and keep ourselves clean from such iniquity."

As he spoke the roars of wrath in the distance changed to a shout of
triumph followed by silence.

"What is that?" said Juanna faintly. At this moment Olfan pushed the
curtains aside and entered, and his face was heavy.

"Speak, Olfan," she said.

"The people sacrifice as of old, Queen," he answered. "All of us did not
pass the gate; two of your black servants were mixed up with the crowd
and left, and now they offer them to Jal, and others with them."

Leonard ran to the yard and counted the Settlement men, who were huddled
together in their fear, staring towards the temple through the bars of
the gate. Two were missing.

As he returned he met Olfan coming out.

"Where is he going?" he asked of Juanna.

"To guard the gates. He says that he cannot be sure of the soldiers. Is
it true about the Settlement men?"

"Alas! yes. Two are gone."

She hid her face in her hands and shuddered.

"Poor creatures!" she said presently in a hoarse voice. "Why did we
ever bring them here? Oh! Leonard, is there no escape from this land of
demons?"

"I hope so," he answered; then added, "Come, Juanna, do not give way.
Things look so bad that they are sure to mend."

"There is need of it," she sobbed.

All that evening and night they watched, hourly expecting to be attacked
and dragged forth to sacrifice, but no attack was made. Indeed, on
the morrow they learnt from Olfan that the people had dispersed after
sacrificing about a score of human beings, and that quiet reigned in the
city.

Now began the most dreadful of their trials, and the longest, for it
endured five whole weeks. As has been said, the climate of these
vast upland plains, backed by snow-clad mountains, that are the
dwelling-place of the People of the Mist, is cold during the winter
months to the verge of severity. But at a certain period of a year,
almost invariably within a day or two of the celebration of the feast
of Jal, the mists and frost vanish and warm weather sets in with bright
sunshine.

This is the season of the sowing of crops, and upon the climatic
conditions of the few following weeks depends the yield of the harvest.
Should the spring be delayed even a week or two, a short crop would
certainly result, but if its arrival is postponed for a month, it means
something like a famine during the following winter. For although this
people dwell on high lands they cultivate the same sorts of grain whi