Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-24

slopes and windings. Above them they
could hear the movements of the guard
ians of the wall who sat among the rough
stones, but these did not try to stop them:
indeed once or twice when they did not
know which way to turn in the darkness,
little hands took hold of Rachels cloak
and guided her. So they passed through
the wall In safety Outside of it Rachel
paused a moment, looking this way and
that Then of a sudden she turned, and
walked swiftly toward the south.
1t was dark. densely dark i'm the forest
vet she never seemed to lose her path
Holding Mole by the hand she wound in
stumbling or even striking her foot
against a root. For an hour or more they
walked on this, the strangest of strange
journeys, till at length Rachel whispered:
Something tells me to stay here and
she leaned against tree and stayed,
while Mole who was tired, sat down be-
tween the jutting roots of the tree.
1t was dead tree, and the top of it
had been torn off in some hurricane so
that they could see the sky above them
and by the gray hue of it knew that it
was drawing near to dawn.
The sun rose. and its arrows. that even
at midday could never pass the canopy
of foliage shot straight and vivid be-
tween the tall bare trunks. Oh! Rachel
knew the place. 1t was that place which
she had dreamed of as child in the is
land of the flooded river. Just had
the light of the rising sun fallen on the
bOles of the great trees. and on her white
and on another. She strained her eyes
into the gloom. Now those rays pierced
1T also. and now by them she saw the
yellow-bearded. half-naked man of that
long-dead dream leaning a9inst the
tree His eyes We're shut, without doubt
he was dead. this was but a vision of
him who had drawn her hither to share
his death. 1t was the spirit of Richard
Darrien!
She drew a little nearer. and the eyes
opened. gazing at her. Also from that
form of his was cast a long shadow
there it lay upon the dead leaves. How
came it. she wondered. that a spirit could
throw a shadow. and why was a spirit
bound to a tree as now she perceived he
was? He saw her, and in those gray eyes
Of his there came wonderful look. He
spoke.
You have drawn me from far. Rachel
but / have never seen all of you before.
only your face floating in the air before
me. although others saw you Now l see
you also. so l suppose that my time has
come 1t will soon be over. Wait little
there, where I can look at you, and
presently we shall be together again.
am glad"
Rachel could not speak. A lump rose
in her throat and choked her. Betwixt
fear and hope her heart stood still. Only
with the spear in her hand she pointed
at her own shadow thrown by the level
rays of the rising sun. He looked. and
notwithstanding the straitness Of his
bonds. she saw him start.
IF you are a ghost why have you
shadow" he asked hoarsely. "And If
you are not a ghost. how did you come
into this haunted place."
Still Rachel did not seem to be able to
speak Only she glided up to him and
he understOod-they both understood that
they were still living creatures beneath
the sky. not the denixens of some dim
world which lies beyond.
Free me- he said in a faint voice. for
his brain reeled. Il was bound here In
my sleep. They will be back presently"
Her intelligence awoke. With few
swift cuts of the spear she held. Rachel
assegai that lay at his feet 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 toward them. headed by Eddo.
Mole sprang forward also and stood at
their side. Rachel turned on Eddo swift
ly as startled deer. She seemed to tow
er over him. the spear in her hand.
What does this mean, priest?' she
asked.
'Inkosaza he answered humbIy, lit
means that l have found way to tempt
thee from within the wall where none
might break thy sanctuary. Thou drewest
this man to thee from far with strength
that old Nya gave thee. We knew 1t
all, we saw 1t 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 Umkuu meet and escort him: we
heard the last answering message from
the border 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
we'll that If he could not come to thee
thou wouldst come to him. And thou hast
come
II 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 Of
fee"
This lord here" said Rachel, sis my
promised husband. What of him.
Edo bowed and smiled, fearful smile,
and answered.:
..The Mother of the Trees has no hus-
band 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
to die. and since he has won thy love we
will honor him with the white death.
Bind him to the tree again."
In an instant the spear that Rachel
held was at Eddos throat.
Dwarf she cried. this is my man,
and am no Mother of Trees and no pale
ghost. but a living woman. Let but one
of these monkeys of thine lay a 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 trem-
bling. glancing about him for a means of
escape.
IF thou killest me thou diest ALSO" he
Kissed.
What do l care if die?' she answer
ed. IF my man dies ! wish to die,
hold of him by one arm, and. Mole. take
the other II 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 MS go back
to the sanctuary. for there they dare not
touch us. We cannot try the desert with
out water also they would follow and kill
us with their poisoned arrows. Tell them,
Mole. that If they do not attempt to
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. lest my ghost should be
spilled with my blood. Touch them not,
l command YOU
The company of dwarfs chartered to-
gether like parrots at the dawn. and the
march began First went Eddo dragged
along between Richard and Mole. and
after them. the raised spear i'm her hand,
fall phnt -1,i1 snif t,nr 81 do