THE GIPSIES OP THE SEA; OR, THE ISLAND OF GOLD.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 172, 24 December 1874, Page 3

THE GIPSIES OP THE SEA; OR, THE ISLAND OF GOLD.

Tale of the New Guinea Expedition, BY MARCUS CLARKE. Chapter I. the gentlemen adventurers. It was a dead calm, and the schooner swung with flapping sails in the dangerous waters of the Papuan Sea. There were some dozen of us smoking on the deck, and as wc glanced at the low purple line, which, breaking the haze, gave promise of the land we had come so far to seek, a silence born of doubt and the hour fell upon ns. Not that wc were afraid. The perils of the desperate venture had been well weighed in many a smoke-parliament beneath the friendly roofs of Melbourne and Sydney hostelrics; but now, brought face to face with the mystery of the unknown island, whose golden treasures we had vowed to seize, we, for the first time during the past three months, began seriously to reflect. ‘ The only place left to be explored is New Guinea,’ said one day the ever-volatile Voullairo, sipping absinthe in King’s Melbourne Cafe. ‘ Let us go and explore it. ’ Allan Forbes laughed his own dangerous laugh, and followed it with his usual sneer. ‘ That is work for men, not dreamers,’ he said. ‘ Who would go up to Ramoth-Gilead to battle, nowadays! ’

‘ I, for one, trcs ckcr ,’ replied Guy Lusignan, stretching his big arms out wearily. ‘ I am tired of gambling in Mathias’, and drinking second-rate Moot at Kate’s. Moreover, my money is running out.’ ‘ Mine has run out long since,’ said Rowley. ‘ King, a cigar! ’ ‘ Come, lads, hearts-o’-gold ! ’ exclaimed Youllaire. ‘ Let us brave the risk ! The place is a paradise. Littlejohn, who was killed at the Wahnono, told me that the women wore bangles round their wrists as thick as boot-soles.’

The eyes of Jack Pctherick, part owner of the Blackbird, sparkled. ‘ Who told you that, Youllaire ?’ ‘ Littlejohn.’ ‘ Bah ! I’ve been there. ’

Wc all turned towards him. A new member of our society—a society drawn together by recklessness, poverty, and that camaraderie of Bohemia which is stronger than ties of blood—the bald-headed gray beard had made himself notable by his quaint experience. He had fought side by side with Garibaldi. He had lived through nine revolutions in Paraguay, and alone travelled to Cuzco when the plains swarmed with insurgents. He was present at the death of Maximilian ; and had returned from a cruise among the pearl islands, loaded with bright Sydney sovereigns, ‘You have been there ?’ said languid He Vigne. ‘lt is not unlikely. If Empedocles had consulted you before jumping in /Etna, you would have told him that you had ‘been there. ’ Well, and what did you do ?’ ‘ I killed seven men, ’ said Petherick. ‘ And each of your crew seven more, I suppose ?’ asked Lusignan. ‘At least seven; for I have bold fellows with me, and they would sell their lives dearly.’ ‘ They w r crc killed, then ?’ * They were—and eaten. ’ * And thou only art escaped to tell us ! Wonderful!’ sneered Allan Forbes.

‘ Well, I will risk escape again, if yon Avill conic with me,’ returned Petherick, coolly ; * for when I was there last I found this,’ and he produced a nugget of gold as big as a bullet.

There was no question as to the value of the object. Most of us had seen too many goldfields to be in doubt as to the produce. ‘ But how can we be sure that you found that nugget in New Guinea ?’ asked Forbes. ‘ Don't show your teeth, man, but suppose me Naptali the Jew, and give me a business answer. ’

‘I do not lie,’ said Petherick ; and if you will throw in with me I’ll land ye on the coast by Christmas.’ * By heaven,’ cried Voullaire, springing to his feet,’ ‘ I am with you, for one !’ * And I, ’ said Lusignan, pitching his friend’s absinthe into the fireplace— ‘ if only to save you from being poisoned. ’ * If you get to the spot where I found this,’ said Jack Petherick, ‘ you’ll make all our fortunes.’

That night the Expedition was arranged—arranged to the music of Sturm’s piano-play ing and the popping of champagne corks — surely as wild and desperate an expedition as was undertaken since William Dampier marched across the Isthmus of Panama, or Captain Watling swore his men to ‘ kill all Spaniards and keep the Sabbath Day.’ Pctherick was to take command, with Allan Forbes as his second in authority. Each man was bound to obedience by a code of rules—short enough in itself, but too long to quote here—which had served our grim commander in many a strange venture of similar character ; and all were to share alike. ‘ I will find the ship and the provisions, boys, you bring clothes, arms, and lives.’ So, drowned in floods of champagne, upborne upon clouds of tobacco smoke, and sealed with shouts of the wildest laughter, the Deed of Association received the signatures of thirteen Gentlemen Adventurers bound for a new Eldorado in that mysterious Papua which had so long defied the conquering races of the west.

It was not until after many difficulties that wo had at last reached our jgoal. But these difficulties had but served to knit us closer together. When the smug official at the Custom-house looked askance at Pothcrick s story of sandal-wood and hcehe-de-la-mer, courtly De Yigne, with all the diplomatic grace of his old chief, explained the commercial value of the venture. When a, doubt was raised as to the legal rights of one of us, Tom Rowland solemnly plunged back again into his recollections of common law to aid us. When Sturm fell into quarrel with a huge Kanaka-man, and dropped beneath a club blow, Guy Lusignan slung from the hip that mighty list, and the bully of the whaler, fell bellowing with a broken jaw. When at Noumea, where we put in for water and fruit, Harry Birkenshaw was beset by sailors maddened upon new brandy, it was silent Chateau-Roy who parried, with lithe and leaping steel, the brandished cutlasses. Artists, soldiers, scribblers, what not, —we had merged our individuality into the one great personality of the Expedition, and having become by turns cooks, helmsmen, and pilots, we each know the vessel as an

