The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-02
THE LADY OF THE HEAVENS.
Copyright, 1908. by H. Rider Haggard
N

for his brain reeled CT was bound here in my sleep. They will be back
 Her intelligence awoke. With a few swift cuts of the spear she held. Ra- chel severed his bonds, then picking up his own assegai that lay at his rect she thrust 1t into his numbed hand- As he took it the forest about them seemed to become alive, and from behind the boles of the trees around appeared number of dwarfs who ran towards them. headed by Eddo. Noie sprang forward aIso and stood at their side. Rachel turned OF Eddo swiftly as a. startled deer. She seemed to tower over him. the spear in her hand.
 What does this mean, Priest?" she asked
 "Inkosazana,' he answered humbly,
 1t means that I have found way to tempt thee from within the Wall where none might break the sanctuary Thou drewest this man to thee from far with strength that old Nya gave thee. We knew it all. we saw it all and we waited. Day by day in our bowls of dew we watched him coming nearer to thee. We heard the messages of Nya on the drums. bidding the Umkulu meet and escort him: we heard the last answering message from the bord- CTS of the desert. telling her that he was nigh. Then while he followed his magic path through the darkness of the forest we seized and bound him, knowing well that if he could not come to thee. thou wouldst come to him. And thou hast come"
 ''I understand. What now, Eddo?''
 "This, Inkosazana: Thou hast been named Mother of the Trees by the people of the Dwarfs: be pleased to come with us that we may install thee in thy great off1ce.''
 'This lord here." said Rachel. "is my promised husband. What of him ?''
 Eddo bowed and smiled. a fearful smile. and answered:
 sfThe Mother of the Trees has no husband. Wisdom is her husband. He has served his purpose, which was to draw thee from within the Wall. and for this reason only we permitted him to enter the holy forest living. Now he bides here to die. and since he has won thy love we will honour him with the White Death. Bind him to the tree again."
 In an instant the spear that Rachel held was at Eddo's throat.
 Dwarf" she cried, "this is my man, and am no Mother of Trees and no pale ghost. but living woman. Let but one of these monkeys of thine lay hand upon him. and thou diest, by the Red Death, Eddo, aye, by the Red Death. Stir a single inch. and this spear goes through thy heart. and thy spirit shall be spilled with thy blood.''
 The little priest sank to his knees trembling, glancing about him for a means of escape.
 eff thou killest me. thou diest also.' he missed.
 What do care if I die?' she an- swered. "If my man dies, I wish to take hold of him by one arm, and Noie. take the other. If he tries to escape kill him at once, or if you are afraid, will.''
 So they seized him by his arms.
 NOW said Rachel. 'let us go back to the Sanctuary. for there they dare not touch us. We cannot try the des- ert without water: also they would follow and kill us with their poisoned arrows. Tell them. Noie. that if they do not attempt to harm us. we will set this priest of theirs free within the Wall. But if a hand is lifted against us. then he dies at once-by the Red Death"
 Touch them not. touch them not" piped Eddo. Hest my ghost should be split with my blood. Touch them not, I command you"
 The company of dwarfs chattered to- gether like parrots at the dawn, and the march began First went Eddo, dragged between Richard and Noie, and after them, the raised spear in her hand. followed Rachel. while on either side. hiding themselves behind the boles of the trees. scrambled the people of the dwarfs. Back they went thus through the forest, Rachel telling them the road till at length the huge They came to the slit in it. and Noie asked:
 What shall we do now? Kill this priest, take him in with us as a host age. or let him go?'
 q said that he should be set free" answered Rachel, land he would do us more harm dead than living: also his blood would be on our hands. Take him through the Wall, and loose him there."
 So once more they passed the slopes and passages, while the muteS above watched from their stones with mar yelling eyes. till they reached the open space beyond, and there they 1oosed Eddo. The priest sprang back out of reach of the dreaded spears. and in voice thick with rage. cried to them:
 Fools. You should have killed me while you could. for now you are in great, but you cannot live without food. We may not enter here to hurt you, but you shall starve. you shall starve until you creep out and beg my 
 Then making signs to the dwarfs who sat about above, he vanished be- tween the stones.
 ..You should have killed him, Zoo1a," said Noie, flor now he will live to kill us.''
 .I think not, Sister, answered Ra- chel, "Nya-z said that I should follow my heart, and my heart bid me to let nm go. OuT ndnQS are CledII OI Ills blood. but if he had died. who can tell? Blood is a bad seed to sow.'
 Then. forgetting Eddo, she turned to Richard and began to ply him with questions.
 But he seemed to be dazed and could answer little. It was as thoueh some unnatural. supporting strength had been withdrawn, and now all the fati- gues of his fearful journey were talk ing effect upon him. He could scarce ly stand, but reeled to and fro like a man in drink, so that the two women were obliged to support him across the burial ground towards the cave. Ad- vancing thus they entered into the shadow of the Holy Tree, and there at the edge of it met another procession descending from the mound. Eight