rifles have gone, ours and those of
the Settlement men also."

"Great heavens!" said Leonard, "but you were watching."

"I suppose that I must have dozed for a few moments," answered the
priest; "it is awful, awful; they are gone and we are weaponless."

"Oh! can we not escape?" moaned Juanna.

"There is no hope of it," answered Leonard gloomily. "We are friendless
here except for Olfan, and he has little real power, for the priests
have tampered with the captains and the soldiers who fear them. How
can we get out of this city? And if we got out what would become of us,
unarmed and alone? All that we can do is to keep heart and hope for the
best. Certainly they are right who declare that no good comes of seeking
after treasure; though I believe that we shall live to win it yet," he
added.

"What! Deliverer," said a satirical voice behind him, "do you still
desire the red stones, who whose heart's blood shall soon redden a
certain stone yonder? Truly the greed of the white man is great."

Leonard looked round. It was Soa who spoke, Soa who had been listening
to their talk, and she was glaring at him with an expression of intense
hate in her sullen eyes. A thought came into his mind. "Was it not
possible that this woman had something to do with their misfortunes? How
came it about that the others were taken while she was left?"

"Who gave you leave, Soa," he said, looking her fixedly in the face, "to
hearken to our words and thrust yourself into our talk?"

"You have been glad enough of my counsels hitherto, White Man," she
answered furiously. "Who told you the tale of this people? And who led
you to their land? Was it I or another?"

"You, I regret to say," said Leonard coolly.

"Yes, White Man, I led you here that you might steal the treasure of my
people like a thief. I did it because the Shepherdess my mistress forced
me to the deed, and in those days her will was my law. For her and you
I came here to my death, and what has been my reward? I am put away from
her, she has no kind word for me now; you are about her always, you hold
her counsel, but to me her mind is as a shut door that I can no longer
open. Ay! you have poisoned her against me, you and that black swine
whom they call a god.

"Moreover, because she has learned to love you, white thief, wanderer
without a kraal as you are, at your bidding she has also learned to hate
me. Beware, White Man, I am of this people, and you know their temper,
it i