United States or Liberia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Peters saw that Diregus had found Pym, and, as was also the boatman, he and Pym were, of course, viewing the struggle. I should not, however, have included Pym in the party of observers; for he knew too well how the combat would end to be much absorbed in it. He had no eyes for anything but Lilama.
Would such a revelation have changed youth to manhood in a hundred seconds? "As Pym was led by Diregus from the room, Peters started to follow; but the aged mystic motioned for him, too, to approach. Peters says that after what he had just seen he felt much more like taking to flight than he did like obeying the summons; but he obeyed it.
"The party consisted of the young man Diregus, Lilama's cousin; of Pym and Peters; and of six boatmen, who might or might not be employed directly in the attack and rescue, as should later seem best.
These two men seemed to court danger to revel in it; but in reality they pursued the course which exposed them to the least risk of injury consistent with the performance of their full duty. The question was one of method in procedure to save the greatest number of lives; and they hastened first to the residence of Lilama's uncle and cousin to the home of the Duke and Diregus."
"But to return: The party separated from Medosus, who, when about two hundred feet away, shouted back, 'You'd better stay with us, Diregus. The party continued up the mountain-side, resting as they felt the need of rest. No preparation for the darkness of night was necessary; for here the crater-light was very bright in some unshaded spots it was even painfully brilliant.
Pym and Peters were motioned to seats in the hallway, the Duke remarking, in hushed tones, 'The home of Masusaelili, as he and Diregus passed through a broken and decaying doorway into apartments beyond. Soon Diregus returned, and, escorting Pym and Peters through several disordered rooms, finally paused before a large curtained doorway.
Pym was wild with excitement; and as the morning wore on Peters grew almost mad. The Duke appeared surprised at something, and spoke a few words to his son, a young man of twenty-two or twenty-three, by name Diregus, who thereupon looked slightly foolish, as one does who has made some puerile mistake.
Then Diregus spoke, but in a hushed voice, and with an awed solemnity that chilled his hearers through and through. "'Fear not, he said; 'no harm will befall you. If the benign Fate is to smile well; if the Furies are to rage, we can but bow to the Will that has held in its hand for countless cycles this petty planet a grain in the wastes of Eternity. Come!
"When the party heard this, they were anxious to proceed, but Medosus in turn had a few questions to ask, and in common courtesy Diregus was compelled to wait and reply to the poor exile's interrogatories.
As they gazed at it, a fire appeared in the centre; and soon around the fire there sprang into being a circular range of mountains, and on the side of one of these the nearest stood two persons. "'Lilama Ahpilus, screamed Diregus; 'he has stolen her away! "Yes: for though Pym and Peters had never seen the exiled lover, they recognized Lilama; and even they could surmise the rest.
Word Of The Day