f-way here it died
altogether. Had it not been for the wire of the 'thing-that-speaks'
which guided me, I could never have reached you. I should have been lost
in the darkness of the city and perished alone among the ghosts."

"Well, you are here now," said Oliver. "Have you anything to report?"

"Nothing, lord, or at least very little. I moved some of the small rocks
that we piled up, and crept down the hole till I came to a place where
the blessed light of day fell upon me, only one little ray of it, but
still the light of day. I think that something has fallen upon the
tunnel and broken it, perhaps one of the outer walls of the palace.
At least I looked through a crack and saw everywhere ruins--ruins that
still smoke. From among them I heard the voices of men shouting to each
other.

"One of them called to his companion that it was strange, if the
Gentiles and the Child of Kings had perished in the fire, that they had
not found their bones which would be known by the guns they carried. His
friend answered that it was strange indeed, but being magicians, perhaps
they had hidden away somewhere. For his part he hoped so, as then sooner
or later they would be found and put to death slowly, as they deserved,
who had led astray the Child of Kings and brought so many of the
heaven-descended Abati to their death. Then fearing lest they should
find and kill me, for they drew near as I could tell by their voices, I
crept back again, and that is all my story."

We said nothing; there seemed to be nothing to say, but sat in our sad
circle and watched the dying lamp. When it began to flicker, leaping up
and down like a thing alive, a sudden panic seized poor Japhet.

"O Walda Nagasta," he cried, throwing himself at her feet, "you have
called me a brave man, but I am only brave where the sun and the stars
shine. Here in the dark amongst so many angry spirits, and with hunger
gnawing at my bowels, I am a great coward; Joshua himself is not such a
coward as I. Let us go out into the light while there is yet time. Let
us give ourselves up to the Prince. Perhaps he will be merciful and
spare our lives, or at least he will spare yours, and if we die, it will
be with the sun shining on us."

But Maqueda only shook her head, whereon he turned to Orme and went on:

"Lord, would you have the blood of the Child of Kings upon your hands?
Is it thus that you repay her for her love? Lead her forth. No harm will
come to her who otherwise