F Y 
 
 C 1
 
 '.

 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 HttV. OF CALIF. LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES
 
 OTHER BOOKS 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS SAWYER SPIVEY 
 
 LAVIUS EGYPTUS (Two Vols.) 
 
 THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A JOHNNY 
 
 JANE AND I 
 
 THE HOOSIER WIDOW 
 
 DR. PAUL McKIM 
 
 SPECULATIVE ANTHROPOLOGY 
 
 THE LIGHT OF THE NATION 
 
 THE PACIFIC OCEAN THE TOMB OF 
 
 HUMAN ACTION 
 
 IS THE EARTH A DYING WORLD ? 
 THE SEVEN SONS OF BALLYHACK
 
 CAVERNS OF CRA1 L 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS SAWYER SPIVEY 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 THE COSMOPOLITAN PRESS 
 1912
 
 Copyright, 1912, by 
 THE COSMOPOLITAN PRESS
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAGE 
 
 I. THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE 7 
 
 II. CYAXARES PLANS WAR AGAINST DEIOCES .... 14 
 
 III. CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 30 
 
 IV. THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE OF THE HOLY STATE 57 
 V. THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 80 
 
 VI. THE TRAGEDY AT THE HOUSE IN BALEHIA .... 100 
 
 VII. A MISSION TO THE COURT OF ASTYAGES 114 
 
 VIII. CAMBYSES RETURNS TO THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL . . . 132 
 
 IX. CYAXARES AT THE COURT OF THE SAPOR .... 154 
 
 X. THE CITY OF KINGS 174 
 
 XI. WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 191 
 
 XII. THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 203 
 
 XIII. THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 222 
 
 XIV. THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN 236 
 
 XV. HOME-COMING OF PHRAOHTES 246 
 
 XVI. THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE .... 256 
 XVII. DEIOCES STANDS IN THE MARKET-PLACE .... 270 
 XVIII. CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE AT THE "THREE FISH 
 ERMEN" 284 
 
 XIX. CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR . . . 296 
 
 2133002
 
 The Caverns of Crail 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE 
 
 LIKE an avalanche, the mysterious hordes had 
 swept down from the steppes of central Asia and 
 desolated Eran and Persis. The peoples of these and 
 all the surrounding countries had fled in terror before 
 the fanatical warriors of the Sapor, that unknown 
 King of Kings and ruler over all the clans of Arya. 
 The so-called Holy War had spent its fury, simply 
 because there was nothing more upon which to vent its 
 wrath. 
 
 Phraortes, king of Eran, had fled his beautiful city, 
 Ecbatana, and was now a refugee, in hiding some 
 where along the borders of the Persian gulf. His 
 queen, and little Prince Cyaxares, two years old, had 
 been sent to a small city, Baleria, which was en 
 sconced in a queer little country at the mouth of the 
 river Pol, he having placed them in the care of his 
 captain of guards, Deioces. He knew not whether 
 they were safe from danger or had perished; there 
 fore, upon the first intimation of a lull in the terrible 
 war, he attempted to return to Baleria. 
 
 Finally reaching the environs of Baleria, he was an 
 ticipated by a faithful priest and one of his former 
 soldiers, Duke Cambyses, and was shocked to learn 
 that Deioces had betrayed his trust, usurped his 
 throne, and was now called king of the Medes, claim-
 
 8 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ing sovereignty also over portions of the lands for 
 merly called Eran. He had issued a proclamation de 
 claring that Phraortes had fled his country, and had 
 perished. He would make Baleria the seat of govern 
 ment, calling upon all who were former subjects of 
 Phraortes to acknowledge him king, and to come into 
 the fertile lands of Ironia, the name that he had given 
 unto the tight little valley in which Baleria was sit 
 uated at the delta of the river Pol. 
 
 The priest, Cracillies, and Cambyses had fled from 
 Baleria at midnight, taking the queen mother and her 
 infant son to a place of hiding and safety in the cav 
 erns of Crail, this being the place of abode of a mys 
 terious priesthood of which Cracillies was the head. 
 
 During the three holy wars that had occurred in a 
 period of a century not once had the crusaders at 
 tempted to enter the sacred precincts of the gardens 
 and caverns of Crail. It was the acknowledged ren 
 dezvous of the church heads and of their priests in 
 time of war, and their place of retirement and seclusion 
 in time of peace. 
 
 Phraortes had befriended Cracillies, and Cambyses 
 was a member of his household guards, hence the spe 
 cial interest that they had taken in the welfare of the 
 queen and of the little prince. 
 
 Phraortes was a good king to his people, and it 
 was a hard blow for them to have to come under the 
 yoke of one of his former guardsmen, who had thus 
 openly betrayed the most sacred trust. Nevertheless, 
 the former lung was in no position to protest, and, as 
 Deioces had gathered about him quite a strong army, 
 there was no alternative but submission on the part 
 of the people, such as had survived the frightful hard 
 ships of hiding in the mountains. They were coming
 
 THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE 9 
 
 into the land of Ironia, a wide range of black swamps 
 lying among the many river branches forming the 
 delta of the Pol. Malaria and pestilence were de 
 stroying them almost as fast as they settled. But 
 Deioces had an object; he had sworn to make of this 
 miasmatic spot an earthly paradise, and to make it 
 inhabitable. ,He would make Baleria the most beauti 
 ful city in the world, and dig the wealth out of the rich 
 soil. 
 
 A singular freak of nature, this region of less than 
 one hundred square miles was surrounded with per 
 pendicular cliffs, almost high enough to be called 
 mountains, so rugged and difficult of passage that it 
 could only be entered by way of five well-defined 
 passes. An army of one thousand well-equipped sol 
 diers could hold the region against five thousand. 
 
 Whether the hordes of the Sapor had expended their 
 fury before reaching Baleria', or whether they saw 
 nothing worth going into the country for, will per 
 haps never be known, but it was a curious fact that 
 they did not venture through these passes. Deioces 
 had very promptly surrounded himself with every safe 
 guard to establish himself as king, and, because of the 
 greater security here, had chosen this as his seat of 
 government. 
 
 So little was known regarding the secret order of 
 the priests of Crail that it was not at the time sus 
 pected that this region was spared out of respect for 
 this religious order. The Aryans were known to be 
 religious fanatics, always declaring war in a holy 
 cause. Moreover, the order claimed to be of Aryan 
 origin. 
 
 Notwithstanding Deioces had originally been a 
 guardsman, he was a keen-witted man, and his first po-
 
 10 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 litical move bespoke for him a remarkable sagacity, 
 equal to the dangerous occasion. Together with his 
 proclamation as king he sent to the Sapor, King of 
 Kings, a proposition for a triple alliance, offensive and 
 defensive, between the Holy Crater, Ironia, and Persis, 
 to safeguard forever the union of the church and the 
 state, which meant the government, and to define their 
 separate rights and prerogatives. This was the first 
 recognition by international treaty of the division of 
 government into two distinct branches. 
 
 To the astonishment of the whole world an unknown 
 man had struck the responsive chord in the great mys 
 tery among rulers, the Sapor, for a conclave was 
 at once ordered to gather at the old capital city of 
 Ecbatana to ratify such a pact. At this conclave, 
 for the first time in the history of that country, the 
 mysterious order of priests avowed itself the church, 
 and the " Priests of the Holy Crater " and the 
 " Priests of Crail " stood as one, and Deioces had to 
 make permanent terms with the priests of Crail, whose 
 mysterious caverns were in the mountain walls that 
 surrounded his country, and for aught he knew, or ever 
 did know, furnished a secret passageway into its very 
 heart, the city of Baleria, over which they claimed 
 certain vested rights that they would not surrender. 
 Their claims were supported by the Holy Crater. 
 
 It developed that the Sapor was head of both the 
 church and the civil government, as ruler over un 
 known numbers of Aryan clans, with an estimated pop 
 ulation of one hundred million souls. Little more than 
 this was known of the mysterious hordes calling them 
 selves the Aryans and occupying the steppes about the 
 Caspian sea. One thing, however, went unquestioned; 
 the Sapor was master, and the triple alliance was the
 
 11 
 
 Sapor's will. Deioces was fortunate in having placed 
 the matter before that terrific power, thus bringing to 
 his own support as head of the state the good-will of 
 the greatest ruling spirit, perhaps, in all the civilized 
 world. 
 
 To this constitutional convention the Sapor sent 
 two delegates, one representing the government, and 
 the other as the high priest of the church and head of 
 the priests of the Holy Crater. Astyages, king of 
 Persis, sent similar delegates. 
 
 Deioces sent Erskales, representing the government 
 of Ironia, and Saranaces, representing the church, not 
 withstanding Cracillies was the acknowledged head of 
 the priests of Crail ; but this same Cracillies had openly 
 avowed his undying hatred of Deioces as a traitor. 
 Most of the priesthood stood with him. Therefore, 
 Deioces started out under the code of the triple alliance 
 with the ill-will of the church in his own kingdom. 
 They named him " Deioces, the Upstart." It required 
 many years to reach a common ground of understand 
 ing, the priests of Crail maintaining their exclusiveness 
 and forbidding priests of the state to. enter their 
 strange place of abode. 
 
 Under the code of the triple alliance the priesthood 
 was called the Holy Church and the state was called 
 the Holy State. The head of the Holy Church, the 
 head of the Holy State, and the king were a trinity to 
 rule over the land, each having its specific duties de 
 fined by a code established by the triple alliance. 
 
 It would at once be seen that a man of Deioces' plot 
 ting nature would attempt to be absolute ruler through 
 the connivance with his selected head of the Holy State, 
 who was the delegate of his own choosing, Erskales. 
 But even Deioces was unable to fathom the mysterious
 
 12 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 depths of the influence of the priesthood. No one 
 knew the origin of the institution that was as old, per 
 haps, as civilization itself. In fact, it claimed to be 
 the founder and first school of progressive civilization 
 on the part of mankind. It based its rights to help 
 protect and rule the people upon the time-honored 
 tenets that originally the church and state were one 
 and the same governing power vested in a priest-king. 
 
 The church claimed a priority over the state because 
 of the undeniable fact that governments rise, have their 
 periods, and fall, while the church is universal, is 
 nearest the people in time of stress, and never falls. 
 It helps them to rejoice in times of prosperity, and 
 helps to lighten their burden when distress and dis 
 aster overtake them. Such were the teachings of 
 Cracillies, hence the antagonism between the new king, 
 " Deioces, the Upstart," and himself. 
 
 While Deioces had no positive evidence proving it, 
 he believed that Cracillies had had a hand in helping 
 to spirit away the queen. That Cambyses was the 
 chief instrument he knew, which fact forever barred 
 the latter from Ironia while Deioces remained king. 
 
 The delivery to Phraortes of his queen and little 
 son, he declared, was the restoration of more than half 
 his kingdom, and it made him very happy. It bound 
 Phraortes, Cambyses, and Cracillies in a bond of 
 eternal friendship that brought splendid reward many 
 years later. 
 
 Desiring to educate his son for future greatness, 
 Phraortes went to foreign lands, remaining there un 
 til Cyaxares had grown to manhood. The queenly 
 mother having died, the father and son had secretly 
 taken residence in a country adjacent to Persis, in or 
 der to be in close communication with their friend,
 
 THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE 13 
 
 Astyages, king of Persis, and in touch with the po 
 litical situation in all that portion of the country, the 
 son having gained the permission of his father to seize 
 upon the first reasonable opportunity to dethrone 
 Deioces. 
 
 Deioces had few friends and a multitude of enemies. 
 He was counted the greatest despot of all known 
 rulers. Both the Sapor and King Astyages had sent 
 frequent protests and sharp warnings, but without 
 avail. The triple alliance had kept peace between 
 these three nations for thirty years, and as it had 
 been intended as an example for all the balance of the 
 world they were reluctant to enforce it by the sword. 
 Nevertheless, Deioces' time was drawing near, and 
 Cyaxares was on! the alert. A spark would set the sit 
 uation off, and he wanted to be prepared for the time. 
 His friendships were the very best to insure a large 
 and strong following. 
 
 Cambyses was his constant aid and companion. 
 He had brought him in close touch with the priests of 
 Crail, and had been the medium of a long and earnest 
 correspondence with Cracillies. He was ready for ac 
 tion and impatient to begin. Here was a singular 
 case, a young prince, without money or men, planning 
 a desperate warfare with him who had thirty years be 
 fore usurped his father's throne. But his was a just 
 cause, and he was promised the support of the king of 
 Persis at the critical moment. The first war between 
 the Medes and the Persians was brewing.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 CYAXAEES PLANS WAR AGAINST DEIOCES 
 
 THIRTY years after the formation of the triple 
 alliance, between the Holy Crater, Ironia, and 
 Persis, a commanding figure stood upon a promon 
 tory overlooking the fair plains of Ironia. Though 
 a giant in stature, he had all the lines and graces of 
 ripe young manhood. Notwithstanding his white, 
 clean-cut features, with the finely chiseled brow, straight 
 aristocratic nose, and soft brown eyes, and the great 
 mass of curling brown hair that played about his face 
 and shoulders, there was a general aspect of self-re 
 liance and tremendous force. He was an exceedingly 
 handsome man, what one would most likely call a kingly 
 personage. 
 
 Even the deep lines that occasionally furrowed his 
 brow lent charm of latent power to his thoughtful face. 
 His pose was purposeful, and it needed no explanation 
 to tell that there was some sinister meaning in his 
 careful survey of the rich plain, spreading like a 
 gorgeous panorama beneath him. 
 
 It was most suggestive that he was bareheaded and 
 was enshrouded, from head to heels, by the ample folds 
 of a long, dark cloak, beneath which could occasionally 
 be seen the glint of polished armor. Moreover, he 
 carefully kept behind him the black-green background 
 of scrub cedars that covered the mountain sides, evi 
 dently to shield him from too critical eyes below. 
 
 There, stretching away toward the Persian gulf, 
 was Ironia, the beautiful, and in her fair bosom lay 
 
 14
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 15 
 
 Baleria, the capital, the pride of Deioces. Like a 
 gaudily bedecked harlot she lounged in sleepy languor 
 in the embrace of the many arms of the delta, yet 
 she was fair to look upon, and seemed a thing to re 
 ceive caresses. This care-free aspect to the view 
 seemed to move to deep anger the spectator of the 
 promontory, for he muttered an oath, and twisted his 
 strong, handsome features into a fearful scowl. 
 
 A low whistle brought four men, equally disguised, 
 skulking along the fringing cedars. One of these bore 
 his plumed helmet, another his ponderous sword, while 
 a third held in his hand a roll of parchment; the lat 
 ter appeared to be the superior of the others, for, upon 
 orders from him, given in a low, cautious tone, they 
 shrank deeper into the concealing shrubbery, while 
 he himself came forward and placed the scroll into 
 the hands of his chieftain. There was stern purpose 
 in all this. They were not men to trifle, or to be 
 trifled with. There was an easy familiarity between 
 the two betokening a friendly confidence. 
 
 Prince Cyaxares, with Cambyses, his body-guard 
 from boyhood, had endured the greatest personal dis 
 comforts and hardships to gain this vantage-point un- 
 'seen. It was of vital importance that they succeed in 
 making this reconnoiter without being discovered, and 
 for the first time he was viewing little Ironia, the 
 Ironia that Deioces declared he had built out of 
 the mud of the Pol. It was now called " Little Para 
 dise." Deioces had kept his word; Ironia was the 
 most fertile and beautiful spot in Asia, and Baleria 
 was the most splendid city in the domains of Ironia 
 and Persis. 
 
 Deioces ruled there, Deioces, the usurper, the up 
 start! Once the trusted captain of guards of King
 
 16 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Phraortes, now king by base betrayal of that trust. 
 It was true that he had made this magnificent spot, 
 but in doing so he had ground the people into the 
 dust, confiscated all that they could produce, and 
 placed them in a state of hopeless slavery with scarcely 
 sufficient left them to hold body and soul together. 
 He had done more than this, much more, to make his 
 name a byword throughout the civilized world; he had 
 built Baleria, a cesspool of sin and wickedness, and 
 had invited all the world to come, bring any new 
 form of vice, and revel there. The lascivious and im 
 moral practices licensed in Baleria were notorious 
 throughout the world, and she was now a Mecca for 
 the wicked. 
 
 Was it strange that Cyaxares gnashed his even, 
 white teeth in rage and summoned his faithful Camby- 
 ses? 
 
 " Look ! Cambyses," he said, as he extended his great 
 strong arm out toward the plain, " it is fair, yes, 
 beautiful! But, Cambyses, Baleria must be purged 
 of her vile populace. The flotsam and jetsam of all 
 humanity has drifted into the delta to clog the mouth 
 of the Pol ; and, true to the law of drift and debris, 
 they are piled here as the rubbish and broken refuse of 
 the earth. This heterogeneous mass of noisome hu 
 manity is a menace to the morality of the whole world. 
 Baleria, like Deioces, lives only for the luxurious pres 
 ent and without plan or purpose for the future. Their 
 end is near." 
 
 It was Deioces' wont to boast that an hundred miles 
 of thong and lash had rendered Ironia as fertile and 
 productive as the delta of the Nile. All its wealth he 
 had lavished upon Baleria, which city, crowned by his 
 magnificent palace of onyx, jade, and jasper, sat, like
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 17 
 
 the brazen mistress that she was, with her fringing 
 environs draping gracefully and carelessly down from 
 the citadel like a fantastically embroidered train that 
 trailed along her water front and draggled in the 
 sea, whence she derived most of her wickedness. It was 
 by the gateway of the Persian gulf that wealth and 
 spice-laden ships came to pay court to this fair 
 charmer and partake of her pleasures. 
 
 With it all she was a tidy wench, jealous of her 
 good looks and her personal cleanliness ; she was al 
 most human in this respect, compelling Deioces, her 
 master, to lavish much wealth upon her toilet. With 
 the exception of a few broad avenues her streets were 
 narrow and winding, but extremely clean, even in the 
 parts given over to the lower populace. At every 
 available place were ornate decorations of pure white 
 marble and onyx. Statuary, fountains, and elaborate 
 facades were plentiful. The wider streets and spaces 
 were a mass of well kept trees, shrubs, and flowers. 
 Under Deioces it was a crime to desecrate any form 
 of public ornament. In the midst of the city was a 
 vast market xspace divided into as many parts as there 
 were definite divisions in the city. 
 
 Anything that added to Baleria's physical beauty, 
 or moral pollution, was received with favor by 
 Deioces, for he feasted his plebeian vanity upon the 
 plaudits of those that superficially and loudly praised 
 the city of his making, or profitably patronized its 
 marts of wickedness. He himself openly patronized 
 every form of immorality and encouraged it to thrive 
 in new forms. These were world-known facts that 
 Cyaxares knew, therefore he took grim satisfaction in 
 this bird's-eye view, and pondered that thirty years of 
 despotic rule and luxurious revelry, without interfer-
 
 18 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ence on the part of other nations, had rendered Deioces 
 careless. A train of circumstances of his own laying 
 would soon bring his proud head down into the dust of 
 his marble streets, with his own purple robes as his only 
 bier. 
 
 Cyaxares mused : " There can be no sin in these 
 inanimate marbles, the glinting onyx, the sparkling 
 fountains, and the verdure and flowers. These are the 
 products of the sweat and blood and bone and sinew 
 of the overwrought people. These should be cherished, 
 preserved, and protected, when I have driven out 
 Deioces, and cleansed the city of its vulgar riffraff, 
 which have been imported and implanted here, to feast 
 and fatten off the energies of the native people who 
 are under the yoke of the despot." 
 
 " Come, let us see the maps," he said, as he spread 
 the scroll upon a large flat surface and anchored the 
 corners with stones. Then together they studied its 
 every detail. It was a map of Ironia and the whole 
 region thereabout. A separate parchment gave a de 
 tailed description of Baleria. 
 
 " Ah, my good Cracillies, when I am king of Ironia, 
 you shall be the head of the Holy State for this favor, 
 and you, my faithful Cambyses, shall be my chief ad 
 viser in all things that fall within my province under 
 the triple alliance," exclaimed Cyaxares, with much 
 feeling. 
 
 " I shall be content, Cyaxares, with your safety and 
 pleasure," softly replied Cambyses, and they began to 
 examine the map of Baleria. 
 
 " What are these broad, green lines running through 
 that portion of the city below the palace? " asked 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " Ha, ha," laughed Cambyses, " Deioces' imported
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 19 
 
 vices began to come home and perch too near to the 
 palace, consequently a reorganization of the city was 
 made with a redistribution of the people which segre 
 gated them into classes, according to their degrees of 
 badness ; for instance, the so-called aristocrats reside 
 in the circle that surrounds the palace; then, passing 
 toward the sea, each dividing line marks a degree of 
 degeneracy to the last section along the shores, where 
 the ships unload their cargoes and permit their sailors 
 to come ashore. There no law prevails ; murder and 
 robbery are not reported from that section ; they are al 
 most hourly occurrences. The section next to that is 
 called the fishermen's section; not because it is given 
 over to fishermen, but because of the seemingly simple 
 fact that Crecies, Heppotes, and Feres reside there 
 in." 
 
 "And who are these important personages, pray?" 
 asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " They are by trade fishermen, but by profession the 
 secret executioners for Deioces*." 
 
 " Entitled to some distinction, truly," muttered 
 Cyaxares. 1 
 
 Continuing, Cambyses said : 
 
 " The populace of one district is prohibited from 
 passing to another district without a special permit 
 issued by Paulius, Deioces' captain of guards. Should 
 a person of one section be found in another without a 
 pass a guard has the authority to apprehend him and 
 to kill him on the spot, and have his body cast into 
 the river, to be caught in the nets of Crecies, for which 
 he claims a fee, then it is sent onward to the sea as 
 food for the fishes. This is a daily occurrence, with 
 no reports made to their superiors. Paulius is the 
 genius of this whole arrangement, and a more con-
 
 20 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 temptible human dog never barked. Deioces chose well 
 when he made Paulius his chief of guards in Baleria." 
 
 "What manner of man is this Paulius?" asked 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " A pompous, o'er important, ignorant ass; just the 
 material from which to cast a murderous official, cow 
 ardly by nature, but bold under the protecting cloak 
 of the law and official tolerance. A meaner coward 
 never lived than Paulius the sheep-shearer, and a more 
 cruel despot than the official Paulius could not be con 
 jured out of ordinary clay." 
 
 " A good subject for reformation," laughed Cyax 
 ares. 
 
 " Good bait for the sharks," growled Cambyses. 
 
 " I fear that you have designs upon Crecies' office, 
 with its tempting fees. You shall be official shark- 
 feeder, also," said Cyaxares. " But let us see what 
 the avenues of attack, defense, and retreat are to this 
 tight little state. I have personally examined but 
 three of the five passes. What of the other two, 
 Cambyses ? " 
 
 " You are familiar with the passes of Ironia and 
 Aryaosa. Regules' mountain house is at the outer 
 part of the Ironian pass. You remember well a night 
 we spent there." 
 
 " Ha, ha," laughed Cyaxares, " and I remember well, 
 too, that Regules had a very pretty daughter, Scala, 
 who dotes on one Cambyses." 
 
 " I would it were true ! " exclaimed Cambyses. " I 
 would make her my wife, for she is virtuous." 
 
 " And you beneath the same roof? " laughingly in 
 quired Cyaxares. 
 
 " I speak in truth, Scala is no common woman, and 
 her father, Regules, is a man of good parts. You shall
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 21 
 
 see, for we must go there again," said Cambyses ear 
 nestly. 
 
 " Take no offense, my good Cambyses, the two of us 
 can protect the virtue of the charming Scala, and, 
 should she prove worthy to be the wife of a courtly 
 gentleman like yourself, there shall be a great wedding 
 at Baleria," appeasingly spoke Cyaxares. 
 
 " Now, Cambyses, let us discuss the passes. The 
 Ironian pass is the most difficult to defend because of 
 its great width. I would rather know that the gorge 
 was at the inner end." 
 
 " As long as Regules' wine lasted it would be a 
 drunken battle," broke in Cambyses. 
 
 Cyaxares continued : " This is the pass through 
 which Deioces would march his army, should he be 
 coaxed outside of Ironia." 
 
 " Yes, and this would be the pass through which he 
 would retreat, consequently he would take immediate 
 possession of Regules' mountain house and strongly 
 garrison this place," replied Cambyses. 
 
 " Did you say that this Regules is friendly to our 
 cause? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " He is supposed to be friendly toward the priests 
 of Crail." 
 
 " Then perhaps his wines may prove to be excellent 
 war material after all. A drunken garrison is quickly 
 demoralized." 
 
 " This is worth keeping in mind," replied Cambyses. 
 " We must test Regules' friendship." 
 
 " An army could be slipped behind him through the 
 pass of Aryaosa," suggested Cyaxares. 
 
 " Providing it came down through the pass of Der- 
 bend, between the Caucasus mountains and the Caspian 
 sea, muzzling Massula and keeping well to the east
 
 22 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 of Bagdad," replied Cambyses, following the course on 
 the map with his finger. 
 
 Cyaxares looked questioningly at him for a mo 
 ment, then said: 
 
 " What are you planning, a holy war? " 
 
 " That is your only hope, as I see it," cautiously re 
 plied the old warrior. 
 
 Cyaxares sat silent for a moment, then, arousing 
 himself, he said: 
 
 " I do not believe that Deioces could take any ad 
 vantage of the Persian gulf to aid him in warfare with 
 a people on his north. He has not shipping enough to 
 be called a sea-going nation. While he has commercial 
 relations with many foreign countries, I do not believe 
 any would come to his relief from the sea. In his com 
 merce the world comes to him; he does not go to the 
 world. This seems to be the secret key to his policy 
 of a free and wicked city. Commerce and barter are 
 but plausible excuses, for adventurous men of every 
 class and calling to come here. Here they bring their 
 exchangeable merchandise, leaving behind them in 
 Baleria the wealth that they expend upon their personal 
 joys and pleasures. This is the balance of trade in 
 favor of Deioces, for he receives the larger portion of 
 it indirectly in the form of a tax upon licensed crime, 
 a most detestable thing in itself. I am told that when 
 robbery occurs the victim is not spared to return to his 
 home to tell a bad story about Baleria." 
 
 " And, no doubt, many a stranger's head bore the 
 mark of Paulius' mace when Crecies' net caught him," 
 muttered Cambyses. 
 
 " Again I say, Cambyses, you shall be official shark- 
 feeder," said Cyaxares. 
 
 "For one night, that will be sufficient. I pledge
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 23 
 
 you now that after one night I shall resign the office," 
 declared Cambyses. 
 
 " Oh, perhaps you will leave nothing more for an 
 official fisherman to do, and we may discontinue the 
 office," laughingly said Cyaxares. 
 
 For hours they pored over and discussed the maps. 
 Sticking his sword into the soil, Cyaxares measured its 
 shadow, and said, 
 
 " Come, we must prepare to go down into Baleria." 
 
 Cambyses rolled the maps into a tight roll, tied them 
 carefully, and hid them about his person. Calling the 
 men, they all passed cautiously along the ledge some 
 distance, where Cambyses stopped and looked about, 
 saying: 
 
 " This is the spot, I am quite sure. Yes, here is the 
 grotto," and drawing back a clump of shrubbery, he 
 drew forth quite a cumbersome pack, which, upon be 
 ing spread out, was found to contain five priestly robes 
 with the coarse waist cords such as were worn by the 
 priests of Crail. 
 
 " Thoughtful Cracillies ! " exclaimed Cambyses. 
 " These are all for large men. They must have some 
 big priests in there," and he helped Cyaxares to don 
 his priest's garb, drawing the cowl carefully over his 
 shock of auburn hair. 
 
 They were prepared for adventure, keeping their 
 short side-arms concealed beneath their robes. 
 
 Cambyses drew Cyaxares aside, and, looking the 
 younger man earnestly in the face, he said, 
 
 " You know the extreme dangers of this adventure ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " You are hopeful of bringing war upon Deioces ? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Your royal father will approve of your course ? "
 
 24 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " What will be your first step to raise an army ? " 
 
 " I must admit, Cambyses, that I am more hopeful 
 than sanguine. It is to be thoroughly prepared that 
 I am taking these risks. I must confide to youj a great 
 secret. Notwithstanding the Sapor did not restore my 
 father to his throne, there exists at this time a close 
 friendship between my father and the powers of the 
 Holy Crater. They have secretly given him assurance 
 that, should a plausible excuse arise, the Sapor would 
 send an army to depose Deioces and restore my father 
 to his own." 
 
 " The Sapor your father's friend ! " exclaimed 
 Cambyses in utter astonishment. 
 
 " Speak not of it. We may not discuss that further 
 now. I am looking for the plausible excuse. That is 
 sufficient. Let us be going." 
 
 " But, let me speak once more," pleaded Cambyses. 
 " You know what a holy war means. The fanatical 
 Aryans will roll down upon these lands like the ungov 
 ernable tides of the sea. They will desolate these fair 
 fields as the destructive locusts of Egypt, and you and 
 your cause may be forgotten and submerged." 
 
 " A wise thought, Cambyses, I thank you ; that is 
 my greatest fear, but the compensating thought is that 
 Deioces will be destroyed." 
 
 " You do not know these Medes either. They are 
 as terrible as Deioces is cruel. They have learned their 
 lesson well from him. When the Medes and Persians 
 made war against Arya it was the Medes that perpe 
 trated the cruelties. Deioces himself licensed the 
 greatest outrages. Astyages threatened to turn his 
 army upon that of Deioces without avail. Only the 
 Sapor could stay the horrors of Deioces' perpetration."
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 25 
 
 " Yes, and by this Deioces lost to himself and Asty- 
 ages the partition of the conquered land between 
 them, the Sapor assuming a protectorate over the per 
 secuted people. My father has told me of this. The 
 Sapor has never forgiven Deioces for this. The peo 
 ple of Arya were of direct Aryan descent. Notwith 
 standing all this, Cambyses, Deioces will shrink from 
 warfare with the Holy Crater, and an internal revolu 
 tion will frighten your man Paulius into babbling 
 idiocy." 
 
 " I am! at your command, Cyaxares," replied Camby 
 ses. 
 
 " This night we shall see Paulius, for we must go 
 down to Baleria," and Cyaxares motioned for them to 
 start down the narrow trail leading to the plains be 
 low. 
 
 As they wended their way through the tangled 
 shrubs and jagged stones, Cyaxares and Cambyses con 
 versed in low tones. 
 
 " You are aware that I have not been in Baleria since 
 the flight of my queenly mother bearing me in her 
 arms, thanks to your courage, my good Cambyses. Of 
 course I know that the Baleria that we shall see to 
 night is an entirely different city. That which I have 
 been told about it will serve us little. Yet we may 
 learn much by observation. These robes will pass us 
 unchallenged from one district to another, so Cracil- 
 lies informs me. You are aware, also, that he himself 
 has been under the ban excepting in matters of the 
 church; otherwise he would have doubtless accom 
 panied us." 
 
 " Does Cracillies know that you are to go to Baleria 
 to-night?" 
 
 " No, I thought it more discreet to keep our visit
 
 26 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 secret," replied Cyaxares. " I cannot help thinking 
 that you may be taken for Saranaces," and he smiled 
 upon Cambyses. 
 
 " Then Paulius will surely caress my head with his 
 mace, for I understand there exists a great enmity be 
 tween the two," replied Cambyses. 
 
 " Invite his attention at the best spot to fight it out, 
 for your own truncheon is no toy," said Cyaxares. A 
 grim smile covered Cambyses' face as he drew from be 
 neath his robe a huge knotted truncheon and looked ap 
 provingly at it. 
 
 It was a long and tedious descent down the cliffs, 
 but easy going when the bottom was reached. 
 
 " This is all guess work now," said Cyaxares. " The 
 city does not encroach upon this side of the Pol. 
 Doubtless we have wandered away from Cracillies' di 
 rection, for I see no landmark here to guide us. I 
 presume that it is best to take a general course to 
 ward the city until we reach the river." 
 
 They soon found themselves following a narrow, wind 
 ing path in a maze of bulrushes and marsh-grasses 
 higher than their heads. In twenty minutes, in a di 
 rect line, they should have reached the bank of the 
 river Pol; instead they were lost for one hour, sud 
 denly coming upon a small landing not more than six 
 feet square. It was almost hidden from view in the 
 tall reeds. 
 
 " Ugh! this looks anything but cheerful. Surely we 
 are on the threshold of Crecies' graveyard. I imagine 
 I smell the odor of decomposing bodies," growled 
 Cambyses. 
 
 " From the description I believe that that is Crecies 
 himself in that boat," said Cyaxares, pointing to a lone 
 boatman, slowly pushing his flat-bottomed boat along
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 27 
 
 the edge of the reed-clad shore. Opposite could be 
 seen the ends of the streets extending down to the 
 water's edge. They looked dark and gloomy enough, 
 and Cyaxares and Cambyses wondered what part of 
 the city it was. Probably, though, it was the fisher 
 men's district, inasmuch as this boatman was hovering 
 about the spot. 
 
 " Ho ! Ho ! my good fisherman, come ferry us 
 across the river, and we will bless your nets," cried 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 For a moment the burly man stood up and looked at 
 them. He looked sullen and mean, but suddenly switch 
 ing his pole he turned his boat about and pushed it to 
 within a few feet of the platform upon which they 
 were standing. 
 
 Again his impudent face surveyed them, and he 
 brusquely grunted : 
 
 " I want none of your blithering prayers and I have 
 no license to ferry strangers across the river at this 
 unseemly hour. How do I know that! you have a right 
 to be in this district at all? " 
 
 At a venture Cyaxares took up the challenge. 
 
 " Since when has Crecies' license to do as he pleases 
 after sunset been revoked? Since when have the priests 
 of Crail been barred from any district in Baleria? If 
 you do not want our blessings, perhaps better wine may 
 be had for silver. We will pay you in the coin of the 
 realm," and Cyaxares loudly jingled the silver coins in 
 his hands. 
 
 " And why do you come this way to reach the city ? " 
 grumbled the fisherman. 
 
 " That is our affair, but as it is no secret we will 
 tell you as we cross. Come, do you want the extra 
 coin?"
 
 28 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " Keep still, I tell you I have no license. Get in, 
 and hurry," and he pushed the boat against the plat 
 form, allowing them to step into the net-littered and 
 loud-smelling craft. 
 
 With a strong push of his pole he sent his boat out 
 into the water, nearly standing them on their heads. 
 
 " You are Crecies ? " said Cyaxares. 
 
 " Since you know it, yes," was the gruff answer. 
 
 " Then it is easy for us to tell you where we are go 
 ing, since we will ask you to direct us. Where may we 
 find the best fish and the best wine? " 
 
 " You are a well-fed lot ; you might try Heppotes' 
 place. Paulius sometimes patronizes it. If it is good 
 enough for Paulius, it is good enough for you night- 
 prowling priests," growled Crecies. 
 
 " Very well said. For this bit of wit we will give 
 you both prayers and money. You might direct us to 
 this place, and pass word on to Heppotes to spare our 
 lives, as you have absorbed all the money that we carry 
 upon our persons," and Cyaxares poured a handful of 
 coins into the big, greedy paw of Crecies. 
 
 The gruff fisherman only shrugged his humped shoul 
 ders and pointed up the dark street, saying, 
 
 " At the first flambeau," then he left them standing 
 upon the bank. 
 
 " A cheerful murderer ! " exclaimed Cambyses. 
 
 " But we shall dine elsewhere than with his particeps 
 criminis," replied Cyaxares, and they hastened to get 
 away from so dangerous a locality. 
 
 Had they watched the villainous Crecies as he disap 
 peared in the darkness, they would have seen his huge 
 frame shaking with suppressed laughter. Well did he 
 know that these were not priests. More times than he 
 could count the cassocks that he had lifted from the
 
 CYAXARES PLANS WAR 29 
 
 slimy waters in his malodorous nets were empty, having 
 served their purposes as disguises for those that risked 
 their very lives in visiting the forbidden districts. 
 They would have felt uncomfortable had they seen him 
 suddenly thrust his hand into his pouch, examine the 
 coins for a moment, then quickly thrust the nose of his 
 boat into the shore, rush madly up the bank, and dis 
 appear in a dark street. Evidently something about 
 this money, perhaps the indiscreet quantity of it for so 
 trifling a favor, had awakened in him some furious 
 thought. Perhaps these were real priests, and some 
 serious intrigue was brewing which he could turn to 
 new account. 
 
 It was most fortunate for Cyaxares and his party 
 that they did not go to Heppotes' place, for a recep 
 tion awaited them there that neither prayers nor coin 
 could have appeased.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 CYAXARJES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 
 
 YAXARES and his party were truly famished, hav- 
 ing lived for several days on the scantiest foods. 
 They had partaken of the simplest repast at the point 
 where they had left their tired horses. It was es 
 sential to find some public house where they might get 
 bread, meat, and wine. Baleria was noted as a place 
 for a great variety of foods, especially fish of nu 
 merous kinds, therefore they were glad to locate a se 
 cluded little place out of which they had seen two 
 priests emerge with their arms socially linked together 
 in an exceptionally brotherly fashion. 
 
 Within they found an excellent eating-place with 
 some half dozen priests quietly partaking of huge 
 dishes of fish and rice, washing it down with copious 
 draughts of rich red wine. Cautiously separating into 
 two parties, they themselves partook of a generous 
 meal, feeling much refreshed thereafter, and, like the 
 well-feeling priests that had preceded them, arm in 
 arm they passed out into the street. Upon turning 
 an abrupt angle, the first startling thing to greet them 
 was a wide fafade ornamented with an immense foun 
 tain carved out of marble. 
 
 " Am I seeing double? " asked Cyaxares, rubbing his 
 eyes, and staring at the fountain. 
 
 Around the base were life-sized figures of fishermen 
 drawing nets, with men inside them instead of fish. 
 Above this was a row of sharks with men struggling 
 in their mouths. 
 
 30
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 31 
 
 " One of Deioces' refined satires. We are in the 
 district of the fishermen," said Cambyses. 
 
 It was apparent to Cyaxares that they must drift 
 aimlessly about, trusting to luck to guide them. 
 Nevertheless, this monument had given them some defi 
 nite idea regarding their position. They soon ar 
 rived at the next dividing avenue, and a beautiful wide 
 street it was, with cooling, wide-leaved poplars, im 
 ported from Arya, extending in four long rows on the 
 sides and through the middle of the streets. Great 
 urns, filled with bright blooming shrubs and flowers, 
 were interspersed between the trees, their fragrance, 
 sweet and soothing, lulling them to a sense of rest. 
 
 " A strange contrast," remarked Cambyses. 
 
 " Delightful ! " exclaimed Cyaxares. 
 
 " He shows brutally good taste," replied Cambyses. 
 
 " What is brutal about this ? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " The lash and thong woven into its fabric and con 
 cealed by this sweet perfume," replied Cambyses. 
 
 " O yes, I understand," sighed Cyaxares. 
 
 At another fountain an old man stood, holding a 
 cup filled with sparkling water, which he extended to 
 them. 
 
 Cyaxares reached forth his hand to partake, but 
 Cambyses withdrew the cup and dropped a piece of 
 silver into the old man's hand. Cyaxares understood 
 and they passed on ; they were still in the danger zone, 
 and robbery was no crime. It was needless to tempt 
 fate. The criminals of Baleria were experts in making 
 poisons from the wild cucumber, bitter apple, almond, 
 and castor bean. 
 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses were discussing this prob 
 lem when they were suddenly confronted by a large 
 guardsman, accompanied by Crecies. They both
 
 32 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 placed themselves on guard, and demanded to know the 
 meaning of the intrusion. 
 
 " Show me your passes," demanded the guard. 
 
 Cambyses slipped his hand beneath his priestly robe, 
 but Cyaxares stayed him. Their three men in the 
 background were quickly closing in on the intruders. 
 An encounter seemed inevitable when a singular thing 
 occurred. A strange priest stepped from the shadow 
 of the wall and took a position by their side. 
 
 " Uncover and show your faces," demanded the guard 
 in a louder tone as he drew nearer to them. 
 
 The stranger threw off his cowl, and in a loud and 
 angry voice exclaimed, 
 
 " Since when have you been given authority to chal 
 lenge the priests of Crail in the streets of Baleria? " 
 
 Paulius, for it was he, recoiled and muttered, 
 
 " You ! " 
 
 " I shall demand of Deioces an explanation of this." 
 Then the priest turned to the others and said in an 
 authoritative voice: 
 
 " Pass on. You will not be molested." 
 
 As he turned his face from Paulius, the latter quickly 
 raised his mace to strike him a deadly blow. There 
 were two quick thuds and Paulius and Crecies both lay 
 stretched, senseless, upon the ground, while standing 
 over their prostrate forms were the burly henchmen, 
 Kapies, Heptes, and Candes. They knew by instinct 
 when to strike a blow. 
 
 Cyaxares looked inquiringly at the stranger. The 
 latter stood for a moment contemplating the fallen 
 men. 
 
 " I saw his upraised mace. It is the first time to my 
 knowledge that a priest of Crail has been threatened 
 by Paulius. Should they remain here they would come
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 33 
 
 around, and no report would be made of the affair. 
 It is a common thing for Paulius to be mixed up in 
 broils. But I deem it wise to put them out of the way 
 for this night. Have your men bring the bodies here." 
 With Cambyses' aid the heavy hulks were carried 
 through a doorway and deposited. In the dark back 
 ground two figures were standing. The priest hur 
 riedly whispered some instructions and again came to 
 the street, closing and locking the door after him. 
 "And you?" demanded Cyaxares. 
 " Saranaces. At your service, Prince Cyaxares," 
 was the startling answer. 
 
 Cyaxares caught his breath for a moment, while 
 Cambyses started forward in surprise, for he had not 
 seen the priest for many years. 
 
 Saranaces quickly drew his cowl over his face, and 
 said, " Come, we must not remain standing here," and 
 he walked quickly along the street with the others fol 
 lowing after him. 
 
 The streets took on a decidedly different aspect as 
 they drew nearer to the citadel, which loomed before 
 them, a great pile of marble, jade, jasper, and onyx, 
 glittering even in the darkness, as the breeze swayed 
 innumerable hanging lanterns back and forth about its 
 walls. It was surrounded by a high wall over the top 
 of which peeped the foliage of swaying trees. It was 
 known throughout the world as one of the most magnifi 
 cent palaces ever constructed by a proud king. 
 Cyaxares speculated inwardly as he gazed upon the 
 glooming mass. 
 
 " It is the concentrated sufferings of my father's peo 
 ple, who would have been my heritage. It shall be 
 mine by force, that I may make restitution to those that 
 have been plundered," he muttered.
 
 34 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 They were in a section of the city near to the palace 
 when Saranaces stopped, unlocked, and pushed open a 
 door, and bade them enter. Treading a long, stone- 
 paved corridor, they reached an open court with nu 
 merous doors on its four sides. Pushing one of these 
 open he bade Cyaxares and Cambyses enter, the others 
 to remain in the court. 
 
 They were ushered through a series of low-ceilinged 
 rooms, and into a similar one furnished with tables and 
 chairs. A side door opened and another priest entered 
 and heartily greeted them. 
 
 " Welcome, Prince Cyaxares ! Welcome, my dear 
 Cambyses ! I thought you would tell me of your com 
 ing to Baleria." 
 
 " Cracillies ! " exclaimed Cambyses, and they em 
 braced. 
 
 Placing his hands upon Cyaxares' shoulders, he 
 looked at the young prince admiringly, saying: 
 " Thrice welcome, son of my friend." 
 
 " What a fine fellow he is, to be sure. Your cause 
 is just, you will make a great and good king, like your 
 father, Cyaxares ; you will win. An unexpected thing 
 has happened to bring about exactly the conditions for 
 which you have been waiting. Be seated, and we will 
 tell you of it." 
 
 Cyaxares suitably acknowledged the compliment, and 
 they all drew near the table. Another priest had fol 
 lowed Cracillies into the room,' but had remained stand 
 ing in the shadowy background. 
 
 " This is a very strange coincidence, Cyaxares," said 
 Saranaces. " We knew not of your coming, and were 
 gathering here to devise ways by which we could quickly 
 communicate with you on a most important matter. A 
 most unheard-of incident has occurred, which, if it be-
 
 comes known, I fear may precipitate another holy war, 
 and bring ruin down upon Ironia." 
 
 " It must be a grave matter. Pray tell me, for I 
 am bursting with curiosity. Has it any material bear 
 ing upon my contemplated move against Deioces? " re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " It has everything to do with your case. It sup 
 plies you with an immediate reason for calling upon the 
 Holy Crater. If carefully handled your fortunes are 
 assured. If improperly handled, disaster will over 
 take us all." 
 
 " Do tell me the truth," impatiently demanded 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 The priest in the shadow seemed to shift his posi 
 tion. 
 
 " It is this," continued Cracillies. " One week ago 
 a rich caravan, traveling from Nineveh, was overtaken 
 by a band of upland brigands. An Aryan princess was 
 traveling in state toward the pass of Derbend, return 
 ing to her native home after a long sojourn in Nineveh 
 and Babylon for the purpose of acquiring an educa 
 tion. Word came to Deioces of her great beauty and 
 wonderful talents, and he sent an emissary to treat 
 with the brigands for the possession of this beautiful 
 young princess. The emissary was successful and re 
 turned bringing the lady back with him. 
 
 " Upon her arrival at the palace, believing that 
 Deioces would not dare to detain or molest her, she de 
 clared her identity, and demanded an immediate escort 
 to her native country. She had made the mistake, 
 however, of keeping her identity concealed from every 
 one else, and as soon as Deioces knew this she was at 
 his mercy. He merely laughed at her threats. Now it 
 happened that Saluciea, of Deioces' palace, learned the
 
 36 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 truth before the king had despoiled her, and last night 
 she passed her through the secret gate of the wall of 
 the palace and placed her, with all the facts, into 
 Saranaces' hands, and we now have her concealed in 
 this very place until we may safely conduct her to the 
 caverns of Crail, where not even Deioces would dare 
 to pursue her." 
 
 " And her identity? " asked Cyaxares with suppressed 
 emotion. 
 
 " Madrilla, the daughter of the Sapor, King of 
 Kings ! " dramatically declared Cracillies. 
 
 Cyaxares sprang to his feet in his excitement, ex 
 claiming : 
 
 "The Sapor's daughter! Do I hear aright? Call 
 upon all the gods to protect us. Every one knowing 
 this should at once be detained, that he babble it not 
 in his sleep, for the moment that it becomes known to 
 the Sapor, the Holy Crater will belch her clans down 
 upon us, and there will be no Ironia. The Medes will 
 be swept off the earth. It will precipitate a holy war 
 of annihilation. There will not be enough heads in 
 Ironia to pay the penalty, and Persis will be deluged. 
 There is no telling where it would end. I believe it 
 would mean death to the messenger even that con 
 veyed the truth to the Sapor." 
 
 " Not if that messenger were Prince Cyaxares," 
 gravely remarked Cracillies. 
 
 " Ah, I have light; my cause is won. If I can safely 
 get away from Ironia, I see my way," said Cyaxares. 
 " I shall start at once." 
 
 " Wait, I have a still greater surprise for you. The 
 Sapor's daughter had a traveling companion, another 
 princess, Almareta, daughter of Astyages, King of 
 Persis. She is now here with Madrilla, and by a
 
 miracle they are both chaste women, thanks to the 
 good offices of Saluciea." 
 
 Cyaxares again exclaimed in surprise. 
 
 " Now you have your immediate cause for warfare 
 against Deioces," continued Cracillies. " But you also 
 have more reason to fear a deluge." 
 
 " It is a miracle, and we must act quickly. We must 
 get the two princesses within the protecting en 
 virons of the caverns of Crail. Then I shall at once 
 start upon my mission," declared Cyaxares. " In 
 whose care are they now? " 
 
 At this question Cracillies sprang to his feet and 
 began profusely to apologize to the priest who had all 
 the while remained in the background. 
 
 " I really feel deeply mortified at my remissness, 
 Bralezie ; let me present you to the prince Cyaxares and 
 to my old companion and friend, Cambyses," and he 
 led the priest forward. " We contemplate giving the 
 young women into his charge until we can safely con 
 vey them to the gardens of Crail. In fact I have just 
 given to him the keys to these rooms, which are the 
 rendezvous of the priests of Crail when in Baleria. 
 He alone besides ourselves knows the secret," and he 
 motioned to Bralezie. 
 
 In his excitement, Bralezie inadvertently allowed his 
 cowl to drop back upon his shoulders, revealing his face 
 in the full light. 
 
 Instantly Cambyses bounded toward him. 
 
 " That thing a priest ! That scoundrel in charge 
 of virtuous young women ! A lower beast never lived. 
 Better return the princesses to the brigands that first 
 captured them. This is Zinkara, the secret spy of 
 Deioces." 
 
 The man had slowly backed toward a door, and
 
 38 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 while they all stood momentarily spellbound he sprang 
 through the door and locked it between them. 
 
 " Go quickly, or you will find the young women 
 gone," cried Cambyses. 
 
 Cracillies was first to awaken to the peril, and he 
 gave quick orders. 
 
 " You, Cyaxares and Saranaces, remain here ; come 
 with me, Cambyses," and they darted out through the 
 court, giving orders to the three waiting henchmen to 
 detain any one attempting to pass. Then they 
 reached the street, and hurried to the other side of the 
 square to intercept Zinkara, should he attempt to flee 
 with the women in that direction. 
 
 Upon reaching the door, Cracillies wailed, 
 
 " O, we are too late ! Look here," and he held up 
 the end of a woman's mantilla, which had been caught 
 in the door and dragged from her. " They have gone 
 this way. But some one is in there. The door is 
 locked on the inside. This key that I have will not 
 enter. Run, Cambyses, send your strongest man here 
 to guard this gate. I will await his coming." 
 
 Cambyses hurried back to get Kapies. A few min 
 utes later they returned, to find Cracillies lying un 
 conscious before the open door. Some one had emerged 
 and struck him down. 
 
 They raised him to a sitting position, and he showed 
 signs of returning consciousness, and in a few mo 
 ments was able to reason again. 
 
 " Place me inside, and close the door. I will be all 
 right. Leave me and hurry back. Saranaces will tell 
 you where to go." 
 
 Cambyses quickly complied, and then returned to 
 where Cyaxares and Saranaces were waiting, and 
 briefly explained what had occurred.
 
 " Come, they would not risk passing the door through 
 which we entered, and the way to the palace by an 
 other street is long. Perhaps we may intercept them. 
 They will make for the door in the dead-wall back of 
 the palace." Then Saranaces conducted them the 
 shortest way to the dead-wall, arriving there in time to 
 see two men, each carrying one of the young women, 
 enter the door in the wall and slam it shut almost in 
 their faces. 
 
 Thoroughly disappointed they stood silent for a 
 moment, half concealed by clumps of shrubbery. Sud 
 denly Saranaces pushed them closer into the bushes. 
 A single figure was seen skulking along in the shadow 
 of the wall and making for the door. As he drew near 
 the shrubs he was pounced upon and muffled before 
 he could utter a sound. 
 
 " It is Zinkara," said Saranaces, as they secured his 
 hands and feet. Bidding the henchmen take him up 
 they hastened with him back to the rendezvous, where 
 they thrust him into a secret dungeon. Cracillies had 
 not been seriously injured, and though still dazed had 
 made his way back to the chamber where he was im 
 patiently awaiting their return. He was overjoyed to 
 see that they had captured Zinkara. Both he and 
 Saranaces explained that Zinkara, under the name of 
 Bralezie, had been a trusted member of the brother 
 hood, and, doubtless, all this time had been a spy set 
 upon them by Deioces. 
 
 Cambyses said that by accident he had seen him at 
 Regules' mountain house, Regules himself having con 
 fided the truth to him. Zinkara had never seen 
 Cambyses before, therefore had felt safe in the pres 
 ence of the strangers. 
 
 Cyaxares was much excited. Pacing the floor in
 
 40 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the greatest impatience, he was thinking out some plan 
 of action. 
 
 Stopping, he said: 
 
 " Bring me parchment and ink. We have Zinkara. 
 His men have never seen me. I am going to present 
 myself to Deioces; as a messenger from Astyages, and 
 demand the immediate surrender of both these prin 
 cesses." 
 
 " You go to Deioces ! " exclaimed Saranaces. " Why 
 it is death for one of his subjects to smile in his pres 
 ence." 
 
 " Yes, bring me the writing materials. I, fortu 
 nately, am not one of his subjects, and I shall not 
 smile." 
 
 Without further parley parchment and ink were 
 brought. Cyaxares carefully prepared his demand 
 upon Deioces, and then read it to the others : 
 
 " DEIOCES, KING OF IBONIA: 
 
 " On demand, surrender to the bearer of this order my 
 daughter, also the daughter of the Sapor, as chaste as when 
 you received them. Make full apology for the outrage, 
 and return my messenger unharmed, or, by the eternal gods, 
 all of the clans of the Holy Crater and of my domains will 
 come upon you like a tidal wave to sweep you and your 
 country off the earth. The heavens nor the earth will 
 provide a hiding-place for your detestable head. 
 
 " ASTYAGES." 
 
 Taking from his pouch a letter, which had been sent 
 to his father by Astyages, he removed from it the seal 
 of the king, and placed it upon this drastic message. 
 
 " This is the most outrageous thing that Deioces 
 has ever attempted. His mind is full of trepidation 
 and doubt in the dread fear of word getting out by
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 41 
 
 which Astyages and the Sapor may learn the truth. 
 It is while he is in thisj state of mind that I must strike 
 him. 
 
 " You, Cracillies and Saranaces, remain here, for, 
 should I succeed in getting possession of the princesses, 
 I shall return here with them. I shall take Cambyses 
 and his men with me, disguised as priests of Crail. If 
 I fail, it will be no reflection upon you." 
 
 " And you have the hardihood to demand an 
 audience with Deioces to-night, and deliver this arbi 
 trary message to him? " asked Saranaces, in astonish 
 ment. 
 
 " Within the hour," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 Throwing off his own priest's garb, he stood, in 
 his coat of mail, a splendid representative of King 
 Astyages, even if he had forged his order upon 
 Deioces. 
 
 " Resume your priest's garbs, Cambyses. Be pre 
 pared to receive the two princesses, Cracillies, for we 
 shall return with them or the head of Deioces him 
 self," and Cyaxares passed out on his dangerous mis 
 sion. 
 
 It was yet early in the night, and there were in 
 dications of revelry in Deioces' palace. The great 
 bronze gates were open, and long rows of fantastic 
 lanterns and sputtering flambeaux made the way to the 
 palace portals as light as day. 
 
 Boldly approaching the gates, Cyaxares demanded 
 immediate escort to the palace, saying, 
 
 " I am the bearer of an urgent message from King 
 Astyages to King Deioces." 
 
 The dignity of his bearing and his haughty impor 
 tance caused the challenging guards to hesitate. 
 
 Drawing the parchment from his pouch, Cyaxares
 
 4,2 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 exhibited Astyages' seal, and one of the guards con 
 ducted them to the doors of the palace, which were 
 wrought of copper and inlaid with silver, an imitation 
 of climbing grape-vines, the leaves and clusters of 
 grapes standing out in bold relief in the light. A bold 
 approach was made. 
 
 Here a more peremptory challenge stopped him. 
 
 " I am the bearer of an urgent message from King 
 Astyages to King Deioces," he repeated, again exhibit 
 ing the seal of Astyages. 
 
 " The king cannot receive you to-night. He is in 
 the midst of a great banquet," was the courteous an 
 swer on the part of a dignitary that had been sum 
 moned. 
 
 " I must leave here at break of day to-morrow 
 morning for the court of Nabonassar. I cannot wait. 
 This is a matter of life and death. Twenty thousand 
 warriors, under arms, await the reply that I send back 
 to King Astyages. Shall I send a message to him 
 saying that Deioces is banqueting, therefore cannot 
 give audience to his ambassador? " 
 
 This bold speech created a mild panic, and he was 
 bidden to wait till Pinteles, the king's chamberlain, 
 could be summoned. That dignitary came with 
 alacrity, and asked that the message be delivered into 
 his hands. 
 
 Cyaxares promptly replied that he was provided 
 with full credentials to speak directly to the king 
 himself, and none other but his hands could receive the 
 message. 
 
 " Who are these priests ? " asked the official. 
 
 " They are here to speak for the Holy Church, if 
 need be," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " How are we to know that you are what you repre-
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 43 
 
 sent yourself to be? " indiscreetly asked the captain of 
 guards. 
 
 "First, by this seal of King Astyages, and then by 
 this sword, varlet," and Cyaxares quickly drew his 
 short sword and struck the guard a smart blow across 
 the shoulder with its flat side. " That for your in 
 solence," he said, then turning to the surprised Pinteles 
 continued : 
 
 " Act quickly. I have other important duties." 
 
 Instead of precipitating a fracas, as such overbear 
 ing conduct on the part of a messenger would ordina 
 rily have done, Cyaxares' bold play exhilarated action 
 on the part of the court officials. They were con 
 ducted to a large and luxuriously furnished room, and 
 bidden to wait. 
 
 A half an hour later the chamberlain returned say 
 ing, with profound bows : 
 
 " The king will grant you audience. Permit your 
 companions to remain here for your call." Then he 
 was conducted to the audience chamber. 
 
 Deioces sat in a large, upholstered chair, sur 
 rounded by many pillows and cushions. In his hand 
 he held a delicate ivory fan, with which his fingers con 
 stantly played. Unconsciously he was betraying his 
 nervous strain to Cyaxares, who had been told in 
 secret that this fan was only seen in Deioces' hands 
 when he was much perturbed. But Cyaxares had in 
 stantly perceived a much more important signal of 
 danger. The king's face was flushed with wine, and 
 he might in this inebriated condition do something rash 
 to upset Cyaxares' plans. 
 
 Deioces did not wait for the technicalities that court 
 etiquette required, but said curtly, 
 
 "The message!"
 
