Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. ABRAM In a short time they were passing through the broad avenues, and now almost deserted thoroughfares of Akkad to the palace of Istar. Abram occupied a place in Zamula's chariot; there was no seat, and both he and Zamula stood erect; the latter using all the force of his slender brown hands to control the spirited prancing of the pair of milk white steeds; Abram with his hand on the shoulder of his companion. Onward they sped under the star lit sky; seemingly with the swiftness of the wind. At last they stopped; before them rose a brilliantly lighted, many pinnacled palace—a great gate stood open,— two servitors possessed themselves of the two prancing steeds, and led them with the chariot into an inner court yard,—and the two friends entered a broad, winding avenue through a woodland maze bordered with flowers. On they went for several paces, till at a short bend, directly in front of them glimmered a broad piece of water; and out of the depths, rose the white statue of an unveiled, perfectly formed woman,— a witching marble nymph illumined by electric glamours whose rounded and outstretched arms seemed to beckon them, —whose mouth smiled in mingled malice and sweetness,— and round whose looped up tresses sparkled a diadem of sapphire stones. Strains of music greeted their ears,—music played onstringed instruments, it was accompanied by a ringing clash of cymbals. On they went into a rose marbled terrace, surrounded by orange trees; across it they passed,—and soon they were in a grand vestibule built of sparkling red granite,—adorned with wonderful statuary. Suddenly a woman appeared, clad in a gown of shimmering gold, her face was hid by a white veil, only her eyes were seen. It was Istar advancing with gliding, graceful movements to greet them....