The Flaming Sword: being an account of the ... adventures ... of Dr. Percival in the wilds of Africa. Written by Himself

Preface

When first the suggestion was made to me that I should write an account of my adventures and discoveries, I declined to entertain the idea for a moment. I had sufficient and to spare of this world's goods. " Why, then," I said, " should I seek to augment my income by becoming an author? " It was then represented to me that the publication of the facts which I possessed was a duty I owed to my fellow-creatures, inasmuch as the publication of these facts would settle a much-disputed point as to the situation of one of the most interesting spots on earth. The matter assumed quite another aspect when viewed in this light ; and, after due consideration, I resolved, in the interest of truth, to lay all the facts in my possession before the public. I may be accused of undue haste in the

PREFACE.

. VI opening chapters, of passing with scant ceremony from one scene to another. This was done to avoid tediousness in that portion of the work, which, however necessary, does not form the piece de resistance of this history. Another reason I have for writing, which is, that by these means I shall supply an answer to the numerous inquiries, "why I, who was at one time a sceptic, now accept the Scriptures, and find in religion my supreme delight, my joy on earth, and my hope for eternity ". C. PERCIVAL, M.D. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Copy of a Manuscript, i II. The Lost Key, io III. The Key Discovered, 21 IV. The Dark Continent 30 V. We are Prisoners, 43 VI. The Dance ofthe Demons, .... 52 VII. "Ubossi," 65 VIII. Wooing and Warring, 73 IX. The March to the Battle-field, ... 89 X. Before the Battle, 97 XI.

A Bloody Battle, 102 XII. A Grim and Ghastly Spectacle, . . . 113 XIII. Death or Victory 117 XIV. The Baptism of Blood, .... 124 XV. After the Battle, 136 XVI. Our Journey Resumed, .... 144 XVII. Adventures on the River, .... 157 XVIII. A Hairbreadth Escape 169 XIX. Cannibals or Cut-throats, .... 187 XX. A Clever Ruse, 198 XXI. Marvellous Story told by the Recluse, . 208 XXII. Desert and Disappointment, . . . 227 XXIII. From Darkness to Light, .... 236 XXIV. Across the Desert 246 XXV. " The Flaming Sword," .... 265 XXVI. Investigation and Discoveries, . . . 280 XXVII. Explanations 295 XXVIII. The Last, IHE FLAMING SWORD.

Chapter I. Copy Of

A MANUSCRIPT IN THE POSSESSION OF DR. PERCIVAL. My name is John Hall. Of my childhood I shall say nothing : it is only necessary for me to state that the restraints of home were so distasteful to me that at an early age I left my parents and ran away to sea. After spending many years in wandering over the globe I had the misfortune to be wrecked on an uninhabited coast. Although we managed to save ample provisions from the ship, I, accompanied by several equally reckless spirits, resolved to make our way into the interior of the country in search of adventure. In vain did the captain remonstrate. Providing ourselves with arms and such provisions as could be spared, we set out on our expedition. It is not necessary that I should give an account of the adventures which befel us. We had our share of these.

Twice i were we taken prisoners by natives ; besides in numerable escapes from wild beasts ; several times we were nearly perishing through thirst ; so that when after wandering for many months, after passing through a country inhabited by a one legged race, we arrived at the edge of a vast desert, only three out of the six who had started were left ; the others had succumbed to the hardships of the way. We held a consultation as to what course we had better pursue. To cross the desert was out of the question ; to turn back was to expose ourselves to perils similar to those we had already passed through. As we were discussing the matter, night came on and brought with it a solution of our difficulty ; for scarcely had the sun sunk below the horizon, than right in front of us, across the desert, we saw a brilliant light.

It appeared to be several miles away, and from its brilliancy we concluded there must be a large town in flames. Our course of action was decided at once. " Go straight for the light" was our unanimous cry ; and straight for the light we went. As its brightness rapidly increased, we concluded we should soon reach it ; but after walking several hours we found we had miscalculated the distance. Still on we went ; though the brightness had ceased to increase, the flame now shone steadily. Just before dawn one of my companions remarked that it was going out. Such was indeed the case ; it gradually diminished, so that when morning broke, it alto gether disappeared. Consternation now seized hold of us, for we had walked all night to reach an object which had disappeared at break of day. I thought of a story I had read when a boy, in the Arabian Nights, of a polished roof which shone in the sunlight like a fire.

