Heart of the World
.pdf
HEART OF THE WORLD
size till it narrowed into a small passage, and Maya sighed aloud, fearing lest she should be coming to the mouth of a second shaft, for she had heard me say that the water in these cuevas was sometimes found at a depth of five or six hundred feet, whereas she had not descended more than two hundred.
When she had walked another ten or fifteen paces, however, the passage took a sudden turn and her doubts were set at rest, for there in the centre of a wonderful place, such as she had never seen before, gleamed the water which she had risked her life to reach.
How large the place where she found herself might be Maya never knew, since the feeble light of her torch did not pierce far into the gloom. All that she could see was a number of white columns – without doubt stalactites, though she imagined them to have been fashioned by man – rising from the floor of the cavern to its roof, and in the midst of them a circular pit, thirty feet or more across, in which lay the water. This water, though clear as crystal, was not still, for once in every few seconds a great bubble three or four feet in diameter rose in the centre of the pool, to burst on its surface and send a ring of ripples to the rocky sides. So beautiful was this bubble and so regular its appearance that for some minutes Maya watched it; then, remembering that she had no time to spare, she set herself to get the water, only to learn that she was confronted by a new difficulty and one which but for her foresight might have proved insuperable. The rock bank of the pool was so smooth, and sloped so steeply to the water, that it was quite impossible for anyone to keep a footing on it. The ancients had overcome the trouble by means of a wooden staircase, as
211
H. RIDER HAGGARD
was evident from the places hollowed in the rock to receive the uprights, but this structure had long since rotted away. At the head of where this staircase had stood, a hole was bored in the rock, doubtless to receive a rope by which the water-bearers supported themselves while they filled their jars, and the sight of this hole gave Maya a thought. Untying the cord which she had brought with her, she made it fast through the hole, and, having fixed the torch into one of the spaces hollowed to hold the timbers of the stairway, she slid down the bank till she stood breast high in the water.
For a minute or more she remained thus, drinking her fill and enjoying the coolness of her bath, which was pleasing after the stupefying heat of the caves, then, first having taken care to remove the tinder that was tied to it, she slipped the waterskin from her shoulder, washed it out, filled and replaced it. Next she dragged herself up the bank, and by the light of a new torch started for the foot of the shaft.
Here Maya rested awhile, gathering up her energies, then, feeling that once more she began to grow afraid, she commenced the ascent. There were a hundred and one of the notches, for she had counted them as she came down, and now again she began to count, so that she might know her exact position in the shaft, of which she could see nothing because of the intense darkness. Before she had ascended fifty steps she was dismayed to find a feeling of weariness taking possession of her, which forced her to pause awhile hanging to the face of the pit. Then she went on again and with great efforts reached the seventy-fifth step, where once more she was obliged to hang, gaining breath, till a pain in her right leg,
212
HEART OF THE WORLD
upon which most of her weight rested, warned her that she must stay no longer. For the third time she struggled upwards, desperately and despairingly dragging her feet from niche to niche. Her breath came in gasps, the straps of the heavy wa- ter-skin cut into her tender flesh, and her brain began to reel.
Now there were but ten more steps. It came into her mind that she might save herself by loosing the burden of water from her shoulders, to fall to the bottom of the pit, but this she would not do. Now only three niches remained and the goal would be won, but now also her brain was giving. Darker and more bewildered it grew, yet by a desperate effort she kept some fragment of her sense. Her foot was in the topmost hole, her body was balanced upon the edge of the pit, and, pulled down by the choking weight of the water, she was like to fall backwards. Then it seemed that a voice called her, and for the last time she struggled, writhing forward as does a wounded snake, till darkness closed in upon her mind.
When Maya recovered a while later, she found that she was lying on the edge of the shaft, over which her feet still hung. Instantly she remembered all, and, with a little scream of terror, drew herself along the floor. Then with difficulty, for she was still breathless, and her muscles seemed to have no strength, she rose to her feet, and having felt for and picked up her linen robe, she crept towards the spot of light which marked the entrance to the cave. Presently she was through it, and with a sigh of thankfulness sank to the earth and put on her garment, then, rising, she walked slowly towards the camp, bearing the precious water with her.
