elissa-第3部分

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symbol。〃



The　woman　paused　as　though　exhausted　with　the　passion　of　her　prayer；

hiding　her　face　in　her　hands；　and　as　she　stood　thus　silent　and

expectant；　the　sign　came；　or　at　least　that　chanced　which　for　a　while

she　believed　to　have　been　an　answer　to　her　invocation。　Her　face　was

hidden；　so　she　could　not　see；　and　fascinated　by　her　beauty　as　it

appeared　to　them　in　that　unhallowed　spot；　and　by　the　depth　and　dignity

of　her　wild　prayer；　the　two　watchers　had　eyes　for　her　alone。　Therefore

it　happened　that　not　until　his　arm　was　about　to　drag　her　away；　did

either　of　them　perceive　a　huge　man；　black　as　ebony　in　colour；　clad　in

a　cloak　of　leopard　skins　and　carrying　in　his　right　hand　a　broad…bladed

spear　who；　following　the　shadow　of　the　trees；　had　crept　upon　the

priestess　from　the　farther　side　of　the　glade。



With　a　guttural　exclamation　of　triumph　he　gripped　her　in　his　left　arm；

and；　despite　her　struggles　and　her　shrill　cry　for　help；　began　half　to

drag　and　half　to　carry　her　towards　the　deep　shade　of　the　baobab　grove。

Instantly　Aziel　and　Metem　sprang　up　and　rushed　forward；　drawing　their

bronze　swords　as　they　ran。　As　it　chanced；　however；　the　Israelite

caught　his　foot　in　one　of　the　numerous　tree…roots；　which　stood　above

the　surface　of　the　ground　and　fell　heavily　upon　his　face。　In　a　few

seconds；　twenty　perhaps；　he　found　his　breath　and　feet　again；　to　see

that　Metem　had　come　up　with　the　black　giant　who；　hearing　his　approach；

suddenly　wheeled　round　to　meet　him；　still　holding　the　struggling

priestess　in　his　grasp。　Now　the　Ph？nician　was　so　close　upon　him　that

the　savage　could　find　no　time　to　shift　the　grip　upon　his　spear；　but

drove　at　him　with　the　knobbed　end　of　its　handle；　striking　him　full

upon　the　forehead　and　felling　him　as　a　butcher　fells　an　ox。　Then　once

more　he　turned　to　fly　with　his　captive；　but　before　he　had　covered　ten

yards　the　sound　of　Aziel's　approaching　footsteps　caused　him　to　wheel

round　again。



At　sight　of　the　Israelite　advancing　upon　him　with　drawn　sword；　the

great　barbarian　freed　himself　from　the　burden　of　the　girl　by　throwing

her　heavily　to　the　ground；　where　she　lay；　for　the　breath　was　shaken

out　of　her。　Then　snatching　the　cloak　from　his　throat　he　wound　it　over

his　left　arm　to　serve　as　a　shield；　and　with　a　savage　yell；　rushed

straight　at　Aziel；　purposing　to　transfix　him　with　the　broad…headed

spear。



Well　was　it　for　the　prince　that　he　had　been　trained　in　sword…play　from

his　youth；　also；　notwithstanding　his　slight　build；　that　he　was　strong

and　active　as　a　leopard。　To　await　the　onslaught　would　be　to　die；　for

the　spear　must　pierce　him　before　ever　he　could　reach　the　attacker's

body　with　his　short　sword。　Therefore；　as　the　weapon　flashed　upward　he

sprang　aside；　avoiding　it；　at　the　same　time；　with　one　swift　sweep　of

his　sword；　slashing　its　holder　across　the　back　as　he　passed　him。



With　a　howl　of　pain　and　rage　the　savage　sprang　round　and　charged　him　a

second　time。　Again　Aziel　leapt　to　one　side；　but　now　he　struck　with　all

his　force　at　the　spear　shaft　which　his　assailant　lifted　to　guard　his

head。　So　strong　was　the　blow　and　so　sharp　the　heavy　sword；　that　it

shore　through　the　wood；　severing　the　handle　from　the　spear；　which　fell

to　the　ground。　Casting　away　the　useless　shaft；　the　warrior　drew　a　long

