The Brass Bell; or The Chariot of Death, Page 2

  CHAPTER II.

  IN THE LION'S DEN.

  The night passed. When the next day drew to its close Albinik and Meroehad traversed all the burnt country, from Vannes to the mouth of theLoire, which they were now approaching. At sunset they came to a fork inthe road.

  "Of these two ways, which shall we take?" mused Albinik. "One ought totake us toward the camp of Caesar, the other away from it."

  Reflecting an instant, the young woman answered:

  "Climb yonder oak. The camp fires will show us our route."

  "True," said the mariner, and confident in his agility he was about toclamber up the tree. But stopping, he added: "I forgot that I have butone hand left. I cannot climb."

  The face of the young woman saddened as she replied:

  "You are suffering, Albinik? Alas, you, thus mutilated!"

  "Is the sea-wolf[3] caught without a lure?"

  "No."

  "Let the fishing be good," answered Albinik, "and I shall not regrethaving given my hand for bait."

  The young woman sighed, and after looking at the tree a minute, said toher husband:

  "Come, then, put your back to the trunk. I'll step in the hollow of yourhand, then onto your shoulder, and from your shoulder I can reach thatlarge branch overhead."

  "Fearless and devoted! You are always the dear wife of my heart, true asmy sister Hena is a saint," tenderly answered Albinik, and steadyinghimself against the tree, he took in his hand the little foot of hiscompanion. With his good arm he supported his wife while she placed herfoot on his shoulder. Thence she reached the first large bough. Then,mounting from branch to branch, she gained the top of the oak. Arrivedthere, Meroe cast her eyes abroad, and saw towards the south, under agroup of seven stars, the gleam of several fires. She descended, nimbleas a bird, and at last, putting her feet on the mariner's shoulder, wason the ground with one bound, saying:

  "We must go towards the south, in the direction of those seven stars.That way lie the fires of Caesar's camp."

  "Let us take that road, then," returned the sailor, indicating thenarrower of the two ways, and the two travelers pursued their journey.After a few steps, the young woman halted. She seemed to be searching inher garments.

  "What is the matter, Meroe?"

  "In climbing the tree, I've let my poniard drop. It must have worked outof the belt I was carrying it in, under my blouse."

  "By Hesus; we must get that poniard back," said Albinik, retracing hissteps toward the tree. "You have need of a weapon, and this one mybrother Mikael forged and tempered himself. It will pierce a sheet ofcopper."

  "Oh; I shall find it, Albinik. In that well-tempered little blade ofsteel one has an answer for all, and in all languages."

  After some search up the foot of the oak, Meroe found her poniard. Itwas cased in a sheath hardly as long as a hen's feather, and not muchthicker. Meroe fastened it anew under her blouse, and started again onthe road with her husband. After some little travel along desertedpaths, the two arrived at a plain. They heard far in the distance thegreat roar of the sea. On a hill they saw the lights of many fires.

  "There, at last, is the camp of Caesar," said Albinik, stopping short,"the den of the lion."

  "The den of the scourge of Gaul. Come, come, the evening is slippingaway."

  "Meroe, the moment has come."

  "Do you hesitate now?"

  "It is too late. But I would prefer a fair fight under the open heavens,vessel to vessel, soldier to soldier, sword to sword. Ah, Meroe, for us,Gauls, who despise ambuscade or cowardice, and hang brass bells on theiron of our lances to warn the enemy of our approach, to comehere--traitorously!"

  "Traitorously!" exclaimed the young woman. "And to oppress a freepeople--is that loyalty? To reduce the inhabitants to slavery, to exilethem by herds with iron collars on their necks--is that loyalty? Tomassacre old men and children, to deliver the women and virgins to thelust of soldiers--is that loyalty? And now, you would hesitate, afterhaving marched a whole day and night by the lights of the conflagration,through the midst of those smoking ruins which were caused by the horrorof Roman oppression? No! No! to exterminate savage beasts, all means aregood, the trap as well as the boar-spear. Hesitate? Hesitate? Answer,Albinik. Without mentioning your voluntary mutilation, withoutmentioning the dangers which we brave in entering this camp--shall wenot be, if Hesus aids our project, the first victims of that greatsacrifice which we are going to make to the Gods? Come, believe me; hewho gives his life has nothing to blush for. By the love which I bearyou, by the virgin blood of your sister Hena, I have at this moment, Iswear to you, the consciousness of fulfilling a holy duty. Come, come,the evening is passing."

