Gilpin observer., 1912-01-18

him, vague In the obscurity, the out
lines OF gigantic bell. hanging mo-
tionless. The green glare, shining on
It's rim and partly Illuminating its
empty hollow Che saw no clapper) re-
vealed the sheen of bronze of which
1t was fashioned.
Out Of its immense bowl. the voice
rolled like thunder:
Hear ye. o my peoples!"
responsive mur,nur ascended from
the company round tho walls:
I'VE hear! We hear. o Medhyama!"
Mark well this manc O 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.
Medhyama. Bharuta, the body
from which ye are sprung. call me by
whatever name ye know mel am laid
low with a great sickness.
Yea, l am stricken and laid low with
q sickness"
In the brazier the flame leaped high
and subsided. and with It the cobra
leaped and sank low upon its coils.
II. thine old mother. have called ye
together to help in my healing. From
my feet to my head 1 am eaten with
pestilence; yea. am devoured and
possessed by the evil. Even of old
was 1t 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
weddings and 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 groan welled in uncounted
throats and resounded through the
cavern.
VIII ye fail me again. o my chill
oren?"
May. nay, o our mother!"
TOO long have l suffered and been
patient in silence. Now / must be
cleansed and made whole as Of old
time; yea. must be purged altogeth-
er and the evil cast out from me. 1t
is time. Ye have heard, ye
have answered: make ready, for the
day of the cleansing approacheth.
Whet 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: 1t shall run to
the sea as river. bearing with 1t the
Red Evil. So and no otherwise shall
l. thine old mother, be healed and made
whole again.
Amber was watching the serpent
dazed and weary as II with a great
need Of sleep. Even the salvos OF
shouts came to him as from a great
distance. To the clangor OF the bell
alone he had become abnormally SEN
sitive: every fiber OF his being shud-
rdered. responsive to its weird nuances.
It returned to its solemn and stately
intoning.
out OF ye all have I chosen and
fixed upon one who shall lead ye.
Through his shall my strength be
made manifest. my will be made
known to my peoples. His must ye
serve and obey; to him must ye bow
down and be humble. Say. are ye
pleased? VIII ye have him. my chill
dren?"
Without an instant's delay a 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 stiffened and
reused.
Thou hast heard Of the honor we
confer upon thee-I Medhyama, thy
mother. and these my children. thy
brothcrA Ye shall lead and rule in
Bharuta. Are ye ready?"
Half hypnotized. Amber opened his
mouth. but no words came. His chin
dropped to his breast.
"Thy strength must be known to my
peoples: they must see thee put to the
proof thy courage. that they may know
thee to be the man for their.
Ye are ready?"
He was unable to move a finger.
Stretch out thine arms!"
He shuddered and tried to obey.
The voice rang imperative.
Stretch forth thine arms for the
testing!"
Somehow, mechanically. he succeed
ed In raising his arms and holding
them rigid before him. Alarmed by
the movement, the cobra turned with
hiss. waving his poisonous head. But
the Virginian made no offer to with
draw his hands. His eyes were wide
and staring and his face liyid.
A subdued murmur came from the
men clustered round the idols in
semi-darkness.
The bell doomed forth like an organ.
20 hooded death. o death.
who art trained to my service! Thou
before whom all men stand affrighted!
Thou who canst look into their hearts
and read them as a scroll that Is un-
rolled. Look deep into the
| heart Of my chosenl iidRa IL ha ha