Chapter XVIII:
Oliver's Imprisonment and Escape
WITH renewed hope they arose from their prostrate positions and walking to the bank, watched the canoes land. The men were chalked and tattooed, making a frightful appearance, with their masks and grass robes. They were the "Neegees," men who bury the witches. They were more surprised than Oliver, and it was only after much persuasion and the sight of Alpha's shirt that they consented to take back Oliver and Twe.
They were conveyed to the shore for which they had first headed. Their reception was by no means a welcome one. They were not allowed to enter the town, but were held outside as prisoners, while the king sat in council upon their case. They were condemned as witches, and ordered to a deep pit, where they were to await the morning and be burned alive. They were placed in the pit with their hands tied behind them.
"Two, can you manage to get my life out?" Oliver inquired. Twe managed to reach Oliver's side, and turning his back to the latter tried to extricate the knife in vain.
"Master, dis be Tobey. I lif for let down knife for you," Oliver heard a whisper from above, and soon caught a glimpse of the bright steel as it descended into the pit. After cutting loose the bindings from himself and Twe, he called up to Tobey and informed him.
"Me sendee rope, you climb one one, no fear, me holdee strong."
Oliver caught the rope and ascended, after which Twe followed. Tobey led them quietly to the river bank, where they found a canoe which he had already prepared for their flight.
They had not gone very far before the alarm was given and warriors with their bows and arrows launched half a dozen canoes in pursuit. The three fugitives made their paddles fly, and their small craft fairly glided over the water, but the warriors coming within a close range showered poisonous arrows after them, but by some miracle, the arrows passed over their heads and missed them.
The chase continued under a shower of arrows, flying wide of the mark. The pursuers had gained rapidly, and were just about to close in upon them, when Tobey steered the canoe into the rapids which led to a steep waterfall.
With victorious shouts, the party gave up the chase, and returned rejoicing over the certain death of their escaped victims.
Tobey understood the channel of the rapids well, and had more than once used it upon his flight from pursuers. He soon turned into a well known current, and emerged from their dangerous situation.
Several years had passed in an unsuccessful search for tidings of his wife and daughter. Oliver, Tobey and Twe were walking on the bank of a narrow stream, which rushed over large stones in a swift current to a deep, perpendicular waterfall.
"Lookee, fool man come in canoe?" Tobey called out as he pointed up the stream. Oliver looked back and saw a white turbaned and robed figure holding on to the sides of a canie as it was tossed helter skelter among the rocks.
"Say, Tobey, won't you swing from the limb of that tree and hold on to my feet, and I will try to rescue the poor fellow, when he reaches the open current," Oliver said as he indicated the thick limb of a large tree stretching across the stream about fifteen feet from the waterfall.
"Uhm! me no fitee," Tobey grunted, "all two we fall in water."
"Oh, master, don't worry, dat be ole Alpha. I so glad he go die soon," Twe announced.
"Shut up, Twe! don't forget that Alpha saved my life once and I owe him his pearls also," Oliver said in an irritated tone.
Just then some fishermen came along, bearing a heavy seine of stout raffia and grass ropes.
Oliver ran to meet them and before they understood what he was about, he had them following him up the tree bearing the seine. He called out to Tobey to assist and they just had time to drop the seine and hold on to one end as it swung across the stream, when Alpha's canoe entered the swift current and was soon within reach.
Alpha lost no time, but caught hold of the ropes, reaching the tree limb in safety. He joined the trio upon their journey, as if they had parted in the most friendly manner. But both Twe and Tobey detected him scowling at Oliver whenever he thought himself unobserved.
During the night as they camped in the woods, Tobey surprised Alpha as he crept toward Oliver with a sharp dagger in his hand. Alpha leaped into the woods and fled when Tobey rushed toward him.
"Ain't so I tell master let that bad man drown. We no see much trouble since we got loose from him," Twe remarked to Tobey after Alpha's flight.
One evening at early dusk, the three wanderers reached a native village, and found most of the villagers marching toward a high hill, in the side of which was an excavation about four feet in diameter, through which flames of fire were seen coming from the interior, situated about two hundred feet from the village. Oliver thought at first that it was a volcano, but noticed that no smoke or lava ascended from the top.
He watched the procession as it halted within one hundred feet of the hill, and deposited large bowls upon the ground.
They then kneeled down in rows, bending upon each elbow alternately, as they repeated strange sounds. Oliver learned afterward that this was the abode of the spirits of their dead ancestors, and that the bowls contained food for the spirits, and that every evening the empty bowls were found, after having been left the previous morning.
Oliver presented the king one of his last four leopard claws, and won great favor although he could gather no information concerning his guest.
Alpha had shadowed the party, and remained hidden until he saw Tobey accompany a fishing party one morning. He appeared before the king, and said, "Oh king, the spirit of the great Sargee came to me three times in one night and urged me to warn you against the man with the white skin. That he must be burned before the abode of your departed ancestors this evening before the sun goes down. If you fail to heed my words, a curse will be upon this town and you and all the people will be destroyed by war and famine."
The King was very sad at the tidings, but gave the order for Oliver's destruction.
Alpha immediately had Oliver secured and guarded as he supervised the erection of the altar upon which to burn his victim.
Twe ran to summon Tobey as soon as he heard the news.
Oliver was wrapped in cords and laid face upwards upon the brush piled upon the stone altar.
The King and crowd of villagers had assembled to witness the ceremony. Alpha approached with glittering eyes as he lighted the torch with which he was to light the kindling.
"Where be you hidee pearls?" he hissed as he approached.
Oliver turned to his old ventriloquist trick and barked loudly. Alpha looked around in fright, when Oliver emitted loud hissing growls.
The whole party disappeared in terror. Alpha dropped the torch near the altar as he sought safety.
Twe and Tobey rushed from the woods just in time to rescue Oliver from the flames, which caught the altar's brushwood.
They ran to the other side of the hill and discovered a hole in the ground partly covered with bushes.
In their desperate plight they did not hesitate to descend. Oliver discovered a dark tunnel which they penetrated. They found themselves suddenly entering a large cave, in which were busy workmen mining, and skilled gold smelters who kept a blazing fire burning night and day.
As soon as the bewildered party entered, Oliver was given another surprise when the familiar voice of Fahn, in his same hair cut, greeted him in sincere joy.
Oliver was given a royal welcome in the home of the mysterious spirits, who planned to demand more food from the worshipping villagers.