Lillian Frances Mentor

“ Graham, Mr. Bruce and Harry, each in front of his battalion, mounted on elephants, with Onrai riding next to Mr. Bruce in the centre, they marched slowly toward the negroes. Every man had his cross-bow in position and arrows ready for use. The formidable hatchet and daggers were in the belts handy, and where they could be gotten at the most easily. The negroes’ faces had lost the grin, and the yells had ceased for the moment as they saw the array of giants advancing. They had never before, in all their many wars, stood before such a formidable body of men, and their courage was failing them. ”

“ They are here to destroy our land, to devastate our fields of grain and fruit, to steal and kill our animals, to destroy our beautiful city and the many villas throughout our land. They know no law, they have no religion, they care nothing for the lives of others. They will kill us or drive us from our own land, into a distant world where we will starve and die. Will you not fight for country, home, loved ones and for the right? These demons have come through the crevice which we were this day to commence closing, and they must be driven back. ”

“ Onrai turned away and paced the long hall like a caged lion, his hands crossed behind his back, and his body slightly bent forward, as if ready to spring through the open entrance and run, as soon as the elements would permit. Harry, who was also crazed with pain because of the fate of Enola, was also on the alert to give Onrai a race in his rush to rescue his friend.
The storm grew fiercer each moment and the noise more fearful. Mr. Graham stepped up to Mr. Bruce and with a white face, said, “No human being could possibly live in that storm; it is fearful.” ”

“ Onrai came on to the terrace with his friends and told the sad story of the battle and the eruption. The Onians stood drinking in every word, their eyes changing from curiosity to pain, and then to horror, their faces depicting the same emotions. Onrai related all of the fearful tale, of how the men had stood up before the negroes even when they were being mowed down like wheat before the scythe, and then of how the elephants had rushed on to them, thus turning the tide of battle, and then of the mad rush for the crevice, and the awful eruption which had killed and burned the survivors. ”

“ The thick cloud of dust and ashes came forth in a mighty avalanche, burying the land and filling the air with its death-dealing particles; making such a darkness as could be felt; a close, suffocating darkness more like the blackness of an unventilated dungeon than the open darkness of night; a darkness which was penetrated only by the mighty light of the 324belching volcano, the light varying with every phase of the eruption; now a lurid glare which gave the dust-covered earth the appearance of a blood-stained floor ”

“ And the fearful rumbling continued and far down in the bowels of the earth, could be heard that great lake or river of molten rock and ore, rushing to the outlet which would free it; and the earth would tremble with the fearful fight of the mass as it surged and burned and crushed its way through its underground channels. Then again could be heard the hissing and blowing off of the steam as it escaped from the crevice in the crater. ”

“ To guard against intemperate habits of any kind, by which so many diseases and so much unhappiness are brought into the world, I have established a law that all dying because of intemperance or over-indulgence in any of the necessary things of life will enter into everlasting punishment. I have made the delights of our future life so bright that my people will guard against everything which might bring on disease and premature death. Already the effects of these laws have been seen, for disease is passing away and my people are striving in every way to live until their day of death. ”

“ From that world of yours, far above, in one of those shining stars which twinkles and throws its soft light on us on the clear beautiful nights, we believe that your people have for ages looked down on us, and have learned our life, our customs and our secrets. This we have learned to believe since you have come among us, for before that time we knew nothing of another people. And you come to us with the chain of the high priest about your neck, and this is proof that you know the great secrets of the high priests and those of the Day of Resis. ”

“ They had been here only a short time when they heard a rustle in the bushes, and turning they saw, standing not ten yards away, with his yellow eyes glowing through the semi-darkness, and his long tail swaying from side to side, an immense lion. Harry had not brought his rifle, and they were at the mercy of the beast. The lion seemed to realize this, for he quietly settled down on his haunches and watched them intently.
“Listen,” said Harry, and his lips hardly moved, “he will make a leap for us, and when he does, stoop low and run toward him. ”

“ Bruce, “he has no intention of letting Enola leave the country.”
“He is a strange man, this Onrai,” said Mr. Graham, “and, in fact, the people are a queer anomaly and hard to make out. They have no secrets, seemingly, their lives are like open books, and they have no reason for being otherwise; but they can be as mum as oysters, as they say in America, when they wish to keep anything from you, and as evasive as a man paying taxes, when they take such a notion. For a race who has never had occasion to use any deception, they are certainly without a peer.” ”

“ But the darkness was intense now, for night had closed in, and if possible, had added to the Egyptian blackness. The riders could only see each other at very infrequent intervals when the volcano’s light would, for a moment, melt the gloom and give the almost exhausted women a moment’s respite.
They were moving very slowly, the ashes getting so thick over the avenue pavements, that the zebras found it almost impossible to further beat their way through it. But one of the infrequent light spells now allowed them to look about again, and Enola saw that they had left the avenue. ”

