Iansweredmyself;\"beautymusthaveaheart！Howeverprofoundlyhidden,itmustbethere！Thedeeperburied,thestrongerandtruerwillitwakeatlastinitsbeautifulgrave！Torousethatheartwereabettergifttoherthanthehappiestlife！Itwouldbetogiveheranobler,ahigherlife！\"
Shewasascendingagentleslopebeforeme,walkingstraightandsteadyasonethatknewwhither,whenIbecameawarethatshewasincreasingthedistancebetweenus。Isummonedmystrength,anditcameinfulltide。Myveinsfilledwithfreshlife！Mybodyseemedtobecomeethereal,and,followinglikeaneasywind,I
rapidlyovertookher。
Notoncehadshelookedbehind。Swiftlyshemoved,likeaGreekgoddesstorescue,butwithouthaste。Iwaswithinthreeyardsofher,whensheturnedsharply,yetwithgraceunbroken,andstood。
Fatigueorheatsheshowednone。Herpalenesswasnotapallor,butapurewhiteness;herbreathingwasslowanddeep。Hereyesseemedtofilltheheavens,andgivelighttotheworld。Itwasnearlynoon,butthesensewasuponmeasofagreatnightinwhichaninvisibledewmakesthestarslooklarge。
\"Whydoyoufollowme？\"sheasked,quietlybutrathersternly,asifshehadneverbeforeseenme。
\"Ihavelivedsolong,\"Ianswered,\"onthemerehopeofyoureyes,thatImustwanttoseethemagain！\"
\"YouWILLnotbespared！\"shesaidcoldly。\"Icommandyoutostopwhereyoustand。\"
\"NotuntilIseeyouinaplaceofsafetywillIleaveyou,\"I
replied。
\"Thentaketheconsequences,\"shesaid,andresumedherswift—glidingwalk。
Butassheturnedshecastonmeaglance,andIstoodasifrunthroughwithaspear。Herscornhadfailed:shewouldkillmewithherbeauty！
Despairrestoredmyvolition;thespellbroke;Iran,andovertookher。
\"Havepityuponme！\"Icried。
Shegavenoheed。Ifollowedherlikeachildwhosemotherpretendstoabandonhim。\"Iwillbeyourslave！\"Isaid,andlaidmyhandonherarm。
Sheturnedasifaserpenthadbither。Icoweredbeforetheblazeofhereyes,butcouldnotavertmyown。
\"Pityme,\"Icriedagain。
Sheresumedherwalking。
ThewholedayIfollowedher。Thesunclimbedthesky,seemedtopauseonitssummit,wentdowntheotherside。Notamomentdidshepause,notamomentdidIceasetofollow。Sheneverturnedherhead,neverrelaxedherpace。
Thesunwentbelow,andthenightcameup。Ikeptclosetoher:
ifIlostsightofherforamoment,itwouldbeforever！
Alldaylongwehadbeenwalkingoverthicksoftgrass:abruptlyshestopped,andthrewherselfuponit。Therewasyetlightenoughtoshowthatshewasutterlyweary。Istoodbehindher,andgazeddownonherforamoment。
DidIloveher？Iknewshewasnotgood！DidIhateher？Icouldnotleaveher！Ikneltbesideher。
\"Begone！Donotdaretouchme,\"shecried。
Herarmslayonthegrassbyhersidesasifparalyzed。
Suddenlytheyclosedaboutmyneck,rigidasthoseofthetorture—maiden。Shedrewdownmyfacetohers,andherlipsclungtomycheek。Astingofpainshotsomewherethroughme,andpulsed。
Icouldnotstirahair\'sbreadth。Graduallythepainceased。A
slumberousweariness,adreamypleasurestoleoverme,andthenI
knewnothing。
AllatonceIcametomyself。Themoonwasalittlewayabovethehorizon,butspreadnoradiance;shewasbutabrightthingsetinblackness。Mycheeksmarted;Iputmyhandtoit,andfoundawetspot。Myneckached:thereagainwasawetspot！Isighedheavily,andfeltverytired。Iturnedmyeyeslistlesslyaroundme——andsawwhathadbecomeofthelightofthemoon:itwasgatheredaboutthelady！shestoodinashimmeringnimbus！Iroseandstaggeredtowardher。
\"Down！\"shecriedimperiously,astoarebelliousdog。\"Followmeastepifyoudare！\"
