unate misunderstanding separated them
and, in a fit of jealousy, Nehushta became a wife of Darius, king
of the Persians. Zoroaster entered the priesthood and later became
the high priest of the temple in the king's palace. In a subsequent
interview with the high priest, Nehushta discovers that her
jealousy was groundless, but it was now too late to correct her
unhappy mistake. In the meantime Nehushta had incurred the jealousy
and hatred of another wife of Darius, who, in the absence of the
king, planned the massacre of the priests of the temple and
Nehushta and her servants.

Four days after the king's departure, Nehushta was wandering in the
gardens as the sun was going down. Just then a strange sound echoed far
off among the hills, an unearthly cry that rang high in the air and
struck the dark crags and doubled in the echo and died away in short,
faint pulsations of sound. She started slightly, she had never heard
such a sound before. Again that strange cry rang out and echoed and died
away. Her slave women gathered about her.

"What is it?" asked Nehushta.

"The war cry of the children of Anak is like that," said a little Syrian
maid.

Nehushta pushed the slaves aside and fled towards the palace. The truth
had flashed across her. Some armed force was collecting on the hills to
descend upon the palace. But one thought filled her mind. She must find
Zoroaster and warn him.

Through the garden she ran, and up the broad steps to the portico.
Slaves were moving about under the colonnade, lighting the great torches
that burned there all night. They had not heard the strange cries from
the hills. As she entered the great hall, she heard the cry again.

"Go, my little maid, in one direction and I will go in another, and
search out Zoroaster, the high priest, and bring him."

The girl turned and ran through the halls, and Nehushta went another way
upon her search. Something within her told her that she was in great
danger, and the calm she had seen in the palace could not allay the
terror of that cry she had heard three times from the hills. Just then
the Syrian maid came running in and fell breathless at Nehushta's feet.

"Fly, fly, beloved mistress, the devils of the mountains are upon
us--they cover the hills--they are closing every entrance--the people in
the lower palace are all slain."

"Where is Zoroaster?"

"He is in the temple with the priests--by this time