The soldiers raised their heads; they saw that dazzling mass of purple and gold at the top of the tower,--the man whom they were forbidden to behold, the man surrounded by an awful spell, and whom they had just outraged. They thought that the Mikado was about to take his flight and leave earth behind forever, in punishment of the wickedness of men. They threw down their arms and fell upon their knees. "Mercy!" they cried; "do not desert us! What will become of us without you?" "Sublime lord! all-powerful master! we are base wretches; but thy goodness is infinite!" "We will abase ourselves in the dust; we will moisten it with the tears of our repentance." Then they burst into invectives against their leaders. "They drove us to it, they led us astray!" "They intoxicated us with saki, to take away our senses!" "The General paid for his crime with his life!" "Let him be accursed!" "May he be devoured by foxes!" "May the great judge of hell be pitiless towards him!" The Mikado's eyes wandered over the city; he saw smoke rising on every hand. He extended his arm, and pointed with his finger to the burning buildings. The soldiers below imagined this gesture to be an order; they rose and flew to extinguish the flames which they themselves had kindled. The victory was complete. The Prince of Nagato smiled as he saw how exactly the Mikado's appearance had answered his anticipations. But all at once, just as he was about to step upon the drawbridge and enter the fortress in his turn, frantic servants came running along the banks of the Kamon-Gawa. "The Queen!" they cried; "they are carrying off the Queen!" "What say you?" exclaimed the Prince, turning pale. "Then the Queen is not in the fortress?" "She had no time to seek refuge there, she is at the summer-palace." Without staying to hear more, 'Nagato sprang like an arrow in the direction of the palace, followed by such of his soldiers as were left,--scarcely fifty able-bodied men. But they soon lost sight of the Prince; and, not knowing their way, went astray. Nagato quickly reached the door of the summer-palace. Pages stood at the threshold. "That way! that way!" they cried to the Prince, pointing to the road which led to the base of the mountains. Nagato turned and put the spurs to his horse. Unfortunately the road was bordered by trees, and was very winding, so that he could see but a short distance before him. Nothing was visible. His horse reared, and sprang forward. To lighten its load, he throw away his gun. After ten minutes of this mad race he saw the hind-quarters of a horse in a cloud of dust. The Prince was gaining ground; he soon saw a floating veil, and a man, who turned his head in alarm. "What man is that who dares clasp her in his arms?" thought Nagato, gnashing his teeth. The despoiler plunged into a valley; the Prince was dose upon him. The man, seeing that all was lost, slipped down from his horse and escaped on foot, leaving the Queen behind.