第14章

Wehadcaughtandtamedseveralmoreofthebighorses,andnowhavingloadedthemandtheelephantswiththeseprovisions,wewerepreparedtosetout。

ThenLonaandIheldageneralreview,andImadethemalittlespeech。IbeganbytellingthemthatIhadlearnedagooddealaboutthem,andknewnowwheretheycamefrom。

"Wedidnotcomefromanywhere,"theycried,interruptingme;"wearehere！"

Itoldthemthateveryoneofthemhadamotherofhisown,likethemotherofthelastbaby;thatIbelievedtheyhadallbeenbroughtfromBulikawhentheyweresosmallthattheycouldnotnowrememberit;thatthewickedprincesstherewassoafraidofbabies,andsodeterminedtodestroythem,thattheirmothershadtocarrythemawayandleavethemwhereshecouldnotfindthem;

andthatnowweweregoingtoBulika,tofindtheirmothers,anddeliverthemfromthebadgiantess。

"ButImusttellyou,"Icontinued,"thatthereisdangerbeforeus,for,asyouknow,wemayhavetofighthardtotakethecity。"

"Wecanfight！weareready！"criedtheboys。

"Yes,youcan,"Ireturned,"andIknowyouwill:mothersareworthfightingfor！Onlymind,youmustallkeeptogether。"

"Yes,yes;we\'lltakecareofeachother,"theyanswered。"Nobodyshalltouchoneofusbuthisownmother！"

"Youmustmind,everyone,todoimmediatelywhatyourofficerstellyou！"

"Wewill,wewill！——Nowwe\'requiteready！Letusgo！"

"Anotherthingyoumustnotforget,"Iwenton:"whenyoustrike,besureyoumakeitadownrightswingingblow;whenyoushootanarrow,drawittothehead;whenyouslingastone,slingitstrongandstraight。"

"Thatwewill！"theycriedwithjubilant,fearlessshout。

"Perhapsyouwillbehurt！"

"Wedon\'tmindthat！——Dowe,boys？"

"Notabit！"

"Someofyoumayverypossiblybekilled！"Isaid。

"Idon\'tmindbeingkilled！"criedoneofthefinestofthesmallerboys:herodeabeautifullittlebull,whichgallopedandjumpedlikeahorse。

"Idon\'teither！Idon\'teither！"camefromallsides。

ThenLona,queenandmotherandsisterofthemall,spokefromherbighorsebymyside:

"Iwouldgivemylife,"shesaid,"tohavemymother！Shemightkillmeifsheliked！Ishouldjustkissheranddie！"

"Comealong,boys！"criedagirl。"We\'regoingtoourmothers！"

Apangwentthroughmyheart。——ButIcouldnotdrawback;itwouldbemoralruintotheLittleOnes！

ChapterXXXV

THELITTLEONESINBULIKA

Itwasearlyinthemorningwhenwesetout,making,betweentheblueskyandthegreengrass,agallantshowonthewideplain。Wewouldtravelallthemorning,andresttheafternoon;thengoonatnight,restthenextday,andstartagainintheshorttwilight。

Thelatterpartofourjourneywewouldendeavoursotodivideastoarriveatthecitywiththefirstofthemorning,andbealreadyinsidethegateswhendiscovered。

Itseemedasifalltheinhabitantsoftheforestwouldmigratewithus。Amultitudeofbirdsflewinfront,imaginingthemselves,nodoubt,theleadingdivision;greatcompaniesofbutterfliesandotherinsectsplayedaboutourheads;andacrowdoffour—footedcreaturesfollowedus。Theselast,whennightcame,leftusalmostall;butthebirdsandthebutterflies,thewaspsandthedragon—flies,wentwithustotheverygatesofthecity。

