第59章

"Finally, however, the blacks compelled us to swallow some mysterious-looking meat, under threats of torture from those dreadful fire-sticks.You will not be surprised to learn that, though life became an intolerable burden to us, yet, for the most part, we obeyed our captors submissively.At the same time, Iought to tell you that now and again we disobeyed deliberately, and did our best to lash the savages into a fury, hoping that they would spear us or kill us with their clubs.Our sole shelter was a break-wind of boughs with a fire in front.The days passed agonisingly by; and when I tell you that every hour--nay, every moment--was a crushing torture, you will understand what that phrase means.We grew weaker and weaker, and, I believe, more emaciated.We became delirious and hysterical, and more and more insensible to the cold and hunger.No doubt death would soon have come to our relief had you not arrived in time to save us."This, then, was the fearful story which the unfortunate Misses Rogers had to tell.The more I thought it over, the more Irealised that no Englishwomen had ever lived to tell so dreadful an experience.I compared their story with mine, and felt how different it was.I was a man, and a power in the land from the very first--treated with the greatest consideration and respect by all the tribes.And, poor things, they were terribly despondent when I explained to them that it was impossible for me to take them right away at once.Had I attempted to do so surreptitiously, Ishould have outraged the sacred laws of hospitality, and brought the whole tribe about my ears and theirs.Besides, I had fixed upon a plan of my own; and, as the very fact of my presence in the camp was sufficient protection for the girls, I implored them to wait patiently and trust in me.

That very night I called Yamba to me and despatched her to a friendly tribe we had encountered in the King Leopold Ranges--perhaps three days' journey away.I instructed her to tell these blacks that I was in great danger, and, therefore, stood in need of a body of warriors, who ought to be sent off immediately to my assistance.They knew me much better than I did them.They had feasted on the whale.As I concluded my message, I looked into Yamba's eyes and told her the case was desperate.Her dear eyes glowed in the firelight, and I saw that she was determined to do or die.I trusted implicitly in her fertility of resource and her extraordinary intelligence.

In a few days she returned, and told me that everything had been arranged, and a body of armed warriors would presently arrive in the vicinity of the camp, ready to place themselves absolutely at my service.

And sure enough, a few days later twenty stalwart warriors made their appearance at the spot indicated by Yamba; but as I did not consider the force quite large enough for my purpose, I sent some of them back with another message asking for reinforcements, and saying that the great white chief was in danger.Finally, when Ifelt pretty confident of my position, I marched boldly forward into the camp with my warriors, to the unbounded amazement of the whole tribe with whose chief I was sojourning.He taxed me with having deceived him when I said I was alone, and he also accused me of outraging the laws of hospitality by bringing a party of warriors, obviously hostile, into his presence.

I wilfully ignored all these points, and calmly told him I had been thinking over the way in which he had acquired the two white girls, and had come to the conclusion that he had no right to them at all.

Therefore, I continued airily, it was my intention to take them away forthwith.I pointed out to the repulsive giant that he had not obtained the girls by fair means, and if he objected to my taking them away, it was open to him, according to custom, to sustain his claim to ownership by fighting me for the "property."Now, these blacks are neither demonstrative nor intelligent, but Ithink I never saw any human being so astonished in the whole of my life.It dawned upon him presently, however, that I was not joking, and then his amazement gave place to the most furious anger.He promptly accepted my challenge, greatly to the delight of all the warriors in his own tribe, with whom he was by no means popular.But, of course, the anticipation of coming sport had something to do with their glee at the acceptance of the challenge.

The big man was as powerful in build as he was ugly, and the moment he opened his mouth I realised that for once Yamba had gone too far in proclaiming my prodigious valour.He said he had heard about my wonderful "flying-spears," and declined to fight me if I used such preternatural weapons.It was therefore arranged THAT WE SHOULDWRESTLE--the one who overthrew the other twice out of three times to be declared the victor.I may say that this was entirely my suggestion, as I had always loved trick wrestling when at school, and even had a special tutor for that purpose--M.Viginet, an agile little Parisian, living in Geneva.He was a Crimean veteran.The rank-and-file of the warriors, however, did not look upon this suggestion with much favour, as they thought it was not paying proper respect to my wonderful powers.I assured them I was perfectly satisfied, and begged them to let the contest proceed.

Then followed one of the most extraordinary combats on record.

Picture to yourself, if you can, the agony of mind of poor little Blanche and Gladys Rogers during the progress of the fight; and also imagine the painful anxiety with which I went in to win.