 CHAPTER XII He is gone, I panted, and the world hasn't lost much. Well, it didn't give him much, did it, poor devil? So don't let's speak ill of him, answered Leo, who had thrown himself exhausted to the ground. Perhaps he was all right before they made him mad. At any rate, he had pluck, for I don't want to tackle such another. How did you manage it, I asked. Dodged in, banished his sword, closed with him, threw him and smashed him up over that lump of stone. Sheer strength, that's all. A cruel business, but it was his life or mine, and there you are. It's lucky I finished it in time to help you before that oven-mouthed brute tore your throat out. Did you ever see such a dog that looks as large as a young donkey? Are you matured, Horace? Oh, my forearm is chewed to a pulp, but nothing else, I think. Let us get down to the water, if I can't drink soon, I shall faint. Also, the rest of the pack is somewhere about fifty or more of them. I don't think they will trouble us, they have got the horses, poor beast. Wait a minute, and I will come. Then he rose, found the cunt's sword a beautiful and ancient weapon, and with a single cuck of its keen edge killed the second dog that I had wounded, which was still yawling and snarling at us. After this he collected the two spears and my knife, things that they might be useful, and without trouble caught the cunt's horse, which stood with hanging head close by, so tired that even this desperate fight had not frightened it away. Now, he said, up you go, old fellow, you're not fit to walk any farther. And with his help I climbed into the saddle. Then sleeping the rain over his arm he led the horse, which walked stifly on to the river, that run within a quarter of a mile of us, though to me, tortured as I was by pain and half delirious with exhaustion, the journey seemed long enough. Still they came there somehow, and, forgetting my wounds, I tumbled from the horse, threw myself flat and drank and drank, more I think than ever I did before. Not in all my life have I tasted anything so delicious as was that long throat of water. When I had satisfied my thirst, I dipped my head and made a shift to jerk my wounded arm into it, for its coolness seemed to steal the pain. Suddenly Leo rose the water running from his face and beard, and said, What shall we do now? The river seems to be wide over a hundred yards, and it is low, but there may be deep water in the middle. Shall we try to cross, in which case we might drown, or stop where we are till daylight and take our chance of the death hounds? I can't go another foot, I murmured faintly, much less try to ford an unknown river. Now about thirty yards from the shore was an island covered with reeds and grasses. Perhaps we could reach that, he said, Come, get on to my back, and we will try. I obeyed with difficulty, and we set out, he feeling his way with the handle of the spear. The water proved to be quite shallow, indeed it never came much above his knees, so that we reached the island without trouble. Later Leo laid me down on the soft rushes, and returning to the mainland brought over the black horse and the remaining weapons, and having unsettled the beast, knee-cultured and turned it loose, whereon it immediately lay down, for it was too spent to feed. Then he set to work to doctor my wounds. While it brewed for me that the sleeve of my garment was so thick, for even through it the flesh of my forearm was torn to ribbons, moreover a bone seemed to be broken. Leo collected a double handful of some soft wet moss, and, having washed the arm, grabbed it round with a handkerchief, over which he laid the moss. Then with the second handkerchief and some strips of linen torn from our undergarments, he fostened a couple of split reeds to serve as rough splints to the bounded limb. While he was doing this I suppose that I slept or swooned, at any rate I remember no more. Sometime during that night Leo had a strange dream, of which he told me the next morning. I suppose that it must have been a dream as certainly I saw or was aware of nothing. Well, he dreamed, I use his own words as nearly as possible, that again he heard those accursed death hounds in full cry, nearer and nearer they came, following our spore to the edge of the river, all the bags that had run down their horses. As the waters bring, they halted and were mute. Then suddenly a puff of wind brought the scent of us upon the island, one of them, which lifted up its head and uttered a single bay. The rest clustered about it, and all at once they made a dash at the water. Leo could see and hear everything. He felt that after all our doom was now at hand, and yet, held in the grip of nightmare, if nightmare it were, he was quite unable to steer or even to cry out to wake and warn me. Now followed the marvel of this vision. Giving tongue as they came, half swimming and half plunging, the hounds drove near to the island where we slept. Then suddenly Leo saw that we were no longer alone. In front of us, on the brink of the water stood the figure of a woman, glad in some dark garment. He could not describe her face or appearance for her back was towards him. All he knew was that she stood there, like a guard, holding some object in her eyes hand, and that suddenly the advancing hounds caught sight of her. In an instant it was as though they were paralyzed by fear, for their base turned to fearful howlings. One or two of those that were nearest to the island seemed to lose their footing and be swept away by the stream. The rest struggled back to the bank and fled wildly, like a vivid curse. Then the dark, commanding figure, which in his dream Leo took to be the guardian spirit of the mountain, vanished. That it left no footprints behind it, I can watch, for in the morning we looked to see. Then awakened by the sharp pangs in my arm, I opened my eyes again, the down was breaking. A thin mist hung over the river and the island, and through it I could see Leo sleeping heavily at my side, and the shape of the black horse which had risen and was grazing close at hand. I lied still for a while remembering all that we had undergone, and wondering that I should live to wake. Till presently above the murmuring of the water I heard a sound which terrified me. A sound of voices. I set up and peered through the reeds, and there upon the bank, looking enormous in the mist, I saw two figures mounted upon horses, those of a woman and a man. They were pointing to the ground as though they examined spore in the sand. I heard the man say something about the dogs, not daring to enter the territory of the mountain. I remarked, which came back to my mind again after Leo had told me his dream. Then I remembered how we were placed. Wake, I whispered to Leo, wake, we are pursued. He sprang to his feet, rubbing his eyes and snatching at a spear. Now those upon the bank saw him, and a sweet voice spoke through the mist, saying, Lay down the weapon, my guest, for we are not come to harm you. It was the voice of the Kania Atin, and the man with her was the old Shaman Simbri. What shall we do now, Horace? asked Leo with something like a groan, for in the whole world there were no two people whom he less wished to see. Nothing, I answered, it's for them to play. Come to us, called the Kania across the water, I swear that we mean no harm. Are we not alone? I do not know, answered Leo, but it seems unlikely. Where we are we stop until we are ready to march again. Atin spoke to Simbri, what she said we could not hear, for she whispered, but she appeared to be arguing with him, and persuading him to some course of which he strongly disapproved. Then suddenly both of them put their horses at the water and rode to us through the shallows. Reaching the island they dismounted, and we stood staring at each other. The old man seemed very weary in body and oppressed in mind, but the Kania was strong and beautiful as ever, nor had passion and fatigue left any trace upon her inscrutable face. It was she who broke the silence, saying, You have ridden fast and far since last we met my guests, and left an evil token to mark the path to you took. Yonder amongst the rocks one lie is dead. Say, how come he to his end, who has no wand upon him? By these answered Leo, stretching out his hands. I knew it, she answered, and I blame you not, for fate decreed the death for him, and now it is fulfilled. Still, there are those to whom you must answer for his blood, and I only can protect you from them. Or betray me to them, said Leo. Kania, what do you seek? That answer which you should have given me to this twelve hours' gun. Remember before you speak, that I alone can save your life, I, and will do it and close you with that dead madman's crown and mantle. You shall have your answer on Yonder Mountain, said Leo, pointing to the peak above us, where I seek mine. She paled a little and replied, To find that it is death, for, as I have told you, the place is guarded by savage folk who know no pity. So be it, then death is the answer that we seek. Come, Horace, let us go to meet him. I swear to you, she broke in, that there dwells not the woman of your dreams. I am that woman, yes, even I, as you are the man of mine. Then Lady, prove it Yonder upon the mountain, Leo answered. There dwells there no woman, a teen went unheardly. Nothing dwells there, it is the home of fire and a voice. What voice? The voice of the oracle that speaks from the fire, the voice of a spirit whom no man has ever seen or shall see. Come, Horace, said Leo, and he moved towards the horse. Men broke in the old shaman, would you rush upon your doom? Listen, I have visited Yonder haunted place, for it was I who, according to custom, broad scissor the body of the Khan a teen's father for burial, and I warn you to set no foot within its temples. Which your mistress said, that we should never reach, I commented, but Leo only answered, we thank you for your warning, and added, Horace, watch them while I settle the horse, lest they do us a mischief. So I took the spear in my uninjured hand and stood ready, but they made no attempt to hurt us, only fell back a little and began to talk in hurried whispers. It was evident to me that they were much perturbed. In a few minutes the horse was settled and Leo assisted me to mount it. Then he said, we go to accomplish our fate whatever it may be, but before we part, Kania, I thank you for the kindness you have shown us, and pray you to be wise and forget that we have ever been. Through no will of mine your husband's blood is on my hands, and that alone must separate us forever. We are divided by the doors of death and destiny. Go back to your people, and pardon me if most unwillingly I have brought you doubt and trouble. Farewell. She listened with bowed head, then replied, very sadly, I thank you for your gentle words, but, Leo Vincy, we do not part us easily. You have summoned me to the mountain, and even to the mountain I shall follow you. I, and there I will meet its spirit, and as I have always known I must, and as the shaman here has always known I must. Yes, I will match my strength and magic against hers, as it is decreed that I shall do, to the victor be the crown for which we have ward for ages. Then suddenly a teenie sprung to her saddle, and turning her horse's head he rode it back through the water, to the shore, hallowed by old Simbri, who lifted up his crooked hands as though in war and fear, muttering as he went. You have entered the forbidden river, and now, a teenie, the day of decision is upon us all, upon us and her, the predestined day of ruin and of war. What do they mean, asked Leo of me. I don't know, I answered, but I have no doubt we shall find out soon enough, and that it will be something unpleasant. Now for this river. Before we had struggled through it, I thought more than once that the day of drowning was upon us also, for in places there were deep rapids which nearly swept us away. But Leo, who waded leading the cairns' horse by the bridle, felt his paws and supported himself with the spear shaft, so that in the end we reached the other bank safely. And it lay a breath of marshy lands, so doubtless were all afloat when the torrent was afloat. Through these we pushed our