Arab knows his war-charger, and were ! proud with a pride which was wholly hers. Forbes was the first to break silence. * There is some pleasure in living a life like this,’ he said. *We have abolished conventionalities. I pull a rope for you to-day—you keep a watch for me to-morrow; I cook your dinner this week, and you cook mine next.’ ‘ Ah, ah! ’ laughed Voullaire; but I shan’t risk a spear through my shoulder to get river craw-fish for soup a la bisque. as you did.’ * ’Tis a strange chance which has brought us thus together,’ said de Vigne, musingly. ‘ I wonder if this expedition was predestined to take place in this fashion ? ’ ‘ You may be sure, —from the beginning of all time. The chain of events began with that unlucky stroll of Madame Eve in the garden, and continued unbroken until the last time I threw double sixes and ruined myself in consequence.’ ‘ Pshaw, De Vigne, you were never a gambler. ’ ‘ Les beavx yeux de la casette were not the beaux yevx that led you to ruin.’ ‘ You think not ? Well, perhaps you are right. For what do men abandon home and friends ? ’ ‘Perhaps from sheer weariness,’ yawned Lusignan, ‘like Laurence Oliphant, or Browning’s friend Waring. I knew a man who held one of the most brilliant positions in London, and who one fine morning hoisted sail and disappeared into the Pacific Ocean. ’ ‘I knew him also,’ said I; ‘he was my friend, Hugh Borlase.’ All started at a name which recalled the brightest memories of young manhood. Hugh Borlase, son of a great house, and rich as Beckford, had blazed for two years in the great world, and then vanished no one knew whither. He had turned all his available property into cash, and the last sign of him was the farewell gun of his yacht as she passed the Needles. For ten years none had heard of him. ‘ I wonder where he is,’ said Forbes. ‘I remember him well. I met him in Hungary. A magnificent fellow.’ ‘Murdered by his crew, probably,’ said Petherick, grimly. ‘ The yacht was never heard of again, and he had much gold on board, so they said at Samarang. ’ ‘At Samarang ! Then he reached so far.’ ‘ Yes ; he came down from Singapore on a visit with Van den Hooghen ; but I don’t know what became of him afterwards.’ ‘Strange fellow,’ murmured Rowland, ‘ And yet he lived his life, I suppose. If I had a yacht and a fortune I would visit Samarang. ’ ‘ Thank heaven, we’re moving at last. Tomorrow shows us our Eldorado. ’ ‘Ah,’ said Felix, in his soft voice,— “ Over the mountains of the Moon, In the valley of the Shadow', Ride, boldly ride,’ the sage replied,’ “ If you seek for Eldorado ! ” Chapter 11. MONTE CHRISTO IN THE SOUTH. When morning dawned the land which had lain purple before us in the dusk of evening uprose clear and bright under our lee. Petherick got out his charts. ‘ I have been mistaken,’ he said. ‘ This is not New Guinea. ’ As he spoke, Forbes, who had been examining with a glass the forest-fringed coast, uttered a cry. ‘ There is some one living on that place. ’ He handed me the telescope, and I looked. Sure enough there rose into the clear morning air the smoke of a fire. We held a council of war. The strangers might be Papuans—savages only too eager to destroy us ; and yet our charts gave no sign of an inhabited island in this place. We had been carefully informed as to the navigation of the Papuan seas, and Petherick staked his reputation that we should find no natives nearer than the great island continent. It was resolved at last—resolved on the urging of Allan Forbes, ever the foremost in daring—that a boat’s crew should land and explore. I, Forbes, Lusignan, and two Kanaka-men accordingly put off from the vessel. It w r as a long and w r eary pull, but as we neared the shore the apparently impenetrable forest opened, and disclosed a broad and winding river rolling swiftly over silver sands. At the mouth of this river was an object which took us all by surprise. It was an iron chain drawn across from bank to bank. We lay on our oars, and looked at each other in blankest amazement.

* There is some mystery here ! ’ cried Forbes. ‘ Some line fellow has discovered our Eldorado before us. Wait here, Lusignan, with the boat. We will explore a little.’

Flinging his rifle on his shoulder, Allan leapt ashore ; I followed him. There was a well-trodden path through the jungle, and we moved along rapidly. Suddenly I heard a mufiled cry from Forbes, and before I could comprehend the situation, a dark figure leapt out and flung a soft object like a scarf over my face. In another instant I was bound and helpless. ‘Keep silence,’said a voice in French, ‘ and no harm shall befall you.’ Then I was lifted from the ground, placed in what seemed to me to be a litter, and borne rapidly on. My reflections were not pleasant. This was a fitting beginning to our expedition, truly! We no sooner sight land than we go rambling through the forests like schoolboys, and are captured ignominiously by some pirate or bandit who has made this island his own, I was debating what sort of fate would befall us, when the litter stopped, I was placed on my feet, and the suffocating cloak removed. Dazzled by the sudden light, it was some seconds before I could realise the astounding position in which I found myself. I was standing on a broad terrace of baked brick ; above me rose a large white house built in Mexican fashion, of clay, and having a fiat roof, which literally blazed with flowers. Forbes and myself were in the grasp of four Dyaks, and in front of us, leaning on a rifle, stood the figure of a man clad in white saracote, or shirt of raw silk, and having on his head one of those pith hat-helmets worn by the wealthy natives of the Phillippines. We raised our eyes to his face, and simultaneously uttered a cry. Despite the brown glory of his beard we recognised him at once. It was Hugh Borlase.

In another instant our bonds were cut, and we were free. ‘Am I in a dream of the “Arabian Nights ! ” said I. Borlase laughed—a little uneasily, as seemed to me. ‘ There is nothing to be surprised at, ’ he said ; ‘ I am the owner of this place, that is all. I am rich, and I prefer to live here than to die of civilisation in London. Pray what brings you to my estate ! ’ We told him briefly the reason of our

coming, and he frowned, ‘ The enterprise is mad, desperate; abandon it. ’ ‘Stuff my good fellow,’ said Allan Forbes, nettled at the grand air of his host, ‘ I should have thought that you knew me better than to advise such an absurdity. We did not turn back in Styria, as the wild boar found to his cost.’

