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238 |
LILITH |
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CHAPTER XXXIV
PREPARATION
Victory thus gained, the woman of Bulika began to speak about the city, and talked much of its defenceless condition, of the wickedness of its princess, of the cowardice of its inhabitants. In a few days the children chattered of nothing but Bulika, although indeed they had not the least notion of what a city was. Then first I became aware of the design of the woman, although not yet of its motive.
The idea of taking possession of the place, recommended itself greatly to Lona—and to me also. The children were now so rapidly developing faculty, that I could see no serious obstacle to the success of the enterprise. For the terrible Lilith—woman or leopardess, I knew her one vulnerable point, her doom through her daughter, and the influence the ancient prophecy had upon the citizens : surely whatever in the enterprise could be called risk, was worth taking! Successful,—and who could doubt their success ?—must not the Little Ones, from a crowd of children, speedily become a youthful people, whose government and influence would be all for righteousness ? Ruling the wicked with a rod of iron, would they not be the redemption of the nation ?
At the same time, I have to confess that I was not without views of personal advantage, not without |
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