way as fast as we could, for we feared less the canier had gone to fetch her escort, which we thought she might have led behind the rise, and would return with it presently to hunt us down. At that time we did not know what we learned afterwards, that with its bordering rivers the soil of the mountain was absolutely sacred, and in practice inviolable. True it had been invaded by the people of Caloon in several wars, but on each occasion their army was destroyed or met with terrible disaster. Little wonders then they had come to believe that the house of fire was under the protection of some unconquerable spirit. Leaving the marsh we reached a bare rising plain, which led to the first slope of the mountains three or four miles away. No one expected every moment to be attacked by the savages of whom we had heard so much, but no living creature did we see. The place was a desert streaked with veins of rock that once had been mowed in lava. I do not remember much else about it, indeed the pain in my arm was so sharp that I had no eyes for physical features. At length the rise ended in a bared broad dunga, quite destitute of vegetation, of which the button was buried in lava and a debris of rock smashed down by the rain or melting snows from slopes above. This dunga was bordered on the farthest side by a cliff, perhaps 50 feet in high, in which we could see no opening. Still we descended the place that was dark and bridged, pervaded more over by an extraordinary gloom, and as we went perceived that its lava floor was sprinkled over with a multitude of white objects. Only came to the first of these and found that it was the skeleton of a human being. Here was a veritable wally of dead bones, thousands upon thousands of them, a gigantic graveyard. It seemed as though some great army had perished here. Indeed we found out afterwards that this was the case, for on one of those occasions in the far past when the people of Caloon had attacked the mountain tribes, they were trapped and slaughtered in this gully, leaving their bones as a warning and a token. Among these said skeletons we wandered disconsolidely, seeking a path up the opposing cliff and finding none, until at length we came to a halt, not knowing which way to turn. Then it was that we met with our first strange experience on the mountain. The gulf and its monitoring relics depressed us, so that for a while we were silent, and to tell the truth somewhat afraid. Yes, even the horse seemed afraid, for it snorted a little, hung its head and shivered. Closed by us lay a pile of bones, the remains evidently of a number of redged creatures that, dead or living, had been hurled down from the cliff above, and on the top of the pile was a little huddle heap, which we took for more bones. Unless we can find a way out of this accursed charnel house before long, I think that it was a special add to its company, I said, staring round me. As the words left my lips, it seemed to me that from the corner of my eye I saw the heap on the top of the bone stir. I looked round. Yes, it was stirring. It rose. It stood up. A human figure, apparently set off a woman. But of this I could not be sure. Wrapped from head to foot in white and wearing a hanging wail over its face, or rather a mask with cut eye holes. It advanced towards us while we stared at it, till the horse, catching sight of the thing, shied violently and nearly threw me. When at a distance of about ten paces it paused and beckoned with its hand, that was also swathed in white, like the arm of a mummy. What the devil are you? shouted Leo, and his voice echoed drearily among those naked rocks. But the creature did not answer. It only continued to beckon. Leo walked up to it to assure himself that we were not the victims of some hallucination. As he came it glided back to its heap of bones and stood there, like a ghost, of one dead arisen from amidst these grinding evidences of death, or rather a face corpse, for that is what it resembled. Leo poloved with the intention of touching it to assure himself of its reality, whereon it lifted its white-wrapped arm and struck him lightly on the breast. Then as he recoiled it pointed with its hand first upwards as though to the peak of the sky, and next at the wall of rock which faced us. He returned to me, saying, What shall we do? Follow, I suppose, it may be a messenger from above, and I nodded towards a mountain crest. From below, more likely, Leo mattered, for I don't like the look of this guide. Still he motioned with his hand to the creature to proceed. Apparently it understood, for it turned to the left and began to pick its way among the stones and skeletons swiftly and without noise. We followed for several hundred yards, till it reached a shallow cleft in the rock. This cleft we had seen already, but as it appeared to end at a depth of about thirty feet we passed on, the figure entered here and vanished. It must be a shadow, said Leo doubtfully. Nonsense, I answered. Shadows don't strike one. Go on. So he led the horse up the cleft to find that at the end it turned sharply to the right, and that the form was standing there, awaiting us. Forward it went again, and we after it, down a little gorge that grew ever gloomier, till it terminated in what might have been a cave or a gallery cut in the rock. Here our guide came back to us apparently with the intention of taking the horse by the bridle, but at this nearest side of it the brood snorted and reared up, so that it almost fell backwards upon me. As it found its feet again the figure struck it on the head in the same passionless, in human ways that it had struck Leo, whereon the horse trembled and burst into a sweat as though with fear, making no further attempt to escape or to disobey. Then it took one side of the bridle in its swathed hand, and Leo, clenching to the other, we plunged into the tunnel. Our position was not pleasant, for we knew not wither we were being led by this horrible conductor, and suspected that it might be to meet our deaths in the darkness. Moreover, I guessed that the path was narrow, and bordered by some gulf. For as we went I heard stones fall, apparently to uns considerable depths, while the poor horse lifted its feet gingerly and snorted in abject fear. At length we saw daylight, and never was I more glad of its advent, although it showed us that there was a gulf on our right, and that the path we travelled could not measure more than ten feet in width. Now we were out of the tunnel, that evidently had saved as a wide detour, and standing for the first time upon the actual slope of the mountain, which stretched upwards for a great number of miles, till it reached the snow line above. Here also we saw evidences of human life, for the ground was cultivated in patches and herds of mountain sheep and cattle were visible in the distance. Presently we entered a gully, following a rough path that led along the edge of a raging torrent. It was a desolate place, half a mile wide or more, having hundreds of fantastic lava boulders strewn about its slopes. Before we had gone a mile I heard a shrill whistle, and suddenly from behind these boulders sprang a number of men, quite fifty of them. All they could note at the time was that they were brownie, savage-looking fellows, for the most part red-haired and bearded, although their complexions were rather dark, who wore cloaks of white goat skins and carried spears and shields. I could imagine that they were not unlike the ancient Picts and Scots as they appeared to the invading Romans. At us they came aftering their shrill-whistling cries, evidently with the intention of spearing us on the spot. Now for it, said Leo, drawing his sword, for escape was impossible, they were all around us. Goodbye, Horace. Goodbye, I answered rather faintly, understanding what the cunnia and the old shaman had meant, when they said that we should be killed before we ascended the first stop of the mountain. Meanwhile our ghastly-looking guide had slipped behind a great boulder, and even then it occurred to me that her part in the tragedy being played, she, if it were a woman at all, was withdrawing herself while we met our miserable fate. But here I did her injustice, for she had, I suppose, come to save us from this very fate, which without her presence we must most certainly have suffered. When the savages were within a few yards, suddenly she appeared on the top of the boulder, looking like a second witch of Endor, and stretched out her arm. Not a word did she speak, only stretched out her draped arm, but the effect was remarkable and instantaneous. At the sight of her, down on their faces went those wild men, every one of them, as though a lightning-stroke had in an instance wept them out of existence. Then she let her arm fall and beckoned. Their own a great fellow, who, I suppose, was the leader of the band, rose, and crept towards her, with bowed head, submissive as a beaten dog. To him she meant science, pointing to us, pointing to the far-off peak, crossing and uncrossing her white-frapped arms, but so far as I could hear speaking no word. It was evident that the chief understood her, however, for he said something in a guttural language. And he uttered his shrill whistle, whereon the band rose, and departed thence at full speed, this way and the other, so that in another minute they had vanished as quickly as they came. Now our guide motioned to us to proceed, and led the way upward as calmly as though nothing had happened. For over two hours we went on thus, till our path brought us from the ravine, on to a grassy declivity, across which it found its way. Here to our astonishment we found a fire burning, and hanging above the fire an earthenware pot, which was on the boil, although we could see no man tending it. The figure signaled to me to dismount, pointing to the pot in token, that we were to eat the food which doubtless she had ordered the wild men to prepare for us, and very glad was I to obey her. Provision had been made for the horse also, for near the fire lay a great bundle of green forage. While Leo off-settled the beast, and spread the prohender for it, taking with me a spare earthen vessel that lay ready, I went to the edge of the torrent to drink, and steep my wounded arm in its ice-cold stream. This relieved it greatly, though by now I was sure from various symptoms that the brute, master's fangs, had fortunately only broken or injured the small bone, a discovery for which I was thankful enough. Having finished tending to it as well as I was able, I filled the jar with water. On my way back a thought struck me, and going to wear our mysterious guides stood still as Lot's wife after she had been turned into a pillar of salt. I offered it to her, hoping that she would unveil her face and drink. Then for the first time she showed me some sign of being human, or so I thought, for it seemed to me that she both ever saw little in acknowledgment of the courtesy. If so, and I may have been mistaken, this was all. For the next instant she turned her back on me to show that it was declined. So she would not, or for all I knew, could not drink. Neither would she eat, for when Leo tried her afterwards with food, she refused it in like fashion. Meanwhile he had taken the pot off the fire, and as soon as its contents grew cool enough, we fell on them eagerly, for we were starving. After we had eaten and drank, Leo red-dressed my arm as best he could, and we rested awhile. Indeed, I think that, being very tired, we began to doze, for I was awakened by a shadow falling on us, and looked up to see our corpse-like guide standing close by, and pointing first to the sun, then at the horse, as though to show us that we had far to travel. So we settled up, and went on again, somewhat refreshed, for at least we were no longer ravenous. All the rest of that day we journeyed on, up the grassy slopes, seeing no men, although occasionally we heard the wild whistle, which told us that we were being wedged by the mountain savages. By sundown the character of the country had changed, for the grass was replaced with rocks, amongst which grew stunted furs. We had left the lower slopes, and were beginning to climb the mountain itself. The sun sank, and