“ But it was growing worse each moment, and hope was nearly dead. They were staggering along in the darkness, the zebras every now and then stumbling up against a tree, and nearly rubbing their riders from their backs. They felt satisfied that they had lost their way, and if this was so, and they could not again reach the avenue, then, indeed, might all hope be abandoned. Black as Erebus, the air was not only laden with the death-dealing ashes, but was so hot and humid, that no living thing could withstand it for any length of time. ”

“ You believe that yours is the only race on this earth and that all things are known to you, so you have never thought it necessary to look beyond the things that be.”
“There is much for us to learn here,” said Onrai, a puzzled look coming into his face.
“No,” answered Mr. Bruce, “you know enough to make your lives contented and happy and anything beyond that would be folly. But that certain things exist that you do not know of, there is no doubt; these, however, are not necessary to your happiness or well-being, and for this reason have been kept from you. ”

“ The sound grew nearer, and then the earth began to shake so violently the zebras tottered and almost fell. And then another awful shock came, and the zebras became frightened, and, taking the soft bit between their teeth, they tore down the avenue. Then the awful explosion came like the report of a thousand cannons, and the riders saw the awful spout of dust, ashes, steam, smoke, pouring from the volcano, and almost immediately afterward they were engulfed in that fearful black atmosphere which choked and blinded them. ”

“ They had fallen on to the flanks of the negroes, and such was their fearful onslaught, and so fast were these hacked and mutilated bodies piled up, that it looked as if the awful carnage would not cease, until every black carcass was heaped up in one fearful mass of reeking and quivering flesh.
But a low, rumbling sound is heard, which grows louder and louder, and comes nearer and nearer. It is another earthquake. The Onians stop for a moment in their awful massacre, and in this one moment the remainder of the black horde turn and make for the crevice. ”

“ Strange stories come to us of people never seen by white men, of customs foreign to all history, of abandoned cities, of desolated countries. Africa is synonymous with mystery and darkness, and nothing seems strange to me which is connected with it.”
“Such words should be convincing,” said Harry, “but my education in life has been too practical to realize that there is so much mystery left in the world in this, the nineteenth century.”
“It will all be real enough before we get back to civilization, I have an idea,” said Enola. ”

“ Bruce to his elephant, as the rumbling ceased and the earth again became steady. “Once more, now,” he halloed out as he reached forward and struck the poor beast across the ear with his hook. But the elephant, after making several ineffectual struggles, gave a plaintive cry and let its head drop into the relentless ashes. As in a quicksand, the five men stood perfectly helpless, and their lives fast going out. The elephants had, one by one, given up the struggle, and were now panting and gasping and waiting for the end. ”

“ Have you lost confidence in the ability of the King, to take care of and make enjoyable the life of our guests?”
“No, it is not that, oh King,” said the man. “We do not fear for the well-being of the strangers nor do we doubt your power to make all things pleasing for them. Our mission is of a different character; we wish to complain of them.”
“To complain of them,” said Onrai. “What do you mean, man? Have my people then so far forgotten their respect to the King’s wishes as to complain to him of his guests or the guests of the Land of On? ”

“ A glance down the dark aperture would have been enough for most men, but for those here assembled, the blackness but whetted their curiosity and desire to investigate. A lighted torch was thrown down, but the fearful wind which rushed down the hole extinguished this before it had fallen far.
“Let us all go down in a bunch and with our combined efforts we may be able to keep our feet,” Harry said.
And so it was decided; Mr. Bruce, Mr. Graham and Harry and Onrai were to go down, well tied together, only allowing enough freedom for the limbs to move easily. ”

“ The horrible dread was taking possession of them again, and Onrai and his companions saw this.
“Men of On,” said Onrai, in despair, “these devils will not only kill you and your companions, but they will kill your wives, sisters and brothers; they will throw down your houses, they will destroy the land. Brave men of On, who turn not from the lion, tiger or elephant, do not let these black beasts show themselves the greater. Turn on them, cut them, chop them, beat them, hammer their foul bodies into the earth, slash them until not a piece large enough is left to feed a jackal. ”

“ To-morrow we must start for the city in order to be there for the Day of Resis. It will be a sad return;” and again the King fell into that melancholy condition out of which Enola had tried so hard to draw him.
“True, Onrai,” said Enola, “but the only sadness which has ever darkened your life. It will cast a gloom over your life for awhile, but as time goes by and you see those about you again happy, and your life falls into the old routine, then will you also grow contented and happy once more. In our world we have so much sadness that we at last become accustomed to it, and expect it. ”

