Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/107

 Brace thy heart and steel thy arm, Shield thee with their wondrous charm!

Shades of midnight gather deep, Unseen beings round thee creep, Grant thee strength and grant thee rest, Wake thee to my high behest! By their power I claim thee still, Faithful to a woman's will!

Shades of midnight gather deep, Some will laugh and some will weep! Mothers who proclaimed this spell, Fathers who in battles fell, Spirits of the Tartar land, Call thee to my dread command!

Shades of midnight gather deep, Rise before the morning's peep, Shackled by this mystic art, Blood to blood and heart to heart, True in life and true in death, Rise and draw a soldier's breath!

The chanting ceased, and Jelekha then brought the point of her dagger to the sleeper's bosom. The prick drew a drop of blood and waked Noren from a profound sleep. He opened his eyes, looked around him as if puzzled, and then fixed his eyes