So, Robertson and I having re-entered our litters, we started on down hill at a rapid pace, for the road, though steep, was safe and kept in good order.  All the rest of that afternoon we travelled and by sunset reached the edge of the plain, where we halted a while to rest and eat, till the light of the growing moon grew strong enough to enable us to proceed.  Umslopogaas came up and spoke to me.

“Here is a fortress indeed, Macumazahn,” he said, “since none can climb that fence of rock in which the holes seem to be few and small.”

“Yes,” I answered, “but it is one out of which those who are in, would find it difficult to get out.  We are buffaloes in a pit, Umslopogaas.”

“That is so,” he answered, “I have thought it already.  But if any would meddle with us we still have our horns and can toss for a while.”

Then he went back to his men.

The sunset in that great solemn place was a wonderful thing to see.  First of all the measureless crater was filled with light like a bowl with fire.  Then as the great orb sank behind the western cliff, half of the plain became quite dark while shadows seemed to rush forward over the eastern part of its surface, till that too was swallowed up in gloom and for a little while there remained only a glow reflected from the cliff face and from the sky above, while on the crest of the parapet of rock played strange and glorious fires.  Presently these too vanished and the world was dark.

Then the half moon broke from behind a bank of clouds and by its silver, uncertain light we struggled forward across the flat plain, rather slowly now, for even the iron muscles of those bearers grew tired.  I could not see much of it, but I gathered that we were passing through crops, very fine crops to judge by their height, as doubtless they would be upon this lava soil; also once or twice we splashed through streams.

At length, being tired and lulled by the swaying of the litter and by the sound of a weird, low chant that the bearers had set up now that they neared home and were afraid of no attack, I sank into a doze.  When I awoke again it was to find that the litter had halted and to hear the voice of Billali say,

“Descend, White Lords, and come with your companions, the black Warrior and the yellow man who is named Light-in-Darkness.  She-who-commands desires to see you at once before you eat and sleep, and must not be kept waiting.  Fear not for the others, they will be cared for till you return.”

CHAPTER XII

THE WHITE WITCH

I descended from the litter and told the others what the old fellow had said.  Robertson did not want to come, and indeed refused to do so until I suggested to him that such conduct might prejudice a powerful person against us.  Umslopogaas was indifferent, putting, as he remarked, no faith in a ruler who was a woman.