we went on through the twilight. The twilight died, and we went on through the dark. Our paths led only by the stars, and the faint radiance of the glowing pillar of smoke above the peak, which was reflected on to us, from the mighty mantle of its snows. Forward we toiled, whilst a few paces ahead of us walked at our unverifying guide. If she had seemed weird and inhuman before, now she appeared a very ghost, as, glad in her graveyard white, upon which faint light shimmered, never speaking, never looking back, she glided on noiselessly, between the black rocks, and the twisted, dark green furs and junipers. Soon we lost all count of the road. We turned this way, and turned that way. We passed an open patch, and through the shadows of a grove, to at lengths as the moon rose we entered a ravine. Our following a path that ran down it, came to a place which is best described as a large amphitheater, cut by the hand of nature out of the rock of the mountain. Evidently it was chosen as a place of defense, for its entrance was narrow and torturous, built up at the end also, so that only one person could pass its gateway at a time. Within an open space and at its farther sides stood low stone houses, built against the rock. In front of these houses the moonlight shining full upon them, where gathered several hundred men and women, arranged in a semicircle, and in alternate companies, who appeared to be engaged in the celebration of some rite. It was wild enough, in front of them and in the exact center of the semicircle, stood a gigantic red-bearded man, who was naked except for a skin girl about his loins. He was swinging himself backwards and forwards, his hands resting upon his hips, and as he swung, shouting something like, ho, ha, ha, ho. When he bent towards the audience, it bent towards him, and every time he threatened himself, it echoed his final shout of ho. In a volume of sound that made the precipices ring, nor was this all, for perched upon his high-rehead, with arched back and waking tail, stood a great white cat. Anything stranger and indeed more fantastic than the general effect of this theme, lit by the bright moonlight and set in that wild arena, it was never my lot to witness. The red-haired, half-naked man and woman, that gigantic priest, the mystical white cat, that, gripping his scalp with its claws, waved its tail and seemed to take apart in the performance. The unholy chant and its volume chorus all helped to make it extraordinarily impressive. This struck us the more, perhaps, because at the time we could not, in the least, guess its significance, though we imagined that it must be preliminary to some sacrifice or offering. It was like the fragment of a nightmare, preserved by the awakened senses in all its mad, meaningless reality. Now, round the open space where these savages were celebrating their worship, or whatever it might be, run a rough stone wall, about six feet in height, in which wall was a gateway. Towards this we advanced quite unseen, for upon our side of the wall grew many stunted pines. Through these pines our guide led us, two in the thickest of them, some few yards from the open gateway, and a little to the right of it, she motioned us to stop. Then she went to a low place in the wall, and stood there, as though she were considering the scene beyond. It seemed to us, indeed, that she saw what she had not expected, and was thereby perplexed or injured. Presently she appeared to make up her mind, for again she motioned to us to remain where we were, enjoying silence upon us, by placing her swathed hand upon the masks that hid her face. Next moment she was gone. How she went, or wither, I cannot say. All we knew was that she was no longer there. What shall we do now? whispered Leo to me. Stay where we are till she comes back again, or something happens, I answered. Though there being nothing else to be done, we stayed, hoping that the horse would not betray us by nying, or that we might not be otherwise discovered, since we were certain that if so we should be in danger of death. Very soon, however, we forgot the anxieties of our own position in the study of the Wild's team before us, which now began to develop a fearful interest. It would seem that what has been described was but preliminary to the drama itself, and that this drama was a trial of certain people for their lives. This we could guess, for after a while the incantation ceased, and the crowd in front of the big man with the cat upon his head opened out, while behind him a column of smoke rose into the air, as though light had been set to some sunk furnace. Into the space that had thus been cleared were now led seven persons whose hands were tied behind them. They were of both sexes and included an old man and a woman with a tall and handsome figure, who appeared to be quite young, scarcely more than a girl indeed. These seven were arranged in a line where they stood, clearly in great fear, for the old man fell upon his knees, and one of the women began to sob. Thus they were left a while, perhaps to allow the fire behind them to burn up, which it soon did with great fierceness, throwing a vivid light upon every detail of the spectacle. Now all was ready, and a man brought a wooden tray to the red-burded priest, who was seated on a stool, the white cat upon his knees, with which he had seen it leap from his head a little while before. He took the tray by its handles, and at a word from him the cat jumped onto it and sat there. Then amidst the most intense silence he rose and uttered some prayer, apparently to the cat, which sat facing him. This town he turned the tray round so that the creature's back was now towards him, and advancing to the line of prisoners began to walk up and down in front of them, which he did several times, at each turn drawing a little nearer. Holding out the tray he presented it at the face of the prisoner on the left, where on the cat rose, arched its back and began to lift its paws up and down. Then he moved to the next prisoner, and held it before him awhile, and so on till he came to the fifth, the young woman of whom I have spoken. Now the cat grew very angry, for in the desolate stillness we could hear its pitting and growling. At length it seemed to lift its paws and strike the girl upon the face, whereon she screamed aloud a terrible scream. Then all the audience broke out into a shout, a single word, which we understood, for we had heard one very like it, understood by the people of a plane. It was witch, witch, witch. Executioners, who were waiting for the victim, to be chosen in this ordeal by cat, rushed forward, and seizing the girl began to drag her towards the fire. The prisoner who was standing by her, and whom we rightly guessed to be her husband, tried to protect her, but his arms being bound, poor fellow, he could do nothing. One of the executioners knocked him down with a stick. Her mom and his wife escaped and threw herself upon him, but the broods lifted her up again, hailing her towards the fire, whilst all the audience shouted wildly. I can't stand this, said Leo, its murder, cold-blooded murder, and he drew his sword. Best leave the beasts alone, I answered doubtfully, though my own blood was boiling in my veins. Whether he heard or not, I do not know, for the next thing I saw was Leo rushing through the gate, waving the cunt's sword, and shouting at the top of his voice. Then I struck my heels into the ribs of the horse, and followed after him. In ten seconds we were among them. As we came, the savages fell back this way and that, staring at us amazed, for at first I think they took us for apparitions. Thus Leo on foot and I galloping after him, we came to the place. The executioners and their victim were near to the fire now, a very great fire of resinous pine logs built in a pit that measured about eight feet across. Close to it set the priest upon his stool, watching the steam with a cruel smile, and rewarding the cat with little gobbets of raw meat that he took from a leather pouch at his side, occupations in which he was so deeply engaged that he never saw us until we were right on to him. Shouting, leave her alone, you black guards. Leo rushed at the executioners, and with a single blow of his swords, severed the arm of one of them who gripped their woman by the nape of the neck. With a yell of pain and rage the man sprang back and stood waving the stump towards the people, and staring at it wildly. In the confusion that followed I saw the victim slip from the hands of her astonished would-be murderers, and run into the darkness where she vanished. Also I saw the witch-doctors spring up, still holding the tray on which the cat was sitting, and heard him begin to shout a perfect torrent of furious abuse at Leo, who in replay waved his sword and cursed him roundly in English and many other languages. Then of a sudden the cat upon the tray, infuriated I suppose by the noise and the interruption of its meal, sprang straight at Leo's face. He appeared to catch it in mid-air with his left hand, and with all his strength dashed it to the ground, where it lay rising and screeching. Then, as though by an afterthought he stooped, picked the devilish creature up again, and hurled it into the heart of the fire, for he was mad with rage and knew not what he did. At the sight of that awful sacrilege, for such it was to them who worshipped this beast, a gasp of horror rose from the spectators, followed by a howl of execration. Then, like a wave of the sea, they rushed at us. I thought Leo cut one man down, and next instant I was off the horse and being dragged towards the furnace. At the edge of it I met Leo in light, but fighting furiously for his strength was great, and they were half afraid of him. Why couldn't you leave the cat alone? I shouted at him in idiotic remonstrance. For my brain had gone, and all I knew was that we were about to be thrown into the fiery pit. Already I was over it, I felt the flames singe my hair, and saw its red caverns awaiting me. When, of a sudden, the brutal hands that held me were unlosed, and I fell backwards to the ground, where I lay stirring upwards. This was what I saw. Standing in front of the fire, her draped form quivering as though with rage, was our ghostly-looking guide, who pointed with her hand at the gigantic red-headed witch-doctor. But she was no longer alone, for with her were a score or more of men clad in white robes and armed with swords, black-eyed, ascetic-looking men with clean-shaven heads and faces for their scalp shown in the firelight. At the sight of them terror had seized the multitude, which, mad as golden balls but a few seconds before, now fled in every direction like sheep frightened by a wolf. The leader of the white-robed priests, a man with a gentle face, which, when at rest, was closed in a perpetual smile, was addressing the medicine man, and I understood something of his dog. Dog, he said in effect, speaking in a smooth-measured voice, that yet was terrible. A cursed dog, beast-worshipper, what were you about to do to the guests of the mighty mother of the mountain? Is it for this that you and your idolatries have been spared so long? Answer if you have anything to say. Answer quickly, for your time is short. With a groan of fear the great fellow flung himself upon his knees, not to the head-priest who gashened him, but before the quivering shape of our guide, and to her put up half-articulate prayers for mercy. Seath, said the high priest, she is the minister who judges and disforces its strikes. I am the ears and the voice. He can tell me, were you about to cast those men whom you were commanded to receive hospitably, into yonder fire because they saved the victim of your deliries, and killed the imp you cherished? Nay, I saw it all, know that it was but a trap set to catch you, who have been allowed to live too long. But still the bride, prized, before strapped form and held for mercy. Messenger, said the high priest, with these power-goes, declares I decree. Then our guide lifted her hand slowly and pointed to the fire. At once the men turned ghastly white, groaned and fell back, as I think quite dead, slain by his own terror. Now many of the people had fled, but some remained, and to these the priest called in cold tones, bidding them approach. They await, creeping towards him. Look, he said, pointing to the men, look and tremble at the justice of his mother. I, and be sure, that, as it is with him, so shall it be with every one of you, who dares to defy her and to practice sorcery and murder, lift up that dead dog who was your chief. Some of them crept forward and did his bidding. Now cast him into the bed which he had made ready for his victims. Stuttering forward to the edge of the flaming pits, they obeyed, and the great body fell with a crash amongst the burning buffs and vanished there. Listen, you people, said the priest, and learned that this man deserved his dreadful doom. Know you why he proposed to kill that woman whom the stranger saved? Because his familiar marked her as a witch, you think. I tell you it was not so. It was because she, being fair, she would have taken her from her husband. As he had taken many another, and she refused him. But the eye saw, the voice spoke, and the messenger did judgment. He is caught in his own snare, and so shall you be, every one of you who dares to sing evil in his heart, or to do it with his hands. Such is the just decree of the Hessea, spoken by her from the throne amidst the fires of the mountain. End of CHAPTER XII CHAPTER XIII of Ayesha, THE RETURN OF SHI. