CHAPTER XXXVI.
CLEFT BY THE EARTHQUAKE.
Our friends pulled up just in time, or they would have gone tumbling into the black chasm. They moved back hurriedly, almost expecting to see the hole open still further and engulf them as it had the negroes, for they could make no other explanation of the negroes’ disappearance. The light from the volcano made most objects discernable about this point, and our friends could look into the great gulf for some distance, but then the further view was lost in the darkness.
“What shall we do now,” asked Onrai of Mr. Bruce. “We can no longer follow the negroes.”
“No, this hole has swallowed them up,” said Mr. Bruce, “but we cannot tell whether they have dropped to eternity, or have followed a path into its depth, of which they alone know. Has the chasm always been here?”
“I can remember no such crevice,” said Onrai, “nor have I ever heard any of my people speak of it. I think it is another of the mysteries which seem to abound now,” said Onrai, and his face seemed in the half-light to wear a very troubled look.
“These mysteries as you call them, Onrai, are only such to the uninitiated,” said Mr. Bruce. “They are all understood by those who are acquainted with the great principles of nature. This crevice is undoubtedly caused by the earthquake, as this very often occurs during a disturbance of this kind.”
“But these strange people,” said Onrai. “Can you explain their presence?”
“If you cannot understand it, Onrai,” said Mr. Bruce, “don’t worry yourself in trying to, but look on those negroes as I have before told you to, as wild beasts, and treat them as such if they should break down a portion of the retaining wall and intrude upon your inhabited country. These beings are human, of course, but they have never felt the quieting hand of civilization, and they are but little removed from the wild beasts which inhabit the forests.”
“Then we shall kill them all as we did those last night,” asked Onrai.
“Yes, as opportunity offers,” replied Mr. Bruce. “Listen; these people must never be allowed to gain a footing in your land, or the result might be your extermination. You must fight them from the first and never allow them to rest for a moment in your domain. You may lose many men in thus defending your country, but it is your only chance to retain it. So, imbue in your men the necessity of fighting with all their hearts, and souls, and might, and strength, for God and their country, and impress them with the fact that only in so doing can they ever expect to again enjoy those privileges and that great freedom which has always been theirs.”