United States or Malawi ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Evidently, he told himself, he was a personage of such dignity and consequence that he must not be looked at by profane eyes while dressing. Smiling to himself at the absurdity of the whole adventure, he quickly proceeded with his toilet, obsequiously assisted by the faithful Arima; and when at length he was dressed, a word from Arima caused the escort to rise to their feet.
He then took measures to have the same thing done in the other towns of his fief, and he seconded the preachers of the Gospel so well in everything else that he could flatter himself that he soon would not have one single idolater in his states." This fanatical "Prince Andrew" survived his baptism by two years only, but during that time twenty thousand converts were made in Arima.
Realising at length that no information was to be obtained from these people, Arima passed from the palace into the grounds, making his way, in the first instance, down to the shore of the lake, for the purpose of satisfying himself beyond all possibility of question whether or not there was any foundation for his first surmise, that Escombe had risen early and left the palace without waiting for him.
He reminded them of how he, Tiahuana, had conducted Arima into the presence of the Council of Seven and caused him to relate his story to them; of the scepticism with which that story had been received, of the difficulty which he had encountered in persuading the Council that it was their duty to permit him, as High Priest, to sift the story and ascertain how far it was true; and how, having at length secured their somewhat reluctant consent, he had triumphantly accomplished his mission and now had the duty and pleasure to present them to the divine Manco, promised of Heaven as the deliverer and restorer of the Peruvian nation.
Uttering a strangled cry, he let go of the steering-wheel and clutched at the choking arm that held him; he could not break the grip. Meanwhile Orme reached for the steering-wheel with his free arm. But Arima, kicking frantically, struck the wheel with his foot, just as Orme was about to seize it. The car turned sharply to one side. Into the ditch it plunged.
"What's goin' on here?" he demanded. Arima stopped in his tracks. To Orme, at this moment, came the memory of the girl's desire to avoid publicity. "Nothing wrong," he said. The policeman stared. "I've been watchin' you from over there," he said. "It looks like nothin' wrong, with men fighting all over the ground." "Just a little trial of strength," explained Orme. "Trial of strength, hey?"
Next day, like the 'Young Muleteers of Grenada, a good song which often haunted me in those days, 'With morning's earliest twinkle Again we are up and gone, with two horses, two mules, and a Negro and a Coolie carrying our scanty luggage in Arima baskets: but not without an expression of pity from the Negro who cleaned my boots. 'Where were we going? To the east coast.
Then, turning to Arima, he said, in the same language: "Say you, Arima, that this youth always wears the collar upon his person, night and day?" "Even so, Lord," answered Arima.
It all depended upon what part of the next room Arima was in; but the window seemed safer, for the opening and closing of the door would be sure to attract attention. Orme moved toward the window slowly, watching the opening through which Arima had disappeared. He got half-way to the window; three more steps would bring him to the sill. And then, without warning, Arima leaped into the room.
Maku and the man at his other side were taken completely by surprise, and before they had time to recover themselves, Orme had thrown his arms around them and crushed their heads together with such force that they dropped limp and unconscious to the ground. They were out of the fight. At the first sounds of struggle, Arima turned.
Word Of The Day