Part 52 (1/2)

”Maybe,” answered Juanna, catching at a straw in her despair, ”but must I, who shall be set over this people as queen, be married thus in secret? At the least I will have witnesses Let soht here to see us wed, otherwise the time may come when I shall be held to be no true wife, and there are none to establish my honour by their words”

”There is little fear of such a thing, Queen,” answered Olfan with a faint s three of my captains here, men ill not betray us, and they shall be witness to this rite,” and he turned as though he would go to seek the him by the wrist ”I trust you, but these two I do not trust I fear to be left alone”

”There is no need for witnesses,” exclai voice

”The Shepherdess has asked for witnesses, and she shall have them,”

answered Olfan fiercely ”Old h; hitherto I have been your servant, noill be your o your life was forfeit to me, for the white dawn had turned to red, and I meant to take it, but you bribed me with this bait,” and he pointed to Juanna ”Nay, do not lay your hand upon your knife; you forget I have my spear Your priests are without, I know it, but so are my captains, and I have told them where I am; if I vanish as many vanish here, my life will be required at your hands, for, Nam, your power is broken

”Now, obey uards without No, you do not stir,” and he lifted the spear till its keen blue point quivered over the high priest's naked breast ”Bid her go to the door and suuard I said to the door, but not beyond it, or beware!”

Nam was cowed: his tool had become his master

”Obey,” he said to Soa

”Obey, but nolike a wolf, the wo it a little way, she whistled through the crack

”Hide yourself, Lady,” said Olfan

Juanna retreated into the shadow behind the candle, and at that , ”I a the spear an inch nearer Nao to the entrance by which the king entered, where you will find three captains, generals of the king Lead them hither”

”And see that you speak to no one on the way,” whispered Olfan in Nam's ear

”And see that you speak to no one on the way,” repeated Nam

”I hear you, father,” replied the priest, and went

Soain ”The captains are here,” whispered a voice

”Let thereat men armed with spears stalked into the narrow cha, and the two others were his chosen friends Then the door closed

”My brethren,” said Olfan, ”I have sent for you to acquaint you with a mystery and to ask you to witness a rite The Goddess Aca, who this day was hurled into the pool of the Snake, has returned to earth as a woman, and is about to become my wife,”--here the captains started--”nay, brethren, ask no questions; these things are so, it is enough Now, priest, play your part”

After that, for a while all seemed a dream to Juanna, a dream of which she was never able to recover any exactside by side with Olfan, while Na to the upon the na by the sy went blank Indeed, her e ceremony, when she stood beside Leonard in the slave camp, and the priest, Francisco, prayed over them and blessed the before her eyes, and with its visions were e iht it about that she should figure as the chief actor in two such drah to save her, and the second of which she h to save hi before her and kissing her hand

”Greeting, Shepherdess Hail! Queen of the People of the Mist,” he said, and the captains repeated his words

Juanna awoke from her stupor What was to be done now? she wondered

What could be done? Everything seemed lost Then of a sudden an inspiration took her

”It is true that I am a queen, is it not, Olfan?”