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changed its coat。
For a while we gazed at the loathsome and still glittering creature；
then pushed on fearful lest we should stumble upon more of its kind。 I
suppose that it must have been solitary； a kind of serpent rogue； as
Jana was an elephant rogue； for we met none and； if the information
which I obtained afterwards may be believed； there was no species at
all resembling it in the country。 What its origin may have been I
never learned。 All the Kendah could or would say about it was that it
had lived in this hole from the beginning and that Black Kendah
prisoners； or malefactors； were sometimes given to it to kill； as
White Kendah prisoners were given to Jana。
The cave itself proved to be not very long； perhaps one hundred and
fifty feet； no more。 It was not an artificial but a natural hollow in
the lava rock； which I suppose had once been blown through it by an
outburst of steam。 Towards the farther end it narrowed so much that I
began to fear there might be no exit。 In this I was mistaken； however；
for at its termination we found a hole just large enough for a man to
walk in upright and so difficult to climb through that it became clear
to us that certainly this was not the path by which the White Kendah
approached their sanctuary。
Scrambling out of this aperture with thankfulness； we found ourselves
upon the slope of a kind of huge ditch of lava which ran first
downwards for about eighty paces； then up again to the base of the
great cone of the inner mountain which was covered with dense forest。
I presume that the whole formation of this peculiar hill was the
result of a violent volcanic action in the early ages of the earth。
But as I do not understand such matters I will not dilate upon them
further than to say that； although comparatively small； it bore a
certain resemblance to other extinct volcanoes which I had met with in
different parts of Africa。
We climbed down to the bottom of the ditch that from its general
appearance might have been dug out by some giant race as a protection
to their stronghold； and up its farther side to where the forest began
on deep and fertile soil。 Why there should have been rich earth here
and none in the ditch is more than we could guess； but perhaps the
presence of springs of water in this part of the mount may have been a
cause。 At any rate it was so。
The trees in this forest were huge and of a variety of cedar； but did
not grow closely together； also there was practically no undergrowth；
perhaps for the reason that their dense； spreading tops shut out the
light。 As I saw afterwards both trunks and boughs were clothed with
long grey moss； which even at midday gave the place a very ghostly
appearance。 The darkness beneath those trees was intense； literally we
could not see an inch before our faces。 Yet rather than stand still we
struggled on； Hans leading the way； for his instincts were quicker
than ours。 The steep rise of the ground beneath our feet told us that
we were going uphill； as we wished to do； and from time to time I
consulted a pocket compass I carried by the light of a match； knowing
from previous observations that the top of the Holy Mount lay due
north。
Thus for hour after hour we crept up and on； occasionally butting into
the trunk of a tree or stumbling over a fallen bough； but meeting with
no other adventures or obstacles of a physical kind。 Of moral； or
rather mental； obstacles there were many； since to all of us the
atmosphere of this forest was as that of a haunted house。 It may have
been the embracing darkness； or the sough of the night wind amongst
the boughs and mosses； or the sense of the imminent dangers that we
had passed and that still awaited us。 Or it may have been unknown
horrors connected with this place of which some spiritual essence
still survived； for without doubt localities preserve such influences；
which can be felt by the sensitive among living things； especially in
favouring conditions of fear and gloom。 At any rate I never
experienced more subtle and yet more penetrating terrors than I did
upon that night； and afterwards Ragnall confessed to me that my case
was his own。 Black as it was I thought that I saw apparitions； among
them glaring eyes and that of the elephant Jana standing in front of
me with his trunk raised against the bole of a cedar。 I could have
sworn that I saw him； nor was I reassured when Hans whispered to me
below his breath； for here we did not seem to dare to raise our
voices：
〃Look； Baas。 Is it Jana glowing like hot iron who stands yonder？〃
〃Don't be a fool；〃 I answered。 〃How can Jana be here and； if he were
here； how could we see him in the night？〃 But as I said the words I
remembered Har？t had told us that Jana had been met with on the Holy
Mount 〃in the spirit or in the flesh。〃 However this may be； next
instant he was gone and we beheld him or his shadow no more。 Also we
thought that from time to time we heard voices speaking all around us；
now here； now there and now in the tree tops above our heads； though
what they said we could not catch or understand。
Thus the long night wore away。 Our progress was very slow； but guided
by occasional glimpses at the compass we never stopped but twice； once
when we found ourselves apparently surrounded by tree boles and fallen
boughs； and once when we got into swampy ground。 Then we took the risk
of lighting the lantern； and by its aid picked our way through these
difficult places。 By degrees the trees grew fewer so that we could see
the stars between their tops。 This was a help to us as I knew that one
of them； which I had carefully noted； shone at this season of the year
directly over the cone of the mountain； and we were enabled to steer
thereby。
It must have been not more than half an hour before the dawn that
Hans； who was leadingwe were pushing our way through thick bushes at
the timehalted hurriedly； saying：
〃Stop； Baas； we are on the edge of a cliff。 When I thrust my stick
forward it stands on nothing。〃
Needless to say we pulled up dead and so remained without stirring an
inch； for who could say what might be beyond us？ Ragnall wished to
examine the ground with the lantern。 I was about to consent； though
doubtfully； when suddenly I heard voices murmuring and through the
screen of bushes saw lights moving at a little distance； forty feet or
more below us。 Then we gave up all idea of making further use of the
lantern and crouched still as mice in our bushes； waiting for the
dawn。
It came at last。 In the east appeared a faint pearly flush that by
degrees spread itself over the whole arch of the sky and was welcomed
by the barking of monkeys and the call of birds in the depths of the
dew…steeped forest。 Next a ray from the unrisen sun； a single spear of
light shot suddenly across the sky； and as it appeared； from the
darkness below us arose a sound of chanting； very low and sweet to
hear。 It died away and for