too good-looking, and, moreover, he had none of that consciousness and conceit about him, which usually spoils handsome men and makes them disliked by their fellow, was his real son, and they became faithful friends.
At last, the day of Leo’s twenty-fifth birthday came and Horace Holly with Leo opened the iron box, that Leo’s father had given Mr. Holly on the night of his death. There was a magnificent silver casket with a letter, parchment and a very large ancient potsherd of a dirty yellow color. From the letter and the uncial Greek writing on the potsherd they got to know that Leo Vincey was the only representative of one of the most ancient families in the world. His sixty-sixth lineal ancestor was an Egyptian priest of Isis, though he himself was called Kallikrates. This man fled from Egypt with a princess of Royal blood, who had fallen in love with him, and they were finally wrecked upon the coast of Africa. There they met the mighty and immortal Queen of a savage people. This Queen fell in love with Kallikrates. It was an unrequited love, so she used her magic and killed him.
On reading this writing Leo Vincey was determined to go Africa and find the mysterious woman in order to revenge his ancestor and to investigate the greatest mystery in the world – the secret of eternal Life and Youth. So, he and his two fellow-voyagers (Horace Holly and Job) went to Africa. On the ocean, not far from the place of their destination they were seized by the horrible squall. Only four people were saved and all the remainder of their company was destroyed. These four men, who were brought to the shore by the wave from the very jaws of Death, were: Leo Vincey, his guardian and true friend Horace Holly, their faithful servant Job, and swarthy Arab Mohammed.
Job has been serving Mr. Holly and Leo for twenty years, he loved his job and could always be relied upon. He was a simple-minded, devout man with prejudices. Not really brave or courageous, he was frightened by thrilling adventure and unexplored lands, though he agreed to go with Mr. Holly, Leo and dark-skinned sailors, whose manners and customs scared him to death. Later the savages named this man the Pig on account of his fatness, round face and small eyes. Job could not stand severe ordeals of the trip, shattered by all he had seen and undergone, his nerves had utterly broken down and he had died of terror.
Travelling though deep forests and marshes, the heroes of the book endured great hardship, but at last they were entertained by “She-who-must-be-obeyed”, the mighty Queen of a savage people. While woman, She ruled savages, was seldom seen by them, but was reported to have power over all things living and dead. The Queen was a magician, had knowledge of all things, and life and loveliness that does not die. She had no regular army, but to disobey her was to die. This mysterious woman had a powerful intellect, which she always enriched by studying languages and different sciences. She was two thousand years old and, of course, knew history and studied all religions of the world. Ayesha (this was her name) even had her own philosophy. She was a great chemist, indeed chemistry appears to have been her amusement and occupation. Ayesha had one of the caves fitted up as a laboratory.
She was a woman of peculiar beauty. “Never may the man to whom her beauty is once unveiled put it from his mind.” Ayesha looked like a young woman of certainly not more than thirty years in perfect health. Her white and rounded arms, ankles, snowy argent breast, perfect and imperial shape, gracious forms were more perfect than ever sculptor dreamed of. “Her grace was more than human.” This woman had the great changing eyes of deepest, softest black, marble face, broad and noble brow, lovely smile and delicate, straight features. One who ever saw her surpassingly beautiful and pure face, was amazed and blinded by its beauty.
At the end of the story Ayesha decided that Leo Vincey was the man she has waited for. She thought that Leo really was a reincarnation of her beloved Kallikrates, because their likeness and resemblance amazed her. This woman wanted to make Leo Vincey immortal in order he could marry her. That is why he had to step into the Eternal Fire of Life… But Leo doubted how could he know that it wouldn’t utterly destroy him. So, Ayesha asked him: “Oh, my Kallikrates, if you see me stand in the flame and come out unharmed, will you enter then.” Leo agreed and said: “Yes!!!” And Ayesha stepped into the Fire and never came back.
So, this was the end of the first story about this mysterious woman. But When I read