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agony at the air； met my own； and I hauledah； how I
did haul； putting out all the strength that it has
pleased Providence to give me in such abundanceand；
to my joy； in another minute Job was gasping on the
rock beside me。 But the plank！ I felt it slip； and
heard it knock against a projecting knob of rock； and
it was gone。
〃Great heavens！〃 I exclaimed。 〃How are we going to get
back？〃
〃I don't。 know；〃 answered Leo； out of the gloom。
〃'Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof'。 I am
thankful enough to be here。〃
But Ayesha merely called to me to take her hand and
creep after her。
CHAPTER XXV
THE SPIRIT OF LIFE
I DID as I was bid； and in fear and trembling felt
myself guided over the edge of the stone。 I sprawled
my legs out； but could touch nothing。
〃I am going to fall！〃 I gasped。
〃Nay； let thyself go； and trust to me；〃 answered
Ayesha。
Now； if the position is considered； it will be easily
understood that this was a greater demand upon my
confidence than was justified by my knowledge of
Ayesha's character。 For all I knew she might be in the
very act of consigning me to a horrible doom。 But in
life we sometimes have to lay our faith upon strange
altars； and so it was now。
〃Let thyself got〃 she cried； and； having no choice； I
did。
I felt myself slide a pace or two down the sloping
surface of the rock； and then pass into the air； and
the thought flashed through my brain that I was lost。
But no！ In another instant my feet struck against a
rocky floor； and I felt that I was standing on
something solid； and out of reach of the wind； which I
could hear singing away overhead。 As I stood there
thanking Heaven for these small mercies； there was a
slip and a scuffle； and down came Leo alongside of me。
〃Hullo； old fellow！〃 he called out； 〃are you there？
This is getting interesting； is it not？〃
Just then； with a terrific yell； Job arrived right on
the top of us； knocking us both down。 By the time that
we had struggled to our feet again Ayesha was standing
among us； and bidding us light the lamps； which
fortunately remained uninjured； as also did the spare
jar of oil。
I got out my box of Bryant and May's wax matches； and
they struck as merrily there； in that awful place； as
they could have done in a London drawing…room。
In a couple of minutes both the lamps were alight； and
a curious scene they revealed。 We were huddled
together in a rocky chamber； some ten feet square； and
scared enough we looked； that is； except Ayesha； who
was standing calmly with her arms folded； and waiting
for the lamps to burn up。 The chamber appeared to be
partly natural； and partly hollowed out of the top of
the cone。 The roof of the natural part was formed of
the swinging stone； and that of the back part of the
chamber； which sloped downward； was hewn from the live
rock。 For the rest； the place was warm and drya
perfect haven of rest compared to the giddy pinnacle
above； and the quivering spur that shot out to meet it
in mid…air。
〃So！〃 said _i_ She _i_ ； 〃safely have we come； though
once I feared that the rocking stone would fall with
you； and precipitate you into the bottomless depths
beneath； for I do believe that the cleft goeth down to
the very womb of the world。 The rock whereon the stone
resteth hath crumbled beneath the swinging weight。 And
now that he；〃 nodding towards Job； who was sitting on
the floor； feebly wiping his forehead with a red
cotton pocket…handkerchief； 〃whom they rightly call
the 'Pig' for as a pig is he stupid； hath let fall the
plank； it will not be easy to return across the gulf；
and to that end must I make a plan。 But now rest
awhile； and look upon this place。 What think ye that
it is？〃
〃We know not；〃 I answered。
〃Wouldst thou believe； O Holly； that once a man did
choose this airy nest for a daily habitation； and did
here endure for many years； leaving it only but one
day in every twelve to seek food and water and oil
that the people brought； more than he could carry； and
laid as an offering in the mouth of the tunnel through
which we passed hither？〃
We looked up wonderingly。 and she continued
〃Yet so it was。 There was a manNoot； he named
himselfwho； though he lived in the latter days； had
of the wisdom of the sons of Ko^r。 A hermit was he；
and a philosopher； and skilled in the secrets of
Nature； and he it was who discovered the Fire that I
shall show you； which is Nature's blood and life； and
also that he who bathed therein； and breathed thereof；
should live while Nature lives。 But like unto thee； O
