“Yes, throughout its entire length,” added Onrai.
“And has this been done recently?” asked Enola.
“Recently,” answered Onrai, “I do not understand you.”
“Has it been done during your reign or the reign of your predecessor?” exclaimed Enola.
“No, it has not been done during my reign or during my life, so I, as a consequence, know nothing of the time of its laying,” answered Onrai.
“But it must have been laid but a short time,” said Enola, “for not one of these beautifully polished stones shows the least defacement.”
“Oh, that counts for naught,” said Mr. Bruce, “for they are placed together so carefully, and the onyx itself is so hard, there is no possibility of its chipping.”
“This is called the Avenue of On,” said Onrai, “and not only circumvents the lake, but stretches on from the opposite side to the farthest corner of On, or to the great field of brilliants.”
“To the field of brilliants? Tell us of this, Onrai,” said Enola.
“Far away in the direction in which we are now going is a large field devoid of all verdure. Rocks from the size of a zebra’s hoof to those half as large as the Temple cover the ground. The cliffs which surround our country at this point are seamed and very irregular, which shows that at some remote age the rocks which now cover the field were torn from them, and having been ground and crushed in their rush to the level field, have finally there found a resting place. But these stones and rocks do not entirely cover the field, for there seems to be an ashy substance and in places a bluish sandstone, and covering these are small, white brilliants as pure, white and clear as the water from a spring. During the day these stones catch the sun’s rays and gleam forth like polished silver but with a brilliancy much more intense. But at night when the great white sentinel rises in the heavens and throws its soft light on these stones, they look like the reflection of stars in the lake. I have never looked upon this field but once at night and it impressed me then as being the grandest sight in our whole land.”