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basin Tommy； who gambolled into the place ahead of us； began to
drink in a greedy and demonstrative fashion。
〃The Life…water？〃 I said； looking at our guide。
She nodded and asked in her turn：
〃What is the statue and what does it signify； Humphrey？〃
I hesitated； but Bastin answered：
〃Just a rather ugly woman who hid up her figure because it was
bad。 Probably she was a relation of the artist who wished to have
her likeness done and sat for nothing。〃
〃The goddess of Health；〃 suggested Bickley。 〃Her proportions
are perfect； a robust； a thoroughly normal woman。〃
〃Now； Humphrey；〃 said Yva。
I stared at the work and had not an idea。 Then it flashed on me
with such suddenness and certainity that I am convinced the
answer to the riddle was passed to me from her and did not
originate in my own mind。
〃It seems quite easy；〃 I said in a superior tone。 〃The figure
symbolises Life and is draped because we only see the face of
Life； the rest is hidden。 The arms are bare because Life is real
and active。 One cup is black and one is white because Life brings
both good and evil gifts； that is why the streams mingle； to be
lost beneath in the darkness of death。 The features are stern and
even terrifying rather than lovely； because such is the aspect of
Life。 The eyes look upward and far away from present things；
because the real life is not here。〃
〃Of course one may say anything；〃 said Bastin； 〃but I don't
understand all that。〃
〃Imagination goes a long way；〃 broke in Bickley； who was vexed
that he had not thought of this interpretation himself。 But Yva
said：
〃I begin to think that you are quite clever； Humphrey。 I wonder
whence the truth came to you； for such is the meaning of the
figure and the cups。 Had I told it to you myself； it could not
have been better said；〃 and she glanced at me out of the corners
of her eyes。 〃Now； Strangers； will you drink？ Once that gate was
guarded； and only at a great price or as a great reward were
certain of the Highest Blood given the freedom of this fountain
which might touch no common lips。 Indeed it was one of the causes
of our last war； for all the world which was； desired this water
which now is lapped by a stranger's hound。〃
〃I suppose there is nothing medicinal in it？〃 said Bastin。
〃Once when I was very thirsty； I made a mistake and drank three
tumblers of something of the sort in the dark； thinking that it
was Apollinaris； and I don't want to do it again。〃
〃Just the sort of thing you would do；〃 said Bickley。 〃But； Lady
Yva； what are the properties of this water？〃
〃It is very health…giving；〃 she answered； 〃and if drunk
continually； not less than once each thirty days； it wards off
sickness； lessens hunger and postpones death for many； many
years。 That is why those of the High Blood endured so long and
became the rulers of the world； and that； as I have said； is the
greatest of the reasons why the peoples who dwelt in the ancient
outer countries and never wished to die； made war upon them； to
win this secret fountain。 Have no fear； O Bastin； for see； I will
pledge you in this water。〃
Then she lifted a strange…looking； shallow； metal cup whereof
the handles were formed of twisted serpents； that lay in the
basin； filled it from the trickling stream； bowed to us and
drank。 But as she drank I noted with a thrill of joy that her
eyes were fixed on mine as though it were me she pledged and me
alone。 Again she filled the cup with the sparkling water； for it
did sparkle； like that French liqueur in which are mingled little
flakes of gold； and handed it to me。
I bowed to her and drank。 I suppose the fluid was water； but to
me it tasted more like strong champagne； dashed with Chateau
Yquem。 It was delicious。 More； its effects were distinctly
peculiar。 Something quick and subtle ran through my veins；
something that for a few moments seemed to burn away the
obscureness which blurs our thought。 I began to understand
several problems that had puzzled me； and then lost their
explanations in the midst of light； inner light； I mean。
Moreover； of a sudden it seemed to me as though a window had been
opened in the heart of that Glittering Lady who stood beside me。
At least I knew that it was full of wonderful knowledge；
wonderful memories and wonderful hopes； and that in the latter
two of these I had some part； what part I could not tell。 Also I
