him. And then, when we were all over, heat was put to the rams, and they
expanded with their resistless force, and tore the remaining ledges from
their hold in the rock. I think a pang went through us all then when
we saw for ourselves the last connecting link cut away from between the
poor remaining handful of our Sacred Clan on the Mountain, and the rest
of our great nation, who had grown so bitterly estranged to us, below.

But here at any rate was a break in the fighting. There were no further
preparations we could make for our defence, and high though I knew
Phorenice's genius to be, I did not see how she could very well do other
than accept the check and retire. So I set a guard on the ramparts of
the uppermost gate to watch all possible movements, and gave the word to
the others to go and find the rest which so much they needed.

For myself, dutifully I tried to find Zaemon first, going on the errand
my proper self, for there was little enough of kingly state observed on
the Sacred Mountain, although the name and title had been given me.
But Zaemon was not to be come at. He was engaged inside the Ark of the
Mysteries with another of the Three, and being myself only one of the
Seven, I had not rank enough in the priesthood to break in upon their
workings. And so I was free to turn where my likings would have led me
first, and that was to the house which sheltered Nais.

She waked as I came in over the threshold, and her eyes filled with a
welcome for me. I went across and knelt where she lay, putting my
face on the pillow beside her. She was full of tender talk and sweet
endearments. Gods! What an infinity of delight I had missed by not
knowing my Nais earlier! But she had a will of her own through it all,
and some quaint conceits which made her all the more adorable. She
rallied me on the new cleanness of my chin, and on the robe which I had
taken as a covering. She professed a pretty awe for my kingship, and
vowed that had she known of my coming dignities she would never have
dared to discover a love for me. But about my marriage with Phorenice
she spoke with less lightness. She put out her thin white hand, and drew
my face to her lips.

"It is weak of me to have a jealousy," she murmured, "knowing how
completely my lord is mine alone; but I cannot help it. You have said
you were her husband for awhile. It gives me a pang to think that I
shall not be the first to lie in your arms, Deucalion."

"Then you may