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The Darrow Enigma
you。 You have cast a spell upon her。 Day by day she droops and
withers like a lotus…flower whose root is severed； yet ever and always； is
your cursed name upon her lips； goading me to madness； until at last I
have registered a sacred oath to kill you； and remove the accursed spell
you have thrown upon her。〃
Had he advanced upon me at this moment he would have found me as
helpless as a child； so overcome was I by the sudden joy which seized
upon me； and seemed to turn my melancholy inside out。 Those words of
hatred had been as a torch illumining the gloom of my despair； for they
had shown me that my existence was not altogether barren and
unproductive。 The life which has known the heaven of true love cannot
be called a failure。 There is no wall so high； no distance so great； no
separation so complete as to defy the ineffable commerce of two loving
hearts！ Lona； then； was still mine； despite all obstacles。 What a change
this knowledge made！ In an instant life became an inexpressible
benefaction； for it permitted me to realise I was beloved； … and death was
dowered with a new horror … the fear that I should cease to know it。
I was roughly aroused from my reflections by Rama Ragobah。
〃Come； Sahib；〃 he said； as his thick lips curled sneeringly； 〃suppose
you try your spells upon me？ You will never have a better chance than
now to show your power；〃 and again he made a slight movement toward
me with the gleaming knife。 The moon； low down upon the horizon； sent
a broad beam of light into the entrance of the cave and over the head and
shoulders of the Indian。 Its cold light shimmered along the blade which
was now held threateningly toward me。 The crisis had been reached。
In times of such great urgency one has frequently an inspiration …
instantaneous； disconnected； unbidden … which no amount of quiet；
peaceful thought would suggest。 Such extraordinary flashes are the
result of reasoning too rapid for consciousness to note。 The Indian had
already laid bare his right arm to the elbow before I had determined upon
the desperate course I would pursue； and upon which I must hazard all。
As he advanced upon me I seized the large； white sola hat from my head；
and hurled it full in his face。 It was a schoolboy trick； yet upon its
success depended my life。 Instinctively； and in spite of himself； Ragobah
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The Darrow Enigma
dodged； closed his eyes； and raised his right hand； knife and all； to shield
his face。 I sprang upon him at the same instant I threw my hat； and so was
able to reach him before he opened his eyes。 I had well calculated his
movements； and had made no mistake。 As I reached him his head was
bent downward and forward to let the hat pass over him。 His position
could not have been better for my purpose。 I 〃swung on him；〃 as we
used to say at the gymnasium； catching him under his protruded jaw； not
far from the region of the carotid artery。 The blow was well placed； and
desperation lent me phenomenal strength。 It raised him bodily off his feet；
and hurled him backward out of the cave； where he lay motionless。 He
was now in my power。 I seized his knife and bent over him。 Words
cannot express the hatred； the loathing I felt for him then and always。
Between me and the light of my happiness he had ever stood； an
impenetrable black mass。 Twice had he sought my life； yet now； when he
was in my power； I could not plunge his weapon into his heart。 Would it
not be just； I thought； to drag him into the cave； and hurl him down the
abyss he had intended for me？ Yes； he certainly merited it； yet I could
not do that either。 I wished the snake a thousand times dead； yet I could
not stamp it into the earth。
He was beginning to slightly move now； and something must be done。
It was useless to run； for the way was long； and he could easily overtake
me。 You may wonder why I did not take to the thicket； but if you had
ever had any experience with Indian jungles you would know that； without
the use of fire and axe； they are practically impenetrable。 Professor
Haeckel； botanising near that same spot； spent an hour in an endeavour to
force his way into one of these jungles； but only succeeded in advancing a
few steps into the thicket； when； stung by mosquitoes； bitten by ants； his
clothing torn from his bleeding arms and legs； wounded by the thousands
of sharp thorns of the calamus； hibiscus； euphorbias； lantanas； and myriad
other jungle plants； he was obliged； utterly discomfited； to desist。 If this
were the result of his efforts； made in broad daylight； and with deliberation；
what might I expect rushing into the thicket at night； as a refuge from a
pursuer far my superior in physical strength and fleetness of foot； and who；
moreover； had known the jungle from his boyhood？ Once overtaken by
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The Darrow Enigma
my enemy； the long knife in my hands would be of no avail against a stick
in his。 I saw all this clearly； and realised that he must be prevented from
following me。
There was no time to be lost； for he was rapidly recovering possession
of his powers。 I seized a large rock and hurled it with all the force I
could command upon his left foot and ankle。 Notwithstanding his
immense strength his hands and feet were scarcely larger than a woman's；
and the small bones cracked like pipe…stems。 Though I had not the will to
kill him； my own safety demanded that I should maim him as the only
other means of making good my escape。 As the rock crushed his foot the
pain seemed to bring him immediately into full possession of his faculties；
and he roared like an enraged bull。 I turned and looked back as I beat a
hasty retreat down the hill。 He had seized one of the air…roots of the
banyan tree； and raised himself upon his right leg。 The expression of his
face as the moonlight fell upon it was something never to be forgotten。 It
riveted me to the spot with the fascination of horror。 He shook his fist at
me fiercely； as he shrieked from the back of his throat：
〃You infidel cur！ You may as well try to brush away the Himalyas
with a silk handkerchief as to escape the wrath of Rama Ragobah。 Go！
Bury yourself in seclusion at the farthermost corner of the earth； and on
one night Ragobah and the darkness shall be with you！〃
These were the last words this fiend incarnate ever spoke to me； but I
know they are prophetic； and that he will keep his oath。
The next day I learned that Lona was dead。 She had died with my
name upon her lips； and her secret … the explanation of her strange conduct
on that night … died with her。 I shall never know it。 Bitterly did I repent
my inability to reach her。 The thought that she had waited in vain for me；
that with her last breath she had called upon me； and I had answered not；
was unendurable torture； and I fled India and came to America in the futile
endeavour to forget it all。 Out of my black past there shone but one
bright star … her love！ All these long years have I oriented my soul by
that sweet； unforgettable radiance； prizing it above a galaxy of lesser joys。
There is little more to be said。 I shall meet death as I have stated … I
am sure of it … and no man will see the blow given。 Remember； as I loved
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that Indian maiden with a passion which death has not chilled； so I loathe
my rival with a hatred infinite and all…consuming； for； somehow； I know
that demon crushed out the life of my fragile lotus…flower。 He will work
his will upon me； but if his cunning