The Fugitives: The Tyrant Queen of Madagascar Part 30

Of all the ladies there that little brunette was not only the best-looking, the sweetest, the most innocent, but also, strange to say, the funniest; by which we do not mean to say that she tried to be funny--far from it, but that she had the keenest perception of the ludicrous, and as her perceptions were quick, and little jokes usually struck her, in vulgar parlance, "all of a heap," her little explosions of laughter were instantaneous and violently short-lived. Yet her natural temperament was grave and earnest, and her habitual expression, as we have said, pensive.

Indeed it would have been strange had it been otherwise, considering the times in which she lived, the many friends whom she had seen sacrificed by the violence of her royal mistress, and the terrible uncertainty that hung over her own fate.

After a time the Queen dismissed some of her attendants to ramble about the grounds,--among them Rafaravavy, who sauntered down one of the side-walks by herself.

She had not gone far when, on reaching a turn of the road where a small thicket of shrubs concealed her from the more public part of the garden, she heard her own name p.r.o.nounced.

Stopping abruptly, she listened with intense anxiety expressed on her countenance.

"Rafaravavy!" repeated the voice again, "fear not!" Next moment the bushes were turned aside, a man stepped on the path, and Ravonino stood before her! He seized her in his arms, and printed a fervent kiss upon her lips.

"Oh! Samuel," she said, using her lover's Christian name, which she naturally preferred, and speaking, of course, in her native tongue, "why did you come here? You know that it is death if you are caught."

"I would risk more than death, if that were possible, to see you, Rafaravavy. But I come to ask you to fly with me. Our dear Lord's counsel is that when we are persecuted we should flee to a place of safety."

"Impossible!" said the girl, in a tone of decision that made her lover's heart sink. "Besides, I am not persecuted. The Queen is fond of me, and bears much."

"Fond of you she may well be, my loved one, she cannot help that; but she is fonder of herself, and the moment you go beyond a certain point she will order you out to execution. Has she not done the same sort of thing before? She is capable of doing it again. She will _surely_ do it again. Come, dearest! let us fly now--this moment. I have a lamba here which will conceal most of your dress. Arrangements are made with some of our friends in the Lord to aid us. Bearers are ready. I will guide you to the caverns in the forest where my sister Ra-Ruth is longing to receive you, where many of your old friends are dwelling in security, where we wors.h.i.+p G.o.d, and pray to Jesus, and sing the sweet old hymns in peace. Come, dear one! will you not come?"

It was evident that the intense earnestness of the lover was exerting powerful influence over the affectionate maiden, for she began to waver.

"Oh! do not persuade me thus!" she said. "I know not what G.o.d would have me do. But the Queen has been _very_ kind to me in spite of my religion, and sometimes I have thought that she listens to my pleading.

Perhaps G.o.d may use me as the means of bringing her to Jesus. Think what that would be--not only to her own soul but to the mult.i.tudes who are now suffering in--"

At that moment footsteps were heard on the gravel walk. They were evidently approaching the spot where the lovers stood. Before Ravonino could make up his mind to drag her into the thicket by main force, Rafaravavy had disengaged herself and bounded away. At the same moment Ravonino glided into the shrubbery and disappeared.

A few seconds later and Mark Breezy stood on the spot they had quitted.

He was alone.

"Strange!" he muttered to himself, "I am almost certain that she took this path, and I fancy that the man's voice sounded like that of Ravonino. Nothing more natural than that he should ferret her out. Yet it seems to have been imagination."

"It was not imagination," said a rather stern voice at Mark's elbow. He turned quickly.

"I was sure of it!" he exclaimed.

"If you were so sure of it," said the guide, with a touch of bitterness, "why did you interrupt us and scare the maiden away?"

"You do me wrong in your thoughts," replied the student, flus.h.i.+ng. "One of the Queen's secretaries is even at this moment coming along this track in company with Hockins and Ebony. While seated at breakfast I saw Rafaravavy walk in this direction, and somehow I took it into my head that you would surely meet her here--I know not why I thought so, unless it be that in like circ.u.mstances I myself would have acted the same part--so I hastened on in advance to warn you. Hus.h.!.+ do you not hear their steps?"

