hat I lost sight of them an instant in the
crush.

"Wait, woman!" rose the priest's voice above the uproar. "I admit your
power here to take physical life; I expect no mercy from such as you.
But, if you be not lost to all shame, grant me one favor, Marie
Fousard."

"What?"

"A moment of time in which I may give absolution to this child of God
before we die."

"Pish! is that all? Go on with your fool mummery. I will hold back
the savages till that be done, though the sight of it will but anger
them."

Eloise had sunk down against the altar, with face buried in her hands.
The _pere_ dropped upon his knees beside her. About them surged the
glistening forms of the savages, maddened with blood-lust, but Naladi
clapped her hands, with voice and gesture bidding them wait her further
word. An instant they swayed passionately back and forth, their
fanatical priests clamoring in opposition to this halting of vengeance.
Then Naladi shook loose her hair, permitting its wealth to fall in a
golden-red shower, until it veiled her from head to foot. The silenced
crowd stared as if in worship of the supernatural. I know not what she
said, uplifting her white arms from out that red-gold canopy, yet I can
guess.

"Natchez, I dare you to disobey the Daughter of the Sun!"

Swept by a superstition stronger than hate, they flung themselves at
her feet, prostrating their faces to the rock, grovelling like worms,
heedless of all except her presence and her supremacy. She was a
goddess, one whose will was destruction. Gazing down upon them,
conscious of her power, her thin lips smiled in contempt. 'T was so I
saw her last; so I shall always picture her in memory--a motionless,
statuesque figure, covered with a veil of red-gold hair, her eyes like
diamonds, her bare, white arms gleaming, her lips curved in proud
disdain; a queen of savages, a high priestess of Hell.

The sudden cessation of noise was awesome, uncanny. It rendered
manifest the ceaseless roar of thunder without. Directly in front of
me yawned the cave entrance, plainly illuminated by vivid lightning.
Dreadful as was the spectacle, it yielded me a flash of hope--here
opportunity pointed a path of escape. With no pause for thought I
whirled to arouse the Puritan, every nerve a-tingle with desperation.
His deep-set eyes glowed like two coals, his square jaw projecting like
that of a fighting bulldog.

"Cairnes," I muttered, almost heedless of what I said in