Wehadcaughtandtamedseveralmoreofthebighorses,andnowhavingloadedthemandtheelephantswiththeseprovisions,wewerepreparedtosetout。
ThenLonaandIheldageneralreview,andImadethemalittlespeech。IbeganbytellingthemthatIhadlearnedagooddealaboutthem,andknewnowwheretheycamefrom。
\"Wedidnotcomefromanywhere,\"theycried,interruptingme;\"wearehere！\"
Itoldthemthateveryoneofthemhadamotherofhisown,likethemotherofthelastbaby;thatIbelievedtheyhadallbeenbroughtfromBulikawhentheyweresosmallthattheycouldnotnowrememberit;thatthewickedprincesstherewassoafraidofbabies,andsodeterminedtodestroythem,thattheirmothershadtocarrythemawayandleavethemwhereshecouldnotfindthem;
andthatnowweweregoingtoBulika,tofindtheirmothers,anddeliverthemfromthebadgiantess。
\"ButImusttellyou,\"Icontinued,\"thatthereisdangerbeforeus,for,asyouknow,wemayhavetofighthardtotakethecity。\"
\"Wecanfight！weareready！\"criedtheboys。
\"Yes,youcan,\"Ireturned,\"andIknowyouwill:mothersareworthfightingfor！Onlymind,youmustallkeeptogether。\"
\"Yes,yes;we\'lltakecareofeachother,\"theyanswered。\"Nobodyshalltouchoneofusbuthisownmother！\"
\"Youmustmind,everyone,todoimmediatelywhatyourofficerstellyou！\"
\"Wewill,wewill！——Nowwe\'requiteready！Letusgo！\"
\"Anotherthingyoumustnotforget,\"Iwenton:\"whenyoustrike,besureyoumakeitadownrightswingingblow;whenyoushootanarrow,drawittothehead;whenyouslingastone,slingitstrongandstraight。\"
\"Thatwewill！\"theycriedwithjubilant,fearlessshout。
\"Perhapsyouwillbehurt！\"
\"Wedon\'tmindthat！——Dowe,boys？\"
\"Notabit！\"
\"Someofyoumayverypossiblybekilled！\"Isaid。
\"Idon\'tmindbeingkilled！\"criedoneofthefinestofthesmallerboys:herodeabeautifullittlebull,whichgallopedandjumpedlikeahorse。
\"Idon\'teither！Idon\'teither！\"camefromallsides。
ThenLona,queenandmotherandsisterofthemall,spokefromherbighorsebymyside:
\"Iwouldgivemylife,\"shesaid,\"tohavemymother！Shemightkillmeifsheliked！Ishouldjustkissheranddie！\"
\"Comealong,boys！\"criedagirl。\"We\'regoingtoourmothers！\"
Apangwentthroughmyheart。——ButIcouldnotdrawback;itwouldbemoralruintotheLittleOnes！
ChapterXXXV
THELITTLEONESINBULIKA
Itwasearlyinthemorningwhenwesetout,making,betweentheblueskyandthegreengrass,agallantshowonthewideplain。Wewouldtravelallthemorning,andresttheafternoon;thengoonatnight,restthenextday,andstartagainintheshorttwilight。
Thelatterpartofourjourneywewouldendeavoursotodivideastoarriveatthecitywiththefirstofthemorning,andbealreadyinsidethegateswhendiscovered。
Itseemedasifalltheinhabitantsoftheforestwouldmigratewithus。Amultitudeofbirdsflewinfront,imaginingthemselves,nodoubt,theleadingdivision;greatcompaniesofbutterfliesandotherinsectsplayedaboutourheads;andacrowdoffour—footedcreaturesfollowedus。Theselast,whennightcame,leftusalmostall;butthebirdsandthebutterflies,thewaspsandthedragon—flies,wentwithustotheverygatesofthecity。