Holly； this man； Noot； would not turn his knowledge to
account。 'Ill；' he said； 'was it for man to live； for
man was born to die。' Therefore did he tell his secret
to none； and therefore did he come and live here；
where the seeker after Life must pass； and was revered
of the Amahagger of the day as holy； and a hermit。 And
when first I came to this countryknowest thou how I
came； Kallikrates？ Another time will I tell thee； it
is a strange taleI heard of this philosopher； and
waited for him when he came to fetch his food； and
returned with him hither； though greatly did I fear to
tread the gulf。 Then did I beguile him with my beauty
and my wit； and flatter him with my tongue； so that he
led me down and showed me the Fire； and told me the
secrets of the Fire； but he would not suffer me to
step therein； and； fearing lest he should slay me； I
refrained； knowing that the man was very old； and soon
would die。 And I returned； having learned from him all
that he knew of the wonderful Spirit of the World； and
that was much； the man was wise and very ancient； and
by purity and abstinence； and the contemplations of
his innocent mind； had worn thin the veil between that
which we see and the great invisible truths； the
whisper of whose wings at times we hear as they sweep
through the gross air of the world。 Thenit was but a
very few days after； I met thee； my Kallikrates； who
hadst wandered hither with the beautiful Egyptian
Amenartas； and I learned to love for the first and
last time； once and forever； so that it entered into
my mind to come hither with thee； and receive the gift
of Life for thee and me。 Therefore came we； with that
Egyptian who would not be left behind； and； behold； we
found the old man Noot lying but newly dead。 There he
lay； and his white beard covered him like a garment；〃
and she pointed to a spot near where I was sitting；
〃but surely he hath long since crumbled into dust； and
the wind hath borne his ashes hence。〃
Here I put out my hand and felt in the dust； and
presently my fingers touched something。 It was a human
tooth； very yellow； but sound。 I held it up and showed
it to Ayesha； who laughed。
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃it is his without a doubt。 Behold
what remaineth of Noot and the wisdom of Nootone
little tooth！ And yet that man had all life at his
command； and for his conscience sake would have none
of it。 Well； he lay there newly dead； and we descended
whither I shall lead you； and then； gathering up all
my courage； and courting death that I might perchance
win so glorious a crown of life； I stepped into the
flames； and behold！ life such as ye can never know
until ye feel it also； flowed into me； and I came
forth undying； and lovely beyond imagining。 Then did I
stretch out mine arms to thee； Kallikrates； and bid
thee take thine immortal bride； and behold； as I
spoke； thou； blinded by my beauty； didst turn from me
and throw thine arms about the neck of Amenartas。 And
then a great fury filled me； and made me mad； and I
seized the javelin that thou didst bear； and stabbed
thee； so that there； at my very feet； in the Place of
Life； thou didst groan and go down into death。 I knew
not then that I had strength to slay with mine eyes
and by the power of my will； therefore in my madness
slew I with the javelin。
〃And when thou wast dead； ah！ I wept； because I was
undying and thou wast dead。 I wept there in the Place
of Life； so that had I been mortal any more my heart
had surely broken。 And she； the swart Egyptianshe
cursed me by her gods。 By Osiris did she curse me； and
by Isis； by Nephthys and by Hekt； by Sekhet； the lion…
headed； and by Set； calling down evil on me； evil and
everlasting desolation。 Ah！ I can see her dark face
now lowering o'er me like a storm； but she could not
hurt me； and II know not if I could hurt her。 I did
not try； it was naught to me then； so together we bore
thee hence。 And afterwards I sent herthe Egyptian
away through the swamps； and it seems that she lived
to bear a son and to write the tale that should lead
thee； her husband； back to me； her rival and thy
murderess。
〃Such is the tale； my love； and now is the hour at
hand that shall set a crown upon it。 Like all things
on the earth； it is compounded of evil and goodmore
of evil than of good； perchance； and writ in letters
of blood。 It is the truth； naught have I hidden from
thee； Kallikrates。 And now one thing before the final
moment of thy trial。 We go down into the presence of
Death； for Life an