Nagaya and the Sun-God.. curses from the soldiery, who intent on
saving themselves were brutally trying to force a passage to the
door regardless of the wailing women, whose frantic appeals for
rescue and assistance were heart-rending to hear, . . all these
sounds increased the horror of the situation,--and Theos, blind,
giddy, and confused, listened to the uproar around him with
something of the affrighted compassion that a stranger in Hell
might be supposed to feel when hearkening to the ceaseless plaints
of the self-tortured wicked. He endeavored to grope his way to
Sah-luma's side,--and just then lights appeared, . . lights that
were not of earth's kindling, . . strange, wandering flames that
danced and flitted along the tapestried walls like will-o'-the-
wisps on a dark morass, and flung a ghastly blue glare on the
pale, uneasy faces of the scared people, till gathering in a sort
of lurid ring round the throne, they outlined in strong relief the
enraged, Titanesque figure of Zephoranim whose upraised sword
looked in itself like an arrested flash of lightning. Brighter and
brighter grew the weird lustre, illumining the whole scene.. the
vast length of the splendid hall, . . the shining armor of the
soldiers...the white robes of the women...the flags and pennons
that hung from the roof and swayed to and fro as though blown by a
gust of wind.. every object near and distant was soon as visible
as in broad day,--and then...a terrible cry of rage burst from the
King,--the cry of a maddened wild beast.

"Death and fury!" he shouted, striking his sword with a fierce
clang against the silver pedestal of the throne, . . "Where is
Khosrul?"

The silence of an absolute dismay answered him, ... Khosrul had