(_Underground._)
1. An allegorical representation of Satan’s underhanded methods in law and politics. All seen during a thrilling journey with Blackana through this underground regions (level below level) where the laws of Hell are hatched.
2. A realistic climax,—ultimate triumph of right in the civil realm.
I now saw two mountains so high that their shadows perpetually darkened the Broad Highway which covered the wide valley between them.
In this Shadowy Vale many held permanent residence, until the whole region swarmed with teeming millions of every tongue and tribe on the face of the globe.
At the base of the mountains, on each side of the way, there were numerous large openings through which imps of darkness were constantly passing. Most of them were habited as angels of light.
“Tell me the mystery of those dismal openings,” I asked as I turned to Blackana. “Words are inadequate to tell of the places to which they lead. To know aright one must see,” he answered with marked indifference.
For a moment I silently looked upon Blackana whose evasive answer had so greatly aroused my curiosity.
“Beyond those ominous portals I can discern nothing,” I murmured. “How can I be privileged to see what is there hidden?”
“Come with me,” coldly invited Blackana, “I will guide you to the nethermost realms now unseen by you. This I do not willingly, but I am thus commanded.”
Not wishing to receive my orders from the mouth of a demon, I talked to my better Friend who bade me go and be assured that _a body-guard of ten thousand would ever be at my side, though I saw them not._
On wings, swifter than the wind, Blackana and I covered the intervening space. We stood in the dark valley at one of the openings, now appearing ten-fold larger than before, and the mountains reared their imposing crests as if to an endless height.
“Follow me,” grimly spoke Blackana as he advanced through the monstrous arcade into the deepening darkness.
I remembered the ten thousand, and feared not as I followed. Downward and inward we went, with no light but a horrid glare casting its uncertain rays athwart our path.
“Is this the passage-way to Destruction?” I cried, as I saw how spectral all things were, for more than a thousand grimy faces had already added their fitful glances to the glimmering scene.
“The passage-way to Hell is not so smooth; we go to a better place,” he answered, without so much as turning his head.
We finally stopped at a line of massive elevators, ever in busy motion, carrying the throngs upward or downward.
As we paused, Blackana regarded me silently. I was then able, for the first time, to see his face clearly. No light reveals the countenance of a demon so well as the light of his own region.
I stood as if paralyzed under his awful eyes. Oh! thought I, can two orbs picture such infinite depth of remorse; such absence of tenderness; such barrenness of sympathy, far beyond the most care-worn look of earth? Then, pervading all these lineaments of despair were the positive characteristics of his nature—malice, envy, and hatred. These lent their repulsive fires to his eye, already overcharged with insidious gleamings. I suddenly thought of my ten thousand, and my fears subsided.
“It were better for you to remain a stranger to the greater depth and go no farther,” were the words that finally came from Blackana’s scarcely moving lips.
“Fulfill your mission, Blackana! I fear not the deepest depth when I am thus equipped.”
“Where is your sword and where is your armor?” he tauntingly asked.
“My steel is hid until I find a foe worthy of its mettle.”
Blackana quivered and resumed his task. He told me that above us, deep in the bowels of these mountains, were the more refined legislative halls of Satan; while below us, at varying and terrible depths, lay scattered many a brooding station where the lowest laws of Hell are hatched.
“Let us go downward,” I said, and scarcely had the words escaped my lips ere Blackana had ushered me into an elevator, holding me as we dropped down and down with increasing velocity, while a cold chill was freezing my heart, and my body playing the part of an aspen leaf.
Never before had I been touched by so dreadful a hand, but I thought again of the ten thousand, and that lent warmth to my heart and calmness to my nerves. “To what great depth are we falling?” I soon ventured to ask, as I perceived that we were dashing downward at terrific speed.
“We fall to no great depth; we go only a thousand furlongs to reach the first grand level, not stopping at these lesser places of which you get a glimpse in passing.”