Wehaltedandsleptsoundlythroughtheafternoon:itwasourfirstrealmarch,butnoneweretired。Inthenightwewentfaster,becauseitwascold。Manyfellasleeponthebacksoftheirbeasts,andwokeinthemorningquitefresh。Nonetumbledoff。Somerodeshaggy,shamblingbears,whichyetmadespeedenough,goingasfastastheelephants。Othersweremountedondifferentkindsofdeer,andwouldhavebeenracingallthewayhadInotpreventedit。

Thoseatopofthehayontheelephants,unabletoseetheanimalsbelowthem,wouldkeeptalkingtothemaslongastheywereawake。

Once,whenwehadhaltedtofeed,Iheardalittlefellow,ashedrewoutthehaytogivehim,communethuswithhis"darlingbeast":

"Nosydear,Iamdiggingyououtofthemountain,andshallsoongetdowntoyou:bepatient;I\'macoming！Verysoonnowyou\'llsendupyournosetolookforme,andthenwe\'llkisslikegoodelephants,wewill！"

Thesamenightthereburstoutsuchatumultofelephant—trumpeting,horse—neighing,andchild—imitation,ringingfaroverthesilentlevels,that,uncertainhownearthecitymightnotbe,Iquicklystilledtheuproarlestitshouldgivewarningofourapproach。

Suddenly,onemorning,thesunandthecityrose,asitseemed,together。Tothechildrenthewallsappearedonlyagreatmassofrock,butwhenItoldthemtheinsidewasfullofnestsofstone,Isawapprehensionanddislikeatonceinvadetheirhearts:forthefirsttimeintheirlives,Ibelieve——manyofthemlonglittlelives——theyknewfear。Theplacelookedtothembad:howweretheytofindmothersinsuchaplace？Buttheywentonbravely,fortheyhadconfidenceinLona——andinmetoo,littleasIdeservedit。

Werodethroughthesoundingarchway。Sureneverhadsuchadrummingofhoofs,suchapaddingofpawsandfeetbeenheardonitsoldpavement！Thehorsesstartedandlookedscaredattheechooftheirownsteps;somehaltedamoment,someplungedwildlyandwheeledabout;buttheyweresoonquieted,andwenton。SomeoftheLittleOnesshivered,andallwerestillasdeath。Thethreegirlsheldclosertheinfantstheycarried。Allexceptthebearsandbutterfliesmanifestedfear。

Onthecountenanceofthewomanlayadarkanxiety;norwasImyselfunaffectedbythegeneraldread,forthewholearmywasonmyhandsandonmyconscience:Ihadbroughtituptothedangerwhoseshadowwasnowmakingitselffelt！ButIwassupportedbythethoughtofthecomingkingdomoftheLittleOnes,withthebadgiantsitsslaves,andtheanimalsitsloving,obedientfriends！Alas,Iwhodreamedthus,hadnotmyselflearnedtoobey！Untrusting,unfaithfulobstinacyhadsetmeattheheadofthatarmyofinnocents！Iwasmyselfbutaslave,likeanykingintheworldIhadleftwhodoesorwoulddoonlywhatpleaseshim！ButLonarodebesidemeachildindeed,thereforeafreewoman——calm,silent,watchful,notawhitafraid！

Wewerenearlyintheheartofthecitybeforeanyofitsinhabitantsbecameawareofourpresence。Butnowwindowsbegantoopen,andsleepyheadstolookout。Everyfaceworeatfirstadullstareofwonderlessastonishment,which,assoonasthestarersperceivedtheanimals,changedtooneofconsternation。Inspiteoftheirfear,however,whentheysawthattheirinvaderswerealmostallchildren,thewomencamerunningintothestreets,andthemenfollowed。Butforatimeallofthemkeptclosetothehouses,leavingopenthemiddleoftheway,fortheydurstnotapproachtheanimals。

Atlengthaboy,wholookedaboutfiveyearsold,andwasfulloftheideaofhismother,spyinginthecrowdawomanwhosefaceattractedhim,threwhimselfuponherfromhisantelope,andclungaboutherneck;norwassheslowtoreturnhisembraceandkisses。

