ile a live
momentary smile. I never doubted it an illusion, yet believed what it
said: I should yet see her alive! It was not she, it was I who was lost,
and she would find me!

I rose to go after the Little Ones, and instinctively sought the gate
by which we had entered. I looked around me, but saw nothing of the
leopardess.

The street was rapidly filling with a fierce crowd. They saw me
encumbered with my dead, but for a time dared not assail me. Ere I
reached the gate, however, they had gathered courage. The women began
to hustle me; I held on heedless. A man pushed against my sacred burden:
with a kick I sent him away howling. But the crowd pressed upon me, and
fearing for the dead that was beyond hurt, I clasped my treasure closer,
and freed my right arm. That instant, however, a commotion arose in the
street behind me; the crowd broke; and through it came the Little Ones I
had left in the palace. Ten of them were upon four of the elephants; on
the two other elephants lay the princess, bound hand and foot, and quite
still, save that her eyes rolled in their ghastly sockets. The two other
Little Ones rode behind her on Lona's horse. Every now and then the wise
creatures that bore her threw their trunks behind and felt her cords.

I walked on in front, and out of the city. What an end to the hopes with
which I entered the evil place! We had captured the bad princess, and
lost our all-beloved queen! My life was bare! my heart was empty!

CHAPTER XXXVII. THE SHADOW

A murmur of pleasure from my companions roused me: they had caught sight
of their fellows in the distance! The two on Lona's horse rode on to
join them. They were greeted with a wavering shout--which immediately
died away. As we drew near, the sound of their sobs reached us like the
breaking of tiny billows.

When I came among them, I saw that something dire had befallen them: on
their childish faces was the haggard look left by some strange terror.
No possible grief could have wrought the change. A few of them came
slowly round me, and held out their arms to take my burden. I yielded
it; the tender hopelessness of the smile with which they received it,
made my heart swell with pity in the midst of its own desolation. In
vain were their sobs over their mother-queen; in vain they sought to
entice from her some recognition of their love; in vain they kissed and
fondled her as they bore her away: she would not wake! On each side one
carried an ar