第9章

Iansweredmyself;"beautymusthaveaheart！Howeverprofoundlyhidden,itmustbethere！Thedeeperburied,thestrongerandtruerwillitwakeatlastinitsbeautifulgrave！Torousethatheartwereabettergifttoherthanthehappiestlife！Itwouldbetogiveheranobler,ahigherlife！"

Shewasascendingagentleslopebeforeme,walkingstraightandsteadyasonethatknewwhither,whenIbecameawarethatshewasincreasingthedistancebetweenus。Isummonedmystrength,anditcameinfulltide。Myveinsfilledwithfreshlife！Mybodyseemedtobecomeethereal,and,followinglikeaneasywind,I

rapidlyovertookher。

Notoncehadshelookedbehind。Swiftlyshemoved,likeaGreekgoddesstorescue,butwithouthaste。Iwaswithinthreeyardsofher,whensheturnedsharply,yetwithgraceunbroken,andstood。

Fatigueorheatsheshowednone。Herpalenesswasnotapallor,butapurewhiteness;herbreathingwasslowanddeep。Hereyesseemedtofilltheheavens,andgivelighttotheworld。Itwasnearlynoon,butthesensewasuponmeasofagreatnightinwhichaninvisibledewmakesthestarslooklarge。

"Whydoyoufollowme？"sheasked,quietlybutrathersternly,asifshehadneverbeforeseenme。

"Ihavelivedsolong,"Ianswered,"onthemerehopeofyoureyes,thatImustwanttoseethemagain！"

"YouWILLnotbespared！"shesaidcoldly。"Icommandyoutostopwhereyoustand。"

"NotuntilIseeyouinaplaceofsafetywillIleaveyou,"I

replied。

"Thentaketheconsequences,"shesaid,andresumedherswift—glidingwalk。

Butassheturnedshecastonmeaglance,andIstoodasifrunthroughwithaspear。Herscornhadfailed:shewouldkillmewithherbeauty！

Despairrestoredmyvolition;thespellbroke;Iran,andovertookher。

"Havepityuponme！"Icried。

Shegavenoheed。Ifollowedherlikeachildwhosemotherpretendstoabandonhim。"Iwillbeyourslave！"Isaid,andlaidmyhandonherarm。

Sheturnedasifaserpenthadbither。Icoweredbeforetheblazeofhereyes,butcouldnotavertmyown。

"Pityme,"Icriedagain。

Sheresumedherwalking。

ThewholedayIfollowedher。Thesunclimbedthesky,seemedtopauseonitssummit,wentdowntheotherside。Notamomentdidshepause,notamomentdidIceasetofollow。Sheneverturnedherhead,neverrelaxedherpace。

Thesunwentbelow,andthenightcameup。Ikeptclosetoher:

ifIlostsightofherforamoment,itwouldbeforever！

Alldaylongwehadbeenwalkingoverthicksoftgrass:abruptlyshestopped,andthrewherselfuponit。Therewasyetlightenoughtoshowthatshewasutterlyweary。Istoodbehindher,andgazeddownonherforamoment。

DidIloveher？Iknewshewasnotgood！DidIhateher？Icouldnotleaveher！Ikneltbesideher。

"Begone！Donotdaretouchme,"shecried。

Herarmslayonthegrassbyhersidesasifparalyzed。

Suddenlytheyclosedaboutmyneck,rigidasthoseofthetorture—maiden。Shedrewdownmyfacetohers,andherlipsclungtomycheek。Astingofpainshotsomewherethroughme,andpulsed。

Icouldnotstirahair\'sbreadth。Graduallythepainceased。A

slumberousweariness,adreamypleasurestoleoverme,andthenI

knewnothing。

AllatonceIcametomyself。Themoonwasalittlewayabovethehorizon,butspreadnoradiance;shewasbutabrightthingsetinblackness。Mycheeksmarted;Iputmyhandtoit,andfoundawetspot。Myneckached:thereagainwasawetspot！Isighedheavily,andfeltverytired。Iturnedmyeyeslistlesslyaroundme——andsawwhathadbecomeofthelightofthemoon:itwasgatheredaboutthelady！shestoodinashimmeringnimbus！Iroseandstaggeredtowardher。

