"The Ivory Child"
This story is a sequel to "The Holy Flower", with Allan Quatermain, with his friend Scroope, back from South Africa after their adventure looking for the Holy Orchid. While staying with Miss Manners, Scroope's fiance, Quatermain is invited to view the reknowned ancestral pile of his friend Lord Ragnall, Ragnall Castle. Lord Ragnall is having a shooting party, at which there are a number guests, including his fiance the Hon Miss Luna Holmes, her widowed mother the Lady Longden, Miss Manners, and Scroope. Quatermain is invited to join them.
After being shown around the pictures by the redoubtable personal attendant on His Lordship, Samuel Savage, Quatermain gets in some shooting practice. He is annoyed by the attitude of the head keeper, Jenkins, and astounds all by his marksmanship. He is invited to join the pheasant shoot, though he has never shot that bird before. After accepting he discovers that one of the half dozen other guns is van Koop, who defrauded him of £250 in South Africa many years ago. Van Koop is now Sir Junius Fortescue, Bt, having reinvented himself and acquired a baronetage for political services (i.e. donations to party funds). They agree to shoot for the debt, though Lord Ragnall is led to believe only £5 is at stake.
Quatermain of course shoots very well, and eventually wins, though it is a near thing. Sir Junius writes a cheque for Quatermain, which however the latter decides he cannot keep, so he gives it to Lord Ragnall for the village hospital. Lord Ragnall is angry when he discovers the amount and learns the full story, and "Fortescue" is never invited to Ragnall again.
Dinner arrives, and Quatermain is asked to take Miss Holmes to the table. She is obsessed with Africa, which she has never visited. Quatermain tries to satisfy her curiosity, but is himself interested in her. She seems to be rather mystical, and unlike anyone else he can remember, except Mameena (see "Child of Storm"), a Zulu maiden who loved Quartermain, and who killed herself after playing a major role in the destiny of that people. Unusually, Miss Holmes has a white mark on her breast (she has a low-cut dress) in the shape of a crescent moon - hence her name.
Luna tells Quatermain what she says she has never told a soul before. When she was a child a couple of Arabs approached her in the park - nanny was inattentive - and tried to kidnap her by giving her a drugged sweat. After that she began to be interested in Egypt and Africa, and developed a strong belief that she would go there some day. After dinner Savage announced that two foreigners wanted to be Quatermain - at least that was what the latter concluded, though they asked for him under his Zulu name, which Savage had mangled. They enter the dining room, and appear to be a pair of high class Somali Arabs. They name themselves Harut and Marut, head priest and doctor, and a priest and doctor respectively of the White Kendah. Quatermain hasn't seen them before, but they put him in mind of Luna's story. She doesn't say anything, but he notices she has grown pale. The Arabs put on a conjuring show, and invite Quatermain to see visions using a kind of native tobacco. He would prefer to decline, but didn't want anyone to laugh at him to accepted. In a brief vision he saw an elephant cemetery - a fabled ground where old elephants go to die - and a huge rogue elephant there kill a child. The Arabs explain that he (Quatermain) alone can save their people, the White Kendah, from the elephant god Jana, which has been growing too strong. The priests and their people worship a sacred child, but the more numerous Black Kendah, led by the sultan, follow Jana. Quatermain implies, but doesn't confess, that he also saw a vision of the long-dead Mameena
Luna Holmes is invited to try the experiment. She reports seeing an ivory image of a child (apparently the Egyptian god Horus), with a necklace of red stone around its neck. She (in her vision) went up to it, and it appeared to awake, kiss her, and place the necklace around her neck. The Arabs, though pretending to be indifferent, clearly hang upon every word she says, and when she has finished one exaltingly whispers to the other (only Quatermain has hearing acute enough to hear) that the sacred child accepts the guardian.
Harut and Marut depart and the party breaks up shortly afterwards. But Quatermain cannot sleep. Eventually he becomes convinced that some danger imperils Luna Holmes. He dresses, takes a loaded pistol, and walks to her door, which is on the same corridor of the huge castle. He posts himself in the shadows and waits. Eventually, to his surprise, the door opens and Luna emerges, apparently asleep. He follows her sleepwalking form outside the castle, and intercept Marut and Harut who are about to take her prisoner. They depart in a closed carriage. Quatermain goees inside, guiding the still unconscious Luna to her room. He doesn't want to raise the castle, because of the delicacy of the situation. But he doesn't know where Lord Ragnall's room is located. However he follows the wires of the bell outside his room, which Savage told him communicates with his own. Savage wakes Lord Ragnall. Luna remarked next morning that she must have been sleepwalking as their was mud on her slippers and dressing gown, but Ragnall and Quatermain don't enlighten her. Attempts to trace the men fail, although it seems that they sailed for Africa.
