 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. UNQUATTER MAIN. by H. Ryder Haggard. CHAPTER XVI. BEFORE THE STATUE. IT WAS NIGHT, DEAD NIGHT, and the silence lay on the frowning city like a cloud. Secretly, as evildoers, Sir Henry Curtis, Um Slobogas, and myself, threaded our way through the passage towards a by-entrance to the Great Throne Chamber. Once we were met by the fierce rattling challenge of the sentry. I gave the counter-sign, and the man grounded his spear and let us pass. Also we were officers of the Queen's bodyguard, and in that capacity had a right to come and go, unquestioned. We gained the hall in safety. So empty, and so still was it, that even when we had passed the sound of our footsteps yet echoed up the lofty walls, vibrating faintly, and still more faintly, against the carven roof. Like ghosts of the footsteps of dead men haunting the place that once they trod. It was an eerie spot, and it oppressed me. The moon was full, and through great pencils and patches of light through the high windowless openings in the walls that lay pure and beautiful all upon the blackness of the marble floor, like white flowers on a coffin. One of these silver arrows fell upon the statue of the sleeping Radimas, and of the angel form bent over him, illuminating it, and a small circle round it, with a soft, clear light, reminding me of that, with which Catholics illumined the altars of their cathedrals. Here by the statue we took our stand, and waited. Sir Henry and I, close together, umslopogos, some paces off in the darkness, so that I could only just make out his towering outline, leaning on the outline of an axe. So long did we wait that I almost fell asleep, resting against the cold marble. But was suddenly aroused by hearing Curtis give a quick catching breath. Then from far away there came a little sound, as though the statues that lined the walls were whispering to each other some message of the ages. It was the faint sweep of a lady's dress. Nearer it grew, and nearer yet. We could see a figure steel from patch to patch of moonlight, and even hear the soft fall of sandal defeat. Another second, and I saw the black silhouette of the old Zulu raise its arm in mute salute, and Nyleptha was before us. Oh, how beautiful she looked as she paused a moment just within the circle of the moonlight. Her hand was pressed upon her heart, and her white bosom heaved beneath it. Around her head a broidered scarf was loosely thrown, partially shadowing the perfect face, and thus rendering it even more lovely. For beauty, dependent as it is to a certain extent upon the imagination, is never so beautiful as when it is half-hid. There she stood, radiant, but half-doubting, stately and yet so sweet. It was but a moment, but I then and there fell in love with her myself, and have remained so to this hour. For indeed she looked more like an angel out of heaven than a loving, passionate, mortal woman. Low we bowed before her, and then she spoke. I have come, she whispered, but it was at great risk. You know not how I am watched. The priests watch me. Soreus watches me with those great eyes of hers. My very guards are spies upon me. Nasta watches me, too. Oh, let him be careful! And she stamped her foot. Let him be careful! I am a woman, and therefore hard to drive. I, and I am a queen, too, and can still avenge. Let him be careful, I say, lest in place of giving him my hand I take his head. And she ended the outburst with a little sob, and then smiled up at us bewitchingly and laughed. Thou didst bid me come hither, my lord, Incubu. Curtis had taught her to call him so. This it is about business of the state, for I know that thou art ever full of great ideas and plans for my welfare and my peoples. So even as a queen should I have come, though I greatly fear the dark alone. And again she laughed and gave him a glance from her grey eyes. At this point I thought it wise to move a little, since secrets of the state should not be made public property. But she would not let me go far, peremptorily stopping me within five yards or so, saying that she feared surprise. So it came to pass that, however unwillingly, I heard all that passed. Thou knowest, Nileptha, said Sir Henry, that it was for none of these things that I ask thee to meet me at this lonely place. Nileptha, waste not the time in pleasantry, but listen to me, for I love thee. As he said the words I saw her face break up, as it were, and change. The coquetry went out of it, and in its place there shone a great light of love which seemed to glorify it, and make it like that of the marble angel overhead. I could not help thinking that it must have been a touch of prophetic instinct which made the long dead ratamoss limb, in the features of the angel of his inspiring vision, so strange a likeness of his own descendant. Sir Henry also must have observed and been struck by the likeness. For catching the look upon Nileptha's face he glanced quickly from it to the moonlit statute, and then back again at his beloved. Thou sayest, Thou dost love me, she said, in a low voice. And thy voice rings true. But how am I to know that Thou dost speak the truth? Though she went on with proud humility, and in the stately third person which is so largely used by the zoovendi, I be as nothing in the eyes of my Lord, and she curtsied towards him, who comes from among a wonderful people, to whom my people are but children. Yet here am I a queen and a leader of men, and if I would go to battle a hundred thousand spears shall sparkle in my train like stars glimmering down the path of the bent moon. And although my beauty be a little thing in the eyes of my Lord, and she lifted her broidered skirt and curtsied again. Yet here among my own people am I held right fair. And ever since I was a woman the great Lords of my kingdom have made quarrel concerning me, as though forsooth she added with a flash of passion. I were a deer to be pulled down by the hungriest wolf, or a horse to be sold to the highest bidder. Let my Lord pardon me if I weary my Lord. But it hath pleased my Lord to say that he loves me, Nileptha, a queen of the zoovendi. And therefore would I say that though my love in my hand be not much to my Lord, yet to me they are all. Oh! she cried with a sudden and thrilling change of voice, and modifying her dignified mode of address. Oh! how can I know that thou lovest but me? How can I know that thou wilt not weary of me, and seek thine own place again, leaving me desolate? Who is there to tell me but that thou lovest some other woman, some fair woman unknown to me, but who yet draws breath beneath this same moon that shines on me to-night? Tell me, how am I to know? And she clasped her hands and stretched them out towards him, and looked appealingly into his face. Nileptha, answered Sir Henry, adopting the zoovendi way of speech. I have told thee that I love thee. How am I to tell thee how much I love thee? Is there a measure for love? Yet will I try? I say not that I have never looked upon another woman with favor. But this I say, that I love thee with all my life, and with all my strength. That I love thee now, and shall love thee till I grow cold in death. I, and as I believe beyond my death, and on and on forever, I say that thy voice is music to my ear, and thy touch is water to a thirsty land, that when thou art there the world is beautiful. And when I see thee not, it is as though the light was dead. O Nileptha, I will never leave thee. Here and now, for thy dear sake, I will forget my people and my father's house. Yea, I renounce them all. By thy side will I live, Nileptha, and at thy side will I die. He paused, and gazed at her earnestly. But she hung her head like a lily, and never said a word. Look! he went on, pointing to the statue on which the moonlight played so brightly. Now see is that angel woman who rests her hand upon the forehead of the sleeping man. And now see is how at her touch his soul flames up and shines out through his flesh, even as a lamp at the touch of the fire. So it is with me and thee, Nileptha. Thou hast awakened my soul and called it forth. And now, Nileptha, it is not mine, but thine, and thine only. There is no more for me to say. In thy hands is my life. And he leaned back against the pedestal of the statue, looking very pale, and his eyes shining. But proud and handsome as a god. Slowly, slowly she raised her head, and fixed her wonderful eyes, all alight with the greatness of her passion, full upon his face, as though to read his very soul. Then at last she spoke, low indeed, but clearly as a silver bell. Of a truth, weak woman that I am, I do believe thee. Ill will be the day for thee and for me also if it be my fate to learn that I have believed a lie. And