knife　from　his　girdle；　and　before　Aziel　could　strike　again　faced　him

for　the　third　time。　But　he　no　longer　rushed　onward　like　a　bull；　for　he

had　learnt　caution；　he　stood　still；　holding　the　skin　cloak　before　him

shield　fashion；　and　peering　at　his　adversary　from　over　its　edge。



Now　it　was　Aziel's　turn　to　take　the　offensive；　and　slowly　he　circled

round　the　huge　barbarian；　watching　his　opportunity。　At　length　it　came。

In　answer　to　a　feint　of　his　the　protecting　cloak　was　dropped　a　little；

enabling　him　to　prick　its　bearer　in　the　neck；　but　only　with　the　point

of　his　sword。　The　thrust　delivered；　he　leapt　back；　and　not　too　soon；

for　forgetting　his　caution　in　his　fury；　the　savage　charged　straight　at

him　with　a　roar　like　that　of　a　lion。　So　swift　and　terrible　was　his

onset　that　Aziel；　having　no　time　to　spring　aside；　did　the　only　thing

possible。　Gripping　the　ground　with　his　feet；　he　bent　his　body　forward；

and　with　outstretched　arm　and　sword；　braced　up　his　muscles　to　receive

the　charge。　Another　instant；　and　the　leopard　skin　cloak　fluttered

before　him。　With　a　quick　movement　of　his　left　arm　he　swept　it　aside；

then　there　came　a　sudden　pressure　upon　his　sword　ending　in　a　jarring

shock；　a　flash　of　steel　above　his　head；　and　down　he　went　to　the　ground

beneath　the　weight　of　the　black　giant。



〃Now　there　is　an　end；〃　he　thought；　〃Heaven　receive　my　spirit。〃　And　his

senses　left　him。



When　they　returned　again；　Aziel　perceived　dimly　that　a　white…draped

figure　bent　over　him；　dragging　at　something　black　which　crushed　his

breast；　who；　as　she　dragged；　sobbed　in　her　grief　and　fear。　Then　he

remembered；　and　with　an　effort　sat　up；　rolling　from　him　the　corpse　of

his　foe；　for　his　sword　had　pierced　the　barbarian　through　breast　and

heart　and　back。　At　this　sight　the　woman　ceased　her　sobbing；　and　said

in　the　Ph？nician　tongue：



〃Sir；　do　you　indeed　live？　Then　the　protecting　gods　be　thanked；　and　to

Baaltis　the　Mother　I　vow　a　gift　of　this　hair　of　mine　in　gratitude。〃



〃Nay；　lady；〃　he　answered　faintly；　for　he　was　much　shaken；　〃that　would

be　a　pity；　also；　if　any；　it　is　my　hair　which　should　be　vowed。〃



〃You　bleed　from　the　head；〃　she　broke　in；　〃say；　stranger；　are　you

deeply　wounded。〃



〃I　will　tell　you　nothing　of　my　head；〃　he　replied；　with　a　smile；

〃unless　you　promise　that　you　will　not　offer　up　your　hair。〃



〃So　be　it；　stranger；　since　I　must；　I　will　give　the　goddess　this　gold

chain　instead；　it　is　of　more　worth。〃



〃You　would　do　better；　lady；〃　said　the　shrill　voice　of　Metem　again；　who

by　now　had　found　his　wits　again；　〃to　give　the　gold　chain　to　me　whose

scalp　has　been　broken　in　rescuing　you　from　that　black　thief。〃



〃Sir；〃　she　answered；　〃I　am　grateful　to　you　from　my　heart；　but　it　is

this　young　lord　who　killed　the　man　and　saved　me　from　slavery　worse

than　death；　and　he　shall　be　rewarded　by　my　father。〃



〃Listen　to　her；〃　grumbled　Metem。　〃Did　I　not　rush　in　first　in　my　folly

and　receive　what　I　deserved　for　my　pains？　But　am　I　to　have　neither

thanks　nor　pay；　who　am　but　an　old　merchant；　they　are　for　the　young

prince　who　came　after。　Well；　so　it　ever　was；　the　thanks　I　can　spare；

and　the　reward　I　shall　claim　from　the　treasury　of　the　goddess。



〃Now；　Prince；　let　me　see　your　hurt。　Ah！　a　cut　on　the　ear；　no　more；　and

thank　your　natal　star　that　it　is　so；　for　another　inch　and　the　great