Two years later Quatermain is back in Durban, South Africa, after having been to Pongoland with Sir Stephen Somers (see "The Holy Flower"). Scroope and Ragnall are married, and both have children. All is not well with Quatermain, however, as he has just lost all his money in the Bona Fide Gold Mine Ltd. The diggings were salted with gold, and Jacon persuaded him to be a partner. In the end he lost his money - as did many innocent investors - and Jacob and his friends had fled. Quatermain had just wound up the company at a painful meeting in which the only good thing was that there was general agreement that he at least had acted honestly. Leaving the meeting with slightly raised spirits he sees his old Hotentott servant Hans in an argument with a drunked white man, apparently over Quatermain's reputation - the man was one who had tried to make trouble at the company meeting earlier. He doesn't interfere or reveal himself.
Later a home Hans comes to visit. He asks Quatermain for loan of a pound, as he will probably be fined for fighting - he doesn't say why. Quatermain replies that he - Hans - is probably better placed to lend him (Quatermain) money, as he has a property of which he is a kind of petty chief. But he has sold this for £650 (much less than it was worth) to a friend of Jacob, and bought shares in the now worthless mine company, because he had been told that this would save Quatermain from having his reputation tarnished. As he said, Quatermain's late father had entrusted his son to him, and he meant to do his duty. Quatermain is distressed at having been the cause of Hans ruin and at the loyalty of his old servant and friend. They discuss what they can do next. As Hans says the collapse is good for now Quatermain must return to his old profession, and go shooting elephants again. He has throught through the options and advises Quatermain to go north east of Pongoland, to Kendahand, to search for the elephant cemetery. Quatermain is surprised to hear again of this land, and asks him why he didn't told him of it when they were in Pongoland. Hans replied simply that it wasn't the right time. He wanted to go home, and Quatermain didn't need the ivory.
Hans recounted a tale he had from an old woman in Pongoland, which mirrored that of Marut and Harut, of the White Kendah and Black Kendah, the god Jana, and the child fetish. As they talked they noticed two white men in the street, talking to a native, and apparently intending to visit him. Since the collapse of the mining company had led to many unpleasant interviews Quatermain made ready to escape out the back door. But then he reconsidered - after all he had acted honestly. So he waited for the men to come up to the house. He recognised them as they approached - it was Lord Ragnall (though somewhat changed) and Savage. He greeted them by name.
Lord Ragnall recounted an aweful tale. His son, a mere baby, had been killed by a circus elephant, which had attacked the carriage he was travelling in with his mother and a nurse. The carriage was overturned, and the child seized by the elephant and thrown some distance. Lady Ragnall was suffering from shock, and had apparently become mentally imbalanced. She became very quiet and gentle, and occasionally spoke to an imaginary child. Lord Ragnall was advised to taken Lady Ragnall abroad for a change - Egypt was suggested. She showed some interest in this suggestion. Lord and Ragnall and Lady Longden travelled down the Nile in a private yacht. Luna appeared to enjoy the scenes. But one morning, by the first cataract at the Isle of Philae, by the temple of Abu Simbel, she was discovered to be missing. Searches were dessultory - as Quatermain suggested likely because of someone not wanting her found - and the authorities concluded she had drowned. Lord Ragnall returned to Ragnall Castle to mourn. One night as he wrote some farewell letters as he prepared to commit suicide he was interrupted by Savage. He has had a startling dream of a snake which spoke to him, telling him that Lord Ragnall should go to Africa and consult Allan Quatermain, and that if his lordship doubts the veracity of the dream he is to look around him. Ragnall is writing in his study. Although he disbelieves Savage's account he does notice that the portrait of Lady Ragnall, formerly covered by a curtain, is unaccountable exposed. They go to Africa.
