In this Shadowy Vale many held permanent residence, until the whole
region swarmed with teeming millions of every tongue and tribe on the
face of the globe.
At the base of the mountains, on each side of the way, there were
numerous large openings through which imps of darkness were constantly
passing. Most of them were habited as angels of light.
"Tell me the mystery of those dismal openings," I asked as I turned
to Blackana. "Words are inadequate to tell of the places to which they
lead. To know aright one must see," he answered with marked
indifference.
For a moment I silently looked upon Blackana whose evasive answer had
so greatly aroused my curiosity.
"Beyond those ominous portals I can discern nothing," I murmured. "How
can I be privileged to see what is there hidden?"
"Come with me," coldly invited Blackana, "I will guide you to the
nethermost realms now unseen by you. This I do not willingly, but I
am thus commanded."
Not wishing to receive my orders from the mouth of a demon, I talked
to my better Friend who bade me go and be assured that _a body-guard
of ten thousand would ever be at my side, though I saw them not._
On wings, swifter than the wind, Blackana and I covered the intervening
space. We stood in the dark valley at one of the openings, now appearing
ten-fold larger than before, and the mountains reared their imposing
crests as if to an endless height.
"Follow me," grimly spoke Blackana as he advanced through the monstrous
arcade into the deepening darkness.
I remembered the ten thousand, and feared not as I followed. Downward
and inward we went, with no light but a horrid glare casting its
uncertain rays athwart our path.
"Is this the passage-way to Destruction?" I cried, as I saw how spectral
all things were, for more than a thousand grimy faces had already added
their fitful glances to the glimmering scene.
"The passage-way to Hell is not so smooth; we go to a better place,"
he answered, without so much as turning his head.
We finally stopped at a line of massive elevators, ever in busy motion,
|