no help there. Long had they cowered beneath him; now hope was born in
their breasts, and in the presence of a power greater than his, if
only for a little while, they broke his yoke and the yoke of their red
superstitions. He looked at the company of priests; their heart was
out of them, they were huddled together like knots of frightened sheep,
staring at the corpses of their two companions. Then he bethought him
of Otter. Surely there was refuge in the god of blood and evil; and he
cried to him:

"The Mother has spoken, but the Mother is not the child. Say, O Jal,
what is your command?"

Otter made no answer, because he did not understand; but Juanna replied
swiftly:

"I am the mouth of Jal, as Jal is my hand. When I speak I speak the
words of Jal. Do his bidding and mine, or die, you disobedient servant."

This was the end of it. Nam was beaten; for the first time in his life
he must own a master, and that master the gods whom he had himself
discovered and proclaimed.

"So be it," he said suddenly. "The old order passes, and the new order
comes. So be it! Let your will be done, O Aca and O Jal. I have striven
for your glory, I have fed your altars, and ye threaten me with death
and put away my gift. Priests, set free that man who was king. People,
have your way, forget your ancient paths, pluck the white flower of
peace--and perish! I have said."

So he spoke from on high, shaking his clenched fists above his hoary