hen will
the Three be loosed from a part of their doom, and they will go
through the Portal, seek the Shining One beyond the Veil, and,
piercing it through fear's opening, destroy it."

"That's quite clear," murmured the O'Keefe in my ear. "Weaken the
morale--then smash. I've seen it happen a dozen times in Europe. While
they've got their nerve there's not a thing you can do; get their
nerve--and not a thing can they do. And yet in both cases they're the
same men."

Lakla had been listening again. She turned, thrust out hands to
Larry, a wild hope in her eyes--and yet a hope half shamed.

"They say," she cried, "that they give us choice. Remembering that
your world doom hangs in the balance, we have choice--choice to stay
and help fight Yolara's armies--and they say they look not lightly on
that help. Or choice to go--and if so be you choose the latter, then
will they show another way that leads into your world!"

A flush had crept over the O'Keefe's face as she was speaking. He
took her hands and looked long into the golden eyes; glancing up I saw
the Trinity were watching them intently--imperturbably.

"What do you say, _mavourneen_?" asked Larry gently. The handmaiden
hung her head; trembled.

"Your words shall be mine, O one I love," she whispered. "So going or
staying, I am beside you."

"And you, Goodwin?" he turned to me. I shrugged my shoulders--after
all I had no one to care.

"It's up to you, Larry," I remarked, deliberately choosing his own
phraseology.

The O'Keefe straightened, squared his shoulders, gazed straight into
the flame-flickering eyes.

"We stick!" he said briefly.

Shamefacedly I recall now that at the time I thought this
colloquialism not only irreverent, but in somewhat bad taste. I am
glad to say I was alone in that bit of weakness. The face that Lakla
turned to Larry was radiant with love, and although the shamed hope
had vanished from the sweet eyes, they were shining with adoring
pride. And the marble visages of the Three softened, and the little
flames died down.

"Wait," said Lakla, "there is one other thing they say we must answer
before they will hold us to that promise--wait--"

She listened, and then her face grew white--white as those of the
Three themselves; the glorious eyes widened, stark terror filling
them; the whole lithe body of her shook like a reed in the wind.

"Not that!" she cried out to the Three. "Oh, not that! Not
Larry--let me go even as yo