\"Iwill！\"Imurmured,withanagonisedeffort。
\"Setfootwithinthegatesofmycity,andmypeoplewillstoneyou:
theydonotlovebeggars！\"
Iwasdeaftoherwords。Weakaswater,andhalfawake,IdidnotknowthatImoved,butthedistancegrewlessbetweenus。Shetookonestepback,raisedherleftarm,andwiththeclenchedhandseemedtostrikemeontheforehead。Ireceivedasitwereablowfromanironhammer,andfell。
Isprangtomyfeet,coldandwet,butclear—headedandstrong。Hadtheblowrevivedme？ithadleftneitherwoundnorpain！——ButhowcameIwet？——Icouldnothavelainlong,forthemoonwasnohigher！
Theladystoodsomeyardsaway,herbacktowardme。Shewasdoingsomething,Icouldnotdistinguishwhat。ThenbyhersuddengleamIknewshehadthrownoffhergarments,andstoodwhiteinthedazedmoon。Onemomentshestood——andfellforward。
Astreakofwhiteshotawayinaswift—drawnline。Thesameinstantthemoonrecoveredherself,shiningoutwithafullflash,andI
sawthatthestreakwasalong—bodiedthing,rushingingreat,low—curvedboundsoverthegrass。Darkspotsseemedtorunlikeastreamadownitsback,asifithadbeenfleetingalongundertheedgeofawood,andcatchingtheshadowsoftheleaves。
\"Godofmercy！\"Icried,\"istheterriblecreaturespeedingtothenight—infoldedcity？\"andIseemedtohearfromafarthesuddenburstandspreadofoutcryingterror,asthepalesavageboundedfromhousetohouse,rendingandslaying。
WhileIgazedafteritfear—stricken,pastmefrombehind,likeaswift,allbutnoiselessarrow,shotasecondlargecreature,purewhite。Itspathwasstraightforthespotwheretheladyhadfallen,and,asIthought,lay。Mytongueclavetotheroofofmymouth。
Isprangforwardpursuingthebeast。ButinamomentthespotI
madeforwasfarbehindit。
\"Itwaswell,\"Ithought,\"thatIcouldnotcryout:ifshehadrisen,themonsterwouldhavebeenuponher！\"
ButwhenIreachedtheplace,noladywasthere;onlythegarmentsshehaddroppedlayduskinthemoonlight。
Istoodstaringafterthesecondbeast。Ittoreoverthegroundwithyetgreaterswiftnessthantheformer——inlong,level,skimmingleaps,theveryembodimentofwastelessspeed。Itfollowedthelinetheotherhadtaken,andIwatcheditgrowsmallerandsmaller,untilitdisappearedintheuncertaindistance。
Butwherewasthelady？Hadthefirstbeastsurprisedher,creepinguponhernoiselessly？Ihadheardnoshriek！andtherehadnotbeentimetodevourher！Couldithavecaughtherupasitran,andborneherawaytoitsden？Soladenitcouldnothaverunsofast！
andIshouldhaveseenthatitcarriedsomething！
Horribledoubtsbegantowakeinme。Afterathoroughbutfruitlesssearch,Isetoutinthetrackofthetwoanimals。
CHAPTERXXI
THEFUGITIVEMOTHER
AsIhastenedalong,acloudcameoverthemoon,andfromthegraydarksuddenlyemergedawhitefigure,claspingachildtoherbosom,andstoopingassheran。Shewasonalineparallelwithmyown,butdidnotperceivemeasshehurriedalong,terrorandanxietyineverymovementofherdrivenspeed。
\"Sheischased！\"Isaidtomyself。\"Someprowlerofthisterriblenightisafterher！\"
Tofollowwouldhaveaddedtoherfright:Isteppedintohertracktostopherpursuer。
AsIstoodforamomentlookingafterherthroughthedusk,behindmecameaswift,soft—footedrush,andereIcouldturn,somethingsprangovermyhead,struckmesharplyontheforehead,andknockedmedown。Iwasupinaninstant,butallIsawofmyassailantwasavanishingwhiteness。Iranafterthebeast,withthebloodtricklingfrommyforehead;buthadrunonlyafewsteps,whenashriekofdespairtorethequiveringnight。Iranthefaster,thoughIcouldnotbutfearitmustalreadybetoolate。
