of myself I am not sure."

"Pray do not try the experiment----" I began thoroughly alarmed, but she
cut me short.

"Disturb me no more, Allan, with the tremors and changes of your
uncertain mind, lest you should work more evil than you think, and
making mine uncertain also, spoil my skill. Nay, do not try to fly, for
already the net has thrown itself about you and you cannot stir, who
are bound like a little gilded wasp in the spider's web, or like birds
beneath the eyes of basilisks."

This was true, for I found that, strive as I would, I could not move a
limb or even an eyelid. I was frozen to that spot and there was nothing
for it except to curse my folly and say my prayers.

All this while she went on talking, but of what she said I have not
the faintest idea, because my remaining wits were absorbed in these
much-needed implorations.

Presently, of a sudden, I appeared to see Ayesha seated in a temple,
for there were columns about her, and behind her was an altar on which
a fire burned. All round her, too, were hooded snakes like to that which
she wore about her middle, fashioned in gold. To these snakes she sang
and they danced to her singing; yes, with flickering tongues they danced
upon their tails! What the scene signified I cannot conceive, unless it
meant that this mistress of magic was consulting her familiars.

Then that vision vanished and Ayesha's voice began to seem very far away
and dreamy, also her wondrous beauty became visible to me through her
veil, as though I had acquired a new sense that overcame the limitations
of mortal sight. Even in this extremity I reflected it was well that the
last thing I looked on should be something so glorious. No, not quite
the last thing, for out of the corners of my eyes I saw that Umslopogaas
from a sitting position had sunk on to his back and lay, apparently
dead, with his axe still gripped tightly and held above his head, as
though his arm had been turned to ice.

After this terrible things began to happen to me and I became aware that
I was dying. A great wind seemed to catch me up and blow me to and fro,
as a leaf is blown in the eddies of a winter gale. Enormous rushes of
darkness flowed over me, to be succeeded by vivid bursts of brightness
that dazzled like lightning. I fell off precipices and at the foot of
them was caught by some fearful strength and tossed to the very skies.

From those skies I was hurled down again into a kind of whirlpool of