  "What Meroe, the just and valiant, finds to be just and valiant, must beso," said Albinik, pressing his companion to his breast.

  "Yes, yes, to exterminate savage beasts all means are good, the trap aswell as the spear. Who gives his life has no cause to blush. Come!"

  The couple hastened their pace toward the lights of the camp of Caesar.After a few moments, they heard close at hand, resounding on the earth,the measured tread of several soldiers, and the clashing of their swordson their iron armor. Presently they distinguished the invaders' redcrested helmets glittering in the moonlight.

  "They are the soldiers of the guard, who keep vigil around the camp,"said Albinik. "Let us go to them."

  Soon the travelers reached the Roman soldiers, by whom they wereimmediately surrounded. Albinik, who had learned in the Roman tonguethese only words: "We are Breton Gauls; we would speak with Caesar,"addressed them to his captors; but these, learning from Albinik's ownadmission that he and his companion were of the provinces that had risenin arms, forthwith took them prisoners, and treated them as such. Theybound them, and conducted them to the camp.

  Albinik and Meroe were first taken to one of the gates of theentrenchment. Beside the gate, they saw, a cruel warning, five largewooden crosses. On each one of these a Gallic seaman was crucified, hisclothes stained with blood. The light of the moon illuminated thecorpses.

  "They have not deceived us," said Albinik in a low voice to hiscompanion. "The pilots have been crucified after having undergonefrightful tortures, rather than pilot the fleet of Caesar along thecoast of Brittany."

  "To make them undergo torture, and death on the cross," flashed backMeroe, "is that loyalty! Would you still hesitate? Will you still speakof 'treachery'?"

  Albinik answered not a word, but in the dark he pressed his companion'shand. Brought before the officer who commanded the post, the marinerrepeated the only words which he knew in the Roman tongue:

  "We are Breton Gauls; we would speak with Caesar." In these times ofwar, the Romans would often seize or detain travelers, for the purposeof learning from them what was passing in the revolted provinces. Caesarhad given orders for all prisoners and fugitives who could throw lighton the movements of the Gauls to be brought before him.

  The husband and wife were accordingly not surprised to see themselves,in fulfillment of their secret hope, conducted across the camp toCaesar's tent, which was guarded by the flower of his Spanish veterans,charged with watching over his person.

  Arrived within the tent of Caesar, the scourge of Gaul, Albinik andMeroe were freed of their bonds. Despite their souls' being stirred withhatred for the invader of their country, they looked about them with asomber curiosity.

  The tent of the Roman general, covered on the outside with thick pelts,like all the other tents of the camp, was decorated within with apurple-colored material embroidered with gold and white silk. The beatenearth was buried from sight under a carpet of tiger skins. Caesar wasfinishing supper, reclining on a camp bed which was concealed under agreat lion-skin, decorated with gold claws and eyes of carbuncles.Within his reach, on a low table, the couple saw large vases of gold andsilver, richly chased, and cups ornamented with precious stones. Humblyseated at the foot of Caesar's couch, Meroe saw a young and beautifulfemale slave, an African without doubt, for her white garments threw outa
ll the stronger the copper colored hue of her face. Slowly she raisedher large, shining back eyes to the two strangers, all the while pettinga large greyhound which was stretched out at her side. She seemed to beas timid as the dog.

  The generals, the officers, the secretaries, the handsome looking youngfreedmen of Caesar's suite, were standing about his camp bed, whileblack Abyssinian slaves, wearing coral ornaments at their necks, wristsand ankles, and motionless as statues, held in their hands torches ofscented wax, whose gleam caused the splendid armor of the Romans toglitter.

