ad's back, a single
wisp of thin grey hair strayed; in her eyes was the unmistakeable light
of madness, while the nails of her outstretched fingers were as sharp and
long as the talons of some beast of prey. So weird and repulsive-looking
was she that I stood before her dumbfounded.

"Ah!" she shrieked to me exultantly, in a harsh, rasping voice, "I have
killed them--drowned them all, the accursed spies and renegades! The
traitor Kouaga captured me as I fled for life from the city-gate, and
promising me release and safe escort from this land of evil spirits in
return for the secret of the Treasure-house, I recklessly gave it to him,
on condition that his armed men should assist me to recover my lost
position as Queen of Mo. I promised to forget the past and take him back
into my favour. But, securing my jewels, he conveyed them to his Arab
master at Koussan, and left me alone, deposed and ruined. May Zomara
crush and torture him, the traitor!" Then, turning with wild gesture
towards the lake, now a great sheet of placid water, her hands clutched
convulsively, her eyes starting as if she saw, in her disordered
imagination, a host of her enemies, she cried: "This, at last, is the
hour of my revenge! I have drawn the lever, and while they were below
with you they were drowned like rats in a hole!" And she gave vent to a
short, dry laugh, exclaiming: "They refused to assist me to tear the
usurper from the Emerald Throne, so I have killed them. My work is
finished! I have reigned and have been deposed; I have striven for the
people, and have been rewarded by their curses; I have----"

At this moment, determined to carry her back to the city, I sprang
forward and gripped her lean, bony arms. With colossal strength,
engendered by insanity, she fought and bit, shrieking and showering
imprecations upon me, it requiring all my strength to hold her; but
presently she became quiet again, uttering long strings of rapid
incoherent words that plainly showed the hopeless state of her mind.

Thus walking, we gained the edge of the lake, and having passed the
cascade were skirting the river when, with a suddenness that took me
completely by surprise, she slipped from my grasp, and with a wild
exclamation dashed towards the warm, oozy bank.

Next second I noticed that the waters were alive with the sacred
reptiles, but ere I could reach her she threw up her long, thin arms, and
uttering an unearthly yell, plunged in.

A dozen hideous