sts began a hymn; their loud sad
voices rang out very strangely on the chilly air--and the tribesmen
without, hearing the sound, trembled for fear and cast themselves upon
the ground.

Then there was a silence; and the chief priest came forward, and made
signs to Heiri to draw near, and Heiri advanced, and said to Nefri as
he did so, "Now, child, be brave." And Nefri looked up at Heiri with
parted lips; and then it came suddenly into his mind that he was
indeed to be the victim; but he only looked up with a piteous and
inquiring glance at Heiri; and Heiri drew him to the pedestal. Then
there was a terrible silence, and the hearts of the chiefs beat fast
for fear and horror; and some of them turned away their faces, and the
tears came to their eyes.

Then the priest raised his knife, while Nefri watched him; but Heiri
stepped forward and said, "Lord priest, I have chosen. Hold thy hand.
The law saith that a victim must die, and that one may offer himself
to die; ye have chosen Nefri, for none has offered himself. But I bid
thee hold; for here I offer myself as a victim to the god."

Then there was an awful silence, and the priest looked fiercely and
evilly upon Nefri, and made as though he would have smitten him; but
Heiri seized the priest's hand in both his own, and with great
strength drove the knife into his own breast, stood for a moment, then
swayed and fell. And as he lay he said, "My father, I come, the last
victim at the shrine;" and then he drew out the knife, sobbed and
died. But the chiefs crowded round to look upon him; and Gryf said,
"We are undone; our king is dead, and who shall lead us?"

Then he scowled evilly upon the priests, and said, "This is your
work, men of blood--and as ye have slain our king, ye shall fight for
us to-day, and see if the god will protect you; then, if he saves you,
we shall know that you have spoken truly--and if he saves you not then
ye are false priests." And the chiefs cried assent; and Gryf, the
eldest chief, commanded that weapons should be given them, and that
they should be guarded and fight with the vanguard. But Nefri cast
himself upon the body of Heiri and wept sore. But while they stood
came a scout in terror, and told them that the Romans were indeed
advancing. So the temple was emptied in a moment; and Nefri sat by the
body of the dead and looked upon it. But the chiefs hastened to the
wall of the camp; and it was now day; in the light that fell pale and
cold f