of their death shall be changed."

"That shall be done. What is the White Chief's wish?"

"He will be the executioner."

The Chief threw his arms around Uraso's neck, in raptures of joy, and
turning to the man on the table, ordered him to descend. John quietly
conferred with Uraso, and the latter mounted the table, and the
prisoners were led up until they faced him.

Uraso, addressing them, said: "You have been condemned by your Chief to
die because you have deceived his people and brought sorrow on all. The
Great White Chief has seen the misery you have caused by allowing the
Korinos to escape, and you must now take their places as the victims to
appease the Great Spirit.

"The White Chief has asked to be permitted to offer you up as sacrifices
to his God, as well, and the White Man's death is a terrible one. When
you die it will not cause you to go out of the world forgetting all that
you may suffer, but you will always know and suffer through all time,
and you will never know a day that is free from misery.

"Your dying will be like a thousand deaths, and your living hours will
be like fire that always burns and never consumes."

Thus Uraso went on, and as he spoke the poor victims' eyes grew greater
and greater, and the terror more pronounced. He ceased for a moment and
John slowly walked to the table, and mounting it, said quietly to Uraso:
"Tell them that when I raise my hands over my head the ends of their
living death will begin."

When this was imparted, the agony on their faces was pitiful to see.
John advanced, and spread out his palms toward them, and quickly drew
his hands toward him, and this was repeated three times.

It is a curious thing that most savages believe in the mysticism of some
particular number. In Africa some tribes, if they hear an animal cry
four times, will brave any danger, as it is a sign that the bird has
knowledge of safety to his person.

Others watch with great care the repetition of an insect's call, and
particularly the number of times an unusual noise occurs, and the belief
is somewhat analogous to the views which white people have about the
cricket. Milton, Byron, Southey, and Dickens have written stories about
them, so it is not to be wondered at that the poor benighted savages
should have some belief about such things.

After the rites at the tree in the forest, it was evident that three was
the cryptic, or mysterious number, and John used it on this occasion,
f