  Caesar, before whom Albinik and Meroe cast down their eyes for fear ofbetraying their hatred, had exchanged his armor for a long robe ofrichly broidered silk. His head was bare, nothing covered his large baldforehead, on each side of which his brown hair was closely trimmed. Thewarmth of the Gallic wine which it was his habit to drink to excess atnight, caused his eyes to shine, and colored his pale cheeks. His facewas imperious, his laugh mocking and cruel. He was leaning on one elbow,holding in one hand, thinned with debauchery, a wide gold cup, enrichedwith pearls. He looked at it leisurely and fitfully, still fixing hispiercing gaze on the two prisoners, who were placed in such a mannerthat Albinik almost entirely hid Meroe.

  Caesar said a few words in Latin to his officers, who had been preparingto retire. One of them went up to the couple, brusquely shoved Albinikback, and took Meroe by the hand. Thus he forced her to advance a fewsteps, clearly for the purpose of permitting Caesar to look at her withgreater ease. He did so, while at the same time and without turningaround, reaching his empty cup to one of his young cup-bearers.

  Albinik knew how to control himself. He remained quiet while he saw hischaste wife blush under the bold looks of Caesar. After gazing at herfor a moment, the Roman general beckoned to one of his interpreters. Thetwo exchanged a few words, whereupon the interpreter drew close toMeroe, and said to her in the Gallic tongue:

  "Caesar asks whether you are a youth or a maiden!"

  "My companion and I have fled the Gallic camp," responded Meroeingenuously. "Whether I am a youth or a maiden matters little toCaesar."

  At these words, translated by the interpreter to Caesar, the Romanlaughed cynically, while his officers partook of the gaiety of theirgeneral. Caesar continued to empty cup after cup, fixing his eyes moreand more ardently on Albinik's wife. He said a few words to theinterpreter, who commenced to question the two prisoners, conveying ashe proceeded, their answers to the general, who would then prompt newquestions.

  "Who are you!" said the interpreter, "Whence come you!"

  "We are Bretons," answered Albinik. "We come from the Gallic camp, whichis established under the walls of Vannes, two days' march from here."

  "Why have you deserted the Gallic camp!"

  Albinik answered not a word, but unwrapped the bloody bandage in whichhis arm was swathed. The Romans then saw that his left hand was cut off.The interpreter resumed:

  "Who has thus mutilated you?"

  "The Gauls."

  "But you are a Gaul yourself?"

  "Little does that matter to the Chief of the Hundred Valleys."

  At the name of the Chief of the Hundred Valleys, Caesar knit his brows,and his face was filled with envy and hatred.

  The interpreter resumed, addressing Albinik: "Explain yourself."

  "I am a sailor, and command a merchant vessel. Several other captainsand I received the order to transport some armed men by sea, and todisembark them in the harbor of Vannes, by the bay of Morbihan. Iobeyed. A gust of wind carried away one of my masts; my vessel arrivedthe last of all. Then--the Chief of the Hundred Valleys inflicted uponme the penalty for laggards. But he was generous. He let me off with mylife, and gave me the choice between, the loss of my nose, my ears, orone hand. I have been mutilated, but not for having lacked courage orwillingness. That would have been just, I would have undergone itaccording to the laws of my country, without complaint."

  "But this wrongful torture," joined in Meroe, "Albinik underwent becausethe sea wind came up against him. As well punish with death him whocannot see clear in the pitchy night--him who cannot darken the light ofthe sun."

  "And this mutilation covers me for ever with shame!" exclaimed Albinik."Everywhere it is said: 'That fellow's a coward!' I have never knownhatred; now my heart is filled with it. Perish that Fatherland where Icannot live but in dishonor! Perish its liberty! Perish the liberty ofmy people, provided only that I be avenged upon the Chief of the HundredValleys! For that I would gladly give the other hand which he has leftme. That is why I have come here with my companion. Sharing my shame,she shares my hatred. That hatred we offer to Caesar; let him use it ashe wills; let him try us. Our lives answer for our sincerity. As torecompense, we want none."