now hearken to me, O man, who hath wandered here from far to steal my heart, and make me all thine own. I put my hand upon thy hand, thus, and thus I, whose lips have never kissed before, do kiss thee on the brow. And now by my hand, and by that first and holy kiss, I, by my people's wheel, and by my throne, that like enough I shall lose for thee. By the name of my high house, by the sacred stone, and by the eternal majesty of the sun, I swear that for thee will I live and die. And I swear that I will love thee and thee only till death, I and beyond, if, as thou sayest, there be a beyond. And that thy will shall be my will, and thy ways my ways. O see, see, my lord, thou knowest not how humble is she who loves. I, who am a queen, I annealed before thee, even at thy feet, I do my homage. And the lovely impassion to creature flung herself down on her knees on the cold marble before him. And after that I really do not know, for I could stand it no longer, and cleared off to refresh myself with a little of old Umslopogas's society, leaving them to settle it their own way, in a very long time they were about it. I found the old warrior leaning on in Kosikas, as usual, and surveying the scene in the patch of moonlight with a grim smile of amusement. Ah, Macumazan, he said, I suppose it is because I am getting old, but I don't think that I shall ever learn to understand the ways of you white people. But there now, I pray thee, they are a pretty pair of doves. But what is all the fuss about, Macumazan? He wants a wife, and she wants a husband. Then why does he not pay his cows down? End note, alluding to the Zulu custom, Alan Quaterman, like a man, and have done with it. It would save a deal of trouble, and we should have had our nights sleep. But there they go, talk, talk, talk, and kiss, kiss, kiss, like mad things. Ah, some three quarters of an hour afterwards, the pair of doves came strolling towards us, Curtis looking slightly silly, and Nyleptha remarking comely that the moonlight made very pretty effects on the marble. Then, for she was in a most gracious mood, she took my hand and said that I was her Lord's dear friend, and therefore most dear to her, not a word for my own sake, you see. Next she lifted Umslopogas' axe, and examined it curiously, saying significantly as she did so, that he might soon have caused to use it in defense of her. After that she nodded prettily to us all, and casting a tender glance at her lover, glided off into the darkness like a beautiful vision. When we got back to our quarters, which we did without accident, Curtis asked me, jocularly, what I was thinking about. I am wondering, I answered, on what principle it is arranged that some people should find beautiful queens to fall in love with them, while others find nobody at all, or worse than nobody. And I am also wondering how many brave men's lives this night's work will cost. It was rather nasty of me, perhaps, but somehow all the feelings do not evaporate with age, and I could not help being a little jealous of my old friend's luck. Vanity, my sons, vanity of vanities! On the following morning Good was informed of the happy occurrence, and positively rippled with smiles that, originating somewhere about the mouth, slowly traveled up his face like the rings in a duck pond, till they flowed over the brim of his eyeglass, and went where sweet smiles go. The fact of the matter, however, was that not only was Good rejoiced about the thing on its own merits, but also for personal reasons. He adored Sareas, quite as earnestly as Sir Henry adored Nyleptha, and his adoration had not altogether prospered. Indeed it had seemed to him, and to me also, that the dark, Cleopatra-like queen favored Curtis, in her own curious, inscrutable way, much more than Good. Therefore it was a relief to him to learn that his unconscious rival was permanently and satisfactorily attached in another direction. His face fell a little, however, when he was told that the whole thing was to be kept as secret as the dead. Move all from Sareas for the present. In as much as the political convulsion which would follow such an announcement at the moment would be altogether too great to face, and would very possibly, if prematurely made, shake Nyleptha from her throne. That morning we again attended in the Throne Hall, and I could not help smiling to myself when I compared the visit to our last, and reflecting that if walls could speak they would have strange tales to tell. What actresses women are? There, high upon her golden throne, draped in her blazoned calf or robe of state, set the fair Nyleptha, and when Sir Henry came in a little late, dressed in the full uniform of an officer of her guard, and humbly bent himself before her, she merely acknowledged his salute with a careless nod, and turned her head coldly aside. It was a very large court, for not only did the signing of the laws attract many outside of those whose duty it was to attend, but also the rumor that Nasta was going to publicly ask the hand of Nyleptha in marriage had gone abroad. With the result that the Great Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, there were our friends the priests in force, headed by Agon, who regarded us with a vindictive eye, and the most imposing band they were with their long white embroidered robes, girt with a golden chain, from which hung the fish-like scales. There, too, were a number of the lords, each with a band of brilliantly attired attendants, and prominent among them was Nasta, stroking his black beard meditatively and looking unusually pleasant. It was a splendid and impressive sight, especially when the officer, after having read out each law, handed them to the queens to sign, whereon the trumpets blared out, and the queen's guard grounded their spears with a crash in salute. This reading and signing of the laws took a long time, but at length it came to an end, the last one reciting that, whereas distinguished strangers, et cetera, and proceeding to confer on the three of us the rank of lords, together with certain military commands and large estates bestowed by the queen. When it was read, the trumpets blared and the spears clashed down as usual, but I saw some of the lords turn and whisper to each other, while Nasta ground his teeth. They did not like the favor that was shown to us, which, under all the circumstances, was not perhaps unnatural. Then there came a pause, and Nasta stepped forward, and bowing humbly, though with no humility in his eye, craved a boon at the hands of the queen Nyleptha. Nyleptha turned a little pale, but bowed graciously, and prayed the well-beloved lord to speak on, whereon in a few straightforward soldier-like words he asked her hand in marriage. Then, before she could find words to answer, the high priest Agon took up the tale, and in a speech of real eloquence and power pointed out the many advantages of the proposed alliance. How it would consolidate the kingdom? For Nasta's dominions, of which he was virtually king, were to Zuwendis much what Scotland used to be to England. How it would gratify the wild mountaineers and be popular among the soldiery, for Nasta was a famous general. How it would set her dynasty firmly on the throne, and would gain the blessing and approval of the son, that is, of the office of the high priest, and so on? Many of his arguments were undoubtedly valid, and there was, looking at it from a political point of view, everything to be said for the marriage. But, unfortunately, it is difficult to play the game of politics with the persons of young and lovely queens, as though they were ivory effigies of themselves on a chessboard. And I left this face, while Agon spouted away, was a perfect study. She smiled indeed, but beneath the smile it set like a stone, and her eyes began to flash ominously. At last he stopped, and she prepared herself to answer. Before she did so, however, Seraeus lent towards her and said in a voice sufficiently loud for me to catch what she said, Bethink thee well, my sister, ere thou dost speak, for me thinks that our thrones may hang upon thy words. And I left them made no answer. And with a shrug and a smile Seraeus lent back again and listened. Of a truth a great honour has been done to me, she said, that my poor hand should not only have been asked in marriage, but that Agon here should be so swift to pronounce the blessing of the son upon my union. Me thinks that in another minute he would have wed us fast ere the bride had said her say, Nasta, I thank thee, and I will bethink me of thy words, but now as yet I have no mind for marriage. That is a cup of which none know the taste until they begin to drink it. Again I thank thee, Nasta, and she made as though she would rise. The