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all the strength left me this night will die down； like the lamps
in the circle； unless the elixir restore it。 Bold friend； spurn
that sorceress away。 Hours yet ere those flames can assail us！ A
few minutes more； and life to your Lilian and me！〃
Thus having said； Margrave turned from us； and cast into the
caldron the last essence yet left in his empty coffer。
Ayesha silently drew her black veil over her face； and turned； with
the being she loved； from the terror he scorned； to share in the
hope that he cherished。
Thus left alone； with my reason disinthralled； disenchanted； I
surveyed more calmly the extent of the actual peril with which we
were threatened； and the peril seemed less； so surveyed。
It is true all the Bush…land behind； almost up to the bed of the
creek； was on fire； but the grasses； through which the flame spread
so rapidly； ceased at the opposite marge of the creek。 Watery
pools were still； at intervals； left in the bed of the creek；
shining tremulous； like waves of fire； in the glare reflected from
the burning land； and even where the water failed； the stony course
of the exhausted rivulet was a barrier against the march of the
conflagration。 Thus； unless the wind； now still； should rise； and
waft some sparks to the parched combustible herbage immediately
around us； we were saved from the fire； and our work might yet be
achieved。
I whispered to Ayesha the conclusion to which I came。
〃Thinkest thou；〃 she answered without raising her mournful head；
〃that the Agencies of Nature are the movements of chance？ The
Spirits I invoked to his aid are leagued with the hosts that
assail。 A mightier than I am has doomed him！〃
Scarcely had she uttered these words before Margrave exclaimed；
〃Behold how the Rose of the alchemist's dream enlarges its blooms
from the folds of its petals！ I shall live； I shall live！〃
I looked； and the liquid which glowed in the caldron had now taken
a splendor that mocked all comparisons borrowed from the luster of
gems。 In its prevalent color it had； indeed； the dazzle and flash
of the ruby； but out from the mass of the molten red； broke
coruscations of all prismal hues； shooting； shifting； in a play
that made the wavelets themselves seem living things； sensible of
their joy。 No longer was there scum or film upon the surface； only
ever and anon a light； rosy vapor floating up； and quick lost in
the haggard； heavy； sulphurous air； hot with the conflagration
rushing toward us from behind。 And these coruscations formed； on
the surface of the molten ruby； literally the shape of a rose； its
leaves made distinct in their outlines by sparks of emerald and
diamond and sapphire。
Even while gazing on this animated liquid luster； a buoyant delight
seemed infused into my senses； all terrors conceived before were
annulled； the phantoms； whose armies had filled the wide spaces in
front； were forgotten； the crash of the forest behind was unheard。
In the reflection of that glory； Margrave's wan cheek seemed
already restored to the radiance it wore when I saw it first in the
framework of blooms。
As I gazed； thus enchanted； a cold hand touched my own。
〃Hush！〃 whispered Ayesha； from the black veil； against which the
rays of the caldron fell blunt； and absorbed into Dark。 〃Behind
us； the light of the circle is extinct； but there； we are guarded
from all save the brutal and soulless destroyers。 But； before！
but； before！see； two of the lamps have died out！see the blank
of the gap in the ring！ Guard that breachthere the demons will
enter。〃
〃Not a drop is there left in this vessel by which to replenish the
lamps on the ring。〃
〃Advance； then； thou hast still the light of the soul； and the
demons may recoil before a soul that is dauntless and guiltless。
If not； Three are lost！as it is； One is doomed。〃
Thus adjured； silently； involuntarily； I passed from the Veiled
Woman's side； over the sear lines on the turf which had been traced
by the triangles of light long since extinguished； and toward the
verge of the circle。 As I advanced； overhead rushed a dark cloud
of wingsbirds dislodged from the forest on fire； and screaming；
in dissonant terror； as they flew toward the farthermost mountains；
close by my feet hissed and glided the snakes； driven forth from
their blazing coverts； and glancing through the ring； unscared by
its waning lamps； all undulating by me； bright…eyed； and hissing；
all made innocuous by feareven the terrible Death…adder； which I
trampled on as I halted at the verge of the circle； did not turn to
