Another hour passed, and suddenly the curtains were drawn aside and a
body of priests entered, twelve in number, bearing large candles of fat
in their hands, and headed by their chief, Nam. Prostrating themselves
before Juanna and Otter they remained plunged in silence.

"Speak on," said Juanna at length.

"We come, O Mother, and O Snake," said the priest Nam, "to lead you to
the temple that the people may look upon their gods."

"It is well; lead on," Juanna answered.

"First you must be robed, Mother," said Nam, "for without the temple
none may look upon your divinity, save your priests alone."

Rising as he spoke, he produced a black dress from a grass bag, which
was carried by an attendant. This dress was very curious. It fastened in
front with buttons of horn, and either was, or seemed to be, woven in a
single piece from the softest hair of black-fleeced goats. Moreover, it
had sleeves just long enough to leave the hands of the wearer visible,
and beneath its peaked cap was a sort of mask with three slits, two for
the eyes and one for the mouth.

Juanna retired to put on this hideous garment over her white robe, and
reappeared presently, looking like the black ghost of a mediaeval monk.
Then the priests gave her two flowers, a red lily and a white, to be
held in either hand, and it appeared that her equipment was complete.
Next they came to Otter and bound a scarlet fringe of hair about his
forehead in such fashion that the fringe hid his eyes, at the same
time placing in his hand a sceptre of ivory, apparently of very ancient