But this was invisible during daylight, and only to be seen at night, and perhaps not then, as it may have burned itself out if it were a fire. We soon decided that the best thing we could do was to return the same way we had come. Sick at heart, we began to retrace our steps : we had walked the whole of the night, and calculated we had covered between twenty and thirty miles. Slowly we dragged our weary feet along ; while the sun, rising higher and higher, darted down its burning rays upon our defenceless heads. Foot sore with our exertions of the previous night we made but slow progress ; in fact, darkness was upon us as we reached the edge of the desert, from whence we had started the night previous. With a sigh of relief we turned round to review the waste we had traversed ; when there, shining as on the previous night, was the light.

As the sun sank lower it increased in brilliancy, until it shone as brightly as ever. From this we concluded it must be an enormous distance from us, as the miles we had walked during the night appeared to make no perceptible difference. Our curiosity was now raised to the highest pitch ; we therefore resolved to rest ourselves during the night, procure the necessary provisions the following day, ready to set out the moment the light appeared. Little did we imagine the difficulties of our undertaking ! The next day, having filled our water bottles and procured an ample supply of provisions, when evening drew on, and the light again appeared, we set out. Our curiosity, now thoroughly roused, spurred us onward, so that we reached our former halting-place fully an hour earlier than on that occasion.

The light, which had been shining brightly, soon after began to wane, disappearing altogether when the sun arose. And now began our trials : the sun ceased not to pour down upon us his scorching rays, until I feared we should be overcome. Thankful were we that we possessed water, and doubly thankful when soon after we spied a clump of trees, beneath the welcome shade of which we passed the rest of the day. As night came on the light became visible, and we, refreshed by repose, arose and pursued our trackless way. But, to avoid repetition, on the fourth day we reached the dried-up bed of a river, which, being on our line of march, we continued our way beside. We considered it fortunate that we did so, for we discovered great quantities of gold and precious stones along the embankment. We were now about to experience a terrible calamity.

Our supply of water became exhausted, and we soon began to experience the torments of thirst. On the fifth day one of my friends was so exhausted that lying down on the sand, he prayed us to leave him. This we would by no means consent to do, helping him on as best we could ; but our progress was necessarily slow. The light had now become so dazzling in its intensity that it was painful to look upon. The sixth day our sick comrade breathed his last, and was buried in the sand. For some time we had heard a roaring sound which led us to suppose we were near a waterfall : to our great joy such proved to be the case, and shortly after interring our dead friend we reached it. The waters presented a curious sight, as they rushed down an enormous chasm into the earth. In a very short time we were drinking at the stream above, which speedily put new life into us.

We rested here until evening, when the mysterious light shone so brightly that all around was lighted up like day ; in fact, so dazzling grew the light, that we were unable to face it, we should have been struck blind. When morning dawned the sun appeared to counteract this blinding influence, which to be realised must be seen. It is not possible to describe it by word or pen. We walked this day (the seventh) as fast as we could, and before the sun went down we had approached so near that we could distinguish shapes in the fire. My com panion, who appeared to be quite dazed, now refused to move a step forward, declaring that he should go mad if he attempted it. To tell the truth, I was but little better myself, for never was light on earth seen so dazzling. We read of a darkness that could be felt, and really this was a light which we seemed to feel.

As I looked at it I plainly saw what appeared to be human forms enveloped in this brilliant flame, while over their heads a long shaft of still greater brilliancy was plainly discernible. I thought at first that my brain must have been turned by the heat of the sun ; but everything was so plain, and other things appeared so natural, that I was completely mys tified. As darkness increased, I quite plainly distinguished the shapes of men in the fire, but what the more brilliant object overhead was I could not imagine. My companion now called to me that if I delayed longer he should go back alone. Anxious as I was to learn more, I had no wish to go alone ; neither did I wish to have the blood of a fellow creature on my hands ; as he would soon have lost his senses, and perhaps his life, had he gone further : I was obliged, therefore, much against my will, to return.

