side. Every now and then he gave a tug ata string, which communicated with a machinery of simple nature,consisting of bamboos, feathers and twine in endless ramifications, allset fluttering by the pull. This, and an unearthly screech uttered atthe same moment, aroused a cloud of little green parrots that werefeeding upon the rice. They fluttered and squalled in unison with thefluttering and squalling of the native, and all creation was lively.Then the Burman sank again into meditation upon the life of Guadama, orinto slumber, or whatever he pleased to call it; the parrots went backto their feast, and all proceeded quietly until the watchman's sense ofduty once more impelled him to exertion.
"We shall cut all that the birds condescend to leave us soon now," saidKirke. "In the meantime the fishery is going on, and the preparation of'ngape'! Can't you smell the stinking stuff on the breeze? Faugh!"
"I hope we may get a passage in a boat which carries rice alone," saidRalph, with a face of disgust. "How can the Burmese eat that disgustingstuff!"
The preparation of this favourite dainty in the Burmese commissariat,which is manufactured chiefly from rotten fish pounded up into a pastewith various condiments, poisoned the air. Prawns are the favourite fishused, but there were none in this place.
Such secluded valleys as that into which Kirke had strayed, are greathomes of this industry, for the fish come up into them in huge swarms tospawn, and are left behind, in the lakes and pools, when the hot seasondries up much of the super-abundant water. To catch them is then easy,and the trade a profitable one.
"Oh," cried Kirke, "we won't go in one of those boats! Trust Jamie Kirkefor that. Sooner than be stunk out of life like that, we will imitatethe Welsh young lady's forefathers in the Flood, and have a boat of ourown. We could sell it again in Rangoon. I don't know whether, now thatyou are here to help me, it would not be as well to cross these plains,and get a boat for ourselves on the Sittoung River. We could navigate iteasily between us if we were careful about the bore."
"That would be very jolly," said Ralph. "I and my cargo," pointing tohis precious bundle of orchids. "My cargo will not overburden you, Ishould be loath to part with it now, having brought it through so muchperil that I almost have a superstitious feeling that it consists of my'luck.' We should be more help than hindrance to you."
"You talk of superstitious feelings, Denham, but there is only a slightboundary between faith and superstition. I should not call it_superstition_ on my own part to believe that you had been sent byProvidence to me, in answer to prayer for forgiveness and help."
"I know what you mean," replied Ralph gravely. "God does lead us inmysterious ways, and it is among these wonderful places that one learnsto believe in what He can perform. We have seen strange things, both ofus, since we left the humdrum Liverpool streets."
"Perhaps He was as plainly to be met with there, if we had but openedour eyes to note His footprints. Here we are shaken out of our owncommon jogtrot ways,--waked up,--have had our everyday husks peeled off,and are brought face to face with nature in its marvellous sublimity andsimplicity."
The two young men sat silently after this, watching the movements of acouple of girls, whose occupation had suggested Kirke's simile.
They crouched upon their heels, one on either side of a handmill, inwhich they were husking "paddy," or rice in the original state, for thenext family meal.
The handmill consisted of two hollow wooden receptacles, the upper onefurnished with two handles, by which the girls worked it half round tothe right and back to the left. This threw the grain through the groovedsides into the lower vessel, grinding the chaff off on its way. From thelower bowl it escaped to the floor through a hole in the bottom.
From the heap thus accumulated, a child emptied the rice into baskets,pouring it from one into another until the husk was fairly well winnowedfrom it; and then threw it into a mortar, sunk into the ground, and inwhich a heavy pestle worked by means of a long lever affixed to it, uponthe end of which a graceful maiden was balancing herself, thus workingit up and down to the time of a monotonous song which she chanted toherself--
"Oh! rice ka la! come! Oh! rice ka la! come! Mee Meht calls you, come, come!"
The rice grain gleamed white as pearls from among the dusky chaff as sheworked; and ever and anon, with some joke from one or the other, thegirlish voices bubbled over into a merry laugh.
"They seem happy," said Ralph.
"Ay, they do," Kirke replied, "but they are like animals,--_they_ do not'look before and after.'"