great Lord's face turned almost as black as his beard with fury, for he knew that the words amounted to a final refusal of his suit. Thanks be to the Queen for her gracious words, he said, restraining himself with difficulty and looking anything but grateful. My heart shall surely treasure them. And now I crave another boon, namely the royal leave, to withdraw myself to my own poor cities in the north, till such time as the Queen shall say my suit, nay or yay. May hap, he added with a sneer, the Queen will be pleased to visit me there, and to bring with her these stranger lords. And he scowled darkly towards us. It is but a poor country and a rough, but we are a hardy race of mountaineers, and there shall be gathered thirty thousand swordsmen to shudder welcome to her. This speech, which was almost a declaration of rebellion, was received in complete silence, but Nyleptha flushed up and answered it with spirit. Oh, surely, Nesta, I will come and the strange lords in my train, and for every man of thy mountaineers who calls thee Prince, will I bring two from the lowlands, who call me Queen, and we will see which is the staunchest breed. Till then, farewell. The trumpets blared out, the Queen's rose, and the great assembly broke up in murmuring confusion, and for myself I went home with a heavy heart foreseeing civil war. After this there was quiet for a few weeks. Curtis and the Queen did not often meet, and exercised the utmost caution not to allow the true relation in which they stood to each other to leak out. But do what they would. Rumors as hard to trace as a buzzing fly in a dark room, and yet quite as audible, began to hum round and round, and at last to settle on her throne. CHAPTER XVII. THE STORM BREAKS. And now it was that the trouble, which at first had been but a cloud as large as a man's hand, began to loom very black and big upon our horizon. Namely, Sareas's preference for Sir Henry. I saw the storm drawing nearer and nearer, and so poor fellow did he. The affection of so lovely and highly placed a woman was not a thing that could, in a general way, be considered a calamity by any man. But, situated as Curtis was, it was a grievous burden to bear. To begin with, Nileptha, though altogether charming, was, it must be admitted, of a rather jealous disposition, and was sometimes apt to visit on her lover's head her indignation at the marks of what Alphonse would have called the distinguished consideration with which her royal sister favored him. Then the enforced secrecy of his relation to Nileptha prevented Curtis from taking some opportunity of putting a stop, or trying to put a stop, to this false condition of affairs by telling Sareas, in a casual but confidential way, that he was going to marry her sister. A third sting in Sir Henry's honey was that he knew that good was honestly and sincerely attached to the ominous-looking but most attractive lady of the night. Indeed, poor Buguan was wasting himself to a shadow of his fat and jolly self about her. His face getting so thin that his eyeglass would scarcely stick in it. While she, with a sort of careless coquetry, just gave him encouragement enough to keep him going, thinking no doubt that he might be useful as a stalking horse. I tried to give him a hint, in as delicate a way as I could, but he flew into a huff and would not listen to me. So I was determined to let ill along for fear of making it worse. Poor Good! He really was very ludicrous in his distress and went in for all sorts of absurdities, under the belief that he was advancing his suit. One of them was the writing with the assistance of one of the grave and revered seniors who instructed us, and who, whatever may have been the measure of his erudition, did not understand how to scan a line of a most interminable Zuvendi love-song, of which the continually recurring refrain was something about, I will kiss thee, oh yes, I will kiss thee. Now among the Zuvendi it is a common and most harmless thing for young men to serenade ladies at night, as I believe they do in the southern countries of Europe, and sing all sorts of nonsensical songs to them. The young man may or may not be serious, but no offence is meant, and none is taken, even by ladies of the highest rank, who accept the whole thing as an English girl would a gracefully turned compliment. Availing himself of this custom Good be thought him that would serenade Sir Reyes, whose private apartments, together with those of her maidens, were exactly opposite our own on the further side of a narrow courtyard which divided one section of the great palace from another. Accordingly, having armed himself with a native zither, on which, being an adept with the light guitar, he had easily learned to strum, he proceeded at midnight, the fashionable hour for this sort of catar-walling, to make night hideous with his amorous yells. I was fast asleep when they began, but they soon woke me up, for Good possesses a tremendous voice, and has no notion of time. And I ran to my window-place to see what was the matter. And there, standing in the full moonlight in the courtyard, I perceived Good, adorned with an enormous ostrich feather head-dress, and a flowing silken cloak, which is the right thing to wear upon these occasions, and shouting out the abominable song which he and the old gentleman had evolved to a jerky, jingling accompaniment. From the direction of the quarters of the maids of honor came a succession of faint sniggerings, but the apartments of Sir Reyes herself, whom I devoutly pitied if she happened to be there, were silent as the grave. There was absolutely no end to that awful song, with its eternal I Will Kiss Thee, and at last neither I, nor Sir Henry, whom I had summoned to enjoy the sight, could stand it any longer. So remembering the dear old story, I put my head to the window opening and shouted, For Heaven's sake, Good, don't go on talking about it, but kiss her, and let's all go to sleep. That joked him off, and we had no more serenading. The whole thing formed a laughable incident in a tragic business. How deeply thankful we ought to be that even the most serious matters have generally a silver lining about them, in the shape of a joke, if only people could see it. The sense of humor is a very valuable possession in life, and ought to be cultivated in the board schools, especially in Scotland. Well, the more Sir Henry held off, the more Sir Reyes came on. As is not uncommon in such cases, till the last things got very queer indeed. Evidently she was, by some strange perversity of mind, quite blinded to the true state of the case, and I, for one, greatly dreaded the moment of her awakening. Sir Reyes was a dangerous woman to be mixed up with, either with or without one's consent. At last the evil moment came, as I saw it must come. One fine day, good having gone out hawking, Sir Henry and I were sitting quietly talking over the situation, especially with reference to Sir Reyes. When a court messenger arrived with a written note, which we, with some difficulty, deciphered, and which was to the effect that the Queen Sir Reyes commanded the attendants of the Lord Incubu in her private apartments, whether he would be conducted by the bearer. O my word, grown Sir Henry, can't you go instead, O fellow? Not if I know it, I said with vigor. I had rather face a wounded elephant with a shotgun. Take care of your own business, my boy. If you will be so fascinating, you must take the consequences. I would not be in your place for an empire. You remind me of when I was going to be flogged at school, and the other boys came to console me. He said gloomily. What right has this Queen to command my attendants I should like to know? I won't go. But you must. You are one of her officers and bound to obey her, and she knows it. And after all it will soon be over. That's just what they used to say. He said again, I only hope she won't put a knife into me. I believe that she is quite capable of it. And off he started very faint heartedly, and no wonder. I sat and waited. And at the end of about forty-five minutes he returned, looking a good deal worse than when he went. Give me something to drink, he said hoarsely. I got him a cup of wine and asked what was the matter. What is the matter? Why, if ever there was trouble, there is trouble now. You know when I left you. Well, I was shown straight into Sareas's private chamber. And a wonderful place it is. And there she sat, quite alone, upon a silken couch at the end of the room, playing gently upon that zither of hers. I stood before her, and for a while she took no notice of me, but kept on playing and singing a little, and very sweet music it was. At last she looked up and smiled. So thou art come, she said. I