Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05

way?" the Bell-voice rang
81 / am come" Amber managed
to reply. And so still and small sounded
his own voice In the huge spaces of the
place that he was surprised to find he
had been heard.
Hear YET" rang the Bell. Hear ye,
Q, Lords and Rulers in Medhyama. O..
Children Of my Gateway. hear We we'll.
He is come. He stands upon the thresh-
old of the Gateway!
,, Resonant, the echoes OF those awe-in-
spring tones died upon the stiffness, and
i'm response a faint signing rose and, mo-
! mentarily growing in volume, became as
the roaring of a mighty wind. and sud
denly it was abrupted. leaving only a
ringing In the ears.
A great drum roared like the crack of
Doom, and Amber's jaw dropped. For in
the high roof of the temple a six-foot
slab had been noiselessly withdrawn. and
| through it a cold shaft of moonlight fell.
cutting the gloom like gigantic napier,
and smote with its immaculate radiance
the true Gateway of Swords.
Not six PAGES from him 1t leaped out
OF the darkness In an iridescent sheen
an arch scant ten feet in height, and
| In span double the width of big man
shoulders, woven across like a weaver S
frame with ribbons Of pale fire. But the
ribbons were of steel-steel blades, sharp.
bright. gleaming-a countless array OF
curved tulWars and crescent sclmlters,
broad jataghans. short and ugly ku-
kurees. long kutars with straight ends,
slender deadly patas, snakelike bichwas;
| swords with jeweled hits and engraved
and damascened blades: sabers with chan
nels cut from point to guard wherein
small pearls ran singing; khands built for
service and for parade: swords Of every
style and period in all the history OF
India. With their pommels cunningly af-
fixed SO that their points touched and in
terlaced, yet swung free, they lined the
piers of the arch from base to span and
all the graceful sweep of the intrados. a
curtain of shimmering, trembling steel,
barring the way to the Mystery beyond.
Which Was--darkness.
20, we Swords!' belled the Voice.
80, We Swords that have known no dis
honor! 0. We Swords that have sung IN
the grasp Of my greatest! Swords OF
Jehangar. Akbar. Alamgir! SWORDS OF
Alludin. Humayun Shah Jehan. Swords
" =. "'uf :i1eAe' "a 'Ae
The invocation seemed interminable
Amber recognized almost every name
noted in the annals and legends of Hin
"Hearken, 0. my Swords! He, thy
Chosen. prayeth for entry! WHAT is thy
welcome?"
One by one the blades began to SILVER.
clashing their neighbors. until the curtain
Of steel glimmered and glistened like
phosphorescence in a summer sea. and
the place was filed with the music of
their contact, and through thelf ciamor
doomed the Bell:
80. my Chosen Amber started and
held himself firmly in hand. Look WELL
look we'll, Here is thy portal to kingship
and glory"
He frowned and took a step forward as
if he would throw himself through the
archway, for he had suddenly remem-
bered with compelling vlvidness that So
phia Farrell was to be won only by that
pa ssaxe But as he moved the swords
clattered afresh and swung outward.
presenting bristle of points And he
stopped, while the Voice, Indifferent and
remote as always. continued to harangue
him.
IF thy heart. 0. my Chosen. be clean,
unsullied with fear and guile: IL thy
faith be the faith of thy fathers and thy
honor rooted in love of thy land; If thou
hast faith in the strength of thy hands
to hold the reins of Empire enter.
having no fear"
'.Trick-work," he told himself. He set
his teeth with determination. Hope they
don't see fit to cut me to pieces on sus-
picion> Here goes" He moved forward
with firm step until his bosom all but
touched the points.
Instantaneousiy, with another clash as
of cymbals, the blades were DETECTED and
returned to their first position. closing
shan't stop me!' he said. through his
teeth. and pushed forward, heart in
mouth. He breasted the curtain and felt
1t give: the blades yielded jealously clos
ing round his body like cold ~caressing
arms: he felt their chill kisses on his
cheeks and hands, even through his cloth
ing he was conscious of their clinging,
deadly touch. Abruptly they swung en-
tirely away, leaving the entrance clear.
and he was drawing a free breath when
the moon glare showed him the swords
returned to position with the speed OF