  "Vengeance--that is what we must have," interjected Meroe.

  "In what can you serve Caesar against the Chief of the Hundred Valleys?"queried the interpreter.

  "I offer Caesar my service as a mariner, as a soldier, as a guide, as aspy even, if he wishes it."

  "Why did you not seek to kill the Chief of the Hundred Valleys, beingable to approach him in the Gallic camp?" suggested the interpreter."You would have been revenged."

  "Immediately after the mutilation of my husband," answered Meroe, "wewere driven from the camp. We could not return."

  The interpreter again conversed with the Roman general, who, whilelistening, did not cease to empty his cup and to follow Meroe withbrazen looks.

  "You are a mariner, you say!" resumed the interpreter. "You used tocommand a merchantman?"

  "Yes."

  "And--are you a good seaman?"

  "I am five and twenty years old. From the age of twelve I have traveledon the sea; for four years I have commanded a vessel."

  "Do you know well the coast between Vannes and the channel whichseparates Great Britain from Gaul?"

  "I am from the port of Vannes, near the forest of Karnak. For more thansixteen years I have sailed these coasts continuously."

  "Would you make a good pilot?"

  "May I lose all the limbs which the Chief of the Hundred Valleys hasleft me, if there is a bay, a cape, an islet, a rock, a sand-bank, or abreaker, which I do not know from the Gulf of Aquitaine to Dunkirk."

  "You are vaunting your skill as a pilot. How can you prove it?"

  "We are near the shore. For him who is not a good and fearless sailor,nothing is more dangerous than the navigation of the mouth of the Loire,going up towards the north."

  "That is true," answered the interpreter. "Even yesterday a Roman galleyran aground on a sand-bank and was lost."

  "Who pilots a boat well," observed Albinik, "pilots well a galley, Ithink."

  "Yes."

  "To-morrow conduct us to the shore. I know the fisher boats of thecountry; my wife and I will suffice to handle one. From the top of thebank Caesar will see us skim around the rocks and breakers, and playwith them as the sea raven plays with the wave it skims. Then Caesarwill believe me capable of safely piloting a galley on the coasts ofBrittany."

  Albinik's offer having been translated to Caesar by the interpreter, thelatter proceeded:

  "We accept your test. It shall be done to-morrow morning. If it provesyour skill as a pilot--and we shall take all precautions againsttreachery, lest you should wish to trick us--perhaps you will be chargedwith a mission which will serve your hatred, all the more seeing thatyou can have no idea of what that mission is. But for that it will benecessary to gain the entire confidence of Caesar."

  "What must I do!"

  "You must know the forces and plans of the Gallic army. Beware oftelling an untruth; we already have reports on that subject. We shallsee if you are sincere; if not, the chamber of torture is not far off."

  "Arrived at Vannes in the morning, arrested, judged, and punished almostimmediately, and then driven from the Gallic camp, I could not learn thedecisions of the council which was held the previous evening," promptlyanswered Albinik. "But the situation was grave, for the women werecalled to the council;
it lasted from sun-down to dawn. The currentrumor was that heavy re-enforcements to the Gallic army were on theway."

  "Who were those re-enforcements?"

  "The tribes of Finisterre and of the north coasts, those of Lisieux, ofAmiens, and of Perche. They said, even, that the warriors of Brabantwere coming by sea."

  After translating to Caesar Albinik's answer, the interpreter resumed:

  "You speak true. Your words agree with the reports which have been madeto us. But some scouts returned this evening and have brought the newsthat, two or three leagues from here, they saw in the north the glare ofa conflagration. You come from the north. Do you know anything aboutthat?"

  "From the outskirts of Vannes up to three leagues from here," answeredAlbinik, "there remains not a town, not a borough, not a village, not ahouse, not a sack of wheat, not a skin of wine, not a cow, not a sheep,not a rick of fodder, not a man, woman, or child. Provisions, cattle,stores, everything that could not be carried away, have been given up tothe flames by the inhabitants. At the hour that I speak to you, all thetribes of the burned regions are rallied to the support of the Gallicarmy, leaving behind them nothing but a desert of smouldering ruins."

