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like a heap of slain。
Leo was of course intensely interested in this
stupendous and unequalled sight； which was； indeed；
enough to awaken all the imagination a man had in him
into the most active life。 But to poor Job it did not
prove attractive。 His nervesalready seriously shaken
by what he had undergone since we had arrived in this
terrible countrywere； as may be imagined； still
further disturbed by the spectacle of these masses of
departed humanity； whereof the forms still remained
perfect before his eyes； though their voices were
forever lost in the eternal silence of the tomb。 Nor
was he comforted when old Billali； by way of soothing
his evident agitation； informed him that he should not
be frightened at these dead things； as he would soon
be like them himself。
〃There's a nice thing to say of a man； sir；〃 he
ejaculated； when I translated this little remark； 〃but
there； what can one expect of an old man…eating
savage？ Not but what I dare say he's right；〃 and Job
sighed。
When we had finished inspecting the caves we returned
and had our meal； for it was now past four in the
afternoon； and we allspecially Leoneeded some food
and rest。 At six o'clock we； together with Job； waited
on Ayesha； who set to work to terrify our poor servant
still further by showing him pictures on the pool of
water in the font like vessel。 _i_ She _i_ learned
from me that he was one of seventeen children； and
then bid him think of all his brothers and sisters； or
as many of them as he could； gathered together in his
father's cottage。 Then she told him to look in the
water； and there； reflected from its stilly surface；
was that dead scene of many years gone by； as it was
recalled to our retainer's brain。 Some of the faces
were clear enough； but some were mere blurs and
splotches； or with one feature grossly exaggerated；
the fact being that； in these instances； Job had been
unable to recall the exact appearances of the
individuals； or remembered them only by a peculiarity
of his tribe； and the water could only reflect what he
saw with his mind's eye。 For it must be remembered
that _i_ She _i_ 's power in this matter was strictly
limited； she could； apparently； except in very rare
instances； only photograph upon the water what was
actually in the mind of some one present； and then
only by his will。 But if she was personally acquainted
with a locality she could； as in the case of ourselves
and the whale…boat； throw its reflection upon the
water； and also it seems the reflection of anything
extraneous that was passing there at the time。 This
power； however； did not extend to the minds of others。
For instance； she could show me the interior of my
college chapel； as I remembered it； but not as it was
at the moment of reflection； for； where other people
were concerned； her art was strictly limited to the
facts or memories present to their consciousness at
the moment。 So much was this so that； when we tried；
for her amusement； to show her pictures of noted
buildings； such as St。 Paul's or the Houses of
Parliament； the result was most imperfect； for； of
course； though we had a good general idea of their
appearance； we could not recall all the architectural
details； and therefore the minutiae necessary to a
perfect reflection were wanting。 But Job could not be
got to understand this； and so far from accepting a
natural explanation of the matter； which was； after
all； though strange enough in all conscience； nothing
more than an instance of glorified and perfected
telepathy； he set the whole thing down as a
manifestation of the blackest magic。 I shall never
forget the howl of terror which he uttered when he saw
the more or less perfect portraits of his long…
scattered brethren staring at him from the quiet
water； or the merry peal of laughter with which Ayesha
greeted his consternation。 As for Leo； he did not
altogether like it either； but ran his fingers through
his yellow curls； and remarked that it gave him the
creeps。
After about an hour of this amusement； in the latter
part of which Job did not participate； the mutes by
signs indicated that Billali was waiting for an
audience。 Accordingly he was told to 〃crawl up；〃 which
he did as awkwardly as usual； and announced that the
dance was ready to begin if She and the white
strangers would be pleased to attend。 Shortly
afterwards we all rose； and Ayesha having thrown a
dark cloak （the same； by the way； that she had worn
when I saw her cursing by the fire） over her white
