Onthehithersideofthepoolwaswhatlookedlikeapark，forheregrewgreat，blacktrees，whichfromtheirflatshapeAlantooktobesomevarietyofcedar，andstandingaloneinthemidstofthisparkwherenootherhabitationscouldbediscovered，wasalarge，lowbuildingwithdark-colouredwallsandgabledroofsthatflashedlikefire。
“TheGoldHouse！“saidAlantohimselfwithagasp。“Soitisnotadreamoralie。“
Thedetailsatthatdistancehecouldnotdiscover，nordidhetrytodoso，forthegeneralgloryofthesceneheldhiminitsgrip。Atthiseveninghour，foralittlewhile，thelevelraysofthesettingsunpouredstraightupthehuge，water-hollowedkloof。Theystruckuponthefaceofthefall，stainingitandthecloudsofmistthathungabove，toahundredglorioushues；indeedthesubstanceofthefoamingwaterseemedtobeinterlacedwithrainbowswhereofthearchreachedtheircrestandthefeetwerelostinthesullenblacknessofthepoolbeneath。Beautifultoowasthevalley，glowinginthequietlightofevening，andeventhenativetownthusgildedandglorified，lookedlikesomehappyhomeofpeace。
Thesunwassinkingrapidly，andbeforethelitterreachedthefootofthehillandbegantocrosstherichvalley，allthegloryhaddepartedandonlythecataractshowedwhiteandghost-likethroughthegloom。Butstillthelight，whichseemedtogathertoitself，gleameduponthatgoldenroofamidthecedartrees；thenthemoonroseandthegoldwasturnedtosilver。Alanlaybackuponhiscushionsfullofwonder，almostofawe。ItwasamarvellousthingthatheshouldhavelivedtoreachthissecretplacehiddenintheheartofAfricaanddefendedbyswamps，mountainsandsavagestowhich，sofarasheknew，onlyonewhitemanhadeverpenetrated。Andtothinkofit！Thatwhiteman，hisownuncle，hadneverevenhelditworthwhiletomakepublicanyaccountofitswonders，whichapparentlyhadseemedtohimofnoimportance。Orperhapshethoughtthatifhedidhewouldnotbebelieved。Well，theretheywerebeforeandabouthim，andnowthequestionwas，whatwouldbehisfateinthisGoldHousewherethegreatfetishdweltwithitspriestess？
Ah！thatpriestess！Somehowheshiveredalittlewhenhethoughtofher；itwasasthoughherinfluencewereoverhimalready。Nextmomentheforgotherforawhile，fortheyhadcometotheriverbrinkandthelitterwasbeingcarriedontoabargeorferry，aboutwhichweregatheredmanyarmedmen。EvidentlytheGoldHousewaswelldefendedbothbyNatureandotherwise。Theferrywaspulledorrowedacrosstheriver，hecouldnotseewhich，andtheypassedthroughagatewayintothetownandupabroadstreetwherehundredsofpeoplewatchedhisadvent。Theydidnotseemtospeak，oriftheyspoketheirvoiceswerelostinthesoundofthethunderofthegreatcataractwhichdominatedtheplacewithitssullen，continuousroar。IttookAlandaystobecomeaccustomedtothatroar，butbytheinhabitantsofAsiki-landapparentlyitwasnotnoticed；theirearsandvoiceswereattunedtoovercomeitsvolumewhichtheirfathershadknownfromthebeginning。