Elrad the Hic. A romance of the Sea of Galilee

Front matter

PRidE imti aMiLii-iirHVit. WBte. -m»D-e Milllll A ROMANCE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE. BY JOSEPH HOCKING, AUTHOR OF " From London to Damascus," "Gideon Strong: Plebeian," &c. VARU, LOCK & Co., London, New York, & Melbourne. 1278. PslAPIII IMF " iSatTan6pareiitCEMENTofinfiniteutility fornll Broken UUHuULlIlL Articles, etc. Its adhesiveness and tenacity are truly —— —— —— — — extraordinary. KAY'S COMPOUND ESSENCE of Linseed, Aniseed, Senega, Squill, Tolu, etc., with CHLOKOOYNE, is a valuable Eemedy of proven efficacy for Coughs • and Colds, etc.— Price 9id., Is. ljd., 2s. 9d., 4s. 6d., etc. KAY'S TIC PILLS are a pure Nerve Tonic and Tic Specific ; the best form ot administering the Quinine, Iron, and other Tonics of which they are composed.— Price 9!jd., 1b. ljd., 2s. 9d. KAY'S LINUM CATHARTICUM PILLS are a new form of Aperient, suitable for Digestive Disorders.— Price 9id., Is. ljd., 2s. 9d. LINSEED^LOZENGES are simply a solidified Linseed Tea, which may be taken in any quantity by Children and Adults as a Sweetmeat, being both demulcent and nourishing.— Packets, 6d. CJjLO^O-LINSEJED COUGH LOZENGES, a medicated Linseed Extract, are an Anodyne Expectorant. — Packets, Cd.

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Preface

. g5f|™3|HIS Preface is only written to make some US BEN explanations winch may be of interest to the reader. In the spring of last year, I had, what I regard as a great privilege. I had the pleasure of spending some time in Palestine. Of that time I do not intend to speak, save to say this : — I had been sailing, one day, with some others, on the far-famed Sea of Galilee, when one of my com panions, not an Englishman, seeking to show his superiority, I suppose, over the Arabs, behaved very rudely to the captain of our boat. This was a young man of about twenty-two years of age, and was, without exception, the most striking figure I have ever seen. Tall, and extremely strong, he was yet lithe and graceful, while his well-formed PUl-FACE. face and black, flashing eyes, presented an appearance that reminded me of the old Norman knights of romance.

He started up from his seat at my companion's rudeness, and would, I believe, had he not been restrained, have thrown him into the sea. This, of course, drew my attention to him, and, on inquiry, some curious revelations took place. I found that he belonged to a strange aud wonderful sect, and that he was the chief of his people. Of the beliefs, legends, and peculiarities of that sect I have tried to speak in my story, and, as far as I kuow, I have faithfully portrayed them. I have, also, tried to enter into the life and feeling of the inhabitants ofthe East, and to present them in true colours. They are a remarkable people, full of romance and mystery — so much so, that I can assure the reader that those scenes, which may appear sensational and unreal, are under rather than overdrawn. Many of the Eastern characters are taken from living models, and may, doubtless, be found to-day among the hills which surround " sweet Galilee." With these few words, I leave you to my story. JOSEPH HOCKING. Thornton Heath, near London, July, 1889. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

the death op elrad the elder. l^^s'T some distance from the town of Tiberius, Wsk^fl there stood, a few years ago, a group of huts ™*^ surrounded bya low, roughly -built wall. This wall was evidently not built as a means of defence, but rather as an enclosure of property, as if the huts belonged to some family or clan. Looked at from a distance, an ordinary European would be led to think it was a homestead for a single family, but on entering, he would find that a considerable number of people lived there, huddled together without thinking of the laws of health or decency. On the night that my story opens, a wild-eyed, dark-faced man came out of the largest of the huts, and rushed from one doorway to another, rapidly uttering words to the men who sat smoking iu stolid silence, as if glad their day's work was over.