We had taken the water bottle of our dead friend ; and this, together with our own, we filled at the stream, in which we caught a quantity of fish. All being ready we set out on our return journey ; and, to shorten a long story, we safely crossed the desert in seven days. Thankful we were once more to reach the welcome shelter of the trees. We had seen enough of adventure, and began our journey back to the coast. On our way we had the misfortune to fall into the hands of a company of natives, who stripped us of all we possessed, our gold and precious stones, in fact they left us nearly naked. In this miserable plight we made our way to the shore, which we followed until we reached a native village. Here we were hos pitably received ; the natives telling us that they traded with the white people, and that they intended setting out with a load of ivory, wood, and skins to the nearest seaport town, in the course of a few days.

We readily obtained permission to accompany them ; but on the way, to my great grief, I lost my companion. He had complained of pains in his head the whole of our return journey. I believe his brain was affected, and that his death was due to the influence of the mysterious light. With a sad heart, I made a shallow grave, and then resumed the journey. At last we reached our destination, and here I had the good fortune to obtain a berth on board a vessel bound for England ; where I arrived to find most of my relations dead and the rest gone I knew not where. This did not affect me so much as it at one time would ; for, to tell the truth, my mind was so taken up with the sights I had seen that it would dwell on nothing else. To solve the mystery I would gladly sacrifice my life. In fact, it is my intention to set out again at the earliest opportunity to fathom the meaning or perish in the attempt.

On the preceding page is a map of the route we took ; but lest it fall into unscrupulous hands, the necessary instruc tions are written in cypher, the key to which I alone possess, and which shall, in case I die before I go there, be buried with me. John Hall.

Chapter II. The Mystery Of The Golden Key

SUCH were the extraordinary contents of the manuscript which I obtained from an old sailor whom I had professionally attended. To describe my feelings after making myself master of the wonderful story would be impossible. The more I pondered the greater became my perplexity ; the map and hieroglyphics only serving to increase the mystery. After several fruitless attempts to read the mystic characters, I gave up the attempt and retired for the night. Long did I lie awake, thinking over the strange story I had read ; and when at last I fell asleep, my rest was broken by terrible dreams of flaming vampires and fiery ghouls. The day following I paid the old sailor a visit, in the hopes of obtaining from him the key by which I could understand the map. To my dis may he greeted me with a vacant stare and a burst of idiotic laughter.

His mind was so evidently unhinged that to try and obtain the information I required was hopeless, in his present state. I gave directions for his treatment before I left, which I confess I did with feelings of disappointment. As I walked home the thought occurred to me that perhaps the story I had read was nothing else but the concoctions of the frenzied brain of a madman ; though I was compelled to admit that there was an earnestness and realistic style about it which carried a conviction of its truth. I read the account through once more, in the hope of finding some flaw which would stamp the whole story as a fabrication ; but everything was so lucid that I began to regard it as a truth, and to experience some of the enthusiasm of the writer, to set out and explore the mystery. As I read of his determination to succeed or die, I made another attempt to discover the meaning of the hiero glyphics.

I stuck manfully to the task, bestowing all my spare time on it. I sat up the whole of the night : everything else I laid aside, and gave my self wholly to unravel the mysterious characters. I continued at it for days, my patients were neglected and my patience well-nigh exhausted. It was all in vain ; by the end of a week I had done simply nothing, and knew no more than when I began. However, I stuck bravely to my self imposed task. I made a copy of the various characters, which were thirty-five in number. What they represented I could not find out. Whether each was a letter or only a word I knew not. The fact that the characters (if characters they were) were not arranged into words added greatly to the difficulty. I regularly visited the old seaman, but his mind remained perfectly blank ; in fact, his end appeared to be rapidly drawing near.

I remembered he had said that when he died the key would be buried with him : my only hope therefore of getting at the secret was to obtain possession of this key. Perhaps he meant that the key or answer was written on his mind, and as such would be buried with him. I gave directions that I was to be communicated with should reason return, no matter at what hour it might be : but days passed on without change ; his body still lingered, his mind was gone. All this time I stuck closely to my task, until I felt the forms were burning themselves into my brain. My appetite was completely broken up, and my general health seriously impaired. Time after time did I resolve to give up the task, but some thing seemed to urge me forward. My eyes became unsteady, trembling fits would seize me, I became the ghost of my former self.

While in this miserable state I received a message that John Hall had recovered his senses, and was anxious to see me. Never did physician respond with greater alacrity to the summons of a nobleman. I feared that this was but the momentary recovery of reason which so frequently precedes death. The moment I set my eyes on him I saw that such was the case, —his hour had come. No sooner did he recognise me than he said : " Doctor, you did your best for me, but Death has run me down at last. I should die content but for one thing." " Name it," I said eagerly, thinking it was some thing relating to the key. " Can I help you ? " Fixing his glassy eye upon me, he said : — " You can help me greatly, you can comfort the last hours of a dying man. Promise me, doctor, that I shall not have a pauper's funeral."

