uttering no word, threw himself on
his face at the foot of them, waiting his turn. Then a door opened and
there appeared a great and brutal-looking fellow, naked except for a
loin cloth, who bore in his hand a huge weapon, half knife and half axe.

First he looked at the Asika, who nodded almost imperceptibly, then
sprang on to a prolongation of the golden steps, bowed to Little Bonsa
on her column behind and heaved up his knife.

Now for the first time Alan really understood what was about to happen,
and that what he had imagined a stage rehearsal, was to become a hideous
murder.

"Stop!" he shouted in English, being unable to remember the native word.

The executioner paused with his axe poised in mid-air; the victim turned
his head and looked, as though surprised; the second victim and the
priests their companions looked also. Jeekie fell on to his knees and
burst into fervent prayer addressed apparently to Little Bonsa. The
Asika smiled and did nothing.

Again the weapon was lifted and as he felt that words were no longer
of any use, even if he could find them, Alan took refuge in action.
Springing on to the other side of the little platform, he hit out with
all his strength across the kneeling man. Catching the executioner on
the point of the chin, he knocked him straight backwards in such fashion
that his head struck upon the floor before any other portion of his
body, so that he lay there either dead or stunned. Alan never learned
which, since the matter was not thought of sufficient importance to be
mentioned.

At this sight the Asika burst into a low laugh, then asked Alan why he
had felled the executioner. He answered because he would not stand by
and see two innocent men butchered.

"Why not," she said in an astonished voice; "if Little Bonsa, whose
priests they are, needs them, and I, who am the Mouth of the gods
declare that they should die? Still, she has been in your keeping for a
long while and you may know her will, so if you wish it, let them live.
Or perhaps you require other victims," and she fixed her eyes upon
Jeekie with a glance of suggestive hope.

"Oh my golly!" gasped Jeekie in English, "tell her not for Joe, Major,
tell her most improper. Say Yellow God my dearest friend and go mad as
hatter if my throat cut----"

Alan stopped his protestations with a secret kick.

"I choose no victims," he broke in, "nor will I see man's blood shed--to
me it is _orunda_--unholy; I may not look o