ard, and seizing the struggling king they cast him
with difficulty down upon the stone.

"Leonard, Leonard," cried Juanna in English, addressing him for the
first time by his Christian name, as even then he noticed, but looking
straight before her that none might guess to whom she spoke. "These
priests are going to kill you and all of us, except Otter and myself. If
you can, when you see me point with my hand, shoot that man who is about
to sacrifice the king. Make no answer."

Leonard heard and understood all. Resting his back firmly against the
thumb of the statue, he shifted his position a little so that the group
below him came within his line of sight, and waited, watching Juanna,
who now was speaking again in the language of the People of the Mist.

"This I promise you, ministers of blood," she said, "if ye obey me not
ye shall indeed die the dreadful death, the death unknown. Hearken, my
servant, who are named Deliverer," and she looked down upon Leonard,
"and do my bidding. If one of these shall dare to lift his hand against
yonder man, slay him swiftly as you know how."

"Smite on," screamed Nam, "smite on and fear not."

Most of the priests drew back affrighted; but one ruffian lifted his
knife, and at that moment Juanna pointed with her hand. Then Leonard,
stepping forward, covered the priest's great breast with his rifle as
surely as the uncertain light would allow. Unconscious of his danger,
the executioner muttered an invocation. Now the knife was about to fall
upon the throat of Olfan, when fire and smoke sprang out far above him,
the rifle rang, and, shot through the heart, the priest leaped high into
the air and fell dead. Terror seized the witnesses of this unaccustomed
and, to them, most awful sight.

"The gods speak with flame and thunder," one cried, "and death is in the
flame."

"Silence, dogs!" screamed Nam, "ye are bewitched. Ho! you that stand on
high, cast down the wizard who is named Deliverer, and let us see who
will deliver him from death upon the stone."

Then one of the guards who stood by him made a movement to grasp Leonard
and throw him down, but the other was terrified and could not stir. The
first man stretched out his arm, but before it so much as touched its
aim he himself was dead, for, seeing his purpose, Leonard had lifted the
rifle, and once more its report rang through the temple. Suddenly the
priest threw his arms wide, then fell backwards, and with a mighty rush
dive