Butthehandofamancameoverhershoulder,andseizedhimbytheneck。Instantlyagirlranhersharpspearintothefellow\'sarm。Hesentforthasavagehowl,andimmediatelystabbedbytwoorthreemore,fledyelling。

"Theyarejustbadgiants！"saidLona,hereyesflashingasshedroveherhorseagainstoneofunusualheightwho,havingstirredupthelittlemanhoodinhim,stoodbarringherwaywithaclub。

Hedarednotabidetheshock,butslunkaside,andthenextmomentwentdown,struckbyseveralstones。Anotherhugefellow,avoidingmycharger,steppedsuddenly,withaspeechwhoserudenessalonewasintelligible,betweenmeandtheboywhorodebehindme。Theboytoldhimtoaddresstheking;thegiantstruckhislittlehorseontheheadwithahammer,andhefell。Beforethebrutecouldstrikeagain,however,oneoftheelephantsbehindlaidhimprostrate,andtrampledonhimsothathedidnotattempttogetupuntilhundredsoffeethadwalkedoverhim,andthearmywasgoneby。

ButatsightofthewomenwhatadismaycloudedthefaceofLona！

Hardlyoneofthemwasevenpleasanttolookupon！Wereherdarlingstofindmothersamongsuchasthese？

Hardlyhadwehaltedinthecentralsquare,whentwogirlsrodeupinanxioushaste,withthetidingsthattwooftheboyshadbeenhurriedawaybysomewomen。Weturnedatonce,andthenfirstdiscoveredthatthewomanwebefriendedhaddisappearedwithherbaby。

Butatthesamemomentwedescriedawhiteleopardesscomeboundingtowardusdownanarrowlanethatledfromthesquaretothepalace。

TheLittleOneshadnotforgottenthefightofthetwoleopardessesintheforest:someofthemlookedterrified,andtheirranksbegantowaver;buttheyrememberedtheorderIhadjustgiventhem,andstoodfast。

Westoppedtoseetheresult;whensuddenlyasmallboy,calledOdu,remarkableforhisspeedandcourage,whohadheardmespeakofthegoodnessofthewhiteleopardess,leapedfromthebackofhisbear,whichwentshamblingafterhim,andrantomeether。Theleopardess,toavoidknockinghimdown,pulledherselfupsosuddenlythatshewentrollingoverandover:whensherecoveredherfeetshefoundthechildonherback。Whocoulddoubtthesubjugationofapeoplewhichsawanurchinoftheenemybestrideananimalofwhichtheylivedindailyterror？Confidentoftheeffectonthewholearmy,werodeon。

Aswestoppedatthehousetowhichourguidesledus,weheardascream;Isprangdown,andthunderedatthedoor。Myhorsecameandpushedmeawaywithhisnose,turnedabout,andhadbeguntobatterthedoorwithhisheels,whenupcamelittleOduontheleopardess,andatsightofherhestoodstill,trembling。Butshetoohadheardthecry,andforgettingthechildonherback,threwherselfatthedoor;theboywasdashedagainstit,andfellsenseless。BeforeIcouldreachhim,Lonahadhiminherarms,andassoonashecametohimself,sethimonthebackofhisbear,whichhadstillfollowedhim。

Whentheleopardessthrewherselfthethirdtimeagainstthedoor,itgaveway,andshedartedin。Wefollowed,butshehadalreadyvanished。Wesprangupastair,andwentalloverthehouse,tofindnoone。Dartingdownagain,wespiedadoorunderthestair,andgotintoalabyrinthofexcavations。Wehadnotgonefar,however,whenwemettheleopardesswiththechildwesoughtacrossherback。

Hetoldusthatthewomanhetookforhismotherthrewhimintoahole,sayingshewouldgivehimtotheleopardess。Buttheleopardesswasagoodone,andtookhimout。