“ A great shower of ashes came rolling down on them, giving them all a grayish coat.
“If it is like this all the way it will be far from pleasant,” said Enola.
“Yes,” said Mr. Bruce, “but think of the field of diamonds at the end of our journey; we could undergo much worse trials at home than this, to get to a field of diamonds, and think nothing of it.”
They were stumbling along now, almost blinded by the dust, and the zebras were getting fractious. At times they would stop, refusing to go further, and it would take all the persuasion the men could muster, to get them started again. ”

“ The zebras were already grazing, or half buried in the long grass, were rolling and kicking, happy to be free from bridle and saddle.
Onrai alone, of all the party, after going onto the terrace, seemed to be worried over the storm. He had gone to one end of the terrace, and now stood looking intently at the black mass of clouds which were rolling on, coming nearer and nearer, and reaching out huge, dark arms toward the earth. He was muttering in the strange tongue of his people:
“An omen. Is our great God angry? Have my people failed in their duties? Have we neglected our work? ”

“ Bruce, “not because I feel myself superior to yourself or Harry, but because some one must act at once. We will divide our men into three battalions and march in line of battle. Harry, you will take the right. Mr. Graham, you will take the left and I will take the centre. If the negroes, as I expect them to do, charge straight for the centre, you will each close in on their flanks; but if you see the centre giving way, rush for that point at once for we must hold the position. Now we will divide our men.” ”

“ She now noticed the bandages about his head and said.
“Oh, my poor Gip, and you were wounded? Ah, yes, I remember now, that great, cruel log struck you,” and as she said this she almost fell backwards in her weakness, but Mr. Graham caught her and attempted to bear her to the couch, but she clutched Gip’s trunk and cried so pitifully not to be taken from him, that Mr. Bruce stepped forward and said:
“It will not hurt her and it may do her an inestimable amount of good. Listen, she already remembers a few of the instances of the storm and mad ride.” ”

“ Do you think them human?”
“Human, yes,” said Mr. Bruce, “but of a very low order of humanity. The race has so long inhabited these underground dwellings that they have become wild and barbarous.”
“They must be,” said Onrai, “for they are so unlike your race. But do you suppose that they have always lived here or have they come from another world like yourselves? I cannot believe that they have been here, right under our fair Land of On, for long, for if they had we would have known it.”
“But how would you have known it, Onrai?” asked Mr. Graham. ”

“ Hush, Enola, you must not ask me. The secret of the day is never divulged, or even spoken of among those who know its secrets. But once seen, the secret is then yours, and you will then know the meaning of the Day of Resis. It is a glorious day, a day of great rejoicing and happiness. Not one on that great day but feels a wonderful happiness, even those who are not direct participants in its great ceremonies. It falls to the lot of all, though, to be principal participants in the proceedings of the day, one day of his life, and this is the greatest day of all his or her days. ”

“ Let us be watchful of coming harm, but let us not live in dread, for such will destroy happiness. The storm has left a vast track of ruin behind it, but ruin easily righted. We must, for the time, give up all other occupations and repair the damage done by the storm. Only let the food be furnished and the city kept clean. All traces of the devastation will soon be gone and we will forget, or it will only be a memory to us after a short time. Our guests from the far-away planet escaped injury, all but one and that one was the fair and sweet Enola, who is so much loved by you all. ”

“ It took a long time to reach the villa stables, where a soft bed had been made for him with a sling rigged above, so that he could be raised or lowered as the attendants saw fit.
“I declare,” said Mr. Bruce, “it does me good to see the brave animal housed. If it were not for him we would not now have even a small hope of Enola again being with us, alive and well.”
“It is a small hope, indeed,” said Mr. Graham. “But it is a hope, and even that is better than knowing that the bruised and mangled body lay buried under a pile of debris. ”

“ The field of brilliants extends far to the north, if I remember rightly, and we may reach a point beyond this circle of ashes; but you are too tired to go over there to-night, are you not, Enola?”
“How far is it?” asked Enola. “I am tired, but if there be a chance of seeing this beautiful sight, then we had better accept it, for a delay may mean to lose this pleasure, for the possibilities of that volcano are beyond reckoning.”
“It is about three miles due north of here, as you would say,” said Onrai, “and if you wish to go we will find elephants plenty to carry all of us.” ”

“ The fires, too, seemed to be very active, for the glare would be very bright at times and illuminate the entire heavens, and then dying until scarcely a ray of light could be seen. And several times during the evening a low rumbling was heard, and the earth trembled slightly; then the volcano would throw forth an immense shower of hot ashes, rocks and stones and make the hissing noise, reaching over this great distance to the party at the villa, who were on the terrace watching the scene which was ever changing and ever interesting. ”