CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
IN WHICH MARK CARRIES OUT HIS PLANS SUCCESSFULLY, AND POWERFULLYASTONISHES HIMSELF AS WELL AS EVERY ONE ELSE.
It was a brilliant lovely morning when the guests began to wend theirway to the suburban residence of Anosy, where Ranavalona was to hold hergarden party.
The people were very gay, somewhat excited, and very chatty, for theywere aware that the young English doctor had prepared something new andsurprising for the Queen's special benefit.
Just before the earliest of these guests, however, had set off to thegarden, our three heroes had passed down to that part of the road wherethe four slaves were already at work with pick and shovel and clankingchain.
It was a little after sunrise when Mark went up to the guard to relievehim.
"Take care," said the guard, when about to leave, "that you keep theslaves well out of the way when the Queen passes. All the others in theneighbourhood have been taken off long ago. I was beginning to beafraid you would not come in time."
"I understand," said Mark, who knew enough of the language, (and also ofthe situation), to follow the drift of his meaning.
The guard thereupon turned, shouldered his musket, and went off,apparently well pleased at the unexpected relief from duty.
While this little incident was occurring three of the slaves werelooking on with a slight expression of surprise in their sad faces. Thefourth, Mamba, was standing in a dejected attitude before Hockins andEbony, holding a pick in one hand and his heavy chain in the other.
"Oh! man, I _am_ sorry to see you like this," said Hockins, extendinghis brawny hand, "an' I does wish I could set you free--but you know I'mas helpless as a babby in this matter."
Mamba dropped the pick and grasped the strong hand, but did not look up.His heart was too full. He did not understand the seaman's words, buthe understood the tone. If he had looked up he would have seen that thetears were hopping over Ebony's cheeks in spite of the powerful effortsof that sympathetic soul to control them, and that he was unable tospeak because of a lump in his throat.
"Das most awrful!" he exclaimed at last. "Oh, Mamby, I'd fight for youlike a wild-cat wid the cholera if that would do you any good, but itwould be ob no use."
Just then Mark came forward. "Quick, follow me," he said, leading theway to a thick clump of bushes behind a wall that bordered the road.Here, quite concealed, yet able to peep through the leafy screen, heordered his party to sit down on a heap of stones and await orders. Hethen went to the top of a mound that lay immediately behind them. Fromthis he could see the road winding along for about two or three hundredyards.
Descending to his comrades he sat down beside them.
"You look anxious, doctor," remarked the seaman.
"I _am_ anxious," returned Mark, "I am on the point of making a greatventure, and the results may be serious. But we are in God's hands;"then, turning to Mamba, who looked at him with much curiosity and agleam of hope on his intelligent face, "I have hope of success and haveprayed for it."
Mamba, whose knowledge of English was very slight, shook his head andlooked puzzled.
"Have you forgotten, Mamba, the law of your land--that the criminal who_looks_ upon the Queen is from that moment entitled to claim freedom?Ranavalona is to pass along this road in less than half-an-hour."
Of course Mark said this in remarkably bad Malagasy, but Mambaunderstood. A gleam of intelligence shot into his swarthy visage, andhis chest began to heave with strong emotion as he glared rather thangazed at the speaker. Not less surprised were Hockins and Ebony whenMark explained, for although they had indeed heard about the law inquestion they had forgotten it. After recovering the first shock, Mambaturned quickly and pointed to his three comrades in suffering.
"Yes, yes--I understand," said Mark, "I shall set them free at the sametime. Why not? The risk will not be increased."
"A reg'lar jail-delivery!" murmured Hockins, as he drew in a longbreath.
"Hush! they come!" cried Mark, crouching so as the more effectually toconceal himself, in which act he was quickly imitated by the others.
According to promise, Ranavalona had set out from her palace thatmorning without her wonted display and ceremonial, with only a few ofher courtiers and a handful of troops around her. She did not, however,omit the scarlet umbrella of state, and it was this brilliant objectwhich had attracted Mark's attention.
When the procession had approached close to the place of concealment,Mark whispered "Now!" and ran to the top of the mound before referredto. The four slaves followed him. The summit gained they turned,lifted up their arms and chains, _looked upon the Queen_, and gave ventto the "oo!--oo!--oo!" which stands to the Malagasy in the place of acheer. Recognising the importance of the event, Hockins and Ebony,unable to restrain themselves, gave vent to a hearty British hurrah!
At this interruption, the bearers of the royal palanquin or chairhalted, the soldiers brought their muskets to the "ready," and a darkfrown overspread the features of the Queen.
Before the storm could burst, however, Mark descended the mound, went tothe side of the chair, knelt on one knee, and exclaimed--
"Forgive, madam--forgive me!"
"This, then, is _your_ doing," replied the Queen, sternly, through theSecretary, who was at her side.