InaminuteortwoIspiedalowwhiteshapeapproachingmethroughthevapour—dustedmoonlight。Itmustbeanotherbeast,Ithoughtatfirst,foritcameslowly,almostcrawling,withstrange,flounderingleaps,asofacreatureinagony！Idrewasidefromitspath,andwaited。Asitnearedme,Isawitwasgoingonthreelegs,carryingitsleftfore—pawhighfromtheground。Ithadmanydark,ovalspotsonashiningwhiteskin,andwasattendedbyalowrushingsound,asofwaterfallingupongrass。Asitwentbyme,Isawsomethingstreamingfromtheliftedpaw。
\"Itisblood！\"Isaidtomyself,\"somereadierchampionthanIhaswoundedthebeast！\"But,strangetotell,suchapityseizedmeatsightofthesufferingcreature,that,thoughanaxehadbeeninmyhandIcouldnothavestruckatit。Inabrokensuccessionofhobblingleapsitwentoutofsight,itsblood,asitseemed,stillissuinginasmalltorrent,whichkeptflowingbacksoftlythroughthegrassbesideme。\"Ifitgoonbleedinglikethat,\"Ithought,\"itwillsoonbehurtless！\"
Iwenton,forImightyetbeusefultothewoman,andhopedalsotoseeherdeliverer。
Idescriedheralittlewayoff,seatedonthegrass,withherchildinherlap。
\"CanIdoanythingforyou？\"Iasked。
Atthesoundofmyvoiceshestartedviolently,andwouldhaverisen。
Ithrewmyselfontheground。
\"Youneednotbefrightened,\"Isaid。\"Iwasfollowingthebeastwhenhappilyyoufoundanearerprotector！Itpassedmenowwithitsfootbleedingsomuchthatbythistimeitmustbeallbutdead！\"
\"Thereislittlehopeofthat！\"sheanswered,trembling。\"Doyounotknowwhosebeastsheis？\"
NowIhadcertainstrangesuspicions,butIansweredthatIknewnothingofthebrute,andaskedwhathadbecomeofherchampion。
\"Whatchampion？\"sherejoined。\"Ihaveseennoone。\"
\"Thenhowcamethemonstertogrief？\"
\"Ipoundedherfootwithastone——ashardasIcouldstrike。Didyounothearhercry？\"
\"Well,youareabravewoman！\"Ianswered。\"Ithoughtitwasyougavethecry！\"
\"Itwastheleopardess。\"
\"Ineverheardsuchasoundfromthethroatofananimal！itwaslikethescreamofawomanintorture！\"
\"Myvoicewasgone;Icouldnothaveshriekedtosavemybaby！WhenIsawthehorridmouthatmydarling\'slittlewhiteneck,Icaughtupastoneandmashedherlamefoot。\"
\"Tellmeaboutthecreature,\"Isaid;\"Iamastrangerintheseparts。\"
\"YouwillsoonknowaboutherifyouaregoingtoBulika！\"sheanswered。\"Now,Imustnevergobackthere！\"
\"Yes,IamgoingtoBulika,\"Isaid,\"——toseetheprincess。\"
\"Haveacare;youhadbetternotgo！——Butperhapsyouare——！Theprincessisaverygood,kindwoman！\"
Iheardalittlemovement。CloudshadbythistimegatheredsothickoverthemoonthatIcouldscarcelyseemycompanion:Ifearedshewasrisingtorunfromme。
\"Youareinnodangerofanysortfromme,\"Isaid。\"Whatoathwouldyoulikemetotake？\"
\"IknowbyyourspeechthatyouarenotofthepeopleofBulika,\"
shereplied;\"Iwilltrustyou！——Iamnotofthem,either,elseI
shouldnotbeable:theynevertrustanyone——IfonlyIcouldseeyou！ButIlikeyourvoice！——There,mydarlingisasleep！Thefoulbeasthasnothurther！——Yes:itwasmybabyshewasafter！\"shewenton,caressingthechild。\"Andthenshewouldhavetornhermothertopiecesforcarryingheroff！——Somesaytheprincesshastwowhiteleopardesses,\"shecontinued:\"Iknowonlyone——withspots。
EverybodyknowsHER！Iftheprincesshearofababy,shesendsherimmediatelytosuckitsblood,andtheniteitherdiesorgrowsupanidiot。Iwouldhavegoneawaywithmybaby,buttheprincesswasfromhome,andIthoughtImightwaituntilIwasalittlestronger。