"Down！"shecriedimperiously,astoarebelliousdog。"Followmeastepifyoudare！"

"Iwill！"Imurmured,withanagonisedeffort。

"Setfootwithinthegatesofmycity,andmypeoplewillstoneyou:

theydonotlovebeggars！"

Iwasdeaftoherwords。Weakaswater,andhalfawake,IdidnotknowthatImoved,butthedistancegrewlessbetweenus。Shetookonestepback,raisedherleftarm,andwiththeclenchedhandseemedtostrikemeontheforehead。Ireceivedasitwereablowfromanironhammer,andfell。

Isprangtomyfeet,coldandwet,butclear—headedandstrong。Hadtheblowrevivedme？ithadleftneitherwoundnorpain！——ButhowcameIwet？——Icouldnothavelainlong,forthemoonwasnohigher！

Theladystoodsomeyardsaway,herbacktowardme。Shewasdoingsomething,Icouldnotdistinguishwhat。ThenbyhersuddengleamIknewshehadthrownoffhergarments,andstoodwhiteinthedazedmoon。Onemomentshestood——andfellforward。

Astreakofwhiteshotawayinaswift—drawnline。Thesameinstantthemoonrecoveredherself,shiningoutwithafullflash,andI

sawthatthestreakwasalong—bodiedthing,rushingingreat,low—curvedboundsoverthegrass。Darkspotsseemedtorunlikeastreamadownitsback,asifithadbeenfleetingalongundertheedgeofawood,andcatchingtheshadowsoftheleaves。

"Godofmercy！"Icried,"istheterriblecreaturespeedingtothenight—infoldedcity？"andIseemedtohearfromafarthesuddenburstandspreadofoutcryingterror,asthepalesavageboundedfromhousetohouse,rendingandslaying。

WhileIgazedafteritfear—stricken,pastmefrombehind,likeaswift,allbutnoiselessarrow,shotasecondlargecreature,purewhite。Itspathwasstraightforthespotwheretheladyhadfallen,and,asIthought,lay。Mytongueclavetotheroofofmymouth。

Isprangforwardpursuingthebeast。ButinamomentthespotI

madeforwasfarbehindit。

"Itwaswell,"Ithought,"thatIcouldnotcryout:ifshehadrisen,themonsterwouldhavebeenuponher！"

ButwhenIreachedtheplace,noladywasthere;onlythegarmentsshehaddroppedlayduskinthemoonlight。

Istoodstaringafterthesecondbeast。Ittoreoverthegroundwithyetgreaterswiftnessthantheformer——inlong,level,skimmingleaps,theveryembodimentofwastelessspeed。Itfollowedthelinetheotherhadtaken,andIwatcheditgrowsmallerandsmaller,untilitdisappearedintheuncertaindistance。

Butwherewasthelady？Hadthefirstbeastsurprisedher,creepinguponhernoiselessly？Ihadheardnoshriek！andtherehadnotbeentimetodevourher！Couldithavecaughtherupasitran,andborneherawaytoitsden？Soladenitcouldnothaverunsofast！

andIshouldhaveseenthatitcarriedsomething！

Horribledoubtsbegantowakeinme。Afterathoroughbutfruitlesssearch,Isetoutinthetrackofthetwoanimals。

CHAPTERXXI

THEFUGITIVEMOTHER

AsIhastenedalong,acloudcameoverthemoon,andfromthegraydarksuddenlyemergedawhitefigure,claspingachildtoherbosom,andstoopingassheran。Shewasonalineparallelwithmyown,butdidnotperceivemeasshehurriedalong,terrorandanxietyineverymovementofherdrivenspeed。

"Sheischased！"Isaidtomyself。"Someprowlerofthisterriblenightisafterher！"

Tofollowwouldhaveaddedtoherfright:Isteppedintohertracktostopherpursuer。

AsIstoodforamomentlookingafterherthroughthedusk,behindmecameaswift,soft—footedrush,andereIcouldturn,somethingsprangovermyhead,struckmesharplyontheforehead,andknockedmedown。Iwasupinaninstant,butallIsawofmyassailantwasavanishingwhiteness。Iranafterthebeast,withthebloodtricklingfrommyforehead;buthadrunonlyafewsteps,whenashriekofdespairtorethequiveringnight。Iranthefaster,thoughIcouldnotbutfearitmustalreadybetoolate。

