of the idol, to seek its accustomed
food, which consisted of the human victims that were cast to it at
certain intervals. It reared its hideous head and glared round, then of
a sudden the monster and the victim vanished together into the depths.

Sick with horror Leonard drew himself back into a sitting posture, and
glanced up at Juanna. She was crouched in her ivory chair overcome, and
her eyes were closed, either through faintness or to shut out the sight
of dread. Then he looked down at Otter. The dwarf, staring fixedly at
the water, sat still as the stone effigy that supported him. Evidently
in all his varied experience he had seen no such thing as this.

"The Snake has accepted the sacrifice," cried Nam again; "the Snake has
taken her who was his bride to dwell with him in his holy house. Let the
offerings be completed, for this is but the first-fruit. Take Olfan who
was king, and offer him up. Cast down the white servants of the Mother,
and offer them up. Seize the slaves who stood before her in the plain,
and offer them up. Lead forth the captives, and offer them up. Let the
sacrifice of the Crowning of Kings be accomplished according to custom,
that the god whose name is Jal may be appeased; that he may listen
to the pleadings of the Mother, that the sun may shine upon us, that
fruitfulness may fill the land and peace be within its gates."

Thus he cried while Leonard felt his blood turn cold and his hair rise
upon his head, for though he could not understand the words, he guessed
their purport and his instinct told him that a great danger threatened
them. He looked at the two priests who stood by, and they glared
hungrily on him in answer. Then his courage came back to him; at least
he had his rifle and would fight for his life. It must go hard if he
could not put a bullet through one or both of them before they got a
hold of him.

Meanwhile the priests below had seized the king Olfan, whose giant form
they were dragging towards the stone of sacrifice. But of a sudden, for
the first time Juanna spoke, and a deep silence fell upon the temple and
all within it.

"Hearken, People of the Mist," she said; and her voice falling from that
great height seemed small and far away, although so clear that every
word was audible in the stillness of the night.

"Hear me, People of the Mist, and ye, priests of the Snake. Aca is come
again and Jal is come again, and ye have given them back their rule
after many generatio