At no single house in the enclosure did he omit to call, and at each one he uttered the same words, uttered them in a kind of despairing shriek, as though all hope were gone. Evidently, too, the message was of importance, for each man, as he heard it, hastily rose from the fireside — for it was early spring, and the nights were cold — and went to the house from which the man had come. Here a solemn sight met their gaze. An old man, who must once have been gigantic in size and Herculean in strength, lay in the corner of the room dying. There was no mistaking it. A film was beginning to creep over his large black eyes, the cold sweat lay on his high, prominent forehead. His hair was almost snowy white, his beard, of the same colour, almost reached his waist. Even in death there was a rugged power about him ; he had been the leader, the chief of these men who lived near him.

Ever and anon he looked about tho room, and keenly scrutinized the faces of the men who stood silently around. At length he spoke. " Are all the men of our clan here ? " he said. " All but one," said the wild-eyed man who had acted as messenger. "Aud who is that one ? " " Elrad the Straight." THE DEATH OP ELRAD THE ELDER. 11 "What," said the old man, " Elrad, my son's son not here ? " " No," said the man, with a sinister glitter in his eye, "he went away three hours ago. I sent my son to seek for him, but he could not find him. He grows careless." " Elrad careless ? nay, not so, and yet, it has ever been that those in whom I have trusted have failed me. You have always been his enemy, and he will be here soon; even now I hear his footstep." As he spoke, two men entered. The one was old, and dressed as an Arab doctor, the other was a youth of striking appearance.

He might be about twenty years old, and his dark skin was ruddy with the glow of health. His form was tall and muscular, every limb was supple and perfectly proportioned, but the charm of his person lay in his coal-black eyes, which shone like two stars, and the well-cut mouth, which betrayed strength and determination. There was no youth in the clan who dared to trifle with Elrad, no maiden who did not hope to obtain his affections. Without noticing the crowd of men who gathered around the dying man's couch, he went up to him, leading his companion with him. "Grandfather," he said, "I have sailed across the lake to the other encampment of our clan, and brought their doctor. I could not bear that you should be without the good medicine ho prepares." " Elrad, medicine avails not now. The stream of my life has nearly run out.

It is not many hours now before I shall sleep with my fathers. Is it not so ? " he said, turning to the doctor. "You have spoken truly," said the doctor. " And yet," continued the old man, "it is well you have come, for, perchance, you can give me strength to say what I must say before I go to see what lies beyond the life that is here. Elrad, remain close by, so that I may hold your hand as I go away into the unknown." The doctor silently prepared a strong stimulant, which the old man eagerly swallowed, and then turning to the assembled members of his clan : " My sons," he said, " I who have been your leader through long years, am about to leave you. When I was the age of Elrad we numbered five times the men we now number, but they either died without their wives bearing children, or else they became women, and forsook the faith of their fathers.

But you, I believe, are still faithful. Each of you knows the story of the god of our clan. You know that two hundred and fifty years after the carpenter of Nazareth died, and long before the Arabian camel-driver gathered his armies together, our god arose from the midst of the sea. He lived THE DEATH OF ELRAD THE ELDER. among the people, he healed the sick, he restored the blighted corn, and gave the people great draughts of fishes. He told the people what to do, how many wives to have, and how to treat their neighbours, and promised them if they would obey him they should have a glorious heaven when they died. You all know what lies in store for the faithful ; and as a proof that he was a god, he did not die, for he took his faithful followers one dark night out into the sea, and told them as he came from tho sea to them, he would likewise depart from them into it.

And when they reached the deepest part, the waves formed a deep cavern, and he de scended, and as he did so, those who loved him saw the paradise of the faithful. Before he went he promised to come again, and then when he came, the faithful should be kings of the earth, but those who were not should be consumed with fire. You all know this, and believe this ? " The men all bowed assent. Tie old man lifted himself up, and for a minute his eyes burned with their old fire. " I feel," he said, " that his second coming will be soon. Yes, I know that Hie will soon appear. Listen ; the death dew is upon my brow, by the death dew on the broyv of your chief, promise to be true to your faith." Instantly the men all replied — " By the death dew that stands on the brow of our chief we promise to be faithful."

" Remember this : it is a law of the clan, that whosoever marries a woman without the -clan, is a traitor. Promise never to take a wife outside our faithful people." " We promise," replied the men. "It is also a law, that whosoever is false shall be banished from you ; will you be true to that ? " " We will be true," was the answer. " Then the blessing of your dying chief be upon you, for you are all brave and faithful." Eor a few seconds the old man was silent, then he spoke again — " I have been chief for fifty years, and now I must go whither my fathers have gone. My son is dead, but my son's son lives to reign in my stead. Elrad, you have heard my words ? " " I have heard," replied the youth. " The laws that are binding on them are thrice binding on you, for you are of the line of chieftains, you are to be the head of the clan.

