noises from
the Fatal Mountain; its rushing winds; its whirling torrents; and, from
time to time, the burst and roar of some more fiery and fierce
explosion. And ever as the winds swept howling along the street, they
bore sharp streams of burning dust, and such sickening and poisonous
vapors, as took away, for the instant, breath and consciousness,
followed by a rapid revulsion of the arrested blood, and a tingling
sensation of agony trembling through every nerve and fibre of the frame.

'Oh, Glaucus! my beloved! my own!--take me to thy arms! One embrace!
let me feel thy arms around me--and in that embrace let me die--I can no
more!'

'For my sake, for my life--courage, yet, sweet Ione--my life is linked
with thine: and see--torches--this way! Lo! how they brave the Wind!
Ha! they live through the storm--doubtless, fugitives to the sea! we
will join them.'

As if to aid and reanimate the lovers, the winds and showers came to a
sudden pause; the atmosphere was profoundly still--the mountain seemed
at rest, gathering, perhaps, fresh fury for its next burst; the
torch-bearers moved quickly on. 'We are nearing the sea,' said, in a
calm voice, the person at their head. 'Liberty and wealth to each slave
who survives this day! Courage! I tell you that the gods themselves
have assured me of deliverance. On!'

Redly and steadily the torches flashed full on the eyes of Glaucus and
Ione, who lay trembling and exhausted on his bosom. Several slaves were
bearing, by the light, panniers and coffers, heavily laden; in front of
them--a drawn sword in his hand--towered the lofty form of Arbaces.

'By my fathers!' cried the Egyptian, 'Fate smiles upon me even through
these horrors, and, amidst the dreadest aspects of woe and death, bodes
me happiness and love. Away, Greek! I claim my ward, Ione!'

'Traitor and murderer!' cried Glaucus, glaring upon his foe, 'Nemesis
hath guided thee to my revenge!--a just sacrifice to the shades of
Hades, that now seem loosed on earth. Approach--touch but the hand of
Ione, and thy weapon shall be as a reed--I will tear thee limb from
limb!'

Suddenly, as he spoke, the place became lighted with an intense and
lurid glow. Bright and gigantic through the darkness, which closed
around it like the walls of hell, the mountain shone--a pile of fire!
Its summit seemed riven in two; or rather, above its surface there
seemed to rise two monster shapes, each confronting each, as Demons
conten