Part 34 (1/2)

”Silence, dogs!” screah, cast down the wizard who is named Deliverer, and let us see ill deliver hiuards who stood by hirasp Leonard and throw him down, but the other was terrified and could not stir The first man stretched out his arm, but before it sohis purpose, Leonard had lifted the rifle, and once h the temple Suddenly the priest threw his arhty rush dived into sheer space to crash lifeless on the stone floor belohere he lay, his head and hands hanging over the edge of the pool

Now for the first time Otter's emotions overca the sceptre in his hand, he pointed with it to the deadin stentorian tones:

”Well done, Baas, well done! Now tumble the old one yonder off his perch, for I weary of his howlings”

This speech of Otter's produced even a greater effect on the spectators, if that were possible, than the mysterious death of the priests That he whose naue, of which they understood no single word, was a dread and oer to be deep But Leonard took no heed, he was too engaged in covering the second guard with the barrel of his repeater

Thisfor such a dreadful death Swiftly he flung hi Leonard to spare hiestures that spoke e of the pause, again Juanna cried aloud: ”Ye see, People of the Mist, I make no idle threats Where are they now, the disobedient ones? The tongue of flame has licked them and they are dead, and as they have perished, so shall all perish who dare to gainsay my word, or the word of Jal Ye know us for Gods and ye have crowned us kings, and Gods and kings we are indeed Yet fear not, for on the rebellious only shall our anger fall Answer you, Na? Or will you die also as your servants died?”

Nalanced round desperately He looked down on thehad 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 thehtened sheep, staring at the corpses of their two coht hie 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 isand 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 ift Priests, set free that et your ancient paths, pluck the white flower of peace--and perish!+ I have said”

So he spoke fro his clenched fists above his hoary head, and was gone Then the executioners unbound the li, and he rose froh, ”you that were the king, ho have taken your kingshi+p, give you life, and liberty, and honour; see that in reward you serve us well, lest again you should lie upon that bed of stone Do you swear fealty to us?”

”For ever and for ever I swear it by your holy heads,” answered Olfan

”It is well Now under us once ive you command of the armies of this people, our children Suht us hither lead us back whence we cauards about us, so that none trouble us For you, our people, for this time fare you well Go in peace to dwell in peace beneath the shadow of our strength”

CHAPTER XXIV

OLFAN TELLS OF THE RUBIES

It was at this juncture that Francisco recovered his senses ”Oh!” he gasped, opening his eyes and sitting up, ”is it done, and am I dead?”

”No, no, you are alive and safe,” answered Leonard ”Stay where you are and don't look over the edge, or you will faint again Here, take eticthat hethe path by which they had conificantly

The h he were glad to go, Leonard holding his robe with one hand, while with the other he pressed the ainst the back of his neck Francisco followed, leaning on Leonard's shoulder, for he could not walk alone

As they had come so they returned They passed down the steps of stone which were hollowed in the body of the colossus; they traversed the long underground tunnel, and at length, to their intense relief, once round and in the open air Now that the ht had ed upon a platforates of the palace, froe used by the priests was gained, its opening being hidden cunningly a the stone-work of the temple

”I wonder where the others are,” asked Leonard anxiously of Francisco