It is our law, that if any man prove faithless, and act contra dictory to our god's teaching, he be banished ; but if a chief do so, he must die. For although you are at the head of your tribe, if there is ought against you, they shall judge you and condemn you. Do you hear ? " TnE DEATH OF ELRAD THE ELDER. " I hear," said tho youth, solemnly. "You will obey the laws of our religion ?" " I will obey." " You will not marry outside our clan." " I shall never marry. At least, I think not. But should I wish to marry, who may be my wife ? " " Only the wemen who belong to my family. Ibram, who stands there, is my brother's son. He has a daughter whom you must wed." Instantly, the man who had acted as messenger, and had spoken of Elrad, eagerly listened for his reply. " Must wed, whether I wish or no ?

" " Yes ; must wed, if you will be true." " When ? " " As soon as I am gone." Elrad was silent. "And, besides," continued the old man, "you, as the chieftain of our clan, the head of those who alone have the true faith, are to hold no com munication with Jews, Christians, or Moham medans. All these will be burnt up when our god appears, wherever they may be found. So reads our sacred book ; only those who believe in him who arose out of the water, and who descended into the water, who was never born, and never saw death, will enter paradise. All others will be burnt with the fire that never ceases. You are to be the enemy of all but these. Promise." Still Elrad was silent. "They are waiting to take ycu as their chief. Kneel, my sons. Now, Elrad, son of my son, promise." Every eye was fixed upon him, for they felt it to be an important time in their history.

Only two in the room were alive when Elrad the Elder, who now lay dying, was made chief; but they remembered how he promised, with his hand in his dying father's hand, to be true, and now Elrad the Younger, Elrad the Straight, was to take his grandsire's place. " I promise," said Elrad at length, " to be true to the faith of my fathers, and to be at enmity with the enemies of my religion. If I prove false, may I forfeit the paradise promised to the faithful, and may my people's anger be kindled against me." " My blessing be upon thee," said the old man. "If thou art faithful, thou shalt be blessed indeed, blessed in life and blessed in death ; but if thou art false, thy people shall take thy life, and thou shalt be cursed by the founder of our faith, and Yusef, son of Ibram, shall be chief in your stead."

The dying man turned to those around him. "If Elrad the Straight is faithful, you will obey him," he said. THE DEATH OF ELRAD THE ELDER. 17 " We will obey him," they responded. " But if he prove false, he must die." He must die ! " they repeated, and Ibram uttered tho words savagely. " Then," said the old man, " I am ready to go, my work is done." He lay back on his couch, while the film that covered his eyes became thicker. For a long time he was motionless, then his lips moved, and he essayed to speak ; but the words refused to come. By and by, however, he seemed to have a moment's strength; he looked up to Elrad who held his hands, and said, "I go to my fathers, and Elrad, Elrad the Straight, my son's son, is chief in my stead." Then his hands relaxed, he heaved a deep sigh, and the old chief was no more.

Chapter II. The Angel In White

0 sooner had the spirit departed from the old chief, than, one by one, the members of his clan prostrated themselves before his dead body, uttered strange incoherent words, and departed, until Elrad and Ibram alone remained. " Call in the women that they may watch by him," said Elrad to his uncle. Ibram looked at him strangely, his wolf-like eye glittering with a passion that was evidently surging in his breast. "Why call the women, Elrad the Straight? Surely, as the young chief, you will watch by your grandsire's bier." " I want to be alone, Ibram, and, if I am chief, it is for you to obey." " True, but by our law, I am exempt, and that for many reasons." " How ? " " First, I am the late chief's brother's son ; and come from a line of chiefs. Second, thou hast promised to wed my daughter, Ogla, and as thy wife's father, I in some things command ; and, third, if thou dost prove faithless, or die, either I or my son will be chief in your stead, as the people may dictate.

