CHAPTER XXXI.
A SPY'S STARTLING STORY.
WE remained fully two hours in the noisome Treasure-chamber of theSanoms, the early history of which was lost in the mist of legendarylore, then after careful and minute examination of the rifled chests,worked our way to the base of the shaft, and, having ascended, let downthe tiny concealed lever, thereby allowing the pressure to increase, andplace in position the ingenious contrivance for causing death to theventuresome. Replacing the iron plate that closed the mouth of thewell-like aperture, we screwed it down, rendering it water-tight, and,crossing the stones, regained the bank of the lake. Then, having turnedback the lever, the flood-gates slowly closed down again, and, ere wemounted our horses to ride back to the city, the waters, fed by the manytorrents, had already risen sufficiently to hide the slime-coveredentrance to the secret chamber.
One of the greatest thefts in the world's history had been committed, andthe question that puzzled us was the identity of the thief. Our firstsuspicions had fallen upon the Naya, but calmly discussing the questionas we rode back, we both became convinced that so critical was thedeposed ruler's position, that she would never have undertaken all therisks in removing the treasure. She knew she was in deadly peril of herlife, and that every moment lost was of vital importance, therefore itwas hardly probable that she would have delayed her departure to securethe wealth of her ancestors.
Omar argued that if compelled to fly she might have afterwards entrustedthe secret of the Treasure-house to spies, who could have returned andsecured the jewels. That she had not done this was certain, for the timethat had elapsed since her flight was insufficient.
I suggested that the detachment of Samory's men who had entered the cityduring the revolt might have had knowledge of the secret and secured thetreasure, but Omar pointed out that none in Samory's camp could have beenaware of the means by which the place could be entered, Kouaga himselfbeing in ignorance.
"Then the thief was the Naya herself," I said, decisively.
"No; after all, I am not actually positive that such is the case," heanswered. "There are facts connected with the affair, trivial inthemselves, that lead me to believe otherwise."
"What are they?"
"One is that the wonderful ruby necklet, an ornament of matchless gemsthat belonged to King Karmos and is one of the talismans of the Sanoms,has been left. I found it flung aside and discarded. Had the Nayacommitted the theft she would have secured this first of all, because ofour family tradition that no reigning Sanom can live longer than threemoons without it is in his or her possession."
"But you retain it," I said. "You, at least, are safe."
"Yes," he replied thoughtfully. "Yet if the Naya had intended to securethe treasure for herself she would most certainly have taken this firstof all. It is one of the most historic and valuable ornaments of theroyal jewels of Mo, besides being one in which most superstition iscentred. In her flight she would entertain the bitterest ill-feelingtowards me and desire my rule to be brief. Therefore, she must havestolen the necklet; she would have secured that, if nothing else."
I was compelled to agree with this view, especially as he added that oneof the most firm beliefs of the Sanoms had ever been that Zomara wouldsend vengeance most terrible upon any who removed the treasure from itschests without the sanction of the people. No, it seemed evident thatsome third person had been in possession of the secret. Who, we knew not,but were determined to discover.
On returning to the palace I stood, as usual, beside the Emerald Thronewhile its occupant gave audience to those who came to make obeisance andoffer congratulations. The Court of the Naba Omar was even more brilliantthan that of his mother had been, and at evening, under the brightlights, was, indeed, a glittering assembly, where the gems worn byofficials and courtiers almost dazzled one's eyes by their profuseness.
Days passed--bright, peaceful days succeeding the brief period offeverish excitement and deadly hatred. Mo had become herself again; herpeople assured that an era of liberty and prosperity had recommenced, herruler leaving no effort unspared to act in the best interests of hisbeloved nation. By day the great sunny courts of the palace, with thebright flowers and fruit-laden vines, rang with the tramp of armed menand tall, stately officials; by night the sounds of revelry, music anddancing awakened the echoes of the great moon-lit colonnades, and waswafted on the sweet-scented air afar beyond the grim, frowning outerwalls.
