“Where has he gone now?” Nelse asked, in a whisper.
“I reckon he’s simply leaning against the side, out of the range of the fire, watching those who are inside.”
Gil’s surmise was correct. Jenkins was standing where he could get a fairly good view of the interior, and that which he saw caused him mingled feelings of surprise, bewilderment and fear.
In the cave, which was circular, and about twenty feet in diameter, were seventeen negroes, seated back against the wall of earth, thus leaving the greater portion of the floor space free. Four small fires were burning, as if to designate the points of the compass, and between these stood the most repulsive-looking old negro the mate had ever seen. His wool was gray, and hung in matted locks nearly to his shoulders. His toothless mouth appeared to be the focus of a mass of wrinkles so deep as to destroy all semblance of a face, and gave his head the appearance of a bag with one end puckered by a drawing-string.
The skin of some animal served as a sort of petticoat for the old fellow, and around his neck was wound an odd sort of necklace, seemingly composed of small bones, the ends of which reached nearly to the ground. His feet were bare, as was the upper portion of his body, and in each hand he held a long knife, the blade dripping with blood.
When Jenkins first saw the hideous creature, he was standing silent and motionless, as if wrapped in deep thought; but after a few seconds he aroused himself, began walking around each fire in turn, muttering in guttural tones, and drawing the blade of the knife across his chest, causing the blood to flow in tiny streams with every stroke.
The spectators watched him as if spellbound. No one so much as moved, and Jenkins could have sworn that they were literally holding their breath.
Weaving his way in and out among the piles of burning wood, the old fellow continued to hack and cut at himself until the entire upper portion of his body was covered with blood, and then, crouching upon the earth, he gazed steadily into the flames for several moments.
Jenkins was about to turn away, believing the performance had come to a close, when the negro sprang to his feet with a quick, agile movement, and looked around upon his companions like one just awakening from a dream.
