第4章

“Well，Leo，“Isaid，“howdoyoufeel？” “IfeelasthoughIweregoingtodie，“heanswered，hoarsely。“Myheadissplitting，mybodyistrembling，andIamassickasacat。” Iwhistled，orifIdidnotwhistleIfeltinclinedto——Leohadgotasharpattackoffever。IwenttoJob，andaskedhimforthequinine，ofwhichfortunatelywehadstillagoodsupply，onlytofindthatJobhimselfwasnotmuchbetter。Hecomplainedofpainsacrosstheback，anddizziness，andwasalmostincapableofhelpinghimself。ThenIdidtheonlythingitwaspossibletodounderthecircumstances—— gavethembothabouttengrainsofquinine，andtookaslightlysmallerdosemyselfasamatterofprecaution。AfterthatIfoundBillali，andexplainedtohimhowmattersstood，askingatthesametimewhathethoughthadbestbedone。Hecamewithme，andlookedatLeoandJob(whom，bytheway，hehadnamedthePig，onaccountofhisfatness，roundface，andsmalleyes)。 “Ah，“hesaid，whenwewereoutofearshot，“thefever！Ithoughtso。TheLionhasitbadly，butheisyoung，andhemaylive。AsforthePig，hisattackisnotsobad;itisthelittlefeverwhichhehas;thatalwaysbeginswithpainsacrosstheback;itwillspenditselfuponhisfat。” “Cantheygoon，myfather？”Iasked。 “Nay，myson，theymustgoon。Iftheystopheretheywillcertainlydie;also，theywillbebetterinthelittersthanontheground。Byto-night，ifallgoeswell，weshallbeacrossthemarshandingoodair。 Come，letusliftthemintothelittersandstart，foritisverybadtostandstillinthismorningfog。Wecaneatourmealaswego。” Thisweaccordinglydid，andwithaheavyheartIoncemoresetoutuponourstrangejourney。Forthefirstthreehoursallwentaswellascouldbeexpected，andthenanaccidenthappenedthatnearlylostusthepleasureofthecompanyofourvenerablefriendBillali，whoselitterwasleadingthecavalcade。Weweregoingthroughaparticularlydangerousstretchofquagmire，inwhichthebearerssometimessankuptotheirknees。Indeed，itwasamysterytomehowtheycontrivedtocarrytheheavylittersatalloversuchgroundasthatwhichweweretraversing，thoughthetwosparehands，aswellasthefourregularones，hadofcoursetoputtheirshoulderstothepole。 Presently，asweblunderedandflounderedalong，therewasasharpcry，thenastormofexclamations，and，lastofall，amosttremendoussplash，andthewholecaravanhalted。 Ijumpedoutofmylitterandranforward。AbouttwentyyardsaheadwastheedgeofoneofthosesullenpeatypoolsofwhichIhavespoken，thepathwewerefollowingrunningalongthetopofitsbank，that，asithappened，wasasteepone。Lookingtowardsthispool，tomyhorrorIsawthatBillali’slitterwasfloatingonit，andasforBillalihimself，hewasnowheretobeseen。TomakemattersclearImayaswellexplainatoncewhathadhappened。Oneof。 Billali’sbearershadunfortunatelytroddenonabaskingsnake，whichhadbittenhimintheleg，whereonhehad，notunnaturally，letgoofthepole，andthen，findingthathewastumblingdownthebank，graspedatthelittertosavehimself。Theresultofthiswaswhatmighthavebeenexpected。Thelitterwaspulledovertheedgeofthebank，thebearersletgo，andthewholething，includingBillaliandthemanwhohadbeenbitten，rolledintotheslimypool。WhenI gottotheedgeofthewaterneitherofthemweretobeseen，and，indeed，theunfortunatebearerneverwasseenagain。Eitherhestruckhisheadagainstsomething，orgotwedgedinthemud，orpossiblythesnake-biteparalyzedhim。Atanyrate，hevanished。 ButthoughBillaliwasnottobeseen，hiswhereaboutswasclearenoughfromtheagitationofthefloatinglitter，inthebearingclothandcurtainsofwhichhewasentangled。 “Heisthere！Ourfatheristhere！”saidoneofthemen，buthedidnotstirafingertohelphim，nordidanyoftheothers。Theysimplystoodandstaredatthewater。 “Outoftheway，youbrutes，“IshoutedinEnglish，andthrowingoffmyhatItookarunandsprangwelloutintothehorrid，slimy-lookingpool。AcoupleofstrokestookmetowhereBillaliwasstrugglingbeneaththecloth。 Somehow，Idonotquiteknowhow，Imanagedtopushthisfreeofhim，andhisvenerablehead，allcoveredwithgreenslime，likethatofayellowishBacchuswithivyleaves，emergeduponthesurfaceofthewater。Therestwaseasy，forBillaliwasaneminentlypracticalindividual，andhadthecommonsensenottograspholdofmeasdrowningpeopleoftendo，soIgothimbythearm，andtowedhimtothebank，throughthemudofwhichwewerewithdifficultydragged。SuchafilthyspectacleaswepresentedIhaveneverseenbeforeorsince，anditwillperhapsgivesomeideaofthealmostsuperhumandignityofBillali’sappearancewhenIsaythat，coughing，half-drowned，andcoveredwithmudandgreenslimeashewas，withhisbeautifulbeardcomingtoadrippingpoint，likeaChinaman’sfreshlyoiledpigtail，hestilllookedvenerableandimposing。 “Yedogs，“hesaid，addressingthebearers，assoonashehadsufficientlyrecoveredtospeak，“yeleftme，yourfather，todrown。Haditnotbeenforthisstranger，mysontheBaboon，assuredlyIshouldhavedrowned。Well，Iwillrememberit，“andhefixedthemwithhisgleamingthoughslightlywateryeye，inawayIsawtheydidnotlike，thoughtheytriedtoappearsulkilyindifferent。 ’Asforthee，myson，“theoldmanwenton，turningtowardsmeandgraspingmyhand，“restassuredthatI amthyfriendthroughgoodandevil。Thouhastsavedmylife：perchanceadaymaycomewhenIshallsavethine。” Afterthatwecleanedourselvesasbestwecould，fishedoutthelitter，andwenton，minusthemanwhohadbeendrowned。Idonotknowifitwasowingtohisbeinganunpopularcharacter，orfromnativeindifferenceandselfishnessoftemperament，butIamboundtosaythatnobodyseemedtogrievemuchoverhissuddenandfinaldisappearance，unless，perhaps，itwasthemenwhohadtodohisshareofthework。 CHAPTERXI—— THEPLAINOFKO^R ABOUTanhourbeforesundownweatlast，tomyunboundedgratitude，emergedfromthegreatbeltofmarshontolandthatswelledupwardinasuccessionofrollingwaves，Justonthehithersideofthecrestofthefirstwavewehaltedforthenight。MyfirstactwastoexamineLeo’scondition。Itwas，ifanything，worsethaninthemorning，andanewandverydistressingfeature，vomiting，setin，andcontinuedtilldawn。NotonewinkofsleepdidIgetthatnight，forIpasseditinassistingUstane，whowasoneofthemostgentleandindefatigablenursesI eversaw，towaituponLeoandJob。However，theairherewaswarmandgenialwithoutbeingtoohot，andtherewerenomosquitoestospeakof。Alsowewereabovethelevelofthemarshmist，whichlaystretchedbeneathuslikethedimsmoke-palloveracity，lituphereandtherebythewanderingglobesoffenfire。 Thusitwillbeseenthatwewere，speakingcomparatively，inclover。 BydawnonthefollowingmorningLeowasquitelight- headed，andfanciedthathewasdividedintohalves。I wasdreadfullydistressed，andbegantowonderwithasortofsickfearwhattheterminationoftheattackwouldbe。Alas！Ihadheardbuttoomuchofhowtheseattacksgenerallyterminate。AsIwasdoingsoBillalicameupandsaidthatwemustbegettingon，moreespeciallyas，inhisopinion，ifLeodidnotreachsomespotwherehecouldbequiet，andhavepropernursing，withinthenexttwelvehours，hislifewouldonlybeamatterofadayortwo。Icouldnotbutagreewithhim，sowegothimintothelitter，andstartedon，UstanewalkingbyLeo’ssidetokeepthefliesoffhim，andseethathedidnotthrowhimselfoutontotheground。 WithinhalfanhourofsunrisewehadreachedthetopoftheriseofwhichIhavespoken，andamostbeautifulviewbrokeuponourgaze。Beneathuswasarichstretchofcountry，verdantwithgrassandlovelywithfoliageandflowers。Inthebackground，atadistance，sofarasIcouldjudge，ofsomeeighteenmilesfromwherewethenstood，ahugeandextraordinarymountainroseabruptlyfromtheplain。 Thebaseofthisgreatmountainappearedtoconsistofagrassyslope，butrisingfromthis，Ishouldsay，fromsubsequentobservation，ataheightofaboutfivehundredfeetabovetheleveloftheplain，wasamosttremendousandabsolutelyprecipitouswallofbarerock，quitetwelveorfifteenhundredfeetinheight。 