CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.
THE COURT PHYSICIAN PRESCRIBES FOR THE QUEEN--A BLOW-UP, AND MYSTERIOUSPREPARATIONS FOR TREMENDOUS SURPRISES.
About this time the anger of Queen Ranavalona against the Christians wasso great that she made herself quite ill, and more than once had to sendfor her Court Physician, Mark Breezy, to prescribe for her.
Our youthful medico understood her complaint, which was a simple one.He prescribed much exercise, change of air, and amusement, so as todistract her mind from the cares of State, and the evil passions towhich she was giving way. He hoped thus to serve the Christiansindirectly, for he saw clearly that the mere mention of their existencemade her ill. Some slight administrations of physic, also, coupled withjudicious alterations of diet, put her Majesty in a state of suchexcellent health and spirits that she began to entertain quite a warmregard for her Court Physician, and congratulated herself not a littleon the good fortune which had sent him to the capital.
Thus Mark was enabled to disperse, for a time, the dark cloud which hadbeen lowering over the land--not, however, in time to prevent manyChristians from being slain, and some even of the officers and ladies ofthe palace from being degraded, their honours taken from them, andthemselves and children sold as slaves.
Among the ladies, Rafaravavy had a narrow escape. For a time her lifeseemed to hang by a hair, for she was rebellious as well as fearless,and _would_ sing her favourite hymns in spite of orders to the contrary!Love prevailed, however, as in the case of Prince Rakota, and she wastolerated as a sort of spoilt child.
Being a favourite, Mark of course became a man of power in the capital.This fact would have raised him a host of enemies had it not been forthe kindness of his disposition and the urbanity of his manners. When astrapping powerful young fellow treats every one with respectfuldeference, keeps in the background, and neither by word nor look assertshimself, but, on the contrary, seems to entertain kindly thoughts aboutevery one, it argues such an absence of selfishness that most people areirresistibly attracted to him. Thus, unwittingly, he escaped jealousyand enmity in a palace where both were rife, and, holding in his handsas he did, the power to alleviate many of the "ills that flesh is heirto," he secured a good deal of warm friendship.
Being also an ingenious youth, he devised many little plans for amusingRanavalona and preventing her mind from dwelling on dangerous memories.Among other things, he induced her to go in for a series of gardenparties, and encouraged the people to practise their national games atthese gatherings in a systematic way.
What all this was ultimately to lead to he did not know--indeed at firsthe had no particular end in view save the great one of preventing theQueen from ordering any more of the horrible scenes of bloodshed whichhe and his friends had so recently witnessed. But as time ran on hisideas became more definite and concentrated. It occurred to him thatRavonino would inevitably venture to attend the garden parties in thehope of again meeting Rafaravavy, and now that the Secretary had avowedhimself on the side of the Christians, he felt that through him he mightinfluence her to agree to her lover's proposal.
Then his plan to effect the rescue of Mamba was gradually matured.
"Ebony," he exclaimed, suddenly, one afternoon when sitting at his tablepreparing some villainous compound for the Queen, "go down to thelaboratory, boy, and fetch me some gunpowder, sulphur, saltpetre, andcharcoal."
Mark's laboratory, by the way, contained not only the medicines whichchanced to be in the capital at that time, but also a vast collection ofmiscellaneous articles and substances which, in the opinion of palaceofficials, could be classed, however remotely, with "doctor's stuffs."
"Them stuffs," remarked Hockins, who sat luxuriously in an arm-chairsmoking a short pipe--for he had unfortunately obtained tobacco sincearriving at the capital!--"Them stuffs are apt to cause surprisin'effects w'en properly mixed."
"Just so. That is my reason for sending for them. I shall create somesurprising effects if my old cunning in pyrotechny has not forsaken me.When I was a school-boy, you must know, I was fond of dabbling infireworks, and it strikes me that I could compound some things thatwould charm the Queen and astonish the natives."
"Massa," asked Ebony, powerful surprise expressed in his sable visage,while Mark spooned large quantities of the ingredients referred to intoan earthenware dish, "is dem powders to be took inside arter bein' wellshooken, or rubbed outside?"
"Whichever way you please, Ebony. Would you like to try?"
"No thankee, massa."
"Now, then, look here," said Mark, making some pencil notes on a sheetof paper, after arranging several plates in a row. "You and Hockins setto work and mix these in the exact proportions set down on this paper.I'd do it myself, but I'm due at the palace, and you know the Queen doesnot like to be kept waiting. Stick to the paper, exactly, and here youhave an egg-cup, a table-spoon, and a tea-spoon to measure with. Putyour pipe out, I advise you, Hockins, before beginning. If Rainiharoshould call, tell him he will find me with the Queen. I don't like thatPrime Minister. He's a prime rascal, I think, and eggs the Queen onwhen she would probably let things drop. He's always brooding andpondering, too, as if hatching mischief."