 44 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 The chamberlain took the message from Cyaxares' 
 hand and placed it in that of the king. 
 
 Despite the rouge and paint upon his sallow cheeks, 
 the hectic flush of the wine fled as he read the mes 
 sage, leaving his face spotted and of a mottled gray 
 color. It had struck home. 
 
 A diplomatically phrased note would not have had 
 this effect. The brutal and insulting character of the 
 note indicated the deep anger of King Astyages. And 
 had it been only Astyages, he would not have been so 
 disturbed. But the Sapor! And perhaps even 
 Nabonassor, with whom he had been on excellent terms, 
 that shook him with nameless fear. 
 
 Well did he recognize the enormity of this insult to 
 other rulers, and he now had a wholesome fear of the 
 consequences. 
 
 His haggard face grew purple; his lower jaw 
 sagged ; a far-off look came into his sunken, watery 
 eyes ; his hands visibly trembled, and he was a pitiable 
 object. His own chamberlain, realizing the startling 
 nature of the message without knowing its actual con 
 tents, was much perturbed. 
 
 Suddenly Deioces braced himself, half sprang from 
 his seat, and screamed: 
 
 " It's a brazen lie ! Neither of the wenches is in 
 my palace." 
 
 " Shall I take these words back to Astyages as your 
 answer to his note? " calmly asked Cyaxares. 
 
 Deioces bit the blood from his lips in his suppressed 
 rage, and as it flecked his flowing beard he wiped it 
 away with the priceless lace upon his sleeve. Hot tears 
 of vexation dimmed his eyes as he reread the insulting 
 message, more tol gain time to think than for any other 
 reason. This terrible young man before him seemed
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALER1A 45 
 
 the message incarnate. His massive proportions, his 
 kingly bearing, and his bold and fearless pose intimated 
 determination and power. It was useless to vent his 
 wrath upon Cyaxares' person. To do so could only 
 make matters worse. Did the note not say, " Return 
 my messenger unharmed? " 
 
 He took his time to frame a verbal reply to the note. 
 Cyaxares plainly saw that he had won so far as con 
 vincing Deioces of the authenticity of the message was 
 concerned, but he well knew that more serious matters 
 must follow. Suppose Deioces really did not know 
 that the young women had been returned to his palace ; 
 he could truthfully say that they were not there with 
 out admitting that they had been there. It would be 
 presuming too much to ask if they had; there 
 was a danger line in dealing with a drunken king. 
 Notwithstanding Cyaxares had coolly calculated upon 
 rolling Deioces' head upon the floor, should necessity 
 require it, that would not serve his purpose and would, 
 doubtless, cost him his life. 
 
 Suppose Deioces was aware of their return and 
 should lie to him and say they were not in his 
 palace, then he must frame a bold story that would 
 prove they were, and yet not declare that the 
 king had wantonly told a falsehood. Here was dan 
 gerous ground' to cover. Under no circumstances could 
 the king confess his guilt. 
 
 Again drawing his lace sleeve across his mouth and 
 chin, Deioces said: 
 
 " You may give my compliments to Astyages, and 
 tell him that on my honor I declare that neither his 
 daughter nor the daughter of the Sapor is in my 
 palace, nor to my knowledge in Baleria. I will make 
 diligent inquiry into this matter at once, and I shall
 
 46 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 send a messenger to him setting forth the facts as I 
 learn them," and he arose as if this ended the inter 
 view. 
 
 Deioces had by this careful phraseology evaded the 
 truth as to their having been in his palace, but there 
 was in it the ring of possible ignorance of their having 
 been returned there that evening, doubtless because 
 that was his night of debauch, and he had ordered the 
 chamberlain not to disturb him. Taking this view, 
 Cyaxares approached the delicate ground. 
 
 " I regret to have to remind your Majesty that the 
 two princesses have been brought into your palace 
 without your knowledge, and doubtless without your 
 consent, this very evening. They are now in conceal 
 ment here. Therefore, in full compliance with the in 
 structions of King Astyages, I must demand that they 
 be immediately placed in my keeping, to be returned 
 in safety to their respective homes." 
 
 " Insolence ! How dare you know so much about 
 my palace? " 
 
 " Command your servants to produce them." 
 
 " Must I tolerate this insolence? " 
 
 " I assure your Majesty that no insolence is pur 
 posely intended. I know whereof I speak when I de 
 clare that these two young women are without your 
 knowledge concealed within these palace walls. I will 
 inform you that the whole church of the triple alliance 
 is in a rage over the matter, and it is from the Holy 
 Church of Baleria that I get my information. Your 
 official, Zinkara, has confessed to having secretly sent 
 the two princesses here, and they are here now." 
 
 Instead of resenting this bold speech Deioces turned 
 a look of wrath upon Pinteles, who attempted to ex 
 plain.
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 47 
 
 "Are they here?" roared Deioces. 
 
 The chamberlain bowed his head in reply. 
 
 " Conduct this gentleman to the blue room until you 
 can prepare the princesses for travel, then bring them 
 here." Turning to Cyaxares, he said : " I deeply re 
 gret this. Inform Astyages that I shall at once send 
 an ambassador to him with my message. The prin 
 cesses will be placed in your care." Then Cyaxares 
 was conducted to an adjacent room to await develop 
 ments. 
 
 What snare was being laid? That some treachery 
 was intended was certain. Deioces would not thus 
 permit himself openly to be convicted. He looked to 
 see if the priests were still in the waiting-room. They 
 were, and he felt more comfortable. 
 
 After half an hour's wait the chamberlain returned 
 accompanied by two muffled figures, but Cyaxares de 
 manded that their faces be unmasked. After some 
 parley about this the muffled figures were taken from 
 the room and another wait of twenty minutes occurred. 
 Cyaxares became suspicious and restless. He walked 
 out to where Cambyses and his companion were seated, 
 and began to converse in low tones with Cambyses. 
 They all rose and started slowly toward the doorway, 
 as if being impatient with the delay. Immediately 
 Pinteles, with two of his guards, appeared, almost 
 dragging into the room two drooping figures. They 
 were undoubtedly the two princesses. 
 
 " Uncover their faces," commanded Cyaxares. 
 
 Reluctantly Pinteles obeyed, and removed the scarfs 
 that were tightly bound about the scared but beautiful 
 young faces of the women. 
 
 Upon seeing the commanding figure of Cyaxares, ac 
 companied by the priests, the two women at once fell
 
 48 
 
 down before him, and begged his protection. Pinteles 
 approached to lift them to their feet. 
 
 " Stand away ! Touch them not ! " commanded 
 Cyaxares. Then lifting the women to their feet, he 
 bade Cambyses and his men support them, and started 
 toward the palace doors. 
 
 " You are to take them out by way of the secret 
 gate," said Pinteles, and he and his guards essayed to 
 pass between them and the door. 
 
 " What is the meaning of this ? Would Deioces bid 
 Astyages or the King of Kings to enter this palace by 
 a back way? Then why do you require their daughters 
 to pass out by such way? I would not dare return 
 to them, did I permit this indignity," and Cyaxares 
 boldly bade his men proceed. 
 
 There was a suspicious rustling of a curtain, and 
 at some mysterious signal Pinteles and his men with 
 drew. 
 
 " Go quickly ; there is intrigue going on here. We 
 are not free to leave the palace grounds ! " Cyaxares 
 whispered to Cambyses. 
 
 A guard swiftly passed by them and toward the 
 great gates of the palace grounds. When they them 
 selves arrived, the gates were being closed. They were 
 ponderous things and could not be quickly adjusted, 
 which gave the party an opportunity to prevent their 
 facing closed. 
 
 " Throw off your robes and give me three of them. 
 Hold the guards back until we are out of sight," 
 hastily demanded Cyaxares. 
 
 In an instant a priest's robe was cast over each 
 of the women, while Cyaxares donned one himself. 
 Cambyses and his men had so taken the gate-keepers 
 by surprise that they not only prevented the gates
 
 from being closed until Cyaxares and his charges had 
 fled through them, but also held the guards at bay 
 until they themselves had brought the two great gates 
 in place and thrown the outer chain across them and 
 over a hook, to prevent their being followed. Not un 
 til this was accomplished did Cambyses express sur 
 prise that not an outcry had been made. Evidently 
 Pinteles had commanded this, not desiring to create a 
 sensation that could not well be explained. 
 
 Cyaxares hurried the two women on toward the 
 rendezvous where Cracillies and Saranaces were im 
 patiently waiting. At the door stood two stalwart 
 men, who immediately attacked Cyaxares, who pushed 
 the young women behind him, telling them not to flee. 
 The palace guards, for so they proved to be, had 
 Cyaxares at a disadvantage because of their longer 
 weapons, but his prodigious strength and great agility 
 enabled him to hold them at bay until Cambyses and 
 his men came up and quickly had them down. For 
 tunately the priests within had heard the clash of arms 
 and stood ready to pass them in through the door, and 
 drag the two fallen guards inside and bar the door 
 before the shuffling feet of the other approaching 
 guard's could turn the corner and see where they had 
 taken refuge. 
 
 " You may, and you may not, be safe," declared 
 Cracillies. " That wholly depends upon circum 
 stances." 
 
 The women were much frightened and clung to 
 Cyaxares as their rescuer, for they well knew that they 
 had had a narrow escape in getting away from the 
 palace of Deioces. 
 
 " I charge you with their protection, Cambyses," 
 said Cyaxares. Then he, Cracillies, and Saranaces
 
 50 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 drew apart to consult. The two wounded guards were 
 being taken care of in the outer court by Cambyses' 
 men. 
 
 " Let us quickly analyze the present situation," said 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " We must first find out who these men are, who 
 knew how to anticipate your return here. I am hope 
 ful that they are the men that assisted Zinkara in tak 
 ing the princesses back to the palace, the same two 
 that you saw enter the gate in the dead-wall, bearing 
 the women in their arms. If this should be true, it is 
 quite possible that no one at the palace has been fully 
 informed of this rendezvous. The capture of Zinkara 
 is the key to the situation, for doubtless he alone would 
 make the report to Pinteles." 
 
 Cyaxares hurriedly explained what had occurred at 
 the palace, after which Cracillies expressed himself as 
 being doubly assured of their present safety. 
 
 " We have a means of knowing more of the situa 
 tion at the palace. You, Saranaces, go and have the 
 two men thrown into the dungeon with Zinkara. 
 Cyaxares and I will go to the secret adjoining cell," 
 and Cracillies led Cyaxares to a narrow chamber, in 
 the wall of which was a hidden door entering a small 
 cell. This they entered and then they waited. They 
 were in total darkness. Soon thereafter a faint light 
 appeared through a narrow slit in the wall. Two men 
 were quickly thrust into the adjoining cell, and the 
 light disappeared. 
 
 With a vicious curse Zinkara greeted the newcomers 
 as they tumbled into the same cell with him. 
 
 " Who are you ? " he demanded. 
 
 " I am Moseus, body-guard to Deioces," replied one 
 of the newcomers.
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 51 
 
 A bitter laugh from Zinkara greeted this. 
 
 " I am the devil, you are my body-guard. Now, you 
 fool, how came you here?" 
 
 " Perhaps by the same course that put other fools 
 in here. Who are you that calls me fool for being in 
 the same plight as yourself? " growled Moseus. 
 
 " It ill becomes us to quarrel here, Moseus. I am 
 Zinkara. Evidently we are both fools, if being in 
 this infernal hole makes us such. But did you get 
 those troublesome wenches safely back to the palace? 
 Is this Manlies with you? " 
 
 " Yes, I am the third fool making the devil's triple 
 alliance," growled Manlies. 
 
 " By the ashes of all the priests in hell, I cannot 
 tell you if Deioces himself lives. My head is like a 
 box of bees, I am sopping in my own blood, and I saw 
 Manlies go down from a stroke to kill an ox. Isn't 
 that so, Manlies ? " 
 
 " Yes, I know not whether I am dead or alive, but I 
 do know that one thousand men like those attacking 
 us could conquer all the clans of the Holy Crater." 
 
 "What did they look like? " asked Zinkara. 
 
 " Like devils. They wore tunics of plaited bull- 
 skin, with basinets of linked chains, which fell back 
 upon their necks like a priest's cowl," replied Manlies. 
 
 "What's this! What's this! Why, according to 
 this description, they are from the Holy Crater," ex 
 claimed Zinkara. " I wonder if the Sapor can pos 
 sibly know that the Princess Madrilla is a captive of 
 Deioces? " 
 
 " Ah, that's the thing, wait till I tell you," excitedly 
 broke in Moseus. 
 
 " We carried the fair ladies through the gate in 
 the dead-wall and to Pinteles' waiting room. Word
 
 52 
 
 came that Pinteles was with the king. We waited 
 for a while, and no instructions coming, I went in 
 search of Pinteles. I reached the long corridor be 
 tween the waiting chamber and Deioces' private 
 audience chamber, when I heard loud voices. Hiding 
 myself in the hangings I saw and heard all that passed. 
 
 " A messenger had arrived from King Astyages, 
 and it evidently had something to do with the two 
 women prisoners, and, from what I heard, one must 
 be the daughter of King Astyages and the other the 
 daughter of the Sapor, as you have just confessed, 
 for we did not know ! " 
 
 " Moseus, your tongue should be cut from your 
 mouth, but go on," said Zinkara. 
 
 " This ambassador had with him four priests of 
 Crail, so every one believed, but they were these 
 devilish Aryans in disguise. He knew his business 
 and had Deioces: shaking like a leaf, and Pinteles ready 
 to flee. He demanded the immediate possession of the 
 two princesses. The king ordered Pinteles to bring 
 them. Then I fled back to Pinteles' waiting room, 
 where I had left Manlies with the women. Pinteles 
 came and excitedly ordered us to put the ladies in the 
 * singing room ' and to bundle up two of the kitchen 
 scullions so that they could not be recognized and 
 bring them to the blue room, which we did." 
 
 Zinkara laughed aloud and exclaimed: 
 
 " Great ! Who would have believed the fat -headed 
 Pinteles capable of such a ruse, and the red-haired 
 ambassador from Astyages took one of these buxom 
 scullions in his husky arms and fled with her, eh? " 
 
 "Red hair, how did you know his hair was red?" 
 asked Moseus. " But you are mistaken, the red-haired 
 ambassador demanded to see the ladies' faces. Pinte-
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 53 
 
 les, changing his plan, ordered the scullions returned 
 and the ladies themselves brought up. He instructed us 
 to take immediately a position at the small gate in the 
 wall to intercept them as they came out, to kill the 
 men and return the women to his waiting room. He 
 believed the men to be priests of Crail, and so did we, 
 therefore we believed the women would first be brought 
 back here. We are fools, Zinkara. When we learned 
 that they had escaped by way of the great gates, 
 Manlies and I saw where we could distinguish ourselves, 
 so we made a mad rush for the door that enters here. 
 This big ambassador came with the women, and he held 
 us off until his henchmen came. They proved to be 
 these Aryan devils, and here we are. Now, are we 
 bigger fools than yourself? " 
 
 " Maybe not. You, of course, told Pinteles where 
 you were going? " 
 
 " No." 
 
 " What ! Did you not tell him whence you had 
 brought the women, and where you had left me? " 
 
 " We had no opportunity to tell him. Moreover, 
 you had sworn us to secrecy, and we were momentarily 
 expecting you. How could we tell that you had been 
 captured? " 
 
 " Yes, we are all truly fools," moaned Zinkara. 
 " The priests of Crail will leave us to rot here. Can 
 you add anything to this tale of woe, Manlies ? " 
 
 " Yes, I can add much in few words. This, in my 
 opinion, is a bad mess, and means trouble for Ironia." 
 
 " This is no place nor time to air your wise opin 
 ions. Even we fools can see all that," grumbled 
 Zinkara. " And now this big, red-headed giant, he is 
 an impostor. He was the same as was here when I 
 had you carry the fluffy darlings away from here. He
 
 54 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 is Cyaxares, the son of Phraortes. One of the priests 
 was Cambyses. Damn him, he kicked me in the face 
 at the palace gate. Cyaxares was no messenger from 
 Astyages. The first he knew of all this was told him 
 here by Cracillies. The rest is all his imagination, 
 and there is a bold one for you." 
 
 Both Moseus and Manlies expressed their surprise. 
 
 " Oh, I forgot, he also told Deioces that the whole 
 church of the triple alliance was wild with anger over 
 this outrage and that you, Zinkara, had confessed to 
 having secretly brought the princesses to the palace, 
 upon Deioces declaring they were not there." 
 
 Zinkara groaned aloud. 
 
 " And Paulius is missing ; half the palace guards are 
 searching the city for him," said Manlies. 
 
 " I believe Paulius is disloyal to Deioces," said 
 Zinkara. 
 
 " And Paulius believes the same of you," replied 
 Manlies. 
 
 " It is probably because we have never worked to 
 gether harmoniously that we have this mutual distrust 
 of each other; but it would be a relief to know that 
 he, too, is sweating and swearing in a cell." 
 
 " It is as natural for a guardsman to hate a spy 
 as it is for a priest to hate the devil," muttered Man- 
 lies. 
 
 " And vice versa," retorted Zinkara. 
 
 " I would surrender my commission to get the hide 
 of Tolus," growled Moseus. 
 
 " Ha, Tolus, the spy of the people? It would be 
 something to put him away; he is, though, the spy of 
 the holy priests of Crail in truth," said Zinkara. 
 
 " I have heard it said that Tolus is none other than 
 Saranaces himself," remarked Moseus.
 
 CYAXARES' ADVENTURE IN BALERIA 55 
 
 "Who told you that?" asked Zinkara. 
 
 "Paulius." 
 
 " And how did the dull-witted Paulius become so 
 surcharged with wisdom that he must unburden his 
 mind of so important a matter to a guardsman? " de 
 manded Zinkara. 
 
 " He was told by Scala, daughter of Regules, he of 
 the mountain house in the Ironian pass," retorted 
 Moseus. 
 
 " I should deem this good information, did I know 
 that Paulius had ever known Scala," said Zinkara. 
 
 " Do you not know that Scala comes here secretly 
 to visit Saluciea? " 
 
 " I do not ! " 
 
 " It is true, nevertheless, and Paulius is vain enough 
 to believe that he has made an impression upon her. 
 I heard Paulius tell Erskales, of the Holy State, that 
 Scala knew that Saranaces and Tolus were one and 
 the same, and had so informed Saluciea." 
 
 "Why does Scala come here? This is a strange 
 piece of information. Her father is under the ban," 
 said Zinkara. 
 
 " I do not know, but there seems to be much! affection 
 between Scala and Saluciea, for they both weep upon 
 meeting, and at such times they go into seclusion." 
 
 " Does Deioces know this ? " 
 
 " I do not know. It is not my affair. They have 
 both been kind to me," replied Moseus. 
 
 " It would be a thing worth knowing to learn who 
 is being betrayed, for Regules is the go-between for the 
 priests and the people, and Scala quarrels regularly 
 with him, threatening to leave him." 
 
 " What has this gossip to do with getting us out of 
 here? " exclaimed Manlies.
 
 56 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " It all has a direct bearing upon getting us in here," 
 declared Zinkara. 
 
 The prisoners now began alternately to curse and 
 to groan. 
 
 Believing that they had heard about all they 
 could learn, Cyaxares and Cracillies withdrew. There 
 was much for them to think about in what they had 
 heard.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHEINE OF THE HOLY STATE 
 
 CYAXARES, Cambyses, Cracillies, and Saranaces 
 sat till nearly dawn, discussing every phase of 
 the exciting 1 events of the night. It seemed reasonably 
 certain that a kind fate had wrought a singular com 
 bination of circumstances favorable to the cause of 
 the young prince. 
 
 Paulius, one of the most cunning and cruel men in 
 Deioces' employ, was safely tucked away. Zinkara, 
 the spy and one of the most important aids of the 
 king, was muzzled, and by no means an unimportant 
 personage in| Deioces' combination of criminals, Crecies, 
 the fisherman, was locked up. The two young prin 
 cesses were for the time being safe from the lustful 
 Deioces. Had they designed all this, it would have 
 been impossible for them to have accomplished it in a 
 single night. 
 
 And the coming day was even more a stroke of good 
 fortune, the day of the annual pilgrimage of the 
 priests of Crail to pay their respects to the shrine of 
 the Holy State, over which Erskales presided, a na 
 tional day of great importance. 
 
 The priests of Crail formed in procession and 
 marched to the church of Erskales, where the perfunc 
 tory exercises were of short duration, consisting 
 mainly of an exchange of hypocritical vows of loyalty 
 to the triple alliance and to one another on the part 
 of the priests of the Holy Church and those of the 
 Holy State. 
 
 57
 
 58 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 It had been the custom for Deioces and all his high 
 officials to attend this function, but word came from 
 the palace that morning that the king was indisposed 
 and would not be able to participate, but would desig 
 nate one to act for him. 
 
 After the morning services the day became one of 
 wild and lawless revelry, the festivities lasting till night 
 fall, when all were required by law to return to their 
 respective districts. On this occasion all Baleria went 
 into disguise, the men wearing priests' garbs and the 
 women principally the garb that nature gave them, 
 enhanced by a covering of gauze. The wildest revels 
 prevailed. All law was suspended, and the people were 
 licensed to do as they pleased. Delegations from all 
 over the world came to participate in this feast of un 
 lawful liberty, the price of the surrender to the ruling 
 powers of all their rights, on the part of the people. 
 
 It was a most fortunate condition under which to 
 spirit to safety the young princesses, and to enable 
 Cyaxares and his men to leave Baleria unmolested. 
 
 It was essential for Cracillies and Saranaces to at 
 tend officially the exercises at the shrine of the Holy 
 State, and it was decided that under their guidance 
 and protection Cyaxares could join in the pilgrimage 
 and view these ceremonies. 
 
 After two hours of essential rest and a frugal break 
 fast, Cracillies made known his presence at the door 
 of the semi-comfortable chamber occupied by the prin 
 cesses. They were quite calm and prepared to receive 
 him. Dishevelled as they necessarily were, they were 
 beautiful young women. Their bright young faces 
 were little affected by much weeping and recent fright, 
 the tension having relaxed in the belief that they had 
 been taken to at least temporary safety. They were
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 59 
 
 both anxious to know more concerning the splendid 
 nobleman who had so boldly taken them from Deioces' 
 palace, but Cracillies denied them this privilege. 
 
 Every precaution was taken to insure their comfort 
 and safety during the absence of Cyaxares, Cracillies, 
 and Saranaces at the ceremonies. After this they 
 were to join the revelries in the streets of Baleria, and 
 make their way to the safe environs of the gardens 
 and caverns of Crail. Cambyses and his three guards 
 men were to remain there to protect the fair prisoners. 
 
 Groups of priests could be seen hurrying toward the 
 great central thoroughfare, at the head of which was 
 situated the grand edifice presided over by Erskales. 
 While there were no guards in sight, the people, 
 gathering in thousands along the sides of the boule 
 vard, respectfully kept this street clear for those who 
 were to participate in the parade. 
 
 All the priests had their heads and faces fully con 
 cealed by their cowls, this being a day for masquerad 
 ing. 
 
 Three unusually large priests leisurely sauntered to 
 ward the head of the half-formed procession and seemed 
 to be in earnest discussion over the occasion. 
 
 Cracillies and Saranaces, keeping Cyaxares be 
 tween them, took their positions near the head of the 
 procession, and soon the whole body began moving in 
 solemn silence toward the church. Not a sound, be 
 yond the soft tread of several hundred feet, could be 
 heard. In awed silence the people stood along the way, 
 and would so remain for an hour, when these priests 
 would return, and at a given sign bid them be of a 
 happy and cheerful mind, that all the vows and pledges 
 between the Holy Church, the King, and the Holy State 
 had been renewed.
 
 60 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 The ceremonies in the church were imposing. 
 Erskales, in his robes of state, accompanied by an array 
 of assisting prelates, received the pilgrims, as the 
 parading priests were called, with seeming great 
 cordiality. All in front of the bar were required to 
 uncover, but, it being a well-known fact that many 
 foreigners were permitted to view the grand spectacle 
 in the guise of priests, the great mass of marchers were 
 not required to remove their cowls unless they so de 
 sired. This permitted Cyaxares to take a position of 
 vantage and view the proceedings without risk of 
 recognition. Then the reader for the Holy State came 
 forward and read the declaration of the triple alliance : 
 
 " In the beginning of civilization it became manifest that 
 there should be a ruling spirit or head to the community. 
 It was natural to select the father, if the community con 
 sisted of one family, or choose the wisest among the fathers, 
 if it consisted of more than one family. Government and 
 religion were one, both meaning the welfare and advance 
 ment of the people, physical and spiritual. 
 
 " The head of the family was called father. 
 
 " The head of a community of families was named the 
 father-priest. 
 
 " The head of a community of communities was named 
 the priest-king. 
 
 " As mankind increased and the spiritual and material 
 welfare of the people assumed two distinct phases of civil 
 government, it became essential to separate these, one being 
 named the Church, the duty of which was to guard the 
 spiritual welfare of the people, while the other was named 
 the State, the duty of which was to look after the material 
 welfare of the people. The two combined represented a 
 dual government. 
 
 " It came to pass that the power of one branch of govern 
 ment was greater than that of the other, and where the
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 61 
 
 priest-king was one ruler it became necessary to elect two 
 separate heads, the one the head of the Church, and the 
 other the head of the State. Consequently, through long 
 periods of time there gradually grew up an antagonism be 
 tween the Church and the State that gave constant cause 
 for disputes of authority. . 
 
 " In later times a still more intricate and complicated 
 condition arose, when the Church and the State assumed to 
 be separate and distinct institutions from the nation itself, 
 claiming vested rights in property, and an independence of 
 each other and of the will of the people at large. Educa 
 tion was pitted against entrenched, political power of gov 
 ernment, and the common people suffered thereby. They 
 could surrender neither, and partiality to one generally re 
 sulted in terrific revolutions and bloody warfare. Time 
 and careful training having strongly established the Church 
 in the superstitions of the people, and power having en 
 trenched the government, calling itself the State, these two 
 permanent institutions, for their own protection, secretly 
 agreed to divide the power to rule over and determine the 
 destinies of mankind. 
 
 " From time immemorial, by convention and covenant, the 
 Church and the State had stood together for their own sup 
 port and perpetuation until a double-headed, ruling aristoc 
 racy dictated and executed all the laws by which the masses, 
 the millions, were kept under control. 
 
 " Thirty years ago, in their generosity and wisdom, the 
 rulers over the great clans of the Holy Crater, Ironia, and 
 Persis, conceiving a plan whereby the people at large 
 might be rescued from this condition of non-participation in 
 their own government, formed a triple alliance, and entered 
 into a convention and covenant to establish and maintain a 
 form of government that would insure to the masses a voice 
 in making and executing the laws. 
 
 " This triple alliance, guaranteeing to the people a just 
 and equitable conduct of the national affairs, has withstood 
 the test of time. Peace has prevailed between the contract-
 
 62 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ing nations, and an unprecedented prosperity has continued 
 to exist. 
 
 " As it has been the annual custom to renew the cove 
 nant, we have gathered here to prepare the delegates with 
 credentials from the Holy Church, the King, and the Holy 
 State, to do which these three institutions constituting our 
 triple form of government will, through their respective 
 representatives, renew their oath of allegiance to the triple 
 alliance. Cracillies will sign for the Holy Church, Sara- 
 naces has been designated to sign for the King, as head of 
 the government, and Erskales will sign for the Holy State, 
 representing the people. 
 
 " As this occasion has heretofore been set aside as a day 
 of rejoicing and revelry, if there be no objections, we will 
 hasten these ceremonies that the people may make merry." 
 
 With unusual alacrity and promptitude all the 
 signers stepped forward and affixed their signatures to 
 the great scroll, and with equal promptness the same 
 three men were designated as delegates to the next an 
 nual conclave to be held at Ecbatana. 
 
 As Cyaxares listened to all this cant and hypocrisy, 
 and realized that both Cracillies and Saranaces were 
 willing parties to it, he was appalled at the hopeless 
 condition of the masses. They were in a known state 
 of abject slavery, and here was a new power building 
 up a third institution to impose upon and bleed the 
 masses. He was so thoroughly disgusted that he re 
 gretted having come to see these ceremonies. 
 
 Immediately after the ceremonies Cracillies hurried to 
 Cyaxares' side, and the two returned to the rendezvous. 
 Saranaces was to follow shortly. 
 
 All preparations were made for an early departure. 
 Before they had all donned their disguising priests' 
 garbs, Saranaces came, bearing in his arms long staffs
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 63 
 
 with large vari-colored plumes at their upper ends, 
 such as would be in the hands of every reveler in the 
 streets. 
 
 Cracillies and Cyaxares were to take Madrilla be 
 tween them. Saranaces and Cambyses were to take 
 Almareta, and the three guardsmen were to bring up 
 the immediate rear. Thus they secretly left the 
 rendezvous by way of a secluded fa9ade, and they soon 
 found themselves in the midst of a maelstrom of excited 
 humanity. All laws were suspended. 
 
 For this one day of unbridled licentiousness the 
 people willingly surrendered their rights to participate 
 in their own government. The whole world has sub 
 sequently been ruled by these same conditions. Profit 
 able crime can always buy a license. Every governing 
 body, religious or civil, has always had its price. 
 
 It was a perfect day in midspring, which meant 
 much in little Ironia. The broad-leaved trees were 
 gently moved by the cool breezes. Every variety of 
 blossom and flower opened wide its mouth, hungry 
 for the sunshine. Jasmine and honeysuckle fought 
 with each other for vantage-points from which to exhale 
 their wondrous odors. Daffodils nodded as if bowing 
 a " Good morning " ; climbing roses spread their foliage 
 profusely to hide the pretty, eager faces and bright 
 eyes peeping from the hidden verandas, while the roses 
 filled the air with their sweet fragrance. 
 
 Baleria was renowned for feminine beauty, and this 
 was beauty's day. 
 
 It was ideal in its outward aspect, but Baleria was 
 about to throw off the satin skin of the tigress that 
 she was. Like new-born butterflies, fresh from their 
 ilken shells, came the beautiful women to dance in the 
 sunshine, and Baleria danced in the nude.
 
 64 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Deioces had plannned well in establishing his city of 
 pleasure. Cruel in his eviction of things, crude and 
 homely to the eye, he had made his city physically clean 
 and wholesome, and celebrated for bad men and hand 
 some women. 
 
 The women were seldom seen upon the streets. They 
 sat in silken hammocks, or lounged upon low, padded 
 mats, behind the rose and jasmine-clad lattices, the 
 floors of which brought their eyes on a level with the 
 eyes of those that passed in the streets. Like little 
 serpents they lay there to charm their passing victims, 
 the lattices ofttimes being more fully clad than their 
 shapely forms. 
 
 But this was all changed on this great festival oc 
 casion. Every man was an amorous priest and every 
 woman a willing temptress. All classes were leveled to 
 a licentious equality. 
 
 It had been the custom of Deioces himself to indulge 
 in this freedom in close disguise. 
 
 The women swarmed into the streets in the gauziest 
 of garments, which only enhanced and emphasized their 
 nudity, making them more tempting and tantalizing 
 in their wild frolicking. Feeling the freedom and un 
 restraint of their license, they were filled with joy. 
 Their eager, laughing eyes sparkled like jewels. 
 Their features, with the exception of their bright eyes, 
 were concealed by many folds of a dark scarf. Up to 
 the crime of taking human life every conceivable in 
 discretion went unchallenged. The priests themselves 
 had to make sure of the security of their own cassocks 
 with these untamed merrymakers. 
 
 Under these seemingly favorable conditions, there 
 was little likelihood that Cyaxares and his party would 
 be recognized. Much, however, depended upon Deioces'
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 65 
 
 attitude in consequence of the mysterious disappear 
 ance of both Paulius and Zinkara, upon whom he wholly 
 depended for his personal safety. It was perfectly 
 fair to assume that they were both loyal to Deioces. 
 It was a serious matter for him to attempt to leave 
 his palace without their having first safeguarded his 
 course, for on these fete days his enemies swarmed in 
 disguise through all the streets. The hard-driven 
 people outside the city had no love for Deioces, and he 
 knew it. The dagger was always awaiting his identi 
 fication. Many times he dared not resent the insults 
 that he heard heaped upon his name. He could expect 
 nothing else, for he was cruel and unjust. He took it 
 all with a philosophical indifference, laughing at his 
 own unpopularity. It was noticeable, however, that 
 the hang-overs found the next morning outside their 
 own districts were treated with unusual brutality. 
 
 Before leaving the rendezvous, Cracillies had secretly 
 visited the place where Paulius and Crecies were con 
 fined, to make sure that all was well there. He had 
 also provided Zinkara and his companions with bread 
 and water. It was hard on all these that they had to 
 be deprived of the joys of fete day, especially on old 
 Crecies, who was so ugly that he could only indulge in 
 pleasure in disguise. 
 
 Upon Cracillies' order Paulius and Crecies were 
 chained to the wall, at which indignity Paulius swore 
 he would pick the flesh off Cracillies' bones bit by 
 bit, and Crecies swore that he would feed it to the 
 sharks out of his own hands. But this had gained 
 for them neither sympathy nor liberty. 
 
 The streets were crowded to suffocation, and still 
 the people pressed in. Tinkling bells, tambourines, 
 and stringed instruments were plentiful. Cyaxares
 
 66 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 was amazed, and the princesses shocked, at what they 
 saw. Practically nude women were everywhere. Men 
 carried them in their arms or upon their shoulders. 
 They danced in circles about the priests, who openly 
 attempted to seize and embrace them. In their dis 
 guises priests could not be distinguished from laymen. 
 Long lines of these beautiful nymph-like creatures would 
 form on either side of a rope woven of roses, then at a 
 given signal they would dance down the street, holding 
 a tambourine in one hand for the one directly in the 
 rear to kick gracefully with regular, rhythmic pre 
 cision. 
 
 It was tremendous sport. Its immorality and im 
 propriety were lost sight of in the hurly-burly excite 
 ment. 
 
 Madrilla clung closely to Cyaxares' arm as they 
 pressed their way through the ever increasing throng. 
 Cyaxares began to realize that he had by his side 
 a beauty which, perhaps, would surpass anything that 
 they had seen. Madrilla's musical voice began to thrill 
 him as none other had. Her soft warm hands began 
 to make his blood tingle. In all the haste and excite 
 ment no thought of love or passion had entered his 
 mind, but now in the midst of all this hilarity the same 
 deviltry that is born in every man was aroused, and he 
 found himself more attentive to the fair companion 
 at his side. Her face was swathed in a disguising 
 scarf beneath the cowl, but occasional flashes of sunny 
 brown hair and big blue eyes began to burn their way 
 through his thick cassock and into his virgin heart. 
 Yes, he felt the presence of a superior woman who had 
 placed her confidence in him, and it thrilled him. 
 
 Finding it each moment more difficult to proceed, 
 they decided to keep in a more compact body, in order
 
 to make better progress toward their objective point, 
 the bridge crossing the river toward the caverns of 
 Crail. 
 
 Here and there eddies and whirlpools of demented 
 humanity would form impenetrable circles to watch 
 some grotesque or graceful performer. Once within 
 the grasp of these swirls there was no escape until 
 they were, by common consent, broken up to be re 
 formed about some other dancer. 
 
 At times the whole street full of people would take 
 a sudden swerve, turn and press back upon itself. 
 Cyaxares once found it necessary to lift Madrilla 
 bodily in his arms and carry her to safety. This was 
 dangerous business. She clung to him as if she had 
 been seized with the hysterical passion of the women 
 about them, and liked it. Cyaxares patted her affec 
 tionately upon the shoulder encouraging her not to be 
 frightened, but he saw that it was inevitable that they 
 would be separated in this mad crush, therefore he 
 hastily had Cracillies pass the word to make their way 
 to the bridge as a place of rendezvous, should they be 
 broken apart. 
 
 This precaution had hardly been taken when a tre 
 mendous wave swept them off their feet scattering them 
 like chaff. When Cyaxares recovered himself he was 
 horrified to find Madrilla! no longer at his side, and not 
 one of his party could he recognize. At this critical 
 moment rude hands snatched away his cowl, permitting 
 his auburn locks to fall about his shoulders, exposing 
 his handsome features. 
 
 Instantly he was surrounded by a bevy of plump 
 damsels, who joined hands and began to dance in a cir 
 cle about him. An unusually handsome woman pushed 
 her way through the crowd, broke the circle, and threw
 
 68 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 her arms about him. It was impossible for him to re 
 lease himself by force, and to be rude to the woman 
 might precipitate an avenging mob. 
 
 He had observed from time to time that the revelers 
 seemed to be using in common the numerous verandas 
 on both sides of the street. Realizing the great danger 
 of being recognized he quickly made up his mind what 
 to do. Lifting the splendid form in his arms he plowed 
 his way toward the nearest veranda, ran up the few 
 steps, and was soon concealed behind its leaf-clad lat 
 tices. 
 
 Placing the willing young woman in a silken ham 
 mock he looked about. Everything bespoke the purpose 
 of the luxurious place. It was profuse with every con 
 ceit to enamor him that came within its charms. He 
 looked at the woman. She was a robust piece of pink 
 humanity, beautiful to look upon, but Cyaxares was 
 thinking of another. He was truly grieved in his fear 
 for Madrilla's safety. 
 
 Drawing near to the young woman, who still lay 
 panting in her comfortable swing, he was about to 
 engage her in conversation when with a little, half- 
 muffled scream of surprise she sprang from the ham 
 mock, ran to the small wicket in the lattice, through 
 which they had entered, and closed and bolted it. 
 
 " Ah, I am to be your prisoner ? What a charming 
 keeper. Remove your veil, ere I die of curiosity to 
 know if your face is as lovely as your person." 
 
 " Not on feast-day," she laughingly replied, as she 
 pushed his hands away. " We must refresh our 
 selves," and she pulled the cord of a small silver bell. 
 A servant appeared with service for three. 
 
 " What, are we to have our sweet seclusion intruded 
 upon by a third person? I anticipated a pleasant
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 69 
 
 hour alone with my captor," exclaimed Cyaxares. 
 
 She did not reply, but anxiously watched the door 
 through which the servant had disappeared. From 
 time to time for several minutes she would run to this 
 door and peer within, impatiently stamping her small, 
 sandaled feet upon the rug. 
 
 The curtain was pushed back and a magnificent 
 woman, of great beauty and dignity, appeared, a 
 woman of an entirely different type from the volup 
 tuous, half-nude creature that had captured him. She 
 was dressed in full court costume of rose velvet, richly 
 embroidered in gold, and rare jewels bedecked her 
 stately head, neck, and shoulders. She was queenly in 
 her grandeur. 
 
 Cyaxares paid her the tribute of recognizing a 
 woman of courtly training by arising and making a 
 profound and respectful bow, in doing which his short 
 sword protruded and pushed aside his priest's garb, re 
 vealing his coat of mail. 
 
 To his utter astonishment the lady approached, ex 
 tended her jeweled hand, and said: 
 
 " The distinguished Prince Cyaxares is most wel 
 come to Baleria, even though he comes armed cap-a- 
 pie to partake of our revels." The voice was musical 
 and gentle, yet full of power, giving Cyaxares an un 
 usual thrill. 
 
 " And may I ask the name of the fair and beautiful 
 lady that addresses me thus ? " 
 
 " Not yet. Fortunately to-day no one is required to 
 reveal his identity, if he can successfully conceal it." 
 
 " Which evidently I have not done," said Cyaxares. 
 
 " For which we are grateful," she responded, looking 
 at the younger woman. Her sweet laugh was whole 
 some and fascinating. If there was treachery in this
 
 70 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 woman it surely was of a refined kind, thought 
 Cyaxares, yet the evidence of some sort of intrigue was 
 plain. 
 
 " We do strange things in Baleria," and she again 
 laughed at the frankness with which the other dis 
 played her charms in placing the oriental table for re 
 freshments. 
 
 " I have asked my fair captor to remove her veil that 
 I may see if her face is as fair as her person is lovely. 
 May I ask this favor again? " 
 
 " I can assure you that it is one of the fairest faces 
 in Baleria," answered the woman. 
 
 After a slight hesitation the dancer slowly unwound 
 the scarf, and uncovered a truly beautiful face. 
 
 " Scala ! " exclaimed Cyaxares. 
 
 Then, turning to the other, he asked, "And you?" 
 
 The conversation that he and Cracillies had over 
 heard between Zinkara and the palace guards came to 
 him with a rush. He knew that this was Saluciea, but 
 he dared not reveal that he knew aught of them. 
 
 " I am Saluciea," she calmly replied. 
 
 "The consort of Deioces?" said Cyaxares. 
 
 " No, the accredited mistress of Deioces," she cor 
 rected, with a tinge of bitterness in her sweet voice. 
 
 " And a most beautiful woman," gallantly added 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " Do not flatter me, I am no longer lovely like this 
 passionate creature, else I could win all the kings of 
 the earth. I would go forth into the world naked, 
 barefoot, and friendless, could I by so doing clothe 
 my bones with this amorous flesh, and warm my heart 
 with her hot young blood," and she caressed Scala. 
 
 " Say not so. You are beautiful, you have the rare 
 dignity of a woman that has spent her youth well, and
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 71 
 
 knows that she has been loved for herself," exclaimed 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " Had I been loved for something else, I perhaps 
 might have been queen of Ironia," she said sadly. 
 
 " But tell us, what brings Prince Cyaxares to Baleria 
 in disguise, and fully accoutered? " 
 
 " To see your celebrated festivities, like thousands! of 
 others," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Is it fair to all the beautiful women of Baleria for 
 you to conceal your handsome face and those beauti 
 ful curling locks beneath the uncouth cowl of a priest ? " 
 
 She made no attempt to conceal her admiration. 
 
 " It is the fashion to-day," laughingly replied 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 "But yesterday, and to-morrow?" 
 
 " Yesterday is passed, and to-morrow may never 
 come for me, should Deioces learn, by any ill fortune, 
 of my presence in Baleria," and Cyaxares looked ear 
 nestly into the deep, kindly eyes, and wondered if 
 treachery could lurk beneath such pools of glory. But 
 Baleria was satin-skinned. 
 
 Saluciea returned his gaze with a thought fulness that 
 might have been a warning of either good or evil. 
 Then she asked, cautiously, 
 
 " Who in Baleria could recognize you? " 
 
 " You have recognized me, yet we never saw each 
 other before," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Ah, but that is different ; Scala knew you ; she has 
 described you to me." 
 
 " How many Scalas might there be in Baleria? The 
 wise fox does not knowingly walk into the trap when 
 he sees it." 
 
 " Without being caught by good bait," retorted 
 Saluciea, patting Scala's dimpled shoulder.
 
 72 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 "Am I to consider myself caught?" asked 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " Or a wise fox, as you please. We are your 
 friends," she answered earnestly. 
 
 In an attempt to draw away from this dangerous 
 subject, Cyaxares turned to Scala, and asked, 
 
 " And what stroke of good fortune made this charm 
 ing woman your friend? " 
 
 " I have always been lucky," evasively responded 
 Scala. 
 
 " Is this your place of abode when visiting Baleria? " 
 
 " For to-day," quickly answered Saluciea, with a 
 warning gesture to Scala, which Cyaxares did not lose. 
 
 " We came here to drown our troubles." 
 
 " Women usually drown their troubles in tears," said 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " And men theirs in wine," responded Saluciea. 
 
 " And when these fail they both drown themselves 
 in the river. Ask Crecies," said Scala. 
 
 "Who is Crecies?" asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " Don't speak his detestable name, the wickedest 
 man in Baleria," exclaimed Saluciea. " Why are we 
 wasting good time in such gruesome conversation? " 
 
 " This is a charming little abode, I presume with 
 many comforts, a restful place. Could it be secured 
 for a longer period? " carefully inquired Cyaxares, 
 permitting his eyes to roam over the suggestive trap 
 pings of the room, then rest suggestively upon the 
 charms of Scala. 
 
 The ruse was not wasted. Saluciea flushed hot as 
 she glanced at Scala, then made reply. 
 
 " If your motive for coming here is not for some 
 sinister purpose, it might be had indefinitely." There 
 was an eager wistfulness about this hesitating ac-
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 73 
 
 knowledgment that touched Cyaxares. It seemed to 
 tell a tragedy of a hungry heart, for this woman was 
 no coquette. It intimated a serious desire to be 
 friendly to him, but it could not reveal her ulterior 
 motive. She was subtle where Scala was bold. Scala 
 was not that type of woman ; did she desire the love 
 of a man she would throw her amorous arms about him, 
 shower him with passionate caresses and tell him so, de 
 pending upon her ardent nature to subdue her prey. 
 Saluciea would not enjoy a pleasure so lightly won, 
 therefore the purr of the tigress was more pronounced 
 in her methods, and her love could never be quenched 
 did she love with the certainty of her affection's being 
 reciprocated. 
 
 Cyaxares knew the danger of his position. He was 
 big, handsome, and strong, and had conserved the rich 
 young blood of youth, so attractive to ardent women. 
 He had never loved a woman enough to want to call 
 her his own, therefore he was susceptible to the gentle 
 wiles of the fair sex from sheer animal freedom. He 
 felt that youthful yearning for the wild and passionate 
 affection that more often wrecks than conserves. The 
 constant glow of youth in Scala was terribly fascinat 
 ing to him, yet he felt the overpowering influence of 
 the deeper and more subtle being. One might be a 
 temporary toy, but the other a permanent joy. For 
 a single moment his mind dwelt upon the sensations 
 that had swept his virgin soul when he felt the pulsing 
 form of Madrilla, as he had briefly held her in his arms. 
 Oh, that surely was different from the wild abandon 
 that he had felt within him as he had carried Scala 
 from the streets. They could not possibly be the same 
 sensations. One was the chaste sentiment of awaken 
 ing love, the other the wild throbbing of animal pas-
 
 74 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 sion. He had not forgotten the former, and it now 
 influenced him in what he did. He would have to play 
 with both these high-strung women, as much as he de 
 spised subterfuge, yet his situation was not of his own 
 planning. 
 
 How much did Scala know concerning his ambitious 
 designs against Deioces? And how much had she told- 
 to Saluciea? What were Saluciea's real sentiments to 
 ward Deioces? Could she honorably be won over to 
 his cause? These were all vital questions at this mo 
 ment, which could not be asked. He sat silent for a 
 moment. It seemed the only logical way out of the 
 trap into which he had fallen, and was worth trying. 
 With a sigh he said: 
 
 " I could conceive of no greater joy than to come 
 here secretly from time to time, and view the beauties 
 of Baleria with " He looked at the two women. He 
 had placed himself in an awkward position ; was it one 
 or both? 
 
 The women saw the point; both turned scarlet and 
 laughed. Scala relieved the situation by finishing his 
 sentence, 
 
 " With Saluciea." 
 
 The table had been removed, Scala was standing, or 
 half leaning, upon Saluciea. When she said this, 
 Saluciea drew her down upon her lap, embraced and 
 caressed her passionately, saying, 
 
 " You are a tempting woman, Scala, I shall always 
 be jealous of you." 
 
 " I shall be jealous of you," had a world of signifi 
 cance to Cyaxares. It seemed to be the explanation. 
 They had had a previous understanding, consequently 
 he had been the subject of previous discussions be 
 tween them. Why ! W T here ! When ! This might
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 75 
 
 have a vital bearing 1 upon his whole future. Could it 
 be possible that this whole adventure was a part of a 
 plot? Even so, he was willing to wager the success of 
 all his undertakings that these two ardent women were 
 sincerely counterplotting for their own joy and pleas 
 ure, and, if he fell into their plans, they would be his 
 friends, but well did he know the revenge that they 
 would heap upon him, did they believe their amorous 
 advances scorned by him. He decided to act quickly. 
 
 " Ladies, if I pledge you the word of an honorable 
 gentlemen to return here by early nightfall, will you 
 permit me to hasten now to my own quarters, and make 
 some suitable and necessary changes in my attire, and 
 inform my body-guard that I am safe, and, in the 
 meantime, will you secretly secure this house for one 
 month? " and he poured into Scala's hands a large sum 
 of money. 
 
 The two, women were in a quandary. They believed, 
 yet they were suspicious of a ruse to escape them. 
 They knew that he was in Baleria for some deep, ul 
 terior purpose, and there lurked within them a desire 
 to be on the friendly side of this handsome young 
 prince, who seemed so strong and resourceful, but they 
 dared not broach this to him. 
 
 Should he not return, their opportunity would be 
 lost. To the contrary, should he keep faith with them 
 and return, it would probably be the greatest oppor 
 tunity of their lives. 
 
 Scala was as full of intrigue as Saluciea was of am 
 bition. She had listened to the plots and counterplots 
 of political factions, while the politicians were under 
 the influence of her father's wine, till she was better 
 posted on the trend of politics than most of the states 
 men of the surrounding countries. As she grew older
 
 76 
 
 and began to analyze these important matters she 
 grew restless to be associated directly with the men 
 themselves for the very excitement and passion of it. 
 Paulius had known Scala, and had informed Saluciea 
 of her wild, passionate nature. Saluciea needed just 
 such a companion, and secretly had Scala brought 
 to her, since which time they had been on the most 
 intimate terms, constantly plotting for their own am 
 bitious ends. There was no question regarding their 
 loyalty to each other, first, last, and all the time. 
 Scala had a better knowledge of men than of women, 
 and she knew the needs of women equally as well as 
 Saluciea, therefore she was of real value to a woman 
 who had been as jealously guarded as had been 
 Saluciea. 
 
 Here were three strong characters, two pitted 
 against the other. 
 
 " Had I my strong Cambyses here, I would be more 
 evenly matched with my fair enemies," he said slyly, in 
 tending to note the effect upon Scala. But he had no 
 time to prepare for what happened. She threw her 
 self upon the bosom of Saluciea and began to weep. 
 
 Saluciea was truly surprised. Pushing Scala's blush 
 ing and tear-stained face away from her, she looked in 
 quiringly at Cyaxares, and asked, 
 
 "Who is Cambyses?" 
 
 " Yes, I love a man, I love Cambyses, but he does not 
 love me," wailed Scala. 
 
 " Who is Cambyses ? " Saluciea again asked, looking 
 suspiciously at Scala. Here was one secret that she 
 had kept from her. I 
 
 " As Scala is your bosom friend, Cambyses is my 
 bosom friend," explained Cyaxares. 
 
 " Is he here now? " she asked.
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 77 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Will you promise upon your most sacred honor to 
 return here to-night, and bring Cambyses? I want to 
 see what manner of man it is who loves not Scala when 
 she thus declares a secret love for him," she said, with 
 an eagerness that much puzzled him. Could it be that 
 this woman longed for such conquest herself? 
 
 Cyaxares was trapped ; there might be some hidden 
 menace in all this feminine intrigue. He was practi 
 cally alone in this country of his worst enemy. It would 
 go ill with him should he be ensnared with, or by, the 
 ruling women of Deioces' palace. 
 
 It was recognized as an unwritten law that death was 
 the penalty for him that was caught trifling with the 
 mistress of the king. But suppose that mistress her 
 self, the ally of her lordly paramour, was bringing 
 about this very situation, as the only safe way of hav 
 ing beheaded the only aspirant to Deioces' throne. 
 That was a question to puzzle a sage and make the 
 bravest man quail. The probabilities were favorable to 
 that very contingency. 
 
 His hesitation was apparent to Saluciea. Her quick 
 wit grasped the trend of his thoughts. Placing her 
 hand upon his arm, she said in an almost beseeching 
 voice : 
 
 " Believe me, I give you the word of one that values 
 truth and love more highly than ambition that I will 
 sacrifice my own life before I will jeopardize yours." 
 
 Her earnestness greatly impressed Cyaxares. Rais 
 ing her hands to his lips he kissed them, saying : 
 
 " I do believe you ; I did not hesitate on my own ac 
 count, Saluciea; a man may speak for himself, and 
 challenge fate, to enjoy the passion of a lovely woman, 
 but he may not imperil another's life with impunity.
 
 78 
 
 It was for Cambyses that I hesitated to speak. Never 
 theless, I promise to bring Cambyses here this night. 
 We will come disguised as priests of Crail," and he 
 looked out through the lattice work. 
 
 The streets were not so congested now. While the 
 joyous mob had not wholly spent its fury, the whirling 
 eddies of humanity were not so pronounced. The 
 people had dispersed more widely over the city. Cy- 
 axares knew that it was essential for him to get to the 
 bridge. While, doubtless, his party would be safe in 
 the gardens of Crail, Cambyses or the priests might de 
 cide to do something radical in searching for him. 
 
 Now drawing the two women close to him, he placed 
 hisi great strong arms about them, saying : 
 
 " Two fairer or more beautiful women than you I 
 have never seen. I wish I could know you under safer 
 and better conditions. The vicissitudes of time may 
 widely separate us, and change our conditions, but I 
 believe that there is an underlying good in both of you 
 well worth conserving. I pledge myself your friend at 
 such times as I may be able best to serve you. I will 
 go and return with Cambyses to-night." 
 
 Saluciea clung to him as if reluctant to let him go. 
 Tears were in her eyes as she looked into his proud 
 face, and said : 
 
 " I will speak for both of us. We are not nearly so 
 bad as you may think us. I will prove this to you by 
 saying that for which my head may fall: I am not the 
 mistress of Deioces and never have been, no matter what 
 the world may say. I despise him above all men. More 
 than this I must not tell you now. But, believe me, I 
 am your friend. You will not betray me, I am sure." 
 
 Puzzled beyond expression, Cyaxares inquired of them 
 the way to the bridge, and took his departure.
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE TO THE SHRINE 79 
 
 Almost the first person that he met upon gaining 
 the street saluted him. It was Saranaces, who appar 
 ently had not quitted the vicinity from the time that 
 he had seen Cyaxares ascend the steps with Scala in his 
 arms. He simply said: 
 
 " Come, we must not linger here. I have seen sus 
 picious eyes watching this place." 
 
 Cyaxares made no attempt to explain, for it was too 
 important a subject. Therefore he bided the time when 
 he could tell the story in all its details. Cracillies had 
 conducted the princesses on to the gardens of Crail, but 
 Cambyses and his men were impatiently awaiting him 
 at the bridge.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ARRIVING at the grotto, which was supposed to be 
 the entrance of the caverns of Crail, Saranaces was 
 sponsor for Cyaxares and his party as Cracillies had 
 been for the princesses. 
 
 Instead, however, of their entering into the darkness 
 of a cavern, after traversing a long, narrow gorge, 
 with walls so close together that they at times shut out 
 the light of day, they entered into a magnificent, park- 
 like garden, filled with all that could delight the eye. 
 Long avenues of semi-tropical trees, well protected 
 within these high walls, thrived as if native along the 
 multitude of winding, flower-bedecked paths. Sparkling 
 streams irrigated this fairy garden, which produced in 
 greatest abundance the fruits and vegetable foods for 
 the two hundred priests of Crail. 
 
 The sides of the mountain were covered with vine 
 yards, and this retreat was celebrated for delicious 
 wines. Deioces was occasionally favored with limited 
 portions of rare vintages. 
 
 These gardens rivaled in beauty the parks about 
 Deioces' palace. The sparkling waters came from the 
 mountain springs at the base of the cliffs, and had 
 been carefully conducted to all parts of the garden by 
 a system of irrigating conduits. 
 
 Rare trees, shrubs, and flowers were everywhere. 
 
 Cyaxares viewed this with unmixed pleasure, for he 
 not only desired to leave Almareta and Madrilla under 
 
 the protection of Cracillies until he could lay his politi- 
 
 80
 
 81 
 
 cal lines, but he had a wholesome fear of attempting 
 to take them out of Ironia after he had observed the 
 duplicity of Deioces. This magnificent garden inti 
 mated a comfortable environment during their stay 
 there. He had been worried not a little regarding their 
 welfare here during his absence. His mind was so 
 concentrated upon the one theme, that of recovering 
 " Little Paradise," that he had not allowed himself 
 to think about the possibilities of choosing a consort 
 to help him share his glories, should his plans prosper. 
 His opportunity of comparing the two young prin 
 cesses had been too limited for him to have any defi 
 nite ideas regarding their beauty, or their fitness to 
 be his consort. Enshrouded as they were in disguising 
 clothes, he had had no opportunity of choosing be 
 tween them. Neither had ever been celebrated in song 
 or poetry for her charms. He only knew that strange 
 thrill that had come to him when he had taken 
 Madrilla in his arms. Almareta might have caused 
 the same. It was true, however, that neither Scala 
 nor Saluciea had given him the same thrill, and this 
 puzzled him, for they were bothi beautiful. 
 
 It was explained to him that two hundred priests 
 resided in the caverns of Crail. Twenty sisters re 
 sided in, and presided over, the gardens. These also 
 administer to the wants of the sick of the colony. 
 These females were quite aged. 
 
 The caverns had but one direct connection with these 
 gardens. In early morn, and at sunset, the priests 
 could be seen promenading along a high gallery above 
 the gardens, usually arm in arm. They seldom were 
 seen in the gardens below, and then only in the com 
 pany of Cracillies or Saranaces. 
 
 Cyaxares at once asked to see Cracillies. That
 
 82 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 good old priest took him to a large and comfortable 
 villa, or rather to a series of villas, occupied by the 
 sisters of Crail. To these Almareta and Madrilla had 
 been consigned, and had had time to don the com 
 fortable garb of the inmates. 
 
 Cracillies and Cyaxares were permitted to have free 
 conversation with the two princesses, and the prince 
 for the first time had the pleasure of seeing these young 
 women in a dress to reveal their perfection. Simple 
 as were these garbs, the princesses were beautiful; 
 both were beautiful. Cyaxares wondered how he had 
 been so deceived by Scala and Saluciea. He was at 
 once enamored of Madrilla. Her thick brown tresses, 
 her soft blue eyes, her velvet cheeks, and voluptuous 
 person, all appealed to his strength and brawn. 
 Almareta was Semitic in her severe, dark beauty. She 
 was not of the same type. Moreover, she, too, yielded 
 to Madrilla in everything, yet they were inseparable 
 friends. Cyaxares was frank to show that he was the 
 more strongly drawn toward Madrilla, which fact 
 seemed greatly to please Almareta. 
 
