a few seconds he stood back gazing at the mask as a wolf might at an
unapproachable bone. Then suddenly he ran forward and sprang into the
air. Such an amazing jump Alan had never seen before. So high was
it indeed that his head came level with that of the fetish, which he
snatched with both hands tearing it from Asika's grasp. Coming to the
ground again with a thud, he began to caper to and fro, kissing the
mask, while the audience shouted:

"Little Bonsa has chosen. What fate for the fallen? Ask her, priest?"

The man stopped his capering and held the mouth of Little Bonsa to his
ear, nodding from time to time as though she were speaking to him and he
heard what she said. Then he passed round the dais where Alan could not
see him, and presently reappeared holding Little Bonsa in his right
hand and in his left a great gold cup. A silence fell upon the place.
He advanced to the first man who had jumped and offered him the cup. He
turned his head away, but a thousand voices thundered "Drink!" Then he
took it and drank, passing it to a companion in misfortune, who in turn
drank also and gave it to the third priest, he who would have snatched
the mask had not the Asika lifted it out of his reach.

This man drained it to the dregs, and with an exclamation of rage dashed
the empty vessel into the face of the chosen priest with such fury that
the man rolled upon the ground and for a while lay there stunned. Now
he who had drunk first began to spring about in a ludicrous fashion, and
presently was joined in his dance by the other two. So absurd were their
motions and tumblings and clownlike grimaces, for they had dragged off
their masks, that roars of brutal laughter rose from the audience, in
which the Asika joined.