Followinginsearchoftheotherboy,wegotintothenexthousemoreeasily,buttofind,alas,thatweweretoolate:oneofthesavageshadjustkilledthelittlecaptive！ItconsoledLona,however,tolearnwhichhewas,forshehadbeenexpectinghimtogrowabadgiant,fromwhichworstoffatesdeathhadsavedhim。

Theleopardessspranguponhismurderer,tookhimbythethroat,draggedhimintothestreet,andfollowedLonawithhim,likeacatwithagreatratinherjaws。

"Letusleavethehorribleplace,"saidLona;"therearenomothershere！Thispeopleisnotworthdelivering。"

Theleopardessdroppedherburden,andchargedintothecrowd,thiswayandthat,whereveritwasthickest。Theslavescriedoutandran,tumblingovereachotherinheaps。

Whenwegotbacktothearmy,wefounditaswehadleftit,standinginorderandready。

ButIwasfarfromeasy:theprincessgavenosign,andwhatshemightbeplottingwedidnotknow！Watchandwardmustbekeptthenightthrough！

TheLittleOnesweresuchhardycreaturesthattheycouldreposeanywhere:wetoldthemtoliedownwiththeiranimalswheretheywere,andsleeptilltheywerecalled。Inonemomenttheyweredown,andinanotherlaptinthemusicoftheirsleep,asoundasofwaterovergrass,orasoftwindamongleaves。Theiranimalssleptmorelightly,everontheedgeofwaking。Thebiggerboysandgirlswalkedsoftlyhitherandthitheramongthedreamingmultitude。Allwasstill;thewholewickedplaceappearedatrest。

CHAPTERXXXVI

MOTHERANDDAUGHTER

Lonawassodisgustedwiththepeople,andespeciallywiththewomen,thatshewishedtoabandontheplaceassoonaspossible;I,onthecontrary,feltverystronglythattodosowouldbetofailwilfullywheresuccesswaspossible;and,farworse,toweakentheheartsoftheLittleOnes,andsobringthemintomuchgreaterdanger。Ifweretreated,itwascertaintheprincesswouldnotleaveusunassailed！ifweencounteredher,thehopeoftheprophecywentwithus！Motheranddaughtermustmeet:itmightbethatLona\'slovelinesswouldtakeLilith\'sheartbystorm！ifshethreatenedviolence,Ishouldbetherebetweenthem！IfIfoundthatIhadnootherpoweroverher,Iwasready,forthesakeofmyLona,tostrikeherpitilesslyontheclosedhand！Iknewshewasdoomed:mostlikelyitwasdecreedthatherdoomshouldnowbebroughttopassthroughus！

Stillwithouthintoftherelationinwhichshestoodtotheprincess,IstatedthecasetoLonaasitappearedtome。Atoncesheagreedtoaccompanymetothepalace。

>Fromthetopofoneofitsgreattowers,theprincesshad,intheearlymorning,whilethecityyetslept,descriedtheapproachofthearmyoftheLittleOnes。Thesightawokeinheranover—masteringterror:shehadfailedinherendeavourtodestroythem,andtheywereuponher！Theprophecywasabouttobefulfilled！

Whenshecametoherself,shedescendedtotheblackhall,andseatedherselfinthenorthfocusoftheellipse,undertheopeningintheroof。

Forshemustthink！NowwhatshecalledTHINKINGrequiredaclearconsciousnessofherself,notasshewas,butasshechosetobelieveherself;andtoaidherintherealisationofthisconsciousness,shehadsuspended,alittlewayfromandaboveher,itselfinvisibleinthedarknessofthehall,amirrortoreceivethefullsunlightreflectedfromherperson。Fortheresultingvisionofherselfinthesplendourofherbeauty,shesatwaitingthemeridionalsun。

Manyashadowmovedaboutherinthedarkness,butasoftenas,withacertaininnereyewhichshehad,shecaughtsightofone,sherefusedtoregardit。CloseunderthemirrorstoodtheShadowwhichattendedherwalks,but,self—occupied,himshedidnotsee。