 Cracillies was the head of the priests of Crail, there 
 fore when he assumed to be sponsor for the conduct 
 of these strange young people, it was sufficient; and 
 while they conversed upon the topics most to their 
 interest they also walked about, and viewed, the beau 
 tiful gardens. 
 
 Cracillies accompanied Almareta, while Cyaxares 
 and Madrilla walked together. 
 
 " How am I to reward you for your brave and gen 
 erous rescue of us from a situation that I knew was 
 fraught with such grave dangers, when we do not 
 even know what your motive is ? " and Madrilla looked 
 anxiously up into Cyaxares' face. His head was bare,
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 83 
 
 and as his mass of brown hair tumbled about his neck 
 and shoulders he was truly handsome. Madrilla did 
 not attempt to conceal her confidence in him. Her ad 
 miration was palpable. She was as much pleased with 
 him as he was with her. 
 
 Smiling down upon her, he said: 
 
 " I am Cyaxares, son of Phraortes. The reward 
 that I claim for having been instrumental in saving 
 you from a nameless fate is paid in the joy that I 
 have in knowing you. The future may hold a still 
 greater joy for me, when I have earned it," was the 
 gallant reply. 
 
 " You have earned my eternal gratitude, whatever 
 the future may hold," said Madrilla. 
 
 " You are safe, but not yet free to leave Ironia. 
 But I pledge my life upon your being returned in 
 safety to your country. I start to-morrow morning 
 to secure absolute protection for you while leaving 
 this dangerous land, dangerous as long as Deioces is 
 king over it," said Cyaxares, earnestly. 
 
 " I would gladly share your dangers by going with 
 you now," she said. 
 
 " I would be overjoyed to have you do so, but there 
 are other things to be considered. You are secure 
 here. I shall come here for you when the way is clear," 
 and his eyes told more than his words. 
 
 " And how long shall I have to wait ? " she plain 
 tively asked. 
 
 " Not one moment longer than it will require me to 
 remove all obstacles, and return here for you." 
 
 "And then?" 
 
 "I know not." 
 
 A long silence ensued, broken by Cyaxares. 
 
 " You are the daughter of the great and mysterious
 
 84 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Sapor, King of Kings. I am the son of a throneless 
 king. We may never meet again after I have taken 
 you to permanent safety," he said, sadly. They had 
 paused in their walk. 
 
 " Do you believe you would wish to see me again ? 
 Our acquaintance has been brief." 
 
 " It is sufficient ; I wish to see you again, and I will 
 earn the right." 
 
 " When you place me in the safe environs of the 
 Holy Crater, you will have earned the right. I pledge 
 you my word that you shall see me again, and often. 
 Almareta has told me who you are. I will give you a 
 sealed message to the Sapor. You shall be king of 
 Ironia. The good priest Cracillies will hand you my 
 message. I wish you safety and good health during 
 your hard journey, and I shall pray each day for 
 your early return." 
 
 They were at the entrance through which Almareta 
 had already passed. Cracillies was some distance 
 away, calmly examining some flowers. Cyaxares 
 raised the two plump hands to his lips, kissed them, and 
 whispered, "Till then." 
 
 " Till then," she softly repeated after him, and 
 there was a fathomless depth of love in the great blue 
 eyes that looked into his own something that he had 
 never seen before. 
 
 He could not help it ; it said itself, as she turned for 
 one final glance, 
 
 " Your love shall be my highest goal ! " 
 
 " Till then," she responded, wafting him a kiss with 
 her beautiful hands. 
 
 Slowly he went toward Cracillies. The priest 
 looked sharply at the flushed face. Perceiving the 
 close scrutiny of the elder man, and knowing its mean-
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 85 
 
 ing, Cyaxares blushed to even a deeper glow. The 
 priest placed his hand within the prince's arm, and 
 said: 
 
 " A good beginning, I pray it may lead to better 
 things, but, Cyaxares, you have the greatest trials 
 and hardships before you. We must prevent a holy 
 war, if possible, yet have the aid of the Holy Crater. 
 This will require a diplomacy that would tax the in 
 genuity and patience of much older and more experi 
 enced statesmen than yourself. I would suggest your 
 at once attempting to take these princesses to their 
 respective homes, but I have the positive evidence that 
 you cannot do this with any degree of safety. There 
 is deeper intrigue abroad than we at first thought. It 
 was by some means discovered that you were in 
 Baleria, a deep laid plot was in operation to capture 
 you, and while, I must for the present refrain from 
 actually charging him with it, I am convinced that 
 Saranaces has some knowledge of it, and is forming 
 some counterplot of his own. Only your coming here 
 saved you. You must prepare for immediate depar 
 ture from here." 
 
 They had stopped. Cyaxares was staring into the 
 priest's face. 
 
 " Do you know what occurred to me when we were 
 separated in Baleria? " he asked. 
 
 " How could I ? I came directly here with the la 
 dies." 
 
 Cyaxares hastily told the facts. Cracillies was 
 more than surprised, saying: 
 
 " Cyaxares, if you were as homely as Paulius you 
 would now be languishing in a cell. Your escape is a 
 miracle." 
 
 " But, Cracillies, I have given my word of honor to
 
 86 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 return there to-night, and to take Cambyses with me," 
 exclaimed Cyaxares. 
 
 The priest threw up his hands. 
 
 " You will not keep this suicidal engagement ? If 
 you do you will never leave Baleria alive." 
 
 " Yet I have pledged my honor, and must go," re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " This is foolish. These women have enamored 
 you, and this is a rendezvous for love. I am impa 
 tient with you. O youth, you become irrational under 
 the eyes of women. But a moment ago you pledged 
 eternal love to Madrilla, and now you seek to debase 
 yourself, believing that you may vent your passion in 
 the arms of these plotting women." 
 
 Cyaxares was surprised. 
 
 " How did you know that I mentioned love to 
 Madrilla? " 
 
 " I saw it in your face. It mattered not whether 
 you spoke it. She is a woman, she saw it. I approve 
 of it, I am overjoyed to know it. But this is a sad 
 betrayal of her confidence, something you cannot pur 
 chase with gold." 
 
 Cyaxares hung his head. Cracillies' criticism was 
 just from his beliefs. Looking the priest frankly in 
 the face, he said: 
 
 " Cracillies, I know you are truly my friend. From 
 your point of view, what you have said is justifiable. 
 But I am; going to convince you that I have a different 
 motive in going back to Baleria to-night. But first I 
 want to ask if you have positive evidence that Scala 
 and Saluciea are the characters that you charge them 
 with being? " 
 
 Cracillies seemed much confused at this question, hes 
 itating painfully as he said :
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 87 
 
 " Why, why, you have just told me that Scala, half- 
 nude, enticed you into her rendezvous." 
 
 "Is that your only evidence?" 
 
 " I prefer not to discuss the matter," doggedly re 
 plied Cracillies. 
 
 " Suppose she had enticed me into the house for a 
 purpose entirely different from that that you inti 
 mate? She was not in the street when my cowl was 
 torn off my head. I saw her dart directly to me from 
 the veranda. Saluciea herself confessed that she and 
 Scala had previously had me under discussion." 
 
 Cracillies was deeply interested. 
 
 " Now," continued Cyaxares, " before you think of 
 this, what about the chastity of Saluciea? " 
 
 " Chastity ! Why, you know the whole world be 
 lieves Saluciea to be the mistress of Deioces," and 
 Cracillies looked startled. 
 
 " Could a woman be mistress to a king and remain 
 virtuous ? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " Not in the common use of the term, but there must 
 be some strange thing in your mind. What is it? " 
 said Cracillies. 
 
 " It is this, my best friend, I am going to keep my 
 pledge and return to these women to-night and prove 
 that even women that are openly accused of evil things 
 have as much honor as men when put to the final test, 
 and now I am going to prove to you that very often 
 women are accused of being much worse than they 
 really are. I have the word of Saluciea that she is 
 not the mistress of Deioces, and never was, and I be 
 lieve her. I am going to make her my friend and ally. 
 As for Scala, it is not so important a matter, bu^ 
 Saluciea tries to shield her from the intimation thai 
 she is immoral. Nevertheless, when a woman has will-
 
 88 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ingly thrown her nude self into a man's arms, it is 
 difficult to overcome the belief that she would go to 
 greater extremes if need be, but she is wholly devoted 
 to Saluciea, and will blindly do her bidding." 
 
 " You are taking desperate chances, Cyaxares. 
 There are many things that I could tell you regarding 
 Saluciea, but not now. I cannot advise you further 
 on this point." 
 
 " The time is growing short. I will ask if you will 
 hold in safety Scala and Saluciea, should I bring them 
 here to-night? " 
 
 " You bring Scala and Saluciea here ! " exclaimed 
 Cracillies in an amazed tone. 
 
 " For safe keeping," said Cyaxares. 
 
 " The perfidy of men, and yet we condemn women 
 for lesser crimes. I take it that you mean to bring 
 these women here by some ruse and then detain them, 
 after their having thrown themselves into your arms. 
 Even though they may be virtuous women, they, by 
 giving you their confidence, seek your love. They are 
 enamored of you, and are willing perhaps to betray 
 Deioces to you. But do you think they expect no re 
 ward? And this treachery is to be their reward. You 
 are treating them as lewd women by tempting them, 
 Cyaxares. Is this your method of pledging your 
 honor to helpless women ? " 
 
 " Ah, my dear Cracillies, you jump at conclusions. 
 I am going to make these women my allies. They are 
 at the most desperate period in their lives ; I am going 
 to save them from themselves. They must be removed 
 from our sphere of action because they are fascinating 
 women, who, should they become identified with the 
 plotting that is just now brooding in Baleria, could 
 give us more trouble than a dozen Erskaleses. They
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 89 
 
 have placed themselves in this awkward position. It 
 is no purposeful breach of honor for me to checkmate 
 them, and safely tuck them out of the way until we 
 can again set them free, under better conditions for 
 all concerned. Show me where they will have lost any 
 thing." 
 
 " Your argument is not without merit, Cyaxares, 
 but I have never favored the bartering in the human 
 passions that belong to love and affection. I believe 
 these to be the most sacred things in natural religion. 
 On the ground that I believe these women are delib 
 erately plotting to betray you, I will be prepared to 
 receive them should you bring them here to-night. It 
 should not be a difficult matter to persuade them to 
 come to the world-famous gardens of Crail. But, 
 Cyaxares, do not promise your love to either of these 
 women. Doubtless Saranaces is wondering where we 
 are; I deem it wise to conceal from him, if it is possi 
 ble, the fact that you contemplate bringing the women 
 here. If he and they are plotting to betray you, this 
 will be an embarrassing interruption to their plans." 
 
 " It is impossible that he should know that I con 
 template going there to-night, for he could not guess 
 what arrangements I had made with the women. I saw 
 him as I came out of the house, and he could not have 
 received word from them. I only told him a part of 
 what occurred there. We must detain him here in 
 order to prevent his communicating with them. The 
 whole matter looks suspiciously like collusion between 
 Saranaces and Saluciea." 
 
 " We must do more than this, we must at the earliest 
 hour bring our prisoners here where we can better 
 guard them. We cannot do this, though, without 
 Saranaces' knowledge. I have a suspicion of Sara-
 
 90 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 naces* motives, and he will be as interested as we in 
 keeping secret their presence here," said Cracillies. 
 
 " Oh, here come Saranaces and Cambyses now. 
 Let us be discussing philosophy, for Saranaces is a 
 man of quick perception." 
 
 As the two came to where they had seated themselves, 
 Cracillies exclaimed to Cyaxares: 
 
 " Destiny is arbitrary, fate is impartial. At one 
 moment fate may appear to be our best friend and in 
 the next moment our worst enemy ; but, in the end, the 
 balance is in favor of right, and what destiny designs, 
 that is right. Truth and justice must prevail, be 
 cause they are conserving elements in all things celes 
 tial and terrestrial." 
 
 " Then you believe my cause to be just, and events 
 trending toward that just balance? " said Cyaxares, 
 motioning Cambyses and Saranaces to be seated. 
 
 " Certainly, else I would not advocate your cause ; 
 but a hair thrown into the scale may clog justice, and 
 change that trend." 
 
 " Then fate is not arbitrary if we may change it, 
 even by accident," declared Cyaxares. 
 
 " I did not say that fate is arbitrary. I said des 
 tiny is arbitrary. The destiny of the waters that flow 
 down from these mountains is the sea. Fate may has 
 ten or retard their flow, but they will overcome fate 
 and finally reach their arbitrary destination. So, you 
 see, fate and destiny are not identical." 
 
 " Then we are at the mercy of blind fate." 
 
 " Yes, destiny is wide-eyed, but fate is blind. With 
 knowledge and understanding we may evade the whim 
 of fate, but we may never escape destiny, which is 
 finality, the nearest approach to absolute rest. Grav 
 ity is the agent of destiny; all the forces opposed to
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 91 
 
 gravity are the agents of fate. The line of destiny is 
 straight; the line of fate is eccentric." 
 
 " Destiny, then, arbitrarily trends toward rest, or 
 balance, and fate interposes or removes obstructions, 
 therefore may work in favor of destiny or against 
 it? " said Cyaxares. 
 
 " Yes, therefore one buffeted by fate may draw so 
 far away from the influence of destiny as guiding the 
 whole that the balance falls short of the object of his 
 desires, that object having better exercised justice 
 against him in the economy of the whole, and he is by 
 fate eliminated from the calculations to reach his final 
 destination through some other channel. Destiny 
 deals with the whole mass, and balance is justice. 
 Fate deals with the separate elements, and all things 
 seek the line of least resistance to a level or balance, 
 rest, peace. There is no such thing as absolute rest, 
 else the universe would crystallize, and life would cease. 
 Fate does not always seem just, from a selfish point of 
 view, but destiny is arbitrarily just, because it tends 
 to balance." 
 
 " Then you believe that by understanding and fore 
 knowledge one may master fate, but we cannot alter 
 the finality of destiny," exclaimed Cyaxares. 
 
 " You are, in ignorance, the blind instrument of 
 fate. By understanding you may meet and master 
 fate, and hasten your own destiny. Fate placed the 
 retarding stone in the way of the waters, hindering 
 their trend toward the sea. Understanding removes 
 the stone, and hastens the waters on to their destina 
 tion. Do not make the mistake of believing that by 
 mastering fate you may shape your own final destiny. 
 You may reach a goal fixed by your own finite mind, 
 but destiny is infinite, therefore inscrutable. Under-
 
 92 
 
 standing is limited to our capacity to record and to 
 compare experiences. That capacity cannot reach 
 into the universal mind to its finality, and know 
 all things, else man could embarrass and obstruct crea 
 tion. It is inconceivable that a single cell may know 
 as much as the whole body of which it is but an in 
 finitesimal part." 
 
 " You speak of creation as a purposeful, reasoning 
 individuality," said Cyaxares in surprise. 
 
 " Why do you deny to the whole of creation powers 
 that you attribute to its smallest parts, the power to 
 reason? As I have said, the single cell cannot be 
 wiser than the body that produces and nourishes it. 
 When the parent body gives to the newly developed cell 
 the sense of self-protection and development, does it 
 wholly surrender this same sense itself? There is a 
 reasoning, thinking, all-knowing, universal mind per 
 vading the whole universe. To the extent of our lim 
 ited knowledge we have drawn from this parent mind 
 nourishment for our own, and, by constant effort, we 
 may attain to greater things." 
 
 " You are getting beyond my capacity to understand 
 you," cried Cyaxares, throwing up his hands. 
 
 " Well, then," laughingly said Cracillies, " tell us 
 all about your adventure in Baleria. We were much 
 alarmed when both you and Saranaces so suddenly 
 disappeared, fearing that some spy of Deioces' might 
 have recognized you." 
 
 " I have told Saranaces of my strange experience, 
 and it will bear repeating to you and Cambyses," said 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " When you hear the truth you will have much to 
 disconcert you, for mine was too well staged to be 
 named an accidental adventure. I consider my escape
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 93 
 
 a miracle. One of those freaks of fate that we can 
 not foresee." Then he related such of the facts as 
 he thought wise to reveal. 
 
 " And their identity ? " asked Cracillies, in apparent 
 excitement. 
 
 Cyaxares dramatically hesitated for a moment, then 
 said, 
 
 " The nude woman that I picked up in my arms in 
 the street was Scala." 
 
 " Scala ! " exclaimed Cambyses, and his look of 
 amazement deepened into a scowl. 
 
 " And the other? " 
 
 " Saluciea." 
 
 They all exclaimed in surprise at this revelation. 
 Cambyses was almost overcome with an excitement that 
 the others did not understand. 
 
 Suddenly arising, he clinched his fists, took a step 
 toward Cyaxares, and, in a voice choking with rage, 
 said, 
 
 " Cyaxares, we are betrayed." 
 
 A startled look came into the face of Saranaces. 
 Both Cyaxares and Cracillies took careful note of it. 
 
 Fearful of betraying himself to these astute men, 
 Saranaces remarked that while they were discussing 
 the matter he would go and take some greatly needed 
 rest. When Saranaces had disappeared, Cracillies 
 arose and pointed toward a cross, erected of loose 
 stones, and standing out against the sky. Not a word 
 was spoken but as they looked four figures appeared 
 before the cross. Cracillies raised his hands and 
 brought them around in a circle to a level with his 
 face. The figures disappeared. 
 
 To Cyaxares' inquiring look he said: 
 
 " My faithful Trincules, head guardsman to the
 
 94. THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 grotto by which we enteredj the gardens ; Helluses, head 
 guardsman of the entrance leading from the gardens 
 to the caverns ; Nicoles, head guardsman to the en 
 trance to the labyrinth, and Poco, head guardsman to 
 a secret outer entrance from the mountains. In antici 
 pation of just what has occurred I have closed all 
 these entrances against Saranaces." 
 
 " A wise precaution," said Cyaxares, " for, should 
 there be a conspiracy, Saranaces must necessarily seek 
 Saluciea at once to know what to do next." 
 
 Cambyses was taking something to heart. He was 
 pacing back and forth like an enraged tiger. Stop 
 ping, he heaved a great sigh, and said: 
 
 " Cyaxares, I insist that we have been betrayed. 
 We are prisoners in the caverns of Crail." 
 
 "How dare you?" exclaimed Cracillies. "Were 
 you other than Cambyses, I would quickly convince 
 you of your error." 
 
 " Cambyses, you are beside yourself. You must not 
 thus offend our best friend, Cracillies. We shall leave 
 here on the morrow with more than his blessing," said 
 Cyaxares, placing his hand upon Cambyses' arm. 
 
 " Forgive me, Cracillies, I spoke hastily and with 
 out due reason," returned Cambyses. 
 
 " You are quickly forgiven, Cambyses, for I know 
 you to be a man of hasty temper," said Cracillies. 
 " But now let us analyze this singular coincidence of 
 Scala and Saluciea." 
 
 " It is they who have betrayed us," said Cambyses. 
 
 " I will stake my life upon our having placed our 
 selves in a position to knock all props from under 
 Deioces," declared Cyaxares. 
 
 " Go on," said Cambyses. 
 
 " This night we will learn everything about this
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 95 
 
 plot, if there be one. These ladies are seeking asso 
 ciates more of their own liking." 
 
 Cyaxares was checked by Cambyses' having sud 
 denly raised his mace as though to strike him. Cra- 
 cillies threw himself between them. Cyaxares was 
 calm and unmoved. 
 
 " Do you mean to say that Scala is a street strum 
 pet? " Cambyses savagely bellowed. 
 
 " Not of my making," coolly replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Of any one's making? " demanded the enraged sol 
 dier. 
 
 Looking calmly at Cambyses as if calculating how 
 best to bring a madman to his senses, Cyaxares said: 
 
 " Cambyses, the facts are so plain that I would not 
 make reply to you, were it not for the love that I bear 
 you, and the knowledge that I have of your real affec 
 tion and high regard for Scala, which blinds you to 
 reason. You must know that I am not responsible 
 for the conduct of the woman that you love. As pain 
 ful as it is, it should be a satisfaction for you to know 
 the true character of the woman. Whether she is 
 chaste or not I do not know, but I do know that as 
 my lord chancellor I would not approve of your mar 
 rying a woman that would dance nude in the streets 
 and place herself on a par with that class of women, 
 even if her face was concealed. It is no crime against 
 God to love in secret, but it is a deadly contrast 
 brazenly to throw oneself into willing arms in the pub 
 lic thoroughfare. I do not know now that this is their 
 secret rendezvous for pleasure, but it was used to en 
 tice me, and the methods were those of lewd women, 
 swearing me to return there and bring you this night. 
 Whether this be a plot or a love adventure, I pledge 
 you all that I hope to gain by our movement against
 
 96 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Deioces that these two women will not betray us. My 
 object is to make them our permanent allies. Had I 
 spurned them, I would never have reached the bridge 
 alive. That is the whole matter. Do as you like, I 
 bear you no ill-will." 
 
 Camfoyses stood shamefaced before them. 
 
 ** Forgive me, Cyaxares, I was so shocked at learn 
 ing of Scala's duplicity that I was beside myself with 
 disappointment and rage. I would tear out my own 
 heart before I would lose your love and respect. But 
 what would you have me do? " 
 
 " Go willingly with me to-night, and play your part 
 well. You may be your own judge of Scala's charac 
 ter, but, from what you and she have both said to me, 
 you have no right to judge her. So far as you are 
 concerned, Scala is a free agent, to do as she pleases," 
 and he gently placed his hand upon Cambyses' shoulder. 
 
 " Yes, that is the truth," admitted Cambyses. 
 
 The subject grew less disagreeable as they went 
 deeper into it. 
 
 Continuing, Cyaxares said : 
 
 " There is much more in this than disappointed love. 
 A woman, as a rule, is as cruel to a discarded lover as 
 she is kind to a newly found one. We must assume 
 that Saluciea, sent to plot our downfall, is willing to 
 exchange Deioces for a new lover. Believing that she 
 may make an impression upon me, she is willing to be 
 tray Deioces, and is ready to confess the whole du 
 plicity. She has Scala, her bosom companion, join her 
 to give her courage. This night she will confess the 
 plot. But, Cambyses, it compels us to play a mean 
 role. ... I deem it well, Cracillies, to inform 
 Cambyses of the conversation that we overheard be 
 tween Zinkara and the guards," and, at a nod of ap-
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 97 
 
 proval from Cracillies, he repeated what they had 
 heard. 
 
 " And to spare my feelings you did not tell me," 
 said Cambyses. 
 
 " I did not feel justified in condemning Scala on 
 such evidence, and in turning you against her," re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " I have been thinking deeply," broke in Cracillies. 
 " It is impossible for you to make these women your 
 allies. Their demand upon you for reward would be 
 a scandal before the whole world. Whether they are 
 chaste women or not, the world believes them to be bad. 
 The Church would resent such an alliance. You prob 
 ably have, by a remarkable stroke of fortune, put a 
 snarl in the plans of Saranaces, for I believe him to 
 be the arch-plotter against you. I do not attribute 
 the actions of the women to Deioces' will." 
 
 " Cracillies, you are ungenerous. I am not enam 
 ored of these women. I believe a little gentle re 
 straint will do them good. This is a game of wit cut 
 wit. Should they be in a plot against us, it is most 
 important that they be detained. They could not well 
 be brought here by force. Moreover, I believe that 
 they will come by persuasion. Here they may be made 
 equally as comfortable, and certainly no less virtuous. 
 Their sudden disappearance will add to the confusion 
 of Deioces, who is, doubtless, half-crazed that he can 
 not solve the mystery of these disappearances. He 
 will be afraid of his own shadow." 
 
 " How do you propose to induce them to accompany 
 you ? " asked Cracillies. 
 
 " Saranaces has doubtless described to them the 
 wonders of these gardens. They are wild to view 
 them. It would be a great lark for these spirited
 
 98 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 women to don priests' garbs and come here, under the 
 guidance of Cambyses and myself," earnestly argued 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 Cracillies smiled. 
 
 "Do you believe that this is all child's prattle?" 
 demanded Cyaxares, with asperity. 
 
 " No, I was laughing at the thought that poor 
 Erskales would get the credit for Saluciea's disappear 
 ance. He has twice been reprimanded for paying too 
 much attention to Saluciea. Deioces has practically 
 withdrawn his confidence from Erskales. There is no 
 one else upon whom he can cast suspicion." 
 
 " Then this becomes the solution of the whole ques 
 tion. With all those in whom he usually confides mys 
 teriously taken away from him, he will at once fly into 
 a panic, and call his army about him as his only safe 
 guard. I will give him early cause to put that army 
 into active service," said Cyaxares. 
 
 " Well, perhaps Cambyses would feel better did he 
 know that Scala was provided for here instead of be 
 ing permitted to prowl freely about the streets of 
 wicked Baleria. I am inclined to let you have your 
 way," said Cracillies. 
 
 " I would rather she were dead and in her tomb than 
 alive and plying her trade in that hell's graveyard," 
 growled Cambyses. 
 
 " Not quite so bad as that, while she is under the 
 protection of Saluciea," smiled Cracillies. 
 
 " I have a revelation," declared Cyaxares. " Lis 
 ten carefully. Saranaces is the only one that can spoil 
 our plans. He must be detained here. If we suc 
 ceed to-night in bringing here Saluciea and Scala, our 
 work here is completed. To-morrow Cambyses and I 
 will start for Persis, where I will make proper repre-
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 99 
 
 sentations to Astyages, then I shall go alone to the 
 Holy Crater, bearing despatches from Astyages and 
 from you, Cracillies. As soon as we are gone, the 
 word must go to Deioces that Astyages has not only 
 carried away the two princesses, but has also taken 
 all these missing officials, also Saluciea and Scala, to 
 hold as hostages until Deioces has made proper amends 
 for his terrible insult to the other rulers. I informed 
 Deioces that Astyages' army was waiting to have his 
 reply to the message that I delivered to him as coming 
 from Astyages. 
 
 " Deioces has a standing army of thirty thousand 
 well-equipped soldiers. In his confusion and anger he 
 will recklessly throw these soldiers out through the 
 passes, and I hope to be prepared to slip an army in 
 behind him, cut off his base of supplies, and block his 
 return into little Ironia. His army will be annihi 
 lated." 
 
 " Carry this plan to a successful conclusion, and the 
 moment you give me the word I will have a howling 
 revolution on hand, here. We have arms and accouter- 
 ments hidden here for two thousand men," excitedly 
 declared Cracillies. " Now go quickly, and prepare 
 yourselves. It will be dark by the time you can reach 
 the city. I will personally pass you in upon your re 
 turn here." 
 
 "But Saranaces?" anxiously suggested Cyaxares. 
 
 " I will see to that," said Cracillies as he left them. 
 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses hastened away to prepare 
 for their rendezvous with the two charming ladies. 
 
 " Play your part well, Cambyses. You may never 
 again have an equal opportunity to make love to 
 Scala." 
 
 " I will do my part, Cyaxares, never fear."
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT THE HOUSE IN BALERIA 
 
 AT the suggestion of Cracillies, Cyaxares and 
 Cambyses were placed in the hands of Poco and 
 were conducted through a secret passageway, the dis 
 tance being so great that Cyaxares remarked upon the 
 time that it required to reach the outer entrance. 
 Great was their astonishment when a door opened, and 
 they found themselves in the rendezvous in Baleria 
 where they had first met Cracillies. There were sev 
 eral priests in the room and five other muffled figures. 
 The prisoners were being secretly conveyed to the 
 caverns of Crail. Paulius and Crecies had just been 
 brought in, and the procession was ready to enter 
 the secret underground passage. Poco, instructing 
 Cyaxares to return to the gardens by way of the 
 bridge, let them out upon the street. They experi 
 enced no difficulty in returning to the house, where they 
 were warmly greeted. 
 
 Scala very promptly threw her plump arms about 
 Cambyses, and without invitation began to shower him 
 with caresses, all to his liking. 
 
 Saluciea was more dignified and discreet in her greet 
 ing of Cyaxares, nevertheless she permitted him to 
 take some liberties. She seemed sincerely pleased, 
 however, that Cyaxares had kept his tryst. 
 
 " I love a man that keeps his promise," she said, 
 as they entered a comfortable room in a secluded part 
 of the house, where they were served with a delicious 
 
 100
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT BALERIA 101 
 
 repast. Delicacies and wines, such as they had never 
 tasted before, were there. 
 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses had both laid off their mail 
 for the courtly dress of gentlemen. Upon the re 
 moval of their disguising cassocks the ladies had ex 
 claimed at the marked improvement in their appear 
 ance. 
 
 " You are, indeed, a prince," exclaimed Saluciea. 
 
 " And you a splendid man," exclaimed Scala, and 
 she again assaulted Cambyses with her passionate 
 caresses. She was digging her own grave, but she was 
 having a good time with the undertaker, and he re 
 sented it less as the wine took effect. 
 
 Arising, Cyaxares drew Saluciea up to him, raised 
 his glass aloft, and said to Cambyses, 
 
 " Let us drink to the fair ladies," then turning to 
 his blushing companion, he continued : " We have this 
 night paid to you ladies the highest compliment that 
 men can pay to women. We are in a strange land, 
 surrounded by enemies, and with intrigue upon our 
 trail; we have risked our lives to come here and drink 
 your wine and partake of your viands that we might 
 pay you the compliment of confidence. There can be 
 no love without confidence." 
 
 Saluciea looked appealingly into his face for a mo 
 ment, then, as her face went chalky white, she slipped 
 to her seat and buried her face in her arms, and she 
 was convulsed by a wave of strong emotion. The 
 others stood silent and with bowed heads. Well did 
 Cyaxares know what was about to happen, but it oc 
 curred before he was fully prepared. Suddenly spring 
 ing to her feet, Saluciea flung herself passionately 
 into his arms, her cheeks flushed, her eyes aglow, and 
 her whole person in a wild quiver of excitement.
 
 102 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " Yes, I will tell you ! " she exclaimed. " You were 
 marked for betrayal and we were your enemies, but 
 you have won us over." 
 
 Cyaxares half pushed her away, and looked sur 
 prised. 
 
 " Listen to me first. Condemn us afterward, if you 
 must," and she clung to him. 
 
 " I know my actions are unwomanly. Oh, what of 
 that? Men do not believe women anyhow, nevertheless 
 I am not so bad as the world makes me, and I am not 
 bad enough to permit even a brother to barter my 
 chastity for his political purposes. The world says 
 that I am the mistress of Deioces ; I have said the 
 same to you ; I have for twelve years endured the in 
 sult. I have sacrificed the best part of my life, love, 
 ambition, everything, to appease the insatiable ambi 
 tions of an ungodly brother. I was consigned to 
 Deioces at the age of eighteen, but never once has his 
 polluting hands touched my person, and never shall 
 they. Perhaps, at some more opportune time, I may 
 give you a sufficient reason why he has not the power 
 to despoil me. I tell you this to make you believe me, 
 Cyaxares, for you have conquered me. I pledge you 
 my life that by no fault of mine will you suffer while 
 in Baleria. You are not safe here for one moment. 
 My wicked and ambitious brother is waiting some 
 where now secretly to capture you. He will take you 
 to the king." 
 
 "This brother of yours, who is he?" demanded 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " Saranaces," she almost whispered. 
 
 Scala was almost overcome with the excitement, and 
 had dropped into her seat. Cyaxares and Cambyses 
 stood looking at each other.
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT BALERIA 103 
 
 " Does the king know that I am in Baleria? " asked 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " No, he has not yet been informed," replied 
 Saluciea. " My brother expects to stage this an 
 nouncement to the best advantage for himself." 
 
 " Saluciea, tell me the truth ; for what purpose are 
 you and Scala occupying this house? " 
 
 " For the sole purpose of ensnaring you. The first 
 time that we ever entered it was on the morning of the 
 fete-day. The house is a secret place for Saranaces* 
 plotting." 
 
 Cyaxares drew a deep breath, then placing his hand 
 upon Saluciea's shoulder half caressingly, he said, 
 
 " Saluciea, do you know why your brother desired 
 me to be taken in your company? " 
 
 " I have always done his bidding without asking his 
 reasons," she said, with perfect innocence in her ques 
 tioning eyes. 
 
 " Then let me tell you the reason. Deioces would 
 be wiped out of existence did he behead me, the only 
 legitimate aspirant to his throne, for any other reason 
 than betrayal of his household. Should he be able 
 to prove by Saranaces that I had been discovered here 
 in the company of his world-known mistress, the sword 
 would fall upon my neck unchallenged." 
 
 " What ! Then he is sacrificing us both ! " ex 
 claimed Saluciea, clinching her hands, in suppressed ex 
 citement and indignation ; then a terror crept into her 
 eyes, as she realized that it was too late, believing that 
 they were entrapped together, that she had unwit 
 tingly betrayed her bosom friend and herself in serv 
 ing her brother. Placing her hands upon her bosom, 
 she raised her eyes, and softly said: 
 
 " I have done a great wrong, my life alone can
 
 104 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 atone for it. It might as well be now as to wait in 
 terror and sorrow to see the cruel end," and, before a 
 staying hand could prevent it, she had broken the top 
 off a pendant at the end of her chatelaine, and had 
 swallowed its contents. 
 
 Horrified at the tragedy that had so suddenly oc 
 curred, they stood as if paralyzed. Cyaxares quickly 
 placed her upon a couch and knelt beside her, chafing 
 her hands and pleading with her to speak. The 
 deadly poison was doing its work quickly. Her eyes 
 opened for a single moment. She placed her hands 
 upon Cyaxares' head. 
 
 " I must say it, I never before knew what love was ; 
 I love you. I can never be anything to you, and I 
 cannot live to know of your suffering because of my 
 perfidy. Forgive me ; and Scala, she was but my tool. 
 I vouch for her chastity, Cambyses, she loves you 
 dearly. Good-bye, Scala, my love," and her beautiful 
 head lay still against Cyaxares' shoulder. 
 
 For many minutes they all sat in a stupor. Fear 
 ful of a demonstration on the part of Scala, Cambyses 
 held her tightly. It was not necessary, for the poor, 
 frightened girl was incapable of understanding the 
 meaning of it all, and in sheer terror had slid down to 
 the floor in a dead faint. Cyaxares was so overcome 
 that he quickly placed the splendid form upon the 
 couch, folded her hands across the snowy bosom, then 
 leaned upon Cambyses, and wept bitter tears of an 
 guish and real sorrow. 
 
 Raising his hands high above his head, Cambyses 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " I pray to all the gods in heaven to give to 
 Saranaces and to Deioces, each, a thousand lives that 
 I may take them all in avenging this crime ! " Cyax-
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT BALERIA 105 
 
 ares only grasped the great hand as a token of ap 
 proval. 
 
 " We are confronted by a new calamity, Cambyses. 
 What are we to do with them? " and he looked at the 
 women. 
 
 This question brought them to a realization that 
 they must revive Scala, who was still in a swoon, and 
 this they proceeded to do, taking care that she did 
 not again look upon Saluciea's calm, white face by 
 carrying her into an adjoining room. 
 
 " We must act quickly, Cyaxares. Death would 
 truly be our portion, should we be found here. Here 
 are cassocks of the holy state, we are less liable to be 
 recognized in these. This must be some of Saran aces' 
 collection. Scala must also don this garb and go 
 with us." 
 
 " What are you going to do ? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " We must at once return to the caverns of Crail," 
 said Cambyses. 
 
 " And leave Saluciea here alone? " exclaimed 
 Cyaxares. " That is too cruel." 
 
 " We cannot take the body with us. We must con 
 sult with Cracillies quickly, for this is more than a 
 tragedy. It must not be discovered that Saluciea, the 
 king's mistress, is lying dead in a house away from the 
 palace," declared Cambyses. 
 
 " She shall have a tomb of rarest onyx when I am 
 king. She must be taken to the caves of Crail. You 
 are right, Cambyses. I will cover the body. You 
 make some reasonable excuse to Scala, and get her out 
 of the house," then he passed into the death-chamber. 
 
 The small silver lamps were burning low. The 
 chamber was so quiet that it seemed like a desecration 
 to move. There she lay, like a grand piece of marble
 
 106 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 statuary. Her face was placid as though no pain had 
 accompanied death. This cold serenity greatly en 
 hanced her beauty. Cyaxares stood gazing for a mo 
 ment upon the calm, peaceful features, then the scald 
 ing tears that he could not hold back came in a grate 
 ful shower. Kneeling, he pressed the cold hands, say 
 ing: 
 
 " O, Saluciea, why did you do this ? I believed you, 
 yes, I know you were not the woman that the world 
 had painted you. My soul knew that your great heart 
 was true, and that you were a good woman. Only 
 cruel fate had ensnared you. Had you but waited, 
 O had you but waited! I could have loved a woman 
 like you." Suddenly he ceased speaking, and a look 
 of terror came into his face. What was that? Had 
 her soul not yet left her body? Had it responded to 
 his appeal? Two great tears had suddenly appeared 
 upon the long lashes, and now they clung there; now 
 they were released, and like dropping pearls fell down 
 over the snowy cheeks. 
 
 " Cambyses ! " he whispered, " Cambyses ! " But 
 no answer came. 
 
 " Cambyses ! Look ! she is not dead, she weeps ! " 
 and he looked into the other room; they had gone. 
 
 Again he felt the cold hands. The face was also 
 cold. Rigidity had quickly stiffened the whole body. 
 Yes, she was dead. Sadly he covered the beautiful 
 form, went through the door, locking it after him, and 
 hurried on to overtake Cambyses and Scala, who had 
 traveled quickly, and were now near the bridge. The 
 three passed on, silent and sick at heart. 
 
 As they passed over the bridge a single priest 
 stepped out of the shadow and looked at them for a 
 moment. He, too, wore the garb of the Holy State;
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT BALERIA 107 
 
 suddenly he whirled about and walked briskly after 
 them, and saw them disappear inside the grotto leading 
 into the gardens of Crail. Standing for a moment as 
 if astonished, he muttered: 
 
 " What, vestrymen of the Holy State entering the 
 gardens of Crail, when I am not permitted to do so? 
 Why, Deioces himself has no such privilege." Then, 
 as if in deep anger at such a discovery, he rushed to 
 the entrance of the grotto, and shouted, 
 
 " What ! Ho, there ! " 
 
 Only the reverberation of his own voice answered 
 him. 
 
 " I will enter unbidden then," and he boldly entered 
 into the grotto. 
 
 "Who comes there?" was a sudden challenge from 
 the very wall itself. 
 
 " I am Erskales. I demand to know why my priests 
 are permitted to enter here unchallenged while I my 
 self aye, even Deioces himself has not this privi 
 lege?" 
 
 " Hasten then and overtake them, and ask of them 
 the meaning of it," replied the voice. 
 
 Erskales took but a few steps, when a cloak was 
 cast over his head, and he felt himself lifted up as if 
 being taken up into a higher passageway. It was use 
 less to struggle. It gave him more relief to pray. He 
 was a prisoner in the labyrinth of Crail, and not a 
 living soul but him and his captors knew it. Pie ac 
 knowledged after it was too late that he was a fool. 
 
 There were four men in this upper gallery ; two of 
 them carried the prisoner forward, while the other two 
 followed. 
 
 " Trincules, even the devil sometimes meets a stroke 
 of good fortune. Now you can apply this to one or
 
 108 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 both of us, for I have by a stroke of fortune made my 
 self head of the Holy State, which means a high pro 
 motion for you. This is Erskales himself who has 
 thrust his august person into the well-hole. We must 
 not permit your two assistants to recognize him. I 
 charge you alone with his safe keeping. Take him to 
 the well-hole. Did you again close the cleft? " 
 
 " It is closed," said Trincules. 
 
 They hastened along the gallery in the flickering 
 light of flambeaux until they reached a curious ex 
 cavation, through the top of which could be discerned 
 the blue sky and twinkling stars. 
 
 Depositing Erskales, they placed about his body a 
 steel hoop to which a long chain was attached, the 
 other end of which was fastened to the wall of the 
 cavern. Bidding the other men go and say nothing of 
 their adventure, Trincules concealed Saranaces in a 
 nearby alcove, then removed the cloak from Erskales' 
 head. . 
 
 " What is the meaning of this outrage ? " demanded 
 the head of the Holy State. 
 
 " It means that you are a prisoner, and chained to 
 the wall of the labyrinth of Crail, where no one comes 
 except to administer to those that die here," was the 
 cruel answer of Trincules. 
 
 " But why am I made a prisoner? " asked Erskales. 
 
 " For political reasons that I am not at liberty to 
 discuss with you," said Trincules. 
 
 " Am I then condemned to die here for political 
 reasons? " 
 
 " That depends upon your conduct, perhaps. Be a 
 good and cheerful prisoner, and you will live longer 
 to see what fate holds for you," replied the heartless 
 Trincules.
 
 109 
 
 Then the outraged Erskales alternately prayed and 
 cursed, declaring that the minute his absence was dis 
 covered Deioces would tear these caverns to pieces in 
 searching for him. Saranaces chuckled, and passed 
 on through the labyrinth to the gardens. 
 
 The labyrinth was a subcavern, so damp and grue 
 some that it was not used except on very rare occa 
 sions when prisoners were chained to the walls at the 
 place called the well-hole. It was a horrible prison, 
 yet safe from the prying eyes of the priests of the up 
 per caverns. 
 
 It had long been whispered about that Deioces had 
 withdrawn his confidence from Erskales, and that 
 Saranaces would certainly be elected as the head of 
 the Holy State at the next annual conclave. The 
 present situation, however, would doubtless place him 
 in Erskales' place at once, upon its being officially 
 known that Erskales had mysteriously disappeared. 
 
 The Holy Church had been riding roughshod over 
 the Holy State, and Deioces hoped that Saranaces 
 might change this condition and bring about a better 
 and more peaceful understanding. He well knew that 
 the Church had the friendship of the Holy Crater, 
 which made it a dangerous matter for him to resent 
 the encroachment of the Church upon his rights. 
 
 At a single lucky stroke, due to a natural conti 
 nuity of singular events, Saranaces had reached his 
 goal ; therefore he at once began to feel his power. 
 
 Returning to the gardens that he had impatiently 
 patrolled the entire evening in an attempt to discover 
 the movements of Cyaxares and Cambyses, he was se 
 cretly informed that three strange priests, wearing the 
 garb of the Holy State, had been admitted into the 
 gardens on the order of Cracillies. Two of these were
 
 110 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 exceptionally large, while the third seemed more like 
 a woman in disguise. 
 
 Upon hearing this information, Saranaces rushed 
 wildly back to the entrance of the labyrinth, where 
 Trincules was attempting to conceal the entrance by 
 drawing the shrubbery about it. 
 
 " Come, Trincules, I cannot wait for others. You 
 must accompany me at once," and the two went to 
 the cleft in the wall of the labyrinth, let themselves 
 down with ropes, and passed out of the grotto and 
 toward the bridge leading to Baleria. Despite this 
 haste they had been anticipated. 
 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses, bringing Scala with them, 
 had been admitted into the gardens upon their arrival, 
 and shortly thereafter Scala was securely put away in 
 one of the villas, while the two men, with Cracillies, 
 sought the latter's secret cell to discuss all the happen 
 ings of the evening. 
 
 " Something dreadful must have happened ; you both 
 look as if you are ready to collapse. Partake of this 
 good wine, and tell me of your adventure," and 
 Cracillies quickly gave to each a cup of wine. 
 
 " Enough has happened to prove that your theme 
 regarding fate and destiny has an endless variety of 
 tricks to play upon us, to keep us guessing whether 
 fate is blind or not. A horrible thing has occurred 
 this night, Cracillies," and Cyaxares placed his head 
 in his hands, and groaned aloud. 
 
 " Pray tell us what all this means. Why did you 
 not bring Saluciea here, which you said you would 
 do? " asked Cracillies, anxiously. 
 
 " Because Saluciea is dead," moaned Cyaxares. 
 
 " Saluciea dead ! O what can this mean ? Saluciea 
 dead ! " and the aged priest held his clasped hands
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT BALERIA 111 
 
 aloft, while great tears fell down upon his hoary beard. 
 
 The other two men looked much surprised, and Cra- 
 cillies, as if he had betrayed some hidden sentiment, 
 hastily brushed away the signs of his own grief, and 
 listened eagerly to their story of the evening. 
 
 " It is of the greatest importance that we immedi 
 ately have her body brought here," said Cracillies. 
 " We cannot have the public mind excited at this time. 
 Moreover, we cannot tell what Deioces may attempt 
 upon discovering this tragedy. He has been drinking 
 deeply for several days." 
 
 " I cannot tell you how sad I feel over this affair. 
 I had a great liking for Saluciea. At the last mo 
 ment I believed that she was only in a deep swoon for, 
 while displaying my sudden grief, I wept over her 
 beautiful face, and to my surprise two great pearly 
 tears came out upon her eyelashes and dropped upon 
 her cheeks. But she was rigid and undoubtedly dead," 
 moaned Cyaxares. 
 
 The priest arose quickly, saying: 
 
 " Come, get your rest, for before the day comes you 
 must be on your way. I will take care of evervthing 
 here." 
 
 " And you will bring Saluciea here, and let me know 
 when you arrive with the body? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 The priest hesitated, then said, 
 
 " That must be left to my discretion." 
 
 Later in the night Cracillies came to the cell in which 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses were resting to say that a real 
 calamity was upon them. Saranaces was missing, and 
 the body of Saluciea had been removed from the house. 
 It was most, urgent that they should not wait till morn 
 ing, but immediately prepare for their departure. He 
 had prepared messages to be carried by Cyaxares to
 
 112 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Astyages and to the Holy Crater. He advised that 
 Astyages should add also an urgent message to the 
 Sapor. Then he handed to Cyaxares a message from 
 Madrilla, saying: 
 
 " Madrilla requests that you permit no one to know 
 that you carry 1 a message from her to the Sapor. You 
 are to open the outer covering upon reaching the Holy 
 Crater, and read the personal message, which will fully 
 instruct you what to do. You must deliver the sealed 
 message, which you will find within, to the high priest, 
 who will receive you in the inner sanctum of the palace 
 of the Sapor. You will have the distinction of being 
 the only ambassador that has ever been permitted a 
 personal audience with the Sapor. Madrilla declares 
 her message will bring you this distinction. Every 
 thing is in readiness for your departure. You will 
 be conducted through a secret passageway to the moun 
 tains. Now, my blessings go with you. I shall await 
 instructions from you after you have performed your 
 pilgrimage of mercy," and Cracillies affectionately em 
 braced the two stalwart men. 
 
 Without they found their three henchmen and four 
 priests ready to make the start. 
 
 During their passage through the caves Cambyses 
 changed the whole trend of events in Ironia by a sim 
 ple little trick of precaution. Telling the guides to 
 go forward he had his men lag behind and slash the 
 walls with their strong, short daggers. Every slash 
 made a clean-cut mark upon the soft limestone, every 
 four or five feet apart. 
 
 Upon reaching the outer entrance to the cave it 
 was suggested that they rest there till the first light 
 of day. Then, bidding them good-bye, the priests re 
 turned into the cavern.
 
 THE TRAGEDY AT BALERIA 113 
 
 In the early morning they looked about them, and 
 were much surprised to find themselves near the very 
 promontory from which they had first viewed the plains 
 below. 
 
 At a farm, a mile away, they had left their horses. 
 Securing the accouterments, which they had previously 
 hidden, they now made for their horses, and were soon 
 on their way on diplomatic missions destined to change 
 the map of Asia Minor.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 A MISSION TO THE COURT OF ASTYAGES 
 
 PERHAPS Little Ironia was more favorably situ 
 ated, having access to the sea, but Persis, occu 
 pying a great table-land, almost as rich in its soil as 
 Ironia, was one of the richest countries in Asia, and 
 of vastly greater importance in a political sense than 
 Ironia. Baleria might have had a more worldly repu 
 tation for architectural beauty and bad morals, but 
 Aspahan, the Persian capital, was a mart of immense 
 importance. 
 
 Deioces, king of Ironia, was a despot, and was 
 heartily hated by his agrarian subjects. Astyages 
 was a king, and was beloved by his people. 
 
 Deioces had boasted that an hundred miles of lash 
 and thong had made his lands productive. 
 
 Astyages had replied, 
 
 " Should one of my subjects unduly lash even an 
 ox, he would be punished in like manner." 
 
 By a benign, governmental supervision, the people 
 of Persis were assured of a happy, comfortable life, 
 participating in the prosperity of the nation, whose 
 products were exported to all the known world. The 
 great staples of Persis were wheat, maize, honey, bees 
 wax, hemp and its products, wool, wood-fibres, figs, 
 raisins, and fruits. These had made Persis famous. 
 
 Aspahan was a mart to which traders from all the 
 markets of the world came to barter, trade, and ex 
 change products. At the very gates of the city it 
 
 114
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 115 
 
 often happened that a train from one country would 
 meet a train from another, quickly strike a bargain 
 whereby the merchandise of one would be exchanged 
 for that of the other, without having entered into the 
 city, and no tribute was required of them by Astyages 
 in such transactions. This gave to Aspahan an ex 
 cellent reputation for fairness. 
 
 More than once Deioces had expressed his vexation 
 and disapproval of the tremendous commercial growth 
 of his rival and neighbor. So serious had the situa 
 tion become that the two rulers had forbidden commer 
 cial intercourse on the part of their trading merchants. 
 This had been, perhaps, the greatest menace to the 
 triple alliance. At frequent intervals Deioces had 
 placed guards in all the passes to enforce this edict. 
 This was, however, intended as an espionage upon the 
 people who came from, and went to, Aspahan upon the 
 highways near his borders. This policy bid fair to 
 involve him in war with all the surrounding nations, for 
 the insolence of his spies extended almost to brigandage 
 under the pretense of a right of search, consequently 
 he modified his conduct, being content to establish a 
 secret spy system with Zinkara at its head. So adroit 
 was this Zinkara that not even the priests of Crail 
 knew him by sight. 
 
 Regules' mountain house was the regular headquar 
 ters for Zinkara's force. Therefore, both coming into 
 and going out of Little Ironia, Cyaxares and his party 
 had avoided showing themselves as they went through 
 the Ironian pass. 
 
 It required several days of hard and fast travel for 
 Cyaxares to reach Aspahan, and but a single incident 
 of importance occurred. As they emerged from the 
 Ironian pass, and were well beyond the point which was
 
 116 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 considered Deioces' dead line, they were abruptly chal 
 lenged by two of Deioces' mounted guards. It re 
 quired a foolhardy courage, born of drunkenness, for 
 two men thus to challenge five stalwart and dangerous- 
 looking men, as well mounted and armed as themselves, 
 nevertheless they took the pass, and shouted, 
 
 " Ho ! have you passes to go this way ? " 
 
 A grim smile was on Cambyses' face as he rode 
 slightly in advance to make reply. 
 
 " Since when do you challenge travelers beyond the 
 house of Regules ? " 
 
 " Deioces challenges anywhere," impudently replied 
 the guard. 
 
 " Then we will show you our passes," said Cambyses 
 savagely, and, at a move of his hand, he and his hench 
 men rode over the two guards like a whirlwind. 
 
 Cyaxares looked down upon the two men while the 
 others secured the horses. The head of one was almost 
 severed from his body, while the other had no less than 
 three punctures through his neck and chest. 
 
 " We shall make good use of this," said Cyaxares. 
 " Doubtless Deioces by this time believes that Astyages 
 and the priests of Crail are working together, and this 
 will corroborate the story regarding the prisoners held 
 as hostages," then, with the life-blood of the fallen 
 guards he scrawled upon the trappings of one of the 
 steeds, 
 
 " Attacked by soldiers of Astyages." 
 
 Lashing the animal into a fury of pain and fright, 
 to make him run away, he turned his head toward the 
 Ironian pass, and released him. The scared animal 
 sped like the wind, and soon disappeared. 
 
 After Cambyses' men had possessed themselves of 
 what they found of value upon the persons of the
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 117 
 
 guards, they were left lying in the roadway, to be 
 easily found. Hearing the howl of a jackal nearby, 
 Cambyses had his men return and draw, down two small 
 pine trees, cut off the tops and hook the chins of the 
 dead men onto them, then they released the trees, leav 
 ing the bodies dangling in midair, but safe from the 
 attack of wild beasts. 
 
 The entrance into the city of Aspahan was imposing. 
 There were no offensive formalities. At a short dis 
 tance from the gates were stationed old bearded men, 
 whose sole duty was to direct strangers how best to 
 enter the city. At the great arched gates, for it was 
 a strongly walled city, the guards challenged all that 
 desired to enter, and if they were strangers, guides 
 were sent with them to direct them where to go to reach 
 the place of their destination. There was a gateway 
 through which commerce entered, and one for its exit. 
 There was a gate for the people of the city, also a 
 gate for foreign diplomats and pleasure-seekers. 
 Then there was the great gate for the private use of 
 the king, of his household, and of special ambassadors 
 from foreign countries. To this latter gate Cyaxares 
 and his party were directed. 
 
 Here a little more rigid inspection was made, the 
 gate being guarded by a large body of mounted sol 
 diers. 
 
 Cyaxares, being challenged, replied, 
 
 " I am bearer of most important messages to King 
 Astyages, and desire to be conducted to him at once." 
 
 " Show your credentials," demanded the officer. 
 
 " I am Prince Cyaxares, son of Phraortes, as these 
 credentials will show; my message is verbal and of the 
 greatest importance to your king, who is my father's 
 lifelong friend. This is Cambyses, my guardsman."
 
 118 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 At this juncture a grizzled old officer of guards sa 
 luted Cambyses cordially. They had fought side by 
 side in many battles when Ironia and Persis were allies 
 against Arya. The party was now turned over to this 
 officer, and he himself conducted them to the king's pal 
 ace. 
 
 An audience with the king was arranged for the fol 
 lowing morning. Cyaxares and his party were as 
 signed to comfortable quarters. Astyages sent cor 
 dial greeting to Cyaxares and bade him take all the 
 liberties of the city. This was a great pleasure to 
 Cyaxares for he* had never before visited Aspahan, not 
 withstanding the close friendship existing between his 
 father and the king. 
 
 Cambyses, placing his men under proper escort, bade 
 them take a day of freedom and have a pleasurable 
 time, while he and Cyaxares, under the escort of his 
 old soldier friend, joined the throngs of strangers fill 
 ing every street and byway. 
 
 Originally certain streets had been set aside as mar 
 ket-places, but so vast had become the commerce of the 
 city that even the private streets leading to the palace 
 were used unchallenged. It had long been a scandal 
 in Ironia that laces and bonbons could be bought on 
 the steps of Astyages' palace. It was a wonderful 
 sight, this beehive of barter and trade. Cyaxares 
 found himself so filled with excitement that he exclaimed 
 with delight at every turn at the endless varieties of 
 merchandise of every conceivable kind and from every 
 known country. 
 
 Here was a long line of snowy stalls filled to over 
 flowing with luscious fruits, with their bright colors 
 and tantalizing odors. The stalls were beautifully 
 decorated with fruits, suspended in clusters, and with
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 119 
 
 many flowers. They were presided over by rosy- 
 cheeked, bright-eyed, cheerful, and happy young maid 
 ens, as tempting as the fruits themselves. What a lark 
 it was, to be sure, to have this freedom, a liberty as 
 unlike the licentious revels in the streets of Baleria as 
 night differs from day. Here all was innocent, re 
 spectful banter of joyous hearts and of clean minds. 
 The young women everywhere were not slow to dis 
 cover that Cyaxares was a foreign nobleman ; his proud 
 bearing and his handsome features and person made 
 him a constant target for friendly banter and amorous 
 glances as he passed through the streets. 
 
 Young women mounted upon small white ponies, and 
 surrounded by innumerable baskets filled with fruits, 
 berries, and flowers, urged on their plump, lazy little 
 animals. Other men and women pushed small pink, 
 blue, white, and yellow wagons with little pies, tarts, 
 cakes, and raspberry juice as their stock in trade, and 
 these met with ready sale. 
 
 And now Cyaxares and his party had reached the 
 more important and dignified districts where were sold 
 the richer and more expensive wares. This was in 
 structive. Here were the people from Arya with their 
 linen fabrics so finely woven that the meshes could not 
 be discerned by the naked eye; the Kadaehons, with 
 their bright-colored yarns and worsteds, and the queer 
 little people that came down once each year from the 
 steppes to the north of the Caspian sea to sell their 
 woods, carved by hand in grotesque or graceful designs. 
 The Bahans brought an endless variety of carpets, rugs, 
 and curtains, woven of silk and wool in fantastical or 
 graceful patterns. In this long, clean, white booth 
 were linens, damask, and fleecy laces made by the peo 
 ple of the Holy Crater. Here one found things
 
 120 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 wrought of filigreed silver, brass, and copper, also steel 
 swords and knives from Bagdad and Massula, and 
 from the far Eastern countries spices and silk, ivory 
 and gold, and sparkling gems and jewels. 
 
 What a wonderful object lesson it all was. 
 
 They came upon a broad facade, circular in shape, 
 with a large fountain in its center. Around this cir 
 cle were the flower venders, said to be the handsomest 
 young women in all the world. Their stalls were 
 sweet and clean, and garlanded in the most artistic 
 fashion. Each young woman sat playing upon either 
 an eleven stringed harp, a reed flute, or beating a small, ' 
 bedecked tambourine. It was most fascinating. The 
 air was redolent with the odors of the flowers. 
 
 " Who are these people ? They are a distinct race 
 from all others that we have seen," remarked Cyaxares. 
 
