<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></SPAN>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2>
<h3>THE MYSTERIOUS REALM.</h3>
<p><span class="smcap">So</span> unsteady was the ladder, straining and springing at
every step I took, that I was compelled to grip its wet
cords with all the strength of which I was capable. It
swayed to and fro fearfully, and more than once I
dreaded that I should lose my hold and fall backwards
to earth.</p>
<p>Omar above me, lithe and active as a cat, climbed on,
chaffing me for my tardy progress, and now and then
halting and mischievously shaking the ladder to increase
my fear. The higher I ascended the more strongly
blew the wind, until it whistled in the thin ropes and
blew through my scanty clothing, chilling my bones.
My hands and feet were bruised and sore from
the previous day's descent, nevertheless I thought not
of pain, only of peril. The climb was long and tedious.
Even Omar, who had commenced by running up like a
squirrel in his eagerness to gain the land from which he
had so long been absent, was soon compelled to pause
and steady himself, or he would assuredly have been
jerked from his insecure position.</p>
<p>The ten men plodding up after us seemed to be
keeping step, causing the ladder to spring fearfully each
time they ascended the next rung. Omar, himself fearing
disaster, at last called to them, but jabbering among
themselves in the highest spirits, each eager to set foot
in the land of mystery, they took no heed of their guide's
instructions.</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/132.png">132</SPAN>]</span>
"You fools!" he cried angrily. "Climb slowly and
with care. Don't jump so. We're not on a spring-board."</p>
<p>Useless. We still went up and down like a ball at the
end of a piece of elastic.</p>
<p>"Do you hear?" he shrieked in the Dagomba
tongue, halting and looking down at the string of
grinning blacks. "Halt!"</p>
<p>This sudden stoppage attracted their attention, and in
mid-air he soundly rated them for their folly, instructing
them how to ascend, and declaring that if they continued
their hilarious progress a fearful disaster must ensue.
These words immediately had the desired effect, for
which I confess I was very thankful, as I had feared
every moment that we should be dashed into the valley,
and now as we went forward again the ladder was much
steadier.</p>
<p>From far below we could hear the distant shouts
of Kona and our excited companions encouraging us
and urging us on, for they were all impatience to follow
us. Now and then the great grey vultures, having gorged
themselves to their full upon the corpses in the valley,
circled around us as if ready to tear us from our perilous
position, and more than once I saw Omar raise his arm
to beat them off. We were, I suppose, passing near
their nests and thus aroused their ire.</p>
<p>Looking up, I saw that we were slowly approaching
the beetling portion of the enormous rock, but had yet
a long distance to climb. Steadily, however, we all
ascended, each grasping the wet slippery cords tightly to
prevent being blown off by the high gusty wind, and
even when we gained the jutting rock believing we had
attained the summit, we found ourselves still fully two<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/133.png">133</SPAN>]</span>
hundred feet from where Babila could be seen peering
over awaiting us.</p>
<p>The ladder laying upon the face of the cliff at this
point was much easier of ascent, for the weight of the
portion below me prevented it from swaying, and by
scrambling up with increased haste I soon found myself
immediately behind Omar.</p>
<p>Then continuing steadily, now and then being compelled
to bend backwards in a most perilous position
in order to negotiate a projecting piece of rock, we
together climbed up to the edge of the fearful precipice,
each being lent a willing hand by Babila as we
swarmed upon our knees to where he stood.</p>
<p>"Welcome, O Prince," the old man exclaimed,
salaaming when Omar stood before him. "Welcome to
thy white friend from beyond the great black water."</p>
<p>In an instant from a thousand throats rose cries of
adulation, and looking around I saw that drawn up
before us was a great concourse of fighting-men. Some
were mounted on magnificent chargers, others were on
foot, and among them were many silken banners each
bearing the same device, a black vampire bat with wings
outspread upon a crimson ground. Each soldier was
similarly attired to Babila, with white embroidered robe and
girdle, and each carried a rifle and a long curved sword.</p>
<p>Babila was evidently a great man in the estimation of
all others, for whatever he did the soldiers imitated.
In appearance they had the advantage of all coloured
and most white races. As a rule they seemed very tall,
well set up, with well-formed limbs covered with an almost
white skin, the texture of which would excite envy in
the heart of many a European beauty. The features
had nothing in common with the coarse negro type<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/134.png">134</SPAN>]</span>
which prevailed in the forest and over the grass-lands,
but rather inclined towards a Semitic type. Thick lips
were the exception, not the rule, and a broad flat nose
was also a rarity. The only sign of barbarity was in the
hair which, when the head was not clean shaven, was
allowed to grow straight out in every direction, giving a
very wild appearance to its owner. The hair of some,
however, seemed to be softer, for it hung down to the
nape of the neck in long, closely-curled ringlets. The
women, a few of whom were watching us curiously, were
all comely, and, attired in long white robes of a more
elaborate pattern than the men, had their hair enclosed
in a dark blue fillet, a difference in the disposition of the
latter distinguishing between a married and an unmarried
woman.</p>
<p>A great tent of yellow silk had been erected near,
presumably for our accommodation. Over it waved the
hideous-looking vampire bat, and as led by Babila with
frequent prostrations we entered it, I asked Omar the
meaning of the sable device.</p>
<p>"It is the royal mark of the Sanoms, the same as the
lion and the unicorn is the crest of your great Queen.
