Kitabı oku: «In the Wonderful Land of Hez: or, The Mystery of the Fountain of Youth», sayfa 3
CHAPTER VI.
“ESTO PERPETUA.”
Leo Malvern sprang to his feet, and seized the girl by the shoulders.
“Utter a single cry and I will kill you!” he exclaimed.
She seemed to understand him, for she did not make the least effort to cry out.
“Do you understand what I say?” he asked.
“I do!” was the reply, in fair English.
“Then arise to your feet and lead us from this place.”
“Will you protect me if I get into trouble?”
“I will – with my life!”
“Then be it so. Come!”
The torch which the girl had possessed was still smoldering upon the floor, and quickly stamping this out, she seized Leo by the arm, and directed the rest to catch hold of him for a guide.
Then she started swiftly across the cave and entered the mouth of a passage.
Along a dark, narrow passage they made their way, until a large, vaultlike chamber was reached.
Here the girl came to a halt, and, placing her hand upon the shoulder of Leo, said:
“I have brought you to the burial place of our people. You will be safe here, for there are hundreds of nooks and niches to conceal yourselves in. I will go back and endeavor to find your weapons for you.”
“But,” said Leo, “I promised to protect you if you got into trouble. How am I to do so if you leave us?”
“It matters not; come a few paces this way; I would say something that is for your ears alone.”
The boy allowed her to lead him a few yards from his companions.
Then the beautiful girl seized him by the hands, and exclaimed:
“Let me tell you what caused me to break the laws of Hez and lead you from the magic chamber. I saw your face pictured in a dream a few nights ago, and the dream led me to believe that I was looking upon the face of my future lord and master. It was so real, that when I saw you, when you bade me rise to my feet after pulling me down with the skeleton, that I could not refuse to aid you. I believe in dreams, do you not?”
“Well – er – sometimes,” replied Leo, completely staggered at the girl’s speech.
“I knew you did. Then listen: I swear to protect you and your friends as long as you remain in the land of Hez. Now, tell me your name, my future lord and master.”
“Leo Malvern.”
“’Tis well. I shall ever remember it. Mine is Azurma. I am a member of the royal family.”
The girl kissed his hand fervently and then left the spot, while Leo groped his way to the side of his companions, to whom he related what had occurred.
Prof. Easy then informed Philander Owens as to who he and his companions were, and why they had chosen to brave the dangers of the great swamp, after which all hands lapsed into silence.
Finally Dick broke it by exclaiming:
“I don’t see any use of our remaining in this dark place until that girl comes back. I, for one, am going back into the place called the magic chamber and light a torch and see what it is like in there.”
“Hold on!” exclaimed the professor. “Haven’t you already seen that it does not pay to be rash? Just have a little patience and sit down and wait.”
“I am sorry, but I can’t comply with your request,” returned the adventurous boy. “I am deeply interested in the cave where the dance of death took place. Come on; who is going with me?”
“Gosh hang it!” exclaimed Haypole; “I’ll go.”
“Better wait, Dick,” said Leo, who was anxious to be there when Azurma came back.
“Oh, that’s all right, old fellow. We won’t run into any danger. We’ll see you later.”
With these words, Dick and the Yankee felt their way along until they came to the passage leading from the vault.
Having once found it, they boldly entered and walked softly along.
They kept on for fully five minutes, and then it occurred to Dick that they ought to have entered the magic chamber by this time.
He produced a match from his pocket and struck it.
To his astonishment he found himself in a small, open square, with four passages branching off in different directions.
By the flickering light of the match in his companion’s hand the Yankee saw a torch lying upon the floor.
Stooping down, he picked it up and lighted it.
“Now, I guess we will be able ter find ther way,” said he.
“I guess so. Ah! what have we here?” exclaimed Dick, pointing to a smooth rock, upon which were several inscriptions.
Haypole held the torch nearer, and they saw a long column of names engraved upon the rock.
But they were Spanish, and they failed to make them out.
Beneath them was a hand with the index finger pointing to a passage at their right.
“This must be the way out, Martin,” said Dick. “Come on; we will follow this passage.”
“Good enough!” returned the Yankee, and they at once set out.