 " They are pure blooded Aryans. They began to 
 come here from the steppes about the Caspian sea some 
 eight years ago. They are under special protection 
 by a treaty between the king and the Sapor. They 
 are not only beautiful, as you see, but they are the most 
 gentle and sweet-tempered people, perhaps, in all the 
 world." 
 
 Cyaxares marveled at their beautiful hair and deli 
 cate complexions, their large blue eyes and luxurious 
 persons. They reminded him of Madrilla; surely she 
 was of this race. She had the same smile, of such pen 
 etrating sweetness that it was almost painful at times. 
 It seemed like a wistful desire to be loved and caressed, 
 and yet there was a protecting dignity with it that 
 forbade liberties. While the men were strong they 
 were not so handsome as the women. 
 
 The city was as clean as Baleria, but lacked the cold, 
 ornate architecture. Licentious luxury was the first
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 
 
 idea in Baleria. Utility and genuine pleasure and 
 comfort were the essential things in Aspahan. 
 
 If it was interesting in daytime it was more so at 
 nightfall. There was no music in Baleria; harmony 
 was lacking in the souls of the people. In Aspahan 
 music was the outpouring of happy hearts. It was 
 heard everywhere. Even the young children were ex 
 cellent musicians. Between the flower-stalls were nar 
 row passageways leading into mysterious little thea 
 ters, where the people sat and ate, and sipped their 
 wine, while they conversed, listened to the music, and 
 watched some athletic sports or some form of theat 
 ricals. 
 
 As Cyaxares and his party would enter these places, 
 and were at once recognized as the king's guests, be 
 cause of the little gilded staff carried by the guiding 
 officer, food and drink were offered to them free of cost, 
 and they were treated in the most respectful and hos 
 pitable manner. Here, truly, was an enlightened and 
 advancing civilization, a happy and prosperous people 
 under a just and sane ruler. Cyaxares conceived a 
 high regard for Astyages, and by comparison a corre 
 spondingly increased disgust for Deioces. 
 
 In a single generation this commerce had increased 
 a thousand-fold, at which even the stolid Cambyses was 
 astonished. He had seen Aspahan when it was less 
 prosperous. 
 
 " It seems impossible," said Cyaxares. " Here are 
 people of many nationalities, but one sees none of the 
 evidences of crime so noticeable in Baleria. Are not all 
 people constituted alike? Why this difference? " 
 
 " Crime is a species of commerce. There is no profit 
 in crime here. Therefore it has no license, to the con 
 trary it is punished by banishment. Life in Aspahan
 
 122 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 is too pleasant for any one to risk being shown to her 
 gates, for they are never permitted to return," replied 
 the king's guide. 
 
 " What a lesson for Baleria," sighed Cyaxares. 
 
 " Lesson ! " exclaimed Cambyses. " Why, should you 
 apply such a rule to Baleria, you would depopulate her 
 in a day ; you would have to widen the Ironian pass to 
 let the people through." 
 
 Cyaxares laughed at Cambyses' pessimistic views re 
 garding Baleria. 
 
 " But there is another reason for the morality of this 
 city," said the guide. " Its population, that is, its 
 floating population, comes mainly from the land, and it 
 is a singular fact that country people as compared with 
 seafaring people show greater morality and a less tend 
 ency toward the lower forms of debauchery and immo 
 rality in their daily lives. We are comparatively free 
 from licentiousness here, yet the people have practically 
 the same personal freedom that the people in Baleria 
 have." | 
 
 " That is worthy of further consideration. I shall 
 bear it in mind," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 And thus they put in the day, and a part of the 
 night, greatly to the pleasure and edification of the 
 visitors. 
 
 At midnight when all noise and revelry ceased, quite 
 weary from their arduous day's work, Cyaxares and 
 Cambyses returned to their quarters. Comfortably 
 seated in their luxurious quarters, over a flagon of 
 wine they discussed the events that had most deeply im 
 pressed them. 
 
 " My dear Cambyses, I am greatly impressed with 
 the manifest prosperity of this city. Had I a less 
 urgent reason, I should despair of inducing Astyages
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 123 
 
 to go to war with Deioces. Any ruler would hesitate 
 to disturb his people so set in peace and plenty. More 
 over, I can see from this viewpoint other contingencies. 
 Other rulers than Deioces must be jealous of this un 
 usual condition here, and did they see profit to them 
 selves in an alliance with Deioces against Astyages, and 
 could assure themselves that there would be no holy war, 
 we might find ourselves confronted by tremendous 
 forces, which Astyages alone could not successfully 
 combat." 
 
 " The cooperation of the Sapor is essential, and you 
 are most fortunate inl having the same cause to present 
 to both these kings," said Cambyses. 
 
 " Yes, that is true, Cambyses. No self-respecting 
 king would calmly submit to this outrageous insult, 
 and this will be taken advantage of to punish Deioces 
 for rudely forbidding commerce between Little Ironia 
 and Aspahan. Deioces is insulted that his own little 
 ness is reflected in Astyages' growing commercial pros 
 perity, and there is a possibilty of his having chosen 
 this method of insulting Astyages in order to draw 
 him into a war. If this be true, Madrilla's keeping 
 her identity concealed turned his intended insult into 
 a disaster to himself. Madrilla's life was truly in 
 danger. It is marvelous that he did not immediately 
 destroy her upon learning her true identity." 
 
 " Astyages will hesitate to enter Little Ironia to war 
 on Deioces. In fact he would not do so without the 
 consent of the Sapor," said Cambyses. 
 
 " He will not be asked to send any army into Ironia. 
 I am positive that Deioces will bring his army out be 
 fore we can be fully prepared for him. Nevertheless, 
 I am going to strain every point to consummate the 
 plan that I have outlined in my mind, and that is to
 
 124. THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 draw Deioces outside to attack Astyages, and then 
 slip a sufficient force in behind him to cut off his base 
 of supplies and prevent his retreat through the passes ; 
 then have the Sapor's forces cut him ta pieces upon the 
 open plains." 
 
 " Well planned," declared Cambyses, enthusiastically. 
 
 After discussing many important angles of the situ 
 ation they bade each other good-night. 
 
 Cambyses was a case-hardened soldier, therefore to 
 bed meant quick sleep for him. But not so with 
 Cyaxares, who lay till early morning planning his 
 coming audience with the king. The refreshing hour's 
 sleep that overtook him at daybreak seemed to quell 
 the riotous blood in his veins, calm his brain, and lull 
 his tired nerves. When Cambyses greeted him later 
 he was none the wiser but that Cyaxares had enjoyed a 
 refreshing night's sleep. 
 
 At eleven o'clock they went to the palace ; an hour 
 later Astyages cordially greeted them in his private 
 audience chamber, only one court official being present. 
 The king openly congratulated Cyaxares upon his 
 splendid manhood, mentioning the close friendship that 
 had always existed between himself and Phraortes. 
 
 Cyaxares, in well chosen phrases, attempted to re 
 turn the compliment by praising the king's appear 
 ance of good health, when the latter with a deprecatory 
 gesture exclaimed : " Say not so, my son. I am in the 
 greatest mental and physical distress. I am an old 
 and tottering man. But that is not my bereavement. 
 My daughter, Almareta, you have doubtless heard your 
 father speak of her. She has as mysteriously disap 
 peared as if swallowed by the earth. Desiring to 
 avoid a scandal I have concealed the truth from all 
 but the few confidential persons that are scouring the
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 125 
 
 earth for her without avail. I am glad that you have 
 come, Cyaxares. You are young, and strong and 
 courageous, perhaps you may comfort me in some 
 manner, or give me some advice that will alleviate this 
 anguish that is consuming my very soul." 
 
 "Your Majesty knows how this distresses me, not 
 only because of my father's esteem for you, but also 
 on my own account. It, therefore, gives me corre 
 sponding joy to bring to you tidings of your beloved 
 daughter," said Cyaxares. 
 
 " You bring tidings of my Almareta ! " exclaimed 
 Astyages, quickly arising from his seat and taking 
 the young prince by the hands. 
 
 " Yes, your Majesty, and good tidings, too. While 
 she cannot come immediately to you, she is in tempo 
 rary safety. I am here to offer you my services in res 
 cuing her, for she is, practically, a prisoner." 
 
 Forgetting his extreme age and infirmities the king 
 raised himself erect, clinched his hands, and said: 
 
 " My daughter a prisoner ! Who would dare to de 
 tain my daughter? " 
 
 " I beg your Majesty to be calm and permit me 
 to explain. This is a most delicate situation. For the 
 time being your daughter is safe from immediate dan 
 ger. I vouch for that. It is essential that I tell you 
 the story in full, and I beg that you permit me to call 
 into your presence my lifelong guardian, Cambyses, 
 who helped me to take your daughter to safety." 
 
 " Cambyses helped to rescue my daughter? His 
 father was my sworn enemy," muttered Astyages. 
 
 " Cambyses himself will prove to be one of your best 
 friends, I stake my honor on this," replied the prince. 
 
 The king commanded his chamberlain to bring 
 Cambyses into the room.
 
 126 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " Cyaxares assures me that you are my friend, Cam- 
 byses," said Astyages, looking the old warrior ear 
 nestly in the face. 
 
 " My father upon his death-bed declared that I 
 should not inherit his prejudices, and he bade me 
 especially to bear you no ill-will because of his senti 
 ments toward you. I shall heed his dying wishes. I 
 am sincerely at your service, your Majesty," replied 
 Cambyses. 
 
 " Said like a good soldier, Cambyses. I shall count 
 you among my confidential friends. You have a good 
 companion, Cyaxares, and I shall strive to be worthy 
 the love of both of you. Now, do tell me about my 
 daughter." 
 
 " Her abduction was a most outrageous thing, and 
 death is too good for him who so basely betrayed you. 
 Her rescue will involve you in war with Deioces. It 
 was he that attempted to steal her away," said Cyax 
 ares. 
 
 " Deioces ! " exclaimed Astyages, and his face be 
 trayed the greatest alarm. 
 
 " A more contemptible dog never breathed," said 
 Cyaxares. " His time has come. He calculated without 
 weighing the consequences. Learning from a secret 
 source that your daughter was a prisoner in Deioces' 
 palace, and knowing that he was racked with fear 
 over his own drunken deed, I, with Cambyses, went 
 directly into the palace, demanded an audience with 
 Deioces at midnight, which he granted. Then I took 
 the responsibility of demanding in your name that your 
 daughter be immediately placed under my protection. 
 You will be astonished to know that this demand was 
 at once complied with, and we succeeded in getting 
 away with our lives and in safely placing your daugh-
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 127 
 
 ter in the care of Cracillies, in the gardens of Crail. 
 We may thank the gods in heaven that we were in 
 time to save your daughter a chaste woman, for 
 Deioces is a fiend." 
 
 " A chaste woman ! " exclaimed Astyages. " Do you 
 mean to say that Deioces would dare to outrage my 
 daughter? " 
 
 " It is said that he outraged his own sister," re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " That is true ; that is true. I will prove my grati 
 tude to you, Cyaxares. I know your ambitions ; go 
 on, go on." 
 
 " Your Majesty will be doubly shocked to know that 
 at the same time that Deioces seized your daughter he 
 also took her companion, whose identity he did not 
 know. This proved his undoing. It was Madrilla, 
 daughter of the Sapor." 
 
 " The gods protect us. The whole world cannot 
 pay the forfeit. It means a holy war," wailed Asty 
 ages. 
 
 " Your Majesty's daughter being the companion of 
 the Princess Madrilla makes you the natural ally of 
 the Holy Crater." 
 
 " But my age and infirmities cause me to dread 
 war. I could not survive the necessary negotiations 
 with the Holy Crater." 
 
 " I will spare you all the hardships of such a cam 
 paign. I, too, have a cause, and I wish to seize this 
 opportunity to right my father's wrongs." 
 
 " Yes, yes, Cyaxares, you are quite right, and you 
 have my sympathy and shall have my aid, and, more 
 over, I can tell you that the Holy Crater is friendly 
 to your cause. Let me hear your plans. War in some 
 form is inevitable. I see that. I am in honor bound
 
 128 
 
 to make war immediately against Deioces, but perhaps 
 there is some way by which a sweeping holy war may 
 be avoided. Give me your views." 
 
 " I gratefully thank your Majesty for the assur 
 ance of your friendship. My plan is simple and one to 
 be quickly put into execution. I propose to bring 
 Deioces' army out of Little Ironia, then slip a sufficient 
 army in behind him to cut off his base of supplies and 
 his retreat. Your Majesty's army must be prepared 
 to hold this city against his siege until the army of 
 the Sapor comes to do the balance." 
 
 " But can Deioces be induced to come out ? " 
 
 " I shall request of your Majesty one thousand 
 courageous and well accoutered men to be placed 
 under the command of Cambyses as captain general. 
 I will guarantee to have Deioces' army hammering at 
 your gates within thirty days." 
 
 "And the Sapor?" 
 
 " Will come to your relief on the ground of a com 
 mon cause. With the early destruction of Deioces' 
 army the cause for war will cease, and a general holy 
 war will be inconsistent because of the present peaceful 
 and friendly relations existing between you and all 
 your neighboring nations. My father will be re 
 stored to his throne, and the purging of Baleria will 
 be my especial duty." 
 
 " Very thoroughly planned, Cyaxares, but how may 
 we best go about obtaining the close cooperation of 
 the Sapor? " 
 
 " I request that your Majesty appoint me a special 
 ambassador to the Holy Crater to seek the aid of the 
 Sapor. Incidentally I shall plead my own cause." 
 
 "And what is Deioces' present attitude?" 
 
 " He is totally in the dark as to what is going on,
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 129 
 
 and beside himself with rage. A most fortunate com 
 bination of circumstances enabled us to seize and im 
 prison in the caverns of Crail his chief of guards, 
 Paulius, Zinkara, his chief of spies, and Crecies, his 
 murderous executioner. They may be held prisoners 
 indefinitely, for the priests of Crail are not suspected 
 of having them in their power. You are doubtless 
 aware that the priests and the Holy Church are 
 violently opposed to Deioces." 
 
 " Yes, I am aware of the very bad political situation 
 there. Do you contemplate a simultaneous revolution 
 in Little Ironia? " 
 
 " Yes, we have arms for two thousand within the 
 caverns of Crail, and Cracillies will take Baleria the 
 moment the word is given." 
 
 " How many men on a war footing has Deioces ? " 
 
 " Thirty thousand, ready to take the field." 
 
 " I can only place twenty thousand men under arms 
 immediately." 
 
 " That will be ample for your defense. I will look 
 to the Holy Crater for my soldiers," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Cyaxares, you have planned well. Were I twenty 
 years younger I would take the field myself. As it is 
 I shall place much confidence in both you and your 
 staunch friend Cambyses. I shall immediately call a 
 council of war. By to-morrow noon Cambyses will 
 have at his disposal one thousand picked men. At 
 sunrise to-morrow morning an ample escort will be 
 ready to take you with every comfort and with all speed 
 to the Holy Crater." 
 
 " I want only the comforts of my men," said Cy 
 axares. 
 
 " A good soldier," responded the king. 
 
 " I will prepare messages for you to carry to the
 
 130 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Holy Crater. But, tell me, Cyaxares, who in Baleria 
 knows ought of this ? " 
 
 " Only Cracillies and Saranaces." 
 
 " Saranaces ! Do you believe him tq be your friend? 
 You are aware that it has been rumored that, were 
 Erskales out of the way, Saranaces would become 
 head of the Holy State. Moreover, it is a well founded 
 piece of gossip that Erskales has been openly charged 
 by Deioces with being too attentive to Saluciea, his 
 mistress, thereby losing the king's confidence." 
 
 " It is commonly admitted in Baleria," replied Cy 
 axares, deeming it wise to make no mention of the 
 tragic end of Saluciea at this time. 
 
 " Are you aware that Saluciea is the sister of Sar 
 anaces ? " said Astyages. 
 
 " Only at the last moment of my stay in Baleria 
 did I hear of this," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Yes, Saranaces was a plodding farmer. He and 
 his beautiful sister, Saluciea, pushed a vegetable cart 
 through the streets of Baleria. The story goes that 
 one day Deioces was attracted by the beautiful face 
 and figure of the rosy young country girl, then eight 
 een years old, had her brought to the palace, and 
 made her his mistress. It was said that the little farm 
 of Saranaces was not confiscated because of the love 
 of one of Deioces' high officials for Saluciea's mother. 
 Saluciea was educated under Deioces' guidance, and 
 she is a wonderfully wily woman. Saranaces was also 
 educated for the priesthood. If I am not mistaken the 
 mother is in some manner under the protection of the 
 priests of Crail." 
 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses had strange misgivings, 
 which they dared not reveal. Hoping to change the 
 trend of the conversation, Cyaxares asked,
 
 COURT OF ASTYAGES 131 
 
 " May I inquire of your Majesty regarding your 
 son Claudies ? " 
 
 " Speak not to me of my son," passionately ex 
 claimed Astyages. " He is a profligate. I have dis 
 owned him, and have expelled him from Aspahan. He 
 sacrificed himself to that low-born daughter of Regules. 
 Where you find one you will doubtless find the other." 
 
 Again the two men exchanged startled glances. 
 
 " Are you aware that Scala is the boon companion 
 and protegee of Saluciea? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " Where, at the court of Deioces ? " 
 
 " No, your Majesty, in a secret rendezvous in 
 Baleria." 
 
 " Then deep intrigue is abroad. Prompt action is 
 necessary. Prepare for your journey. I will give 
 you full authority to act for me at the court of the 
 Sapor." 
 
 " I thank your Majesty. Cambyses has three faith 
 ful men trained to all the cunning and diplomacy of 
 warfare. Trust Cambyses implicitly. I pledge my 
 honor for his integrity and good conduct." 
 
 " Let Deioces' army come unmolested to the very 
 walls of your city. I will prevent its retreat while 
 the clans of the Holy Crater settle upon it like bees." 
 
 Astyages now bade them an affectionate good-bye, 
 saying that his blessings and prayers went with them. 
 They returned to their quarters to analyze fully the 
 situation.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS TO THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ' 'T717HAT manner of mess is this \ve are in?" 
 V V growled Cambyses, upon their reaching their 
 quarters. 
 
 " That is what we must ascertain, if possible," re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Now, which of all the scoundrels that we met in 
 Baleria was the prodigal son? " asked Cambyses. 
 
 " Surely none that I can recognize," responded 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " Do you believe that Saranaces' plotting is of long 
 standing, or that his ambition extends beyond a desire 
 to be head of the Holy State? " 
 
 " No, I do not, Cambyses, and I have a very definite 
 opinion to express about Saranaces' actions. While 
 he felt reasonably certain that he would be chosen over 
 Erskales at the next conclave, he was watching every 
 opportunity to strengthen his position in the good 
 graces of Deioces. Our dropping into Baleria, and 
 the strange happenings that so quickly followed, 
 opened new possibilities to Saranaces, and his cunning 
 brain immediately began to plan for his own profit. 
 This was the beginning of his plotting against us. I 
 am the only aspirant for Deioces' throne. He feels 
 reasonably sure that I would advocate Cracillies for 
 Erskales' position, therefore, should I by some stroke 
 of fortune dethrone Deioces, his honors would be short 
 
 lived. It would be of tremendous benefit to himself 
 
 132
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 133 
 
 to dispose of me, because this not only would make cer 
 tain his promotion, but it would also place Deioces 
 under lifelong 1 obligations to him for removing the 
 greatest nightmare that has ever disturbed his slum 
 bers." 
 
 " To this end Saranaces took his sister, Saluciea, 
 into his confidence, only to the extent of allowing her 
 to believe that my capture would result in my being ex 
 pelled from Little Ironia. It had not occurred to her 
 that my being caught in her company was worse than 
 high treason. Her actions betrayed this." 
 
 " That coincides with my beliefs exactly," said 
 Cambyses. 
 
 " But things have changed now," continued Cyaxares. 
 " We escaped and Saluciea fell a victim to her own 
 brother's plot. Sooner or later, if not now, Deioces 
 must know of the sad ending of Saluciea, and I am 
 wondering what the effect will be upon Saranaces' for 
 tunes, for there is some mysterious tie between his 
 family and Deioces. It must be of grave importance, 
 else Cracillies would have told us, for he undoubtedly 
 knows." 
 
 " I have a feeling that the two princesses are not 
 safe, as matters now stand. I should like to know 
 more of this mother of Saranaces, of whom King 
 Astyages spoke. She may be in a position to betray 
 the whole situation," said Cambyses. 
 
 " And for that very reason, Cambyses, I suggest 
 that you, after placing guards in every highway lead 
 ing toward Ironia, select some good men and secretly 
 return to the caverns of Crail, and advise Cracillies 
 of what we have done, and learn from him any new 
 developments that have occurred there since our leav- 
 ing."
 
 134 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " I fear that we are overlooking the serious phase 
 of the whole matter, Cyaxares. Suppose that 
 Saranaces, recognizing that war between Deioces and 
 Astyages and the Holy Crater is inevitable, should at 
 tempt to return the two princesses to their respective 
 homes, thereby taking credit to himself for their res 
 cue from Deioces in order to gain the good-will of 
 Astyages and the Sapor, would that not create a sin 
 gular complication ? " 
 
 " For that very reason all the passes must be fully 
 guarded. Not one person must be permitted to pass 
 into Ironia, and every person coming out must be de 
 tained for your inspection and judgment. Only our 
 inspired news must reach Baleria and Deioces. From 
 day to day some trusted messenger must circulate 
 among the people that which we wish said to them 
 against Deioces, and news must go direct to Deioces 
 to vex and incense him into declaring war upon 
 Astyages. He must do this to cover up the real cause 
 of war, which he knows must come. I am depending 
 upon this, more than any other thing, to draw his 
 declaration of war the moment he can gather the full 
 sense and meaning of the strange situation surround 
 ing him. Astyages must get the credit for all these 
 strange disappearances. Word must go to Deioces 
 that the two princesses have been returned to their 
 homes, and every possible chance of a leak from the 
 caverns of Crail must be stopped." 
 
 " You may leave all that to me," replied Cambyses. 
 " I will place a signal corps in position to keep me in 
 touch with your movements until you are within Little 
 Ironia, with all retreats for Deioces' army cut off. I 
 swear that I will have Deioces' army outside the passes 
 in thirty days, therefore quick action on your part is
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 135 
 
 necessary. But I was about to ask you, how about 
 Cracillies?" 
 
 " Cracillies is my father's lifelong friend ; he is a 
 different clay from Saranaces ; his father before him 
 was of noble birth. The maps he made for me attest 
 his sincerity ; not even Saranaces is aware of their ex 
 istence." 
 
 " Well, there is a possibility of Saranaces' betray 
 ing to Deioces the hiding-place of the young princesses, 
 and of his attempting to recover them," said Cambyses. 
 
 " And thus bring annihilation upon Ironia. You 
 forget the terms of the triple alliance. These young 
 women are now the wards of the Holy Church, and 
 Deioces dare not make a demand for them, unless he 
 be a madman. It is not fear of Deioces' acts that 
 causes me to desire their presence there to remain a 
 secret. It is to keep Deioces guessing, and to pre 
 vent his attempting surreptitiously to capture them 
 upon their leaving the protection of Crail," explained 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 The next morning Cyaxares, accompanied by 
 Cimetus, a high official of King Astyages' court, and 
 by a splendid retinue, set out for the Holy Crater, the 
 seat of the Sapor, the King 1 of Kings. It meant many 
 days of hard travel and a camp life equal to the emer 
 gencies of war. 
 
 It was said that the Sapor, by a single tap of a 
 silver gong, could bring, armed and equipped for war, 
 a million fanatical soldiers. All Asia had a fear and 
 dread of hearing that fateful sound. 
 
 Cambyses a few hours later gave to his captains 
 their instructions, and Ironia was a sealed book. He 
 established a secret rendezvous as his headquarters, to 
 which every person coming from, or attempting to pass
 
 136 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 into, Baleria was to be brought for his inspection. 
 The mountain house of Regules was put under military 
 restraint. 
 
 Taking twelve picked men, besides his three trusty 
 guardsmen, Cambyses went directly to the spot where 
 was the mountain outlet to the caverns of Crail. Hep- 
 tes was given charge of the men, with instructions to 
 keep wholly in concealment, and to intercept any one 
 coming out of, or attempting to pass into, the caverns, 
 unless it be Cracillies himself. 
 
 Taking with him Kapies and Candes, he went to the 
 spot where they had formerly concealed the priestly 
 garbs, which they now brought out and donned. 
 Then he passed down the trail and toward the city 
 of Baleria. Desiring to enter the city at a later hour, 
 upon reaching the bridge they concealed themselves in 
 the reeds and watched the occasional passers. 
 
 Two muffled figures were seen hurrying from the di 
 rection of the caverns of Crail. Their suspicious ac 
 tions attracted Cambyses' attention, and singly he and 
 his men trailed them. It did not require much time to 
 vindicate his suspicions, for the two men went directly 
 to the house where Saluciea and Scala had their ren 
 dezvous. 
 
 Half an hour later the men emerged. One was car 
 rying a package and was attempting to draw his cowl 
 over his face. It was Saranaces. The other had dis 
 carded his priestly garb, and now appeared in a dandi 
 fied court dress. He carelessly threw over his shoul 
 ders a long, brown cloak. They paused for a moment, 
 then started away in opposite directions. Suddenly 
 the priest returned, placed the package inside the lat 
 tice, and hurried after the younger man. Motioning 
 Candes to follow, Cambyses sprang quickly inside the
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 137 
 
 lattice and shook open the package, allowing the con 
 tents to fall upon the floor. Seizing a rug he threw 
 it into the robe and refolded it, barely having time to 
 replace it where Saranaces had left it, and again get 
 into concealment. 
 
 The priest returned, picked up the package, and 
 hurried away. Candes reported to Cambyses that 
 Saranaces had called to the younger man, saying, 
 " Come out through the gate in the wall." Then he 
 came back for his package. It was now of the 
 gravest importance for some quick action to be taken. 
 Cambyses' mind was working like a windmill. Bid 
 ding his men follow, he removed his priest's robe, 
 quickly overtook Saranaces, and cast it over his head. 
 Lifting the priest in his great strong arms, they 
 slipped back through the dark street to the house, 
 kicked open the light inner door, and deposited his 
 burden upon the floor. Then he proceeded to tie him, 
 hand and foot. Saranaces could not guess who his 
 captors were. Heptes was left to watch him while 
 Cambyses and Candes hurried to the door in the dead- 
 wall back of the palace. 
 
 For nearly an hour they lurked in the shadows, 
 keeping a surveillance over the door. Cambyses grew 
 fearful that a mistake had been made. It was very 
 possible that the man would not come that night. The 
 warning might have meant any time. But now the 
 door was opening. Yes, it was he. From beneath his 
 cloak he took a package, and placed it upon the 
 ground to enable him properly to close and lock the 
 door. Then he picked up his package and started on 
 his way. 
 
 Cambyses instructed Candes to hasten to the house, 
 hide behind the lattice, and seize and muffle him,
 
 138 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 should he return there, and he himself would follow 
 to make sure that he did not go elsewhere. 
 
 The man returned directly to the house, with Cam- 
 byses close upon his heels. As he entered the veranda 
 the tremendous weight of Candes crumpled him up 
 like a reed, and he was quickly muzzled. It was all 
 done so quietly that Saranaces was unaware of the 
 second capture. Cambyses instructed his men to keep 
 them separated, and to make their way to the bridge, 
 their feet having been freed to enable them to walk. 
 Each was told that the least outcry, or attempt to 
 escape, would mean instant death. He himself rolled 
 up the first contents of Saranaces' package, tucked 
 both packs under his arms, and followed closely after 
 them. He made no attempt to examine the contents 
 of the packages, but he knew that they contained 
 some valuable evidence of some kind. 
 
 He was overjoyed at this night's success. He had 
 accomplished in a few hours what might have required 
 weeks to do. The same remarkable luck seemed to at 
 tend Cyaxares' cause. He had gone to the city in 
 tending to prowl about and learn what he could about 
 Saluciea, for in his mind her death would prove an 
 important political event. He knew that for a small 
 piece of silver the beggars infesting the fountains 
 would give him all the latest gossip. On the follow 
 ing day he intended to make his way into the caverns. 
 This changed their plans. 
 
 Without accident they reached the bridge beyond 
 which lay safety. Before daylight they were again at 
 the mountain entrance to the caverns. Their prison 
 ers were scarcely able to stand upon their feet after 
 the fatiguing trip up the rough mountain trail. 
 They were kept blindfolded and each ignorant of the
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 139 
 
 other's presence. All were permitted to rest till day 
 light came. 
 
 Taking the two packages to a secluded spot Cam- 
 byses opened them. He laughed heartily as he viewed 
 the contents of the first one. It plainly told the story 
 of Saranaces' disloyalty to Cyaxares. It was un 
 doubtedly his intention secretly to restore the two 
 young princesses to their people. There were riding- 
 boots for a man and a woman, and the usual woman's 
 riding costume, formerly the property of Saluciea. 
 There were gloves and bonnet, beautifully embroidered 
 with gold lace and silk, fit for a princess. The man's 
 boots bore the crest and name of Deioces. 
 
 " Ha, ha, it would be dangerous to go galloping 
 through the caverns of Crail, and I hardly believe one 
 would be permitted to take a daily ride in the gar 
 dens, therefore I must conclude that some fair lady 
 was to be escorted over the mountain trails. But 
 why only one, I wonder, and which one? I shall as 
 sume that it is the one that will bring the earliest good 
 fortune to Saranaces, and that would be Almareta. 
 Now, let's see what secret is wrapped in this 
 mournful black cloth. It felt as if it weighed a ton 
 before I arrived here." 
 
 Upon removing the outer cloth Cambyses uttered an 
 exclamation of surprise as he stared at a magnificently 
 wrought treasure chest, made of hand-beaten silver, 
 and inlaid with golden flowers, fruits, and birds. The 
 handles were solid gold. Across its top, from corner 
 to corner, wrought in sparkling gems, glowed the 
 name " Saluciea." 
 
 Lying with this box was a smaller one of plain 
 beaten silver. It contained a gentleman's gold- 
 mounted toilet set. Examining the box more closely
 
 140 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 he found something to give him a shock. There, in 
 almost invisible inlaid gold, was the name " Claudies." 
 
 The plot was plain; Saranaces had bribed the out 
 cast son of Astyages to bring away from the palace 
 the rich jewels of Saluciea, and Claudies was to use 
 the return of his sister, Almareta, as a means of again 
 getting into the good graces of his father. Claudies 
 had been a hanger-on about Deioces' palace for some 
 time. 
 
 What a fortunate stroke this was ; surely Baleria 
 was Cyaxares' lucky spot. The embarrassing plot 
 had been nipped at a critical moment, and the danger 
 ous Saranaces was now sure to be put out of the way. 
 As long as he was at large he was an extremely dan 
 gerous quantity. 
 
 Upon attempting to open the treasure box Cam- 
 byses found it locked. He bade Candes to search 
 Claudies, and bring to him all that he found on his 
 person. 
 
 Claudies fought strenuously against what he 
 termed this indignity, nevertheless he was searched to 
 the very marrow, and Candes placed before Cambyses 
 the key to the chest, a large key for opening the door 
 in the palace wall, some rings and trinkets, some rare 
 lace handkerchiefs bearing the crest of Deioces, and a 
 doubly sealed packet. 
 
 Cambyses quickly opened the chest and peered 
 within. The richest gems that he had ever looked 
 upon were there, not only those belonging to Saluciea 
 but many rare pieces belonging to Deioces. In the 
 bottom of the chest was a cloth-lined compartment, 
 completely filled with gold and silver coins. 
 
 With a grunt of satisfaction Cambyses closed the 
 chest, carefully concealed it, and then examined the
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 
 
 packet. It was addressed on the outside to Astyages, 
 and bore the seals of the Holy Church and of the Holy 
 State. Breaking it open, he found that it contained 
 letters made on parchment. One was a letter to 
 Astyages, written by Saranaces. Cambyses smiled as 
 he read: 
 
 " To his most holy Majesty, King Astyages, ruler over 
 Persis and royal party to the triple alliance, greetings: 
 
 " With a contrite heart and an oppressive sense of grave 
 duty, I address myself to the most generous King Astyages 
 on matters of great importance, insomuch as I declare to 
 his Majesty the perfect safety under my care of his daugh 
 ter, who has been in recent peril. 
 
 " As I myself am a man of peace, I urge as condonement 
 for my mentioning matters that may stir deep anger in your 
 generous heart the heinous nature of the offense. It would 
 be nothing short of criminal for me to conceal the truth 
 and facts. 
 
 " I deplore the necessity of having to mention the name 
 of one whose father was once my sovereign, my benefactor, 
 and my friend, but I shall tell the whole truth, and in 
 telling it I shall express to your Majesty those things that 
 are corroding my heart from long suppression for want of 
 a consistent right to address your Majesty on so serious a 
 subj ect. 
 
 " King Deioces is a despot, and at heart a vile, bad man. 
 He conceived the idea of abducting your daughter, and the 
 daughter of the Sapor, for his own vile and lustful purposes, 
 believing that he could do this secretly, and without dis 
 covery. 
 
 " It is shocking to have to relate this, but it is true. The 
 Prince Cyaxares, son of Phraortes, and his henchman, 
 Cambyses, whose father was your bitter enemy, engaged for 
 a reward to perpetrate this crime for Deioces, and suc 
 ceeded so far as to bring both the young princesses to 
 Baleria. By the most fortunate circumstance I had the
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 honor to learn of this diabolical plot before they could re 
 port their presence to Deioces. I intercepted them, and on 
 the day of the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of the Holy 
 State, when they, during the excitement of the festivities, 
 were to smuggle their victims into the palace, I had the 
 house in which they were concealed surrounded and kept it 
 under constant guard, preventing their removal. I have 
 declared them wards of the holy trinity, and have thus 
 thwarted Deioces from making demands for them. 
 
 " Fearing an equally odious outrage, should their beastly 
 captors be left alone in the house with them, I have secretly 
 conveyed them to the gardens of Crail where they have 
 every care and comfort, awaiting the will of your Majesty. 
 They in the meantime are under the protection of my own 
 mother, the matron of the priestesses of Crail, and shall so 
 remain until your Majesty may send a proper escort to con 
 vey them away from our caverns. 
 
 " I have entrusted this communication to your son 
 Claudies, who, with a contrite and penitent heart, craves 
 your forgiveness, and I humbly add my prayers to his 
 petition. He feels the deep humiliation of the outrage on 
 the part of Deioces, and of his equally guilty agents, and 
 he prays that he may be designated by you to escort his 
 sister to safety. 
 
 " I must report a most unfortunate circumstance in this 
 connection. Cyaxares and Cambyses had confederates in 
 hiding, and these pounced upon my guards and released 
 their masters, who fled Baleria, and will doubtless carry 
 to your Majesty some plausible story to free themselves 
 from their unenviable situation. 
 
 " I have the utmost confidence in Claudies. He will 
 guide your messenger to me, and I will return your daugh 
 ter to your Majesty. 
 
 "' I am loyal to the triple alliance ; I am loyal to the Holy 
 Church, and I am obedient to your Majesty's will. I 
 pledge you the friendship of the priests of Crail. 
 
 " SARANACES/'
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 143 
 
 The second document read: 
 
 " Saranaces : 
 
 " The pact between the Holy State and the Holy Church 
 specifically demands that we stand together in the defense 
 of morality and righteousness. I am shocked beyond 
 measure at this outrageous and high-handed affair. I can 
 no longer hold the same respect for our sovereign, who thus 
 shows himself so devoid of shame and common decency. 
 Neither can I condone an affront of this heinous character 
 against the other sovereigns of the triple alliance. As for 
 the fiends that have aided in this crime, 'tis but justice that 
 they be captured at the earliest time, and turned over to 
 the tender mercies of his Majesty, King Astyages. I and 
 all the powers of my high office are at your command in the 
 correction of this terrible mistake that reflects discredit 
 alike upon both branches of our alliance until full correc 
 tion and contrite apologies are made. 
 
 " Let us pray that it may not bring upon us a justifiable 
 war. 
 
 " I am loyal to the triple alliance ; I am loyal to the union 
 of State and Church, and I am your obedient servant and 
 friend, ERSKALES/' 
 
 As Cambyses read these outrageous documents his 
 anger knew no bounds. It was Saranaces' plot. 
 Erskales knew nothing of it. Moreover, it was evi 
 dently the purpose to smuggle Scala out of the caverns, 
 and to permit her to flee with Claudies to the city of 
 Aspahan. It was of the gravest importance to hold 
 both the men prisoners, and to keep each ignorant of 
 the capture of the other. The absence of any mention 
 of Cracillies' name was suggestive that he was in no 
 manner connected with Saranaces' plotting. What the 
 final purpose of the plot was could only be conjectured. 
 But Deioces had once made himself king while
 
 144 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Phraortes was at war; why then could not Saranaces 
 emulate Deioces' example? He had in his message 
 condemned both Deioces and Cyaxares ; who could he 
 have in mind to take their places? 
 
 What greater piece of good fortune could have hap 
 pened than the capture of these culprits and these dan 
 gerous documents? Cambyses swore that this secret 
 method of warfare was the most effective that he had 
 ever seen to terrify and demoralize an enemy. 
 
 Cracillies must be communicated with at once. It 
 was essential that no mistake be made at this critical 
 stage of the game. He sent Heptes and Candes into 
 the caverns with instructions to follow the slashes which 
 they had formerly made with their knives, and to reach 
 Cracillies with an urgent message to come at once to 
 him. It would have been suicidal for the two men to 
 attempt to reach the inner garden in the absence of 
 the marks upon the walls. Cambyses' wily precaution 
 had quickly borne fruit. An hour passed, then an 
 other, and no word came back. Finally, Cambyses 
 could be patient no longer. Placing Kapies with a 
 strong guard over his prisoners and the treasure, he 
 with four strong men took flambeaux and entered the 
 caverns. 
 
 They had proceeded more than half the distance 
 when they heard the clatter and clash of arms, and 
 above it all the roar of Heptes' voice cursing his ene 
 mies. 
 
 Rushing toward the tumult, they were surprised to 
 find four husky priests holding Heptes and Candies at 
 bay with strong staffs, while other priests were piling 
 stones in a narrow entrance as if to conceal it. Hur 
 rying to the rescue, Cambyses and his fresh men soon 
 had the priests in retreat. Together with the other
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 145 
 
 priests they fled away into the darkness of a lateral 
 branch of the cave. 
 
 The stones being removed, they found lying upon 
 the floor a muffled figure, bound hand and foot. Cut 
 ting his bonds and releasing the prisoner, Cambyses 
 was astonished to find that it was Cracillies himself, 
 who explained that only these few of the priests were 
 in revolt and in sympathy with Saranaces, who was 
 by some mysterious influence free, and was carrying 
 forward some dastardly plot, for he had succeeded in 
 capturing and smuggling into the lower labyrinth 
 Erskales, who was now chained to the walls of the 
 well-hole. It was this discovery on his part that had 
 caused the guilty priests to set upon him, and had 
 not Cambyses come to his rescue at this critical time 
 he would have perished at their hands. 
 
 Fearful for the safety of the princesses, Cambyses 
 inquired regarding them. 
 
 Cracillies explained that Scala had been given 
 greater liberty than it was intended that she should 
 have, and it was his belief that Saranaces had either 
 given her her liberty, or was concealing her with that 
 purpose in view. At least she could not be found. 
 It was while searching for her that he had discovered 
 Erskales. 
 
 He had immediately called a council, and it was 
 decided to bar Saranaces from again entering the 
 caverns. It was impossible to determine who were the 
 traitors without swearing the priests individually. 
 As false swearing in the order was punishable by 
 branding and banishment, in order to avoid this dan 
 ger, sixteen of the priests refused to come out of the 
 caverns, thereby confessing their guilt. They were 
 sworn out of the society of the priests of Crail.
 
 146 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Cracillies alone went in search of them. Eight had 
 willingly returned! with him, and they were now chained 
 in the well-hole. But the others were bolder, had cap 
 tured Cracillies, and were caught walling him up alive 
 to die of hunger and thirst. These eight priests were 
 now themselves prisoners in the cave into which they 
 had fled. They must surrender or starve. 
 
 The young princesses were safe, having been taken 
 from the charge of the matron. 
 
 The insurrection now being in hand, it was essential 
 that Erskales be placed under closer confinement, but 
 given better comforts, to prevent every possible oppor 
 tunity of his escaping and going to Deioces for re 
 dress, which would reveal some kind of plot against the 
 State. 
 
 Faulius, Zinkara, and Crecies were closely confined 
 in secret cells. Cracillies must be trusted to carry into 
 rigid execution all these essential details, even to the 
 restraint of the superior, whom Cracillies now admit 
 ted was Saranaces' mother. Trincules, having inad 
 vertently boasted of having helped Saranaces in the 
 capture of Erskales, was himself placed in the same 
 chains. 
 
 Leaving his men to wall up the entrance to the lat 
 eral cave, into which the renegade priests had fled, 
 Cambyses conducted Cracillies to the outer entrance, 
 and showed him the documentary evidence of Saranaces' 
 treachery. The aged priest was amazed at the du 
 plicity of his former associate. 
 
 " Cyaxares' cause is sure of success," he declared to 
 Cracillies. " Astyages has issued orders of war. 
 Under my command, as Astyages' captain general, 
 every pass into Ironia is blocked. Cyaxares is now on 
 his way to the Holy Crater as the special ambassador
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 147 
 
 of Astyages. . . . And now, my dear Cracillies, 
 I speak for Cyaxares. When he becomes king of 
 Ironia, you will be the head of the Holy State, and at 
 last there will be harmony between the State and the 
 Church. I heard him say so, and I will pledge my life 
 upon his keeping his word. It is for you to remem 
 ber that you are not, like Saranaces, attempting by 
 intrigue to advance your fortunes and ambitions. 
 You are by the logic of events promised a high posi 
 tion of honor upon your own merits. You know the 
 people, their wants, their needs, their sufferings ; you 
 are the logical leader of a justifiable revolution. 
 They will follow you at a word, Cracillies. Will you, 
 in the cause of reform, lead your people against 
 Deioces the moment that war is on, and that you re 
 ceive word from Cyaxares to strike? " 
 
 Cracillies had listened attentively to this earnest ap 
 peal, but betrayed no undue excitement. As Cambyses 
 ceased speaking, he calmly replied: 
 
 " I am already pledged to the people and to the 
 cause of Cyaxares. Believing that Saranaces was 
 loyal, and knowing that he had long been considered 
 the accepted candidate for Erskales' position, no 
 thought of personal reward had entered my mind. I 
 can assure you, without promise of reward, that the 
 moment that I receive advices to do so, I shall take 
 Baleria and surround Deioces' palace to protect it 
 from vandalism. I have arms for more than two 
 thousand men. You may so inform Cyaxares." There 
 seemed no doubt of his sincerity. 
 
 " I know that Cyaxares sincerely trusts in you, Cra- 
 cillies. There is more hypocrisy, false pretense, and 
 betrayal in politics than in any other calling, therefore 
 absolute confidence is a rare jewel. I bring that jewel
 
 148 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 to you from our future sovereign. Let us treasure it." 
 
 The priest bowed his head in response. 
 
 " I will now give you another surprise." Then lift 
 ing the cover, he asked, " What do you think of that 
 loot?" 
 
 " Why, what is this ? " exclaimed Cracillies, in 
 greater excitement than he had yet displayed. 
 
 Cambyses related the facts. 
 
 "And Saranaces and Claudies, where are they?" 
 
 " They are there. Each is ignorant of the other's 
 capture. I have not had time to question them. You 
 shall have the pleasure of listening. Conceal your 
 self there," and Cambyses ordered Saranaces brought 
 before him. 
 
 The prisoner was sullen and ugly, but, upon behold 
 ing before him the terrible Cambyses, he palpably 
 weakened. He had expected to see Erskales as his 
 captor. 
 
 Exhibiting the riding-habit and boots, Cambyses de 
 manded to know the meaning of them. 
 
 This seemed so trivial to Saranaces that his courage 
 returned. 
 
 " And is this sufficient cause for your making me a 
 prisoner, and subjecting me to all the tortures that 
 you have? " he asked, with a fine scorn. 
 
 Ignoring this reply, Cambyses asked, 
 
 " Who was your companion previous to your deten 
 tion last night? " 
 
 " A palace servant, in my confidence. I had him 
 bring to me Saluciea's riding-habit to make it appear 
 that she had fled the city with Erskales. For she is 
 gone. He could not bring them all at one time, and 
 he returned to bring Saluciea's treasure box." 
 
 A feeling of horror went through Cambyses as he
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 149 
 
 realized that this fiend was using his dead sister for 
 the advancement of his own political fortunes. He 
 had found her dead, and had not guessed the truth. 
 Concealing her, he now sought to profit by her absence 
 from the palace; this was his conclusion. 
 
 "Erskales! Would he himself not refute this?" 
 
 Saranaces was either trapped, or else was doing 
 some remarkably clear thinking, when he coolly re 
 plied : 
 
 " After Cyaxares had taken his departure, Erskales 
 openly declared to me that he believed the priests of 
 Crail had aided Cyaxares in the abduction of Paulius, 
 demanding the right to search the caverns. Feeling 
 certain that he was acting solely upon his own initia 
 tive, hoping to fasten suspicion upon me, I instructed 
 him to send trusted persons to make the search. He 
 himself with three priests came to the grotto, and I 
 felt it was for the good of our cause to detain him, 
 and he is now a prisoner in the labyrinth. Had I 
 permitted him to escape he surely would have betrayed 
 us to Deioces." 
 
 " Does Cracillies know of Erskales' presence in the 
 labyrinth? " 
 
 " As much as I dislike to say it, I deem it wise to 
 keep as much from Cracillies as possible. I believe 
 him to be a traitor, and while he is not actually under 
 restraint, I have taken the responsibility of preventing 
 his leaving the caverns, being fearful of betrayal at 
 his hands," bravely declared the priest, evidently be 
 lieving that he was on safe grounds. 
 
 Cambyses could hardly suppress a laugh. 
 
 " You ordered Cracillies detained? " asked Cambyses, 
 simulating great surprise. 
 
 "Yes."
 
 150 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " What reason had you for believing him disloyal 
 to us?" 
 
 " I found him in secret communication with the pal 
 ace." 
 
 " Who was his accomplice ? " 
 
 " Claudies, son of Astyages." 
 
 " Do you know this Claudies ? " 
 
 " No, I have never seen him but once, when he was 
 pointed out to me as Cracillies' accomplice. I have at 
 court a confidential servant who knows all that tran 
 spires there. He informed me that Cracillies was pre 
 paring to have Saluciea flee with Scala. Having 
 Erskales secure, I decided to place the blame upon him 
 as an excuse for his disappearance. This was my rea 
 son for securing her riding outfit and treasure box," 
 and he looked earnestly at Cambyses. 
 
 " Then you did secure her treasure box ? " 
 
 " No, my servant had returned for it when I was 
 abducted. I presume he has it secreted, and is now 
 greatly alarmed and puzzled about my disappear 
 ance." 
 
 "Saluciea where is she?" 
 
 " She is in seclusion. I do not care to say where." 
 
 "And Scala?" 
 
 " I suspect that Cracillies has her concealed some 
 where. She has disappeared." 
 
 The straightforwardness and plausibility of this con 
 fession astonished Cambyses, and had he not been in 
 possession of indisputable evidence of Saranaces' per 
 fidy, he would surely have been puzzled. 
 
 " You deny positively that you are disloyal to the 
 cause of Cyaxares? " said Cambyses. 
 
 " With all my heart ; I have never been so deeply 
 outraged. I was the friend of Cyaxares' father, and
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 151 
 
 I cannot believe that his son would sanction this insult 
 to me." 
 
 Cambyses laughed, then roared: 
 
 " Cyaxares knows nothing of this, else your head 
 would not now be upon your shoulders, Saranaces. 
 You are the most despicable, yet plausible, scoundrel 
 that ever breathed. Look here ! " and Cambyses un 
 covered Saluciea's treasure box. 
 
 " Well? " demanded Saranaces, hoping against hope. 
 
 " Well ! " thundered Cambyses, " what about this 
 damnable message to Astyages? " 
 
 Saranaces had played his game to the end. He was 
 now ready to drop to the earth. 
 
 " Take him away," commanded Cambyses. 
 
 When he was out of sight and hearing, Cambyses 
 ordered Claudies brought to him. 
 
 Claudies was brought forward, and, believing that 
 he alone was a prisoner, made a clean breast of it. 
 
 The plot was Saranaces'. Scala and Claudies were 
 to flee the country. Saluciea had disappeared, and 
 Saranaces was to circulate the story that she had fled 
 with Erskales. He would at once become head of the 
 Holy State. He would dispose of Cracillies, assume 
 power over the priests of Crail, and incite war and 
 revolution with the view of declaring himself dictator, 
 should the opportunity present itself. He would court 
 the friendship of Astyagesi and the Sapor by returning 
 the young princesses. 
 
 Claudies declared the alleged letter by Erskales 
 was a forgery written by him at the dictation of 
 Saranaces. He admitted that he was concealed in the 
 house in Baleria, and had overheard a quarrel between 
 Cracillies and Saranaces, in which the former openly 
 accused the latter of disloyalty. Saranaces demanded
 
 152 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 to know at once where Cracillies had concealed Saluciea. 
 
 Claudies had been acting as a courier between the 
 palace and the Holy State, therefore knew much about 
 Deioces' plans, which he frankly revealed. Deioces 
 had confessed to Saranaces, and the latter had advised 
 the king to declare war against Astyages at once, for 
 many causes, in order to anticipate Astyages, and to 
 alleviate the disgrace of the grave charges that the lat 
 ter would bring against him. 
 
 Deioces would take the field within the month. 
 
 Evidently Saranaces had concealed from Claudies 
 the truth regarding Saluciea, for he was totally ig 
 norant of the tragic occurrence in the house, and 
 knew nothing of her present location. He assumed 
 that Saranaces, in the furtherance of his plot, had 
 spirited her away. 
 
 That was sufficient; Cambyses had Claudies again 
 concealed, while he confronted Saranaces with Cra 
 cillies. The latter was almost overcome with sorrow 
 when he saw the humiliation of his once trusted col 
 league. But not so with Saranaces. He cursed and 
 raved at his unfortunate predicament. 
 
 It was decided to confine closely the two prisoners 
 within the caverns. Cracillies was also to take charge 
 of the treasure casket, and to conceal it until a suit 
 able disposition of it could be made. Candes with 
 two guards accompanied Cracillies, taking the casket 
 and Saranaces with them. 
 
 Cambyses was about to instruct other guards to 
 follow, when a cry arose, and Claudies was seen fleeing 
 down the mountain trail toward Baleria, with the 
 guards tumbling over one another to overtake him. 
 They sent a shower of stones after him, twice bring 
 ing him down. Each time, however, he staggered to
 
 CAMBYSES RETURNS 153 
 
 his feet and kept going, and it was plain to be seen 
 that he had escaped. Cambyses roared in impotent 
 rage when the last guard returned without him. 
 
 Sending word in to Cracillies of the disaster, and 
 to instruct the guards to follow, he and his men made 
 all haste to leave the dangerous locality, not knowing 
 what Claudies might be able to bring upon them, 
 should they remain there. 
 
 At the frontier Cambyses established a perfect sys 
 tem of signal corps stations, extending almost to Der- 
 bend pass, in order to keep in touch with the events 
 that would follow Cyaxares' visit to the Holy Crater. 
 Cracillies in the meantime was carefully agitating 
 Baleria, and carrying out a plan of vexing Deioces 
 into an active campaign against Astyages.
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 CYAXAllES AT THE COURT OF THE SAPOR 
 
 A3 he journeyed toward the Holy Crater Cyaxares 
 pondered over his coming trials. This was no 
 child's play, this seeking to incite to war the great mys 
 tery of Asia, the Sapor, King of Kings, and ruler 
 over an hundred million people. Ordinary kings of 
 that period were eccentric and arbitrary, doing unex 
 pected and inconsistent things on the impulse of the 
 moment. What might be expected of a ruler of whom 
 the world knew so little? He himself was known to 
 be without country, and without reputation or fame. 
 As an advocate of the restoration of his father to his 
 throne, he could be thought an adventurer, aside from 
 his now being an ambassador of Astyages. He must 
 depend wholly upon his native wit, and upon the se 
 riousness of the message that he brought to the Sapor. 
 
 It had been said that no ambassador had been per 
 mitted to look upon the sacred person of the Sapor in 
 half a century, therefore his curiosity arose as he 
 neared the frontier of the Holy Crater, as indicated 
 by more frequent signs of travelers. Coming to a 
 wide, green plateau, upon which were seen grazing nu 
 merous domestic animals, sleepy and lazy from plenti 
 ful feeding, it was decided to stop there for the night, 
 a party to be sent forward to reconnoiter the country 
 into which they were entering. 
 
 Dismounting, they permitted their jaded animals to 
 
 lave their panting sides in the cooling mountain stream, 
 
 154
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 155 
 
 then picketed them to partake of the succulent grass 
 of the meadow. Spreading their tents they ate their 
 own frugal meal, and were soon wrapped in restful 
 slumber. 
 
 Even before they had breakfasted the next morning 
 a large body of splendidly accoutered horsemen, ac 
 companied by the men that they had sent forward, 
 rode to their camp. 
 
 They were dark, heavily bearded, and excessively 
 large men, all as large as Cyaxares himself. They 
 were armed cap-a-pie, and their horses were covered 
 with blankets of dull mail. They carried long spears, 
 oval shields, and short swords. 
 
 After proper salutations, their leader joined Cyax 
 ares in his tent, where they breakfasted together. 
 The chieftain informed Cyaxares that he would escort 
 him and his party to the Holy Crater. 
 
 Within the hour they were on their way, the chief 
 tain, Cyaxares, and the special official from Astyages' 
 court riding in advance of the main body. They came 
 to a high promontory, overlooking a wide valley, cov 
 ered with cultivated fields. Here and there could be 
 seen men and animals moving. Streams of clear 
 mountain water wound about, watering the lands, 
 which were regularly and tastefully separated into 
 tracts. The vineyards and orchards even encroached 
 upon the lower mountain sides and foot-hills. 
 
 Cyaxares suitably expressed his admiration of the 
 appearance of the country as they passed along the 
 crest, comparing it with a bird's-eye view of the plains 
 of Little Ironia. This was on a much grander scale 
 and of a more definite form, being surrounded by a 
 circle of grayish mountains with the inner edge as 
 clean-cut as a wedding ring. Directly in the center
 
 156 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 of the valley was a clear lake of water of goodly di 
 mensions. 
 
 "The Holy Crater?" asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " No," smilingly replied the chief. " This is the 
 land of the Naobians. There are sixty of these snug 
 valleys surrounding the Holy Crater." 
 
 Higher and higher they climbed up the mountain 
 until the great valley below became but undulating 
 waves of green. A quick turn brought them out upon 
 a narrow, rocky plateau, barely large enough to ac 
 commodate the whole body of mounted men. 
 
 There was a very noticeable change in the charac 
 ter of the surrounding mountain walls. There was an 
 aspect of artificiality, which at first was puzzling, but 
 upon close inspection it was seen that its whole face 
 was a series of artificially constructed terraces and 
 galleries, doubtless intended for purposes of protec 
 tion in time of warfare. 
 
 " We must dismount here, we can go no farther upon 
 our horses. They and your men will be well and com 
 fortably provided for. You and your companion 
 alone may accompany me," said the chieftain. 
 
 Traversing a queerly constructed road for some dis 
 tance, they approached the face of the cliff and 
 climbed a steep, narrow stairway, cut in the solid stone, 
 upwards for an hundred feet to a stone platform. 
 
 Four stalwart guards challenged the party here. 
 After a brief parley a tremendous stone was turned 
 upon a pivot, and a passageway was opened for them 
 to pass into the mountain. 
 
 After the ponderous stone door had closed behind 
 them, it seemed that they were in total darkness, but 
 gradually the light of day became visible at the other 
 end of the passage. The way spread out, fan-shaped,
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 157 
 
 as they advanced, and at intervals openings along the 
 sides suggested other branches. What nature had 
 done in the caverns of Crail seemed puny and crude 
 compared with that which had here been wrought by 
 the hand of man. Cyaxares was overawed by the sense 
 of cold, impregnable strength as betrayed by these 
 hand-hewn caves, and the inscrutable power over it all, 
 as suggested by the automatic, emotionless challenges 
 that met them from time to time. Strength and 
 power, the growth of ages, were carved in every line. 
 The hard, harsh voices of the guards, and the clank 
 of their armor, seemed chained to the very granite 
 walls. Against such power resistance seemed useless. 
 Dead silence seemed to resent their presence there. A 
 feeling of despondency came over Cyaxares, as they 
 clanked their way through these ancient halls of mys 
 tery. What did the great beyond contain? 
 
 Emerging from the passage they were standing at 
 the outer edge of a wide terrace looking down upon a 
 beautiful garden, not unlike the gardens of Crail. A 
 double gallery extended around the entire space, half 
 of which was uncovered, while the other half was cut 
 back under the walls, with many arched connections 
 between the inner and outer spaces. With his knowl 
 edge of the habits of the priests of Crail, Cyaxares 
 quickly conjectured that this was a similar home for 
 the priests of the Holy Crater, the inner or protected 
 gallery being for use in periods of inclement weather. 
 The blue sky seemed to come down so close that it 
 might almost be touched. 
 
 As they passed along the gallery, priests began to 
 peer out at them from the arches. They were sur 
 prisingly like the priests of Crail in garb and stature, 
 but where the former had smooth faces these men of
 
 158 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 meditation wore beards, queerly platted in many little 
 rope-like thongs, which almost covered their chests. 
 This, with their great shock of hair, gave them an 
 ancient appearance. Their faces were soft, kindly, 
 and highly intelligent, yet, due doubtless to the infre- 
 quency of such events, they plainly betrayed eager 
 curiosity regarding the strangers within their caves. 
 
