THE SHIP
ARAB. This hammer and nails suffice
To strike forth fire from ice.
zuLu. I raise my spear, and fifty kings accord
Their service to their warrior liege lord.
[JouN remains silent and does not move.
CHINESE. Come, let us enter to rebuild the shrine!
joun. Give me the sign. [Done, the zuLu moving his
hand to the priest's knee. JOHN makes no motion.|
The sign is wrong.
ARAB. Not strict averred?
Ihave the word. [Whispers.]
JoHN. The word is wrong.
zuLu. Not rightly spoken ?
I have thetoken. [Geves tt by ratsing his hand and
lowering it, then seeking to grasp JOHN'S hand.
JOHN does not move.]
JOHN. The token is wrong.
Ye may not pass.
CHINESE. Thou must, alas!
[The CHINESE strips JOHN of hts robes, all but the white under-
robe, and binds him to the column. He scourges him to
the music of yuLia until the white robe ts ved with blood.
CHINESE. Give me the secret of the shrine!
JOHN. It is not mine.
[The aras impales Joun by hands andfeet with his three nails.
ARAB. Give me the secret of the shrine !
JOHN. It is not mine.
[The zuv drives his spear into the body of Joun.
zuLu. Give me the secret of the shrine.
JOHN. It is not mine. [He dies.
63