But they soon found that the passage went downward instead of on a level, as the one they had before traversed.
However, they did not turn back; the hand upon the rock pointed that way, and both were anxious to see what it meant.
Down they went for fully fifteen minutes, and then they observed a bright light ahead of them.
But it was not the light of day that they saw; it was a sort of pale, greenish tint.
In a few minutes they emerged into a vast chamber of a conical shape, which seemed to be lighted by electricity, though where the seat of the light was located they could not tell.
In the center of the conical-shaped cavern was a pool of crystal water, from which a sparkling fountain shot upward, sending a myriad of glistening drops scatteringly through space.
In the curious light that prevailed the fountain resembled a monster Roman candle, and the two who gazed upon the scene for the first time were entranced at the wonderful spectacle.
The pool of water rested in a natural basin of rock, and a slanting floor of white stone stretched out from its edges.
After gazing at the fountain for a while, Dick led the way to the edge of the pool.
Here, for the first time, he noticed a tablet of stone which leaned against a bowlder.
The boy gave a start and pointed to it, at the same time calling his companion’s attention.
Upon the tablet was engraved a hand, like the one they had seen at the point where the four passages met, and the index finger pointed directly into the pool of sparkling water.
Beneath the hand was the rough delineation of a rose in full bloom, and under all were the words:
“Esto Perpetua.”
Dick’s small acquaintance with Latin told him that esto perpetua meant: “Let it be perpetual,” and he wondered what it could all mean.
While he was studying over the subject, a slight noise was heard in the direction they came from.
Instinctively he clutched the Yankee by the sleeve, and both dropped to the ground behind the bowlder against which the tablet rested.
CHAPTER VII.
THE LEGEND OF HEZ
Dick and the Yankee had no sooner sought seclusion behind the bowlder than a man of ragged and unkempt appearance came from the mouth of the passage with a dog at his side.
Both gave a violent start of surprise.
It was the man and dog who had entered the base of the obelisk before them.
The stranger still carried a rifle, and as Haypole saw this he clutched his companion by the shoulder and exclaimed, in a low tone:
“Ther infernal skunk has got my rifle! It sartainly is he who stole it that night in th’ swamp.”
“Never mind,” whispered Dick. “Let’s watch him and see what he is up to.”
The man, who has been spoken of as Reginald Lacy, paused near the edge of the pool and looked at his surroundings with an air of extreme surprise.
He patted the dog upon the head in an affectionate way and said:
“Well, Jupiter, we have struck a wonderful country. But we are not safe, old fellow – not by any means. Owens is still upon our track, and he evidently means business. But he shall never kill me, Jupiter; I may deserve it, but I will never die at his hands.”
The dog wagged his tail and crouched at his master’s feet, who, surveying the clear water before him, went on:
“That water looks cool and tempting; I believe I will take a bath.”
With that Reginald Lacy began removing his tattered garments, preparatory to taking a plunge in the crystal pool.
In a very short time he was ready, and, walking down to the edge of the pool, he placed his hand in the water to test its temperature.
It must have been perfectly satisfactory, for without further hesitation he plunged in.
The dog gazed at his master for a moment and then followed suit.
The effect upon the man and dog seemed to be startling.
They sported about in the crystal water, apparently imbued with new life and strength.
“This is glorious!” Dick and the Yankee heard the man say, as he stood neck deep in the water under the spray of the fountain.
The dog answered with yelps of delight as he swam swiftly about and sported to his heart’s content.
“By Jove!” whispered Dick, to his companion, “the water does look inviting; it wouldn’t be a bad idea for us to take a swim.”
“I guess I don’t want any of it,” returned the Yankee. “That dod-rotted water don’t look nat’ral to my eyes. Look at that feller; he seems ter be gittin’ crazy – gosh! if he don’t!”
Reginald Lacy was acting rather queer for a man! He was cutting up all sorts of boyish antics and laughing like mad.
Presently he waded ashore, and, after washing the rags he had worn, put them on wet, as they were, and entered the passage again, calling the dog after him.
As soon as they had disappeared from view, Dick and Haypole came from behind the bowlder.
