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greatly caring because of my mental and physical exhaustion。
I had already closed my eyes that I might not see the flash of the
falling steel； when an exclamation from Hans caused me to open them
again。 Following the line of the knife with which he pointed； I
perceived a troop of men on camels emerging from the gates of the
village at full speed。 In front of these； his white garments
fluttering on the wind； rode a bearded and dignified person in whom I
recognized Har？t； Har？t himself； waving a spear and shouting as he
came。 Our assailants heard and saw him also； then flung down their
weapons as though in dismay either at his appearance or his words；
which I could not catch。 Har？t guided his rushing camel straight at
the man who I presume was their leader； and struck at him with his
spear； as though in fury； wounding him in the shoulder and causing him
to fall to the ground。 As he struck he called out：
〃Dog！ Would you harm the guests of the Child？〃
Then I heard no more because I fainted away。
CHAPTER XV
THE DWELLER IN THE CAVE
After this it seemed to me that I dreamed a long and very troubled
dream concerning all sorts of curious things which I cannot remember。
At last I opened my eyes and observed that I lay on a low bed raised
about three inches above the floor； in an Eastern…looking room； large
and cool。 It had window…places in it but no windows； only grass mats
hung upon a rod which； I noted inconsequently； worked on a rough；
wooden hinge； or rather pin； that enabled the curtain to be turned
back against the wall。
Through one of these window…places I saw at a little distance the
slope of the forest…covered hill； which reminded me of something to do
with a childfor the life of me I could not remember what。 As I lay
wondering over the matter I heard a shuffling step which I recognized；
and； turning； saw Hans twiddling a new hat made of straw in his
fingers。
〃Hans；〃 I said； 〃where did you get that new hat？〃
〃They gave it me here； Baas；〃 he answered。 〃The Baas will remember
that the devil Jana ate the other。〃
Then I did remember more or less； while Hans continued to twiddle the
hat。 I begged him to put it on his head because it fidgeted me； and
then inquired where we were。
〃In the Town of the Child； Baas； where they carried you after you had
seemed to die down yonder。 A very nice town； where there is plenty to
eat； though； having been asleep for three days； you have had nothing
except a little milk and soup； which was poured down your throat with
a spoon whenever you seemed to half wake up for a while。〃
〃I was tired and wanted a long rest； Hans； and now I feel hungry。 Tell
me； are the lord and Bena here also； or were they killed after all？〃
〃Yes； Baas； they are safe enough； and so are all our goods。 They were
both with Har？t when he saved us down by the village yonder； but you
went to sleep and did not see them。 They have been nursing you ever
since； Baas。〃
Just then Savage himself entered； carrying some soup upon a wooden
tray and looking almost as smart as he used to do at Ragnall Castle。
〃Good day； sir；〃 he said in his best professional manner。 〃Very glad
to see you back with us； sir； and getting well； I trust； especially
after we had given you and Mr。 Hans up as dead。〃
I thanked him and drank the soup； asking him to cook me something more
substantial as I was starving； which he departed to do。 Then I sent
Hans to find Lord Ragnall； who it appeared was out walking in the
town。 No sooner had they gone than Har？t entered looking more
dignified than ever and； bowing gravely； seated himself upon the mat
in the Eastern fashion。
〃Some strong spirit must go with you； Lord Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃that
you should live today； after we were sure that you had been slain。〃
〃That's where you made a mistake。 Your magic was not of much service
to you there； friend Har？t。〃
〃Yet my magic； as you call it； though I have none； was of some service
after all； Macumazana。 As it chanced I had no opportunity of breathing
in the wisdom of the Child for two days from the hour of our arrival
here； because I was hurt on the knee in the fight and so weary that I
could not travel up the mountain and seek light from the eyes of the
Child。 On the third day； however； I went and the Oracle told me all。
Then I descended swiftly； gathered men and reached those fools in time
to keep you from harm。 They have paid for what they did； Lord。〃
〃I am sorry； Har？t； for they knew no better； and； Har？t； although I
saved myself； or rather Hans saved me； we have left your brother
behind； and with him the others。〃
〃I know。 Jana was too strong for them； you and your servant alone
could prevail against him。〃
〃Not so； Har？t。 He prevailed against us； all we could do was to injure
his eye and the tip of his trunk and escape from him。〃
〃Which is more than any others have done for many generations； Lord。
But doubtless as the beginning was； so shall the end be。 Jana； I
think； is near his death and through you。〃
〃I don't know；〃 I repeated。 〃Who and what is Jana？〃
〃Have I not told you that he is an evil spirit who inhabits the body
of a huge elephant？〃
〃Yes； and so did Mar？t； but I think that he is just a huge elephant
with a very bad temper of his own。 Still； whatever he is； he will take
some killing； and I don't want to meet him again by that horrible
lake。〃
〃Then you will meet him elsewhere； Lord。 For if you do not go to look
for Jana； Jana will come to look for you who have hurt him so sorely。
Remember that henceforth； wherever you go in all this land； it may
happen that you will meet Jana。〃
〃Do you mean to say that the brute comes into the territory of the
White Kendah？〃
〃Yes； Macumazana； at times he comes； or a spirit wearing his shape
comes； I know not which。 What I do know is that twice in my life I
myself have seen him upon the Holy Mount； though how he came or how he
went none can tell。〃
〃Why was he wandering there； Har？t？〃
〃Who can say； Lord？ Tell me why evil wanders through the world and I
will answer your question。 Only I repeatlet those who have harmed
Jana beware of Jana。〃
〃And let Jana beware of me if I can meet him with a decent gun in my
hand； for I have a score to settle with the beast。 Now； Har？t； there
is another matter。 Just before he was killed Mar？t； your brother；
began to tell me something about the wife of the Lord Ragnall。 I had
no time to listen to the end of his words； though I thought he said
that she was upon yonder Holy Mount。 Did I hear aright？〃
Instantly Har？t's face became like that of a stone idol； impenetrable；
impassive。
〃Either you misunderstood； Lord；〃 he answered； 〃or my brother raved in
his fear。 Wherever she may be； that beautiful lady is not upon the
Holy Mount； unless there is another Holy Mount in the Land of Death。
Moreover； Lord； as we are speaking of this matter；