knew that my heart was open to her and that she saw in it
something which caused her to marvel and to sigh。
In a few seconds； thirty perhaps； all this was gone。 Nothing
remained except that I felt extremely strong and well； happier；
too； than I had been for years。 Mutely I asked her for more of
the water； but she shook her head and； taking the cup from me；
filled it again and gave it to Bickley； who drank。 He flushed；
seemed to lose the self…control which was his very strong
characteristic； and said in a rather thick voice：
〃Curious！ but I do not think at this moment there is any
operation that has ever been attempted which I could not tackle
single…handed and with success。〃
Then he was silent； and Bastin's turn came。 He drank rather
noisily； after his fashion； and began：
〃My dear young lady； I think the time has come when I should
expound to you〃 Here he broke off and commenced singing very
badly； for his voice was somewhat raucous：
From Greenland's icy mountains；
From India's coral strand；
Where Afric's sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand。
Ceasing from melody； he added：
〃I determined that I would drink nothing intoxicating while I
was on this island that I might be a shining light in a dark
place； and now I fear that quite unwittingly I have broken what I
look upon as a promise。〃
Then he； too； grew silent。
〃Come；〃 said Yva； 〃my father； the Lord Oro； awaits you。〃
We crossed the court of the Water of Life and mounted steps
that led to a wide and impressive portico； Tommy frisking ahead
of us in a most excited way for a dog of his experience。
Evidently the water had produced its effect upon him as well as
upon his masters。 This portico was in a solemn style of
architecture which I cannot describe； because it differed from
any other that I know。 It was not Egyptian and not Greek；
although its solidity reminded me of the former； and the beauty
and grace of some of the columns； of the latter。 The profuseness
and rather grotesque character of the carvings suggested the
ruins of Mexico and Yucatan； and the enormous size of the blocks
of stone； those of Peru and Baalbec。 In short； all the known
forms of ancient architecture might have found their inspiration
here； and the general effect was tremendous。
〃The palace of the King；〃 said Yva； 〃whereof we approach the
great hall。〃
We entered through mighty metal doors； one of which stood ajar；
into a vestibule which from certain indications I gathered had
once been a guard； or perhaps an assembly…room。 It was about
forty feet deep by a hundred wide。 Thence she led us through a
smaller door into the hall itself。 It was a vast place without
columns； for there was no roof to support。 The walls of marble or
limestone were sculptured like those of Egyptian temples；
apparently with battle scenes； though of this I am not sure for I
did not go near to them。 Except for a broad avenue along the
middle； up which we walked； the area was filled with marble
benches that would； I presume； have accommodated several thousand
people。 But they were emptyempty； and oh！ the loneliness of it
all。
Far away at the head of the hall was a dais enclosed； and； as
it were； roofed in by a towering structure that mingled grace and
majesty to a wonderful degree。 It was modelled on the pattern of
a huge shell。 The base of the shell was the platform； behind were
the ribs； and above； the overhanging lip of the shell。 On this
platform was a throne of silvery metal。 It was supported on the
arched coils of snakes； whereof the tails formed the back and the
heads the arms of the throne。
On this throne； arrayed in gorgeous robes； sat the Lord Oro；
his white beard flowing over them； and a jewelled cap upon his
head。 In front of him was a low table on which lay graven sheets
of metal； and among them a large ball of crystal。
There he sat； solemn and silent in the midst of this awful
solitude； looking in very truth like a god； as we conceive such a
being to appear。 Small as he was in that huge expanse of
buildings； he seemed yet to dominate it； in a sense to fill the
emptiness which was accentuated by his presence。 I know that the
sight of him filled me with true fear which it had never done in
the light of day； not even when he arose from his crystal coffin。
Now for the first time I felt as though I were really in the
presence of a Being Supernatural。 Doubtless the surroundings
heightened this