2. CHAPTER II.
THE TRAITOR-BROTHERS.
Situated on the direct course necessary for
the vessel of the princes of Guzan to pursue, was
a small island known unto mariners as the
“Isle of Death,” insomuch as in the middle of
it grew that frightful tree called the Upas, which
is so very poisonous, and exudes so deadly a
vapor, that no animal can exist upon the island,
and no vegetation flourish save rank and venomous
weeds. Now it was plotted between
Osmyn and Nadab, that Selim should by some
means be inveigled into this fearful place, and
there left to fall a victim to the horrible effects
of the Upas effluvia. So no sooner had the vessel
arrived in sight of the “Isle of Death,” than
the two conspirators proposed to the captain that
they should all disembark and approach as near
to the poisonous tree as might be compatible
with safety, in order (as they pretended) to witness
the powerful effects of the miasm upon the
face of the island. The captain assented to their
desire—not, however, without warning them
of the danger of penetrating too far into the interior,
and instructing them, above all, to be
sure and re-embark before sunset, because at
nightfall the noxious vapors settled down and
overspread the entire surface of the island.
Prince Selim, who was of a very adventurous
spirit, and had no suspicion of any evil motives
in his brother's request, gladly agreed to accom
pany the rest in their proposed exploration of
the perilous place.
The captain accordingly anchored the ship
near the island, and disembarking, left a few
mariners in charge of the boat, whilst with the
princes and a large party of attendants, he proceeded
towards the interior. The wind, very
fortunately, was blowing from the water, so that
they were enabled to approach tolerably near
the Upas without inconvenience from its poisonous
atmosphere. Consequently they enjoyed a
good opportunity of satisfying their curiosity, in
viewing the desolate appearance of the soil, the
stagnant pools, green with mould, and the dark,
solemn tree itself. Little else was there in the
gloomy place to attract their notice, and so, as
twilight approached, they prepared to return to
the boat. But when they reached the beach,
and looked at one another, behold, Selim was
missing.
Immediately a great outcry was raised by the
Princes Osmyn and Nadab, about their unfortunate
brother. “He must be lost! he must be
lost!” cried the first; and, “O, poor Selim!
poor Selim!” groaned the second.
“It is very singular,” said the captain. “He
was with us only a few moments ago. I myself
conversed with him, as we were returning.”
“Let us question the crew,” cried Osmyn.
So the mariners were interrogated, and all
affirmed that the Prince Selim had accompanied
them on their return.
“Perhaps, then, he has concealed himself,
and is trying to frighten us by his absence,” said
Nadab.
“Or perhaps,” remarked Osmyn, “he has
merely lingered behind for a few moments.”
“Let us return instantly, and search for him!”
exclaimed the captain. “He would not surely
play hide and seek in a place like this.”
Saying this, the brave mariner turned about in
the direction of the Upas tree, resolved to search
for the young prince, though the sudden shifting
of the wind, and a gathering mist in the centre
of the island, warned his experienced mind
that the poisonous exhalations were about to
descend in deadly dews. Osmyn and Nadab
followed though with pale faces and trembling
limbs, and a few mariners and slaves ventured
to bring up the rear. In this manner, the party
proceeded for some distance inland, the dusk
rapidly deepening around them, and their nostrils
soon becoming sensible of an odor very
acrid and disagreeable.
“Let us raise our voices together in a loud
shout,” said the ship's captain.
This direction was obeyed, and a great noise
startled the deathly stillness. But no responding
cry came to their listening ears. Not even
an echo dwelt upon that stagnant island.
“This grows serious,” cried Osmyn. “Alas!
I fear our poor brother, in lingering behind, has
lost his way, and is overpowered by this subtle
vapor.”
“Let us search while we have yet time,” replied
the captain. “Night is gathering about
us, and not for all the wealth of Guzan would I
remain here till the evening damps come on.
But, to save life, let us still linger a while. In
the prophet's name, however, be quick, or we are
all lost!”
Again they shouted, and farther on they
marched, straining their ears to catch a sound
upon the breeze which now began to blow strong
from the land, bearing poison in every breath.
But vain were their exertions. Selim was not to be found.
Then the two brothers, Osmyn and Nadab
tore their hair, beat their breasts, and rent their
garments. “O, woe! woe!” cried they. “Sad
is the hour—luckless the day! Our brother is
lost, and we must return without him. O, woe,
woe! what can we say to the king our father?”
The captain endeavored to console the princes,
but without effect. They continued to bemoan,
and rend their garments; and when at last it
became necessary to return to the ship, inasmuch
as the venomous night clouds were settling
down upon the island, they covered their
faces with their mantles, and appeared to give
themselves up to the most violent despair.
But all the while, instead of grieving, these
wicked princes were laughing in secret over the
success of their unnatural scheme; for it was
through their artful contrivance that the unfortunate
Selim had disappeared so mysteriously.
And this was the manner in which their cruel
plan had been put in practice.
Before setting out to reconnoitre the island,
the three princes had provided themselves (pursuant
to the captain's advice) with phials filled
with a powerful antidote to poison, which they
were to smell constantly, as they approached
the Upas, in order to counteract the deleteriousness
of the atmosphere.. But in preparing Selim's
phial, his treacherous brothers had infused
into the antidote a strong narcotic powder, which
being inhaled repeatedly, would produce sudden
drowsiness, followed by a slumber of twelve
hours' duration.
Selim, in his march toward the tree, had constantly
kept the phial to his nose; and his
brothers marked with concealed joy, that his
steps at length became unsteady, and his head
nodded to and fro. They had watched him
closely, keeping near to him all the time, until,
choosing the moment when the narcotic was
about to overcome him, they had led him a little
to one side, unperceived by any one, and suddenly
pushed him over a precipice into a deep
gully filled with green and stagnant water. Then,
hurrying onward, and mingling with the rest,
Osmyn engaged the captain's attention, and
prevented his notice of Selim's absence till the
party had reached the seashore.
Thus the atrocious design of these wretched
youths had been successfully executed, and they
managed entirely to deceive the captain by well-counterfeited
sorrow for their brother's fate.
The vessel immediately set sail from the “Isle
of Death,” and Osmyn and Nadab, shrouding
their foreheads with blue turbans and wearing
robes of the same hue, presented to all eyes a
pious spectacle of the deepest mourning.