Theshapeofthemountain，whichwasundoubtedlyofvolcanicorigin，wasround，andofcourse，asonlyasegmentofitscirclewasvisible，itwasdifficulttoestimateitsexactsize，whichwasenormous。I afterwardsdiscoveredthatitcouldnotcoverlessthanfiftysquaremilesofground。Anythingmoregrandandimposingthanthesightpresentedbythisgreatnaturalcastle，startinginsolitarygrandeurfromtheleveloftheplain，Ineversaw，andIsupposeInevershall。Itsverysolitudeaddedtoitsmajesty，anditstoweringcliffsseemedtokissthesky。Indeed，generallyspeaking，theywereclothedincloudsthatlayinfleecymassesupontheirbroadandlevelbattlements。 Isatupinmyhammockandgazedoutacrosstheplainatthisthrillingandmajesticsight，andIsupposethatBillalinoticedit，forhebroughthislitteralongside。 “BeholdtheHouseof’_i_She-who-must-be-obeyed_i_！’“hesaid。“Hadeveraqueensuchathronebefore？” “Itiswonderful，myfather，“Ianswered。“Buthowdoweenter？Thosecliffslookhardtoclimb。” “Thoushaltsee，myBaboon。Looknowattheplainbelowus。Whatthinkestthouthatitis？Thouartawiseman。Come，tellme。” Ilooked，andsawwhatappearedtobethelineofroadwayrunningstraighttowardsthebaseofthemountain，thoughitwascoveredwithturf。Therewerehighbanksoneachsideofit，brokenhereandthere，butfairlycontinuousonthewhole，themeaningofwhichIdidnotunderstand。Itseemedsoveryoddthatanybodyshouldembankaroadway。 “Well，myfather，“Ianswered，“Isupposethatitisaroad，otherwiseIshouldhavebeeninclinedtosaythatitwasthebedofariver，or，rather，“Iadded，observingtheextraordinarydirectnessofthecutting，“ofacanal。” Billali——who，bytheway，wasnonetheworseforhisimmersionofthedaybefore——noddedhisheadsagelyashereplied，“Thouartright，myson。Itisachannelcutoutbythosewhowerebeforeusinthisplace，tocarryawaywater。OfthisamIsure：withintherockycircleofthegreatmountainwhitherwejourneywasonceagreatlake。Butthosewhowerebeforeus，bywonderfulartsofwhichIknownaught，hewedapathforthewaterthroughthesolidrockofthemountain，piercingeventothebedofthelake。Butfirsttheycutthechannelthatthouseestacrosstheplain。Then，whenatlastthewaterburstout，itrusheddownthechannelthathadbeenmadetoreceiveit，andcrossedthisplaintillitreachedthelowlandbehindtherise，andthere，perchance，itmadetheswampthroughwhichwehavecome。Then，whenthelakewasdraineddry，thepeoplewhereofIspeakbuiltamightycity，whereofnaughtbutruinsandthenameofKo^ryetremaineth，onitsbed，andfromagetoagehewedthecavesandpassagesthatthouwiltsee。” “Itmaybe，“Ianswered;“butifso，howisitthatthelakedoesnotfillupagainwiththerainsandthewaterofthesprings？” “Nay，myson，thepeoplewereawisepeople，andtheyleftadraintokeepitclear。Seestthoutherivertotheright？”andhepointedtoafair-sizedstreamthatwoundawayacrosstheplain，somefourmilesfromus。 “Thatisthedrain，anditcomesoutthroughthemountainwallwherethiscuttinggoesin。Atfirst，perhaps，thewaterrandownthiscanal，butafterwardsthepeopleturnedit，andusedthecuttingforaroad。” “Andistherethennootherplacewhereonemayenterintothegreatmountain，“Iasked，“exceptthroughthedrain？” “Thereisaplace，“heanswered，“wherecattleandmenonfootmaycrosswithmuchlabor，butitisasecret。 Ayearmightestthousearchandshouldstneverfindit。Itisonlyusedonceayear，whentheherdsofcattlethathavebeenfatteningontheslopesofthemountain，andonthisplain，aredrivenintothespacewithin。” “Anddoes_i_She_i_livetherealways？”Iasked，“ordoesshecomeattimeswithoutthemountain？” “Nay，myson，wheresheis，theresheis！” Bynowwewerewellontothegreatplain，andIwasexaminingwithdelightthevariedbeautyofitssemi- tropicalflowersandtrees，thelatterofwhichgrewsingly，oratmostinclumpsofthreeorfour，muchofthetimberbeingoflargesize，andbelongingapparentlytoavarietyofevergreenoak。Therewerealsomanypalms，someofthemmorethanonehundredfeethigh，andthelargestandmostbeautifultree- fernsthatIeversaw，aboutwhichhungcloudsofjewelledhoney-suckersandgreat-wingedbutterflies。 Wanderingaboutamongthetreesorcrouchinginthelongandleatheredgrasswereallvarietiesofgame，fromrhinocerosesdown。Isawrhinoceros，buffalo(alargeherd)，eland，quagga，andsableantelope，themostbeautifulofallthebucks，nottomentionmanysmallervarietiesofgame，andthreeostricheswhichscuddedawayatourapproachlikewhitedriftbeforeagale。SoplentifulwasthegamethatatlastIcouldstanditnolonger。Ihadasingle-barrelsportingMartiniwithmeinthelitter，the“Express“beingtoocumbersome，and，espyingabeautifulfatelandrubbinghimselfunderoneoftheoakliketrees，IjumpedoutofthelitterandproceededtocreepasneartohimasIcould。Heletmecomewithineightyyards，andthenturnedhisheadandstaredatme，preparatorytorunningaway。Iliftedandtakinghimaboutmidwaydowntheshoulder，forhewassideontome，fired。I nevermadeacleanershotorabetterkillinallmysmallexperience，forthegreatbucksprangrightupintotheairandfelldead。Thebearers，whohadallhaltedtoseetheperformance，gaveamurmurofsurprise，anunwontedcomplimentfromthesesullenpeople，whoneverappeartobesurprisedatanything，andapartyoftheguardatonceranofftocuttheanimalup。Asformyself，thoughIwaslongingtohavealookathim，IsaunteredbacktomylitterasthoughIhadbeeninthehabitofkillingelandallmylife，feelingthatIhadgoneupseveraldegreesintheestimationoftheAmahagger，wholookedonthewholethingasaveryhigh-classmanifestationofwitchcraft。Asamatteroffact，however，Ihadneverseenanelandinawildstatebefore。Billalireceivedmewithenthusiasm。 “Itiswonderful，mysontheBaboon，“hecried; “wonderful！Thouartaverygreatman，thoughsougly。 HadInotseen，surelyIwouldneverhavebelieved。 Andthousayestthatthouwiltteachmetoslayinthisfashion？” “Certainly，myfather，“Isaid，airily;“itisnothing。” ButallthesameIfirmlymadeupmymindthatwhen“myfather“BillalibegantofireIwouldwithoutfallliedownortakerefugebehindatree。 Afterthislittleincidentnothinghappenedofanynotetillaboutanhourandahalfbeforesundown，whenwearrivedbeneaththeshadowofthetoweringvolcanicmassthatIhavealreadydescribed。Itisquiteimpossibleformetodescribeitsgrimgrandeurasitappearedtomewhilemypatientbearerstoiledalongthebedoftheancientwatercoursetowardsthespotwheretherichbrowncladcliffshotupfromprecipicetoprecipicetillitscrownlostitselfincloud。AllIcansayisthatitalmostawedmebytheintensityofitslonesomeandmostsolemngreatness。 Onwewentupthebrightandsunnyslope，tillatlastthecreepingshadowsfromaboveswallowedupitsbrightness，andpresentlywebegantopassthroughacuttinghewninthelivingrock。Deeperanddeepergrewthismarvellouswork，whichmust，Ishouldsay，haveemployedthousandsofmenformanyyears。Indeed，howitwaseverexecutedatallwithouttheaidofblastingpowderordynamiteIcannottothisdayimagine。Itisandmustremainoneofthemysteriesofthatwildland。IcanonlysupposethatthesecuttingsandthevastcavesthathadbeenhollowedoutoftherockstheypiercedweretheStateundertakingsofthepeopleofKo^r，wholivedhereinthedimlostagesoftheworld，and，asinthecaseoftheEgyptianmonuments，wereexecutedbytheforcedlaboroftensofthousandsofcaptives，carriedonthroughanindefinitenumberofcenturies。Butwhowerethepeople？ Atlastwereachedthefaceoftheprecipiceitself，andfoundourselveslookingintothemouthofadarktunnelthatforciblyremindedmeofthoseundertakenbyournineteenth-centuryengineersintheconstructionofrailwaylines。