The Fugitives by Robert Michael Ballantyne (hardest books to read TXT) 📖

believe it."

"Let inquiry be made, and if it proves to be true," said the Queen, sternly, "let Ramonja be deprived of all his military honours, reduce him to the ranks, and fine him heavily."

"But he is your own nephew, madam," returned the Minister, simply, yet with a touch of sarcasm in his tone.

"It matters not. It is of our mercy that he does not die, as many others have died before him. Let my orders be obeyed if Ramonja is guilty. Let him be a warning to others in the palace, for it has come to my ears that some of our courtiers are hankering after this religion that seems to have turned my people mad. Indeed it is said that some related to yourself are among them."

She looked pointedly at Rainiharo as she spoke, and the prime minister winced, for he had lately discovered that his own son was among the number of the "praying people." Recovering himself in a moment, however, he merely said that he was not aware of any of his kindred having fallen away from the customs of their ancestors.

"I hope not," returned the Queen, darkly, "for degradation and slavery, if not death, await them if they do. Go. Let a proclamation be made to-day in the market-place. Let my people and the army know that I have resolved to extinguish Christianity. Tell those officers who have become Christians, or have taken any part in religious teaching, that they shall lose their honours. They have transgressed my laws and deserve death, but through the supplications of the people of Imerina their lives are spared. But their honours, I say, shall be thrown into the river and carried over the cataract of Ifarahantsana, for they are trying to change the customs of our ancestors. Of some, half the honours shall be thrown into the river. Of others, one-third of their honours shall be thrown in, and some shall lose all their honours; the precise number shall be in proportion to their offences. Moreover," continued the angry woman, as she worked herself into a state of great wrath, "there must be no more praying; no more psalm-singing among my people; no more--"

She stopped suddenly and listened, while the veins in her neck and forehead seemed to swell almost to bursting, for at that moment the clear notes of a sweet female voice came from some distant part of the palace and broke softly on her ear. There was no mistaking the nature of the music, for the Queen had long been familiar with the music of the psalms, in which the "praying people" were wont to sing praise to the name of Jesus.

"Who sings?" she asked, with a fierce look at Rainiharo.

The prime minister again gave vent to a very slight touch of sarcasm as he replied, "I think it is Rafaravavy."

This time the queen noted the tone, and sharply ordered her minister to be gone and do her bidding.

Now, Rafaravavy was a lady of the palace, as we have said, and a great favourite with her royal mistress, but the queen's affection for the girl had been severely tested since the latter showed symptoms of a leaning towards the Christian religion. It is probable that Ranavalona would have cared little as to what her favourite thought about Christianity if she had only kept quiet, but Rafaravavy was one of those earnest straightforward souls who are prone to act in accordance with their conscientious beliefs without regard to consequences. She did not indeed go about endeavouring to proselytise the household, for she was naturally timid, soft-hearted, and meek, but she made no attempt to conceal her opinions and her sympathy with the persecuted Christians. She had even gone the length of interceding for them once or twice when she found her mistress in an amiable mood, but the explosion of wrath which resulted warned her not to presume again in that way.

For some time Ranavalona sat brooding over the mystery of that religion, which, notwithstanding all her power and cruelty, she had, after so many years of tyranny, been unable to suppress. Then she sent for Rafaravavy.

The girl, who in a few minutes entered her presence, was possessed of no ordinary beauty. Her delicate features and oval face were much lighter in complexion than those of the other ladies of the court, resembling rather those of a Spanish brunette than a Hova beauty. Her eyes were large, soft, and lustrous; her nose was straight and thin, and her mouth small, with an expression of habitual gravity which made her smile, when it came, all the more attractive. Little wonder that poor Ravonino had lost his heart to her, for, besides beauty of countenance, the girl was endowed with a sylph-like form, a sprightly disposition, and the sweet grace of humility.

"You have disobeyed me, Rafaravavy," said the Queen as she entered.

"Forgive me!" answered the girl in a low musical voice. "I did not think my song of praise would reach your ear. It was meant only for my God and Saviour."

"Is your God then deaf, that you must sing so loud?" asked the Queen, sharply.

"He is not deaf, blessed be His name!" exclaimed the maiden, with enthusiasm, "neither is His arm shortened that it cannot save. Oh! if you--"

"Stop!" cried the angry Queen, "you have presumed to talk to me thus too often. You deserve to die for singing psalms. Have you given up praying since I forbade it?"

There was that in the voice of Ranavalona which alarmed the girl, and caused her to tremble as she replied, with some hesitation, that she still prayed.

