Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-09-06
HE DDONZEp
BELL ~ - \
DyEOUIS JOSEPH WANCE 4 J
AUTHOR or @TFfE BRASS BOWL" ETC. o
llys1IAAU1OHgs BY DAM TlNlIQRS
AUTHOR OF @TFfE BRASS BOWL" ETC.

and lifting its head 70 ne leapin5
fame: an immense cobra, sleek and
white as ivory, its swelling hood as
large as a mans two hands, with
binocular mark on It as yellow as topaz
and with vicious eyes glowing like
twin rubles in its 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 were
fairly of 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 no sound. Alone and I'M
disturbed the bleached viper warmed
20 its dance with the pulsing fame,
turning and twisting, weaving and
writing in its internal glare. d.
Hear ye, o my peoplesl"
Amber jumped, The voice had
seemed TO ring out from a point d.
rectly overhead.
lie Looked up and discovered above
him. vague in the ohscurity, the out
lines OF gigantic bell hanging mo-
tioHless. The green glare, shining on
It's rim end partly illuminating its
empty hollow Che saw no clapper) re.
yealed the shecn OF bronze OF which
Il was fashioned.
Out OF its immense bowl, the voice
rolled Ike thunder;
Hear ye, 0 M peoplcs!'
A responsive murmur assembled from
the company round the walls:
I'VE heart We hear, o Medhyama!"
Mark well this man. 0 children Of
my Gateway Mark WE'LL Out Of ye
all have chosen-him to lead thee in
the work Of healing; for thy mother,
l Medhyama, I Bharuta, I the body
from which We are sprung, call me by
Whatever name We know mel am laid
low with q great sickness. &.
Yea. ! am stricken and laid low with
a sickness"
In the brazier the fame leaped high
and sShsided, and with It the cobra
leaped and sank low uron its coils.
u, thine old mother, have called We
together to holp in my healing. From
nay feet 20 my head | am eaten with
pestilence; yea, I am devoured and
possessed by tho evil, Even of old
was it thus with thy mother; long
since she complained of the Plague
that is Scarlet--moaned and cried out
and turned in her misery. But
ye failed me Then my peoples were
weaklings ard their hearts all were
craven; the Scarlet Evil dismayed
them; they fed from its power and
left It to batten on me in my sick
ness"
A deep groGa welled in uncounted
throats and resounded through the
cavern
win We fail me again, o my chill
dren?"
NAY, nay, 0 our motherl"
TOO long have I suffered and been
patient in silence. Now / must be
claansed and made whole as of old
time; yea, I must be purged altogeth-
er and the evil cast out from me. 1t
IS time, Yo have heard, ye
have answered; make ready, for the
day OF the cleansing approached
Whst thy swords for the days OF the
healing, for my cleansing can be but
by steel. Yea, thy swords shall DO
away with the evil, and the land shall
run red with the blood of Bharuta, the
blood OF thy mother; It shall run to
the sea as q river bearing with 1t the
Red Evil. So and no otherwise shall
/, thine old mother, be healed and made
whole again"
Amber was Watching the serpent
dazed and weary as if with a great
need Of sleep, Even the salvos of
shouts came TO him as from great
distance. To the clangor OF the bell
alone he had become abnormally sen
sitlve; every fiber Of his being shud-
dered, responsive to its weird nuances.
1t returned TO its solemn and stately
intoning.
"Out of We all have 7 chosen and
fixed upon one who shall lead we.
Through his shall my strength be
made manifest, my will be made
known to my peoples. His must We
serve and obey; to him must ye bow
down and be humble. Say, are ye
pleased? Will We have him, my chill
dren?"
Without an instant's delay cry
Of ratification rang to the roof "Yea,
o our mother! him we will serve and
obey, TO him bow down and be
humble"
The voice addressed itself directly
TO the kneeling man. He stinened and
reused.
Thou hast heard OF the honor wa
confer upon thee-I Medhyama, thy
mother and these my children, thy
brothers. Ye shall lead and rule in
Bharuta. Are ye ready?"
Half hypnotized, Amber opened his
mouth, but no words came His chin
dropped 20 his breast