Outofthistunnelflowedaconsiderablestreamofwater。Indeed，thoughIdonotthinkthatIhavementionedit，wehadfollowedthisstream，whichultimatelydevelopedintotheriverIhavealreadydescribedaswindingawaytotheright，fromthespotwherethecuttinginthesolidrockcommenced。Halfofthiscuttingformedachannelforthestream，andhalf，whichwasplacedonaslightlyhigherlevel——eightfeetperhaps——wasdevotedtothepurposesofaroadway。Attheterminationofthecutting，however，thestreamturnedoffacrosstheplainandfollowedachannelofitsown。Atthemouthofthecavethecavalcadewashalted，and，whilethemenemployedthemselvesinlightingsomeearthenwarelampstheyhadbroughtwiththem，Billali，descendingfromhislitter，informedmepolitelybutfirmlythattheordersof_i_She_i_ werethatwewerenowtobeblindfolded，sothatweshouldnotlearnthesecretofthepathsthroughthebowelsofthemountains。TothisI，ofcourse，assentedcheerfullyenough，butJob，whowasnowverymuchbetter，notwithstandingthejourney，didnotlikeitatall，fancying，Ibelieve，thatitwasbutapreliminarysteptobeinghot-potted。Hewas，however，alittleconsoledwhenIpointedouttohimthattherewerenohotpotsathand，and，sofarasI。knew，nofiretoheatthemin。AsforpoorLeo，afterturningrestlesslyforhours，hehad，tomydeepthankfulness，atlastdroppedoffintoasleeporstupor，Idonotknowwhich，sotherewasnoneedtoblindfoldhim。TheblindfoldingwasperformedbybindingapieceoftheyellowishlinenwhereofthoseoftheAmahaggerwhocondescendedtowearanythinginparticularmadetheirdressestightlyroundtheeyes。Thislinen，I afterwardsdiscovered，wastakenfromthetombs，andwasnot，asIhadatfirstsupposed，ofnativemanufacture。Thebandagewasthenknottedatthebackofthehead，andfinallybroughtdownagainandtheendsboundunderthechintopreventitsslipping。 Ustanewas，bytheway，alsoblindfolded，Idonotknowwhy，unlessitwasfromfearthatsheshouldimpartthesecretsoftheroutetous。 Thisoperationperformedwestartedononcemore，andsoon，bytheechoingsoundofthefootstepsofthebearersandtheincreasednoiseofthewatercausedbyreverberationinaconfinedspace，Iknewthatwewereenteringintothebowelsofthegreatmountain。Itwasaneeriesensation，beingbornealongintothedeadheartoftherockweknewnotwhither，butIwasgettingusedtoeeriesensationsbythistime，andbynowwasprettywellpreparedforanything。SoIlaystill，andlistenedtothetramp，trampofthebearersandtherushingofthewater，andtriedtobelievethatIwasenjoyingmyself。PresentlythemensetupthemelancholylittlechantthatIhadheardonthefirstnightwhenwewerecapturedinthewhale-boat，andtheeffectproducedbytheirvoiceswasverycurious，andquiteindescribableonpaper。Afterawhiletheairbegantogetexceedinglythickandheavy，somuchso，indeed，thatIfeltasthoughI weregoingtochoke，tillatlengththelittertookasharpturn，thenanotherandanother，andthesoundoftherunningwaterceased。Afterthistheairgotfresheragain，buttheturnswerecontinuous，andtome，blindfoldedasIwas，mostbewildering。Itriedtokeepamapoftheminmymindincaseitmighteverbenecessaryforustotryandescapebythisroute，but，needlesstosay，failedutterly。Anotherhalf-hourorsopassed，andthensuddenlyIbecameawarethatwewereoncemoreintheopenair。Icouldseethelightthroughmybandageandfeelfreshnessonmyface。A fewmoreandthecaravanhalted，andIheardBillaliorderUstanetoremoveherbandageandundoours。 WithoutwaitingforherattentionsIgottheknotofmineloose，andlookedout。 AsIanticipated，wehadpassedrightthroughtheprecipice，andwerenowonthefartherside，andimmediatelybeneathitsbeetlingface。ThefirstthingInoticedwasthatthecliffwasnotnearlysohighhere，notsohighIshouldsaybyfivehundredfeet，whichprovedthatthebedofthelake，orratherofthevastancientcraterinwhichwestood，wasmuchabovethelevelofthesurroundingplain。Fortherest，wefoundourselvesinahugerock-surroundedcup，notunlikethatofthefirstplacewherewehadsojourned，onlytentimesthesize。Indeed，Icouldonlyjustmakeoutthefrowninglineoftheoppositecliffs。Agreatportionoftheplainthusenclosedbynaturewascultivated，andfencedinwithwallsofstoneplacedtheretokeepthecattleandgoats，ofwhichtherewerelargeherdsabout，frombreakingintothegardens。Hereandthererosegreatgrassmounds，andsomemilesawaytowardsthecentreIthoughtthatIcouldseetheoutlineofcolossalruins。Ihadnotimetoobserveanythingmoreatthemoment，forwewereinstantlysurroundedbycrowdsofAmahagger，similarineveryparticulartothosewithwhomwewerealreadyfamiliar，who，thoughtheyspokelittle，pressedroundussocloselyastoobscuretheviewtoapersonlyinginahammock。Thenallofasuddenanumberofarmedmenarrangedincompanies，andmarshalledbyofficerswhoheldivorywandsintheirhands，camerunningswiftlytowardsus，having，sofarasIcouldmakeout，emergedfromthefaceoftheprecipicelikeantsfromtheirburrows。Thesemen，aswellastheirofficers，wereallrobedinadditiontotheusualleopardskin，and，asIgathered，formedthebodyguardof_i_She_i_herself。 TheirleaderadvancedtoBillali，salutedhimbyplacinghisivorywandtransverselyacrosshisforehead，andthenaskedsomequestionwhichIcouldnotcatch，andBillalihavingansweredhim，thewholeregimentturnedandmarchedalongthesideofthecliff，ourcavalcadeoflittersfollowingintheirtrack。Aftergoingthusforabouthalfamilewehaltedoncemoreinfrontofthemouthofatremendouscave，measuringaboutsixtyfeetinheightbyeightywide，andhereBillalidescendedfinally，andrequestedJobandmyselftodothesame。Leo，ofcourse，wasfartooilltodoanythingofthesort。I didso，andweenteredthegreatcave，intowhichthelightofthesettingsunpenetratedforsomedistance，whilebeyondthereachofthelightitwasfaintlyilluminatedwithlampswhichseemedtometostretchawayforanalmostimmeasurabledistance，likethegaslightsofanemptyLondonstreet。ThefirstthingthatInoticedwasthatthewallswerecoveredwithsculpturesinbas-relief，ofasort，pictoriallyspeaking，similartothosethatIhavedescribeduponthevases——love-scenesprincipally，thenhunting- pictures，picturesofexecutions，andthetortureofcriminalsbytheplacingofapresumablyred-hotpotuponthehead，showingwhenceourhostshadderivedthispleasantpractice。Therewereveryfewbattle- pieces，thoughmanyofduels，andmenrunningandwrestling，andfromthisfactIamledtobelievethatthispeoplewasnotmuchsubjecttoattackbyexteriorfoes，eitheronaccountoftheisolationoftheirpositionorbecauseoftheirgreatstrength。Betweenthepictureswerecolumnsofstonecharactersofaformationabsolutelynewtome：atanyrate，theywereneitherGreek，norEgyptian，norHebrew，norAssyrian—— thatIamsureof。TheylookedmorelikeChinesewritingsthananyotherthatIamacquaintedwith。 Neartotheentranceofthecavebothpicturesandwritingswerewornaway，butfartherintheywereinmanycasesabsolutelyfreshandperfectasthedayonwhichthesculptorhadceasedworkuponthem。 Theregimentofguardsdidnotcomefartherthantheentrancetothecave，wheretheyformeduptoletuspassthrough。Onenteringtheplaceitselfwewere，however，metbyamanrobedinwhite，whobowedhumbly，butsaidnothing，which，asitafterwardsappearedthathewasadeafmute，wasnotverywonderful。 Runningatrightanglestothegreatcave，atadistanceofsometwentyfeetfromtheentrance，wasasmallercaveorwidegallery，thatwaspiercedintotherockbothtotherightandtotheleftofthemaincavern。Infrontofthegallerytoourleftstoodtwoguards，fromwhichcircumstanceIarguedthatitwastheentrancetotheapartmentsof_i_She_i_herself。 Themouthoftheright-handgallerywasunguarded，andalongitthemuteindicatedthatweweretoproceed。 