The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-03-18
CHAPTER XVIII. (continued).

Again he failed to answer. Some
where near him he heard slight
noise as Of man moving impatiently;
and then a 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 YET" rang the bell. Hear
ye, 0 lords and rulers in Medhyama!
% children of my Gateway, hear We
well! He is come! He stands upon
the threshold of the Gateway"
A great drum reared like the crack
of doom; and Amber's jaw dropped.
For in the high roof of the temple a
ssix-foot slab had been noiselessly
Withdrawn, and through 1t cold shaft
of moonlight fell, cutting the gloom
like gigantic rapier, and smote with
Its Immaculate radiance the true
Gateway Of Swords.
Not six PAGES from him 1t leaped
out 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 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. curtain of
shimmering. trembling steel, barring
the waysto the mystery beyond. Which
was-darkness.
20 We swords!" belled the voice.
"O-ye 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
.Jehan! 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
-shiver. clashing their neighbors, until
the curtain Of steel glimmered and
.glistened like phOsphorescence in a
summer sea, and the place was filled
with the music of their contact; and
through their clamor doomed the bell:
20 my chosen!" Amber started and
held himself firmly in hand. Look
well, look we'll! Here is thy portal to
kingship and glory!"
He frowned and took a step forward
as If he would throw himself through
the archway: for he had suddenly re-
membered with compelling vividness
that Sophia Farrell was to be won
only by that passage. But as he
moved the swords clattered afresh and
swung outwards. presenting a bristle
OF points. And he stopped, while the
voice, Indifferent and remote as al
ways. continued to harangue him.
'-If thy heart, Q my chosen, be clean,
unsullied with fear and guile; If thy
faith be the faith Of thy fathers and
thy honor rooted In love of thy land
IL thou hast faith in the strength of
thy hands to hold the reins of empire
enter, having no fear"
"Trick-work." he told himself He
set his teeth with determination
Hope they don't see fit to cut me to
pieces on suspicion. Here goes" He
moved forward with firm step until
his bosom all but touched the points.
Instantaneously. with another clash
as of cymbals, the blades were de-
aected and returned to their first po-
ssition, closing the way. He hesitated.
Then. THAT shau't stop mel" he said
through his teeth. and pushed forward.
heart in mouth. He breasted the cur
tain and felt it give: the blades yield