the region of
trees, on to that higher ground which glares down on the rest of the
world, and I made buskins and a coat of woven grasses to protect my body
from the cold, which began to blow upon me keenly. And later on, where
the snow lay eternally, and was blown into gullies, and frozen into
solid banks and bergs of ice, I had hard work to make any progress
amongst its perilous mazes, and was moreover so numbed by the chill,
that my natural strength was vastly weakened. Overhead, too, following
me up with forbidding swoops, and occasionally coming so close that I
had to threaten it with my weapons, was one of those huge man-eating
birds which live by pulling down and carrying off any creature that
their instincts tell them is weakly, and likely soon to die.

But the lure ahead of me was strong enough to make these difficulties
seem small, and though the air of the mountain agreed with me ill,
causing sickness and panting, I pressed on with what speed I could
muster towards the elusive summit. Time after time I thought the next
spurt would surely bring me out to the view for which my soul yearned,
but always there seemed another bank of snow and ice yet to be climbed.
But at last I reached the crest, and gave thanks to the most High Gods
for Their protection and favour.

Far, far away I could see the Sacred Mountain with its ring of fires
burning pale under the day, and although the splendid city which nestled
at its foot could not be seen from where I stood, I knew its position
and I knew its plan, and my soul went out to that throne of granite in
the square before the royal pyramid, where once, years before, I had
buried my love. Had Phorenice left the tomb unviolated?

I stood there leaning on my spear, filling my eye with the prospect,
warming even to the smoke of mountains that I recognised as old
acquaintances. Gods! how my love burned within me for this woman. My
whole being seemed gone out to meet her, and to leave room for nothing
beside. For long enough a voice seemed dimly to be calling me, but
I gave it no regard. I had come out to that hoary mountain top for
communion with Nais alone, and I wanted none others to interrupt.

But at length the voice calling my name grew too loud to be neglected,
and I pulled myself out of my sweet musing with a start to think that
here, for the first time since parting with Tob and his company, I
should see another human fellow-being. I gripped my weapon and asked who
ca