Walkingafewyardsdownthispassage，whichwaslightedwithlamps，wecametotheentrancetoachamberhavingacurtainmadeofsomegrassmaterial，notunlikeaZanzibarmatinappearance，hungoverthedoorway。 Thisthemutedrewbackwithanotherprofoundobeisance，andledthewayintoagood-sizedapartment，hewn，ofcourse，outofthesolidrock，but，tomygreatdelight，lightedbymeansofashaftpiercedinthefaceoftheprecipice。Inthisroomwasastonebedstead，potsfullofwaterforwashing，andbeautifullytannedleopardskinstoserveasblankets。 HereweleftLeo，whowasstillsleepingheavily，andwithhimstoppedUstane。Inoticedthatthemutegaveheraverysharplook，asmuchastosay，“Whoareyou，andbywhoseordersdoyoucomehere？”ThenheconductedustoanothersimilarroomwhichJobtook，andthentotwomorethatwererespectivelyoccupiedbyBillaliandmyself。 CHAPTERXII—— “SHE“ THEfirstcareofJobandmyself，afterseeingtoLeo，wastowashourselvesandputoncleanclothing，forwhatwewerewearinghadnotbeenchangedsincethelossofthedhow。Fortunately，asIthinkthatIhavesaid，byfarthegreaterpartofourpersonalbaggagehadbeenpackedintothewhaleboat，andwasthereforesaved——andbroughthitherbythebearers——althoughallthestoreslaidinbyusforbarterandpresentstothenativeswerelost。Nearlyallourclothingwasmadeofawell-shrunkandverystronggrayflannel，andexcellentIfounditfortravellingintheseplaces，becausethoughaNorfolkjacket，shirt，andpairoftrousersofitonlyweighedaboutfourpounds，agreatconsiderationinatropicalcountry，whereeveryextraouncetellsonthewearer，itwaswarm，andofferedagoodresistancetotheraysofthesun，and，bestofall，tochills，whicharesoapttoresultfromsuddenchangesoftemperature。 NevershallIforgetthecomfortofthe“washandbrush-up，“andofthosecleanflannels。Theonlythingthatwaswantingtocompletemyjoywasacakeofsoap，ofwhichwehadnone。 AfterwardsIdiscoveredthattheAmahagger，whodonotreckondirtamongtheirmanydisagreeablequalities，useakindofburnedearthforwashingpurposes，which，thoughunpleasanttothetouchtillonegetsaccustomedtoit，formsaveryfairsubstituteforsoap。 BythetimethatIwasdressed，andhadcombedandtrimmedmyblackbeard，thepreviousconditionofwhichwascertainlysufficientlyunkempttogiveweighttoBillali’sappellationforme，the“Baboon，“ Ibegantofeelmostuncommonlyhungry。ThereforeI wasbynomeanssorrywhen，withouttheslightestpreparatorysoundorwarning，thecurtainovertheentrancetomycavewasflungaside，andanothermute，ayounggirlthistime，announcedtomebysignsthatIcouldnotmisunderstand——thatis，byopeninghermouthandpointingdownit——thattherewassomethingreadytoeat。AccordinglyIfollowedherintothenextchamber，whichwehadnotyetentered，whereIfoundJob，whohadalso，tohisgreatembarrassment，beenconductedthitherbyafairmute。Jobhadnevergotovertheadvancestheformerladyhadmadetowardshim，andsuspectedeverygirlwhocameneartohimofsimilardesigns。 “Theseyoungpartieshaveawayoflookingatone，sir，“hewouldsay，apologetically，“whichIdon’tcallrespectable。” Thischamberwastwicethesizeofthesleeping-caves，andIsawatoncethatithadoriginallyservedasarefectory，andalsoprobablyasanembalming-roomforthePriestsoftheDead;forImayaswellsayatoncethatthesehollowed-outcaveswerenothingmorenorlessthanvastcatacombs，inwhichfortensofagesthemortalremainsofthegreatextinctracewhosemonumentssurroundedushadbeenfirstpreserved，withanartandacompletenessthathasneversincebeenequalled，andthenhiddenawayforalltime。Oneachsideofthisparticularrock-chamberwasalongandsolidstonetable，aboutthreefeetwidebythreefeetsixinheight，hewnoutofthelivingrock，ofwhichithadformedpart，andwasstillattachedtoatthebase。Thesetableswereslightlyhollowedoutorcurvedinward，togiveroomforthekneesofanyonesittingonthestoneledgethathadbeencutforabenchalongthesideofthecaveatadistanceofabouttwofeetfromthem。Eachofthem，also，wassoarrangedthatitendedrightunderashaftpiercedintherockfortheadmissionoflightandair。Onexaminingthemcarefully，however，Isawthattherewasadifferencebetweenthemthathadatfirstescapedmyattention;viz。thatoneofthetables，thattotheleftasweenteredthecave，hadevidentlybeenused，nottoeatupon，butforthepurposesofembalming。Thatthiswasbeyondallquestionthecasewasclearfromfiveshallowdepressionsinthestoneofthetable，allshapedlikeahumanform，withaseparateplacefortheheadtoliein，andalittlebridgetosupporttheneck，eachdepressionbeingofadifferentsize，soastofitbodiesvaryinginstaturefromafull-grownman’stoasmallchild’s，andwithlittleholesboredatintervalstocarryofffluid。 And，indeed，ifanyfurtherconfirmationwererequired，wehadbuttolookatthewallofthecaveabovetofindit。Forthere，sculpturedallroundtheapartment，andlookingnearlyasfreshasthedayitwasdone，wasthepictorialrepresentationofthedeath，embalming，andburialofanoldmanwithalongbeard，probablyanancientkingorgrandeeofthiscountry。 Thefirstpicturerepresentedhisdeath。Hewaslyinguponacouchwhichhadfourshortcurvedpostsatthecornerscomingtoaknobattheend，inappearancesomethinglikeawrittennoteofmusic，andwasevidentlyintheveryactofexpiring。Gatheredroundthecouchwerewomenandchildrenweeping，theformerwiththeirhairhangingdowntheirbacks。Thenextscenerepresentedtheembalmmentofthebody，whichlaynudeuponatablewithdepressionsinit，similartotheonebeforeus;probably，indeed，itwasapictureofthesametable。Threemenwereemployedatthework——onesuperintending，oneholdingafunnelshapedexactlylikeaport-winestrainer，ofwhichthenarrowendwasfixedinanincisioninthebreast，nodoubtinthegreatpectoralartery;whilethethird，whowasdepictedasstandingstraddleleggedoverthecorpse，heldakindoflargejughighinhishand，andpouredfromitsomesteamingfluidwhichfellaccuratelyintothefunnel。Themostcuriouspartofthissculptureisthatboththemanwiththefunnelandthemanwhopouredthefluidaredrawnholdingtheirnoses，eitherIsupposebecauseofthestencharisingfromthebody，ormoreprobablytokeepoutthearomaticfumesofthehotfluidwhichwasbeingforcedintothedeadman’sveins。AnothercuriousthingwhichIamunabletoexplainisthatallthreemenwererepresentedashavingabandoflinentiedroundthefacewithholesinitfortheeyes。 Thethirdsculpturewasapictureoftheburialofthedeceased。Therehewas，stiffandcold，clothedinalinenrobe，andlaidoutonastoneslabsuchasIhadsleptuponatourfirstsojourning-place。Athisheadandfeetburnedlamps，andbyhissidewereplacedseveralofthebeautifulpaintedvasesthatIhavedescribed，whichwereperhapssupposedtobefullofprovisions。Thelittlechamberwascrowdedwithmourners，andwithmusiciansplayingonaninstrumentresemblingalyre，whilenearthefootofthecorpsestoodamanwithasheet，withwhichhewaspreparingtocoveritfromview。 Thesesculptures，lookedatmerelyasworksofart，weresoremarkablethatImakenoapologyfordescribingthemratherfully。Theystruckmealsoasbeingofsurpassinginterestasrepresenting，probablywithstudiousaccuracy，thelastritesofthedeadaspractisedamonganutterlylostpeople，andeventhenIthoughthowenvioussomeantiquarianfriendsofmyownatCambridgewouldbeifeverIgotanopportunityofdescribingthesewonderfulremainstothem。 ProbablytheywouldsaythatIwasexaggerating，notwithstandingthateverypageofthishistorymustbearsomuchinternalevidenceofitstruththatitwouldobviouslyhavebeenquiteimpossibleformetohaveinventedit。 Toreturn。AssoonasIhadhastilyexaminedthesesculptures，whichIthinkIomittedtomentionwereexecutedinrelief，wesatdowntoaveryexcellentmealofboiledgoat’s-flesh，freshmilk，andcakesmadeofmeal，thewholebeingserveduponcleanwoodenplatters。 