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has got a white spot on its rump and another on its
belly。 In one minute； Devil。 There； cut his throat
quick。 Where is the saucer？〃
〃The goat！ the goat！ the goat！ Give me the blood of my
black goat！ I must have it； don't you see I must have
it？ Oh！ oh！ oh！ give me the blood of the goat。〃
At this moment a terrified _i_ bah！ _i_ announced that
the poor goat had been sacrificed； and the next minute
a woman ran up with a saucer full of the blood。 This
the possessed creature； who was then raving and
foaming her wildest； seized and drank； and was
instantly recovered； and without a trace of hysteria；
or fits； or being possessed； or whatever dreadful
thing it was she was suffering from。 She stretched her
arms； smiled faintly； and walked quietly back to the
dancers； who presently withdrew in a double line as
they had come； leaving the space between us and the
bonfire deserted。
I thought that the entertainment was now over； and；
feeling rather queer； was about to ask _i_ She _i_ if
we could rise； when suddenly what at first I took to
be a baboon came hopping round the fire； and was
instantly met upon the other side by a lion； or rather
a human being dressed in a lion's skin。 Then came a
goat； then a man wrapped in an ox's hide； with the
horns wobbling about in a ludicrous way。 After him
followed a blesbok； then an impala； then a koodoo；
then more goats； and many other animals； including a
girl sewn up in the shining scaly hide of a boa
constrictor； several yards of which trailed along the
ground behind her。 When all the beasts had collected
they began to dance about in a lumbering； unnatural
fashion； and to imitate the sounds produced by the
respective animals they represented； till the whole
air was alive with roars and bleating and the hissing
of snakes。 This went on for a long time； till； getting
tired of the pantomime； I asked Ayesha if there would
be any objection to Leo and myself walking round to
inspect the human torches； and as she had nothing to
say against it； we started； striking round to the
left。 After looking at one or two of the flaming
bodies； we were about to return； thoroughly disgusted
with the grotesque weirdness of the spectacle； when
our attention was attracted by one of the dancers； a
particularly active leopard； that had separated itself
from its fellow…beasts； and was whisking about in our
immediate neighborhood； but gradually drawing into a
spot where the shadow was darkest； equidistant between
two of the flaming mummies。 Drawn by curiosity； we
followed it； when suddenly it darted past us into the
shadows beyond； and as it did so erected itself and
whispered； 〃Come；〃 in a voice that we both recognized
as that of Ustane。 Without waiting to consult me Leo
turned and followed her into the outer darkness； and
I； feeling sick enough at heart； went after them。 The
leopard crawled on for about fifty pacesa sufficient
distance to be quite beyond the light of the fire and
torchesand then Leo came up with it； or； rather；
with Ustane。
〃O my lord；〃 I heard her whisper； 〃so I have found
thee！ Listen； I am in peril of my life from _i_ She
_i_ …who…must…be…obeyed。' Surely the Baboon has told
thee how she drove me from thee？ I love thee； my lord；
and thou art mine according to the custom of the
country。 I saved thy life！ My Lion； wilt thou cast me
off now？〃
〃Of course not；〃 ejaculated Leo； 〃I have been
wondering whither thou hadst gone。 Let us go and
explain matters to the queen。〃
〃Nay； nay； she would slay us。 Thou knowest not her
powerthe Baboon there； he knoweth； for he saw。 Nay；
there is but one way： if thou wilt cleave to me； thou
must flee with me across the marshes even now； and
then perchance we may escape。〃
〃For Heaven's sake； Leo；〃 I began； but she broke in
〃Nay； listen not to him。 Swiftbe swiftdeath is in
the air we breathe。 Even now； mayhap； _i_ She _i_
heareth us；〃 and without more ado she proceeded to
back her arguments by throwing herself into his arms。
As she did so the leopard's head slipped from her
hair； and I saw the three white finger…marks upon it
gleaming faintly in the starlight。 Once more realizing
the desperate nature of the position； I was about to
interpose； for I knew that Leo was not too strong…
minded where women were concerned； whenoh！ horror！
I heard a little silvery laugh behind me。 I turned
round； and there was _i_ She _i_ herself； and with her
Billali and two male mutes。 I gasped and nearly sank
to the ground； for I knew that such a situation must
result in some dreadful tragedy； of which it seemed
exceedingly probable to me that I should be the first
victim。
As for Ustane； she untwined her arms and covered her
eyes with her hands； while Leo； not knowing the full
terror of the position； merely colored up； and looked
as foolish as a man caught in such a trap would
naturally do。
CHAPTER XX
TRIUMPH
THEN followed a moment of the most painful silence
that I ever endured。 It was broken by Ayesha； who
addressed herself to Leo。
〃Nay； now my lord and guest；〃 she said； in her softest
tones； which yet had the ring of steel about them；
〃look not so bashful。 Surely the sight was a pretty
onethe leopard and the lion！〃
〃Oh； hang it all！〃 said Leo； in English。
〃And thou； Ustane；〃 she went on； 〃surely I should have
passed thee by had not the light fallen on the white
across thy hair；〃 and she pointed to the bright edge
of the rising moon which was now appearing above the
horizon。 〃Well！ well！ the dance is donesee； the
tapers have burned down； and all things end in silence
and in ashes。 So thou thoughtest it a fit time for
love； Ustane； my servantand I； dreaming not that I
could be disobeyed； thought thee already far away。〃
〃Play not with me；〃 moaned the wretched woman； 〃slay
me； and let be an end。〃
〃Nay； why？ It is not well to go so swift from the hot
lips of love down to the cold mouth of the grave；〃 and
she made a motion to the mutes； who instantly stepped
up and caught the girl by either arm。 With an oath Leo
sprang upon the nearest； and hurled him to the ground；
and then stood over him with his face set； and his
fist ready。
Again Ayesha laughed。 〃It was well thrown； my guest；
thou hast a strong arm for one who so late was sick。
But now out of thy courtesy I pray thee let that man
live and do my bidding。 He shall not harm the girl；
the night air grows chill； and I would welcome her in
mine own place。 Surely she whom thou dost favor shall
be favored of me also。〃
I took Leo by the arm； and pulled him from the
prostrate mute； and he； half bewildered； obeyed the
pressure。 Then we all set out for the cave across the
plateau； where a pile of white human ashes was all
that remained of the fire that had lit the dancing；
for the dancers had vanished。
In due course we gained Ayesha's boudoirall too soon
it seemed to me； having a sad presage of what was to
come lying heavy on my heart。
Ayesha seated herself upon her cushions； and； having
dismissed Job and Billali； by signs bade the mutes
tend the lamps and retire。 all sa