InaminuteortwoIspiedalowwhiteshapeapproachingmethroughthevapour—dustedmoonlight。Itmustbeanotherbeast,Ithoughtatfirst,foritcameslowly,almostcrawling,withstrange,flounderingleaps,asofacreatureinagony！Idrewasidefromitspath,andwaited。Asitnearedme,Isawitwasgoingonthreelegs,carryingitsleftfore—pawhighfromtheground。Ithadmanydark,ovalspotsonashiningwhiteskin,andwasattendedbyalowrushingsound,asofwaterfallingupongrass。Asitwentbyme,Isawsomethingstreamingfromtheliftedpaw。

"Itisblood！"Isaidtomyself,"somereadierchampionthanIhaswoundedthebeast！"But,strangetotell,suchapityseizedmeatsightofthesufferingcreature,that,thoughanaxehadbeeninmyhandIcouldnothavestruckatit。Inabrokensuccessionofhobblingleapsitwentoutofsight,itsblood,asitseemed,stillissuinginasmalltorrent,whichkeptflowingbacksoftlythroughthegrassbesideme。"Ifitgoonbleedinglikethat,"Ithought,"itwillsoonbehurtless！"

Iwenton,forImightyetbeusefultothewoman,andhopedalsotoseeherdeliverer。

Idescriedheralittlewayoff,seatedonthegrass,withherchildinherlap。

"CanIdoanythingforyou？"Iasked。

Atthesoundofmyvoiceshestartedviolently,andwouldhaverisen。

Ithrewmyselfontheground。

"Youneednotbefrightened,"Isaid。"Iwasfollowingthebeastwhenhappilyyoufoundanearerprotector！Itpassedmenowwithitsfootbleedingsomuchthatbythistimeitmustbeallbutdead！"

"Thereislittlehopeofthat！"sheanswered,trembling。"Doyounotknowwhosebeastsheis？"

NowIhadcertainstrangesuspicions,butIansweredthatIknewnothingofthebrute,andaskedwhathadbecomeofherchampion。

"Whatchampion？"sherejoined。"Ihaveseennoone。"

"Thenhowcamethemonstertogrief？"

"Ipoundedherfootwithastone——ashardasIcouldstrike。Didyounothearhercry？"

"Well,youareabravewoman！"Ianswered。"Ithoughtitwasyougavethecry！"

"Itwastheleopardess。"

"Ineverheardsuchasoundfromthethroatofananimal！itwaslikethescreamofawomanintorture！"

"Myvoicewasgone;Icouldnothaveshriekedtosavemybaby！WhenIsawthehorridmouthatmydarling\'slittlewhiteneck,Icaughtupastoneandmashedherlamefoot。"

"Tellmeaboutthecreature,"Isaid;"Iamastrangerintheseparts。"

"YouwillsoonknowaboutherifyouaregoingtoBulika！"sheanswered。"Now,Imustnevergobackthere！"

"Yes,IamgoingtoBulika,"Isaid,"——toseetheprincess。"

"Haveacare;youhadbetternotgo！——Butperhapsyouare——！Theprincessisaverygood,kindwoman！"

Iheardalittlemovement。CloudshadbythistimegatheredsothickoverthemoonthatIcouldscarcelyseemycompanion:Ifearedshewasrisingtorunfromme。

"Youareinnodangerofanysortfromme,"Isaid。"Whatoathwouldyoulikemetotake？"

"IknowbyyourspeechthatyouarenotofthepeopleofBulika,"

shereplied;"Iwilltrustyou！——Iamnotofthem,either,elseI

shouldnotbeable:theynevertrustanyone——IfonlyIcouldseeyou！ButIlikeyourvoice！——There,mydarlingisasleep！Thefoulbeasthasnothurther！——Yes:itwasmybabyshewasafter！"shewenton,caressingthechild。"Andthenshewouldhavetornhermothertopiecesforcarryingheroff！——Somesaytheprincesshastwowhiteleopardesses,"shecontinued:"Iknowonlyone——withspots。

