The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-09-28
CHAPTEH XVIII. (Contlnued) &.

Again he failed to answer. Some
where near him he heard slight
noise as Of a man moving impatiently;
and then whisper: Respond. thou
fool"
art thou come, o chosen Of the
Gateway" the bell-voice rang.
Il am come" Amber man
aged to reply.
Hear vel" rang the bell. Hear
ye, o lords and rulers in Medhyama!
o children Of my Gateway. hear ye
well! He Is come! He stands upon
the threshold Of the Gateway"
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withdrawn, and through 1t cold shaft
of moonlight fell, cutting the gloom
like a gigantic rapier. and smote with
its Immaculate radiance the true
Gateway of Swords.
Not six PAGES from him 1t leaped
olt OF the darkness in an iridescent
sheen an arch scant ten feet In
height, and in span double the width
OF big mans shoulders, woven across
like a weaver's frame with ribbons Of
pale fire. But the ribbons were OF
steel--steel blades sharp, bright,
cleaning. With their pommels cum
ningly affixed so that their points
touched and interlaced, yet swung
free, they lined the piers OF the arch
from base to span and all the grace
full sweep of the intrados, a curtain OF
shimmering, trembling steel. barring
the way to the mystery beyond. Which
was darkness.
30 ye swords!" belled the voice.
20 we swords that have known
no dishonor o we swords that have
sung in the grasp OF my greatest!
Swords Of Jehangar, Akbar, Alamgir!
Swords OF Alludin, Humayun, Shah
Jehar Swords Of Timur-Leng. Arung-
zeb, Rao Rutton! :"
The invocation seemed intermina-
BILE. Amber recognized almost every
name noted In the annals and legends
of Hindustan.
"Hearken, o 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 q
summer sea, and the place was filled
with tho music of their contact; and
through their clamor doomed the bell:
20 my chosen!" Amber started and
held himself firmly in hand. Lock
well, look WE'LL Here is thy portal to
kingship and glory"
He frowned and took a step forward
| as II he would throw himself through
the archway; for he had suddenly re-
membered with compelling vividnesr
that Sophia Farrell was to be won
only by that passage. But as he
moved the swords clattered afresh and
swung outwards, presenting a bristl0
of points. And he stopped, while thu
voice, Indifferent and remote as al
ways, continued to harangue him,
"If thy heart, o my chosen, be clean
unsullied with fear and guile; II 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"
"Trickwork," he told himself. HI
set his teeth with determination
Hope they don't see fit to cut me tt
pieces on suspicion. Here goes" HI
moved forward with firm step unit
his bosom all but touched the points
Instantaneousiy, with another clasl
AS Of cymbals, the blades were de
fected and returned to their FIRST pc
sition, closing the way. lie hesitated
Then, THAT shal't stop me-" he sal,
through his teeth, and pushed forward
heart In mouth. He breasted the cuI
tain and felt 1t give; the blades yield