‘ True, ’ said Borlase, mollified by the recollection. ‘lt is useless to advise you 1 suppose. Come in, and have some claret and ice.’

‘ Claret and ice in th is part of the world ! Are you a magacian ?’ ‘No ; only a millionaire. Come in.’ We followed our host, who led ris up the steps of the broad verandah (polished like mahogany) to a spacious hall, hung round with valuable arms. ‘ 1 dress after the custom of the country,’ said Borlase; ‘but I have not abandoned my habit of living. ’ As he spoke he flung open the door of patch all wood, and ushered us into a magnitient saloon, furnished with all the solid comfort of the Dutch, combined with the barbaric magnificence of the Javanese princes. Curtains of gold tissue hung between pillars of stained and carved bnshung. The inlaid floor was covered by a carpet from the looms of Persia, and the hangings of the walls were enriched with the glowing feathers of the manok deivata, the Bird of Paradise of the early navigators. In this bizarre apartment were grouped those treasures of art for which the House of Borlase was famous. Goblets, statuettes, and paintings enchanted on every side. Vases by Cellini or Cupellano bloomed with the crimson flowers of Dumina, or glistened with the waxen petals of the Matari Manis. Round three sides of the apartment ran an aviary filled with the rarest birds of a quarter of the globe rich in rare feathers, and extravagant in marvellous dyes. It was a dream from the Thousand and One Tales. It Avas the vision of an opium eater. This new Monte Christo struck a silver gong, and the summons was answered by two yellow-faced but Avell-fonned children, bearing, one a huge block of ice enthroned upon a silver dish ; the other a basket of the Nangali creeper, from Avhich peered the familiar necks of the claret-bottles.

‘You may think this curious,’ said Borlaae ; hut a moment’s reflection will convince you that it is as easy to drink Veuve Cliquot in New Guinea, as it is to drink Bass’ ale on Bendigo. The only difference is the price, Jl pay it.’ ‘ But the ice ?’ queried Allan Forbes, dropping a huge piece into his goblet. ‘ I think it wanton waste to ice claret, unless the ice is verg costly. ’ ‘Be easy,’ said the recluse. ‘ I make the ice myself. You have a company in Melbourne who use the same process,’ In silence we sat and sipped. In truth there was nothing so veiy outrageous in this magnificence. Given the original possession of the pictures, the bronzes, and the statues, together with the money-power to transport builders and carpenters to this wild region, and the house in which we found ourselves followed as a matter of course. Supposing, for the sake of extravagant supposition, that the erection of the edifice in which we drank our claret cost, together with the furnishings, so large a sum as a quarter of a million, Hugh Borlase might still have to his credit in the fat books of Poujer Vander Kooch, of Banda and Siam, another half-million, or the banking house of Borlase was belied on ’Change. Once established, his expenses, even though ninety servants called him master, would not equal the outlay of a London dandy in the Ascot Week. It was not improbable that, from a commercial point of view, this strange recluse had economised in his very recklessness. The only wonder was that a man of his reputed tastes should have chosen so extravagant a life. ‘ Do you ever get wearied here ?’ I asked. ‘ Wearied ! No. I have too much to do. I have lawns to make, trees to plant, seeds to sow.’ ‘ But intellectual converse ?’

His brow grew dark. ‘ I well, I have books by every mail. It is as easy for Mr Mudie to plaster ‘Banda’ as Hackney Wick on his book parcel, I and my Kihozah can paddle over in two days, and sail in thirty-four hours. ’ 1 But the climate ?’

‘ I live sensibly. I wear naked feet and legs, a shirt of raw silk swathes my body. I bathe a dozen times a day. When heated by walking or running I obey Nature’s promptings, which say—‘ Cool yourselfl plunge into the river ; I swim ; I feel my muscles regain their youthful strength. I then dry myself in the sun, as do the Indians. I feci young again. Each nerve tightens, each muscle springs, my blood no longer crawls but bounds through my veins. 1 mount my fleetest horse and dash through the forest, or I seize the paddle of the bark canoe and skim over the sea of sapphire beneath a sun like red hot opal. That is life !’ ‘ But few can afford to thus sacrifice soul to sense,’ said I, We will be all of your mind if you will show us how to find the means.’

* Earn it by hard work, like my worthy banker-father, and then your sons will spend it as lavishly as I do. But we talk too much. Understand me ; I do not wish to be disturbed in my solitude. I received you because you are old friends. But I have quitted for ever the world which once knew me, and I care not to renew my acquaintance with it. Above all, I. forbid you to bring your horde of adventurers here. You have already a specimen of the way in which I am served, and 1 assure you in all friendliness that 1 have many adherents in these seas. Go, Pursue jour sordid expedition, and forget me.’

Allan Forbes rose to his full height, his forehead black with rage. ‘ We are not school-girls to be awed by romantic nonsense like this. We are men, and bound on men’s work.’

Borlase raised the amber mouthpiece of his nargilhe to his lips. He had thrown himself back upon a pile of damask cushions, and laughed serenely. ‘ Your men’s work, dear Forbes, will end in men’s death, I fear. You do not know the mysteries of these seas. ’ ‘We know as much as other sailors who have anchored less gallant craft than ours under the shadow of this lonely land,’

‘Not quite,’said Borlase, ‘Those other sailors know most things now. They arc dead. ’ ‘What!’

‘Ah, you are touched ! Well, turn yoiir vessel’s beak to sea, and depart [out of this unholy place.’ ‘By heaven, Borlase, you try my patience too far! If you can live here, why can not we!’ ‘ Because you come with thoughts of wrath and rapine; I came with friendly feelings merely. You wish to conquer ; 1 asked but be left in peace.*

‘ But would savages admit the difference of this line distinction ?’

