TWILIGHT LAND

“Tf thou dost not open the door,” said the queen, “all
is over between thee and me. So do as I bid thee, or
leave me for ever.”

They had both forgotten that the Demon Zadok was
there. Then the young man bethought himself of the

Talisman of Solomon. ‘Tell me, O Talisman,” said he,
“how shall I open yonder door?”
“Oh, wretched one!” cried the Talisman, ‘oh,

wretched one! fly while there is yet time—fly, for thy
doom is near! Do not push the door open, for it is not
locked!”

The young man struck his head with his clenched fist.
“What a fool am I!” he cried. ‘“ Will I never learn
wisdom? Here have I been coming to this place seven
months, and have never yet thought to try whether yonder
door was locked or not!”

“Open the door!” cried the queen.

They went forward together. The young-man pushed
the door with his hand. It opened swiftly and silently,
and they entered.

Within was a narrow room as red as blood. A flaming
lamp hung from the ceiling above. The young man
stood as though turned to stone, for there stood a gigantic
Black Demon with a napkin wrapped around his loins
and a scimitar in his right hand, the blade of which
gleamed like lightning in the flame of the lamp. Before
him lay a basket filled with sawdust.

When the queen saw what she saw she screamed in a
loud voice, ‘Thou hast found it! thou hast found it!
Thou hast found what alone can satisfy all thy desires !
Strike, O slave!”

The young man heard the Demon Zadok give a yell of

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