thought per chance thou hadst gone about Queen Nilepthes' business. Thou art ever on her business, and I doubt not a good servant and a true. To this I merely bowed, and said I was there to receive the Queen's word. Ah, yes, I would talk with thee. But be thou seated. It wearies me to look so high. And she made room for me beside her on the couch, placing herself with her back against the end, so as to have a view of my face. It is not me, I said, that I should make myself equal with the Queen. I said, be seated, was her answer. So I sat down, and she began to look at me with those dark eyes of hers. There she sat like an incarnate spirit of beauty, hardly talking at all. And when she did, very low, but all the while looking at me. There was a white flower in her black hair, and I tried to keep my eyes on it and count the petals, but it was of no use. At last, whether it was her gaze, or the perfume in her hair, or what I do not know. But I almost felt as though I was being mesmerized. At last she roused herself. In qu'bout, she said, Love us thou power? I replied that I suppose all men love power of one sort or another. Thou shalt have it, she said. Love us thou wealth? I said, I liked wealth for what it bought. Thou shalt have it, she said. And love us thou beauty? To this I replied that I was very fond of statuary and architecture, or something silly of that sort, at which she frowned, and there was a pause. By this time my nerves were on such a stretch that I was shaking like a leaf. I knew that something awful was going to happen. But she held me under a kind of spell, and I could not help myself. In qu'bout, she said at length, Wouldst thou be a king? Listen, wouldst thou be a king? Behold, stranger, I am minded to make thee king of all Zuvendice, I and husband of Sareas of the night. Nay, peace, and hear me! To no man among my people had I thus opened out my secret heart. But thou art an outlander, and therefore I speak without shame, knowing all I have to offer. And how hard it had been thee to ask! See, a crown lies at thy feet, my lord, in Kubu. And with that fortune a woman who some have wished to woo. Now mayest thou answer, O my chosen? And soft shall thy words fall upon my ear. O Sareas, I said, I pray thee speak not thus. You see, I had not time to pick and choose my words. For this thing cannot be. I am betrothed to thy sister Nileptha, O Sareas, and I love her, and her alone. O Sareas, I pray thee speak not thus. You see, I had not time to pick and choose my words. For this thing cannot be. I am betrothed to thy sister Nileptha, O Sareas, and her alone. Next moment it struck me that I had said an awful thing, and I looked up to see the results. When I spoke, Sareas's face was hidden in her hands, and as my words reached her she slowly raised it, and I shrank back dismayed. It was ashy white, and her eyes were flaming. She rose to her feet and seemed to be choking, but the awful thing was that she was so quiet about it. Once she looked at a side-table on which lay a dagger, and from it to me as though she thought of killing me, but she did not take it up. At last she spoke one word and one only. Go! And I went, and glad enough I was to get out of it, and here I am. Give me another cup of wine, there's a good fellow, and tell me what is to be done. I shook my head, for the affair was indeed serious, as one of the poets says, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. More especially if the woman is a queen and a Sareas. And indeed I feared the very worst, including imminent danger to ourselves. Nileptha had better be told of this at once, I said, and perhaps I had better tell her she might receive your account with suspicion. Who is captain of the guard tonight? I went on. Good. Very well then there will be no chance of her being God at. Don't look surprised. I don't think that her sister would stick at that. I suppose one must tell good of what happened. Oh, I don't know, said Sir Henry. It would hurt his feelings, poor fellow. You see, he takes a lively personal interest in Sareas. That's true, and after all perhaps there is no need to tell him. He will find out the truth soon enough. Now you mark my words. Sareas will throw in her lot with Nasta, who is sulking up in the north there, and there will be such a war as has not been known in Zuvendis for centuries. Look there! And I pointed to two court messengers who were speeding away from the door of Sareas's private apartments. Now follow me. And I ran up a stairway into an outlook tower that rose from the roof of our quarters, taking the spy-glass with me, and looked out over the palace wall. The first thing we saw was one of the messengers speeding towards the temple, bearing without any doubt the queen's word to the high priest Agon. But for the other I searched in vain. Presently, however, I spied a horseman riding furiously through the northern gate of the city, and in him I recognized the other messenger. Ah! I said. Sareas is a woman of spirit. She is acting at once, and will strike quick and hard. You have insulted her, my boy, and the blood will flow in rivers before the stain is washed away, and yours with it, if she can get hold of you. Well, I'm off to Nilepsa. Just you stop where you are, old fellow, and try to get your nerves straight again. You'll need them all, I can tell you, unless I have observed human nature in the rough for fifty years for nothing. And off I went, accordingly. I gained audience of the queen without trouble. She was expecting Curtis, and was not best pleased to see my mahogany-colored face instead. Is there ought wrong with my lord, Makumazon, that he waits not upon me? Say, is he sick? I said that he was well enough, and then, without further ado, I plunged into my story, and told it from beginning to end. Oh, what a rage she flew into! It was a sight to see her, she looks so lovely. How darest thou come to me with such a tale? She cried. It is a lie to say that my lord was making love to Sirreus, my sister. Pardon me, oh queen, I answered. I said that Sirreus was making love to thy lord. Spin me no spiders' webs of words. Is not the thing the same thing? The one giveth, the other taketh. But the gift passes. And what matters it which is the most guilty? Sirreus! Oh, I hate her. Sirreus is a queen, and my sister. She had not stooped so low, had he not shown the way. Oh, truly hath the poet said, that man is like a snake, whom to touch is poison, and whom none can hold. The remark, oh queen, is excellent. But me thinks thou hast misread the poet. Nileptha, I went on. Thou knowest well that thy words are empty foolishness, and that this is no time for folly. How darest thou, she broke in, stamping her foot. Hast my false lords sent thee to me to insult me also? Who art thou, stranger, that thou shouldst speak to me, the queen, after this sort? How darest thou? Yea, I dare. Listen, the moments which thou dost waste in idle anger may well cost thee thy crown and all of us our lives. Already Sirreus's horsemen go forth and call to arms. In three days' time Nasta will rouse himself in his fastnesses like a lion in the evening, and his growling will be heard throughout the north. The lady of the night, Sirreus, hath a sweet voice, and she will not sing in vain. Her banner will be born from range to range in valley to valley, and warriors will spring up in its track like dust beneath a whirlwind. Half the army will echo her war cry, and in every town and hamlet of this wide land the priests will call out against the foreigner and will preach her cause as holy. I have spoken, O queen. Nylepza was quite calm now. Her jealous anger had passed, and putting off the character of a lovely headstrong lady with a rapidity and completeness that distinguished her, she put on that of a queen and a woman of business. The transformation was sudden but entire. Thy words are very wise, Makumazon. Forgive me, my folly. Ah, what a queen I should be if only I had no heart. To be heartless, that is to conquer all. Passion is like the lightning. It is beautiful, and it links the earth to heaven. But alas, it blinds. And thou thinkest that my sister Sareas would levy war upon me. So be it. She shall not prevail against me. I too have my friends and my retainers. There are many, I say, who will shout Nylepza when my pen and runs up on peak and pinnacle, and the light of my beacon fires leaps tonight from crag to crag, bearing the message of my war. I will break her strength and scatter her armies. Eternal night shall be the portion of Sareas of the night. Give me that parchment and the ink. So, now summon the officer in the anti-room. He is a trusty man. I did as I was bid, and the man, a veteran and quiet-looking gentleman of the guard, named