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of that hateful head…dress。 At length it was gone with his other
garments and the much…needed wash accomplished； after which he clothed
himself in a kind of linen gown which apparently had been provided for
him； and lay down on one of the couches； placing his revolver by his
side。
〃Will those lamps burn all night； Jeekie？〃 he asked。
〃Hope so； Major； as we haven't got no match。 Not fond of dark in Gold
House；〃 answered Jeekie sleepily。 Then he began to snore。
Alan fell asleep； but was too excited and tired to rest very soundly。
All sorts of dreams came to him； one of which he remembered on
awakening； perhaps because it was the last。 He dreamed that he heard
some noise and opened his eyes； to see that they were no longer alone
in the room。 The oil lamps had burned quite low； indeed some of them
were out； but by the light of those that remained he saw a tall figure
which seemed to appear at the edge of the surrounding blackness； a
woman's figure。 It walked forward to the altar…like stone upon which
lay the tin box containing Little Bonsa； and after several rather
awkward attempts； succeeded in opening it； thereby making a noise
which； in his dream； finally awoke Alan。 For a while the figure gazed
at the fetish。 Then it shut the box； glided to his bed and bent down
as though to study him。 Out of the corners of his eyes he peered up at
it； pretending all the while to be fast asleep。
It was that of a woman wonderfully clad in gold…spangled； veil…like
garments with round bosses shaped to the breast； covered with thin
plates of gold fashioned like the scales of a fish which showed off
the extraordinary elegance of her lithe form。 The low lamp…light shone
upon her face and the coronet of gold set upon her dark hair。 What a
face it was！ Never in all his days had he seen its like for evil
loveliness。 The great； languid； oblong eyes； the rich red lips bent
like a bow； the cruel smile of the mouth； the broad forehead on which
the hair grew low； the delicately arched eyebrows and the long curving
lashes of the heavy lids beneath them； the rounded cheeks； smooth as a
ripe fruit； the firm； shapely chin； the snake…like poise of the head；
the long bending neck； and the feline smile； all of these combined
made such a dream…vision as he had never seen before； and to tell the
truth； notwithstanding its beauty； for that could not be doubted；
never wished to see again。 Somehow he felt that if Satan should happen
to have a copper…coloured wife； the exact picture of that lady had
projected itself upon his sleeping senses。
She seemed to study him very earnestly； with a kind of passionate
eagerness； indeed； moving a little now and again to let the light fall
upon some part that was in shadow。 Once even she stretched out her
rounded arm and just lifted the edge of the blanket so as to expose
his hand； the left。 As it chanced on the little finger of this hand
Alan wore a plain gold ring which Barbara had given him； once it had
been her grandfather's signet。 This ring； which had a coat of arms cut
upon its bezel seemed to interest her very much as she examined it for
a long while。 Then she drew off from her own finger another ring of
gold fashioned of two snakes curiously intertwined； and gently； so
gently that in his sleep he scarcely felt it； slipped it on to his
finger above Barbara's ring。
After this she seemed to vanish away； and Alan slept soundly until the
morning； when he awoke to find the light of the sun pouring into the
room through the high…set latticed window places。
CHAPTER XI
THE HALL OF THE DEAD
Alan rose and stretched himself； and hearing him； Jeekie； who had a
dog's faculty of instantly awaking from what seemed to be the deepest
sleep； sat up also。
〃You rest well； Major？ No dream； eh？〃 he asked curiously。
〃Not very；〃 answered Alan； 〃and I had a dream； of a woman who stood
over me and vanished away； as dreams do。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Jeekie。 〃But where you find that new ring on finger；
Major？〃
Alan stared at his hand and started； for there set on it above that of
Barbara； was the little circlet formed of twisted snakes which he had
seen in his sleep。
〃Then it must have been true；〃 he said in a low and rather frightened
voice。 〃But how did she come and go？〃
〃Funny place； Gold House。 I tell you that yesterday； Major。 People
come up through hole； like rat。 Never quite sure you alone in Gold
House。 But what this lady like？〃
Alan described his visitor to the best of his ability。
〃Ah！〃 said Jeekie； 〃pretty girl。 Big eyes； gold crown； gold stays
which fit tight in front； very nice and decent； sort of night…shirt
with little gold stars all overby Jingo！ I think that Asika herself。
If sogreat compliment。〃
〃Confound the compliment； I think it great cheek；〃 answered Alan
angrily。 〃What does she mean by poking about here at night and putting
rings on my finger？〃
〃Don't know； Major； but p'raps she wish make you understand that she
like cut of your jib。 Find out by and by。 Meanwhile you wear ring； for
while that on finger no one do you any harm。〃
〃You told me that this Asika is a married woman； did you not？〃
remarked Alan gloomily。
〃Oh； yes； Major； always married； one down； other come on； you see。 But
she not always like her husband； and then she make him sit up； poor
devil； and he die double quick。 Great honour to be Asika's husband；
but soon all finished。 P'raps〃
Then he checked himself and suggested that Alan should have a bath
while he cleaned his clothes； an attention that they needed。
Scarcely had Alan finished his toilet； donned the Arab…looking linen
robe over his own fragmentary flannels； and above it the hateful mask
which Jeekie insisted he must wear； when there came a knocking on the
door。 Motioning to Alan to take his seat upon a stool； Jeekie undid
the bars； and as before women appeared with food and waited while they
ate； which this time； having overcome his nervousness； Alan did more
leisurely。 Their meal done； one of the women asked Jeekie； for to his
master they did not seem to dare to speak； whether the white lord did
not wish to walk in the garden。 Without waiting for an answer she led
him to the end of the large room and； unbarring another door that they
had not noticed； revealed a passage； beyond which appeared trees and
flowers。 Then she and her companions went away with the fragments of
the meal。
〃Come on；〃 said Alan； taking up the box containing Little Bonsa； which
he did not dare to leave behind； 〃and let us get into the air。〃
So they went down the passage and at the end of it through gates of
copper or gold； they knew not which； that had evidently been left open
for them； into the garden。 It was a large place； a good many acres in
extent indeed； and kept with some care； for there were paths in it and
flowers that seemed to have been planted。 Also here grew certain of
the mighty cedar trees that they had seen from far off； beneath those
spreading boughs twilight reigned； while beyond； not more than half a
mile away； the splendid river…fall thundered down the precipice。 For
the rest they could find no exit to that garden which on one side was
enclosed by a sheer cliff of livi