“Let’s follow him, Martin,” said Dick; “maybe he knows the way out of this place.”
“All right,” returned the Yankee. “It are about time we went back to ther place whar we left the professor an’ ther rest, anyhow.”
Picking up the torch, which they had thrown upon the ground when they first entered the wonderful cavern, Dick lighted it, and they started up the passage after Reginald Lacy and his dog.
But they could neither see nor hear any signs of them as they trudged along, and at length, when they reached the spot where the four passages met, they were forced to acknowledge that he had eluded them in some unexplained manner.
“Well, what in thunder will we do now?” asked the Yankee, as he took a seat upon the ground.
“Do?” replied the boy. “Why, go on through one of the passages until we find our companions. Let’s make a bee line through the one to our left.”
“All right; I’m with you.”
With Dick in the lead, they started swiftly along the passage.
Presently they heard the sounds of approaching footsteps.
“Somebody coming ter look fer us, I’ll bet a dollar,” remarked Haypole.
“I shouldn’t wonder. What shall we do – go on and meet whoever it is, or wait till they come up?”
“Let’s wait.”
“All right,” and leaning against the rocky wall, Dick listened to the sounds which were coming nearer every second.
They soon perceived a light, and the next minute saw a number of the men of Hez approaching, carrying torches.
That our two friends were perceived at the same time was plainly evident, for the strangely attired men uttered exclamations of pleasure, and motioned the pair not to be afraid.
At the same time one of their number called out, in good English:
“Fear not, my friends. No harm shall befall you. We have come in search of you, at the queen’s order. Your friends and companions are safe and sound, and await you.”
“Who in thunder are you?” asked Haypole, stepping forward.
“I am an American, like yourself. But, come! There is no time for parleying now. Follow us, and you will be safe.”
“Lead on!” exclaimed Dick Vincey. “I am glad the queen wants us; I can have another look at her handsome face.”
Away went the men with Dick and Haypole in their midst, through various passages and caves, until finally they came in sight of the village of stone buildings.
It did not take the two returned wanderers long to observe Leo and the professor standing in front of one of the houses, and they were now satisfied that no harm would befall them.
Leo and Prof. Easy rushed forward to meet them, and while they were talking together the man in charge of the searching party went to report to Queen Olive.
“Where have you fellows been?” asked Leo, shaking his cousin’s hand.
“To the queerest and most beautiful spot mortal eyes ever rested upon,” replied Dick.
And then he proceeded to relate where he and the Yankee had been, and what they had seen.
“Wonderful!” exclaimed the professor; and then turning to the man who spoke English in the crowd of Hezzians who had brought the two lost ones back, he said:
“Do you know anything of this pool and fountain, my man?”
“I do,” was the reply; “it is the identical fountain Ponce de Leon was in search of so many years ago. If you want to learn all about it, converse with Roderique de Amilo, the one who discovered it. There he is over there in front of his dwelling.”
“Is that Roderique de Amilo?” asked Leo. “Why, he is crazy, is he not?”
“No; anything but crazy, as you will find when you become better acquainted with him. He is the discoverer of the magic fountain and the founder of this race.
“Yes,” went on the man, seating himself upon a rock; “I may as well tell you all about it now as any other time, since you are all to be citizens of Hez in the future. It is a queer story, and I have not said that I believe it.
“To begin, my name is Andrew Jones; I am from Kentucky, and have no relatives living save my wife, who is a native of this place. I came here a little over a year ago, and expect to stay here as long as I live.
“Roderique de Amilo is the founder of this race, though he seldom admits it. He discovered this underground country in the year 1509, by being washed over the falls into the river you passed on entering here.
“While here he discovered the fountain you speak of, and feeling satisfied that it was the one he was in search of, he bathed in it, the result being that he attained perpetual youth.
“Then it dawned upon him that he should have a helpmate; so one day he went to the edge of the pool and prayed for a wife, and lo! before his prayer was finished there arose from the crystal water the most beautiful woman man had ever seen!
“Well, to make a long story short, De Amilo took her for his wife, and from them came these people, who number about three hundred, outside of those who came here after.
“You have the legend just as everybody who comes here gets it. You may draw your own conclusions from it, as I have done.”