Kara, entered, bowing low. Take this parchment, said Nylepza. It is thy warrant, and guard every place of in and outgoing in the apartments of my sister Sareas, the lady of the night, and a queen of the Zuvendi. Let none come in and none go out, or thy life shall pay the cost. The man looked startled, but he merely said, The queen's word be done, and departed. Then Nylepza sent a messenger to Sir Henry, and presently he arrived looking uncommonly uncomfortable. I thought that another outburst was about to follow, but wonderful are the ways of woman. She said not a word about Sareas and his supposed inconstancy, greeting him with a friendly nod, and stating simply that she required his advice upon high matters. All the same there was a look in her eye, and a sort of suppressed energy in her manner towards him that makes me think that she had not forgotten the affair, but was keeping it for a private occasion. Just after Curtis arrived the officer returned, and reported that Sareas was gone. The bird had flown to the temple, stating that she was going, as was sometimes the custom among Zuvendi ladies of rank, to spend the night in meditation before the altar. We looked at each other significantly. The blow had fallen very soon. Then we set to work. Generals who could be trusted were summoned from their quarters, and as much of the state affairs, as was thought desirable, was told to each. Strict injunctions being given to them to get all their available force together. The same was done with such of the more powerful lords as Nilephtha knew she could rely on, several of whom left that very day for distant parts of the country to gather up their tribesmen and retainers. Sealed orders were dispatched to the rulers of far-off cities, and some twenty messengers were sent off before nightfall, with instructions to ride early and late till they reached the distant chiefs to whom their letters were addressed. Also many spies were set to work. All the afternoon and evening we labored, assisted by some confidential scribes. Nilephtha showing an energy and resource of mind that astonished me. And it was eight o'clock before we got back to our quarters. Here we heard from Alphonse, who was deeply aggrieved because our non-return had spoiled his dinner, for he had turned cook again now. That good had come back from his hawking and gone on duty, as instructions had already been given to the officer of the Outer Guard to double the sentries at the gate. And as we had no reason to fear any immediate danger, we did not think it worthwhile to hunt him up and tell him anything of what had passed, which at best was, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, one of those tasks that one prefers to postpone. So after swallowing our food, we turned in to get some much-needed rest. Before we did so, however, it occurred to Curtis to tell Old Umslopogos to keep a look out in the neighborhood of Nilephtha's private apartments. Umslopogos was now well known about the place, and by the Queen's order allowed to pass whether he would by the guards, a permission of which he often availed himself by roaming about the palace during the still hours in the nocturnal fashion that he favored, and which is by no means uncommon amongst black men generally. His presence in the corridors would not, therefore, be likely to excite remark. Without any comment the Zulu took up his axe and departed, and we also departed to bed. I seemed to have been asleep but a few minutes when I was awakened by a peculiar sensation of uneasiness. I felt that somebody was in the room and looking at me, and instantly sat up to see to my surprise that it was already dawn, and that there, standing at the foot of my couch and looking peculiarly grim and gaunt in the gray light, was Umslopogos himself. How long has thou been there? I asked testily, for it is not pleasant to be aroused in such a fashion. May hap the half of an hour, Makumazon. I have word for thee. Speak on, I said, now wide enough awake. As I was bid, I went last night to the place of the White Queen and hid myself behind a pillar in the second anti-room, beyond which is the sleeping place of the Queen. Buguan, good, was in the first anti-room alone, and outside the curtain of that room was a sentry, but I had a mind to see if I could pass in unseen, and I did, gliding behind them both. There I waited for many hours when suddenly I perceived a dark figure coming secretly towards me. It was the figure of a woman, and in her hand she held a dagger. Behind that figure crept another unseen by the woman. It was Buguan following in her tracks. His shoes were off, and for so fat a man he followed very well. The woman passed me, and the starlight shone upon her face. Who was it, I asked impatiently. The face was the face of the Lady of the Night, and of the truth she is well-named. I waited, and Buguan passed me also. Then I followed. So we went slowly and without a sound up the long chamber. First the woman, then Buguan, and then I. And the woman saw not Buguan, and Buguan saw not me. At last the Lady of the Night came to the curtains that shut off the sleeping place of the White Queen, and put out her left hand to part them. She passed through, and so did Buguan, and so did I. At the far end of the room is the bed of the Queen, and on it she lay very fast to sleep. I could hear her breathe and see one white arm lying on the cover-lid like a streak of snow on the dry grass. The Lady of the Night doubled herself thus, and with the long knife lifted crept towards the bed. So straight did she gaze there at that she never thought to look behind her. When she was quite close Buguan touched her on the arm, and she caught her breath and turned, and I saw the knife flash and heard it strike. Well was it for Buguan that he had the skin of iron on him, or he had been pierced? Then for the first time he saw who the woman was, and without a word he fell back astonished and unable to speak. She too was astonished and spoke not, but suddenly she laid her finger on her lips thus, and walked towards and threw the curtain, and with her went Buguan. So close did she pass to me that her dress touched me, and I was nay to slaying her as she went. In the first outer room she spoke to Buguan in a whisper. In clasping her hands thus she pleaded with him, but what she said I know not. And so they passed on to the second outer room, she pleading, and he shaking his head, and saying nay, nay, nay. And it seemed to me that he was about to call the guard when she stopped talking, and looked at him with great eyes, and I saw that he was bewitched by her beauty. Then she stretched out her hand and he kissed it. Whereon I gathered myself together to advance and take her, seeing that now had Buguan become a woman, and no longer knew the good from the evil, when behold, she was gone. Gone, I ejaculated. I gone, and there stood Buguan staring at the wall like one asleep. And presently he went too, and I waited a while, and came away also. Art thou sure, Umslopagas, said I, that thou hath not been a dreamer this night? In reply he opened his left hand and produced about three inches of a blade of a dagger of the finest steel. If I be, Makumazan, behold what the dream left with me. The knife broke upon Buguan's bosom, and as I passed I picked this up in the sleeping-place of the White Queen. End of CHAPTER XVII. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Alan Quatterman. By H. Ryder Haggard. CHAPTER XVIII. War. Red War. Telling Umslopagas to wait, I tumbled into my clothes and went off with him to Sir Henry's room, where the Zulu repeated his story word for word. It was a sight to watch Curtis' face as he heard it. Great Heavens! he said. Here have I been sleeping away while Nileptha was nearly murdered. And all through me too. What a fiend that Sareas must be! It would have served her well if Umslopagas had cut her down in the act. I said to Zulu, Fear not, I should have slain her ere she struck. I was but waiting the moment. I said nothing, but I could not help thinking that many a thousand doomed lives would have been saved if he had meted out to Sareas the fate she meant for her sister. And as the issue proved, I was right. After he had told his tale, Umslopagas went off unconcernly to get his morning meal. And Sir Henry and I fell to talking. At first he was very bitter against good. Who, he said, was no longer to be trusted. Having designedly allowed Sareas to escape by some secret stare, when it was his duty to have handed her over to justice. Indeed, he spoke in the most unmeasured terms on the matter. I let him run on awhile, reflecting to myself how easy we find it to be hard on the weakness of others and how tender we are to our own. Really, my dear