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darkness below us arose a sound of chanting； very low and sweet to
hear。 It died away and for a little while there was silence broken
only by a rustling sound like to that of people taking their seats in
a dark theatre。 Then a woman began to sing in a beautiful； contralto
voice； but in what language I do not know； for I could not catch the
words； if these were words and not only musical notes。
I felt Ragnall trembling beside me and in a whisper asked him what was
the matter。 He answered； also in a whisper：
〃I believe that is my wife's voice。〃
〃If so； I beg you to control yourself；〃 I replied。
Now the skies began to flame and the light to pour itself into a misty
hollow beneath us like streams of many…coloured gems into a bowl；
driving away the shadows。 By degrees these vanished； by degrees we saw
everything。 Beneath us was an amphitheatre； on the southern wall of
which we were seated； though it was not a wall but a lava cliff
between forty and fifty feet high which served as a wall。 The
amphitheatre itself； however； almost exactly resembled those of the
ancients which I had seen in pictures and Ragnall had visited in
Italy； Greece； and Southern France。 It was oval in shape and not very
large； perhaps the flat space at the bottom may have covered something
over an acre； but all round this oval ran tiers of seats cut in the
lava of the crater。 For without doubt this was the crater of an
extinct volcano。
Moreover； in what I will call the arena； stood a temple that in its
main outlines； although small； exactly resembled those still to be
seen in Egypt。 There was the gateway or pylon； there the open outer
court with columns round it supporting roofed cloisters； which； as we
ascertained afterwards； were used as dwelling…places by the priests。
There beyond and connected with the first by a short passage was a
second rather smaller court； also open to the sky； and beyond this
again； built like all the rest of the temple of lava blocks； a roofed
erection measuring about twelve feet square； which I guessed at once
must be the sanctuary。
This temple was； as I have said； small； but extremely well
proportioned； every detail of it being in the most excellent taste
though unornamented by sculpture or painting。 I have to add that in
front of the sanctuary door stood a large block of lava； which I
concluded was an altar； and in front of this a stone seat and a basin；
also of stone； supported upon a very low tripod。 Further； behind the
sanctuary was a square house with window…places。
At the moment of our first sight of this place the courts were empty；
but on the benches of the amphitheatre were seated about three hundred
persons； male and female； the men to the north and the women to the
south。 They were all clad in pure white robes； the heads of the men
being shaved and those of the women veiled； but leaving the face
exposed。 Lastly； there were two roadways into the amphitheatre； one
running east and one west through tunnels hollowed in the encircling
rock of the crater； both of which roads were closed at the mouths of
the tunnels by massive wooden double doors； seventeen or eighteen feet
in height。 From these roadways and their doors we learned two things。
First； that the cave where had lived the Father of Serpents was； as I
had suspected； not the real approach to the shrine of the Child； but
only a blind； and； secondly； that the ceremony we were about to
witness was secret and might only be attended by the priestly class or
families of this strange tribe。
Scarcely was it full daylight when from the cells of the cloisters
round the outer court issued twelve priests headed by Har？t himself；
who looked very dignified in his white garment； each of whom carried
on a wooden platter ears of different kinds of corn。 Then from the
cells of the southern cloister issued twelve women； or rather girls；
for all were young and very comely； who ranged themselves alongside of
the men。 These also carried wooden platters； and on them blooming
flowers。
At a sign they struck up a religious chant and began to walk forward
through the passage that led from the first court to the second。
Arriving in front of the altar they halted and one by one； first a
priest and then a priestess； set down the platters of offerings；
piling them above each other into a cone。 Next the priests and the
priestesses ranged themselves in lines on either side of the altar；
and Har？t took a platter of corn and a platter of flowers in his
hands。 These he held first towards that quarter of the sky in which
swam the invisible new moon； secondly towards the rising sun； and
thirdly towards the doors of the sanctuary； making genuflexions and
uttering some chanted prayer； the words of which we could not hear。
A pause followed； that was succeeded by a sudden outburst of song
wherein all the audience took part。 It was a very sonorous and
beautiful song or hymn in some language which I did not understand；
divided into four verses； the end of each verse being marked by the
bowing of every one of those many singers towards the east； towards
the west； and finally towards the altar。
Another pause till suddenly the doors of the sanctuary were thrown
wide and from between them issuedthe goddess Isis of the Egyptians
as I have seen her in pictures！ She was wrapped in closely clinging
draperies of material so thin that the whiteness of her body could be
seen beneath。 Her hair was outspread before her； and she wore a head…
dress or bonnet of glittering feathers from the front of which rose a
little golden snake。 In her arms she bore what at that distance seemed
to be a naked child。 With her came two women； walking a little behind
her and supporting her arms； who also wore feather bonnets but without
the golden snake； and were clad in tight…fitting； transparent
garments。
〃My God！〃 whispered Ragnall； 〃it is my wife！〃
〃Then be silent and thank Him that she is alive and well；〃 I answered。
The goddess Isis； or the English ladyin that excitement I did not
reck whichstood still while the priests and priestesses and all the
audience； who； gathered on the upper benches of the amphitheatre；
could see her above the wall of the inner court； raised a thrice…
repeated and triumphant cry of welcome。 Then Har？t and the first
priestess lifted respectively an ear of corn and a flower from the two
topmost platters and held these first to the lips of the child in her
arms and secondly to her lips。
This ceremony concluded； the two attendant women led her round the
altar to the stone chair； upon which she seated herself。 Next fire was
kindled in the bowl on the tripod in front of the chair； how I could
not see； but perhaps it was already smouldering there。 At any rate it
burnt up in a thin blue flame； on to which Har？t and the head
priestess threw something that caused the flame to turn to smoke。 Then
Isis； for I prefer to call her so while describing this