* Make no error,’ said Borlase, raising himself upon his elbow with sudden enthusiasm. ‘ The men of whom I speak are no savages. They are more civilized than any nation of the cast, save those strange Japanese.’ Allan Forbes shouted in laughter. ‘ Halfnaked savages !’ Borlase stretched forth a hand, and showering a snow-white heap of llowcr-petals on the carpet, tossed the vase which held them to his interlocutor, ‘ Do you call that the work of a savage ?’ said he, Forbes looked at the cup, and then his strong lingers closed on it, crushing it. ‘Tell me where you got this, my Hugh, and our schooner leaves your river mouth within an hour. Defuse to impart the knowledge, and within six months 1 will have this island overrun with the desperadoes of California and the gold-fields. ‘Do you not think that the men who found it, and who have for the last hundred years preserved the knowledge of it, can defend themselves? Bah ! You have made a discovery which thousands have made before you. This barbaric coast line of New Guinea, inhabited only by savage monsters of huge stature and unappeasable ferocity, is really the boundary of a great empire, the Saturn’s ring of a new planet. The interior of the vast island-continent which stretches away to the eastward is a fertile land more civil ized than was ancient Mexico, more wild in religious extravagance than was ancient Egypt, more rich in metals than was the ‘ Ophir’ of Solomon. It is the Eldorado of Raleigh ; the ‘ Land of Gold’ of which Cortez dreamed. ’

‘ Then, by the Almighty Avho created it, it shall be ours,’said Forbes. ‘ Come, boy, to the boat ? We will leave this sensualist to his dreams, and steal his inheritance Avhile he sleeps. ’ The calm tones of the strange man Avhosc hospitality avc shared iced the enthusiasm roused by Allan’s Avords. ‘Be not so rash !’ he said. ‘ I thought like you, Avhen I first came into this lovely land. But soon—although my might of Avealth Avas such that I commanded fealty from most—l found that all about these island straits there lived some strange and sullen empire Avhich overliA r ed mine oavu. In vain with gold, Avith precept, ridicule, example, all that could either tempt or shame my slaves to dare, Purged them to explore the continent and make the mystery clear. Some terror mightier than that of death Avithheld them.

‘Of course you went alone ?’ said Allen sneeringly. ‘ I did. I found the Terror, and I braved

‘Well?’ ‘ I live in peace. ’ ‘ But we ? We who are pledged to bring back news ? what shall we say ?’

‘ Anything ! This, certainly —That any expedition to that place will end in misery, torture, and death !’ ‘Encouraging,’sneered Forbes. ‘But we are pledged, and we must not turn back ! Good-bye, dear Borlase, and do not blame us, if within a year you have the cradle k of the diggers rocking amid your tree-tops !’ ‘.Stay!’ said Borlase. ‘Do do be rash in judgment. You know not what perils you would risk. I have other lives beside mine own to think of. Wait an instant!’—and passing through an outer door into the interior of the house, he left us. We sat and looked at each other. This wonderful and yet simple house in the wilderness astonished us. At first glance the story of our friend’s life seemed like some wild dream, fantastic and unsubstantial; at the second, wc found ourselves compelled to admit that the apparent wonder was really but the ordinary result of the commonest of attributes —wealth and eccentricity. Borlase returned. He seemed troubled as though his meditation had cost him pain; but it was evident that he had resolved to aid us.

‘ Sec here, ’he said. ‘ There is in the continent yonder more gold than your wildest dreams ever pictured. The dross for which men peril their life so readily is there in abundance ; so vast that the very discovery of it would reduce its value beneath that of copper. Some day or other the discovery anist be made. 1 will aid you to make it now, on one condition.’ ‘ Name it.’

‘ That this visit be your last. Fill your vessel with ore if you choose ; load her to the water’s edge with ingots, but let this one load be sufficient for your extravagances. Come here no more. Leave me to my seclusion, and take care that no adventurers like yourselves gain hint of the secret of your treasure house. You are gentlemen. Live me your word to do this, and 1 am content. ’

‘But why this secrecy?’ 1 asked, ‘You are rich, but no man is so rich that he can afford to fling away a fortune like this. ’ ‘ I will tell you why. The continent of New Guinea is inhabited by a race of men akin to that which ruled and civilized the America which Cortez conquered. They are a great nation, tracing their descent from a still greater nation, and in the centre of this seemingly barbaric region they have preserved the civilization and the religion of the land of Anahuac. The people are ignorant of the value of the yellow metal, which, cm' ployed for the basest purposes, is held in esteem by the priests only.—These men—think of the civilization of .Japan, once as little known as this same continent, and clieck your laughter —have weighed well the chance of admitting into their kingdom (the dreaded nations of the West, who, not con tent with the possession of these men’s bodies, must strive to capture their souls also. The J’akahos of New Guinea have established a policy of centralization, In the middle of the vast island they inhabit rises the great Temple of Kitzpolchi, God of the Smoking Heart, and round the huge tocnUi arc grouped all the hideous insignia of the bloody theology of Mexico. Here are still carried on those awful rites which horrified the stalwart Spaniards, and caused the truction of of the Palace of Axayacau. From this terrible centre radiate the tribal circles in ever-lessening civilization until the forestgirth coasts give birth only to the uncouth and savage giants who—ignorant alike of religion and humanity— know but one law, to ‘ kill the stranger. ’ ’ * But how, then, do you live unharmed ?’ ‘ Because 1 have matte alliance with these people. Beyond the coast line is yet another line of defence. In Java, Sumatra, a id Borneo, you will from time to time meet with men of yellow skins, aquiline noses, and blue eyes. They follow no stated occupation. They owe allegiance to no one. They have no settled home; they live on ‘board their ships, and give out they arc traders. The Dutch merchants and the Japanese princes ignore the national

existence of these people, as the English, the French, and flic Spaniards ignored the national existence of the Avandering tribes of Egypt. But in the secret hearts of the people—Chinese, Malay, or Dyak—the poAvcr of these haughty strangers is acknoAVlodgcd, for they are the licet of the Unknown Nation of New Guinea—the terrible Bajou — the Gipsies of the Sea.’ ‘ 1. have heard of them,’ said Forbes. ‘ Their existence and their vengeances form an cxhaustless theme for the storytellers of the opium house. But hoAV came you to secure the favor of this race?’

