THE SECRET OF THE KIAMA 



finished, they made as though they had just come from 

 the forest after many days' journey. Their bodies were 

 covered with dust and they fell down at the feet of the 

 king under their burdens, saying, "Behold, see the wood 

 that we have cut down this last that remained." And 

 the king said, "It is good. There is enough for my 

 throne." And he said to the craftsman, "Make me a 

 throne very quickly and set it on top of the high place." 



And the craftsman made a throne on the highest 

 point of the palace which was so high that a man stand- 

 ing on the ground could not see it. And all the time the 

 king was urging them on till it was finished. 



Then the king said, "See now my throne is very high, 

 even as the mountain and throne of God." So he called 

 all his great men and people together, and there was a 

 vast multitude of people and he went alone to sit on the 

 new throne that the craftsman had made. And the mul- 

 titude of people looked, but the king could not be seen, 

 for he had gone up beyond their sight. And they began 

 to say, one man to another, "Surely he is great, even as 

 God." Only the workmen were not deceived, for they 

 remembered his harsh words and actions, and remem- 

 bered their brothers who had died at the work of mak- 

 ing the high place and the new throne. 



Only the multitude gathered by the order of the king 

 began to worship before the high place. Suddenly a 

 very great storm arose, and the wind beat upon the high 

 place, and the sand blinded their eyes, so that they could 

 not see. And all the time the wind blew harder and 



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