"It is, madam. I am guilty. If punishment must descend, I alone shouldbear it."
There was something so modest, yet so fearless, in the youth's tone andbearing, that the Queen's brows relaxed a little.
"But why did you dare to interfere with my laws?" demanded Ranavalona,still angrily.
"I did not venture to interfere, madam," returned Mark, humbly, "I didbut use one law to neutralise another. One of these slaves is myfriend. I think he would be very useful in helping me to-night with mymagic fires!"
There was so much of cool presumption in thus quietly changing thesubject, with such charming modesty of demeanour, too, that the Queenburst into a hearty laugh.
"Strike off his fetters," she said, and gave the signal to her bearersto move on.
"Ay," said Mark to the Secretary in an authoritative tone, "and alsostrike off the fetters of the other three!"
"You've got cheek for anything a'most, doctor," said the amazed andamused seaman, as they fell into the procession, and followed the Queento the pleasure-garden.
Here extensive preparations had been made for spending the day in gamesand festivities that far exceeded anything of the sort ever beforeattempted in that land. For Mark Breezy had not only an ingenious mindto devise, but an organising spirit to make use of the services ofothers in carrying out his plans.
When the guests were scattered about the grounds, after a goodbreakfast, enjoying the delightful shade of the trees, tempting thegold-fish in the lake with crumbs of food, and loitering among theby-paths, the young doctor made himself almost ubiquitous. Acting thedouble part of manager of the games and amusements, and privateconspirator, he set an army of palace officials in motion, whom hepledged to secrecy, and led each to suppose that he was the prime moverin some plot that was to astonish and delight the Queen, in all which hewas ably assisted by the Secretary. When he had thus stirred up, as itwere, an air of mystery and expectation, he led the Secretary, Hockins,and Ebony, to a retired spot, and, bidding them sit down, gave them abrief address.
"You see," he said, "the time has now come for me to explain to you morefully, the plans and plots with which I have been engaged for some timepast. And in doing so I would impress upon you, Mr Secretary, that Iam placing my life in your hands; but I do so without fear, believingthat you are a Christian and will not betray me."
Mark paused and looked full at the Secretary, who said, "But you mustremember that I can do nothing that will be disloyal to the Queen."
"If you were persecuted by the Queen and threatened with death, wouldyou consider it allowable to fly to the forests?"
"Yes--the Word of the Lord recommends that."
"Would you consider it rig
ht to assist a fellow-Christian to fly?"
"Truly I would!"
"Well then, you will assist me this night, for I have spoken toRafaravavy. My Malagasy words are few, but love does not require manywords! She has agreed to fly with Ravonino--"
"Have you seen Ravonino lately?" asked Hockins.
"No--I have not seen him _lately_."
"How, then, do you know he will be ready?"
"Because," said Mark, with a peculiar look, "I have been smitten withhis complaint, and know that it runs the same course and exhibits thesame phases in most men. Let a young fellow see his intended bridetreated with cruelty, and you may be sure that, no matter whatdifficulties may be in the way, he will hasten at the very firstopportunity to meet and carry off the sweet little fairy in spite of--"
"Das me an' my black darlin', zactly--same zif you bin dar an' sawd usdo it!" exclaimed Ebony, with beaming interest.
"Just so," resumed Mark. "However, I have not left things altogether tochance. Although I did not see Ravonino lately, I saw him not _very_long ago, and gave him to understand that when some unusual festivitieswere going on in this garden he was to be ready at the old spot forwhatever might happen! Now, here is my little plan. You know I've beendrilling fifty picked natives for some time in that big shed at the backof the cliff on the north side o' the city. I picked them forintelligence as well as strength and activity. Well, I have taught thema wild war-dance. It cost me no little trouble and many sleeplessnights to invent it, but I've managed it, and hope to show the Queen andCourt what can be done by a little organisation. These fifty are firstof all to glide quietly among the trees, each man to a particular spotand hang on the branches fifty earthen saucers full of grease, withwicks in them. At a given signal they are to light theseinstantaneously and retire. At another signal they are to rush upon theopen space in front of the garden-house, and there engage in a shamfight. While thus engaged, men who have been taught will set fire tothe mildest of our fireworks. When these are about to go out I willmyself light the big Roman candle--"
"De young cannon, massa?"
"Yes, the young cannon, and that will keep things going for aconsiderable time. Now, it is when the fight of the fifty begins andengrosses the attention of every one that I will myself take Rafaravavyout from among the ladies and lead her to the rendezvous. You will allstand by--to lend a hand if need be--at the south-east corner of thegarden-house, that I may know exactly where to find you. My hope andexpectation is that by keeping things going as long as possible ourfriends Ravonino and Rafaravavy will get a good start. After the flightof the latter is found out, nothing more can be done for them."
