nds whistle
through the reeds, and the nodding trees answer to the outriders of the
tempest.'

Suddenly a shriek went up, and was borne on the winds of night.

'What is that?' whispered Saronia. ''Tis like the cry of a parting
life.'

'List!' said Chios. ''Tis some bird of evil shrieking the advent of
storm.'

They had not long to wait ere another shriek, more deadly than the
first, rose up towards the skies.

'Hide thee between the rushes, Saronia. I will see what it means. Stay
until I return, whate'er betides.'

The priestess did as she was bidden, and Chios stole softly down the
pathway until he saw Endora--the black form of the witch surrounded by
the night--and at her feet lay the lifeless form of a man.

For a moment the Greek was terror-stricken, and when his breath had
returned he gasped:

'Endora! Endora! what meaneth this?'

'I slew him,' replied she.

'Thou?'

'Yes, I slew him. See, my dagger reeks with blood!' and she held it
aloft, pointing it upwards towards the heaven, looking like the statue
of a night-fiend.

Then she spoke again:

'Had he a thousand lives, and my arm would not prove weary, I would take
them all. Hear me, Chios: I stood guard for thee and Saronia. This dead
man tracked her--knew her.'

'Knew her?' repeated Chios.

'Yes, recognised her--and thou. He came, as I have said, and was
well-nigh upon you, when the form of Endora stood in the path. He spoke
to me; he had lost the scent, did not know which way you had taken--this
path or the one that branches off. He asked if I had seen a woman go
this way towards the river. I answered "No." "Thou liest!" said he.
"Thou knowest her whereabouts; thou knowest who she is--Saronia, the
High Priestess, and Chios her lover. Speak out, hag, or I will wrest thy
life from out thy vile carcase! Where is she?" Then said I: "Go thy way,
man! I know not, and care less." He seized me by the throat, relaxed his
hold, bade me speak, gripped it again, bruised me until I felt my life
gurgling away. I knew I was not fit to die, and he--_he should not
murder me_! He held me by the throat at arms' length, and shook me like
a dog; but when he drew me towards him, I used my dagger and let out his
life's blood--yes, the life-blood of a traitor!' And, turning her head
from Chios, she murmured: 'The life-blood of--thy--father!'

'Endora! Endora! what hast thou done?'

'Nothing but saved my life and thine and that of the great Saronia, by
killing