“Well, I don’t believe it,” said Haypole, bluntly.
Andrew Jones laughed.
“Few do,” said he; “and none seem to care much.”
“But how about the beautiful woman who came from the pool in such a mysterious manner?” said Dick. “Surely that was not Queen Olive?”
“Oh, no!” replied Jones; “I forgot to tell you about her. She visited the pool one day after she had lived here in the neighborhood of a hundred years, and concluded to bathe in its clear waters. The moment she entered it she disappeared, and has never been heard of since.”
“That yarn would make a first-class fairy story for little children,” said Leo, laughing. “But, anyhow, I shan’t dispute it. Ah! here comes the queen’s messenger after Dick and Martin, I suppose. Go on, fellows, and take the iron-clad oath of allegiance to Hez.”
Sure enough, Dick and the Yankee were led to the queen’s house, and while they were gone Leo and the rest busied themselves in cleaning their weapons, which Roderique de Amilo had so kindly returned to them.
CHAPTER VIII.
DICK VINCEY AND THE QUEEN
Queen Olive stood in the doorway of the handsomely furnished stone building, called the palace, when Dick and the Yankee were brought up.
With a wave of her hand she ordered the Hezzians to retire, and then motioned the two to follow her inside.
Dick noticed that the beautiful queen eyed him with a more than ordinary look, and he was not a little puzzled over it.
But he was destined to know what it meant ere long. Martin Haypole had mentioned in a joke that the queen of Hez had fallen in love with the good-looking Dick Vincey, and this was indeed the case.
The graceful creature led them to the table on which rested the strip of parchment containing the signatures of those who had signed the agreement to stay in the land of Hez forever.
Dick glanced over these, and saw the names of Leo and the rest of his companions, and, consequently, he had little hesitation in taking the oath.
“Now, then,” observed Queen Olive, “you may retire to the company of your friends; I would speak a few words in private to this young man.”
The Yankee at once took his departure, and the fair ruler of Hez led Dick into a handsomely furnished apartment.
She motioned him to a seat on a divan of dyed skins, and then blew a tiny whistle attached to one of her bracelets.
Almost immediately a servant appeared and bowed to the floor.
The queen addressed her in Spanish for a moment, and she retired, only to return five minutes later with a stone tray containing a choice repast, the sight of which made Dick’s mouth water.
“You are hungry, I know – appease your appetite.”
He did not wait for a second invitation, but at once proceeded to eat, all the while wondering why it was that he was treated in such a royal manner.
When he had satisfied his appetite the queen again blew her whistle, and the servant returned, bringing in a decanter and a couple of drinking vessels.
She then took the tray and retired.
“Now, then,” said her majesty, as she poured some amber-colored liquid from the decanter, “to begin with, I want you to tell me your name.”
This Dick promptly did, and then, following the example of his fair hostess, placed the beverage she had poured from the decanter to his lips.
It had such a peculiar, exhilarating taste that he drained the cup at a single gulp.
Of all the wines he had ever drunk, that certainly was the best.
That it was intoxicating, he knew, for the moment he had swallowed it a sort of dreamy feeling of the deepest content came over him, and he settled back upon the divan and gazed into the face of the lovely creature before him with a listless smile upon his countenance.
“Do you think you will ever want to leave this land?” asked Queen Olive, as she took a seat before him.
“No,” returned Dick; “never – as long as you remain here.”
Instead of becoming offended at this speech, a look of pleasure came over her face.
“Why? Am I more beautiful than the ladies of your own country?” she asked.
“Yes – a thousand times yes!”
“Do you like me?”
This question staggered the boy, and he involuntarily half arose to his feet.
Did he like her! What a question for such a beautiful creature to ask him! And she a queen, too!
“Why, what do you mean?” he stammered, in reply.
“I mean just this: I have selected you as the man to be my future husband. It was decreed long ago that no queen who ruled the land of Hez should ever marry, unless her husband be a man who was not a native of the place. Thus far such has happened regularly, there always being a stranger to arrive here at about the right time. But this time more than one came, and out of the number I have chosen you.”
