she-第41部分

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we　could　rise；　when　suddenly　what　at　first　I　took　to　
be　a　baboon　came　hopping　round　the　fire；　and　was　
instantly　met　upon　the　other　side　by　a　lion；　or　rather　
a　human　being　dressed　in　a　lion's　skin。　Then　came　a　
goat；　then　a　man　wrapped　in　an　ox's　hide；　with　the　
horns　wobbling　about　in　a　ludicrous　way。　After　him　
followed　a　blesbok；　then　an　impala；　then　a　koodoo；　
then　more　goats；　and　many　other　animals；　including　a　
girl　sewn　up　in　the　shining　scaly　hide　of　a　boa　
constrictor；　several　yards　of　which　trailed　along　the　
ground　behind　her。　When　all　the　beasts　had　collected　
they　began　to　dance　about　in　a　lumbering；　unnatural　
fashion；　and　to　imitate　the　sounds　produced　by　the　
respective　animals　they　represented；　till　the　whole　
air　was　alive　with　roars　and　bleating　and　the　hissing　
of　snakes。　This　went　on　for　a　long　time；　till；　getting　
tired　of　the　pantomime；　I　asked　Ayesha　if　there　would　
be　any　objection　to　Leo　and　myself　walking　round　to　
inspect　the　human　torches；　and　as　she　had　nothing　to　
say　against　it；　we　started；　striking　round　to　the　
left。　After　looking　at　one　or　two　of　the　flaming　
bodies；　we　were　about　to　return；　thoroughly　disgusted　
with　the　grotesque　weirdness　of　the　spectacle；　when　
our　attention　was　attracted　by　one　of　the　dancers；　a　
particularly　active　leopard；　that　had　separated　itself　
from　its　fellow…beasts；　and　was　whisking　about　in　our　
immediate　neighborhood；　but　gradually　drawing　into　a　
spot　where　the　shadow　was　darkest；　equidistant　between　
two　of　the　flaming　mummies。　Drawn　by　curiosity；　we　
followed　it；　when　suddenly　it　darted　past　us　into　the　
shadows　beyond；　and　as　it　did　so　erected　itself　and　
whispered；　〃Come；〃　in　a　voice　that　we　both　recognized　
as　that　of　Ustane。　Without　waiting　to　consult　me　Leo　
turned　and　followed　her　into　the　outer　darkness；　and　
I；　feeling　sick　enough　at　heart；　went　after　them。　The　
leopard　crawled　on　for　about　fifty　pacesa　sufficient　
distance　to　be　quite　beyond　the　light　of　the　fire　and　
torchesand　then　Leo　came　up　with　it；　or；　rather；　
with　Ustane。

〃O　my　lord；〃　I　heard　her　whisper；　〃so　I　have　found　
thee！　Listen；　I　am　in　peril　of　my　life　from　_i_　She　
_i_　…who…must…be…obeyed。'　Surely　the　Baboon　has　told　
thee　how　she　drove　me　from　thee？　I　love　thee；　my　lord；　
and　thou　art　mine　according　to　the　custom　of　the　
country。　I　saved　thy　life！　My　Lion；　wilt　thou　cast　me　
off　now？〃

〃Of　course　not；〃　ejaculated　Leo；　〃I　have　been　
wondering　whither　thou　hadst　gone。　Let　us　go　and　
explain　matters　to　the　queen。〃

〃Nay；　nay；　she　would　slay　us。　Thou　knowest　not　her　
powerthe　Baboon　there；　he　knoweth；　for　he　saw。　Nay；　
there　is　but　one　way：　if　thou　wilt　cleave　to　me；　thou　
must　flee　with　me　across　the　marshes　even　now；　and　
then　perchance　we　may　escape。〃

〃For　Heaven's　sake；　Leo；〃　I　began；　but　she　broke　in

〃Nay；　listen　not　to　him。　Swiftbe　swiftdeath　is　in　
the　air　we　breathe。　Even　now；　mayhap；　_i_　She　_i_　
heareth　us；〃　and　without　more　ado　she　proceeded　to　
back　her　arguments　by　throwing　herself　into　his　arms。　
As　she　did　so　the　leopard's　head　slipped　from　her　
hair；　and　I　saw　the　three　white　finger…marks　upon　it　
gleaming　faintly　in　the　starlight。　Once　more　realizing　
the　desperate　nature　of　the　position；　I　was　about　to　
interpose；　for　I　knew　that　Leo　was　not　too　strong…
minded　where　women　were　concerned；　whenoh！　horror！
I　heard　a　little　silvery　laugh　behind　me。　I　turned　
round；　and　there　was　_i_　She　_i_　herself；　and　with　her　
Billali　and　two　male　mutes。　I　gasped　and　nearly　sank　
to　the　ground；　for　I　knew　that　such　a　situation　must　
result　in　some　dreadful　tragedy；　of　which　it　seemed　
exceedingly　probable　to　me　that　I　should　be　the　first　
victim。

