New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-17

consistent and filed with the vague and unreal
Ills nrSt CONSCIOUSNESS was OF a SuffoCating |
lnky darkness and a soul consuming dread |
Has body, naked but for loincloth, was moist |
with the dew OF devitalizing fear All about
HIM lostled and crowded human figures felt |
rather than seen: groans and whispered suppl |
cations throbbed IN the poisonous air; and
nauseous reek filed his nOstrils. Vague
shapes crowded past him naked limbs, clammv
bodies, pushed against his own
Then deep and booming above the mutter-
lngs thrown back from the vaulted roof above
there rose a sound al which his soul qualled.
Again II came angry and hoarse, and vet again
the roar of lion, A small hand fluttered
into his own and his fingers closed about 1t.
Flavia," his lips formed the name and the
sound OF il seemed to bring back his strength,
-" Flavia. the hour has comet
Again, coming as from the massive walls
which he felt rather than saw surrounding him.
doomed out the deep, amphOric note, heavy
coughlngs cultural Vet resonant, and followed
by a higher note which froze the blood IN his
veins. \ form crowded close TO him. his free
arm went up and about the soft shoulders of a
woman, and he felt her fine spun hair his
breast and her breath against his cheek.
" Flavla'' he whispered. Flavial'
At the far end OF the place IN which he felt
himself TO be there came sudden square Of
blazing light. With II there entered certain
sounds dlapaSOn OF a murmurlng
multitude. sounds shrill and deep OF tone, all
mingiing 10 swell IN "A chorus, savage and
ominous and ruthleSslv cruel.
The face al the woman was crushed against
his breast. ms arms were about her shoulders,
hers twIned about his neck. His eyes, blinded
bV the square blaze OF light, We're fixed and
! staring. Then from behind him came hoarse
cries. the blows of heavy whips striking naked
! flesh, shrleSs, celebrations, and the comforting
voice OF one who admonlShed. The naked
shapes were cr0Wding past some leaplng tor
ward with the frenzy Of despair, some dragging
others, but al surging. jostling. pushing
| toward the square patch Of light. Now they
filled Il, shut II of 10 all but a few struggling
/ apertures-and again arose that shrill-deep
| dlapasOn and the hoarse cough OF beasts OF prey
/ Come, FlaVia, come lie found himself
moving forward with the others half leading,
! half dragging. his companion, Just as many
Others about him were dong And then his
ewes were blinded by frightful glare.
| The flaming sand burnt the soles OF his naked
feet as he staggered forward, vaguely following
| a thin line Of naked figures moving out across
the open space. He raised his face TO blink at
the high encompasslng walls, swimming
clouds OF color which seemed TO mount straight
! 70 the serene blue overhead
/ Courage. Flaviat" he heard his dry lips
| .nurter and the woman drew her breath deeper
| and raised her head when he looked INTO her
face and saw that Il was very beautiful, the
forehead broad and white, the eyes blue and
steadfast the nose pure, and the mouth sweet
| and firm 4 glory Of golden hair hid her naked
| beauty but the shrinking had gone and she
walked proudly at his side
took note OF MANY things, but dazedly and as =
man who dreams. Around HIM rose tier utter
tier Of bright rainent, and faces, faces. faces,
svgarthv and pale black as ebony, or white as
! Carrara marble, and over all flaming banners,
which fiuttered IN the soft breeze, were spread.
i Then his ewes fell and he saw not lar ahead Of
! him on the scOrchIng sand tall Inquire, white
| bearded with hair that swept the gaunt
| shoulders. bonv arms aloft with palms spread
10 the sLv. and he heard the rhythmic intona-
ton Of a deep voiced chant. All about were
l-neeling figures and lips that moved IN unison
And what was this, What were these
gliding. stealthy sh pes, tawny and sleek,
lIlacl. and glistening, Weaving TO right and lett
,,yarrlllng over the blazing sand, 70 this side
md that. VT ever approaching. Lions, hons.
ibere cr. Mt, there planted and roaring
| Nearer. vet ever nearer. with hanging heads
Ind ouivering TANKS and eyes yellow and
flaming ike the burning sand He was
conscious Of a tawny fiash-and a scream OF
mortal anguish. Then before him poised d
F3un-cllored death and he flung his arm about
The neck Of the woman and kissed her on the
ilDs. The fear rolled from HIM and he raised
ms head and folded his arms upon his naked
chest The head Of the woman was erect, and
be saw that her lips were parted IN smile
Then something huge and snarllng huTtled