The Washington times., 1905-12-24
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B1 H.EIDER TIAGGARD

~ - ~ -
cane and that what We heard through
the thickness Of the rock was the rush.
ing of its everlasting fires Then the
ascent commenced
II was not dangerous. though very
wearisome. for there were nearly six
hundred Of those steps. The climb
Of the passages had reminded me OF
that Of the gallery CT the Great Pyra-
mid drawn out for whole furIongs;
that or the pillar was like the ascent
of cathedral spire, or rather OF .sev-
eral spires piled one upon another.
Resting, from time to time, We
dragged ourselves up the steep steps.
each of them quite a foot in height,
till the pillar was Climbed and only
the loop remained. Up il We went
also. Oros leading US. and glad was 1
that the stairway still ran within the
substance Of the rock. for 1 could feel
the needles mighty eye quiver IN the
rush of the winds which swept about
it's sides.
At length we Saw light before US.
anu in another twenty steps emerged
upon a platform As Leo. who went
in front OF me. walked from the stair
way saw OrOs and another priest
seize him by the arms. and called 10
him 10 ask what they werv doing.
Nothing he cried hack. EXCEPT
that this IS dizzy place and they
feared lest should fall Mind now
you come, Horace and he stretched
out his hand 70 me-
Now I was clear os the tunnel. AID
I believe that had It not been for that
hand I should have sunk 10 the rocky
floor, for The sight before me seemed 10
paralyze my brain. Nor was this 20 be
wondered at. fo- ] doubt whether the
world can show such another
We stood upon the very apex OF ths
loop, a fat space OF rock about eighty
yards in length by some thirty IN
breadth. with the star-strewn sky above
US. To the south. 20.000 feet or more
below. stretched the dim plain Of Ka-
loon, and TO the east and west the snow
clad shoulders of the peak and the
broad brown slopes beneath To the
north was a different sight. and one
more awesome. There right under us
as it seemed. for the pillar bent inward.
lay the vast crater of the volcano and
IN the center OF it a wide lake OF fire
that broke into bubbles and flowers OF
sudden fame, OF spouted. writhed. and
twisted like an angry ssa-
From the surface Of this lake rose
smoke and gases tnat took fire as they
fioated upward. and. mingling together.
formed a gigantic sheet OF living flame
Right opposite to US burned this sheet
and the light of il passing through the
needle of the pillar under US sped away
in one dazzling beam across the country
of kaloon. across the mountains be-
yord. till IL was lost on the horizon
The wind blew from south to north.
being sucked in toward the crater Of the
volcano. and its fierce breath. that
screamed through the eye OF the pillar
and against its rugged surface bent the
long crest of the sheet of fame as an
ocean roller is bent over by the gale.
and tore from i fragments OF fire. that
foated away to leeward Ike the blown
out sails of a burning ship
Had IL not been for this strong aud
steady wind. indeed. no creature could
have lived upon the pillar, for the va
pors would have poisoned him: but its
unceasing blast drove these all away
toward the north. For the same reason.
in the thin air Of that icy place the heat
was not too great to be endured.
Appalled, by that terrific spectacIs,
which seemed more appropriate TO the
terrors of the Pit than 10 this earth OF
ours. and fearful les; the blast should
whirl me like dead leaf into the glow
ing gulf beneath. 1 fell onto my sound
hand and knees. shouting 10 Leo TO do
likewise, and looked about me- Now l
observed lines Of priests wrapped in
great capes. kneeling upon the face OF
the rock and engaged apparently IN
prayer. bet of Hes the Mother. or Of
Atene. or OF the corpse of the deaa
Khan. I could see nothing.
While 1 wondered where they might
be. Oros, upon whose nerves this dread
scene appeared to have no effect, and
scme of our attendant priests surround
ed us and led US onward by a path that
ran perilously near TO the rounded edge
OF the rock A few downward steps and
we found that we We're under shelter,
for the gale was roaring over US Twsn-
ty more PAGES and we came to recess
cut. l suppose, by man in the face of
the loop. in such fashion that a lava
roof was left projecting half across its
width
This recess. or rock chamber. which
was large enough 10 shelter a great
number of people. we reached safely. TO
discover that il was already tenanted-
Seated in a chair hewn from the rock
was the Hesea, wearing a broidered.
purple mantle above her gauzy wrap
pings that enveloped her from head 10
foot. There. too. standing near to her
were the Khania Atene and her uncle.
the old Shaman. who looked but i'll at
case. and lastly. stretched upon his fu-
ECraI couch. the fiery light beating upon
his stark form and face, lay the dead
Khan. Rassen.
We advanced TO the throne and bowed
10 her who sat thereon. The Hesea lift
ed hcr hooded head, which seemed to
have been sunk upon her breast "a
though she were overcome by thought
or care. and addressed Oros. the priest
For IN the shelter of those massive
walls. by comparison. there was silence.
and folk could hear each other speak.
so thou hast brought them safely.
nv servant. - she said. and | am glad
for 10 these that know IL not this road
IS fearful. Nv guests. what say YOU
of the burying pit Of the children OF
Hes2-'
sOur faith tells - of hell LADY,
answered Leo. and | think that yOn-
der caldron looks like its mouth
Nay" she answered. there is no
hell. save that which from life 10 life
we fashion for ourselves within the cir
Gle of this little star. Leo Nincey. I tell