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along the width of the grasses and herbage； between the verge of
the forest and the bed of the water creek just below the raised
platform from which I beheld the dread conflagration； the fire was
advancingwave upon wave； clear and red against the columns of
rock behind； as the rush of a flood through the mists of some Alp
crowned with lightnings。
Roused from my stun at the first sight of a danger not foreseen by
the mind I had steeled against far rarer portents of Nature； I
cared no more for the lamps and the circle。 Hurrying hack to
Ayesha I exclaimed： 〃The phantoms have gone from the spaces in
front； but what incantation or spell can arrest the red march of
the foe speeding on in the rear！ While we gazed on the caldron of
life； behind us； unheeded； behold the Destroyer！〃
Ayesha looked and made no reply； but； as by involuntary instinct；
bowed her majestic head； then rearing it erect； placed herself yet
more immediately before the wasted form of the young magician （he
still； bending over the caldron； and hearing me not in the
absorption and hope of his watch）placed herself before him； as
the bird whose first care is her fledgling。
As we two there stood； fronting the deluge of fire； we heard
Margrave behind us； murmuring low； 〃See the bubbles of light； how
they sparkle and danceI shall live； I shall live！〃 And his words
scarcely died in our ears before； crash upon crash； came the fall
of the age…long trees in the forest； and nearer； all near us；
through the blazing grasses； the hiss of the serpents； the scream
of the birds； and the bellow and tramp of the herds plunging wild
through the billowy red of their pastures。
Ayesha now wound her arms around Margrave； and wrenched him；
reluctant and struggling； from his watch over the seething caldron。
In rebuke of his angry exclamations； she pointed to the march of
the fire； spoke in sorrowful tones a few words in her own language；
and then； appealing to me in English； said：
〃I tell him that； here； the Spirits who oppose us have summoned a
foe that is deaf to my voice； and〃
〃And；〃 exclaimed Margrave； no longer with gasp and effort； but with
the swell of a voice which drowned all the discords of terror and
of agony sent forth from the Phlegethon burning below〃and this
witch； whom I trusted； is a vile slave and impostor； more desiring
my death than my life。 She thinks that in life I should scorn and
forsake her； that in death I should die in her arms！ Sorceress；
avaunt！ Art thou useless and powerless now when I need thee most？
Go！ Let the world be one funeral pyre！ What to ME is the world？
My world is my life！ Thou knowest that my last hope is herethat
all the strength left me this night will die down； like the lamps
in the circle； unless the elixir restore it。 Bold friend； spurn
that sorceress away。 Hours yet ere those flames can assail us！ A
few minutes more； and life to your Lilian and me！〃
Thus having said； Margrave turned from us； and cast into the
caldron the last essence yet left in his empty coffer。
Ayesha silently drew her black veil over her face； and turned； with
the being she loved； from the terror he scorned； to share in the
hope that he cherished。
Thus left alone； with my reason disinthralled； disenchanted； I
surveyed more calmly the extent of the actual peril with which we
were threatened； and the peril seemed less； so surveyed。
It is true all the Bush…land behind； almost up to the bed of the
creek； was on fire； but the grasses； through which the flame spread
so rapidly； ceased at the opposite marge of the creek。 Watery
pools were still； at intervals； left in the bed of the creek；
shining tremulous； like waves of fire； in the glare reflected from
the burning land； and even where the water failed； the stony course
of the exhausted rivulet was a barrier against the march of the
conflagration。 Thus； unless the wind； now still； should rise； and
waft some sparks to the parched combustible herbage immediately
around us； we were saved from the fire； and our work might yet be
achieved。
I whispered to Ayesha the conclusion to which I came。
〃Thinkest thou；〃 she answered without raising her mournful head；
〃that the Agencies of Nature are the movements of chance？ The
Spirits I invoked to his aid are leagued with the hosts that
assail。 A mightier than I am has doomed him！〃
Scarcely had she uttered these words before Margrave exclaimed；
〃Behold how the Rose of the alchemist's dream enlarges its blooms
from the folds of its petals！ I shall live； I shall live！〃
I looked； and the liquid which glowed in the caldron had now taken
a splendor that mocked all comparisons borrowed from the luster of
gems。 In its prevalent color it had； indeed； the dazzle and flash
of the ruby； but out from the mass of the molten red； broke
coruscations of all prismal hues； shooting； shifting； in a play
that made the wavelets themselves seem living things； sensible of
their joy。 No longer was there scum or film upon the surface； only
ever and anon a light； rosy vapor floating up； and quick lost in
the haggard； heavy； sulphurous air； hot with the conflagration
rushing toward us from behind。 And these coruscations formed； on
the surface of the molten ruby； literally the shape of a rose； its
leaves made distinct in their outlines by sparks of emerald and
diamond and sapphire。
Even while gazing on this animated liquid luster； a buoyant delight
seemed infused into my senses； all terrors conceived before were
annulled； the phantoms； whose armies had filled the wide spaces in
front； were forgotten； the crash of the forest behind was unheard。
In the reflection of that glory； Margrave's wan cheek seemed
already restored to the radiance it wore when I saw it first in the
framework of blooms。
As I gazed； thus enchanted； a cold hand touched my own。
〃Hush！〃 whispered Ayesha； from the black veil； against which the
rays of the caldron fell blunt； and absorbed into Dark。 〃Behind
us； the light of the circle is extinct； but there； we are guarded
from all save the brutal and soulless destroyers。 But； before！
but； before！see； two of the lamps have died out！see the blank
of the gap in the ring！ Guard that breachthere the demons will
enter。〃
〃Not a drop is there left in this vessel by which to replenish the
lamps on the ring。〃
〃Advance； then； thou hast still the light of the soul； and the
demons may recoil before a soul that is dauntless and guiltless。
If not； Three are lost！as it is； One is doomed。〃
Thus adjured； silently； involuntarily； I passed from the Veiled
Woman's side； over the sear lines on the turf which had been traced
by the triangles of light long since extinguished； and toward the
verge of the circle。 As I advanced； overhead rushed a dark cloud
of wingsbirds dislodged from the forest on fire； and screaming；
in dissonant terror； as they flew toward the farthermost mountains；
close by my fe