Yet the burden of kingship seemed to press heavily upon the young Naba.Though wearing no diadem, his brow soon became furrowed, as if by itsweight, and his air was one of constant preoccupation. His change ofmanner puzzled me. His mind appeared overshadowed by some gloomyforeboding, the nature of which I could by no amount of cautiousquestioning elicit. During each day he attended assiduously withoutrelaxation to affairs of state, and when night drew on and the inmates ofthe great luxurious palace, a veritable city within a city, gavethemselves up to reckless enjoyment, he was seldom present, for he wouldwithdraw to one of his small private apartments, and there sit,pretending to read, but in reality brooding in silence. One poignantsorrow had transformed him from a bright, happy youth, to a man sad-eyed,dull, morose. Sometimes, as I watched, I noticed how he would suddenlysigh heavily, and set his teeth as a bitter relentless expression wouldflit for an instant across his countenance, and I knew that at suchmoments there entered into his heart the contemplation of a fierce andterrible revenge.
Even to me, his constant companion, whose opinion he sought almosthourly, he made no mention of his heart's sorrow, yet from closeobservation through many days, I knew the cause of his overwhelming griefwas the loss of Liola. He never mentioned her, for the day after we hadascertained the truth about her tragic end, he had taken me aside andasked me never to allow her name to pass my lips in his presence.
"Memories are painful, you know, Scars," he had said. "I must try andforget, try and live down my sorrow if I can, although I fear I shallcarry it with me to the grave."
These words I often remembered when, alone with him, I watched the lookof ineffable sadness upon his face. In the Hall of Audience, the centreof his brilliant court, his face was always pleasant, smiling and full ofgood-nature, as it had ever been; but, alas! it was only a mask, foralone, in the privacy of his chamber, he cast it aside and gave himselfup to debauches of melancholy painful to behold.
Thus weeks lengthened into months. He had wished me to keep from thepeople the great loss sustained by the robbery from the Treasure-house,believing that in the circumstances silence was best, and I had notbreathed a word to a soul, not even to Kona or Goliba. The city hadresumed its old look of prosperity, its markets were crowded daily, andits populace were content in the knowledge that under the reformed_regime_ they were free. Although once every week, Omar, with his court,descended to the Temple of Zomara, and there adored the Crocodile-god,human sacrifices had been discontinued, and the worship of the giant idolwas devoid of those revolting practices introduced by the Naya. Of thelatter, no tidings had been gleaned. Although every effort had been madeto trace her, she had disappeared. Of the treasure of the Sanoms, too,nothing had been heard. How it had been conveyed out of Mo remained aninscrutable mystery.
I confess to being astonished that Omar seldom, if ever, spoke of eitherof these matters, which had at first so seriously agitated him. Whetherhe had relinquished all thought of recovering the jewels collected by hisancestors, or whether he was endeavouring to formulate some plan ofaction I knew not, yet his unwillingness to speak of them was, to say theleast, noteworthy.
"Niaro has to-day returned from the gate of Mo," I observed one eveningwhen we were sitting alone together in one of the smaller courts, thenight air stirred by the distant sound of stringed instruments and thethumping of Moorish tam-tams. "He has sent messengers by the Way of theThousand Steps far into the lands beyond, but no word have they been ableto gather regarding the Naya."
"She has escaped the mad vengeance of our people, who would have killedher," he said, calmly.
"For that I am thankful."
"You seem to have no desire that she should be captured," I said.
"None. She has escaped. After all it is best."
"But the treasure," I said, dropping my voice so that no eavesdroppermight overhear. "Its hiding place, like the thief, is still unknown."
"Yes," he answered. "Unknown at present, but ere long some discovery mustbe made. When it is, I anticipate it will be a startling one."
Our conversation was interrupted at that moment by the approach of aslave who, bowing low until his brow touched our carpet, said:
"One of thy servants, O Master, desireth to have speech with thee. Hehath sped from afar upon the wings of haste and beareth tidings."
"Of what?" cried Omar, starting up.
"I know not, O Master. The name of thy servant who awaiteth audience withthee is Makhana, who cometh from beyond the great black water."
