has been my good fortune to rescue from a woman-stealer yonder in the
grove of the goddess Baaltis."

"And whom it was my bad fortune to try to rescue in the said grove,
as my broken head bears witness," added Metem, who by now had come up,
dragging the two mules after him.

"In the grove of the goddess Baaltis!" broke in the Levite with a
kindling eye, and striking the ground with his staff to emphasise his
words. "You, a Prince of Israel, alone in the high place of abomination
with the priestess of a fiend? Fie upon you, fie upon you! Would you
also walk in the sin of your forefathers, Aziel, and so soon?"

"Peace!" said Aziel in a voice of command; "I was not in the grove
alone or by my own will, and this is no time or place for insults and
wrangling."

"Between me and those who seek after false gods, or the women who
worship them, there is no peace," replied the old priest fiercely.

Then, followed by all the company, he turned and strode towards the
gates of the city.



CHAPTER III

ITHOBAL THE KING

Two hours had gone by, and the prince Aziel, together with his retinue,