Butshemusthavetakenthebeastwithher,andbeenonherwayhomewhenIleft,andcomeacrossmytrack。IheardtheSNIFF—SNUFFoftheleopardessbehindme,andran;——oh,howIran！——Butmydarlingwillnotdie！Thereisnomarkonher！\"
\"Whereareyoutakingher？\"
\"Wherenooneevertells！\"
\"Whyistheprincesssocruel？\"
\"Thereisanoldprophecythatachildwillbethedeathofher。
Thatiswhyshewilllistentonoofferofmarriage,theysay。\"
\"Butwhatwillbecomeofhercountryifshekillallthebabies？\"
\"Shedoesnotcareabouthercountry。Shesendswitchesaroundtoteachthewomenspellsthatkeepbabiesaway,andgivethemhorriblethingstoeat。SomesaysheisinleaguewiththeShadowstoputanendtotherace。Atnightwehearthequestingbeast,andlieawakeandshiver。Shecantellatoncethehousewhereababyiscoming,andliesdownatthedoor,watchingtogetin。Therearewordsthathavepowertoshooheraway,onlytheydonotalwayswork——ButhereIsittalking,andthebeastmaybythistimehavegothome,andhermistressbesendingtheotherafterus！\"
Asthussheended,sheroseinhaste。
\"Idonotthinkshewillevergethome。——Letmecarrythebabyforyou！\"Isaid,asIrosealso。
Shereturnedmenoanswer,andwhenIwouldhavetakenit,onlyclaspeditthecloser。
\"Icannotthink,\"Isaid,walkingbyherside,\"howthebrutecouldbebleedingsomuch！\"
\"Takemyadvice,anddon\'tgonearthepalace,\"sheanswered。\"Therearesoundsinitatnightasifthedeadweretryingtoshriek,butcouldnotopentheirmouths！\"
Shebademeanabruptfarewell。Plainlyshedidnotwantmoreofmycompany;soIstoodstill,andheardherfootstepsdieawayonthegrass。
CHAPTERXXII
BULIKA
Ihadlostallnotionofmyposition,andwaswalkingaboutinpure,helplessimpatience,whensuddenlyIfoundmyselfinthepathoftheleopardess,wadinginthebloodfromherpaw。Itranagainstmyankleswiththeforceofasmallbrook,andIgotoutofitthemorequicklybecauseofanunshapedsuspicioninmymindastowhoseblooditmightbe。ButIkeptclosetothesoundofit,walkingupthesideofthestream,foritwouldguidemeinthedirectionofBulika。
Isoonbegantoreflect,however,thatnoleopardess,noelephant,nohugestanimalthatinourworldprecededman,couldkeepsuchatorrentflowing,excepteveryarteryinitsbodywereopen,anditshugesystemwentonfillingitsvesselsfromfieldsandlakesandforestsasfastastheyemptiedthemselves:itcouldnotbeblood！
Idippedafingerinit,andatoncesatisfiedmyselfthatitwasnot。Intruth,howeveritmighthavecomethere,itwasasoftlymurmuringrivuletofwaterthatran,withoutchannel,overthegrass！
Butsweetaswasitssong,Idarednotdrinkofit;Ikeptwalkingon,hopingafterthelight,andlisteningtothefamiliarsoundsolongunheard——forthatofthehotstreamwasverydifferent。Themerewettingofmyfeetinit,however,hadsorefreshedme,thatI
wentonwithoutfatiguetillthedarknessbegantogrowthinner,andIknewthesunwasdrawingnigh。Afewminutesmore,andI
coulddiscern,againstthepaleaurora,thewall—towersofacity——seeminglyoldastimeitself。ThenIlookeddowntogetasightofthebrook。
Itwasgone。Ihadindeedforalongtimenoteditssoundgrowingfainter,butatlasthadceasedtoattendtoit。Ilookedback:
thegrassinitscourselaybentasithadflowed,andhereandthereglimmeredasmallpool。Towardthecity,therewasnotraceofit。NearwhereIstood,theflowofitsfountainmustatleasthavepaused！