“ .Simply. I saved the life of their chief, Avhen condemned by the Koompani for piracy. He Avas to Inwe suffered at Acliecn by the hands of the headsmen. When I set him once more on board his A'essel, Salaka SAVore by his god, Garam-mcdilan (the salt sea), that he Avould befriend me. His ffotillaSAvarm hover round this island. With a Avord 1 could bid him light on the cities of the coast, and in a Aveek your Dutchmen’s civilization Avould Inwe vanished as A'anishes the carcase of an elephant before ;of tnwelling ants. ’ ‘ And they knoAV this.’

Hugh Borlase bowed. ‘Noav you knoAV my power. 1 could sAveep you and your vessel from the seas as easy as 1 puff aAvay this tobacco ash. ’

‘ Then AA'hy not doit,’ cried Forbes. ‘I am willing to risk a thrust from the krissot one of your murderous ally’s folloAvers.’ ‘Tush! Fortune has thrown you hither. I take the best course to be quit of you. Your Avord for yourselves and companions that you quit these shores Avhen 1 have satisfied your lust of plunder, and to-morrow I Avill lead you to the banks of the Umali, where you scrape the gold dust in your hands. ’

Forbes looked at me. ‘I promise,’ he said ; ‘ but after?’

‘ After what ?’ ‘ After you have led us to the treasure house ? ’

‘Then I return here. You must defend yourselves, and you will be attacked. Allan Forbes rose and bowed stiflly. ‘ You have our promise, and you need not fear us. If my captain does not accept your oiler, we shall attempt the treasure house for ourselves. If he does, 1 shall have the honour to send a boat for you in the morning.’ ‘ I have my own canoe,’ said Borlase, ‘signal, and I shall put oil’ to you.’ * * * * 1 need not detail the discussion with Lusignan, nor the subsequent council held on board the Blackbird. At daylight the signal waspuadc. Chatter 111. the river with the sands ok gold. The noon was sultry as a furnace mouth, and from out the sluggish river rose clouds of steam. The four boats had been pulling up stream since daylight, and Borlase, seated in his long pirogue, manned by four lithe and muscular Indians, shot ahead, returning and beckoning us onward, as a dragon ily might shoot ahead of four sluggish water beetles. Forbes commanded the first boat, Lusignan the second, Youllairc the third, while I brought up the rear. Petherick with the rest kept watch at the mouth of the river. A sharp whistle caused us to pause. Borlase darted back. ‘There is yet time,’ he said, ‘for prudence. Will you return.’ A wild shout was his answer, and the four boats, ranging alongside, pulled hard to overtake his Hashing pirogue, which, obedient to an inclination of his head, had already shot onwards and rounded a promontory which barred our view of the river. Another in stant, and the gold we had come so far to seek grated beneath our keels as they ran up into what seemed a yellow and sandy beach. Impetuous Youllairc leapt out with a cry of enthusiasm, and burying both hands to the wrists in the shining sand hung it up above his head in glittering handfuls. ‘ Old Heber must have dreamed of this place when he wrote his hymn about Afric’s fountains rolling down their golden sand !’ cried he.

Borlase stood aloof in the stream, with one foot on the bows of his pirogue and his chin upon his hand contemplating the scene.

‘ So. 1 have fulfilled my promise ; see that ye keep yours. Kajali!’ (home), and the light canoe darted off. We worked all that day, and returned to the ship without accident. Petherick, accustomed to the stratagems of savages, laughed at the tale of Borlase, but ordered a strict watch to be set. The night passed in security, and over the dense forests brooded a silence which seemed almost ominious. The next day we returned to our treasurehouse. Although we had already under hatches four boat’s load of the precious ore, the sands glittered as smoothly as yesterday. As Borlase said, the supply of gold was so enormous that were its discovery made known to the world, the value of the ore would be reduced below that of copper. And yet the inhabitants of this mysterious region had contrived to keep the secret for three centuries. That evening Petherick was uneasy. ‘This calm is unnatural, ’he said. ‘We arc at the very mouth of their sacred river, and yet they make no sign, Ido not like it.’ But the second night passed as tranquilly as the first, save that the silence of the forests was broken by the shrill, unceasingly re-echoed cry of the f belltopan (a, bird like a toucan.) At dawn the pirogue flashed alongside, and Borlase stood on the dcck.|j

‘ Have you not got gold enough ?’ lie said. ‘ 1 am oppressed with a sense of danger. All last night I saw lights twinkling on the sea, and there was wafted an odour as of a champall forest burning. 1 have broken my implied promise to these men to serve you. I dread what vengeance they may be preparing. ’ Petheriek looked grave. ‘A eh amp All forest burning ! That is the sacred tree of the Kopras. They never lire unless on occasions of religious ceremonial. Yet we have but been two days at the place. ’ ‘ Remain no longer. You have already gold enough to give each a fortune beyond the dreams of avarice.’

It was agreed that this trip should be our last, and Borlase volunteered to accompany us. The day passed as had done the two former days, in silence. We loaded our boats and returned just as the sky began to redden with evening. Borlase had recovered his spirits, and bent himself to an oar to rest Youllaire, who had complained of the fatigue. Smoking and chatting, we floated down towards the broader bay where lay the schooner, when suddenly Vouilaire uttered a cry, and raising the rifle that rested a toss hi • knees, lired into the jungle-bank. The sho.

aroused myriads of birds, which flew screaming and circling above our beads. ‘ W hat was it '! ’ we all asked. ‘ A man ! ’ said Voullairc. ‘ I saw him peep between the leaves of that huge <lobana !