Lord Ragnall (whom the natives call Igeza, or handsome), without Quatermain's knowledge, pays off the remaining debts of the mining company - including Quatermain's own share. He agrees to escort Lord Ragnall and Savage (Bena, or "push out one's breast" - vain) to Kendahland. Quatermain sends messengers to Pongoland to tell the king that Macumazana is coming for a visit. A small regiment of porters, led by Babemba, meet them at the Luba river.
In Beza the locals are depressed that the party wishes to go on to Kendahland. They expect them to be killed. They go on, however, and stop at the edge of the desert. There they wait for 17 days. Just as they are about to depart the Kendah arrive, led by Harut and Marut. They expected Macumazana, and warn that if all four go into Kendahland only two will return. They go on, escorted by 200 White Kendah on camels.
Quatermain learns that the White Kendah are outnumbered ten to one by the Black. This is put to the proof when they have to pass through a Black Kendah army to get to the Kendah city. Quatermain and Marut are captured with a dozen men, and taken to Simba town. The priest curses the Black Kendah with the curse of the Holy Child, and shortly this comes to fruition - there is a terrible hailstorm (or Hell-storm as Quartermain calls it) which kills many people and cattle and destroys the Black Kendah crops (which were almost ready for harvesting). They are released, but must travel through the forest which is Jana's home.
Marut is killed by the elephant, which appears to be a huge and ancient rogue, but not before they see the elephant cemetery. Hans arrives in time to wound Jana, and Quatermain and Hans escape to the White Kendah.
The White Kendah deny that they know anything of Lady Ragnall - though Marut was about to say something about her when he was killed. The have told Ragnall and Savage nothing, and deny them access to the Holy Mountain, where dwells the Ivory Child and its Guardian. The route to the Mountain is guarded by a giant snakem which lives in a tunnel which must be passed - or so they are told. After Ragnall and Savage see a shadow of Lady Ragnall summoning them to the Mountain they proceed alone - Quatermain not having yet recovered from his encounter with Jana.
Ragnall soon return - Savage is dead, killed by the snake. But Hans, cunning as ever, drugs and kills the snake by feeding it an arsenic-coated sheep. The part - now reduced to three in number - go through the tunnel, and onto the forest-covered mountain. There they find an Egyptian-style temple. Watching from a distance they see Lady Ragall, dress as Isis, carrying an ivory child - Horus. They reveal themselves to Harut, who is surprised they passed the snake and suspect them of having occult powers. However, an arrangement is made. They are to help the White Kendah fight off the Black - who will soon attack because of advancing famine, so as to get the White Kendah's store of food - and kill Jana. In return they can have Lady Ragnall back - for they admit it is she.
Hans dreams of Quatermain's father the "Rev'd Prendikant", and Marie (his first wife). He also describes Stella - Quatermain's second wife, and Mameena, a Zulu woman who fell for him. Quatermain knows that this portends something - Hans thinks his own death. Meanwhile Ragnall, who had been an engineers officer before he succeeded to the title, organised defensive works, and Hans and Quatermain drill the White Kendah with the 50 rifles they have brought with them.
The Black Kendah attack, and take the defensive positions one by one. Jana, who is tame for the King and priests of the Black Kendah, leads the attack. Quatermain misses four shots, despite firing at almost point-blank range. Jana enters the temple, and snatches the Ivory Child from Lady Ragnall and destroys it. But Hans kills him, and is himself thrown 30-40 feet and mortally wounded. The Black Kendah flee - as Harut claimed, to leave the land and not return.
Lady Ragnall recovers her memory almost immediately.
The survivors return to England, with some of the ivory.
This is an interesting adventure tale. As usual Quatermain pretends to be sceptical of witchcraft, the occult etc, yet we have much genuine magic here. Although the visions at the beginning were induced by Harut and Marut - as they subsequently admitted - the link between Lady Ragnall and the Kendah seems real enough. The death of the child at the hands (or rather trunk) of an English elephant is echoed in the rivalry in Kendahland. Although they are not precisely correct in saying that only Quatermain can kill Jana, he does bring about its death.
There are no strong women leads here. Lady Ragnall is strong, but has a largely peripheral role. Indeed, Lord Ragnall isn't a major character. The main characters are Harut and Marut, who are never more than mysterious eastern priests, Savage, and above all Hans. The sacrifice of Hans for his master is central to the story, and marks it as one of Haggards more intense.