above his head. Slowly she let her hand fall until the glittering coronet rested for an instant on his brow. Then she spoke, in her glorious voice that rolled out rich and low, a very paean of triumph and of power.
By this poor, earthly symbol I create thee King of Earth; yea in its round for thee is gathered all her rule. Be thou its king, and mine!
Again the coronet was held aloft, again it sank, and again she said or rather chanted—
With this unbroken ring, token of eternity, I swear to thee the boon of endless days. Endure thou while the world endures, and be its lord, and mine.
A third time the coronet touched his brow.
By this golden round I do endow thee with Wisdom's perfect gold uncountable, that is the talisman whereat all nature's secret paths shall open to thy feet. Victorious, victorious, tread thou her wondrous ways with me, till from her topmost peak at last she wafts us to our immortal throne whereof the columns twain are Life and Death.
Then Ayesha cast away the crown and lo! it fell upon the breast of the lost Atene and rested there.
Art content with these gifts of mine, my lord?
she cried.
Leo looked at her sadly and shook his head.
What more wilt thou then? Ask and I swear it shall be thine.
Thou swearest; but wilt thou keep the oath?
Aye, by myself I swear; by myself and by the Strength that bred me. If it be ought that I can grant—then if I refuse it to thee, may such destruction fall upon me as will satisfy even Atene's watching soul.
I heard and I think that another heard also, at least once more the stony smile shone in the eyes of the Shaman.
I ask of thee nothing that thou canst not give. Ayesha, I ask of thee thyself—not at some distant time when