“But,” interposed Dick, who had settled back upon the divan again, and returned to his half-listless condition, “why should you choose me – a complete stranger, and entirely unknown to you?”
“Because I love you!”
“Well, you see, oh, queen, while you have long considered the question of marriage, I have never given the subject a thought until now. You must give me time to study over the question.”
“You may have as much time as you desire,” she said; “that is, if you answer one question to my satisfaction.”
“What is that question, oh, queen?”
“Don’t address me by that title – call me Olive,” she exclaimed, rising and laying her hand upon his shoulder. “The question I would ask is, Do you love me?”
For the space of a minute a deep silence reigned, and then Dick Vincey spoke:
“I do, Olive.”
He stretched forth his arms as if to fold her to his bosom, but she waved him back with a pleased laugh.
“I am glad,” was all she said. And then she motioned him to retire to the companionship of his friends.
Much mystified, Dick obeyed.
He was half angry at being turned aside just as he had made his declaration of love; but then he did not know that the queen was but putting him to the test to see if he was sincere.
“What’s the matter, old fellow?” asked Leo, as Dick approached the house that had been given to the swamp explorers. “You look as though you were worried over something.”
“Oh, I am all right,” was the reply; and then he took the weapons belonging to him, strapping the belt about his waist and thrusting the pair of revolvers and hunting knife into it.
“How did you make out with ther gal – queen?” said Haypole, who stood in the doorway perfectly contented, now that he had had a good meal, and was in the company of Prof. Easy and the rest.
“That reminds me,” exclaimed Dick, suddenly. “I left something in the palace; I’ll go and get it, I guess.”
Then, before he could be questioned any further, he started back to the house of Queen Olive.
Arriving there, he did not hesitate, but boldly walked in.
The handsome queen was waiting for him, it seemed, for she met him in the hallway, and conducted him again to the room he had before been led into.
“I knew you would come back,” said she, quietly.
“Why?” he asked, in a petulant manner.
“Because you really love me.”
“I told you I did before you dismissed me a few moments ago.”
“Ah! but this proves it. And now, let me say, I shall consider myself engaged to you. But our marriage cannot take place under two years from the time of our first meeting – that is one of the laws of this country.”
“Laws be blowed!” exclaimed Dick. “If I was willing to marry you now I might change my mind before that time.”
“But you will not, though. Two years hence we will be man and wife, and you will be the happiest man in the Land of Hez, and I will be the happiest woman!”
Then there was a pause, after which Olive, as she desired Dick to call her, poured out some more of the wine and handed it to her lover.
As soon as the boy had drunk it, the same feeling of content, as on former occasions, came over him, and he grew talkative.
“Tell me about this wonderful country, Olive,” said he, taking her by the hand.
“That I will gladly do, Dick,” replied she, with equal familiarity, and she proceeded to relate the same legend as told by Andrew Jones a short time before.
“Do you believe that story, Olive?” he asked.
“I hardly know whether I do or not. It seems so strange and unnatural. Yet Roderique de Amilo was as he is now as long ago as the oldest of our people can remember.”
“How is it that he does not rule the Land of Hez himself?”
“Because, the legend states, that he agreed with his beautiful wife that it should forever be ruled by woman. It was for that reason that she plunged into the pool, thinking it would prove a perpetual life to her.”
“Has anybody else ever bathed in the pool?”
“Oh, yes; a dozen or more. But not until a few years ago; none of our people would ever believe the story before.”
“Then some do believe it now?”
“Yes, a few, and there must be something wonderful about the crystal waters of the fountain, for those who have bathed in it have never visibly grown older.”
“I think I shall have to take a bath in it some day myself,” said Dick, with a smile.
“And I, too,” replied Olive, thinking he meant it. “It would be so nice, when we are married, to go on living and never grow old, with no fear of dying, unless through some accident. Could anyone ask for anything more than that?”
Dick was about to make a reply, when the report of a rifle rang out close by.
Hastily excusing himself, he dashed from the room outside.
He beheld the man known as Reginald Lacy fleeing across the level country beneath the opening in the roof, and after him, in hot pursuit, was Philander Owens, a still smoking rifle in his hands.
