Page:Sologub Sweet Scented Name.djvu/214

 spells of night enchantments," said the Centurion.

"I am wearing it now," said the young man. "But it is burning into my chest. There are earth-fiends after us; I hear the murmur of the earth disgorging the hurrying fiends."

"Oh, you make a mistake," said the Centurion, seeking to reassure him by reasonable words. "The earth fiends are mightily beholden unto us for giving them a rich feast to-day. In any case, fear should find no place in the heart of a valiant soldier, not even the fear engendered by the moaning of sprites in the night in the wilderness."

"Oh, I fear, I fear," cried Lucillus. "I hear the voice of that strange child following us."

Then suddenly in the sultry silence of the night a moaning and maledictory voice broke forth:

"Curses … curses upon the heads of the murderers."

The soldiers shuddered, spurred their horses and clattered along more quickly. But the voice of an unseen spirit pursued them and cried out all about them, now in front of them, now behind, now at one side, now another, sharply, distinctly:

"Murderers! Slayers of innocent babes!