utter amazement. "You will come with us now,
to the Place?" Artur added.

I considered swiftly, and turned to Hendricks.

"This is too interesting to miss," I said in an undertone. "Send the
escort back with word for Mr. Correy that these people are very
friendly, and we are going on into the city. Let three men remain with
us. We will keep in communication with the ship by menore."

* * * * *

Hendricks gave the necessary orders, and all our escort, save for three
men, did a brisk about face and marched back to the ship. The five of
us, conducted by Artur, started for the city, the rest of the
procession falling in behind us. Behind the double file of the
procession, the companies that had formed the living wall marched
twenty abreast. Not all the companies, however, for perhaps a thousand
men, in all, formed a great hollow square about the _Ertak_, a great
motionless guard of honor, clad in kirtles like the pennon-bearers in
the procession, save that their kirtles were longer, and pale green in
color. The uniform of their officers was identical, save that it was
somewhat darker in color, and set of with a narrow black belt, without
shoulder straps.

We marched on and on, into the city, down the wide streets, walled with
soaring buildings that shone with an iridescent lustre, toward the
great domed building I had seen from the _Ertak_.

The streets were utterly deserted, and when we came close to the
building I saw why. The whole populace was gathered there; they were
drawn up around the building in orderly groups, with a great lane
opened to the mighty entrance.

There were women waiting there, thousands of them, the most beautiful I
have ever seen, and in my younger days I had eyes that were quick to
note a pretty face.

Through these great silent ranks we passed majestically, and I felt
very foolish and very much bewildered. Every head was bowed as though
in reverence, and the chanting of the men behind us was like the
singing of a hymn.

* * * * *

At the head of the procession, we entered the great domed,
lozenge-shaped building, and I stared around in amazement.

The structure was immense, but utterly without obstructing columns, the
roof being supported by great arches buttressed to pilasters along the
walls, and furnished with row after row of long benches of some
polished, close-grained red wood, so clear that it s