le my own
tongue was black and swollen in my throat, then told Si, who had had
none all the afternoon, to drink half and leave half for Heru. Poor Si
put her aching lips to the cup and tilted it a little, then passed it
to her mistress. And Heru drank it all, and Si cried a few hot tears
behind her hands, FOR SHE HAD TAKEN NONE, and she knew it was her life!

Again picking a way through the courtyard, scarce noticing how the
beasts lifted their heads as I passed, I went instinctively, cup in
hand, to the well, and then hesitated. Was I a coward to leave Heru
so? Ought I not to stay and see it out to the bitter end? Well, I
would compound with Fate. I would give the malicious gods one more
chance. I would put the cup down again, and until seven drops had
fallen into it I would wait. That there might be no mistake about it,
no sooner was the mug in place under the nozzle wherefrom the moisture
beads collected and fell with infinite slowness, than my sword, on
which I meant to throw myself, was bared and the hilt forced into a
gaping crack in the ground, and sullenly contented to leave my fate so,
I sat down beside it.

I turned grimly to the spout and saw the first drop fall, then another,
and another later on, but still no help came. There was a long rift in
the clouds now, and a glare like that from an open furnace door was
upon me. I had noticed when I came to the spring how the comet which
was killing us hung poised exactly upon the point of a distant hill. If
he had passed his horrible meridian, if he was going from us, if he
sunk but a hair's breadth before that seventh drop should fall, I could
tell it would mean salvation.

But the fourth drop fell, and he was big as ever. The fifth drop fell,
and a hot, pleasing nose was thrust into my hand, and looking down I
saw a grey wolf had dragged herself across the court and was asking
with eloquent eyes for the help I could not give. The sixth drop
gathered, and fell; already the seventh was like a seedling pearl in
its place. The dying wolf yanked affectionately at my hand, but I put
her by and undid my tunic. Big and bright that drop hung to the spout
lip; another minute and it would fall. A beautiful drop, I laughed,
peering closely at it, many-coloured, prismatic, flushing red and pink,
a tiny living ruby, hanging by a touch to the green rim above; enough!
enough! The quiver of an eyelash would unhinge it now; and angry with
the life I already felt wa