Wehaltedandsleptsoundlythroughtheafternoon:itwasourfirstrealmarch,butnoneweretired。Inthenightwewentfaster,becauseitwascold。Manyfellasleeponthebacksoftheirbeasts,andwokeinthemorningquitefresh。Nonetumbledoff。Somerodeshaggy,shamblingbears,whichyetmadespeedenough,goingasfastastheelephants。Othersweremountedondifferentkindsofdeer,andwouldhavebeenracingallthewayhadInotpreventedit。
Thoseatopofthehayontheelephants,unabletoseetheanimalsbelowthem,wouldkeeptalkingtothemaslongastheywereawake。
Once,whenwehadhaltedtofeed,Iheardalittlefellow,ashedrewoutthehaytogivehim,communethuswithhis\"darlingbeast\":
\"Nosydear,Iamdiggingyououtofthemountain,andshallsoongetdowntoyou:bepatient;I\'macoming！Verysoonnowyou\'llsendupyournosetolookforme,andthenwe\'llkisslikegoodelephants,wewill！\"
Thesamenightthereburstoutsuchatumultofelephant—trumpeting,horse—neighing,andchild—imitation,ringingfaroverthesilentlevels,that,uncertainhownearthecitymightnotbe,Iquicklystilledtheuproarlestitshouldgivewarningofourapproach。
Suddenly,onemorning,thesunandthecityrose,asitseemed,together。Tothechildrenthewallsappearedonlyagreatmassofrock,butwhenItoldthemtheinsidewasfullofnestsofstone,Isawapprehensionanddislikeatonceinvadetheirhearts:forthefirsttimeintheirlives,Ibelieve——manyofthemlonglittlelives——theyknewfear。Theplacelookedtothembad:howweretheytofindmothersinsuchaplace？Buttheywentonbravely,fortheyhadconfidenceinLona——andinmetoo,littleasIdeservedit。
Werodethroughthesoundingarchway。Sureneverhadsuchadrummingofhoofs,suchapaddingofpawsandfeetbeenheardonitsoldpavement！Thehorsesstartedandlookedscaredattheechooftheirownsteps;somehaltedamoment,someplungedwildlyandwheeledabout;buttheyweresoonquieted,andwenton。SomeoftheLittleOnesshivered,andallwerestillasdeath。Thethreegirlsheldclosertheinfantstheycarried。Allexceptthebearsandbutterfliesmanifestedfear。
Onthecountenanceofthewomanlayadarkanxiety;norwasImyselfunaffectedbythegeneraldread,forthewholearmywasonmyhandsandonmyconscience:Ihadbroughtituptothedangerwhoseshadowwasnowmakingitselffelt！ButIwassupportedbythethoughtofthecomingkingdomoftheLittleOnes,withthebadgiantsitsslaves,andtheanimalsitsloving,obedientfriends！Alas,Iwhodreamedthus,hadnotmyselflearnedtoobey！Untrusting,unfaithfulobstinacyhadsetmeattheheadofthatarmyofinnocents！Iwasmyselfbutaslave,likeanykingintheworldIhadleftwhodoesorwoulddoonlywhatpleaseshim！ButLonarodebesidemeachildindeed,thereforeafreewoman——calm,silent,watchful,notawhitafraid！
Wewerenearlyintheheartofthecitybeforeanyofitsinhabitantsbecameawareofourpresence。Butnowwindowsbegantoopen,andsleepyheadstolookout。Everyfaceworeatfirstadullstareofwonderlessastonishment,which,assoonasthestarersperceivedtheanimals,changedtooneofconsternation。Inspiteoftheirfear,however,whentheysawthattheirinvaderswerealmostallchildren,thewomencamerunningintothestreets,andthemenfollowed。Butforatimeallofthemkeptclosetothehouses,leavingopenthemiddleoftheway,fortheydurstnotapproachtheanimals。
Atlengthaboy,wholookedaboutfiveyearsold,andwasfulloftheideaofhismother,spyinginthecrowdawomanwhosefaceattractedhim,threwhimselfuponherfromhisantelope,andclungaboutherneck;norwassheslowtoreturnhisembraceandkisses。
