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is wearisome waiting on the sick； and these savage
women are fickle。〃
Leo looked both sulky and distressed at this
intelligence。
〃It's very odd；〃 he said to me； in English； and then
addressing _i_ She _i_ ； 〃I cannot understand；〃 he
said； 〃the young lady and Iwell； in short； we had a
regard for each other。〃
Ayesha laughed a little very musically； and then
turned the subject。
CHAPTER XIX
〃GIVE ME A BLACK GOAT！〃
THE； conversation after this was of such a desultory
order that I do not quite recollect it。 For some
reason； perhaps from a desire to keep her identity and
character in reserve； Ayesha did not talk freely； as
she usually did。 Presently； however； she informed Leo
that she had arranged a dance that night for our
amusement。 I was astonished to hear this； as： I
fancied that the Amahagger were much too gloomy a folk
to indulge in any such frivolity； but； as will
presently more clearly appear； it turned out an
Amahagger dance has little in common with such
fantastic festivities in other countries； savage or
civilized。 Then； as we were about to withdraw； she
suggested that Leo might like to see some of the
wonders of the caves； and； as he gladly assented；
thither we departed； accompanied by Job and Billali。
To describe our visit would only be to repeat a great
deal of what I have already said。 The tombs we entered
were indeed。 different； for the whole rock was a
honeycomb of sepulchres； but the contents were nearly
always similar。 Afterwards we visited the pyramid of
bones that had haunted my dreams on the previous
night； and from thence went down a long passage to one
of the great vaults occupied by the bodies of the
poorer citizens of Imperial Ko^r。 These bodies were
not nearly so well preserved as were those of the
wealthier classes。 Many of them had no linen covering
on them； also they were buried from five hundred to
one thousand in a single large vault； the corpses in
some instances being thickly piled one upon another；
like a heap of slain。
Leo was of course intensely interested in this
stupendous and unequalled sight； which was； indeed；
enough to awaken all the imagination a man had in him
into the most active life。 But to poor Job it did not
prove attractive。 His nervesalready seriously shaken
by what he had undergone since we had arrived in this
terrible countrywere； as may be imagined； still
further disturbed by the spectacle of these masses of
departed humanity； whereof the forms still remained
perfect before his eyes； though their voices were
forever lost in the eternal silence of the tomb。 Nor
was he comforted when old Billali； by way of soothing
his evident agitation； informed him that he should not
be frightened at these dead things； as he would soon
be like them himself。
〃There's a nice thing to say of a man； sir；〃 he
ejaculated； when I translated this little remark； 〃but
there； what can one expect of an old man…eating
savage？ Not but what I dare say he's right；〃 and Job
sighed。
When we had finished inspecting the caves we returned
and had our meal； for it was now past four in the
afternoon； and we allspecially Leoneeded some food
and rest。 At six o'clock we； together with Job； waited
on Ayesha； who set to work to terrify our poor servant
still further by showing him pictures on the pool of
water in the font like vessel。 _i_ She _i_ learned
from me that he was one of seventeen children； and
then bid him think of all his brothers and sisters； or
as many of them as he could； gathered together in his
father's cottage。 Then she told him to look in the
water； and there； reflected from its stilly surface；
was that dead scene of many years gone by； as it was
recalled to our retainer's brain。 Some of the faces
were clear enough； but some were mere blurs and
splotches； or with one feature grossly exaggerated；
the fact being that； in these instances； Job had been
unable to recall the exact appearances of the
individuals； or remembered them only by a peculiarity
of his tribe； and the water could only reflect what he
saw with his mind's eye。 For it must be remembered
that _i_ She _i_ 's power in this matter was strictly
limited； she could； apparently； except in very rare
instances； only photograph upon the water what was
actually in the mind of some one present； and then
only by his will。 But if she was personally acquainted
with a locality she could； as in the case of ourselves
and the whale…boat； throw its reflection upon the
water； and also it seems the reflection of anything
extraneous that was passing there at the time。 This
power； however； did not extend to the minds of others。
For instance； she could show me the interior of my
college chapel； as I remembered it； but not as it was
at the moment of reflection； for； where other people
were concerned； her art was strictly limited to the
facts or memories present to their consciousness at
the moment。 So much was this so that； when we tried；
for her amusement； to show her pictures of noted
buildings； such as St。 Paul's or the Houses of
Parliament； the result was most imperfect； for； of
course； though we had a good general idea of their
appearance； we could not recall all the architectural
details； and therefore the minutiae necessary to a
perfect reflection were wanting。 But Job could not be
got to understand this； and so far from accepting a
natural explanation of the matter； which was； after
all； though strange enough in all conscience； nothing
more than an instance of glorified and perfected
telepathy； he set the whole thing down as a
manifestation of the blackest magic。 I shall never
forget the howl of terror which he uttered when he saw
the more or less perfect portraits of his long…
scattered brethren staring at him from the quiet
water； or the merry peal of laughter with which Ayesha
greeted his consternation。 As for Leo； he did not
altogether like it either； but ran his fingers through
his yellow curls； and remarked that it gave him the
creeps。
After about an hour of this amusement； in the latter
part of which Job did not participate； the mutes by
signs indicated that Billali was waiting for an
audience。 Accordingly he was told to 〃crawl up；〃 which
he did as awkwardly as usual； and announced that the
dance was ready to begin if She and the white
strangers would be pleased to attend。 Shortly
afterwards we all rose； and Ayesha having thrown a
dark cloak （the same； by the way； that she had worn
when I saw her cursing by the fire） over her white
wrappings； we started。 The dance was to be held in the
open air； on the smooth rocky plateau in front of the
great cave； and thither we made our way。 About fifteen
paces from the mouth of the cave we found three chairs
placed； and here we sat and waited； for as yet no
dancers were to be seen。 The night was almost； but not
quite； dark； the moon not having risen as yet； which
made us wonder how we should be able to see the
dancing。
〃Thou wilt presently understand；〃 said Ayesha； with a
little laugh； when Leo asked her； and we certainly
did。 Sca