EverybodyknowsHER！Iftheprincesshearofababy,shesendsherimmediatelytosuckitsblood,andtheniteitherdiesorgrowsupanidiot。Iwouldhavegoneawaywithmybaby,buttheprincesswasfromhome,andIthoughtImightwaituntilIwasalittlestronger。

Butshemusthavetakenthebeastwithher,andbeenonherwayhomewhenIleft,andcomeacrossmytrack。IheardtheSNIFF—SNUFFoftheleopardessbehindme,andran;——oh,howIran！——Butmydarlingwillnotdie！Thereisnomarkonher！"

"Whereareyoutakingher？"

"Wherenooneevertells！"

"Whyistheprincesssocruel？"

"Thereisanoldprophecythatachildwillbethedeathofher。

Thatiswhyshewilllistentonoofferofmarriage,theysay。"

"Butwhatwillbecomeofhercountryifshekillallthebabies？"

"Shedoesnotcareabouthercountry。Shesendswitchesaroundtoteachthewomenspellsthatkeepbabiesaway,andgivethemhorriblethingstoeat。SomesaysheisinleaguewiththeShadowstoputanendtotherace。Atnightwehearthequestingbeast,andlieawakeandshiver。Shecantellatoncethehousewhereababyiscoming,andliesdownatthedoor,watchingtogetin。Therearewordsthathavepowertoshooheraway,onlytheydonotalwayswork——ButhereIsittalking,andthebeastmaybythistimehavegothome,andhermistressbesendingtheotherafterus！"

Asthussheended,sheroseinhaste。

"Idonotthinkshewillevergethome。——Letmecarrythebabyforyou！"Isaid,asIrosealso。

Shereturnedmenoanswer,andwhenIwouldhavetakenit,onlyclaspeditthecloser。

"Icannotthink,"Isaid,walkingbyherside,"howthebrutecouldbebleedingsomuch！"

"Takemyadvice,anddon\'tgonearthepalace,"sheanswered。"Therearesoundsinitatnightasifthedeadweretryingtoshriek,butcouldnotopentheirmouths！"

Shebademeanabruptfarewell。Plainlyshedidnotwantmoreofmycompany;soIstoodstill,andheardherfootstepsdieawayonthegrass。

CHAPTERXXII

BULIKA

Ihadlostallnotionofmyposition,andwaswalkingaboutinpure,helplessimpatience,whensuddenlyIfoundmyselfinthepathoftheleopardess,wadinginthebloodfromherpaw。Itranagainstmyankleswiththeforceofasmallbrook,andIgotoutofitthemorequicklybecauseofanunshapedsuspicioninmymindastowhoseblooditmightbe。ButIkeptclosetothesoundofit,walkingupthesideofthestream,foritwouldguidemeinthedirectionofBulika。

Isoonbegantoreflect,however,thatnoleopardess,noelephant,nohugestanimalthatinourworldprecededman,couldkeepsuchatorrentflowing,excepteveryarteryinitsbodywereopen,anditshugesystemwentonfillingitsvesselsfromfieldsandlakesandforestsasfastastheyemptiedthemselves:itcouldnotbeblood！

Idippedafingerinit,andatoncesatisfiedmyselfthatitwasnot。Intruth,howeveritmighthavecomethere,itwasasoftlymurmuringrivuletofwaterthatran,withoutchannel,overthegrass！

Butsweetaswasitssong,Idarednotdrinkofit;Ikeptwalkingon,hopingafterthelight,andlisteningtothefamiliarsoundsolongunheard——forthatofthehotstreamwasverydifferent。Themerewettingofmyfeetinit,however,hadsorefreshedme,thatI

wentonwithoutfatiguetillthedarknessbegantogrowthinner,andIknewthesunwasdrawingnigh。Afewminutesmore,andI

coulddiscern,againstthepaleaurora,thewall—towersofacity——seeminglyoldastimeitself。ThenIlookeddowntogetasightofthebrook。

