The Keepers of the People

CHAPTER I

THE CHILD OF THE HILLS

843Prince Ralph had wandered away from the camp in one of the restless fits that were become common with him. He had brought the great caravan all the weary leagues from the sea without the loss of a bale, at the cost of few lives; and the leaders of the interminable file of loaded mules and horses must even now be descending from the further end of the pass into Varandaleel. But his home-coming had not the pleasant savour for which he had looked: he had accomplished his tasks, indeed; he had brought back the means of rendering his country impregnable against aught but flying-machines; he had brought back a wife to bear him the very heir he desired; above all, he had come back to the work and pleasures he loved. But a dull clamour in the depths of his heart, a clamour that never grew articulate, prevented his earned pleasure in his success, and set him restless.

844He had wandered some two miles, when he chanced on a little spring; and after quenching his thirst, for he had been walking through the heat of the day, he flung himself down among the bushes hard by; and the ripple of the water came pleasant and soothing on his ear. His eyes rested fondly on the peaks, towering above, right and left, as far as the eye could see, the walls of Varandaleel. He told himself that he was glad to be done with the West: the clamour in his heart rose louder, denying: the West where life had grown a poor thing, dwindling in the belittling hands of women. Even the scorching plains through which he had been journeying of late were better than the West: a man could at least live his life there in a reasonable fashion, could do his work without perpetual consideration of the foolish opinion of women. He wondered idly if he would be able to keep Varandaleel free from the infection of the West till he died; how far he could make electricity the handmaid of his purposes; and the thought of the flying-machines they would surely build disquieted him for a while. Then he fell drowsy, dreaming of red hair and a white face. Of a sudden, a light footfall struck on his ear. At once he was all alertness; cast a look at the sun, and saw that it lacked two hours of dusk. He could not start up the pass before sunset; for the Princes of Varandaleel went ever to and fro in the night. He knew that his father had swept the country clear for miles about the mouth of the pass; yet it was an enemy’s country, and it behoved him to be wary. He stretched himself quietly at full length, his rifle pushed forward, ready; and peered through the leaves.