Borlasc drew his kris, and leapt into the river. Another instant he was standing at the trunk of the tree pointed out by Voullarirc. W’c ran the boat alongside. Borlase pointed to a patch of white where the bullet had skinned the bark, and then held out a leaf on which were three bright red spots. ‘ You had missed him,’ he said simply. ‘.I f he was alone, which I doubt, he will carry the alarm.’

Forbes was for springing ashore and starting in pursuit, but Borlasc checked him. ‘ Why shed blood ? You have your boats full. This is your last night here. Back to the ship, and crowd on all sail. 1 will answer for this deed myself. Awed in a measure by his words we returned to the schooner, and as we reached her, Lusiguan pointed in the direction of the island home of our host. Borlase turned, and uttered a cry like that of a wounded tiger. A bright flame uprose from where his house had been, and shot shuddering up into the night. ‘ Curses on you and your greed ! ’ he cried, leaping into the pirogue. ‘ Sec what it lias cost ! Come with me some of ye, for Cod’s sake ! ’

The canoe shot through the water, despite our added weight, for the eight arms of the Indians seemed animated by one soul, and we rapidly neared the burning island. The wind had carried the flames away from the the house, a great portion of which we could see standing black against the burning forest; but there seemed no sign of life along the terrace or the shore. The instant the nose of the" pirogue touched the bank, Borlase leaped out of her, and breaking through the smouldering doorway, dashed into the house alone. We three—the evil fates of our friend—stared at each other, clutching our rifles. Presently, from out the interior of the house arose a cry, so full of woe, of agony, and of despair, that it appalled us. We rushed forward in the direction of the sound, and found ourselves in what had been a magnificent boudoir, furnished with every luxury that fancy could suggest. The vases were broken, the flowers scattered, torn music and mangled books littered the carpet, and on the floor by the open window lay the only sign of the late occupant—an Indian scarf and a tiny gold-embroidered slipper. This, then, was the mystery of Borlase’s seclusion.

‘ Come man,’ I said, ‘ rouse yourself ! ’

Hugh Borlase lifted a haggard face, to which terror and despair had already given the look of age, and handed me a Pupuk leaf, on which some characters were traced with the point of a sharp instrument. ‘ This is what my civilised friends have brought upon me,’ he said in a voice which had all the steadiness of despair. ‘ This is from the man whose life I saved:—“ You have broken faith with the Pakaho. She whom you love will die for Kitzpolchi. 1, Salaka, who owe you a life, am appointed to deal you this blow ! ”

‘ Are you satisfied now, gentlemen ? ’ Chautcau-Eoy swore a great French oath, and fell on his knees.

‘ I will bring you back that woman or die. I, Chateau-Boy, have sworn it.’ ‘Do you know the doom ? This is the feast of Mahna ; the temple of Kitzpolchi runs with blood, and the choicest victim is she whose heart, torn from her bosom, is offered, still beating to the god.’ * De Vigne placed two shaking hands on the shoulders of the speaker, and drew him to his feet. ‘ Which way are we to go ?’ he asked between his set teeth. All was said in that question. Chapter IV. THE SACKED CITY OF THE PAKAHO. ‘There is no need for rifles,’ said Petherick. ‘ They would only encumber us. Let each man take his revolvers, his sword, and his knife. Now bring forward the dice. The box was brought, and we threw in silence. Howland, Anstey, and Sturm were the unlucky ones. That is to say, that they had to stop in the vessel with the Kanakas. The dusky light of the ship’s lamp fell upon our half-naked figures as Petherick gathered us about him for a few last words. The old seaman (pirate, slaver, what you will) was very pale, and had looked death in the face too often to be afraid to confess his terrors. ‘Look here, boys,’ he said, ‘it’s no use to blink the question now. We may none of ns ever see this old ship again, and I want to have matters settled fair and square before we start. Our friend Mr Borlase has made our fortunes, and in doing so be has provoked the vengeance of these savages. Now, what we have to do is to get this lady safe back again for him, or to get killed in doing it. ’ ‘ No, no,’ said Borlase. ‘ I have no right to ask you to brave certain death. 1 will go alone. ’ ‘ Silence, Hugh,’ said Allan Forbes. ‘ It's a point of honor with us.’ ‘We must leave the schooner with Bowland in command. He will keep as close to the shore as he dare for the natives, and look out for us. We shall go up the river and make for the city. Once there, we’ve got our work to do. Those who get back again will divide the gold ; those who don’t get hack will die like brave men. Now, come on, for we’ve no time to lose.’ ‘lt is hopeless,’ said Borlase, as the huge war canoe slided out into the darkness. ‘ livery step is watched ; there are eyes in every bush.’ ‘Well, we can but goon,’ said Forbes in his beard ; ‘ and we are doing that.’ We passed under the shelving rock beneath which lay our fatal treasure-house, and swung into the rapids of the sacred Umali. The tide was running in like a millrace, and, hoisting our huge reed-sail, we Hew at racing speed through the whitening water. Our hope was to overtake the pirate canoe before she reached the city, and to rescue the unknown woman. AYe soon saw how vain was such a hope.

The stream suddenly widened out, and on turning a bend we beheld in our van a flotilla of proas, each with a lantern swinging at the mast head, drifting up the river. In the midst was a larger vessel, whose dusky bulk Avas unillumined. Borlase gave vent to a roar of rage. ‘lt is the Bajau Fleet ! ’ he said. ‘We are lost.’

