n proof that his torture, too, was
voluntary, he was balancing a round stone on his solar plexus that could
have been much more easily dumped than kept in place.

The priest stared questioningly at the Gray Mahatma, glancing from him
to us and back again.

The Gray Mahatma beckoned King and me and led the way between the
shuddersome, self-immolated, twisted wrecks of humanity to an opening in
the far wall, through which we passed into another chamber carved out of
the rock, not so large as the first and only lighted by a charcoal
brazier that gave off as much fumes as flame. The fitful, bluish light
fell in a stone ledge, in a niche like a sepulcher, carved in one wall,
and on that ledge a man lay who had every muscle of his body pierced
with thorns; his tongue protruded between his teeth, and was held there
by a thorn thrust through it.

The Gray Mahatma stood and looked at him, and smiled.

"Just a presumptuous fool!" he said pleasantly. "This was the most
presumptuous of them all, but they all suffer for the same offense. Take
warning! They could walk away if they cared to. They are here of what
they think is their free will. They are moths who sought the flame, some
from curiosity, some from desire, some craving adoration for themselves,
all for one false reason or another. This fate might be yours--so take
warning!

"There is not one of these who was not warned," he said quietly. "They
were cautioned not to inquire into matters too deep for them. They were
here to be taught; but that little knowledge that is such a dangerous
thing tempted them too swiftly forward beyond their depth, so that
now--you see them. They seek to get rid of material bodies and to
satisfy themselves that death is a delusion. You revolt at the sight of
these self-tortured fools; yet I tell you that, should you commit the
same offense, you would behave as they, even as the moth that goes too
near the flame. Take care lest curiosity overwhelm you."

"All right, lead along," King answered rather testily. "I've seen worse
than this a hundred times. I've seen the women."

The Mahatma nodded gravely.

"But not even I may lead you forward clothed as you are," he said. "I am
about to reveal such mysteries as set presumptuous fools to seeking
perfection by a too short route. Even I would be slain, if I tried to
introduce you in that garb. Undress."

He set us the example; but as we were not qualified by years of
arduously won sanctity to s