he grieve, he said, that such an insult had been offered to the Snake
as the presenting to him among his food of the red stone, known as the
Blood of Aca. That man who had done this folly was doomed to die, if,
indeed, he were not already dead. Well could they understand that, the
Mother and Snake having become reconciled, the proffering to Jal of that
which reminded him of the sin of long ago was a wickedness that might
bring a curse upon the land. Let the Snake be appeased. Command had been
given that all such stones should be hidden in a secret place by him who
had wrought the crime, and, as he had said, if the man returned alive
from that place he should be slain. But he would not return alive,
for to go thither was death, as it should be death henceforth even to
mention that stone, of which but one should now be seen in the land,
that which the Mother wore in memory of the past.

"O Otter, my friend," murmured Leonard to himself, "if I don't make you
pay for this, my name is not Outram!"

But enough of the stones, went on Nam; he had come upon a more important
matter. That night an assembly of all the tribe would be held in the
great temple an hour before moonrise, that the Mother and the Snake
might take up their royalty in the presence of the people. Thither they
would come to lead them and their servants at the appointed time. Was
this pleasing to the gods?

Juanna bent her head in assent, and the priest turned to go with many
obeisances; but before he went he spoke again, asking if all things were
as the gods desired.

"Not altogether, my servant," answered Juanna. "It is our will that
these, our other servants, should have free access to us at all times