CHAPTER XVI.

REVOLT OF THE EXILES.

The noonday heat was oppressive in the open, and the faces of the two Athensians glistened with perspiration as they sat their horses in the sun. Mr. Hampton noting this, suggested they enter the shade of the grove on the plateau pending the return of their comrades, and Amonasis and Jepthah willingly spurred their horses up the sloping terrace. Eager to be of service, Jack hastened to the rear of the plateau, returning presently with a bucket of clear cold spring water which proved very refreshing to the travellers.

“You found an admirable place for an ambush,” remarked Jepthah, looking about approvingly. “I have not been here before. Korakum is a considerable distance up the Great Road, and we seldom have come down here as it was unnecessary, we thought, to keep watch on the desert. Only as we passed through, in order to gain the other trail and labor on repairing it, have we gone up and down.”

“Then you did not know of the passage of the raiding party?” asked Jack, surprised. “Does that mean they left Athensi over the other road of which you speak?”

“I don’t know,” confessed Jepthah, frankly. “We have been questioning ourselves as to whether the spies among our number betrayed our work on that trail to the authorities. The men who captured your friend may have gone into the Great Desert over that trail. Again, however, they may have passed down this road without our being aware of it. As you may see for yourselves some day, the valley in which Korakum lies is of great extent, and the ruined city where we dwell lies some distance from the subterranean river by which men are accustomed to come and go from Athensi. This party may have passed to the outside quite easily without being seen.”

“Have you been living long at Korakum?” asked Mr. Hampton. “Your friend, Amrath,” he explained, “told me that in retaliation for sheltering and speeding the departure of my friend, Professor Souchard, a number of years ago, the kindly exiles of Korakum were slain by the Athensian authorities.”

Jepthah threw up his hands in a gesture of anger.

“That happened before our arrival, before the arrival of any of us in this band,” he said. “Every year a new levy of youth of the priest clan is sent into the world to gain knowledge. Each man is bound by the most solemn of oaths not to betray knowledge of his country and to return on a certain day.

“I have heard the story of your friend, and of the exiles who were punished with death for permitting his escape. It was horrible. I and my friends were among those who returned home since that occurrence, and because of our criticism of the practises of our people, we were exiled to Korakum.”

“But I saw some middle-aged men in the troop of Captain Amanassar,” protested Frank, taking a voice in the discussion.

Jepthah turned toward him, as he answered:

“That is true. They were men living quietly in Athensi who rebelled at the slaughter of the exiles who aided Professor Souchard. That act of barbarism and ruthlessness completed their distaste for life under the Oligarchs, and they fled to join us younger men who were exiled as a disciplinary measure. Ah,” he said, bitterly, “we have been steeped in the traditions of our caste which reach back into ages more remote than any recorded history known to you. To break away from those caste instincts and traditions is very difficult. But we cannot stand the Oligarchs any longer.”

“Why do you not invite outside aid?” asked Jack, who had listened with intense interest.

Jepthah shrugged, and his face darkened.

“My dear sir,” he replied, “if you know the history of Africa of today, you will realize why we have not done so. Outside of our own country, the existence of which is not even suspected by the great mass of humanity, although a few savants like Professor Souchard and a few adventurers and slave traders have some knowledge of it, what portions of all this vast continent retain their freedom today? Egypt? Morocco? Algiers? Tunis? Tripoli? All ruled by interlopers. South Africa, Central Africa, the West Coast, the East Coast, all are subservient to one or other of the Powers. Only Abyssinia of the ancient states retains its independence. Liberia is a free country, too, but a republic created by Negro slaves and supported by your land.”

“But the tribes of the Great Desert,” suggested Ali, speaking for the first time.

“Yes, you Arab and Berber nomads know how to retain your freedom,” said Jepthah, tolerantly. “But if you dwelt in a rich and fertile land such as lies within this vast ring of mountain, the conquerors would not let you retain your independence. Your desert protects your oases from their grasp.

“No,” he added, after a moment’s pause, “we have no desire to bring outsiders in to our aid, we revolutionaries, knowing too well what that would mean. You see”—with a sad smile—“we have only recently returned from your own world, and our opinion of the disinterestedness of your governments is not the highest. No, we prefer to drive out the Oligarchs ourselves and then—with a stable government established, democratic and just, to invite civilization to bring us its benefits and leave its evils behind.”

Mr. Hampton nodded emphatic agreement.

“That is, indeed, the wise thing to do,” he said. “And now that we are on the scene, if we can be of any help whatsoever, you have only to command us. The cause in which you fight is, so far as I can see, one worth enlisting to support. What you have said interests me profoundly, and I would like to talk with you and your friends more at length about this mysterious land of yours. But, if I am not mistaken, here come your friends returning, and in haste, too.”

The clatter of rapid hoofbeats ascending the Great Road from the direction of the desert was dear to all.

“They’ll wonder what has become of us,” said Jepthah. “I’ll give them a call.”

Rising, he put one hand over his mouth and emitted a peculiar call, obviously an understood signal, for immediately the sound of hoofbeats ceased as the horses came abreast of the plateau. Then the screen of bushes parted and Shilluk and Shedrach pushed their way into the grassy enclosure toward the rear to which the party had retired.

A rapid conversation between Shilluk and Jepthah, carried on in Athensian, followed. Turning to Mr. Hampton, Jepthah betrayed an anxious face.

“I’ll not seek to hide your son’s danger from you,” he said. “Shilluk reports that before he could reach Captain Amanassar the latter had sighted a party of horsemen in the distance, apparently heading for the other entrance through the Great Mountain Wall. He set out in pursuit at once with a score of our number comprising the best mounted, leaving the others to follow more at leisure. This Shilluk learned from the main body, which already proceeded a short distance into the desert, but which he overtook.”

“But, Bob—” began Mr. Hampton, when Jepthah interrupted.

“I know, sir, how you must feel,” he said, sympathetically. “Yet Captain Amanassar will do his utmost to aid, just as if he knew the circumstances of your son’s captivity. You see, from the main body Shilluk gathered that Captain Amanassar believed our troop had been sighted, and that it was on that account the raiders headed for the other road. He recognized them as of the Janissaries, and will do his utmost to cut them off to prevent word of our approach reaching Athensi. Not but what the Oligarchs, whose spies riddle the country, will hear soon enough,” he concluded bitterly.

“Mr. Hampton, you’ve just got to let us go at once,” broke in Frank. “I’ll go crazy if I don’t have a hand in this. Poor old Bob.” He was unable to continue because of a lump that rose in his throat.

The elder man’s hand dropped on his shoulder.

“What do you say?” he asked Jepthah. “Won’t your friends be surprised if these young fellows come dashing along on camels?”

“If you are willing,” said Jepthah, “you shall all come. Shilluk and Shedrach already have prepared some of our comrades for sight of your party, and they will have spread the word. All will be eager to have your aid, and equally eager to aid your son if possible. We heartily detest the holding of the Sacrificial Games, which is a part of the detestable religious practices kept alive by the Oligarchs. Come, then, at once. Leave your equipment here.”

“Quick, Jack,” cried Frank.

His comrade nodded. They were first of the troop to mount, and soon were flying down the Great Road with the four Athensians, their camels moving at a pace that astonished the horsemen. Not far behind them came Mr. Hampton, Ali and the Arabs.