And　ever　despair　grew　deeper　in　my　soul！
  What　was　that！　　I　started　to　my　feet；　and　all　around　me　in
  the　darkness　I　heard　startled　motion。　　From　without　came　a
  blaring　of　trumpets；　the　sound　of　running　men；　loud　mur…
  murings。　　The　tumult　drew　closer。　　I　heard　cries　of　〃Lakla！
  Lakla！〃　　Now　it　was　at　the　very　threshold　and　within　it；
  oddly；　as　thoughpunctuatingthe　clamour；　a　deep…toned；
  almost　abysmal；　booming　soundthunderously　bass　and　re…
  verberant。
  Abruptly　the　harpings　ceased；　the　moon　fires　shuddered；
  fell；　and　began　to　sweep　back　into　the　crystal　globes；　Yo…
  lara's　swaying　form　grew　rigid；　every　atom　of　it　listening。
  She　threw　aside　the　veiling　cloud　of　hair；　and　in　the　gleam
  of　the　last　retreating　spirals　her　face　glared　out　like　some
  old　Greek　mask　of　tragedy。
  The　sweet　lips　that　even　at　their　sweetest　could　never　lose
  their　delicate　cruelty；　had　no　sweetness　now。　　They　were
  drawn　into　a　squareinhuman　as　that　of　the　Medusa；　in　her
  eyes　were　the　fires　of　the　pit；　and　her　hair　seemed　to　writhe
  like　the　serpent　locks　of　that　Gorgon　whose　mouth　she　had
  borrowed；　all　her　beauty　was　transformed　into　a　nameless
  thinghideous；　inhuman；　blasting！　　If　this　was　the　true　soul
  of　Yolara　springing　to　her　face；　then；　I　thought；　God　help
  us　in　very　deed！
  I　wrested　my　gaze　away　to　O'Keefe。　　All　drunkenness　gone；
  himself　again；　he　was　staring　down　at　her；　and　in　his　eyes
  were　loathing　and　horror　unutterable。　　So　they　stoodand
  the　light　fled。
  Only　for　a　moment　did　the　darkness　hold。　　With　lightning
  swiftness　the　blackness　that　was　the　chamber's　other　wall
  vanished。　　Through　a　portal　open　between　grey　screens；　the
  silver　sparkling　radiance　poured。
  And　through　the　portal　marched；　two　by　two；　incredible；
  nightmare　figuresfrog…men；　giants；　taller　by　nearly　a　yard
  than　even　tall　O'Keefe！　　Their　enormous　saucer　eyes　were
  irised　by　wide　bands　of　green…flecked　red；　in　which　the
  phosphorescence　flickered。　　Their　long　muzzles；　lips　half…
  open　in　monstrous　grin；　held　rows　of　glistening；　slender；
  lancet　sharp　fangs。　　Over　the　glaring　eyes　arose　a　horny　hel…
  met；　a　carapace　of　black　and　orange　scales；　studded　with
  foot…long　lance…headed　horns。
  They　lined　themselves　like　soldiers　on　each　side　of　the
  wide　table　aisle；　and　now　I　could　see　that　their　horny　armour
  covered　shoulders　and　backs；　ran　across　the　chest　in　a
  knobbed　cuirass；　and　at　wrists　and　heels　jutted　out　into
  curved；　murderous　spurs。　　The　webbed　hands　and　feet　ended
  in　yellow；　spade…shaped　claws。
  They　carried　spears；　ten　feet；　at　least；　in　length；　the　heads
  of　which　were　pointed　cones；　glistening　with　that　same　cov…
  ering；　from　whose　touch　of　swift　decay　I　had　so　narrowly
  saved　Rador。
  They　were　grotesque；　yesmore　grotesque　than　anything
  I　had　ever　seen　or　dreamed；　and　they　wereterrible！
  And　then；　quietly；　through　their　ranks　camea　girl！　　Be…
  hind　her；　enormous　pouch　at　his　throat　swelling　in　and　out