Aroundthecityweregardens,growingmanysortsofvegetables,hardlyoneofwhichIrecognised。Isawnowater,noflowers,nosignofanimals。Thegardenscameverynearthewalls,butwereseparatedfromthembyhugeheapsofgravelandrefusethrownfromthebattlements。
Iwentuptothenearestgate,andfounditbuthalf—closed,nowisesecured,andwithoutguardorsentinel。Tojudgebyitshinges,itcouldnotbefartheropenedorshutcloser。Passingthrough,I
lookeddownalongancientstreet。Itwasutterlysilent,andwithscarceanindicationinitoflifepresent。HadIcomeuponadeadcity？Iturnedandwentoutagain,toiledalongwayoverthedust—heaps,andcrossedseveralroads,eachleadinguptoagate:I
wouldnotre—enteruntilsomeoftheinhabitantsshouldbestirring。
WhatwasItherefor？whatdidIexpectorhopetofind？whatdidI
meantodo？
Imustsee,ifbutoncemore,thewomanIhadbroughttolife！Ididnotdesirehersociety:shehadwakedinmefrightfulsuspicions;andfriendship,nottosaylove,waswildlyimpossiblebetweenus！Butherpresencehadhadastrangeinfluenceuponme,andinherpresenceImustresist,andatthesametimeanalysethatinfluence！TheseeminglyinscrutableinherIwouldfainpenetrate:tounderstandsomethingofhermodeofbeingwouldbetolookintomarvelssuchasimaginationcouldneverhavesuggested！InthisIwastoodaring:
amanmustnot,forknowledge,ofhisownwillencountertemptation！
Ontheotherhand,Ihadreinstatedanevilforceabouttoperish,andwas,totheextentofmyopposingfaculty,accountableforwhatmischiefmightensue！Ihadlearnedthatshewastheenemyofchildren:theLittleOnesmightbeinherdanger！ItwasinthehopeoffindingoutsomethingoftheirhistorythatIhadleftthem;
onthatIhadreceivedalittlelight:Imusthavemore;Imustlearnhowtoprotectthem！
Hearingatlengthalittlestirintheplace,Iwalkedthroughthenextgate,andthencealonganarrowstreetoftallhousestoalittlesquare,whereIsatdownonthebaseofapillarwithahideousbat—likecreatureatop。Erelong,severaloftheinhabitantscamesaunteringpast。Ispoketoone:hegavemearudestareandruderword,andwenton。
Igotupandwentthroughonenarrowstreetafteranother,graduallyfillingwithidlers,andwasnotsurprisedtoseenochildren。Byandby,nearoneofthegates,Iencounteredagroupofyoungmenwhoremindedmenotalittleofthebadgiants。Theycameaboutmestaring,andpresentlybegantopushandhustleme,thentothrowthingsatme。IboreitaswellasIcould,wishingnottoprovokeenmitywherewantedtoremainforawhile。OftenerthanonceortwiceIappealedtopassers—bywhomIfanciedmorebenevolent—looking,butnonewouldhaltamomenttolistentome。Ilookedpoor,andthatwasenough:tothecitizensofBulika,astohouse—dogs,povertywasanoffence！Deformityandsicknessweretaxed;andnolegislationoftheirprincesswasmoreheartilyapprovedofthanwhattendedtomakepovertysubservewealth。
Itooktomyheelsatlast,andnoonefollowedmebeyondthegate。
Alumberingfellow,however,whosatbyiteatingahunchofbread,pickedupastonetothrowafterme,andhappily,inhisstupideagerness,threw,notthestonebutthebread。Itookit,andhedidnotdarefollowtoreclaimit:beyondthewallstheywerecowardseveryone。Iwentoffafewhundredyards,threwmyselfdown,atethebread,fellasleep,andsleptsoundlyinthegrass,wherethehotsunlightrenewedmystrength。
ItwasnightwhenIwoke。Themoonlookeddownonmeinfriendlyfashion,seemingtoclaimwithmeoldacquaintance。Shewasverybright,andthesamemoon,Ithought,thatsawmethroughtheterrorsofmyfirstnightinthatstrangeworld。Acoldwindblewfromthegate,bringingwithitanevilodour;butitdidnotchillme,forthesunhadplenishedmewithwarmth。Icreptagainintothecity。