Instinctively the men strained at the paddles, and the canoe slackened speed. ‘ There is but one chance,’ said Petheriek. ‘ We must capture one of these proas.’ ‘lmpossible,’ said Lusignan. 'No; only difficult. Keep- way on her, and, Borlase, be ready with me,’ The war-canoe crept along in the shadow, just out of reach of the circle of light thrown

back by tlic cocoa lantern, and the two men, placing their revolvers on the seats they quitted, took each bis naked sword in his teeth, and lowering themselves into the stream, struck out under water for the last proa. We waited, each instant expecting to hear the crack of a pistol-shot, or a shout of alarm, and to dash forward in the vain endeavour to rescue our comrades. We had underrated the powers of the two men. Once we saw two black objects rise for an instant between us and the ileet, and then the sails of the last proa gave a sort of convulsive shudder, as though some careless hand on board of her had thrown her off the wind. At that moment the lanterns began to be extinguished, and a wild chant broke forth from the fleet. It was the barbaric Hymn to the Moon, which, yet unarisen, cast a pale glow into the air. ‘Keep her moving,’ said Lusignan ; ‘we shall know in a moment.’ As he spoke, we drew alongside a dark object held stationary by two men. It was the proa. ‘Come in quick,’ hissed Borlasc, stretching out a wet, warm hand. ‘ Kirzodah, take the canoe back to the ship. 1 will not risk your life. ’ We stepped on board, and huddled beneath the bulwarks. Our weight sank the vessel to the water’s edge. ‘ Here !’ said Pctherick, grimly ; ‘ overboard with those ; ’twill lighten her.’ ‘ Those, ’ wex’e four corpses ; three stabbed in the throat, and one strangled. The last one was Petherick’s handiwork. The canoe and the dead bodies floated away into the darkness as we urged the proa into her place in the fleet, and wondered in how many minutes we should be detected, dragged out, and killed. Suddenly a great shout went up from the pirate canoes and the dense mass in front of us seemed to melt away. ‘ls it the sea?’ I asked, as a great white, shining sheet of water spread out in the moon, which at that instant glided up out of the cane-brakes.

‘ No,’ said Borlase. ‘lt is the Holy Lake of Simia, where stands the city of the Pakahos.’

A movement rapid as that which takes place among soldiers dismissed from drill took place in the iieet. The duty of the night seemed over, and the long light canoes darted hither and thither, each on sonic indifferent errand. The large dusk vessel, however, which carried Salaka and his victim held on its course, and we, crouching behind our huge sail, followed it as closely as we dared. As the moon rose, the wonders of this hidden city spread out to our view. It was a sort of savage Venice. The enormous lake, or rather inland sea, was studded with islands, and upon these islands rose huge temples, of pyramidal form, having outer steps winding about them, and terminating in huge altar-peaks, upon which burnt perpetual lire. Enormous idols—monsters carved out of the living rock—formed tem-ple-houses, in and around which we could see black-robed priests flitting ; and it appeared that even whole rocks, whole islands, were hewn into rude effigies of their hideous God. Island upon island—each blazing with its crown of flame —stretched away in endless succession. Above all towered, loftier than Saint Peter’s Dome, the mighty pile of the Temple of Kitzpolchi, and its crest, piercing the night, alone was crownless. ‘This is the kindling of the New Fire,’ said Borlase ; ‘ The Feast of Mahna. When the constellation of the Pleiads reaches the zenith, that flame will be kindled.’ The proa had neared the island city, and we were compelled to increase our distance. ‘ If it be as I suspect,’ continued Borlase, ‘ we shall sec it turn into yon cavern mouth ! Ha—l though so. The worst has come !’ ‘No,’said Lusignan, ‘not yet. We can at least kill her—and die with her !’ ‘ You are right!’ cried Petherick, stirred by the agony of the man who thus suffered oil our account. ‘ Forward, then !’ and we entered the cavern after the proa. For a few seconds it seemed as though we could not fail to overtake her; but to our astonishment all our efforts failed to place us alongside. De Vigue struck a match. The cavern was empty! ‘ She has escaped us !’ cried Lusignan. ‘ Paddle back ; perhaps we may have overrun her, ’ Back we came, and in a few minutes the error explained itself. The cavern was hollowed by the natural action of the sea, and had many brandies. On passing a narrow opening in the wall, we heard in the distance voices, and soon a bright light sparkled at the extreme end of the rocky channel. ‘ But, Heaven!’ said Petherick ; ‘it is half a mile away ! This place is a sewer.’ ‘lt is the secret entrance to the Temple of Kitzpolchi,’ said Borlase. ‘We are toolate?’ •No,’ said Forbes. They will here have some door which leads to the altar-stairs. This is the place where they bring in the victims. Wait. When the boat comes out we will take her place. Face the door.’ ‘Silence, then,’ said Petherick, ‘for the boat returns.’ We drew back into the arm of the cavern, and in a few minutes the proa shot past us, and out into the open bay. Another ten seconds saw us alongside a low and narrow stone doorway, which seemed to lead into the interior of the temple, For some time we lay still, arranging the plan of attack ; and then a great and growing murmur outside gave hint that some strange excitement had aroused the city. Even in the recess of the live rock we could hear, or seemed to hear, the dip of paddles, the rush of many keels, and the confuscd'hum of a multitude of voices. Fearful lest our presence might have already been discovered, and impatient of further delay, Petherick beat with his sword hilt upon the wooden door. It opened, and a yellow face, upon which fell the rays of achimpano lamp, peered out upon us. Petheriek’s iron tist descended upon the head of the priest, and he fell without a groan. Another instant we were alone in the interior of the Temple of Kitzpolchi. Forbes was right. Winding stairs, damp and slimy, led upwards, and sword in hand, knife in teeth, and revolvers loosened in our belts, we dashed up after Borlase. _ The stairs wound round and round, following, as is seemed, the windings of an exterior staircase, built in ever-rising lines to the summit of the pyramid. Midway a long and narrow slit in the wall gave light and air. Glancing through this slit, I saw a sight which at any other time magnilicent, was now absolutely terrific.