"Makhana!" we both cried, and Omar ordered that he should be admittedimmediately, and without ceremony. Then, turning to me, he explained thaton ascending the throne he had sent a message to Makhana in Londonordering him to return at once.
A moment later the secret agent of Mo, a tall, sparse figure, attired inshabby European clothes, entered, and, snapping fingers with his master,greeted and congratulated him. Then, casting himself upon the mat nearus, he began to tell us what had occurred after our flight fromEastbourne, and relate the latest news from the civilised land we hadleft so many months before. I also told him how we had been enticed awayby Kouaga, and the order of the Naya for Omar's assassination.
"Much has happened since I returned," Omar observed, when I hadconcluded. "As you have no doubt already heard, my mother has beendeposed, and I have been enthroned in her stead."
"Yes," the secret agent answered. "I have already heard all this, andalthough I wish you every peace and prosperity, I have, I regret, to makea startling announcement."
"What is it?" gasped Omar, with wide-open eyes.
"Our enemy, Samory, is upon us!"
"Samory!" we both cried.
"Yes. Not much longer than a moon past I was crossing the mountains ofNiene, near the confines of his country, on my way hither from the sea,and learnt the truth. Two moons ago, accompanied by twenty thousand armedmen, Kouaga marched out of Koussan to obtain savage allies for anexpedition, having for its object the conquest of Mo."
"The conquest of our country!" Omar cried astounded. "Only a week beforewe returned hither one of his expeditions was utterly routed andslaughtered in the Grave of Enemies. Now another has been dispatched!What route has it taken?"
"On learning the news I at once reassumed native dress, crossed into ourenemy's country and acted as spy," Makhana answered, his fierce-lookingeyes glistening in the moonlight. "In Koussan I ascertained that theexpedition, led by Kouaga, the man who was once our Grand Vizier, hadgone northward one moon's journey towards the Niger, his intention beingto skirt the country of the Aribanda and to enter our territory from thenorth by crossing the Hombori Mountains."
"You have done well to ascertain this and hasten on," Omar answered. "Butthere is only one pass by which the Hombori can be crossed."
"That is known to Kouaga, for three years ago he led our army through itto the successful conquest of the border tribes of the Massina. He is nowa formidable enemy, for he knows all the secret approaches and thewhereabouts of our hidden defences."
"We must dispatch an army at once to meet them," Omar said, after athoughtful pause.
"No time should be lost," Makhana urged. "Already they are due at theHombori, and it will occupy our expedition fully two weeks to reachthere. Yet Samory's hordes may be delayed, and if so, we shall be able tohold the pass successfully and sweep them down as they advance. I havebrought with me from England the ten additional Maxims ordered by theNaya."
"Excellent, let them be given into Kona's charge," Omar exclaimed,explaining briefly that the Dagomba head-man was now in command of thetroops, and then turning to the slave who stood in waiting he orderedthat Kona should be fetched immediately, and that the council andprincipal officers should be at once summoned.
In a few minutes we saw upon the clear night-sky long beams of light, andknew that signals were being flashed from Mo to the furthermost limits ofthe kingdom, summoning the officers from their various posts to a councilof war. Twenty thousand men, with a similar number of savage allies,under a leader who was well acquainted with all the intricacies of thesecret way were advancing upon Mo, and the faces of the officers andmembers of the council became grave when, on arrival at the palace, theyheard the astounding news.
That Mo was threatened by a serious calamity was recognized by everyone.The news spread through the city quickly, and throughout the night thestreets were agog. Only by swift vigorous defence, by pushing a greatforce forward night and day to the point of attack, could a catastrophebe averted. This was the unanimous opinion of the Naba's advisers, andere the sun rose the first detachment of the defending army was alreadyon its way to meet the Arab invaders.
Kouaga evidently meant making a sudden descent upon the mysteriouscountry, and if his force once accomplished the passage through themountain pass they would then no doubt make a rapid dash towards thecapital itself, and would approach it at its only vulnerable point.
If this occurred, then the slaughter must be terrible and the catastrophecomplete.