Page:Frank Owen - The Wind That Tramps the World (1929).djvu/98

 only those who like to spend their hour in such pursuits."

"I wish once more to visit the magical city," repeated Hwei-Ti.

"It would be dangerous," replied Woo Ling-foh. "As it is we only escaped with our lives by the width of a spun golden thread. To return would be to court disaster. You are too emotional. Be content. Wander not into realms which are fraught with danger."

Hwei-Ti sprang to his feet. He seized the old man by the throat. His reason snapped. Slowly his long fingers closed about the lean old throat. "If you do not take me to the mountain-top from which we walked off into the Moon Road," he cried hoarsely, "your life shall end at this moment!"

Woo Ling-foh flung Hwei-Ti's fingers from about his throat. He was not angry at the attack for he realized that madness was creeping over his friend. He was not afraid but he acceded to his wishes because he believed that calm death would be preferable to the maniacal existence toward which Hwei-Ti was plunging.

So in the evening he called again at the garden and together they set off toward the mountain-road. Hwei-Ti was very weak. Only his will to reach the Blue City carried him forward. He was overtaxing his feeble strength in this one superb effort but he did not care. His craving was to be satiated.

When they arrived at the mountain-road, Woo