So I took the spear in my uninjured hand and stood ready.  But they made no attempt to hurt us, only fell back a little and began to talk in hurried whispers.  It was evident to me that they were much perturbed.  In a few minutes the horse was saddled and Leo assisted me to mount it.  Then he said—­“We go to accomplish our fate, whatever it may be, but before we part, Khania, I thank you for the kindness you have shown us, and pray you to be wise and forget that we have ever been.  Through no will of mine your husband’s blood is on my hands, and that alone must separate us for ever.  We are divided by the doors of death and destiny.  Go back to your people, and pardon me if most unwillingly I have brought you doubt and trouble.  Farewell.”

She listened with bowed head, then replied, very sadly—­“I thank you for your gentle words, but, Leo Vincey, we do not part thus easily.  You have summoned me to the Mountain, and even to the Mountain I shall follow you.  Aye, and there I will meet its Spirit, as I have always known I must and as the Shaman here has always known I must.  Yes, I will match my strength and magic against hers, as it is decreed that I shall do.  To the victor be that crown for which we have warred for ages.”

Then suddenly Atene sprang to her saddle, and turning her horse’s head rode it back through the water to the shore, followed by old Simbri, who lifted up his crooked hands as though in woe and fear, muttering as he went—­“You have entered the forbidden river and now, Atene, the day of decision is upon us all—­upon us and her—­that predestined day of ruin and of war.”

“What do they mean?” asked Leo of me.

“I don’t know,” I answered; “but I have no doubt we shall find out soon enough and that it will be something unpleasant.  Now for this river.”

Before we had struggled through it I thought more than once that the day of drowning was upon us also, for in places there were deep rapids which nearly swept us away.  But Leo, who waded, leading the Khan’s horse by the bridle, felt his path and supported himself with the spear shaft, so that in the end we reached the other bank safely.

Beyond it lay a breadth of marshy lands, that doubtless were overflowed when the torrent was in flood.  Through these we pushed our way as fast as we could, for we feared lest the Khania had gone to fetch her escort, which we thought she might have left behind the rise, and would return with it presently to hunt us down.  At that time we did not know what we learned afterwards, that with its bordering river the soil of the Mountain was absolutely sacred and, in practice, inviolable.  True, it had been invaded by the people of Kaloon in several wars, but on each occasion their army was destroyed or met with terrible disaster.  Little wonder then they had come to believe that the House of Fire was under the protection of some unconquerable Spirit.