 The gardens looked well cultivated, and tastefully 
 arranged, the sweet fragrance of the flowers rising even 
 to these galleries. The same deathlike silence pre 
 vailed. 
 
 By a series of graduated trails the party was finally 
 conducted to the gardens below, where a number of 
 very aged priests accosted them. It was made known 
 that Cyaxares was an ambassador extraordinary, who 
 had credentials to present to the high priest of the Holy 
 Crater. 
 
 " Does the world without not know that the high 
 priest of the Holy Crater is the Sapor? " asked the 
 speaking priest. 
 
 " Of all the people in the world the person charging 
 me to deliver this message has the best right person 
 ally to communicate with the Sapor. My instruc 
 tions are for me to deliver the packet into the hands 
 of the inner high priest, who will understand, and will 
 immediately take me into the presence of the Sapor." 
 
 At this speech by Cyaxares, all the priests raised 
 their hands in unfeigned amazement, and shook their 
 heads. Evidently this surprise was transmitted to the 
 galleries above, for now the outer edge swarmed with 
 the bearded priests, whispering and gesticulating. 
 
 It was very suggestive of that form of hysterical 
 panic that seizes upon people whose even tenor of life 
 is not often disturbed. The form that it would as-
 
 sume in the end was uncertain, but they kept coming, 
 and their voices could now be plainly heard below. 
 
 One of the elder priests looked up at the excited men 
 in the gallery, raised his hand with the palm upward, 
 and all sounds immediately ceased, and the priests 
 gradually withdrew themselves from sight. 
 
 The party was now bidden to wait until some in 
 structions could be had from within the Holy Crater. 
 They were conducted to a comfortable resting-place, 
 and wine and viands were placed before them, intimat 
 ing that it would require some time. 
 
 The chief of guards explained that Cyaxares' mis 
 sion was an unusual one, and the priests hardly knew 
 how to proceed. It was because Cyaxares' first mes 
 sage came from the Holy Church in Ironia, and espe 
 cially from its head, Cracillies, that he had been first 
 conducted to the priests of the Holy Crater. 
 
 It was an hour before any word came. Then he 
 alone was conducted to what appeared to be a smooth, 
 blank wall. Slowly it receded, leaving a large square 
 opening directly through the wall, which was about 
 fifty feet in thickness. The effect was the most 
 startling thing that Cyaxares had ever seen. He was 
 looking into a new world beyond, a glorious picture 
 surrounded by a rustic frame, the sides of the opening. 
 The shimmer of a golden city, of palaces beyond de 
 scription, momentarily blinded his eyes. Here, surely, 
 was the secret of the Holy Crater ; here was wealth un 
 heard of in the outer world; why tempt the greed of 
 nations by allowing the eyes of their ambassadors to 
 feast upon it, then take back with them stories to 
 whet the teeth of conquest and adventure? It was in 
 deed a wise precaution. He was not permitted to 
 ponder long. A powerful man of tremendous size,
 
 160 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 accompanied on either side by guards with shining 
 spears, lowered for action, stepped into the opening 
 and motioned for him to enter. Without a word the 
 great warrior turned about, and Cyaxares followed 
 him down through a long line of grim soldiers clad in 
 dead mail, half concealed behind huge shields, and with 
 spears advanced. 
 
 Here were form and discipline such as Cyaxares had 
 never witnessed before. It made his very flesh creep. 
 He felt it would be a terrible thing to look into the 
 face of the great, mysterious Sapor, whose mind in 
 spired this unyielding formality. It had no human 
 semblance. Brave man that he was, he for a moment 
 had grave doubts, not unmingled with an unnameable 
 fear, the fear that is in every man's heart, of the un 
 known, the mysterious. The Sapor had inspired the 
 whole civilized world with this same fear. This very 
 thought was inspiring. The hot blood came welling 
 up into Cyaxares' cheeks. He too was born to be a 
 king; he would not disgrace his inheritance. No, not 
 even the King of Kings should inspire him with fear. 
 He would face the Sapor as he had faced Deioces. He 
 would pit his personality against that of any ruler and 
 see if, after all, every man is not a king when his 
 cause is righteous. He felt strong, erect, and as stolid 
 and austere as the harshest soldier. It fitted him well, 
 with these strange surroundings. 
 
 He was conducted along the inevitable hand-hewn 
 gallery, which could be seen winding and twisting about 
 the almost perpendicular walls that surrounded the 
 Holy Crater. It needed no one to tell him that he was 
 in the sacred precinct of the Sapor. His conductor 
 never turned, and he heard the steady clank, clank of 
 soldiers marching behind him, as they gradually de-
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 161 
 
 scended down an incline until they were barred by a 
 high granite wall. The things that he had observed 
 by cautious glances were almost fearful in their 
 grandeur. Miles upon miles of this broad, even gal 
 lery traversed the steep sides of the crater. Every 
 foot of the low safety wall, extending along its edges, 
 was a gem of artistic carving. Untold quantities of 
 flowers and blooming plants and shrubs beautified the 
 way on both sides. A splendid view of palaces, or 
 nately bedecked with gold and silver, and apparently 
 wholly constructed of onyx, filled the crater, which was 
 about one mile in diameter. 
 
 Huge bronze gates, inlaid with gold and silver, 
 opened, and Cyaxares found himself transferred to the 
 care of another military escort. Like men of stone the 
 soldiers stood while the noble young ambassador was 
 placed in a gorgeous palanquin, and lifted to the shoul 
 ders of strong Ethiopians to be carried in state to 
 the palace of the Sapor. He was prepared for sur 
 prises and his fine, mobile countenance no longer be 
 trayed the emotions raging within. 
 
 Before entering the holy city he had removed his 
 heavy military cloak and stood bareheaded in his court 
 dress of richly embroidered silk, by all odds the hand 
 somest specimen of noble young manhood that any one 
 there had ever seen. There was a marvelous contrast 
 between his auburn curls and the jet black shocks and 
 dark faces about him. All paid him deep respect in 
 accord with his good appearance. From some mys 
 terious source the word had been passed that this ex 
 traordinary man had something in common with their 
 own great sovereign. This caused the highest digni 
 taries to show him marked deference. 
 
 Cyaxares could not judge of the external appear-
 
 162 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ance of the Sapor's palace because he was hurried into 
 a covered passageway to emerge into an antechamber 
 of greatest simplicity. The walls were of cold gray 
 stone and the furnishings stiff, unsightly, and uncom 
 fortable. Here he was waited upon by priests of the 
 higher order, attached to the Sapor's household. 
 They were all aged, wise-looking men. 
 
 " I am arch-arbiter of the Sapor's household," said 
 the spokesman. 
 
 " I am Cyaxares, son of Phraortes, and ambassador 
 extraordinary from Astyages, king of Persis. I also 
 bear a message from Cracillies, head of the Holy 
 Church of Ironia, and a most urgent, personal message 
 from one in whom your sovereign has a close personal 
 interest. Its confidential nature forbids my divulging 
 its import until I have carried it as nearly directly to 
 the great Sapor as your laws and customs will permit. 
 
 " I wish, first, to bring greetings from King 
 Astyages, and from the Holy Church of Ironia, to the 
 Church and State of the Holy Crater, and then crave 
 the blessing of your sovereign." 
 
 " Well spoken," exclaimed the high pontiff. " Do 
 these messages relate to one subject, or may some of 
 them be discharged independently?" 
 
 " The most urgent, and the one upon which all the 
 others have a direct bearing, is the confidential message 
 to the Sapor," replied Cyaxares. " I prefer to hold a 
 confidential audience with the Sapor's closest individual 
 adviser before presenting the message, because of its 
 extraordinary and important nature." 
 
 The priests held a whispered conference for a few 
 moments, then the pontiff bade Cyaxares follow, and 
 passed into a long, marble corridor that led to an 
 other wing of the palace. There were no intimations
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 163 
 
 of greater luxury than he had already seen, and he mar 
 veled at this simplicity, bordering upon poverty or 
 stinginess, in the heart of a city built of gold. He had 
 no time to ponder the mystery. 
 
 " A courteous bow is all that is required of you," 
 said the priest, and he tapped a silver gong suspended 
 by a cord from the ceiling. 
 
 A door slowly opened, and revealed a low, square 
 room lighted by only a small silver lamp. An Ethio 
 pian servant quickly lighted other lamps. 
 
 " Wotan," said the priest, and quickly withdrew. 
 Cyaxares bowed low. 
 
 The man was swathed in silken garments of some 
 singular construction to give him a fat, pudgy appear 
 ance. He was lying at full length upon a low divan 
 made of luxurious pillows of richly embroidered stuff. 
 The gondola-like ends of the divan seemed to be made 
 of solid beaten gold, as was quite every other article of 
 furniture in the room. From many unexpected places 
 flashed gems of incalculable value. In the center of 
 his forehead flashed an immense ruby attached to his 
 head by a wide band of colored silk. 
 
 He exhibited no emotion when Cyaxares was pre 
 sented. He did not offer him any of the comforts of 
 the room. He merely lay with his body propped by 
 his arm, and calmly surveyed the young man from head 
 to foot. At a single movement of his head, the 
 Ethiopian knelt at his side. In some unknown jargon 
 he made known his desires. The servant brought a 
 silver tray, and, kneeling before Cyaxares, extended it 
 toward him. As eloquent as words this act requested 
 him to present his credentials to Wotan. 
 
 Cyaxares hesitated, and prepared to speak. The 
 figure upon the divan instantly arose to a half-sitting
 
 164 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 posture, fire flashed from his sunken eyes, and he 
 fiercely pointed to the tray. Cyaxares calmly placed 
 thereon the message that Madrilla had given him to 
 deliver. The servant again knelt before Wotan, and 
 presented the sealed message. 
 
 Wotan broke the seal, and began reading. In a 
 moment his face blanched to a chalky whiteness. He 
 dashed off the be jeweled headband, smote a gong that 
 hung suspended near him, and instantly four stalwart 
 Ethiopians ran into the room, picked up the divan as 
 a litter, and awaited orders. Again he struck the gong, 
 and they replaced the litter upon the floor, and left 
 the room; he had changed his mind. The servant 
 again presented the tray, and Cyaxares placed thereon 
 the messages from Cracillies and from Astyages. He 
 seemed to be playing for time. 
 
 Wotan was satisfied. He had hesitated to accredit 
 Cyaxares, but he was now convinced of the grave im 
 portance of the messages. His whole demeanor 
 changed. A gray pallor had settled upon his face as 
 if he anticipated some great sorrow or calamity. 
 
 At a motion the servant placed a pillow beneath him, 
 and gradually raised him to a sitting position, prop 
 ping him securely. Cyaxares saw that he was a 
 paralytic. 
 
 The servant then summoned a sage-looking priest 
 from an adjoining room, who bowed to Cyaxares as 
 he entered, but showed little reverence for Wotan. He 
 looked closely at his eyes, then felt his hands. Drop 
 ping a powder into a glass of wine, he held it to his 
 lips until he had swallowed it. A fit of palsy had sud 
 denly rendered him perfectly helpless. 
 
 In a few moments he recovered the use of his hands 
 sufficiently to gather up the parchments, then he again
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 165 
 
 struck the gong. Again the slaves appeared, lifted 
 the litter, and awaited orders. 
 
 Motioning Cyaxares to his side, he took his hand 
 and gave signs that the slaves understood. A door was 
 opened, and, clinging to Cyaxares' hand, Wotan was 
 carried into the great tomblike audience chamber of the 
 Sapor. 
 
 " Bow down to the great King of Kings," said a deep 
 voice from some hidden part of the room. 
 
 There it sat, a huge stone image. Wotan pointed 
 to it, and conveyed to Cyaxares that he must pay 
 homage to it. And Cyaxares, still wondering, bent 
 his knee to the king of stone. 
 
 In bewilderment he looked at Wotan as the only 
 source of an explanation. There was a rustling, 
 cracking sound, and the stone image rolled away, and 
 a horrifying sight met his gaze. Wotan found his 
 voice, and uttered the only words that he could speak, 
 
 " The Sapor." 
 
 He pressed Cyaxares forward toward the horrible 
 creature, and the slaves withdrew from the room with 
 the litter. 
 
 Cyaxares was alone with the Sapor. 
 
 What was it? It was made of parchment. It sat 
 blinking at him with its inhuman eyes. Yet it was, 
 or had been, human in its time. The parchmentlike 
 skin glistened over the bones of the forehead and 
 cheeks. The lips had ceased to close over fanglike 
 teeth. During the years that it had sat in a great 
 chair of solid ivory, its fingers, with long clawlike 
 nails, had worn away the ends of the arms of the chair 
 with their constant tapping. The same was true of 
 the footboard, where could be seen two gnarled and 
 twisted feet with their long claws constantly digging at
 
 166 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the ivory. A simple, well-worn purple gown, without 
 ornamentation of any kind, was its only garment. 
 
 On either side of the throne lay a great vicious dog 
 with hair like straw and with mane bristling like wire. 
 Their fangs were constantly shown in a snarl of ready 
 anger. They were held by chains attached to heavy 
 copper collars and passed through rings in the floors. 
 The chains were then held by two enormous Ethiopian 
 slaves, as black as night ; their bodies were wholly nude. 
 
 Cyaxares was so overcome at this unexpected sight 
 that he had no thought of the courtesies due a sov 
 ereign, but stood spellbound and gazing at the awful 
 being. But, if he thought this death's head was speech 
 less and without intelligence, he was quickly undeceived. 
 
 " I am the Sapor ! " and it shook the long, whiplike 
 hair that fell over its shoulders. The voice was unmis 
 takably that of a woman, and carried a wonderful 
 resonance that filled the room. 
 
 Instinctively Cyaxares advanced a pace, and bent his 
 knee to the Sapor., 
 
 " Make known your mission," said the Sapor, and 
 the blinking, starlike eyes flashed. 
 
 He held in his hands the messages that Wotan had 
 handed back to him upon leaving the room. 
 
 " I have here a confidential message, the contents of 
 which I do not know. I was bidden to bring it here and 
 deliver it into the hands of the inner high priest, who 
 would present it to your Majesty. Shall I give it 
 you ? " 
 
 "Yes. No! Read it." 
 
 Cyaxares advanced toward the ivory throne, un 
 folded Madrilla's message, and began reading it : 
 
 " Unto my royal mother I send greetings and affection.
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 167 
 
 " This message will be presented by a nobleman, Prince 
 Cyaxares, son of Phraortes. To him I owe my life and 
 present safety. Trust him as I do " 
 
 The Sapor had arisen, and was standing 1 upon the 
 foot-board of her ivory chair, eagerly, wildly leaning 
 forward to listen. 
 
 " Go on ! " she screamed, her face distorted with pas 
 sion. 
 
 " The escort that was to meet me did not come. Our 
 train was captured by bandits, and we were held prisoners. 
 I have learned that Deioces, king of Ironia, purchased me 
 and Almareta, daughter of King Astyages, and had us 
 brought to Baleria. Prince Cyaxares rescued us from) 
 Deioces' palace, and conveyed us to the caverns of Crail, 
 and we are prisoners, but with friends. We cannot safely 
 be taken away from Crail. Entrust to Prince Cyaxares our 
 rescue. Grant him soldiers for our safe escort, as you love 
 me, my royal mother. He will bear credentials from Cra- 
 eillies, head of the Holy Church of Ironia, also from King 
 Astyages, of Persis. 
 
 " Again I send you love and affectionate greetings. 
 
 " MADRILLA." 
 
 A loud scream resounded throughout the room, and 
 then she called: 
 
 " Wotan ! Wotan ! " 
 
 Snatching a stick off] a small table she struck a large 
 gong, again and again screaming : " Wotan ! 
 Wotan ! " 
 
 The very walls seemed to open, and the room was 
 filled with soldiers, with their spears presented in a cir 
 cle about Cyaxares. The two great dogs were tug 
 ging and straining at their chains and baying 1 up 
 roariously. It was a terrible moment for Cyaxares.
 
 168 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 "Go away! I want Wotan. Where is Wotan? " 
 and she waved the soldiers back, and they disappeared 
 from the room. " Zirkan, where is Wotan ? " she de 
 manded of a dignified, priestly individual who had 
 entered the room. 
 
 Zirkan made obeisance, and replied, 
 
 " Your Majesty, Wotan is dead, having passed away 
 but a few moments ago." 
 
 " Coward. He knew his fate. Call a council at 
 once. I shall wait here." 
 
 Zirkan bowed himself out of the room. 
 
 " Come here. I want to place my hands upon you." 
 
 Cyaxares stepped forward, and attempted to bend 
 his knee to the Sapor, but she cried, " Arise." 
 
 She stood upon the foot-board, placed her parchment 
 claws upon his arms, then stroked his curls and mum 
 bled incoherently. 
 
 Suddenly she exclaimed: 
 
 " You are a man. I will give my kingdom for 
 Madrilla's safe return to me," and she lay in a de 
 jected heap in her well-clawed ivory chair, with tears 
 falling over her thin yellow cheeks. 
 
 " May I speak, your Majesty? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Then let me implore of you the honor of bringing 
 back to you your beloved daughter, without promise of 
 reward. I pledge my life to restore her to you in 
 safety." 
 
 " I believe you, but wait." She was calm. 
 
 Zirkan entered accompanied by twelve men, one bear 
 ing a huge law-book. 
 
 Then the Sapor spake: 
 
 " Wotan is dead. Zirkan is high priest of war. 
 Record it and obey his commands. Zirkan, put under
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 169 
 
 arms an army. We will call a Holy War against 
 Deioces. Call a war council. Got Remain here, 
 Zirkan, and you," pointing to Cyaxares. 
 
 In less than twenty minutes Cyaxares' breath was 
 taken away by the elder priest reentering the room, 
 making obeisance, and announcing that one hundred 
 thousand soldiers were under arms, and awaiting orders. 
 
 Here was lightning preparation for war with a 
 vengeance. Cyaxares at once perceived that he had 
 pulled the world down upon himself unless he could have 
 a voice in the council. 
 
 The great stone image, like a live thing, silently drew 
 back into its place, and the Sapor disappeared from 
 view. 
 
 Twelve men came slowly into the room while two giant 
 Ethiopian slaves brought in, and placed upon a stone 
 table, a huge volume of manuscript. 
 
 Zirkan waved one of the men to a seat at his left, and 
 bade Cyaxares take a seat near his right. 
 
 After some mysterious rites, Cyaxares was bidden to 
 make known all the facts, which he did, only reserving 
 such parts as he thought might be detrimental to his 
 plans. Then inj eloquent terms he said: 
 
 " I plead for further hearing that I may make plain 
 to the powers of the Holy Crater the sole and only 
 responsibility for this outrage. The Holy Church in 
 the three signatories of the triple alliance are a unit 
 in the desire for universal peace ; Astyages is not only 
 friendly with the Holy State of the Sapor, but is an 
 equal victim in this horrid affair; the priests of Crail 
 are wholly in accord with the priests of the Holy Crater ; 
 all the surrounding countries are friendly to, and en 
 joying with, Persis a period of great prosperity, and 
 consequent progression and national happiness. The
 
 170 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 agrarians of Ironia are living in constant fear, and are 
 driven as abject slaves. The people of the city of 
 Baleria are irresponsible, and in no wise associated with 
 this vile conduct on the part of Deioces. 
 
 " Therefore, Deioces alone must be punished. The 
 destruction of his army of thirty thousand soldiers 
 should be the ultimate and only purpose of your war 
 plans. All others are innocent and are friendly to the 
 Holy Crater. 
 
 " Deioces' army will be upon the plains in front of the 
 city of Aspahan by the time an avenging army from the 
 Holy Crater can reach there. Then, I pray you, send 
 only a sufficient army to annihilate Deioces, and do it 
 so quickly that the people at large will not be aroused 
 and shocked into the belief that a general holy war is 
 upon them. I shall make known to your high priest of 
 war other matters of importance." 
 
 At this juncture the stranger at the left of Zirkan 
 made known a desire to speak. Cyaxares deferentially 
 gave way to him. 
 
 He was a young man, well dressed, but soiled by 
 travel. His shifting eyes and cunning aspect fore 
 warned Cyaxares of some unexpected danger. He was 
 not of the Holy Crater, yet he was permitted to enter 
 into this council, or at least was here to be heard. 
 
 Bending a keen, sarcastic look upon Cyaxares, he 
 said: 
 
 " And who is this man that thus eloquently slanders 
 the great founder of the triple alliance ? None other 
 than the pretender to Deioces' throne. By what 
 authority does he come here as a representative of Asty- 
 ages? Custom has made it a law, and the triple alli 
 ance specifically declares, that a man to speak for a 
 state or ruler, as special envoy, must be a legal subject
 
 CYAXARES AT COURT OF THE SAPOR 171 
 
 of that ruler. This man is a subject of no ruler, a 
 citizen of no country, and owes allegiance to no king; 
 then why is he here? " 
 
 Cyaxares was so astounded that he was much con 
 fused. The man was a perfect stranger to him, he did 
 not know his mission, and could not guess what compli 
 cations might arise from the prejudice that he had so 
 adroitly thrown in his way. Arising in anger, he ex 
 claimed : " My credentials are in the hands of the pow 
 ers here. Who are you that you thus boldly challenge 
 my motives? " 
 
 " I am a special ambassador from Deioces, king of 
 Ironia, and I am here to prove that you are a wily im 
 postor, and only desire to inspire war for your own 
 personal ends ; that your story is a myth ; that Deioces 
 knows absolutely nothing of the daughters of the Sapor 
 and Astyages ; that you now have these young princesses 
 hidden away somewhere until you can consummate your 
 cunning scheme," was the insolent reply. 
 
 A light had come to Cyaxares, who was now so 
 thoroughly aroused that, had he not been fearful of the 
 consequences, he would have throttled the scoundrel on 
 the spot. Looking calmly into the face of the man, 
 he said : 
 
 " Were I not bound by the respect that I owe to this 
 august conclave, I would throttle you till I purged you 
 of the true intents and purposes of your visit here, and 
 then I would pull your lying tongue from your hypo 
 critical throat. You are not an ambassador from 
 Deioces. You are the spy and associate of Saranaces, 
 who is my prisoner. I myself received the daughter 
 of the Sapor and the daughter of Astyages from Deio 
 ces, in his own palace. They are now the wards of the 
 Holy Church, and directly in the care of Cracillies, the
 
 172 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 head of the Holy Church. I am here primarily to 
 speak for the Holy Church, from which I am provided 
 with credentials. There are my credentials in the 
 hands of the high priest. Do you challenge the Holy 
 Church of Ironia? " 
 
 " By what test do your credentials prove their 
 authenticity ? " demanded the stranger. 
 
 " By the same test that proves you to be a base 
 counterfeit, a comparison of our credentials with the 
 accredited signatures and seals of the powers that we 
 claim to represent." Then, turning to Zirkan, he said, 
 " Have your keeper of seals bring the seals of Deioces, 
 Saranaces, and Cracillies? " 
 
 At a sign one of the priests arose, passed out of the 
 room, and soon returned with a large volume of parch 
 ments. 
 
 The stranger was plainly disturbed, but remained 
 quiet. 
 
 A long and careful examination was made, and they 
 all finally seemed to agree upon some essential point. 
 A gong was hanging near the table and Zirkan struck 
 it three sharp blows. A file of soldiers entered. Point 
 ing to the now frightened stranger, the high priest said, 
 
 " Place him under restraint until I send for him." 
 Then, turning to Cyaxares, he smilingly asked, " Did 
 you ever see this man before? " 
 
 " Not to my recollection," responded Cyaxares. 
 
 " It is the wayward son of Astyages, Claudies. He 
 was found almost exhausted from hard riding, night 
 and day, in an effort to anticipate you here. Word 
 comes from Cambyses warning you of his coming, also 
 of the re-capture of Saranaces, who had escaped from 
 the caverns. We must inform you that we are fully 
 in touch with the priests of Crail, therefore we know
 
 that you may be trusted. You were quite correct in 
 believing that he represented Saranaces. We had your 
 companion secretly identify him as the son of Asty- 
 ages, then he was brought blindfolded to the chamber 
 from the outer gardens." 
 
 And then they counseled with one another regarding 
 the proposed war against Deioces, Cyaxares' wishes 
 being deferred to in the matter of limiting action to 
 the punishment of Deioces. 
 
 He would be provided with a picked army of five 
 thousand soldiers for the purpose of taking Ironia. 
 
 With all matters settled, Zirkan gave his final in 
 structions to review an army of sixty thousand soldiers 
 on the following day. Then he took possession of 
 Cyaxares as his special guest, giving him all the atten 
 tion possible. But no mention of a successor to Deioces 
 was broached. 
 
 " This night I will be sponsor for you in the Holy 
 City, the city in which alone dwell the chieftains of all 
 the clans of the Holy Crater. You will then under 
 stand why its gates are locked against the world. Go 
 and rest until I call you, for to-morrow we must re 
 view our armies," and the newly appointed high priest 
 of war led Cyaxares to a nearby chamber, where he 
 found ample luxuries and willing slaves.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 
 
 YAXARES was weary from the mental strain 
 and anxiety of the past few hours, and was 
 glad to be alone for a while. After partaking of the 
 tempting refreshments placed before him, he lay down 
 upon a luxurious couch to rest and think. He imme 
 diately fell asleep and dreamed that Madrilla, fair and 
 beautiful, sat upon the throne, and he was kneeling 
 before her. She had bidden him arise, and sit by her 
 side, and he was serenely happy. How long he had 
 slept he could not tell, but he awoke in total darkness. 
 What should he do? He clapped his hands, and in 
 stantly two slaves entered carrying trays containing 
 many silver lamps, which they distributed about the 
 room. Then others came, bearing ewers filled with 
 water, basin, and soft towels for bathing. These were 
 removed and Zirkan entered, and a small table con 
 taining viands served for two was brought. 
 
 " You were weary, and I did not disturb you. You 
 will join me in this evening repast, and then I will 
 reveal to you one of the greatest secrets in all the 
 world, the Sapor's method of summoning an army of a 
 million soldiers in one hour," said the priest, who was 
 a kind, gentle-natured man. Cyaxares found him ex 
 tremely intellectual and most companionable. It did 
 not require long to dispose of the refreshments, Cyax 
 ares being informed that they would later partake of 
 
 other feasts in many palaces that they would visit. 
 
 174
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 175 
 
 After making some necessary changes in his attire, the 
 young prince was surprised to have Zirkan present to 
 him, with the compliments of the Sapor, a bandeau 
 of pure gold, in the center of which was a resplendent 
 sapphire of great beauty and incalculable value. This 
 held his curling locks close about his head, and gave 
 him a most distinguished and noble appearance. None 
 could vie with Cyaxares in the matter of good looks. 
 Clad in splendid silken garments beautifully em 
 broidered in gold and silver interwrought with bright 
 colors ; shod in buskins of filigreed silver, and now 
 wearing the magnificent tiara presented to him by the 
 Sapor, he looked every inch a king. They were ready 
 to pass out into the city of gold, silver, and precious 
 gems. Zirkan very frankly expressed his admiration 
 for his companion of the evening's excursion. 
 
 The soft notes of a distant gong sounded, and Zir 
 kan at once arose, saying: 
 
 " It is the will of her Majesty, the queen, that we 
 present ourselves before her. Come." 
 
 Four tremendous nude Ethiopians stood ready, with 
 staffs, upon the top of which were silver flambeaux. 
 These lighted the way through intricate and uninter 
 esting halls, cut through the solid, native rock. 
 
 Again they entered the audience chamber where 
 reigned the stolid king of stone, bending their knees in 
 token of respect to the image of him who once ruled 
 as King of Kings. Zirkan whispered to Cyaxares : 
 
 " The world at large believes that he still lives and 
 reigns. Only the immediate household of the present 
 queen ever looks upon her face. The kings over whom 
 she rules know that it is death to breathe the secret, 
 therefore speak not of it yourself." 
 
 Instead of the image's being again pushed aside, a
 
 176 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 panel in the wall opened, and they entered a small, 
 dimly lighted reception room, the torch-bearing slaves 
 remaining without. Here they were met by a distin 
 guished-looking and aged priest, who held in his hand 
 a white cross in the center of which was a circle of 
 red. He greeted them cordially and quite informally. 
 The cross was attached to a golden chain, which the 
 priest now placed about Cyaxares' neck, saying: 
 
 " The noble stranger, Prince Cyaxares, is thrice wel 
 come to the inner circles of the holy city. It is the 
 custom to swear to secrecy all that enter here. Do 
 you solemnly swear before your recognized gods that 
 you will keep secret all that you sense within the sa 
 cred walls of this holy city, until you are released 
 from this oath by order of the Sapor? " 
 
 " I do," replied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Then wear this cross, which is your safe passport 
 among kings." 
 
 Cyaxares obeyed, and they were conducted to the 
 private audience chamber of the queen. It was now 
 too late for him to inquire of Zirkan why he now spake 
 of the queen instead of the Sapor. 
 
 What was this new surprise? Surely it was all a 
 play, to mystify and mislead him. Instead of the 
 parchment being that he had seen upon the ivory 
 throne earlier in the day, he was now presented to a 
 magnificent woman, of wonderful personal attractive 
 ness and commanding appearance, who was called the 
 queen. Seated upon a throne of beaten gold incrusted 
 with jewels, and surrounded by many beautiful young 
 women, it was a scene of enchantment to bewilder the 
 young prince. A low seat of polished ivory, decorated 
 and upholstered with embroidered silks, was directly 
 in front of the queen. Zirkan whispered that he must
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 177 
 
 kneel upon this in being presented to the sovereign. 
 
 A murmur of admiration and surprise was heard 
 upon their making their appearance, and the queen 
 was so moved that she eagerly leaned forward to greet 
 the noble stranger, whose bearing was so stately and 
 dignified and whose manly graces were so manifest. 
 Two elegantly attired esquires accompanied him, one 
 on either side, as he approached the queen. Kneeling, 
 he bowed his head, and his great mass of auburn curls 
 fell about his splendid shoulders. 
 
 The queen reached forth a slender wand, and touched 
 C3 T axares upon the head, saying: 
 
 " Arise, Cyaxares, you are thrice welcome to the 
 holy city. You are indeed fit to associate with kings." 
 Then at a wave of her wand, the attendants, all but 
 the two esquires at the entrance and Zirkan, retired 
 from the chamber. Cyaxares was bidden to take a 
 seat at her right hand, and Zirkan upon her left. 
 Her frank, friendly face at! once removed all embarrass 
 ment. 
 
 Leaning eagerly toward Cyaxares, she said : " And 
 now tell me about my Madrilla. I know your expe 
 rience here is puzzling to you, but that will all be 
 properly explained. I am the true Sapor although 
 I am called queen, and Madrilla is my own daughter. 
 Lay aside formality, and feel at your ease. The 
 Sapor is not so terrible as the world believes." 
 
 Cyaxares' frank eyes acknowledged this ; she was a 
 splendidly preserved woman of fifty, and still retained 
 the grace and beauty of youth. There was no doubt 
 in Cyaxares' mind that she was truly the mother of 
 Madrilla, having the same features, the same voice, 
 and the same friendly, confiding, and winsome manners, 
 the same brown tresses and tender blue eyes.
 
 178 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " The fair Princess Madrilla is the image of her 
 queenly mother, your Majesty," he said. 
 
 " I have not seen her for ten years. She was re 
 turning from a sojourn in foreign lands, where she was 
 being educated by the orders of her kingly father," 
 she said, softty, and tears were in her eyes. There 
 was sadness as well as pathos in her voice. Cyaxares 
 told her the story briefly but accurately, and again he 
 made an eloquent plea, as he had done to the parchment 
 mystery, to be given the honor of restoring to the 
 Sapor her daughter. He was eloquent, strong, re 
 sourceful, and splendid in his argument and appeal. 
 The fires of enthusiasm and admiration came into the 
 eyes of the queen ; her cheeks were aglow, and her 
 bosom heaved with emotional excitement. 
 
 Cyaxares had more than won his cause, he had won 
 the queen. A greater calamity than a holy war had 
 befallen him. 
 
 For a moment she sat silently contemplating the 
 splendid young stranger, and then, as if having fixed 
 in her mind some strong resolution, she said, 
 
 " Cyaxares, I will grant your prayer on one condi 
 tion, and that is that you must take an oath not to 
 attempt to win the love of my daughter." 
 
 A look of horror came into the face of Zirkan, which 
 was met with a shade of disapproval in the gaze of the 
 queen. 
 
 Cyaxares instinctively felt that he was unconsciously 
 being drawn into some unknown and mysterious dan 
 ger, nevertheless he made a manful resolve to be hon 
 orable with the queen mother, who surely had the right 
 to make this request without making explanation, 
 therefore he replied, apparently to the great relief of 
 Zirkan :
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 179 
 
 " Your Majesty, it would be unbecoming an hon 
 orable gentleman to aspire to so high an honor with 
 out first praying to you for that rare privilege. As 
 a duty, no matter how great the sacrifice, I must defer 
 to your wishes in this matter ; but neither sovereign nor 
 God can command the human emotions to the extent 
 that they may say, * Thou shalt not love,' and expect 
 obedience. I confess, without reserve, that to see and 
 know Madrilla is to love her ; this no human power can 
 prevent." 
 
 A sad, far-away look came into the beautiful eyes, 
 a wistful look, as though pleading with some hidden 
 power to restore to her a lost affection. With a half 
 sob she aroused herself, and, in her kind, gently mod 
 ulated voice, said : 
 
 " Yes, Cyaxares, you shall bring Madrilla to me. 
 Go now. Zirkan will show you the wonders of the 
 holy city this night, but to-morrow you will be by my 
 side to review the gathering of the clans," and she held 
 forth her beautiful soft hand, which Cyaxares raised 
 to his lips with a whispered thanks for all her gen 
 erosity. Again she sighed deeply. 
 
 They were quickly conducted to a wide, flower- 
 adorned balcony on the outer walls of the palace, and 
 toward the city of golden palaces. Cyaxares was 
 amazed, but Zirkan checked his exclamation of sur 
 prise by saying : " I cannot refrain from warning you 
 of a very grave danger, Cyaxares, only to put you on 
 your guard. It is my duty to guide you safely through 
 your mission here, and prevent your becoming entan 
 gled in complications that might seriously affect the 
 outcome of your visit. I, of course, am aware of your 
 high and commendable desire to restore your father, 
 which means yourself, to the throne that Deioces now
 
 180 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 holds. The powers of the Holy Crater are in sym 
 pathy with you. This you will learn to-nigh h by the 
 overwhelming favors that the kings of the clans will 
 shower upon you upon learning your identity. But 
 not one of these kings has ever had audience with the 
 queen, the mother of Madrilla, their reception at court 
 not extending beyond the acting Sapor, who is mother 
 to the queen." 
 
 " Mother to Madrilla's mother ! " exclaimed Cyax- 
 ares. 
 
 " Yes, and these kings know this, and they also 
 know all the strange circumstances surrounding this 
 mystery. They know that at the death of the grand 
 mother Madrilla instead of her mother will become the 
 Sapor, provided she marries a prince of the blood. 
 Until she does marry her mother will be acting Sapor. 
 
 . . It is essential for me to explain at this point, 
 that the King of Kings, whose image stands in the 
 outer audience chamber, put his queen, Madrilla's 
 mother, away from him, because of the extreme love 
 of them both for the beautiful child. They accused 
 each other of monopolizing her affections, and, in a 
 violent, quarrel, the king placed the mother under re 
 straint, and never permitted her to see her daughter 
 thereafter. At the age of twelve the Sapor secretly 
 intrusted the daughter to Nabonassor, king of Baby 
 lon, to broaden her education and to fit her to be 
 Sapor instead of her mother. Before his death the 
 king legally made the grandmother acting sovereign 
 until Madrilla should be twenty-two, which she now is, 
 at which age she was to be recalled, and her mother 
 was to reign until Madrilla weds, when her husband 
 shall 1 be declared King of Kings, and shall be the Sapor 
 over all the clans of the Holy Crater. You will un-
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 181 
 
 derstand, therefore, that those kings and princes that 
 are unmarried secretly aspire to the hand of Madrilla. 
 You will see many jealous and questioning eyes upon 
 you this night. They know nothing of the plight of 
 Madrilla, and the part that it plays in this enterprise. 
 Word has been passed to them that you have sought 
 the aid of the Sapor in an attempt to recover the 
 throne of your father, and they are eager to take up 
 arms in your cause." 
 
 " Then that was the queen's reason for swearing me 
 not to attempt to win Madrilla's affections ? " 
 
 " No ; the horrifying thing is that she wants you for 
 herself, and I foresee that the mother and daughter will 
 again be divided because of mutual affection for one 
 object. Of course you could not foresee such a 
 calamity, therefore are not to blame for it. We must 
 work together to avert a disastrous result. We must 
 not permit a thought of it to mar the pleasure of this 
 night. It is equally important that you show no es 
 pecial affection for any one of the many beautiful 
 women that you meet to-night. They are the wives, 
 daughters, and sisters of the kings, and many of them 
 will have designs upon you. The Sapor must not 
 learn that you are unduly attracted to any one of 
 them. She is a jealous queen." 
 
 " You forget that the council is aware of Madrilla's 
 plight. Will not some one secretly give this out to 
 the kings ? " asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " No, they hold no communication with any one out 
 side the palace," was the reply. 
 
 " There ! Look ! The first signal ! Not before in 
 thirty years has that great red cross been illuminated. 
 It is the sign of a holy war. See ! The first response, 
 another, and still another," and a circle of answering
 
 182 THE CAVERNS OP CRAIL 
 
 lights sprang into life. As far as the eye could dis 
 cern them, they twinkled forth, until it looked as if 
 the stars of heaven had come down to be numbered 
 among the hosts of the Holy Crater. It was an awe- 
 inspiring sight, and Cyaxares pondered well over the 
 slumbering powers of this strange confederation as it 
 slowly uncoiled to respond to the battle cry of the 
 Church. Its mysterious origin was beyond the ken of 
 man. It had existed centuries before other known na 
 tions were born. It had remained unshaken during all 
 the period that the world had had any knowledge of 
 it. The world only knew that at certain periods a 
 fanatical host of untold numbers swept down from the 
 great highlands of Central Asia, and devastated the 
 balance of the earth. It did not always know the ul 
 terior cause for war, hence the belief grew that these 
 wars were not just. But all kings knew the just 
 causes. 
 
 Cyaxares shuddered to see the quick response and 
 the ever preparedness for war, and war with them 
 meant destruction on a tremendous scale. 
 
 Zirkan admitted that he himself did not know even 
 the number of clans, and the only manner by which an 
 estimate of the number of soldiers could be made was 
 to count the lights. Each light responding had un 
 der arms one thousand soldiers for the first call. Sig 
 nals would be made designating which clans should first 
 respond. To-morrow sixty clans would each send an 
 army of one thousand men to be reviewed by their sev 
 eral kings, and secretly by the Sapor. 
 
 " Come, we must go down into the city. Cyaxares, 
 you will see things this night that your civilization 
 never dreamed of. Within this circle of lights is the 
 Holy Crater. This city is the abiding place of the
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 183 
 
 kings that rule over the clans. Each king vies with 
 the others in the rich decoration of his palace, drawing 
 upon his clan for gold, silver, and precious jewels; 
 hence the splendor and magnificence that you will be 
 hold. Each clan also vies with the others in keeping 
 its king's palace provided with its rarest products. 
 This friendly rivalry and competition is the mainspring 
 of the confederation, and has made the people the 
 proudest, most self-reliant, prosperous, and happy peo 
 ple in all the world, and this is the secret of the strong 
 confederation. It is the satisfying of human necessity 
 that cements them. . . . It is not yet known that 
 I now bear the official title of the lord of war. My 
 passport is of long standing. An official crier will 
 precede us with a staff of authority, announcing the 
 coming of visitors from the Sapor's palace." 
 
 Upon reaching a lower gallery a wide platform ex 
 tended far out into the city. From this broad steps 
 led down into the streets of the richest city that the 
 world ever knew, a city in which dwelt only kings. 
 
 At the bottom of the onyx stair stood a line of 
 trumpeters to herald their coming. These were led 
 by an official bearing aloft a high staff, upon which 
 was a white cross with a scarlet circle in its center. 
 
 At the first blast of the trumpets the palace portals 
 began to open, and groups of gorgeously arrayed peo 
 ple came to look. There were aged kings with long 
 snowy beards, young princes with blond curls and soft 
 curling beards, and others with hair and skin as dark 
 as night. The latter had sharp, glittering eyes, and 
 looked fierce by the side of the blond men. Princesses 
 of every age from toddling children to stately women 
 stood in graceful groups, awaiting the coming of the 
 favored stranger, who must be a king to be a guest of
 
 184 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the palace, and who must be a guest of the palace to 
 be permitted the rare privilege of visiting the holy city. 
 
 On came the courier, crying, 
 
 " Cyaxares, a prince of the royal blood and hon 
 ored guest of the Sapor, seeks entertainment in the 
 holy city, the city of kings ! " Then would follow a 
 blare of trumpets. 
 
 This had an instantaneous effect upon the people. 
 They rushed quickly within their palaces. Returning 
 with flowers, fruits, wines, and musical instruments, 
 they exclaimed: 
 
 " Thrice welcome to the holy city. Tarry with us 
 and partake of our hospitality ! " 
 
 This required them to stop a moment at each palace 
 and to acknowledge the hospitable greetings, partak 
 ing at the same time 1 of a sip of wine, or of some dainty 
 fruit or sweetmeat. As they left each palace one mem 
 ber of the household, either a king or the eldest prince, 
 dropped into line with them until quite a procession 
 was formed. The street, for there was but one, was 
 like a spiral with its outer end at the onyx stairway. 
 It required fully two hours to pass the greater length 
 of this street, and to arrive at a brilliantly lighted pa 
 vilion, where were gathered a large proportion of the 
 populace watching games, listening to the music, eat 
 ing, drinking, and making merry. 
 
 At the approach of the procession the performances 
 ceased, and the people respectfully gathered in a circle 
 to see what was happening. 
 
 It was a magnificent and brilliant scene. The kings, 
 in stately and dignified procession, mounted a semi 
 circular dais, leaving three vacant seats in the midst 
 of them, two of which were for Zirkan and Cyaxares. 
 With a wave of his hand, one of them bade the revel-
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 185 
 
 ries to resume, and as if nothing extraordinary had oc 
 curred, the people proceeded with their joyous pastime. 
 
 One at a time the kings came, were formally pre 
 sented to Cyaxares, occupied the extra seats for a few 
 moments, and then made way for others, until all had 
 cordially greeted him. 
 
 The exercises were extremely entertaining, consisting 
 of dancing, wrestling, swimming, numerous feats of 
 strength and agility, and some extraordinarily good 
 vocal and instrumental music. 
 
 There was a lengthy pause to permit an orator to 
 extol to the visiting stranger the merits and virtues of 
 the confederation of the clans of the Holy Crater. 
 This was by no means the least entertaining number on 
 the program. He was a noble and intelligent young 
 prince, from the land of Adhor, where dwelt the 
 Adhorites. 
 
 Cyaxares had been finished in the schools of Baby 
 lon, during the astronomic period, under the reign of 
 the learned and progressive Nabonassor. He well 
 knew that none of these kings or princes was permit 
 ted to leave his country except in time of war. There 
 fore he was amazed at the profundity of their learning 
 and development, and asked where the national seat of 
 education was situated. He was informed that it was 
 right there in the holy city. They had giveni to Baby 
 lon her mathematics and astronomy. They had given 
 to quite every nation in Asia its code of laws, its knowl 
 edge of medicine, philosophy, and comparative science. 
 This was done through a system of wandering priests 
 sent out from the Holy Crater, or from the caverns of 
 Crail. 
 
 Stepping forward, the splendid young orator deliv 
 ered his address directly to Cyaxares, saying:
 
 186 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " Thrice welcome stranger, we greet you as brother 
 and fellow-prince. You see about you the greatest 
 kings of the earth, an inner clan of sovereigns, bound 
 together by ties of blood as well as by sacred obliga 
 tions of a covenant ratified so many centuries ago that 
 the oldest king cannot tell the beginning. 
 
 " We are the original Aryans, the first people of civ 
 ilization and learning. From our earliest time the 
 world beyond received from us its first rudimentary 
 lessons in mental development, and, like unto the fo 
 liage of a great tree, our influence has crept over the 
 earth to shape the destinies of peoples and nations yet 
 to be born. Even unto the far Eastern sea our prin 
 ciples of government have been adopted as a form of 
 religion, and our country is called a mysterious heaven, 
 with a city of golden streets, where all the people are 
 happy. This mystifying belief will be taught to the 
 generations of ages to come, and here beneath this 
 city of golden streets is the antithesis of heaven, the 
 fires of that hell that is now spoken of in the religious 
 rites of Babylon and of other nations. This strange 
 religion is not of our origin, we know of neither hell 
 nor heaven. We know there is an Universal God, so 
 great that his individuality is beyond the ken of man 
 kind ; yet he is a thinking, reasoning being, destroying 
 old forms that he may construct new. We may rec 
 ognize this universal being in the face of the living na 
 ture about us. The things that men do are so in- 
 finitesimally trivial that he cannot recognize them, 
 therefore men have a certain relative freedom that 
 enables them to assume imitative powers to create. 
 Men associate themselves together for sundry purposes, 
 and call themselves nations. They build for them 
 selves aggregations of cavernous dwellings, grotesque
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 187 
 
 and gruesome, which they call cities. They erect 
 large and ornate structures that they call houses or 
 palaces for their gods. Not being able to conjure up 
 a real God to sit within these palaces, they cast among 
 themselves, and a man is chosen to represent God. 
 Were it possible for the great God of the universe to 
 take cognizance of this childish play, it would be blas 
 phemous ; as it is, it is a harmful imposition upon the 
 native credulity and superstition of the great masses 
 of the people, who have within them an instinctive 
 reverence for nature as holding the breath and whisper 
 of the real God a creative being consisting of the 
 whole. We, the Aryans, reverence that great God of 
 nature, and live by our belief. We need not priests 
 to teach us our religion, because it consists of a native 
 piety taught to our people ages upon ages ago. We 
 need not elaborate edifices, planned and erected under 
 cruel edicts of foolish powers to sap the energies and 
 substance of the people, in which to teach our religion, 
 for the same piety is in every heart, and we best com 
 mune with our God when in the privacy and seclusion 
 of our own homes. We need no censors nor tinseled 
 church paraphernalia with which to frighten our spir 
 its into absurd beliefs and an unreasonable fear of 
 an invisible God. Our God does not inspire fear. 
 Fear will not engender love nor respect for anything. 
 Hatred and distrust are the fruits of a power based 
 upon coercion and fear. 
 
 " Our great public edifices are placed where our peo 
 ple come for enlightenment and knowledge. Our 
 priests are the meditative minds devoted to the ad 
 vancement of learning. That our educational system 
 has been seized upon and made a separate institution 
 by designing persons, as an instrument of mental and
 
 188 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 physical torture of the people for ulterior purposes, is 
 no fault of ours. Our religion is still intact, and costs 
 our people nothing. Our people cannot buy their way 
 into a mysterious heaven, neither are they cast into 
 a burning hell for revenge for not contributing toward 
 the maintenance of hypocritical beings, claiming to be 
 personal representatives of God. 
 
 " Our people are prosperous, contented, and happy, 
 and always have been. As long as this is true it would 
 be sinful for our feudal system to be destroyed. 
 
 " While we are called the mysterious clans of Asia, 
 we are in intimate touch with the rulers of all nations. 
 Inasmuch as all civilized nations are the offspring of 
 the Aryan race, we assume a watchfulness over them, 
 unsuspected by the world. From time to time it has 
 been necessary for us to declare a holy war, and go 
 down and punish certain nations for conduct contrary 
 to the edicts of humanity. The advisers of the Holy 
 Crater constitute the household of the Sapor. These 
 include five hundred of the wisest men in all the world 
 the priests of the Holy Crater. We have no voice 
 in matters pertaining to the outside world,, but are 
 wholly and willingly controlled by the Sapor. This 
 city is impregnable. It is the permanent home of all 
 the royal families of the confederation. 
 
 " Our great wealth and plenty extend to the hearth 
 stones of the people throughout the breadth of the 
 land. This is due to the fact that only sufficient prod 
 ucts are exported to exchange for certain commodities 
 that we cannot produce. This leaves all the products 
 of the energy of our people as the great material 
 wealth of the country. It requires no coercion, no bur 
 densome taxation, no undue force, to induce the people 
 to do their part toward maintaining this city of the
 
 THE CITY OF KINGS 189 
 
 kings ; we cannot utilize the thousandth part of the 
 wealth offered in contribution in lieu of a direct tax. 
 This shows the gratitude of a people for a government 
 that has held them intact for many centuries. 
 
 " When the world begins to encroach upon us, or 
 exhibit undue negligence in showing us respect for our 
 antiquity and power, we chastise it, and it again re 
 members. 
 
 " While we are not fully informed regarding the 
 facts, the Sapor's having summoned an army for im 
 mediate service implies that you are the bearer of tid 
 ings that impress the Sapor with the necessity of war 
 fare. You have been shown unusual courtesy in that 
 you are permitted to visit the holy city. It reveals 
 the confidence reposed in you by the Sapor, which also 
 measures the very grave importance of your message. 
 The Sapor's wish is our law, hence our welcome to you 
 and our quick response to a call to arms. 
 
 " You have doubtless seen the signal fires through 
 out the mountains. When they are lighted they mean 
 that each clan has called to arms its quota of soldiers. 
 As they are extinguished the clans have sent their sol 
 diers on their way to the Holy Crater. To-morrow 
 you will review the arriving armies. By midnight the 
 signal fires all will have been extinguished. To-mor 
 row we bid our families, our beloved wives and children, 
 to be of good cheer, and to be hopeful and happy till 
 our return, for we must ride each at the head of his 
 clan. But this night is one for revel and joy. There 
 fore, noble stranger, we extend to you a hearty wel 
 come into our homes, which are now open to receive 
 you. You will participate in our pleasures, view the 
 splendor of our palaces, and know the beauty of our 
 mode of living."
 
 190 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 While the young orator was delivering his address of 
 welcome, pages had placed in Zirkan's hand a wreath 
 woven of bright flowers. At the completion of the 
 oration Zirkan motioned to the speaker, who came for 
 ward, and the wreath was placed upon his head. 
 Amidst much applause and enthusiasm a general re 
 ception was held, every one being properly presented to 
 the visiting stranger. Then the kings and princes de 
 parted for their respective palaces, where Cyaxares 
 would be received as he went from one palace to the 
 other, spending only a moment at each place.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 
 
 /^YAXARES, like many others, had heard of a city 
 \-S of kings, where the palaces were embellished with 
 gold, and silver, and precious stones. But he could 
 not even imagine a place so wonderful as this. It was 
 not gaudy display of tinsel to tarnish with the ravages 
 of time, for time immemorial had tried it. The 
 fathers of the present kings, and their fathers before 
 them, had dwelt here, and the city was as splendid 
 to-day as it was centuries ago. There were ample 
 street embellishments ; the queer, winding street was 
 wide and very clean, the ornamentation consisting of 
 immense urns filled with flowers, each one having a tall 
 fountain of water spouting up from its center. The 
 street extended from wall to wall; no animals of any 
 kind were permitted to be at large. The portals lead 
 ing into the palaces differed radically in architecture 
 and materials, this apparently being one of the sub 
 jects of friendly competition in display. 
 
 Each doorway bore the name of the king, and of the 
 clan of which he was ruler, wrought in gems. Sur 
 rounding these names were masterpieces of the jewel 
 er's skill; grape-vines made of silver, with leaves of 
 pure gold, and with clusters of rubies as large as native 
 grapes hanging thick upon the carved trellis ; birds 
 of various kinds, wrought in gold and silver, were on 
 wing in a field of sapphires ; battle scenes and pictures 
 of peace and joy, and beautiful figures and a multitude 
 
 of artistic designs. It was marvelous and bewildering. 
 
 191
 
 192 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 But, if the outer walls were thus adorned, what 
 could be said of the interiors of these palaces? As he 
 passed through the first portal, Cyaxares was sur 
 prised to find himself in ari> interior court of rare splen 
 dor, its four walls containing the living rooms of the 
 king and his family. 
 
 It was a garden so perfectly designed that it looked 
 like a picture. In the center was a large fountain 
 consisting of many beautifully wrought cherubims, 
 their little bodies so perfect that they seemed to be 
 alive. They held in their hands long feather-edged 
 staffs, which broke the returning waters into a myriad 
 tiny streams. Every wall, the floor, and the sides of 
 the fountain were of onyx and rare marbles, with the 
 edges and ornamented places made of gems, while 
 bright flowers and sweet-scented foliage smiled from 
 every available place. It was a tremendous display of 
 wealth, comfort, and, doubtless, also of joy. 
 
 The people, the family of the king, came to greet 
 the handsome young prince. The daughters, as beau 
 tiful as the surroundings were rich, held in their 
 hands small eleven-stringed harps, which they softly 
 thrummed with ivory plectrums as they sang their 
 plaintive, native songs of welcome. In this particular 
 household were the king, the queen, four lovely daugh 
 ters, and three stalwart sons. Well might such a king 
 be proud, and even boastful, in telling of his country 
 up in the steppes, where his happy people dwelt in 
 peace and plenty, where the pomegranate was peren 
 nial, the yield of grapes overlapped their needs, and 
 the wheat grew without the sowing; where the hound 
 was stronger than the wolf and swifter than the fox ; 
 where the people wore silken garments, and were prodi 
 gies of strength and endurance. On the morrow he
 
 WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 193 
 
 would see a thousand of them panoplied for war, with 
 his eldest son as their leader. They all came close to 
 him, eager to touch him, this being a token of utmost 
 confidence. The young men placed their hands upon 
 his shoulders, and the young women caressed his hands. 
 
 Refreshments were brought, consisting of delicious 
 wine, honey-cakes, and candied figs, of which they par 
 took sparingly because of many similar offerings to 
 follow. Reluctantly they withdrew to make the next 
 call, and then others, till all the palaces but one had 
 been entered, the same sweetly simple cordiality being 
 met with everywhere. 
 
 Here was a departure from what they had hitherto 
 seen, this last palace. It was a tremendous structure, 
 and was almost connected with the comparatively hum 
 ble prison of the Sapor, carved out of the native cliffs.' 
 
 " This is the palace of King Nahan, of the Nahan- 
 ites. He is the oldest king in the Holy Crater, being 
 now one hundred and twelve years old. He was leader 
 in three holy wars, and is the most honored of all the 
 kings, not only for his great age and learning, but for 
 his splendid hospitality. He is also the wealthiest of 
 all the kings. We shall remain in his palace one hour, 
 when it will be almost morn, and time for us to take 
 some rest to prepare us for the day. 
 
 " You will see: in the palace of Nahan all the trophies 
 of three holy wars. Many strange things are there, 
 and some gruesome and grim reminders of periods 
 when the Sapor sent the hosts of the holy clans down 
 into the plains to purge them of their waywardness 
 and wickedness. He of all the kings will question you. 
 Answer him frankly, telling him your own desires re 
 garding the dethronement of Deioces, for he despises 
 him and is your father's friend. Say nothing of the
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 abduction of the Princess Madrilla. Do not admit 
 that you have seen the queen. Should he ask you, an 
 swer, ' I have seen the Sapor.' ' 
 
 King Nahan's palace was four times the size of any 
 other palace that they had visited. The portals were 
 wide and protected by immense, ornamental silver 
 gates. Some formality was required here. The crier 
 was waiting by the gates in friendly conversation with 
 the two huge gatekeepers. They all straightened up 
 at their approach. The crier struck a gong. 
 
 "Who comes there?" came from within. 
 
 " Messenger from the palace of the Sapor, King of 
 Kings, and ruler over all the holy clans," was the re 
 sponse. 
 
 "The message?" 
 
 " The Sapor sends a royal visitor to give friendly 
 greetings to all the kings, and to view the holy city. 
 It is the Sapor's will that the Prince Cyaxares be re 
 ceived as a prince of the royal blood, and entertained 
 the same as the ruler of a holy clan." 
 
 " Bid the royal guest enter." 
 
 The beautiful gates opened wide, and it seemed that 
 a thousand lamps and flambeaux were lighted instantly. 
 Many musical instruments began playing, and before 
 them appeared an hundred female dancers, their grace 
 ful vibrating bodies writhing in unison as they coax- 
 ingly receded before the visitors until the latter were 
 well within the splendid gardens, where all the other 
 kings had preceded them, and now stood ready to re 
 ceive them. In their midst was Nahan, a magnificent 
 sage of huge proportions, and, despite his extreme age, 
 of remarkable agility. Throwing aside all formality, 
 he met Cyaxares with outstretched hands, greeting him 
 as Phraortes' son, and begging for information con-
 
 WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 195 
 
 cerning the health and welfare of his noble father. 
 
 Now the purpose of this visit to the city of kings 
 was revealed. Cyaxares was called upon at an early 
 opportunity for the information necessary to enable 
 them intelligently to proceed in their campaign. 
 
 The kings listened intently, while Cyaxares carefully, 
 but fully, detailed the causes for war against Deioces, 
 and surprised them by declaring that Deioces' army 
 would be hammering upon the gates of Aspahan before 
 their army could reach the plain. Then, in eloquent 
 terms, he recounted the misdeeds of Deioces and the 
 ambition that he held to place his father upon the 
 throne again, and to rescue his people from a degrad 
 ing slavery. 
 
 Nahan questioned him closely, and he acquitted him 
 self creditably in his replies. The kings held a short 
 consultation, and quickly decided to follow Cyaxares' 
 advice in the conduct of the campaign. 
 
