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fluid conductors that link all the parts of creation。 Of these
races； some are wholly indifferent to man； some benign to him； and
some deadly hostile。 In all the regular and prescribed conditions
of mortal being； this magic realm seems as blank and tenantless as
yon vacant air。 But when a seeker of powers beyond the rude
functions by which man plies the clockwork that measures his hours；
and stops when its chain reaches the end of its coil； strives to
pass over those boundaries at which philosophy says； 'Knowledge
ends'then； he is like all other travelers in regions unknown； he
must propitiate or brave the tribes that are hostilemust depend
for his life on the tribes that are friendly。 Though your science
discredits the alchemist's dogmas； your learning informs you that
all alchemists were not ignorant impostors； yet those whose
discoveries prove them to have been the nearest allies to your
practical knowledge； ever hint in their mystical works at the
reality of that realm which is open to magicever hint that some
means less familiar than furnace and bellows are essential to him
who explores the elixir of life。 He who once quaffs that elixir；
obtains in his very veins the bright fluid by which he transmits
the force of his will to agencies dormant in Nature； to giants
unseen in the space。 And here； as he passes the boundary which
divides his allotted and normal mortality from the regions and
races that magic alone can explore； so； here； he breaks down the
safeguard between himself and the tribes that are hostile。 Is it
not ever thus between man and man？ Let a race the most gentle and
timid and civilized dwell on one side a river or mountain； and
another have home in the region beyond； each； if it pass not the
intervening barrier； may with each live in peace。 But if ambitious
adventurers scale the mountain； or cross the river； with design to
subdue and enslave the population they boldly invade； then all the
invaded arise in wrath and defiancethe neighbors are changed into
foes。 And therefore this processby which a simple though rare
material of Nature is made to yield to a mortal the boon of a life
which brings； with its glorious resistance to Time； desires and
faculties to subject to its service beings that dwell in the earth
and the air and the deephas ever been one of the same peril which
an invader must brave when he crosses the bounds of his nation。 By
this key alone you unlock all the cells of the alchemist's lore； by
this alone understand how a labor； which a chemist's crudest
apprentice could perform； has baffled the giant fathers of all your
dwarfed children of science。 Nature； that stores this priceless
boon； seems to shrink from conceding it to manthe invisible
tribes that abhor him oppose themselves to the gain that might give
them a master。 The duller of those who were the life…seekers of
old would have told you how some chance； trivial； unlooked…for；
foiled their grand hope at the very point of fruition； some doltish
mistake； some improvident oversight； a defect in the sulphur； a
wild overflow in the quicksilver； or a flaw in the bellows； or a
pupil who failed to replenish the fuel； by falling asleep by the
furnace。 The invisible foes seldom vouchsafe to make themselves
visible where they can frustrate the bungler as they mock at his
toils from their ambush。 But the mightier adventurers； equally
foiled in despite of their patience and skill； would have said；
'Not with us rests the fault； we neglected no caution； we failed
from no oversight。 But out from the caldron dread faces arose； and
the specters or demons dismayed and baffled us。' Such； then； is
the danger which seems so appalling to a son of the East； as it
seemed to a seer in the dark age of Europe。 But we can deride all
its threats； you and I。 For myself； I own frankly I take all the
safety that the charms and resources of magic bestow。 You； for
your safety； have the cultured and disciplined reason which reduces
all fantasies to nervous impressions； and I rely on the courage of
one who has questioned； unquailing； the Luminous Shadow； and
wrested from the hand of the magician himself the wand which
concentered the wonders of will！〃
To this strange and long discourse I listened without interruption；
and now quietly answered：
〃I do not merit the trust you affect in my courage； but I am now on
my guard against the cheats of the fancy； and the fumes of a vapor
can scarcely bewilder the brain in the open air of this mountain
land。 I believe in no races like those which you tell me lie
viewless in space； as do gases。 I believe not in magic； I ask not
its aids； and I dread not its terrors。 For the rest； I am
confident of one mournful couragethe courage that comes from
despair。 I submit to your guidance； whatever it be； as a sufferer
whom colleges doom to the grave submits to the quack who says；
'Take my specific and live！' My life is naught in itself； my life
lives in another。 You and I are both brave from despair； you would
turn death from yourselfI would turn death from one I love more
than myself。 Both know how little aid we can win from the
colleges； and both； therefore； turn to the promises most
audaciously cheering。 Dervish or magician； alchemist or phantom；
what care you and I？ And if they fail us； what then？ They cannot
fail us more than the colleges do！〃
V
The gold has been gained with an easy labor。 I knew where to seek
for it； whether under the turf or in the bed of the creek。 But
Margrave's eyes； hungrily gazing round every spot from which the
ore was disburied； could not detect the substance of which he alone
knew the outward appearance。 I had begun to believe that； even in
the description given to him of this material； he had been
credulously duped； and that no such material existed； when； coming
back from the bed of the watercourse； I saw a faint； yellow gleam
amidst the roots of a giant parasite plant； the leaves and blossoms
of which climbed up the sides of the cave with its antediluvian
relics。 The gleam was the gleam of gold； and on removing the loose
earth round the roots of the plant； we came on No； I will not； I
dare not； describe it。 The gold digger would cast it aside； the
naturalist would pause not to heed it； and did I describe it； and
chemistry deign to subject it to analysis； could chemistry alone
detach or discover its boasted virtues？
Its particles； indeed； are very minute； not seeming readily to
crystallize with each other； each in itself of uniform shape and
size； spherical as the egg which contains the germ of life； and
small as the egg from which the life of an insect may quicken。
But Margrave's keen eye caught sight of the atoms upcast by the
light of the moon。 He exclaimed to me； 〃Found！ I shall live！〃
And then； as he gathered up the grains with tremulous hands； he
called out to the Veiled Woman； hitherto still seated motionless on
the crag。 At his word she rose and went to the place hard by；
where the fuel was piled； busying herself there。 I had no leisure
to heed her。 I continued my search in the soft and yielding soil
that time and the decay of vegetable life had accumulated over the
pre…Adamite strata on which the arch of the cave rested its mighty
keystone。
When we had collected of these particles about thrice as much as a
man might hold in his hand； we seemed to have exhausted their bed。
We continued still to find gold； but no more of the delicate
substance to which； in our sight； gold was as dross。
〃Enough；〃 then said Margrave； reluctantly desisting。 〃What we have
gained already will suffice for a life thrice as long as legend
attributes to Haroun。 I shall liveI shall live through the
centuries。〃
〃Forget not that I claim my share。〃
〃Your shareyours！ Trueyour half of my life！ It is true。〃 He
paused with a low； ironical； malignant laugh； and then added； as he
rose and turned away； 〃But the work is yet to be done。〃
VI
While we had thus labored and found； Ayesha had placed the fuel
where the moonlight fell fullest on the sward of the tablelanda
part of it already piled as for a fire； the rest of it heaped
confusedly close at hand； and by the pile she had placed the
coffer。 And； there she stood； her arms folded under her mantle；
her dark image seeming darker still as the moonlight whitened all
the ground from which the image rose motionless。 Margrave opened
his coffer； the Veiled Woman did not aid him； and I watched in
silence； while he as silently made his weird and wizard…like
preparations。
VII
On the ground a wide circle was traced by a small rod； tipped
apparently with sponge saturated with some combustible naphtha…like
fluid； so that a pale； lambent flame followed the course of the rod
as Margrave guided it； burning up the herbage over which it played；
and leaving a distinct ring； like