And from edge to edge of the titanic bridge, from where it sprang outward at the shore of the Crimson Sea to a hundred feet away from the golden door of the abode, barrier after barrier was piled. Behind the wall defending the mouth of the cavern, waited other thousands of the _Akka_. At each end of the unfinished barricade they were mustered thickly, and at right and left of the crescent where their forest began, more legions were assembled to make way up to the ledge as opportunity offered. Rank upon rank they manned the bridge barriers; they swarmed over the pinnacles and in the hollows of the island's ragged outer lip; the domed castle was a hive of them, if I may mix my metaphors--and the rocks and gardens that surrounded the abode glittered with them. "Now," said the handmaiden, "there's nothing else we can do--save wait." She led us out through her bower and up the little path that ran to the embrasure. Through the quiet came a sound, a sighing, a half-mournful whispering that beat about us and fled away. "They come!" cried Lakla, the light of battle in her eyes. Larry drew her to him, raised her in his arms, kissed her. "A woman!" acclaimed the O'Keefe. "A real woman--and mine!" With the cry of the Portal there was movement among the _Akka_, the glint of moving spears, flash of metal-tipped clubs, rattle of horny spurs, rumblings of battle-cries. And we waited--waited it seemed interminably, gaze fastened upon the low wall across the cavern mouth. Suddenly I remembered the crystal through which I had peered when the hidden assassins had crept upon us. Mentioning it to Lakla, she gave a little cry of vexation, a command to her attendant; and not long that faithful if unusual lady had returned with a tray of the glasses. Raising mine, I saw the lines furthest away leap into sudden activity. Spurred warrior after warrior leaped upon the barricade and over it. Flashes of intense, green light, mingled with gleams like lightning strokes of concentrated moon rays, sprang from behind the wall--sprang and struck and burned upon the scales of the batrachians. "They come!" whispered Lakla. At the far ends of the crescent a terrific milling had begun. Here it was plain the _Akka_ were holding. Faintly, for the distance was great, I could see fresh force upon force rush up and take the places of those who had fallen. Over each of these ends, and along the whole line of the barricade a mist of dancing, diamonded atoms began to rise; sparking, coruscating points of diamond dust that darted and danced. What had once been Lakla's guardians--dancing now in the nothingness! "God, but it's hard to stay here like this!" groaned the O'Keefe; Olaf's teeth were bared, the lips drawn back in such a fighting grin as his ancestors berserk on their raven ships must have borne; Rador was livid with rage; the handmaiden's nostrils flaring wide, all her wrathful soul in her eyes.