fellow, I said at length, one would never think to hear you talk that you were the man who had an interview with this same lady yesterday, and found it rather difficult to resist her fascinations, notwithstanding your ties to one of the loveliest and most loving women in the world. Now suppose it was Nyleptha who had tried to murder Sareas, and you had caught her and she had pleaded with you. Would you have been so very eager to hand her over to an open shame and to death by fire? Just look at the matter through Good's eyeglass for a minute before you denounce an old friend as a scoundrel. He listened to this jobation submissively and then frankly acknowledged that he had spoken hardly. It is one of the best points in Sir Henry's character that he is always ready to admit it when he is in the wrong. But though I spoke up thus for good, I was not blind to the fact that, however natural his behavior might be, it was obvious that he was being involved in a very awkward and disgraceful complication. A foul and wicked murder had been attempted, and he had let the murderous escape and thereby, among other things, allowed her to gain a complete ascendancy over himself. In fact, he was in a fair way to become her tool, and no more dreadful fate can befall a man than to become the tool of an unscrupulous woman, or indeed of any woman. There is but one end to it when he is broken or has served her purpose he is thrown away, turned out on the world to hunt for his lost self-respect. Wild style was pondering thus and wondering what was to be done, for the whole subject was a thorny one. I suddenly heard a great clamour in the courtyard outside and distinguished the voice of Umslopogos and Alphonse, the former cursing furiously and the latter yelling in terror. Currying out to see what was the matter, I was met by a ludicrous sight. The little Frenchman was running up the courtyard at an extraordinary speed, and after him sped Umslopogos like a great greyhound. Just as I came out he caught him, and lifting him right off his legs, carried him some paces to a beautiful but very dense flowering shrub, which bore a flower not unlike the gardenia, but was covered with short thorns. Next, despite his howls and struggles, he with one mighty thrust plunged poor Alphonse headfirst into the bush, so that nothing but the calves of his legs and heels remained in evidence. Then, satisfied with what he had done, the Zulu folded his arms and stood grimly contemplating the Frenchman's kicks and listening to his yells, which were awful. What art thou doing? I said, running up. Wouldst thou kill the man? Pull him out of the bush. With a savage grunt he obeyed, seizing the Richard Alphonse by the ankle, and with a jerk that must have nearly dislocated it, tearing him out of the heart of the shrub. Never did I see such a sight as he presented, his clothes half torn off his back and bleeding as he was in every direction from the sharp thorns. There he lay and yelled and rolled, and there was no getting anything out of him. At last, however, he got up and, disgusting himself behind me, cursed old whom Slopogos by every saint in the calendar, vowing by the blood of his heroic grandfather that he would poison him and have his revenge. At last I got to the truth of the matter. It appeared that Alphonse habitually cooked whom Slopogos's porridge, which the latter ate for breakfast in the corner of the courtyard, just as he would have done at home in Zululand, from a gourd and with a wooden spoon. Now, whom Slopogos had, like many Zulus, a great horror of fish, which he considered a species of water snake. So Alphonse, who is as fond of playing tricks as a monkey and who was also a consummate cook, determined to make him eat some. Accordingly, he grated up a quantity of white fish very finely and mixed it with the Zulus porridge, who swallowed it nearly all down in ignorance of what he was eating. But unfortunately for Alphonse he could not restrain his joy at this site and came capering and peering around to the last whom Slopogos, who was very clever in his way, suspected something. And after a careful examination of the remains of his porridge, discovered the buffalo heifer's trick, and in revenge served him, as I have said. Indeed the little man was fortunate not to get a broken neck for his pains. For as one would have thought he might have learnt from the episode the idea of axmanship that Le Monsieur Noir was an ill person to play practical jokes upon. This incident was unimportant enough in itself, but I narrated it because it led to serious consequences. As soon as he had staunched the bleeding from his scratches and washed himself, Alphonse went off still cursing to recover his temper. The process which I knew from experience would take a very long time. When he had gone, I gave him Slopogos a jobation and told him that I was ashamed of his behaviour. Ah, well, Macuma's on, he said. You must be gentle with me, for here is not my place. I am weary of it, weary to death of eating and drinking, of sleeping and giving in marriage. I love not this soft life in stone houses that take the heart out of a man and turn his strength to water and his flesh to fat. I love not the white robes and the delicate women, the blowing of trumpets and the flying of hawks. When we fought them aside at the crowd yonder, ah, then life was worth the living. But here is never a blow struck in anger and I began to think I shall go the way of my fathers in Kosikas no more. And he held up the axe and gazed at it in sorrow. Ah, I said, that is thy complaint, is it? Thou hast the blood-sickness, hast thou. And the woodpecker wants a tree. And at thy age, too, shame on thee, um Slopogos. Ah, I Macuma's on. Mine is a red trade. Yet it is better and more honest than some. Better is it to slay a man in fair fight than to suck out his heart's blood in buying and selling and usury after your white fashion. Many a man have I slain, yet is there never a one that I should fear to look in the face again. I many are there who once were friends and whom I should be right glad to snuff with. But there, thou hast thy ways and I mine, each to his own people and his own place. The high-velled ox will die in the fat bush country, and so it is with me, Macuma's on. I am rough, I know it, and when my blood is warm I know not what to do, but yet wilt thou be sorry when the night swallows me. And I am utterly lost in blackness. For in thy heart thou lovest me, my father, Macuma's on the fox, though I be not but a broken-down Zulu war-dog, a chief for whom there is no room in his own corral, an outcast and a wanderer in strange places. I love thee, Macuma's on, for we have grown great together, and there is that between us that cannot be seen, and yet is too strong for breaking. And he took his snuff-box, which was made of an old brass cartridge, from the slit in his ear where he always carried it, and handed it to me for me to help myself. I took the pinch of snuff with some emotion. It was quite true. I was much attached to the blood-thirsty old Ruffian. He was the charm of his character, but it had a charm. Perhaps it was his fierce honesty and directness. Perhaps one admired his almost superhuman skill and strength. Or it may have been simply that he was so absolutely unique. Frankly, with all my experience of savages, I never knew a man quite like him. He was so wise, and yet such a child with it all. And though it seems laughable to say so, like the hero of the Yankee parody, he had a tender heart. Anyway, I was very fond of him, though I should never have thought of telling him so. I, old wolf, I said, thine is a strange love. Thou would split me to the chin if I stood in thy path to-morrow. Thou speakest truth, Makumazan. That would I if it came in the way of duty. But I should love thee all the same when the blow had gone fairly home. Is there any chance of some fighting here, Makumazan? He went on in an insinuating voice. Me thought that what I saw last night did show that the two great queens were vexed with one another. Else had the lady of the night not brought that dagger with her. I agreed with him that it showed that more or less peak and irritation existed between the ladies, and told him how things stood and that they were quarreling over inkubu. Ha-ha! Is it so, he exclaimed, springing up into light. Then will there be war as surely as the rivers rise in the rains. War to the end. Women love the last blow as well as the last word. And when they fight for love they are pitiless as a wounded buffalo. See thou, Makumazan, a woman will swim through blood to her desire and think not of it. With these eyes have I seen it once and twice also. Makumazan, we shall see this fine place of houses burning