"Forgive me," said Ravonino, extending his hand, and grasping that of his friend. Then, speaking low and hurriedly, "You are in favour at Court. Will you befriend her?"

"I will. You may depend on me!"

There was no time for more. Already it was almost too late, for the guide had barely disappeared in the thicket when his comrades and the Secretary appeared.

"Hallo! doctor," exclaimed Hockins, "was ye arter a pretty girl that you bolted so, all of a sudden?"

"Yes, I was," answered Mark promptly. "I saw one of the Queen's ladies come in this direction and ran after her! I suppose there is no harm in that, Mr Secretary? You don't forbid men to look at your women, do you, like the Arabs?"

"Certainly not," replied the Secretary, with a slight smile and a ceremonial bow.

"Come, then, let us follow the track, we may yet meet her."

So saying, Mark led the way along the path where Rafaravavy had vanished, not for the purpose of overtaking her, but in order to give his friend time and opportunity to get out of the thicket unperceived.

On the evening of that same day, after the garden festivities were over, Queen Ranavalona sat in her palace with a frown on her brow, for, despite her determination and frequent commands, the Christians in the town still persisted in holding secret meetings for wors.h.i.+p. Those who knew her moods saw plainly that she was fanning the smouldering fires of anger, and that it needed but a small matter to cause them to burst out into a devouring flame.

While she was in this critical frame of mind an influential courtier appeared before her. He seemed to be greatly excited.

"Madam," he said, "I request that a bright and sharp spear may be brought to me!"

Somewhat surprised at the nature of the request, the Queen asked to know the reason.

"Madam," continued the courtier, "I cannot but see with grief the dishonour that is done, not only to our idols but to the memory of your own predecessors, by the doctrines of these foreigners. Our ancient customs are being destroyed and the new faith is spreading on every hand. All this is but preparatory to the invasion of Madagascar by Europeans; and, as I would rather die than see my Queen and country so disgraced, I ask for a spear to pierce my heart before the evil day arrives."

This speech had a powerful effect on the Queen. She began to regard Christianity as not merely a sacrilege, but a political offence; for were not people learning to despise the idols of their forefathers and to cease praying to the royal ancestors, by whom the kingdom had been established, and under whom the country had become great and powerful?

Might they not eventually despise herself and learn to treat their living sovereign with contempt?

For some time Ranavalona remained silent, leaning her forehead on her hand. Suddenly she looked up with a flushed countenance.

"It is true--all true," she said. "When I was carried along in procession to-day did I not hear these Christians singing one of their hated hymns? They will not cease till some of them lose their heads.

Have you got with you the formal accusation that was made before my chief judge yesterday?"

"No, madam, I have not."

"Go. Fetch it and read it to me."

The courtier bowed, left the apartment, and speedily returned with a paper containing the accusations referred to. Unfolding it, he read as follows:--

"First. The Christians are accused of despising the idols. Second.

They are always praying. Third. They will not swear, but merely affirm. Fourth. Their women are chaste. Fifth. They are of one mind with regard to their religion. Sixth. They observe the Sabbath as a sacred day."

Strange to say, this catalogue of so-called accusations deeply affected the queen with grief and rage.

"I swear," she said, with flas.h.i.+ng eyes and clenched hands, "that I will root out this religion of the Europeans if it should cost the life of every Christian in the land! Go. Leave me!"

For a fortnight subsequent to this the palace and Court appeared as if in mourning for some public calamity. No band played; no amus.e.m.e.nts were allowed, and a dread of impending evil seemed to weigh upon the spirits of all cla.s.ses. During this time, also, measures were taken to effect the final destruction, as far as possible, of all that had been done in the country by the teaching of the missionaries and their converts.

At last the storm burst. A Kabary, or immense general a.s.sembly of the nation, was called by proclamation at the capital. The people were only too well aware of what this signified to doubt that the Queen was thoroughly in earnest and in one of her worst moods. With trembling hearts they hastened to obey the summons.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

A GREAT KABARY IS HELD, FOLLOWED BY DREADFUL MARTYRDOMS.

No rank or age was exempt from attendance at the great a.s.sembly.

Soldiers were sent about the city and suburbs to drive the people towards the place of a.s.sembly near the palace, and the living stream continued to pour onwards until many thousand souls were gathered together at Imahamasina.