WhenwehadeatenwereturnedtoseehowpoorLeowasgettingon，Billalisayingthathemustnowwaitupon_i_She_i_，andhearhercommands。OnreachingLeo’sroomwefoundthepoorboyinaverybadway。Hehadwokeupfromhistorpor，andwasaltogetheroffhishead，babblingaboutsomeboat-raceontheCam，andwasinclinedtobeviolent。Indeed，whenweenteredtheroomUstanewasholdinghimdown。Ispoketohim，andmyvoiceseemedtosoothehim;atanyratehegrewmuchquieter，andwaspersuadedtoswallowadoseofquinine。 Ihadbeensittingwithhimforanhour，perhaps——atanyrateIknowthatitwasgettingsodarkthatI couldonlyjustmakeouthisheadlyinglikeagleamofgolduponthepillowwehadextemporizedoutofabagcoveredwithablanket——whensuddenlyBillaliarrivedwithanairofgreatimportance，andinformedmethat_i_She_i_herselfhaddeignedtoexpressawishtoseeme——anhonor，headded，accordedtobutveryfew。Ithinkthathewasalittlehorrifiedatmycoolwayoftakingthehonor，butthefactwasthatI didnotfeeloverwhelmedwithgratitudeattheprospectofseeingsomesavage，duskyqueen，howeverabsoluteandmysteriousshemightbe，moreespeciallyasmymindwasfullofdearLeo，forwhoselifeI begantohavegreatfears。However，Irosetofollowhim，andasIdidsoIcaughtsightofsomethingbrightlyingonthefloor，whichIpickedup。PerhapsthereaderwillrememberthatwiththepotsherdinthecasketwasacompositionscarabaeusmarkedwitharoundO，agoose，andanothercurioushieroglyphic，themeaningofwhichsignsis“SutenseRa^，“or“RoyalSonoftheSun。”Thisscarab，whichisaverysmallone，Leohadinsisteduponhavingsetinamassivegoldring，suchasisgenerallyusedforsignets，anditwasthisveryringthatInowpickedup。Hehadpulleditoffintheparoxysmofhisfever，atleastIsupposeso，andflungitdownupontherock-floor。ThinkingthatifIleftitaboutitmightgetlost，Islippeditontomyownlittlefinger，andthenfollowedBillali，leavingJobandUstanewithLeo。 Wepasseddownthepassage，crossedthegreataisle- likecave，andcametothecorrespondingpassageontheotherside，atthemouthofwhichtheguardsstoodliketwostatues。Aswecametheybowedtheirheadsinsalutation，andthenliftingtheirlongspearsplacedthemtransverselyacrosstheirforeheads，astheleadersofthetroopthathadmetushaddonewith。 theirivorywands。Westeppedbetweenthem，andfoundourselvesinanexactlysimilargallerytothatwhichledtoourownapartments，onlythispassagewas，comparativelyspeaking，brilliantlylighted。Afewpacesdownitweweremetbyfourmutes——twomenandtwowomen——whobowedlowandthenarrangedthemselves，thewomeninfrontandthemenbehindus，andinthisorderwecontinuedourprocessionpastseveraldoorwayshungwithcurtainsresemblingthoseleadingtoourownquarters，andwhichIafterwardsfoundopenedoutintochambersoccupiedbythemuteswhoattendedon_i_She_i_。Afewpacesmoreandwecametoanotherdoorwayfacingus，andnottoourleftliketheothers，whichseemedtomarktheterminationofthepassage。Heretwomorewhite，orratheryellow，robedguardswerestanding，andtheytoobowed，saluted，andletuspassthroughheavycurtainsintoagreatante-chamber，quitefortyfeetlongbyasmanywide，inwhichsomeeightortenwomen，mostofthemyoungandhandsome，withyellowishhair，satoncushionsworkingwithivoryneedlesatwhathadtheappearanceofbeingembroidery-frames。Thesewomenwerealsodeafanddumb。AtthefartherendofthisgreatlamplitapartmentwasanotherdoorwayclosedinwithheavyOriental-lookingcurtains，quiteunlikethosethathungbeforethedoorsofourownrooms，andherestoodtwoparticularlyhandsomegirlmutes，theirheadsbowedupontheirbosomsandtheirhandscrossedinanattitudeofthehumblestsubmission。Asweadvancedtheyeachstretchedoutanarmanddrewbackthecurtains。ThereuponBillalididacuriousthing。 Downhewent，thatvenerable-lookingoldgentleman—— forBillaliisagentlemanatthebottom——downontohishandsandknees，andinthisundignifiedposition，withhislongwhitebeardtrailingontheground，hebegantocreepintotheapartmentbeyond。Ifollowedhim，standingonmyfeetintheusualfashion。Lookingoverhisshoulder，heperceivedit。 “Down，myson;down，myBaboon;downontothyhandsandknees。Weenterthepresenceof_i_She_i_，and，ifthouartnothumble，ofasuretyshewillblasttheewherethoustandest。” Ihalted，andfeltscared。Indeed，mykneesbegantogivewayoftheirownmeremotion;butreflectioncametomyaid。IwasanEnglishman，andwhy，Iaskedmyself，shouldIcreepintothepresenceofsomesavagewomanasthoughIwereamonkeyinfactaswellasinname？Iwouldnotandcouldnotdoit，thatis，unlessIwasabsolutelysurethatmylifeorcomfortdependeduponit。IfonceIbegantocreepuponmykneesIshouldalwayshavetodoso，anditwouldbeapatentacknowledgmentofinferiority。So，fortifiedbyaninsularprejudiceagainst“kootooing，“whichhas，likemostofourso-calledprejudices，agooddealofcommon-sensetorecommendit，ImarchedinboldlyafterBillali。Ifoundmyselfinanotherapartment，considerablysmallerthantheante-room，ofwhichthewallswereentirelyhungwithrich-lookingcurtainsofthesamemakeasthoseoverthedoor，thework，asI subsequentlydiscovered，ofthemuteswhosatintheante-chamberandwovetheminstrips，whichwereafterwardssewntogether。Also，hereandthereabouttheroom，weresetteesofabeautifulblackwoodoftheebonytribe，inlaidwithivory，andalloverthefloorwereothertapestries，orratherrugs。Atthetopendofthisapartmentwaswhatappearedtobearecess，alsodrapedwithcurtains，throughwhichshoneraysoflight。Therewasnobodyintheplaceexceptourselves。 PainfullyandslowlyoldBillalicreptupthelengthofthecave，andwiththemostdignifiedstridethatI couldcommandIfollowedafterhim。ButIfeltthatitwasmoreorlessofafailure。Tobeginwith，itisnotpossibletolookdignifiedwhenyouarefollowinginthewakeofanoldmanwrithingalongonhisstomachlikeasnake，andthen，inordertogosufficientlyslowly，eitherIhadtokeepmylegsomesecondsintheairateverystep，orelsetoadvancewithafullstopbetweeneachstride，likeMaryQueenofScotsgoingtoexecutioninaplay。Billaliwasnotgoodatcrawling，Isupposehisyearsstoodintheway，andourprogressupthatapartmentwasaverylongaffair。Iwasimmediatelybehindhim，andseveraltimesIwassorelytemptedtohelphimonwithagoodkick。ItissoabsurdtoadvanceintothepresenceofsavageroyaltyafterthefashionofanIrishmandrivingapigtomarket，forthatiswhatwelookedlike，andtheideanearlymademeburstoutlaughingthenandthere。Ihadtoworkoffmydangeroustendencytounseemlymerrimentbyblowingmynose，aproceedingwhichfilledoldBillaliwithhorror，forhelookedoverhisshoulderandmadeaghastlyfaceatme，andIheardhimmurmur，“Oh，mypoorBaboon！” Atlastwereachedthecurtains，andhereBillalicollapsedflatontohisstomach，withhishandsstretchedoutbeforehimasthoughheweredead，andI，notknowingwhattodo，begantostareabouttheplace。ButpresentlyIdearlyfeltthatsomebodywaslookingatmefrombehindthecurtains。Icouldnotseetheperson，butIcoulddistinctlyfeelhisorhergaze，and，whatismore，itproducedaveryoddeffectuponmynerves。Iwasfrightened，Idonotknowwhy。 Theplacewasastrangeone，itistrue，andlookedlonely，notwithstandingitsrichhangingsandthesoftglowofthelamps——indeed，theseaccessoriesaddedto，ratherthandetractedfromitsloneliness，justasalightedstreetatnighthasalwaysamoresolitaryappearancethanadarkone。Itwassosilentintheplace，andtherelayBillalilikeonedeadbeforetheheavycurtains，throughwhichtheodorofperfumeseemedtofloatuptowardsthegloomofthearchedroofabove。Minutegrewintominute，andstilltherewasnosignoflife，nordidthecurtainmove;butI feltthegazeoftheunknownbeingsinkingthroughandthroughme，andfillingmewithanamelessterror，tilltheperspirationstoodinbeadsuponmybrow。 