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"
"
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What shall we see?" asked a warrior.
We shall see whether O-Tar visits the chamber of O-Mai."
How?"
I shall be there myself and if I see him I will know that he has been there. If I
don't see him I will know that he has not," explained the old taxidermist.
"Is there anything there to fill an honest man with fear?" asked a chieftain. "What
have you seen?"
"
It was not so much what I saw, though that was bad enough, as what I heard,"
said I-Gos.
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Tell us! What heard and saw you?"
I saw the dead O-Mai," said I-Gos. The others shuddered.
And you went not mad?" they asked.
Am I mad?" retorted I-Gos.
And you will go again?"
Yes."
Then indeed you are mad," cried one.
You saw the dead O-Mai; but what heard you that was worse?" whispered
another.
"I saw the dead O-Mai lying upon the floor of his sleeping chamber with one foot
tangled in the sleeping silks and furs upon his couch. I heard horrid moans and
frightful screams."
"And you are not afraid to go there again?" demanded several.
"
The dead cannot harm me," said I-Gos. "He has lain thus for five thousand
years. Nor can a sound harm me. I heard it once and live--I can hear it again. It
came from almost at my side where I hid behind the hangings and watched the
slave Turan before I snatched the woman away from him."
"
I-Gos, you are a very brave man," said a chieftain.
"
O-Tar called me 'doddering fool' and I would face worse dangers than lie in the
forbidden chambers of O-Mai to know it if he does not visit the chamber of O-Mai.
Then indeed shall O-Tar fall!"
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