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strange processionnever seen before in Australian pastures。 It
moved on； noiselessly but quickly。 We descended the hillock； and
met it on the way； a sable litter； borne by four men； in unfamiliar
Eastern garments； two other servitors； more bravely dressed； with
yataghans and silver…hilted pistols in their belts； preceded this
somber equipage。 Perhaps Margrave divined the disdainful thought
that passed through my mind； vaguely and half…unconsciously； for he
said with a hollow； bitter laugh that had replaced the lively peal
of his once melodious mirth：
〃A little leisure and a little gold； and your raw colonist； too；
will have the tastes of a pasha。〃
I made no answer。 I had ceased to care who and what was my
tempter。 To me his whole being was resolved into one problem： had
he a secret by which death could be turned from Lilian？
But now； as the litter halted； from the long； dark shadow which it
cast upon the turf； the figure of a woman emerged and stood before
us。 The outlines of her shape were lost in the loose folds of a
black mantle； and the features of her face were hidden by a black
veil； except only the dark…bright； solemn eyes。 Her stature was
lofty； her bearing majestic； whether in movement or repose。
Margrave accosted her in some language unknown to me。 She replied
in what seemed to me the same tongue。 The tones of her voice were
sweet； but inexpressibly mournful。 The words that they uttered
appeared intended to warn； or deprecate； or dissuade； but they
called to Margrave's brow a lowering frown； and drew from his lips
a burst of unmistakable anger。 The woman rejoined； in the same
melancholy music of voice。 And Margrave then； leaning his arm upon
her shoulder； as he had leaned it on mine； drew her away from the
group into a neighboring copse of the flowering eucalyptimystic
trees； never changing the hues of their pale…green leaves； ever
shifting the tints of their ash…gray； shedding bark。 For some
moments I gazed on the two human forms； dimly seen by the glinting
moonlight through the gaps in the foliage。 Then turning away my
eyes； I saw； standing close at my side； a man whom I had not
noticed before。 His footstep； as it stole to me； had fallen on the
sward without sound。 His dress； though Oriental； differed from
that of his companions； both in shape and colorfitting close to
the breast； leaving the arms bare to the elbow； and of a uniform
ghastly white； as are the cerements of the grave。 His visage was
even darker than those of the Syrians or Arabs behind him； and his
features were those of a bird of prey： the beak of the eagle； but
the eye of the vulture。 His cheeks were hollow； the arms； crossed
on his breast； were long and fleshless。 Yet in that skeleton form
there was a something which conveyed the idea of a serpent's
suppleness and strength； and as the hungry； watchful eyes met my
own startled gaze； I recoiled impulsively with that inward warning
of danger which is conveyed to man； as to inferior animals； in the
very aspect of the creatures that sting or devour。 At my movement
the man inclined his head in the submissive Eastern salutation； and
spoke in his foreign tongue； softly； humbly； fawningly； to judge by
his tone and his gesture。
I moved yet farther away from him with loathing； and now the human
thought flashed upon me： was I； in truth； exposed to no danger in
trusting myself to the mercy of the weird and remorseless master of
those hirelings from the Eastseven men in number； two at least of
them formidably armed； and docile as bloodhounds to the hunter； who
has only to show them their prey？ But fear of man like myself is
not my weakness； where fear found its way to my heart； it was
through the doubts or the fancies in which man like myself
disappeared in the attributes； dark and unknown； which we give to a
fiend or a specter。 And； perhaps； if I could have paused to
analyze my own sensations； the very presence of this escort
creatures of flesh and bloodlessened the dread of my
incomprehensible tempter。 Rather； a hundred times； front and defy
those seven Eastern slavesI； haughty son of the Anglo…Saxon who
conquers all races because he fears no oddsthan have seen again
on the walls of my threshold the luminous； bodiless shadow！
Besides： LilianLilian！ for one chance of saving her life； however
wild and chimerical that chance might be； I would have shrunk not a
foot from the march of an army。
Thus reassured and thus resolved； I advanced； with a smile of
disdain； to meet Margrave and his veiled companion； as they now
came from the moonlit copse。
〃Well；〃 I said to him； with an irony that unconsciously mimicked
his own； 〃have you taken advice with your nurse？ I assume that the
dark form by your side is that of Ayesha！〃*
* Margrave's former nurse and attendant。
The woman looked at me from her sable veil； with her steadfast；
solemn eyes； and said； in English； though with a foreign accent：
〃The nurse born in Asia is but wise through her love； the pale son
of Europe is wise through his art。 The nurse says； 'Forbear！' Do
you say； 'Adventure'？〃
〃Peace！〃 exclaimed Margrave； stamping his foot on the ground。 〃I
take no counsel from either； it is for me to resolve； for you to
obey； and for him to aid。 Night is come； and we waste it； move
on。〃
The woman made no reply； nor did I。 He took my arm and walked back
to the hut。 The barbaric escort followed。 When we reached the
door of the building； Margrave said a few words to the woman and to
the litter bearers。 They entered the hut with us。 Margrave
pointed out to the woman his coffer； to the men the fuel stowed in
the outhouse。 Both were borne away and placed within the litter。
Meanwhile I took from the table； on which it was carelessly thrown；
the light hatchet that I habitually carried with me in my rambles。
〃Do you think that you need that idle weapon？〃 said Margrave。 〃Do
you fear the good faith of my swarthy attendants？〃
〃Nay； take the hatchet yourself； its use is to sever the gold from
the quartz in which we may find it imbedded； or to clear； as this
shovel； which will also be needed； from the slight soil above it；
the ore that the mine in the mountain flings forth； as the sea
casts its waifs on the sands。〃
〃Give me your hand； fellow laborer！〃 said Margrave； joyfully。 〃Ah；
there is no faltering terror in this pulse！ I was not mistaken in
the man。 What rests； but the place and the hour？I shall live； I
shall live！〃
III
Margrave now entered the litter； and the Veiled Woman drew the
black curtains round him。 I walked on； as the guide； some yards in
advance。 The air was still； heavy； and parched with the breath of
the Australasian sirocco。
We passed through the meadow lands； studded with slumbering flocks；
we followed the branch of the creek； which was linked to its source
in the mountains by many a trickling waterfall； we threaded the
gloom of stunted； misshapen trees； gnarled with the stringy bark
which makes one of the signs of the strata that nourish gold； and
at length the moon； now in all her pomp of light； mid…heaven among
her subject stars； gleamed through the fissures of the cave； o