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Christine Ayesha, THE RETURN OF SHI, by H. Ryder Haggard CHAPTER XIII Beneath the Shadowing Wings One by one the terrified tribesmen crept away. When the last of them were gone, the priest advanced to Leo and saluted him by placing his hand upon his forehead. Lord, in the same corrupt Grecian dialect, which was used by the courtiers of Kalloun, I will not ask if you are heard, since from the moment that you entered the sacred river and set foot within this land, you and your companion were protected by a power invisible, and could not be harmed by man or spirit, however great may have seemed your danger. Yet vile hands have been laid upon you, and this is the command of the mother whom I serve, that, if you desire it, every one of those men who touched you shall die before your eyes. Say, is that your will? Nay, answered Leo, they were mad and blind. Let no blood be shed for us. All we ask of you, friend, but how are you called? Name me Oros, he answered. Friend Oros, a good title for one who dwells upon the mountain. All we ask is food and shelter, and to be led swiftly into the presence of her whom you name mother, that oracle whose wisdom we have traveled far to seek. He bowed and answered. The food and shelter are prepared, and tomorrow, when you have rested, I am commanded to conduct you, whether you desire to be. Follow me, I pray you. And he proceeded us past the fiery pit, to a building that stood about fifty yards away against the rock wall of the amphitheater. It would seem that it was against house, or at least had been made ready to serve that purpose, as in eight lumps were lit and a fire burned, for here the air was cold. The house was divided into two rooms, the second of them a sleeping place, to which he led us through the first. Enter, he said, for you will need to cleanse yourselves, and you, here he addressed himself to me, to be treated for the hurt to your arm, which you had from the jaws of the great hound. How know you that, I asked? It matters not if I do know and have made ready, Oros answered gravely. The second room was lighted and warmed like the first, more over, heated water stood in basins of metal, and on the beds were laid clean linen garments, and dark-coloured hooded robes, lined with rich fur. Also upon a little table were ointments, bandages, and splints, a marvelous thing to see, for it told me that the very nature of my heart had been deviant. But I asked no more questions, I was too weary, more over, I knew that it would be useless. Now the priest Oros helped me to remove my tattered robe, and, undoing the rough bandages upon my arm, washed it gently with warm water, in which he mixed some spirit and examined it, with the skill of a trained doctor. The fangs ran deep, he said, and the small bone is broken, but you will take no harm, save for the scars which must remain. Then, having treated the wounds with ointment, he wrapped the limb with such a delicate touch that its scarcely pained me, saying that by the morrow the swelling would have gone down, and he would set the bone. This indeed happened. After it was done, he helped me to wash and to close myself in the clean garments, and put a sling above my neck to serve as a rest for my arm. Meanwhile, Leo had also dressed himself, so that we left the chamber together, very different men to the full, blood-stained wanderers who had entered there. In the outer room we found food prepared for us, of which we ate with a thankful heart and without speaking. Then, blind with wariness, we returned to the other chamber, and having removed our outer garments, flung ourselves upon the beds, and were soon plunged in sleep. At some time in the night, I awoke suddenly at what hour I do not know, a certain people wake, I among them, when their room is entered, even without the slightest noise. Before I opened my eyes, I felt that someone was with us in the place, nor was I mistaken, a little lamp still burned in the chamber, a mere wick floating in oil, and by its light I saw a dim ghost-like form standing near the door. Indeed I thought almost that it was a ghost, to presently I remembered and knew it for our corpse-like guide, who appeared to be looking intently at the bed on which Leo lay, or so I thought, for the head was bent in that direction. At first she was quite still, then she moaned aloud, a low and terrible moan, which seemed to well from her at the very heart. So the thing was not dumb, as I have believed, evidently it could suffer and express its suffering in a human fashion. It was wringing its padded hands as in an excess of wool. Now it would seem that Leo began to feel its influence also, for he steered and spoke in his sleep, so low at first, that I could only distinguish the tongue he used, which was Arabic. Presently I caught a few words, Aisha, he said, Aisha. The figure glided towards him and stopped. He sat up in the bed still fast asleep, for his eyes were shut. He stretched out his arms as though seeking one whom he would embrace, and spoke again in a low and passionate voice. Aisha, through life and death I have sought thee long. Come to me, my goddess, my desired. The figure glided yet nearer, and I could see that it was trembling, and now its arms were extended also. At the bedside she halted, and Leo laid himself down again. Now the coverings had fallen back, exposing his breast, where lays the leather satchel he always wore, that which contained the lock of Aisha's hair. He was fast asleep, and the figure seemed to fix its eyes upon this satchel. Presently it did more, for, with surprising deafness, those white rapid fingers opened its glass, yes, and drew out the long dress of shining hair. Long and earnestly she gazed at it, then gently replaced the relic, closed the satchel, and for a while seemed to be. While she stood thus the dreaming Leo once more stretched out his arms and spoke, saying in the same passion-laden voice, Come to me, my darling, my beautiful, my beautiful. At those words with a little muffled scream, like that of a scared nightbird, the figure turned and fledged through the doorway. When I was quite certain that she had gone, I gasped aloud. What might this mean, I wondered, in a very agony of bewilderment. This could certainly be no dream, it was real, for I was wide awake. Indeed what did it all mean? Who was the ghastly mummy-like thing which had guided us unharmed through such terrible dangers? The messenger, that all men feared, who could strike down a brownie savage with the motion of its hand. Why did it creep into the place thus a dead of night, like a spirit revisiting one beloved? Why did its presence cause me to awake and Leo to dream? Why did it draw out the dress? Indeed, how knew it that this dress was hidden there? And why? Oh, why, at those tender and passionate words, did it flit away at last like some scared bat? The priest Urus had called our guide minister, and swore, that is, one who carries out decrees. But what if they were its own decrees? What if this thing should be she whom we thought, Aisha herself? Why should I tremble at the thought, seeing that if so, our quest was ended, we had achieved? Oh, it must be because about this being there was something terrible, something unhuman and appalling. If Aisha lived within those mummy-clothes, then it was a different Aisha whom we had known and worshipped. Well could I remember the white-raped form of she who must be awade? And how, long before she revealed her glorious face to us, we gazed her beauty, and the majesty hidden beneath that veil, by which her radiant life and loveliness incarnate could not be disguised? But what of this creature? I would not pursue the thought, I was mistaken. Doubtless she was the priest Urus had said, some half supernatural being to whom certain powers were given, and doubtless she had come to spy on us in our rest, that she might make reports to the giver of those powers. Unfortunately myself thus I fell asleep again, for fatigue overcame even such doubts and fears. In the morning, when they were naturally less vivid, I made up my mind that, for various reasons it would be wisest to say nothing of what I had seen to Leo. Nor indeed did I do, so until some days had been by. When I awoke the full light was pouring into the chamber, and by it I saw the priest Urus standing at my bedside. I set up and asked him what time it was, to which he answered with a smile, but in a low voice, that it lucked but two hours of midday, adding that he had come to set my arm. Now I saw why he spoke low, for Leo was still fast asleep. Let him rest on, he said, as he undid the wrappings on my arm, for he has suffered much, and, he continued significantly, may still have more to suffer. What do you mean, friend Urus, I asked sharply. I thought you told us that we were safe up on this mountain. I told you friend, and he looked at me. Holly is my name. Friend Holly, that your bodies are safe. I said nothing of all the rest of you. Man is more than flesh and blood. He is mind and spirit as well, and these can be injured also. Who is there that would injure them, I asked. And he answered gravely. You and your companion have come to a haunted land, not as mere wanderers, for then you would be dead here now, but of said purpose, seeking to lift the whale from mysteries which have been hid for ages. Well, your aim is known, and it may chance that it will be achieved. But if this whale is lifted, it may chance also that you will find what shall send your soul shivering to despair and madness. Say, are you not afraid? Somewhat, I answered. Yet my foster son and I have seen strange things and lived. We have seen the very light of life roll by in majesty. We have been the guests of an immortal, and watched death seem to conquer her and leave us untouched. Think you then, that we will turn cupboards now. Nay, we march on to fulfill our destinies. At these words Oro showed neither curiosity nor surprise. It was as though I told him only what he knew. Good, he replied, smiling, and with a courteous bow of his shaven head. Within an hour you shall march on to fulfill your destinies. If I have warned you, forgive me, for I was bitten so to do, perhaps to try your metal. It is needful that I should repeat this warning to the Lord. And again he looked at me. Leovincy, I said. Leovincy, yes, Leovincy. He repeated, as though the name were familiar to him, but had slipped his mind. But you have not answered my question. Is it needful that I should repeat the warning? Not in the least, but you can do so if you wish when he awakes. Nay, I think with you, that it would be but waste of words, for forgive the comparison. But the wolf dares, and he looked at me, the tiger does not flee from. And he nodded towards Leo. There, see how much better are the wounds upon your arm, which is no longer swollen. Now