The Day of Resis

by Lillian Frances Mentor

They had forgotten him in their surprise at finding themselves where they did, and the poor fellow had laid on the floor of the cave almost dead with pain and fatigue. They went to work on him, though, and used very nearly all of the little water left, bathing his wounds. Then they rearranged the bandages and fixed them as comfortable as possible, so that he might rest; then they also laid down and were soon asleep.

The native laid for a long time with his eyes closed, completely exhausted; but he could not sleep, and after a while his eyes again opened, and he looked about him. The torch had been left in a crevice in the projecting rock, and it threw its fitful glare about them. The ceiling arched far above them, the torchlight throwing long shadows along its rugged crevices; the wall at his side he could follow with his eyes for some distance, but it was then lost in the gloom. He tried to penetrate this gloom and look far beyond and find there a ray of that same light which he had heard his friends tell about. If he could only see such a light, then he would know that these kind companions, who had done so much for him, when they could have left him behind to die, he would know then that they were safe, and that they would again reach their friends. He cared little for himself, for his life had never known any of that strange feeling which he had heard his present companions speak of. He was nothing but a burden and retarded their progress. Oh, if he could but die before they again awakened, it would be so much better for both him and those who had so long kept him with them, even when they would have been fully justified in leaving him behind. Suddenly he starts and half rises. What was that he saw away off there in the darkness? Was it a light? Yes, several of them. They were very dim; in fact he could hardly say they were lights, but they surely resembled the lights of torches in the distance, and they were growing thicker. He could see great numbers of them moving about like will-o’-the-wisps, or was it his fevered brain which was calling up these phantom lights? He raised a little higher to look at the things about him so as to assure himself that he was still in his right mind and would then let his gaze penetrate the gloom, seeking the strange lights.

Yes, he could not be mistaken, they were torchlights; but did they belong to his people or some other strange people, who inhabited this part of the cave. He could not tell this, and as he was not certain that there were others near them, he determined to awaken his companions. Leaning over and touching Onrai, who was lying next to him, he wakened him and then pointing into the darkness said, “Look, do you not see the lights?”

Onrai looked long and carefully before he spoke, then said, “Yes, they must be,” and waking his other companions he bade them look also.

It was soon decided by all that there were others in the cavern beside themselves, but who these others were was the question, and could only be answered by getting closer to them. Eating a small lunch of fish and merely wetting the lips with the little water which they had, they again started, Onrai carrying the native. They blew out the torch before starting, thinking it best not to attract attention with it.

The strong wind, too, which still blew from out the tunnel, would make it almost impossible to keep the torch lit. So they stumbled along in the darkness, feeling their way as best they could, but receiving frequent bumps, which bruised their bodies and exhausted their patience; but they kept the flickering lights in view.

The air was, for some reason or other, getting much cooler, and the explorers began to shudder, and hurry as they would, the exercise would not keep them warm. Every moment now the wind blew colder, and seemed to come from a direction to the right. The scant clothing, which had covered their bodies at the start, had mostly been torn away in the rough experiences which they had had, and their bodies were almost laid bare to this merciless cold. And the poor native had nothing on whatever, excepting a bandage, which bound his side.

They were nearing the lights very rapidly, and now dark forms could be seen moving about. But the cold had grown so intense, they doubted if they would be able to hold out until they reached the strangers. When these were reached what might they expect? Would they be antagonistic or friendly; they could not be a body of the tribe which they had already found, for the native now with them had never heard of such a cold region as this, and had never seen one of his tribe wearing clothing, and it would be an utter physical impossibility to remain here and not wear clothing.

But who were they then? It mattered little, for they must seek aid of them. So stumbling and falling, their benumbed flesh freezing to the bone, they hurried on as fast as they could. They had again clasped hands for fear of getting lost one from the other, and in this way one helped the other.

A horrible rumbling sound now broke on their ears, and grew louder as they advanced. They were getting closer and closer to the men, and far beyond them they could now see one bright ray of daylight. This spurred them on until completely exhausted, their bodies frozen and bleeding, they fell at the feet of the surprised torchbearers.