the snow. Else all was still.

And Nod called in a low voice: "Why do you hide from me, Immanala, Queen
of Shadows?"

He waited, but no answer came. "Venture out, mistress," cried Nod
louder, "and we will be off together to the Oomgar's hut. You shall sit
on the roof and watch the hunting-dogs at their supper."

At that, up by a narrow path from the ravine stole Immanala, and all the
Jack-Alls and Jaccatrays fell silent, staring with blazing eyes out of
the darkness.

"Call not so lustily, Prince of Tishnar!" she said, fawning; "we shall
awake the Oomgar."

"Ohe," said Nod boldly; "he sleeps deep. He fears neither beast nor
Meermut in all this frozen Munza. Bid your greedy slaves stand ready,
Immanala. When I whistle them, supper is up."

Immanala lifted her flat grey head, and seemed to listen. "I hear the
harps of Tishnar in the forest. The leaves of the branches of the trees
of my master N[=o][=o]manossi stir, and yet there moves no wind."

She fixed her colourless eyes on Nod, with her ears on her long, smooth
forehead pricked forward. "What is the cunning Mulgar thinking beneath
all he says? Like fine sand in water, I hear the rustling of his
thoughts."

Nod took a long breath and shut his eyes. "I was thinking," he said,
"what stupid fellows must be these dogs of yours, seeing that each and
every one keeps whimpering, 'The head--the head for me!' But they must
wait in patience yet a little longer, if even a knucklebone is to be a
share. I will go forward and choose out all that I and the
Mulla-mulgars, my brothers, want of the Oomgar's house-treasures before
the Jaccatrays tear everything to pieces."

"Softly, now, softly," said Immanala. "You think very little of me,
Nizza-neela. Do you dream I came from far to protect you from my slaves,
Roses and Jaccatray, and now am to get nothing for my pains? What of
that stiff coat drenched with magic? That is mine. No, no, little greedy
Mulgar; we share together, or I have all."

"Well, well," said Nod, as if unwilling, "you shall take part, mistress,
though all that's there is truly Tishnar's. Follow quietly! I will see
if my Zbaffle be still asleep."

Immanala crouched snarling in the moonlight, and Nod ran swiftly to the
hut. The moon streamed in on the sailor's upturned face, where, lying
flat on his back, he snored and snored and snored. Then Nod very quietly
took down from its wooden hook the sailor's great skin coat, his belt of
Ephelanto-hide, his hu