213
H. RIDER HAGGARD
Meanwhile, knowing nothing of all this, I, Ignatio, also had been thinking. I remembered how, when I lay crushed beneath the rock, the señor had ventured his life to save me. Should I not then venture mine to save his? It seemed so. Without water he would certainly die, and greatly as I dreaded to attempt the descent of the cueva, yet it must be done. Leaving the hammock, I searched for the Lady Maya, but could not find her, so I called aloud – «Señora, señora. Where are you, señora?»
«Here», she answered. «What is it? Is he dead?»
«No», I said, «but I am sure that unless he has water he will die within little more than an hour. Therefore I have made up my mind to try to descend the cueva. Will you be so good as to watch the señor till I return, and if I return no more, as is probable, to tell your father what has happened. He will find the talisman of the Broken Heart lying with my clothes at the mouth of the pit. I pray that he will take it, and I pray also that he should travel back to Mexico, bearing with him some of the wealth of his city, there to continue the great work that I have begun, of which I have spoken to him. Farewell, señora».
«Stop, Don Ignatio», said Maya in a hoarse voice, «there is no need for you to descend the cueva».
«Why not, Lady? I should be glad to escape the task, but this is a question of life or death».
«Yes», she answered, «and because it is a question of life or death, Don Ignatio, I have already climbed that hideous place, and – here is the water» – and she fell forward and swooned upon the ground.
I said nothing. I was too much amazed, and, indeed, too much ashamed, to speak. Lifting Maya’s senseless form, I placed
214
HEART OF THE WORLD
her in a hammock that was slung close by. Then I took the wa- ter-skin and a leather cup, and ran with it to my friend’s side. By now the señor was lost in a coma and lay still, only moaning from time to time. Undoing the mouth of the skin, I poured out a cupful of water, with which I began to sprinkle his brow and to moisten his cracked lips. At the touch and smell of the fluid a change came over the face of the dying man, the empty look left it, and the eyes opened.
«That was water», he muttered, «I can taste it». Then he saw the cup, and the sight seemed to give him a sudden strength, for he stretched out his arms and, snatching it from my hand, he drained it in three gulps.
«More», he gasped, «more».
But as yet I would give him no more, though he prayed for it piteously, and when I did allow him to drink again it was in sips only. For an hour he sipped thus till at length even his thirst was partially satisfied, and the shrunken cheeks began to fill out and the dull eyes to brighten.
«That water has saved my life», he whispered; «where did it come from?»
«I will tell you to-morrow», I answered; «sleep now if you can».
CHAPTER XIII
IGNATIO’S OATH
At sunrise on the following day I lit a fire by which to prepare soup for the señor, who still slept, and as I was engaged thus I saw the Lady Maya walking towards me, and noticed that her hands and feet were swollen.
«Señora», I said, bowing before her, «I humbly congratulate you upon your courage and your escape from great dangers. Last night I said words to you in my grief that should not have been spoken, for it is my fault that I am apt to be unjust to women. I crave your pardon, and I will add that if, in atonement for my past injustice, I can serve you in any way now and afterwards, I pray you to command me».
She listened and answered:
«I thank you for your kind words, Don Ignatio, and I forget other words that were not kind which you have spoken to me from time to time. If in truth you wish to show yourself my friend, it is in your power to do so. You have guessed my secret, therefore I am not ashamed to repeat that the señor yonder has become everything to me, though as yet I may be little to him. I ask you, then, to swear upon the Heart that you will do nothing to turn him from me, or to separate us should he ever learn to love me, but rather, should this come about, that
216
HEART OF THE WORLD
whatever may be our need, you will help us by all means in your reach».
«You ask me to swear a large oath, señora, and one that deals with the future, of which we have no knowledge», I answered, hesitating.
«I do, señor, but remember that were it not for me at this moment your friend, who sleeps yonder like a child, would be stiff in death. Remember also that you have ends to gain in the City of the Heart, where it will be well for you to keep me as a friend should we ever live to reach it. Still, do not swear unless you wish, only then I shall know that you are my secret enemy and I shall be yours».