Butthehandofamancameoverhershoulder,andseizedhimbytheneck。Instantlyagirlranhersharpspearintothefellow\'sarm。Hesentforthasavagehowl,andimmediatelystabbedbytwoorthreemore,fledyelling。
\"Theyarejustbadgiants！\"saidLona,hereyesflashingasshedroveherhorseagainstoneofunusualheightwho,havingstirredupthelittlemanhoodinhim,stoodbarringherwaywithaclub。
Hedarednotabidetheshock,butslunkaside,andthenextmomentwentdown,struckbyseveralstones。Anotherhugefellow,avoidingmycharger,steppedsuddenly,withaspeechwhoserudenessalonewasintelligible,betweenmeandtheboywhorodebehindme。Theboytoldhimtoaddresstheking;thegiantstruckhislittlehorseontheheadwithahammer,andhefell。Beforethebrutecouldstrikeagain,however,oneoftheelephantsbehindlaidhimprostrate,andtrampledonhimsothathedidnotattempttogetupuntilhundredsoffeethadwalkedoverhim,andthearmywasgoneby。
ButatsightofthewomenwhatadismaycloudedthefaceofLona！
Hardlyoneofthemwasevenpleasanttolookupon！Wereherdarlingstofindmothersamongsuchasthese？
Hardlyhadwehaltedinthecentralsquare,whentwogirlsrodeupinanxioushaste,withthetidingsthattwooftheboyshadbeenhurriedawaybysomewomen。Weturnedatonce,andthenfirstdiscoveredthatthewomanwebefriendedhaddisappearedwithherbaby。
Butatthesamemomentwedescriedawhiteleopardesscomeboundingtowardusdownanarrowlanethatledfromthesquaretothepalace。
TheLittleOneshadnotforgottenthefightofthetwoleopardessesintheforest:someofthemlookedterrified,andtheirranksbegantowaver;buttheyrememberedtheorderIhadjustgiventhem,andstoodfast。
Westoppedtoseetheresult;whensuddenlyasmallboy,calledOdu,remarkableforhisspeedandcourage,whohadheardmespeakofthegoodnessofthewhiteleopardess,leapedfromthebackofhisbear,whichwentshamblingafterhim,andrantomeether。Theleopardess,toavoidknockinghimdown,pulledherselfupsosuddenlythatshewentrollingoverandover:whensherecoveredherfeetshefoundthechildonherback。Whocoulddoubtthesubjugationofapeoplewhichsawanurchinoftheenemybestrideananimalofwhichtheylivedindailyterror？Confidentoftheeffectonthewholearmy,werodeon。
Aswestoppedatthehousetowhichourguidesledus,weheardascream;Isprangdown,andthunderedatthedoor。Myhorsecameandpushedmeawaywithhisnose,turnedabout,andhadbeguntobatterthedoorwithhisheels,whenupcamelittleOduontheleopardess,andatsightofherhestoodstill,trembling。Butshetoohadheardthecry,andforgettingthechildonherback,threwherselfatthedoor;theboywasdashedagainstit,andfellsenseless。BeforeIcouldreachhim,Lonahadhiminherarms,andassoonashecametohimself,sethimonthebackofhisbear,whichhadstillfollowedhim。
Whentheleopardessthrewherselfthethirdtimeagainstthedoor,itgaveway,andshedartedin。Wefollowed,butshehadalreadyvanished。Wesprangupastair,andwentalloverthehouse,tofindnoone。Dartingdownagain,wespiedadoorunderthestair,andgotintoalabyrinthofexcavations。Wehadnotgonefar,however,whenwemettheleopardesswiththechildwesoughtacrossherback。
Hetoldusthatthewomanhetookforhismotherthrewhimintoahole,sayingshewouldgivehimtotheleopardess。Buttheleopardesswasagoodone,andtookhimout。