"Do they go all alone?" asked Hockins.
"No, Laihova goes with them; and Mamba, who knows the secretmeeting-places of the Christians, will, I have no doubt, soon find outwhich way they have gone. Anyhow they will all certainly make for thecave in Betsilio-land where so many of their friends are. May God speedthem! Meanwhile we must keep the Queen amused with races, wrestling,and such-like; and when she begins to get wearied with mere eating andtalking, I want you, Hockins, to go in for a wrestling-match with Ebonyby way of varying the entertainment, and showing them what Englishmenand niggers can do."
"Wery good," said the seaman, with a sedate smile, "if that's to be thefun, you better make your will, Ebony, for I'll break your back."
"All right," retorted Ebony, with a grin, "an' I tink you'll be wise tomake your last dyin' speech afore we begin, for I'll bust you!"
The various plans which we have here sketched were carried out with suchbrilliant success that the Queen did not weary at all, and darknessbegan to descend on the scene before the day seemed to have half run itscourse. At this point Mark hastened to the south-east corner of thegarden-house, where he found the other conspirators faithfully at theirpost.
"Have you the flageolet with you?" he asked, hastily.
"In course I has. Never goes nowheres without it," said the seaman,drawing the little instrument from his breast-pocket.
"Go then, make your bow to the Queen, and give her a tune. You knowshe's quite in love with your pipe--or yourself--and has been asking meabout it already. She's in the verandah just now, and they are lightingthe torches there."
With the silent obedience of a man-of-war's man, Hockins went off, and,without prelude, began. Dead silence was the instant result, for thesmall bird-like pipe seemed to charm the very soul of every one whoheard it. We know not whether it was accident or a spice of humour inthe seaman, but the tune he played was "Jock o' Hazeldean!" And as Markhurried off to see that his fifty men were in readiness, he gave vent toa slight laugh as he thought of the lines:
"She's ower the border and awa' Wi' Jock o' Hazeldean!"
To the surprise of the audience, no sooner had the last notes of the airdied away than the performer thrust the pipe into his pocket, threw offhis coat, and in a loud voice challenged the best man in Madagascar towrestle with him. As the challenge was given in English of course nonative responded. Even if it had been given in choice Malagasy wequestion whether any brown man there would have ventured a hug with thehuge sailor. But no sooner had the challenge passed his lips than Ebonysprang forward, flung off not only his coat but his vest and shirt, andembraced his white opponent in a grip of iron.
At that opportune moment the signal was given to the fifty men, whoapplied their lights, and, as if by magic, the entire scene wasilluminated by a blaze of intense light that almost rivalled that of thesun itself!
A tremendous "oo!--oo!--oo!" of applause burst from the astonishedcompany, who, having had their attention fixed on the wrestlers, did notobserve how the sudden illumination had been effected.
Truly the proceedings of Hockins and Ebony would have surprised evenmore finished wrestlers than those of Madagascar, for the two men hadentered into a sly compact not only to exert their strength to theuttermost, but to give way, each at certain points or moments, when byso doing the appearance of what they styled a "back-breaker" and a"buster" might be achieved in an effective manner. It was a marvellousexhibition. Ebony glared and gasped! Hockins growled and frowned!Nothing short of a tussle between Achilles and Hercules could haveequalled it. The Court, from the Queen downwards, was awe-stricken,eye-strained, open-mouthed, and breathless, but Mark felt that it wastime to cut it short. Giving a preconcerted signal, he caused both mento fall down side by side as if exhausted but not conquered. Then hegave another signal. A moment after, fire-wheels and Roman candlesbegan to play, and the fifty warriors rushed upon the scene, brandishingmuskets and yelling like fiends.
Hastening, according to orders, to the south-east corner of thegarden-house, Hockins and Ebony found the Director-General awaitingthem.
"I cannot delay to fire the big candle," he said quickly.
"De young cannon!" panted Ebony.
"Yes, yes. You must fire it for me in about ten minutes or so, when thewarriors seem to be getting knocked up. Follow me, Hockins, and keepclose."
Another minute and Rafaravavy, who was standing near the Queen's chair,felt a touch on her arm. She looked round with a start, for, like everyone else, she had been fascinated and quite engrossed by the scenebefore her.
A glance and motion of the hand from Mark sufficed. She glided gentlybackwards and reached the other side of the house unobserved. Here Markgrasped her hand and Hockins followed. They walked at first, but beganto run on gaining the shrubbery, which was rendered doubly dark bycontrast with the glare behind them.
In a couple of minutes they reached the thicket where the previousmeeting had taken place. The over-arching foliage deepened the darknessso that it was impossible to distinguish features. A form was dimlyseen, but it was only by the sound of the voice that they knew it to beRavonino.
