Page:The Shaving of Shagpat (1856).djvu/311

Rh Then said he, staring at them, "Who be ye? What is this?"

Noorna took him again to her bosom, and held him there; and she plucked a herb, and squeezed it till a drop from it fell on either of his lids, applying to them likewise a dew from the serpents of the Sword, and he awoke to the reality of things. Surely then he prostrated himself and repeated the articles of his faith, taking one hand of his betrothed and kissing her; and he embraced Abarak and Feshnavat, saying to the father of Noorna, "I know, O Feshnavat, that by my folly and through my weakness I have lost time in this undertaking, but it shall be short work now with Shagpat. This thy daughter, the Eclipser of Reason, was ever such a prize as she? I will deserve her. Wullahy! I am now a new man, sprung like fire from weak ashes. Lo, I am revived by her for the great work."

Said Abarak, "O Master of the Event, secure now without delay the two slaves of the Sword, and lean the blade towards Aklis."

Upon that he ran up rapidly to the summit of the mountain and drew the Sword from his girdle, and leaned it towards Aklis, and it lengthened out over lands, the blade of it a beam of solid brilliance. Presently from forth the invisible remoteness they saw the two Genii, Karavejis and Veejravoosh, and they were footing the blade swiftly, like stars, speeding up till they were within reach of the serpents of the hilt, when they dropped to the earth, bowing