Followinginsearchoftheotherboy,wegotintothenexthousemoreeasily,buttofind,alas,thatweweretoolate:oneofthesavageshadjustkilledthelittlecaptive！ItconsoledLona,however,tolearnwhichhewas,forshehadbeenexpectinghimtogrowabadgiant,fromwhichworstoffatesdeathhadsavedhim。
Theleopardessspranguponhismurderer,tookhimbythethroat,draggedhimintothestreet,andfollowedLonawithhim,likeacatwithagreatratinherjaws。
\"Letusleavethehorribleplace,\"saidLona;\"therearenomothershere！Thispeopleisnotworthdelivering。\"
Theleopardessdroppedherburden,andchargedintothecrowd,thiswayandthat,whereveritwasthickest。Theslavescriedoutandran,tumblingovereachotherinheaps。
Whenwegotbacktothearmy,wefounditaswehadleftit,standinginorderandready。
ButIwasfarfromeasy:theprincessgavenosign,andwhatshemightbeplottingwedidnotknow！Watchandwardmustbekeptthenightthrough！
TheLittleOnesweresuchhardycreaturesthattheycouldreposeanywhere:wetoldthemtoliedownwiththeiranimalswheretheywere,andsleeptilltheywerecalled。Inonemomenttheyweredown,andinanotherlaptinthemusicoftheirsleep,asoundasofwaterovergrass,orasoftwindamongleaves。Theiranimalssleptmorelightly,everontheedgeofwaking。Thebiggerboysandgirlswalkedsoftlyhitherandthitheramongthedreamingmultitude。Allwasstill;thewholewickedplaceappearedatrest。
CHAPTERXXXVI
MOTHERANDDAUGHTER
Lonawassodisgustedwiththepeople,andespeciallywiththewomen,thatshewishedtoabandontheplaceassoonaspossible;I,onthecontrary,feltverystronglythattodosowouldbetofailwilfullywheresuccesswaspossible;and,farworse,toweakentheheartsoftheLittleOnes,andsobringthemintomuchgreaterdanger。Ifweretreated,itwascertaintheprincesswouldnotleaveusunassailed！ifweencounteredher,thehopeoftheprophecywentwithus！Motheranddaughtermustmeet:itmightbethatLona\'slovelinesswouldtakeLilith\'sheartbystorm！ifshethreatenedviolence,Ishouldbetherebetweenthem！IfIfoundthatIhadnootherpoweroverher,Iwasready,forthesakeofmyLona,tostrikeherpitilesslyontheclosedhand！Iknewshewasdoomed:mostlikelyitwasdecreedthatherdoomshouldnowbebroughttopassthroughus！
Stillwithouthintoftherelationinwhichshestoodtotheprincess,IstatedthecasetoLonaasitappearedtome。Atoncesheagreedtoaccompanymetothepalace。
>Fromthetopofoneofitsgreattowers,theprincesshad,intheearlymorning,whilethecityyetslept,descriedtheapproachofthearmyoftheLittleOnes。Thesightawokeinheranover—masteringterror:shehadfailedinherendeavourtodestroythem,andtheywereuponher！Theprophecywasabouttobefulfilled！
Whenshecametoherself,shedescendedtotheblackhall,andseatedherselfinthenorthfocusoftheellipse,undertheopeningintheroof。
Forshemustthink！NowwhatshecalledTHINKINGrequiredaclearconsciousnessofherself,notasshewas,butasshechosetobelieveherself;andtoaidherintherealisationofthisconsciousness,shehadsuspended,alittlewayfromandaboveher,itselfinvisibleinthedarknessofthehall,amirrortoreceivethefullsunlightreflectedfromherperson。Fortheresultingvisionofherselfinthesplendourofherbeauty,shesatwaitingthemeridionalsun。
Manyashadowmovedaboutherinthedarkness,butasoftenas,withacertaininnereyewhichshehad,shecaughtsightofone,sherefusedtoregardit。CloseunderthemirrorstoodtheShadowwhichattendedherwalks,but,self—occupied,himshedidnotsee。