“A thousand furlongs,” I repeated, “down into the earth! Who ever heard of such a descent before?” But I still thought of my ten thousand, even though I could not conceive how they could follow me in such places.
“At what rate do we now travel?” I nervously asked, for I felt the hand of Blackana still pressing me down lest the great elevator would fall faster than my body.
“According to earthly reckoning we are falling twenty furlongs a second and our speed is still increasing with the descent,” was the startling answer.
I spoke no more, but found myself clutching the raised bars of the floor. I saw the glimmering light of many a region as we darted by at our lightning speed.
In an incredibly short time we reached the first grand level. Blackana led me forth from the elevator into an immense cavern whose dimensions were apparently as limitless as the space between the earth and sky. It was illuminated by infernal lights and all astir with moving thousands in fabled dress and shape.
Never before had I imagined or beheld such a scene. Pure gold was as plentiful as the water of the earth, and was abundantly used in the construction of vast halls whose overarching vaults were encrusted with priceless gems that dazzled like jets of crystallized light.
“What weird world is this?” I asked in an awed tone.
“This is one of my master’s legislative centers, devoted to each separate government on earth. The many legislators of this whole region are ever busily engaged in determining upon their policy and methods of operation, and in endeavoring to influence the law-making body of each government to create and modify laws in harmony with the underground legislation here enacted.”
“Ah!” said I, “but this place is far from the surface where man dwells. How can there be such close connection?”
Blackana smiled as he made a wonderful revelation to me. “This strange empire is in close touch with the whole human family, for there are thousands of wires leading from this dark realm to each government centre of earth. Satan thus communicates his wishes to each lawmaker, of every land, who will lend a listening ear to his schemes.”
Blackana then conducted me to an immense building divided into many sections. “Here is the electric centre of this level,” he said.
As I gazed I learned the secret of Satan’s power in law. Thousands were here engaged in conversing with legislators on earth.
I could understand no word of all these communications, for the section where I stood was devoted to Asiatic countries and the islands of the Pacific Ocean.
“Take me, O Blackana, to the section connecting with the Western world that I may see the very wires that run to the United States of America.”
I soon stood in the interior of another large building, and with great interest listened to the operators communicating with some who were in authority at Washington, and with persons elsewhere who were interested in the formulation of laws for the whole country.
“Does this never cease?” I questioned.
“It continues through the days and nights of earth forever,” came the reply.
I was looking at the intricate system of wires and the stupendous proportions of the place, when suddenly I heard some one mention a name with which I was familiar. I was attracted close to the side of the operator that I might hear at least the one side of the conversation.
“That bill should never become a law,” said the operator, but I could not hear the reply.
“Fight hard to defeat it. You will get heaps of gold if you succeed,” were the next words I heard at the lower ’phone.
“Never mind them. I’ll take care of that crowd. I will try once more to get their ear. I failed the last time, but I hope to succeed at my next endeavor.” These words were spoken very plainly, but still I could hear no reply.
“Suppose the other element has chances to win. Get ready at once and meet the situation. Go and speak to the chairman of the committee and early influence his mind in our favor. Offer any bribe you wish, for we have unlimited resources at our command.”
“If only I could hear the answer,” thought I.
Then the operator listened a long time, and I almost envied his privilege, wishing that I might also hear the human voice from the earth’s surface.
Blackana conducted me to other parts of the building, and I saw the fiendish program carried out at each point. Thousands of demons were in league with the law-makers of the world!
“Oh! that I could cut these wires and restrict Satan’s laws to these underground dominions,” I said with rising boldness.
“Silence, puny mortal! Know you not that others can hear you speak? Would you here be crushed to death so far from the light of day?”
Superhuman strength moved me to answer thus: “Though all these hosts should hear me, I fear nothing. I am invincible, and should you take me to the deepest depths, amidst foul crawling imps, not one can harm me. Neither can you, Blackana.