I gave him the desired promise, though his request differed greatly from what I expected. With a look of gratitude he extended to me his bony hand. " God bless and reward you for what you have promised, doctor ! " he said. " To show my gratitude I will reveal to you the secret of the " Here he was interrupted by a violent fit of coughing, which, when past, left him panting, breathless and exhausted, on the pillow. I saw him make an effort to speak, the lips moved, but no sound came forth. Eagerly I bent forward in the hope of catching his last words ; but all was silent. Once more he essayed to speak, but in vain. His eyes assumed a glazed and fixed appearance. I heard the death-rattle in his throat, another moment and all would be over ; the beat ing of his heart was scarcely perceptible.

Suddenly with a spasmodic effort he raised himself into a sitting posture, and, fixing his stony gaze upon me, he exclaimed in a voice I shall never forget — " The Golden Key ! " He then abruptly stopped, still, however, keeping his gaze fixed on my face. Yes," I said, "the golden key." " Is lost for ever ! " said the dying man, at the same time falling back lifeless on the pillow. Yes ! the old seaman, John Hall, was dead ; and with him the key, as with his last breath he had stated, was (to all appearance) gone for ever. The hope I had entertained was thus taken away ; the cup snatched from my grasp at the very moment I was going to drink. To say that I was overcome but ill describes my state. I was completely prostrated. In my misery I turned to the manu script, taking a hair from the dog that had bitten me.

I stuck to it closer than ever ; all day and all night did I spend in fruitless attempts to under stand its meaning. This could not last long, and on the third day I was found lying on the study floor in a state of insensibility. Medical aid was at once procured ; and I was ordered to take a change of air and complete mental rest. Unless the latter advice were followed, I should soon be the inmate of an asylum or the grave ; so said my medical adviser, andfinished by recommend ing Bournemouth as a suitable place. I knew full well he spoke the truth ; and, having no desire to become the inmate of an asylum or a grave, I acted on his advice. Accompanied by my servant, I took up my quarters at the Exeter Hotel, where I experienced every comfort. The salubrity of this charming resort worked wonders.

By the end of four weeks few would have recognised in my robust and upright figure the valetudinarian who had so recently arrived. By the end of six weeks I had regained my lost health, though in doing so I lost that which I found I was unable to recover. Must I confess it, reader, I, who for thirty-seven years had steered clear of the shoals of matrimony, was at last led captive by the silken cords of love ! Nothing romantic about it either : I did not rush into the foaming tide and save the lady's life at the risk of my own ; neither did I save her from the clutches of a brutal villain,Tor savage animal, in imitation of the knights of old ; I did none of these. I simply encountered an old college friend, Gerald Fairbank, who introduced me to his sister. I was greatly pleased to meet my friend, who invited me to his home and introduced me to his wife and sister, with what result the reader already knows.

Ah ! those were happy hours, happy days, happy weeks ! All too swiftly they sped ; but as the moments flew, we were not idle. Not a day passed without a visit on one side or the other ; and, oh the walks we took together ; increasing the distance as my health returned. One day it would be a walk through Branksome Chine, another we would go for a ramble through Talbot Woods. One day we went for a stroll on the sands. Never shall I forget that happy time, for did it not mark the commencement of a new era in my life ? We stood gazing over the blue waters ; not a ripple stirred the placid expanse of the deep. On our right stood out the bold outline of the Old Harry rocks ; while the Needles and Christchurch Bay, with the sombre walls of its ancient abbey frowning in the distance, appeared on our left.

We had known each other for a few weeks only, but what of that ? Amid such lovely surroundings our love had budded, flowered, and ripened at a speed unknown to less genial skies. We set out as friends ; we returned affianced lovers. Oh ! lovely Bournemouth ! how my thoughts return to thee, the evergreen valley of the south ! Fain would I have lingered amid thy shady bowers ; but duty said I must not stay, my time of de parture had arrived. I found a letter awaiting my return ; my locutn tenens wrote to say he should no longer be able to perform my duties, as his services were required elsewhere. With an aching heart I bade my kind friends farewell. I must draw a veil over the parting of Constance and myself. There are scenes much too sacred to reveal to the public gaze. We ex changed vows of eternal constancy and undying devotion ; then, after one long last clasp, I tore myself away.