wrappings； we started。 The dance was to be held in the
open air； on the smooth rocky plateau in front of the
great cave； and thither we made our way。 About fifteen
paces from the mouth of the cave we found three chairs
placed； and here we sat and waited； for as yet no
dancers were to be seen。 The night was almost； but not
quite； dark； the moon not having risen as yet； which
made us wonder how we should be able to see the
dancing。
〃Thou wilt presently understand；〃 said Ayesha； with a
little laugh； when Leo asked her； and we certainly
did。 Scarcely were the words out of her mouth when
from every point we saw dark forms rushing up； each
bearing with him what we at first took to be an
enormous flaming torch。 Whatever they were they were
burning furiously； for the flames stood out a yard or
more behind each bearer。 On they came； fifty or more
of them； carrying their flaming burdens and looking
like so many devils from hell。 Leo was the first to
discover what these burdens were。
〃Great heaven！〃 he said； 〃they are corpses on fire！〃
I stared and stared againhe was perfectly rightthe
torches that were to light our entertainment were
human mummies from the caves！
On rushed the bearers of the flaming corpses； and；
meeting at a spot about twenty paces in front of us；
built their ghastly burdens crossways into a huge
bonfire。 Heavens！ how they roared and flared！ No tar
barrel could have burned as those mummies did： Nor was
this all。 Suddenly I saw one great fellow seize a
flaming human arm that had fallen from its parent
frame； and rush off into the darkness。 Presently he
stopped； and a tall streak of fire shot up into the
air； illumining the gloom； and also the lamp from
which it sprang。 That lamp was the mummy of a woman
tied to a stout stake let into the rock； and he had
fired her hair。 On he went a few paces and touched a
second； then a third； and a fourth； till at last we
were surrounded on all three sides by a great ring of
bodies flaring furiously； the material with which they
were preserved having rendered them so inflammable
that the flames would literally spout out of the ears
and mouth in tongues of fire a foot or more in length。
Nero illuminated his gardens with live Christians
soaked in tar； and we were now treated to a similar
spectacle； probably for the first time since his day；
only happily our lamps were not living ones。
But although this element of horror was fortunately
wanting； to describe the awful and hideous grandeur of
the spectacle thus presented to us is； I feel； so
absolutely beyond my poor powers； that I scarcely dare
attempt it。 To begin with； it appealed to the moral as
well as the physical susceptibilities。 There was
something very terrible； and yet very fascinating；
about the employment of the remote dead to illumine
the orgies of the living； in itself the thing was a
satire； both on the living and the dead。 Caesar's
dustor is it Alexander's？ may stop a bunghole； but
the functions of these dead Caesars of the past was to
light up a savage fetish dance。 To such base uses may
we come； of so little account may we be in the minds
of the eager multitudes that we shall breed； many of
whom； so far from revering our memory； will live to
curse us for begetting them into such a world of woe。
Then there was the physical side of the spectacle； and
a weird and splendid one it was。 Those old citizens of
Ko^r burned as； to judge from their sculptures and
inscriptions； they had lived； very fast； and with the
utmost liberality。 What is more； there were plenty of
them。 As soon as ever a mummy had burned down to the
ankles； which it did in about twenty minutes； the feet
were kicked away； and another one put in its place。
The bonfire was kept going on the same generous scale；
and its flames shot up； with a hiss and a crackle；
twenty or thirty feet into the air； throwing great
flashes of light far out into the gloom； through which
the dark forms of the Amahagger flitted to and fro
like devils replenishing the infernal fires。 We all
stood and stared aghastshocked； and yet fascinated
at so strange a spectacle； and half expecting to see
the spirits those flaming forms had once enclosed come
creeping from the shadows to work vengeance on their
desecraters。
〃I promised thee a strange sight； my Holly；〃 laughed
Ayesha； whose nerves alone did not seem to be
affected； 〃and； behold； I have not failed thee。 Also；
it hath its lesson。 Trust not to the future； for who
knows what the future may bring！ Therefore； live fo