Itwasgone。Ihadindeedforalongtimenoteditssoundgrowingfainter,butatlasthadceasedtoattendtoit。Ilookedback:

thegrassinitscourselaybentasithadflowed,andhereandthereglimmeredasmallpool。Towardthecity,therewasnotraceofit。NearwhereIstood,theflowofitsfountainmustatleasthavepaused！

Aroundthecityweregardens,growingmanysortsofvegetables,hardlyoneofwhichIrecognised。Isawnowater,noflowers,nosignofanimals。Thegardenscameverynearthewalls,butwereseparatedfromthembyhugeheapsofgravelandrefusethrownfromthebattlements。

Iwentuptothenearestgate,andfounditbuthalf—closed,nowisesecured,andwithoutguardorsentinel。Tojudgebyitshinges,itcouldnotbefartheropenedorshutcloser。Passingthrough,I

lookeddownalongancientstreet。Itwasutterlysilent,andwithscarceanindicationinitoflifepresent。HadIcomeuponadeadcity？Iturnedandwentoutagain,toiledalongwayoverthedust—heaps,andcrossedseveralroads,eachleadinguptoagate:I

wouldnotre—enteruntilsomeoftheinhabitantsshouldbestirring。

WhatwasItherefor？whatdidIexpectorhopetofind？whatdidI

meantodo？

Imustsee,ifbutoncemore,thewomanIhadbroughttolife！Ididnotdesirehersociety:shehadwakedinmefrightfulsuspicions;andfriendship,nottosaylove,waswildlyimpossiblebetweenus！Butherpresencehadhadastrangeinfluenceuponme,andinherpresenceImustresist,andatthesametimeanalysethatinfluence！TheseeminglyinscrutableinherIwouldfainpenetrate:tounderstandsomethingofhermodeofbeingwouldbetolookintomarvelssuchasimaginationcouldneverhavesuggested！InthisIwastoodaring:

amanmustnot,forknowledge,ofhisownwillencountertemptation！

Ontheotherhand,Ihadreinstatedanevilforceabouttoperish,andwas,totheextentofmyopposingfaculty,accountableforwhatmischiefmightensue！Ihadlearnedthatshewastheenemyofchildren:theLittleOnesmightbeinherdanger！ItwasinthehopeoffindingoutsomethingoftheirhistorythatIhadleftthem;

onthatIhadreceivedalittlelight:Imusthavemore;Imustlearnhowtoprotectthem！

Hearingatlengthalittlestirintheplace,Iwalkedthroughthenextgate,andthencealonganarrowstreetoftallhousestoalittlesquare,whereIsatdownonthebaseofapillarwithahideousbat—likecreatureatop。Erelong,severaloftheinhabitantscamesaunteringpast。Ispoketoone:hegavemearudestareandruderword,andwenton。

Igotupandwentthroughonenarrowstreetafteranother,graduallyfillingwithidlers,andwasnotsurprisedtoseenochildren。Byandby,nearoneofthegates,Iencounteredagroupofyoungmenwhoremindedmenotalittleofthebadgiants。Theycameaboutmestaring,andpresentlybegantopushandhustleme,thentothrowthingsatme。IboreitaswellasIcould,wishingnottoprovokeenmitywherewantedtoremainforawhile。OftenerthanonceortwiceIappealedtopassers—bywhomIfanciedmorebenevolent—looking,butnonewouldhaltamomenttolistentome。Ilookedpoor,andthatwasenough:tothecitizensofBulika,astohouse—dogs,povertywasanoffence！Deformityandsicknessweretaxed;andnolegislationoftheirprincesswasmoreheartilyapprovedofthanwhattendedtomakepovertysubservewealth。

Itooktomyheelsatlast,andnoonefollowedmebeyondthegate。

Alumberingfellow,however,whosatbyiteatingahunchofbread,pickedupastonetothrowafterme,andhappily,inhisstupideagerness,threw,notthestonebutthebread。Itookit,andhedidnotdarefollowtoreclaimit:beyondthewallstheywerecowardseveryone。Iwentoffafewhundredyards,threwmyselfdown,atethebread,fellasleep,andsleptsoundlyinthegrass,wherethehotsunlightrenewedmystrength。