Thecitywastaken;theinhabitantswerecoweringinterror;theLittleOnesandtheirstrangecavalrywereencampedinthesquare;

thesunshoneupontheprincess,andforafewminutesshesawherselfglorious。Thevisionpassed,butshesaton。Thenightwasnowcome,anddarknessclothedandfilledtheglass,yetshedidnotmove。Agloomthatswarmedwithshadows,wallowedinthepalace;

theservantsshiveredandshook,butdarednotleaveitbecauseofthebeastsoftheLittleOnes;allnightlongtheprincesssatmotionless:shemustseeherbeautyagain！shemusttryagaintothink！Butcourageandwillhadgrownwearyofher,andwoulddwellwithhernomore！

Inthemorningwechosetwelveofthetallestandbravestoftheboystogowithustothepalace。Werodeourgreathorses,andtheysmallhorsesandelephants。

Theprincesssatwaitingthesuntogiveherthejoyofherownpresence。Thetideofthelightwascreepinguptheshoreofthesky,butuntilthesunstoodoverhead,notaraycouldentertheblackhall。

Herosetooureyes,andswiftlyascended。Asweclimbedthesteepwaytothepalace,heclimbedthedomeofitsgreathall。Helookedinattheeyeofit——andwithsuddenradiancetheprincessflasheduponherownsight。Butshesprangtoherfeetwithacryofdespair:alasherwhiteness！thespotcoveredhalfherside,andwasblackasthemarblearoundher！Sheclutchedherrobe,andfellbackinherchair。TheShadowglidedout,andshesawhimgo。

Wefoundthegateopenasusual,passedthroughthepavedgroveuptothepalacedoor,andenteredthevestibule。Thereinhercagelaythespottedleopardess,apparentlyasleeporlifeless。TheLittleOnespausedamomenttolookather。Sheleapeduprampantagainstthecage。Thehorsesrearedandplunged;theelephantsretreatedastep。Thenextinstantshefellsupine,writhedinquiveringspasms,andlaymotionless。Werodeintothegreathall。

Theprincessyetleanedbackinherchairintheshaftofsunlight,whenfromthestonesofthecourtcametoherearsthenoiseofthehorses\'hoofs。Shestarted,listened,andshook:neverhadsuchsoundbeenheardinherpalace！Shepressedherhandtoherside,andgasped。Thetramplingcamenearerandnearer;itenteredthehallitself;movingfiguresthatwerenotshadowsapproachedherthroughthedarkness！

Forus,wesawasplendour,agloriouswomancentringthedark。

Lonasprangfromherhorse,andboundedtoher。Isprangfrommine,andfollowedLona。

"Mother！mother！"shecried,andherclear,lovelyvoiceechoedinthedome。

Theprincessshivered;herfacegrewalmostblackwithhate,hereyebrowsmetonherforehead。Sherosetoherfeet,andstood。

"Mother！mother！"criedLonaagain,assheleapedontheda飐,andflungherarmsaroundtheprincess。

AninstantmoreandIshouldhavereachedthem！——inthatinstantIsawLonaliftedhigh,anddashedonthemarblefloor。Oh,thehorriblesoundofherfall！Atmyfeetshefell,andlaystill。

Theprincesssatdownwiththesmileofademoness。

IdroppedonmykneesbesideLona,raisedherfromthestones,andpressedhertomybosom。WithindignanthateIglancedattheprincess;sheansweredmewithhersweetestsmile。Iwouldhavesprunguponher,takenherbythethroat,andstrangledher,butloveofthechildwasstrongerthanhateofthemother,andI

claspedclosermypreciousburden。Herarmshunghelpless;herbloodtrickledovermyhands,andfellonthefloorwithsoft,slowlittleplashes。