“Come on,” he sneered, “cease your senseless sentences and follow me.”
I saw that Blackana endeavored to conceal the counter-currents of his heart, but nevertheless his agitation did not escape my notice.
Back to the elevators we went, and with a throng of evil spirits we entered the central car and fell another thousand furlongs into the depth of the earth.
We stopped at the second grand level into which I was ushered. I looked out over what seemed to be a new world with more light and more animation than was manifest on the first level.
Boisterous demonstrations were heard on every hand, all made more hideous by the variety of evil spirits who added their din to the general bedlam. “What furious world is this?” I shouted.
“This is Satan’s political headquarters, and the place where his state laws are made. We are here connected with every state or divisional government in the world, and with every political movement that can be influenced by these underground voices.”
My indignation leaped over all bounds as the vileness of these iniquitous schemes pressed upon me. I heard the bands of music from those who had prostituted their talent to the second level.
Blackana pushed me on through all the demonstrations, and then led me into a great structure more secluded than the electrical stations. Here the state laws are hatched, but, thanks to a higher sanctum, not all the brood see daylight.
The plotters of Hell sat in this underground legislative centre, and I saw, to my horror, some state legislators occupying seats in this infamous quarter.
Then said I to Blackana: “It is no more a mystery to me how so much of Hell is incorporated into the laws of the states in the country where I hold residence, as well as in all other parts of the world. How long have these things been?”
“Since the beginning of law,” was his indifferent reply.
“It will not be so forever,” I prophesied under a sudden spell of inspiration. “The time must come when the power of this level will be blasted forever. The owner of the tree will burn the worms and their nests from every branch.”
Then said Blackana tauntingly: “Neither flood, poison, fire, nor knife can ever destroy this section.” Just as he spoke these words the whole edifice shook, and I heard a noise as if a shower of great stones had crashed into the roof and sides of the building. The legislators quaked with fear and all looked toward the ceiling. All of this instantly reminded me of the thousand lords who looked at the ominous handwriting on the wall at the feast of Belshazzar.
“Explain it to me,” I asked as I looked wonderingly at Blackana.
“Urge it not, urge it not! Be content to dwell in ignorance!”
“I am here to learn, and I would know what force or power can so well-nigh destroy this wretched center. Tell me the truth. I demand it.”
Then did Blackana move himself in his startling attitudes, as if loath to speak. He rolled his heavy eyes as his discordant voice yielded the unwilling explanation.
“These are the votes that just fell in favor of reform in a campaign on earth. Such votes, under the panoply of prayer, strike more terror to these kingdoms than all else combined, and the most disastrous feature is that they go bounding from the buildings of this level ever downward and work their ruin from kingdom to kingdom, until they have wrought their havoc even to the lowest level. If we only knew the way to break the power of these votes, our comrades would not then dwell in constant dread of what might happen.”
“May you never learn that power, and may the votes of good citizenship ever increase in number until these legislative halls shall be broken to rise no more, and their inmates driven from their secret machinations to the abode prepared for the Devil and his angels.”
Blackana sprang at me in great rage.
“Silence, you contemptible mortal! You have not such liberty of speech here! Why fling insults into the face of one more powerful than yourself?”
“_Ho, ye ten thousand!_” I shouted with all my power, and Blackana fell backward at my very words. Sullen, but cowed, he arose to his feet and took me to the elevators.
“Where next?” he gruffly asked.
“What is on the next level below?” I inquired.
“Greater proceedings than on this one. It is devoted to the government of counties, cities, boroughs, and villages, and their political work.”
“Pass it by and take me to the lowest level.”
“You do not know what you ask. The lowest level is very, very deep, and takes us where things have no weight. It is the lowest haunt outside of Hell, inhabited by the vilest imps. How can you live or move in such a realm?”
“Not by the futile force of human power, but by the strength of Him who bids me go. I fear not, O Blackana; conduct me thither.”
