The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-08-24

Hope they don't see fit to cut me to
pieces on suspicion. Here goes" He
moved forward with a firm step until
his bosom all but touched the points.
Instantaneously. With another clash
as Of cymbals, the blades were de-
fected and returned to their first po-
sition, closing way. He hesitated
Then. That shan't stop me-" he said
through his teeth, and pushed forward.
heart In mouth. He breasted the cur
tain and felt 1t give: the blades yield
ed jealousy. closing round his body
like cold, caressing arms; he felt their
chill kisses on his Cheeks and hands.
even through his clothing he was o n
scious of their %clinging, deadly touch.
Abruptly they swung entirely free.
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 light.
He jumped for his life and escaped
being slashed to pieces by the barest
inch. They swung to behind him;
and again the drum roared, while afar
there arose a furious, eldritch wailing
Of conches. Overhead the opening
disappeared and the light was shut
out. In darkness as of the Hall OF
Eblis the conches We're stilied and
the echoes ebbed into q silence that
held sway for many minutes ere again
the bell spoke.
Stretch forth thy hand"
Somewhat shaken, Amber held out
an open palm before him. Then out
OF n~othingness something plopped into
Amber's hand and his fingers closed
convulsivcly about It. 1t was q hand.
very small, small as a child's, gnarlsd
and hard as steel and cold as Toe.
Without Any forewarning two heavy
hands grippsd him. one On either
shoulder, and he was forced to his
knees. At the same instant, with .
swapping crackle . squirt Of blue flame
shot down from the zenith, and where
Il fell with a thunderclap a dazzling
glare Of emerald light shot up breast
high.
To his half blinded eyes It seemed.
for a time, to dance suspended In the
air before him. A vapor swirlsd up
from II, a thin cloud. luminous. BY
degrees he made out it's source, .
small. brazen bowl on a tripod.
In front of him he could SEQ moth
ing beyond the noiselessly waver1ng
flame. But presently a hand appeared.
as II by magic, above the bowl-a
hand. bony, brown and long of finger.
that seemed attached to nothing-and
cast something like a powder into tho
fire. There followed a flzz and pun Of
vapor. and a strong and heavy gust OF
incense was waited into Ambsr's face.
Again and again the hand appeared.
s~prinkling powder In the brazier. UNI
I'll the smoke clouded the atmosphere
with its fluent, sddying coils.
The g~oosefesh that had pricked out
on Amber's skin subsided, and his
Qualms vent with 1t. Greek fire burn
ing in the bowl" he explained the phe-
nomenon; and q native with his arm
wrapped to the wrist in black is feed
ing 1t. Not a bad effect, though"
1t was, perhaps, as we'll that he had
not been deceived, for there was a
horror to come that required all his
strength to face. He became con-
scious that something was moving be-
tween him and the Understanding
which he had incuriously assumed to
be a piece OF dirty cloth left there
carelessly. But o he saw 1t stir,
squirm, and upend, unfolding itself
and lifting it's head to the loaping
flame; an immense cobra, sleek and
white as ivory, its swelling hood az
large as a mans two hands, with q
binocular mark on it as yellow as topaz
and with vicious 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
Instructive move had been provided
against and before his knees we're
fairly off the rocky floor he was forced
down again by the hands on his shout
ders. He was unable to take his eyes
from the monster, and though terror
such as man is heir to lay cold upon
his heart, he did not again attempt TO
stir.
There was M sound. Alone and In
disturbed the bleaohed viper warmed
to It's dance with the pulsing flame,
turning and twisting, weaving and
writhing in It's Internal glare. :.
Hear ye, o my peoples!"
Amber jumped. The voice had
seemed to ring out from q point d.
rectly overhead.