Thehorsesscentedit——minefirst,thenthesmallones。Minereared,shiveringandwild—eyed,wentabout,andthunderedblindlydownthedarkhall,withthelittlehorsesafterhim。Lona\'sstoodgazingdownathismistress,andtremblingallover。Theboysflungthemselvesfromtheirhorses\'backs,andthey,notseeingtheblackwallbeforethem,dashedthemselves,withmine,topiecesagainstit。Theelephantscameontothefootoftheda飐,andstopped,wildlytrumpeting;theLittleOnesspranguponit,andstoodhorrified;theprincesslaybackinherseat,herfacethatofacorpse,hereyesalonealive,wickedlyflaming。ShewasagainwitheredandwastedtowhatIfoundinthewood,andhersidewasasifagreatbrandinghandhadbeenlaiduponit。ButLonasawnothing,andIsawbutLona。

"Mother！mother！"shesighed,andherbreathingceased。

Icarriedherintothecourt:thesunshoneuponawhiteface,andthepitifulshadowofaghostlysmile。Herheadhungback。Shewas"deadasearth。"

IforgottheLittleOnes,forgotthemurderingprincess,forgotthebodyinmyarms,andwanderedaway,lookingformyLona。Thedoorsandwindowswerecrowdedwithbrute—facesjeeringatme,butnotdaringtospeak,fortheysawthewhiteleopardessbehindme,hangingherheadcloseatmyheel。Ispurnedherwithmyfoot。

Sheheldbackamoment,andfollowedmeagain。

Ireachedthesquare:thelittlearmywasgone！Itsemptinessrousedme。WhereweretheLittleOnes,HERLittleOnes？Ihadlostherchildren！Istaredhelplessaboutme,staggeredtothepillar,andsankuponitsbase。

ButasIsatgazingonthestillcountenance,itseemedtosmilealivemomentarysmile。Ineverdoubteditanillusion,yetbelievedwhatitsaid:Ishouldyetseeheralive！Itwasnotshe,itwasI

whowaslost,andshewouldfindme！

IrosetogoaftertheLittleOnes,andinstinctivelysoughtthegatebywhichwehadentered。Ilookedaroundme,butsawnothingoftheleopardess。

Thestreetwasrapidlyfillingwithafiercecrowd。Theysawmeencumberedwithmydead,butforatimedarednotassailme。EreIreachedthegate,however,theyhadgatheredcourage。Thewomenbegantohustleme;Iheldonheedless。Amanpushedagainstmysacredburden:withakickIsenthimawayhowling。Butthecrowdpresseduponme,andfearingforthedeadthatwasbeyondhurt,I

claspedmytreasurecloser,andfreedmyrightarm。Thatinstant,however,acommotionaroseinthestreetbehindme;thecrowdbroke;

andthroughitcametheLittleOnesIhadleftinthepalace。Tenofthemwereuponfouroftheelephants;onthetwootherelephantslaytheprincess,boundhandandfoot,andquitestill,savethathereyesrolledintheirghastlysockets。ThetwootherLittleOnesrodebehindheronLona\'shorse。Everynowandthenthewisecreaturesthatboreherthrewtheirtrunksbehindandfelthercords。

Iwalkedoninfront,andoutofthecity。WhatanendtothehopeswithwhichIenteredtheevilplace！Wehadcapturedthebadprincess,andlostourall—belovedqueen！Mylifewasbare！myheartwasempty！

CHAPTERXXXVII

THESHADOW

Amurmurofpleasurefrommycompanionsrousedme:theyhadcaughtsightoftheirfellowsinthedistance！ThetwoonLona\'shorserodeontojointhem。Theyweregreetedwithawaveringshout——whichimmediatelydiedaway。Aswedrewnear,thesoundoftheirsobsreacheduslikethebreakingoftinybillows。

WhenIcameamongthem,Isawthatsomethingdirehadbefallenthem:

ontheirchildishfaceswasthehaggardlookleftbysomestrangeterror。Nopossiblegriefcouldhavewroughtthechange。Afewofthemcameslowlyroundme,andheldouttheirarmstotakemyburden。

