Then they were silent, and again there was a sound like that of the
wind, as all their thousands sank back to the seats of stone.

Now Nam spoke again in a voice of fury that rang through the still air
like a clarion.

"What is this that my ears hear?" he cried. "Are ye mad, O ye Dwellers
in the Mist? Or does the Mother speak with a charmed voice? Shall the
ancient worship be changed in an hour? Nay, not the gods themselves can
alter their own worship. Slay on, ye priests, slay on, or ye yourselves
shall die the dreadful death."

The priests below heard, and seizing the struggling king they cast him
with difficulty down upon the stone.

"Leonard, Leonard," cried Juanna in English, addressing him for the
first time by his Christian name, as even then he noticed, but looking
straight before her that none might guess to whom she spoke. "These
priests are going to kill you and all of us, except Otter and myself. If
you can, when you see me point with my hand, shoot that man who is about
to sacrifice the king. Make no answer."

Leonard heard and understood all. Resting his back firmly against the
thumb of the statue, he shifted his position a little so that the group
below him came within his line of sight, and waited, watching Juanna,
who now was speaking again in the language of the People of the Mist.

"This I promise you, ministers of blood," she said, "if ye obey me not
ye shall indeed die the dreadful death, the death unknown. Hearken, my