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Then suddenly Atene sprang to her saddle, and turning her horse's head rode it back through the water to the shore, followed by old Simbri, who lifted up his crooked hands as though in woe and fear, muttering as he went "You have entered the forbidden river and now, Atene, the day of decision is upon us all upon us and her that predestined day of ruin and of war."
How awesome its billowy crest. It would be warm lying in yonder red gulf below with the dead Rassen, but oh! I wished that I shared his bed and had finished with these agonies. Thank Heaven, Atene was speaking. She had stepped to the side of the naked-headed Thing, and stood by it in all the pride of her rich beauty and perfect womanhood.
"Leo Vincey, or Kallikrates," said Atene, "take which name thou wilt; thou thinkest ill of me perhaps, but know that at least I scorn to mock a rival in her mortal shame.
The veiled figure above me pointed with her hand at Leo and said "Seize him, but I charge you, harm him not." I knew the voice; it was that of Atene! Then too late I understood the trap into which we had fallen. "Treachery!" I began to cry, and before the word was out of my lips, a particularly able-bodied skeleton silenced me with a violent blow upon the head.
Now a halt was ordered, for here was a reservoir in which was still some water, whereof the horses drank, while the men ate of the food they carried with them; dried meat and barley meal. Here, too, more spies met us, who said that the great army of Atene was posted guarding the city bridges, and that to attack it with our little force would mean destruction.
To Heaven I leave thy punishment," and there upon the rocky peak Atene sank down and wept. Leo stood nearest to her, and the sight of this royal woman in her misery proved too much for him to bear. Stepping to her side he stooped and lifted her to her feet, muttering some kind words.
The Khan stood still awhile, swinging his long arms vacantly, till something seemed to come into his mind that moved him to merriment, for he burst into one of his hideous laughs. "I am thinking," he said, "what Atene would say if she woke up to find her sweet bird flown. She would search for you and be angry with me." "It seems that she cannot be angrier than she is," I answered.
"How did this chance?" asked the Hesea of Atene. "My lord was mad," she answered boldly, "and such was his cruel sport." "So. And was thy lord jealous also? Nay, keep back the falsehood I see rising to thy lips. Leo Vincey, answer thou me. Yet, I will not ask thee to lay bare the secrets of a woman who has offered thee her love. Thou, Holly, speak, and let it be the truth."
Ayesha stood considering the mighty prospect, then addressing Leo, she said "The world is very fair; I give it all to thee." Now Atene spoke for the first time. "Dost thou mean Hes if thou art still the Hesea and not a demon arisen from the Pit that thou offerest my territories to this man as a love-gift? If so, I tell thee that first thou must conquer them."
When Oros had departed she turned to us and said "That tale of mine of long ago was well fitted to this hour, for as Amenartas prophesied of ill, so does Atene prophesy of ill, and Amenartas and Atene are one. Well, let the spear fall, if fall it must, and I will not flinch from it who know that I shall surely triumph at the last.
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