I thought that the entertainment was now over, and, feeling rather queer, was about to ask _i_ She _i_ if we could rise, when suddenly what at first I took to be a baboon came hopping round the fire, and was instantly met upon the other side by a lion, or rather a human being dressed in a lion's skin.Then came a goat, then a man wrapped in an ox's hide, with the horns wobbling about in a ludicrous way.After him followed a blesbok, then an impala, then a koodoo, then more goats, and many other animals, including a girl sewn up in the shining scaly hide of a boa constrictor, several yards of which trailed along the ground behind her.When all the beasts had collected they began to dance about in a lumbering, unnatural fashion, and to imitate the sounds produced by the respective animals they represented, till the whole air was alive with roars and bleating and the hissing of snakes.This went on for a long time, till, getting tired of the pantomime, I asked Ayesha if there would be any objection to Leo and myself walking round to inspect the human torches, and as she had nothing to say against it, we started, striking round to the left.After looking at one or two of the flaming bodies, we were about to return, thoroughly disgusted with the grotesque weirdness of the spectacle, when our attention was attracted by one of the dancers, a particularly active leopard, that had separated itself from its fellow-beasts, and was whisking about in our immediate neighborhood, but gradually drawing into a spot where the shadow was darkest, equidistant between two of the flaming mummies.Drawn by curiosity, we followed it, when suddenly it darted past us into the shadows beyond, and as it did so erected itself and whispered, "Come," in a voice that we both recognized as that of Ustane.Without waiting to consult me Leo turned and followed her into the outer darkness, and I, feeling sick enough at heart, went after them.The leopard crawled on for about fifty pacesa sufficient distance to be quite beyond the light of the fire and torchesand then Leo came up with it, or, rather, with Ustane.
"O my lord," I heard her whisper, "so I have found thee! Listen, I am in peril of my life from _i_ She _i_ -who-must-be-obeyed.' Surely the Baboon has told thee how she drove me from thee? I love thee, my lord, and thou art mine according to the custom of the country.I saved thy life! My Lion, wilt thou cast me off now?""Of course not," ejaculated Leo; "I have been wondering whither thou hadst gone.Let us go and explain matters to the queen.""Nay, nay; she would slay us.Thou knowest not her powerthe Baboon there, he knoweth, for he saw.Nay;there is but one way: if thou wilt cleave to me, thou must flee with me across the marshes even now, and then perchance we may escape.""For Heaven's sake, Leo," I began, but she broke in"Nay, listen not to him.Swiftbe swiftdeath is in the air we breathe.Even now, mayhap, _i_ She _i_heareth us," and without more ado she proceeded to back her arguments by throwing herself into his arms.
As she did so the leopard's head slipped from her hair, and I saw the three white finger-marks upon it gleaming faintly in the starlight.Once more realizing the desperate nature of the position, I was about to interpose, for I knew that Leo was not too strong-minded where women were concerned, whenoh! horror!I heard a little silvery laugh behind me.I turned round, and there was _i_ She _i_ herself, and with her Billali and two male mutes.I gasped and nearly sank to the ground, for I knew that such a situation must result in some dreadful tragedy, of which it seemed exceedingly probable to me that I should be the first victim.
As for Ustane, she untwined her arms and covered her eyes with her hands, while Leo, not knowing the full terror of the position, merely colored up, and looked as foolish as a man caught in such a trap would naturally do.