I will bandage it, and within some few weeks the bone will be as sound again as it was before you met the Khan Rassan, hunting in the plains. By the way, you will see him again soon, and his fair wife with him. See him again. Do the dead, then, come to life upon this mountain? Nay, but certain of them are broad hither for burial. It is the privilege of the rulers of Kallun, also, I think, that the Kani has questions to ask of its oracle. Who is its oracle, I asked with eagerness. The oracle, he replied darkly, is a voice. It was ever so, was it not? Yes, I have heard that from Atine, but a voice implies a speaker. Is this speaker she whom you name Mother? Perhaps, friend Holly. And is this Mother a spirit? It is a point that has been much debated. They told you so in the plains, did they not? Also the tribes sang it on the mountain. Indeed, the thing seems reasonable, seeing that all of us who live are flesh and spirit. But you will form your own judgment, and then we can discuss the matter. There, your arm is finished. Be careful now, not to strike it or to fall. And look, your companion awakes. Something over an hour later we started upon our upward journey. I was again mounted on the Khan's horse, which having been groomed and fed was somewhat rested, while to Leo a litter had been offered. His he declined, however, saying that he had now recovered and would not be carried like a woman. So he walked by the side of my horse, using his spear as a staff. We passed the fire pit, now full of dead, white ashes, among which were mixed those of the witchfinder and his horrible cat, preceded by our dumb guide, at the side of whom, in her pale wrappings, the people of the tribe who had returned to their village prostrated themselves, and so remained until she was gone by. One of them, however, rose again, and, breaking through our escort of priests, ran to Leo, knelt before him and kissed his hand. It was that young woman whose life he had saved, an noble-looking girl, with masses of red hair, and by her was her husband, the marks with bonds still showing on his arms. Our guide seemed to see this incident, though, how she did so, I do not know. At any rate, she turned and made some sign which the priest interpreted. Calling the woman to him, he asked her sternly, how she dared to touch the person of the stranger with her vile lips. She answered that it was because her heart was grateful, or as said, that for this reason she was forgiven. Moreover, than in reward for what they had suffered, he was commanded to lift up her husband, to be the ruler of that tribe during the pleasure of the mother. He gave notice, moreover, that all should obey the new chief in his place, according to their customs, and if he did any evil, make reports that he might suffer punishment. Then, waving the pair aside, without listening their thanks or the acclamations of the crowd, he passed on. As we went down the ravine, by which we had approached the village on the previous night, a sound of chanting struck our ears. Presently the past turned, and we saw a solemn procession advancing up that dismal sunless gorge. At the head of it rowed none other than the beautiful Kania, followed by her great-uncle, the old Shaman, and after these came a company of shaving priests in their white robes, bearing between them a beer, upon which its face uncovered lay the body of the Khan, draped in black garment. Yet he looked better thus than he had ever done, for now death had touched this insane and dismal man with something of the dignity which he lacked in life. Thus then we met. At the side of our guide's white form, the horse which the Kania rode reared up so violently, that I thought it would have thrown her, but she mastered the animal with her whip and voice, and caught out. Who is this draped hag of the mountains that stops the pass of the Kania Atini and her dead lord? My guests, I find you an ill company, for it seems that you are conducted by an evil spirit to meet an evil fate. So the guide of yours must surely be something hateful and hideous, for were she a waltzome woman she would not fear to show her face. Now the shaman blocked his mistress by the sleeve, and the priest Oroz bowing to her, prayed her to be silent, and ceased to speak such ill omen words into the air, which might carry them she knew not with her. But some instinctive hate seemed to bubble up in Atini, and she would not be silent, for she addressed our guide using the diridzo, a manner of speech that we found was very usual on the mountain, though rare upon the plains. And the air carries them with her it will, she cried, sorcerous strip of the rags, fit only for a corpse too wild to view. Show us what you are, though flitting night all, who thinkest to fright me with that livery of death, which only serves to hide the death within. Seize, I pray, lady, seize, said Oroz, stirred for once out of his imperturable calm. She is a minister, none other, and with her goes the power. Then it goes not against Atini, honey of Calun, she answered, or so I think. Power for Zeus, let her show her power. If she has any, it is not her own, but that of the witch of the mountain, who feigns to be a spirit, and by her sorceries has drawn away my guests, and she pointed to us, thus bringing my husband to his death. Nis, be silent, said the old shaman, whose wrinkled face was white with terror, whilst Oroz held up his hands as though in supplication to some unseen strength, saying, Although, that hearst and seeest, be merciful, I besiege thee, and forgive this woman her madness, lest the blood of a guest should stain the hands of thy servants, and the ancient honor of our worship be brought low in the eyes of men. Thus he prayed, but although his hands were uplifted, it seemed to me that his eyes were fixed upon our guide as ours were. While he spoke, I saw her hand raised, as she had raised it when she slew, or rather, sentenced the witch-doctor. Then she seemed to reflect, and stayed it in mid-ear, so that it pointed at the cania. She did not move, she made no sound, only she pointed. And the angry wards died upon Atini's lips. The fury left her eyes, and the color her face. Yes, she grew white and silent as the corpse upon the veer behind her. Then, coed by that invisible power, she struck her horse so fiercely that it bounded by us onward towards the village, at which the funeral company were to rest awhile. As the shaman Simbri followed the cania, the priest Oros cocked his horse's bridle and said to him, Magician, we have met before. For instance, when your lady's father was brought to his funeral, warn her, then, you that know something of the truth and of her power, to speak more gently of the ruler of this land, say to her from me, that had she not been the ambassadors of death, and therefore inviolate, surely ere now she would have shared her husband's beard. Farewell, tomorrow we will speak again. And losing the shaman's bridle, Oros passed on. Soon we had left the melancholy procession behind us and, issuing from the gorge, turned up the mountain slope towards the edge of the bright snows, that lay not far above. It was as we came out of this dark-sum valley, where the overhanging pine trees almost eclipsed the light that suddenly missed our guide. Has she gone back to reason with the cania, I asked of Oros? Nay, he answered with a slight smile. I think that she has gone forward to give warning that the hessil guests draw near. Indeed, I answered, staring hard at the bare slope of mountain, up which not a mouse could have passed without being seen, understand she has gone forward, and the matter dropped. What what I did not understand was, how she had gone. As the mountain was honeycombed with caves and galleries, I suppose, however, that she entered one of them. All the rest of the day we marched upwards, gradually drawing nearer to the snowline, as we went gathering what information we could from the priest Oros. This was the sum of it. From the beginning of the world, as he expressed it, that is, from thousands and thousands of years ago, this mountain had been the home of a peculiar fire worship, of which the head hero-punt was a woman. About 20 centuries before, however, the invading general named Rasen had made himself Khan of Kallun. Rasen established a new priestess on the mountain, a worshipper of the Egyptian goddess Hes or Isis. This priestess had introduced certain modifications in the ancient doctrines, superseding the coat of fire pure and simple by a new face, which, while holding to some of the old ceremonies, revered as its head the spirit of life or nature, of whom they looked upon their priestess as the earthly representative. Of this priestess, Oros would only tell us that she was ever present. Although we gathered that when one priestess died or was taken to the fire, as he put it, her child, whether in fact or by adoption, succeeded her and was known by the same names, those of Hes or the Hesea and Mother. We asked if we should see this mother, to which he answered that she manifested herself very rarely. As to her appearance and attributes, he would say nothing, except that the former changed from time to time, and that when she chose to use it, she had all power. The priests of her college, he informed us, number 300, never more or less, and there were also 300 priestesses. Certain of those who desired it were allowed to marry and among their children were reared up the new generation of priests and priestesses. Thus they were a people apart from all others, with distinct racial characteristics. This indeed was evident, for our escort were all exceedingly like to each other, very handsome and refined in appearance, with dark eyes, clean cut features, and olive-hued skins, such a people as might well have descended from eastern high blood, with a dash of that of the Egyptians and a brick-throne inn. We asked him whether the mighty-looped pillar that towered from the topmost cup of the mountain was the work of man. He answered, No, the hand of nature had fashioned it, and that the light shining through it came from the fires which burned in the crater of the volcano. The first priestess, having recognized in this gigantic column the familiar symbol of life of the Egyptian worship, established her altars beneath its shadow. For the rest, the mountain, with its mighty slopes and borderlands, was peopled by a multitude of half-savage hawks, who accepted the rule of the Hessea, bringing her tribute of all things necessary, such as food and metals. Much of the meat and grain, however, the priests raised themselves on sheltered farms, and the metals they worked with their own hands. This rule, however, was of a moral nature, since for centuries the college had sought no conquests, and the mother contended herself with punishing crime in some such fashion as we had seen. For the petty wars between the tribes and the people of the plain, they were not responsible, and those chiefs who carried them on were deposed, unless they had themselves been attacked. All the tribes, however, were sworn to the defense of the Hessea and the college, and, however much they might quarrel amongst themselves, if neither rose, were ready to die for her to the last man. That war must one day break out again between the priests of the mountain and the people of Caloon, was recognized, therefore they endeavored to be prepared for that great and final struggle. Such was the gist of his history, which, as we learned afterwards, proved to be true in every particular. Towards sundown we came to a vast cup extending over many thousand acres, situated beneath the snowline of the peak, and filled with rich soil washed down, as opposed from above. So sheltered was the place by its configuration and the overhanging mountains that, facing southwest as it did, notwithstanding its altitude it produced corn and other temperate crops in abundance. Here the college had its farms, and very well cultivated these seemed to be. This great cup, which could not be seen from below, we entered through a kind of natural gateway that might be easily defended against a host. There were other peculiarities, but it is not necessary to describe them further than to say that I think