mixed with supernatural awe. Was it
possible, she wondered with a thrill of fear, that this savage king was
mingling his worship of the goddess with admiration of the woman? And
did he begin to suspect that she was no goddess after all? Time would
show, but at least the look in his eyes alarmed her.

"Fear not," he went on; "a thousand men shall guard you night and day.
The power of Nam is broken for a while, and now all this company may
sleep in peace."

"It is well, Olfan. To-morrow morning, after we have eaten, we will talk
with you again, for we have much to say. Till then, watch!"

The great man bowed and went, and at last they were alone.

"Let us eat," said Leonard. "What is this? Spirit, or a very good
imitation of it. Well, I never wanted a glass of brandy more in my
life."

When they had finished their meal, at the request of Leonard Juanna
translated all that had been said in the temple, and among her listeners
there was none more interested than Soa.

"Say, Soa," said Leonard, when she had finished, "you did not expect to
see us come back alive, did you? Is that why you stayed away?"

"No, Deliverer," she answered. "I thought that you would be killed,
every one of you. And so it must have come about, had it not been for
the Shepherdess. Also, I stayed away because those who have looked upon
the Snake once do not desire to see him again. Many years ago I was
bride to the Snake, Deliverer, and, had I not fled, my fate would have
been the fate of her who died this night."

"Well, I do not wonder that you chose to go," said Leonard.

"Oh, Baas," broke in Otter, "why did you not shoot that old medicine-man
as I told you? It would have been easy when you were about it, Baas, and
now he would have been broken like an eggshell thrown from a house-top,
and not alive and full of the meat of malice. He is mad with rage and
wickedness, and I say that he will kill us all if he can."

"I rather wish I had," said Leonard, pulling his beard. "I thought of
it, but could not do everything; and on future occasions, Otter, will
you remember that your name is Silence? Luckily, these people do not
understand you: if they did you would ruin us all. What is the matter,
Soa?"

"Nothing, Deliverer," she answered; "only I was thinking that Nam is my
father, and I am glad that you did not shoot him, as this black dog, who
is named a god, suggests."

"Of gods I know nothing, you old cow," answered Otter angrily; "they
are