Thecitywastaken;theinhabitantswerecoweringinterror;theLittleOnesandtheirstrangecavalrywereencampedinthesquare;
thesunshoneupontheprincess,andforafewminutesshesawherselfglorious。Thevisionpassed,butshesaton。Thenightwasnowcome,anddarknessclothedandfilledtheglass,yetshedidnotmove。Agloomthatswarmedwithshadows,wallowedinthepalace;
theservantsshiveredandshook,butdarednotleaveitbecauseofthebeastsoftheLittleOnes;allnightlongtheprincesssatmotionless:shemustseeherbeautyagain！shemusttryagaintothink！Butcourageandwillhadgrownwearyofher,andwoulddwellwithhernomore！
Inthemorningwechosetwelveofthetallestandbravestoftheboystogowithustothepalace。Werodeourgreathorses,andtheysmallhorsesandelephants。
Theprincesssatwaitingthesuntogiveherthejoyofherownpresence。Thetideofthelightwascreepinguptheshoreofthesky,butuntilthesunstoodoverhead,notaraycouldentertheblackhall。
Herosetooureyes,andswiftlyascended。Asweclimbedthesteepwaytothepalace,heclimbedthedomeofitsgreathall。Helookedinattheeyeofit——andwithsuddenradiancetheprincessflasheduponherownsight。Butshesprangtoherfeetwithacryofdespair:alasherwhiteness！thespotcoveredhalfherside,andwasblackasthemarblearoundher！Sheclutchedherrobe,andfellbackinherchair。TheShadowglidedout,andshesawhimgo。
Wefoundthegateopenasusual,passedthroughthepavedgroveuptothepalacedoor,andenteredthevestibule。Thereinhercagelaythespottedleopardess,apparentlyasleeporlifeless。TheLittleOnespausedamomenttolookather。Sheleapeduprampantagainstthecage。Thehorsesrearedandplunged;theelephantsretreatedastep。Thenextinstantshefellsupine,writhedinquiveringspasms,andlaymotionless。Werodeintothegreathall。
Theprincessyetleanedbackinherchairintheshaftofsunlight,whenfromthestonesofthecourtcametoherearsthenoiseofthehorses\'hoofs。Shestarted,listened,andshook:neverhadsuchsoundbeenheardinherpalace！Shepressedherhandtoherside,andgasped。Thetramplingcamenearerandnearer;itenteredthehallitself;movingfiguresthatwerenotshadowsapproachedherthroughthedarkness！
Forus,wesawasplendour,agloriouswomancentringthedark。
Lonasprangfromherhorse,andboundedtoher。Isprangfrommine,andfollowedLona。
\"Mother！mother！\"shecried,andherclear,lovelyvoiceechoedinthedome。
Theprincessshivered;herfacegrewalmostblackwithhate,hereyebrowsmetonherforehead。Sherosetoherfeet,andstood。
\"Mother！mother！\"criedLonaagain,assheleapedontheda飐,andflungherarmsaroundtheprincess。
AninstantmoreandIshouldhavereachedthem！——inthatinstantIsawLonaliftedhigh,anddashedonthemarblefloor。Oh,thehorriblesoundofherfall！Atmyfeetshefell,andlaystill。
Theprincesssatdownwiththesmileofademoness。
IdroppedonmykneesbesideLona,raisedherfromthestones,andpressedhertomybosom。WithindignanthateIglancedattheprincess;sheansweredmewithhersweetestsmile。Iwouldhavesprunguponher,takenherbythethroat,andstrangledher,butloveofthechildwasstrongerthanhateofthemother,andI
claspedclosermypreciousburden。Herarmshunghelpless;herbloodtrickledovermyhands,andfellonthefloorwithsoft,slowlittleplashes。
