For a while longer we watched, till suddenly the sun sank, and only the glory about it and above remained, which took shapes like to the palaces and temples of a city in the heavens, a far city that no mortal could reach except in dreams.

“I know not why, Ana,” said Seti, “but for the first time since I was a man I feel afraid.  It seems to me that there are omens in the sky and I cannot read them.  Would that Ki were here to tell us what is signified by the pillar of blackness to the right and the pillar of fire to the left, and what god has his home in the city of glory behind, and how man’s feet may walk along the shining road which leads to its pylon gates.  I tell you that I am afraid; it is as though Death were very near to me and all his wonders open to my mortal sight.”

“I too am afraid,” I whispered.  “Look!  The pillars move.  That of fire goes before; that of black cloud follows after, and between them I seem to see a countless multitude marching in unending companies.  See how the light glitters on their spears!  Surely the god of the Hebrews is afoot.”

“He, or some other god, or no god at all, who knows?  Come, Ana, let us be going if we would reach that camp ere dark.”

So we descended from the ridge, and re-entering the chariot, drove on towards the neck of the pass.  Now this neck was very narrow, not more than four paces wide for a certain distance, and, on either side of the roadway were tumbled sandstone boulders, between which grew desert plants, and gullies that had been cut by storm-water, while beyond these rose the sides of the mountain.  Here the horses went at a walk towards a turn in the path, at which point the land began to fall again.

When we were about half a spear’s throw from this turn of a sudden I heard a sound and, glancing to the right, perceived a woman leaping down the hillside towards us.  The charioteer saw also and halted the horses, and the two runner guards turned and drew their swords.  In less than half a minute the woman had reached us, coming out of the shadow so that the light fell upon her face.

“Merapi!” exclaimed the Prince and I, speaking as though with one breath.

Merapi it was indeed, but in evil case.  Her long hair had broken loose and fell about her, the cloak she wore was torn, and there were blood and foam upon her lips.  She stood gasping, since speak she could not for breathlessness, supporting herself with one hand upon the side of the chariot and with the other pointing to the bend in the road.  At last a word came, one only.  It was: 

“Murder!”

“She means that she is going to be murdered,” said the Prince to me.

“No,” she panted, “you—­you!  The Hebrews.  Go back!”

“Turn the horses!” I cried to the charioteer.

He began to obey helped by the two guards, but because of the narrowness of the road and the steepness of the banks this was not easy.  Indeed they were but half round in such fashion that they blocked the pathway from side to side, when a wild yell of ‘Jahveh’ broke upon our ears, and from round the bend, a few paces away, rushed a horde of fierce, hook-nosed men, brandishing knives and swords.  Scarcely was there time for us to leap behind the shelter of the chariot and make ready, when they were on us.