in the
justice of the Crocodile-god, he was my equal; and I knew that, on more
than one occasion, he had been ashamed to practise his savage rites in my
presence. Therefore I hesitated, and, as we rode along, the outline of
the great city, perched high upon the rock, growing every moment more
formidable and distinct, I listened to the many interesting facts he
related.

Kona, who followed us, listened with strained ears, and our Dagombas were
one and all laughing and keeping up a Babel-like chatter that showed the
intense excitement caused among them by the sight of the mysterious
capital of the Great White Queen.

We had struck a broad well-made road, and now, as with hastening steps we
approached it, we could distinguish quite plainly the inaccessible
character of the high rock that rose abruptly a thousand feet above the
plain crowned by the frowning walls of immense thickness that enclosed
the place. Beyond, rose many lofty towers and several gilded domes which,
Omar told me, were the audience-halls of the great palace, and
immediately before us we could see in the walls, flanked on either side
by great strong watch-towers, a closed gate.

From where we stood we could distinguish no means of approach to the
impregnable fortress, but on coming at last to the base of the rock we
found a long flight of narrow steps mounting zig-zag up its dark,
moss-grown face. When the cavalcade halted before them our trumpeters
blew thrice shrill blasts upon their big ivory horns, and like magic the
ponderous iron gate far above instantly swung open, and the walls
literally swarmed with men, whose bright arms glittered in the sun.
Above, where all had been silent a moment before, everything was now
bustle and excitement as Babila sprang from his horse and commenced to
mount the long flight of steps, followed by myself and my companion.

So steep were these stairs cut in the rock that an iron chain had been
placed beside them by which to steady one's-self.

"Are there again a thousand steps?" I asked Omar.

"Yes," he said. "Naya, wife of Karmos, had them cut under her personal
supervision. There are exactly a thousand--the number of generations
which, she declared, should flourish and die ere Mo be conquered."

Then without further words we eagerly continued our upward climb to the
mystic City in the Clouds.

CHAPTER XX.

THE GREAT WHITE QUEEN.

GAINING the summit and entering the ponderous gate closely behind old