Thehorsesscentedit——minefirst,thenthesmallones。Minereared,shiveringandwild—eyed,wentabout,andthunderedblindlydownthedarkhall,withthelittlehorsesafterhim。Lona\'sstoodgazingdownathismistress,andtremblingallover。Theboysflungthemselvesfromtheirhorses\'backs,andthey,notseeingtheblackwallbeforethem,dashedthemselves,withmine,topiecesagainstit。Theelephantscameontothefootoftheda飐,andstopped,wildlytrumpeting;theLittleOnesspranguponit,andstoodhorrified;theprincesslaybackinherseat,herfacethatofacorpse,hereyesalonealive,wickedlyflaming。ShewasagainwitheredandwastedtowhatIfoundinthewood,andhersidewasasifagreatbrandinghandhadbeenlaiduponit。ButLonasawnothing,andIsawbutLona。
\"Mother！mother！\"shesighed,andherbreathingceased。
Icarriedherintothecourt:thesunshoneuponawhiteface,andthepitifulshadowofaghostlysmile。Herheadhungback。Shewas\"deadasearth。\"
IforgottheLittleOnes,forgotthemurderingprincess,forgotthebodyinmyarms,andwanderedaway,lookingformyLona。Thedoorsandwindowswerecrowdedwithbrute—facesjeeringatme,butnotdaringtospeak,fortheysawthewhiteleopardessbehindme,hangingherheadcloseatmyheel。Ispurnedherwithmyfoot。
Sheheldbackamoment,andfollowedmeagain。
Ireachedthesquare:thelittlearmywasgone！Itsemptinessrousedme。WhereweretheLittleOnes,HERLittleOnes？Ihadlostherchildren！Istaredhelplessaboutme,staggeredtothepillar,andsankuponitsbase。
ButasIsatgazingonthestillcountenance,itseemedtosmilealivemomentarysmile。Ineverdoubteditanillusion,yetbelievedwhatitsaid:Ishouldyetseeheralive！Itwasnotshe,itwasI
whowaslost,andshewouldfindme！
IrosetogoaftertheLittleOnes,andinstinctivelysoughtthegatebywhichwehadentered。Ilookedaroundme,butsawnothingoftheleopardess。
Thestreetwasrapidlyfillingwithafiercecrowd。Theysawmeencumberedwithmydead,butforatimedarednotassailme。EreIreachedthegate,however,theyhadgatheredcourage。Thewomenbegantohustleme;Iheldonheedless。Amanpushedagainstmysacredburden:withakickIsenthimawayhowling。Butthecrowdpresseduponme,andfearingforthedeadthatwasbeyondhurt,I
claspedmytreasurecloser,andfreedmyrightarm。Thatinstant,however,acommotionaroseinthestreetbehindme;thecrowdbroke;
andthroughitcametheLittleOnesIhadleftinthepalace。Tenofthemwereuponfouroftheelephants;onthetwootherelephantslaytheprincess,boundhandandfoot,andquitestill,savethathereyesrolledintheirghastlysockets。ThetwootherLittleOnesrodebehindheronLona\'shorse。Everynowandthenthewisecreaturesthatboreherthrewtheirtrunksbehindandfelthercords。
Iwalkedoninfront,andoutofthecity。WhatanendtothehopeswithwhichIenteredtheevilplace！Wehadcapturedthebadprincess,andlostourall—belovedqueen！Mylifewasbare！myheartwasempty！
CHAPTERXXXVII
THESHADOW
Amurmurofpleasurefrommycompanionsrousedme:theyhadcaughtsightoftheirfellowsinthedistance！ThetwoonLona\'shorserodeontojointhem。Theyweregreetedwithawaveringshout——whichimmediatelydiedaway。Aswedrewnear,thesoundoftheirsobsreacheduslikethebreakingoftinybillows。
WhenIcameamongthem,Isawthatsomethingdirehadbefallenthem:
