ie, Shepherdess," said Soa with a cold smile, "but
this is not always so easy. I have taken your medicine from you while
you slept, and here there are no other means to compass death."

"I can starve, Soa," replied Juanna with dignity.

"That takes some time, Shepherdess, and to-day you will become the wife
of Olfan. Still it is needful that you should yourself consent to marry
him, for this chief is so foolish that he declares that he will not wed
you till you have accepted him with your own mouth and in the presence
of witnesses."

"Then I fear that the wedding will not be celebrated," said Juanna
with a bitter laugh, for she could not refrain from giving some outward
expression to all the loathing which she felt for this wicked woman, who
in her fierce love would save the life of her mistress by selling her to
shame.

"I think that it will, Shepherdess," answered Soa, "for it seems that
we have a way by which we can win you to speak those words which Olfan
desires to hear."

"There is no way, Soa."

"What, none, Shepherdess? Think now: he whom you name Deliverer is a
prisoner beyond that door. What if his life hangs upon your choice?
What if he were shown to you about to die a fearful death from which you
alone could save him by speaking a certain word?"

Now for the first time Juanna fully understood the hideous nature of the
plot whereby Soa purposed either to force her to become the wife of a
savage, or to thrust upon her the guilt of causing the death of the man
whom she loved, and she sank back upon the couch, saying:

"You would have done better to leave me yonder in the slave camp, Soa."

Then, abandoning the tone of forced calm in which she had spoken
hitherto, Soa broke out bitterly:

"When you were in the slave camp, Shepherdess, you loved me who have
loved you from a child, for then no white dog had come to sow mischief
between us and to make you hate and distrust me. Then I would have died
for you, ay, and this I would do now. But also I would be revenged upon
the white dog, for I, who am husbandless and childless, had but this one
thing, and he has taken it from me. You were to me as mother, and lover,
and babe are to other women--my all, and now I am left desolate, and
I will be revenged upon him before I die. But I still love you,
Shepherdess, and could any other plan have been found to help you, I
could not have forced this marriage on you. No such plan can be found;
thus alone can you liv