Iyieldedit;thetenderhopelessnessofthesmilewithwhichtheyreceivedit,mademyheartswellwithpityinthemidstofitsowndesolation。Invainweretheirsobsovertheirmother—queen;invaintheysoughttoenticefromhersomerecognitionoftheirlove;

invaintheykissedandfondledherastheyboreheraway:shewouldnotwake！Oneachsideonecarriedanarm,gentlystrokingit;asmanyascouldgetnear,puttheirarmsunderherbody;thosewhocouldnot,crowdedaroundthebearers。Onaspotwherethegrassgrewthickerandsoftertheylaidherdown,andtherealltheLittleOnesgatheredsobbing。

Outsidethecrowdstoodtheelephants,andInearthem,gazingatmyLonaoverthemanylittleheadsbetween。Thosenextmecaughtsightoftheprincess,andstaredtrembling。Oduwasthefirsttospeak。

"Ihaveseenthatwomanbefore！"hewhisperedtohisnextneighbour。

"Itwasshewhofoughtthewhiteleopardess,thenighttheywokeuswiththeiryelling！"

"Silly！"returnedhiscompanion。"Thatwasawildbeast,withspots！"

"Lookathereyes！"insistedOdu。"Iknowsheisabadgiantess,butsheisawildbeastallthesame。Iknowsheisthespottedone！"

Theothertookastepnearer;Odudrewhimbackwithasharppull。

"Don\'tlookather！"hecried,shrinkingaway,yetfascinatedbythehate—filledlonginginhereyes。"Shewouldeatyouupinamoment！

ItwasHERshadow！Sheisthewickedprincess！"

"Thatcannotbe！theysaidshewasbeautiful！"

"Indeeditistheprincess！"Iinterposed。"Wickednesshasmadeherugly！"

Sheheard,andwhatalookwashers！

"Itwasverywrongofmetorunaway！"saidOduthoughtfully。

"Whatmadeyourunaway？"Iasked。"IexpectedtofindyouwhereI

leftyou！"

Hedidnotreplyatonce。

"Idon\'tknowwhatmademerun,"answeredanother。"Iwasfrightened！"

"Itwasamanthatcamedownthehillfromthepalace,"saidathird。

"Howdidhefrightenyou？"

"Idon\'tknow。"

"Hewasn\'taman,"saidOdu;"hewasashadow;hehadnothicktohim！"

"Tellmemoreabouthim。"

"Hecamedownthehillveryblack,walkinglikeabadgiant,butspreadflat。Hewasnothingbutblackness。Wewerefrightenedthemomentwesawhim,butwedidnotrunaway;westoodandwatchedhim。

Hecameonasifhewouldwalkoverus。Butbeforehereachedus,hebegantospreadandspread,andgrewbiggerendbigger,tillatlasthewassobigthathewentoutofoursight,andwesawhimnomore,andthenhewasuponus！"

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？"

"Hewasallblackthroughbetweenus,andwecouldnotseeoneanother;andthenhewasinsideus。"

"Howdidyouknowhewasinsideyou？"

"Hedidmequitedifferent。Ifeltlikebad。IwasnotOduanymore——nottheOduIknew。IwantedtotearSozotopieces——notreally,butlike！"

HeturnedandhuggedSozo。

"Itwasn\'tme,Sozo,"hesobbed。"Really,deepdown,itwasOdu,lovingyoualways！AndOducameup,andknockedNaughtyaway。I

grewsick,andthoughtImustkillmyselftogetoutoftheblack。

Thencameahorriblelaughthathadheardmythink,anditsettheairtremblingaboutme。AndthenIsupposeIranaway,butIdidnotknowIhadrunawayuntilIfoundmyselfrunning,fastascould,andalltherestrunningtoo。Iwouldhavestopped,butIneverthoughtofituntilIwasoutofthegateamongthegrass。ThenI

knewthatIhadrunawayfromashadowthatwantedtobemeandwasn\'t,andthatIwastheOduthatlovedSozo。Itwastheshadowthatgotintome,andhatedhimfrominsideme;itwasnotmyownselfme！AndnowIknowthatIoughtnottohaverunaway！ButindeedIdidnotquiteknowwhatIwasdoinguntilitwasdone！Mylegsdidit,Ithink:theygrewfrightened,andforgotme,andranaway！Naughtylegs！There！andthere！"