ontheirchildishfaceswasthehaggardlookleftbysomestrangeterror。Nopossiblegriefcouldhavewroughtthechange。Afewofthemcameslowlyroundme,andheldouttheirarmstotakemyburden。
Iyieldedit;thetenderhopelessnessofthesmilewithwhichtheyreceivedit,mademyheartswellwithpityinthemidstofitsowndesolation。Invainweretheirsobsovertheirmother—queen;invaintheysoughttoenticefromhersomerecognitionoftheirlove;
invaintheykissedandfondledherastheyboreheraway:shewouldnotwake！Oneachsideonecarriedanarm,gentlystrokingit;asmanyascouldgetnear,puttheirarmsunderherbody;thosewhocouldnot,crowdedaroundthebearers。Onaspotwherethegrassgrewthickerandsoftertheylaidherdown,andtherealltheLittleOnesgatheredsobbing。
Outsidethecrowdstoodtheelephants,andInearthem,gazingatmyLonaoverthemanylittleheadsbetween。Thosenextmecaughtsightoftheprincess,andstaredtrembling。Oduwasthefirsttospeak。
\"Ihaveseenthatwomanbefore！\"hewhisperedtohisnextneighbour。
\"Itwasshewhofoughtthewhiteleopardess,thenighttheywokeuswiththeiryelling！\"
\"Silly！\"returnedhiscompanion。\"Thatwasawildbeast,withspots！\"
\"Lookathereyes！\"insistedOdu。\"Iknowsheisabadgiantess,butsheisawildbeastallthesame。Iknowsheisthespottedone！\"
Theothertookastepnearer;Odudrewhimbackwithasharppull。
\"Don\'tlookather！\"hecried,shrinkingaway,yetfascinatedbythehate—filledlonginginhereyes。\"Shewouldeatyouupinamoment！
ItwasHERshadow！Sheisthewickedprincess！\"
\"Thatcannotbe！theysaidshewasbeautiful！\"
\"Indeeditistheprincess！\"Iinterposed。\"Wickednesshasmadeherugly！\"
Sheheard,andwhatalookwashers！
\"Itwasverywrongofmetorunaway！\"saidOduthoughtfully。
\"Whatmadeyourunaway？\"Iasked。\"IexpectedtofindyouwhereI
leftyou！\"
Hedidnotreplyatonce。
\"Idon\'tknowwhatmademerun,\"answeredanother。\"Iwasfrightened！\"
\"Itwasamanthatcamedownthehillfromthepalace,\"saidathird。
\"Howdidhefrightenyou？\"
\"Idon\'tknow。\"
\"Hewasn\'taman,\"saidOdu;\"hewasashadow;hehadnothicktohim！\"
\"Tellmemoreabouthim。\"
\"Hecamedownthehillveryblack,walkinglikeabadgiant,butspreadflat。Hewasnothingbutblackness。Wewerefrightenedthemomentwesawhim,butwedidnotrunaway;westoodandwatchedhim。
Hecameonasifhewouldwalkoverus。Butbeforehereachedus,hebegantospreadandspread,andgrewbiggerendbigger,tillatlasthewassobigthathewentoutofoursight,andwesawhimnomore,andthenhewasuponus！\"
\"Whatdoyoumeanbythat？\"
\"Hewasallblackthroughbetweenus,andwecouldnotseeoneanother;andthenhewasinsideus。\"
\"Howdidyouknowhewasinsideyou？\"
\"Hedidmequitedifferent。Ifeltlikebad。IwasnotOduanymore——nottheOduIknew。IwantedtotearSozotopieces——notreally,butlike！\"
HeturnedandhuggedSozo。
\"Itwasn\'tme,Sozo,\"hesobbed。\"Really,deepdown,itwasOdu,lovingyoualways！AndOducameup,andknockedNaughtyaway。I
grewsick,andthoughtImustkillmyselftogetoutoftheblack。
Thencameahorriblelaughthathadheardmythink,anditsettheairtremblingaboutme。AndthenIsupposeIranaway,butIdidnotknowIhadrunawayuntilIfoundmyselfrunning,fastascould,andalltherestrunningtoo。Iwouldhavestopped,butIneverthoughtofituntilIwasoutofthegateamongthegrass。ThenI