As　for　Ustane；　she　untwined　her　arms　and　covered　her　
eyes　with　her　hands；　while　Leo；　not　knowing　the　full　
terror　of　the　position；　merely　colored　up；　and　looked　
as　foolish　as　a　man　caught　in　such　a　trap　would　
naturally　do。

CHAPTER　XX

TRIUMPH

THEN　followed　a　moment　of　the　most　painful　silence　
that　I　ever　endured。　It　was　broken　by　Ayesha；　who　
addressed　herself　to　Leo。

〃Nay；　now　my　lord　and　guest；〃　she　said；　in　her　softest　
tones；　which　yet　had　the　ring　of　steel　about　them；　
〃look　not　so　bashful。　Surely　the　sight　was　a　pretty　
onethe　leopard　and　the　lion！〃

〃Oh；　hang　it　all！〃　said　Leo；　in　English。

〃And　thou；　Ustane；〃　she　went　on；　〃surely　I　should　have　
passed　thee　by　had　not　the　light　fallen　on　the　white　
across　thy　hair；〃　and　she　pointed　to　the　bright　edge　
of　the　rising　moon　which　was　now　appearing　above　the　
horizon。　〃Well！　well！　the　dance　is　donesee；　the　
tapers　have　burned　down；　and　all　things　end　in　silence　
and　in　ashes。　So　thou　thoughtest　it　a　fit　time　for　
love；　Ustane；　my　servantand　I；　dreaming　not　that　I　
could　be　disobeyed；　thought　thee　already　far　away。〃

〃Play　not　with　me；〃　moaned　the　wretched　woman；　〃slay　
me；　and　let　be　an　end。〃

〃Nay；　why？　It　is　not　well　to　go　so　swift　from　the　hot　
lips　of　love　down　to　the　cold　mouth　of　the　grave；〃　and　
she　made　a　motion　to　the　mutes；　who　instantly　stepped　
up　and　caught　the　girl　by　either　arm。　With　an　oath　Leo　
sprang　upon　the　nearest；　and　hurled　him　to　the　ground；　
and　then　stood　over　him　with　his　face　set；　and　his　
fist　ready。

Again　Ayesha　laughed。　〃It　was　well　thrown；　my　guest；　
thou　hast　a　strong　arm　for　one　who　so　late　was　sick。　
But　now　out　of　thy　courtesy　I　pray　thee　let　that　man　
live　and　do　my　bidding。　He　shall　not　harm　the　girl；　
the　night　air　grows　chill；　and　I　would　welcome　her　in　
mine　own　place。　Surely　she　whom　thou　dost　favor　shall　
be　favored　of　me　also。〃

I　took　Leo　by　the　arm；　and　pulled　him　from　the　
prostrate　mute；　and　he；　half　bewildered；　obeyed　the　
pressure。　Then　we　all　set　out　for　the　cave　across　the　
plateau；　where　a　pile　of　white　human　ashes　was　all　
that　remained　of　the　fire　that　had　lit　the　dancing；　
for　the　dancers　had　vanished。

In　due　course　we　gained　Ayesha's　boudoirall　too　soon　
it　seemed　to　me；　having　a　sad　presage　of　what　was　to　
come　lying　heavy　on　my　heart。

Ayesha　seated　herself　upon　her　cushions；　and；　having　
dismissed　Job　and　Billali；　by　signs　bade　the　mutes　
tend　the　lamps　and　retire。　all　save　one　girl；　who　was　
her　favorite　personal　attendant。　We　three　remained　
standing；　the　unfortunate　Ustane　a　little　to　the　left　
of　the　rest　of　us。

〃Now；　O　Holly；〃　Ayesha　began；　〃how　came　it　that　thou；　
who　didst　hear　my　words　bidding　this　evil…doer〃and　
she　pointed　to　Ustane〃to　go　from　hence…thou　at　whose　
prayer　I　did　weakly　spare　her　life…how　came　it；　I　say；　
that　thou　wast　a　sharer　in　what　I　saw　to…night？　
Answer；　and　for　thine　own　sake；　I　say；　speak　all　the　
truth；　for　I　am　not　minded　to　hear　lies　upon　this　
matter！〃

〃It　was　by　accident；　O　queen；〃　I　answered。　〃I　knew　
naught　of　it。〃

〃I　do　believe　thee；　O　Holly；〃　she　answered；　coolly；　
〃and　well　it　is　for　thee　that　I　dothen　does　the　
whole　guilt　rest　upon　her。〃