Instead of giving way to another burst of passion the Queen adopted a bantering tone, and said--

"Come, Rafaravavy, tell me what you pray for."

"I pray for the pardon of my sins."

"Is that all? Surely you pray for something more than that. Something nice that you want very much."

"Yes," continued the girl, becoming somewhat pale, yet praying silently for courage even while she spoke. "Yes, I pray for the pardon of--of _your_ sins, and--"

"Go on! Why do you stop?"

"And that your eyes may be opened that you may `see the King in His beauty,' and be drawn to Him by the cords of love, so that you may cease to persecute the Christians and learn to join with them in praising the name of Jesus who redeemed us from destruction, and is ready and willing to save us from our sins."

While Rafaravavy was speaking Ranavalona put her hand over her eyes. When the former ceased, she did not remove the hand, but said, in a tone which the poor girl could not quite understand--

"Go! Enough. Leave me!"

As Rafaravavy left the balcony, a prepossessing youth of delicate form and gentle mien emerged upon it by another door.

"Mother," he said, earnestly, "do, _do_ give me leave to recall your proclamation. I have just heard of it from Rainiharo. Believe me, many of the nobles are not so good--I mean so guilty!--as you think. And the poor Christians--why should they not pray and sing? It is all that you have left to them, for they no longer dare to worship together in the churches."

"No, Rakota, I will not recall it. Your constant pleading worries me. It is enough to say that the people shall be examined--by the tangena ordeal if necessary--and they shall be punished according to their deserts. Is that all that you come here for, my son?"

It was evident from her tone that Ranavalona relented a little, though her words were firmly spoken.

"I came also to tell you," said the prince, "that the Europeans whom your spies brought news of some time ago have arrived. They are even now in the market-place. By my orders the guards have let them pass without question."

"Always interfering, Rakota!" said the Queen, angrily. "Why were they not seized and guarded till I should find time to speak with them?"

"Because, mother, that would scarcely be a civil way of receiving strangers."

"Strangers! Spies you should have said. Have you forgotten the ungrateful Frenchmen who so lately tried to overturn my government?"

"But these are not Frenchmen. They are English," said the prince, "and I will answer for them being good and true men."

"No doubt English are better than French--at least I hate them less; but they are all pale-faced liars and Christians, and none of them shall remain in my land. But how can _you_ tell, boy, that they are good and true men? Have you had speech with them?"

"Not I," returned the prince. "I have only seen them as they entered the town, but that was enough. One glance satisfied me of their being true men. When the sun rises it needs not much wisdom to know that there is heat and light. An honest face is like the sun. You cannot fail to know it."

"Go, foolish boy. You are too confident. I will not tolerate Europeans. These men shall be arrested. Hence, and send hither an officer."

Finding that the Queen was not in a temper to be trifled with, Rakota wisely made no reply, but bowed and went his way. In delivering the message to the officer, however, he whispered such words to him as secured a little delay in the execution of the royal commands.


CHAPTER FOURTEEN.


THE PRIME MINISTER LAYS DEEP PLANS--SO DOES HIS NEPHEW--THE GREAT MARKET-PLACE--A FRIEND IN DEADLY PERIL, AND OUR THREE HEROES COME TO GRIEF.

Returning to his own quarters in the palace, and chafing to find that some one had informed the Queen about his son's defection, Rainiharo encountered a favourite nephew, named Soa, who had also, unknown to his uncle, given up idolatry, and, like Prince Ramonja, been led to embrace the Gospel through the instrumentality of Prince Rakota.

"Well met, Soa," said the premier, "I have a proclamation to make which will bring sorrow to the hearts of some of these hated Christians."

He paused a moment, as if in thought, and Soa, a fine-looking young man of pleasant countenance and agile frame, seemed about to reply, but checked himself.

"Now, my boy," resumed the old man, "I have a piece of work for you to do. You have heard of the arrival of the Englishmen?"

"Yes, uncle."

"Well, I have reason to believe that they have been led hither by that son of a thunderbolt, Ravoninohitriniony, and that he is even now in hiding in the neighbourhood. At the gate you will find one of our spies, who will conduct you to the cavern in which he lies concealed. Of course I could have him seized at once if I chose, but I have a deeper game to play, and want to make Ravoninohitriniony an unwitting instrument. It seems that more of the people in the palace are Christians than I knew of. It has come to my ears that some of these intend going stealthily to the cave to meet Ravoninohitriniony, for they are fond of this son of a wild-boar, and probably hope to have news by him of their banished kindred."

Lest it should be supposed that