servant, who are named Deliverer," and she looked down upon Leonard,
"and do my bidding. If one of these shall dare to lift his hand against
yonder man, slay him swiftly as you know how."

"Smite on," screamed Nam, "smite on and fear not."

Most of the priests drew back affrighted; but one ruffian lifted his
knife, and at that moment Juanna pointed with her hand. Then Leonard,
stepping forward, covered the priest's great breast with his rifle as
surely as the uncertain light would allow. Unconscious of his danger,
the executioner muttered an invocation. Now the knife was about to fall
upon the throat of Olfan, when fire and smoke sprang out far above him,
the rifle rang, and, shot through the heart, the priest leaped high into
the air and fell dead. Terror seized the witnesses of this unaccustomed
and, to them, most awful sight.

"The gods speak with flame and thunder," one cried, "and death is in the
flame."

"Silence, dogs!" screamed Nam, "ye are bewitched. Ho! you that stand on
high, cast down the wizard who is named Deliverer, and let us see who
will deliver him from death upon the stone."

Then one of the guards who stood by him made a movement to grasp Leonard
and throw him down, but the other was terrified and could not stir. The
first man stretched out his arm, but before it so much as touched its
aim he himself was dead, for, seeing his purpose, Leonard had lifted the
rifle, and once more its report rang through the temple. Suddenly the
priest threw his arms wide, then fell backwards, and with a mighty rush
dived into sheer space to crash lifeless on the stone floor below, where