I reached home, but how can I describe my feelings ? I felt isolated and lonely. I had told Constance the cause of my illness, and before we parted she extracted a promise from me that I would for the future abstain from attempting to read the hieroglyphics. As I thought of the cypher I recalled to mind the promise I had made poor Hall on his death-bed, that I would attend to his funeral. I had been so absorbed in my mad work that I had thought no more of my promise. Ringing for my servant I inquired of him could he tell me what had been done with the old sailor, John Hall, whom I had attended before my illness. Receiving no answer : " Speak, man ! " I said. " What are you waiting for?" " I hardly like to tell you, sir," he answered ; " for the truth is, he being very poor, and having no re lations, his body was sold to the surgeons at the local hospital for dissecting purposes."

I was greatly shocked at this intelligence, as my conscience reproached me for having failed to per form my promise to the dying man. To divert my thoughts from so painful a subject I commenced scanning the columns of the newspaper, not per ceiving it was an old one. Glancing carelessly through it, the following paragraph caught my eye : — "A Strange Hiding-Place. " As the surgeons of Macclebury Hospital were dissecting the body of a subject, they made a most curious discovery. Imbedded in the flesh of the arm was a small cylinder of gold, which on opening a cap at the end, was found to contain a roll of fine parchment. This was covered with strange figures, interspersed with English letters. Their meaning is unknown, as is also the reason for using so strange a hiding-place." I did not regard this passage at the time as in any way connected with myself ; but the same even ing I happened to meet one of the surgeons of this same hospital with whom I was acquainted.

After congratulating me on my return, and a few remarks had been made, he said : — " By the way, doctor, did you not take a deep interest in the old man in whose arm we found the metal case? Was he a friend of yours?" "What man do you refer to?" I inquired, for I had forgotten the account I had read that morn ing. " The man, John Hall," was the answer. " It was from his arm we took the case." A light began to dawn on my mind ; could it possibly be? — but of course it could not ; the thing was too absurd to be thought of seriously. I therefore merely replied I had taken a professional interest in the man ; at the same time I should be pleased with any information he could give me respecting the writing. "The best plan would be to come and see for yourself," said he. " The museum is closed now, but come any time you are passing."

This I promised to do, and as it was getting late I bade my friend good-night. Seated in my study, ruminating over the events of the day, I could not help being struck by the discovery, and I wondered I had thought no more of it when first I heard of it. Yes, it must be so ; the old man had spoken of the golden key being buried with him, and no doubt it would have been, but for the fact that he never was buried. The more I thought of the matter, the deeper grew my conviction that at last I was on the right track. Could it be that after my long and futile attempts to find it, kind fate had placed it within my reach without the asking ? My eagerness to settle the matter was so great that nothing but the lateness of the hour prevented my setting out for the hospital that night.

Chapter III. The Key Discovered

I SET out for the hospital the following morning, bent on finding the truth. In my eagerness, which partook of boyishness, I started before breakfast, neither should I have been able to do justice to it in my agitated state. But why, the reader asks, was I so anxious to unfold the mysteries of the hieroglyphic ? I may as well admit at once that I had fully made up my mind to set out and discover the cause of the wonderful light mentioned in the manuscript. I knew I should have no peace of mind until I succeeded, or exhausted every possibility of so doing. I was so fortunate as to meet the surgeon whom I had seen the preceding day, who expressed surprise at my early call for so small a matter. "If the case contains what I have reason to believe it does," I made answer, "you will have greater reason to be surprised by my future con duct."

We entered the museum, the case was soon in my hands, which began to shake with excitement. I managed to remove the top, and shook out a small roll of parchment. My excitement was now intense. At last I had the key in my possession. Would it unlock the mystery ? I spread out the parchment, and this is what was revealed to my eager eyes. No sooner did I see what it contained than I became perfectly calm ; that the marks were similar to those in the manuscript I saw at a glance ; full well I knew their shape, the weeks I had pored over them had fixed them indelibly on my mind. To apply the key, the "open sesame," was all that was necessary to lay bare the secret. The surgeons questioned me as to the cause of my agitation, but I only gave equivocal answers. All I desired was to return and decipher the writing.