ItwasnightwhenIwoke。Themoonlookeddownonmeinfriendlyfashion,seemingtoclaimwithmeoldacquaintance。Shewasverybright,andthesamemoon,Ithought,thatsawmethroughtheterrorsofmyfirstnightinthatstrangeworld。Acoldwindblewfromthegate,bringingwithitanevilodour;butitdidnotchillme,forthesunhadplenishedmewithwarmth。Icreptagainintothecity。

ThereIfoundthefewthatwerestillintheopenaircrouchedincornerstoescapetheshiveringblast。

Iwaswalkingslowlythroughthelongnarrowstreet,when,justbeforeme,ahugewhitethingboundedacrossit,withasingleflashinthemoonlight,anddisappeared。Iturneddownthenextopening,eagertogetsightofitagain。

Itwasanarrowlane,almosttoonarrowtopassthrough,butitledmeintoawiderstreet。ThemomentIenteredthelatter,Isawontheoppositeside,intheshadow,thecreatureIhadfollowed,itselffollowinglikeadogwhatItookforaman。Overhisshoulder,everyothermoment,heglancedattheanimalbehindhim,butneitherspoketoit,norattemptedtodriveitaway。Ataplacewherehehadtocrossapatchofmoonlight,Isawthathecastnoshadow,andwashimselfbutaflatsuperficialshadow,oftwodimensions。

Hewas,nevertheless,anopaqueshadow,forhenotmerelydarkenedanyobjectontheothersideofhim,butrenderedit,infact,invisible。Intheshadowhewasblackerthantheshadow;inthemoonlighthelookedlikeonewhohaddrawnhisshadowupabouthim,fornotasuspicionofitmovedbesideorunderhim;whilethegleaminganimal,whichfollowedsocloseathisheelsastoseemthewhiteshadowofhisblackness,andwhichInowsawtobealeopardess,drewherownglidingshadowblackoverthegroundbyherside。Whentheypassedtogetherfromtheshadowintothemoonlight,theShadowdeepenedinblackness,theanimalflashedintoradiance。Iwasatthemomentwalkingabreastofthemontheoppositeside,mybarefeetsoundingontheflatstones:theleopardessneverturnedheadortwitchedear;theshadowseemedoncetolookatme,forIlosthisprofile,andsawforasecondonlyasharpuprightline。Thatinstantthewindfoundmeandblewthroughme:Ishudderedfromheadtofoot,andmyheartwentfromwalltowallofmybosom,likeapebbleinachild\'srattle。

CHAPTERXXIII

AWOMANOFBULIKA

Iturnedasideintoanalley,andsoughtshelterinasmallarchway。

InthemouthofitIstopped,andlookedoutatthemoonlightwhichfilledthealley。Thesameinstantawomancameglidinginafterme,turned,trembling,andlookedoutalso。Afewsecondspassed;

thenahugeleopard,itswhiteskindappledwithmanyblots,dartedacrossthearchway。Thewomanpressedclosetome,andmyheartfilledwithpity。Iputmyarmroundher。

"Ifthebrutecomehere,Iwilllayholdofit,"Isaid,"andyoumustrun。"

"Thankyou！"shemurmured。

"Haveyoueverseenitbefore？"Iasked。

"Severaltimes,"sheanswered,stilltrembling。"Sheisapetoftheprincess\'s。Youareastranger,oryouwouldknowher！"

"Iamastranger,"Ianswered。"Butisshe,then,allowedtorunloose？"

"Sheiskeptinacage,hermouthmuzzled,andherfeetinglovesofcrocodileleather。Chainedsheistoo;butshegetsoutoften,andsucksthebloodofanychildshecanlayholdof。HappilytherearenotmanymothersinBulika！"

Heresheburstintotears。

"IwishIwereathome！"shesobbed。"Theprincessreturnedonlylastnight,andthereistheleopardessoutalready！HowamItogetintothehouse？Itismesheisafter,Iknow！Shewillbelyingatmyowndoor,watchingforme！——ButIamafooltotalktoastranger！"

"Allstrangersarenotbad！"Isaid。"Thebeastshallnottouchyoutillshehasdonewithme,andbythattimeyouwillbein。Youarehappytohaveahousetogoto！Whataterriblewinditis！"

"Takemehomesafe,andIwillgiveyoushelterfromit,"sherejoined。"Butwemustwaitalittle！"

