offerings be completed, for this is but the first-fruit. Take Olfan who
was king, and offer him up. Cast down the white servants of the Mother,
and offer them up. Seize the slaves who stood before her in the plain,
and offer them up. Lead forth the captives, and offer them up. Let the
sacrifice of the Crowning of Kings be accomplished according to custom,
that the god whose name is Jal may be appeased; that he may listen
to the pleadings of the Mother, that the sun may shine upon us, that
fruitfulness may fill the land and peace be within its gates."

Thus he cried while Leonard felt his blood turn cold and his hair rise
upon his head, for though he could not understand the words, he guessed
their purport and his instinct told him that a great danger threatened
them. He looked at the two priests who stood by, and they glared
hungrily on him in answer. Then his courage came back to him; at least
he had his rifle and would fight for his life. It must go hard if he
could not put a bullet through one or both of them before they got a
hold of him.

Meanwhile the priests below had seized the king Olfan, whose giant form
they were dragging towards the stone of sacrifice. But of a sudden, for
the first time Juanna spoke, and a deep silence fell upon the temple and
all within it.

"Hearken, People of the Mist," she said; and her voice falling from that
great height seemed small and far away, although so clear that every
word was audible in the stillness of the night.

"Hear me, People of the Mist, and ye, priests of the Snake. Aca is come
again and Jal is come again, and ye have given them back their rule
after many generations, and in their hands lies the life of every one of