hand. The people
rave for the blood of you, their gods. Nam told you that ye are summoned
this night to confer with the people. Alas! I must tell you otherwise.
This night ye will be put upon your trial before the Council of the
Elders."

"That we guessed, Olfan, and if the verdict goes against us, what then?"

"Alas that I must say it! Then, Queen, you will be hurled, all of you,
into the pool of the Snake, to be food for the Snake."

"Cannot you protect us, Olfan?"

"I cannot, O Queen, except with my own life. The soldiers are under
my command indeed; but in this matter they will not obey me, for the
priests have whispered in their ears, and if the sun does not shine they
too must starve next winter. Pardon me, Queen, but if you are gods, how
is it that you need help from me who am but a man? Cannot the gods then
protect themselves and be avenged upon their enemies?"

Juanna looked despairingly at Leonard, who sat by her side pulling at
his beard, as was his fashion when perplexed.

"I think that you had better tell him," he said in English. "Our
situation is desperate. Probably in a few hours he will know us to be
impostors; indeed, he guesses it already. It is better that he should
learn the truth from our own lips. The man is honest; moreover, he owes
his life to us, though it is true that were it not for us he would never
have been in danger of his life. Now we must trust him and take our
chance; if we make a mistake, it does not greatly matter--we have made
so many already."

Juanna bowed her head and thought awhile, then she lifted it and spoke.

"Olfan," she said, "are we alone? That which I have to say must be
overheard by none."

"We are alone, Queen," he answered, glancing round, "but these walls
have ears."

"Olfan, draw near."

He obeyed, and leaning forward she spoke to him almost in a whisper,
while the others clustered round to hear her words.

"You must call me Queen no more," she said in a voice broken with
humiliation. "I am no goddess, I am but a mortal woman, and this man,"
and she pointed to Otter, "is no god, he is only a black dwarf."

She paused, watching the effect of her words. An expression of
astonishment swept across the king's face, but it was her boldness
rather than the purport of her speech that caused it. Then he smiled.

"Perhaps I have guessed as much," he answered. "And yet I must still
call you by that name, seeing that you are the queen of all women, for
say, w