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contrasted indeed the tranquil indifference with which I had first
undertaken my charge； how small a supply was now left。
I went back to Margrave； and told him of the shock； and of its
consequence in the waste of the liquid。
〃Beware；〃 said he； that not a motion of the arm； not an inch of the
foot； pass the verge of the ring； and if the fluid be thus
unhappily stinted； reserve all that is left for the protecting
circle and the twelve outer lamps！ See how the Grand Work
advances； how the hues in the caldron are glowing blood…red through
the film on the surface！
And now four hours of the six were gone； my arm had gradually
recovered its strength。 Neither the ring nor the lamps had again
required replenishing； perhaps their light was exhausted less
quickly； as it was no longer to be exposed to the rays of the
intense Australian moon。 Clouds had gathered over the sky； and
though the moon gleamed at times in the gaps that they left in blue
air； her beam was more hazy and dulled。 The locusts no longer were
heard in the grass； nor the howl of the dogs in the forest。 Out of
the circle； the stillness was profound。
And about this time I saw distinctly in the distance a vast Eye。
It drew nearer and nearer； seeming to move from the ground at the
height of some lofty giant。 Its gaze riveted mine； my blood
curdled in the blaze from its angry ball； and now as it advanced
larger and larger； other Eyes； as if of giants in its train； grew
out from the space in its rearnumbers on numbers； like the
spearheads of some Eastern army； seen afar by pale warders of
battlements doomed to the dust。 My voice long refused an utterance
to my awe； at length it burst forth shrill and loud：
〃Look； look！ Those terrible Eyes！ Legions on legions。 And hark！
that tramp of numberless feet； THEY are not seen； but the hollows
of earth echo the sound of their march！〃
Margrave； more than ever intent on the caldron； in which； from time
to time； he kept dropping powders or essences drawn forth from his
coffer； looked up； defyingly； fiercely：
〃Ye come；〃 he said in a low mutter； his once mighty voice sounding
hollow and laboring； but fearless and firm〃ye comenot to
conquer； vain rebels！ye whose dark chief I struck down at my feet
in the tomb where my spell had raised up the ghost of your first
human master； the Chaldee！ Earth and air have their armies still
faithful to me； and still I remember the war song that summons them
up to confront you！ Ayesha； Ayesha！ recall the wild troth that we
pledged among the roses； recall the dread bond by which we united
our sway over hosts that yet own thee as queen； though my scepter
is broken； my diadem reft from my brows！〃
The Veiled Woman rose at this adjuration。 Her veil now was
withdrawn； and the blaze of the fire between Margrave and herself
flushed； as with the rosy bloom of youth； the grand beauty of her
softened face。 It was seen； detached； as it were； from her dark…
mantled form； seen through the mist of the vapors which rose from
the caldron； framing it round like the clouds that are yieldingly
pierced by the light of the evening star。
Through the haze of the vapor came her voice； more musical； more
plaintive than I had heard it before； but far softer； more tender：
still in her foreign tongue； the words unknown to me； and yet their
sense； perhaps； made intelligible by the love； which has one common
language and one common look to all who have lovedthe love
unmistakably heard in the loving tone； unmistakably seen in the
loving face。
A moment or so more and she had come round from the opposite side
of the fire pile； and bending over Margrave's upturned brow； kissed
it quietly； solemnly； and then her countenance grew fierce； her
crest rose erect： it was the lioness protecting her young。 She
stretched forth her arm from the black mantle； athwart the pale
front that now again bent over the caldronstretched it toward the
haunted and hollow…sounding space beyond； in the gesture of one
whose right hand has the sway of the scepter。 And then her voice
stole on the air in the music of a chant； not loud yet far…
reaching； so thrilling； so sweet and yet so solemn that I could at
once comprehend how legend united of old the spell of enchantment
with the power of song。 All that I recalled of the effects which；
in the former time； Margrave's strange chants had produced on the
ear that they ravished and the thoughts they confused； was but as
the wild bird's imitative carol； compared to the depth and the art
and the soul of the singer； whose voice seemed endowed with a charm
