mult?" she asked the guards in their own tongue.

"I tell you what it is, Juanna," said Leonard, rubbing his head upon the
ground and speaking in English. "If you do not come to an understanding
with these scoundrels, you will soon be cut of from all communication
with us, and what is more, we shall be cut off too in another way. Will
you be so good as to issue an order that we are to be admitted when we
like?"

Juanna turned towards the priest and spoke angrily:

"Who has dared to forbid my servants to come before me and worship me?
My will is my own, and I only make it known. It is my will that these
white men and yonder black woman pass in before me at their pleasure."

"Your will is our will, Mother," said the priests humbly.

So they went in, and the curtains were closed behind them.

"I am so thankful to see you," said Juanna. "You don't know how
dreadfully lonely it has been in this great room all night, and I am
afraid of those solemn-eyed priests who stand round the doors. The women
who brought me food last evening crawled about the place on all fours
like dogs; it was horrible!"

"I am sorry that you have been left alone," said Leonard, "but you must
try to make better arrangements. Soa might sleep with you, at any rate.
Where is Otter? Let us pay him a visit; I want to see how the god is
getting on."

Juanna went to the door and addressed the priests, saying that she
desired to be led before the Snake, and her servants with her. They
demurred a little, then gave way, and all four of them were conducted,
first into the courtyard, in which no human being was to be seen, and
thence to an adjoining chamber, where a curious sight awaited them. In a
huge chair set upon a dais sat Otter, looking furious and by no means at
ease; while stretched upon the ground in front of him lay four priests,
who muttered prayers unceasingly.

"Welcome, Baas!" he cried in rapture at the sight of Leonard. "Welcome,
Shepherdess!"

"You idiot!" answered Leonard in Dutch, but speaking in the most humble
voice, and sinking to his knees. "If you will not remember that you are
a god, I will pay you out so soon as we are alone. Bid these fellows
begone; the Shepherdess will translate for you."

"Go, dogs!" said Otter, taking the hint; "go, and bring me food. I would
speak with my servant, who is named Baas, and with my mother."

"These are the words of the Snake that he speaks in the holy tongue,"
said Juanna, and she translat