«There is no need to threaten me, señora», I answered, «nor am I to be moved thus, but I promise that I will not stand between you and the señor. Why should I? His will is his own, and, as you say, you saved his life. But see, he awakes, and his soup is ready».
She took the pot off the fire, skimmed it, and poured the contents into a gourd.
«Shall I take it, or will you?» she asked.
«I think that you had better take it», I answered.
Then she walked to the hammock and said, «Señor, here is your soup».
He was but newly awakened, and looked at her vacantly. «Tell me, Maya», he asked, «what has happened?»
«Last evening», she began, «in picking a flower for me you were bitten by a snake, and very nearly died».
«I know», he answered. «Without doubt I should have died had you not sucked the wound and tied a bandage round
217
H. RIDER HAGGARD
my wrist, for that grey snake is the deadliest in the country. Go on».
«After the danger of the poison was past you became thirsty, so thirsty that you were dying of it, and there was no water to give you».
«Yes, yes», he said, «it was agony; I pray that I may never suffer so again. But I drank water and lived. Who brought it to me?»
«My father started on to the next camping-place, where there is a pool», she answered.
«Has he returned?» «No, not yet».
«Then he cannot have brought the water. Where did it come from?»
«It came from the cueva, that cave which we examined before you were bitten».
«Who went down the cueva to get it? The place is unclimbable».
«I went down».
«You!» he said, in amazement. «You! It is not possible. Do not jest. Tell me the truth quickly. I am tired».
«I am not jesting. Listen, señor. You were dying for want of water, dying before our eyes; it was horrible to see. I could not bear it, and I knew that my father would not be back in time, so I took the water-skin and some torches and went without saying anything to Ignatio. The shaft was hard to climb, and the adventure strange. I will tell you of that by and by, but as it chanced I came through it safely to find Ignatio about to start on the same errand».
218
HEART OF THE WORLD
The señor heard and understood, but he made no answer; he only stretched out his arms towards her, and there and thus in the wilderness did they plight their troth.
«Remember that I am but an Indian girl», she murmured presently, «and you are one of the white lords of the earth. Is it well that you should love me?»
«It is well», he answered, «for you are the noblest woman that I have known, and you have saved my life».
Zibalbay did not return till past midday, when he appeared with the water, leading the mule, which had set its foot upon a sharp stone in the desert and gone lame.
«Does he still live?» he asked of Maya. «Yes, father».
«He must be strong, then», he whispered; «I thought that thirst would have killed him ere now».
«He has had water, father. I descended the cueva and fetched it», she added, after a moment’s pause.
The old man looked at her amazed.
«How came it that you found courage to go down that place, daughter?» he asked at length.
«The desire to save a friend gave me courage», she answered, letting her eyes fall beneath his gaze. «I knew that you could not be back in time, so I went».
Zibalbay pondered awhile, then said:
«I think that you would have done better to let him die, daughter, for I believe that this white man will bring trouble upon us. It has pleased the gods to preserve you alive; remem-
219
H. RIDER HAGGARD
ber, then, that your life belongs to them, and that you must follow the path which they have chosen, not that which you would choose for yourself. Remember also that one waits you in the city yonder who may have a word to say as to your friendship with this wanderer». And he passed on with the mule.
That same evening Maya told me of her father’s words and said:
«I think that before all is done I shall need the help that you have sworn to give me, señor, for I can see well that my father will be against me unless my wish runs with his purpose. Of one thing I am sure, that my life is my own and not a possession of the gods; for in such gods as my father worships and I was brought up to serve, I have lost faith, if indeed I ever had any».
«You speak rashly», I answered, «and if you are wise you will not let your father hear such words».
«Lest by and by my life should be forfeit to the gods whom I blaspheme!» she broke in. «Say, then, do you believe in these gods, Don Ignatio?»
«No, Lady, I am a Christian and have no part with idols or those who worship them».
«I understand; it is only in their wealth that you would have part. Well, and why should I not become a Christian also? I have learned something of your faith from the señor yonder, and see that it is great and pure, and full of comfort for us mortals».
«May grace be given to you to follow in that road, Lady, but it is not Christian to taunt me about the wealth which I come
220