What an awful experience followed! I was taken down at an amazing speed, held under the great hand of Blackana. We passed region after region of infernal lights, each one existing for the purpose of carrying out its part of Satan’s fiendish plan.
At length we stopped in the red glare of an awful burning amidst a company of hobgoblins out of harmony with all human shape or symmetry.
“This must be the bed of Hell, indeed,” I said, after I had conquered my rising fears. “Far from it, far from it!” answered Blackana. “We are now in the lowest legislative center _where foul fiends invent the horrible laws of personal pollution in the mortal body, and political bribery in the civil body._”
Blackana held me by the hand. I seemed not to walk but rather to move along without effort, seeing the pictures of lowest life and ill-shaped spirits, some of monster size.
Into an immense auditorium I was wafted, a building without foundations or floor. Here, amidst uncanny noises, hovered a vast throng of Satan’s lowest legislators.
The dreadful suggestions here given, and the terrible debates that followed, beggar human description. From all parts of the great hall the busy wires were communicating with every section of the earth’s surface.
Blackana, still holding me by the hand, spoke! thus in a derisive strain:
“O mortal, now comes my glorious revenge I have tasted your insults until their galling bitterness grinds me still. I have craved for this hour when I might leave you to the mercy of the lowest, and bring you under my feet for ever.”
Then, turning to the chairman of the great assemblage, Blackana attracted his attention, and at once the attention of all the spectral monsters of the place.
“Here,” commenced he, “is a piece of mortal flesh, fresh from the surface. I have been forced, by some strange power, to conduct this mortal man through these nether levels until he has seen the workings of our underground plans and schemes. He must never see the light of day, lest the world above may know the true inwardness and source of such laws as are called cursed, and rise in hosts against our surface operations.”
At this Blackana thrust me forward, and I went straightway to the chairman who seized me by the back and held me aloft in his right hand, while a deafening roar of strident voices was measuring my doom.
“_Ho, ye ten thousand!_” I cried aloud, at which the horrid chairman fell backward, and I dropped unharmed to his own chair as the whole host were rushing at me en masse.
The chairman sprang to his feet and waved a wand. “Silence and order!” he commanded.
Thousands of brandishing weapons were brought to a stand, and quietness reigned in a moment.
“Why say you ‘ten thousand’? What power lives in those words?” asked the chairman with a show of boldness, but in secret quaking. “Power unlimited, even over death, hell, and the grave. My flesh is not food for such as these.”
“Who can you be to talk thus boldly to your superiors?”
“I am one who is sealed by the blood of Jesus, and have no superiors outside the gates of Heaven.”
“Why came you here?” he impatiently and furiously demanded. “Tell me while yet you have opportunity to speak.”
Then, fully confiding in my unseen Guard, I stood erect and said with boldness of speech: “I have come to learn the secrets of this underground legislation which is sending its blighting curse throughout the world. Having witnessed the wide extent of these secret operations, I will now return to the brotherhood of man and sound the alarm of a coming reformation. O, beware ye multitudes that now rise against me! I am not alone, nor forsaken. By faith I see armies of the living God. I declare, at this moment, that earth will not forever receive her laws from such a depth. The hour must come when these million wires will be broken beyond repair, and all you fiends go groveling under penal chains in darkness eternal.”
The armies of righteousness will some day triumph over
the black hordes of civil iniquity.
No more could I speak, for the air was thickening all around me with a rush of wild demons whose threatening weapons thirsted for my blood.
I stood motionless, glorying in the power of the Unseen, for I saw, shining far above me, a beautiful star of hope with peace and purity in its rays.
a transformation took place! Regiment upon regiment of Heaven’s military hosts, converging as from infinite depth of space, burst into sudden view, revealed by a dazzling light which filled the whole region and dazed the infernal hosts as with blindness, while their weapons broke and fell beneath them in futile fragments.All books are sourced from Project Gutenberg