nd another day and part of still another night.

"What does she say?" Drake stared anxiously into my whitened face. I
told him.

"Yes." Norhala spoke again. "The dusk before the last dusk that has
passed I returned to my house. The maid was there and sorrowing. She
told me you had gone into the valley, prayed me to help you and to bring
you back. I comforted her, and something of--the peace--I gave her; but
not all, for she fought against it. A little we played together, and I
left her sleeping. I sought you and found you also sleeping. I knew no
harm would come to you, and I went my ways--and forgot you. Then I came
here again--and found Yuruk and these the maid had slain."

The great eyes flashed.

"Now do I honor the maid for the battle that she did," she said, "though
how she slew so many strong men I do not know. My heart goes out to her.
And therefore when I bring her back she shall no more be plaything to
Norhala, but sister. And with you it shall be as she wills. And woe to
those who have taken her!"

She paused, listening. From without came a rising storm of thin
wailings, insistent and eager.

"But I have an older vengeance than this to take," the golden voice
tolled somberly. "Long have I forgotten--and shame I feel that I
had forgot. So long have I forgotten all hatreds, all lusts, all
cruelty--among--these--" She thrust a hand forth toward the hidden
valley. "Forgot--dwelling in the great harmonies. Save for you and what
has befallen I would never have stirred from them, I think. But now
awakened, I take that vengeance. After it is done"--she paused--"after
it is over I shall go back again. For this awakening has in it nothing
of the ordered joy I love--it is a fierce and slaying fire. I shall go
back--"

The shadow of her far dreaming flitted over, softened the angry
brilliancy of her eyes.

"Listen, you two!" The shadow of dream fled. "Those that I am about to
slay are evil--evil are they all, men and women. Long have they been
so--yea, for cycles of suns. And their children grow like them--or
if they be gentle and with love for peace they are slain or die of
heartbreak. All this my mother told me long ago. So no more children
shall be born from them either to suffer or to grow evil."

Again she paused, nor did we interrupt her musing.

"My father ruled Ruszark," she said at last. "Rustum he was named, of
the seed of Rustum the Hero even as was my mother. They were gentle and
good, and it was