The black vampire is the guardian fetish of our throne."</p>
<p>On entering, Omar walked to a raised daïs whereon
two stools were placed, and taking one invited me to
the other. Then, while awaiting the arrival of our companions,
food was brought to us, and we ate and drank
to our full, Babila himself attending to our wants personally.
Neither were our companions forgotten, for
they were arranged around the tent, and squatting upon
their haunches ate and jabbered to their hearts' content.</p>
<p>It was highly amusing to watch the interest with which
the natives regarded the stolid soldiers of Mo, who stood<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/135.png">135</SPAN>]</span>
in long lines, motionless as statues. They went close
up to them, examined them from head to foot, drew the
sword from its sheath, handled it and tried its edge with
a grunt of satisfaction. Then they would replace it,
finger the accoutrements, examine carefully what they
thought might be gold, and at last, folding their arms,
would stand silent, awe-stricken at the whole effect of
the unknown race.</p>
<p>The denizens of this mysterious country, however,
seemed to regard our natives with supercilious disdain.
Probably their contempt had been engendered by the
fact that certain tribes had on several occasions
attempted an invasion, and they had from their formidable
heights simply swept them out of existence
as easily as a fly may be crushed with the finger. When
looking at the handsome women, the enormous mouths
of the Dagombas would widen into broad grins which,
intended to convey an expression of delight, in reality
rendered them hideous.</p>
<p>For three hours we remained in the tent, sheltered
from the sun's glaring heat, while parties of a dozen of
our followers continued to arrive. It was Omar's intention
to enter the capital with the whole of our faithful
band, otherwise he would have started immediately we
had gained the summit. Babila urged him to do so, but
he expressed a desire that Kona and his heroic blacks
should accompany us.</p>
<p>At last the whole of the party had gained the top of
the rock and had refreshed themselves after their toil and
peril; the rope ladder with its hidden electric wires had
been hauled up, and, headed by men blowing loud blasts
upon great horns of ivory and gold, we all moved forward,
a most imposing and magnificent cavalcade.</p>
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/136.png">136</SPAN>]</span>
Both Omar and myself had been mounted on fine
milk-white horses with gay trappings of silver and royal
blue, while behind us came Kona with a very unsteady
seat upon a long raw-boned stallion. He was evidently
not used to horses, and the way he clutched at the mane
each time his animal trotted convulsed both his men
and the soldiers in the vicinity with laughter.</p>
<p>A shady march of two days in a north-westerly direction
up the bank of a babbling stream brought us to
higher land. The journey was uneventful, the country
being devoid of both game and people. We saw old
traces of habitation, it is true, but the people seemed to
have been driven away or killed, leaving only the empty
stone-built houses. From the hill on the side of which
we pitched our camp a marvellous view was obtainable.
To the north a black forest extended as far as the eye
could reach, broken only by three small hills that served
as landmarks. To the west rolled some giant snow-capped
mountains, while the range whereon we stood
was a low, stone-covered stretch of round-topped hills,
flanked by thick mimosa jungle and filled with
rhinoceros. Wherever we went, we found traces of
them, their feeding ground being apparently restricted
to a very small area. Never having been hunted, they
probably found no reason to leave such excellent
pasture, and it was little wonder that Kona and his
men were anxious to remain behind and commit havoc
amongst them.</p>
<p>On the third day we encamped near a most extraordinary
place. It was a small valley about thirty-five
feet below the surrounding ground, looking like the dry
bed of a stream, and was about a mile in circumference.</p>
<p>"Come, I want to show you Zomara's Wrath," Omar<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/137.png">137</SPAN>]</span>
said, and dismounting we went together towards it, notwithstanding
the loud cries of warning that arose on
every side. A dog—a lean, hungry, strange-looking
brute, who accompanied the troops—bounded after us,
and as we approached the place I noticed a suffocating
smell, and was attacked by nausea and giddiness. A
belt of this fœtid atmosphere surrounded the valley.
We, however, passed through it, and in purer air, with
hands still over my nose and mouth, was permitted to
view the awful spectacle—for it was awful.</p>
<p>The entire bed of the valley seemed like one solid
rock, but scattered over the barren floor were skeletons
of men, wild hogs, deer, rhinoceros, lions, and all kinds
of birds and smaller animals. I could discover no hole
or crevice in any place whence the poisonous fumes
were emitted. I was anxious to reach the bottom of the
valley, if possible, but my suggestion was at once
negatived by my companion, who said:</p>
<p>"To go further is certain death. Come, let us return
quickly, or we may be overpowered. This is one of the
natural wonders of our land."</p>
<p>I determined, however, to see what the fumes smelled
like, and, greatly to Omar's horror, started to descend.
The dog was with me, and as soon as he saw me step
over the side of the bank he rushed down ahead of me.</p>
<p>I endeavoured to call him back, but too late. As
soon as the animal reached the rocky bed below he fell
upon his side.</p>
<p>He continued to breathe a few moments only, then
expired.</p>
<hr class="full" />
<p><span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></SPAN>[<SPAN href="./images/138.png">138</SPAN>]</span></p>
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