"If that's a sign of hatching mischief," said Hockins, with a shortlaugh, "the same thing may be said of yourself, doctor, for you've donelittle but brood and ponder for more nor a week past."
"True, I have been plotting; but many a man plots much without muchresulting."
Hurrying away, Mark found the Secretary waiting for him to act asinterpreter, for the Queen understood little or no English.
After the preliminary ceremonial salutations, the young doctor asked ifher Majesty would honour the gardens with her presence the followingday, hold a grand reception, and make arrangements to remain in Anosytill after dark.
Yes, the Queen was quite ready to do so, but why did her Court Physicianmake such a proposal? Had he some new surprise in store for her?
"I have," answered Mark. "In my country we make very grand displayswith fire. But I have various little surprises and plots in store,which cannot be properly wrought out unless Ranavalona will consent togo to the gardens privately--that is to say, without publicannouncement, for that has much to do with the success of my scheme."
"It shall be done, though it is against my custom," said the Queen, witha good-natured nod, for she had begun to regard her young physician asan eccentric creature who needed and deserved encouragement in hisamusing and harmless fancies.
Immediately after the audience, Mark and his sympathetic interpreter,the Secretary, obtained an interview with Rafaravavy. The doctor beganabruptly.
"I am well acquainted with your lover, dear young lady." At this shepouted a little, blushed terribly, and drew her pretty figure to itsfull height--which was not great! "And," continued Mark, "I have beenvery deeply indebted to him."
Rafaravavy relaxed a little, and fixed her fine dark eyes on the youthsearchingly, but said nothing.
"Now I know," Mark went on, pretending not to observe the maiden'svarying moods, "that my friend loves you so profoundly--so deeply--thathe will risk his life to see you, and if he is caught, you are wellaware that in the present state of the Queen's mind the result would behis death--almost certainly, and perhaps you would die along with him.Therefore, if you get an opportunity soon you should agree to fly withhim."
During the first part of this speech the young girl's face glowed withevident pleasure, but the last part was unfortunate. It did not suitthe temper of one who was brave as she was beautiful.
"I know not, sir," she said, with flashing eyes, while the little figuredrew up again, "what English girls may think or do, but Malagasy womenare not afraid to die with those whom they love. Your advice may bekindly meant, but I doubt if it is wise. Besides, I am a servant of myQueen, and owe allegiance to her."
"Your Queen, mademoiselle, is a servant of the devil," said Mark, whoseindignation was severely stirred. "And, Rafaravavy, do you not professto be a
servant of the Christians' God--the Almighty? Does not the Bookstate that it is impossible to serve _two_ masters?"
"Come, come!" cried the Secretary, in a sharp tone, after translatingthis faithfully, "it is time to go. Follow me!"
Mark's surprise at this abrupt termination of the interview was great,but as Rafaravavy retired hastily, he had no resource but to follow hisfriend.
"Why so sharp?" he asked, as they passed along the corridor.
"Because you have said enough," returned the Secretary, with a quietsmile. "You may understand your own women, no doubt, but not theMalagasy girls as well as I do. When a man has said _enough_ to a womanhe should stop and let it simmer. All the rest that he would say shewill say to herself--and say it much better, too! But tell me, when doyou think Ravoninohitriniony will meet Rafaravavy?"
"I don't know. All I know is that a true lover is sure to manage ameeting soon--and somehow."
He was glad to be able to make this indefinite reply; for although hetrusted the Secretary, and would have revealed his own affairs fully tohim, he felt that he had no right to reveal the affairs of his friend toany one.
Before they reached the palace-yard a loud report was heard. The palaceshook as with an earthquake. Loud cries of soldiery were heard without,and Mark's heart sank with an undefinable dread.
To account for this report we must go back a little. When Hockins andEbony were left, as we have seen, to mix their "powders," the former,being a reckless man, forgot to put his pipe out, and Ebony being acareless man, (as regarded himself), did not observe the omission. Theconsequence was that the seaman kept on puffing and emitting sagereflections to his admiring friend while they mixed their compounds inconcert.
"Hand me the powder, Ebony."
"Das good--ha! ha! das awrful good," cried the negro, referring to thelatest sage reflection--as he pushed across the powder canister, whichwas a large one.
