Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-06
CHAPTER XvIII-Continued.

Cddf LEN a Vx4x-OOuCluutU.
Amber sunk his teeth into his lower lip
and subdued an almost uncomfortable i'm
pulse to scream and fling the thing
away for his sense OF touch told him
that the hand was dead. And yet ne be-
came sensible that it was Juggling at his
own. and he yielded to its persuasion.
permitting himself to be led on for so long
a journey that his fingers ciasping the lit
tie hand grew numb with cold ere 1t was
over. He could by no means say whittier
he was being conducted. but was con-
scious of a long. gradual descent. Many
times he swept his free arm out round
him. but touched nothing.
Abruptly the guiding hand was twisted
away. He stopped incontinently. and pos
sessed himself with what patience he
could muster throughout another long
wait tempered by strange sibilant wills
perings and rustiings in the void all about
him.
Without any forewarning two heavy
hands gripped him. one on either snoul-
der. and he was forced to his knees Al
the same instant, with swapping crackle
squirt of blue flame shot down from
the zenith, and where it fell with
thunderclap a dazzling glare of emerald
light shot up breast high.
To his half blinded eyes 1t seemed. Tor
time, to dance suspended in the air be-
fore him. A vapor swirled up from it, a
thin cloud. luminous. BY degrees ne
made out it's source, small, brazen boWi
on a tripod.
A confusion of hushed voices swelled
as had the sound of that mighty. rushing,
| impalpable wind, and died more slowly.
Conscious that his features were In
| strong light, he strove to exhibit an I'M
passiveness that belied his temper. then
| glancing round beneath lowered eyelids
| he sought to determine something of the
nature of his surroundings. but could see
| little The hands had left his shoulders
| the minute his knees touched the moor.
he knet utterly alone in the middle or
what seemed to be a vast hall. or cavern,
of which the size was but family sug-
gested. AS his eyes became accustomed
| to the chiaroscuro he became aware OF
monstrous images of stone that appeared
| to advance from and retreat to the far
| walls on either hand as the green nght
| fared and fell, and of great Silent ahd
| motionless concourse or people groupeu
| about the massive pedestals-a crowd as
! contained and impressive as the gods that
| lowered above its heads, blending into
the gloom that shrouded the high roof OF
| the place.
In front of him he could see nothing be-
yond the noiselessly wavering flame. But
presently a hand appeared. as II by
! magic, above the bowl-a hand, bony,
brown and long of finger. that seemed at
tached to nothing-and cast something
| like a powder 1HIO the III lhCiC vi
lowed a fizz and puff of vapor. and a
strong and heady gust of incense was
| waited, into, Amber's face. Again and
! again the hand appeared, sprinknng pow
der in the brazier, until the smoke
clouded the atmosphere with Its fluent,
| eddying coils.
The goosefesh that had pricked out on
Amber's skin subsidized and his auaims
| went with 1t. Greek fire burning In
bowl. he explained the phenomenon;
| land a native with his arm wrapped to
| the wrist in black is feeding II. MOI q
bad effect, though"
| 1t was, perhaps, as we'll that he had
not been deceived. for there was horror
| to come that required all his strength to
| face. He became conscious that some
thing was moving between him and the
| bra which he had incuri-
ously assumed to be piece OF dlrty
i cloth left there carelessly. But now ne
saw it stir, squirm and upend, unfolding
| itself and lifting it's head to the leaping
fame-an immense cobra, sleek and Wnlte
! as ivory, it's swelling hood as large as
| mans two hands, with a binocular marx
| on it as yellow as topaz. and with VI
| cious eyes glowing like twin rubies in It's
vile little head.
! Amber's breath clicked In his throat
and he shrank back, rising; but this an
| stinctive move had been provided against,
| and before his knees were fairly on the
| rocky floor he was forced down again by
| the hands on his shoulders. He was uii-
| able to take his eyes from the monster.
and though terror such as man is heir 10
| lay cold upon his heart, ne dio hot dsaii'
| attempt to stir.
There was now no sound. Alone and
undisturbed the bleached viper warmed to
its dance with the pulsing fame, turning
and twisting. weaving and Wrlthlng in
| it's internal glare.
Hear We, Q, my peoples!
Amber jumped. The Voice had seemed
| to ring out from point directly over
| head.
| He looked lid and discovered above him.
| vague in the obscurty. the outlines of a
gigantic BELL hanging motionless Inc
| green glare, shining on its rim and parity
| illumining its empty hollow me saw nc
clapper). revealed the sheen Of the bronze
! of which 1T was fashioned.
| Out of it's immense bowl the Voice
| rolled like thunder:
Hear We, o my peopleS!
A responsive murmur assembled from the
company round the walls:
1--WE hear! We hear, 0 Medhyama"
Mark we'll this man, 0 Children OF
my Gateway. Mark well! Out OF We all
| have l chosen him to lead thee In the
| Medhyama, ] Bharuta, 1 the Body from
which We are sprung, call me by what
ever name We know mel am laid low
with a great sickness. Yea. am
stricken and laid low with sickness.
A great and bitter wailing arose from
| the multitude.
Yea. I am overcome with faintness,
| and my strength Is gone out from me,
| and my limbs are as water; l am SICK
| with a fever and languish; IN my veins
| runs the Evil like fire and like poison'
| and l burn and am stricken; toss In my
| torment and murmur, ana the souiid VI
| my Voice has come to thine ears. ie
| have heard me and answered. Inc .aie
| of my sufferings is known to We. say
| shall I pe2:sn?'
/ and subsidized, and with it the cobra
| leaned and sank low upon its coils FROM
| the people a mighty sSout Of negation
| went nn so that the walls aeng ws-:s 1t,
and tHe echoes were banded back and
| forth. insensibly decreasing through many
minutes When all was still the Voice
| began to chant again, and the names
blazed higher and brighter. while the
| cobra resumed its mystic dance.
Archer knelt on In a semi-stupor, star
| ing classify at the light and the serpent
II. thine old Mother, have called We to-
eether to help in my healing. From my
feet to my head l am eaten with pesti-
! lence. YEA | am devOured and possessed
nv the Evil Even of old was 1t thus
with thy Mother: long since she COM
| blamed of the Plague that Is Scarlet
moaned and cried out and turned in her
misery. =. But ye failed me. Then
| hearts all were craven; the Scarlet Evil
dismayed them: they fled from its power
and left it to batten on me in my sick
ness.
deep groan welled in uncounted
threats and resounded through the
cavern.
dren?'
Nay, nay, o our Mother"
..,Too long have | suffered and been pa