the soil benefited by the natural heat of the volcano, and then, when this erupted, as happened occasionally, the lover streams always passed to the north and south of the cup of land. Indeed, it was these lover streams that had built up the protecting cliffs. Crossing the garden-like lands, we came to a small town, beautifully built of lover rock. Here dwelt the priests, except those who were on duty, no man of the tribes or other stranger being allowed to set foot within the place. Following the main street of this town, we arrived at the face of the precipice beyond, and found ourselves in front of a vast archway, closed with massive iron gates fantastically rolled. Here, taking my horse with them, our escort left us alone with auras. As we drew near, the great gates swung back upon their hinges. We passed them, with what sensations I cannot describe, and groped our way down a short corridor which ended in tall iron-covered doors. These also rode open at our approach, and next instant we staggered back, amazed, and half blindened by the intense place of light within. Imagine you, who read, the nave of the wasteest cathedral, with which you are acquainted, then double or treble its size, and you will have some conception of that temple in which we found ourselves. Perhaps in the beginning it had been a cave, who can say. But now its sheer walls, its multitudinous columns springing to the archdrave far above us, had all been worked on and fashioned by the labor of men long dead, doubtless the old fire-worshippers of thousands of years ago. You will wonder how so great a place was lighted, but I think that never would you guess. Thus, by twisted columns of living flame, I counted eighteen of them, but there may have been others. They sprang from the floor at regular intervals, along the lines of what in a cathedral would be the ails. Right to the roof they sprang, of even height and girth, so fierce was the force of the natural gas that drove them, and there were lost, I suppose, through chimneys poured in the thickness of the rock. Nor did they give off smell or smoke, or in that great cold place, any heat which could be noticed. Only an intense white light, like that of molten iron, and a sharp hissing noise, as of a million angry snakes. The huge temple was utterly deserted, and, save for this sublant, prevading sound, utterly silent, and avicen an hour-powering place. Do these candles of yours ever go out? Asked Leo of Ores, placing his hand before his dazzled eyes. How can they, replied the priest, in his smooth matter-of-fact voice, think that they arise from the eternal fire which the builders of this hall worshipped. Thus they have burned from the beginning, and thus they will burn forever, though, if we wish it, we can shut off their light. Footnote This, as I assert and afterwards, was done by thrusting a broad stone of great thickness over the apertures, through which the gas or fire rushed and thus was cutting off the air. These stones were worked to and fro by means of police, connected with iron rods. End of the Footnote Be pleased to follow me, you will see greater things. So in avid silence we followed, and oh, how small and miserable we three human beings looked alone in that vast temple, illuminated by the lightning radiance. We reached the end of eight lengths, only to find that the right and left ran transcepts on, alike gigantic scale and lit in the same amazing fashion. Here Oroz bade us hoth, and we waited a little while till presently. From Asia transcept arose a sound of chanting, and we perceived that white robe processions advancing towards us from their depths. On they came very slowly, and we saw that the procession to the right was a company of priests, and that to the left a company of priestesses, a hundred or so of them in all. Now the men ranged themselves in front of us, while the women ranged themselves behind, and at a signal from Oroz, all of them still chanting some wild and thrilling hymn. Once more we started forward, this time along a narrow gallery, closed at the end with double-wodden doors. As our procession reached seas, they opened, and before us lay the crowning wanderer of this marvelous fame. A vast ellipse shaped apes. Now we understood, the plan of the temple was the plan of the looped pillar, which stood upon the brow of the peak. And as we rightly guessed, its dimensions were the same. At intervals around this ellipse, the fiery columns flared, but otherwise the place was empty. No, not quite, for at the head of the apes, almost between two of the flame columns stood a plain, square altar of the size of a small room, in front of which, as we saw, when we draw nearer, were hung curtains of woven silver thread. On this altar was placed a large statue of silver that, baked as it was by the black rock, seemed to concentrate and reflect from its burnished surface the intense light of the two blazing pillars. It was a lovely thing, but to describe it is hard indeed. The figure, which was winged, represented a draped woman of mature years, and pure, but gracious form, half hidden by the forward-bending wings. Shattered by these, yet shown between them, appeared the image of a male child, clasped to its barest breast with her left arm, while the right was raised towards the sky. A study of motherhood, evidently, but how shall I write of all that was conveyed by those graven faces? To begin with the child. It was that of a sturdy boy, full of health and the joy of life. Yet he had been sleeping, and in his sleep some terror had overshadowed him, with the dark shades of death and evil. There was fear in the lines of his sweet mouth and on the lips and cheeks that seemed to quiver. He had thrown his little arm about his mother's neck, and pressing close again her breast looked up to her for safety, his right hand and outstretched finger pointing downwards and behind him, as though to indicate when the danger came. Yet it was passing, already held forgotten, for the upturned eyes expressed confidence renewed, peace of soul attained. And the mother. She did not seem to mock or chide his fears, for her lovely face was anxious and alert. Yet upon it breathed a very atmosphere of unchanging tenderness and power invincible. Care for the helpless, strength to shelter it from every harm. The great calm eyes told their story. The parted lips were whispering some tale of hope, sure and immortal. The raised hand reviewed when the hope arose. All love seemed to be concentrated in the brooding figure, so human, yet so celestial. All heavens seemed to lie an open path before those quivering wings. And see, the arching instep, the upward-springing foot, suggested that scissor-souls' wings were bound, bearing their God-given burden far from the horror of the earth, deep into the bosom of the changeless rest above. The statue was only set of a frightened child in its mother's arms. Its interpretation made clear even to the duelist by the simple symbolism of some genius, humanity saved by the divine. While we gazed at its enchanting beauty, the priests and priestesses, feeling a ways right and left, arranged themselves alternately, first a man and then a woman, within the ring of the columns of fire that burned around the loop-shaped shrine. So great was its circumference that the whole hundred of them must stand wide apart from another, and, to our sight, resembled little lonely children glad in gleaming garments, while their chandelure-ship reached us only like echoes, strong from afar precipice. In short, the effect of this holy shrine and its occupants was superb yet overwhelming. At least I know that it filled me with a feeling akin to fear. Oros waited till the last priest had reached his appointed place. Then he turned and said if his gentle reverent tones. Draw nigh, now, a wondrous, well-beloved, and give greetings to the mother. And he pointed towards the statue. Where is she? asked Leo in a whisper. For here we scarcely dared to speak aloud. I see no one. The hessia dwells yonder, he answered, and, taking each of us by the hand, he led us forward across the great emptiness of the apes to the altar at its head. As we drew near, the distant chant of the priests gathered in volume, assuming a glad triumphant note, and it seemed to me, though this perhaps was fancy, that the light from the twisted columns of flame grew even brighter. At length we were there, and Oros, losing our hands, prostrated himself thrice before the altar. Then he rose again, and, falling behind us, stood in silence with bent head and folded fingers. We stood silent also, our hearts filled with mingled hope and fear, like a cup with wine. Where our labours ended? Had we found her whom we sought? Or were we perchance, but enmeshed in the web of some marvelous mummary, and about to make acquaintance with the secret of another new and mystical worship? For years and years we had searched, and during every hardness of flesh and spirit, that man can suffer, and now we were to learn whether we had endured in vain. Yes, and Leo would learn if the promise was to be fulfilled to him, or whether she whom he adored had become but a departed dream to be sought for only beyond the gate of death. Little wonder that he trembled and turned white in the agony of that great suspense. Long, long was the time. Years, years, ages, ions, seemed to flow over us as we stood there before glittering silver curtains, that hid the front of the black altar beneath the mystery of the sphinx-like face, of the glorious witch-posset's guardian, closed with that frozen smile of eternal love and pity. All the past went before us as we struggled in those dark waters of our doped. Item by item, event by event, we rehearsed the story which began in the caves of Core, for our thoughts so long a-turned were open to each other and flashed from soul to soul. Oh, now we knew they were opened also to another soul. We could see nothing save the altar and the effigy. We could only hear the slow chant of the priests and priestesses, and the snake-like hiss of the rushing fires. Yet we knew that our hearts were as an open book to one who watched beneath the mother's shadowing wings. End of chapter 13. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. H. Rider Haggard. Asha, the Return of She. Chapter 14, The Court of Death. Now the curtains were open. The forests appeared a chamber hollowed from the thickness of the altar and in its center a throne and on the throne a figure cladding in waves of billowy white flowing from the herd over the arms of the throne down to its marble steps. We could see no more in the comparative darkness of that place save that beneath the folds of the drapery, the oracle held in its hands a loop-shaped jeweled scepter. Moved by some impulse we did as ours had done, prostrating ourselves and there remained upon our knees. At length we heard a tinkling as of little bells and looking up saw that the system-shaped scepter was stretched towards us by the draped arm which held it. Then a thin clear voice spoke and I thought that it trembled a little. It spoke in Greek, but in a much purer Greek than all these people used. I greet you wanderers who have journeyed so far to visit this most ancient shrine and although doubtless of some other faith are not ashamed to do reverence to that unworthy one who is for this time its oracle and the guardian of its mysteries. Rise now and have no fear of me, for have I not sent my messenger and servants to conduct you to this sanctuary? Slowly we rose and stood silent, not knowing what to say. I greet you, wanderers, the voice repeated, Tell me thou, and the scepter pointed towards Leo, How art thou named? I am named Leo Vinci, he answered. Leo Vinci, I like the name, which to me well befits a man so goodly, and thou, the companion of Leo Vinci, I am named Horace Holly, so then tell me, Leo Vinci and Horace Holly, what came ye so far to seek? We looked at each other, and I said, The tale is long and strange, oh, but what title must we address thee? By the name which I bear here, yes, oh, yes, I said, wondering what name she bore elsewhere. Yet I desire to hear that tale, she went on, and to me her voice sounded eager. Nay, not all tonight, for I know that you are