ThereIfoundthefewthatwerestillintheopenaircrouchedincornerstoescapetheshiveringblast。
Iwaswalkingslowlythroughthelongnarrowstreet,when,justbeforeme,ahugewhitethingboundedacrossit,withasingleflashinthemoonlight,anddisappeared。Iturneddownthenextopening,eagertogetsightofitagain。
Itwasanarrowlane,almosttoonarrowtopassthrough,butitledmeintoawiderstreet。ThemomentIenteredthelatter,Isawontheoppositeside,intheshadow,thecreatureIhadfollowed,itselffollowinglikeadogwhatItookforaman。Overhisshoulder,everyothermoment,heglancedattheanimalbehindhim,butneitherspoketoit,norattemptedtodriveitaway。Ataplacewherehehadtocrossapatchofmoonlight,Isawthathecastnoshadow,andwashimselfbutaflatsuperficialshadow,oftwodimensions。
Hewas,nevertheless,anopaqueshadow,forhenotmerelydarkenedanyobjectontheothersideofhim,butrenderedit,infact,invisible。Intheshadowhewasblackerthantheshadow;inthemoonlighthelookedlikeonewhohaddrawnhisshadowupabouthim,fornotasuspicionofitmovedbesideorunderhim;whilethegleaminganimal,whichfollowedsocloseathisheelsastoseemthewhiteshadowofhisblackness,andwhichInowsawtobealeopardess,drewherownglidingshadowblackoverthegroundbyherside。Whentheypassedtogetherfromtheshadowintothemoonlight,theShadowdeepenedinblackness,theanimalflashedintoradiance。Iwasatthemomentwalkingabreastofthemontheoppositeside,mybarefeetsoundingontheflatstones:theleopardessneverturnedheadortwitchedear;theshadowseemedoncetolookatme,forIlosthisprofile,andsawforasecondonlyasharpuprightline。Thatinstantthewindfoundmeandblewthroughme:Ishudderedfromheadtofoot,andmyheartwentfromwalltowallofmybosom,likeapebbleinachild\'srattle。
CHAPTERXXIII
AWOMANOFBULIKA
Iturnedasideintoanalley,andsoughtshelterinasmallarchway。
InthemouthofitIstopped,andlookedoutatthemoonlightwhichfilledthealley。Thesameinstantawomancameglidinginafterme,turned,trembling,andlookedoutalso。Afewsecondspassed;
thenahugeleopard,itswhiteskindappledwithmanyblots,dartedacrossthearchway。Thewomanpressedclosetome,andmyheartfilledwithpity。Iputmyarmroundher。
\"Ifthebrutecomehere,Iwilllayholdofit,\"Isaid,\"andyoumustrun。\"
\"Thankyou！\"shemurmured。
\"Haveyoueverseenitbefore？\"Iasked。
\"Severaltimes,\"sheanswered,stilltrembling。\"Sheisapetoftheprincess\'s。Youareastranger,oryouwouldknowher！\"
\"Iamastranger,\"Ianswered。\"Butisshe,then,allowedtorunloose？\"
\"Sheiskeptinacage,hermouthmuzzled,andherfeetinglovesofcrocodileleather。Chainedsheistoo;butshegetsoutoften,andsucksthebloodofanychildshecanlayholdof。HappilytherearenotmanymothersinBulika！\"
Heresheburstintotears。
\"IwishIwereathome！\"shesobbed。\"Theprincessreturnedonlylastnight,andthereistheleopardessoutalready！HowamItogetintothehouse？Itismesheisafter,Iknow！Shewillbelyingatmyowndoor,watchingforme！——ButIamafooltotalktoastranger！\"
\"Allstrangersarenotbad！\"Isaid。\"Thebeastshallnottouchyoutillshehasdonewithme,andbythattimeyouwillbein。Youarehappytohaveahousetogoto！Whataterriblewinditis！\"
\"Takemehomesafe,andIwillgiveyoushelterfromit,\"sherejoined。\"Butwemustwaitalittle！\"
