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as Margrave guided it； burning up the herbage over which it played；
and leaving a distinct ring； like that which； in our lovely native
fable talk； we call the 〃Fairy's ring；〃 but yet more visible
because marked in phosphorescent light。 On the ring thus formed
were placed twelve small lamps； fed with the fluid from the same
vessel； and lighted by the same rod。 The light emitted by the
lamps was more vivid and brilliant than that which circled round
the ring。
Within the circumference； and immediately round the woodpile；
Margrave traced certain geometrical figures； in whichnot without
a shudder； that I overcame at once by a strong effort of will in
murmuring to myself the name of 〃Lilian〃I recognized the
interlaced triangles which my own hand； in the spell enforced on a
sleepwalker； had described on the floor of the wizard's pavilion。
The figures were traced like the circle； in flame； and at the point
of each triangle （four in number） was placed a lamp； brilliant as
those on the ring。 This task performed； the caldron； based on an
iron tripod； was placed on the woodpile。 And then the woman；
before inactive and unheeding； slowly advanced； knelt by the pile
and lighted it。 The dry wood crackled and the flame burst forth；
licking the rims of the caldron with tongues of fire。
Margrave flung into the caldron the particles we had collected；
poured over them first a liquid； colorless as water； from the
largest of the vessels drawn from his coffer； and then； more
sparingly； drops from small crystal phials； like the phials I had
seen in the hand of Philip Derval。
Having surmounted my first impulse of awe； I watched these
proceedings； curious yet disdainful； as one who watches the
mummeries of an enchanter on the stage。
〃If；〃 thought I； 〃these are but artful devices to inebriate and
fool my own imagination； my imagination is on its guard； and reason
shall not； this time； sleep at her post！〃
〃And now；〃 said Margrave； 〃I consign to you the easy task by which
you are to merit your share of the elixir。 It is my task to feed
and replenish the caldron； it is Ayesha's to feed the fire； which
must not for a moment relax in its measured and steady heat。 Your
task is the lightest of all： it is but to renew from this vessel
the fluid that burns in the lamps； and on the ring。 Observe； the
contents of the vessel must be thriftily husbanded； there is
enough； but not more than enough； to sustain the light in the
lamps； on the lines traced round the caldron； and on the farther
ring； for six hours。 The compounds dissolved in this fluid are
scarceonly obtainable in the East； and even in the East months
might have passed before I could have increased my supply。 I had
no months to waste。 Replenish； then； the light only when it begins
to flicker or fade。 Take heed； above all； that no part of the
outer ringno； not an inchand no lamp of the twelve； that are to
its zodiac like stars； fade for one moment in darkness。〃
I took the crystal vessel from his hand。
〃The vessel is small；〃 said I； 〃and what is yet left of its
contents is but scanty； whether its drops suffice to replenish the
lights I cannot guessI can but obey your instructions。 But； more
important by far than the light to the lamps and the circle； which
in Asia or Africa might scare away the wild beasts unknown to this
landmore important than light to a lamp is the strength to your
frame； weak magician！ What will support you through six weary
hours of night watch？〃
〃Hope；〃 answered Margrave； with a ray of his old dazzling style。
〃Hope！ I shall liveI shall live through the centuries！〃
VIII
One hour passed away； the fagots under the caldron burned clear in
the sullen； sultry air。 The materials within began to seethe； and
their color； at first dull and turbid； changed into a pale…rose
hue； from time to time the Veiled Woman replenished the fire； after
she had done so reseating herself close by the pyre； with her head
bowed over her knees； and her face hid under her veil。
The lights in the lamps and along the ring and the triangles now
began to pale。 I resupplied their nutriment from the crystal
vessel。 As yet nothing strange startled my eye or my ear beyond
the rim of the circlenothing audible； save； at a distance； the
musical wheel…like click of the locusts； and； farther still； in the
forest； the howl of the wild dogs that never bark； nothing visible；
but the trees and the mountain range girding the plains silvered by
the moon； and the arch of the cavern； the flush of wild blooms on
its sides； and the gleam of dry bones on its floor； where the
moonlight shot into the gloom。
The second hour passed like the first。 I had taken my stand by the
side of Margrave； watching with him the process at work in the
caldron； when I felt the ground slightly vibrate beneath my feet；
and looking up； it seemed as if all the plains beyond the circle
were heaving like the swell of the sea； and as if in the air itself
there was a perceptible tremor。
I placed my hand on Margrave's shoulder and whispered； 〃To me earth
and air seem to vibrate。 Do they seem to vibrate to you？〃
〃I know not； I care not；〃 he answered impetuously。 〃The essence is
bursting the shell that confined it。 Here are my air and my earth！
Trouble me not。 Look to the circlefeed the lamps if they fail！〃
I passed by the Veiled Woman as I walked toward a place in the ring
in which the flame was waning dim； and I whispered to her the same
question which I had whispered to Margrave。 She looked slowly
around and answered； 〃So is it before the Invisible make themselves
visible！ Did I not bid him forbear？〃 Her head again drooped on
her breast； and her watch was again fixed on the fire。
I advanced to the circle and stooped to replenish the light where
it waned。 As I did so； on my arm； which stretched somewhat beyond
the line of the ring； I felt a shock like that of electricity。 The
arm fell to my side numbed and nerveless； and from my hand dropped；
but within the ring； the vessel that contained the fluid。
Recovering my surprise or my stun； hastily with the other hand I
caught up the vessel； but some of the scanty liquid was already
spilled on the sward； and I saw with a thrill of dismay； that
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