upon their vests a rude imitation of a human skeleton, also daubed in chalk.
A trick fit to frighten fools with,
she said contemptuously. But oh! that Atene should have dared to play the part of Ayesha, that she should have dared!
and she clenched her little hand. See, surprised and overwhelmed, yet he fought well. Say! was he hurt. Holly? It comes upon me—no, tell me that I see amiss.
Not much, I think,
I answered doubtfully, a little blood was running from his mouth, no more. Look, there go the stains of it upon that rock.
For every drop I'll take a hundred lives. By myself I swear it,
Ayesha muttered with a groan. Then she cried in a ringing voice,
Back and to horse, for I have deeds to do this day. Nay, bide thou here. Holly; we go a shorter path while the army skirts the gorge. Oros, give him food and drink and bathe that hurt upon his head. It is but a bruise, for his hood and hair are thick.
So while Oros rubbed some stinging lotion on my scalp, I ate and drank as best I could till my brain ceased to swim, for the blow, though heavy, had not fractured the bone. When I was ready they brought the horses to us, and mounting them, slowly we scrambled up the steep bed of the water-course.
See,
Ayesha said, pointing to tracks and hoof-prints on the plain at its head, there was a chariot awaiting him, and harnessed to it were four swift horses. Atene's scheme was clever and well laid, and I, grown oversure and careless, slept through it all!
On this plain the army of the Tribes that had broken camp before the dawn was already gathering fast; indeed, the cavalry, if I may call them so, were assembled there to the number of about five thousand men, each of whom had a led horse. Ayesha summoned the chiefs and captains, and addressed them.
Servants of Hes,
she said, the stranger lord, my
