circumstance
could have increased her horror, the looks of these men must have done
so. They were of almost gigantic height, and shrouded from head to foot
in long black gowns, with hoods that were drawn over their heads, while
their faces were entirely concealed by black masks. A shudder ran
through her frame, as she looked upon them.

But soon the changing aspect of the subterranean passage forced itself
upon her attention. It now seemed not so much a narrow passage as a
succession of small caverns, one opening into another, and every
advanced one rather larger, lighter, and more beautiful than the
preceding; the walls, floor, and ceiling being of bright red sandstone,
and lighted here and there with sparkling stalactites. At last, through
a narrower and more tortuous winding than any they had yet passed, they
suddenly entered a spacious cavern of such exceeding beauty and
splendor, that for an instant Sybil lost sight of her terrors in her
astonishment and admiration.

The walls and roofs of this dazzling place were completely covered with
the purest pearl-like spar, and lighted with pendant crystals and
stalactites, that, as they caught the stray sunbeams, glowed, burned,
blazed, and sparkled like a million of pendant diamonds, rubies,
emeralds, and sapphires. The floor was thickly carpeted with living moss
of the most brilliant hues of vivid green, soft grey, delicate rose, and
cerulean blue. Into this enchanting palace of nature, the light entered
from many almost imperceptible crevices.

All this Sybil saw at a glance, and then her eyes settled upon a figure
who seemed the sole occupant of the place.

This was a young girl, who, with her red cloak thrown mat-like on the
moss, was seated upon it cross-legged in the Turkish fashion. Her elfin
face, her malign eyes, her wild black hair and picturesque costume, were
all so in keeping with the aspect of the place, that one might have
deemed her the spirit of the cavern.

Sybil had scarcely time to observe all this before her bearers stood her
immediately in front of the seated girl, and saying:

"There she is, Princess! So work your will upon her," they withdrew.

Now the worst of Sybil's terrors were over. Those dreadful men were
gone. Before her was only a woman, a girl, whom she certainly had no
reason to fear.

They looked at each other in silence for perhaps half a minute; and then
Sybil spoke:

"What place is this? Who are you? Why am I brought hithe