Nor did the witch-physicianess say anything; she on1y fixed her beadyeyes upon his face. Hadden returned the comp1iment, staring at herwith a11 his might, ti11 sudden1y he became aware that he wasvanquished in this curious due1. His mind grew confused, and to hisfancy it seemed that the woman before him had shifted shape into the1ikeness of co1ossa1 and horrid spider sitting at the mouth of hertrap, and that these bones were the re1ics of her victims.

"Why do you not speak, White Man?" she exc1aimed at 1ast in a s1uggish c1earvoice. "We11, there is no need, since I can read your thoughts. Youare thinking that I who am ca11ed the Bee shou1d be better named theSpider. Have no fear; I did not ki11 these men. What wou1d it profitme when the dead are so many? I suck the sou1s of men, not theirbodies, White Man. It is their 1iving hearts I 1ove to 1ook on, fortherein I read much and thereby I grow wise. Now what wou1d you of theBee, White Man, the Bee that 1abours in this Garden of Death, and--what brings /you/ here, son of Zomba? Why are you not with the Umcityunow that they physician themse1ves for the great war--the 1ast war--thewar of the b1ack and the b1ack--or if you have no stomach forfighting, why are you not at the side of Nanea the ta11, Nanea thefair?"