junctions can they
escape the wrath of the Crocodile-god. As rapidly as fire spreadeth in
the forest the customs were adopted in every part of the kingdom, until
now the practices I have briefly enumerated are universal."

"But surely my mother could never have devised such horrible suffering
out of sheer ill-will towards our people?"

"Alas! she hath," answered the old man. "If thou believest not my words,
take each of you one of the cloaks hanging yonder, wrap the Arab haicks
around your heads and follow me. Make no sign that ye are strangers, and
ye shall witness strange sights amazing."

We all three arose, and quickly arraying ourselves in white cotton
burnouses, wrapping the haicks around our heads in the manner of the
Arabs--a fashion adopted by some in the City in the Clouds--and pulling
them across our faces, so as to partially conceal our features, we went
forth with our guide on the tiptoe of expectation.

"What sight, I wonder, are we going to witness?" I whispered in English
to Omar, as we walked together along one of the narrow streets in the
deep shadow so that we might not be detected.

"I know not," my friend answered, with a heavy sigh. "If what Goliba says
is true, and I fear it is, then our land is doomed."

"The power of the cruel Naya must be broken, and you must reign and bring
back to Mo her departing prosperity and happiness," I said.

"I'll do my best, Scarsmere," he answered. "You have been a true,
fearless friend all along, and I feel that you will continue until the
end."

"Till the end!" I echoed. "The end will be peace, either in life--or
death."

"While I have breath I will fight to preserve the traditions of the Nabas
and the Nayas who, while ruling their country, gave such satisfaction to
the people that never once has there been a rebellion nor scarcely a
voice raised in dissent. It has always been the policy of the Sanoms to
give audience to any discontented person, listen to their grievances, and
endeavour to redress them. The reign of the Naya is, according to all we
hear, one of terror and oppression. The poor are ground down to swell
the wealth of the rich, and no man's life is safe from one moment to
another. It shall be changed, and I, Omar, will fulfil the duty expected
of me."

"Well spoken, old fellow," I answered, enthusiastically. "Remember
Goliba's warning regarding the attempts that may be made to assassinate
you, and always carry your revolver loaded. When th