The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-18

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shippers and towards. Have you tidings
of the Lady ELISA? ''f
Yes, prince, she still sits yonder in
the tomb, reSolute in her purpose and
giving no answer to those who come to
reason with her.
AS he spoke the guard let fall the
front of the tent, so that the sunlight
flowed into it, revealing Aziel and his
twelve companions, each fast in his
narrow prison. See said Metem, do
you know the placer"
The Prince rose to his knees and saw
that they were set upon the top OF q
hill built up of granite ooulders, rising
so feet or more from the surface of the
plain. Opposite to them, at a distance
of about 100 PAGES, rose a precipice, in
the face of which could be seen a cave
closed with barred gates of bronze,
while between the rocky hill and the
precipice ran q road.
81 know it, he said. There runs the
path by which we travelled from the
coast. and there is the tomb of Baaltis.
Why have we been brought here?'
The Lady ELISA sits behind the
bars of yonder tomb, whence her view
of ali that happens upon this mount
must be very good indeed" answered
Metem, with meaning. Nov, can you
guess why you were brought here,
Prince Aziel?'
rs it that she may witness our suf-
ferings under torment" he asked.
Metem nodded.
How will they deal with us, Me-
temp"
Wait and see.' he answered.
AS he spoke Ithobal himself appeared,
followed by certain evil-looking saw
ages, and having greeted Metem cour-
teously. he turned to the Hebrew SOL
diers in the cages and asked them
which of their number was most pre-
pared to die.
Il, Ithobal, who am their leader"
said Aziel.
mo, Prince" replied Ithobal, with
a cruel smile. your time is not yet
Look, there is a man who has been
wounded. To put him out of his pain
would be a kindness. Slaves, bear that
Jew to the edge of the rock. and as the
Prince will wish to study new mode
of death, bring his cage, also.
The order was obeyed, Aziel beng
set down upon the very verge of the
cliff. Close to him spur of granite
jutted out 20 feet or so from its edge.
At the end of the spur of granite a
groove was cut, and over this groove.
suspended by a. thin chain from a pole,
hung a wedge of pure crystal. carefully
shaped and polished. While Aziel won
dered what evil purpose this stone
might serve, the slaves had fastened
fine rope to the cage containing the
wounded Hebrew soldier ard secured
it's end. Then they set the rope in the
groove of the granite spur, and pushed
the cage over the edge of the cliff, so
that it dangled in midair.
Now, 1 will explain" said Ithobal.
This is a mode of death that l have
borrowed from those followers Of Baal
who worship the sun, by means or
which Baal claims his own sacrifice,
and none are guilty of the victims
blood You see yonder crystal-well, at
any appointed hour, for it can be hung
as you will, the rays of the sun shining
through it causes the fibers of the rope
to smoke and shoulder, till at length
they part, and-Baal takes the sacrifice-
Should cloud hide the sun at the APP
pointed hour, then Baal, having spared
him, the victim is set free. But, as you
will note, at this season of the year
there are no clouds. What, Prince, have
you nothing to say?" for Aziei had lis
tened in silence to the tale of this devil
iSh device.
well. learn that it depends upon the
Lady ELISA yonder whether or no this
fate shall be yours. Send now and pray
her to save you from it. Think what it
will be to hang as your. servant does
over the yawning gulf of space, waiting
through the long hours till at last you
see the little wreathS of smoke begin
to curl from the finder of the cord.
Why, before the end found them. l have
known men go mad and tear with their
teeth at the wooden bars like wolves.
What? You will not? Then, Metem,
do you plead for your friend. Bid the
Lady BaaltiS look forth today at one
hour before .theeneon and see the sight
of yonder wretch's death, remembering
that tomorrow that fate shall be her
lovers unless she foregoes her purpose
of self-murder and gives herself to me.
Nay, no words, an escort shall lead you
through the lower city to the gateway
of the tomb and listen to your speech
there See that it does not fail you,
merchant, unless you also seek to hang
in yonder cage. Tell the Lady ELISA
that tomorrow at sunrise l will come in
person for her answer. If she yields,
then the prince and his companions
shall be set free, and with you, Metem.
to guide them, be mounted on swift
camels to carry them, unframed, to
their retinue beyond the mountains;
but if she will not yield. then--Baal
shall take his sacrifice. Begone."
Having no choice, Metem bowed and
went, leaving the Gagged Aziel upon the
edge of the cliff and the Hebrew soldier
hanging from the spur of the rock.
Now AzieI reused himself from the hor
ror in which his soul was sunk, and
strove to comfort his comrade, pray
ing with him to heaven. Slowly the
hours drew on. till at length. upon the
opposite cliff, he saw figures whom he
knew to be Metem and his escort APP
proach the mouth of the tomb, and
heard him call through the bars of the
gateway. Turning, he glanced at the
rope, and watched the spot of light
born of the crystal creep to its side.
Next he saw a little wreath of smoke
rise in the still air and bade his COM
rade close his eyes. Then came the
end. for suddenly the taut rope, eaten
through, flew back. and the cage with
the man in it vanished from his sight,
while from far below came the sound
of a heavy fall. and, from the tomb Of
Baaltis the echo of woman's shrek.
CHAPTER XVII.
THERE IS HOPE
II.