  menacingly；　in　one　paw　a　treelike；　spike…studded　mace；　a
  frog…man；　huger　than　any　of　the　others；　guarding。　　But　of
  him　I　caught　but　a　fleeting；　involuntary　impressionall　my
  gaze　was　for　her。
  For　it　was　she　who　had　pointed　out　to　us　the　way　from
  the　peril　of　the　Dweller's　lair　on　Nan…Tauach。　　And　as　I
  looked　at　her；　I　marvelled　that　ever　could　I　have　thought　the
  priestess　more　beautiful。　　Into　the　eyes　of　O'Keefe　rushed　joy
  and　an　utter　abasement　of　shame。
  And　from　all　about　came　murmursedged　with　anger；
  half…incredulous；　tinged　with　fear：
  〃Lakla！〃
  〃Lakla！〃
  〃The　handmaiden！〃
  She　halted　close　beside　me。　　From　firm　little　chin　to　dainty
  buskined　feet　she　was　swathed　in　the　soft　robes　of　dull；
  almost　coppery　hue。　　The　left　arm　was　hidden；　the　right　free
  and　gloved。　　Wound　tight　about　it　was　one　of　the　vines　of　the
  sculptured　wall　and　of　Lugur's　circled　signet…ring。　　Thick；　a
  vivid　green；　its　five　tendrils　ran　between　her　fingers；　stretch…
  ing　out　five　flowered　heads　that　gleamed　like　blossoms　cut
  from　gigantic；　glowing　rubies。
  So　she　stood　contemplating　Yolara。　　Then　drawn　perhaps
  by　my　gaze；　she　dropped　her　eyes　upon　me；　golden；　translu…
  cent；　with　tiny　flecks　of　amber　in　their　aureate　irises；　the
  soul　that　looked　through　them　was　as　far　removed　from　that
  flaming　out　of　the　priestess　as　zenith　is　above　nadir。
  I　noted　the　low；　broad　brow；　the　proud　little　nose；　the
  tender　mouth；　and　the　softsunlightglow　that　seemed　to
  transfuse　the　delicate　skin。　　And　suddenly　in　the　eyes　dawned
  a　smilesweet；　friendly；　a　touch　of　roguishness；　profoundly
  reassuring　in　its　all　humanness。　　I　felt　my　heart　expand　as
  though　freed　from　fetters；　a　recrudescence　of　confidence　in
  the　essential　reality　of　thingsas　though　in　nightmare　the
  struggling　consciousness　should　glimpse　some　familiar　face
  and　know　the　terrors　with　which　it　strove　were　but　dreams。
  And　involuntarily　I　smiled　back　at　her。
  She　raised　her　head　and　looked　again　at　Yolara；　contempt
  and　a　certain　curiosity　in　her　gaze；　at　O'Keefeand　through
  the　softened　eyes　drifted　swiftly　a　shadow　of　sorrow；　and　on
  its　fleeting　wings　deepest　interest；　and　hovering　over　that　a
  naive　approval　as　reassuringly　human　as　had　been　her　smile。
  She　spoke；　and　her　voice；　deep…timbred；　liquid　gold　as
  was　Yolara's　all　silver；　was　subtly　the　synthesis　of　all　the
  golden　glowing　beauty　of　her。
  〃The　Silent　Ones　have　sent　me；　O　Yolara；〃　she　said。　　〃And
  this　is　their　command　to　youthat　you　deliver　to　me　to
  bring　before　them　three　of　the　four　strangers　who　have
  found　their　way　here。　　For　him　there　who　plots　with　Lugur〃
  she　pointed　at　Marakinoff；　and　I　saw　Yolara　start〃they
  have　no　need。　　Into　his　heart　the　Silent　Ones　have　looked；
  and　Lugur　and　you　may　keep　him；　Yolara！〃
  There　was　honeyed　venom　in　the　last　words。
  Yolara　was　herself　now；　only　the　edge　of　shrillness　on　her
  voice　revealed　her　wrath　as　she　answered。
  〃And　whence　have　the　Silent　Ones　gained　power　to　com…