yet. And here the battle cries come ringing up the street. After all, I have not wandered for nothing. Can this folk fight, think ye? Just then Sir Henry joined us and good arrived too from another direction, looking very pale and hollow-eyed. The moment Umslopogas saw the latter, he stopped his bloodthirsty talk and greeted him. Ah, Bugwan! he cried. Greeting to thee and Kus. Thou had surely weary didst thou hunt too much yesterday? Then without waiting for an answer he went on. Listen, Bugwan, and I will tell thee a story. It is about a woman. Therefore wilt thou hear it, is it not so? There was a man, and he had a brother. And there was a woman who loved the man's brother and was beloved of the man. But the man's brother had a favorite watch but the man's brother had a favorite wife and loved not the woman. And he made a mock of her. Then the woman, being very cunning and fierce-hearted for revenge, took counsel with herself and said to the man, I love thee and if that will make war upon thy brother I will marry thee. And he knew it was a lie, yet because of his great love of the woman, who was very fair, did he listen to her words and made war. And when many people had been killed his brother sent to him saying, Why slayest thou me? What hurt have I done unto thee? From my youth up have I not loved thee. When thou was little did I not nurture thee. And have we not gone down to war together and divided the cattle girl by girl, ox by ox, and cow by cow? Why slayest thou me, my brother, son of my own mother? Then the man's heart was heavy and he knew that his path was evil and he put aside the tempting of the woman and ceased to make war on his brother and lived at peace in the same crowd with him. And after a time he came to him and said, I have lost the past, I will be thy wife. And in his heart he knew that it was a lie and that she thought the evil thing. Yet because of his love did he take her to wife and the very night that they were wed, when the man was plunged into a deep sleep did the woman arise and take his axe from his hand and creep into the hut of his brother and slay him in his rest. Then did she slink back like a gorged lioness and place the thong of the red axe back upon his wrist and go her ways. And at the dawning the people came shouting, Lustha is slain in the night and they came unto the hut of the man and there he lay asleep and by him was the red axe. Then did they remember the war and say, Lo, he hath of assured he slain his brother and they would have taken and killed him, but he rose and fled swiftly and as he fleeted by he slew the woman but death could not wipe out the evil she had done and on him rested the weight of all her sin. Therefore is he an outcast and his name a scorn among his own people for on him and him only resteth the burden of her who betrayed and therefore does he wander afar without a corral and without an ox or a wife and therefore will he die afar like a stricken buck and his name be accursed from generation and that the people say that he slew his brother Lusta by treachery in the night time. The old Zulu paused and I saw that he was deeply agitated by his own story. Presently he lifted his head which he had bowed to his breast and went on. I was the man, Buguan. Oh, I was that man. I was that man and now hark thou even as I am so will thou be a tool a plaything an ox of burden to carry the evil deeds of another. Listen, when thou didst creep after the lady of the night I was hard upon thy track. When she struck thee with the knife in the sleeping place of the white queen I was there also. When thou didst let her slip away like a snake in the stones I saw thee and I knew that she had bewitched thee and that a true man had abandoned the truth and he who a four-time loved a straight path had taken a crooked way forgive me my father if my words are sharp but out of a full heart are they spoken. See her no more so shall thou go down with honor to the grave else because of the beauty of a woman that weareth as a garment of fur shall thou be even as I am and perchance with more cause I have said. Throughout this long and eloquent address good had been perfectly silent but when the tale began to shape itself so aptly in his own case he colored up and when he learnt that what had passed between him and Sareas had been overseen he was evidently much distressed and now when at last he spoke it was in a tone of humility quite foreign to him I must say he said with a bitter little laugh that I scarcely thought that I should live to be taught my duty by Azulu but it just shows what we can come to I wonder if you fellows can understand how humiliated I feel and the bitterest part of it is that I deserve it all of course I should have handed Sareas over to the guard but I could not and that is a fact I let her go and I promise to say nothing more is the shame to me that if I would side with her she would marry me and make me king of this country but thank goodness I did find the heart to say that even to marry her I could not desert my friends and now you can do what you like I deserve it all all I have to say is that I hope that you may never love a woman with all your heart and then be so sorely tempted of her and he turned to go look here old fellow said Sir Henry just stop a minute I have a little tale to tell you too and he went on to narrate what had taken place on the previous day between Sareas and himself this was a finishing stroke to poor good it is not pleasant to any man to learn that he has been made a tool of but when the circumstances are as peculiarly atrocious as in the present case he is about as bitter a pill as anybody can be called on to swallow do you know he said I think that between you you fellows have about work to cure and he turned and walked away and I for one felt very sorry for him if the moths would always carefully avoid the candle how few burnt wings there would be that day was a court day when the queens sat in the great hall and received petitions discussed laws money grants and so forth and thither we adjourned shortly afterwards on our way we were joined by good who was looking exceedingly depressed when we got into the hall Nilepta was already on her throne and proceeding with business as usual surrounded by counselors courtiers, lawyers, priests and an unusually strong guard it was however easy to see from the air of excitement and expectation on the faces of everybody present that nobody was paying much attention to ordinary affairs the fact being that the knowledge that civil war was eminent had now got abroad we saluted Nilepta and took our accustomed places and for a little while as usual when suddenly the trumpets began to call outside the palace and from the great crowd that was gathered there in anticipation of some unusual event there rose a roar of Sareas Sareas then came the role of many chariot wheels and presently the great curtains at the end of the hall were drawn wide and through them entered the lady of the night herself she come alone preceding her was Agon the high priest a raid in his most gorgeous vestments and on either side were other priests the reason for their presence was obvious coming with them it would have been sacrilege to attempt to detain her behind her were a number of the great lords and behind them a small body of picked guards a glance at Sareas herself was enough to show that her mission was of no peaceful kind for in place of her gold embroidered calf she wore a shining tunic formed of golden scales and on her head a little golden helmet in her hand too she bore a toy spear beautifully made and fashioned of solid silver up the hall she came looking like a lioness in her conscious pride and beauty and as she came the spectators fell back bowing and made a path for her by the sacred stone she halted and laying her hand on it she cried out with a loud voice to Nileptha on the throne Hail, O Queen All hail my royal sister answered Nileptha draw thou near or not I give thee safe conduct Sareas answered with a haughty look and swept on up the hall till she stood right before the thrones A boon, O Queen she cried again Speak on, my sister what is there that I can give thee who hath half our kingdom Thou canst tell me a true word me and the people of Zuvendis art thou or art thou not about to take this foreign wolf and she pointed to Sir Henry with her toy spear to be a husband to thee and share thy bed and throne Curtis winced at this and turning towards Sareas said to her in a low voice me thinks that yesterday thou hathst other names than wolf to call me by, O Queen and I saw her bite her lips as like a danger flag the blood flamed red upon her face as for Nileptha who is nothing if not original she, seeing that the thing