Few words were uttered. Every instant was precious.
"Farewell, dear friend," said Ravonino, grasping Mark's hand, "God grantthat we may meet again in better times! Laihova waits for me beyond thega
rden--"
He stopped abruptly, seized Rafaravavy's hand and glided with hernoiselessly into the thicket, for at that moment another figure was seento approach them. From his unusual size they knew him to be one ofRanavalona's chief executioners. He was a cool-headed and suspiciousman, a sort of natural detective, who always had his wits about him.Having observed several people gliding through the shrubbery he hadquitted the sports and followed. To have been recognised by thisofficial would have been fatal--at least to those plotters who did nottake to flight. Hockins, who was prompt to conceive and act when dangerpressed, at once stepped forward and gave the man of blood aright-hander on the top of the nose which instantly Romanised thatfeature and laid its owner on his back insensible.
At the same moment--as if the blow had been the touching of a secretspring--the whole garden was lighted up with a magnificent red glare,and they knew that Ebony had done his part and lighted the giant candle.The red glare lasted long enough to reveal the fact that Ravonino andRafaravavy were gone, and that the man at their feet was indeed theexecutioner whom they had guessed him to be. Leaving him there they ranquickly back to the scene of festivities, hoping that their absence hadnot been observed. Before they had gone half-a-dozen steps there was anexplosion like that of a big gun, a bomb went high into the air, andburst in a magnificent constellation of brilliant stars, mingled withfiery rain. The "oo!--oo!--oo!" cheers became vociferous at this, andwere, if possible, still more enthusiastic when the red fire changed toa beautiful blue.
"Splendid!" exclaimed Mark, much satisfied with the result of his recentlabours, "and it will keep going on for a considerable time yet."
As he spoke there was a crash like the loudest thunder, and a momentaryglare as of the brightest noon-light, which was followed by intensedarkness, while the garden was shaken as if by an earthquake. Loudcries and shrieks were accompanied by the falling of a shower of dustand small stones. Evidently there had been a catastrophe, and thequaking conspirators hastened to the spot, half expecting to find theQueen and Court of Madagascar blown to atoms.
"The whole consarn's busted up!" exclaimed Hockins, on coming in sightof the garden-house.
The seaman's explanation was the true one. Owing to some inexplicablemistake in the loading of the monster Roman candle, fire hadcommunicated somehow with the lowest charge, which was a good strongone, intended to propel a glorious mass of ingenious contrivances intothe air and end the matter with an effective bang. As it turned out,the bang was ten times more effective, for it not only blew out theentire charge but burst the cast-iron case, and upturned tons of earthin which Mark had taken the precaution to bury the thing up to its neck.
At first the Queen, like her people, had got a severe fright; but,seeing that no one seemed to be hurt, she controlled her feelings, underthe impression, no doubt, that the explosion was part of the programme.
"Have you got your whistle, Hockins?" asked Mark, quickly, as he ranforward.
"Ay, sir--always here, ready for action!"
"Come, then, play up when I give the word--something quieting. Hold on!Let's do it sedately."
By this time they had got within the circle of torchlight. Reducingtheir run to a smart walk the two friends advanced, as Mark hadsuggested, sedately, in front of the Queen, while the Secretary rejoinedthe circle of courtiers unperceived.
As they advanced they encountered Ebony with an unused Roman candle ineach hand, and an expression of horror on his black face.
"Oh! massa--" he began.
"Hush! never mind! Follow me!" said Mark, in a peremptory whisper.
Another moment and the sweet tones of the flageolet silenced the noiseof the excited throng, as Hockins stood before the Queen and played oneof the sweetest of Scottish songs.
Mark placed Ebony behind his comrade, made him hold up the Romancandles, quietly lighted them both, and retired. Thus Hockins, much tohis own surprise, found himself, in the midst of spouting fire,producing the melodious notes of "Afton Water!"
When the little candles exploded, our Director-General advanced to theroyal chair and expressed a hope that the performances had givensatisfaction.
This the Secretary--ever-ready in time of need--translated, and returnedthe answer that the Queen was charmed, after which the proceedingsterminated, and Ranavalona returned to her palace to dream, no doubt, offireworks and music instead of martyrdoms.
So engrossed was the whole Court with the exciting and singular eventsof the day that no one noticed the absence of Rafaravavy, and, happily,the Queen did not happen to require her attendance that night.
Even those who were in closest proximity to the fugitive's own room,were so taken up with what they had seen that they either did not thinkof her, or supposed that fatigue had induced her to retire early.
Thus it came to pass that when her flight was discovered on thefollowing day, Rafaravavy, carried by strong and willing bearers, andguarded by her devoted Ravonino and his faithful friend Laihova, wasbeing swiftly borne over mountain and plain to the forest stronghold inBetsilio-land.