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he unclean things that hide in 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 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 usyou to your lodgings； and the princess back； unharmed； amongst my 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。
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 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 watchedthe thirsty wolves shamb… ling after me； the boars half sat up and grunted plaintively； the panthers； too weak to rise