er wearied of encouraging her and exhorting her to
cling to love and faith, and not even yet abandon all hope.

Thus they at last reached the pontoon at whose further end life would
begin for her in another world. The shouts of the crowd were as loud,
as triumphant, as expectant as ever; music and singing mingled with the
roar of thousands of spectators; she allowed herself to be lifted from
the car as though she were stunned, and followed the young men and
maidens who formed the bridal train, and in alternate choruses sang the
finest nuptial song of Sappho the fair Lesbian.

The bishop now made an attempt to address the people, but he was soon
reduced to silence. So he once more joined Paula, and hand in hand they
went on to the pier.

All she had in her of strength, pride, and heroic courage she summoned
to her aid to enable her to walk these last few paces with her head
erect, and without tottering; she had gone half way along the wooden
structure, with a mien as lofty and majestic as though she were marching
to command the obedience of the mob, when hoofs came thundering after
her on the boards.

Old Horapollo, on his white ass, had overtaken her and stopped her on
her road. Breathless, bathed in perspiration, scornful and triumphant,
he desired her to remove her veil, and ordered the bishop to leave her
and give up his place to the man who represented Father Nile--a gigantic
farrier who followed him, somewhat embarrassed in his costume, but very
ready to perform his part to the end.

The priest and Paula, however, refused to obey. At this the old man tore
the veil from her face and signed to the Nile-God; he stepped forward
and assumed his rights, after bowing respectfully to the prelate--who
was forced to make way--and then led the Bride to the end of the
platform. Here the two elders who had headed the procession in honor
of Bacchus, cast the gold cups as offerings into the river, and then a
lawyer, in the costume of a heathen priest, proceeded to expound, in a
well-set speech, the meaning of this betrothal and sacrifice. He took
Paula's hand to place in that of the farrier, who made ready to cast her
into the river for which he stood proxy.

But an obstacle intervened before he could do so. A large and splendid
barge had drawn up close to the platform, and shouts were heard from
the tribune and from the mob which had till now looked on in breathless
suspense and profound silence:

"Susannah's barge!"