Iaskedhermanyquestions。Shetoldmethepeopleneverdidanythingexceptdigforpreciousstonesintheircellars。Theywererich,andhadeverythingmadefortheminothertowns。

"Why？"Iasked。

"Becauseitisadisgracetowork,"sheanswered。"EverybodyinBulikaknowsthat！"

Iaskedhowtheywererichifnoneofthemearnedmoney。Sherepliedthattheirancestorshadsavedforthem,andtheyneverspent。Whentheywantedmoneytheysoldafewoftheirgems。

"Buttheremustbesomepoor！"Isaid。

"Isupposetheremustbe,butweneverthinkofsuchpeople。Whenonegoespoor,weforgethim。Thatishowwekeeprich。Wemeantoberichalways。"

"Butwhenyouhavedugupallyourpreciousstonesandsoldthem,youwillhavetospendyourmoney,andonedayyouwillhavenoneleft！"

"Wehavesomany,andtherearesomanystillintheground,thatthatdaywillnevercome,"shereplied。

"Supposeastrangepeopleweretofalluponyou,andtakeeverythingyouhave！"

"Nostrangepeoplewilldare;theyareallhorriblyafraidofourprincess。Sheitiswhokeepsussafeandfreeandrich！"

Everynowandthenasshespoke,shewouldstopandlookbehindher。

Iaskedwhyherpeoplehadsuchahatredofstrangers。Sheansweredthatthepresenceofastrangerdefiledthecity。

"Howisthat？"Isaid。

"Becausewearemoreancientandnoblethananyothernation。——

Therefore,"sheadded,"wealwaysturnstrangersoutbeforenight。"

"How,then,canyoutakemeintoyourhouse？"Iasked。

"Iwillmakeanexceptionofyou,"shereplied。

"Istherenoplaceinthecityforthetakinginofstrangers？"

"Suchaplacewouldbepulleddown,anditsownerburned。Howispuritytobepreservedexceptbykeepinglowpeopleataproperdistance？Dignityissuchadelicatething！"

Shetoldmethattheirprincesshadreignedforthousandsofyears;

thatshehadpowerovertheairandthewateraswellastheearth——

and,shebelieved,overthefiretoo;thatshecoulddowhatshepleased,andwasanswerabletonobody。

Whenatlengthshewaswillingtorisktheattempt,wetookourwaythroughlanesandnarrowpassages,andreachedherdoorwithouthavingmetasinglelivecreature。Itwasinawiderstreet,betweentwotallhouses,atthetopofanarrow,steepstair,upwhichsheclimbedslowly,andIfollowed。Erewereachedthetop,however,sheseemedtotakefright,anddarteduptherestofthesteps:I

arrivedjustintimetohavethedoorclosedinmyface,andstoodconfoundedonthelanding,wherewasaboutlengthenough,betweentheoppositedoorsofthetwohouses,foramantoliedown。

Weary,andnotscruplingtodefileBulikawithmypresence,Itookadvantageoftheshelter,poorasitwas。

CHAPTERXXIV

THEWHITELEOPARDESS

Atthefootofthestairlaythemoonlitstreet,andIcouldheartheunwholesome,inhospitablewindblowingaboutbelow。Butnotabreathofitenteredmyretreat,andIwascomposingmyselftorest,whensuddenlymyeyesopened,andtherewastheheadoftheshiningcreatureIhadseenfollowingtheShadow,justrisingabovetheuppermoststep！Themomentshecaughtsightofmyeyes,shestoppedandbegantoretire,tailforemost。Isprangup;whereupon,havingnoroomtoturn,shethrewherselfbackward,headovertail,scrambledtoherfeet,andinamomentwasdownthestairandgone。Ifollowedhertothebottom,andlookedallupanddownthestreet。Notseeingher,Iwentbacktomyhardcouch。

Therewere,then,twoevilcreaturesprowlingaboutthecity,onewith,andonewithoutspots！IwasnotinclinedtoriskmuchformanorwomaninBulika,butthelifeofachildmightwellbeworthsuchapooroneasmine,andIresolvedtokeepwatchatthatdoortherestofthenight。