 One by one the leaders bade Cyaxares farewell, and 
 departed, each for his own palace. Nahan, Cyaxares, 
 and Zirkaii sat together in one of the beautiful cham 
 bers in the palace. All revelry had ceased, and all 
 was quiet in the city of kings. Nahan was first to 
 speak, saying: 
 
 1(1 Cyaxares, you have withheld from me your most 
 potent reason for coming to the Holy Crater. Zirkan 
 knows. I commend you for your conservatism. I have 
 a great surprise in store for you. I know the story 
 regarding Madrilla from one that has participated in 
 your adventures in Baleria. Perhaps you do not know 
 it, but Cracillies is my closest personal friend outside 
 of the Holy Crater. He has entrusted to my care one 
 of the principal actors in your experiences there. 
 Wotan, the lord of war, passed her through the palace
 
 196 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 and into the holy city, and she is! now an honored guest 
 in my palace. Wait a moment," and he arose, and 
 left the room. In a few moments he returned leading 
 by the hand a splendid woman, whose face was con 
 cealed. 
 
 For a moment she stood, as though waiting for in 
 structions. 
 
 " Remove your veil," said Nahan. 
 
 The woman threw off her disguise, and stood before 
 the prince. 
 
 " Saluciea! " exclaimed Cyaxares, springing up, and 
 staring at her as though unwilling to believe his own 
 eyes. 
 
 "What does this all mean? " he demanded. 
 
 " How can you be here, Saluciea? Speak, that I 
 may know that I am awake and in my right mind." 
 
 Then she spoke in the same sweet, musical voice that 
 he remembered so well. 
 
 " Yes. It is I Saluciea. Take my hands. It is 
 I, and I am so glad to see you again. I will tell you 
 the story," and she looked about, while his own staring 
 eyes followed her gaze. Both Nahan and Zirkan had 
 quickly left the room. 
 
 He held the warm, soft hands, yet stood speechless, 
 and with a great lump welling up in his throat. Well 
 did he remember the grief that he had felt when bend 
 ing over her cold body in the house in Baleria. 
 
 " Do not be alarmed. I am real flesh and blood," 
 she said. 
 
 " And how came you here? " he asked. 
 
 " I will tell you. When you left me in the house in 
 Baleria, I was in a cataleptic state superinduced by a 
 potion that I believed would bring instant oblivion in 
 death. I could not live and look into your face after
 
 WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 197 
 
 the base betrayal by me that I thought had unwittingly 
 occurred. Scala and I had agreed to save you from 
 destruction. The potion in the pendant was only in 
 tended to put its victim into a state of suspended ani 
 mation. An antidote administered within a certain 
 time would restore the victim to consciousness. 
 
 " You told your frightful story to Cracillies. 
 When you said that tears fell from my eyes, he recog 
 nized the nature of the narcotic and sent his men to 
 get my body, and I was conducted through the secret 
 passageway to the caverns of Crail, where he restored 
 me to life. I shall never forget the anguish of that 
 deathlike spell. I was conscious all the time, but un 
 able to move. I heard all that you said to me, and I 
 must have unconsciously wept. Cracillies immediately 
 sent me to the Holy Crater, and to the care of his be 
 loved friend, King Nahan, believing war and revolu 
 tion inevitable, and that my brother in his anger would 
 betray me to Deioces, or torture me to compel me to 
 tell the truth and the facts regarding you and your 
 plans." 
 
 "And why to Nahan?" asked Cyaxares. 
 
 " Because Nahan is my father. Saranaces is my 
 half-brother. I was the ward of Deioces to conceal 
 this truth. Deioces was bound by fear of the conse 
 quences to respect me." 
 
 " Why did you permit the world to believe you the 
 mistress of Deioces?" 
 
 " No one could trace the origin of this slander. I 
 knew not what the world was believing of, or saying 
 about, me until my brother had been raised to high 
 honor, and had so taken me in his power that I was 
 compelled to do his bidding. I knew that I was a 
 king's daughter, begotten during the last holy war,
 
 198 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 but I did not know who was my own father until Cra- 
 cillies told me and sent me here. . I had no means of 
 combating the world in my own defense. I was the 
 victim of circumstances over which I had no control. 
 I tell you now, Cyaxares, that your coming awakened 
 in me a new emotion, and, realizing my degradation 
 and shame, I preferred to take my own life rather than 
 have you think me the base creature that the cruel 
 world had made me seem in your eyes. But, Cyaxares, 
 I cannot detain you. I am overjoyed to see you again. 
 I must leave you. I know you' will come again. I will 
 live in that hope." Arising she pressed the young 
 prince's hands, and then fled quickly away. 
 
 This was a terrific shock to Cyaxares. From a state 
 of high elation he was cast into a state of depression 
 and gloom. He was filled with a sadness that he could 
 not understand. He regretted the departure of the 
 unhappy Sahiciea almost as much as her apparent 
 death had cast him down on that other occasion. 
 
 The return of Nahan and Zirkan aroused him, but 
 only by the strongest exertion of his will could he 
 throw off the despondency, and again enter freely into 
 the important conversation. Both the sages looked 
 keenly at him. Nahan finally said: 
 
 "'Saluciea has told me the story, and it was with 
 my permission that she revealed her identity to you. 
 I own her as my daughter of war, and I have received 
 her into my household with love and parental affection. 
 I am most grateful to you, Cyaxares, that you have 
 been the cause of her return to me." 
 
 Passing his hand over his disturbed brow, Cyaxares 
 replied, 
 
 " I am most grateful to learn that this admirable 
 daughter of your Majesty is again in the land of the
 
 WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 199 
 
 living, as well as pleased to know that she is in the 
 house of her father." 
 
 " Come, we may walk through my palace as we talk. 
 I wish to show you the trophies of former holy wars," 
 and the three passed through long corridors filled with 
 a wonderful museum of every conceivable relic and 
 trophy of war; a thousand different weapons of war 
 fare, shields, bucklers, helmets, armor, and accouter- 
 ments for horse and man. There were scores of things 
 that Cyaxares had never seen or heard of before. It 
 was impossible to ask their uses. 
 
 Here was the huge armor of Septum, king of the 
 Baharites, and the long iron pikes, weighing an hun 
 dred pounds each, carried by the giant warriors that 
 had guarded him. Here was the golden helmet of the 
 Helvite prince who penetrated the entire army and to 
 the very tent of Nahan to slay him, at the sacrifice of 
 his own life, only to be caught in the act and killed. 
 Here were the skull and cross-bones of Kellukhan, the 
 Hindoo prince, who had volunteered his services against 
 the Sapor's army in the last holy war. And thus an 
 hour quickly fled, and they returned to the reception 
 room and prepared to take their departure. 
 
 Zirkan requested Cyaxares to stroll in the gardens 
 a few moments; he would speak with Nahan and join 
 him in a moment. 
 
 The perturbed young nobleman walked through the 
 fragrant green; their freshness seemed to revive him, 
 and to refresh his own senses. 
 
 The sweet-scented jasmine of Aleppo filled the air 
 witli a soothing fragrance ; the pomegranate flowers 
 seemed to be coaxing him to rest; the narcissus, sweet 
 basil, and camomile caressed his tired soul, and bade 
 him tarry in their midst. In a secluded spot, sur-
 
 200 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 rounded by the flower-clad vines and shrubs, he sat 
 upon the rim of a fountain of crystal waters, whose 
 surface was covered with water-lilies. In a moment a 
 shadow was cast upon the mirroring surface, and a 
 whisper, soft, sweet, and inspiring, came, 
 
 " Cyaxares ! " 
 
 At his side was Saluciea. He was glad. He had 
 pressed her in his arms once before, but he hesitated 
 now. This was a different Saluciea. Then he believed 
 her to be a bad, designing woman, now he knew her to 
 be one with a virgin heart and soul, longing for equal 
 companionship. It was dangerous, but for a single 
 moment he drew her to him, pressed her willing head 
 upon his tumultuous bosom, and caressed the beautiful 
 hair, as he whispered but the word, " Saluciea." There 
 was a world of pathos in the silent act. 
 
 Men and women, since the world began, have mis 
 taken sympathy and a thirst for confiding companion 
 ship for love; love is of the flesh, sympathy is of the 
 soul; when these unite in one sentiment that is eternal 
 affection. Saluciea did not inspire Cyaxares with lust 
 for the flesh. 
 
 " God speed you ; my prayers go with you," whis 
 pered Saluciea, and she quickly passed into the conceal 
 ing surroundings. For a moment that same pang 
 returned, the same lump in the throat, the feeling of 
 desertion, and the desire to reach forth and draw her 
 back to him. 
 
 Zirkan came and they took their departure. In 
 stead, however, of their passing again through the 
 silver gates, a long balcony extended from the rear 
 of Nahan's palace to the wide terrace extending about 
 the abode of the Sapor. The sky showed signs of ap 
 proaching day, and they both passed to their respective
 
 WITHIN THE PALACES OF KINGS 201 
 
 apartments for much needed rest to freshen them for 
 the arduous to-morrow. 
 
 Notwithstanding the exciting events through which 
 he had recently passed and the perturbed state of his 
 mind, Cyaxares dropped into a sound sleep. He again 
 dreamed of Madrilla, not of Saluciea. Again Madrilla 
 sat upon the throne, but this time he sat by her side. 
 It was yet early when he awoke. Willing attendants 
 quickly brought ewers of cold, sparkling water and 
 large bathing vessels for his morning ablution. He 
 felt refreshed and hungry. He waited patiently for 
 his breakfast, the while seated at an open casement 
 that gave him a view of the open space that surrounded 
 the public edifice in the golden city, to which he had 
 first been taken. There he saw unmistakable evidence 
 of warlike activity. He had not seen an animal of any 
 kind upon his visit there, but now the space was entirely 
 filled with mounted horsemen drawn up in order. 
 What a sight to inspire him ! From time to time the 
 clang of a great gong would sound, and a single horse 
 man would drive his charge through the standing 
 ranks, and stop in their midst. Immediately two fully 
 accoutered horsemen would leave the ranks and join 
 the horseman, one on either side. They would then 
 dash away, and out of sight. This was rapidly thin 
 ning the horsemen till but few were left standing, and 
 these were finally reduced to four mounted men. 
 
 So intently was Cyaxares' mind fixed upon this in 
 spiring symbolism of war preparations that he did not 
 hear Zirkan enter the room. 
 
 " It is the kings going to meet their clans. Each is 
 esquired by two eager young princes chosen for that 
 duty. Within the hour these same clans will begin to 
 pour into the Holy Crater to be reviewed and given war
 
 202 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 instructions. We must hasten our breakfast, for we 
 may at any moment be summoned by the queen," and 
 Zirkan motioned to a waiting attendant, and a deli 
 cious breakfast was before them. 
 
 They were hardly done with the -repast when the 
 soft intonations of a silver gong reached them. It 
 was the call of the queen. 
 
 " This will be the most trying day of your life," 
 said Zirkan. " I can only caution you that the queen 
 will betray to you her infatuation for you, and warn 
 you that no matter what your feelings or sentiments 
 may be not to oppose nor resent any act or wish of 
 hers. Should she become angered at any act of yours, 
 your very life would pay the forfeit, and a holy war 
 would sweep down upon the plains to devastate them. 
 You will be alone with the queen. It is the highest 
 privilege that mortal man can receive. Be enthusias 
 tic over what you see. Praise her soldiers, and deplore 
 the necessity of your having to leave her hospitality 
 to answer to the call of duty. Five thousand picked 
 soldiers will await your command, and you must place 
 yourself at their head by sunset this night, ready to 
 move at the earliest dawn. We must go to the 
 queen."
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 
 
 solemn procession of Zirkan, Cyaxares, and the 
 A huge black slaves again wended its way through 
 the carven corridors of gray granite, stopping at the 
 door of the Sapor's audience chamber. Here the 
 slaves halted, and the two entered. 
 
 " Bow down to the Sapor, King of Kings ! " came 
 that terrible voice that Cyaxares remembered having 
 heard on the occasion of his interview with the parch 
 ment Sapor. 
 
 They promptly made obeisance to the graven stone 
 image. Zirkan looked surprised, for this was a chal 
 lenge, meaning that the Sapor was upon her ivory 
 throne. He had not been summoned into her pres 
 ence, and he now stood in her audience chamber unbid 
 den. What could this mean? 
 
 The image slowly receded and there sat the parch 
 ment, with blinking eyes and constantly tapping finger 
 nails. Both Zirkan and Cyaxares made obeisance. 
 She surveyed them sharply for a moment, then she 
 said, 
 
 " Where are you going? " 
 
 " I report to your Majesty that the queen has bid 
 den Prince Cyaxares to attend her while reviewing the 
 gathering clans," humbly responded Zirkan. 
 
 " I forbid it ! " snapped the monstrosity. 
 
 " Clang ! Clang ! " sounded an inner gong. It was 
 
 the call of the impatient queen. 
 
 203
 
 204. THE CAVERNS OF CRALL 
 
 Here was real trouble. 
 
 "What response shall I make to the queen's call?" 
 asked Zirkan. 
 
 " None ! " was the brief answer, and Zirkan plainly 
 betrayed his consternation. 
 
 "Clang! Clang! Clang!" and the clatter of the 
 inner gong resounded throughout the palace. The 
 Sapor sat motionless. 
 
 " Shall we retire? " asked Zirkan. 
 
 Paying no attention to this question she leaned for 
 ward, and almost whispered: 
 
 " Who is the strange woman in Nahan's household ? 
 Lie not to me." 
 
 Zirkan was so taken by surprise that he stammered 
 in his confusion, " Why, why, she is a ward of the 
 Holy Church, sent to Nahan by Cracillies for safe 
 keeping." 
 
 " By what means was she passed into the holy city 
 without my knowledge ? " 
 
 " Nahan informs me that Wotan passed her into 
 his palace." 
 
 " Have her brought here instantly," was the terri 
 fying demand. 
 
 It was as much as Zirkan's life was worth to make 
 such a demand upon Nahan at this critical time, and 
 it was instant death to disobey the Sapor. 
 
 A most startling thing occurred at the opportune 
 moment to divert the Sapor's attention. A queenly 
 woman rushed into the audience chamber from the 
 antechamber of the queen's apartments. It was the 
 enraged queen herself. Paying no attention whatever 
 to the presence of the Sapor upon her ivory throne, 
 she angrily stamped her foot, and demanded to know 
 of Zirkan why her summons was not obeyed.
 
 Here was a dangerous clash of authority that could 
 cause embarrassing complications. 
 
 The Sapor cautiously looked behind her, and Cyax- 
 ares surmised that she was trying to call to her side 
 the vicious animals that he had formerly seen there, 
 but they did not come. Suddenly she arose, and 
 clapped her hands together, and still they did not 
 come. She reached for her rod with which to strike 
 her terrible gong ; both the rod and the gong had been 
 removed. 
 
 " Who seeks to destroy my authority here? " she 
 demanded, and fire seemed to emanate from those ter 
 rible eyes. 
 
 Undaunted, the queen rushed to her, and exclaimed 
 in a great passion: 
 
 " I am queen here ! I am the Sapor ! and in future 
 my word and my will shall be the law," and, before 
 she could be stayed, she had seized the Sapor by her 
 ropelike hair and dragged her down upon the floor 
 and stamped upon her. 
 
 Zirkan, although horrified at what was transpiring, 
 had exercised the presence of mind to close, and to fas 
 ten upon the inside, all doors opening into the cham 
 ber. 
 
 Cyaxares took the irate queen into his strong arms 
 and held her, despite her struggles, else she would have 
 killed her own mother. Nothing that he could say or 
 do could render the situation worse, therefore he re 
 solved to treat the queen as an angry woman instead 
 of as an insanely enraged queen. He well knew that 
 this was the culmination of a long standing feud. The 
 queen had heretofore suppressed her pent-up rage that 
 her own mother should bar her from what she believed 
 her just rights. Her brooding over the early return
 
 206 
 
 of Madrilla might have had much to do with this ex 
 plosion, but what most concerned him was to think that 
 her anger broke all bounds when she discovered that 
 the Sapor had detained him after her repeated calls. 
 When she ceased her hysterical struggles for a brief 
 moment, he relaxed his tight grasp, and whispered, 
 
 " Can this be the royal mother of the sweet-tem 
 pered Madrilla? " 
 
 In this outburst of passion she had spent much of 
 her fury, and now felt the relaxation that would quickly 
 respond to this appeal, coming from him for whom she 
 had secretly harbored an amorous sentiment. It was 
 the fear of a non-requital of this passion that had 
 wrought her up to this insane pitch. It was a revela 
 tion to Cyaxares. She ceased her struggles, buried 
 her face in his bosom, and sobbed. It was love that 
 she wanted, not power. 
 
 The poor creature lying half-stunned at the foot of 
 her ivory throne had drawn herself to a sitting posi 
 tion against the dais, and now looked appealingly 
 about, as if asking what had happened. Zirkan lifted 
 her to her poor unsandaled feet, but she could not 
 stand. It had been too much for her feeble strength. 
 The shock had left her in almost a helpless state. 
 
 And now the reaction had come; the queen ran 
 quickly to her side, and pleaded to be forgiven, bidding 
 Zirkan bear her to her own apartment, she having pre 
 viously dismisised therefrom all her retinue for ulterior 
 purposes of her own. Turning now to Cyaxares, she 
 extended her hands, saying: 
 
 " Forgive me, I am very much ashamed. Go and 
 view the gathering of the clans with Zirkan. I am in 
 disposed. Come to me before you join your army." 
 Her attitude was one of abject shame.
 
 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 207 
 
 Cjaxares raised the willing hands to his lips, then 
 he and Zirkan withdrew. 
 
 Zirkan mopped his brow, and looked thankfully at 
 Cyaxares, and exclaimed: 
 
 " What fantastic freak of good or bad fortune is 
 this now? Within a breath our lives are in peril, and 
 then out of it. Who can understand a woman? " 
 
 Cyaxares only shook his head in response. 
 
 " We were in a perilous situation, and we witnessed 
 something that I never wish to see again," said Zirkan. 
 
 " I am fearful of the consequences," answered Cyax 
 ares. 
 
 " You need not be, for this has happened before. 
 But I have never heard before of the queen's actually 
 assaulting her mother. There is one way of telling 
 that a quarrel had preceded this scene; it is well known 
 about the court that a quarrel is brewing when all the 
 court attendants are forbidden to enter the Sapor's 
 audience chamber until summoned by special messen 
 ger. That accounts for the absence of the usual court 
 attendants and even of the slaves and dogs. I shall 
 breathe easier when you are away from here, Cyax 
 ares." 
 
 " If I breathe long enough to make my escape, I 
 shall be grateful," said Cyaxares. 
 
 " Come, we must go at once. As lord of war, I 
 have a secret box from which to review the incoming 
 armies. It was formerly used only by the Sapor, but 
 the present Sapor will be in no condition to leave her 
 bed. I am acting Sapor to-day, and now that they 
 have stirred the devil in all of us I am going to do a 
 radical thing. This event occurs but once in a life 
 time. I am going to have a third party in our box 
 for the simple reason that she is among strangers and
 
 208 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 doubtless is in seclusion, therefore may never again 
 have an opportunity to witness this grand pageant. 
 With your consent I shall go to bring Saluciea, as 
 the Sapor commanded. None can see us in our con 
 cealment." 
 
 " I surely would be overjoyed to have the lovely 
 Saluciea with us, if it is perfectly safe," replied Cyax- 
 ares. 
 
 " Then we must be her slaves, for no one is permit 
 ted to enter the secret passage but the lord of war, 
 therefore we must carry with us our own refreshments." 
 
 " I will gladly be slave for Saluciea," laughed Cyax- 
 ares. 
 
 Zirkan summoned a servant, to whom he intrusted 
 the preparation of wine and delicious viands to refresh 
 them during the long and tiresome review. Then he 
 bade Cyaxares to await his return. In a short time 
 he reentered the room accompanied by a closely cowled 
 priest, but no introductions followed. Closing the 
 doors entering this room, Zirkan removed a tapestry 
 from the wall, and opened a secret panel revealing the 
 inevitable and omnipresent stone corridor. 
 
 Placing the hamper containing the refreshments 
 within the corridor, he lighted a flambeau and handed 
 it to Cyaxares, bidding him go in advance. The en 
 trance was carefully closed, and fastened on the inside. 
 Picking up the hamper, the lord of war exclaimed, in a 
 voice revealing his great relief: 
 
 " There, we are as safe from interruption as if we 
 were in the bottom of the Holy Crater itself. Let 
 your pleasure be unrestrained." 
 
 They had only traveled about three hundred feet, 
 when they entered a commodious and sumptuously fur 
 nished room. It had been freshly arranged, and was
 
 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 209 
 
 sweet and wholesome. It was dimly lighted by long 
 slits in two sides of the walls like balastraria. 
 Freshly cut flowers made the air fragrant. A fountain 
 of fresh mountain water bubbled in one side of the 
 wall. Zirkan pushed a small table into the middle of 
 the room, and arranged the refreshments in a man 
 ner to be convenient at a time when the excitement of 
 the scenes would render it necessary for them to par 
 take of them quickly. 
 
 Going to a wide tapestry, he folded it back against 
 the wall, revealing an alcove balcony sufficiently large 
 to accommodate them comfortably while viewing the 
 scenes below. This balcony was wholly concealed by 
 carefully trained vines, yet gave ample view of the 
 space below them. Cyaxares was surprised to see that 
 they were only about fifty feet above the reviewing 
 ground. 
 
 " And now I should like to be introduced to our 
 companion," said Cyaxares. 
 
 Saluciea, feeling safe, put aside all restraint, re 
 moved the priest's garb, and extended her hands to 
 Cyaxares to be kissed ardently. This was to be a 
 joyous day, and they abandoned themselves to its 
 pleasures. 
 
 They ensconced themselves in the balcony and peeped 
 below. What a singular sight it was ! It was like an 
 immense arena, in the center of which was a raised 
 platform to receive the kings and their families, who 
 would review the troops as they marched through this 
 reviewing ground to take their position upon the high 
 ways toward the plains. It was separated from the 
 holy city by its perpendicular cliff, three hundred feet 
 in thickness. 
 
 Already the throng was gathering here. It was a
 
 210 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 beautiful and animating sight, and they anticipated a 
 great deal to interest and edify them. 
 
 Zirkan came to where they were seated, saying: 
 
 " I cannot find the lists. It is essential to have them 
 in order to distinguish the clans as they pass. Re 
 main here, and I will return for them," and he left 
 them there together. 
 
 Cyaxares took Saluciea's hands in his own, and 
 said : 
 
 " Saluciea, I cannot tell you the joy that I feel that 
 you have come back to life. I hope I may never again 
 experience the anguish that wrung my heart that night 
 in Baleria." 
 
 Her face was radiant, and flushed with the genuine 
 pleasure of being alone with Cyaxares, and this earnest 
 speech brought the climax. She returned the pressure 
 of his ardent hands, saying: 
 
 " Cyaxares, I never can forget the anguish of that 
 night when I lay there conscious of your grief. I 
 heard your endearing words. You said you could 
 have loved a woman like me, even if you thought me 
 another man's mistress. My soul strove to awaken 
 that I might challenge that avowal ; it was as an oasis 
 in my desert life. I had never been loved by any one, 
 nor had I loved; I yearned for an honest affection. 
 My life, my love, my all was yours that night. Now 
 all that is changed; I am the daughter of one king 
 and the ward of another ; I am the ward of the Holy 
 Church, and protected by the strongest powers in the 
 two countries, yet I am a dowerless, homeless creature, 
 hungry and thirsting for the simple, honest, earnest 
 love of a worthy man. Every woman is entitled to 
 that. I suffered the pangs of death because I believed 
 that I had betrayed you.' Now, Cyaxares, love me
 
 for one hour, and let that be the one green spot in my 
 desolate existence, then let me die, that I may go 
 through eternity with that one joy as the bliss of a 
 future state. Then you will have made me happy. I 
 know how futile it is for me to hope for your perma 
 nent love; your ambitions are great, and I would not 
 intrude myself between you and the realization of your 
 desires." 
 
 Cyaxares' love went out to this hungry-hearted 
 woman as it had never gone out to any one before. 
 In her rosy excitement she was beautiful, fascinating, 
 magnificent. He took her into his arms and covered 
 her with caresses ; with equal ardor she kissed his hands, 
 his hair, his forehead, and his lips. She moaned in 
 her paroxysm of ecstasy. Enraptured, she lay pant 
 ing in his arms ; her moment of joy had come, Saluciea 
 loved, as only an ardent, soul-hungry woman could 
 love. She knew her worth, and she knew that she had 
 implanted in Cyaxares' heart a fire to scorch his very 
 soul did he ever hold another woman there. He was 
 stricken as with a fatal disease, her passion had sunk 
 deep into his virgin heart, and she knew that he would 
 again seek her to drink more of that elixir of life that 
 can come only from virgin lips. Therefore, when the 
 sound of Zirkan's returning steps warned them, she 
 implanted upon his lips the final caress, whispering: 
 " Cyaxares, my love, I am so grateful. You have 
 made me so happy. Go now to your battle. You 
 will win. My love and prayers will be always hover 
 ing near you, and guarding you. Then come back to 
 me, if it be for but a single moment." 
 
 " I will come, sweet Saluciea," and he held her for 
 a moment close in his strong embrace. 
 
 When Zirkan entered the room they were eagerly
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 gazing at the scene below. Nevertheless, the good lord 
 of war was having his troubles with a facial expression 
 that persisted in developing into a good-natured smile. 
 Handing the lists to Cyaxares, he said : " It is impor 
 tant for you to recognize all these different clans, for 
 this will be of much advantage to you upon the battle 
 field." Then reaching over, he pinched Saluciea's 
 cheek, saying : " I am careless. You are too pretty to 
 be left alone with an impressionable young man like 
 Cyaxares." She only laughed and pressed his hand 
 against her burning cheek. 
 
 The kings had all taken their seats upon the review 
 ing stand, and for the first time Cyaxares discovered 
 that hundreds of the priests of the Holy Crater were 
 crowded upon a long balcony of another cliff to see 
 the grand sight. 
 
 There was a blare of trumpets that announced to 
 the assemblage that a body of soldiers was in sight. 
 A dread silence fell upon the people. There came the 
 pat, pat, pat, of marching feet. A tall banner could 
 be seen bobbing about in one of thej defiles leading into 
 the arena, and then a burst of applause came from 
 the waiting people as a magnificent sight presented it 
 self. The head of a column of splendidly accoutered 
 horsemen flashed into the sunlight, and fifty trumpet 
 ers challenged the reviewers. 
 
 " The Dolamites, the richest and most powerful clan 
 in the confederation," said Zirkan. " See! There is 
 King Dolam himself at their head, although his eldest 
 son is in command. What a grand old warrior he is ! " 
 
 " Grand ! " whispered Saluciea, and she crept closer 
 to Cyaxares, who unblushingly placed his arm about 
 her shoulders and drew her up close to him. The excite 
 ment was now intense as they came nearer to the
 
 people. The horsemen, numbering two hundred, wore 
 armor of gold and silver, while the horses were com 
 pletely covered with an armor of dead mail, with large 
 colored plumes in their crests, and the lower part of 
 the armor fringed and tasseled in the most artistic 
 manner. 
 
 The horse-soldiers wore tall bonnets of pure white 
 ermine, with a wide headband of gold, with a large 
 jewel in the center of the forehead. They did not 
 bear shields, instead, fastened to the left arm, was a 
 wide vambrace of metal, taking the curvature of the 
 arm from the top of the shoulder to the tips of the 
 fingers. In their right hands they carried tremendous 
 swords. These were their only weapons. 
 
 Following the horsemen were eight hundred foot- 
 soldiers. They wore short tunics of dead mail, 
 elongated shields, seven-foot spears with casting 
 straps, and short, heavy swords ; upon their feet were 
 heavy leather buskins. Each man wore a close-fitting 
 copper cap, with a rim of ermine running around the 
 brim. 
 
 Stolid and grim they came, never stopping but pass 
 ing into a defile on the opposite side, and disappearing 
 from sight. Hardly had they gone when the trum 
 peters announced the coming of a second division. 
 
 " The Gothites," said Zirkan. " These are terrible 
 men, as you may judge by their appearance. They 
 had no horsemen, but fifty men, carrying short ox-tail 
 banners, marched in advance of the main column. 
 They made no sound as they marched because they 
 wore moccasins made of softly dressed leather. 
 
 " Let -me call your attention to their armor," said 
 Zirkan. " It is made of ox-hide thongs twisted into 
 ropes and woven upon the body of the soldier, in order
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 that it may fit him perfectly. When the call of war 
 comes, they don this invulnerable suit, and it is tightly 
 laced upon them, not to be removed till the war is 
 ended. The officers and men are dressed alike in order 
 that the officers may not be individually picked off in 
 battle. Their weapons consist of a small, round shield, 
 and a short, stout dagger attached to a rawhide thong 
 twenty feet in length and looped upon their wrists. 
 They cast these daggers with such precision and 
 strength that they plunge them to the hilt into their 
 victims, then snatch it back into their hands by a sud 
 den jerk of the line. In close fighting they do the 
 most terrible execution. Their bonnets are of the 
 same material, with a flap extending down to protect 
 their necks, their faces and hands alone being exposed. 
 This singular armor is soaked in oil, and turns the 
 points of both arrows and ordinary spears. These 
 intrepid men fight at close quarters, and are terrible 
 to cope with." 
 
 A thousand tremendous Veloix horsemen came next. 
 Both the horses and the men were extraordinary in 
 size, giving to these troopers a grandeur in keeping 
 with their powers to do battle. They were heavily 
 armored, men and horses, the armor consisting of al 
 ternating plates of copper and silver, highly polished. 
 The ranks marched in advance of the princely leader. 
 When wholly within sight of the reviewing stand, the 
 troops deployed into two columns, on parade, with 
 their tremendous silver-bladed pikes crossed high in 
 the air. Beneath this glinting archway the Prince 
 Helgrave, and his splendid retinue, rode to the front, 
 reviewing his own troops and taking his position as 
 leader. Then the steady "Clank! Clank! Clank!" of 
 war passed on. There was no applause. Even kings
 
 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 215 
 
 were awed! into deathlike silence as this terrible shimmer 
 and clank of war passed between the cliffs and out of 
 sight. 
 
 "What is this?" exclaimed Cyaxares. "Look! 
 You cannot see a man, yet the whole mass is moving 
 rapidly. I do not understand this." Saluciea clung 
 to him as if! afraid. Zirkan stood up in his excitement, 
 and stared in amazement at the queer spectacle, say 
 ing: 
 
 " It is new to me, but that banner of black ox-tails 
 belongs to the Hoplites. This is something new, 
 surely." 
 
 On came the solid mass of black, and still not a man 
 could be seen. As the body passed beneath them, they 
 looked down upon a solid tent of steel, which com 
 pletely concealed a thousand men. It was a singular 
 and an awe-inspiring sight. Suddenly the tents were 
 ripped asunder, and it was seen that their armor con 
 sisted of six-foot convex steel shields in sets of ten, 
 chained together at their edges. Through a ring, 
 and between the shields, protruded large pikes. When 
 the shields rested upon the ground the whole ten shields 
 were braced by these pikes into an impregnable for 
 tress, the butts of the pikes being sunk into the earth, 
 while the points projected out in the front twelve feet 
 to receive a cavalry charge. Twenty men followed be 
 hind each ten shields. By overlapping the tops in 
 marching the men were wholly concealed, and they 
 were protected from arrows from points above them. 
 Their weapons of warfare could not be made out. 
 Cyaxares was deeply concerned about this strange 
 equipment and made a mental determination to see it 
 in action. 
 
 Before they could comment further, they were
 
 216 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 aroused by the approach of the most startling thing 
 that they had yet seen. The Shalemites were coming. 
 All the kings arose in alarm. The priests along the high 
 gallery could be seen running excitedly about, pointing 
 and gesticulating like mad. Their position gave them 
 an earlier view of the approaching troops. Amid the 
 most fear-inspiring screams and howls and screeches 
 there came thundering by a thousand wild men, each 
 mounted on a wild horse without bridle or saddle, and 
 leading by a long rawhide thong one of those terrors 
 of the steppes, the wolflike dog such as guarded the 
 Sapor. Every hair was a bristle, and they were all 
 standing out like quills. These beasts were furiously 
 baying, their long white fangs snapping like castanets 
 as they threw their vicious bodies about, running with 
 the equally vicious, foam-covered horses that were 
 squealing and biting at their fellows. The men wore 
 trunks made of rawhide and a wide cincture of black 
 metal extending from their armpits to their hips. 
 They carried small round copper shields and twelve- 
 foot spears. 
 
 As they swept past the reviewers like a raging 
 tempest, Saluciea hid her face in Cyaxares' bosom, the 
 prince held his breath in amazement, and Zirkan 
 dropped back exhausted with the excitement that this 
 terrifying clan had inspired. 
 
 " The Shalemities," he groaned. " They are the 
 fanatics. In battle they cannot be restrained, for they 
 have no leader. They rush upon the enemy in the 
 night, stampede their horses, turn these savage, man- 
 eating dogs upon the soldiers, and so demoralize an 
 army that it is easy to follow it up and win a battle." 
 
 Evidently the passing of this band of savages had 
 greatly excited the kings. They stood in groups
 
 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 217 
 
 wildly gesticulating, and the clamor of their excited 
 voices could be heard by the watchers in the alcove 
 above. Then all turned again to the approach. The 
 beautiful gold-spangled, silken banners of the Basques 
 were pluming the crest. Now King Bassal himself was 
 seen riding alone in advance of his army, his great 
 white charger prancing and gracefully nodding his 
 proud head as if trying to call attention to his gold- 
 mounted accouterment and the bouncing plume of 
 tufted silks that perched high above his alert ears. 
 
 The king was a young man with golden hair and 
 fair/^kin. He was dressed in white and gold, while 
 a wide train of magnificent ermine edged with purple 
 panoplied his steed, trailing over the haunches almost 
 to the ground. He wore no bonnet, but about his 
 head was a wide gold band with the usual rare gem in 
 the center of the forehead. He carried no weapon. 
 Following this splendid king came fifty men, arrayed, 
 in almost equal splendor, every man a prince. Swung 
 to their shoulders by gold cords, with tassels of silver, 
 were long polished cow-horns made into trumpets, their 
 soft notes sounding like sweet music when sounded in 
 unison, their concordant notes seeming to search out 
 the nooks in the very walls. These trumpeters wore 
 tall hats of ermine with cockades of yellow. The 
 troopers were all mounted upon splendid white horses, 
 each horse being half-armored by a blanket of linked 
 silver, covering also the head and neck. The men 
 wore close-fitting tunics of mail, with ermine-trimmed, 
 quilted silver basinets with camail extending down 
 about the neck and attached to heavy metal roundlets 
 at the top of the shoulder. Their armament consisted 
 of a small oval shield, a short stout sword, and a long 
 sword-edged spear. This was a splendid troop, and
 
 218 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the young- king was popular. All the kings arose and 
 saluted him, while hundreds of priests waved their 
 hands from the distant balcony. The king, keen of 
 eye, gracefully acknowledged the greetings of both 
 kings and prelates. 
 
 " A beautiful sight," sighed Saluciea. 
 
 " A handsome king," said Cyaxares. But his happy 
 companion only pressed his arm, and looked beseech 
 ingly up into his face, her big blue eyes aglow with 
 the growing passion that close proximity had inspired. 
 Zirkan being just at that moment engaged in arrang 
 ing the refreshments, Cyaxares drew her close up to 
 him, and pressed upon her lips the kiss that kills or 
 cures. The enamored woman trembled with the excite 
 ment of soul desires as she whispered, " Could I be cer 
 tain of forever remembering this blissful hour, I would 
 gladly die that I might not trouble you more, my dear 
 Cyaxares." 
 
 " Never cease troubling me, if this is trouble," re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " Oh, but, 1 my king, I know that I can never be more 
 to you, therefore I am feasting my soul in this hour 
 of joy. I have so long been heart-hungry that I am 
 overjoyed even to receive the breath of love. You 
 are a man. You do not know, you cannot know the 
 longings of a woman that has never been loved. Some 
 thing tells me that I may never see you again. Per 
 haps you may fall a victim of war; wounded unto 
 death you may fall with no one to nurse you back to 
 life. Cyaxares, I am strong, I am brave, I have been 
 seized with a wild desire to go with you. Let me put 
 on armor and fight by your side. Let me be your aide. 
 I will make a good, obedient soldier, and I know that 
 you will need me. Please, Cyaxares ! "
 
 THE GATHERING OF THE CLANS 219 
 
 Cyaxares listened in amazement, exclaiming: 
 " Saluciea ! Why, why, what is this that you are say 
 ing? Surely you are losing your mind." 
 
 She only held out her hands, pleading " Please," 
 with a pathos in her sweet, fiutelike voice that searched 
 his very center. He could not quickly recover from the 
 shock that this astounding proposition gave him, yet 
 there was something within closely akin to joy as he 
 looked into her lovely face, and said it all over to him 
 self. 
 
 A discreet clearing of the throat warned them that 
 Zirkan was coming. He had arranged the delicious 
 luncheon upon a small table, which he now pushed into 
 the alcove to enable them to partake without losing any 
 part of the rare show without. 
 
 " Zirkan, is Nahan at his extreme age going to the 
 front?" Saluciea almost looked frightened at this 
 question. Could it be possible that Cyaxares would 
 accept her challenge? Before Zirkan could make an 
 swer there was a blare of trumpets, and the shouts of 
 applause could be heard plainly. 
 
 " Look ! " exclaimed Zirkan. " Your question is 
 quickly answered. See the grand old man ! " 
 
 " My father ! " whispered Saluciea. 
 
 Cyaxares looked in astonishment. There, in jet 
 black armor and riding a black horse with black ac- 
 couterments, was none other than King Nahan, one 
 hundred and twelve years old, and yet an imposing 
 figure, strong and erect as any young prince. Then 
 he stole a glance at Saluciea. There was a look of 
 triumph in her eyes that were now full of the fires 
 of war. He was afraid to look again for he was more 
 than puzzled. He was tempted as he had never been 
 tempted before.
 
 220 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Now his attention was drawn to the awe-inspiring 
 sight below. What was this, a funeral cortege? The 
 applause had ceased. The kings sat in silent con 
 templation of this dread-inspiring reminder of war 
 fare. An escort of twenty grim horsemen, all accou- 
 tered in funeral black, accompanied Nahan; then 
 came that funeral band, every man in jet black armor 
 with a tall black plume in the top of his helmet. Upon 
 their roundlesed shoulders they carried tremendous 
 black battle-axes. They inspired one with creeping 
 horrors as their singular rumbling tread tramp ! 
 tramp ! tramp ! sounded as steadily and as rhyth 
 mic as the strokes of time. This was not pomp nor 
 parade, this was death stalking forth to do battle. 
 No soldier could look upon this symbol of night and 
 retain his courage. It inspired the kind of dread that 
 causes men to throw down their arms and seek a place 
 to hide themselves. These were veterans that had 
 neither scruples about killing others nor fear of death 
 themselves. 
 
 Saluciea shivered and crept closer to Cyaxares. 
 Cyaxares looked at Zirkan. They sat silent for a 
 moment, then Zirkan said : " Yes, that means war. 
 Nahan will conduct the campaign." 
 
 Clan after clan came and went, bowmen, spearmen, 
 swordsmen, the primitive tribes, dressed in skins and 
 bearing clubs, slingmen with their well-laden pouches 
 and death-dealing rawhide slings, and lastly a thousand 
 bell-ringers, another queer weapon of warfare. But 
 none inspired the onlookers as did the regiment of 
 death that grimly followed the old warrior Nahan. 
 
 It was over; the clans of the Holy Crater had passed 
 out to do battle upon the plains. A pang of sadness 
 was left in every heart. How many of these brave
 
 men would return? But it was now too late to weep. 
 It might mean that the whole world would become in 
 volved in war, calling for a million more. They would 
 promptly respond to the call. 
 
 They were standing in the alcove preparatory to 
 returning to the palace. Saluciea placed her hands 
 upon Zirkan's shoulders, saying, 
 
 " My dear, good Zirkan, I want to go to the war." 
 
 " Why, Saluciea, what do you mean? '* 
 
 " I mean just what I say, I want to go to the war, 
 I want to put on armor and go to war with him," 
 and she pointed at Cyaxares who stood, uncertain what 
 to do or say. 
 
 Zirkan looked startled. He stared first at Cyaxares, 
 then at Saluciea, finally grunting : " Huh ! I'll think 
 about it. We must return to the palace quickly. You 
 must at once prepare for your departure, Cyaxares. 
 Your own men will be awaiting you where you left 
 them. . Then you will be conducted to the head of your 
 army."
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 THE DEATH OK THE SAPOE 
 
 UPON their return to the rooms of Zirkan, they 
 were alarmed to hear a tumult in the palace. The 
 great hounds were baying ; loud moans could be heard, 
 and there were other indications that something out of 
 the ordinary had occurred during their absence. 
 
 Zirkan hastened to get Saluciea safely back to 
 Nahan's palace, then returned to investigate. In the 
 audience chamber he found the council sitting in silence, 
 and waiting for him. They arose, holding up their 
 hands, and emitting groans. 
 
 " What does this mean ? " demanded Zirkan. 
 
 " The Sapor is dead ! " they whispered. 
 
 " The Sapor dead ! " exclaimed Zirkan in an awed 
 whisper. 
 
 " Yes, she passed away an hour ago. The queen 
 is alone with her, and bids you come to her at once. 
 We could not find you, and her wails have grown 
 louder each minute. Listen ! " 
 
 " O-o-o-o ! " The mournful wail of death echoed 
 through the unsympathetic corridors. 
 
 Hastening through the antechamber of the queen's 
 apartments, Zirkan was quickly admitted into the 
 chamber of death. 
 
 The queen arose, and, with streaming eyes and self- 
 accusing mien, she pointed to the pitiful creature lying 
 lifeless upon a couch, and screamed: "I killed her! 
 
 Oh ! I killed her, and she was my mother ! What shall 
 
 222
 
 THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 223 
 
 I do? " Then she smote her bosom in her great dis 
 tress. 
 
 Zirkan stood with bowed head until the quiet was 
 broken only by her sobs, then he said: 
 
 " Restrain your grief, your Majesty. Death must 
 come to every one. You must not accuse yourself of 
 destroying your mother. You did not. She was frail, 
 and her time had come. I must acquit you of your 
 self-accusation." 
 
 " Oh, Zirkan, you comfort me much, but my con 
 science is not so generous. I feel that my act in the 
 presence of you and our noble visitor was the direct 
 cause of my poor mother's death. But my life has 
 been one constant disappointment after another. The 
 king was too cruel to me, and my mother usurped my 
 rights and prerogatives as queen. O but I did not 
 mean to be so cruel. I did not mean it." And her 
 voice again broke into the wail that had been heard 
 without. 
 
 Suddenly she arose, stepped to the couch, and threw 
 a robe over the figure, then turning to Zirkan, she said : 
 
 " Zirkan, I am the Sapor. Go bring to this cham 
 ber the Prince Cyaxares. I wish to consult with him 
 regarding this war." Zirkan bowed and retired. As 
 he passed out through the audience chamber he paused, 
 saying: 
 
 " Yes, the Sapor is dead. The queen desires to 
 know the wishes of the council of state regarding the 
 succession, the Sapor's last words being that the queen 
 should become the Sapor. There are urgent reasons 
 why immediate action should be taken, because Prince 
 Cyaxares was ready to receive his authority in this 
 war by the seal of the Sapor. The whole army knows 
 this, therefore we should by all means conceal from
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the kings and from the whole outside world the sudden 
 demise of the Sapor, and place the queen upon her 
 throne with all the powers of the Sapor, that the army 
 be not demoralized. . . . The prince is now 
 awaiting his final instructions before going to the 
 head of the army assigned to him. I am helpless to 
 act without the Sapor's instructions. I suggest that 
 we, in our authority under such emergencies, declare 
 the queen to be the ruling Sapor, and swear the young 
 prince to secrecy before he takes his departure." 
 
 Zirkan's suggestion was adopted, and the great coun 
 cil of state declared the queen to be the ruler in fact 
 over all the Holy Crater, the lord of war being in 
 structed to convey to the queen these glad tidings. 
 
 Cyaxares waited for Zirkan's return with great im 
 patience, because of the certainty that a calamity had 
 occurred. He was greatly shocked to learn that the 
 Sapor had passed away. He regretted having wit 
 nessed the outburst of anger on the part of the queen, 
 because he could not help believing that that assault 
 was the indirect cause of the frail creature's death. 
 Zirkan quickly advised him of what had occurred, and 
 especially warned him against any word or act that 
 might be construed as disapproving of what had been 
 officially done. The queen was now the Sapor, and 
 supreme over the law itself. Moreover, she was quick 
 to jealousy or offense. He would hasten back to the 
 queen's chambers, and Cyaxares was shortly to fol 
 low. 
 
 Reentering the queen's reception room, Zirkan said 
 to the queen: 
 
 " If it pleases your Majesty, the council of state, 
 awaiting the will of the Sapor to give to her army 
 final instructions, was assembled in the great audience
 
 THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 225 
 
 chamber when word came unto them that the Sapor 
 was dead. The urgency of the occasion caused them 
 immediately and officially to declare your Majesty 
 Sapor and ruler supreme over the Holy Crater. The 
 Prince Cyaxares is waiting without to receive his last 
 instructions." 
 
 Making no comment on the announcement that she 
 had been declared the Sapor, she said: 
 
 " Bring Cyaxares to my audience chamber. I must 
 have private audience with him. Then you prepare 
 the golden casket, place within it the remains of the 
 dead Sapor, and be ready to consign it to the Holy 
 Crater within the hour." 
 
 Zirkan conducted Cyaxares to the beautiful cham 
 ber in which he had been first received by the queen. 
 She was alone, not even a slave or other attendant 
 being in sight. As she posed, half reclining, upon 
 a richly appointed divan, she was really a magnificent 
 specimen of womanhood. 
 
 As he stood hesitating for a moment, she arose, ex 
 tended her hands, and said: 
 
 " I am glad you have come, Cyaxares. I need a 
 friend in this trying hour. Zirkan has told you? " 
 
 " Yes, your Majesty. You have my greatest sym 
 pathy. I am wholly at your service." 
 
 " You know that I am now the Sapor? " 
 
 " Yes, your Majesty." 
 
 " Don't call me ' Your Majesty.' My name is 
 Nahali. I grant you the privilege of calling me 
 Nahali, as I call you Cyaxares." 
 
 " It will be most difficult for me to assume that 
 familiarity with so great a queen." 
 
 " To you I am something greater than a queen, I 
 am a woman ; honor me as a woman, for I have been
 
 226 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 deprived of that homage all my life. Could I do so 
 with safety, I would flee to the wilds of yonder moun 
 tains to escape from this imprisonment that is crush 
 ing the life and spirit out of me. Oh, Cyaxares, you 
 do not know what my life has been, or you would pity 
 me," and, to his wonderment, she covered her face with 
 her hands, and wept till the tears were visible upon her 
 fingers. 
 
 Cyaxares was much touched by this strange confi 
 dence on the part of a woman harassed by grief and 
 desire, and was puzzled to know what to do or say. 
 But again he decided to accept the challenge and treat 
 her as a woman, ignoring thei fact that she was now the 
 most powerful ruler in all the world. 
 
 " I regret having come here, for it seems that I have 
 brought only trouble upon you, Nahali," he said in 
 a kindly, regretful tone. 
 
 She noted the hesitation, and caught her breath as 
 he spoke the name Nahali. 
 
 " How sweetly my own name sounds when spoken by 
 you, Cyaxares. I have not heard it spoken before in 
 ten years." 
 
 " I am so sorry that you are unhappy, and you now 
 the greatest of all queens," he said. 
 
 " Is it unreasonable for me to be unhappy? I have 
 been within these prison walls all my life. My king 
 was cruel and hateful toward me. I was deprived of 
 my daughter's love when she was all that I had to con 
 sole me, and when I most needed her. My mother, al 
 ways a strange, wild, and eccentric being, took her 
 greatest delight in tormenting me. She is now gone, 
 and I hold the hollow and thankless honor of being 
 made the Sapor in a moment by the powers that rule 
 the world. I am sick and tired of it all."
 
 THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 227 
 
 " Perhaps the coming of your beloved daughter will 
 change things to make your life a happier one," sug 
 gested Cyaxares. 
 
 " I am fearful that I will not now love her as I did 
 when she was a sweet and beautiful child. Moreover, 
 it would be entirely in keeping with all my other trou 
 bles for her to try to annul my election as the Sapor, 
 for she knows the provisions of her father's will." 
 
 " I cannot imagine the sweet Madrilla having any 
 trait that could hurt another," said Cyaxares, noting 
 the suggestion that the powers of the Sapor might be 
 taken away from her. Evidently she thought it more 
 than a hollow honor. " May I ask, your Majesty, if 
 the name Nahali implies relationship to Nahan? " 
 
 " Nahan is my father's brother. My uncle is not 
 friendly to me," she said, with a sigh. 
 
 " It is well for me to know these matters, for I am 
 your friend," he ventured. Nevertheless, he was 
 startled at his own thoughts. Saluciea was the only 
 daughter of Nahan, who had now taken her to his 
 bosom, acknowledging her as his own. Moreover, 
 Nahan was the strongest figure in the confederation. 
 
 "Instruct me, your Majesty, Nahali, what you 
 would have me do during this war, that I may be of 
 special service to you." 
 
 " Finish it quickly and return here. Life is short," 
 was the prompt reply. 
 
 " But you know my ambition is to redeem Little 
 Ironia." 
 
 " You will be greater here than as king over Ironia, 
 and you may rule Ironia also," was her startling reply. 
 
 Complications were looming big before he had even 
 started for war. 
 
 " I need you now greatly, you and Zirkan. The
 
 228 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 outside world must know absolutely nothing of what 
 has happened within the walls of this palace. It be 
 lieves that the king still lives, and it must continue to 
 believe so. I will summon Zirkan," and she softly 
 struck her silver gong. 
 
 Zirkan quickly appeared. 
 
 " Is all in readiness? " she asked, with a little gasp. 
 
 " Yes, your Majesty." 
 
 " Come," she said to Cyaxares, " let me lean upon 
 you, for I need support in this trying hour," and she 
 motioned to Zirkan to go forward. 
 
 Passing through a long corridor, Zirkan 
 way. Nahali was scarcely able to proceed. 
 Cyaxares said, 
 
 " Allow me this great honor of supporting you," 
 and he passed his strong arm about her soft, yielding 
 body, and supported her as they walked. She offered 
 no resistance. 
 
 Entering a queer, circular room, Zirkan tapped a 
 gong softly, and six powerful Ethiopians entered in 
 procession. The first two carried upon a litter a 
 golden casket. It contained the remains of the Sapor. 
 The other four slaves bore two litters, upon which 
 were two strong silken bags. 
 
 Cyaxares looked questioningly at Nahali. 
 
 " Her faithful dogs," she whispered. 
 
 They now walked to the center of the room, where 
 yawned a black chasm extending into the dark depths 
 below. 
 
 " For thousands of years this has been the sepulchre 
 of the Sapors," she whispered. 
 
 Ropes of great length had been attached to the cas 
 ket and to the bags, and now they were dropped down, 
 down, till the ends of the ropes were reached. Zirkan
 
 229 
 
 looked at Nahali, and she drew Cyaxares to the edge. 
 The ropes were released. Not a sound was heard. 
 They had passed into unknown space in this bottomless 
 pit, the heart of the Holy Crater. 
 
 Nahali staggered back, and Cyaxares grasped her in 
 his arms. At a motion from Zirkan, he bore her back 
 through the corridor to her own apartment, and gently 
 placed her upon her couch, where she lay white and 
 calm. He remained by her side until she recovered 
 with a moan, which smote him to his very marrow. It 
 was the wail of a heart-sore and lonely being. 
 
 " Nahali," he whispered. 
 
 " Cyaxares, you are good, but you must go now. 
 But come back quickly." 
 
 He stood for a moment, then gave way to the emo 
 tion pent-up within him. Grasping her hands he ca 
 ressed them as he pleaded with her to arouse herself, 
 to be brave, and to remember that he was going to 
 war for her. He would bring back happiness to her 
 sad and lonely life. 
 
 Truly, sympathy is close akin to love. She kissed 
 his hands, and bade him good speed. A feeling of 
 sorrow possessed him as he passed out of the room. 
 Here was another great soul pining for the 
 simplest form of love and comforting companionship. 
 " Surely," thought he, " the world is misbalanced." 
 
 Zirkan impatiently awaited him. 
 
 " Come, Cyaxares," he said, " you have no time to 
 tarry. The sun is now below the mountain rim. You 
 must join the army ere it is dark, for with the first 
 light of day you must be marching. I have prepared 
 all credentials and advices giving you full and free 
 authority over your own division of five thousand men. 
 These will be given to you by your captain of guards,
 
 230 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the young Prince Hanan, son of Nahan, whom I com 
 mend to you as a companion and confidential aide. 
 Now good fortune go with you. You have the good 
 will and confidence of the great council. You must 
 quickly don this coat of mail. You will find all other 
 equipment in your tent." 
 
 " Zirkan, I cannot fully express to you my gratitude 
 for the kindness that you have heaped upon me here. 
 The future, no doubt, will give to me some suitable op 
 portunity to repay you. Must I go without saying 
 farewell to Saluciea?" 
 
 The high priest stood for a moment in deep thought, 
 then he suddenly said, 
 
 " Yes, you must depart now," and he conducted him 
 to the outer room where his body-guard awaited him. 
 It consisted of twelve splendidly accoutered men who 
 surrounded him, and, without a word, passed on out 
 of the Sapor's palace, through the gardens of the 
 priests of the Holy Crater and to the small plateau 
 where his former retinue and horses awaited them. 
 
 Prince Hanan saluted his chieftain, and presented to 
 him a sealed packet, containing his instructions from 
 the powers in the Holy Crater. At Cyaxares' bidding 
 the prince took a position by his side, and the cavalcade 
 proceeded to the lower plateau, where his army awaited 
 him. 
 
 That night by the light of flambeaux a war council 
 was held in the camp of Prince Cyaxares. Each di 
 vision commander received his last instructions, and 
 sleep encompassed the camp. 
 
 By a small silver lamp Cyaxares broke the seal upon 
 the packet, which had been delivered to him. It con 
 tained but three documents. The first was a brief no 
 tice that the great council of the Holy Crater, at the
 
 THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 231 
 
 will of the Sapor, had elected him a prince of the clans 
 of the Holy Crater, with all the rights and privileges 
 granted to all other princes and kings of the holy city. 
 This legalized all his acts of war. 
 
 The second document was an affectionate message 
 from Nahali, the Sapor, begging him not to endanger 
 needlessly his life, wishing him all good health and the 
 good fortunes of war. The startling clause in this 
 note was, 
 
 " As an adopted member of the Sapor's household, 
 I warn you against entangling alliances with women." 
 Cyaxares pondered long and earnestly over this par 
 ental interest in his personal affairs. He could fore 
 see troubles ahead perhaps more dangerous than the 
 war itself, yet he took no deep offense that Nahali had 
 thus threatened him. It was something to flatter the 
 most indifferent man. But he was not wholly indiffer 
 ent. There lingered in his heart a sentiment for the 
 lonely queen that made him regret to leave her there 
 alone. Her household was not one to inspire her with 
 pleasure or satisfaction. While the women chosen for 
 her companions were well-meant and carefully selected, 
 they were native princesses with limited knowledge of 
 the world. Her longing for a broader view and closer 
 contact with worldly things constantly irritated her, 
 and caused her to chafe at her luxurious imprisonment. 
 
 Cyaxares seemed to be the embodiment of that great 
 world beyond, into which she was trying to peer. Had 
 he never come, she would have taken her returning 
 daughter ' Madrilla, who had been out in that sea of 
 mystery, into her bosom and her confidence. The old 
 motherly love would have been doubly enhanced by a 
 new, womanly companionship that would have been 
 superb, making them both happy and contented.
 
 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 But it would be quite different now; the demon jeal 
 ousy had dethroned motherly affection, and had already 
 implanted in Nahali's mind a teasing uncertainty, a 
 suspicion that already, perhaps, there was something 
 of love between this masterful young noble and her 
 daughter. A morbid nagging kept her heart sore and 
 her temper irritated. Coming of a fiercely independ 
 ent race, nothing could curb her when once aroused, 
 though beneath this turbulent exterior purred one of 
 the most affectionate and lovable characters that a dis 
 criminating God ever created. It was glimpses of this 
 shining through her temporary aberration that was 
 now teasing and puzzling Cyaxares as he contemplated 
 the possibilities of future dangers. 
 
 With a perturbed mind the prince now opened the 
 third document. It was more at length, being Zirkan's 
 full, friendly, and careful instructions and advice. It 
 was well-meant, but most indiscreet, for the highest 
 official of the Sapor's household thus to give advice to 
 a comparative stranger, even mentioning the Sapor's 
 name. 
 
 It warned him that the Sapor had become so enam 
 ored of him that his ambitions to succeed his father 
 upon the throne of Ironia might be dashed, yet it 
 hinted at greater honors. He especially cautioned 
 him not to place himself in a compromising attitude 
 with Madrilla. This seemed to be the danger point, 
 Zirkan even hinting that smaller things had previously 
 precipitated devastating holy wars. He felt disap 
 pointed that no mention was made of Saluciea. Love, 
 evidently, was a dangerous element in the life of the 
 Holy Crater, yet the most beautiful peace and amity 
 seemed to prevail in the city of kings. 
 
 Placing the documents in his bosom 1 the weary young
 
 THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 233 
 
 prince retired, and was soon wrapped in the slumbers 
 of the virtuous, and for the third time he dreamed of 
 seeing Madrilla upon the throne, but this time he saw 
 himself as a suppliant, apparently pleading a cause in 
 which Saluciea was involved, for she was kneeling and 
 clinging to his hand, while Nahali was peering at them 
 from behind Madrilla's chair, and there was a malevo 
 lence in her face intimating some sinister interest. He 
 was so shocked at this sleeping picture that he awoke 
 to find himself in a cold sweat, notwithstanding the 
 temperature without was now like a wintry blast. He 
 could sleep no more, but stepped outside his tent and 
 stood viewing the star-bedecked heavens. 
 
