e him to myself."

When Juanna had translated the dwarf's bloodthirsty threat, Olfan bowed
his head meekly and smiled; clearly the prospect of Nam's removal did
not cause him unmixed grief. It was curious to see this stately warrior
chief humbling his pride before the misshapen, knob-nosed Kaffir.

"Say, Olfan," asked Leonard, "who cut from the rock the great statue on
which we sat last night, and what is that reptile we saw when the woman
was thrown into the pool of troubled waters?"

"Ask the Water-dweller of the water-dweller, the Snake of the snake, and
the Dwarf of his image," answered Olfan, nodding towards Otter. "How
can I, who am but a man, tell of such things, lord? I only know that
the statue was fashioned in the far past, when we, who are now but a
remnant, were a great people; and as for the Snake, he has always lived
there in his holy place. Our grandfather's grandfathers knew him, and
since that day he has not changed."

"Interesting fact in natural history," said Leonard; "I wish I could get
him home alive to the Zoological Gardens."

Then he asked another question. "Tell me, Olfan, what became of the red
stones yesterday, and of him who offended in offering them to the god
yonder?"

"The most of them were cast into the pit of waters, lord, there to be
hidden for ever. There were three hide sacks full."

"Oh, heavens!" groaned Leonard when Juanna had translated this. "Otter,
you have something to answer for!"

"But the choicest," went on Olfan, "were put in a smaller bag, and tied
about the neck of the man who had sinned. There were not many, but among
them were the largest stones, that until yesterday shone in the eyes
of the idol, stones blue and red together. Also, there was that stone,
shaped like a human heart, which hitherto has been worn by the high
priest on the days of sacrifice, and with it the image of the Dwarf
fashioned from a single gem, and that of the Water-dweller cut from the
great blue stone, and other smaller ones chosen because of their beauty
and also because they have been known for long in the land. For although
many of these pebbles are found where the priests dig for them, but few
are large and perfect, and the art of shaping them is lost."

"And what became of the man?" Leonard asked, speaking as quietly as he
could, for his excitement was great.

"Nay, I do not know," answered Olfan. "I only know that he was let down
with ropes into the home of the Snake, and that h