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round the various Amahagger households than any that
could be built or designed by man。 No； there was but
one thing to doface it out； and； speaking for my own
part； I was so intensely interested in the whole weird
story that； so far as I was concerned； notwithstanding
the shattered state of my nerves； I asked nothing
better； even if my life paid forfeit to my curiosity。
What man for whom psychology has charms could forbear
to study such a character as that of this Ayesha when
the opportunity of doing so presented itself？ The very
terror of the pursuit added to its fascination； and
besides； as I as forced to own to myself even now in
the sober light of day； she herself had attractions
that I could not forget。 Not even the dreadful sight
which I had witnessed during the night could drive the
folly from my mind； and alas！ that I should have to
admit it； it has not been driven thence to this hour。
After I had dressed myself I passed into the eating；
or； rather； embalming chamber； and had some food；
which was； as before； brought to me by the girl mutes。
When I had finished。 I went and saw poor Leo； who was
quite off his head； and did not even know me。 I asked
Ustane how she thought he was； but she only shook her
head and began to cry a little。 Evidently her hopes
were small； and I then and there made up my mind that；
if it were in any way possible； I would get _i_ She
_i_ to come and see him。 Surely she could cure him if
she choseat any rate； she said she could。 While I
was in the room； Billali entered； and also shook his
head。
〃He will die at night；〃 he said。
〃God forbid； my father；〃 I answered； and turned away
with a heavy heart。
〃 _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_ commands thy
presence； my Baboon；〃 said the old man as soon as we
got to the curtain； 〃but； O my dear son； be more
careful。 Yesterday I made sure in my heart that _i_
She _i_ would blast thee when thou didst not crawl
upon thy stomach before her。 _i_ She _i_ is sitting in
the great hall even now to do justice upon those who
would have smitten thee and the Lion。 Come on； my son；
come swiftly。〃
I turned； and followed him down the passage； and when
we reached the great central cave saw that many
Amahagger； some robed； and some merely clad in the
sweet simplicity of a leopard skin； were hurrying up
it。 We mingled with the throng； and walked up the
enormous and； indeed； almost interminable cave。 All
the way its walls were elaborately sculptured； and
every twenty paces or so passages opened out of it at
right angles； leading； Billali told me； to tombs；
hollowed in the rock by 〃the people who were before。〃
Nobody visited those tombs now； he said； and I must
say that my heart rejoiced when I thought of the
opportunities of antiquarian research which opened out
before me。
At last we came to the head of the cave； where there
was a rock dais almost exactly similar to the one on
which we had been so furiously attacked； a fact that
proved to me that these daises must have been used as
altars； probably for the celebration of religious
ceremonies； and more especially of rites connected
with the interment of the dead。 On either side of this
dais were passages leading； Billali informed me； to
other caves full of dead bodies。 〃Indeed；〃 he added；
〃the whole mountain is full of dead； and nearly all of
them are perfect。〃
In front of the dais were gathered a great number of
people of both sexes； who stood staring about in their
peculiar gloomy fashion； which would have reduced Mark
Tapley himself to misery in about five minutes。 On the
dais was a rude chair of black wood inlaid with ivory；
having a seat made of grass fibre； and a footstool
formed of a wooden slab attached to the framework of
the chair。
Suddenly there was a cry of 〃 _i_ Hiya！ Hiya！ _i_ 〃 （〃
_i_ She _i_ ！ _i_ She _i_ ！〃）； and thereupon the
entire crowd of spectators instantly precipitated
itself upon the ground； and lay still as though it
were individually and collectively stricken dead；
leaving me standing there like some solitary survivor
of a massacre。 As it did so a long string of guards
began to defile from a passage to the left； and ranged
themselves on either side of the dais。 Then followed
about a score of male mutes； then as many women mutes
bearing lamps； and then a tall； white figure； swatbed
from head to foot； in whom I recognized _i_ She _i_
herself。 _i_ She _i_ mounted the dais and sat…down
upon the chair； and spoke to me in Greek。 I suppose
because she did not wish those present to understand
what she said。
〃Come hither； O Holly；〃 she said； 〃and sit thou at my
feet； and see me do justice on those who would have
slain thee。 Forgive me if my Greek doth halt like a
lame man； it is so long since I have heard the sound
of it that my tongue is stiff； and will not bend
rightly to the words。〃
I bowed； and； mounting the dais； sat down at her feet。
〃How didst thou sleep； my Holly？〃 she asked。
〃I slept not well； O Ayesha！〃 I answered with perfect
truth； and with an inward fear that perhaps she knew
how I had passed the heart of the night。
〃So；〃 she said； with a little laugh； 〃I； too； have。
not slept well。 Lest night I had dreams； and； methinks
that thou didst call them to me； O Holly。〃
〃Of what didst thou dream； Ayesha？〃 I asked；
indifferently。
〃I dreamed；〃 she answered； quickly； 〃of one I hate and
one I love；〃 and then； as though to turn the
conversation； she addressed the captain of her guard
in Arabic： 〃Let the men be brought before me。〃
The captain bowed low； for the guard and her
attendants did not prostrate themselves； but had
remained standing； and departed with his underlings
down a passage to the right。
Then came a silence。 _i_ She _i_ leaned her swathed
head upon her hand and appeared to be lost in thought；
while the multitude before her continued to grovel
upon their stomachs； only screwing their heads round a
little so as to get a view of us with one eye。 It
seemed that their queen so rarely appeared in public
that they were willing to undergo this inconvenience；
and even graver risks； to have the opportunity of
looking on her； or rather on her garments； for no
living man there except myself had ever seen her face。
At last we caught sight of the waving of lights； and
heard the tramp of men coming along the passage； and
in filed the guard； and with them the survivors of our
would…be murderers to the number of twenty or more； on
whose countenances the natural expression of
sullenness struggled with the terror that evidently
filled their savage hearts。 They were ranged in front
of the dais； and would have cast themselves down on
the floor of the cave like the spectators； but _i_ She
_i_ stopped them。
〃Nay；〃 she said； in her softest voice； I pray you
stand。 Perchance time will soon be when ye shall weary
of being stretched out；〃 she laughed； melodiously。 I
saw a cringe of terror run along the of the poor；
doomed wretches； wicked villains as they were； I felt
for them。 Some minutes； perhaps two or three； passed
before anything