Guy in the Jungle: or, A Boy's Adventure in the Wilds of Africa. Graydon William Murray

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СКАЧАТЬ sparingly. The shadow of a great calamity was overhanging.

      "I am just as sure," said Melton, "that something will shortly happen, as I am that you and I are in Rao Khan's slave prison at Harar."

      "Listen," answered Guy.

      Footsteps approached. The door creaked and opened, and a man entered. With a cry of wonder Guy and Melton sprang to their feet. The new-comer was bronzed and burnt, he had light hair, a mustache and a soft blond beard, but he wore trousers and a tunic of white linen.

      The surprise was mutual. The stranger scanned them closely from head to foot.

      "Who are you?" cried Guy hoarsely. "Can it be possible that you are an Englishman – an Englishman in Harar?"

      The man paused a moment, and then said quietly: "I am a Greek. My name is Canaris Mataplan. At present I am an interpreter to Rao Khan, the Emir."

      "But your English?" cried Melton. "It is perfect."

      "I was a cafe-keeper at Cairo for seven years," replied the Greek. "I learned English there."

      An embarrassing pause now occurred. It was certain that the Greek was the bearer of tidings from the Emir. No one dared speak. At last the Greek said quietly: "You are truly unfortunate. Tell me how you came here. I know that Zaila has fallen into the possession of Rao Khan's emissaries. I know nothing else."

      Guy briefly told the tale, and Canaris listened quietly.

      "Fools!" he said. "The English will be in Zaila again in a month."

      "And you?" rejoined Guy. "What brought you to Harar?"

      "I left Cairo for Calcutta," said Canaris. "The steamer was lost off Cape Guardafui; ten of us reached shore in a boat; the Somalis slaughtered all but myself. I was sold to the Arabs and came ultimately to Harar. I was useful to Rao Khan in many ways, and my life was spared. I have been here two years, two long years. I shall never see Greece again," he added gloomily. "I am a slave to the Emir for life."

      "Is escape then impossible?" asked Guy.

      "Absolutely. Between here and the coast is the desert. To the south are the bloodthirsty Gallas. No, no; one can never escape from Harar."

      The tramp of the guard was heard in the corridor, and a sudden change passed over the Greek's face.

      "I have come from Rao Khan," he said in a low voice. "He sends me with a message."

      He paused.

      "Go on," said Guy; "we are listening." He was breathing heavily.

      "Two hours after you arrived here yesterday morning," resumed Canaris, "Rao Khan despatched the Arabs to Zaila again, in company with two hundred of his best soldiers, who will assist in holding the town. They had scarcely gone when an insurrection broke out. The people were angered at the slaughter done by the Emir's troops when they rescued you from the crowd. It is an ancient law in Harar that every Christian stranger who enters her gates must die. Englishmen are most detested of all. The populace became maddened and furious; from all quarters of the town they came, clamoring, demanding your lives. When Rao Khan called out his remaining troops they refused to fire. The people, they said, were right. A very few remained faithful to the Emir. The mob surrounded the palace and the prison; they tried to scale the walls; the guards in the court fired on them. Then Rao Khan appeared and spoke to the angry crowd. He begged them to wait. He told them that you belonged not to him, but that Makar Makalo had sent you here for safe-keeping, that you were the slaves of Makar Makalo. The people only howled in derision. They became more angry and infuriated, and refused to listen any longer. 'The Englishmen must die!' they cried. Rao Khan was fearful in his anger. But he was powerless. He feared the destruction of the palace, the loss of his own life." Here Canaris paused and looked with infinite pity at the Englishmen.

      Guy tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. Melton laid his hand on the Greek's arm. "Go on, go on," he whispered hoarsely. "We are men, not cowards. Let us know the worst."

      CHAPTER XI.

      CANARIS UNFOLDS A TALE

      "Well," said Canaris, "I will tell you. Rao Khan has promised your lives to the people. It was his only hope, and now, his word once given, he will not dare to break it."

      Melton covered his face with his hands, and Guy staggered backward.

      "When?" he cried huskily. "Today?"

      "No," said Canaris, "not today. The Emir bids me tell you that you will have four days yet to live. On the fifth day you will die by the executioner, in the square of the town."

      They shuddered as these dreadful words fell from the Greek's lips.

      "Is there no hope, then, at all?" said Melton. "Let us know the worst at once and be done with it."

      Canaris made no reply for a moment. His eyes were fixed on the floor, and he seemed to be thinking deeply. When he looked up the expression of his face was changed. A strange light shone in his eye, a mixture of triumph and fear.

      "I can tell you nothing now," he said hastily. "Tonight you shall have an answer. But tell me, how is your wound?"

      "Better," replied Melton. "I can scarcely feel it at all."

      "Good," said Canaris. "Now do just as I tell you. Lie down on the straw; pretend that you are much worse; moan loudly from time to time, and when I come tonight I shall have something to impart to you."

      With this strange admonition, Canaris hastily left the dungeon and the guard rebolted the door.

      "Is the fellow crazy?" said Melton. "What can he mean to do?"

      "Crazy?" rejoined Guy. "No; I have a strange faith in that man, Melton. Do just as he tells you and see what turns up tonight."

      With much grumbling Melton assumed the part of a very sick man. He rather overdid the thing, in fact, for twice the guard opened the door and looked in. About noon food was brought, and from that time no one came near them.

      The minutes dragged along like hours. They tried to forget the awful fate that stared them in the face, but in spite of the Greek's encouraging words the future looked very black.

      At last the feeble light in their dungeon began to fade away, and soon they were in darkness.

      "The fellow will never come back," said Melton bitterly. "It's all up with us, Chutney, so don't try to raise any more false hopes."

      But Guy refused to give up, and his faith was rewarded. Quick footsteps approached the dungeon, the bolts rattled, and Canaris entered with a rude lamp and a leather case, which he placed carefully on the floor.

      Then he pulled a paper from his pocket and waved it gleefully.

      "See," he cried, "a permit from Rao Khan, admitting me to the prison at all times. I told him that your wound was very bad, that the Arab doctor had failed to help you, and that I knew enough of English surgery to cure you if he would allow it. Rao Khan reluctantly consented, and here I am."

      He listened intently for a moment, glanced round the dungeon, and then went on in a low, excited tone:

      "Get close together. I have something important to tell you."

      They squatted down in a group on the straw, and with a strange, СКАЧАТЬ