“If you can bear him hence with my aid, not a dozen steps from here in a secret place in the thicket help will meet you,” said the Queen, but as one who grudged to yield her will to mine.
How I did it I never knew. Weakness and long fast had made even my own weight a sore burden, but I steeled my shrinking muscles to their duty, and Lah, with supple strength beyond her sex, helped me in the task.
So, half dragging, half supporting, the unconscious form we went, till at a word from the Queen I halted.
Lah stooped and knocked twice and then twice again upon a block of granite that rose from the ground.
I heard a dull noise sounding distantly from somewhere, and behold, before us, the earth itself had opened.
At Lah’s command I swung myself down into the black depth.
Strong hands seized me; Lah called that she and Zobo followed, and—I knew no more.
Chapter X
The Red Witch holds her Revel
It may have been hours or days. I do not fix the space of my captivity.
A man in my state,—may it be reckoned with heavy reckoning against this son of darkness, this foul priest of Hed,—a man, as I say, in my condition of mind and body notes not the flight of time. Neither do I deny that I may perchance have dreamed somewhat. That witch’s cave wherein at length I came again to life was a likely enough nest for the hatching of nightmares, aye! and worse things to follow. But this I hold,—upon my honor as an honest man and a God-fearing gentleman, and to defend the truth of the same, I will do violence to him who doubts me,—I saw, and saw with waking eyes, and waking brain, the things I now relate to you who read these pages.