is words cried them
out to the ranks behind them, and when all understood there followed a
scene of most indescribable tumult.

"Blood, give us blood!" roared the populace, their fierce faces alight
with rage. "Shall we be mocked with the sacrifice of goats? Offer up the
servants of the false gods. Give us blood! Lead forth the victims!"

In the midst of this uproar Juanna, clad in her white robes and with the
red stone bound upon her brow, rose from her seat to speak.

"Silence!" cried Nam, "hear the voice of Aca;" and by degrees the
shouting died away, and she spoke.

"Do ye dare thus to offer outrages to the gods?" she cried. "Be warned
lest we bring death and famine upon you all. Men shall be offered up to
us no more. I have spoken."

For a while there was silence, then the clamour broke out with redoubled
violence, and a portion of the multitude made a rush round the edge of
the pool towards the rock platform, which was repelled by the soldiers
in a very half-hearted way.

"Now," said Olfan, "I think that these will do well to be going," and
he pointed to Leonard, Francisco, and the Settlement men. "Doubtless the
gods can defend themselves, but if the others do not fly this is sure,
that presently they will be torn to pieces."

"Let us all go," said Juanna, whose nerve began to fail her; and suiting
the action to the word she led the way towards the rock tunnel, followed
by the others.

They were not allowed to reach it unmolested, however, for a number of
the crowd, headed, as Leonard noticed, by two priests, forced their way
through the cordon of guards and became mixed with the rear of their
little party, the members of which they threatened and struck at
savagely. This happened just as they were entering the mouth of the
tunnel, behind the statue where the gloom was great.

This tunnel was protected by a door, which, so soon as they thought that
all had passed, Olfan and Leonard made haste to close, leaving the mob
howling without. Then they pressed on to the palace, which they reached
in safety, Olfan remaining behind, however, to watch the movements of
the mob.

"Oh! why would not you suffer them to sacrifice according to their
wicked custom, Shepherdess?" said Otter. "What does it matter if they
kill each other? So shall there be fewer of them. Now the end of it must
be that the devils will find us out and murder us."

"No, no," said Francisco, "the senora was right. Let us trust in
Providence