knewthatIhadrunawayfromashadowthatwantedtobemeandwasn\'t,andthatIwastheOduthatlovedSozo。Itwastheshadowthatgotintome,andhatedhimfrominsideme;itwasnotmyownselfme！AndnowIknowthatIoughtnottohaverunaway！ButindeedIdidnotquiteknowwhatIwasdoinguntilitwasdone！Mylegsdidit,Ithink:theygrewfrightened,andforgotme,andranaway！Naughtylegs！There！andthere！\"
ThusendedOdu,withakicktoeachofhisnaughtylegs。
\"Whatbecameoftheshadow？\"Iasked。
\"Idonotknow,\"heanswered。\"Isupposehewenthomeintothenightwherethereisnomoon。\"
IfellawonderingwhereLonawasgone,anddroppingonthegrass,tookthedeadthinginmylap,andwhisperedinitsear,\"Whereareyou,Lona？Iloveyou！\"Butitslipsgavenoanswer。Ikissedthem,notquitecold,laidthebodydownagain,andappointingaguardoverit,rosetoprovideforthesafetyofLona\'speopleduringthenight。
Beforethesunwentdown,Ihadsetawatchovertheprincessoutsidethecamp,andsentinelsroundit:intendingtowalkaboutitmyselfallnightlong,Itoldtherestofthearmytogotosleep。
Theythrewthemselvesonthegrassandwereasleepinamoment。
WhenthemoonroseIcaughtaglimpseofsomethingwhite;itwastheleopardess。Shesweptsilentlyroundthesleepingcamp,andI
sawherpassthreetimesbetweentheprincessandtheLittleOnes。
ThereuponImadethewatchliedownwiththeothers,andstretchedmyselfbesidethebodyofLona。
CHAPTERXXXVIII
TOTHEHOUSEOFBITTERNESS
Inthemorningwesetout,andmadefortheforestasfastaswecould。IrodeLona\'shorse,andcarriedherbody。Iwouldtakeittoherfather:hewouldgiveitacouchinthechamberofhisdead！
or,ifhewouldnot,seeingshehadnotcomeofherself,Iwouldwatchitinthedesertuntilitmoulderedaway！ButIbelievedhewould,forsurelyshehaddiedlongago！Alas,howbitterlymustInothumblemyselfbeforehim！
ToAdamImusttakeLilithalso。Ihadnopowertomakeherrepent！
Ihadhardlyarighttoslayher——muchlessarighttoletherlooseintheworld！andsurelyIscarcemeritedbeingmadeforeverhergaoler！
Againandagain,ontheway,Iofferedherfood;butsheansweredonlywithalookofhungeringhate。Herfieryeyeskeptrollingtoandfro,noreverclosed,Ibelieve,untilwereachedtheothersideofthehotstream。AfterthattheyneveropeneduntilwecametotheHouseofBitterness。
Oneevening,aswewerecampingforthenight,Isawalittlegirlgouptoher,andrantopreventmischief。ButereIcouldreachthem,thechildhadputsomethingtothelipsoftheprincess,andgivenascreamofpain。
\"Please,king,\"shewhimpered,\"suckfinger。Badgiantessmakeholeinit！\"
Isuckedthetinyfinger。
\"Wellnow！\"shecried,andaminuteafterwasholdingasecondfruittoamouthgreedyofotherfare。Butthistimeshesnatchedherhandquicklyaway,andthefruitfelltotheground。Thechild\'snamewasLuva。
Thenextdaywecrossedthehotstream。Againontheirownground,theLittleOneswerejubilant。Buttheirnestswerestillatagreatdistance,andthatdaywewentnofartherthantheivy—hall,where,becauseofitsgrapes,Ihadresolvedtospendthenight。
Whentheysawthegreatclusters,atoncetheyknewthemgood,rusheduponthem,ateeagerly,andinafewminuteswereallfastasleeponthegreenfloorandintheforestaroundthehall。Hopingagaintoseethedance,andexpectingtheLittleOnestosleepthroughit,Ihadmadethemleaveawidespaceinthemiddle。I
laydownamongthem,withLonabymyside,butdidnotsleep。