Atlengththecurtainbegantomove。Whocouldbebehindit？——somenakedsavagequeen，alanguishingOrientalbeauty，oranineteenth-centuryyounglady，drinkingafternoontea。Ihadnottheslightestidea，andshouldnothavebeenastonishedatseeinganyofthethree。Iwasgettingbeyondastonishment。Thecurtainagitateditselfalittle，thensuddenlybetweenitsfoldsthereappearedamostbeautifulwhitehand(whiteassnow)，andwithlong，taperingfingers，endinginthepinkestnails。Thehandgraspedthecurtainanddrewitaside，andasitdidsoI heardavoice，IthinkthesoftestandyetmostsilveryvoiceIeverheard。Itremindedmeofthemurmurofabrook。 “Stranger，“saidthevoiceinArabic，butmuchpurerandmoreclassicalArabicthantheAmahaggertalk—— “stranger，whereforeartthousomuchafraid？” NowIflatteredmyselfthatinspiteofmyinwardterrorsIhadkeptaveryfaircommandofmycountenance，andwas，therefore，alittleastonishedatthisquestion。BeforeIhadmadeupmymindhowtoanswerit，however，thecurtainwasdrawn，andatallfigurestoodbeforeus。Isayafigure，fornotonlythebody，butalsothefacewaswrappedupinsoft，white，gauzymaterialinsuchawayasatfirstsighttoremindmemostforciblyofacorpseinitsgrave- clothes。AndyetIdonotknowwhyitshouldhavegivenmethatidea，seeingthatthewrappingsweresothinthatonecoulddistinctlyseethegleamofthepinkfleshbeneaththem。Isupposeitwasowingtothewayinwhichtheywerearranged，eitheraccidentally，ormoreprobablybydesign。Anyhow，Ifeltmorefrightenedthaneveratthisghostlikeapparition，andmyhairbegantoriseuponmyheadasthefeelingcreptovermethatIwasinthepresenceofsomethingthatwasnotcanny。Icould，however，clearlydistinguishthattheswathed，mummy-likeformbeforemewasthatofatallandlovelywoman，instinctwithbeautyineverypart，andalsowithacertainsnakelikegracewhichIhadneverseenanythingtoequalbefore。Whenshemovedahandorfootherentireframeseemedtoundulate，andtheneckdidnotbend，itcurved。 “Whyartthousofrightened，stranger？”askedthesweetvoiceagain——avoicewhichseemedtodrawtheheartoutofme，likethestrainsofsoftestmusic。 “Istherethataboutmethatshouldaffrightaman？ Thensurelyaremenchangedfromwhattheyusedtobe！”Andwithalittlecoquettishmovementsheturnedherself，andhelduponearm，soastoshowallherlovelinessandtherichhairofravenblacknessthatstreamedinsoftripplesdownhersnowyrobes，almosttohersandalledfeet。 “Itis。thybeautythatmakesmefear，oh，queen，“I answered，humbly，scarcelyknowingwhattosay，andI thoughtthatasIdidsoIheardoldBillali，whowasstilllyingprostrateonthefloor，mutter，“Good，myBaboon，good。” “Iseethatmenstillknowhowtobeguileuswomenwithfalsewords。Ah，stranger，“sheanswered，withalaughthatsoundedlikedistantsilverbells，“thouwastafraidbecausemineeyesweresearchingoutthineheart，thereforewastthouafraid。But，beingbutawoman，Iforgivetheeforthelie，foritwascourteouslysaid。Andnowtellme，howcameyehithertothislandofthedwellersamongcaves——alandofswampsandevilthingsanddeadoldshadowsofthedead？Whatcameyefortosee？Howisitthatyeholdyourlivessocheapastoplacetheminthehollowofthehandof_i_Hiya，_i_intothehandof’_i_She- who-must-beobeyed_i_’？TellmealsohowcomeyetoknowthetongueItalk。Itisanancienttongue，thatsweetchildoftheoldSyriac。Livethityetintheworld？ThouseestIdwellamongthecavesandthedead，andnoughtknowIoftheaffairsofmen，norhaveIcaredtoknow。Ihavelived，Ostranger，withmymemories，andmymemoriesareinagravethatmineownhandshollowed，fortrulyhathitbeensaidthatthechildofmanmakethhisownpathevil“;andherbeautifulvoicequivered，andbrokeinanoteassoftasanywood-bird’s。SuddenlyhereyefelluponthesprawlingframeofBillali，andsheseemedtorecollectherself。 “Ah！thouartthere，oldman。Tellmehowitisthatthingshavegonewronginthyhousehold。Forsooth，itseemsthatthesemyguestsweresetupon。Ay，andonewasnightobeingslainbythehotpottobeeatenofthosebrutes，thychildren，andhadnottheothersfoughtgallantlytheytoohadbeenslain，andnotevenIcouldhavecalledbackthelifewhichhadbeenloosedfromthebody。Whatmeansit，oldman？WhathastthoutosaythatIshouldnotgivetheeovertothosewhoexecutemyvengeance？” Hervoicehadriseninheranger，anditrangclearandcoldagainsttherockywalls。AlsoIthoughtI couldseehereyesflashthroughthegauzethathidthem。IsawpoorBillali，whomIhadbelievedtobeaveryfearlessperson，positivelyquiverwithterroratherwords。 “O’Hiya’！O_i_She_i_！”hesaid，withoutliftinghiswhiteheadfromthefloor。“O_i_She_i_，asthouartgreat，bemerciful，forIamnowaseverthyservanttoobey。Itwasnoplanorfaultofmine，O _i_She_i_，itwasthosewickedoneswhoarecalledmychildren。LedonbyawomanwhomthyguestthePighadscorned，theywouldhavefollowedtheancientcustomoftheland，andeatenthefatblackstrangerwhocamehitherwiththesethygueststheBaboon，andtheLionwhoissick，thinkingthatnowordhadcomefromtheeabouttheblackone。ButwhentheBaboonandtheLionsawwhattheywoulddo，theyslewthewoman，andslewalsotheirservanttosavehimfromthehorrorofthepot。Thenthoseevilones，ay，thosechildrenoftheWickedOnewholivesinthePit，theywentmadwiththelustofblood，andflewatthethroatsoftheLionandtheBaboonandthePig。Butgallantlytheyfought。O_i_Hiya！_i_theyfoughtlikeverymen，andslewmany，andheldtheirown，andthenIcameandsavedthem，andtheevil-doershaveI sentonhithertoKo^rtobejudgedofthygreatness，O_i_She！_i_andheretheyare。” “Ay，oldman，Iknowit，andtomorrowwillIsitinthegreathallanddojusticeuponthem，fearnot。Andforthee，Iforgivethee，thoughhardly。Seethatthoudostkeepthinehouseholdbetter。Go。” Billaliroseuponhiskneeswithastonishingalacrity，bowedhisheadthrice，andhiswhitebeardsweepingtheground，crawleddowntheapartmentashehadcrawledupit，tillhefinallyvanishedthroughthecurtains，leavingme，notalittletomyalarm，alonewiththisterriblebutmostfascinatingperson。 CHAPTERXIII—— AYESHAUNVEILS “There，“said_i_She_i_，“hehasgone，thewhite- beardedoldfool！Ah，howlittleknowledgedoesamanacquireinhislife。Hegatherethituplikewater，butlikewateritrunneththroughhisfingers，andyet，ifhishandsbebutwetasthoughwithdew，beholdagenerationoffoolscallout，’See，heisawiseman！’Isitnotso？Buthowcalltheythee？ ’Baboon，’hesays，“andshelaughed;“butthatisthefashionofthesesavageswholackimagination，andflytothebeaststheyresembleforaname。Howdotheycalltheeinthineowncountry，stranger？” “TheycallmeHolly，Oqueen，“Ianswered。 “Holly，“sheanswered，speakingthewordwithdifficulty，andyetwithamostcharmingaccent;“andwhatisHolly？” “’Holly’isapricklytree，“Isaid。 “So。Well，thouhastapricklyandyetatreelikelook。Strongartthou，andugly，but，ifmywisdombenotatfault，honestatthecore，andastafftoleanon。Alsoonewhothinks。Butstay，OHolly，standnotthere，enterwithmeandbeseatedbyme。Iwouldnotseetheecrawlbeforemelikethoseslaves。Iamwearyoftheirworshipandtheirterror;sometimeswhentheyvexmeIcouldblastthemforverysport，andtoseetherestturnwhite，eventotheheart。”Andsheheldthecurtainasidewithherivoryhandtoletmepassin。 Ientered，shuddering。Thiswomanwasveryterrible。 Withinthecurtainswasarecess，abouttwelvefeetbyten，andintherecesswasacouchandatablewhereonstoodfruitandsparklingwater。Byit，atitsend，wasavessellikeafontcutincarvedstone，alsofullofpurewater。TheplacewassoftlylitwithlampsformedoutofthebeautifulvesselsofwhichI havespoken，andtheairandcurtainswereladenwithasubtleperfume。Perfumetooseemedtoemanatefromtheglorioushairandwhite，clingingvestmentsof_i_ She_i_herself。