Part 39 (1/2)

”Otter,” said Leonard, ”that wife of yours has drugged you”

”It one, and, say, whither has she gone?”

”To Nam, her father,” answered Leonard

CHAPTER XXVII

FATHER AND DAUGHTER

While Leonard and Otter spoke thus in their a conversation was being carried on some three hundred yards away Its scene was a secret chamber hollowed in the thickness of the temple wall, and the _drah priest, Soa, Juanna's servant, and Saga, wife of the Snake

Nam was an early riser, perhaps because his conscience would not allow him to sleep, or because on this occasion he had business of i in question, long before the break of dawn, he was seated in his little rooave hied man, and whatever may have been his faults, at least he was earnestly desirous of carrying on the worshi+p of the Gods according to the strict letter of the customs which had descended to him from his forefathers, and which he hi consideration of the them, Nam had coh the belief was a qualified one and soly, he had never allowed his s whose earthly worshi+p was so powerful a factor in his own material rule and prosperity, and in that of his class In its issues this half-faith of his had been sufficiently real to induce him to accept Otter and Juanna when they arrived mysteriously in the land

It had been prophesied that they should arrive thus--that was a fact; and their outward appearance exactly fitted every detail of the prophecy--that was another fact; and these two facts together seemed to point to a conclusion so irresistible that, shrewd and experienced as he was, Nam, was unable to set it down to ious enthusiasm he had accorded a hearty welcohty years he had worshi+pped as powers spiritual

But though pious zeal had much to do with this action, as Olfan informed Juanna, it was not devoid of worldlythe discoverer of the Gods, he desired also the consolidation of the rule which his cruelties had shaken, that h, but he had never even dreamed that the first step of these new-born divinities would be to discard the ancient ceremonial without which his office would become a sinecure and his power a ainst himself

Were they or were they not Gods? This was the question that exercised his mind If there was truth in prophesies they should be Gods On the other hand he could discover nothing particularly divine about their persons, characters, or attributes--that is to say, nothing sufficiently divine to deceive Naar Thus Juanna ht be no more than a very beautiful woman white in colour, and Otter only what he knew hih his spies, a soreat poas also evident, seeing that he, Naeance, had been able to abstract, and afterwards to sacrifice co which pleaded against their celestial origin was that so far, instead of peace and prosperity blessing the land as it should have done i itself the worst on record, and the country was face to face with a prospect of fa winter

And yet, if they were not Gods, ere they? Would any hu such people as the Children of the Mist, e practical joke of which the finale was likely to be so serious to the to gain by so doing, for Nanorant of the value of rubies, which to him were only emblems employed in their symbolical ceremonies Think as he would, he could co was clear, however, that it was now very in, though to do so would be to stultify himent was not infallible Otherwise, did the ”Gods” succeed in establishi+ng their power, he and his authority seemed likely to come to a sudden end in the jaws of that enerations

Thus reflected Na to himself the while that he had retired from his office before he was called upon to face questions so difficult and so dangerous

”I must be patient,” he muttered to himself at last; ”tie, the people will settle theto wait, for just then there was a knock upon his door

”Enter,” he said, arranging his goat-skin robe about his broad shoulders

A priest ca a torch, for there was noto the chamber, and after hi to the second of the women

”This is she who is servant to Aca, Father,” answered the priest

”How coave no orders that she should be taken”

”She co somewhat to say to you”

”Fool, how can she speak to ue? But of her presently; take her aside and watch her Now, Saga, your report

First, what of the weather?”