vein　of　the　neck　would　have　been　severed。　Prince；　if　you　are　able；

draw　out　your　sword　from　the　carcase　of　that　brute；　for　I　have　tried

and　cannot　loosen　the　blade。　Then　perhaps　this　lady　will　guide　us　to

the　city　before　his　fellows　come　to　seek　him；　seeing　that　for　one

night　I　have　had　a　stomach　full　of　fighting。〃



〃Sirs；　I　will　indeed。　It　is　close　at　hand；　and　my　father　will　thank

you　there；　but　if　it　is　your　pleasure；　tell　me　by　what　names　I　shall

make　known　to　him　you　whose　rank　seems　to　be　so　high？〃



〃Lady；　I　am　Metem　the　Ph？nician；　captain　of　the　merchandise　of　the

caravan　of　Hiram；　King　of　Tyre；　and　this　lord　who　slew　the　thief　is

none　other　than　the　prince　Aziel；　the　twice　royal；　for　he　is　grandson

to　the　glorious　King　of　Israel；　and　through　his　mother　of　the　blood　of

the　Pharaohs　of　Egypt。〃



〃And　yet　he　risked　his　life　to　save　me；〃　the　girl　murmured　astonished；

then　dropping　to　her　knees　before　Aziel；　she　touched　the　ground　with

her　forehead　in　obeisance；　giving　him　thanks；　and　praising　him　after

the　fashion　of　the　East。



〃Rise；　lady；〃　he　broke　in；　〃because　I　chance　to　be　a　prince　I　have　not

ceased　to　be　a　man；　and　no　man　could　have　seen　you　in　such　a　plight

without　striking　a　blow　on　your　behalf。〃



〃No；〃　added　Metem；　〃none；　that　is；　as　you　happen　to　be　noble　and　young

and　lovely。　Had　you　been　old　and　ugly　and　humble；　then　the　black　man

might　have　carried　you　from　here　to　Tyre　ere　I　risked　my　neck　to　stop

him；　or　for　the　matter　of　that；　although　he　will　deny　it；　the　prince

either。〃



〃Men　do　not　often　show　their　hearts　so　clearly；〃　she　answered　with

sarcasm。　〃But　now；　lords；　I　will　guide　you　to　the　city　before　more

harm　befalls　us；　for　this　dead　man　may　have　companions。〃



〃Our　mules　are　here；　lady；　will　you　not　ride　mine？〃　asked　Aziel。



〃I　thank　you；　Prince；　but　my　feet　will　carry　me。〃



〃And　so　will　mine；〃　said　Aziel；　ceasing　from　a　prolonged　and　fruitless

effort　to　loosen　his　sword　from　the　breast…bone　of　the　savage；　〃on

such　paths　they　are　safer　than　any　beasts。　Friend；　will　you　lead　my

mule　with　yours？〃



〃Ay；　Prince；〃　grumbled　Metem；　〃for　so　the　world　goes　with　the　old；　you

take　the　fair　lady　for　company　and　I　a　she…ass。　Well；　of　the　two　give

me　the　ass　which　is　more　safe　and　does　not　chatter。〃



Then　they　started；　Aziel　leaving　his　short　sword　in　the　keeping　of　the

dead　man。



〃How　are　you　named；　lady？〃　he　said　presently；　adding　〃or　rather　I　need

not　ask；　you　are　Elissa；　the　daughter　of　Sakon；　Governor　of　Zimboe；

are　you　not？〃



〃I　am　so　called；　though　how　you　know　it　I　cannot　guess。〃



〃I　heard　you　name　yourself；　lady；　in　the　prayer　you　made　before　the

altar。〃



〃You　heard　my　prayer；　Prince？〃　she　said　starting。　〃Do　you　not　know

that　it　is　death　to　that　man　who　hearkens　to　the　prayer　of　a　priestess

of　Baaltis；　uttered　in　her　holy　grove？　Still；　none　know　it　save　the

goddess；　who　sees　all；　therefore　I　beseech　you　for　your　own　sake　and

the　sake　of　your　companion；　say　nothing　of　it　in　the　city；　lest　it

should　come　to　the　ears　of　the　priests　of　El。〃



〃Certainly　it　would　have　been　death　to　you　had　I　/not/　chanced　to　hear

it；　having　lost　my　way　in　the　darkness；〃　answered　the　prince　laughing。

〃Well；　since　I　did　hear　it　I　will　add　that　it　was　a　beautiful　prayer；

revealing　a　heart　high　and　pure；　though　I　grieve