Iaskedhermanyquestions。Shetoldmethepeopleneverdidanythingexceptdigforpreciousstonesintheircellars。Theywererich,andhadeverythingmadefortheminothertowns。
\"Why？\"Iasked。
\"Becauseitisadisgracetowork,\"sheanswered。\"EverybodyinBulikaknowsthat！\"
Iaskedhowtheywererichifnoneofthemearnedmoney。Sherepliedthattheirancestorshadsavedforthem,andtheyneverspent。Whentheywantedmoneytheysoldafewoftheirgems。
\"Buttheremustbesomepoor！\"Isaid。
\"Isupposetheremustbe,butweneverthinkofsuchpeople。Whenonegoespoor,weforgethim。Thatishowwekeeprich。Wemeantoberichalways。\"
\"Butwhenyouhavedugupallyourpreciousstonesandsoldthem,youwillhavetospendyourmoney,andonedayyouwillhavenoneleft！\"
\"Wehavesomany,andtherearesomanystillintheground,thatthatdaywillnevercome,\"shereplied。
\"Supposeastrangepeopleweretofalluponyou,andtakeeverythingyouhave！\"
\"Nostrangepeoplewilldare;theyareallhorriblyafraidofourprincess。Sheitiswhokeepsussafeandfreeandrich！\"
Everynowandthenasshespoke,shewouldstopandlookbehindher。
Iaskedwhyherpeoplehadsuchahatredofstrangers。Sheansweredthatthepresenceofastrangerdefiledthecity。
\"Howisthat？\"Isaid。
\"Becausewearemoreancientandnoblethananyothernation。——
Therefore,\"sheadded,\"wealwaysturnstrangersoutbeforenight。\"
\"How,then,canyoutakemeintoyourhouse？\"Iasked。
\"Iwillmakeanexceptionofyou,\"shereplied。
\"Istherenoplaceinthecityforthetakinginofstrangers？\"
\"Suchaplacewouldbepulleddown,anditsownerburned。Howispuritytobepreservedexceptbykeepinglowpeopleataproperdistance？Dignityissuchadelicatething！\"
Shetoldmethattheirprincesshadreignedforthousandsofyears;
thatshehadpowerovertheairandthewateraswellastheearth——
and,shebelieved,overthefiretoo;thatshecoulddowhatshepleased,andwasanswerabletonobody。
Whenatlengthshewaswillingtorisktheattempt,wetookourwaythroughlanesandnarrowpassages,andreachedherdoorwithouthavingmetasinglelivecreature。Itwasinawiderstreet,betweentwotallhouses,atthetopofanarrow,steepstair,upwhichsheclimbedslowly,andIfollowed。Erewereachedthetop,however,sheseemedtotakefright,anddarteduptherestofthesteps:I
arrivedjustintimetohavethedoorclosedinmyface,andstoodconfoundedonthelanding,wherewasaboutlengthenough,betweentheoppositedoorsofthetwohouses,foramantoliedown。
Weary,andnotscruplingtodefileBulikawithmypresence,Itookadvantageoftheshelter,poorasitwas。
CHAPTERXXIV
THEWHITELEOPARDESS
Atthefootofthestairlaythemoonlitstreet,andIcouldheartheunwholesome,inhospitablewindblowingaboutbelow。Butnotabreathofitenteredmyretreat,andIwascomposingmyselftorest,whensuddenlymyeyesopened,andtherewastheheadoftheshiningcreatureIhadseenfollowingtheShadow,justrisingabovetheuppermoststep！Themomentshecaughtsightofmyeyes,shestoppedandbegantoretire,tailforemost。Isprangup;whereupon,havingnoroomtoturn,shethrewherselfbackward,headovertail,scrambledtoherfeet,andinamomentwasdownthestairandgone。Ifollowedhertothebottom,andlookedallupanddownthestreet。Notseeingher,Iwentbacktomyhardcouch。
Therewere,then,twoevilcreaturesprowlingaboutthecity,onewith,andonewithoutspots！IwasnotinclinedtoriskmuchformanorwomaninBulika,butthelifeofachildmightwellbeworthsuchapooroneasmine,andIresolvedtokeepwatchatthatdoortherestofthenight。