We were some seven hundred feet above the level of the Sacred City, which lay beneath us, mapped out in lines of light. The great southern heaven, in which the moon hung like a yellow shield, o’erarched an ant hill, each galle y of which, open to the air, swarmed wit a people and glimmered with radiant points of lire. The eyes of the vast multitude were

directed to one spot—the summit of the temple ; and stretching away and beyond into the shadow of the forested lake-banks lay the fleet of the Bajau—the myriad proas of tlie Gipsies of the Sea. ‘ Come, gentlemen, if you have Christian hearts !’ cried Borlase, bounding up the huge stone blocks. ‘We may be yet too late !’ Breathless, blind, and mad with the madness for bloodshed which seizes the soul in such rare moments of desperation, we staggered out into the cool nignt at last—on the broad plateau which was the altar of the Teocalli.

Above us rose, vast, hideous, and overpowering, the gigantic Idol of Stone, and at its base were a group of eight persons —seven long-haired Aztec priests, their blood-red robes of sacrifice streaming in the wind, and a bound figure whose -white limbs glistened in the moon, bare to the hungry eyes of the multitude below.

The elder priest held aloft his knife of ifzli, and pointed to the constellation which now trembled at its zenith. A great shout went up ; but ere the murderous wretch could plunge the weapon into the bright white bosom which was strained to the moon upon the black altar-stone, the sword of Borlase plunged through his back, and he fell groaning. The six fellow-monsters rushed us in horrified alarm. One the steel of Guy Lusignan clove to the neck-nape ; one fell bythe hand of Petherick, while Alijg F,»-'Des, drawing his revolver with one a third, and drove his blade into the yelling throat of his comrade until the hilt jarred upon the shattered jaw. The two others fled by some private path, and for one glorious instant we were masters of the Tower.

But from the nation gathered below went up a yell like that which might have greeted the second fall of Satan—a yell of hate, and blood and fury. The torches tossed wildly. The iieet swayed and shook. A torrent of pistol and matchlock balls spent themselves in vain against the mid masonry of the tocalli. Hugh Borlase raised the fainting woman in his arms, and bore her furiously to the stairs. Her blue eyes uplifted to heaven, her golden hair streaming, her naked arms upraised in despair, she was borne past me, anil 1 recognised Venetia !

‘So then;’ I cried, furious even in that desperate peril,’ ‘ it was for this you stole my love, and wrecked her life !’ ‘ Silence !’ said Allan Forbes, savagely. I loved her also ; let us save her. In vain !

From out the door we had quitted poured the guards of the Gods, vowed with their lives to protect his honour. With the Lady Venetia in our midst, we faced the swarming hosts with'all the wild-beast courage desperation gives. The plateau, bloody though its memories, saw slaughter enough beneath those dishonoured Pleiades—dishonoured for the first time in three hundred years. Black with gunpowder and reeking with blood, we contested inch by inch the narrow foot-hold. Five times we drove back the furious charge, and five times did the crowd below up-press them onward. Lusignan fell with broken sword still clutched to strike. De Vigne slipped in the bowels of his tenth fooman, and an itzli axe clove his Gascon curls. Voullaire, intoxicated with the wine of slaughter, sang some folly of the cafes, as he parried the thrusts of the spears and fell, spouting blood, in the midst of a chorus. Chateau Roy, his pistols empty and his rapier snapped, fought with his knife at close quarters, until a matchlock bullet from the archway pierced his brain. Forbes and Borlase spoke never a word, but back to back, the woman whom they loved at their feet, they stood erect ringed round with corpses. All at once, from the inner door, concealed in the carven ornaments of the idol, burst a figure white as ourselves. Yellow hair like that of a Norseman flowed over his shoulders, and in his clenched hand he held a torch. ‘ I claim this man as mine!’ he cried, pointing to Hugh Borlase. ‘ I purchased his life at the cost of the white girl yonder. ’ It was Salaka, the chief of the Bajau. ‘ Stand back, assassin, coward, liar!’ roared Hugh. ‘ I want no favors from men whom I have snatched from death that they might kill me. Cut him down! Forbes, you have a bullet left.’ Growling an imprecation, Allan levelled his revolver, the cap missed fire,and a matchlock bullet—from some nameless one in the rear—shot him through the breast. There was left of all our gallant company but Hugh and I. ‘ I offer you your life and that of your friend for her’s. She ir ust die, I say. The Gods have sworn it.’ Hugh, faint with loss of blood, strove to reach the Bajau with his sword, but failed. ‘ Damn him !’ he cried. ‘ Will no one kill him ?’ Suddenly Venetia rose erect, and flinging her arms round the neck of her lover, hid her burning face on his bosom for one passionate instant. ‘ You have given up too much for me, Hugh, too much. I would not wish to live, having seen what I have seen bo-night. Forgive me ! Farewell!’ She sprang from his arms, leajjt into the huge coping from the Tower, am l tfojcu. like a white flash, disappeared headlong. A horrible shout of joy went up from the city, and then all was silence. Salaka seized me by the wrist, and at a signal both Hugh and I were borne, bleeding and faint, down the staircase from which ho had emerged. It gave upon a landing-place on the opposite side of the Tower, and a proa lay there. I saw the insensible body of my friend lifted into the craft, and felt that the like office was performed for myself. Then the hideous pageant faded from my sight, and sick with fatigue, nigh to death with wounds, I fainted. * * * * When, I awoke, it was a bright morning, and 1 lay in a curtained proa. In the bows sat Salaka. Beside him was something covered with a mat. ‘ Where is ho ?’ I asked. The Bajau pointed to the mat. ‘ And my comrades?’ ‘ There. ’ I turned my eyes to the cast, and sar uprising over the sea a column of smoke, t was the funeral pyre of the Blackbird and oir gold. ‘ And where do you take me ?’ ‘To Batavia. This clay was once my friend. Ah, what would not your natioi do did it but abandon two follies—Women and Gold!’ [FIXTS,]