Ienteredthelittleroom，andtherestooduncertain。 “Sit，“said_i_She_i_，pointingtothecouch。“Asyetthouhastnocausetofearme。Ifthouhastcause，thoushaltnotfearforlong，forIshallslaythee。 Thereforeletthyheartbelight。” Isatdownontheendofthecouchneartothefontlikebasinofwater，and_i_She_i_sankdownsoftlyontotheotherend。 “Now，Holly，“shesaid，“howcomestthoutospeakArabic？Itismyowndeartongue，forArabianamIbybirth，even’_i_alArabalAriba_i_’“(anAraboftheArabs)，“andoftheraceofourfatherYara`b，thesonofKa^htan，forinthatfairandancientcityOzalwasIborn，intheprovinceofYamantheHappy。Yetdostthounotspeakitasweusedtospeak。ThytalkdothlackthemusicofthesweettongueofthetribesofHamyarwhichIwaswonttohear。Someofthewordstooseemchanged，evenasamongtheseAmahagger，whohavedebasedanddefileditspurity，sothatImustspeakwiththeminwhatistotomeanothertongue。” “Ihavestudiedit，“Ianswered，“formanyyears。AlsothelanguageisspokeninEgyptandelsewhere。” “Soitisstillspoken，andthereisyetanEgypt？AndwhatPharaohsitsuponthethrone？StilloneofthespawnofthePersianOchus，oraretheAchaemeniansgone，forsofarisittothedaysofOchus？” “ThePersianshavebeengonefromEgyptfornightwothousandyears，andsincethenthePtolemies，theRomans，andmanyothershaveflourishedandheldswayupontheNile，andfallenwhentheirtimewasripe，“I said，aghast。“WhatcanstthouknowofthePersianArtaxerxes？” _i_She_i_laughed，andmadenoanswer，andagainacoldchillwentthroughme。“AndGreece，“shesaid; “istherestillaGreece？Ah，IlovedtheGreeks。 Beautifulweretheyastheday，andclever，butfierceatheartandfickle，notwithstanding。” “Yes，“Isaid，“thereisaGreece;and，justnow，itisoncemoreapeople。YettheGreeksofto-dayarenotwhattheGreeksoftheoldtimewere，andGreeceherselfisbutamockeryoftheGreecethatwas。” “So！TheHebrews，aretheyyetatJerusalem？AnddoestheTemplethatthewisekingbuiltstand？andifso，whatGoddotheyworshiptherein？IstheirMessiahcome，ofwhomtheypreachedsomuchandprophesiedsoloudly，anddothheruletheearth？” “TheJewsarebrokenandgone，andthefragmentsoftheirpeoplestrewtheworld，andJerusalemisnomore。AsforthetemplethatHerodbuilt——“ “Herod！”shesaid。“IknownotHerod。Butgoon。” “TheRomansburnedit，andtheRomaneaglesflewacrossitsruins，aridnowJudaeaisadesert。” “So，so！Theywereagreatpeople，thoseRomans，andwentstraighttotheirend——ay，theyspedtoitlikeFate，orliketheirowneaglesontheirprey！——andleftpeacebehindthem。” “Solitudinerafaciunt，pacemappellant，“Isuggested。 “Ah，thoucanstspeaktheLatintongue，too！”shesaid;insurprise。“Ithathastrangeringinmyearsafterallthesedays，anditseemstomethatthyaccentdoesnotfallastheRomansputit。Whowasitwrotethat？Iknownotthesaying，butitisatrueoneofthatgreatpeople。ItseemsthatIhavefoundalearnedman——onewhosehandshaveheldthewateroftheworld’sknowledge。KnowestthouGreekalso？” “Yes，Oqueen，andsomethingofHebrew，butnottospeakthemwell。Theyarealldeadlanguagesnow。” _i_She_i_clappedherhandsinchildishglee。“Ofatruth，uglytreethatthouart，thougrowestthefruitsofwisdom，OHolly，“shesaid;“butofthoseJewswhomIhated——fortheycalledme’heathen’whenI wouldhavetaughtthemmyphilosophy——didtheirMessiahcome，anddothheruletheworld？” “TheirMessiahcame，“Ianswered，withreverence;“buthecamepoorandlowly，andtheywouldhavenoneofhim。Theyscourgedhim，andcrucifiedhimuponatree，butyethiswordsandhisworksliveon，forhewastheSonofGod，andnowofatruthhedothrulehalftheworld，butnotwithanempireoftheworld。” “Ah，thefierce-heartedwolves，“shesaid，“thefollowersofSenseandofmanygods——greedyofgainandfactiontorn。Icanseetheirdarkfacesyet。SotheycrucifiedtheirMessiah？WellcanIbelieveit。 ThathewasaSonoftheLivingSpiritwouldbenaughttothem，ifindeedhewasso，andofthatwewilltalkafterwards。TheywouldcarenaughtforanyGodifhecamenotwithpompandpower。They，achosenpeople，avesselofhimtheycallJehovah！ay，andavesselofBaal，andavesselofAstoreth，andavesselofthegodsoftheEgyptians——ahigh-stomachedpeople，greedyofaughtthatbroughtthemwealthandpower。SotheycrucifiedtheirMessiahbecausehecameinlowlyguise——andnowaretheyscatteredabouttheearth。 Why，ifIremember，sosaidoneoftheirprophetsthatitshouldbe。Well，letthemgo;theybrokemyheart，thoseJews，andmademelookwithevileyesacrosstheworld，ay，anddrovemetothiswilderness，thisplaceofapeoplethatwasbeforethem。WhenIwouldhavetaughtthemwisdominJerusalemtheystonedme，ay，atthegateoftheTemplethosewhite-beardedhypocritesandrabbishoundedthepeopleontostoneme！See，hereisthemarkofittothisday！”andwithasuddenmoveshepulledupthegauzywrappingonherroundedarm，andpointedtoalittlescarthatshowedredagainstitsmilkybeauty。Ishrankbackhorrified。 “Pardonme，Oqueen，“Isaid，“butIambewildered。 NighupontwothousandyearshaverolledacrosstheearthsincetheJewishMessiahhunguponhiscrossatGolgotha。HowthencanstthouhavetaughtthyphilosophytotheJewsbeforehewas？Thouartawoman，andnospirit。Howcanawomanlivetwothousandyears？Whydostthoubefoolme，Oqueen？” _i_She_i_leanedbackonthecouch，andoncemoreI feltthehiddeneyesplayinguponmeandsearchingoutmyheart。 “Oman！”shesaidatlast，speakingveryslowlyanddeliberately，“itseemsthattherearestillthingsupontheearthofwhichthouknowestnaught。Dostthoustillbelievethatallthingsdie，evenasthoseveryJewsbelieved？Itelltheethatnaughtreallydies。 ThereisnosuchthingasDeath，thoughtherebeathingcalledChange。See，“andshepointedtosomesculpturesontherockywall。“Threetimestwothousandyearshavepassedsincethelastofthegreatracethathewedthosepicturesfellbeforethebreathofthepestilencewhichdestroyedthem，yettheyarenotdead。E’ennowtheylive;perchancetheirspiritsaredrawntowardsusatthisveryhour，“andsheglancedround。“Ofasuretyitsometimesseemstomethatmyeyescanseethem。” “Yes，buttotheworldtheyaredead。” “Ay，foratime;buteventotheworldtheyarebornagainandagain。I，yesI，Ayesha——forthatismyname，stranger——IsaytotheethatIwaitnowforoneIlovedtobebornagain，andhereItarrytillhefindsme，knowingofasuretythathitherhewillcome，andthathere，andhereonly，shallhegreetme。 Why，dostthousupposethatI，whoamallpowerful，I，whoselovelinessismorethanthelovelinessoftheGrecianHelen，ofwhomtheyusedtosing，andwhosewisdomiswider，ay，farmorewideanddeepthanthewisdomofSolomontheWise——I，whoknowthesecretsoftheearthanditsriches，andcanturnallthingstomyuses——I，whohaveevenforawhileovercomeChange，thatyecallDeath——why，Isay，Ostranger，dostthouthinkthatIherdherewithbarbarianslowerthanthebeasts？” “Iknownot，“Isaid，humbly。 “BecauseIwaitforhimIlove。Mylifehasperchancebeenevil，Iknownot——forwhocansaywhatisevilandwhatgood？——soIfeartodieevenifIcoulddie，whichIcannotuntilminehourcomes，togoandseekhimwhereheis;forbetweenustheremightriseawallIcouldnotclimb;atleast，Idreadit。Surelyeasywoulditbealsotolosethewayinseekinginthosegreatspaceswhereintheplanetswanderonforever。Butthedaywillcome，itmaybewhenfivethousandmoreyearshavepassed，andarelostandmeltedintothevaultofTime，evenasthelittlecloudsmeltintothegloomofnight，oritmaybeto- morrow，whenhe，mylove，shallbebornagain，andthen，followingalawthatisstrongerthananyhumanplan，heshallfindmehere，whereonceheknewme，andofasuretyhisheartwillsoftentowardsmethoughIsinnedagainsthim;ay，eventhoughheknowmenotagain，yetwillheloveme，ifonlyformybeauty’ssake。” ForamomentIwasdumbfounded，andcouldnotanswer。 Thematter。wastoooverpoweringformyintellecttograsp。 “Butevenso，Oqueen，“Isaidatlast，“evenifwemenbebornagainandagain，thatisnotsowiththee，ifthouspeakesttruly。”Hereshelookedupsharply，andoncemoreIcaughttheflashofthosehiddeneyes; “thou，“Iwenton，hurriedly，“whohastneverdied？” “Thatisso，“shesaid;“anditissobecauseIhave，halfbychanceandhalfbylearning，solvedoneofthegreatsecretsoftheworld。Tellme，stranger：lifeis——whythereforeshouldnotlifebelengthenedforawhile？Whataretenortwentyorfiftythousandyearsinthehistoryoflife？Whyintenthousandyearsscarcewilltherainandstormslessenamountain-topbyaspaninthickness？Intwothousandyearsthesecaveshavenotchanged，nothinghaschanged，butthebeastsandman，whoisasthebeasts。Thereisnaughtthatiswonderfulaboutthematter，couldstthoubutunderstand。Lifeiswonderful，ay，butthatitshouldbealittlelengthenedisnotwonderful。Naturehathheranimatingspiritaswellasman，whoisNature’schild，andhewhocanfindthatspirit，andletitbreatheuponhim，shalllivewithherlife。Heshallnotliveeternally，forNatureisnoteternal，andsheherselfmustdie，evenasthenatureofthemoonhathdied。_i_She_i_herselfmustdie，Isay，orratherchangeandsleeptillitbetimeforhertoliveagain。Butwhenshallshedie？Notyet，Iween，andwhileshelives，soshallhewhohathallhersecretlivewithher。AllIhaveitnot，yethaveIsome，moreperchancethananywhowerebeforeme。Now，totheeIdoubtnotthatthisthingisagreatmystery，thereforeIwillnotovercometheewithitnow。 AnothertimewillItelltheemoreifthemoodbeonme，thoughperchanceIshallneverspeakthereofagain。DostthouwonderhowIknewthatyewerecomingtothisland，andsosavedyourheadsfromthehotpot？” “Ay，Oqueen，“Ianswered，feebly。 “Thengazeuponthatwater，“andshepointedtothefontlikevessel，andthen，bendingforward，heldherhandoverit。 Iroseandgazed，andinstantlythewaterdarkened。 ThenitclearedandIsawasdistinctlyasIeversawanythinginmylife——Isaw，Isay，ourboatuponthathorriblecanal。TherewasLeolyingatthebottomasleepinit，withacoatthrownoverhimtokeepoffthemosquitoes，insuchafashionastohidehisface，andmyself，Job，andMahomedtowingonthebank。 Istaredbackaghast，andcriedoutthatitwasmagic，forIrecognizedthewholescene;itwasonewhichhadactuallyoccurred，“Nay，nay，OHolly，“sheanswered，“itisnomagic; thatisafictionofignorance。Thereisnosuchthingasmagic，thoughthereissuchathingasknowledgeofthesecretsofNature。Thatwaterismyglass;initI seewhatpassesifIcaretosummonupthepictures，whichisnotoften。ThereinIcanshowtheewhatthouwiltofthepast，ifitbeanythingtodowiththiscountryandwithwhatIhaveknown，oranythingthatthou，thegazer，hastknown。Thinkofafaceifthouwilt，anditshallbereflectedfromthyminduponthewater。Iknownotallthesecretyet——Icanreadnothinginthefuture。Butitisanoldsecret;Ididnotfindit。InArabiaandinEgyptthesorcerersknewitcenturiesago。SoonedayIchancedtobethinkmeofthatoldcanal——sometwentycenturiesagoIsaileduponit，andIwasmindedtolookthereonagain。AndsoIlooked，andthereIsawtheboatandthreemenwalking，andone，whosefaceIcouldnotsee，butayouthofanobleform，sleepingintheboat，andsoI sentandsavedye。Andnow，farewell。Butstay，tellmeofthisyouth——theLion，astheoldmancallshim。 Iwouldlookuponhim，butheissick，thousayest—— sickwiththefever，andalsowoundedinthefray。” “Heisverysick，“Ianswered，sadly;“canstthoudonothingforhim，Oqueen！whoknowestsomuch？” “OfasuretyIcan。Icancurehim;butwhyspeakestthousosadly？Doththoulovetheyouth？Isheperchancethyson？” “Heismyadoptedson，Oqueen！Shallhebebroughtinbeforethee？” “Nay。Howlonghaththefevertakenhim？” “Thisisthethirdday。” “Good;thenlethimlieanotherday。Thenwillheperchancethrowitoffbyhisownstrength，andthatisbetterthanthatIshouldcurehim，formymedicineisofasorttoshakethelifeinitsverycitadel。 If，however，bytomorrownight，atthathourwhenthefeverfirsttookhim，hedothnotbegintomend，thenwillIcometohimandcurehim。Stay，whonurseshim？” “Ourwhiteservant，himwhomBillalinamesthePig; also，“andhereIspokewithsomelittlehesitation，“awomannamedUstane，averyhandsomewomanofthiscountry，whocameandembracedhimwhenfirstshesawhim，andhathstayedbyhimeversince，asI understandisthefashionofthypeople，Oqueen。” “Mypeople！speaknottomeofmypeople，“sheanswered，hastily;-“theseslavesarenopeopleofmine，theyarebutdogstodomybiddingtillthedayofmydeliverancecomes;and，asfortheircustoms，naughthaveItodowiththem。Also，callmenotqueen——Iamsickofflatteryandtitles——callmeAyesha，thenamehathasweetsoundinmineears，itisanechofromthepast。AsforthisUstane，Iknownot。IwonderifitbesheagainstwhomIwaswarned，andwhomIinturndidwarn？Hathshe——stay，Iwillsee“;and，bendingforward，shepassedherhandoverthefontofwaterandgazedintentlyintoit。“See，“ shesaid，quietly，“isthatthewoman？” Ilookedintothewater，andthere，mirroreduponitsplacidsurface，wasthesilhouetteofUstane’sstatelyface。Shewasbendingforward，withalookofinfinitetendernessuponherfeatures，watchingsomethingbeneathher，andwithherchestnutlocksfallingontoherrightshoulder。 “Itisshe，“Isaid，inalowvoice，foroncemoreI feltmuchdisturbedatthismostuncommonsight。“ShewatchesLeoasleep。” “Leo！”saidAyesha，inanabsentvoice;“why，thatis’lion’。intheLatintongue。Theoldmanhathnamedhappilyforonce。Itisverystrange，“shewenton，speakingtoherself，“very。Solike——butitisnotpossible！”Withanimpatientgestureshepassedherhandoverthewateroncemore。Itdarkened，andtheimagevanishedsilentlyandmysteriouslyasithadrisen，andoncemorethelamplight，andthelamplightonly，shoneontheplacidsurfaceofthatlimpid，livingmirror。 “Hastthouaughttoaskmebeforethougoest，O Holly？”shesaid，afterafewmoments’reflection。“Itisbutarudelifethatthoumustlivehere，forthesepeoplearesavages，andknownotthewaysofcultivatedman。NotthatIamtroubledthereby，for，beholdmyfood，“andshepointedtothefruituponthelittletable。“Naughtbutfruitdotheverpassmylips——fruitandcakesofflour，andalittlewater。I havebiddenmygirlstowaituponthee。Theyaremutes，thouknowest，deafaretheyanddumb，andthereforethesafestofservants;savetothosewhocanreadtheirfacesandtheirsigns。Ibredthemso—— ithathtakenmanycenturiesandmuchtrouble;butlastIhavetriumphed。OnceIsucceededbefore，buttheracewastoougly，soIletitdieaway;butnow，asthouseest，theyareotherwise。Once，too，Irearedaraceofgiants，butafterawhileNaturewouldnomoreofit，anditdiedaway。Hastthouaughttoaskofme？” “Ay，onething，OAyesha，“Isaid，boldly;butfeelingbynomeansasboldasItrustIlooked。“Iwouldgazeuponthyface。” Shelaughedoutinherbell-likenotes。“Bethinkthee，Holly，“sheanswered;“bethinkthee。ItseemsthatthouknowesttheoldmythsofthegodsofGreece。WastherenotoneActaeonwhoperishedmiserablybecausehelookedontoomuchbeauty？IfIshowtheemyface，perchancethouwouldstperishmiserablyalso; perchancethouwouldsteatoutthyheartinimpotentdesire;forknowIamnotforthee——Iamfornoman，saveone，whohathbeen，butisnotyet。” “Asthouwilt，Ayesha，“Isaid。“Ifearnotthybeauty。Ihaveputmyheartawayfromsuchvanityaswoman’sloveliness，thatpasseslikeaflower。” “Nay，thouerrest，“shesaid;“thatdoesnotpass。MybeautyenduresevenasIendure;stillifthouwilt，O rashman，havethywill;butblamenotmeifpassionmountthyreason，astheEgyptianbreakersusedtomountacolt，andguideitwhitherthouwiltnot。 Nevermaythemantowhommybeautyhathbeenunveiledputitfromhismind，andthereforeevenwiththesesavagesdoIgoveiled，lesttheyvexme，andIshouldslaythem。Say，wiltthousee？” “Iwill，“Ianswered，mycuriosityoverpoweringme。