was out and that there was nothing further to be gained by concealment answered the question in a novel and effectual manner inspired thereto, as I firmly believe by coquetry and a desire to triumph over her rival up she rose and descending from the throne swept in all the glory of her royal grace onto where her lover stood there she stopped and untwined the golden snake that was wound around her arm then she bad him Nil and he dropped on one knee on the marble before her and next taking the golden snake with both her hands she bent the pure soft metal round his neck and when it was fast deliberately kissed him on the brow and called him her dear lord thou seest, she said when the excited murmur of the spectators had died away addressing her sister as Sir Henry rose to his feet I have put my collar around the wolf's neck and behold he shall be my watchdog and that is my answer to thee, Queen Sirreus my sister rose with thee fear not she went on smiling sweetly on her lover and pointing to the golden snake she had twined round his massive throat if my yoke be heavy yet it is a pure gold and it shall not gall thee then turning to the audience she continued in a clear proud tone I, Lady of the Night lords, priests and people here gathered together by this sign do I take the foreigner to husband even here in the face of you all what, am I a queen and yet not free to choose the man whom I will love then should I be lower than the meanest girl in all my provinces Nay he hath won my heart and with it goes my hand and throne and all I have I had he been a beggar instead of a great lord fairer and stronger than any here and having more wisdom and knowledge of strange things I had given him all how much more so being what he is and she took his hand and gazed proudly on him and holding it stood there boldly facing the people and such was her sweetness and the power and dignity of her person and so beautiful she looked standing hand in hand there at her lover's side so sure of him and of herself and so ready to risk all things and endure all things for him that most of those who saw the sight which I am sure no one of them will ever forget caught the fire from her eyes and the happy color from her blushing face and cheered her like wild things it was a bold stroke for her to make and it appealed to the imagination but human nature in Zuvendice as elsewhere loves that which is bold and not afraid to break a rule and is moreover peculiarly susceptible to appeals to its poetical side and so the people cheered till the roof rang but Sareas of the night stood there with downcast eyes for she could not bear to see her sister's triumph which robbed her of the man whom she had hoped to win and in the awfulness of her jealous anger she trembled and turned white like an aspen in the wind I think I have said somewhere of her that she reminded me of the sea on a calm day having the same aspect of sleeping power about her well, it was all awake now and like the face of the furious ocean it awed and yet fascinated me a really handsome woman in a royal rage is always a beautiful sight but such beauty and such a rage I never saw combined before and I can only say that the effect produced was well worthy of the two she lifted her white face the teeth set and there were purple rings beneath her glowing eyes thrice she tried to speak and thrice she failed but at last her voice came raising her silver spear she shook it and the light gleamed from it and from the golden scales of her queras and thinkest thou that when I left the she said in notes which peeled through the great hall like a clarion thinkest thou that I, Sareas, a queen of the Zuvendi will brook that this base outlander shall sit upon my father's throne and rear up half-breeds to fill the place of the great house of the stairway never a spear to strike with who is on my side who? now hand thou over this farren wolf and those who came thither to pray with him to the doom of fire for have they not committed the deadly sin against the sun or, Nilepta, I give thee war red war I say to thee that the path of thy passion shall be marked out by the towns and watered with the blood of those who cleave to thee on thy head rest the burden of the deed and in thy ears ring the groans of the dying and the cries of the widows and those who are left fatherless for ever and ever I tell thee I will tear thee, Nilepta, the white queen from thy throne and that thou shall be hurled I hurled even from the topmost stair of the great way to the foot thereof and that thou has covered the name of the house of him who built it with black shame and I tell ye strangers I'll save Buguan whom because thou didst do me a service I will save alive if thou will leave these men and follow me who's had vigorously and ejaculated can't be done in English that I will wrap you in sheets of gold and hang you yet alive in chains from the four golden trumpets of the four angels that fly east and west and north and south from the giddiest pinnacles of the temple so that ye may be a token and a warning to the land and as for thee, Incubu thou shall die in yet another fashion that I will not tell thee now she ceased panting for breath for her passion shook her like a storm and a murmur partly of horror and partly of admiration ran through the hall then I let the answered calmly and with dignity ill would it become my place in dignity, oh sister so to speak as thou has spoken and so to threat as thou has threatened yet if thou will make war then I will strive to bear up against thee for if my hand seems soft yet shalt thou find it of iron when it grips thine armies by the throat soreus I fear thee not I weep for that which thou will bring upon our people and on thyself but for myself I say I fear thee not yet thou whom but yesterday did strive to win my lover and my lord from me whom today thou dost call a foreign wolf to be thy lover and thy lord here there was an immense sensation in the hall thou who but last night as I have learnt but since thou didst enter here didst creep like a snake into my sleeping place am I a secret way and whatst thou foully murdered me thy sister as I lay asleep it is false it is false rang out eggons and a score of other voices it is not false said I producing the broken point of the dagger and holding it up where is the haft from which this flew oh soreus it is not false but determined at last to act like a loyal man I took the lady of the night by the white queen's bed and on my breast the dagger broke who is on my side cried soreus shaking her silver spear for she saw that public sympathy was turning against her what the bogwan thou comest not she said addressing good who was standing close to her in a low concentrated voice thou pale sold fool for a reward thou shall eat out thy heart with love of me and not be satisfied and thou mightest have been my husband and a king at least I hold thee in chains that cannot be broken war war she cried here with my hand upon the sacred stone that shall endure till the zuvendi set their necks beneath an alien yoke I declare war to the end who follows soreus of the night to victory and honor instantly the whole concourse began to break up an indescribable confusion many present hastened to throw in their lot with the lady of the night but some came from her following to us amongst the former was an under officer and I have now left this own guard who suddenly turned and made a run for the doorway through which soreus his people were already passing whom slobogas who was present and had taken the whole scene in seeing with admirable presence of mind that if this soldier got away others would follow his example seize the man who drew his sword and struck at him there on the zulu back with a wild shout and avoiding the sword cuts began to peck at his foe with his terrible acts till in a few seconds the man's fate overtook him and he fell with a clash heavily and quite dead upon the marble floor this was the first blood spilled in the war shut the gates I shouted thinking that we might perhaps catch soreus and not being troubled with the idea of committing sacrilege but the order came too late her guards were already passing through them and in another minute the streets echoed with the furious galloping of horses and the rolling of her chariots so drawing half the people after her soreus was soon passing like a whirlwind through the frowning city on her road to her headquarters Marstuna a fortress situated 130 miles to the north of Milosis and after that the city was alive with the endless tramp of regiments and preparations for the gathering war and old umslopagos once more began to sit in the sunshine and go through a show of sharpening in Kosikas's razor edge End of Chapter 18