lfan visited them as usual, and told
them that the excitement grew in the city. Indeed the unprecedented
prolongation of the cold weather was driving the people into a state of
superstitious fury that must soon express itself in violence of one
form or another, and the priests were doing everything in their power to
foment the trouble. No immediate danger was to be apprehended, however.

After sundown Leonard and Francisco went out into the courtyard to
inspect the weather according to their custom. There was no sign of a
change; the wind blew as bitterly as ever from the mountains, the sky
was ashen, and the stars seemed far off and cold.

"Will it never break?" said Leonard with a sigh, and re-entered the
palace, followed by Francisco.

Then, having solemnly cautioned Otter to keep a strict guard over Soa,
they wrapped themselves up in their blankets in order to get some rest,
which both of them needed sadly. Juanna had retired already, laying
herself to sleep immediately on the other side of the curtain, for
she feared to be alone; indeed they could see the tips of her fingers
appearing beneath the bottom of the curtain.

Very soon they were asleep, for even terror must yield at last to the
necessities of rest, and a dense silence reigned over the palace, broken
only by the tramp of the sentries without.

Once Leonard opened his eyes, hearing something move, and instantly
stretched out his hand to assure himself of Juanna's safety. She was
there, for in her sleep her fingers closed instinctively upon his own.
Then he turned round and saw what had disturbed him. In the doorway of
the chamber stood the bride of the Snake, Saga, a lighted torch in one
hand and a gourd in the other, and very picturesque that handsome
young woman looked with her noble figure illumined by the glare of the
torchlight.

"What is the matter?" said Leonard.

"It is all right, Baas," answered Otter; "the old woman here is as safe
as a stone statue yonder and quite as quiet. Saga brings me some water,
that is all. I bade her do so because of the fire that rages inside me
and the pain in my head. Fear not, Baas, I do not drink beer when I am
on guard."

"Beer or water, I wish you would keep your wife at a distance," answered
Leonard; "come, tell her to be off."

Then he looked at his watch, the hands of which he could just
distinguish by the distant glare of the torch, and went to sleep again.
This took place at ten minutes past eleven