At that inauspicious moment a spark fell from the pipe! Next moment thedoor was burst open, the window blown out, Hockins was laid fiat on hisback, while Ebony went head-over-heels upon the floor!
Slowly and with a dazed look the seaman raised himself on one elbow andlooked round.
"Any--anything of ye left, boy?" he asked, quietly.
"I--I's not kite sure, 'Ockins," replied the negro, slowly passing hishand down one of his legs without rising from the floor. "'Ow does itfeel wid _you_?"
"All right, I think," replied the seaman, rising and presenting aremarkable exhibition of singed beard and frizzled locks, "no bonesbroke, anyhow."
At that instant Mark rushed into the smoke-filled room in consternation,followed by the Secretary and a number of soldiers who formed the guardof the palace, and great was their surprise, as well as theirsatisfaction, to find that the two men had received no damage worthmentioning.
"Well, I _am_ thankful," exclaimed Mark, beginning to pick up the debrisof plates and furniture.
"So am I," remarked the sailor, "thankful to think that I've got it overat last--so easy too!"
"Why, what do you mean?"
"I means, doctor, that I've gone the whole round o' human possibilitiesnow--leastwise I think so--and am alive to tell it! I've bin shot, an'stabbed, an' drownded--all but--an' now I've bin blow'd up!"
"So's I, 'Ockins, so you needn't boast," remarked Ebony, as he tenderlyfelt the place where his wool ought to have been, but where only a fewirregularly-shaped patches of scrub remained.
We need scarcely say that Mark Breezy did not allow this little_contretemps_ to interfere with his plans.
"You'll have to work all night, both of you--that's your punishment fordisobeying orders--and without the solace of a pipe too," said Mark,when order was somewhat restored and work resumed. "The garden party,you know, is fixed for to-morrow, and it's as much as our heads areworth to disappoint the Queen of her expected amusements. Time, tide,and Ranavalona the First wait for no man! I've got to go out for anhour or so. When I return I'll show you how to make stars and crackersand red rain, etcetera."
"But I say, Doctor," asked Hockins, looking up from his work, "where arethe cases to hold all this here stuff?"
"Time enough for that when we want 'em. I've got some fellows at workon small ones, and there's a big one that will open the Madagaskite eyesif there's virtue in saltpetre. It's made of--ah! here it comes," headded, as the door opened and two natives carried in a piece ofcast-iron pipe about six feet long and four inches in diameter.
"The pistol-barrel of a giant," exclaimed the seaman.
"A young cannon!" said Ebony. "W'y, massa, you gwine to make a Romancandle ob _dat_?"
He turned for an answer, but Mark had hastily quitted the house.
Encountering the Secretary in the court-yard, he took his arm and said,"I want your help."
"Well, you shall have it. But you are so mys--mys--what is it--steriousabout your leetil plans, that I fear my help is not useful."
"Oh! yes, it is, I want you to get me a paper from--I don't know who--the proper officer, whoever he is, authorising me to take a gang ofconvicts--four will do--to work for me."
"Good, you shall have it," returned the Secretary, with a laugh. "I seeyou are going to give us big surprises to-morrow."
"You are right, I am," said Mark, as the Secretary left him to executehis mission.
Armed with an order, Mark left the palace and hurried through the steepnarrow streets of the town, until he reached a piece of road that wasbeing mended by four slaves in long chains. That morning Mark hadobserved that his friend the crocodile was one of the four. Passingclose enough to attract the attention of the poor fellow, he whispered,without stopping, "Mamba, expect me to-morrow."
This he had said in the native tongue, having by that time acquired afew sentences, of which he made the best and most frequent use possible.
Going to the guard of these slaves, he presented his paper, and saidthat he should come personally for them early in the morning. Then hereturned to the laboratory and assisted his comrades to load thefirework cases with various kinds of "fire," stars, golden rain,etcetera. The young cannon especially was loaded, with a succession ofsurprises, to the very muzzle, before midnight.
"Suppose he bust!" suggested Ebony, with a solemn visage. "De Queen obMadigascur be blow'd into middle ob nixt week--hey?"
"I shall take precautions against that, Ebony. In the first place, I'llhave it buried in the earth up to the muzzle, and, in the second place,I'll not place it too near her Majesty."
When all was prepared the wearied triumvirate retired to rest, each todream of the subjects that lay nearest his heart and imagination at themoment. Hockins dreamed of tobacco-pipes and explosions; Mark dreamedof freed slaves, thunder-struck queens, eloping lovers and terribleconsequences; and Ebony dreamed of incomprehensible situations, crashingthunderbolts, and unimaginable coruscations of resplendent fire!