Surely it will be well for us to talk of our future together, instead of your leaving the house and going away alone. You wed my daughter soon, let us speak of that." "No, I cannot. This is no time to talk of marriage, or giving in marriage. Besides, it is the custom for the women to watch for six hours after death, and I would be alone." He went to the door and uttered two words aloud, and instantly three women came from an adjoining hut and entered the room where the dead chief lay. Then Elrad put on a turban like unto those generally worn by his clan, and went away into the night. No sooner had he gone than Ibram with noiseless steps followed him. " I like not his looks," he muttered. " He scorns me and mine, and has done from a child. He hates Ogla, my daughter, and treats my son Yusef as the dust under his feet.

The chief in his love for him would have made him take his place without exacting the usual promises, but I have conquered in that ; and now if he is not faithful, he shall die. Ay, and he should die now, but that Ogla loves him, and I will spare him for her sake.'' Meanwhile Elrad went away alone. At first he knew not whither, his mind was filled with a thousand strange fancies, and he wandered aimlessly. Presently, however, he found himself on a path by the lake side, and in this he slowly walked towards the ruins of ancient Capurnaum. The clouds which a few hours before had over shadowed the sky, had gone, the moon had risen ; and as she sailed majestically in the heavens, the lake and the surrounding hills were made won drously beautiful by her presence. Those who have not seen the Sea of Galilee cannot form the slightest conception as to its beauty on a moonlit night, neither can words convey to the mind any adequate idea concerning it.

Even Elrad, reared as he had been within the sight of the sea, was strangely moved as he looked at the scene this night. Away on the eastern side of the waters, he could see the great high hills, grey and rugged, towering up into the sky, and in their silent majesty they looked to him like solemn sentinels keeping guard. The water, even at night-time, was constantly changing colour, as though some magician had power over it, and changed it according to his varied moods. At one time it was purple, then it would turn to red, and green, and again it would appear as black as ink, and look forbidding and terrible. To Elrad, the lake at each change of colour told a new story. When the waters were red, he fancied them to be inhabited by light happy spirits, which sported in their glee, and told him joyful tidings of the spirit world ; but when they were black, ghastly creatures seemed to move along the surface and tell him of dire desolation and misery.

Then, too, the wind as it is played along the waters, sometimes made enchanting music, as soft and as sweet as a mother's song to her weary child, and, again, it uttered sounds like the wails of lost souls. The wild birds, too, as they skimmed a long, made strange noises, which, as they mingled with the music of the shepherds' pipes as they played among the hills, wrought upon his exited nerves. After walking for some little time he stood upon the banks of the lake, while the tiny wavelets rippled at his feet, and as he stood the events of the night flashed across his mind. "And so I am chief of my sect," he muttered. " But what is it worth ? We are poor, and weak, and few, and get less year by year. Because our men never marry outside our own clan, our children are sickly. Ever since my childhood I have heard of our god, who came out of the waters and went into the waters, who was never born and never died, who will come again to reward the faithful ; but what proof have we that it is true ?

We believe that he is to rise out of those waters, glittering and grand, and gather the faithful together, and make them kings in the world of spirits, while those who believe him not will be burned. It is hard for those who do not believe, and yet there are great countries in the west who have never heard of our god. What of them ? But I have promised to be faithful, and even as I promised my heart misgave me. And then, too, I must marry Ogla, daugher of Ibram, and be an enemy to all other sects. I shuddered as I was made chief, for I seemed to stand on a high rock, and was going to plunge into a dark chasm. Can I, shall I be true, I wonder ? " He had scarcely uttered the words, when he heard a scream, like the scream ofa woman. He was now at some distance from tho town of Tiberias, some distance, indeed, from his own en campment, the place was lonely and drear.

Who was it that screamed ? These thoughts had scarcely flashed through his mind, when there was another scream louder than before. Instantly he forgot his promise to regard those not belonging to his sect as enemies, and, rushing towards the spot from whence the sound came, saw a young girl struggling with two Arab youths. She uttered words unknown to Elrad, but he could see from her gestures that she struggled to be free. " Let her go," shouted Elrad. The youths looked up, and seeing only one man, they laughed him to scorn. " She has baeksheesh, and she is alone," they chuckled. " Do you know her ? " he said. " She is English," they replied, "and all Eng lish are rich. Come, you shall share all that we take from her." " Help me," said the girl in Arabic. " My servants have left me, and I am alone."

