Part 46 (2/2)

Very gradually the light increased, and it seemed to Otter that the h as yet it hung densely between them and the mountain snows Now he could trace the walls of the amphitheatre, now he could see the black shi+litter of lared at hirew more andto see the dawn break upon the slope of snow, and wondering--would it be red or white?

Must the Gods die or live? So intense and fearful was the hush, unbroken by a breath of air or the calling of a bird, that Otter could bear it no longer, but suddenly burst into song

He had a fine deep voice, and it was a Zulu war-song that he sang, a triu iroans of the dying Louder and louder he sang, sta his naked feet upon the rock, while the people wondered at the ht, who chanted thus exultingly in a strange tongue while men waited to see him cast into the jaws of the Snake No mortal about to die so soon and thus terribly could find the heart to sing, andas that they heard

”He is a God,” cried a voice far away, and the cry was echoed on every side till at length, suddenly, , for he had turned his head and seen Lo! the veil of rew thin:--it was the moment of dawn, but would it be a red dawn or a white? As he looked the vapours disappeared froh they still lay thick upon the slopes below, and in their place were seen its s outlines clothed in a cloak of everlasting snows

The ordeal was ended No touch of colour, no golden sunbeahastly surface of those snows, they were pallid as the faces of the dead

”A white dawn! A white dawn!” roared the populace ”Aith the false Gods! Hurl theain into Francisco's ear; ”now take your medicine, and, friend, farewell!”

The priest heard and, clasping his thin hands together, turned his tormented face, in which the soft eyes shone, upwards towards the heavens For so beneath his hood, saw his countenance change, and once lory seemed to shi+ne upon it as it had shone when, some hours since, Francisco proain there was silence below, for the spokes the formal question to the priests above:

”Is the dahite or red, ye who stand on high?”

Nam turned and looked upon the snow

”The dawn is fully dawned and it is white!” he answered

”Be swift,” whispered Otter into Francisco's ear

Then the priest raised his right hand to his lips, as though to partake of the sacrament of death

Aback to Otter: ”I cannot, it is a deadly sin They must kill me, for I will not kill myself”

Before the dwarf could answer, Nature, more merciful than his conscience, did that for Francisco which he refused to do for himself, for of a sudden he swooned His face turned ashen and slowly he began to sink backwards, so that he would have fallen had not Naht hiht

”The dawn is white! We see it with our eyes,” answered the spokesh, cast down the false Gods according to the judgment of the People of the Mist”

Otter heard and knew that the moment had come to leap, for now he need trouble himself with Francisco noat Naht carry out a purpose that he had forh priest and bear him to the depths below

It was not possible, he was out of reach; moreover, were he to snatch Naht see that this was not the Shepherdess Otter stood up upon his feet, and kicking the stool on which he had sat off the platforht

It flew into the water, never touching the rock, and then the dwarf knew that he had planned well

Now Na form of Francisco and the other two stepped towards Otter The daited till their hands were outstretched to grasp hiht, and shouting ”Coripped hi out all his strength, hurled himself and his burden into sheer space beneath

The priest shrieked aloud, and a gasp of wonder went up fro thousands as the dwarf and his victie of the pool by an inch or two--no h theain But at last they did rise Then Otter loosed the dead or senseless priest, and at that moment the body of Francisco, cast thither by Nahtway vanished for ever

Otter loosed his grip, and diving beneath the surface swam hard for the north side of the pool, for there he had noticed that the current was least strong, and there also the rock bank overhung a little He reached it safely, and rising once rasped a knob of rock with one hand, and lay still where in the shadow and the swirl of waters he could not be discovered by any watching from above He breathed deeply and moved his limbs; it ell, he was unhurt The priest who heaviest, had reat the shock had been little