 " The Prince Cyaxares arises early," said a gentle 
 voice at his side, and, as he quickly turned to view the 
 speaker, he saw that it was the young Prince Hanan, 
 whose tent adjoined his own. 
 
 " Ah, 'tis you, my dear Prince Hanan. You startled 
 me, and why are you yourself not wrapped in virtuous 
 sleep?" 
 
 " I am not accustomed to the excitement of war, 
 therefore my wits are in a turmoil. I cannot keep my 
 eyes closed." 
 
 " And I will remind you that when I saw your eyes 
 to-day, I noticed that they very much resembled those 
 of your sister, Saluciea, as does also your voice." 
 
 " So I have been told by others," replied the youth, 
 with becoming confusion. 
 
 " The moon is full blown ; let us walk in its light 
 and talk of our coming struggle," said Cyaxares, and 
 he called his tent guards to remain near them for pro 
 tection. 
 
 It was a magnificent night. The heavens seemed 
 studded with untold wealth in diamonds, sparkling and
 
 twinkling as though signaling to one another. Hanan 
 pointed this out to Cyaxares, saying: 
 
 " I wonder if the hosts of heaven are going to war. 
 They are using our signal code." 
 
 Cyaxares watched them for a moment, then replied: 
 
 " All nature seems to conform to the same rules in 
 warfare. I should not wonder if these are nations 
 challenging one another." 
 
 " Or maybe lovers signaling that all is well," re 
 turned Hanan. 
 
 " Oh, you are in love," exclaimed Cyaxares. " Well, 
 I will be your champion. Serve me well, and I will 
 help you to attain the object of your affections." 
 
 " I will record that promise," quickly responded 
 Hanan. " But what promise of personal sacrifice do 
 you give as security that you will keep your pledge? " 
 
 " If I must give bond, then I pledge my honor that 
 I will make any personal sacrifice to aid you in secur 
 ing the object of your love," said Cyaxares, earnestly. 
 
 " Exchange rings with me on that," and Hanan with 
 drew from his own finger a ring that barely fitted upon 
 the small finger of Cyaxares' hand. The latter also 
 gave to Hanan a ring. 
 
 " I have a great liking for your father," said Cyax 
 ares. 
 
 " My newfound sister informs me, in a burst of sis 
 terly confidence, that she has a great liking for you." 
 
 " I feel deeply complimented, for Saluciea is a 
 woman among all the women that I have ever known. 
 I can tell you in confidence as a kindred spirit, that I 
 find it most difficult to analyze my sentiment for Salu 
 ciea. I could adore her as a sister, to whom I could 
 take my sorrows and my joys. I envy you for having 
 this privilege."
 
 THE DEATH OF THE SAPOR 235 
 
 " See the falling star ! " exclaimed Hanan, pointing 
 to a long streak of red in the sky. " I thought the 
 hosts of heaven were exchanging war signals. It is 
 a fallen king. It must be reflected upon earth. That 
 means Deioces," and thus they passed an hour, return 
 ing to their tents composed and ready to sleep. 
 
 At the first flash of day the trumpets sounded and 
 the camp was astir, well rested and ready for a long, 
 tedious day's march. 
 
 Cyaxares' army must march down through the Der- 
 bend pass, between the Caucasus mountains and the 
 Caspian sea. The balance of the great army was to 
 make way through the numerous mountain passes to 
 the east. 
 
 Cyaxares had wondered how this vast army was to 
 be sustained in the field. As he had reviewed them in 
 the Holy Crater, there was no intimation of a com 
 missary corps. But now he beheld long trains of ox- 
 drawn, two-wheeled carts emerging from the plain be 
 low, and he knew that all was well. 
 
 The army was moving. Soon the field of action 
 would be reached, and the horrors of warfare would 
 manifest themselves. 
 
 " I am sad as the hour for the shedding of human 
 blood approaches," said Cyaxares to his companion. 
 
 " No more so than I," replied Hanan. " I prefer 
 peace and quiet." 
 
 " Hanan," exclaimed Cyaxares, " I like your kind, 
 gentle nature. Let us pledge ourselves to defend each 
 other in this war to the last drop of our blood, and let 
 us hold together thus through life, for good or bad 
 luck," and they struck hands in token of eternal friend 
 ship.
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN i 
 
 THE hard and tiresome march of sixty thousand 
 men from the Holy Crater was a thing to try 
 men's souls ; nevertheless, the army was in splendid 
 condition upon reaching a point where a view of the 
 plains could be had. It needed no other stimulus to 
 revive the lagging spirits of the soldiers of the Sapor. 
 They looked, they saw a glittering army in front of 
 the city of Aspahan, and they were filled with blood 
 thirsty desire to do battle. 
 
 A messenger had arrived at the headquarters of the 
 captain general saying that Cyaxares' army lay in the 
 ravines leading into the Ironian passes, was in splendid 
 condition, had made complete connection with the sig 
 nal corps of Cambyses, and awaited the signal to move 
 forward and take possession of the defiles, and cut off 
 Deioces' retreat. 
 
 Eager to watch the fierce combat that would occur 
 upon the meeting of the two armies, Cyaxares, taking 
 with him Hanan and a body-guard of twelve men, went 
 to a promontory overlooking the battle-field, arriving 
 there before the break of day. 
 
 As the sun arose, amidst a sea of crimson and gold, 
 they beheld a wonderful sight. During the night a 
 mysterious power had erected about the army of 
 Deioces a tremendous barricade of scrub cedars, miles 
 upon miles of it. Behind this curious fortification 
 
 could be seen division after division of the holy army. 
 
 236
 
 THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN 237 
 
 As a whole it looked like a great animal ready to 
 spring upon its prey. 
 
 That Deioces' army was surprised and alarmed at 
 this unexpected apparition was apparent from the 
 activity in his camp. 
 
 Now it was discovered that the fortress was moving. 
 It was drawing closer and closer, the circle was nar 
 rowing, and its ends were gradually turning the flanks 
 of Deioces' army. Something had to be done and that 
 quickly, else this great serpent would draw its coils 
 about the army and so hamper its movements that it 
 would be quickly crushed. Suddenly a body of two 
 thousand horsemen dashed in a charge against the bar 
 rier. Not two hundred out of the two thousand es 
 caped. Instead of going over, or through, the bar 
 rier, as they expected to do, they were impaled upon 
 the thousands of huge pikes concealed in the foliage 
 of the cedars of which the pile was constructed. 
 
 This instant loss of a large part of his horsemen 
 startled Deioces to a realization of his imminent peril. 
 His whole army began to move. From the flat plain 
 he could not see the overwhelming numbers concealed 
 behind that far-reaching and seemingly frail fortress. 
 That was its chief object. 
 
 Deioces gave the one order, " Penetrate the barrier, 
 and engage the enemy at close quarters." Cyaxares 
 was in easy reach of his own army, therefore the trend 
 of battle toward his position did not alarm him. It 
 brought within close range the acute features of the 
 battle. It was fascinating. Ten thousand warriors 
 made a dash for the barrier. They reached it, evi 
 dently intending to top it. 
 
 " Look ! " exclaimed Cyaxares, in amazement. A 
 section of the barrier seemed to rise in the air for a
 
 238 
 
 moment and then descend, engulfing the front ranks of 
 the charging army. The army fell back in consterna 
 tion, and started a disorderly retreat. Again the bar 
 rier was raised, and from beneath it came those pro 
 tecting shields. Not a man could be seen, but with a 
 deathlike certainty that mass of black metal approached 
 the army that had been halted in its retreat. Sud 
 denly it stopped, and from between the tall shields 
 came a shower of arrows. There was a mysterious 
 row of kneeling reserves behind those shields that did 
 not seem 1 to be in action, but when with a shout Deioces' 
 army plunged forward, both horsemen and footmen 
 bent on demolishing that formidable shield, an unex 
 pected thing occurred. The shields were momentarily 
 lowered, the reserves arose, and made a quick motion, 
 and again sank behind the protecting shields. That 
 was the most startling thing that ever happened to an 
 army. The air was literally black with whirling discs 
 of black metal, the edges of the discs being as sharp as 
 a knife-blade. They mowed down men and beasts 
 alike, cutting and slashing as no other weapon could. 
 Blood flowed like water. In the period of shock the 
 reserves arose and shot another stream of death into 
 the faltering ranks. This new weapon of warfare was 
 more than any army could withstand. Destruction of 
 the whole army was inevitable. The line began to fall 
 back, leaving a dead row equal in proportion to the 
 barrier of scrub cedars. 
 
 Cyaxares, fearing that a precipitate retreat might 
 send Deioces' army pell-mell into the passes, had given 
 the signal, and his army had separated into five di 
 visions of a thousand men each, and they were closing 
 the gateways into Ironia against Deioces. 
 
 Hanan clutched at Cyaxares' arms, exclaiming,
 
 THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN 239 
 
 " Look there ! " 
 
 From behind a ridge, shielded by a close growth of 
 black pine, came a body of tremendous horsemen, 
 closely followed by a large body of footmen, both being 
 clad in dead black. 
 
 " My father ! " whispered Hanan. 
 
 Great gaps were torn in the barrier to let them 
 through, but before they reached these openings a 
 mass of wild horses, with wild men bestriding them and 
 followed by yelping beasts resembling a cross between 
 a staghound and a wild boar, arose from no one knew 
 where, and tore like a whirlwind through, and even 
 over, the tops of the pile, their yells being plainly 
 heard even where they were stationed. 
 
 The Hoplites, having done their deadly execution, 
 had transferred their cases of discs to these wild and 
 fearless Shalemites. Holding their long spears in their 
 left hands, with their copper shields strapped to their 
 arms, they were running in circles while they cast the 
 deadly discs into the ranks of the enemy. With each 
 shower great splashes of blood, gushing from wide, 
 gaping wounds, literally deluged Deioces' army, a 
 sight to unman the bravest soldier. The terrifying 
 hounds sprang among the already frightened soldiers 
 and so demoralized them that a panic ensued. No 
 courage could withstand it. 
 
 The Shalemites now gave way to King Nahan and 
 his terrifying hosts. With given precision they closed 
 in upon the already demoralized army, and began to 
 mow down the ranks as a blade levels the grain upon 
 the fields. 
 
 This was the last straw. Deioces' army broke and 
 fled in terror. As a part of the fleeing hosts attempted 
 to break through the barrier, the glittering arms of
 
 240 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 the Dolamites confronted them, then the Gothites made 
 a dash for them with their winged daggers. 
 
 So intently were Cyaxares and his guard watching 
 the finish that they gave no thought to personal dan 
 ger. It was seen that the barrier was now afire in an 
 hundred places. It was to be the bier of thousands of 
 soldiers. While gazing at the conflagration they were 
 startled by a shout, and before they could flee two score 
 of Deioces' mounted soldiers had charged upon them. 
 It was so sudden that they hardly had time to place 
 themselves on guard. 
 
 The brave guardsmen threw themselves between 
 Cyaxares and danger, and against tremendous odds 
 they fought until they had two-thirds of them upon 
 the ground, but they themselves had been reduced to 
 four battered and bleeding men. Two of the leaders 
 had tried in vain to reach Cyaxares, who saw that their 
 only chance was to reserve all their strength for their 
 own defense. One of the soldiers, seemingly a leader, 
 finally came upon the rear of Cyaxares, who had now 
 engaged the oncoming soldiers. The young Prince 
 Hanan had waited to the very last moment, not seem 
 ing to know just what to do. 
 
 Now seeing the approaching danger to Cyaxares, 
 he charged his steed against that of the threatening 
 soldier, but too late! A crashing onslaught caught 
 Cyaxares, a glancing blow fell upon the side of his 
 head, and unhorsed him. The shock of Hanan's 
 charge had undoubtedly saved his life, but he was now 
 in grave danger of being trampled to death. Throw 
 ing himself from his steed, Hanan placed himself above 
 the prostrate form, and cut and slashed blindly at any 
 thing approaching. A fortunate stroke had felled one 
 body unconscious across Cyaxares. A large man now
 
 THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN 241 
 
 approached to finish Cyaxares. There was a diabol 
 ical grin upon his ugly face as he pushed aside two 
 soldiers in order to reach his victim. Like a flash of 
 lightning a keen-edged sword caught him directly 
 across his exposed eyes, and with a scream of agony 
 he threw up his hands and sank across the body of his 
 intended victim. 
 
 Suddenly the remaining few soldiers fled away, hotly 
 pursued by a body of fresh soldiers that had arrived 
 upon the scene. Hanan was standing defiantly over 
 Cyaxares, who lay perfectly still with two bodies lying 
 across him. As the leader dismounted and approached, 
 Hanan held his sword in readiness, believing in his ex 
 citement that these were fresh recruits of the enemy. 
 His fresh young face was flushed, his eyes had the 
 glare of a tiger at bay, and it was plain that he would 
 fight to the death over those prostrate forms. 
 
 The leader, a tremendous man, dismounted and 
 came calmly to the spot. 
 
 Suddenly the color fled from the young prince's face, 
 he dropped his weapon, and extending his arms, ex 
 claimed, 
 
 " Cambyses ! " and fell into the great warrior's arms, 
 to the latter's astonishment. 
 
 Clinging to him, he pointed to the pile, almost 
 screaming: 
 
 " There ! There ! Cyaxares ! " 
 
 Instantly Cambyses pushed Hanan away, sprang 
 forward, kicked the two men from the body, and gently 
 raised Cyaxares' head. His face was a mass of blood. 
 The camail had been cut entirely through, the edges 
 pressing into the terrible wound across the side of the 
 head and above the left ear. His closely matted hair 
 and the glancing nature of the stroke had helped to
 
 242 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 save his life, but anyway he was dangerously wounded. 
 
 Hanan was kneeling by Cyaxares, and with little 
 groans insisted upon assisting Cambyses, who kept 
 glancing at him with a puzzled expression upon his 
 face. Straightening up, he demanded, 
 
 "Who are you?" 
 
 " I am Prince Hanan, son of Nahan," was the quick 
 response. 
 
 " Huh," heavily grunted Cambyses, as he motioned 
 his men to bring the improvised litter upon which to 
 place Cyaxares. 
 
 Suddenly Hanan arose with a look of horror upon 
 his face. Then, with a half-suppressed scream, he 
 pointed, exclaiming: 
 
 '* Look ! Look there, Cambyses ! My brother ! " 
 and he covered his face with his hands to shut out the 
 gaze ; the soldier whom he had slashed across the eyes 
 was none other than Saranaces. 
 
 Instead, however, of Cambyses' taking heed of the 
 body upon the ground, he grasped Hanan in his arms, 
 whispering, " Saluciea ! " 
 
 " Yes," was the weeping reply, for she was now over 
 come with the awful facts about her. In defense of 
 the man she loved, who now lay before her as a corpse, 
 she had slain her half-brother, Saranaces. 
 
 " Does he know? " asked Cambyses, nodding toward 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Then do not let him know your identity in this 
 garb. We will conduct you to the caverns of Crail, 
 where you may nurse him back to life. He is not dead, 
 but badly hurt." 
 
 The little procession was formed, and after tedious 
 hours a bubbling spring was reached, and efforts were
 
 THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN 243 
 
 made to bring the fallen prince back to consciousness. 
 It was dangerous to tarry, for Deioces' straggling sol 
 diers were all trying to return to Ironia. Neverthe 
 less, they succeeded in dressing Cyaxares' wound, and 
 in restoring him to a semi-consciousness that greatly 
 alleviated the dangers of keeping him moving in his 
 precarious condition. 
 
 It required two days to reach the secret entrance to 
 the caverns of Crail. Twice they were assaulted by 
 straying bands of half-famished soldiers, and at last 
 they reached the spot in an exhausted condition. They 
 immediately passed into the cavern, Cambyses leaving 
 an ample guard to protect the entrance. 
 
 This was the most trying situation that Cambyses 
 had ever encountered. He had intended joining forces 
 with Cyaxares in the defense of the Ironian passes, in 
 order to relieve the prince, and to allow him to go di 
 rectly to Baleria and declare himself dictator till his 
 father could come and ascend the throne. Now Cyax 
 ares was lying more than half dead, he was two days' 
 march from the field of action, Cracillies was momen 
 tarily expecting the arrival of Cyaxares to relieve him 
 from the trying situation at the king's palace, and 
 remnants of Deioces' defeated army were charging the 
 passes for their 1 lives. Something must be done 
 quickly. 
 
 They were challenged at every point until they 
 finally reached the inner caverns. Helluseus, who was 
 in charge of the caverns, quickly passed them into the 
 gardens and to Cracillies' private villa. He was al 
 most overcome when told of Cyaxares' sad condition 
 but, quickly recovering, he put all the perfect ma 
 chinery of his orderly community in operation to give 
 relief to the dangerously sick prince.
 
 244 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 After seeing to it that absolute secre'cy would be 
 maintained regarding Cyaxares' identity, as well as re 
 garding that of Saluciea, and of their presence there, 
 Cambyses made a dash into Baleria, gave instructions 
 to Cracillies, then went with all speed to take charge of 
 the defense of the passes. There he found the situa 
 tion well in hand. Quite every division had had its 
 brush with the bodies of frightened soldiers trying to 
 escape through the passes. The ground about Regules' 
 mountain house looked like a shambles, being strewn 
 with dead horses and men. The defenders of the 
 Ironian pass had taken possession, and were living off 
 the fat of his larder, greatly to his grief. 
 
 Taking a strong body of men Cambyses forced his 
 way through the pass, and went to the plain where the 
 battle was fought. There he beheld a strange sight. 
 The armor had been stripped from Deioces' dead sol 
 diers, and now lay in heaps about the field to be re 
 turned to Ironia, while the dead bodies of both horses 
 and men were being fully cremated. This was custom 
 ary in every holy war. 
 
 Deioces' army had been so quickly destroyed that the 
 leaders preferred to rest, and to recuperate their ar 
 mies before starting upon the return march. 
 
 Cambyses asked to be conducted to Nahan, to whom 
 he made a full report of the situation, assuring him 
 that he could hold everything well in hand. He in 
 formed him that Cyaxares was in a precarious condi 
 tion, and that it would be many weeks before he could 
 recover, therefore he recommended that Nahan safely 
 convey Madrilla to the Holy Crater before roving 
 bands of Deioces' soldiers made it dangerous for a 
 small escort to undertake this important mission. He 
 would conduct the two princesses to his camp, then he
 
 THE BATTLE BEFORE ASPAHAN 245 
 
 himself would take Almareta to the city of Aspahan. 
 
 This suggestion at once impressed Nahan, and Cam 
 byses made another hard trip to and from the caverns 
 of Crail to bring the young women. 
 
 To their numerous questions regarding Cyaxares, 
 Cambyses only replied that the prince had been badly 
 wounded, and would be an invalid for some time, at 
 which information they both wept. Without mishap 
 they reached Nahan's camp where they rested for a 
 day. 
 
 Cambyses assured Nahan that the army loaned to 
 Cyaxares should be well provided with comforts, and 
 would eventually be returned to the crater with proper 
 and suitable compensation. Moreover, he would keep 
 him advised regarding Cyaxares' condition. A suit 
 able escort had been sent for Phraortes. There had 
 been little trouble in Baleria because of the hatred of 
 the people for Deioces. Saranaces being now out of 
 the way, there was no one left to stir up strife. 
 
 After having met all the leaders and having congrat 
 ulated them upon the success of their arms, Cambyses 
 went to the city of Aspahan with Almareta and made 
 full report to Astyages. That aged king was almost 
 overcome with pleasure at the safe return of his daugh 
 ter, and at the favorable turn in the political situation 
 that this brief war would bring. He wept upon being 
 told of Cyaxares' plight. 
 
 All searched for a clue to Deioces' whereabouts, but 
 no trace of him could be found. It was finally con 
 cluded that he had perished with his army. 
 
 Permanent camps were established at all the passes, 
 and arrangements were provided for the welfare and 
 comfort of the soldiers. They would remain there till 
 the coming of Phraortes.
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 HOME-COMING OF PHRAORTES 
 
 /^RACILLIES, after carefully organizing his tem- 
 \*S porary military government over Ironia and the 
 city of Baleria, went permanently to the caverns of 
 Crail to care for Cyaxares. For two weeks the royal 
 patient had lain in a half trance, not recognizing any 
 one. Nevertheless, that flickering spark seemed to 
 cling to the soft voice and soothing, caressing hands of 
 the most patient and attentive of nurses. Saluciea was 
 indefatigable in her efforts to woo him back to con 
 sciousness. She wept over him, hourly prayed for his 
 recovery, and apparently never closed her weary eyes in 
 sleep. 
 
 Helluseus rendered every possible assistance. It 
 was a relief to know that Cracillies was coming. She 
 needed his sympathy as well as his aid, for she was daily 
 growing weaker. 
 
 With loving hands she bathed the aching head, 
 smoothed back the tumbled hair that she had saved. 
 Not once had he been able to recognize her. At times 
 he would open his eyes, look long and earnestly at her, 
 as if trying to remember something, but with a groan 
 he would again lapse into that lethargic somnolence so 
 resembling death that she shuddered and silently wept. 
 Her devotion was pathetic. It seemed as if her life 
 was slowly going out with his own. 
 
 The dark, depressing night had passed. Cracillies 
 was to come that morning. Saluciea was sadly tidying 
 
 up things to receive him. Cyaxares had slept quietly 
 
 246
 
 HOME-COMING OF PHRAORTES 247 
 
 for some hours. Suddenly Saluciea was conscious that 
 he was awake and looking at her. 
 
 " Cyaxares," she softly whispered, as she took his 
 hand in her own. 
 
 With a wan smile he looked into her sweet, weary 
 face, and whispered in reply, 
 
 " Saluciea." Oh, joy! he had spoken her name; he 
 knew her. Despite all she could do the great tears of 
 joy came in a grateful shower, dropping upon his 
 hands as she caressed them. Her love and devotion 
 had been rewarded. How grateful she felt that this 
 recognition had come before the arrival of Cracillies. 
 She so wanted to feel that she had coaxed him back to 
 life. 
 
 Cracillies softly entered the room, and stood looking 
 at the picture. 
 
 Tired beyond further endurance, Saluciea's head had 
 dropped upon the pillow by that of Cyaxares, and they 
 both slept in blissful ignorance of the presence of an 
 other. 
 
 Tiptoeing to them, Cracillies assured himself that 
 they were sleeping. He seemed to understand, and 
 quietly left the room. From time to time for an hour 
 he looked in upon them. Helluseus had informed him 
 that this was the first time that he had known Saluciea 
 to close her eyes in sleep. 
 
 Evidently Cyaxares had awakened first, for when 
 Cracillies again peeped into the room he saw his hand 
 resting upon Saluciea's shining tresses. He moved as 
 he saw Cracillies, and Saluciea awoke with a quick 
 start. Her first thought was of her patient, quickly 
 grasping his hands as if to protect him. Placing her 
 hands upon the good priest's shoulders, she exclaimed: 
 
 " Oh, good Cracillies, I am so glad that you have
 
 248 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 come. I need you so badly. I know you can save 
 him. But he is better, he can recognize me now. He 
 spoke to me. He called my name," and she eagerly 
 led the priest to Cyaxares' side. The latter was fully 
 conscious now. The crisis had passed, he knew them 
 both, although he was extremely weak and helpless. 
 As Cracillies talked to him his eyes constantly followed 
 Saluciea. He knew that she was his guardian angel. 
 
 Cracillies smiled as he felt of Cyaxares' hand, and 
 found that his temperature was only slightly above 
 normal. Patting the hand affectionately, he said, 
 
 " I can prescribe no better potion than the one that 
 you have, Cyaxares," and he smilingly indicated Salu 
 ciea, who placed her hand upon Cracillies' shoulder, 
 and leaned over to smooth the patient's brow. 
 
 " What is the meaning of it all ? " weakly inquired 
 Cyaxares. 
 
 " We cannot tell you now, Cyaxares. Wait till to 
 morrow. You have just come to yourself, and you 
 must get a little stronger before talking about it." 
 He patiently lay back upon his pillow, and permitted 
 Saluciea to soothe him to sleep. 
 
 Cambyses had told Cracillies the story, how he had 
 found Saluciea, clad in armor, and standing over Cyax 
 ares swinging her weapon like a man, her last stroke 
 slaying her own brother, Saranaces. She had twice 
 saved his life. Cyaxares of course knew not of this, 
 and was in his dazed way trying to figure out where 
 he was that Saluciea should be watching over him. 
 
 While the patient slept, the two went fully over the 
 ground from the time that Saluciea had been sent to 
 the Holy Crater. Cracillies was much pleased with 
 the trend of events, in his enthusiasm declaring that 
 Saluciea would yet be a queen.
 
 HOME-COMING OF PHRAORTES 249 
 
 " I only want Cyaxares, no matter what drudgery 
 or what honor goes with that," she softly said. 
 
 " And you shall have him, Saluciea, or else he shall 
 never be king," and the stern old man looked as if he 
 were capable of deciding the matter. 
 
 It was a beautiful morning; the sun was dashing its 
 long rays down into the gardens of Crail, as if trying 
 to pierce the very rocks and penetrate the dark caverns. 
 Four long, weary weeks had passed. Cyaxares was 
 now able to be removed to the palace. He and Salu 
 ciea were taking their last look about the beautiful 
 garden in which they had been so happy, despite his 
 illness. 
 
 The numerous birds came fluttering about the great 
 fountain, tempted to bespatter themselves with water, 
 while the sun was shining upon its crystal surface. 
 They silently watched the happy, playful creatures. 
 Looking quickly up into Saluciea's face, Cyaxares saw 
 her eyes filled with tears. She silently covered her 
 eyes with her hand. Cyaxares knew, but said not a 
 word, but in a little while he whispered, 
 
 " Are the tears all gone? " and he gently clasped 
 both her hands. 
 
 " Yes," she replied with a fluttering little laugh. 
 " Forgive me, Cyaxares." 
 
 " Forgive you for what ? " and his eyes searched 
 her very soul. 
 
 "I I could not help it," she said. " The time is 
 so short, then I will perhaps see you no more." 
 
 " Saluciea, you are borrowing trouble. You are not 
 going to leave me now. You are going to the palace 
 with me." 
 
 " Oh, Cyaxares, you would not do that. Remember 
 the world said that I was the mistress of Deioces. It
 
 250 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 will say the same thing, should I be there with you." 
 
 " So it will, you shall be my mistress, and the whole 
 world shall know it." 
 
 Her face went chalky white, and she shrank away 
 from him. 
 
 Continuing he said, " You shall be the mistress of 
 Ironia, Saluciea, for you are to be my queen, whether 
 I am king or not," and he held out his arms to her. 
 
 She stood for a moment as if dazed, then she resisted 
 not, but dropped into the embrace that she knew was 
 her final destiny. She did not have to question any 
 thing, she knew. 
 
 Drawing her close to him, Cyaxares said : 
 
 " Saluciea, Cracillies has told me the truth. I know 
 that you have by your devotion saved my life. It is 
 now yours. Let come what will, I shall share my fate 
 with you, no matter what the sacrifice." 
 
 Saluciea said not a word, but clung to him as if 
 fearful that he might escape. 
 
 Cyaxares was conducted to the palace because of the 
 coming of his father, Phraortes. Great crowds had 
 assembled about the palace gates, and about the thor 
 oughfares through which the aged king must pass. 
 At the palace Cracillies and Cambyses had assembled 
 all those that were to constitute the royal household, 
 knowing full well that in the hour that Phraortes was 
 placed upon his throne he would abdicate it in favor of 
 Cyaxares. When he came into Baleria to assume mili 
 tary charge of the city Cambyses had brought the 
 pick and choice of his soldiers with him, and there was 
 a splendor about the arrangements to which the 1 people 
 were not accustomed. They enthusiastically welcomed 
 the new regime. 
 
 At the portals of the palace stood Cyaxares, with
 
 HOME-COMING OF PHRAORTES 251 
 
 Saluciea by his side, and Cracillies, Cambyses, and all 
 the court officials. Phraortes alighted from his steed 
 at the gates of the palace grounds, was placed in a 
 gorgeous palanquin, and was brought to the doors of 
 the palace, where he was greeted and welcomed by those 
 that loved him most. 
 
 The procession passed into the throne room, where 
 
 Cracillies as the highest one in authority placed upon 
 
 the aged king's head the crown of Ironia. As every 
 
 one had expected, the king beckoned to his son, the 
 
 Prince Cyaxares, to come to him. The prince was 
 
 whispering to Saluciea before obeying the summons. 
 
 When a commotion was noticed about the entrance to 
 
 the chamber, all eyes were turned there to see what was 
 
 happening. Then Cambyses entered with a stranger, 
 
 who declared himself to be a messenger from the Sapor. 
 
 Bringing him before the king, Cambyses said, 
 
 " Make known your message to King Phraortes." 
 
 The stranger coolly looked about him, as if sure of 
 
 his ground, then with a proper obeisance he addressed 
 
 the new king: 
 
 " I am a messenger from the Sapor, who forbids 
 your Majesty's abdicating the crown of Ironia in fa 
 vor of Prince Cyaxares. Furthermore, it is the order 
 of the Sapor that the Prince Cyaxares immediately re 
 port at the Holy Crater." 
 
 The deathlike silence following this dire message was 
 most impressive. The Sapor had made it possible for 
 Phraortes again to assume his throne. It was the 
 Sapor's right to dictate the political policy of the new 
 king, but it was not the Sapor's right to assume abso 
 lute command over the person of Cyaxares, who had 
 returned Madrilla in safety to the Holy Crater as he 
 had promised.
 
 252 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Stepping forward, Cyaxares said, 
 
 " I beg of my royal father to permit me to answer 
 this message," then turning to the messenger, he said: 
 
 " Say to the Sapor that King Phraortes will not ab 
 dicate his throne without the consent of the Holy 
 Crater, and he holds himself subject to the Sapor's will 
 and advice in the reorganization of Ironia, but the 
 Prince Cyaxares is too much of an invalid to comply 
 with the command that he go at once to the Holy 
 Crater. He is just starting upon a journey to for 
 eign lands to recuperate his health." 
 
 The messenger bowed and retired. 
 
 " Cambyses, come quickly, here is some new excite 
 ment for you. Go at once and have Heptes, Kapies, 
 and Candes follow this messenger, capture him, and 
 hold him for five days. Send out word that he has 
 been detained by a roving band of Deioces' soldiers. 
 Have your men keep the secret. After five days also 
 circulate the story that I, journeying to foreign lands, 
 was also captured. Then prepare an escort to go on 
 a journey with me. Have fifty picked men." 
 
 Cambyses assured Cyaxares that his orders would 
 be promptly obeyed. 
 
 After the ceremonies were over, Cyaxares held a con 
 ference with his father and Cracillies. 
 
 He eloquently told the story of Saluciea's devotion 
 to him, and expressed a desire to make her his wife at 
 once. 
 
 "Your wife! the mistress of Deioces your wife?" 
 exclaimed Phraortes. 
 
 They both laughed at this, assuring him of the un 
 truth of that rumor, and telling him the romantic story 
 of Saluciea's life. 
 
 " Nahan's daughter, a daughter of war? Well, that
 
 HOME-COMING OF PHRAORTES 253 
 
 is nothing to object to, if her life has been pure. 
 Half the queens in the world to-day do not know their 
 own fathers. I would see this Saluciea. She must be 
 a very worthy woman for both you and Cracillies to 
 plead for her," and they brought Saluciea to him. 
 
 The aged king looked searchingly over the lovely 
 woman, then bidding her come to him he took her hands, 
 saying : 
 
 " Saluciea, you are a beautiful woman. I am grate 
 ful that you have been so useful to my son. To prove 
 that gratitude I welcome you as my daughter. Go 
 now with Cracillies and Cyaxares to the church of the 
 Holy State and be wedded." 
 
 Saluciea thanked him as did Cyaxares, and they went 
 straightway to have the important ceremony per 
 formed, and Saluciea became Cyaxares' wife. 
 
 " What are you going to do now? " asked Cracillies. 
 
 " I am going straight to the Holy Crater, that Salu 
 ciea may take her place among queens." 
 
 " I do not understand you," gasped Cracillies. 
 
 " While I was there I was legally made a prince of 
 the clans. Saluciea is a king's daughter. Nahan has 
 said it. I will be a king of one of his provinces," re 
 plied Cyaxares. 
 
 " But that is not what the Sapor commands you to 
 come there for," and Cracillies looked disappointed. 
 
 " I know that you think my life will be in danger by 
 going, but I know the routine there; they are all my 
 friends. The Sapor does not rule the city of kings. 
 The Sapor rules the diplomatic relations of the clans 
 with other nations. I will be admitted to the safe en 
 virons of the holy city before the Sapor is aware that 
 I am there. I have been forbidden to seek the hand 
 of Madrilla by the Sapor, and I have in no manner
 
 254 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 compromised my honor with the lovely Sapor herself." 
 " She will be furious though, when she does learn 
 that you are there after having sent word that you 
 would not be. Moreover, I fear that she will not ap 
 prove of your marriage with Saluciea. But more than 
 that, Cyaxares, I regret more than you can know your 
 going away from Ironia. I had set my heart upon 
 your helping us in many reforms," and the good old 
 priest looked sad and deserted. 
 
 " Cracillies," said Cyaxares, gently, " I am not go 
 ing to desert you. We know the diplomatic way be 
 tween Baleria and the Holy Crater. I will confide to 
 you that the Sapor is a myth, and has been since the 
 death of the real Sapor. These women, while they 
 have the power of life and death over the persons of 
 their own household, have little to do with the govern 
 ing of the clans. That is the strength and the bul 
 wark of that strange country. It is an oligarchy com 
 posed of kings. It is the most powerful and unshak 
 able confederacy in all the world. The success of this 
 war has given me a standing there. As the son-in-law 
 of the great leader Nahan, I will be able to lend the 
 powers of the Holy Crater to reorganize Ironia. I 
 must first go to receive the blessing of Nahan." 
 
 " Your mind is far-reaching, Cyaxares. You are 
 right. My blessings go with you. I feel as if 3 r ou 
 and Saluciea are my own children. I do not want you 
 wholly to forget me," pleaded the priest. 
 
 " How could we, my dear Cracillies ? Wait and see." 
 Two days later Cyaxares and his bride were on their 
 way to the Holy Crater, while Cambyses' men were in 
 hot pursuit of the messenger from the Sapor. 
 
 Before leaving, Cyaxares had secretly instructed 
 Cracillies 'and Cambyses to make the lives of the gar-
 
 HOME-COMING OF PHRAORTES 255 
 
 risoned soldiers so comfortable that they would be 
 satisfied to stay there, this being a part of his scheme 
 of reform in Ironia. 
 
 Each day could be seen long strings of ox-drawn 
 carts bedecked with flowers, filled with fruits and foods 
 for the soldiers, and conducted by the women of Ba- 
 leria, passing out to the several camps. At last the 
 idle women of that idle city had 1 been assigned a useful 
 duty, and they liked it. Cracillies was promptly made 
 the head of the Holy State, while Cambyses assumed 
 the duties of advising the king, and of practically rul 
 ing the city. 
 
 Erskales, Paulius, and Zinkara were placed on board 
 an out-going ship, and sent to a far distant land, not 
 to return under penalty of death, as were hundreds 
 of the bad men of Deioces' city of sin. Old Crecies 
 died in prison. From month to month an improve 
 ment in the condition of the city was noticeable. The 
 disposition of several thousand women of Baleria was 
 the one great problem of the reform. Cyaxares had 
 left special instructions to leave that problem to him. 
 These helpless creatures must not be set afloat upon 
 the world, to drop lower in the scale of society, and 
 finally into a condition to cause them great suffering. 
 They were the victims of conditions over which they 
 had no control, and were now the wards of humanity. 
 Thousands of them were beautiful women, capable of 
 being utilized for good purposes. It was a problem 
 to experiment with, and they waited patiently for word 
 to come from Cyaxares.
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 
 
 YAXARES had had a special purpose in going to 
 the Holy Crater, fraught with danger as was 
 this mission. Nevertheless, he felt sure of his ground. 
 Zirkan was his friend, so was Nahan. He well knew 
 that both these strong figures would rejoice to learn 
 that he had taken Saluciea for wife. He must now 
 make sure of getting safely to Nahan's palace without 
 the knowledge of Nahali. Well did he know the un 
 derlying danger. Nahali was enamored of him. He 
 felt a great regret that he should have implanted in 
 Madrilla's heart the promise of love, but her own 
 mother had forbidden that. Saluciea had risked her 
 own life, and had won his everlasting gratitude for her 
 love. It was not a matter of choice, moreover, for he 
 was madly in love with Saluciea. She was a woman. 
 Her love was a kingdom in itself. 
 
 Anticipating the return of the messenger by two 
 days, he, and Saluciea, safely disguised in the dress of 
 priests of Crail, were demanding an immediate audi 
 ence with Zirkan. That distinguished official, at the 
 risk of his own neck, took them into his own private 
 apartment, embraced them, congratulated them, and 
 then personally conducted them to the palace of Na 
 han, in the holy city. 
 
 The ancient king had forbidden any one to molest 
 him till he had made known that he was fully rested 
 and recuperated from his late hardships. Neverthe 
 less, when Zirkan sent word to him that Cyaxares and 
 
 256
 
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 257 
 
 Saluciea desired audience with him, he promptly bade 
 his slaves bring them to him forthwith. 
 
 Cyaxares informed Nahan that the Sapor had for 
 bidden his father's abdicating in his favor, and, fear 
 ing that the royal edict might forbid his taking unto 
 himself Saluciea for wife, he had anticipated such an 
 edict and had wedded her. Nahan laughed, and de 
 clared that the Sapor had not the power to prevent 
 his wedding whomsoever he might choose for a wife. 
 Nevertheless, Cyaxares was an unusually attractive 
 man to women, and his niece, the Sapor, was entitled 
 to sympathy, for she greatly needed a consort. She 
 was a lonely and now almost a powerless sovereign, 
 because of the radical changes in the conduct of the 
 affairs of the Holy Crater since the death of the king. 
 She had secretly hoped that she herself might wed 
 Cyaxares, and that he might become the Sapor in fact. 
 
 " A jealous woman, with a cunning mind and a lit 
 tle personal power, may sometimes become a greater 
 menace to her victim's peace and welfare than a stand 
 ing army, Cyaxares. We may find it necessary to 
 quell a riot in the Sapor's palace when she learns of 
 all this, but we shall take every precaution to keep it 
 from her. In recent years we have relaxed our re 
 strictions here, feeling that as the outside world grew 
 stronger our secretive policy would become a menace 
 to our own integrity, hence it has been easier for stran 
 gers to get audience with this inner city. Formerly it 
 would have been impossible for you to reach me with 
 out the knowledge of the Sapor. And now, my son, 
 it is something for you to ponder over, when I tell you 
 that the possibilities of your being the Sapor, and King 
 of Kings, were very great until you wedded Saluciea." 
 
 Cyaxares had listened attentively to all that Nahan
 
 258 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 had said. His reply was without a quaver of regret 
 or hesitation: 
 
 " My royal father-in-law, I have the best evidence 
 in the world! that it was not intended by destiny that I 
 should be the Sapor. I have Saluciea, queen of queens, 
 and I would not exchange her love for all the king 
 doms in the world. I am supremely happy and con 
 tented with my present lot. I have come to you, not 
 to claim protection, but to receive your blessing and 
 approval of my course, and to solicit your support in 
 a matter intended farther to strengthen your confed 
 eration." 
 
 Nahan was interested. Placing his great hands 
 upon Cyaxares' shoulders, he earnestly said: 
 
 " Cyaxares, I am proud to welcome you into my 
 household as son. In Saluciea you do not yet know 
 the extent of your good fortune. She is all that you 
 say, a queen of queens. She is more, she has with 
 stood the test of temptation without a certain knowl 
 edge of her noble birth and jealous protection. She 
 has all these years secretly been the ward of the Holy 
 Crater, and she has proven herself to be a noble 
 woman. I may tell you now that the laws here require 
 that as long as there is a Nahanite woman living the 
 queenship of the Holy Crater is hers. The king could 
 not take any other consort. Should anything happen 
 to the present queen, Saluciea would become the acting 
 Sapor, because of the fact that when the mother of 
 Nahali died the assembly made Nahali its Sapor, and 
 the records say that the will of the late king could not 
 be granted because of the absence of Madrilla and the 
 vital necessity of a Sapor in time of war. This in 
 validated Madrilla's claims to the throne. I say this 
 with deep regret, for I am informed that she is a beau-
 
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 259 
 
 tiful and intelligent woman. Saluciea is next in line, 
 the succession reverting back to this house instead of 
 to the house of the king. Had there been a male heir, 
 he would have been the Sapor. Now tell me what 
 plans for the future you have in mind." 
 
 " It is true, your Majesty," replied Cyaxares, " that 
 Deioces made no attempt to develop Ironia outside the 
 small area surrounding Baleria. The vast territory 
 of the upland's has no government. The people consist 
 of wild bands of marauders and brigands. I desire 
 the authority to claim this territory in the name of 
 the Holy Crater, colonize it, and establish a govern 
 ment, making it one of the clans of your great and 
 powerful confederation. But you will at once appre 
 ciate the necessity of our taking residence here in the 
 holy city. We have in Baleria thousands of beautiful, 
 but idle, women, who would make excellent wives and 
 mothers under right conditions. I have pledged my 
 self to the priests of Crail to purge Baleria of the con 
 ditions that have given that city a world-wide notoriety 
 for wickedness. This will necessitate the expulsion of 
 thousands of men and women. The men we shall de 
 port by sea, but my conscience will not permit me to 
 cast these helpless and misguided women Upon the 
 world. I propose to keep the five thousand soldiers 
 that you have loaned to Ironia, select the best of these 
 women, mate them to these soldiers, equip them, and 
 colonize the uplands. I can almost guarantee that, 
 under Cambyses' guidance as governor of this new 
 province, in a period of ten years it will be one of the 
 strongest factors of protection and safety for the in 
 tegrity of your federation that you will have, because 
 of its strategic position." 
 
 " Cyaxares, you are a builder of empires," ex-
 
 260 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 claimed Nahan, enthusiastically. " With your father 
 king of Little Ironia, Astyages king of Persis, and 
 your new nation a clan of the Holy Crater, we will 
 have an indestructible alliance. I heartily approve of 
 your plans. You must go at once and put them into 
 execution. I will send a strong escort to see you 
 safely back to Baleria. But what about Saluciea? 
 You have arduous and dangerous work before you." 
 
 " Saluciea will speak for herself, my royal father," 
 and she, having at the last moment of this conversation 
 slipped behind him, placed her arms about his great 
 shaggy neck. " I will go with Cyaxares. I have de 
 fended his life once. He may need me; again," and she 
 went to his side. 
 
 " Yes, Saluciea is my guide and my inspiration. I 
 need her every minute," and he placed his arm affec 
 tionately about her. 
 
 A smile of deep satisfaction was upon the old king's 
 face as he said: 
 
 " Yes, you need Saluciea. She will make you a good 
 queen. My blessings go with you." Then summon 
 ing his chamberlain he instructed him to provide his 
 children with every hospitality and comfort. " I will 
 advise you a little later, but rest well and be prepared 
 to leave the Holy Crater to-morrow morning." 
 
 At this juncture a crier came from the palace of the 
 Sapor, demanding peremptory audience with Nahan. 
 
 Upon being admitted, Nahan demanded to know why 
 he was thus molested. 
 
 " The Sapor sends greetings to his Majesty, King 
 Nahan, instructing him forthwith' to send to the palace 
 Cyaxares and Saluciea, who are known to be beneath 
 his roof without her sanction," was the ominous mes 
 sage.
 
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 261 
 
 Here was truly a grave situation. Never, in all his 
 experience, had an occasion arisen where the senior 
 king of the Holy Crater had found it necessary to dis 
 pute the authority of the Sapor, but well did he know 
 that to comply with this demand meant death to both 
 Cyaxares and Saluciea. 
 
 Instead of making a reply to this message, he arose 
 in all his thunderous authority, and said to the mes 
 senger, " Go bring Zirkan here." 
 
 " Zirkan is detained by the Sapor," was the answer. 
 
 Ah! here was danger. At last the long anticipated 
 clash had come. Did he deny the authority of the 
 Sapor, she had ten thousand of the most desperate and 
 cold-blooded soldiers in all the world to enforce her de 
 mands. They would pour into the holy city, and place 
 it under military discipline in half an hour. No sol 
 diers of the clans were permitted to be stationed 
 within its walls. 
 
 On the top of Nahan's house was a huge brazen bell. 
 Its tones could be heard for many miles. It had never 
 been rung but once in an hundred years on one 
 other similar occasion. To ring that bell was to strike 
 terror into the souls of an hundred million people. 
 But one king of all the kings in the holy city could 
 issue an order to strike that bell. Those who heard it 
 would know that some vital question was at issue be 
 tween the Sapor 'and the kings of the holy city. 
 Within ten minutes of its ringing all the signal fires 
 would begin to twinkle. Again the stars of heaven 
 would, with darkness, come down to be numbered among 
 the hosts of the Holy Crater. Delegations would start 
 from every clan. A million soldiers would stand under 
 arms for immediate action. The old warrior did not 
 shirk the duty. He knew a crisis was at hand, and
 
 262 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 he was prepared to pit his influence against a love- 
 mad woman. He would not, at her whim, hand over 
 two worthy lives. He would put it before the kings. 
 
 Four stalwart men were guarding the entrance to 
 the chamber. At the clapping of his hands they en 
 tered. " Seize this messenger and hold him for my 
 orders." This was a total surprise to the crier, who 
 was much scared. 
 
 Nahan, calling again his chamberlain, said, 
 " Go at once and ring the great bell." 
 The official, knowing the terrifying significance of 
 this order, hesitated with mouth open as if not fully 
 understanding the order. 
 
 " Go ! " roared Nahan, and a few minutes later there 
 clanged forth the knell of impending fate. 
 
 Sending his household to the tower, he summoned all 
 his servants, slaves, and household officials, and in 
 structed them to arm themselves, and to close all the 
 gates to the palace and only to admit the kings and 
 princes as they arrived. Immediately the kings began 
 to hasten to Nahan's palace. This was the beginning 
 of a reign of terror. The gates of all the palaces be 
 gan to clang; all the people hastened from the streets, 
 seeking shelter within the walls of their own homes to 
 await the impending calamity, and it was coming, too, 
 even before they were within their own gates. A thou 
 sand of those black-armored soldiers came pouring into 
 the street, and surrounded Nahan's palace. The 
 Sapor had accepted the old king's challenge. 
 
 Nahan had no time to explain. He simply said: 
 " The Sapor demands the life of my daughter, Salu- 
 ciea, and that of Cyaxares, who is her lawful husband. 
 I will lay down my life before I will obey this outra 
 geous demand, and I call upon the kings of our holy
 
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 263 
 
 clans to help me to resent that which may befall any 
 of their households at the whim of a lustful woman." 
 
 " For what reason has she made this demand ? " 
 asked a score of voices. 
 
 " Because she was enamored of Prince Cyaxares, 
 and desired to wed him contrary to our laws, and make 
 him Sapor. He wisely declined the honor, and now she 
 seeks revenge," replied Nahan. 
 
 A murmur of disapproval went up from the kings, 
 and Nahan knew that they would support him. They 
 all knew that they were in a precarious position, yet 
 there was no division of opinion. The holy city and 
 the palace of the Sapor were built within the Holy 
 Crater, the means of egress and ingress being by way 
 of a limited number of narrow passes, always well 
 guarded. The ten thousand soldiers, at the absolute 
 command of the Sapor, could hold both against an 
 hundred thousand soldiers from without until starva 
 tion came. But that starvation would also include the 
 kings, and their households. This was no child's play. 
 
 Through the many balastrarias in the walls of 
 Nahan's palace, the kings watched the soldiers deploy 
 into the street, and take a menacing position. Cyax 
 ares recognized at their head the captain that had 
 twice conducted him from the gardens of the priests to 
 the inner sanctum of the Sapor's palace. Every one 
 wondered what the first aggressive move would be. 
 Suddenly there was a new commotion in the street. 
 From every opening in the palace walls hands and 
 scarfs were waving. A murmur of a multitude of 
 voices was heard. Even the stolid soldiers looked on 
 in surprise and alarm. Then through the spiral-like 
 street, in solid phalanx, came the priests of the Holy 
 Crater, their great shocks of white hair and patri-
 
 264 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 archal beards blowing to the breeze. In perfect 
 marching order they came. In perfect alignment they 
 carried tall staffs, on the top of which was a white 
 cross with a crimson circle in the center. It was the 
 sign of the true holy war. 
 
 Zirkan was in the lead, and directly following was 
 the assembly of priests that ruled the Holy Crater. 
 There was no room for doubt on the part of the aston 
 ished soldiers ; here was all the authority that they 
 knew, therefore as Zirkan waved them back they turned 
 and retreated through the gates by which they had en 
 tered the holy city, and now the gates were barred so 
 that they could not return. 
 
 The kings in Nahan's palace knew that that had hap 
 pened which had been predicted more than an hundred 
 years before. For the first time in the knowledge of 
 man the priests of the Holy Crater had entered the 
 holy city in a body. The Church now ruled the great 
 confederation ; the kings were hostages, as much so as 
 though guarded by the armed retainers of the Sapor. 
 The Sapor's power had passed. She was a prisoner 
 in her own palace. The clang of that bell had been 
 awaited for a century. The Church and the State had 
 separated. 
 
 Zirkan alone stood at the door of Nahan's palace. 
 
 " Send to me Cyaxares and Saluciea," he said. " I 
 will see them safely on their way to Baleria." 
 
 There was no hesitation, no reason for fear. Zir 
 kan was now the head of the priests, and could enforce 
 any rule that he might promulgate. Nevertheless, any 
 ne knowing him would trust him. Cyaxares and his 
 fair bride had the utmost confidence in him. They 
 embraced Nahan, and passed out through the great 
 silver portal, and accompanied Zirkan.
 
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 265 
 
 With few words and no ceremony they were con 
 ducted through the gardens, and out to the narrow 
 plateau, where an hundred horsemen awaited their com 
 ing to give them safe escort back to Baleria. They 
 were both sad, and yet relieved. Their personal safety 
 was assured, yet they felt that they had left behind 
 them a sad and dangerous political situation. It was 
 traditional that in a day the Church would secede from 
 the State, and would rule the clans. The long-waited- 
 for opportunity had come, and they had seized the gov 
 ernment in a single hour and without a struggle. 
 Every outlet to the holy city, and every entrance to 
 the Holy Crater was doubly guarded by the palace 
 guards, who were part and parcel of the cold, hard 
 discipline of the Sapor's palace. 
 
 In due time Cyaxares arrived at Baleria, thanked 
 and rewarded the escorting soldiers, and returned them 
 to the Holy Crater. 
 
 Cyaxares was not happy over the strange turn of 
 affairs. The curt dismissal from the Holy Crater car 
 ried no invitation toi return. He could not go forward 
 with his plans for a new nation without authority from 
 the Holy Crater. It was not unreasonable for the 
 priests rather to hold him responsible for a disagree 
 able change in the political and economic conditions 
 there. It was not necessarily to their welfare that the 
 Sapor should be deposed. As a rule these priestly com 
 munities were averse to having the even tenor of their 
 Jives interrupted. While their vows of celibacy were 
 contrai'3 T to nature and a crime against civilization, 
 they thought only of their own interests and many, 
 perhaps, secretly were glad to see the cause of all their 
 disturbances safely out of their sight. They were nat 
 urally averse to a woman ruler.
 
 266 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 A very much more serious and irritating thing 
 awaited Cyaxares in Baleria. Cracillies did not greet 
 him with the same fervor as of old. In silent anger 
 and humiliation he summoned Cambyses, and they 
 talked long and seriously of the delicate situation, then 
 together they went to Phraortes. That good old man 
 tried to convince them that there was nothing personal 
 in the case, that it was only the morbid reaction of war, 
 and that it would soon right itself. Nevertheless, both 
 Cyaxares and Cambyses were determined to keep them 
 selves in activity. Cambyses informed Cyaxares that 
 he intended going on a private mission of his own, and 
 he hoped that he and his fair bride would remain in 
 seclusion at Phraortes' palace until he returned. Tak 
 ing only his three faithful guardsmen with him, he 
 started on his way on some mysterious mission. Cyax 
 ares and Saluciea looked wise, but said nothing. Per 
 haps they were right, perhaps wrong; it was Cam 
 byses' affair. 
 
 Upon becoming settled in his father's palace, Cyax 
 ares' mind relaxed, and he began to realize the joy of 
 having a companion whom he could trust more than 
 he had ever trusted any one before. Saluciea was a 
 comfort indeed, making him forget his troubles, and 
 inspiring in him the old desire to reorganize Baleria. 
 Phraortes, having all confidence in his son, gave him 
 a free hand. He welcomed Saluciea as his daughter, 
 as his friend Nahan had saluted Cyaxares as his son. 
 
 In disguise the lovers again went over the old 
 ground, but they avoided the house wherein they had 
 first met; they both desired to blot from their memory 
 the events that had occurred there. Moreover, they 
 did not visit the caverns of Crail, nor did Cracillies 
 seem to care to meet them. This puzzled them more
 
 than any other thing. Nevertheless, they went cheer 
 fully about laying their plans for the rehabilitation of 
 the city. The first move was for Cyaxares to place 
 himself in command of the army garrisoned at the sev 
 eral passes. Making his headquarters at Regules* 
 mountain house, he soon had order restored to the 
 army, and discipline took the place of languid idle 
 ness. 
 
 He brought into his close confidence all the officers, 
 and they looked upon him as their head and leader. 
 On one bright morning he and his staff of officers rode 
 into Baleria to inspect that city. For three days they 
 went carefully over its districts. Two days more they 
 spent out in the country districts, and then they re 
 turned into the city. The officers returned to their 
 several charges, and Cyaxares remained in Baleria. 
 Mysterious doings began from that day in Little 
 Ironia. For two months great activity prevailed in 
 both city and agrarian districts. Cyaxares had made 
 daily excursions about the city, sometimes taking Salu- 
 ciea with him in disguise. All the ships at his com 
 mand were put in sailing order on the Persian gulf, 
 and many visiting ships had been chartered. 
 
 At last an eventful day came his plans had cul 
 minated. The garrisons moved as a body to a tempo 
 rary position near the city. A sufficient number was 
 placed throughout the city and a drag-net started. 
 Thousands of undesirable men of the city of Baleria 
 were escorted to the sea, placed in the triremes there 
 waiting to receive them, and deported to foreign lands. 
 At first the city was in a turmoil, the people were much 
 frightened and excited, but in a few days it was all 
 over, and order was restored. 
 
 One week later a day of festivity took possession of
 
 268 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Little Ironia. The army was divided into five di 
 visions. Long strings of two-wheeled carts streamed 
 into Baleria, laden with fruits, vegetables, and farm 
 ing implements. As they passed into the city they 
 were taken in hand by officers. A woman with a small 
 pack was placed upon each cart, and given a staff for 
 guiding the single, ox that drew the vehicle. Then they 
 were passed on until five long lines were formed. It 
 was a wonderful sight. Garlanded with flowers, and 
 with the women singing, and playing the tambourine or 
 stringed instruments, five thousand of these carts 
 wended their way out of Baleria, ostensibly to pay a 
 visit to the several camps of the army. 
 
 Imagine the dismay of these willing merrymakers, 
 however, to reach the camps and have a grim soldier 
 placed upon the seat by each woman, while the carts 
 kept moving. Thus each soldier received from Baleria 
 his wife and outfit, and in perfect order drove through 
 the passes, finally reaching the uplands where rich land 
 awaited them. 
 
 From this planting grew the great nation afterward 
 known as the Achaemenians, one of the most powerful 
 of the Persian monarchies. The Sesanians, another 
 great nation, also sprang from this colonization 
 scheme that cleansed Baleria. Cyaxares' judgment 
 was correct, these women only needed womanly occupa 
 tion to redeem them. They and their soldier husbands 
 begot one of the most hardy and beautiful races in all 
 Asia. 
 
 Seven thousand men and women were deported from 
 Baleria. The country people had begun to realize that 
 a new regime had begun. Officials had searched out 
 their conditions until a systematic regeneration of Lit 
 tle Ironia could be accomplished, and this was noble
 
 SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE 269 
 
 work for Cyaxares and his wife. Soon Saluciea was 
 known as the queen of Ironia and Cyaxares as the fu 
 ture king. Both were welcomed and beloved by the 
 people. 
 
 Not one word of protest had come from the Holy 
 Crater; the routine business between the Church and 
 the State in Baleria went on without shock or jar. 
 Cyaxares had done things, great things. He had in 
 his composition the metal of a king. Its genuine ring 
 was heard, across the world. 
 
 A year had passed, and Cambyses had only been 
 heard from once in Aspahan. 
 
 Cracillies had held aloof. Not once had Cyaxares 
 seen him after his first meeting upon his return from 
 the Holy Crater, but now the occasion had come when 
 his official presence was urgently required at the pal 
 ace. An heir was born to Cyaxares. Cracillies came, 
 and christened it in the name of the Holy Trinity, 
 Nahan. This event again united the Church and the 
 State in Ironia, and the colony was reorganized as 
 provincial to the tight little nation. Cracillies, with 
 out explanation, assured Cyaxares of his friendship 
 and good-will.
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN THE MARKET-PLACE ! 
 
 * * T OOK ! Deioces stands in the market-place ! " 
 I ^ was the terrifying cry that electrified Baleria. 
 And a wave of terror swept over the city. The cry 
 reached even to the palace. 
 
