tion was selected for the convenience of these elders, and in
order that the words they spoke might be heard by a larger proportion of
their vast audience.

When Juanna and Otter were seated, and Leonard and Francisco had taken
their places behind them, Nam came forward to address the Council and
the multitude beyond.

"Elders of the People of the Mist," he said, "I have conveyed your
wishes to the holy gods, who but lately have deigned to put on the flesh
of men to visit us their people; namely, that they should meet you here
and talk with you of the trouble which has come upon the land. And now
the gracious gods have assented to your wish, and behold, they are
face to face with you and with this great company of their children. Be
pleased therefore to make known what you desire to the gods, that they
may answer you, either with their own mouths or by the voice of me,
their servant."

He ceased, and after a pause, during which the people murmured angrily,
an elder rose and said:

"We would know of you how it is, O Aca and O Jal, that the summer has
deserted the land. Now our strait is very sorry, for famine will come
upon us with the winter snows. A while ago, O Aca and O Jal, you changed
the worship of this people, forbidding the victims who had been prepared
to be offered up at the spring festival, and lo! there has been no
spring. Therefore we ask a word of you on this matter, for the people
have consulted together, and say by our voice that they will have no
gods who kill the spring. Speak, O ye gods, and you, Nam, speak also,
for we would learn the reason of these evils; and from you, O Nam, we
would learn how it comes that you have proclaimed gods in the land whose
breath has destroyed the sunshine."

"Ye ask me, O People of the Mist," answered Juanna, "why it is that the
winter stretches out his hand over the slumber of the spring, forbidding
her to awake, and I will answer you in few words and short. It is
because of your disobedience and the hardness of your hearts, O ye
rebellious children. Did ye not do sacrifice when we forbade you to take
the blood of men? Ay, and have not our servants been stolen secretly
away and put to death to satisfy your lust for slaughter? It is for this
reason, because of your disobedience, that the heavens have grown hard
as your own hearts and will not bless you with their sunshine and their
gentle rain. I have answered you."

Then again the spokesman of the elders rose an