bite； but crept harmless away。 I halted at the gap between the two
dead lamps； and bowed my head to look again into the crystal
vessel。 Were there； indeed； no lingering drops yet left； if but to
recruit the lamps for some priceless minutes more？ As I thus
stood； right into the gap between the two dead lamps strode a
gigantic Foot。 All the rest of the form was unseen； only； as
volume after volume of smoke poured on from the burning land
behind； it seemed as if one great column of vapor； eddying round；
settled itself aloft from the circle； and that out from that column
strode the giant Foot。 And； as strode the Foot； so with it came；
like the sound of its tread； a roll of muttered thunder。
I recoiled； with a cry that rang loud through the lurid air。
〃Courage！〃 said the voice of Ayesha。 〃Trembling soul； yield not an
inch to the demon！〃
At the charm； the wonderful charm； in the tone of the Veiled
Woman's voice； my will seemed to take a force more sublime than its
own。 I folded my arms on my breast； and stood as if rooted to the
spot； confronting the column of smoke and the stride of the giant
Foot。 And the Foot halted； mute。
Again； in the momentary hush of that suspense； I heard a voiceit
was Margrave's。
〃The last hour expiresthe work is accomplished！ Come！ come！ Aid
me to take the caldron from the fire； and； quick！or a drop may be
wasted in vaporthe Elixir of Life from the caldron！〃
At that cry I receded； and the Foot advanced。
And at that moment； suddenly； unawares； from behind； I was stricken
down。 Over me； as I lay； swept a whirlwind of trampling hoofs and
glancing horns。 The herds； in their flight from the burning
pastures； had rushed over the bed of the water course； scaled the
slopes of the banks。 Snorting and bellowing； they plunged their
blind way to the mountains。 One cry alone； more wild than their
own savage blare； pierced the reek through which the Brute
Hurricane swept。 At that cry of wrath and despair I struggled to
rise； again dashed to earth by the hoofs and the horns。 But was it
the dreamlike deceit of my reeling senses； or did I see that giant
Foot stride past through the close…serried ranks of the maddening
herds？ Did I hear； distinct through all the huge uproar of animal
terror； the roll of low thunder which followed the stride of that
Foot？
X
When my sense had recovered its shock； and my eyes looked dizzily
round； the charge of the beasts had swept by； and of all the wild
tribes which had invaded the magical circle； the only lingerer was
the brown Death…adder； coiled close by the spot where my head had
rested。 Beside the extinguished lamps which the hoofs had
confusedly scattered； the fire； arrested by the water course； had
consumed the grasses that fed it； and there the plains stretched
black and desert as the Phlegraean Field of the Poet's Hell。 But
the fire still raged in the forest beyondwhite flames； soaring up
from the trunks of the tallest trees； and forming； through the
sullen dark of the smoke reck； innumerable pillars of fire； like
the halls in the city of fiends。
Gathering myself up； I turned my eyes from the terrible pomp of the
lurid forest； and looked fearfully down on the hoof…trampled sward
for my two companions。
I saw the dark image of Ayesha still seated； still bending； as I
had seen it last。 I saw a pale hand feebly grasping the rim of the
magical caldron； which lay； hurled down from its tripod by the rush
of the beasts； yards away from the dim； fading embers of the
scattered wood pyre。 I saw the faint writhings of a frail； wasted
frame； over which the Veiled Woman was bending。 I saw； as I moved
with bruised limbs to the place； close by the lips of the dying
magician； the flash of the rubylike essence spilled on the sward；
and； meteor…like； sparkling up from the torn tufts of herbage。
I now reached Margrave's side。 Bending over him as the Veiled
Woman bent； and as I sought gently to raise him； he turned his
face； fiercely faltering out； 〃Touch me not； rob me not！ YOU share
with me！ Never； never！ These glorious drops are all mine！ Die
all else！ I will live； I will live！〃 Writhing himself from my
pitying arms； he plunged his face amidst the beautiful； playful
flame of the essence； as if to lap the elixir with lips scorched
away from its intolerable burning。 Suddenly； with a low shriek； he
fell back； his face upturned to mine； and on that face unmistakably
reigned Death。
Then Ayesha tenderly； silently； drew the young head to her lap； and
it vanished from my sight behind her black veil。
I knelt beside her； murmuring some trite words of comfort；