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〃Cease；〃 said Meyer。 〃How long is this ago？〃
〃Thirty…three thousand two hundred and one years；〃 came the answer；
spoken without any hesitation。
〃Pass on；〃 he said； 〃pass on thirty thousand years； and tell me what
you see。〃
For a long while there was silence。
〃Why do you not speak？〃 he asked。
〃Be patient； I am living through those thirty thousand years； many a
life； many an age； but none may be missed。〃
Again there was silence for a long while； till at length she spoke：
〃They are done； all of them； and now three thousand years ago I see
this place changed and smoothly fashioned； peopled by a throng of
worshippers clad in strange garments with clasps upon them。 Behind me
stands the graven statue of a goddess with a calm and cruel face； in
front of the altar burns a fire； and on the altar white…robed priests
are sacrificing an infant which cries aloud。〃
〃Pass on； pass on；〃 Meyer said hurriedly； as though the horror of that
scene had leapt to his eyes。 〃Pass on two thousand seven hundred years
and tell me what you see。〃
Again there was a pause； while the spirit he had evoked in the body of
Benita lived through those ages。 Then slowly she answered：
〃Nothing； the place is black and desolate； only the dead sleep beneath
its floor。〃
〃Wait till the living come again；〃 he commanded； 〃then speak。〃
〃They are here；〃 she replied presently。 〃Tonsured monks； one of whom
fashions this crucifix； and their followers who bow before the Host
upon the altar。 They come； they goof whom shall I tell you？〃
〃Tell me of the Portuguese； of those who were driven here to die。〃
〃I see them all；〃 she answered； after a pause。 〃Two hundred and three
of them。 They are ragged and wayworn and hungry。 Among them is a
beautiful woman； a girl。 She draws near to me； she enters into me。 You
must ask her〃this was spoken in a very faint voice〃I am I no
more。〃
Mr。 Clifford attempted to interrupt； but fiercely Meyer bade him to be
silent。
〃Speak；〃 he commanded； but the crouching figure shook her head。
〃Speak；〃 he said again； whereon another voice； not that of Benita；
answered in another tongue：
〃I hear； but I do not understand your language。〃
〃Great Heaven！〃 said Meyer； 〃it is Portuguese；〃 and for a while the
terror of the thing struck him dumb； for he was aware that Benita knew
no Portuguese。 He knew it； however； who had lived at Loren？o Marquez。
〃Who are you？〃 he asked in that tongue。
〃I am Benita da Ferreira。 I am the daughter of the Captain da Ferreira
and of his wife； the lady Christinha； who stand by you now。 Turn； and
you will see them。〃
Jacob started and looked about him uneasily。
〃What did she say？ I did not catch it all；〃 asked Mr。 Clifford。
He translated her words。
〃But this is black magic；〃 exclaimed the old man。 〃Benita knows no
Portuguese； so how comes she to speak it？〃
〃Because she is no longer our Benita； she is another Benita； Benita da
Ferreira。 The Molimo was right when he said that the spirit of the
dead woman went with her； as it seems the name has gone；〃 he added。
〃Have done；〃 said Mr。 Clifford； 〃the thing is unholy。 Wake her up； or
I will。〃
〃And bring about her death。 Touch or disturb her； and I tell you she
will die；〃 and he pointed to Benita； who crouched before them so white
and motionless that indeed it seemed as though already she were dead。
〃Be quiet；〃 he went on。 〃I swear to you that no hurt shall come to
her； also that I will translate everything to you。 Promise； or I will
tell you nothing； and her blood be on your head。〃
Then Mr。 Clifford groaned and said：
〃I promise。〃
〃Tell me your story； Benita da Ferreira。 How came you and your people
here？〃
〃The tribes of Monomotapa rose against our rule。 They killed many of
us in the lower land； yes； they killed my brother and him to whom I
was affianced。 The rest of us fled north to this ancient fortress；
hoping thence to escape by the river； the Zambesi。 The Mambo； our
vassal； gave us shelter here； but the tribes besieged the walls in
thousands； and burnt all the boats so that we could not fly by the
water。 Many times we beat them back from the wall； the ditch was full
of their dead； and at last they dared to attack no more。
〃Then we began to starve and they won the first wall。 We went on
starving and they won the second wall； but the third wall they could
not climb。 So we died； one by one we laid ourselves down in this cave
and died； till I alone was left； for while our people had food they
gave it to me who was the daughter of their captain。 Yes； alone I
knelt at the foot of this crucifix by the body of my father； praying
to the blessed Son of Mary for the death that would not come； and
kneeling there I swooned。 When I awoke again the Mambo and his men
stood about me； for now； knowing us to be dead； the tribes had gone；
and those who were in hiding across the river had returned and knew
how to climb the wall。 They bore me from among the dead； they gave me
food so that my strength came back； but in the night I； who in my
wickedness would not live； escaped from them and climbed the pillar of
black rock； so that when the sun rose they saw me standing there。 They
begged of me to come down； promising to protect me； but I said 'No；'
who in the evil of my heart only desired to die； that I might join my
father and my brother； and one who was dearer to me than all。 They
asked of me where the great treasure was hidden。〃
At these words Jacob gasped； then rapidly translated them； while the
figure before them became silent； as though it felt that for the
moment the power of his will was withdrawn。
〃Speak on； I bid you；〃 he said； and she continued； the rich； slow
voice dropping word after word from the lips of Benita in the alien
speech that this Benita never knew。
〃I answered that it was where it was； and that if they gave it up to
any save the one appointed； then that fate which had befallen my
people would befall theirs also。 Yes； I gave it into their keeping
until I came again； since with his dying breath my father had
commanded me to reveal it to none； and I believed that I who was about
to die should never come again。
〃Then I made my last prayer； I kissed the golden crucifix that now
hangs upon this breast wherein I dwell；〃 and the hand of the living
Benita was lifted； and moving like the hand of a dead thing； slowly
drew out the symbol from beneath the cloak； held it for a moment in
the lamplight； and let it fall to its place again。 〃I put my hands
before my eyes that I might not see； and I hurled myself from the
pinnacle。〃
Now the voice ceased； but from the lips came a dreadful sound； such as
might be uttered by one whose bones are shattered upon rocks； followed
by other sounds like those of one who chokes in water。 They were so
horrible to hear that Mr。 Clifford nearly fainted； and even Jacob
Meyer staggered and tu