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her shoulder； as he had leaned it on mine； drew her away from the
group into a neighboring copse of the flowering eucalyptimystic
trees； never changing the hues of their pale…green leaves； ever
shifting the tints of their ash…gray； shedding bark。 For some
moments I gazed on the two human forms； dimly seen by the glinting
moonlight through the gaps in the foliage。 Then turning away my
eyes； I saw； standing close at my side； a man whom I had not
noticed before。 His footstep； as it stole to me； had fallen on the
sward without sound。 His dress； though Oriental； differed from
that of his companions； both in shape and colorfitting close to
the breast； leaving the arms bare to the elbow； and of a uniform
ghastly white； as are the cerements of the grave。 His visage was
even darker than those of the Syrians or Arabs behind him； and his
features were those of a bird of prey： the beak of the eagle； but
the eye of the vulture。 His cheeks were hollow； the arms； crossed
on his breast； were long and fleshless。 Yet in that skeleton form
there was a something which conveyed the idea of a serpent's
suppleness and strength； and as the hungry； watchful eyes met my
own startled gaze； I recoiled impulsively with that inward warning
of danger which is conveyed to man； as to inferior animals； in the
very aspect of the creatures that sting or devour。 At my movement
the man inclined his head in the submissive Eastern salutation； and
spoke in his foreign tongue； softly； humbly； fawningly； to judge by
his tone and his gesture。
I moved yet farther away from him with loathing； and now the human
thought flashed upon me： was I； in truth； exposed to no danger in
trusting myself to the mercy of the weird and remorseless master of
those hirelings from the Eastseven men in number； two at least of
them formidably armed； and docile as bloodhounds to the hunter； who
has only to show them their prey？ But fear of man like myself is
not my weakness； where fear found its way to my heart； it was
through the doubts or the fancies in which man like myself
disappeared in the attributes； dark and unknown； which we give to a
fiend or a specter。 And； perhaps； if I could have paused to
analyze my own sensations； the very presence of this escort
creatures of flesh and bloodlessened the dread of my
incomprehensible tempter。 Rather； a hundred times； front and defy
those seven Eastern slavesI； haughty son of the Anglo…Saxon who
conquers all races because he fears no oddsthan have seen again
on the walls of my threshold the luminous； bodiless shadow！
Besides： LilianLilian！ for one chance of saving her life； however
wild and chimerical that chance might be； I would have shrunk not a
foot from the march of an army。
Thus reassured and thus resolved； I advanced； with a smile of
disdain； to meet Margrave and his veiled companion； as they now
came from the moonlit copse。
〃Well；〃 I said to him； with an irony that unconsciously mimicked
his own； 〃have you taken advice with your nurse？ I assume that the
dark form by your side is that of Ayesha！〃*
* Margrave's former nurse and attendant。
The woman looked at me from her sable veil； with her steadfast；
solemn eyes； and said； in English； though with a foreign accent：
〃The nurse born in Asia is but wise through her love； the pale son
of Europe is wise through his art。 The nurse says； 'Forbear！' Do
you say； 'Adventure'？〃
〃Peace！〃 exclaimed Margrave； stamping his foot on the ground。 〃I
take no counsel from either； it is for me to resolve； for you to
obey； and for him to aid。 Night is come； and we waste it； move
on。〃
The woman made no reply； nor did I。 He took my arm and walked back
to the hut。 The barbaric escort followed。 When we reached the
door of the building； Margrave said a few words to the woman and to
the litter bearers。 They entered the hut with us。 Margrave
pointed out to the woman his coffer； to the men the fuel stowed in
the outhouse。 Both were borne away and placed within the litter。
Meanwhile I took from the table； on which it was carelessly thrown；
the light hatchet that I habitually carried with me in my rambles。
〃Do you think that you need that idle weapon？〃 said Margrave。 〃Do
you fear the good faith of my swarthy attendants？〃
〃Nay； take the hatchet yourself； its use is to sever the gold from
the quartz in which we may find it imbedded； or to clear； as this
shovel； which will also be needed； from the slight soil above it；
the ore that the mine in the mountain flings forth； as the sea
casts its waifs on the sands。〃
〃Give me your hand； fellow laborer！〃 said Margrave； joyfully。 〃Ah；
there is no faltering terror in this pulse！ I was not mistaken in
the man。 What rests； but the place and the hour？I shall live； I
shall live！〃
III
Margrave now entered the litter； and the Veiled Woman drew the
black curtains round him。 I walked on； as the guide； some yards in
advance。 The air was still； heavy； and parched with the breath of
the Australasian sirocco。
We passed through the meadow lands； studded with slumbering flocks；
we followed the branch of the creek； which was linked to its source
in the mountains by many a trickling waterfall； we threaded the
gloom of stunted； misshapen trees； gnarled with the stringy bark
which makes one of the signs of the strata that nourish gold； and
at length the moon； now in all her pomp of light； mid…heaven among
her subject stars； gleamed through the fissures of the cave； on
whose floor lay the relics of antediluvian races； and rested in one
flood of silvery splendor upon the hollows of the extinct volcano；
with tufts of dank herbage； and wide spaces of paler sward；
covering the gold belowgold； the dumb symbol of organized
Matter's great mystery； storing in itself； according as Mind； the
informer of Matter； can distinguish its uses； evil and good； bane
and blessing。
Hitherto the Veiled Woman had remained in the rear； with the white…
robed； skeletonlike image that had crept to my side unawares with
its noiseless step。 Thus； in each winding turn of the difficult
path at which the convoy following behind me came into sight； I had
seen； first； the two gayly dressed； armed men； next the black；
bierlike litter； and last the Black…veiled Woman and the White…
robed Skeleton。
But now； as I halted on the tableland； backed by the mountain and
fronting the valley； the woman left her companion； passed by the
litter and the armed men； and paused by my side； at the mouth of
the moonlit cavern。
There for a moment she stood； silent； the procession below mounting
upward laboriously and slow； then she turned to me； and her veil
was withdrawn。
The face on which I gazed was wondrously beautiful； and severely
awful。 There was neither youth nor age； but beauty； mature and
majestic as that of a marble Demeter。
〃Do you believe in that which you seek？〃 she asked in her foreign；
melodi