both very, a little of it only. In sooth, strangers, there is a sameness in this home of contemplations, and no heart can feed only on the past if such a thing there be. Therefore I welcome a new history from the world without. Tell it me, thou, Leo, as briefly as thou wilt, so that thou tell the truth, for in the presence of which I am a minister, may nothing else be uttered. Priestess, he said in his court fashion, I obey. Many years ago, when I was young, my friend and foster father and I, led by records of the past, traveled to a wild land, and there found a certain divine woman who had conquered time. Then that woman must have been both age and hideous. I said, Priestess, that she had conquered time, not suffered it, for the gift of immortal youth was hers. Also she was not hideous, she was beauty itself. Therefore, stranger, thou didst worship him for her beauty's sake as a man does. I did not worship her. I loved her, which is another thing. The priest Oros here worships thee, whom he calls mother. I loved that immortal woman. Then thou shalt love her still. Yet not so, since love is very mortal. I love her still, he answered, although she died. Why? How is that? Thou saidst she was immortal. Perhaps she only seemed to die. Perhaps she changed. At least I lost her, and what I lost I seek, and have sought this many a year. Why dost thou seek her in my mountain, Leo Vinci? The course of vision led me to ask counsel of its oracle. I am come hither to learn tidings of my lost love, since here alone these may be found. And thou, Holly, didst thou also love an immortal woman whose immortality it seems must bow to death? The priestess, I answered, I am sworn to this quest, and where my foster son goes, I follow. He follows beauty that is stead, and thou dost follow him. Therefore both of you follow a beauty as men have ever done, being blind and mad. Nay, I answered, if they were blind, beauty would be not to them, who could not see it. And if they were mad, they would not know it when it was seen. Knowledge and vision belong to the wise, O Hess. Thou art quick of wit and tongue, Holly, as she checked herself. Then of a sudden said, Tell me, did my servant, the carny of Cologne, entertain both of you hospitably in her city, and speed you on your journey hither, as I commanded her? We knew not that she was thy servant, I replied. Hospitality we had, and to spare, but we were sped from her court hither, word by the death hounds of the carn, her husband. Tell us, priestess, what thou knowest of this journey of ours? A little, she answered carelessly. More than three months ago my spy saw you upon the far mountains, and, creeping very close to you at night, heard you speak together of the object of your wanderings. Then, returning then swiftly, made report to me. Thereon I bade the carna atine, and that old magician, her great-uncle, who is guardian of the gate, go down to the ancient gates of Cologne to receive you, and bring you hither with all speed. Yet for men who burned to learn the answer or to riddle, you have been long in coming. We came as fast as we might, oh hez, said Leo, and if thy spies could visit those mountains, where no man was, and find a path down thy tedious precipice, they must have been able also to tell thee the reason of our delay. Therefore, I pray, ask it not of us. Nay, I will ask it of Athena herself, and she shall surely answer me, for she stands without, replied the Hesai in a cold voice. Oros, lead the Kanya hither, and be swift. The priest turned, and walking quickly to the wooden doors by which we had entered, the shrine vanished there. Now, said Leo to me nervously, in the silence that follow, and speaking in English, now I wish we were somewhere else, for I think that there will be trouble. I don't think, I'm sure, I answered. But the more the better, for out of trouble may come the truth which we need sorely. Then I stopped, reflecting that the strange woman before us said that her spies had overheard our talk upon the mountains, where we had spoken nothing but English. As it proved, I was wise, for quite quietly the Hesai repeated after me, thou hast experienced, Holly, for out of trouble comes the truth, as out of wine. Then she was silent, and needless to say, I did not pursue the conversation. The doors swung open, and through them came a procession clad in black, followed by the Shaman Simbri, who walked in front of a beer upon which lay the body of the Khan carried by eight priests. Behind it was Atine, draped in a black veil, from head to foot, and after her marched another company of priests. In front of the altar, the beer was set down, and the priest fell back, leaving Atine and her uncle standing alone before the corpse. What seeks my vessel, the Kanya of Kallum, asked the Hesai in a cold voice. Now Atine advanced and bent the knee, but with little graciousness. Ancient mother, mother from old, I do reverence to thy holy office, as my forefathers have done for many a generation. And again she courtes it. Mother, this dead man asked of thee that rite of Sipulcher in the fires of the holy mountain, which from the beginning has been accorded to the royal departed who went before him. It has been accorded, as thou sayest, answered the Hesai, by those priestesses who filled my place before me, nor shall it be refused to thy dead lord, or to thee Atine, when thy time comes. I thank thee, O Hes, and I pray that this decree may be written down, for the snows of age have gathered of thy venerable head, and soon thou must leave us for a while. Therefore bid thy scribes that it be written down, so that the Hesaiyah rules after thee may fulfill it in its season. Cease, said the Hesaiyah, cease to pour out thy bitterness at that which should command thy reverence. O thou foolish child who does not know but that tomorrow the fire shall claim the frail youth and beauty which are thy boast. I bid thee cease and tell me how did death find this lord of thine. Ask those wonders yonder that were his guests, for his blood is on their heads and cries for vengeance at thy hands. I killed him, said Leo, to save my own life. He tried to hunt us down with his dogs, and there are the marks of them. And he pointed to my arm. The priest Orrus knows, for he dressed the herds. How did this chance, asked the Hesaiyah, Atine. My lord was mad, she answered boldly, and such was his cruel sport. So? And was thy lord jealous also? Nay, keep back the falsehood I see rising to thy lips. Leo Vinci, answer thou me. Yet I will not ask thee to lay bare the secrets of a woman who has offered thee her love. Thou holy, speak and let it be the truth. In this so Hes, I answered. John the Lady and her uncle, the Shaman Simbri, saved us from death in the waters of the river that bonds the precipice of Cologne. Afterwards, we were ill, and they treated us kindly. But the Kanya became enamored of my foster son. Here, the figure of the priestess stirred beneath his cosy wrappings, and the voice asked, and did thy foster son become enamored of the Kanya? As being a man, he may well have done, for without doubt she is fair. He can answer that question for himself, O Hes. All I know is that he strode to escape from her, and that in the end she gave him a day to choose between death and marriage with her, when her lord should be dead. So, helped by the Khan, her husband, who was jealous of him, we fled towards this mountain, which we decided to reach. Then the Khan set his hands upon us, for he was mad and false-hearted. We killed him and came on in spite of this lady, his wife, and her uncle, who would have prevented us and were met in a place of bones by a certain veiled guide, who led us up the mountain and twice saved us from death. That is all the story. Woman, what hast thou to say? asked Hesia in a menacing voice. But little, Atina answered without flinching, for years I've been bound to a madman and a brute, and if my fancy wandered towards this man, and his fancy wandered towards me, well, nature spoke to us, and that is all. Afterwards it seems that he grew afraid of the vengeance of Rasen, or this holly whom I would that the hounds had torn bone from bone grew afraid. So they strode to escape the land and perhaps wandered to thy mountain. But I wear of this talk and ask thy leave to rest before tomorrow's ride. Thou sayest, Atina, said the Hesia, that nature spoke to this man and to thee, and that his heart is thine. But that, fearing thy Lord's vengeance, he fled from thee. He who seems no coward, tell me, then, is that dress he hides in the satchel on his breast thy gage of love to him? I know nothing of what he hides in the satchel, answered the Kanya sullenly. And yet, jaundering the gatehouse, when he lay so sick he set the lock against thine own, ah, dost remember now? So, O, Hes, already has told thee all our secrets, though they be such as most men hide within their breasts, and she looked contemptuously at Leo. I told her nothing of the matter, Kanya, Leo said in an angry voice, Nay, thou toldst me nothing, wanderer, my watching wisdom told me. O, didst thou think, Atina, that thou could hide the truth from the all seeing his sea of the mountain? If so, spare thy breath, for I know all, and have known it from the first. I passed thy disobedience by, of thy false messages I took no heed, for my own purposes I, to whom time is not, suffered even that thou shouldst hold these, my guests thy prisoners, whilst thou didst strive by threats and force to win a love denied. She paused then went on coldly, Woman, I tell thee that to complete thy sin, thou hast even dare to lie to me here in my very sanctuary. If so, what of it, was the bold answer? Dost thou love the man thyself? Nay, it's monstrous. Nature would cry aloud at such a shame. O, tremble not with rage, hess, I know thy evil powers, but I know also that I am thy guest, and that in this hallowed place, beneath the under symbol of eternal love, thou mayst shed no blood. More, thou canst not harm me, hess, who am thy equal? Atina replied the measured voice, Did I desire it? I could destroy thee where thou art, yet thou art right. I shall not harm thee, thou faithless servant. Did not my writ be thee through donder-searcher of the stars thy uncle to meet these guests of mine and bring them straight to my shrine? Tell me, for I seek to know, how comes it that thou didst disobey me? Have then thy desire, answered Atina in a new and earnest voice, devoid now of bitterness and falsehood. I disobeyed because that man is not thine, but mine, and no other woman's, because I love him and have loved him from old. I, since first our soul sprang into life, I have loved him, and he has loved me. My own heart tells me so. The magic of my uncle here tells me so, though how and where and when these things have been, I know not. Therefore I come to thee, mother of mysteries, guardian of the secrets of the past, to learn the truth. At least thou canst not lie at thine own altar, and I charge thee by the dreed name of that power to which thou also must render thy account, that thou answer now and here. Who is this man to whom I am being yearns? What has he been to me? What has he to do with thee? Speak, O Oracle, and make the secret clear. Speak, I command, even though afterwards thou dost slay me, if thou canst. I speak, speak, said Leo, for now I am in sore suspense. I also am bewildered by memories and rent with hopes and fears, and I, too, echoed, speak. Leo Vincie asked the Hesia after she had thought a while. Whom dost thou believe me to be? I believe, he answered solemnly, that thou art that Asha at whose hands I died of old in the caves of Kor in Africa. I believe thou art that Asha, whom not twenty years ago I found and loved in those same caves of Kor, and there saw perish miserably, swearing that thou wouldst return again. See now how madness can mislead a man, broke in Athena triumphantly. Not twenty years ago, he said, whereas I know, well, that more than eighty summers have gone by since my grandsire in his youth saw this same priestess sitting on the mother's throne. And whom dost thou believe me to be, O Holly? The priestess asked, taking no note the Kanya's words. What he believes, I believe, I answered. The dead come back