e than seventeen years) old;
and my father, Mindula, is one of the most powerful chiefs of the
nation. A little more than fifteen moons ago he used his influence to
secure me what is greatly coveted and regarded as a very high honour in
Bandokolo, namely a position in the household of Bimbane, the queen.
And for a time all went well, and I was happy, although Bimbane--who is
so old that no man living knows how old she is--is very severe,
tyrannical, and cruel to all those who are brought into contact with
her. Then, six moons ago, I met Anuti, one of the captains of the
queen's guard, and we learned to love each other. Four moons passed,
and then, in accordance with the custom of our country, Anuti presented
himself before the queen, and besought her permission to make me his
wife.

"Now, Anuti is one of the most splendid men of the Bandokolo: he is
three hundred and seventeen moons (nearly twenty-four and a half years)
old; in stature he stands a full head taller than myself; he is a
valiant warrior, a clever hunter; and he has royal blood in his veins,
for his father's father's father was the son of a prince of the royal
house, and was said to be a tenth cousin of Bimbane, the queen."

"But," I interrupted, at this point, "how could that be? The prince
from whom Anuti descended must have lived--let me see--yes, more than
one thousand six hundred moons ago. Surely your queen is not so old as
that!"

"Ah, but she is, and infinitely older!" answered Siluce. "No man knows
how old she is; there is no record of her birth and parentage; she has
been queen of the Bandokolo for unnumbered ages."

"Oh, but that is nonsense, you know!" I retorted; "unless of course
your records have been very badly kept. Why, in my country, if a man
lives to be thirteen hundred moons old we regard him as a marvel.
Surely your queen cannot be older than that?"

"Yes," answered Siluce; "indeed she is. You do not understand. Bimbane
is a great magician, who keeps herself alive by certain secret arts
unknown to the rest of us. And she does so, not only because she fears
to die, but also because she is persuaded that somewhere in the world
there is--or will be--a man who, if she can find him and induce him to
become her spouse, will restore to her her long-lost youth and all the
joy of life that she once knew. It is the great desire of her life to
find this man, and no sooner did she see Anuti than the thought arose
that he might be