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its shadows； ask which amongst them knows where dead Queen Yang still
lies in dusty state。 Get guides amongst your comrade ghosts。 Find
Queen Yang； and bring me here in five minutes the bloody circlet from her
hair。〃
Then； and then for the first time； I believed the planet was haunted
indeed； and I myself unknowingly under some strange and watchful
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influence。 Spirits； demons！ Oh！ what but some incomprehensible
power； some unseen influence shap… ing my efforts to its ends； could have
moved that hairy barbarian to play a second time into my hands like this；
to choose from the endless records of his world the second of the two
incidents I had touched in hasty travel through it？ I was almost overcome
for a minute； then； pulling myself together； strode forward fiercely； and；
speaking so that all could hear me； cried； 〃Base king； who neither knows
the capacities of a spirit nor has learned as yet to dread its anger； see！ your
commission is executed in a thought； just as your punishment might be。
Heru； come here。〃 And when the girl； speechless with amazement； had
risen and slipped over to me； I straightened her pretty hair from her fore…
head； and then； in a way which would make my fortune if I could repeat it
at a conjuror's table； whipped poor Yang's gemmy crown from my pocket；
flashed its baleful splendour in the eyes of the courtiers； and placed it on
the tresses of the first royal lady who had worn it since its rightful owner
died a hundred years before。
A heavy silence fell on the hall as I finished； and nothing was heard for
a time save Heru sobbing on my breast and a thirsty baby somewhere
outside calling to its mother for the water that was not to be had。 But
presently on those sounds came the fall of anxious feet； and a messenger；
entering the doorway； approached the throne； laid him… self out flat twice；
after which obeisance he proceeded to remind the king of the morning's
ceremonial on a distant hill to 〃pray away the comet；〃 telling his majesty
that all was ready and the procession anxiously awaiting him。
Whereon Ar…hap； obviously very well content to change the subject；
rose； and； coming down from the dais； gave me his hand。 He was a fine
fellow； as I have said； strong and bold； and had not behaved badly for an
autocrat； so that I gripped his mighty fist with great pleasure。
〃I cannot deny； stranger；〃 he said； 〃that you have done all that has been
asked of you； and the maid is fairly yours。 Yet before you take away the
prize I must have some as… surance of what you yourself will do with her。
Therefore； for the moment； until this horrible thing in the sky which
threatens my people with destruction has gone； let it be truce between us
you to your lodgings； and the princess back； unharmed； amongst my
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women till we meet again。〃
〃But〃
〃No； no；〃 said the king； waving his hand。 〃Be content with your
advantage。 And now to business more important than ten thousand silly
wenches；〃 and gathering up his robes over his splendid war…gear the wood
king stalked haughtily from the hall。
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CHAPTER XVIII
Hotter and hotter grew that stifling spell； more and more languid man
and beast； drier and drier the parching earth。
All the water gave out on the morning after I had bearded Ar…hap in his
den； and our strength went with it。 No earthly heat was ever like it； and it
drank our vitality up from every pore。 Water there was down below in
the bitter； streaming gulf； but so noisome that we dared not even bathe
there； here there was none but the faintest trickle。 All discipline was at an
end； all desire save such as was born of thirst。 Heru I saw as often as I
wished as she lay gasping； with poor Si at her feet； in the women's
verandah； but the heat was so tremendous that I gazed at her with lack…
lustre eyes； staggering to and fro amongst the court… yard shadows；
without nerve to plot her rescue or strength to carry out anything my mind
might have conceived。
We prayed for rain and respite。 Ar…hap had prayed with a wealth of
picturesque ceremonial。 We had all prayed and cursed by turns； but still
the heavens would not relent； and the rain came not。
At last the stifling heat and vapour reached an almost intolerable pitch。
The earth reeked with unwholesome hum… ours no common summer could
draw from it； the air was sulphurous and heavy； while overhead the sky
seemed a tawny dome； from edge to edge of angry clouds； parting now
and then to let us see the red disc threatening us。
Hour after hour slipped by until； when evening was upon us； the
clouds drew together； and thunder； with a continu… ous low rumble； began
to rock from sky to sky。 Fitful showers of rain； odorous and heavy； but
unsatisfying； fell； and birds and beasts of the woodlands came slinking in
to our streets and courtyards。 Ever since the sky first darkened our own
animals had become strangely familiar； and now here were these wild
things of the woods slinking in for companion… ship； sagheaded and
frightened。 To me especially they came； until that last evening as I
staggered dying about the streets or sat staring into the remorseless sky
from the steps of Heru's prison house； all sorts of beasts drew softly in and
crowded about； whether I sat or moved； all asking for the hope I had not to
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give them。
At another time this might have been embarrassing； then it seemed
pure commonplace。 It was a sight to see them slink in between the
useless showers； which fell like hot tears upon ussleek panthers with
lolling tongues； russet…red wood dogs； bears and sloths from the dark
arcades of the remote forests； all casting themselves down gasping in the
palace shadows； strange deer； who staggered to the garden plots and lay
there heaving their lives out； mighty boars； who came from the river
marshes and silently nozzled a place amongst their enemies to die in！
Even the wolves came off the hills； and； with bloodshot eyes and tongues
that dripped foam； flung themselves down in my shadow。
All along the tall stockades apes sat sad and listless； and on the roof…
ridges storks were dying。 Over the branches of the trees； whose leaves
were as thin as though we had had a six months' drought； the toucans and
Martian parrots hung limp and fashionless like gaudy rags； and in the
courtyard ground the corn…rats came up from their tunnels in the scorching
earth to die； squeaking in scores along under the walls。
Our common sorrow made us as sociable as though I were Noah； and
Ar…hap's palace mound another Ararat。 Hour after hour I sat amongst all
these lesser beasts in the hot darkness； waiting for the end。 Every now
and then the heavy clouds parted； changing the gloom to sudden fiery
daylight as the great red eye in the west looked upon us through the
crevice； and； taking advantage of those gleams； I would reel across to
where； under a spout leading from a dried rivulet； I had placed a cup to
collect the slow and tepid drops that were all now coming down the reed
for Heru。 And as I went back each time with that sickly spoonful at the
bottom of the vessel all the dying beasts lifted their heads and watched
the thirsty wolves shamb… ling after me； the boars half sat up and grunted
plaintively； the panthers； too weak to rise； beat the dusty ground with their
tails； and from the portico the blue storks； with trailing wings； croaked
husky greeting。
But slower and slower came the dripping wat