" I will," answered he. " Drop her arm," he said sternly, turning to the youths. " We will not, we are two to one, and she has a plenty of baeksheesh, all the English have. Who are you? " All the chivalry in Elrad's nature was aroused. He abhorred the idea that a defenceless woman should be assaulted by these brutal men. "Who am I?" he said; "I am Elrad the Straight, chief of the Hies. Drop her arm, else, though you are two, I will thrash you like dogs," and he made a bound towards them. Instantly the Mohammedan youths fled. Evidently the prowess of Elrad was known among them, and, like the cowards they were, they feared the strong hand of a man, while they would assault a defenceless woman. When they had gone, he turned and looked at his companion. Hitherto, he had been too excited tD think who or what she was, but now, as the bright moon shone, revealing her features, he saw a creature unlike anyone he had ever seen before.

To him this was no woman, but a goddess. The only women he had ever seen were the Arab women, nearly all of whom were ugly, dirty, and frightfully tattooed. She who stood before him was as fair as an angel ; with golden hair, and dressed as she was in spotless white, looked to him more like an inhabitant of the spirit land than a mortal creature. For a minute he felt afraid. Educated as he had been to believe in heavenly visions, ay, even to expect them, he thought she had come to tell him news from the invisible world. It is true he could not discern every feature clearly, for although moonlight in Palestine is very bright, it was not sufficiently so for that, but he could see a face that to him was glorious in its beauty. The charm that held him was broken, however, by her voice. " Thank you," she said.

" I ought not to have come out, but I wanted to stand en the ruins of Capurnaum by moonlight, and I took two servants with me, but they left me saying they heard some one calling them, and they had scarcely gone before these two came, and asked me for my money." She spoke the Arabic tongue hesitatingly, but easily made herself understood to Elrad. Poor Elrad ! He knew not what to say. He had not cared to talk with the women of his sect, they were mere drudges, who bore the brunt of life, and he never regarded them as worthy of his attention. He could talk to men fluently enough, and spoke with a rough eloquence, but now he was brought face to face with this woman alone by the calm lake, his thoughts had become confused. " I am very glad I came out," he stammered at length. " My grandfather died to-night, he was chief of the Hies, and I came out to be alone and think.

Where is he, I wonder ? I suppose tho sea has swallowed up his spirit." " He is with the Great Father of us all," she said, quietly ; " but I must go home, it grows late." He was startled at this. He had been in a kind of dreamland. He had come away from the scene of his grandfather's death, sad at heart, with a kind of dread as to the future. As he had looked at the sea, and listened to its sounds as the night winds swept over it, it had told him about the spirit land, but while he had been looking at what was to him ELRAD THE HIC. a vision of beauty, he had forgotten it all. The sighing winds told him no longer of a spirit land, but rather seemed to murmur strange songs to him. All was confused and dizzy, until she said she must go home, then his mind became clearer. "You may be molested again," he said, "let me walk behind you.

No one shall harm you then. My arm is strong. I can defend you. All men fear me, Elrad the Straight." She looked up at him as if she admired his delicate attention, and thanked him for his goodness. " I shall be glad if you will," she said. " I am a little afraid — I ought not to be here alone, but I thought the servants were to be trusted, and so " She did not finish the sentence, for Elrad had moved away a few yards, and had pulled up a young sapling by its roots, and began paring it with a huge knife. " There are many thieves around," he said. "I would never steal, because I was the son of the son of the chief, but I did not think it wrong till now. But be not afraid. I will guard you as you walk." They started on their journey. She about a dozen yards ahead of him, and he following with stately step behind.

He did not know who she was, but he could not help following to guard her. He seemed to be dreaming a strange but beautiful dream, and dreaded to wake and find himself alone. On they went, silently, and slowly. She evidently afraid of her guide even while she trusted him, he looking in every direction as if in fear that robbers should suddenly pounce upon them. At length she spoke. " Do you live in Tiberias ? " she said. "No, I live with my people in our own settle ment. I am chief of my people." He felt proud of this now. Proud to tell the lady that he was not of the common horde, that he did not mingle with the rabble that she would see in the town. For tho first time, too, he felt ashamed of his coarse attire. Had he known that he would have met her he would have clothed himself in the best he had.