United States or Guadeloupe ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
To the amazement of Mark and his friends he took what is familiarly known as a "header" through the window a la harlequin and disappeared. To the still greater amazement of Mark and his friends, Laihova instantly followed suit, without a word of explanation! Indeed there was no time for that.
These last were not delivered from their chains, but lived in hourly expectation of being led out to execution. After Ra-Ruth's removal, Laihova was at first overwhelmed with despair, but when a friendly jailor informed him of her having been spared under the supposition that she was insane, hope revived a little, though he could not help seeing that the prospect ahead was still very black.
Had the youth been an ordinary man the warning would have been too late, for close on the heels of the messenger came the soldiers with his death-warrant. But Laihova was gifted with cool courage and unusual speed of foot.
We had all hoped that you would arrive together. A messenger who has just come did indeed tell us that you had been separated from them, but all supposed that you would easily overtake them." "True, sister, but I over-shot them. That has been the way of it," returned Laihova, regretfully.
Ebony ran after him from sympathy. Mark Breezy followed from the natural desire to keep by his comrades, and back them up, while Laihova followed no doubt from good-fellowship! They soon came upon the poor man, who was completely naked, bruised and bleeding, and surrounded by a crowd of youths, who were deliberately stoning him as if he were a dangerous animal or a mad dog.
It was a sad occasion when they met in the house of their old guide Ravonino, to spend the last evening with him and Rafaravavy, and Laihova, and Ra-Ruth, Reni-Mamba and her husband, Voalavo, Soa, Totosy, the Secretary, and other friends, but it was also a time of pleasant communing about days that seemed so long past, although so recent.
Just as they came up he had uncovered the face of Ravonino, who had been buried alive, and was already as pale as if he were dead. "Have they killed him?" gasped Laihova, as he dropped on his knees with the others, and began to dig. "No they do not kill when the sentence is to bury alive," said the Secretary, "but no doubt he is half-suffocated."
But this latter way lays us open to the danger of meeting with soldiers, and of my being captured along with my friend Laihova. There would be no danger to you and your friends, for you are strangers." "Ravonino," said Mark, quickly, "do what is best for rescuing Rafaravavy. We have no will but yours. We will follow wherever you choose to lead."
When the torches were relighted the men and women assembled round Ravonino with looks little less solemn than those of the soldiers who had just taken their departure. "Surely," said the handsome young man whom we have already introduced, "surely God has wrought a miracle and sent an angel's voice for our deliverance." "Not so, Laihova," replied Ravonino, with a slight smile.
Of course the people nearest them took special note of the two Englishmen, and some were inquisitive, but, by telling the simple facts regarding their arrival in Madagascar, Laihova removed any unpleasant suspicions that might have arisen regarding them.
Word Of The Day