 It had been a full year since Cambyses went on his 
 mysterious journey; no word had been received by Cy- 
 axares of his doings or even of his whereabouts. 
 Finally, however, he had drifted into the city of 
 Aspahan. Seeking his old comrade, he confided to him 
 his ambition to ascertain the whereabouts of Deioces ; 
 he had business with him. The grim old warrior 
 smiled, saying: 
 
 " Yes, Crecies is dead, I am told. Deioces will need 
 a new butcher. But I fear, Cambyses, that you would 
 practice too much on the anatomy of old Deioces him 
 self." 
 
 " No, I am not looking for that particular job. I 
 am curator at large for King Nahan's new museum at 
 the holy city. Confidentially, I seek to fill a certain 
 niche there, awaiting the head of a certain late king of 
 Ironia," was Cambyses' ominous reply. 
 
 " No one, so far as I can learn, knows the present 
 abode of your victim, therefore tarry with me for a 
 while. Sooner or later we shall find a clue. Have 
 those cheerful murderers that you lug about with you 
 lay off their duties long enough to feel the relaxation 
 
 of freemen, for you are a tyrant of the hardest type, 
 
 270
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 271 
 
 Cambyses. I will undertake to amuse you, and make 
 you forget to kill a man for a< week." 
 
 " Not for longer time than a week," boastfully re 
 torted Cambyses, and off they went to plunge through 
 the exciting streets. 
 
 In a little pleasure resort they saw through the lat 
 tice three ugly individuals, drinking and in animated 
 discussion. Cautiously approaching, they listened. 
 They were the three henchmen of Cambyses, discussing 
 the merits of some dancer that they had seen. 
 
 Kapies had had his tongue cut out by a band of 
 brigands who had once captured him. Heptes had had 
 his ears sliced off in Bagdad in a fight over a woman. 
 Candes was the only whole man of the three, conse 
 quently he had the better of the other 1 two in affairs of 
 the heart. 
 
 " Ha ! She spurned Paulius ; what show would you 
 have, Heptes? You will have to have a pair of sow's 
 ears nailed onto that rattle-box of yours before she 
 could talk to you. As for you, Kapies, you might 
 stand some show. A woman loves best the man that 
 can not talk back to her." And thus Candes taunted 
 his comrades upon their unfortunate infirmities. 
 
 " We will admit, ye blessed of the gods, that fortune 
 hath seen fit to preserve your external parts, ugly and 
 gnarled as they are, but your lack of wit more than off 
 sets that advantage," hotly replied Heptes. 
 
 Poor Kapies could only turn purple with suppressed 
 rage and gesticulate his approval of Heptes' words, 
 for they never fought each other. 
 
 " Ha ! Ha ! " tauntingly continued Candes. " Your 
 retort is sharp, but it hath no sting, coming from 
 duller wit than I boast. I am wiser than I am witty, 
 for I know whether a wench loveth me or not before I
 
 272 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 make an ass of myself in the presence of other people." 
 
 " You will have all the wags in Aspahan punning 
 about your wisdom ere a week has passed," grumbled 
 Heptes. 
 
 " A week ! " exclaimed Candes. " Why, you will 
 have all of us slain in two nights, if you do not cease 
 your attentions to Scala. You are not in her class. 
 Why, the king's son, I am told, is not now good enough 
 for her. I warn you: Leave her be." 
 
 At the mention of Scala's name, Cambyses pressed 
 the arm of his comrade, and whispered, " That is 
 enough: I will stop it." 
 
 Entering the room, to the consternation of the three 
 trusties, Cambyses' roared, addressing himself to Can 
 des: 
 
 " Cease your prattling, Candes, ere I cut your 
 tongue out, as did the brigands for Kapies, doubtless 
 for! the same fault. If you listen more to him, Kapies, 
 I shall send your ears to adorn the walls of King 
 Nahan's museum of anatomy, to keep Candes' tongue 
 company ; and your own tongue must follow the others, 
 Heptes." 
 
 " Then, good master, how could we deliver your mes 
 sages? " plaintively said Heptes. 
 
 " That is true. I shall spare your tongue and am 
 putate an arm instead." 
 
 " Then how could I fight for you? " asked Heptes. 
 
 " Well, make it a leg," retorted Cambyses. 
 
 " How then shall I go to battle with you ? " was the 
 faithful henchman's final plea. 
 
 " Cut off his head, good master," spoke Candes. 
 " He has less use for that than any other part." 
 
 They all laughed heartily together, and drank to 
 one another's good health and pleasure ; then Cambyses
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 273 
 
 said that he would forgive them, and he gave them their 
 freedom until further orders. 
 
 This was a merry crew of well-seasoned and fearless 
 old sinners, without respect for the laws of God or of 
 man. Aspahan long remembered the roistering time 
 that they had while it lasted, which was but for three 
 days and nights, because of the tragedy that we shall 
 now relate. 
 
 Cambyses and his comrade went systematically about 
 ascertaining something of Deioces' present hiding- 
 place, and, on the third day, were rewarded by positive 
 information regarding his rendezvous. 
 
 Not desiring to arouse suspicion or curiosity by his 
 presence in Aspahan, Cambyses had refrained from 
 making himself too conspicuous in the public places. 
 But now that he had secured the information he 
 sought, he decided to have one night of recreation, and 
 to leave the next morning by daybreak. 
 
 Sending for his henchmen, he instructed them to look 
 carefully over their horses and their entire equipment, 
 and to stay with them and be prepared for an early 
 start the following morning. 
 
 That night he and his friend went the pace, putting 
 the street and the resorts in an uproar. In each re 
 sort Cambyses scattered a handful of silver upon the 
 stage for the dancers to scramble over. They drank 
 copiously. 
 
 It was midnight. There was one celebrated place 
 which they had not visited. Befuddled as he was, Cam 
 byses dreaded the ordeal. He knew that Scala was 
 there : Scala knew that he was in Aspahan. Scala had 
 gone the pace that kills. She had clung to the young 
 Prince Claudies until very recently, when she had be 
 come quite promiscuous in her friendships. She dared
 
 not ask why Cambyses had not sought her. She her 
 self dreaded the meeting. Her quarrel with Claudies 
 was a serious matter, as every one knew. He was des 
 perately, madly, in love with her, and resented the at 
 tentions of other men. In the hearts of Scala, Clau 
 dies, and Cambyses there was a feeling of impending 
 crisis that night. 
 
 Cambyses and his comrade took seats near the low 
 platform, upon which the dancers performed. Scala 
 was a tremendous favorite. The platform was smoth 
 ered in flowers in her honor. 
 
 A great shout went up. Four pages, clothed in 
 white silk and wearing wreaths of rosebuds upon their 
 brows, their long blond curls dancing merrily with the 
 graceful swing of their bodies, bore through the 
 quickly improvised aisle a beautifully wrought paly- 
 anka, in which was seated the queen of dancers 
 Scala. 
 
 Cambyses caught his breath. She was beautiful be 
 yond anything that he had ever seen before. Before 
 he could wholly recover she had tripped lightly onto 
 the platform. The cymbals ceased their droning, as 
 the danseuse posed, and with an air of triumph she 
 looked about for a single instant, while she raised her 
 pearl-bedecked tambourine, and poised herself for 
 flight. Cambyses was stunned. She was absolutely 
 nude but for a single gauze of woven silver a mere 
 sheen of spider-web weave. Her magnificent person 
 was the acme of artistic perfection. About her brow 
 she wore a broad golden bandeau, in the center of 
 which shone a resplendent jewel. From her shoulders, 
 and fastened to her wristlets and golden anklets, were 
 streamers of finely woven rosebuds. There was noth 
 ing false, nothing modest, about her. She knew that
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 275 
 
 she was the highest embodiment of the artistic nude; 
 there was nothing to feel ashamed of. With cheeks 
 ablaze and with sparkling eyes, she bounded into the 
 air, and her wondrous grace transfixed Cambyses. As 
 she whirled those graceful limbs of polished ivory and 
 performed her many amorous contortions, he was lost 
 in wonderment and admiration at her skill, forgetting 
 that he was watching that Scala whom he had once 
 declared that he would rather know was in hell than 
 dancing nude in the streets of Baleria. 
 
 She had not seen him in the audience. He suddenly 
 felt that some one on the opposite side of the platform 
 was rudely staring at him. Coming out of his trance 
 he looked at the individual, and a thrill passed through 
 him. It was Claudies. He and two companions were 
 openly and impudently discussing him. As a scowl of 
 resentment passed over his face, they laughed de 
 risively. 
 
 Suddenly the gyrating beauty ran to the edge of 
 the platform, with a little cry of surprise, and looked 
 down upon Cambyses, holding out her hands toward 
 him. 
 
 " Come, good Cambyses, come greet me. Please ! " 
 And she still held her hands toward him. As this oc 
 curred Claudies was seen to arise in his seat, and lean 
 forward as if awaiting the effects of Scala's invitation 
 to Cambyses. Cambyses arose, stepped to the edge of 
 the platform, and took Scala's hands in his own, and 
 kissed them in the midst of the applause of the audi 
 ence. There were tears in the eyes of both as they 
 looked at each other. 
 
 Before any one could surmise what was happening, 
 Claudies, with a scream of jealous rage, sprang upon 
 the platform, ran to Scala, and plunged a! long glitter-
 
 276 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 ing dagger into her back. She fell forward, and into 
 Cambyses' arms. For a moment the house was shocked 
 into silence. Claudies stood glaring down upon his 
 victim as if gathering strength for another spring. 
 
 Gently passing Scala to his companion, Cambyses 
 sprang upon the platform with drawn sword. 
 
 " I am not violating my oath to your father, you 
 rat," he said between his clinched teeth, and he repeat 
 edly plunged his weapon into the body of the degen 
 erate young prince, who fell among the flowers. 
 
 The place was now in an uproar. 
 
 " Come," said his friend, " we must get out of this." 
 For a moment he resisted, then taking a long look at 
 the beautiful form lying upon the platform in the midst 
 of her roses, he pressed his great hand upon his heart, 
 and they quickly made their way out, and to Cambyses' 
 headquarters. An hour later he and his guardsmen 
 had passed out through the king's gate, bound for the 
 great salt desert. 
 
 For long weary hours they rode without a word. 
 Cambyses was heartbroken. Not until that fatal mo 
 ment, when he saw the gleaming blade pass into the 
 beautiful smooth skin and to the heart of Scala, did he 
 know what love was. It had, in a dumb sort of way, 
 teased and tormented him, but never before had it 
 stabbed him to the very marrow. 
 
 To him now the satin-skinned danseuse was as pure 
 as the driven snow. If he could suddenly look up and 
 find her riding by his side, he would never return. He 
 would ride on to some isolated oasis and live there in 
 peace and joy with Scala, who had loved him, and had 
 thought that he had spurned her affection. He 
 blamed himself greatly for the tragedy of her life. 
 
 Thus they had ridden all day long. Their tired
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 277 
 
 steeds could hardly draw one foot after the other. At 
 nearly nightfall they found a water-hole and prepared 
 to camp for the night. 
 
 The alcohol with which their systems were saturated 
 by the three days of hard drinking, needed fuel other 
 than their tissues, therefore they were hungry. The 
 dry lumps of bread that they carried were poor com 
 pensation for what their appetites craved. Candes 
 took his bow, and went into the shrubbery. It was a 
 wild, desolate place with no signs of civilization, and 
 bore little evidence of animal life. Nevertheless, the 
 hunter soon returned with a young wild pig, which he 
 had bagged. This seemed to arouse Cambyses, who 
 began to direct them in the proper roasting of the 
 game. Together they sat by the solemn glow of the 
 flickering fire, and devoured the pig. It was a feast, 
 indeed, for the tired men. After taking the usual pre 
 cautions for safety, one keeping sentry while the 
 others slept, they sought the sleep that no man 
 knows who has not been pushed to the limit of physical 
 endurance. 
 
 They had found the source of the water near at 
 hand. This obviated their having to partake of the 
 water in the pool, fouled by the wallow of the wild 
 hog. Day after day they traveled. The guards be 
 gan to look askance at one another and to nod their 
 heads. They were growing weary of it, and they won 
 dered where Cambyses might be leading them. They 
 were covered with a white alkaline substance that teased 
 the eyes and nostrils. Their salt-encrusted lips 
 cracked, and the silence of desolation was ringing con 
 stantly in their ears. Food for their tired animals was 
 growing scarcer each day, and they were reduced to a 
 few hard crusts of bread. Occasionally, about the
 
 278 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 saline water-holes, they would knock over a lean little 
 sand snipe, the fortunate hunter eating him raw rather 
 than waste a drop of his life-giving juice. 
 
 Carobyses knew that he was pushing his men too 
 hard. Not a murmur had been heard, yet he felt the 
 impending revolt, therefore he was more than content 
 when the} r came upon a fresh trail, showing the tracks 
 of many horses. He was about to be vindicated. 
 They were poorly prepared, however, to meet the sur 
 prise that quickly followed. Before they could real 
 ize it, they were surrounded by fifty horsemen, headed 
 by no less a personage than Deioces himself. Realiz 
 ing that they were trapped, and knowing that no quar 
 ter would be shown, Cambyses made a dash at Deioces. 
 The king was no match for the powerful old warrior. 
 His blade swept Deioces' head off his shoulders like 
 knocking an apple from a tree. The intrepid guards 
 men threw themselves between the horsemen and Cam 
 byses, while the latter with a single motion snatched 
 the head of his victim in his hand, and trailing with 
 him the well-worn purple robe of the king dashed 
 away. Amazed at this foolhardy piece of bravery, the 
 horsemen could hardly believe their eyes when they saw 
 Cambyses fleeing like the wind, a safe distance from 
 them, while his three brave henchmen were mowing the 
 enemy down like blades of grass. 
 
 As much as Cambyses disliked to flee from his brave 
 followers, it was wholly useless for him to sacrifice his 
 own life needlessly, when he had more urgent use for it. 
 The chances were very good that they would escape, as 
 they had done before in the face of tremendous odds. 
 
 On he sped until his steed stumbled from sheer ex 
 haustion. How he ever reached the civilized country 
 alive he could not explain. He only knew that, tired
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 279 
 
 and exhausted, he lay by the road when a caravan 
 passed on its way to Aspahan. They gave him food 
 and drink, and directed him to the nearest way to the 
 Ironian pass. 
 
 Just before reaching Regules' mountain house, two 
 mounted soldiers, whom he recognized as Deioces' 
 prowlers by the square crosses on the tops of their 
 helmets, accosted him. 
 
 " Why such haste, comrade ? " asked one of the men, 
 as he confronted Cambyses. 
 
 " I am late for dinner," responded Cambyses good- 
 naturedly. 
 
 " What have you there ? " was the next query, and 
 the soldier poked his sword at the bundle fastened to 
 Cambyses' saddle. 
 
 " A fat pig that I am taking to a fair lady, whose 
 heart I desire to win," replied Cambyses, laughingly. 
 
 " Ha ! Ha ! A fat pig and a fair lady, both too 
 slick to hold," laughed the soldier. " One might think, 
 from its contour and its royal wrapping, that it were 
 a head." 
 
 " I wish it were the head of my worst enemy," said 
 Cambyses. 
 
 " And whose head might that! be ? " 
 
 " The head of the devil," roared the old soldier, and 
 he plunged past them before they could prevent it. 
 
 Taking a short rest at Regules' place, he recounted 
 to the aged retainer the fate of Scala, not forgetting 
 to add that he had made a sieve of the young prince's 
 body. Regules took it hard, notwithstanding he had 
 had his trials with his wayward daughter. He and 
 Cambyses both wept. 
 
 To his utter joy and amazement, as he was about to 
 set out for Baleria, three tired horsemen, battered and
 
 280 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 bandaged, came galloping up to the mountain house. 
 It was his intrepid guardsmen, too tired and starved 
 to talk. They could only gasp for a stimulant. 
 They were quickly plied with refreshments, and permit 
 ted to rest before they were pressed for their story. 
 It was simple. They cut their way out, and were never 
 headed. None of their wounds were serious. Their 
 condition necessitated a day's rest for recuperation be 
 fore starting for Baleria. 
 
 It was near morning when four tremendous horse 
 men responded to the peremptory challenge of the 
 guards at the environ of Baleria. Fortunately the 
 soldiers recognized Cambyses, and they were permitted 
 to pass on into the city. Straight to the market-place 
 they went. In its midst stood a post, six feet tall, with 
 a spike protruding from its top. Unrolling the robe, 
 Cambyses lifted out the head, straightened out the 
 beard, and thrust the spike up through the neck. 
 Then he placed a piece of wood into the shoulders of 
 the robe, and draped it over the post. Lowering the 
 camails of their mailed bonnets, they stood at arms, 
 two on either side of Deioces. 
 
 Day was already breaking, and the market people 
 could be heard singing as their little two-wheeled carts 
 wended their way toward the soldiers. 
 
 An old man came into the space, bearing upon his 
 head a large flat basket, filled with fruits. Seeing the 
 strange figures standing like wooden things in the cen 
 ter of the market, he came closer and scrutinized them 
 with suspicion. Suddenly, with a loud scream of ter 
 ror, he dashed his basket to the pavement and ran, cry 
 ing at the top of his voice : 
 
 " Deioces is standing in the market-place ! Deioces 
 is standing in the market-place ! '* Others took up the
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 281 
 
 dreadful cry until all Baleria was ringing with it. 
 Fear seized the people, and many began to pack up 
 their belongings and flee the city, not knowing the 
 meaning of the fearful news. Others came running to 
 the market-place to see what was causing the excite 
 ment. In an extraordinarily short time a great throng 
 had gathered. The crowd was augmented as others 
 took courage and trended there. All Baleria was 
 coming to look and shuddered. It was a silent mob, 
 awed by the aspect of death in the gruesome scene. 
 The people were afraid to draw near unto the strange 
 group. They had definitely recognized that they were 
 gazing upon the dead features of Deioces. The skin 
 was drawn back over the skull showing the teeth; there 
 were no eyes ; the distorted face seemed to have taken 
 on a satirical grimace of death, and its tousled appear 
 ance made it grotesque as well as awesome and grue 
 some. It needed but a spark of witticism to start the 
 crowd to jeering. But who were these other silent 
 forms? Were they also of the dead? They at least 
 did not move, yet they looked dangerous and menacing. 
 Their tremendous size, their hard-used, rusty, and 
 dusty armor, and their grim, determined attitude in 
 spired respectful fear. 
 
 For an hour the mob increased, but stood in silence, 
 as if expecting something to happen, for evidently this 
 death group was waiting for some one to come. The 
 market people did not attempt to seek their stalls or 
 positions. 
 
 The clank of approaching soldiers was heard. The 
 cry that Deioces was standing in the market-place had 
 reached the palace. A runner was sent to see what it 
 meant. He returned with horror in his face, and told 
 what he had seen. Well did Cyaxares know who the
 
 282 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 rusty warriors were. Cambyses, the terrible, had re 
 turned. 
 
 A small body of soldiers, with Cyaxares at their 
 head, turned into the square, and at once surrounded 
 the group. The old guards sheathed their weapons, 
 and raised their camails. Truly their faces looked al 
 most as harsh as did that of the sightless Deioces. 
 Tanned to a grayish brown, and filled with the hard 
 lines of terrible exposure and hardships, their coun 
 tenances resembled a contingent part of their battered 
 armor. The bandage having slipped down about his 
 neck, a long ugly wound was exposed across Heptes' 
 face, adding no beauty to it. One side of the curtain 
 to Candes' bonnet had been slashed loose, and trailed 
 down upon his shoulder. The whole top of Kapies' 
 bonnet was gone, and his bristling hair stood up like 
 a rusty old plume. The roundle on Cambyses' shoulder 
 was battered into an unrecognizable mass, and was 
 hanging by a piece of cord, with which he had at 
 tempted to lash it into place. Truly, despite the grue 
 some reality of the scene, it was most comical, and Cy 
 axares laughed outright at their forlorn and battered 
 appearance, as he embraced his faithful old comrade. 
 The people taking advantage of this turn, laughed and 
 jeered also. 
 
 " You must have had a fight, Cambyses," remarked 
 Cyaxares, glancing at their much abused armor. 
 
 " No, we were blown over the mountains by a sirocco 
 from the great salt desert," replied Cambyses, " but 
 we got what we went after," and he looked affection 
 ately at his gruesome trophy. " A rare specimen for 
 King Nahan's museum of fine arts." 
 
 Cyaxares shuddered as he looked into the horrible 
 face. " Let it be announced," he said, " that the peo-
 
 DEIOCES STANDS IN MARKET-PLACE 283 
 
 pie may all take a final view of the features of their 
 despoiler, that they may never forget the ugliness of 
 tyranny when stripped of its power and tinsel." 
 Then he gave orders to his soldiers to remain and 
 guard the relic, while Cambyses and his men were be 
 ing made more comfortable. The tired henchmen were 
 provided with suitable quarters, and Cambyses became 
 the guest of Cyaxares at the palace. 
 
 After being made presentable and given a good long 
 rest, he told his interesting story. Saluciea wept 
 greatly at the fate of poor misguided Scala. 
 
 A few days later, Kapies and Heptes were sent on 
 a journey to the Holy Crater, carrying with them the 
 head of Deioces, and a message of compliment as a gift 
 to Nahan.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE AT THE " THKEE FISHER 
 MEN " 
 
 /CYAXARES and Cambyses consulted long and ear- 
 \*S nestly over the attitude of Cracillies, which was 
 most puzzling. He had assumed his duties as head of 
 the Holy State in a most perfunctory and half-hearted 
 way, showing no especial interest in any of the sug 
 gested reforms for Baleria. It was out of the question 
 for Cyaxares to demand an explanation. But with 
 Cambyses it was quite different. He was a mutual 
 friend, and he could go to Cracillies as a disinterested 
 friend, only desirous of bringing together again these 
 two who had formerly been on terms so excellent, and 
 he did seek Cracillies. 
 
 His reception was anything but cordial. Cambyses 
 was not, however, a man to be put off. He bluntly 
 told Cracillies that he was acting like a pouting child, 
 disappointed over some trivial matter. He was mak 
 ing himself and his best friends most uncomfortable, 
 if not unhappy. Some explanation was due to Cyax 
 ares, who could not help feeling that his old friend was 
 holding against him some imaginary grudge. " I de 
 sire to know in what manner he has unwittingly given 
 offense," he said. 
 
 The old priest listened sullenly, but finally said: 
 " You may say to Cyaxares that he has not purposely 
 offended me, but that this recent political change has 
 brought with it the cause of my sorrow. It is mine 
 
 alone, and no man has the right to demand of me an 
 
 284
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE 285 
 
 explanation ; my feelings are my own. I do not care 
 to inflict upon others my troubles. That is the reason 
 for my seeming aloofness. The underlying reasons I 
 will not discuss, even with you, Cambyses." 
 
 Cambyses reported to Cyaxares his unsatisfactory 
 interview with Cracillies, and they were more puzzled 
 than ever. 
 
 Desiring to know public opinion regarding the many 
 radical changes that had occurred in the government of 
 Baleria, Cyaxares and Cambyses, accompanied by 
 Candes, disguised themselves, and made a night of it 
 in the different divisions of the city. While the peo 
 ple were now privileged to go with freedom to any por 
 tion of the city, they availed themselves of this license 
 with reluctance, doubtless due to habit and to a feeling 
 that the old prejudices of caste might bring them into 
 dispute with their neighbors. 
 
 While Heppotes and Feres had been ignobly de 
 ported, their resort had been left practically as it was 
 for this very purpose. It was an excellent place for 
 good old wine and well-prepared sea foods, hence a 
 rendezvous for the ever hungry priests. 
 
 This pleasant night three priests of the Holy State 
 went leisurely behind the latticed front of the " Three 
 Fishermen," took a secluded table, and ordered wine, 
 fish, and rice. There were several groups of priests 
 already well warmed up, and talking loudly. 
 
 Four hearty fellows, with ruddy cheeks and pompous 
 persons, were quite near the table occupied by Cyax 
 ares' party. They were priests of the Holy Crail, who 
 were now granted greater liberty than formerly. 
 
 " The liberties we now have are telling on you, my 
 good Pompilies. It requires more rope to girth your 
 already inflated personality," said one.
 
 286 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 " You are too polite, Molienes ; call it my belly. 
 May it never cease expanding while this good wine and 
 fish may be had with which to fill it," responded the 
 big, healthy gourmand. 
 
 " Speaking of liberty, in what particular respect 
 does this differ from the old regime? We came here 
 then ; we come here now. We eat the same ; we pay the 
 same. For my part I am not sure that the new order 
 of things will not drift finally back to the old moor 
 ings. The new king is morally better than Deioces, 
 but he is very old, and may topple over at any time; 
 the young prince, Cyaxares, is an unknown quantity. 
 Who can tell what the near future holds for Baleria, 
 with her commerce by sea gradually slipping from her 
 because of the new policy of the government? " 
 
 " Why, Cratus, that is quite a lecture," exclaimed 
 Pompilies. " You might continue and say that Cra- 
 cillies is also getting very aged, and takes little inter 
 est in these economic and political changes, therefore 
 we youngsters may run wild." Each one was more 
 than sixty. 
 
 " It is not Cracillies' age that makes him seem in 
 different toward his exalted promotion. He would 
 rather be a plodding farmer and have a well heart," 
 remarked the last of the four priests. 
 
 "What's this? What's this? Solus, have you, too, 
 some great secret gnawing at your vitals ? " 
 
 " Did I not help to bring Saluciea's body to the 
 caverns? I thought he would die of grief upon look 
 ing at her apparently dead face that night, and when 
 at last we brought life back into her body, he nearly 
 went mad with joy. I shall never forget that scene. 
 He himself never knew to what extent he betrayed him 
 self. No man could speak and act as he did without
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE 287 
 
 having some deep underlying sentiment tearing at his 
 heart." 
 
 Cyaxares could hardly contain himself, but Cam- 
 byses whispered that it was too important a matter 
 not to try to know more. 
 
 " You don't mean to say that Cracillies was rival 
 to Erskales?" said Pompilies. 
 
 " Oh, no, there was na intimation on Saluciea's part 
 of a knowledge of Cracillies' infatuation for her. In 
 fact, the first word that she uttered upon her return 
 to consciousness was the name of Cyaxares. At this 
 Cracillies seemed provoked. Perhaps you are not 
 aware that the prince lay in Cracillies' private house 
 almost wounded to death, and that Saluciea nursed 
 him back to life there. Perhaps that was not gall and 
 wormwood to an old man madly in love." 
 
 " Why, you astonish us. I, at least, was not aware 
 of that. It speaks well for Cracillies' noble nature 
 that he thus permitted his rival to rivet the fetters 
 upon his own heart which impelled him to wed Saluciea 
 afterward." 
 
 " There was more than gratitude in the marriage. 
 They are madly in love with each other, and it is quite 
 certain that Cyaxares solved the mystery about her 
 life, and found that she was a pure woman, as Cra 
 cillies declared that she was, for the prince is not a 
 man to fall prey to an adventuress." 
 
 " It is to be hoped that she will make him a good 
 wife, for I believe that he will be our king, and I have 
 confidence in him. He seems both honest and capable," 
 said Molienes. 
 
 " I consider his planting the colony in the uplands 
 the most astute political move in recent times. It es 
 tablishes a blood tie between Ironia and the Holy
 
 288 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Crater. Deioces made himself world famous by advo 
 cating the holy trinity, or triple alliance, but this is 
 even a closer and stronger tie, a blood alliance," ear 
 nestly suggested Pompilies. 
 
 " It seems a pity that Cracillies has dropped so deep 
 in the slough of despond. It is becoming noticeable to 
 all, and may be construed as disapproval on his part 
 of the many reforms of the new king. I hope some 
 thing may occur to alleviate the situation," said Solus. 
 
 " Have you heard that a conclave is soon to be 
 called to rehabilitate the triple alliance? " asked 
 Cratus. 
 
 " Why, no ! " exclaimed the others in surprise. 
 
 " Yes," continued Cratus. " The powers at the 
 Holy Crater are anxious to select a permanent head 
 for the priests of Crail. Cracillies has declined to 
 name one. It is secretly believed that he prefers the 
 seclusion of the caverns to the arduous duties of the 
 head of the Holy State. He will doubtless ask this 
 favor in the next convention." 
 
 And thus they rattled on, until Cyaxares had heard 
 enough. Not deeming it wise to resent this free and 
 easy discussion of himself, and to betray himself as a 
 spy, they slipped out and wended their way toward the 
 palace. 
 
 " We have learned three very serious things, Cam- 
 byses," remarked Cyaxares. " I believe what Solus 
 says regarding Cracillies' being secretly infatuated 
 with Saluciea. He told us an indirect falsehood the 
 night of that terrible tragedy when we thought her 
 dead. Moreover, he had some very serious motive in 
 returning her to her father without my knowledge." 
 
 Cambyses nodded approval. 
 
 " The other two important matters are, Cracillies
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE 289 
 
 is not pleased with his promotion, and a conclave is 
 soon to be called to choose a head for the priests of 
 Crail. Should Cracillies beg to be returned to that 
 position, I am at a loss to know who could become head 
 of the Holy State, and keep the Church and the State 
 united. I am fearful, Cambyses, that the Church is 
 desirous of drawing wholly away from the State, in 
 which event the triple alliance is at an end, and the 
 kingships of Ironia and Persis are but precarious re 
 sponsibilities." 
 
 " I am not pleased with the outlook, Cyaxares," re 
 sponded Cambyses. " When the rank and file of the 
 priests of Crail feel no restraint about openly discuss 
 ing such important matters in a public place, where 
 the ears of any one may hear the gossip, discipline is 
 out of joint. Such a license becomes a liberty sure 
 enough. Such men become dangerous. The priests 
 of the Holy Crater have absolute control over the 
 standing army. What is to prevent the same condi 
 tions here? " 
 
 " Nothing," doggedly replied Cyaxares. 
 
 A fortnight later Cyaxares was startled to receive a 
 peremptory order to meet a visiting delegation from 
 the Holy Crater at Regules' mountain house. He and 
 Cambyses, with a suitable escort, immediately went 
 there. 
 
 Their surprise was increased to find awaiting them 
 Zirkan, a delegation from Aspahan, and an escort of 
 one hundred well accoutered soldiers. 
 
 Zirkan demanded to be conducted to Baleria. Upon 
 arriving in the city, he went directly to the edifice of 
 the Holy State, where he held a long secret conference 
 with Cracillies, afterward being a guest at King 
 Phraortes' palace. That night he, King Phraortes,
 
 290 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Cyaxares, and Cambyses sat till the small hours, dis 
 cussing most important matters. 
 
 On the following day a conclave was called at the 
 palace of the Holy State, Zirkan representing the Holy 
 Crater, Cimetus representing Persis, and Cyaxares and 
 Cracillies representing Ironia, and, for the first time 
 in history, the Achaemenians had representation in 
 the peace conference of nations, Cambyses being des 
 ignated to represent the new nation. 
 
 The first act of the convention was to recognize 
 Phraortes as king of Ironia; the next, to establish a 
 form of government for the Achaemenians; the next, 
 to the utter astonishment of that individual, was to 
 declare Cambyses king over the new nation. The of 
 fice of the Holy State was abolished, and Cracillies 
 was made the official head of the Holy Church and high 
 priest over the priests of Crail. A covenant was en 
 tered into, assuring peace and harmony between the 
 Holy Church and the ruling powers. 
 
 Cyaxares was chagrined and puzzled. He knew 
 not what to say to Saluciea. Not one thing to elevate 
 or honor him had been suggested, notwithstanding he 
 was responsible for ah 1 these vast changes and promo 
 tions. 
 
 He desired to give to Saluciea the title of queen, and 
 expected to be named king of the Achaemenians. 
 Cambyses was as much insulted at the apparent slight 
 as was Cyaxares himself. But no one dared to criti 
 cise what had been done. Zirkan informed Cyaxares 
 that he and Saluciea would be required to return with 
 him to the Holy Crater, the start to be made the fol 
 lowing morning. 
 
 That night, as Cyaxares and Saluciea were prepar 
 ing themselves for their journey, word came that Cra-
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE 291 
 
 cillies desired to speak with the prince. He instructed 
 that he be brought into their private apartment, and 
 that no one, not even a servant, be permitted to enter 
 while the prelate was there. Cyaxares had cautioned 
 Saluciea regarding the conduct of Cracillies, and they 
 both expected a scene of some kind, but would be more 
 than generous with their old friend. 
 
 Cyaxares received him alone, and was most cordial 
 to him, saying: "We would have been most unhappy, 
 good Cracillies, had we gone away without having had 
 the opportunity of bidding you good-bye. We are 
 more than pleased that you have made it possible, for 
 we have thought from your attitude toward us that 
 you had taken offense at some unwitting act of ours. 
 Let me call Saluciea." 
 
 " Your speech is generous, Cyaxares ; but do not call 
 Saluciea until I have had speech with you," he replied. 
 " Do you recall the conversation that we had in the 
 gardens of Crail upon destiny and fate? Well, I am 
 the victim of fate, Cyaxares. I know that you will not 
 take offense at what I am about to tell you, but, had 
 you not lived, I would have been the Sapor, King of 
 Kings." 
 
 " Cracillies ! What do you mean? " exclaimed Cyax 
 ares. 
 
 " Simply this," said the prelate. " Wotan, prede 
 cessor to Zirkan, was my closest living friend. I was 
 in constant communication with him. Through his in 
 fluence I met Nahali before she was wedded to the 
 Sapor. Her marriage was contrary to her own de 
 sires, for she was secretly betrothed to me. After the 
 death of the Sapor, I spent ten years in an effort so 
 to weld together the Church and the State of the Holy 
 Crater that the Sapor could remain the head of both.
 
 292 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 I had so far succeeded that it only awaited the death 
 of the acting Sapor to unite Nahali and myself. 
 Wotan, the lord of war, was favorable to this, as was 
 the council of twelve. We had an understanding that 
 you should take Madrilla as wife and become king of 
 Ironia. I was fearful that the fascinating Saluciea 
 would win you away from Madrilla, therefore I had 
 her secretly conveyed to her father's home in the holy 
 city. But the train of tragedies that followed your 
 visit to the Holy Crater, so far as my interests were 
 concerned, were, the sudden death of Wotan, the sud 
 den death of the acting Sapor, Madrilla's mother be 
 coming enamored of you, thereby losing her to me, and 
 your becoming enamored of Saluciea, which took you 
 away from Madrilla and caused a rupture between 
 Nahan and the Sapor. 
 
 " These things all occurred in such rapid succession 
 that it was useless for me to attempt to put my plans 
 forward, therefore I had no alternative but to remain 
 with the Church, which has seceded from the State, as 
 you doubtless know by the abolishment of the office of 
 the head of the Holy State in Ironia. In future, the 
 Sapor will be king of the Holy Crater in name, but the 
 Holy Church will have a distinct head, who will be the 
 real ruling power. 
 
 " To be sure, I know, Cyaxares, that you have not 
 been the willing agent of all these strange happenings, 
 yet they have developed out of your purpose to set 
 yourself upon the throne of Ironia. Naturally, there 
 fore, I feel despondent and disappointed at the out 
 come of our elaborate planning. 
 
 " You are going upon an uncertain mission. I no 
 longer have the close confidence of the powers of the 
 Holy Crater, because Zirkan knows of the former pur-
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE 293 
 
 pose of the council of twelve' to promote my cause, and, 
 the conditions having so radically changed, my ambi 
 tions are dashed and my career is at an end, therefore 
 I desire to give you a clear understanding of the matter 
 before you go. I do not hold you responsible for my 
 misfortunes and failure." The old prelate paused with 
 a deep sigh. Seizing the opportunity, Cyaxares said: 
 
 " This is all a great surprise to me, Cracillies. Yet 
 it would seem that we should console each other, for, 
 as you well know, I, too, have drawn a blank, so far as 
 my political aspirations are concerned, but I can ask 
 you to congratulate me, in that I am more than com 
 pensated by having won Saluciea for my wife. 
 
 " You have relieved me of a matter that has given 
 me much concern and cause for grief by confiding to 
 me your sentiment for Nahali, for I must confess to 
 you that I have heard rumors that you entertained an 
 affection for Saluciea. This seemed to be corroborated 
 by certain matters that have been made plain to me 
 since my return from the Holy Crater. Your explana 
 tion, however, puts a new phase upon your actions." 
 
 Cracillies arose and paced across the room in deep 
 thought. Suddenly turning upon Cyaxares he said, al 
 most fiercely: 
 
 " Bring Saluciea. What I say I want both to hear." 
 
 Cyaxares felt some alarm regarding the new atti 
 tude of the priest, yet he called Saluciea into the room. 
 She would have greeted Cracillies most cordially, had 
 he not resented it with uplifted hand. 
 
 " Touch me not," he said authoritatively. " Salu 
 ciea, you were untrue to your vows to me, made when 
 I brought you back to life. You promised me faith 
 fully that you would never again look upon the face 
 of Cyaxares. You stole him away from Madrilla.
 
 294 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 Your very life belonged to me. You pledged it, yet 
 not one moment have you spared in your efforts to 
 ensnare Cyaxares into marrying you." 
 
 " Cease, Cracillies ! Accuse not Saluciea, else I may 
 forget our friendship," exclaimed Cyaxares, placing 
 himself in front of the prelate. " Saluciea is now my 
 wife. She has made me supremely happy, and I am 
 most grateful to the fates for having given her to me." 
 
 With a gesture of impatience Cracillies said : " Wait 
 till I have finished. You had no claim upon Saluciea 
 when you left her dead, as you thought. You were 
 pledged to Madrilla. I violated no confidence with you 
 when I restored her, and accepted her promise not to 
 seek you again. I have tried to keep faith with 
 Madrilla's mother. I must inform you that I have 
 not been the legal head of the Holy State, and now 
 that that office is abolished, your marriage has no sanc 
 tion of law. I informed you before, and I warn you 
 now, that the Holy Church will not sanction your be 
 ing legally united with Saluciea." 
 
 " Stop, Cracillies ! " commanded Cyaxares. " I do 
 not know what your motives are. I care less. But 
 your methods do not seem honorable. I must forget 
 our friendship, and resent your insinuations. You 
 forget that the statutes say that, in the absence of a 
 presiding head of the Holy State, the king has the 
 full legal responsibility of that position, and shall ex 
 ercise the functions of that high office with the same 
 legal effect as though performed by that official him 
 self. I respected Saluciea as well as loved her, there 
 fore I took no chances, but had my father, King 
 Phraortes, perform the offices of the head of the Holy 
 State, which you now confess you falsely represented 
 at that time. Therefore, if you have in mind anything
 
 CYAXARES AND CAMBYSES DINE 295 
 
 that depends upon the nullification of our marriage, 
 you may dismiss it from your mind at once. For the 
 safety of Ironia I deem it expedient to place you under 
 restraint until I know what your motives and purposes 
 are," and he was about to summon an official. 
 
 " Don't do that, Cyaxares," said the old prelate, 
 with humiliation most touching. " I am wrong. I 
 am willing to admit that I am wrong. We all make 
 mistakes. I have made mine. Prepare to go on your 
 journey. In the meantime I will prepare a letter, in 
 which I will make a confession to you. But you must 
 promise not to open and read that message until you 
 are safe within the protecting house of Nahan, then 
 you and Saluciea read it together. God bless you, I 
 bear you no ill-will.'* With this he passed out of the 
 room in a most dejected state. 
 
 Both Cyaxares and Saluciea felt deeply pained as 
 the result of this interview. They were convinced, as 
 much as it pained them, that Cracillies entertained a 
 guilty passion that he had not the courage to confess. 
 It was no reflection upon Saluciea, therefore the prince 
 only placed his arm about her, saying, 
 
 " Saluciea, my queen, he has my sympathy, for I 
 know how truly fascinating you are." Then they dis 
 missed it from their minds.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 
 
 IN the early morn a splendid procession passed out 
 of Baleria. Zirkan, the high priest and lord of 
 war of the Holy Crater, Cyaxares, and Saluciea were 
 well in advance of the soldierly escort. The repre 
 sentatives of Astyages left the escort at a point turn 
 ing toward Aspahan, and the others went on their way 
 to the Holy Crater. The journey was pleasant, and 
 seemed shorter than usual. Upon reaching the en 
 virons of the Holy Crater there was little parley, Zir 
 kan hurrying them through, and to the palace of 
 Nahan. 
 
 An air of mystery pervaded the city of kings. Few 
 people were in sight. Nahan himself seemed sad. He 
 was, however, much elated upon their arrival. But 
 they were quickly passed to their part of his great 
 palace, and bidden to remain in seclusion until sum 
 moned. 
 
 All this mystery disturbed them not a little, until 
 Cyaxares was bidden to attend an important conclave 
 that same night. Upon being conducted to the great 
 audience chamber in Nahan's palace he was cordially 
 welcomed by the kings that he had formerly met. 
 They treated him as an equal, showing no surprise 
 that he was present. 
 
 Little did he think or know that this was the most 
 important convention that had been called to assemble 
 
 there in a century. Zirkan, accompanied by the twelve 
 
 296
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 297 
 
 other high priests of the Holy Crater, came into the 
 room, and the meeting was called to order, Nahan 
 presiding. He abruptly opened the proceedings by 
 saying: 
 
 " Kings and Prelates of the Holy Crater : 
 
 " You are well aware of the importance of this meet 
 ing, therefore I will bluntly say that upon our finding 
 here to-night depends the integrity of our confedera 
 tion. 
 
 " By a curious state of affairs, the Holy Church 
 has felt called upon to assume the functions of govern 
 ment. The Holy Church, being the educational sys 
 tem of our confederation, it was legal and right that 
 it should assume the reins of government in the absence 
 of the authentic ruling power, which both State and 
 Church have hitherto acknowledged, for there must 
 be a legal head to every system. 
 
 " But now the time has come to choose a head of both 
 State and Church as has hitherto been a source of sat 
 isfaction for both branches of our great nation. It 
 is proper for me to say that the priests of the Holy 
 Crater have tacitly intimated that they, having as 
 sumed the powers of government, are legally entitled 
 to retain the same and place upon the throne one of 
 their own choosing. This is contrary to our constitu 
 tion, and would quickly disrupt our strong confedera 
 tion. But to deny the Church a voice in choosing a 
 head of our nation would deprive it of a specific func 
 tion conferred by our constitution, therefore Zirkan 
 and the council of twelve are gathered here with us to 
 perform this most important duty. Zirkan has as 
 sured me that the Church holds the most friendly sen 
 timent for the kings, and will abide by our decision 
 and choice. It is now in order to present candidates
 
 298 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 for the highest office in all the world, for he who is 
 chosen here to-night will be Sapor and King of Kings. 
 It is the beginning of a new dynasty, and of a new 
 line of kings, and it speaks well for our honor and sta 
 bility that we thus assemble in friendly conclave to se 
 lect one to rule over us instead of wrangling for so 
 high a position. 
 
 " We must recognize the necessity for maintaining 
 the present stability of our long-standing, peaceful, 
 and prosperous confederation, therefore our hearty sup 
 port and confidence must be pledged in advance to him 
 whom we honor as our leader. 
 
 " In courtesy to the Holy Church we first request 
 Zirkan to name a candidate that would be acceptable to 
 it." 
 
 Applause and expressions of approval followed this 
 brief address, and all eyes now turned to Zirkan, who 
 arose and said: 
 
 " Because of our vows of celibacy the law does not 
 permit a priest to become a king, unless he be absolved 
 from his vows by the high church council, giving him 
 the right to marry. Modesty should forbid my say 
 ing it, but it has been suggested to me that I myself 
 might become a candidate for this high honor. I am 
 frank to say, however, that I do not approve of this. 
 The King of Kings, inj my opinion, cannot legally come 
 from the priesthood. It would be the usurpation of an 
 office that does not, by precedent nor by privilege, right 
 fully belong to the Church, which is but the educational 
 branch of the government. The recent act of the Holy 
 Church was not to seize the reins of government and 
 take away from the kings this power, but it was to 
 preserve the integrity of a form of government that 
 has withstood the test of ages, although feudal in its
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 299 
 
 nature. The fangs of feudalism have been drawn, and 
 an enduring union of friendship has long bound to 
 gether the kings of the Holy Crater, and I speak for the 
 Church when I say that we shall give our support to him 
 that you select to be your King of Kings, only reserv 
 ing the privileges and prerogatives that the Church has 
 hitherto enjoyed. We accept the courtesy of naming 
 a candidate." 
 
 All the kings murmured at this, and a wave of sur 
 prised approval moved them to congratulate Zirkan. 
 It had been thought that the Church would insist upon 
 some radical change in the constitution granting it 
 greater powers at least. They did not know that 
 Nahan and Zirkan had searched out the intricacies of 
 the situation in the minutest detail, and had found that 
 but one legal course was open upon Nahali's being de 
 posed. The next in line of succession was Saluciea, 
 and her husband, having been legally made a prince 
 of the Holy Clans, was now Sapor by right of succes 
 sion. Nevertheless, this was held in reserve; it was 
 preferable that the kings have a direct voice in the 
 selection of a Sapor. The legal aspect of the case 
 would be used in case of an emergency. 
 
 Zirkan was an educated man and a philosopher. He 
 admitted, without argument, that the Church in its 
 true function was an instrument, not a principal, in 
 the conduct of the government. It had to be sup 
 ported by a people. It had no power to support a 
 people. It could guide but not coerce, being a moral 
 factor in the conduct of the nation. The moment it 
 seized, and began to exercise, the function of a con 
 trolling government it surrendered its moral charac 
 ter, and became an usurper of the powers of legal and 
 physical force, and this sooner or later would be recog-
 
 300 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 nized and resented by the people, the great confed 
 eracy would rise and repudiate the Holy Church, a 
 thing that had to be guarded against constantly, for, 
 in the final analysis, the Church was a thing of tolera 
 tion and courtesy. Its very existence depended upon 
 its good behavior and its usefulness to the people. To 
 betray greed for power, avarice for wealth, and an 
 undue authority over the people was to draw down upon 
 it the suspicion of being a degenerate and predatory 
 dependency, attached as a leech to the body politic. 
 
 After a brief parley, Zirkan again addressed the as 
 sembly, saying: 
 
 " Necessity is of more vital importance in choosing 
 your king than is the conferring of the honor of this 
 great and responsible position upon some favored per 
 son ; utility should supersede sentiment in passing 
 judgment upon so important a matter, therefore, in 
 suggesting a candidate, I make my selection by a long 
 and careful analysis of the facts and of the necessities 
 of the confederacy. 
 
 " I take into consideration the fitness of the man, 
 physically, morally, and mentally ; then I weigh his ex 
 perience, his successes, his honorable record, and his 
 birth and breeding. I examine the legal aspect of the 
 case, and I find that my candidate was born a prince 
 while his father was yet upon the throne. I find that 
 he has been educated in the schools of the world, and 
 hei has been trained in diplomacy. He has been a tried 
 and loyal friend of our confederacy, as his royal father 
 has always been. He has a wide acquaintance and 
 close friendship with all the ruling powers of the triple 
 alliance. He has been tried in the strategies of war 
 fare, in the conduct of government, and in the building 
 of empires. He has been a success in his every under-
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 301 
 
 taking. He is young, strong, and kingly in appear 
 ance. He is beloved by all that know him. 
 
 " The legal phase of the candidacy is unquestionable. 
 He is a prince of the clans in good standing, is the 
 husband of the natural succession, the son-in-law of 
 our senior king, and knows absolutely nothing of my 
 intention to present his name. I name as my candi 
 date a man Cyaxares." 
 
 It was apparent before Zirkan had ceased speaking 
 that he was going to name Cyaxares, and all eyes were 
 upon that surprised and embarrassed young prince. 
 That his surprise was genuine every one knew, and a 
 friendly smile of satisfaction had passed over the audi 
 ence. While, perhaps, there were many princes there 
 that had secretly dreamed of being Sapor, it was ap 
 parent that on a vote Cyaxares would win, therefore 
 one of the kings waved Cyaxares down, as he attempted 
 to speak, and quickly offered a resolution to accept 
 Cyaxares as the unanimous choice of the assembly, and 
 before the move could be checked the young prince was 
 made Sapor and King of Kings. 
 
 King Nahan embraced Cyaxares, and all the kings 
 congratulated him. Then he stood in their midst, and 
 spoke to them : 
 
 " To the kings, princes, and prelates of the Holy 
 Crater, I am most grateful. I am overpowered by the 
 responsibility of the great honor that you have con 
 ferred upon me, almost a stranger in your midst. To 
 this grand king, whom I have the honor of addressing 
 as father, I owe much. To my good friend Zirkan I 
 owe much, and now, collectively, you place me under 
 eternal obligations to all the kings and priests, there 
 fore I am bound by all the ties of honor, manhood, and 
 gratitude to dedicate my life to the welfare, support,
 
 302 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 and upbuilding of your great institutions. In accept 
 ing the high honor I pledge my life and all that goes 
 with it that I shall be faithful and loyal to the causes 
 of you and of your clans. 
 
 " Now, in conclusion, let me speak of another honor 
 that has been placed upon me, and, without meaning to 
 deprecate your favors, because it too is of your giving, 
 I confess that I prize it above the kingship, I speak 
 of my marriage to Saluciea, my queen." 
 
 Instantly all were standing, and amidst great ap 
 plause and congratulation Nahan entered with Salu 
 ciea. 
 
 It was a happy, though embarrassing, moment for 
 her. She was suddenly made the greatest queen in all 
 the world. She was pathetically devoted to Cyaxares, 
 therefore her greatest delight was in his elevation. As 
 they crowded about to congratulate her, she looked up 
 and found Zirkan smiling upon her. Instantly she ex 
 tended her hands to him, and whispered, " To you I 
 owe it all." 
 
 " Repay the debt by making Cyaxares a good 
 queen," he responded. 
 
 The essential part of the conclave was ended. The 
 kings passed out through the silver gates to go to their 
 own palaces and tell their impatient families of what 
 had occurred. There was general rejoicing that Cyax 
 ares had been chosen King of Kings. All had confi 
 dence in him. 
 
 In the seclusion of their chamber Cyaxares took Salu 
 ciea into his arms, and held her there for some time, 
 yet he remained silent. 
 
 " You seem downcast, my beloved Cyaxares." 
 
 " I am, Saluciea. I am not elated that I am King 
 of Kings."
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 303 
 
 " Why not? " 
 
 " Because, my queen, I realize now, when confronted 
 by the vast responsibilities of my high position, that 
 in you I had a kingdom without cares, and free from 
 the complications that must beset the king of a great 
 nation. I was supremely happy, for every moment of 
 my time I could think of you, and dream of our hap 
 piness. Now I must think sometimes of other things, 
 many other things." 
 
 Placing her arms about him, Saluciea said affection 
 ately : " My king, because I am a woman you give me 
 no credit for being useful to you. Do you remember 
 Prince Hanan? " 
 
 " Yes, why, of course, and I am ashamed to say 
 that I have woefully neglected to inquire about my late 
 comrade in arms. We swore eternal friendship. In 
 fact, I wear his ring, we exchanged rings in token of 
 our vows. You must plead forgiveness for me, Salu 
 ciea." 
 
 " You have more than kept your vow, Cyaxares," 
 and she opened a small casket, took therefrom Cyax 
 ares' ring, and slipped it upon her own finger. Then 
 she held it up in front of his face, saying, " See, Hanan 
 also wears your ring." 
 
 " Saluciea ! What are you saying ! " he exclaimed 
 in amazement. 
 
 " I am Hanan," she laughingly replied. 
 
 For a moment he held her at arms' length, then 
 drawing her to him pressed her head against his bosom, 
 caressing and petting her the while. He knew that she 
 wanted to weep. He had never told her what he sup 
 posed was the truth, that her brother Hanan had slain 
 Saranaces in his defense. Now the truth had stunned 
 him. A woman had stood over him slaying men, even
 
 304 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 her own brother, in defense of his life. She had nursed 
 him back to life, and that woman could keep this secret 
 from him all this time. How much he owed to her love ! 
 As he pressed the beautiful head to his heart a great 
 lump came up into his throat, he again saw the cold 
 white face in the house in Baleria. He shuddered and 
 raised her head to make quite sure that she was there 
 and living. 
 
 " And I might have lost you, Saluciea, my sweet 
 queen. Now I am happy. Again we shall buckle on 
 the armor together. I know the metal of my guards 
 man. I will have no fear. We shall rule the Holy 
 Crater with love." Then they sat in long and earnest 
 conversation regarding their future. 
 
 "But what about Nahali and Mad r ilia ?" asked 
 Saluciea. 
 
 " I cannot get the truth about it, Saluciea. I have 
 asked both our royal father and Zirkan, but they make 
 no explanation." 
 
 " Oh, Cyaxares," suddenly exclaimed Saluciea, " we 
 have forgotten to read Cracillies' message." 
 
 " So we have," he replied, and drew the letter from 
 his blouse. 
 
 Breaking the seal, he read aloud: 
 
 " To Cyaxares and Saluciea greetings : 
 
 " Love levels all mankind. Men are honorable in quite 
 all things but in politics, in war, and in love. Jealousy has 
 been the cause of more wars and bloodshed than all other 
 causes. It is of love that I make my confession. 
 
 " I informed you, Cyaxares, of my own political am 
 bitions, which were dashed upon your entering the same 
 field. It is true that I was seeking the highest pinnacle of 
 fame, and my goal was in sight, when your presence 
 changed the entire situation. But this matters not. It is
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 305 
 
 trivial. My confession to you is a thing closer to the heart. 
 It concerns Saluciea. Like Saranaces, I had my price. I 
 fell when my opportunity came. I had from her childhood 
 adored Saluciea. Secretly I sought every opportunity to 
 see her, feast my hungry eyes upon her beauty, and my 
 hungry heart upon a wild imagination that sometimes I 
 might possess her. 
 
 " Saranaces' opportunity came when he found that he had 
 secretly entrapped Erskales. Mine came when I secretly 
 had Saluciea conveyed from the house in Baleria to the 
 caverns of Crail. There I intended to keep her, my 
 prisoner of love, and, but for a curious thing, I would have 
 done so. A peremptory order came to Deioces to send 
 Saluciea to the Holy Crater. One of my men had talked 
 too much, and the rumor went abroad that Saluciea was in 
 the caverns of Crail as a ward of the Holy Church. The 
 messenger came and demanded her of me. I dared not 
 refuse, and this was my only reason for sending her away. 
 I had a wild dream of becoming the Sapor, with Saluciea 
 as my eventual consort. It was my desire to win her to an 
 ambition to rise to that high estate. 
 
 " My reverses upset my senses. I was wildly jealous of 
 you. I was filled with a desire for revenge against both 
 of you. In all my life I never before experienced the sen 
 sation of jealousy. I was even-tempered, free from mor 
 bid thoughts, and thoughtful for the feelings of others. 
 All my commendable traits fled me in a day. While you 
 lay sick in the caverns, and Saluciea faithfully attended 
 you, I relented. I surrendered her to you, although with 
 great reluctance. I afterward regretted this, my old feel 
 ing of resentment returned, and my life was embittered to 
 the point where I decided to destroy myself out of my own 
 misery. I made myself a nuisance to everybody, and where 
 I had enjoyed your confidence and friendship, I made you 
 suspicious of me, and justly so. 
 
 " Oh, Cyaxares, forgive me, I am more than repentant. 
 Pity me in a misery for which there is no cure. Your
 
 306 THE CAVERNS OF CRAIL 
 
 queen is as chaste as the driven snow. She knows nothing 
 of my insane infatuation. 
 
 "Oh, Saluciea ! an angel among women! If I could but 
 once embrace you before going, it would compensate me for 
 all my sufferings. The anguish in my heart smothers me. 
 I loved you as a mother loves her babe. Surely somewhere 
 in eternity I shall see your beautiful face graven in God's 
 works, that I may fall down before it, worship it, and 
 plead for forgiveness. 
 
 " Now I bid you both an affectionate farewell, for long 
 before this meets your eyes I will have departed for that 
 great unknown. Pray for me, and try to forgive me. May 
 all the peace and joy of earth be your portion during your 
 days. 
 
 " CRACILLIES." 
 
 Silently they sat after the reading of this sad mes 
 sage. Saluciea quietly wept, and Cyaxares' heart was 
 too full to speak. 
 
 Slowly he folded the parchment, replaced it in his 
 blouse, and sat holding Saluciea close to him. Surely 
 every new joy has its compensating sadness. All the 
 kingdoms in the world could not at that moment have 
 pushed away the veil of sorrow that fate had thrown 
 about them. It seemed to them an ill omen following 
 quickly upon the heels of their high promotion. 
 
 " Come, Saluciea, I forgive Cracillies. He could no 
 more help loving you than I could. Let us forget. 
 We have a future to think of, and that future shall 
 always be bright for you." 
 
 On the third day thereafter delegations began to ar 
 rive in the holy city from all the clans, bearing mag 
 nificent presents for the new Sapor and his queenly 
 consort. The inauguration was the greatest event of 
 its kind that history records. Untold millions in gold,
 
 CYAXARES BECOMES SAPOR 307 
 
 silver, and precious stones were lavished upon Cyaxares 
 and Saluciea. A great new palace was erected, in 
 which light and sunshine could live. Life in the palace 
 of the Sapor was a joy of which all the people of the 
 holy city partook. 
 
 The priests of the Holy Crater came at will to the 
 palace to pay homage to the grandest king and queen 
 that they had ever known. Science, art, and learning 
 in every branch took on a new impetus. The priests 
 now made long and frequent educational pilgrimages 
 to the very hearthstones of the people, and the clans 
 were taking on new enlightenment in the dawn of the 
 new era. 
 
 In vain had Cyaxares and Saluciea sought some in 
 formation regarding Nahali and Madrilla. 
 
 Finally Cyaxares demanded of Zirkan, 
 
 "Where are they? " 
 
 " They rest in the sepulchre of the Sapors," was all 
 the reply that he would make.
 
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