Part 45 (1/2)

Leonard started ”Who can be found?”

Slowly Soa raised her thin hand and pointed to Francisco

”_There stands the man!_” she said ”Were he wrapped in the cloak of Aca, ould know hiive back that which they have sed”

If Leonard had started before, now he fairly recoiled, as the fullof this terrible proposition possessed his , for the priest did not understand the Sisutu dialect

”Tell him,” she said

”Wait awhile,” he answered hoarsely; ”supposing that this were carried out, ould happen to the Shepherdess?”

”She would be concealed in the dungeons of the teain she pointed to Francisco, ”until such time as a chance could be found for her to escape, or to return to rule this people unquestioned and with honour My father alone knows of this plot, and because of his love for me he suffers me to try it, desperate as it seems Also, for I will tell you all the truth, he is hier, and he believes that bysurvived the sacrifice, will be held by the people to be immortal--he may save his life when the day of his own trial comes”

”And do you think,” said Leonard, ”that I will trust her alone to you, wicked and forsworn as you are, and to the tender mercies of your father? No, it is better that she should die and have done with her fears and torments”

”I did not ask you to do so, Deliverer,” said Soa quietly ”You will be taken with her, and if she lives you will live also Is that not enough?

These eons: they will bear you and the Shepherdess, knowing no difference, that is all Now tell hi to accept”

”Francisco, couese Then he told hi eyes As the tale went on the priest turned ashen pale and trembled violently, but before it was finished he ceased to treht as with a glory

”I accept,” he said in a clear voice, ”for thus will it be given to me to save the life of the Senora, and to atone for my offence Come, let me make ready”

”Francisco,” muttered Leonard, for his emotion would not suffer him to speak aloud, ”you are a saint and a hero I wish that I could go through this in your stead, for ladly would I do so, but it is not possible”

”It seems then that there are two saints and heroes,” replied the priest gently ”But why talk thus? It is the bounden duty of either or both of us to die for her, yet it is far better that I should die leaving you alive to love and coht a moment ”I suppose it must be so,” he said, ”but Heaven knows, it is a terrible alternative How can I trust that woman Soa? And yet if I do not trust her Juanna will be killed at once”

”You must take the chance of it,” answered Francisco; ”after all she is fond of her rew jealous that she fled to Na,” said Leonard; ”how are we to get Juanna away?

If once she suspects the plot, there will be an end of it Soa, come thither”

She ca her at the same time that Francisco consented to the scheht awake at any moment

”I have that with me which shall overcome the difficulty, Deliverer,”

answered Soa, ”for I foresaw it See here,” and she drew a sourd froave your black dog to drink when I escaped you Now o to the Shepherdess, awake her, and bid her drink this to comfort her She will obey, and iain that shall hold her fast for six hours”

”It is not a poison?” asked Leonard suspiciously

”No, it is not a poison What need would there be to poison one who must die at dawn?”

Then Leonard did as she told hi a tin pannikin, one of their few possessions, he eh native brandy to colour the water

Next he went into Juanna's roo up to her he touched her gently on the shoulder, saying, ”Wake, my love” She raised herself and opened her eyes

”Is that you, Leonard?” she said ”I was dreaain and at school at Durban, and that it was tiet up for early service at the church Oh! I remember now Is it dawn yet?”