  As Albinik progressed with his account, the amazement of the interpreterdeepened, his terror increased. In his fright he seemed not to darebelieve what he heard. He hesitated to make Caesar aware of the awfulnews. At last he resigned himself to the requirements of his office.

  Albinik did not take his eyes from Caesar, for he wished to read in hisface what impression the words of the interpreter would make. Wellskilled in dissimulation, they say, was the Roman general. Nevertheless,as the interpreter spoke, stupefaction, fear, frenzy and doubt betrayedthemselves in the face of Gaul's oppressor. His officers andcouncillors looked at one another in consternation, exchanging undertheir breaths words which seemed full of anguish. Then Caesar, sittingbolt upright on his couch, addressed several short and violent words tothe interpreter, who immediately turned to the mariner:

  "Caesar says you lie. Such a disaster is impossible. No nation iscapable of such a sacrifice. If you have lied, you shall expiate yourcrime on the rack."

  Great was the joy of Albinik and Meroe on seeing the consternation andfury of the Roman, who could not make up his mind to believe the heroicresolution, so fatal to his army. But the couple concealed theiremotions, and Albinik answered:

  "Caesar has in his camp Numidian horsemen, with tireless horses. Let himsend out scouts instantly. Let them scour not only the country which wehave just crossed in one night and day of travel, but let them extendtheir course into the east, to the boundary of Touraine. Let them gostill further, as far as Berri; and so much further as their horses cancarry them; they will traverse regions ravaged by fire, and deserted."

  Hardly had Albinik pronounced these words, when the Roman general shotsome orders at several of his officers. They rushed from the tent inhaste, while he, relapsing into his habitual dissimulation, and no doubtregretful of having betrayed his fears in the presence of the Gallicfugitives, affected to smile, and stretched himself again on his lionskin. He held out his cup to one of his cup-bearers, and emptied itafter saying to the interpreter some words which he translated thus:

  "Caesar empties his cup to the honor of the Gauls--and, by Jupiter, hegives them thanks for having done just what he wished to do himself. Forold Gaul shall humble herself vanquished and repentant, before Rome,like the most humble slave--or not one of her towns shall remainstanding, not one of her warriors living, not one of her people free."

  "May the gods hear Caesar," answered Albinik. "Let Gaul be enslaved ordevastated, and I shall be avenged on the Chief of the HundredValleys--for he will suffer a thousand deaths in seeing subdued ordestroyed that fatherland which I now curse."

  While the interpreter was translating these words, the general, eitherto hide all the more his fears, or to drown them in wine, emptied hiscup several times, and began to cast at Meroe more and more ardentlooks. Then, a thought seeming to strike him, he smiled with a singularair, made a sign to one of the freedmen, and spoke to him in a lowvoice. He also whispered a few hurried words to the Moorish slave-girl,until then seated at his feet, whereupon she and the freedman left thetent.

  The interpreter thereupon returned to Albinik: "So far your answers haveproved your sincerity. If the news you have just given is confirmed, ifto-morrow you show yourself a capable and courageous pilot, you will beable to serve your revenge. If you satisfy Caesar, he will be generous.If you play us false your punishment will be terrible. Did you see, atthe entrance to the camp, five men crucified!"

  "I saw them."

  "They are pilots who refused to serve us. They had to be carried to thecrosses, because their legs, crushed by the torture, could not sustainthem. Such will be your lot and that of your companion, upon the leastsuspicion."

  "I fear these threats no more than I expect a gift from the magnificenceof Caesar," haughtily returned Albinik. "Let him try me first, thenjudge me."

  "You and your companion will be taken to a nearby tent; you will beguarded there like prisoners."

  At a sign from the Roman, the two Gauls were led away and conductedthrough a winding passage covered with cloth, into an adjacent tent,where they were left alone.