Moreover, there, when the Mountain
labours, run red streams of molten rock, and now and again hot ashes
fall that slay the traveller."
"Do the ashes ever fall in your country?" asked Leo.
"They have been known to do so when the Spirit of the Mountain is angry,
and that is why we fear her."
"Who is this Spirit?" said Leo eagerly.
"I do not know, lord," he answered with impatience. "Can men see a
spirit?"
"_You_ look as though you might, and had, not so long ago," replied Leo,
fixing his gaze on the old man's waxen face and uneasy eyes. For now
their horny calm was gone from the eyes of Simbri, which seemed as
though they had beheld some sight that haunted him.
"You do me too much honour, lord," he replied; "my skill and vision do
not reach so far. But see, here is the landing-stage, where boats await
us, for the rest of our journey is by water."
These boats proved to be roomy and comfortable, having flat bows and
sterns, since, although sometimes a sail was hoisted, they were designed
for towing, not to be rowed with oars. Leo and I entered the largest of
them, and to our joy were left alone except for the steersman.
Behind us was another boat, in which were attendants and slaves, and
some men who looked like soldiers, for they carried bows and swords. Now
the ponies were taken from the palanquins, that were packed away, and
ropes of green hide, fastened to iron rings in the prows of the
boats, were fixed to the towing tackle with which the animals had been
reharnessed.
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