to inthrall all the tribes of creation； though the language it used
for that charm might to them； as to me； be unknown。 As the song
ceased； I heard from behind sounds like those I had heard in the
spaces before methe tramp of invisible feet； the whir of
invisible wings； as if armies were marching to aid against armies
in march to destroy。
〃Look not in front nor around；〃 said Ayesha。 〃Look； like him； on
the caldron below。 The circle and the lamps are yet bright； I will
tell you when the light again fails。〃
I dropped my eyes on the caldron。
〃See；〃 whispered Margrave； 〃the sparkles at last begin to arise；
and the rose hues to deepensigns that we near the last process。〃
IX
The fifth hour had passed away； when Ayesha said to me； 〃Lo！ the
circle is fading； the lamps grow dim。 Look now without fear on the
space beyond； the eyes that appalled thee are again lost in air； as
lightnings that fleet back into cloud。〃
I looked up； and the specters had vanished。 The sky was tinged
with sulphurous hues； the red and the black intermixed。 I
replenished the lamps and the ring in front； thriftily； heedfully；
but when I came to the sixth lamp； not a drop in the vessel that
fed them was left。 In a vague dismay； I now looked round the half
of the wide circle in rear of the two bended figures intent on the
caldron。 All along that disk the light was already broken； here
and there flickering up； here and there dying down； the six lamps
in that half of the circle still twinkled； but faintly； as stars
shrinking fast from the dawn of day。 But it was not the fading
shine in that half of the magical ring which daunted my eye and
quickened with terror the pulse of my heart； the Bush…land beyond
was on fire。 From the background of the forest rose the flame and
the smokethe smoke； there； still half smothering the flame。 But
along the width of the grasses and herbage； between the verge of
the forest and the bed of the water creek just below the raised
platform from which I beheld the dread conflagration； the fire was
advancingwave upon wave； clear and red against the columns of
rock behind； as the rush of a flood through the mists of some Alp
crowned with lightnings。
Roused from my stun at the first sight of a danger not foreseen by
the mind I had steeled against far rarer portents of Nature； I
cared no more for the lamps and the circle。 Hurrying hack to
Ayesha I exclaimed： 〃The phantoms have gone from the spaces in
front； but what incantation or spell can arrest the red march of
the foe speeding on in the rear！ While we gazed on the caldron of
life； behind us； unheeded； behold the Destroyer！〃
Ayesha looked and made no reply； but； as by involuntary instinct；
bowed her majestic head； then rearing it erect； placed herself yet
more immediately before the wasted form of the young magician （he
still； bending over the caldron； and hearing me not in the
absorption and hope of his watch）placed herself before him； as
the bird whose first care is her fledgling。
As we two there stood； fronting the deluge of fire； we heard
Margrave behind us； murmuring low； 〃See the bubbles of light； how
they sparkle and danceI shall live； I shall live！〃 And his words
scarcely died in our ears before； crash upon crash； came the fall
of the age…long trees in the forest； and nearer； all near us；
through the blazing grasses； the hiss of the serpents； the scream
of the birds； and the bellow and tramp of the herds plunging wild
through the billowy red of their pastures。
Ayesha now wound her arms around Margrave； and wrenched him；
reluctant and struggling； from his watch over the seething caldron。
In rebuke of his angry exclamations； she pointed to the march of
the fire； spoke in sorrowful tones a few words in her own language；
and then； appealing to me in English； said：
〃I tell him that； here； the Spirits who oppose us have summoned a
foe that is deaf to my voice； and〃
〃And；〃 exclaimed Margrave； no longer with gasp and effort； but with
the swell of a voice which drowned all the discords of terror and
of agony sent forth from the Phlegethon burning below〃and this
witch； whom I trusted； is a vile slave and impostor； more desiring
my death than my life。 She thinks that in life I should scorn and
forsake her； that in death I should die in her arms！ Sorceress；
avaunt！ Art thou useless and powerless now when I need thee most？
Go！ Let the world be one funeral pyre！ What to ME is the world？
My world is my life！ Thou knowest that my last hope is herethat
all the strength left me this night will die down； like the lamps
in the circle； u