  mand；　_choya_？〃
  This　last；　I　knew；　was　a　very　vulgar　word；　I　had　heard
  Rador　use　it　in　a　moment　of　anger　to　one　of　the　serving
  maids；　and　it　meant；　approximately；　〃kitchen　girl；〃　〃scul…
  lion。〃　Beneath　the　insult　and　the　acid　disdain；　the　blood
  rushed　up　under　Lakla's　ambered　ivory　skin。
  〃Yolara〃her　voice　was　low〃of　no　use　is　it　to　question
  me。　I　am　but　the　messenger　of　the　Silent　Ones。　　And　one
  thing　only　am　I　bidden　to　ask　youdo　you　deliver　to　me
  the　three　strangers？〃
  Lugur　was　on　his　feet；　eagerness；　sardonic　delight；　sinister
  anticipation　thrilling　from　himand　my　same　glance
  showed　Marakinoff；　crouched；　biting　his　finger…nails；　glaring
  at　the　Golden　Girl。
  〃No！〃　Yolara　spat　the　word。　　〃No！　　Now　by　Thanaroa　and
  by　the　Shining　One；　no！〃　Her　eyes　blazed；　her　nostrils　were
  wide；　in　her　fair　throat　a　little　pulse　beat　angrily。　　〃You；
  Laklatake　you　my　message　to　the　Silent　Ones。　　Say　to　them
  that　I　keep　this　man〃she　pointed　to　Larry〃because　he
  is　mine。　　Say　to　them　that　I　keep　the　yellow…haired　one　and
  him〃she　pointed　to　me〃because　it　pleases　me。
  〃Tell　them　that　upon　their　mouths　I　place　my　foot；　so！〃
  she　stamped　upon　the　dais　viciously〃and　that　in　their
  faces　I　spit！〃and　her　action　was　hideously　snakelike。　　〃And
  say　last　to　them；　you　handmaiden；　that　if　YOU　they　dare　send
  to　Yolara　again；　she　will　feed　YOU　to　the　Shining　One！　　Now
  go！〃
  The　handmaiden's　face　was　white。
  〃Not　unforeseen　by　the　three　was　this；　Yolara；〃　she　re…
  plied。　　〃And　did　you　speak　as　you　have　spoken　then　was　I
  bidden　to　say　this　to　you。〃　Her　voice　deepened。　　〃Three　_tal_
  have　you　to　take　counsel；　Yolara。　　And　at　the　end　of　that
  time　these　things　must　you　have　determinedeither　to　do
  or　not　to　do：　first；　send　the　strangers　to　the　Silent　Ones；
  second；　give　up；　you　and　Lugur　and　all　of　you；　that　dream
  you　have　of　conquest　of　the　world　without；　and；　third；　for…
  swear　the　Shining　One！　　And　if　you　do　not　one　and　all　these
  things；　then　are　you　done；　your　cup　of　life　broken；　your
  wine　of　life　spilled。　　Yea；　Yolara；　for　you　and　the　Shining
  One；　Lugur　and　the　Nine　and　all　those　here　and　their　kind
  shall　pass！　　This　say　the　Silent　Ones；　'Surely　shall　all　of　ye
  pass　and　be　as　though　never　had　ye　been！'　〃
  Now　a　gasp　of　rage　and　fear　arose　from　all　those　around
  mebut　the　priestess　threw　back　her　head　and　laughed　loud
  and　long。　　Into　the　silver　sweet　chiming　of　her　laughter
  clashed　that　of　Lugurand　after　a　little　the　nobles　took　it
  up；　till　the　whole　chamber　echoed　with　their　mirth。　　O'Keefe；
  lips　tightening；　moved　toward　the　Handmaiden；　and　almost
  imperceptibly；　but　peremptorily；　she　waved　him　back。
  〃Those　ARE　great　wordsgreat　words　indeed；　_choya_；〃
  shrilled　Yolara　at　last；　and　again　Lakla　winced　beneath　the
  word。　　〃Lo；　for　_laya_　upon　_laya_；　the　Shining　One　has　been
  freed　from　the　Three；　and　for　_laya_　upon　_laya_　they　have　sat
  helpless；　rotting。　　Now　I　ask　you　againwhence　come