ThusendedOdu,withakicktoeachofhisnaughtylegs。

"Whatbecameoftheshadow？"Iasked。

"Idonotknow,"heanswered。"Isupposehewenthomeintothenightwherethereisnomoon。"

IfellawonderingwhereLonawasgone,anddroppingonthegrass,tookthedeadthinginmylap,andwhisperedinitsear,"Whereareyou,Lona？Iloveyou！"Butitslipsgavenoanswer。Ikissedthem,notquitecold,laidthebodydownagain,andappointingaguardoverit,rosetoprovideforthesafetyofLona\'speopleduringthenight。

Beforethesunwentdown,Ihadsetawatchovertheprincessoutsidethecamp,andsentinelsroundit:intendingtowalkaboutitmyselfallnightlong,Itoldtherestofthearmytogotosleep。

Theythrewthemselvesonthegrassandwereasleepinamoment。

WhenthemoonroseIcaughtaglimpseofsomethingwhite;itwastheleopardess。Shesweptsilentlyroundthesleepingcamp,andI

sawherpassthreetimesbetweentheprincessandtheLittleOnes。

ThereuponImadethewatchliedownwiththeothers,andstretchedmyselfbesidethebodyofLona。

CHAPTERXXXVIII

TOTHEHOUSEOFBITTERNESS

Inthemorningwesetout,andmadefortheforestasfastaswecould。IrodeLona\'shorse,andcarriedherbody。Iwouldtakeittoherfather:hewouldgiveitacouchinthechamberofhisdead！

or,ifhewouldnot,seeingshehadnotcomeofherself,Iwouldwatchitinthedesertuntilitmoulderedaway！ButIbelievedhewould,forsurelyshehaddiedlongago！Alas,howbitterlymustInothumblemyselfbeforehim！

ToAdamImusttakeLilithalso。Ihadnopowertomakeherrepent！

Ihadhardlyarighttoslayher——muchlessarighttoletherlooseintheworld！andsurelyIscarcemeritedbeingmadeforeverhergaoler！

Againandagain,ontheway,Iofferedherfood;butsheansweredonlywithalookofhungeringhate。Herfieryeyeskeptrollingtoandfro,noreverclosed,Ibelieve,untilwereachedtheothersideofthehotstream。AfterthattheyneveropeneduntilwecametotheHouseofBitterness。

Oneevening,aswewerecampingforthenight,Isawalittlegirlgouptoher,andrantopreventmischief。ButereIcouldreachthem,thechildhadputsomethingtothelipsoftheprincess,andgivenascreamofpain。

"Please,king,"shewhimpered,"suckfinger。Badgiantessmakeholeinit！"

Isuckedthetinyfinger。

"Wellnow！"shecried,andaminuteafterwasholdingasecondfruittoamouthgreedyofotherfare。Butthistimeshesnatchedherhandquicklyaway,andthefruitfelltotheground。Thechild\'snamewasLuva。

Thenextdaywecrossedthehotstream。Againontheirownground,theLittleOneswerejubilant。Buttheirnestswerestillatagreatdistance,andthatdaywewentnofartherthantheivy—hall,where,becauseofitsgrapes,Ihadresolvedtospendthenight。

Whentheysawthegreatclusters,atoncetheyknewthemgood,rusheduponthem,ateeagerly,andinafewminuteswereallfastasleeponthegreenfloorandintheforestaroundthehall。Hopingagaintoseethedance,andexpectingtheLittleOnestosleepthroughit,Ihadmadethemleaveawidespaceinthemiddle。I

laydownamongthem,withLonabymyside,butdidnotsleep。