Shape of stone, that she may bid her lord farewell."

As he spoke there was a stir behind the idol, and presently from each
side of it a woman was led forward by two priests on to the little space
of rock between its feet and the edge of the gulf, and placed one to the
right of the altar, and one to the left. Both these women were tall and
lovely with the dark and somewhat terrifying beauty of the People of the
Mist, but there the resemblance between them ended. She to the right was
naked except for a girdle of snake-skin and the covering of her abundant
hair, which was crowned with a wreath of red lilies similar to the
flower that the priests had given to Juanna. She to the left, on the
contrary, was clothed in a black robe round which was broidered the
shape of a blood-red snake, whose head rested upon her breast. Leonard
noticed that the appearance of this woman was that of extreme terror,
for she shrank and trembled, whereas that of the flower-crowned bride
was jubilant and even haughty.

For a moment the two women stood still while the people gazed upon them.
Then, at a signal from Nam, she who was crowned with flowers was led
before the altar, and thrice she bowed the knee to the idol, or rather
to Otter who sat upon it. Now all eyes were fixed on the dwarf, who
stared at the girl but made no sign, which was not wonderful, seeing
that he had no inkling of the meaning of the ceremony. As it chanced,
he could not have acted more wisely, at least in the interests of the
bride, for here, as elsewhere, silence was held to give consent.

"Behold, the god accepts," cried Nam, "the beauty of the maid is
pleasing in his eyes. Stand aside, Saga, the blessed, that the people
may look upon you and know you. Hail to you, wife of the Snake!"

Smiling triumphantly the girl moved back to her place by the altar, and
turned her proud face to the people. Then the multitude shouted:

"Hail to you, bride of the Snake! Hail to you, the blessed, chosen of
the god!"

While the tumult still lasted, the woman who was clad in the black robe
was led forward, and when it had died away she also made her obeisance
before the idol.

"Away with her that she may seek her Lord in his own place," cried Nam.

"Away with her, her day is done," echoed the multitude. Then, before
Juanna could interfere, before she could even speak, for, be it
remembered, she alone understood all that was said, the two priests who
guarded the doomed woman rent t