to life sometimes, yet alone thou knows the truth, and by thee only it can be revealed. I, she said, as though musing. The dead come back to life sometimes, and in strange shape and may have I know the truth. Tomorrow, when yonder body is born on high for burial, we will speak of it again. Till then rest you all and prepare to face that fearful thing, the truth. While the Hesia still spoke, the silvery curtain swung to their place as mysteriously as they had opened. Then, as though at some signal, the black-robed priests advanced, surrounding Athena they led her from the sanctuary, accompanied by her uncle the Shaman, who, as it seemed to me, either through fatigue or fear, could scarcely stand upon his feet, but stood blinking his dim eyes as though the light dazed him. When these were gone, the priests and priestesses, who all this time had been ranged round the walls, far out of hearing of our talk, gathered themselves into their separate companies and still chanting departed also, leaving us alone with auras and the corpse of the Khan, which remained where it had been set down. Now the head-priest auras beckoned us to follow him and we went also. Nor was I sorry to leave the place, for its death-like loneliness enhanced strangely enough as it was by the flood of light that filled it. A loneliness which was concentrated and expressed in the awful figure stretched upon the beer, oppressed and overcame us, whose nerves were broken by all that we had undergone. Thankfully enough was I when, having passed the transeps and down the length of the vast nave, we came to the iron doors, the rock passage and the other gates, which, as before, opened to let us through and so at last into the sweet cold air of the night at that hour which precedes the dawn. Auras led us to a house well-built and furnished, where, at his bidding, like men in a dream, we drank some liquor which he gave us. I think that drink was drugged, at least after swallowing it I remember no more till I awoke to find myself lying on a bed and feeling wonderfully strong and well. This, I thought strange, for a lamp burning in the room showed me that it was still dark and therefore that I could have rested but a little time. I tried to sleep again, but was not able, so fell to thinking till I grew weary of the task. For here thoughts would not help me. Nothing could help except the truth, that fearful thing as the wailed priestess had called it. Oh, what if she should prove not the Asha whom we desired but some fearful thing? What were the meaning of the Kanya's hints and of her boldness that surely had been inspired by the strength of a hidden knowledge? What if, nay, it couldn't be. I would rise and dress my arm or I would wake Leo and make him dress it. Anything to occupy my mind until the appointed hour when we must learn the best or the worst. I sat up in the bed and saw a figure advancing towards me. It was Oros who bore a lamp in his hand. You have slept long, friend Holly, he said, and now it is time to be up and doing. Long, I answered testily, how can that be when it is still dark? Because, friend, the dark is that of a new night. Many hours have gone by since you lay down upon this bed. Well, you were wise to rest you while you may, for who knows when you will sleep again? Come, let me bathe your arm. Tell me, I broke in. Nay, friend, he interrupted firmly. I will tell you nothing, except that soon you must start to be present at the funeral of the Khan and, perhands, to learn the answers to your questions. Ten minutes later he led me to the eating chamber of the house where I found Leo already dressed for Oros had awakened him before he came to me and bidden him to prepare himself. Oros told us that the Hesia had not suffered us to be disturbed until the night came again since we had much to undergo that day. So, presently, we started. Once more, we were led through the flamed-it hall till we came to the loop-shaped abs. The place was empty now, even the corpse of the Khan had gone and no draped oracle sat in the altar shrine. For its silver curtains were drawn and we saw that it was untenated. The mother has departed to do honor to the dead according to the ancient custom, Oros explained to us. Then we passed the altar and behind the statue found a door in the rock wall of the abs and beyond the door a passage and a hall as of a house. For out of it opened other doors leading to chambers. These our guide told us what the dwelling places of the Hesia and her maidens. He added that they ran to the side of the mountain and had windows that opened onto gardens and let in the light and air. In this hall six priests were waiting, each of whom carried a bundle of torches beneath his arm and held in his hands a lighted lamp. Our road runs through the dark, said Oros. Though, where it day, we might climb the outer snows, but this at night it is dangerous to do. Then, taking torches, he lit them at a lamp and gave one to each of us. Now our climb began, our endless sloping galleries we went, ewned with inconceivable labor by the primeval fire worshipers from the living rock of the mountain. It seemed to me that they stretched for miles and indeed this was so, since, although the slope was always gentle, it took us more than an hour to climb them. At length we came to the foot of a great stair. Rest awhile here, my lord, Oros said, bowing to Leo with the reverence that he had shown him from the first. For this stair is steep and long. Now we stand upon the mountain's topmost lift and are about to climb that tall-looped column which soars above. So we sat down in the vault-like place and at the sharp draught of air, rushing to and from the passages play upon us, for we were heated with journeying up those closed galleries. As we sat thus, I heard a roaring sound and asked Oros what it might be. He answered that we were very near to the crater of the volcano and that what we heard through the thickness of the rock was the rushing of its everlasting fires. Then the ascent commenced. It was not dangerous, though very aware-y some, for there were nearly 600 of those steps. The climb of the passages had reminded me of that of the gallery of the Great Pyramid drawn out for whole furlongs. That of the pillar was like the ascent of a cathedral's bire or rather of Sever's bires piled one upon another. Resting from time to time, we dragged ourselves up the steep steps, each of them quite a foot in height till the pillar was climbed and only the loop remained. Up it we went also, Oros leading us and glad was I that the stairway still ran within the substance of the rock, for I could feel the needle's mighty eye quiver in the rush of the winds which swept about its sides. At length we saw light before us and in another 20 steps emerged upon a platform. As Leo, who went in front of me, walked from the stairway, I saw Oros and another priest seize him by the arms and called him to ask what they were doing. Nothing, he cried back, except that this is a displace and they feared lest I should fall. Mind how you come, Oros, and he stretched out his hand to me. Now I was clear of the tunnel and I believe that had it not been for that hand, I should have sunk to the rock floor for the sight before me seemed to paralyse my brain, nor was this to be wondered at, for I doubt whether the world can show such another. We stood upon the very arpics of the loop, a flat space of rock about 80 yards in length by some 30 in breadth with a star-strewn sky above us. To the south 20,000 feet or more below stretched the dim plain of Cologne and to the east and west the snow-clad shoulders of the peak and the broad brown slope beneath. To the north was a different site and one more evesome. There, right under us, as it seemed, for the pillar bent inward lay the vast crater of the volcano and in the center of it a wide lake of fire that broke into bubbles and flowers of sudden flame were spotted, writhed and twisted like an angry sea. From the surface of this lake rose smoke and gases that took fire as they floated upwards and mingling together formed a gigantic sheet of living light. Right opposite to us burned this sheet and the flare of it passing through the needle-eye of the pillar under us bed away in one dazzling beam across the country of Cologne, across the mountains beyond till it was lost on the horizon. The wind blew from south to north being sucked in towards the hot crater of the volcano and its fierce breath that screamed through the eye of the pillar and against its rugged surface bent the long crest of the sheet of flame as an ocean roller is bent over by the gale and tore from it fragments of fire that floated away to leeward like the blown-out sails of a burning ship. Had it not been for this strong and steady wind indeed no creature could have lived upon the pillar for the vapours would have poisoned him but its unceasing blast drew this all away towards the north for the same reason in the thin air of that icy place the heat was not too great to be endured. Appalled by that terrific spectacle which seemed more appropriate to the terrors of the pit than to this earth of ours and fearful lest the blast should whirl me like a dead leaf into the glowing gulf beneath I fell onto my sound hand and my knees shouting to Leo to do likewise and looked about me. Now I observed lines of priests wrapped in great capes kneeling upon the face of the rock and engaged apparently in prayer but of hess, the mother, whore of Athene whore of the corpse of the dead Khan I could see nothing. Whilst I wondered where they might be aurors upon whose nerves this dread scene appeared to have no effect and some of our attendant priests surrounded us and led us onwards by path that ran perisly near to the rounded edge of the rock. A few downward steps and we found that we were under shelter for the gale for the gale was roaring over us Twenty more paces we came to a recess cut, I suppose, by man in the face of the loop in such a fashion that a lava roof was left predicting half across its width. This recess, or rock chamber which was large enough to shelter a great number of people we reached safely to discover that it was already tenanted seated in a chair hewn from the rock was the hesea wearing a broidered purple mantle above her gauzy wrappings that enveloped her from head to foot there too standing near to her were the kanya attene and her uncle the old shaman who looked but ill at ease and lastly stretched upon his funeral couch the fiery light beating upon his stark foreman face lay the dead Khan Russon we advanced through the throne and bowed to her who sat there on the hesea lifted her hooded head which seemed to have been sunk upon her breast though she were overcome by thought or care and addressed orus the priest for in the shelter of those massy walls by comparison there was silence and fork could hear each other speak so thou hast brought them safely my servant she said and I'm glad for those that know it not this road is fearful my guests what say you of the burying pit of the children of Hesse our faith tells us of a hell lady answered Leo and I think that yonder cauldron looks like its mouth nay she answered there is no hell save that which from life to life we fashion for ourselves within the circle of this little star Leo Vinci I tell thee that hell is here I hear and she struck her hand upon her breast while once more her head trooped forward as though bowed down beneath some load of secret misery thus she stayed a while then lifted it and spoke again saying midnight is past and much must be done and suffered before the dawn I the darkness must be turned to light or perhence the light to eternal darkness royal woman she went on addressing Athena as is his right thou hast brought thy dead lord hither for burial in this consecrated place where the ashes of all who went before him have become fuel for the holy fires or os my priest summon thou the accuser and him who makes defense and let the books be open that I may pass judgment on the dead and call his soul to live again or pray that from it the breath of life may be withheld priest I say the court of death is open end of chapter 14 of Asha the return of she by H. Ryder Haggard read by Los Rolander