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head； you who do not remember？ Well； neither do I remember。 Yet it is
true that all circles meet somewhere； and it is true that the
Portuguese maiden said she would come again； and lastly it is true
that she was such an one as you are； for she haunts this place； and I；
who have seen her sitting yonder in the moonlight； know her beauty
well。 Yet mayhap she comes no more in flesh； but still her spirit
comes； for； Lady； out of those eyes of yours I see it gaze at me。
Come；〃 he added abruptly； 〃let us descend the wall； for as you cannot
remember； there is more to show you。 Have no fearthe steps are
easy。〃
So they went down without much difficulty； since； from the
accumulation of rubbish and other causes； the wall was a great deal
lower on this side； and found themselves in the usual dense growth of
vegetation and brushwood through which ran a little path。 It led them
past the ruins of buildings whereof the use and purpose were long
since forgotten； for their roofs had fallen in hundreds or thousands
of years ago； to the entrance of a cave which was placed almost at the
foot of the monolithic cone； but thirty or forty yards further from
the circle of the wall。 Here the Molimo bade them stay while he lit
the lamps within。 Five minutes passed and he returned； saying that all
was ready。
〃Be not afraid of what you may see；〃 he added； 〃for know； white
people； that save my forefathers and myself； none have entered this
place since the Portuguese perished here； nor have we； who do but come
hither to pray and receive the word of the Munwali； ever ventured to
disturb it。 As it was； so it is。 Come； Lady； come； she whose spirit
goes with you was the last of your white race to pass this door。 It is
therefore fitting that your feet and her spirit should be the first to
enter it again。〃
Benita hung back a little； for the adventure was eerie； then；
determined that she would show no fear in the presence of this old
priest； took the thin hand he stretched out to her； and walked forward
with head erect。 The two men began to follow her； but the Molimo
stopped them； saying：
〃Not so。 The maiden enters first alone with me； it is her house； and
should it please her to ask you to dwell therein； so be it。 But first
she must visit her house alone。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 said Mr。 Clifford angrily。 〃I will not have it。 It will
frighten her。〃
〃Lady； do you trust me？〃 asked the Molimo。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； adding； 〃Father； I think you had better let me go
alone。 I am not afraid now； and it may be wisest not to thwart him。
This is a very strange businessnot like anything elseand really I
think that I had better go alone。 If I do not come back presently； you
can follow。〃
〃Those who break in upon the sleep of the dead should walk gently；
gently；〃 piped the old Molimo in a sing…song voice。 〃The maiden's
breath is pure； the maiden's foot is light； her breath will not offend
the dead； her step will not disturb the dead。 White men； white men；
anger not the dead； for the dead are mighty； and will be revenged upon
you when you are dead； soon； very soon； when you are deaddead in
your sorrows； dead in your sins； dead； gathered to that company of the
dead who await us here。〃
And； still chanting his mystic song； he led Benita by the hand out of
the light； onward into darkness； away from life； onward into the place
of death。
XI
THE SLEEPERS IN THE CAVE
Like every other passage in this old fortress； the approach to the
cave was narrow and winding； presumably the ancients had arranged them
thus to facilitate their defence。 After the third bend； however；
Benita saw a light ahead which flowed from a native lamp lit in the
arched entrance。 At the side of this arch was a shell…shaped hollow；
cut in the rock about three feet above the floor。 Its appearance
seemed familiar to her； why； she was soon to learn； although at the
moment she did not connect it with anything in particular。 The cave
beyond was large； lofty； and not altogether natural； for its walls had
evidently been shaped； or at any rate trimmed； by man。 Probably here
the old Priests had established their oracle； or place of offering。
At first Benita could not see much； since in that great cavern two
lamps of hippopotamus oil gave but little light。 Presently； however；
her eyes became accustomed to the gloom； and as they advanced up its
length she perceived that save for a skin rug upon which she guessed
the Molimo sat at his solitary devotions； and some gourds and platters
for water and food； all the front part of the place appeared to be
empty。 Beyond； in its centre； stood an object of some gleaming metal；
that from its double handles and roller borne upon supports of rock
she took to be some kind of winch； and rightly； for beneath it was the
mouth of a great well； the water supply of the topmost fortification。
Beyond the well was a stone altar； shaped like a truncated cone or
pyramid； and at some distance away against the far wall； as she dimly
discovered by the lamp that stood upon the altar； cut in relief upon
that wall indeed； a colossal cross to which； vigorously if rudely
executed in white stone； hung the image of Christ crucified； the crown
of thorns upon His drooping head。 Now she understood。 Whatever may
have been the first worship to which this place was dedicated；
Christians had usurped it； and set up here the sacred symbol of their
faith； awful enough to look upon in such surroundings。 Doubtless；
also； the shell…shaped basin at the entrance had served the
worshippers in this underground chapel as a stoup for holy water。
The Molimo lifted the lamp from the altar； and having adjusted its
wick； held it up in front of the rood before which； although she was
no Catholic； Benita bowed her head and crossed herself； while he
watched her curiously。 Then he lowered it； and she perceived that on
the cemented floor lay great numbers of shrouded forms that at first
looked to her like folk asleep。 He stepped to one of them and touched
it with his foot； whereon the cloth which with it was covered crumbled
into dust； revealing beneath a white skeleton。
All those sleepers rested well indeed； for they had been dead at least
two hundred years。 There they laymen； women； and children； though of
the last but few。 Some of them had ornaments on their bones； some were
clad in armour； and by all the men were swords； or spears； or knives；
and here and there what she took to be primitive fire…arms。 Certain of
them also had turned into mummies in that dry airgrotesque and
dreadful objects from which she gladly averted her eyes。
The Molimo led her forward to the foot of the crucifix； where； upon
its lowest step and upon the cemented floor immediately beneath it
respectively； lay two shapes decorously covered with shawls of some
heavy material interwoven with gold wire； for the manufacture of which
the Makalanga were famous when first the Portuguese came in