fitting into its appointed place in the completed machine.

The cleft was straight where they set about their building, and there
was no curve or spur of the cliff to hide their handiwork from those of
the Priests who watched from the ramparts above our one remaining gate.
But Phorenice had a coyness lest her engine should be seen before it
was completed, and so to screen it she had a vast fire built at the
uppermost point where the causeway was broken off, and fed diligently
with wet sedge and green wood, so that a great smoke poured out, rising
like a curtain that shut out all view. And so though the Priests on the
rampart above the gate picked off now and again some of those who tended
the fire, they could do the besiegers no further injury, and remained up
to the last quite in ignorance of their tactics.

The passage up the cleft was in shadow during the night hours, for,
though all the crest of the Sacred Mountain was always lit brightly by
the eternal fires which made its defence on the farther side, their glow
threw no gleam down that flank where the cliff ran sheer to the plains
beneath. And so it was under cover of the darkness that Phorenice
brought up her engine into position for attack.

Planking had been laid down for its wheels, and the wheels themselves
well greased, and it may be that she hoped to march in upon us whilst
all slept. But there was a certain creaking and groaning of timbers,
and laboured panting of men, which gave advertisement that something was
being attempted, and the alarm was spread quietly in the hope that if a
surprise had been planned, the real surprise might be turned the other
way.

A messenger came to me running, where I sat in the house at the side of
my love, and she, like the soldier's wife she was made to be, kissed me
and bade me go quickly and care for my honour, and bring back my wounds
for her to mend.

On the rampart above the gate all was silence, save for the faint rustle
of armed men, and out of the black darkness ahead, and from the other
side of the broken causeway, came the sounds of which the messenger bad
warned me.

The captain of the gate came to me and whispered: "We have made no light
till the King came, not knowing the King's will in the matter. Is it
wished I send some of the throwing-fire down yonder, on the chance that
it does some harm, and at the same time lights up the place? Or is it
willed that we wait for their surprise?"

"Send the fire,"