“Thou art wandering into forbidden domains,” remonstrated Orondo, hastening to her side. “Nature broods her deadliest poisons in this company. Here the carrot, parsnip, and celery families are undergoing regeneration. In time, I shall have them suitable for food. That pretty lily thou art admiring is the deadly hemlock; and here are the foxglove, the henbane, and the jimson-weed——”
“Surely I need no reminder of murderous quality here,” rejoined Kerœcia. She was gazing at a cluster of aconite. “My people have used this with terrible effect on themselves and on their enemies.”
She had reference to the poisoned arrows employed by the Monbas in their expeditions against the Ians.
A swift-footed runner, wearing state livery, approached, and prostrating himself before Kerœcia, said:
“Yermah, the Dorado, presents his compliments, and begs that the high-priestess, Kerœcia, will grace the Hall of Embassadors with her presence. Ben Hu Barabe, Eko Tanga, and the Dorado await her there.”
“Immediate compliance is the only form grateful obedience takes,” she answered, while a swift pallor overspread her countenance. “Let us go at once!”
A shade of disappointment came over Orondo’s face. He had hoped to show Kerœcia more of the beauties of this royal garden. There was something of the impatience of the lover and the selfishness of a rival in his feeling. They were passing through the landscape set with night-blooming plants.
As they neared Lake Ohaba, a long, narrow body of water, formed artificially, there were masses of water-lilies anchored on the surface. Tiny air-bubbles and tinier mouths indicated the presence of gold and silver fish, darting about unmindful of the waterfowl feeding on the banks, or sunning themselves on the floating gardens which dotted the miniature lake.
Bridges, ponds, waterfalls and temples covered the landscape of the floating gardens, but everything was constructed on the smallest scale possible. The trees were old and gnarled, and the moss-covered masonry was no larger than a doll’s house and grounds. Even the dahlias and the chrysanthemums were dwarfed into pigmy sizes.
Kerœcia must have felt something of Orondo’s disappointment; for, she halted in front of the fanciful pavilion facing these movable wonders and ordered the palanquin which was to convey her back to Iaqua.