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had started。 I never saw the statue again； which I the
more regret； because on the great ball of stone
representing the World whereon the figure stood； lines
were drawn； that probably； had there been light
enough； we should have discovered to be a map of the
Universe as it was known to the people of Ko^r。 It is；
at any rate； suggestive of some scientific knowledge
that these long…dead worshippets of Truth had
recognized the fact that the globe is round。
CHAPTER XXIV
WALKING THE PLANK
NEXT day the mutes woke us before the dawn； and by the
time that we had got the sleep out of our eyes； and
gone through a perfunctory wash at a spring which
still welled up into the remains of a marble basin in
the centre of the north quadrangle of the vast outer
court； we found _i_ She _i_ standing by the litter
ready to start； while old Billali and the two bearer
mutes were busy collecting the baggage。 As usual；
Ayesha was veiled like the marble Truth （by the way； I
wonder if she originally got the idea of covering up
her beauty from that statue？）。 I noticed； however；
that she seemed very depressed； and had none of that
proud and buoyant bearing which would have betrayed
her among a thousand women of the same stature； even
if they had been veiled like herself。 She looked up as
we camefor her head was bowedand greeted us。 Leo
asked her how she had slept。
〃Ill； my Kallikrates；〃 she answered； 〃ill。 This night
have strange and hideous dreams come creeping through
my brain； and I know not what they may portend。 Almost
do I feel as though some evil overshadowed me； and yet
how can evil touch me？ I wonder；〃 she went on； with a
sudden outbreak of womanly tenderness； 〃I wonder if；
should aught happen to me； so that I slept awhile and
left thee waking； wouldst thou think gently of me？ I
wonder； my Kallikrates； if thou wouldst tarry till I
came again； as for so many centuries I have tarried
for thy coming？〃
Then； without waiting for an answer； she went on：
〃Come； let us be setting forth； for we have far to go；
and before another day is born in yonder blue should
we stand in the Place of Life。〃
In another five minutes we were once more on our way
through the vast ruined city； which loomed at us on
either side in the gray dawning in a way that was at
once grand and oppressive。 Just as the first ray of
the rising sun shot like a golden arrow athwart this
storied desolation we gained the farther gateway of
the outer wall； and having given one more glance at
the hoar and pillared majesty through which we had
passed； and （with the exception of Job； for whom ruins
had no charms） breathed a sigh of regret that we had
not had more time to explore it； passed through the
great moat； and on to the plain beyond。
As the sun rose so did Ayesha's spirits； till by
breakfast…time they had regained their normal level；
and she laughingly set down her previous depression to
the associations of the spot where she had slept。
〃These barbarians declare that Ko^r is haunted；〃 she
said； 〃and of a truth I do believe their saying； for
never did I know so ill a night save once。 I remember
it now。 It was on that very spot when thou didst lie
dead at my feet； Kallikrates。 Never will I visit it
again； it is a place of evil omen。〃
After a very brief halt for breakfast we pressed on
with such good will that by two o'clock in the
afternoon we were at the foot of the vast wall of rock
that formed the lip of the volcano； and which at this
point towered up precipitously above us for fifteen
hundred or two thousand feet。 Here we halted；
certainly not to my astonishment； for I did not see
how it was possible that we should go any farther。
〃Now；〃 said Ayesha； as she descended from her litter；
〃doth our labor but commence； for here do we part with
these men； and henceforward must we bear ourselves；〃
and then； addressing Billali； 〃do thou and these
slaves remain here； and abide our coming。 By to…morrow
at the midday shall we be with theeif not； wait。〃
Billali bowed humbly； and said that her august bidding
should be obeyed if they stopped there till they grew
old。
〃And this man； O Holly；〃 said _i_ She _i_ ； pointing
to Job； 〃best is it that he should tarry also； for if
his heart be not high and his courage great； perchance
some evil might overtake him。 Also； the secrets of the
place whither we go are not fit for common eyes。〃
I translated this to Job； who instantly and earnestly
entreated me； almost with tears in his eyes； not to
leave him behind。 He said he was sure that he could
see nothing worse than he had already seen； and that
he was terrified to death at the idea of being left
alone with those 〃dumb folk；〃 who； he thought； would
probably take the opportunity to hot…pot him。
I translated what he said to Ayesha； who shrugged her
shoulders； and answered； 〃Well； let him come； it is
naught to me； on his own head be it； and he will serve
to bear the lamp and this；〃 and she pointed to a
narrow plank； some sixteen feet in length； which had
been bound above the long bearing…pole of her hammock；
as I had thought to make the curtains spread out
better； but； as it now appeared； for some unknown
purpose connected with our extraordinary undertaking。
Accordingly； the plank； which； though tough； was very
light； was given to Job to carry； and also one of the
lamps。 I slung the other on to my back； together with
a spare jar of oil； while Leo loaded himself with the
provisions and some water in a kid's skin。 When this
was done _i_ She _i_ bade Billali and the six bearer
mutes to retreat behind a grove of flowering magnolias
about a hundred yards away； and remain there under
pain of death till we had vanished。 They bowed humbly；
and went； and； as he departed； old Billali gave me a
friendly shake of the hand； and whispered that he had
rather that it was I than he who was going on this
wonderful expedition with 〃 _i_ She _i_ …who…must…be…
obeyed；〃 and upon my word I felt inclined to agree
with him。 In another minute they were gone； and then；
having briefly asked us if we were ready； Ayesha
turned； and gazed up the towering cliff。
〃Goodness me； Leo；〃 I said； 〃surely we are not going
to climb that precipice！〃
Leo shrugged his shoulders； being in a condition of
half…fascinated； half…expectant mystification； and as
he did so Ayesha with a sudden move began to climb the
cliff； and of course we had to follow her。 It was
perfectly marvellous to see the ease and grace with
which she sprang from rock to rock； and swung herself
along the ledges。 The ascent was not； however； so
difficult as it seemed； although there were one or two
nasty places where it did not do to look behind you；
the fact being that the rock still sloped here； and
was not absolutely precipitous； as it was higher up。
In this way we； with no great labor； mounted to the
height of some fifty feet above our last standing…
place； the only really troublesome thing to manage
being Job's board； and in doing so drew some fifty or
sixty paces to the left of our starting…point； for we