〃I　do　not　find　any　guilt　therein；〃　broke　in　Leo。　〃She　
is　not　another　man's　wife；　and　it　appears　that　she　has　
married　me　according　to　the　custom　of　this　awful　
place；　so　who　is　the　worse？　Any　way；　madam；〃　he　went　
on；　〃whatever　she　has　done　I　have　done　too；　so　if　she　
is　to　be　punished　let　me　be　punished　also；　and　I　tell　
thee；〃　he　went　on；　working　himself　up　into　a　fury；　
〃that　if　thou　biddest　one　of　those　deaf…and…dumb　
villains　to　touch　her　again；　I　will　tear　him　to　
pieces！〃　And　he　looked　as　though　he　meant　it。

Ayesha　listened　in　icy　silence；　and　made　no　remark。　
When　he　had　finished；　however；　she　addressed　Ustane。

〃Hast　thou　aught　to　say；　woman？　Thou　silly　straw；　thou　
feather；　who　didst　think　to　float　towards　thy　
passion's　petty　ends；　even　against　the　great　wind　of　
my　will！　Tell　me；　for　I　fain　would　understand。　Why　
didst　thou　this　thing？〃　

And　then　I　think　I　saw　the　most　tremendous　exhibition　
of　moral　courage　and　intrepidity　that　it　is　possible　
to　conceive。　For　the　poor；　doomed　girl；　knowing　what　
she　had　to　expect　at　the　hands　of　her　terrible　queen；　
knowing；　too；　from　bitter　experience　how　great　was　her　
adversary's　power；　yet　gathered　herself　together；　and　
out　of　the　very　depths　of　her　despair　drew　materials　
to　defy　her。

〃I　did　it；　O　_i_　She　_i_　；〃　she　answered；　drawing　
herself　up　to　the　full　of　her　stately　height；　and　
throwing　back　the　leopard　skin　from　her　head；　〃because　
my　love　is　stronger　than　the　grave。　I　did　it　because　
my　life　without　this　man　whom　my　heart　chose　would　be　
but　a　living　death。　Therefore　did　I　risk　my　life；　and　
now　that　I　know　that　it　is　forfeit　to　thine　anger；　yet　
am　I　glad　that　I　did　risk　it；　and　pay　it　away　in　the　
risking；　ay；　because　he　embraced　me　once；　and　told　me　
that　he　loved　me　yet。〃

Here　Ayesha　half　rose　from　her　couch；　and　then　sank　
down　again。

〃I　have　no　magic；〃　went　on　Ustane；　her　rich　voice　
ringing　strong　and　full；　〃and　I　am　not　a　queen；　nor　do　
I　live　forever；　but　a　woman's　heart　is　heavy　to　sink　
through　waters；　however　deep；　O　queen！　and　a　woman's　
eyes　are　quick　to　see；　even　through　thy　veil；　O　queen！

〃Listen：　I　know　it；　thou　dost　love　this　man　thyself；　
and　therefore　wouldst　thou　destroy　me　who　stand　across　
thy　path。　Ay；　I　dieI　die；　and　go　into　the　darkness；　
nor　know　I　whither　I　go。　But　this　I　know。　There　is　a　
light　shining　in　my　breast；　and　by　that　light；　as　by　a　
lamp；　I　see　the　truth；　and　the　future　that　I　shall　not　
share　unroll　itself　before　me　like　a　scroll。　When　
first　I　knew　my　lord；〃　and　she　pointed　to　Leo；　〃I　knew　
also　that　death　would　be　the　bridal　gift　he　gave　me
it　rushed　upon　me　of　a　sudden；　but　I　turned　not　back；　
being　ready　to　pay　the　price；　and；　behold；　death　is　
here！　And　now；　even　as　I　knew　that；　so　do　I；　standing　
on　the　steps　of　doom；　know　that　thou　shalt　not　reap　
the　profits　of　thy　crime。　Mine　he　is；　and；　though　thy　
beauty　shine　like　a　sun　among　the　stars；　mine　shall　he　
remain　for　thee。　Never　here　in　this　life　shall　he　look　
thee　in　the　eyes　and　call　thee　spouse。　Thou　too　art　
doomed；　I　see〃　and　her　voice　rang　like　the　cry　of　an　
inspired　prophetess；　〃ah；　I　see〃

Then　came　an　answering　cry　of　mingled　rage　and　terror。　
I　turned　my　head。　Ayesha　had　risen；　and　was　standing　
with　her　outstretched　hand　pointing　at　Ustane；　wh